A/N I have never had such a terrible writer's block with this story. Even after a weeks vacation I was coming up short. Please forgive me if this chapter sucks because quite honestly I don't like it very much.

Please be kind...perhaps toss some ideas out there? Reviews are kindly accepted and I'll respond with a loving smile and perhaps a hug? *tinyprint* *

Ruby groaned as her eyes were met with a blinding light, the sound of morning birds chirping with life all around. The smell of burnt wood was faint, the only evidence of the night's fire resided in ashes upon the seared grass. Automatically, she went to stretch out her muscles when she was stopped by a weight on her chest. In the middle of the night, Belle had managed to slide fully on top of the wolf and now laid there peacefully in her sleep. Ruby smiled, but bit back her lip to stifle a yawn, yet failed miserably.

Her stomach growled, her lips falling into a frown as she wondered how she was going to reach their backpack a few feet away in the position she was in. Outstretching her one arm that wasn't wrapped around the librarian, she whined to herself when she came up short.

It was then that she decided just to give up. The last thing she wanted to do was wake up the other woman that was currently using her as a mattress. She laid her head back down onto her makeshift pillow, made of just a bundled up blanket, and stared up at the blue sky.

They had come a long ways from the incident in the hospital. In all actuality, Ruby had come a long ways in general. It surprised her how easily she fell for the other woman. Ever since what happened with Peter, she had closed up her heart with several locks and bolts so that no one else would ever get hurt by her. She still didn't forgive herself for her stupidity that night back in Fairytale Land. It was engraved into her soul like a stain that refused to fade. It provided Red a reminder of what she was and that no matter how close someone got to her, there would always be that line.

Such a fear had been proven just last night.

Belle wanted to see her wolf so badly, yet how could Ruby allow that? What if something happened and she lost her forever this time? Yes, it was only a small bite, but what if it had been worse? She knew that would be something she wouldn't be able to live with. If only the librarian would understand that the animal inside of her wasn't a cuddly, furry dog that could be tamed. She was wild and would always be.

Ruby visibly shivered, wrapping her arms around Belle tightly as if she would slip away from her at any moment. The librarian moved in her sleep, letting out a tiny whimper, yet nothing that provoked concern. She was simply sleeping. Or at least that is what Ruby thought until soft lips were being pressed against the hollow of her throat.

A small gasp fell from her mouth, yet that didn't stop the sudden onslaught. The kisses that were being splayed out across her entire neck and chin were small, yet every single touch sent a course of electricity through her.

Belle giggled when she sensed the sudden arousal she had on the wolf and continued her travels until she landed one large kiss upon her lips. The silent greeting was slow and long, movements still lagged by sleep, yet burned with warmth that only they together could create.

"Good Morning to you too," the waitress laughed breathlessly when they finally pulled apart, hot breath hitting her face, the librarian's intoxicating aroma sending her high.

"Sleep well?" the librarian questioned while she repositioned legs to straddle the woman underneath her, such an action drawing out grin on the wolf.

"Very," Ruby replied.

A strand of chestnut hair fell downwards, covering Belle's face, and she reached up to tuck it behind her ear. As she did so, she brushed away just enough to see what lay underneath. Green eyes landed on a very ugly bruise marring pale skin and her heart sank deep into her stomach.

Tilting her head, Belle took her lip between her teeth and gave her a questioning look of concern. The wolf-girl suddenly looked terrified.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

She flinched when a soft finger gently slid across the bite mark, reminding her of how badly Ruby reacted to her actions. Suddenly grabbing the waitress's hand, she turned her palm to face her and planted a gently kiss upon it.

Without whispering a single word, the look in Belle's eyes was enough to keep Ruby from freaking out. But only by a slight fraction. She still didn't quite forgive herself for marking her so badly. It was one thing to have a hickey and another to have an actual wound, and if you asked the wolf, Belle's was the latter. Green eyes still remained on the dark mark, her jaw clenched.

There was little Belle could do to make her understand that she was perfectly fine. She was plenty strong enough to take physical pain; it was nothing compared to the emotional ache from years prior.

It was time to move away from that all. Of course she would never forget it, for the past is what makes us who we are, but it wasn't worth dwelling in. She was a changed person thanks to a lot of people. Thanks to Rumpel for showing her what love was, and hurting her, for the pain made her stronger. Thanks to Grumpy for pushing her to take a jump to go on adventures. Most of all, thanks to Ruby for allowing her to see that she could be herself and didn't have to let others walk all over her. Now if only the waitress could be herself.

As if she was trying to convey a thank you, she leaned down to capture lips once more before trailing wet kisses across her flesh of Ruby's neck, adding a few nips of her own. Ruby gasped in surprise at how sharp the librarian's teach actually were.

Thinking she would stop, Ruby was surprised when the other woman continued on, her hand beginning to wander across her chest. A delicate hand kneaded at her breast as the other dip underneath her red shirt to feel pert muscles. When she looked up she found that the usual pale face of the wolf's had flushed.

It was a curious sight to see and it only made Belle more daring. Ruby whimpered with disappointment when the hand left her breasts. The same hand began to skim across a waistline of denim teasingly as lips clashed against the others once again.

"Belle," Ruby whispered between kisses with something akin to warning or anticipation. It was the latter that was picked up as the librarian proceeded onward.

She had never done this before. The few times, Belle had been on the receiving end, but suddenly, for whatever reason this morning, she had a sudden burst of courage. Her hand slipped into the wolf's jeans and cupped her sex, only a thin layer of cotton separating skin from skin.

"Belle," Ruby repeated again, this time her voice hitched an octave higher, but this time laced with a bit more warning. Still misreading, thumbs slipped around her belt loops and began to pull the jeans down, but a hand stopped her.

When Belle finally looked into Ruby's eyes, she could see an odd array of emotions swimming within green, but the most prominent one made her pull her hand away with concern.

The waitress's face had turned a hundred shades redder, if such a thing was possible, and she looked utterly terrified.

"We can't do this here," Ruby said lowly, her voice shaken, yet swimming in desire. She was holding back, but why? Was she afraid of the wolf again?

"Why not?" Belle pouted, sitting up on the other's hips. There was a devious twinkle in her eyes, one that made Ruby's heart flutter with shyness as well as warm the spot between her legs. "You didn't have a problem with it last night."

"That because we had the night as our cover."

Normally Ruby wasn't bashful towards this kind of play, one reason being that she was normally the one on top, but also because there were usually no genuine feelings. Her Storybrooke counterpart had simply acted on lustful needs. This on the other hand was different. Ruby knew that Belle shared the same feelings towards her, if not more, and it caused herself to crawl inward when it came to Belle touching her as such. She wasn't embarrassed. She just wasn't used to sharing such an intimate moment with someone who actually cared.

It didn't quite make sense in her head, but there was no denying it. Belle plainly had a strange affect on her. However, the fact that it was daylight wasn't a lie. They were out in the open forest after all for any hiker to stumble upon them.

Belle wasn't only slightly taken aback by the abrupt rejection. It was merely the wrong time and place for such an act, and that's all she needed to tell herself. It's not like she had done anything wrong. She was only trying to give payment back to the wolf for everything she had done. Her disappointment was insignificant when compared to the greater emotions that the waitress elicited.

Eventually, the two arose from the ground and packed their bags, Ruby tossing Belle an apple when they were done. They began the hike back towards town, towards civilization that they really didn't care to be around. Hell, if it was possibly, Ruby could have stayed in the woods for at least another week if not longer. This was her home.

Ruby missed the cabin in the woods back in Fairytale Land; she missed the privacy that accompanied living in the vastness of the mountains. Although at a teenager she craved to escape, when realizing how the real world was, she was perfectly fine living away from it. She didn't hate the people of Storybrooke; she simply didn't want them in her business, and now that she and Belle were dating, eyes would be drawn to her like no other. Ever since Ruby had become Red once again, she became a bit more introverted compared to her overly provocative counterpart.

"Do you have to work today?" the librarian asked as they walked closer to town.

"I do…" the darker brunette trailed off as she thought of something, "but I don't have to go."

Belle raised a surprised eyebrow.

"Won't Granny get upset?"

"Probably."

The latter laughed at that and pulled the wolf to her, linking her arms behind her neck plant a kiss on warm lips. Ruby nipped at her bottom lip as a way to entice the librarian that they could carry on their earlier activity elsewhere. Belle broke the contact only to press her forehead against the other's and looked into green gems.

"Go to work, Rubes. I don't want to be the reason for your ultimate murder. Plus I have a library to take care of."

"Oh those poor books!" the waitress gasped, "What on Earth are they going to do without you?"

A small slap was applied to her shoulder, well almost. Before the hand could make contact, Ruby grabbed her wrist with playful menace and flashed her teeth. She tried to remain stoic, but after a long minute, bright laughter filled the air.

"Maybe we should stop and get you a scarf," Ruby said shyly, her face turning red again, but at least she wasn't scolding herself. That was an improvement.