They were two little girls playing on a river bank. They were very different at the first sight. Different ages, different social classes, different personalities.

One was older, with her hair neatly tied, wearing pretty dresses, sitting and talking like a young lady.

The other one was young, still more of a child than a young lady, wearing a skirt and a blouse from raw fabrics with a red cape over her shoulders. Her hair was messy and she was skipping around with joy and excitement.

They had one thing in common. Both of them wanted to escape their homes even just for a moment.

Regina, the older one, wanted to get away from her mother, from her constant criticism, from her magic and forced piano lessons. Ruby, the little one, wanted to get out of her granny's sight and earshot and her overprotectivness.

The first time they met was at the very same spot they have been meeting at since then. Ruby was mad because Regina was sitting at her spot, swinging her legs in the water.

But they started to talk and so they bonded over their loneliness. They spent the time talking, chasing each other, throwing pebbles into the water.

Sometimes Regina brought some treats she stole in the kitchen because there was always enough food in their mansion. It was like Christmas for Ruby whose family was kind of struggling at times, not always having enough money, especially not to get some fancy food. She always thanked Regina excitedly, hugging her tightly. And it was enough for Regina to see the joy in the little girl's eyes, always surprised that food could make someone so happy.

Ruby had nothing to give her in return but she sometimes brought flowers she found on her way to the river, sometimes she stole a bit of milk for them to have it with the treats Regina brought.

And then, one day, the tragedy happened. At least it was a tragedy for them. Regina's mother decided that they have to move into a bigger mansion, with more rooms and bigger stables and estates. They were both very sad about that, it meant that they won't see each other again, probably never. They both cried a little bit, they were each other's only friend and it was difficult for them.

The day they met for the last time, Ruby gave Regina a gift. It was the smoothest pebble she could find and she engraved, or tried to, their initials into it. Tiny R+R were decorating the little stone and brought tears into Regina's eyes.

They hugged for the longest time and said their goodbyes.

That was many years ago. It became just a faded memory and if Regina didn't have the stone, she might even think that she imagined it all. She never had another friend. Her mother had her whole future planned for her and there was no space for friends. Not for real ones anyway. The only friends Regina had were chosen by her mother and were supposed to help her on her way up, to marry well and become wealthier.

That part was according to the plan. But only to the point when Regina banished her mother to Wonderland and became… the Evil Queen, as people called her.

Maybe it was true. After all, she wanted to capture Snow White, the beloved princess, kill her and everyone who dared to help her escape.

Regina was just headed to the court. One of Snow White's friends was there, waiting for her final word, or words if you like, 'off with her head' and then it was tea time.

She reached her throne and waved her hand to bring the prisoner in. She heard the girl struggling but everyone did that, so that was nothing new or interesting.

And then she finally looked up and met the dark eyes of the young woman standing in front of her. Both their faces showed surprise at first when the recognition hit them. And then there were other emotions. Joy, excitement, fear, disappointment.

Ruby made a step forward but stopped again, knowing she had no right to even speak.

Regina's eyes softened and maybe there were even some tears. She was confused and she didn't know what to do. In no way could she let the woman go, she would lose all the respect she managed to build among her peasants. But she could never kill this woman, her only friend.

She stood up quickly and turned to her guards.

"Bring her to my chambers. And take off her handcuffs."

"As you wish, your majesty." And there was fear in everyone's faces because it couldn't really be good for the poor girl. No one was really sure what would happen to her and what that actually meant. They were sure about one thing. It didn't mean mercy.

Regina rushed into her chambers. She was looking out of the window when there was a knock on her door a few minutes later.

"Yes!" She said sharply.

The guards entered the room, pushing Ruby inside. They left again with a bow when they saw Regina waving her hand.

The older woman was still standing by the window, she hasn't moved. What if this young woman wasn't her friend? What if it wasn't the little girl? After all, it's been years, ages, she grew up, changed.

She turned around slowly, with her eyes closed, holding her breath. She opened them when she was standing opposite to the other woman.

Ruby smiled at her. It was insecure and shy. She knew who this woman was, who she used to be.

Regina took it as a confirmation and made a few steps forward. She reached out her arm and opened her hand. And there it was, on her palm, the little stone with R+R.

"You kept it?" Ruby's voice was weak.

"You were the only friend I ever had." Regina whispered, sadness creeping into her tone.

"Regina… I… didn't know you were… that it was you…" The younger woman dropped her eyes, not being able to look at her.

"That I am the Evil Queen?" Regina laughed.

Ruby didn't say anything. She looked up again and watched the older woman for a while.

"I missed you." She reached out her hand like she wanted to caress her cheek but stopped and dropped it. "Sorry. I shouldn't… We're not the little girls anymore, you're the queen now and I'm… I'm still me."

"I missed you too," Regina whispered, her voice threatening to break. There were definitely tears in her eyes.

Ruby took that as permission and hugged her. Regina wrapped her arms around the tall brunette and rested her head on her shoulder. The embrace made her feel safe and… home? She hasn't felt like this since her mother killed Daniel.

The tears were now running down her face and wetting Ruby's neck. Her body was shivering as she was trying to suppress the sobs threatening to escape her throat.

"It's okay, you can cry, it'll make you feel better." Ruby was running her hand up and down Regina's back, trying to comfort her. She didn't know what was going to happen to her, she didn't know what this meant. She came here as a prisoner and the chances of her leaving this castle as a free woman weren't probably very high. But she found her lost friend. It didn't matter that she was the Evil Queen now. No. The Regina she knew was still in there, about that she was sure. She was hidden behind a thick mask but right now she was crying in her arms.

"What happened?" Ruby asked carefully, running her fingers through the long hair in a gentle and kind of intimate gesture.

"My mother. And Snow White." Regina snarled and wiped off her eyes. She took Ruby's hand and led her to the couch by the window.

"Is that why you are looking for her and everyone who helps her?" They sat down, Ruby was holding Regina's hand in her lap.

"Yes. What am I going to do with you?" There was panic in her eyes and the colour was drained out of her face.

The younger woman just shrugged. She expected to die just a half an hour ago.

"I can't kill you."

"Why not?" Ruby asked, daring her to tell the truth.

"Because you are, you were, my only friend!" Regina cried out, shocked that she would be even asked this.

"I still am, you know, if you want me to be." She smiled at her, squeezing her hand.

"Why would you want to be friends with the Evil Queen? I wanted to kill you. And I want to kill your… friend."

"But you didn't. And that's important. I can still see the Regina I knew. Besides, I'm not that innocent either anymore. I did some horrible things."

"What could you possibly do?" Regina laughed and the sadness disappeared from her eyes.

"I- am a wolf…" Ruby confessed silently.

"You are the wolf?" Her eyes widened with shock.

"Yes."

Regina nodded her understanding but didn't say anything. She was drawing circles on Ruby's hand, lost in her thoughts. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Let me stay." Ruby looked up at her, hopeful but also a little bit afraid.

"I can't! If anyone saw you…" Regina protested vigorously.

"For just a few days. We just found each other, don't make me lose you again…" Ruby was desperate, she could already feel the pain of saying goodbye. "Please," she whispered and cupped Regina's cheek, caressing it with her thumb.

Regina leaned into the touch subconsciously. This felt so good… it felt so good having Ruby around. When did anything felt so good? But was it right? Does she even have any right to feel well after all those things she's done?

"Alright," she whispered and captured the younger woman's hand and pulled it down from her face. "Alright, Red." It was a nick name she gave the little girl when they first met and Ruby didn't want to tell her her name.

She leaned forward slowly and pressed her lips to Ruby's forehead, still holding her hand in hers.