Ruby stretched as she slowly woke from her slumber. She turned onto her side, a small smile playing on her lips. She reached out to cuddle with her love. When her arm settled on the mattress and not the warm body of Belle, she frowned. Her eyes opened, allowing reality to set in.

She was alone.

Ruby rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. Belle had been gone for days and, to Ruby, it felt like an eternity. At this point, it very well could be. They didn't know how to reverse what happened to her that night. She could be this way forever. Never knowing what she and Ruby shared for so long. Without her memory. Without her love.

Her mind flashed with the memory of the night they called her about the accident. She waited anxiously as they brought Belle into the emergency room. She looked terrified and confused. Ruby reached out for her, but Snow pulled her away.

"Ruby, wait…"

"She needs me!"

"She doesn't remember you…"

Ruby ripped the comforter from her body, aggravated with her own thoughts. She couldn't do this any longer. She needed to see her. They had finally given her clearance to visit. Today was the day. She had to help her remember.

She was showered and dressed before she even realized it. She searched their room for things she could bring the librarian. Objects that might trigger a memory. Her eyes squinted, focusing on a book lying on the nightstand. She slowly walked over and picked it up. She studied the cover as her face saddened.

"What do you want me to read to you tonight?"

Ruby smiled. She reached over Belle and picked up the book resting on the nightstand. She placed it on the librarian's lap and grinned. Belle picked it up, reading the cover. She placed it back down and flashed Ruby a knowing look.

She raised an eyebrow. "Really? The Mysterious Island?" she questioned, her tone light and laced with a chuckle. "Sweetheart, I've read this book to you at least a hundred times."

Ruby smiled up at her. "Then let's make it one hundred and one." She snuggled closer. "Besides, you sound sexy when you read it."

Belle blushed lightly. "You would think I sounded sexy reading Dr. Suess."

Ruby chuckled. "This is true," she agreed. "It's just … this is my favorite book and it's because of you that I even gave Jules Verne a shot. So please…" She pouted. "Will you read it to me?"

Belle rolled her eyes and smiled. "Fine, but only because you're utterly adorable." She touched her chin then kissed her softly…

"Ruby?" Granny called out to her from downstairs. "I brought the basket you asked for!"

The sound of Granny's voice pulled her from her memory. She wiped away the single tear that had escaped down her cheek. "Thank you!" she responded, doing her best to hide the crack in her voice. "I'll be down in a second!"

She placed the book down for only a moment as she slipped on her coat. She picked it back up, clutching it tightly to her chest as she exited their room and walked down the stairs.

"She's in the common room, Miss. Lucas."

Ruby hesitated before asking her next question. In her heart, she already knew the answer she would receive. "H – has there been any change?"

The nurse frowned and shook her head. "No, I'm so sorry."

She pressed her lips together, once again fighting the tears trying to fall. She nodded as she clutched the basket tightly and walked toward the room. The sound of Good Morning Storybrooke filled the halls the closer she got to the room. She paused before entering. She could feel the nerves building. She had no clue how she would react if Belle looked at her blankly, but she had to do her best to remain strong.

Ruby entered the room, feeling her breath catch at the sight of Belle staring at the television. She took in a deep breath and walked into the room. She walked around the row of chairs. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Her mouth closed, her teeth pressing into her bottom lip. She did her best to calm herself and tried once again.

"Hey…" she managed finally as Belle turned to look at her. Her heart sank at the completely blank expression on her girlfriend's face. "You don't remember me, do you?"

Belle stared at her. She frowned. "I'm sorry… No, I don't."

Ruby felt as if she had been punched in the stomach. She knew now her approach with Belle would have to be slow. She couldn't just blurt out that she was her girlfriend. That they had been together for over a year. That they shared a home, a life. She had to ease into this. She wasn't sure what was keeping her going at this point, but she moved forward and sat in the chair a few spaces away from Belle.

She placed the basket down on the small table in front of them. "I'm Ruby..." she greeted as she turned off the television. She wanted Belle's full attention. "You used to come into my Granny's diner … a lot … before…" She paused, turning her attention to the basket. "Anyway, I – uh … I thought you could use some comforts from home." She pulled out the book and held it out toward her. "We always used to talk about Jules Verne. So I brought you my favorite..." She smiled. "The Mysterious Island."

Belle took the book cautiously. "Thank you." She smiled softly. She looked into Ruby's eyes. "Were we really friends?"

Ruby's smile saddened. Friends. This is where it had to start. "Yeah, we – we were..." She looked away for a moment. Her heart felt as if it had been ripped from her chest. She turned her attention back to Belle. Her beautiful blue eyes were so lost, it killed Ruby to look into them, but she couldn't turn away.

"Then can I ask you something?"

Ruby nodded. "Anything."

She leaned in closer. "Is there any way you can get me out of here?"

Ruby drew her brow together confused. "W – why? What's going on?"

"I'm not going to get any better in here," she stated, her rising. "All they do is keep me sedated. No one tells me anything." She stood, causing Ruby to follow her movement and stand as well. "Please, you've got to get me out of here."

Ruby felt the anger rise in her. They weren't helping her in here. They were just making it worse. "Belle, I had…"

"Who is Belle?! Why does everyone keep calling me that?!" she shouted as the nurse rushed into the room. She grabbed Belle by the shoulders as the woman struggled to get away. "Get off of me!"

Ruby raised her hands to cover her mouth as she watched the nurse force Belle back into the chair. Her eyes narrowed angrily as she stuck a needle in her love's arm. "She goes through outburst like this," the nurse explained. "We have to keep her heavily sedated."

"How is that helping her?!" Ruby questioned angrily.

The Orderly entered the room and lifted Belle from the chair. He walked her out of the room. Ruby stepped around the nurse to follow after her, but the woman stepped in front of her holding her back. "Miss. Lucas, we truly are doing all that we can."

Ruby glared at her. "You're only making it worse!" she growled, pushing the Nurse away from her. "She's coming home with me."

The Nurse swallowed nervously. "M – Miss. Lucas, I'm afraid I can't allow that."

Ruby's head tilted as she stepped closer to the Nurse. "You can't allow me to take my girlfriend home?" she inquired, her tone even and threatening. "I'd like to see you try and stop me."

"Please, Miss. Lucas, be reasonable. She's under heavy medication…"

"Because of you!"

The Nurse held her hands out defensively. "She shouldn't be moved tonight. Please, you can take her home in the morning."

Ruby's teeth clenched and her jaw twitched. "Fine." She glared at the Nurse. "I'll be back in the morning."

The Nurse swallowed again, frantically shaking her head. "Yes, M – Miss. Lucas," she stammered as Ruby angrily stomped out of the common room.