A/N: Okay, so us that have watched twilight and/or read the books, know that Jacob eventually does kiss Bella, and in the most cringy way possible. Not to mention Bella's father's reaction is the most ridiculous ever in the books. Therefore, I decided to change up my version of things entirely, and keep Ruby likeable throughout the story. Yes, a kiss does happen between Ruby and Regina, but in difference to how the story goes originally, I have created something I am entirely happy with. Especially near the end of the chapter. :) stay tuned for more updates tomorrow on Eclipse! Story isn't over yet.
"So, I heard back from your mom, and it turns out she and Phil aren't coming for your graduation party." Lily frowns, joining Emma and Regina as they walk down the hallway at school.
"Oh," Regina frowned, but as much as she missed her mother, "Actually I'm relieved. One last person I have to worry about getting killed."
Emma rolled her eyes, "Can you two take this matter seriously?" She looks down at Regina. "Your life is at risk here," she kept her voice low.
Regina looks at Emma, "You know, this could be easily solved. I could help you… if you changed me."
Both Lily and Emma share a small laugh as they stop near their lockers.
"You should really talk to Jefferson so that he can explain newborns to you," Emma's long finger slid along the bridge of Regina's nose.
"Jefferson?" Regina's brow lifts.
"Jefferson has experience with newborns." Lily nods.
"He's thinking that if this comes down to a fight, we all need to be prepared." Said Emma.
Regina's eyes look to Emma and Lily in an exchange glance. "Well, then why am I still human? Couldn't I be more helpful if I was…" she looks around at the crowd of the students, keeping her voice low. "A vampire?"
Lily shook her head, "You'd be out of control with thirst, I'm afraid. You would be more concentrated in giving in to your newborn urges than helping us solve this matter."
"And you would be an easy target for whatever is out there." Said Emma, chuckling soon after. "Although, you would be stronger."
Regina grins, "Stronger than you?" She marvels in the feel of Emma's arms pulling her into an embrace.
"Much stronger than me, yes."
"Stronger than August?"
Lily chuckles, "That is something I'm definitely looking forward to seeing," she captures Regina's shoulder with a single hand. "But don't let him hear you ever say you're stronger than him," she whispers as she walks on by, "he wouldn't take too kindly to it."
Emma and Regina share a chuckle, following behind Lily soon after to get to class.
"So am I allowed to see you this weekend? You're graduating, aren't you?" Ruby grinned, walking alongside Regina. "That's a big step for you!"
"Yeah…" Regina chuckled. "I have to be at this graduation party, unfortunately. Mine."
Ruby halts, staring wide-eyed. "You are having a graduation party?"
"Not by choice. Lily- Emma's sister- she loves throwing parties. And with the way things are right now, she figured a party would be in order to kind of, calm things down a little. Ease the tension."
Ruby nods, halting as she reaches the end of a pier.
"You could come…" Said Regina. "If you want."
Ruby chuckled, "Are you sure that's wise?"
"It's my graduation party," Regina shrugs. "I can invite whoever I want. Just… keep your insults toward my family to a zero while you are in their house."
"Family," Ruby murmurs, shaking her head. She sighs a little harshly.
"What?"
"Gina, I've been… wanting to talk to you about something. For a long time now." Said Ruby.
"Okay?" Regina's brow furrows.
"I, uh…" Ruby kicks her shoe in no particular direction. "Well, it's no secret how I feel about you. But… this has been eating away at me for the longest time now and I think it would be good to get it out in the open. Come clean about it."
"Ruby-" Regina shakes her head.
"Please-" Ruby interjects, holding up a single hand. "Just- let me say it, okay?"
"You really don't-"
"I love you." Said Ruby, swallowing down a lump that forms in the back of her throat. "I'm in love with you, Gina. And I want you to pick me instead of her. Now, I know you don't feel the same way about me but I needed the truth out there so that you knew your options, with no miscommunication to stand in between us."
Regina doesn't know what to say. Of course she had an inkling toward Ruby's feelings for her, but she hoped it was just a crush that would go away. She loved Ruby, and if Emma wasn't present in her life, maybe she could make something out of her feelings toward her; but the fact was that her heart belonged to Emma. It always would. And the last thing she wanted was to hurt Ruby's feelings. She didn't need to give her another reason to be away from her again for who knows how long this time.
"Okay-" Ruby breathed, grinning nervously while waiting on Regina to say something. "That's it."
"Ruby…" Regina attempted to speak, but her mind literally came up blank. She couldn't even find her voice, given that her throat had turned very dry. "I… I can't… I'm sorry," she shook her head. "I think it's best if I leave."
She turned to leave, but Ruby was quick to grab her by the shoulders and spin her back around. "No, Gina, wait- just… answer me this, okay? You admitted to liking me before. And you like having me around, right?"
Regina nods, "I do like having you around." She admits.
"See!" Ruby grins, her eyes shining bright.
"Ruby," Regina removes Ruby's hands away from her shoulders. "I like having you around. A lot. But, not in the way that you like having me around."
Ruby's grin turns into a deep frown. "Then, how? Tell me how exactly do you like having me around, then?"
"Ruby…" Regina sighs, choosing her words carefully. "I like having you around the same way I like having my dad around. When you're happy, I'm happy," she looked deeply into Ruby's eyes. "You're my family. I love you, but I'm not in love with you."
Ruby nods, her jaw clenching in place as she remains silent.
"I'm sorry, Ruby." Regina's eyes threaten to tear up. "The last thing I want is to hurt you, but… Emma…" She sighs, "She's the one I love. She will always be-"
"She left you, Regina." Ruby stands an inch closer to Regina, it startles her.
"She made a mistake," Regina shakes her head. "She came back."
"To put your life in more danger!" Ruby's knuckles balled into a fist.
"Ruby," Regina takes a step back, "I could date you and be in equal danger."
Ruby shakes her head, "No, you wouldn't because I wouldn't allow that to happen to you."
"Neither will Emma."
Ruby chuckles. She paces back and forth until she reaches for Regina's hand and places it along her heart. She holds onto Regina's hand once she attempts to pull away. "Answer me something, be honest… does her heart beat for you like mine does? Can you actually hear it beat every second of the day?"
Regina doesn't say anything, she remains absolutely still, anything to make Ruby calm down.
"Gina…" Ruby breathes, her hand cupping along Regina's cheek. Her blue eyes glossing over as she locks them with Regina's. "I can understand that you don't love me like you love her, but every love is different. And I know I can gain just an ounce of your affection if you just… give me a chance. Please."
"Ruby-" Regina shakes her head, her own eyes glossing over.
"I once told you that I wasn't giving up. When she left you, I was there, and I will continue to be there for you, day in and day out. I love you, Regina and I am not changing my mind. I will wait for you… until your heart stops beating."
"Ruby-" Regina's eyes grow wide as she feels Ruby's lips suddenly on hers, preventing her from finishing whatever she was going to say. The kiss wasn't forced, nor angry. On the contrary, it was sweet, but it was still a kiss Regina couldn't respond to as her hands pushed Ruby back. "Ruby, what are you doing?!"
Ruby's eyes are wide, they blink for several seconds. "I'm- I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, I couldn't help myself. I thought-"
"Well, you thought wrong!" Regina's hand balled into a fist of her own. "Do not misunderstand this! Ever again! If Emma so much as knows that you… she'll kill you! Do you get that?"
"I don't care what she wants to do to me, Regina! Don't you get that?" Ruby sighs, her arm pulls Regina in, holding her a little closer. "You're worth dying for if that's my destiny."
"Ruby-!" Before Regina knew it, her fist came up, swung back, launched forward, right into Ruby's face. "Ow!" She grunts, clutching onto her hand that was sure to be swollen if not worse. Punching Ruby in the face wasn't what she wanted to do, but it also wasn't what Regina expected. It was as if her fist impacted a brick wall.
"Gina! Are you okay?" Ruby's eyes grew wide. She leaned forward, wanting to reach for Regina's hand.
"Don't!" Regina held up a single hand. "Don't be ridiculous, Ruby! Now, take me home!" She wipes her lips with the back of her hand and storms toward Ruby's car.
"Gina, I really should take you to a hospital," Said Ruby.
"Take me home! Now!"
Ruby sighs and shakes her head.
The ride back to Regina's house was nothing short of awkward. She didn't talk to Ruby the entire way there, and as they pulled into her driveway, she kept her eyes facing forward, toward her father's cruiser.
Ruby shut off the engine of her convertible, her head bowed. "Do you hate me?" She asks.
Regina hesitated her answer, but of course she didn't hate Ruby.
Ruby sighs, "Look, I'm sorry, Gina… I didn't mean- well, yes I meant it, but I just wanted to let you know how I felt about you."
"You made it pretty clear how you felt about me, Ruby," Regina turns to face Ruby. "There was no need to do what you did."
Ruby faces forward, her jaw clenching as she can pick up on Emma's scent. She was near. "Well, if you want me to apologize for kissing you, I won't." She turns to Regina. "I meant what I said out there on that pier. I love you and I am willing to fight for you if that's what it takes."
"It's not going to take anything, Ruby," Said Regina, glaring into Ruby's eyes. "You might not like it, because you hate the Swan's, but Emma is my entire world. Her family will soon be my family, my heart will stop beating after I graduate, and then you'll hate me, too."
Ruby's lips parted, she watched Regina dismount her car and quickly got out herself, catching up with Regina along the bottom of the porch steps. "Gina," she reached out for her arm, turning her over. "You need to think about what this will mean, okay?"
"Let me go, Ruby," Regina struggled to get free this time.
"Listen to me, please," Ruby begged, holding on a little tighter, "Gina, you wouldn't have to change for me!"
"Ruby, keep your voice down, my father will hear you!" Regina whispered. There was a desperation in Ruby's voice that caused her to ache. "Oh, no…" Her eyes looked over Ruby's shoulder, spotting Emma's Volvo racing up the driveway, tires screeching. She broke herself free from Ruby's grasp and walked over to Emma, who was marching over to Ruby. "Emma, don't, please," she begged, holding out her hands.
Emma stormed past Regina, careful not to hurt her in the process. Her hand clasped onto Ruby's shoulder, her golden eyes turned brighter with fury. "If you ever touch her against her will again-!"
Ruby yanked Emma's hand away from her shoulder, her eyes glaring fiercely back.
"Hey, stop it! Both of you!" Regina stands in front of Emma, pleading with her to stop.
"Don't you ever put your hands on me again, or I promise you it will end badly for you." Ruby threatened.
Emma took a step forward, her lip curling up in anger.
"Emma, don't! Hey!" Regina grabbed hold of Emma's face with both hands, forcing her to look into her eyes. Even through her throbbing hand. "Look at me! I'm alright. I promise. I'm okay."
"What in the hell is going on out here?" Henry announced himself, stepping down the three porch steps. He halted until he stood between both Emma and Ruby, who continued to glare at each other menacingly. "Huh?" He turns to Regina. "Regina, what's going on?"
"Nothing, dad, everything's-"
"Do not say everything's fine," Henry shook his head, his hands on his hips. "Now one of you three start talking. Now."
"Dad-" Regina's plea is halted by her father holding up a single hand.
"Ruby?" Henry turns to Ruby, waiting for an explanation.
Ruby's anger decreases in an instant, not wanting to cause a scene bigger than it already was. "I kissed Regina…" she mutters.
Henry's brows hit his hairline in shock as he turns to Regina.
"And she broke her hand… Punching my face. It was a big misunderstanding." Ruby's eyes glare up at Emma's.
Henry's brows furrow silently, "What, you broke your-?"
"Dad, it's fine. Honestly." Regina shook her head.
"It's sure as hell not okay, Regina! What do you mean it's okay?" Henry stands taller, his eyes glaring into Ruby's direction. "What the hell were you thinking, Ruby?"
"Dad," Regina pleads. "Stop. Please. It was a mistake, and Ruby's sorry," her eyes turn to Ruby. "Aren't you?"
Ruby's eyes which are glaring into Emma's soften as they look into Regina's. She nods, "Yeah… I'm sorry you hurt your hand. It should have been me. But, I'm not sorry for kissing you." She glares back at Emma, whose nostrils flare in anger.
"Alright, alright," Henry rubs at his throbbing temple. "Ruby, I think you need to go home. Emma, you too-"
Regina shakes her head, instinctively cradling along Emma's side. "I'm going with Emma. I was supposed to help her sister Lily with my graduation party. I promised."
Henry sighed defeatingly. "Fine, go, but be back before dinner. Please."
"I will," Regina nods, gripping onto Emma's jacket, "Come on, Emma. Let's go. Come on!" She pulls a little harder, forcing Emma to unroot herself from the ground as her eyes continue to glare into Ruby's.
All that's left are the sound of her tires screeching as she speeds off with Regina in the car, causing Henry to stare wide-eyed in their direction.
"It's just a sprain. It should heal fairly quickly," Mal promised, finishing up wrapping a bandage around Regina's swollen knuckles.
Regina looked over to Emma, who was still fuming from her earliest encounter with Ruby. She was so still, Regina wasn't even sure she was real.
"Try to walk and chew gum at the same time, Gina?" August grinned as he walked into the family room.
Regina chuckled, "I punched a werewolf in the face."
"Badass. You're going to be one tough little newborn." His grin grew.
"Tough enough to take you on." Regina's brow lifts in a challenge.
"Listen to this," Kathryn turned up the volume along their flat screen, where a news reporter spoke about the ongoing murders in Seattle. And how they had no leads of who the suspect could possibly be.
"Whoever it is, it's more than one and it's getting closer to Forks." Said Jefferson. "They are certainly becoming more and more vicious, unpredictable, even." His eyes look to Emma.
Emma's lip curls, "It's newborns," she mutters.
"Someone's creating an army." Mal said.
"An army of vampires?" Regina's eyes grow wide. "Why?"
"Newborns are more powerful," Jefferson explains. "In their first few months of transformation is when they are at their most strongest. Hungrier, out of control."
"Something to look forward to, huh, Gina?" August grins.
"Do you think it could be the Volturi?" Regina asks.
"It might," Emma adds, her eyes turning to Mal. "In Italy, I read Aro's mind. He wants Lily and I to join his coven, he will stop at nothing to achieve it. Aro knows Lily and I will never chose him as long as our family is still alive."
"Well, then we are definitely going to Seattle," August grins, always ready to put up a good fight.
"Regardless of who is creating them, we have to put a stop to it and soon." Said Mal. "And if the Volturi isn't behind it… I'm surprised they let it go on for this long."
"It's settled then," Kathryn said. "We leave for Seattle."
Regina frowned at the thought of Emma needing to leave again.
"Do you really have to go to Seattle?" Asked Regina, sitting along her open window as if wanting to prevent Emma from leaving her bedroom.
Emma nods, bringing her hand up to cup Regina's cheek. "I'd go to the next century and back if it meant keeping you safe, Gina. We won't be gone long. I promise."
"Well, what if you get hurt and I never see you again?" Regina worried about that. "You heard what Jefferson said, newborns… they're dangerous."
"So am I. Especially when someone dares to touch what's precious to me," Emma carefully reached for Regina's injured hand and brought it up to her lips. "How is it?"
"It's fine." Regina promised. "It doesn't hurt so much anymore." She watches Emma for a moment, committing her beautiful face to memory. "When would you leave?"
"Short after graduation. After your party." Said Emma, frowning deeply.
Regina blinked as she felt tears threatening her eyes. She clung to Emma, wrapping her arms along her neck, never wanting to let go. Her lips pressed along Emma's and she was happy to feel her respond to each movement her lips took. She was as breathless as ever once Emma pulled away. "You're not staying tonight… are you?" She asked, afraid of Emma's answer.
"There's something that requires my attention first. But, I'll be back." Emma promised, guiding Regina along the room and away from the window.
"What is it?"
Emma smiled, giving Regina's lips another quick kiss before crouching along the window. "I won't be long." She promised once more, "Wait for me."
"Always." Regina gave her a sad smile. She watched as Emma leaped out of the window and disappeared into the darkness.
Emma waited in the middle of the dark woods, her eyes on alert, seeing beyond the darkness. "I know you're out here. If there's one thing I'm grateful for is that I know you'll watch over her." She looked over her shoulder, seeing a shadow figure appear from within the woods.
"You won't hurt me," Said Ruby, walking up to stand in front of Emma. "You'll break Regina's heart if you kill me. Do you really want to go down that road again?"
"My killing instincts are focused on someone bigger. Consider yourself fortunate."
"Maybe luck's on your side tonight," Ruby shrugs.
Emma chuckled, her jaw clenching so tightly, Ruby swore it would pop off.
"What do you want?" Ruby demanded.
"There's a chance I might have to leave again," Emma continues even through Ruby's smirk. "And for some unknown reason, Regina trusts you to keep her safe while I'm gone. However, I don't think she's very happy with you right now."
"What happened today was a misunderstanding on my part, I'll admit that," said Ruby.
"Call it what you will, Ruby. After today, there is no way I will take my eyes off of you around Regina."
"Look, if you're here to threaten me, let me be the first to tell you that that's the last thing you want to do." Ruby glares. "Besides, you can't be with her twenty-four seven."
"You're right. I can't. Just know that your life is being spared simply because that would affect Regina. But make no mistake, Ruby…" Emma takes a step forward, her face an inch away from Ruby's. "If you ever bring her back to me damaged again; and I don't care whose fault it is- I don't care if she merely trips while under your watch- if you return her to me in less than the perfect condition that I left her in, you will be running with three legs. Do you understand that, mongrel?"
Ruby snorts once Emma turns her back, "Regina was changing her mind, you know," she continues as Emma stops. "Before you came back… I could have made her happy. She still could change her mind."
Emma looks over her shoulder at Ruby, "If that's what you want to believe I won't stop you."
"And what if she did change her mind? Would you stop her?" Ruby asks, lifting her chin.
Emma shakes her head, "No. I'm no one to stand in the way of Regina's happiness. If you are what she would want, I wouldn't interfere. But she doesn't want you. Not in the way you do."
"She still might," Ruby shrugs. "You don't know that for sure."
Emma chuckled, "That's for Regina to decide, I suggest you leave that to her. Unless she says the words, I am not leaving her."
"Fair enough," Ruby nods.
Emma turns around to walk away but stops. "One more thing," faster than Ruby could blink, Emma blurs her way toward Ruby, pinning her against a tree trunk, lifting her up one handed by her throat. Emma's eyes glaring menacingly into hers. "She is mine. And if you ever kiss her again, I will break your jaw. I'm not taking anything for granted, and I will be fighting for her twice as hard."
Ruby's body lands along the rustling leaves, coughing to gain some oxygen into her lungs. "Fair point," she breathes, standing to her feet. "I'll give you that one today. Simply because I do feel bad for pissing Regina off the way I did. And I will apologize."
"Be sure that you do." Emma said while disappearing into the darkness.
Ruby remained glaring in Emma's direction even when she couldn't see her anymore.