A/N: I do not own OUaT or its characters. My contribution for RedQueen week. Instead of writing separate stories for each theme, I've decided to write one multi-chapter AU that loosely follows the themes. There will be a chapter posted for each day of RQ week. Starts off slow, but it picks up in later chapters.

To the readers who have problems with Charming being named James in this story - Charming is known by three names, and it's clear by the characterization that I do not mean the evil twin. Yes, David is his true name, but I get tired of using the same names in fics, so I often change things around. You reserve the right to not read, just as I reserve the right to not change what I have created and tagged.

Tip 1: Names

"Names are important. Learn hers."

-Ruby Lucas

Ruby groaned as she arrived back at the tiny apartment she shared with her best friend. "Oh my god, I'm so glad that was my last final. I think my brain was about to melt out of my ears."

She kicked the door closed enthusiastically and paused to lock up after a moment's hesitation. There had been a rash of break ins in the area, and her roommate tended to freak out if she forgot to bolt the door.

She flopped over onto the hideous couch they'd found at a thrift store freshman year. The thing was a neon orange reject from the seventies, but it was surprisingly comfortable. For twenty bucks, comfort beat out style.

Mary Margaret's giggles drifted from their small kitchenette. Ruby smiled at the familiar sound, but bolted up to a sitting position a moment later. "Are you and James going at it on the counter again? Should I get the camera?"

A high pitched squeak sounded, and Mary Margaret stepped into view. Ruby could tell she'd definitely been making out. "That won't be necessary Ruby. James was just telling me goodbye."

James stepped out at Mary Margaret's words, a sheepish smile on his face. Ruby smirked and cleared her throat, "That lipstick is a nice shade on you."

The blonde man blushed and bolted to the bathroom. Mary Margaret made a face and moved over to the couch, shoving Ruby's long legs off so she could sit. "Why do you always have to embarrass him?" she playfully scolded.

"Hey, it's not my fault M&M. He makes it way too easy." Ruby stretched and yawned as she finished speaking. "Man I feel like I could nap for a week."

Mary Margaret smacked at her legs as she brought them to rest on her lap.

James returned to the living area a moment later. "I'm just gonna head out, I told my mom I'd be on the road by half past noon. I'll call you later Mary." He cleared his throat and flushed a little. "Love you." He scurried out the door before the short-haired brunette could respond.

Ruby burst into laughter as soon as the door shut. "Oh my god, you two are such a perfect couple."

Mary Margaret stared off into space dreamily, "We really are, aren't we?"

The lanky brunette couldn't help but smile at the happiness in her best friend's voice. For the umpteenth time, Ruby was glad that she'd gotten over the silly crush she'd harbored for Mary freshman year. Mary Margaret and James were a good match for each other.

"What time are you heading for Storybrooke?" she casually inquired, not wanting her friend to be late.

Mary Margaret jolted a little at the inquiry, "Oh, I wasn't going to leave for another hour. It's not that far, as you well know."

Ruby grunted in response.

"Now Ruby, won't you come home with me? You don't have to stay with Granny, I'm sure my step-mom would love to have you over." Mary Margaret eyed her hopefully.

A scowl appeared on Ruby's face. "I haven't been back to Storybrooke for a reason M&M."

"I know Ruby, but it's been such a long time. We only have one year left together, and I just wanted to hang out as much as possible. Who knows what will happen after graduation?" Pale hands played softly with Ruby's feet as Mary Margaret spoke.

Ruby felt a pang in her chest at the heartfelt words. She hadn't been to Storybrooke since she was twelve. She and her grandmother had butted heads soon after she'd been old enough to start school, so when her mother had tracked them down and said she'd cleaned up her life and wanted Ruby back, Ruby had jumped at the chance.

She spared a glance at the woman she'd known since they'd bumped into each other at the playground when she was four. The separation had been tough on their friendship, but they'd written and called each other as much as possible. Reuniting at the same college had been planned since she'd moved away.

"Ugh, you Catholics with your guilt," she flung a hand dramatically over her forehead. "Fine, but call your step-mom first to make sure it's really okay."

Mary Margaret bounced in her seat, squealing in excitement as she moved from the couch to find her cellphone.

Ruby sighed, but couldn't fight the smile on her face at her friend's antics. She groaned as she stood up, stretching long limbs yet again to get the kinks out. Sure that Mary' Margaret's enthusiasm would win anyone over, Ruby moved to her small room to start packing her bags.

Storybrooke was a small town, but damned if she would sacrifice style just because she'd be around the stuffy old country bumpkins she grew up with. A chuckle escaped her as she considered her wilder years. She'd driven her mother crazy with the red streaks in her hair and the tiny outfits that revealed far more than they covered. Pain flared in her chest as she thought of her mother, and she pulled her thoughts away from the woman she still missed.

Now, at nearly twenty-three, she'd found a happy middle ground that left her feeling fabulous but not necessarily flamboyant. If her mother could see her now, she'd probably be ecstatic at the changes. Ruby's eyes stung, and she roughly opened the next suitcase as she finished stuffing the first.

"Great news, Ruby! Regina says she'd love to have you stay with us." The grin on Mary Margaret's face instantly melted away Ruby's maudlin thoughts, and she returned the look with a bright grin of her own.

"Sweet, M&M! I'm almost halfway done packing," she grunted as she forced a pair of ankle boots into the large suitcase.

Mary Margaret's eyes widened as she took in the disaster area that was Ruby's room. "Did your closet explode or something?"

Ruby grinned wickedly, "Or something. Go pack me some snacks for the trip, will you? I'm not leaving my baby here for the summer."

The shorter brunette snickered a little at the words. "I swear that you're far too attached to that car."

"Don't talk about my baby that way! She's a work of art!" Ruby exclaimed petulantly, her bottom lip protruding dramatically.

Mary Margaret laughed and left to the kitchen to prepare some snacks as requested. She was incredibly excited to have her best friend with her for the summer.

Ruby guzzled that last of her giant bottle of water as she turned her car off and unbuckled her seat belt. The drive had been a little rough in the city, but once the city limits were in the rear view mirror it hadn't taken more than a couple of hours to arrive safely on Mifflin street.

A whistle escaped her as she took in the rather large house. Mary Margaret hadn't grown up here, so she hadn't seen the palatial home before. She squinted as she tried to remember what her best friend had said about the place. Something about her step-mom wanting a new start after the divorce, maybe?

She shrugged and exited her car, rubbing the door to her Camaro lovingly before moving to retrieve her suitcases from the back seat. She grunted as she maneuvered the two large cases out and onto their wheeled sides, carefully closing her door and locking her precious vehicle up.

She straightened her shoulders, and a smile bloomed on her face as she noticed her best friend waiting patiently at the walkway that led up to the imposing abode. She spared a glance at her friend's small Honda parked on the adjacent side of the street, before carefully glancing left and right to ensure there was no traffic.

Her bags were loud as she merrily rolled them across the street, and her grin only brightened when she drew up to Mary Margaret. "Shall we?" she pulled a hand away from one of her suitcase handles to gesture gallantly at the stone-paved path.

"We shall," Mary Margaret haughtily replied, faking a curtsy as she did so. They both chuckled at the exchange.

Ruby only had to lightly struggle on the walkway, her suitcases occasionally veering and catching on some of the hedges that lined the path. She didn't complain, now just simply excited at the prospect of spending the summer with her best friend.

They arrived at the large door, and Mary Margaret pushed the doorbell. The chimes echoed through the home, and they waited a minute for a response before Mary tried again.

"Hm, maybe she's busy?" Mary pulled her keys from the pocket of her jeans and selected a key to insert into the lock.

Ruby gave her an odd look at the gesture.

Mary Margaret gave her a sheepish smile, "I like to give her a warning when I'm coming in. Technically she doesn't have to let me into her home, but she's nice enough to welcome me so I consider it only fair."

Gray-blue eyes narrowed at the explanation, and Ruby found herself shrugging again. "Makes sense, I guess." Ruby had asked about the full story with Mary Margaret's dad and his now ex-wife, but Mary Margaret had been unwilling to go into too much detail, saying that the whole truth was Regina's and it was not her place to speak of.

It had been one of the only things Mary Margaret had refused to tell her about, so it had stuck out in Ruby's mind.

Mary Margaret twisted the key in the lock, and the door was open a moment later. "Regina?" Mary called out loudly, her voice echoing a little in the cavernous house.

There was no response, and the petite brunette pursed her lips. "Let's leave our luggage here for the time being; I'm not sure which guest room she picked out for you."

Ruby nodded in agreement and arranged her bags to one side of the foyer so they were out of the way. Mary followed suit, and then tapped gently at Ruby's arm. "Come on, let's go try and find her."

She followed Mary blithely into a spacious kitchen, delicious smells lingering in the immediate vicinity. Ruby groaned.

Mary Margaret glanced back gleefully, "You're in luck, she's been baking. She makes the best pastries. Well, the best everything, really."

Ruby's stomach growled. She liked Mary's step-mom already.

They were standing in the middle of the kitchen as Mary Margaret considered where to look next, gnawing at her bottom lip. "Hm, well it's a beautiful day. If she's not in the kitchen then she's probably in the garden." Mary Margaret brightened and nodded to herself, leading Ruby outside through a side door.

The grass felt soft and springy under Ruby's feet, and she smiled to herself as she daydreamed about running barefoot on the well maintained greenery this summer.

"Regina?" Mary's voice pulled her from her daydream just in time to catch a gorgeous woman turn in surprise to face the duo.

"Oh, Mary Margaret! I'm afraid I lost track of time in the garden, dear. How was the drive?" The sable haired woman stepped forward with a practiced smile, tendrils of hair escaping her ponytail to tickle at her face.

Ruby inhaled sharply through her nose as Regina stepped closer to her best friend and hesitated.

"Just a moment, dear. I'm afraid I'm quite a mess."

Regina tugged off her gardening gloves, and pulled the white long-sleeved cotton shirt off over her head to reveal a white cotton halter top.

Blue eyes widened at the newly revealed flesh. Ruby's gaze traveled down to absorb the way the denim hugged the older woman's hips, and she groaned internally. She wished she'd been paying attention to the busy woman the moment they'd come outside; she could have taken her time looking her over unobserved that much longer.

"Ruby?" Mary Margaret repeated.

The lanky brunette blushed as she realized that Mary had been calling her name, and she pulled her eyes away from the politely smiling older woman and coughed into a fist.

"Yeah?" She squeaked out in embarrassment.

Mary Margaret gave her an odd look, "I'd like you to meet Regina Mills, my step-mom."

A wince flashed over Regina's face quickly at the title, but the dazzling woman didn't complain verbally, instead extending a feminine hand. "I've heard so much about you Miss Lucas, it's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Ruby coughed again, and wiped her hand vigorously against the side of her denim shorts before accepting the handshake. "You can call me Ruby, Ms. Mills," she managed to say.

Regina gave her a small smile, "Then I would extend you the same courtesy; please feel free to call me Regina, Ruby."

Ruby's mouth went dry as she heard the sultry voice utter her name, and wet heat pooled low in her abdomen. She was certain Regina Mills could make a fortune with just her voice.

Her heartbeat thumped in her chest as hypnotic mahogany eyes focused back on Mary Margaret, and Ruby felt like she could breathe again.

She'd known that Regina wasn't that much older than them, but holy hell! Mary Margaret had never mentioned how drop-dead gorgeous the woman was. Ruby was embarrassed by her lack of self-control, and utterly glad that her best friend was too busy to notice the tell-tale signs of her attraction.

As Regina led them back into the house, Ruby's eyes hungrily took in the full view of the mature woman.

This is going to be one long summer, she thought with a groan.