I don't own these characters. Disney/ABC does.
A/N: this chapter contains a sexual situation, but no actual sex.
4: Embrace It All
Ruby was ready to panic, which was a very unfamiliar feeling. She paced the living room, mind jumbled. She had invited Belle out on a date. Their first date, but she had not figured out where they would go. She just blurted it out over lunch. And now, she had to figure things out.
"Babe, you okay?" Dorothy asked as she came into the living room, fresh from the shower. Ruby could not even enjoy the way her tank top stuck to her like a second skin and all of the delicious skin on display.
"No! I told Belle we'd take her on a date!" Ruby wanted to pull her hair out.
Dorothy's face scrunched up, like she did not get why this was such a big deal. "Okay. We should do that. We haven't been out in a while."
Ruby yelped and gawked at Dorothy. "Oh, wow. You're right. I got so wrapped up in taking care of Belle, I forgot to take care of you."
Dorothy scoffed. "I also got wrapped up in taking care of Belle. That was something we did together. We can plan the date together if you want."
Ruby pressed her palms together. "Please, help." She was at a total loss.
Dorothy smiled. "Of course. Come sit." She went to the couch and Ruby followed.
Ruby sat in Dorothy's lap and Dorothy wrapped her arms around Ruby. The embrace helped calm Ruby. Dorothy rubbed her back, which helped more. Ruby buried her nose in Dorothy's neck and breathed her in for a few seconds. Dorothy's aroma never failed to soothe her.
"So, when did you volunteer us for a date?" Dorothy asked with a furrowed brow.
"At lunch. I don't ever remember what we were talking about, but I just blurted out how we needed to take her on a proper date to be official," Ruby explained.
Dorothy let out a little grunt. "Wasn't us deciding we were all in a relationship the thing that made us official?"
"She said the same thing, but I was insistent we'd take her out. I just can't think of where to go. I want our first date to be special. Something that shows we care and we want this to last."
Dorothy arched an eyebrow. "Our first real date was you making me hot chocolate."
Ruby grinned at her before kissing her on the lips. "And you still remember. It was special."
"My point is that special doesn't have to be complicated. You were in my heart already, but that made a seed grow in my heart. Let's do something from the heart," Dorothy said.
Ruby sighed. "I know, but I can't think of anything special, be it simple or complicated." Her mind was blank.
"Okay. Then, let's flip it. Instead of worrying over what to do with Belle on a date, let's consider what you want to do. What would you like to do on this date?"
Now, Ruby really had nothing. She had not considered herself at all. What did she want? She had everything she wanted. Oh, no. She had desires from all of these good things in her life and she knew exactly what she wanted for this date.
"I want to see you both dressed up and delighted," Ruby said.
Dorothy nodded. "So, it's more about taking me and Belle out for a date."
Ruby made a noise. "I guess so. We haven't been out in a while, especially just the two of us, and I love when you get all dressed up. Where can we go that you'd both like and have to dress up?"
Dorothy gave a wicked grin. "There's a car show coming up."
Ruby's face dropped. "You dress up for car shows?"
"I would if you wanted me to."
Ruby rolled her eyes. "We're not doing that as our first date with Belle. I want something to wow both of you." But, what? Belle was not as into the club scene as she and Dorothy were. She did not want to take Belle somewhere and then she would want to leave an hour or two later.
Dorothy snapped, like she had a good idea. "You could give her a library."
Ruby laughed. "Regina beat me to it. You think she's ever bothered to watch her Disney movies?"
Dorothy shook her head. "I don't think so, but I also doubt you want that as a first date if she doesn't like them."
Ruby pursed her lips. "True. Oh, wait, have we gone to a play together?"
"No. Why? Are they doing Beauty and the Beast?" Dorothy was clearly trying to follow her train of thought.
"No, but there's a variety to choose from and maybe one'll be based on a book or a famous story or something. Plus, it'll be new to all of us and you get to dress up. We might be theater people."
Dorothy's face twisted a little. "It's worth a shot. I've never actually seen any plays. Closest I've come is a puppet show."
Ruby scanned her brain, feeling that might also be true for her. "You know, I don't think I've actually been to a play either. I mean, I have Cursed memories, but I know that's not exactly real. I didn't have time for plays back in the Enchanted Forest. Oh, this could be really nice."
Dorothy nodded. "I'd like to do this."
"Okay, so I guess the next thing is for us to find out what plays are happening." Ruby grabbed her phone off of the coffee table. She was not sure how active the theater district was in Storybrooke. Yes, it existed, but was it popular? Did they have the type of town that liked the theater?
"We have to know someone into theater. I mean, Regina and Zelena are overly dramatic. They gotta like shows, right?" Dorothy asked.
Ruby laughed. "I think they just like being theatrical." She also could not see Zelena sitting still long enough to enjoy a play.
Dorothy shrugged. "I could believe that."
Ruby found a list of plays in Storybrooke and was pretty impressed. They had five different shows going on, all with afternoon and evening performances. She read the summaries and hummed.
"Which one looks nice?" Dorothy asked.
"I dunno. You think you could stand a comedy?"
Dorothy arched an eyebrow. "Would we really dress up for a comedy?"
"It's still a play and a night out. But…" Ruby trailed off and tapped her chin. "Will Belle find that special?"
"I think out of all of us, she needs a good laugh."
Ruby snorted with laughter. "You know what, you're right. Okay, so I'll order us some tickets for the evening show. Should we go to dinner first or after?"
"How long is the show?"
"Two hours."
"Definitely before. Neither of us will be happy to wait for a late dinner."
That was certainly true. "Okay, I'm going to order these tickets and then you help me figure out where we'll go to dinner."
Dorothy gave a strong nod. "No problem. Is Belle going to be okay going outside with us like this? She doesn't ignore rumors the same way we do. We don't want her to be uncomfortable."
"I think she'll be fine, but I won't buy the tickets yet just in case. We can just plan the date. I'll ask her if she's okay with going outside and then we all go outside."
Dorothy snickered and gave Ruby a squeeze. "I love how optimistic you always are."
Ruby shrugged. How could she not be optimistic? Belle was dating them. She had a partner who was so cool and understanding, she was not upset Ruby had feelings for someone else. Dorothy was an amazing girlfriend, alpha, and person. She wanted this date to be a treat for all of them.
The date was planned and then Ruby had to check with Belle. Lunch time seemed like the best time to do it. Dorothy joined them, even though she still liked her lunches with the Sheriff's department. When she let Belle know she was coming, Belle made sure Ruby did not bring anything for lunch. She would handle things. They went up to Belle's apartment, where she had a proper meal waiting for them.
"I wanted to do something more since Dorothy came," Belle said.
Ruby poked Dorothy in the ribs. "Look at her, spoiling you already."
Belle gave a nervous laugh. "I just thought it was nice to have all three of us together for lunch. It's nothing special, just penne with sauce and chicken."
"Good enough for us." Dorothy smiled.
"Agreed," Ruby said.
Belle served them and they sat around her dining room table. It could actually fit six people, in case she wanted to entertain. They all sat together, very close, all touching.
"You know, this could count as a first date," Dorothy commented before she shoved a forkful of penne in her mouth.
Ruby glared at her. "Why would you do that?" Was Dorothy trying to sabotage their planned date?
Dorothy grinned. "Well, because she did something special for us. It doesn't take away from the special thing you planned. Besides, you could argue we've already had a dozen first dates."
Ruby sighed, shoulders slumping. "I guess you're right." Maybe she put too much weight on this. It did not have to be a big deal. They had a lifetime of big deals ahead of them.
Belle stared at both of them. "What's wrong?"
Ruby shook her head. "Nothing's wrong. It's just we sat up last night and planned a date. I thought it'd be a first date for us, but I guess Dorothy's right that it could be argued we've had a dozen of those already." All the movie nights and watching shows together and cooking together… any one of those things could be a date.
"You planned a date?" Belle eyed them like it was unbelievable.
"Yeah, if you're willing to be seen going out with us." Ruby pointed to herself and then Dorothy.
Belle's brow furrowed, like she was not sure why there would be a problem, and then her eyes went wide with realization. "People will think we're having an affair, just out in the open like that."
Ruby chuckled. "Right under Dorothy's nose?"
Dorothy snorted. "They already think that's the case. We might as well use it to our advantage and go on dates. They won't know, so they can't start new rumors."
"New rumors," Belle gasped like it never occurred to her that people could say other things. Of course, it did not occur to her that people would talk about her trying to steal Ruby or that she and Ruby were having an affair.
Ruby waved that off. "Don't worry about that. We don't have to do anything outside that we wouldn't have done when we were hanging out as friends." Not that they had done anything physically romantic since deciding to date. They wanted it to be organic and there just did not seem to be a moment where it seemed right for kisses and such.
Belle nodded. "But, then is it a date?"
Ruby shrugged. "It's a date if we say it is. Look, I want to take you both out. I want us all to be able to be together outside, doing stuff. I'm not trying to jump either of you or anything, but I do want us to do stuff and be together and be happy together."
Dorothy chimed in. "Besides, we all want this relationship to work, so we can't worry about people who aren't involved in this relationship to have a say."
Belle stared at the table, but she nodded. "You're right. I can't worry about what other people are going to think. I guess I'm always worried that somehow it'll mess with both of you."
Ruby patted her hand. "You don't have to worry about us, at least not concerning the rumors. And, whenever you think something's bothering us, please talk to us."
Dorothy jumped in. "We're big into talking, once we figure out what we need to say. We have to make sure to communicate because if we don't, we get on each other's nerves, which we don't want."
Belle sighed. "I'll do my best. There's so much relationship stuff that I have to unlearn, but I think you're the best people for me to unlearn things with. I know you'll be patient with me and show me kindness and consideration."
"We're always here for you," Ruby promised, patting Belle on the knee.
"I know." Belle smiled.
"So, we're going to this play?" Dorothy asked, some eagerness in her tone. Aw, she really wanted to go. This made Ruby want to go even more.
"We're going to a play," Belle agreed.
Ruby grinned. "And it's our first official date?"
"Yes," Belle agreed once more.
Ruby had to keep from clapping her hands as energy zipped through her. If she was in her wolf form, her tail would be wagging. She could not wait to take her ladies out.
-8-8-8-8-
Ruby's tongue was practically on the floor as Dorothy slipped on her fitted suit jacket. That suit looked so damn good on Dorothy. Even with a slightly updated wardrobe, Ruby did not think she could hold a candle next to Dorothy in a suit, especially this dashing burgundy suit with black vest. Ruby practically threw herself into Dorothy's arms and kissed her with everything she had. Dorothy gave her a dopey grin when they pulled away for air.
"Okay, you're being way too tempting right now. I really want to see this show and we have our first date with our girlfriend," Dorothy said.
Ruby grinned back. "Yeah, our girlfriend. Let's go get our girlfriend."
"But, also know you look amazing." Dorothy nipped her neck. "I'm gonna eat you up later."
Ruby shivered. She looked down at herself, having gone with a classic little black dress. She still had not had a trip to Regina's dressmaker, but she made an appointment with Regina. It was funny how delighted Regina was to find out she wanted to go. Regina really liked those little hangouts.
Emma loaned Dorothy her car after Dorothy explained she and Ruby were going out that night. It was nice of her, so they could pick Belle up in a car. Ruby texted Belle when they pulled up and Belle met them downstairs. She was wrapped in a thick coat, so they did not get to see her dress until they got to the theater.
Dorothy took Belle's coat off of her shoulders once they were secure in the building and Ruby's tongue almost hit the floor once more. Belle's cobalt dress fell well above her knees and had her back out. She noticed Ruby gawking and winked at her. Ruby could not help laughing.
"Come on, ladies." Dorothy offered each of them an arm, even though she had their coats as well. They accepted, even though Ruby had to lead the way since she had the tickets.
They had seats in the front row and plenty of people in the theater watched them as they sat down, but they ignored the looks. They had more pressing things to figure out. How should they sit?
They tended to always situate themselves with Ruby in the middle, but it seemed to come more from who was supporting whom. Ruby was supporting Belle and Dorothy supported Ruby, but now they were all in this together. Everything was meant to be equal. And they should probably shake up their routine to get a feel for what it meant for all three of them to be together.
"Dorothy, you wanna take the middle?" Ruby offered. She was sort of there already since she had Ruby and Belle on each arm.
Dorothy arched an eyebrow. "You sure?"
"Yeah. Mix things up a little," Ruby replied.
They settled into their seats with Dorothy in the middle. Ruby would have liked to be in the middle to experience both of their reactions to the play, but this was nice. Then, Dorothy took her hand and everything was fine. Right before the play started, Ruby glanced over to see Dorothy holding Belle's hand, too. Nice.
Dorothy looked eager and Belle's eyes had stars in them. This was what Ruby wanted to see on a date with them. She would have a hard time paying attention to the play. Well, until Dorothy and Belle noticed her watching and turned her attention to the show.
The play ended up being hilarious. Dorothy laughed to the point where she grabbed Ruby into a hug, as if to make sure she was laughing, too. She also nudged and grabbed Belle several times. Belle laughed just as often, though under much more control.
"Oh, my goodness, we have to do this again!" Dorothy grinned as soon as the curtain closed and the play was done. Her hands might end up sour for how long she clapped when the actors took their final bow.
Ruby nodded. "It was a lot of fun."
"Yes, made even better by being with two of my favorite people." Dorothy pulled both Ruby and Belle close to her, hugging them both around the shoulders. Ruby hugged her around the waist and was surprised to feel Belle's arms. Belle had done the same.
"On to dinner now?" Ruby asked. They were supposed to have dinner first, but they could not get the reservations for any earlier than now, even when she name-dropped. The restaurant was just that busy on Friday nights.
"I'm starving," Dorothy replied.
"I'm ready to eat as well," Belle said.
Dorothy put their coats on for them and then led them outside. She kept her arms around them, showing off her affection for them. Let the town talk of an affair. It did not matter. They were together and it was amazing.
Dinner was a treat. They went to Storybrooke's only steakhouse. It was as crowded as the person who took Ruby's reservation made it out to be. Maybe the person really was doing her a favor. Ruby and Dorothy would probably not be able to afford to eat out again for another month, but that was fine. Tonight was a night to splurge.
So, they all had steaks, different types so they could share with each other. Sides included fries, mashed potatoes, and creamed spinach; the last one courtesy of Dorothy. They talked about the play the whole time, ignoring stares and enjoying touching each other on the hand, shoulder, or knee. Ruby could actually hear the whispers, the speculation, but she did not care as long as Dorothy and Belle did not hear the outrageous disrespect.
Storybrooke would never surprise Ruby. No one ever seemed to like to think too deeply on things and would rather focus on the bad than the good. So, the idea of people thinking she was having an affair right in Dorothy's face was not a shock. It was the idea that Dorothy was the one having the affair or the idea that Belle would hurt either of them so much by doing something like that behind the other's back that grated on Ruby's nerves. None of them had done anything to deserve this nonsense.
"I can't believe you ate that whole thing," Belle said, regarding Dorothy's twenty-four ounce t-bone. The t-bone was the only thing left.
Dorothy scoffed, leaning against the back of her chair. "I try to keep up with this one sometimes." She jabbed her thumb at Ruby.
Ruby hiccuped. "Look, I almost didn't make it through that forty ounce. It was just so good." She had a forty ounce porterhouse and she might not be able to get out of her chair for a while.
"No, you have to finish the mashed potatoes." Dorothy nodded to the bowl of potatoes. There was not a lot left, but Ruby could not see herself managing the rest without exploding.
Ruby covered her mouth with her hand for a moment. "If you don't want me to burst open, you won't ask me to do that."
"You two do know you can just take the rest home, right?" Belle grinned, because of course they knew that.
"It's not the same once it leaves the table," Ruby said. Dorothy just pointed to her in agreement.
Belle smiled softly at them, like they were adorable. "So, no dessert is what you're saying?"
Ruby stared at her as if she had lost her mind. "Oh, no, we're getting dessert. I need some of that famous cheesecake they have here while we're throwing money around." It was not like they would be back here any time soon, so they might as well go all out.
"I'm game if you are," Dorothy said.
And so, they managed dessert. Ruby got her cheesecake. Dorothy got some chocolate sin cake and Belle had bread pudding. They shared with each other. It caused more talk, but more confused talk than anything else. People were not sure who was having an affair with whom now. People did not seem to know what to think and that was funny. Mind your own damn business. Thankfully, Belle and Dorothy showed no signs of hearing.
Once the check was settled — with a brief argument over who would pay, as Dorothy was suddenly in alpha mode and wanted to cover everything, they piled into the car again. Time to take Belle home. It was a shame such a great night had to end.
"I'm sorry about the bill," Dorothy said from behind the wheel.
Ruby patted her thigh. "It's fine, babe. You can flex your alpha status whenever you need to. You're not hurting us by trying to pay for us."
Dorothy nodded and then she glanced in the rearview mirror. "Is that okay with you, Belle?" Dorothy slouched just a little bit. That had to be a fear of hers. Belle, an omega, had been in a relationship with a presumed alpha, but if Regina had taught them anything, never assume. Maybe Rumple was not an alpha. Still, Dorothy seeming need to take control every now and then might be a problem, even though Dorothy was nothing like the Dark One.
"I don't mind your alpha-ness. I know how you are, Dorothy. I've been around you long enough," Belle replied.
Dorothy grinned and sat up a little taller. "Okay, I just want to make sure you're comfortable."
"I know. You always do," Belle said.
Dorothy puffed up, enough to leak some pheromones. She did that a lot with Belle. It did not bother Ruby, as she was certain most of the time Dorothy did not realize she was doing it and it was harmless. This time was definitely on purpose, since Dorothy winked at her, and there was something sexy about that.
As the scent invaded Ruby, she rubbed at the roof of her mouth with her tongue, tasting Dorothy in a different way. Dorothy glanced at her, knowing full well the effect she was having on Ruby. Dorothy chuckled until Belle made a small sniff and then Dorothy yelped. Belle was possibly smelling her and apparently she had not thought of that. Ruby chuckled. Okay, so she was actually doing that for my benefit and not peacocking for Belle. That felt good for some reason.
They pulled up to Belle's place and Dorothy hurried out of the car to open Belle's door, and escape the embarrassment more than likely. Dorothy opened Belle's door and then opened Ruby's door. The actions earned her a hug from each of them. They then walked Belle to the door, stepping just inside the foyer that held the stairs that led to Belle's place.
"This was a good first date," Ruby said. Dorothy nodded.
Belle's expression fell into a pout. "I'm sorry it's over. I want you both to come upstairs and watch a show until we both fall asleep on poor Dorothy."
Dorothy puffed up a little. "I promise you both, I don't mind."
"Do you really want us to come up?" Ruby asked.
Belle shook her head. "No, we should end the night here, so it'll be the perfect date. Thank you both for this. It was such a great time out. I look forward to doing it again sometime."
Ruby was about to giggle, but she was caught off guard as Belle pressed a soft kiss… right to her lips! It was the first time. Their first kiss and she almost missed it because her brain went totally blank as she realized what just happened. She managed to kiss back just as Belle was pulling away, but the response seemed to be enough to coax Belle to stay for a moment longer. And that moment was so sweet.
"I think I've been waiting to do that for years now," Belle said with a sigh.
Ruby could hardly breathe. "Please, feel free to do it whenever you want now."
Belle blushed and gave a small nod. Then, she glanced at Dorothy, who stared at the ceiling. She probably did not know what to do while seeing her girlfriends unexpectedly kiss. That was something they would have to figure out as they went.
"Go for it," Ruby encouraged them. Dorothy would definitely appreciate the affection as much as Ruby did.
Belle took a deep breath and squared her shoulders before she shot up on her tiptoes, kissing Dorothy right on the mouth. Dorothy yelped, but kissed right back almost immediately. Ruby gawked, unable to look away. How the hell had Dorothy found the ceiling when this happened between Ruby and Belle? Ruby could not even find air right now. Her heart sped up and it took everything in her to stay put. She had never seen anything look so right and she wanted in on it.
"Wow," Dorothy whispered as Belle pulled away.
Belle chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Ruby smiled. "We definitely rate you five stars."
Belle caressed Ruby's cheek. "You're silly."
Ruby turned her head to kiss Belle's hand. "I do my best. Okay, we should go because this is seriously perfect and I don't wanna chance ruining it." It did not help that she could still taste Dorothy on the roof of her mouth now mixed with Belle on her lips. Things would happen if they did not go their merry way soon.
Belle snickered. "I agree. Goodnight, both of you." She kissed their cheeks before disappearing in her apartment.
Ruby held in a squeal until they got outside. As soon as she stepped on the sidewalk, she balled up her fists and let out just a high-pitched howl. Dorothy laughed and grabbed her into a hug, squeezing her tight.
"I feel the same way," Dorothy said.
"It just feels right, right?" Ruby could not contain her giddiness.
"So far so good. Come on, before she looks out of the window and sees us still here," Dorothy replied.
Ruby laughed and allowed Dorothy to lead her back to the car. As they drove away, she looked back at the apartment and could see Belle in the window. She sighed. Yeah, this was perfect. When she got Dorothy home, she would make it even more perfect.
-8-8-8-8-
Belle blew out a long breath as she rolled around in her bed, mind replaying that perfect first date. It was amazing. She was not sure where she got the courage to kiss Ruby, but she was glad for Ruby's encouragement to kiss Dorothy, as there was no way she would have been able to do that on her own. She wanted to melt against both of them, as she had done since being welcomed into their lives.
"I want to do something special for them now," Belle whispered. She was not sure what she might do. Her bar for romantic gestures was almost nonexistent because Rumple was probably never sincere when she tried and he reacted well. She did not want to do something laughable and mistake it for a grand romantic gesture as well. This would be a question she saved for Regina when they had tea.
Tea came a few days later and was as elaborate as usual. It was just her, Regina, and Zelena in the house. Regina was probably happy for an empty house since she had hosted activities for the family, and hell sometimes for friends, since Halloween. Every holiday had been celebrated there and Regina did them all big. It was about making happy memories for everyone, not just the children. Regina wanted them all to feel connected, wanted them all to look back on events and smile, and wanted them to look forward to the next thing. It worked.
"Emma took all the kids somewhere?" Belle asked.
"No, actually, Maleficent has all the kids," Regina replied.
Belle was not expecting that. "Really? That's surprising."
Zelena rolled her eyes. "She thinks she's going to put a pup in me. Laughable."
That was weird. "Why would she be trying that if you don't want it?"
"Come now, Belle, you've known Zelena long enough to know she thinks being belligerent about something is the best way to show she actually wants it," Regina said.
Zelena snorted. "I don't want another child."
"Uh-huh." Regina rolled her eyes. "That's why you keep encouraging her to be with Robbie, so she doesn't think Mal's trying to replace her when you finally do get pregnant," Regina said dryly.
Zelena curled her lip. "Why don't you have another child?"
Regina sucked her teeth. "You know damn well I can't." She glared at Zelena with such venom. "Now, how about you stop being a brat for once in your damn life?"
Belle did not want to watch this descend into a fight, as it sometimes happened as Regina and Zelena were sensitive and careless. "Regina, would you teach me how to make a dish?"
Regina's head snapped as she turned to Belle. "What dish do you have in mind?"
"Um…" She did not have anything in mind. She had not even expected to say that. "So, I want to do something special for Ruby and Dorothy. You know, because they're always there for me." She did not want to mention they were in a relationship yet. While they had not discussed it, the change was so new, it seemed better to keep it low for now, just to give it a chance to blossom.
Zelena waved that off. "I'm sure if you went down on them, they'd be happy." Belle yelped and blushed.
Regina glared at Zelena once more. "Maybe you should follow your own advice, so your mouth will be busy with something else for once." She turned her attention to Belle. "I'd be happy to show you. What would you like to learn how to make?"
Belle sighed. "I'm actually open to suggestions."
Regina pursed her lips for a long moment. "They're both heavily into meat, so maybe steaks."
Belle shook her head. "You know as well as the rest of the town, we went out for steaks not too long ago." People would not shut up about it, especially in the library. Poor Luisa kept accidentally overhearing things and wanting to know if she should do something about the words.
Regina waved that off. "True. Pot roast, maybe."
"Maleficent enjoys beef stew," Zelena said before sipping her tea.
Regina arched an eyebrow. "You know damn well you wouldn't make Maleficent a stew for a special dinner."
Zelena shrugged. "Well, no, you're right."
Instead of an argument springing up, both sisters bounced ideas off of each other while enjoying tea and snacks. They waited for any and all feedback from Belle. It was a very pleasant exchange and left Belle with a solid plan right before they were surrounded by chaos as Maleficent returned with all of the little kids. Maleficent did not look okay, but all the children were fine, so there was that. Belle took the children from Maleficent, going into the living room for a reading circle. All of the children loved reading and stories. Maleficent looked like she wanted to drop to her knees and thank Belle.
-8-8-8-8-
Belle was surprised she was not more nervous as she put the food on. Regina had come over to supervise her cooking, mostly believing this should not be a total experiment since Belle wanted her affection to come through in the meal. Regina did not comment on Belle wanting to show affection through food, just accepting that. So, Regina sat back as Belle made the meal she and Zelena settled on: brisket, baked potatoes, mac and cheese, and dinner rolls.
"You picked out wine?" Regina asked.
Belle nodded. "Of course."
"Candles?" Regina glanced at the table.
"You think? Wouldn't it be too much?" Belle tapped her chin as she looked at the table.
"No, but considering Ruby's sense of smell, maybe some flameless candles." Regina flicked her wrist and three candles appeared on the table. "You can have low lighting, but it won't interfere with the smell of dinner."
Belle tilted her head at Regina, as if Regina knew what was happening, like she knew this was a date. "Um…"
Regina waved her off before she could even form the proper thought to ask a question. "It's fine. Maybe…" She snapped, getting rid of the candles. Low lighting appeared overhead. "No, no, no. That won't do."
"Maybe the candles are good."
"You sure?"
"I don't want to go overboard."
Regina snorted. "Oh, please. There is no going overboard here. You want to throw everything at them considering the noise that the town has made about your play and trip to the steakhouse."
Belle groaned and face-palmed. "Is the talk really bad?" She knew she always heard the bare minimum of the rumors.
Regina made a face. "It always is, especially when you're happy and doing well. Continue to ignore that nonsense. But, yes, let's go overboard. You've already cooked for them. Considering the amount of time they spend with Emma, I'm going to assume they'll react similar to how she would. You'll think you just handed them your fortune."
Belle nodded. "Like you just gave her your first born child, huh?"
Regina chuckled. "Please, don't mention our first born child. We are not okay on that front."
"You have to know you did a good job with him and that's why he's going to college and also comfortable with the idea of living out of state away from you," Belle said.
Regina smiled. "That doesn't make him going away any easier. Anyway, let me not ruin your evening with my woes. I want everything to be perfect for you."
Belle could not help herself, she hugged Regina. "Thank you so much for all of this. Thank you for being here for me."
Regina hugged her back. "Well, beyond the fact that I owe you, I really mean it when I call you family, Belle, and that matters so much to me."
"It matters so much to me, too. And, you can stop beating yourself up over what happened to us in the past. I've forgiven you for that."
"Thank you."
Once everything was settled, including flameless candles on the table, Regina vanished and Belle was on her own. She did her makeup and got dressed in a simple yellow cocktail dress. She did not usually wear shoes around the apartment, but felt a little weird with being dressed up without footwear. As soon as she slipped on her black heels, the bell rang. It was cute they rang the bell, even though Ruby had a key. She buzzed them in.
"It smells so good!" Ruby declared as soon as she stepped into the apartment. She gave Belle a kiss, on the lips, as if that was just the thing to do.
Belle blinked as Ruby hugged her and then stepped out of the way for Dorothy to do the same. Dorothy gathered her in a hug and was a little more restrained than Ruby. Dorothy had started being a little more careful, possibly because of her alpha status. Belle gave her a kiss and Dorothy smiled.
"It does smell good," Dorothy said.
"Thanks. I cooked, but Regina tutored me along the way. This is only my second time making this, though," Belle replied.
Ruby rubbed her hands together. "I'm sure it's fine. It smells too good to be anything but."
Dorothy tilted her head. "Regina helped you?"
"She's so supportive," Belle said.
"Yeah, and you're also a good distraction from Henry," Ruby added.
Belle chuckled. "Well, yes, there is that. How is Emma handling it?" She ushered them to the table.
Dorothy shook her head. "Terribly. She's doing all of our paperwork whenever there's a lull. She's still trying to matchmake for Mulan, but Mulan and Moana seem to be exclusive. Mulan doesn't talk much about that. Maybe she'll try Lily next."
Belle scoffed. "Lily seems pretty intent in sleeping with every woman in town that's not in her family at least twice."
"Living the dream," Ruby joked.
Dorothy gave her a mock-glare. "You keep that up and you can join her in the single life."
Ruby got up and hugged Dorothy around the neck. "Never." She kissed Dorothy's cheek. "This is the best. Got my favorite ladies right here."
Dorothy smiled. "So, did Regina ask why you wanted to do this or does she just know?"
Belle shook her head. "I just told her I wanted to do something nice for you. She didn't really ask questions, but she seems to suspect. I didn't confirm. Are we confirming for anyone? I didn't want to say anything, beyond us not talking about… well, I just want to keep it quiet for now. I'm not ashamed or anything—"
Ruby chuckled and wrapped her arms around Belle. "You're rambling. We can enjoy our little bubble for right now."
"It gives us a chance to figure things out for ourselves without a bunch of people in our ears," Dorothy said.
Belle nodded. "That's what I thought, too."
"Then, it's settled. We're enjoying this little bubble and we'll pop it when we're good and ready." Ruby grinned.
Dorothy arched an eyebrow. "I know from your expression there's something off with that sentence, but I don't know what."
Ruby rubbed her hands together. "Don't worry about it. We should eat while it's hot because it smells so good."
Belle and Dorothy agreed with that. They sat down and ate, having light conversation. Belle was pleased that the meal actually came out very well. Well enough for both Ruby and Dorothy to have seconds. Then, there was dessert. She did not have time for those lessons, so she had just purchased a chocolate cake, but they ate it with joy. Then, they ended up on the couch, snuggled together. Belle sighed as she kicked her shoes off.
"Can't believe you actually put shoes on," Ruby said from her spot in the middle. Maybe that was just the natural way for them, even though they tried to shake it up since the play.
"I wanted to look nice for you. Look at how you both look." Belle motioned to Ruby and Dorothy, who were both dressed well. While Dorothy was not in a suit, but she had on a nice shirt with the sleeves partially rolled up to show off her forearms and pressed slacks with a sharp crease. Ruby had a skirt, but it went almost to her knees. They looked nice, so it was good that she looked nice.
Ruby gave her a very exaggerated once-over. "You look damn good."
"We appreciate it," Dorothy replied.
Belle smiled and they started a movie. Halfway through the movie, Ruby pulled Belle into her lap, so they were all closer.
Belle rested her head on Ruby's shoulder. Then Dorothy put her arm around Ruby and her hand on Belle's thigh. Belle accidentally jumped at the contact and Dorothy moved her hand.
"I'm sorry!" Dorothy apologized.
"No, I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting it," Belle explained.
Dorothy eyed her with concern. "Are you sure?"
"Please. It was a pleasant surprise." Belle wanted nothing more than to be held by these two amazing women.
Dorothy nodded and then her hand was back, warm and solid on Belle's thigh. Belle settled once more. They all relaxed and in that moment Belle allowed herself to take in Dorothy's alpha scent. It was soothing and she groaned.
"Smells nice, huh?" Ruby asked.
Belle yelped. "I'm sorry!"
"Why?" Dorothy asked.
"Yeah, she's doing that on purpose. She does that to create a comforting atmosphere," Ruby explained. And now that Ruby mentioned it, Belle realized Dorothy had done this when she was around before. She was not sure if she ever reacted to it like she was not, but it had to affect her. It was just too good not to have gotten through to her before tonight.
"It's working very well," Belle replied.
Ruby nodded. "I really like the smell. I can catch it on the roof of my mouth, too, so I kind of know what relaxing tastes like."
"That's actually intriguing," Belle said.
"Oh, could I share it with you?" Ruby wiggled her eyebrows.
Belle was not sure how Ruby could do that. "I'm curious."
Ruby leaned in, kissing Belle softly. Okay, she should have seen that coming. Not that she was bothered. She kissed Ruby and was all too happy to let Ruby's tongue into her mouth as it lapped at her lips. She lost herself in the taste and feel of Ruby. Why had they not done this sooner? She would drown in Ruby if she could. It was upsetting to pull away for air. But, it was only when she took a deep breath that she realized alpha pheromones filled the room.
"Um… sorry?" Dorothy shrugged as Belle and Ruby turned to her.
"Aw, don't be sorry, babe!" Ruby leaned over and kissed Dorothy's cheek. "You want kisses, too?"
"Well, obviously," Dorothy answered.
Ruby laughed and then leaned in, kissing Dorothy as if they were all alone. Belle whimpered, trying to look away, but unable to do so. And then they stopped and turned to her. What? Oh.
"Should I apologize?" Belle asked. She had released pheromones just like Dorothy had.
"Of course not," Ruby replied.
"Because you smell fucking amazing," Dorothy said.
"Can we just make out like teenagers, please?" Ruby grinned.
Belle wanted to be dignified and object to this, but why? She wanted to make out as much as Ruby did. And she wanted Dorothy to know it was fine to be turned on by her, release pheromones because of her. She wanted to get comfortable with the idea of Dorothy wanting her in that way. She needed to get comfortable with wanting both Dorothy and Ruby in that way.
"How do we—?" Belle did not get a chance to finish her question as Ruby's lips were back on hers.
And then they were making out like teenagers. It was a little weird since it was three of them, but they worked it out. Belle was a little afraid to touch, but Ruby and Dorothy were tactile and their hands caressed Belle's arms and thighs. She wanted more and more and more, but it had to be too early in their formal relationship, right?
"Stay in the moment with us, okay?" Ruby whispered.
Belle blinked. "It's a little hard. This is like sensory overload and I'm not sure what's appropriate and what's not."
Dorothy rubbed her thigh and her body tingled. "Don't think too hard on it. We don't want you to be uncomfortable, so tell us if you don't like something or don't want to do something."
Belle shook her head. "No, I want to do everything, and I just got stuck wondering how long we have to wait for doing everything." How would that even work? What if she messed it up? Okay, I can't rush this. I have no idea what I'm doing and I don't want to mess this up.
Ruby cupped her cheek. "Babe, we wait until you're ready. There's no time limit. It also doesn't have to be planned unless that's what you want."
Belle nodded. "What about what you want?"
"You need to understand, we're happy to just have you in any way, shape, or form. It could stop at this, and we'd be fine," Dorothy said.
Ruby kissed the side of Belle's nose. "Yes, we're happy. This goes at your pace."
"So, if I wanted to keep doing this and just this, that's okay?" Belle asked, heart hammering against her ribs. She knew what they would say, but this was still so nerve-racking.
"All you have to do is say the word and we'll stop," Ruby promised.
Belle nodded and leaned in for a kiss from Ruby. Ruby returned the kiss with as much passion as before. As they broke apart, Belle blinked at the sight of Dorothy sucking on Ruby's neck. She could not stop the moan that escaped her. Ruby smirked.
"You like to watch? It's okay, you know?" Ruby tilted her head, so Belle had a better view.
Belle whined and did not know what to do, so she kissed Ruby again. Then, next thing she knew, Dorothy was behind her, attached to her neck. She moaned and bucked against Ruby, who moaned. This was too much.
"Wait," Belle said, sitting up a little straighter. Everything stopped.
"Should I move?" Dorothy asked.
"No, no…" Belle needed to catch her breath. She panted for a few seconds and they let her get herself together. "It's just so much. You both really care about me, like I care about you."
"Of course we do," Ruby said.
"And because we care about you, we can take this as fast or as slow as you need," Dorothy added.
Belle nodded. "I understand, but how about for our first make out session we not focus solely on me like just now? I think I need to work up to something like that."
"No problem." Dorothy eased right back to her space beside Ruby.
Belle was almost speechless. She expected them to be like this, but to experience it was another matter entirely. She reached out, grabbing Dorothy close, and she rested her forehead against Ruby's. Dorothy and Ruby wrapped her in a hug and she felt so loved. A tear escaped her eye and slid down her cheek.
"That's a happy tear, right?" Ruby asked.
"I'm so damn happy. Thank you both for this," Belle replied and she held them close. She would never let them go, if she could help it anyway. They had some things to figure out, but she was not going to let them go.
-8-8-8-8-
Dorothy never would have imagined she was the type of person to be with two people at once, but here she was and it felt pretty normal. Her behavior had not really changed since she and Ruby started dating Belle. She let her alpha out a little more, but nothing too serious. She was never one to flaunt her status anyway.
From what Dorothy could tell, the town had no idea they were altogether, still trying to figure out if there was an affair going on. She thought their family knew, even though Emma kept insisting she was going to fix Belle up. But, Emma seemed to need something to keep her mind off of Henry as the school year marched on and on. And then, they all got something to refocus them in the middle of February.
"Who the hell leaves a deaf baby in the middle of the woods in the middle of winter?" Dorothy paced the bullpen, wanting to put her hand through the wall.
Mulan held up a finger from her desk. "Emma's getting the records."
"So, we can go arrest them, right?" Dorothy was certain child abandonment was illegal.
"Seems like attempted murder to me," Mulan answered.
"Yes! Exactly!" Dorothy punched her palm. Not just arrested, but serious prison time. She loved that idea.
Emma kicked in the door at that moment with Ruby hot on her heels. Ruby had helped find the baby after a man walking his dog called it in, but had trouble giving his exact locations since he was in the woods. Ruby stood over Emma as she slammed the file down.
"Ruby, I know you want to tear into the baby's family, but you're not authorized to see this file," Emma said.
Ruby growled. "You think I don't know who the fuck those bastards are? I knew the second the hospital confirmed she's deaf."
Emma held up her hand. "Well, that's all well and good, but don't do anything to get arrested. Our focus has to be on that baby first."
"Then why aren't you with her?" Ruby arched a challenging eyebrow.
"Because I got told to leave, just like you did. I'm going back after I read this file and the hospital will shut the hell up about me being there. Maybe try to focus your energy on caring about her, then we'll worry about her scumbag parents," Emma replied.
Dorothy hated how that made sense. They had to focus on that baby, who had been exposed to the freezing Maine winter for who knew how long and might not live, and so they did. Probably more than anyone expected. It started with Emma and Regina sitting with her, making sure she was fine. They claimed they did not heal her with magic, as it was risky to do so with a baby, but they seemed too worried for that to be true. Plus, Emma did things like that by accident sometimes.
Dorothy, Ruby, Belle, and Mulan went to sit with the baby, too. Little Odette — named by Emma and Regina — was a fighter. She managed to survive being exposed to the freezing cold in the middle of the woods wrapped in a baby blanket. She was monitored for almost a week, just to be certain she recovered properly. Then, the hospital had to figure out what to do with her. After all, they could not keep her, but no one was about to send her back to the family who abandoned her to die, the family who wandered the streets of Storybrooke none-the-wiser that Ruby knew who they were and was not afraid to let everyone else in their family know.
They were a bit surprised that Regina did not literally raise Hell with the parents. Dorothy would have been right there with her, but instead, Regina worried over Odette. The same with Emma. They ended up adopting Odette and Dorothy was left with all of this energy for vengeance that seemed like it would go unsatisfied. Belle had to let this slip at one of her tea times with Regina and Zelena because Zelena approached her after work with a proposal.
"Child abandonment leaves a particularly terrible taste in my mouth," Zelena began as she hooked her arm with Dorothy's, taking her in the direction she did not need to go. Ruby and Belle waited for her at the library.
"I know," Dorothy replied.
"So, while I'm happy my sister and Emma have decided to adopt Odette and give her the life she truly deserves and we get to spoil her, I don't think it's fair her parents go unpunished because Regina and Emma want us to focus on Odette. We can all multitask with the best of them and we can't always be the bigger person."
Dorothy nodded. "Quite true. So, are we going to fight them? I'm all for it, but then we gotta go to jail."
Zelena waved that off. "No, no, no. We can't get arrested. Regina will never let us hear the end of it. And Maleficent can be quite the unpleasant partner when she feels I've done something blatantly wrong, even though I'm sure she'll do something too. After all, she's also not a fan of child abandonment."
"So, what are we going to do?"
"Whatever legal torment we can get away with. We'll start with their car." Zelena stopped them at the corner and pointed across the street.
"What about it?" It was a blue minivan because of course those bastards had other children they somehow managed to not almost murder.
Zelena looked absolutely tickled, so there had to be something here. "How often can you write parking tickets?"
"As long as the car is somewhere illegal, I can write a ticket."
"So, if instead of being there, it was…" Zelena pointed to a nearby fire hydrant and the car appeared in front of it. "…there. Can you write the ticket?"
Dorothy grinned. "Damn right I can." She pulled out her ticket book and got to work. Writing the ticket felt good and she delighted in slapping it under the windshield wiper.
Zelena stood next to her. "Feel better?"
"A little." She would need to write a lot of tickets to really feel better. "I mean, they deserve so much more than this because who the hell leaves a baby in the woods in the winter?"
"Assholes. And, yes, they do deserve more. So, same time tomorrow?" Zelena smirked.
Dorothy smiled. "Oh, anytime, Zelena. I'm here for this any time."
Zelena nodded. "Good. And now that you realize we can do both, you can stop brooding. Belle doesn't think it's cute with you or Ruby."
Dorothy put her hands on her hips. "Don't try to give me dating advice. After all, you don't want to tell anyone you're pregnant, but we all know."
Zelena gasped. "I'm saving it for a special time!"
"You had all of January to tell us."
"Well, you still haven't made things official with Belle."
"Because she's setting the pace of the relationship." It was nice that Zelena was protective of Belle, though.
"And I'm setting the pace for saying something. We need to discuss this with Lily and Robbie."
Dorothy rolled her eyes. "You've had those conversations before. You know where they stand. Both want the sister they know they're going to get eventually. You have to have faith in all of us eventually, Zelena. Have we let you down yet?"
Zelena sighed. "Shut up."
Dorothy chuckled. "You can still go at your own pace, but never forget, we're all here for you. I know it seems hard, but we all know it's hard and that's why we try to make it easy for each other."
Zelena sucked her teeth. "Too sentimental. Go home to your girlfriends." She flicked her wrist and Dorothy was not surprised to find herself on Belle's couch.
"Hey, babe," Ruby said, almost like she was not surprised. She sniffed the air. "You were with Zelena?" Apparently, magic had a smell and each user had a unique scent. Funny enough, this was not something she realized back when she hunted witches.
"Yeah, we had business to conduct." Dorothy got up from the couch and went to the kitchen, where Ruby and Belle were both cooking. She grabbed Ruby into a hug and kissed her.
"You have business with Zelena and one of you didn't end up dead?" Belle arched an eyebrow.
Dorothy laughed and pulled Belle into a hug. "It'd be very unsporting to kill a family member. She and I were just bonding, without the tea of course."
Belle chuckled and they kissed. Belle then swatted her away. "Let us finish dinner. You go take a shower."
Dorothy nodded and went off to get comfortable. She and Ruby had taken to spending more time at Belle's place, not just for her, but because it was more space. As intimate as their suite at the B&B was, it was still cramped for three people. Granny had already started joking that she would rent the suite soon enough and they would have to live with Belle. Belle never objected to the idea.
Dorothy took a shower and changed into shorts and a tank top. She had to hide a smirk when eyes fell right on her as she rejoined her girlfriends. Ruby never disguised her lust, but Belle always got all shy and tried to sneak looks. It was cute.
"So, what were you doing with Zelena to bond? Can't be anything good," Ruby said as she set the table.
Dorothy gasped. "Belle has a weekly appointment with Zelena and you never assume anything bad."
"Because Regina is there to hold Zelena back. What did you do?"
Dorothy sighed. "Just something to help me feel better about this situation with Odette. It's nothing bad."
Ruby pursed her lips. "Emma and Regina okayed this?"
Dorothy waved that off. "They don't need to know everything. We didn't hurt anyone and we didn't do anything illegal."
Ruby put her hands up. "Good enough for me."
Belle stepped over and stared hard at Dorothy. She figured out she could make both of them squirm if she eyed them hard enough to determine if they did something wrong. Dorothy did not flinch. She did not do anything wrong.
"Well, if it didn't hurt anyone and it wasn't illegal… You won't get in trouble if Emma finds out, right?" Belle asked.
Dorothy shook her head. "I'm sure I won't. Don't worry about it." Emma will probably be pissed that she did not think of it.
And that was the end of the discussion. They had dinner and watched television for a while before they all ended up in Belle's bed. This was a relatively new thing. They shared a bed the first time after Ruby found Odette. She was just so upset over it that they knew she needed both of them for the night and they had been doing that ever since.
Tonight was a little different. For the first time, Dorothy was in the middle. Feeling both of them pressed against her sides was something she would not soon forget.
"Um… any reason I'm in the middle?" Dorothy asked. She did not mind, but surely either Ruby or Belle should have this spot.
"Because sometimes you need it," Ruby replied.
"And you would never think to ask for it," Belle said.
Dorothy could not argue that. She liked to think she was simple and did not require much, so she never thought to ask for much, but she definitely needed this. So, she settled into the pillow and enjoyed it as Ruby and Belle each put a leg on her and an arm across her and fell into an easy sleep for the first time in over a week.
When Dorothy woke up, she was rested and calm. She could hear the birds outside, even though the sun was barely up. Then she realized something was more up than the sun. She did not have to look to see her full erection tenting their covers.
Well, this isn't good. Morning wood had not really been a problem while sharing a bed with Ruby and Belle because of the stress. And, the couple of times she did wake up with it, she was usually pressed against Ruby, who was used to it and more than welcoming of it, even though they never did anything with Belle in the bed. Now, she was in the middle and both girlfriends were wrapped around her. There was no way she could move to get up or even hide this.
Ruby sniffed the air, instantly knowing the situation… and, of course, made things worse. She slid her hand over the problem and massaged the head of Dorothy's dick enough to make Dorothy whimper. Dorothy put her hand on Ruby's to get her to stop and then glanced over to make sure Belle was still asleep.
"We can't. Belle's right here," Dorothy whispered.
"Oh, right. But, we can't just leave you like this. Want to go into the bathroom?" Ruby asked.
"No, no. I don't… it's weird to do sex stuff behind Belle's back in her apartment," Dorothy replied.
Ruby hummed. "Yeah, that's true. But, I don't want to just leave you like this. I know it's uncomfortable for you."
It really was. "Maybe it'll go away." It was more than likely not going to just go away. "I don't want Belle to freak out if she wakes up."
"Babe, she knows it's there." Ruby was not wrong about that. Belle stared and sometimes even caressed Dorothy, all be it shyly and she often acted like it was an accident. But, it just meant she was clearly not ready for that part of a relationship yet, which was fine, which was also why this needed to go away.
"I know, but…" Dorothy was not sure how to argue this or even how to handle this and Ruby was of absolutely no help.
Ruby gave her a wicked grin. "Want me to blow you?"
"No! What if she woke up while you were doing that?" And maybe Dorothy said that a little too loud, but come on! Ruby knew she would not want that.
Belle groaned a little and Dorothy's heart leaped into her throat. What would Belle think to see her with a boner like this? Ruby kissed her cheek and caressed her again. She whimpered.
"Relax. She's your girlfriend and she knows you have one," Ruby whispered to her. This was not a comfort.
Belle groaned again. "Why are you both so loud before the sun is even completely up?" She moved, pressing herself closer to Dorothy. With her leg hitched on Dorothy's thigh, she grazed Dorothy's erection and Dorothy hissed as sensation rushed through her. Belle squeaked. "Oh."
"Sorry!" Dorothy apologized, as that seemed like the right thing to do.
"Um… is that why we're so noisy in the morning?" Belle asked.
"I was trying to take care of her, but she didn't want me to," Ruby replied.
"No?" Belle asked as if she did not understand why Dorothy would not want that.
"I just… I didn't want it to seem like we were having sex behind your back or even more weird while you were asleep right next to us," Dorothy explained in a rush. It would be weird to have sex right next to their sleeping girlfriend, right? Seemed weird to her.
"We haven't really talked about that sort of thing, huh? I mean, I know you two have sex," Belle said.
"We do," Ruby agreed.
"And eventually, yes, I'd like to have sex with you," Belle continued.
Dorothy gulped at the admission. Belle would like to have sex with them? It made sense, but somehow it had not really occurred to Dorothy. Yes, Belle touched her and smelled her, but she never wanted to presume it meant there would be sex.
"You could watch right now," Ruby said and then she looked at Dorothy. "I mean, if that's okay with both of you. Sorry, I keep getting ahead of us." She glanced away.
Dorothy took some pity on Ruby, even though she wished Ruby would just stop making suggestions. "It's okay. I really just don't want Belle to be uncomfortable."
"Um… I'm not sure I'm ready to see that, but I don't want that to stop you," Belle admitted. And the fact that she did not smell even a little aroused by this whole thing sort of drove that truth home hard.
Dorothy could not help the disappointment that raced through her. If roles were reversed, she would love nothing more than to see Ruby pleasure Belle. Maybe Belle was not actually physically attracted to her, even if Belle thought she was. Maybe she was forcing it because she was attracted to Ruby and thought Ruby and Dorothy were a packaged deal. Maybe she did not feel safe with Dorothy. And, there went the morning wood. She went soft faster than ever in her life.
"Hey, it's okay, babe." Ruby sat up. "She didn't reject you. She just said she's not ready. You know that's not the same thing."
Belle blinked. "What? What just happened?"
"It's just…" Dorothy sighed. "If… if you want me to leave…"
Belle sat up. "Where is this coming from? Why would I want you to leave? I love having both of you here. Dorothy, just because I'm not ready for sex doesn't mean I don't like you. I'm just not there yet. I know I'm going so slow, but it's because I don't want to mess anything up. Do you know what a struggle it is to not just tear my clothes off for both of you when we're on the sofa together? Or to maintain control when you both cuddle me in this very bed? I just… I don't want to rush anything and mess this up. I can't lose you two."
"You won't," Ruby promised.
"Never," Dorothy added. "We're always here for you, regardless of what happens in bed."
"Then, please, never, ever take it as any kind of slight against you if something like this happens again. Please, I love both of you so much," Belle said.
And with those words, the entire room went still. They had not said them since agreeing to a relationship. Saying them now would have a different meaning, and Belle said them, to both of them! Dorothy knew what was next.
Ruby smiled. "We love you, too, so much."
Before Dorothy could say anything, Belle chimed in. "I'm well aware. You both make me feel loved every moment of every day and have for a long time now, which is why I want this to work. I want to grow old with both of you. Hell, I want a family with both of you."
Dorothy yelped and turned her wide eyes to Ruby. This was something they had discussed back when their dating got serious, when Dorothy wanted to mark Ruby, even though it would not stick since she was a beta. Ruby could not mark her back, not just as a beta, but also if she broke the skin, she would risk Dorothy being a werewolf. But, kids, there was a hundred percent chance of their kids being werewolves and Ruby was not sure if she wanted to pass what she considered a curse to another generation. Of course, once she found out about the curse, it was more helpful than harmful, which was why she was kind of on the fence about it.
"That sounds nice, but I think we need to talk about that one," Ruby said. "You know me and the werewolf thing."
Belle reached over, cupping Ruby's cheek. "I like to think all of us together would raise more knowledgeable and self-aware werewolves, but also we'd do everything we could to make sure they don't suffer how you did. No pressure, though. I just want both of you to understand, you're my future. I'm not going anywhere." She wiped away a tear that slid from Ruby's eye.
Ruby kissed Belle like it was all she needed and when she was done, she kissed Dorothy the same way. Then, Belle kissed Dorothy with the same energy, enough passion for Dorothy to stop doubting Belle was attracted to her. Belle definitely liked kissing her if nothing else. They settled back down, Ruby and Belle draped over Dorothy once more.
"I just want to say I love you both, too," Dorothy said.
"Trust me, we know," Ruby replied.
"Never a doubt," Belle added. And that wrapped Dorothy in such warmth that she fell back to sleep.
-8-8-8-8-
Spring was in the air, but spring never really made it into Maine until the end of the season. By the time Spring really set in, Henry graduated and wanted the entire family to go to Boston. Dorothy, Ruby, and Belle were eager to go, ready to see some place new in their new world.
While they were not open with the family yet, Regina made the hotel arrangements, so they all had a room together. And, despite the fact that it was a trip for Henry and his college situation, they were all encouraged to explore the city. Emma gave recommendations, as she used to live in Boston. Dorothy was all too happy to treat her ladies to some sites, especially these swan boats that were supposed to be so romantic. Ruby and Belle loved it. Dorothy liked it because they liked it.
They walked the park before rejoining the family to do dinner. There was a day for whale watching, which was great, especially since Ruby and Belle spent much of the day tucked under her arms. They were all very delighted when they saw whales. It was their first time. Actually, it was everyone's first time.
Then, there was a drive to Salem, which Emma and Henry could not stop cackling about. Ruby snickered most of the drive as well. Eventually, they let Dorothy, Zelena, and Maleficent in on the joke. Zelena did not find it funny and that sucked all the enthusiasm out of the others. Henry and Emma spent an hour apologizing, only for Zelena to reveal she was pranking them, which of course she was. Now, they had to deal with Zelena cackling. The tour they ended up kept looking at them like there was something wrong with them.
The trip to Salem ended up being very nice. Watching Ruby and Belle help with the kids was also fun. Dorothy was used to the twins, as Emma brought them to the station often. They had no problem climbing all over her, pulling her in all sorts of directions, but watching them do with the same Ruby was fun. Belle was used to doing indoor activities with all of the children, so doing outside stuff was just as exciting for her as it was for them. Children had to be in their future, or so Dorothy hoped. She would love children with them, love to end up in a nice little domestic situation like Emma and Regina or even David and Snow.
Returning to the hotel room that night, they all showered and collapsed in bed. They put a movie on the television, but did not really watch it. Ruby was in the middle, but Belle eventually ended up lying across their laps.
"Today was really nice," Belle said.
"I'm enjoying this whole vacation thing," Ruby said.
Dorothy rubbed both of their shoulders. "Yeah to both. We should try to do this more often." They might be able to afford it if they planned carefully.
Belle hummed. "Well, if we're planning futures like this, maybe we should eventually tell everyone we're together."
"Once everything gets settled," Ruby said. "Even though everyone knows."
"Do they? Since apparently Emma had been trying to seriously hook Belle up," Dorothy said.
Ruby chuckled. "I love my girl, but she's so out of it right now. She's gonna be a mess when those other pups leave the nest."
"Still, I'd love to tell everyone because I want you both to move in with me," Belle said.
They both gasped. "You really want us to move in?" Ruby asked.
"Well, yes. We've been splitting time, but I think the library apartment suits all of us more, especially if we really decide on this family thing," Belle explained.
And so, when they got back home, they announced their relationship to the family. Yes, everyone knew, except Emma… and Lily. It was kind of funny when Lily and Emma showed how similar they could be. Even Henry knew and regarded both his mother and his cousin as if they were out of their minds. Regina wanted to throw a party. Dorothy, Ruby, and Belle let her. They wanted to celebrate their relationship out in the open. Their family congratulated all of them. Dorothy was certain she was lucky to be surrounded by so many good people.
-8-8-8-8-
Next time: an epilogue.
