"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you."

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

For days she'd managed to keep mostly busy, meeting Belle properly, searching for her, delivering food to the miners. But Storybrooke was too small to avoid a person for any longer period of time. She'd seen him several times, had seen him almost flinch when he spotted her to then turn away and go in the other direction. What did he have to be hurt about, anyway? Had she tried to leave him behind with not so much as a goodbye? With a bit more force than necessary she put dishes on her tray when her inner rant was interrupted by a voice.

"A mouse."

"Where?" Automatically stepping back she met the earnest eyes of Billy the mechanic.

"No, me. I was a mouse. Gus." A bit shyly he expanded on the topic.

"Er, why are you telling me this?" She'd flirted with Billy before, he was cute and one of the nicer guys of Ruby's acquaintance, but they'd never been close.

"Well, we haven't talked since the curse lifted."

"Can I still call you Billy?" Please, she thought, she really couldn't call a man that attractive Gus.

"You can call me whatever you like of you have a drink with me after your shift." She'd really lost her touch; she hadn't even noticed the conversation was leading up to an ask-out.

"Oh…I…"

"I mean I know Ruby, I'd like to get to know Red." Wrong, she thought, he hadn't known Ruby at all. There was only one man who'd gotten close during her time as Ruby Lucas and he was woefully unaware of the significance.

"I can't tonight…I-"

"We have plans." Belle sidled up to her and put an arm around her waist, bless her heart.

"We do. Girls night. I'm bringing the…cheese. Ah- not because you're a mouse, it's…it's because of the wine."

"Right…maybe another time, then." He slunk out the back door and Red sighed in relief. This was all new to her. Before, she had probably been pretty happy to be asked out by a cute guy, but now it only reminded her of the man she really wanted to voice that wish.

"Thanks, Belle."

"I can spot a girl in trouble. But why don't you go out with him? He seems really nice." He probably was. A perfectly nice guy. But he didn't have an inner warmth that shone thorough his eyes. He didn't know her moods, or know how she took her tea or brought her what she wanted before she'd even said it. He didn't inspire friendship where before there'd been nothing. Didn't have a voice that made her heart ache. He wasn't Jiminy.

"It's complicated," she told Belle. That was the understatement of the century. She was in love with a man who clearly saw her as just a friend, if that. This evening when the moon rose she might turn into a werewolf, lose control and end up hurting someone – or worse. And to cap it all, they were ludicrously understaffed. Striding off she left Belle with a thoughtful look on her face.

POV

Sitting in the confined space of the pantry Red felt the wolf impatiently stalk within her like a tiger behind bars. Soon it would claw its way out from behind the bars, she just knew. With shaking hands she found her phone and pressed Archie's number. Burying her face against her up-drawn knees she heard the signals go through, imagining Archie looking for his phone as it rung, Pongo excitedly following him through the rooms.

"Hello?"

"Jiminy!" Her voice was a whisper but he heard her.

"Red, what's wrong?" The familiar note of concern brought tears to her eyes.

"I'm going to turn. I just know it. I can feel it struggling to get out." She heard the familiar rustle of his jacket when he shifted and could feel the scent of him filling her memory.

"Even if you do, you won't hurt anyone."

"You don't know that."

"I do know. Because I know you. You're aware now, you won't lose control." The words washed over her, for some reason a hundred times more reassuring than any words of comfort from anyone else.

"I don't know. It feels different here, it's wilder, hungrier."

"…Do you want me to come over?" Of course he would. He'd sit with her when she turned into a bloodthirsty monster. And she wanted him to, desperately.

"No!" Her voice bordered on hysterical and she could only hope he'd listen. "Please, Jiminy, stay inside. I can't worry about hurting….about…If something happened I'd…I couldn't…"

"Okay. I'll stay inside, Ruby. I promise. If it'll make you feel better, I won't leave." She calmed her breathing by pure will.

"Thank you. It would." She swallowed, feeling the wolf growl. "I feel better now. I…I have to go."

"Okay. You won't hurt anyone, Red. I know it." She hung up, wishing desperately she could believe him.

POV

He heard the knock and met Pongo's eyes.

"Are you expecting anybody?" He asked the Dalmatian, putting his book down. His dog got up and stretched, ambling towards the door. Following him he opened the door to see Red. Her eyes were sparkling, her hair was tangled and her face flushed. She looked stunning. In a moment he had his arms full of her as she latched on to him.

"It wasn't me. I didn't do it." She didn't have to tell him what she was referring to.

"Well, I could have told you that." Pulling back slightly but leaving her arms around his neck she met his eyes.

"You could have, couldn't you? I guess you know me better than I even know myself." He knew he should let go of her waist, that he was entering dangerous territory but he seemed frozen in place as the feeling of holding her burrowed deep into his brain.

"I doubt it."

"I don't. That's why we're friends. I've missed you, Jiminy, I don't want to be fighting."

"I don't either."

"Then let's not. You must've had good reason if you wanted to leave your home and everything you are. I just hope that one day you can tell me why. For now though, I want to run some more. Can I take Pongo? He could use the exercise and I the company." Silently he nodded and she gave him another hug before practically bouncing off, Pongo at her heels. At the gate he saw her shadow darken, grow and stretch. Then the sound of two sets of paws on gravel met his ears. Closing the door behind them he leaned his forehead against it.

"Because I love you." He told the empty room.

After that night the equilibrium seemed restored. With practiced ease Ruby slipped back into his routine, almost as if she'd never left. Having movie nights, dinners, drinks and long walks with Pongo Archie could almost imagine they were dating, if it weren't for the fact his heart kept aching every time he couldn't take her hand, every time he couldn't lean in and capture her smile with his own lips, every time he went to bed alone, without her beside him. Which was basically all the time. To be honest it was a small wonder he hadn't gone insane yet. The one thing that seemed to help was working. Staying late at the office, distracting himself from the scent of her hair or the sound of her laugh. But tonight he was interrupted, as there was a knock on his door. Opening it he greeted his guest.

"Regina."

POV

She heard it first in the desperate barks of his dog. Because Pongo knew where to go to be heard. To the Diner, to her. Hearing the note of despair in the sound she dropped what she'd been holding, the plates crashing to the floor, shattering on the linoleum. Rushing for the door she found Pongo, trying to calm him as the Dalmatian shifted his weight from paw to paw, pulling backwards as if to lead her.

"Something is wrong." Very wrong. Iron bands clutched at her heart as she ran for Jiminy's door, not noticing Emma behind her. Reaching his door something held her back. She didn't want to know. Whatever it was she wanted to go back to the Diner, pretend nothing was wrong. Pretend she knew she'd see him for dinner this evening. Then she heard Emma's cry and stumbled inside. Her knees gave out as she saw him.

"No!"

She felt as if she were walking in a dream. Or a nightmare. Nothing seemed real. She kept thinking she was going to wake up crying in her bed and realize it had all been a dream, relief flooding her as the tears dried on her cheeks. But nightmare wasn't ending. She went to his funeral, she went to work, she ate mechanically, staying on autopilot. Because if she let herself live again the pain would get insurmountable. It would choke her, bring her under and she didn't know if she could find the will to kick towards the surface as her lungs burned with it. So she stayed numb. Curled like a hurt animal protecting the tender insides around the knowledge she'd never see him again. Never again oh-so-causally lean against his side on his couch, never smell him. Never get the chance kiss him, never tell him she loved him. In the end that hurt the worst. The lost chance. What had she been so scared of? Why hadn't she seen that every day could have been an opportunity, maybe the last one she'd ever get? Why had she been left behind with all the words burning a hole through her?

"I'll close up, Granny."

"Nonsense. You've closed up two days in a row and you took the morning shift. You need to sleep." She wouldn't argue with that. If only she could. Instead of sleep she was just tormented by the endless recollection of the chances she'd had and lost.

"I'm fine. I'm happy to do it. Just head on home, I'll just be a few minutes." Her grandmother sent her a suspicious look but obliged and left Ruby to her thoughts. When she'd finished she sat down at the table he'd always preferred, pretending she could feel the warmth from the seat, as if he'd only just left it. As she pretended exhaustion took over and sleep took her.

A knock woke her and blinking she looked over to the door. And there he was. A strangled noise escaped her. It couldn't be. She was dreaming. But she didn't want to wake up. He smiled at her from the other side of the door and she walked as if through water to open the door. Stumbling over the broom she'd left leaning against the bar she felt pain shoot up through her knee. It couldn't be a dream. It was…really him. The tears she'd managed to hold off through it all fell, hot and fast down her cheeks as she fumbled with the door.

"Oh god, oh god, oh god," the lock turned and she all but threw herself at him. He caught her easily, crushing her against him. Her hands ran over him, felt his warmth though his shirt, his muscles bunching as he supported her weight, his scent filling her head. "It's you. It's really you." The sobs wracked her body as she realized he was actually there.

"Shhh, shh. It's me. It wasn't real. I'm so sorry." Holding her he stroked her hair, soothing her until the sobs subsided. Then she pulled back and punched him in the arm.

"Ow!"

"Don't you ever scare me like that again! I can't take it."

"I'm sorry. Next time I'm kidnapped I'll be sure to let you know first."

"Are you being funny?" Settling her hands on her hips he hid a smile as he rubbed his arm.

"I am. I can't tell you how relieved I am not to be dead and with all my limbs intact. To see you again. I wasn't sure I would." His hand came to touch her cheek and she leaned into it. His thumb caressed her skin and his eyes deepened. Her heart started beating heavier as his gaze moved to her lips. "I thought I'd die without telling you that I…I…" He was moving closer and Ruby felt her limbs go heavy as warmth rose within her, hope blooming in her chest. It was her chance. Her second chance. She wouldn't waste it this time. So she closed the distance and claimed his lips.

There were no fireworks, no violins playing. More like a nuclear explosion, the impact of it striking everything from her mind but him and the sensations he created. Everything inside her had been blown away only to be reborn, blooming and new. A new beginning for her, a start of something that felt so right tears threatened to fall again. As they broke apart, panting and smiling Ruby knew miracles did indeed happen.

"Let's go home." They both knew where she meant and holding hands they left the dark Diner.

A/N: Just a few more chapters to go…I hope you enjoyed this one, I sure did.