Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT or the characters.

Days flew by on the road as the tour went from city to city in a mad dash of music, media coverage, and cups of gas station coffee. The third installment of Belle's article series had just been published in the magazine. While she had made no mention of the tentative relationship she and Ruby had begun, other media sources were buzzing with gossip.

"Ruby Red left another concert last night with her famous red lipstick smeared after what can only be assumed an intense make-out session," the blonde host of an entertainment "news" show stated one morning as Belle got ready for the tour's second day in Minneapolis. "While there is no confirmation as to who the singer has been locking lips with, it wouldn't be too far of a leap to suggest that Ruby has gotten back together with drummer Victor Whale. A lot can happen when two people are on a tour together, especially when they already have quite the on-again-off-again history."

"And maybe something would have happened if it weren't for the fact that through some stroke of luck I have the most adorable journalist ever on tour with me," Ruby responded to the TV as she came out of Belle's bathroom in a tight green tank top, cut-off jeans, and her hair coiled up in a towel turban. "Those entertainment shows never get their facts right."

"This is one case where that is a good thing," Belle replied as she finished putting her hair up into a knot. "I don't think my boss would be very happy to hear that I was dating the subject of my article series."

Ruby let her hair out of the towel and leaned against the wall while she dragged a comb through her still-wet hair. "Is that what we're doing? Dating?"

Belle shrugged, walking across the room to zip her suitcase closed. "I guess. There isn't really a word for what we're doing, is there? I mean, what word or term makes sense for two people who spend most of their time with each other and kiss backstage and in hotel rooms and pools and hold hands when they think no one else can see but can't actually go out on dates for fear of being photographed?"

"Okay, so it's a little more complicated than usual," Ruby admitted. "But dating sounds about right."

Belle smiled, one corner of her mouth going slightly higher than the other. "Yeah, dating sounds about right."

Ruby finished combing out her hair and moved across the room to stand before Belle, taking her hands and leaning down to brush a light kiss to the shorter woman's lips. Belle took one hand away and placed it on the back of Ruby's neck, holding her close for a longer kiss before letting her go. Ruby bumped their noses together before pulling away. "The show isn't until eight tonight. Do you want to do something before then? We can call it a date?"

"Sure," Belle grinned. "We could find a small café or somewhere to have lunch and take a walk through the city? If you leave off your rock star makeup we might even be able to go unnoticed."

"Deal. I'll meet you back here in an hour after my meeting with Emma," Ruby promised, pressing a quick kiss to Belle's cheek before turning to leave the room. "Would you mind seeing what restaurants are in walking distance?"

Belle shook her head. "Not a problem. See you in an hour."

The hour passed quickly while Belle worked on the next installment of her article series, choosing to use the installment to focus on where Ruby was hoping to take her music with the next album. She jumped slightly when Ruby knocked on the door, having lost track of the time. Grabbing her purse, phone, and room key, she opened the door and grinned. "Ready to go? I found a cute little place that serves Mexican food just three blocks away."

"Sounds perfect," Ruby replied, taking Belle's hand as they walked down the empty hotel hallway. They continued to hold hands through the lobby, and when Belle would have pulled away as they stepped onto the street Ruby held on tighter. Belle looked at Ruby, eyebrow lifted in a question.

"One of the many great things about being women," Ruby said quietly. "Is that we are able to hold hands and people will frequently think that we are just very close friends. Tons of female celebrities have gotten away with relationships that way: Taylor Swift, Kristen Stewart, Ellen. People like to assume that women are just good friends rather than girlfriends."

"And you are using that to our advantage," Belle laughed.

Ruby grinned. "Can you blame me? You were right when you said we can't exactly go out on dates, and that sucks, so I thought we might as well try our best. We probably can't get away with kissing, but this much we can do."

"I like this much," Belle replied. "This much is good."

"Good," Ruby responded as they waited for the traffic light to change so they could cross the street to the restaurant. The walk signal flashed and they went into the restaurant, entering a little place filled with the scent of spices and the sound of mariachi music. Sitting down at a table near the window, they picked up the menus and looked at the murals painted on the walls.

"I haven't had Mexican food in ages," Belle commented. "There used to be a decent place around the corner from my apartment in New York, but it closed a few months ago."

Before Ruby could reply their waiter appeared. They quickly placed their orders, which came out of the kitchen at an incredible speed. After eating Ruby paid the bill in cash and they went back out onto the street. Taking Belle's hand again, Ruby led the way back towards the hotel. "Are you planning to be backstage again tonight or are you going to be in the crowd?"

"I hadn't really thought much about it," she admitted. "Which would be better?"

Ruby shrugged. "They'd both be fine, but I would kind of like to be able to see you in the crowd tonight. Would you mind?"

Belle squeezed Ruby's hand. "Not at all, on one condition. Please don't sing a song about sex and direct it at me. I don't think I can handle that again without becoming permanently red."

Ruby laughed as she pulled open the glass door to the hotel's lobby. "Deal."