A/N: Because the show writers have zero idea what they’re doing, here’s some fanon that should actually be canon.
Set just after Robin and Marian reunite.
Dedicated to the ever lovely @heatherfield <3.
The counters were spotless, the dishes were finished...there was nothing left to do but stand behind the counter and wait. Ruby looked at the clock, tapping her nails on the hard surface underneath her hands. It was cool, a pleasant contrast to the heat of her palms.
Neal and Emma were in a booth, talking amongst themselves. From her vantage point, Ruby could only see the back of his head but Emma's face was in full view. The Savior grinned and ducked her head at something he’d said. Likely a compliment.
The shake Ruby had made for them still sat between them, barely touched. That had been over an hour ago. Movement between them caught Ruby’s attention and her gaze flicked down to their hands.
Neal gently covered Emma's with his own. Her expression sobered somewhat but the hope and adoration in her eyes never truly left.
They were in their own world.
Ruby dropped her green gaze from them, allowing them to resume their moment without an onlooker.
She sighed, slouching, her thoughts drifting to what it would be like to have love so pure, sharing everything with someone she could trust indefinitely.
The bell rang, signalling someone entered and she lifted her head, her eyes holding none other than the piercing blue eyes of Archie Hopper.
They'd seen one another countless times, talked more than a handful and yet when he looked at her just then she saw more than just the friend she’d come to know. He stood at the door, holding her gaze as if he too were in the same trance, realizing the same feelings. They coursed through her like rockets, crash landing in her heart and bursting into a million fireworks at once.
She opened her mouth but nothing came out. He broke their connection, a hue of pink rising on his cheeks as he cleared his throat.
“Good evening, Ruby.” His voice was low, just above a rasp that she’d sworn she hadn't noticed before. It sounded positively delightful. Her eyes fluttered as she fought to regain her thoughts enough to form words.
“Uh...yeah. Hi.” Smooth. She berated herself mentally for not saying something equally as intelligent like ‘Good evening yourself, Arch.’
He smiled and took a seat. Ruby came around the counter, clearing her throat. Nerves she’s never felt before around him made her hands sweat and quickly she wiped them on her apron. She smiled, trying her best not to stare at his features, the very same ones she’s never noticed before.
Was he always this handsome?
“What’ll it be, doc?” She asked, sounding more like herself and taking a little pride in keeping a steady tone.
Her grin faded a smidge when he looked up at her. The light blue when he came in was darker now. It was like drowning in the depths of the ocean. It was hard to breathe, even more difficult to tear her eyes from his.
Archie said nothing, it was like he too was lost in the forest of her own green orbs.
The bell chimed, signalling someone else came in, tearing their connection. Archie looked away and cleared his throat while Ruby glanced in the direction of the person walking to the bar.
“Just a coffee, thank you, Ruby.” Her name rolled off his tongue and sent a shiver down her spine. She couldn’t trust her voice now. There was no way she wouldn’t stumble and make a fool of herself. She nodded, indicating she heard his request and went back behind the counter to prepare his coffee.
“A shot of rum when you’re finished up there, love.” Ruby looked in the direction of the voice and found none other than Killian Jones sitting on the other side of the counter. His gaze drifted in the direction of Emma and Neal before a solemn look flickered over his features. Noticing Ruby was watching, he smiled. It was the same self confident grin, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “The heart is both a beautiful and treacherous thing. Learning that the hard way lately.”
She could only offer him a small smile of sympathy and a double shot of rum. Movement outside the caught her attention and she watched Robin, Marian and their small boy walking hand in hand. They were laughing, happy.
An ache started in Ruby’s chest, a longing she never really felt until now. Her gaze went back to the red haired man in the corner and couldn’t help the grin spreading her lips when she caught him looking at her and quickly looked down at the book in his hand.
The coffee pot beeped, indicating it stopped brewing and she poured Archie a generous cup. Bringing it over to him, she smiled. “Anything else?”
He blinked down at the cup as if he’d forgotten he ordered it and shook his head. “No, I’m okay right now, thanks.” He didn’t look up this time. Disappointment settled in her chest but the chime of the door once again caught her attention.
They looked at one another and nodded. They weren’t friends but weren’t quite enemies anymore either. They had a mutual friend and because of that fact alone at the moment, they remained civil.
The former Evil Queen took a seat beside Killian. Ruby followed, coming around the counter, sure that she would want something in a few moments.
“Should have known you’d be here, pirate.” She said, but a small frown furrowed her brow. She wasn’t happy either. “I’ll have what he’s having.”
Ruby doubled the shot and slid it down the counter. It stopped right in front of the dark haired woman. Needing to find something to do rather than stand there and eavesdrop, she found a cloth and started wiping down the counters and tables that were unoccupied.
Killian glanced at her and held his half empty glass in her direction. “But of course, your highness. Where else should a pirate reside but where the rum be?”
Regina snorted, the tiniest hint of a grin twitching her lips. “Not just a pretty face, I see.”
Killian raised a brow, grinning despite his earlier mood. “You think my face is pretty?”
Her eyes rolled and she took her glass in hand. “You know what I mean.”
“Sure you can handle that, love?” He tapped her glass with his hook. “Strong stuff, you know.”
She glared before saying. “I’m well aware, thank you. After today I need a strong drink.”
“Affairs concerning the heart?”
Her expression didn’t change but the clenching of her jaw was enough of a giveaway. Killian took a breath and raised his glass toward her again. “To our sacrifices so others can be happy.”
Regina looked at the captain and saw a glimpse of Emma in the background. She didn’t need to see the man’s face to know it was Neal she was with. Ah, that explained a lot. Raising her glass, she clinked it with his, thinking of Robin and letting him go so he could be happy as well. “I’ll drink to that.”
“And,” He said, making her pause when the glass nearly touched her lips. “To making new friends.”
Regina smiled. She’d drink to that too.
It was another hour before everyone started milling out. Ruby looked at the clock and tapped her foot, hiding her impatience of wanting to go home behind a wide smile and cheerful goodbye to the slightly intoxicated ex-villains. Emma and Neal had left a half hour before, hand in hand and looking like the happiest couple in the world.
She was happy for them, truly.
That left Archie still in his booth, his attention no where else but the printed words on the pages of his book.
Ruby couldn’t help but smile. Of course he wouldn’t notice it was closing time.
Taking off her apron, she went into the back and changed. When she came out he was still there.
“Hey.” She said, getting his attention with her purse and jacket slung over one shoulder.
Startled, he looked up at her and then outside. His eyes widening, he looked at his watch. Fifteen minutes past closing time.
“Ruby I’m so sorry. You should have said something-”
“It’s not a problem.” She said, taking his empty cup and placing it in the sink for Granny to wash tomorrow morning. “You’ll just have to escort me home.” She meant it as a joke but it came out a lot more serious than she intended.
Gathering his things he made for the door and waited for Ruby to lock up. When she turned, he offered his arm, a wide smile lighting his strikingly attractive features.
“You don’t have to... I mean, that was a joke-”
He stepped in a little closer. “I don’t mind, it would be my pleasure, Ruby.”
Stopping her protests, she gratefully took his arm and allowed him to escort her home, all the while hoping he didn’t hear the thundering of her heart.
