After Regina placed her heart back inside her chest Trina placed a hand on her shoulder and gave a little squeeze. Trina helped Regina stand up and together they walked inside.

"I made breakfast, you should eat."

Regina nodded and sat at the island. While Regina was eating Trina went upstairs and collected Venus. When she came back down with Venus they all had breakfast together.

"Ruby told me what was said at the beach…"

Regina didn't look up from her plate but she gave a nod of acknowledgment, "Ruby..?"

Trina blushed and Regina gave a quiet snicker.

"I'm glad that was able to make you laugh." Trina said sarcastically and Regina looked up.

"You like her."

Trina didn't say anything, she didn't need to. Regina always knew with Trina and vice versa. "I suppose this means I'll have to be nicer to the wolf."

When they all finish eating Regina heads upstairs for a shower and after Trina wipes Venus's face clean and sets her down in the living room she calls Ruby.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's Trina…I wanted to thank you again for yesterday."

"Oh, well it was no big deal…"

"I-I also wanted to invite you over for lunch later…"

"What time? Should I bring something?"

"Around 1, just your appetite!"


Trina opened the door and welcomed Ruby into the mansion. Ruby walked in slightly apprehensive having never been inside before. "I know you said not to bring anything so I tried not to but I really couldn't help myself…"

Ruby brought her hands from behind her back and showed off a coloring book and a pack of markers. "I decided to go the safe route and brought a gift for the little one… I figured animals would be a safe bet, no princesses."

Trina smiled gratefully, she was touched that Ruby brought something for her daughter. And she was grateful it didn't have a touch of their enchanted forest history.

"She's gonna love this!" Trina accepted the gifts happily.

"Who's gonna love what?" Regina asked from the archway of the living room.

"Ruby brought a coloring book for Vee, wasn't that nice? Don't you think she'll love it?"

"And markers too I see, I expect she'll start on the book and end on the walls…"

Ruby swallowed, she was now worried that maybe she shouldn't have brought anything.

Trina looked between the two of them and was a little worried she might actually be mad until she saw her sister's signature smirk.

"She will love them."

Ruby let out a breath as she watched Regina turn and walk back into the living room. A few seconds later both Trina and Ruby walk into the living room as well and find Regina on the couch and Venus sitting on the carpet.

"I'm gonna finish making our lunch, I'll come get you when it's done." Trina said, she gave her sister a look that just screamed "be nice". She turned around and quickly headed for the kitchen.

"Venus, we have a guest. She brought you something, do you want to say hello?"

The child looked up hearing her name she looked to where the familiar voice of her aunt called over to Ruby.

Despite being such a happy and playful child she was painfully shy around strangers. She blushed a bit and waved at Ruby.

"I hope you like it, your aunt says you will." Ruby crouched near the child and handed her the coloring book and markers.

Venus squeaked happily, taking both offerings easily. She set the book down and rushed to her aunt for help opening the case of markers. Regina helped her with a small smile, "What do we say..?"

Venus paused once she was handed the markers back. She looked over at Ruby, "Thank you…" she said shyly before rushing over the coloring book.

Ruby stood up from her crouched position and took a seat on the couch, closer to Regina than she meant and closer than Regina thought she would.

"She's adorable." Ruby whispered to Regina.

Regina looked over at her briefly then continued to watch Venus. "Most children are but I believe it has something to with our amazing genetics."

Regina looked at her again, "So, what are your intentions with my sister?"

Ruby's head turned sharply at the question. She doesn't know why she was surprised at the woman's bold question. She should've expected Regina of all people to ask outright.

Ruby suspected that one of the main reasons Regina asked so openly was because she wanted to see how she'd react, wanted to see if she cracked or crumbled under the first sign of Regina's critical nature. Ruby refused to fall victim to Regina's baiting so she raised her head and answered her question honestly.

"I have come to realize that she is my mate and I'm not sure how much werewolf culture you know but—"

"I know an above average amount of information about werewolves. There wasn't much I was able to gather from the books I'd read back in the kingdom but I read up. So I can understand what that means at least."

Ruby nodded understandingly. A lot about werewolves were kept quiet for a reason. "I want to be with Trina completely, but I know things are difficult right now so I will go at whatever pace she chooses and I'm just happy to be whatever she needs me to be."

Regina let that information linger in the air for a moment. She broke eye contact to continue looking down at Venus. Ruby worried for a minute, wondering if she had said something wrong. After a few more moments passed she understood that Regina's silence was her way of accepting her answer as good enough.

"Lunch is ready!" Trina announced as she walked back into the room. Regina stood up, looking between Ruby and Trina for a moment before leaving the room. Trina walked further into the room.

"So, you survived the inquisition."

"With flying colors. I think."

Trina smiled and took Ruby's hands in hers. "I hope you know how much everything you've done means to me…"

"I haven't really done anything a decent person wouldn't have."

Trina's expression became bittersweet. "That's not true. Believe it or not but we've been surrounded by "decent people" our entire lives. None of them have been as wonderful as you've been."

"I fear that's more a reflection on them than me. But I can understand what you're saying. I meant what I told Regina, your pace."

Trina's eyes got a glimmering wateriness to them as she smiled. She removed one of her hands from Ruby's to take Venus's hand and the three of them walked in the same direction Regina had disappeared.

The four of them had enjoyed their lunch together. Trina took the lead in conversation telling Ruby about herself with Regina chiming in every once in a while. As the conversation flowed, Regina could see why Ruby made friends with everyone easily. Despite trying to keep herself guarded from letting things slip she found herself smiling a little watching her interact with her family.

"Venus, baby don't play with your food." Trina admonished lightly.

Smirking Ruby found herself placing two carrot sticks in her mouth between her lips and teeth and making walrus sounds. Regina looked away quickly and let out a sharp sound before placing her hand over her mouth.

"Ree!"

Ruby looked over at Regina and tilted her head in confusion and that caused Regina to break, laughing heartily. A smooth, deep rich tone streaming from her throat as she placed a hand on the table.

Seeing her aunt laugh, Venus tried placing the carrot sticks in her mouth in a similar fashion. Trina laughed and helped Venus, submitting to keeping her sister in such a mood. She then placed her own carrots in her mouth, "C'mon Ree!"

Regina's eyes streamed tears of laughter down her cheeks and she wiped her face. She cleared her throat and letting out a smaller laugh. "Oh, okay." She sighed with mock resignation and placed the carrot sticks in her mouth.

The table of four all laughed at how quickly they had forgotten about not playing with their food in efforts of making the Queen laugh. After a few moments all of them calmed down and went back to eating lunch. After lunch had finished and they adjourned to the living room there was a cacophony of knocks at the front door.

All three of the adults lifted their heads from where they were watching Venus color, and looked in the direction of the door. Regina frowned, silently she stood up and made her way to the door.

Ruby sensed a change in the air after a few seconds. She tried not to listen too closely to the conversation happening in the other room but there was only so much you could block out with wolf hearing. "Who's Daniel?"

Trina dropped her fork. "W-what? How do you know that name?"

"I—" Ruby was cut off by Regina entering the room.

"Daniel's alive…and Henry's in danger."

Trina jumped up quickly and picked up Venus. Ruby watched as Regina rushed from the room and she followed when Trina rushed after her. They arrived at the barn swiftly and Regina rushed through the doors, distracting Daniel long enough for Henry to run outside.

Ruby suggested for Trina to stay outside with Henry while she went in to check things out. When she entered she couldn't find David and the only thing she saw was Regina being strangled.

"I love you…"

Ruby heard the whispered words from a few feet away and she was going to intervene when Daniel backed away on his own.

She watched as Daniel seemed to become gentler in nature and whisper apologies to Regina. She could hear the heartfelt conversation and she saw the moment Daniel started to become aggressive again despite trying to fight it.

"Then love again!"

Ruby watched as Regina waved her hand and Daniel turned to ash. Regina crumbled to floor breaking down in harsh sobs. Ruby was sure that even if she hadn't been in the room she would've heard that heartbreaking sound from across town.

Ruby cautiously made her way across the room. She crouched down beside Regina slowly and placed her arms around her. Regina flinched before letting out rougher, louder sobs.


"Regina! What a surprise, come in."

Regina walked into the room and was quickly bombarded by an excited Pongo.

"Pongo! Sorry, take a seat."

Pongo followed Regina over to the couch and sat down on the floor by her legs.

"What brings you by?"

"I used magic again…" she said the words so quietly Archie almost missed them. Almost. He grabbed his notebook and a pen and gestured for her to continue.


"Are you sure this isn't too soon? I thought you wanted to wait."

"Ruby. Just because we're taking things slow doesn't mean that slow has to be at a glaciel pace. This date doesn't have to be something we're scared of."

"Only if you're sure."

Trina smiled before grabbing Ruby's hand. She waved goodbye to Venus who was happily being held by her aunt.


Two months have passed and Ruby and the twins have become a strong trio. The trust that was built between them continued to grow and Ruby now spent most of not all of her free time at the Mills Mansion.

Meanwhile in that time Cora and Hook had managed to travel between realms and had arrived in Storybrooke.

"So this is Storybrooke. Cosy."

"Hmmm. Whatever you say lass."


TBC…