Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT or the characters. Credit for the song used in this chapter goes to Ingrid Michaelson ("Keep Warm" from her album Human Again).

Halfway through the concert that night, Ruby accepted an acoustic guitar from a stagehand. "We've been working on a new song during rehearsals over the last week, and tonight seems like a good night to debut it, what do you all think?" The roar from the crowd didn't leave any question as to their excitement. Ruby grinned and carried the guitar over to the center of the stage where a stool had been set up with a microphone on a stand. She sat down and strummed a few chords, making sure the guitar was tuned properly. "So, this song is different from my usual stuff, but I hope you all like it because it's pretty close to my heart right now."

The spotlights all swung around to focus on Ruby, the beams softening slightly to better suit the mood. Ruby slowly started strumming the guitar, simple chords floating gently through the large stadium. "Eyes on the prize and I can't capsize this time/ 'cause there's someone else in my boat/ used to live alone in a tomb I made my own/ but now I've gone and given up my coat," she closed her eyes, a little smile on her bright red lips. "And it's cold outside but I'm just fine/ you are mine to keep warm."

Belle felt her breath catch in her chest. She had seen this softer version of Ruby before, but only in brief glimpses when they were alone. Seeing Ruby display this vulnerability in front of a whole crowd of people was more shocking to her than any of the usual shenanigans Ruby got up to while on stage.

"Down down down I go/ on a road that I don't know/ and I ain't got a thing in my bag/ some things you cannot plan/ like your hand in mine/ just put your hand in mine," Ruby looked out into the crowd, finding Belle in an instant. Their eyes met and Ruby's smile grew bigger. "And it's cold outside but I'm just fine/ you are mine to keep warm/ yeah it's cold outside but I'm just fine/ you are mine to keep warm."

Holding onto eye contact, Belle grinned at Ruby. Slowly and as clearly as she could, she mouthed "I am yours."

Ruby winked and continued on with the song. "Diamond rings and beautiful things/ oh you give me much more than that/ when you smile/ you are mine to keep warm/ and it's cold outside but I'm just fine/ you are mine to keep warm."

The crowd erupted with cheers as the song ended and Ruby handed the guitar off to a stagehand. She pulled the microphone off its stand as she left the stool, walking across the stage. "Someone very important to me inspired that song, so I am very glad you all liked it! Now, how about we turn up the volume a bit?"

Following an additional hour and a half of the usual concert routine, Belle met Ruby backstage at the end of the encore. She met Ruby with a sweet kiss, holding her tightly around the waist. Ruby leaned her forehead against Belle's after their kiss, smiling. "What did you think of your song?"

"My song?" Belle repeated.

"Who did you think it was about?" she teased. "Contrary to belief, I am not dating Victor, and unfortunately I don't have a pet to get sappy over."

The journalist laughed. "I loved the song."

Ruby nudged Belle's nose with her own. "Good. Now come on, I want to get out of here before traffic gets too crazy," she held onto Belle's hand as she led her towards the exit. They continued holding hands through the crowd of paparazzi, ducking into the waiting limo with only a few camera flashes catching them. Ruby curled up against Belle inside the car, her head in the shorter woman's lap.

"Do you want to join me for my post-concert swim?" Ruby asked, the streetlights from outside casting her face in light before plunging her back into the dark.

Belle toyed with one of the dyed strands of Ruby's hair. "Actually, I was hoping you would agree to watch a movie with me. I have a few things in mind for us tonight."

Ruby leaned into Belle's touch. "Such as?"

Without saying a word, Belle leaned down and kissed Ruby, her lips soft and lingering. When she pulled away, Ruby grinned. "My swim can be rescheduled." Belle grinned and kissed her again. They didn't break apart again until the limo reached the hotel. Holding hands again, they took the elevator up to Ruby's executive suite.

"I don't think I've ever seen you be absolutely still," Belle murmured two hours later, brushing a kiss against Ruby's shoulder as she moved closer to her between the sheets. Ruby wrapped an arm around Belle's waist, fingertips tracing designs on her skin.

"It doesn't happen often," Ruby admitted. "I like to keep moving as much as possible. It keeps the bad things in life from catching me."

Resting her cheek on Ruby, Belle looked up at the other woman through her eyelashes. "What bad things in life would dare to try to catch you?"

Ruby turned her head to kiss Belle's forehead. "Memories, stupid mistakes I've made, and all the things that the media and my fans say about me. I haven't always been the best person, and I guess I keep waiting for the shit to hit the fan."

"And what do you plan to do when things do turn bad?" Belle asked, placing an arm over Ruby's flat stomach.

Ruby shrugged, a crooked grin on her face. "I'll probably just do some more running. By then maybe I'll have earned enough off my albums to buy a little island somewhere. We can spend the days lying in a hammock and working on our tans."

"We?"

Gently smoothing Belle's hair away from her face, Ruby nodded. "I'd like to think that you're still around in the future. I'm falling in love with you, Belle, and I want to fall all the way."

Belle felt a light blush stain her cheeks. Her blue eyes locked on Ruby's brown ones, dark pink lips pressing together as she tried to find the right words. Belle lifted a hand to tangle it in Ruby's wild locks, red and brown twined around each other. Ruby leaned in and smoothed her lips over Belle's forehead before drifting down to kiss her lips. "Don't tell me I left the writer speechless?"

Touching her forehead to Ruby's, Belle smiled and kissed the singer again. "More like you took away my breath for a bit there," she whispered, her breath warm on Ruby's lips.

Ruby nudged Belle's face with her nose. "So, do you have a response, or did I just majorly ruin the mood?"

"You didn't ruin the mood," Belle promised. "Don't worry, I'm falling for you too."

Ruby grinned, kissing Belle and holding her tighter.