Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT or the characters.

"And then at seven the next morning we'll get on the tour buses and up to Washington," Emma said, signing her name on the bill for the meal and handing it to the waitress. "Any questions?"

Ruby raised her hand, lower lip out in a pout like a child. "Couldn't we just get on the buses straight after the show and drive through the night?"

"Just because you can live on two hours of sleep a night doesn't mean the rest of us can," Emma replied. "And I promised the drivers we would try to cut down on the amount of night driving they would have to do this time around," she stood up and slid out of the booth around Ruby. "I have some things to go over with the sound technicians for tomorrow, so I'm afraid I have to get going. Will you two be alright without me?"

"You're leaving me alone with a journalist?" Ruby asked. "You haven't done that since my second interview when I admitted to beating up a boy I knew in high school."

Emma sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Please don't say anything terrible. I don't want to start the tour off by trying to fix a public relations nightmare. Try to be in your room by eleven tonight so you have enough rest for the show tomorrow. Belle, it was great to meet you and I look forward to working with you over the next few months."

"The same to you," Belle replied, watching Emma walk out of the restaurant, already pulling out her phone and tapping in a number. Turning back to her companion, Belle smiled pleasantly. "Well, I suppose if you don't mind we could get started on the opening interview for the article series?"

"Where is your accent from?" Ruby asked, ignoring Belle's question. "It's not British- I dated an English guy for a while- and it definitely isn't from the States."

Pulling a small notebook and pen out of the purse she had carried down to supper with her, Belle shook her head. "I'm Australian. My parents still live there."

"So how did you end up in Los Angeles?" Ruby asked, head tilted as she looked at Belle with large brown eyes.

Belle shrugged. "I had a job opportunity. How did you get into music?"

Ruby grinned, her smile wolfish. "Oh no, you'll be writing about me for two months and finding out all sorts of details. I want to know about you first. So," she put an elbow on the table and placed her chin in her hand. "Tell me about you. Favorite colors, hobbies, songs, kinks, and anything else you think would be worth mentioning."

Belle shook her head as she felt her head pull back slightly as if she'd had the wind knocked out of her. This wasn't a situation that usually came up during interviews. Most of the people she wrote about were more than happy to talk at length about themselves, usually spending more than the scheduled hour or two of her time as they droned on. Ruby waited patiently, eyes focused on Belle. "Um," the journalist stuttered. "Well, I- I like the color blue, and I love reading, and I like to swim a bit."

"You're a swimmer?" Ruby repeated, head tilting again. "I didn't expect that."

Belle shrugged. "I've never been on a team or anything. It's just something I like to do now and then. Mostly I spend my time reading."

"What do you read?" the singer asked.

Belle laughed before she could stop herself. "What don't I read would be an easier question to answer. If it is in print, I'll read it."

"And what about music?" Ruby asked, shifting in her seat to press a little closer against the table. "What do you like to listen to on the radio?"

She shrugged. "Honestly, I usually listen to the softer pop music. I like Ingrid Michealson and Sara Bareilles a lot."

Ruby winced slightly. "So I suppose that my songs aren't really your style. Too loud, too obscene?"

"It's not what I usually listen to, but it's catchy," Belle replied diplomatically. "I thought a few of the songs on your second album were fun."

Ruby laughed. "Nice save. Alright, so you read a lot, swim sometimes, like the color blue and soft pop music. What do you think about when you're alone? Are you in a relationship?"

"You really don't hold yourself back from asking anything, do you?" Belle asked. "If you ever want to get out of the music business, you should give journalism a shot. I think you'd be able to get more information than a lot of people usually can."

A strand of her hair slid over her shoulder as Ruby shrugged, the red dye attracting the lights in the room. "I don't see the point in being careful what I say. Too many people dance around subjects for ages and I just think that's a waste of time. Now, answer those questions and I'll stop interrogating you and you can start interviewing me."

Belle smiled, taking a sip of water as she thought. "I like to think about where I'll be in the future, whether it's three years or ten. Someday I'd like to travel to places all over the world and experience everything I can. I have this dream of myself in a little apartment in Paris during the weeks and then flying off to Egypt or Ireland or Turkey for weekend trips."

Ruby's chin was back in her cupped hand, eyes fixed on Belle. "And are you in a relationship?" she asked again.

"Not right now," Belle admitted. "My last one didn't exactly end well, and my schedule is irregular enough to make dating a bit difficult."

"How did it end? Was he cheating or did you just get sick of being with someone who couldn't make you happy?" Ruby asked, voice heavy with thinly veiled bitterness.

"Neither," Belle replied, twirling her water glass in her hand. "We both had our own reasons for getting out of the relationship. Now," she said, putting down the water glass and picking up her pen. "Tell me about you. What should my readers know right away about Ruby Lucas?"

Ruby leaned forward on her elbows, hair falling forward to frame her face as she smiled. "I don't know about your readers, but I do know one thing you should know."

"Alright," Belle replied, setting down her pen again and leaning forward towards Ruby across the table. "What do you want to tell me?" she murmured, feeling like a child sharing secrets.

Ruby's brown eyes had tiny hints of gold that Belle could see when their faces were so close together. Her red lipstick had faded slightly during the meal, and Belle noticed a small sprinkling of fair freckles across her nose. The singer smiled, lips closed and eyes twinkling. "I am also very single, and really don't care whether a person is a guy or a girl. If I like someone, I like them. And Belle? I think you are very…" Ruby paused, eyes glued to Belle's blue ones. "Interesting. I'm glad we'll be getting to spend some time together."

Belle flushed slightly as she pulled back, eyes still locked with Ruby's. "Thank you. I'm, well, I'm looking forward to working with you."

Ruby grinned her wolfish smile again. "Well, now that I've fulfilled my daily flirting quota, why don't you ask me those questions?"