Wow, sorry about the delay in updates. As always, all mistakes are mine, no beta, I'd love to know what you think and I really hope you like it. Things might be heating up a bit soon - see what I did there? Because the magic? No, it was terrible - anyways, things should get interesting soon. Enjoy :)
"Again?" sighed Ruby as Belle collapsed in the snow for a third time in as many minutes. They were walking back from Regina's house in the deep snow, new flakes falling from the sky. Ruby, though a little light-headed, had managed to stay on her feet. Belle, however, was wearing larger heels and was drunker. Ruby had decided to take her home when she and Regina started to gather glass bottles and went outside to set them up on a wall. They didn't make it, however, as Regina was loathe to setting foot in the knee deep snow and showed Belle how to melt it instead. Ruby and Emma decided that alcohol and magic were not a good combination, and decided to call it a night. So now Ruby was practically hauling Belle through the snow on their way home.
"Sooooooooooorry," she groaned from the ground. Rolling onto her back, Ruby reached down and took her hands, pulling Belle to her feet. She nearly fell over again, but Ruby held her up.
"You've never been this drunk before, have you?" asked Ruby as she draped an arm over Belle's shoulder, holding Belle close to her. Ruby's hands were freezing, she could only imagine how Belle must be feeling. Her coat and dress were soaked through as the snow melted on her clothing. She could feel the shorter girl shivering beside her.
"Not while you've known me," she giggled as she stumbled along. "You're not the only one with a bit of a past." Ruby raised her eyebrows.
"Care to elaborate on that particular thought?" she said, grinning.
"Not tonight," Belle yawned, reaching up for Ruby's nose and gently poking it. "Awww your nose is cooooooold!" she exclaimed. Ruby couldn't help but laugh as Belle sounded close to tears at this catastrophe.
"Well hurry up then, we're nearly home."
Ruby and Belle shuffled home, and Belle was nearly asleep, Ruby all but dragging her up the stairs of the library. When she got to the door, she set Belle to lean against the wall. Unfortunately, as Ruby put the key in the door, Belle slid down the wall and seemed to be asleep on the floor. Ruby sighed with a smile on her face as she gathered Belle in her arms and carried her inside, kicking the door shut. Setting her on the bed, Ruby had to shake her awake to take her damp clothes off. Changing into her own pyjamas, she gently woke up Belle, who moaned something unintelligible.
"I need you to wake up for a minute, okay?" she said softly.
"Would you be scared of an evil panda?" asked Belle curiously as Ruby sat her up and skilfully worked the dress off of her, placing the coat on the radiator.
"I'm a wolf, so probably not," smiled Ruby as she dressed Belle in warm pyjamas and tucked her into bed while the librarian began a long rant about pandas. Ruby got a glass of water for Belle and returned to find Belle lying in the bed with her eyes shut, still muttering away.
"Belle, can you drink some of this before you sleep?" she asked, kneeling on the bed next to her. Belle huffed a large sigh and sat up, reaching out for the glass and gulped half of it down clumsily, spilling some. She then placed it on the bedside table and reached out for Ruby, wrapping her arms around the amused woman.
"I'm going to have such a headache in the morning," she groaned into Ruby's shoulder.
"Yes you are," smiled Ruby, stroking her hair gently as they lay down on the pillow.
"Ruby…?" started Belle, but she tailed off. Ruby opened her eyes to see Belle completely zonked out. Smiling fondly, she wrapped an arm around her waist and she too fell asleep.
"Morning, sleepy head," said Ruby in a sing=song voice. Belle's response was rolling onto her stomach and groaning loudly.
"I'm never drinking that much again," the librarian said, her words muffled by the pillow. Ruby couldn't help but laugh. She leaned in close to Belle's ear.
"You have to get up. Remember, we're going to Snow's for Boxing Day."
"You go," Belle moaned, lifting her hand and pushing Ruby's face away from her ear. "I'll set you on fire," she threatened into the pillow.
"Try it," goaded Ruby. "I'll wolf out on you." Ruby put her arms around Belle and pulled her into a sitting position. Belle finally opened her eyes and felt them burn with the sunlight pouring through the gap in the curtains.
"I'm never being a vampire," she muttered as her eyes snapped shut, massaging her head. The room seemed to be spinning a little.
"Come on, food and a shower will help you feel better," urged Ruby. She had had her fair share of hangovers and knew what worked best for her. Belle however, would have to work that out for herself.
"Why did you let me drink that much?" she groaned, leaning back in Ruby's arms and keeping her eyes closed.
"You and Regina were having fun. It was pretty entertaining," she smirked, receiving a light smack on the arm.
Belle stepped into the shower after eating breakfast. Granny, who had come over to see how they were, had a bucketful of comments to jokingly throw at her, while Ruby laughed and added a few of her own. Belle, used to Granny's sense of humour by now, barely had the energy to keep her eyes open, never mind retort. Granny noted this and produced a packet of painkillers from her bag which Belle took gratefully. Now Belle had dragged herself into the bathroom. She was pretty sure she wasn't going to throw up, the room finally stopped spinning and she enjoyed the feeling of the hot water pouring over her. Her headache was nearly gone, just a little twinge and her stomach had settled. After washing her hair, she stepped out and towelled herself dry, deciding to leave her curls to dry naturally because a) she quite liked the tousled look of her hair and b) the noise of the hairdryer would cause another headache.
She got dressed and returned to the living room to find Ruby already dressed and conversing with Granny.
"Better?" asked Granny. Belle nodded, but still blinked slightly in the sunlight streaming through the window.
"Shall we go?" asked Ruby, running her hand over Belle's arm, looking concerned. "We can stay here if you want-"
"Don't be ridiculous, I'm fine," smiled Belle. An idea struck her and she hurried into the bedroom, steadying herself against the wall. Entering the room, she cast her eyes to the chest of drawers upon which sat a pair of dark sunglasses amongst the clutter. Grabbing them, she put them in her pocket.
"I'll maybe pop by Snow's later, okay Ruby?" she heard the old woman call from the door. Granny spotted Belle standing in the doorway. "See you later, Belle," she said as she stepped outside and closed the door, her footsteps fading as she descended.
"Are you sure you're okay?" asked Ruby, grabbing her coat. She was wearing her black jeans and a red shirt. Belle was dressed similarly, but wearing a black tank top and a blue checked shirt over the top and blue jeans. She pulled on her boots at the front door.
"Of course I am," replied Belle, pulling on her long black coat. Ruby shrugged on her leather jacket and headed to the door.
"After you," she smiled, bowing as Belle curtseyed in return and exited the apartment.
"KEYS!" yelled Belle as Ruby went to shut the door. Ruby froze as Belle bounded back into the apartment and grabbed the keys from the bowl in the kitchen. She was not getting locked out again. Ruby had a set but usually left them in her other jacket pocket, a habit Belle had scolded her for.
Trudging through the snow, Belle whipped out the sunglasses and put them on, the glare from the sun and also reflected off of the snow made her head pound. It was chilly, but the air was fresh and clear, the snow crunching pleasantly beneath their feet.
Upon arriving at Snow's apartment, Belle stepped in after Ruby. Both of them paused in the doorway to see David and Emma talking, while Regina sat on the sofa, a pair of dark glasses, rather like Belle's on her face, her mouth taut. Snow was lying against the arm of the sofa, sitting on the far end from Regina, looking utterly smashed after the night's drinking. Snow raised her head a bit at the sight of Ruby, who sniggered.
"Bad night, Snow?"
"Shut up," she groaned in reply.
"Come on, let's get you a coffee," said Ruby, taking Snow by the arm and dragging her friend into the kitchen. Belle, smiling as Snow protested mildly at being dragged into the other room, glanced around the room. She still wasn't entirely comfortable. She didn't really know where she fitted with the Charmings yet. Deciding not to interrupt David and Emma, she sat on the sofa in Snow's recently vacated spot and let out a long sigh.
"Donning the sunglasses as well, I see," commented Regina. "It would seem we drank more than I thought."
"Did I… did I really set the table on fire?" asked Belle, leaning on the arm of the sofa, head in hand and looking to Regina, confused. Regina let out a light laugh.
"Yes you did."
"I am so sorry. I'll pay for it to be fixed-"
"Don't apologise, it was the most fun I've had for a long time. And I fixed the table, magic can create and destroy. It all depends on your intent and psychological state at the time."
"Was it supposed to be that draining?" asked Belle.
"It is when you start. You get used to it." There was a bit of a pause. "Miss French-"
"Belle," interjected the librarian.
"Belle," corrected Regina with a smile. "Would you…?" she tailed off, suddenly cautious. She was used to people fearing her, and never letting people get close to her. This was slightly reminiscent of when she and Emma were in the first stages of their relationship. She felt vulnerable. "Are you perhaps still interested in those magic lessons?" she asked, going out on a limb. She was expecting the woman to say no, to shoot down her meagre attempts at friendship. She braced herself for it.
"Uh, yes, if you have the time," replied Belle after a moment's consideration.
"Oh yes, dear, I have nothing but time. Other than council meetings and paperwork, there isn't much for a Mayor to do in a town that isn't supposed to exist."
"The library is pretty much the same, to be honest. I like the quiet but it gets boring after a while."
"Exactly my sentiments."
Returning home a few hours later, Belle and Ruby lounged on the sofa watching TV. Ruby lay on her side, her head resting on Belle's lap as the woman with the curls gently stroked her hair.
"Belle, this is boring, can we watch something else?" moaned Ruby, reaching for the remote. Belle slapped her arm away with the hand not currently nestled in Ruby's hair.
"No, you can choose after! Besides, I'll burn your hair," she threatened, but with a smile.
"You wouldn't," laughed Ruby, retracting her hand anyway. "Remind me not to let you drink two bottles of champagne again, though."
"It wasn't that much!" exclaimed Belle. Ruby twisted, looking up at her with an eyebrow raised. "Okay, it was that much." Belle caressed Ruby's cheek lightly, staring down at her as if lost for a moment.
"You okay?" asked Ruby, noting the odd expression. Belle snapped out of it immediately.
"Fine. Just thinking."
"You think too much," Ruby said, stretching out and deliberately hitting Belle's face with her arms.
"Excuse you," retorted Belle, grabbing Ruby's wrists and moving them away. "Are you working tomorrow?" she asked.
"Yeah, Granny never usually lets me have this much time off over the holidays. Being your girlfriend has its perks," she grinned.
"Is that all you're with me for?" teased Belle, brushing a lock of brown curls out of her eyes.
"Maybe not all, but it's a plus."