Fic: Love Behind the Gates of Ivory - Chapter 5/12
Ruby looked at herself in the mirror, ran her hands down along her body and smiled. She looked good. She felt good too. Ever since Kathryn’s return yesterday, she was feeling more herself. Although the red dress she chose for Mary Margaret’s homecoming party was nowhere near her normal revealing attire, it clung to her body in just the right places that she knew she’d get the desired reaction when Archie saw it.
She had decided after her talking to her grandmother days ago that if Archie did show interest, she would give it a shot, but somewhere along the way she went from being curious about being with a man like Archie, to actually hoping she‘d get the chance. After his adorable stammering request to go out Saturday she knew she had it.
It placed Ruby in a position she was comfortable in. She faltered at many things but Ruby knew how to seduce a man. The initial dance at the beginning was her favorite part: the flirtations, the wanting and the buildup of desire. Ruby loved all the aspects of starting a relationship.
Keeping one was a different matter but Archie wasn’t like the other guys in her life so maybe this time would be different.
They already were different thanks to her Grandmother, who was more than happy to close the diner and come late so Ruby could go with Archie to the party. As far as Ruby could remember, that had never happened before.
She grabbed her favorite leopard print scarf and looked at herself once last time before she heard the bell from the opening front door. She gave herself a confident nod and headed downstairs.
Archie’s reaction was just what she was expecting. His eyebrows rose slightly and a small but audible gasp escaped from his lips.
“You look… lovely.” He said.
Their eyes locked and Ruby had no desire to break the gaze. The thought occurred to her that with Granny at the diner and August gone to the party already, they had the place to themselves.
As if reading her mind, Archie broke the stare and said, “We should probably get going.”
“Alright,” Ruby replied. “I hope Mary Margaret is happy with the party. “
Archie paused at the door. “Well she has been through a lot so don’t be surprised if she doesn’t have the reaction you are expecting.”
“You don’t think she’ll be happy we threw her a party.”
“Oh I’m sure she will but after going through that type of crisis, it’s… well it’s normal for people to be a bit distant. The important thing tonight is she sees her friends are happy to have her back.”
“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.” Ruby replied, slightly confused as she followed Archie out.
_____
As soon as they arrived Ruby understood exactly what Archie was talking about.
She went straight to Mary Margaret and gave her a big hug
“I’m so glad you’re home.” She told her.
Mary Margaret’s response was polite. She smiled and thanked her but she seemed distracted and a little cold. Ruby could understand. She use to drive herself crazy thinking about how she was stuck in Storybrooke. She couldn’t’ imagine being stuck in a cell.
For the most part the party was sweet and uneventful. Dr. Whale was on his best behavior. Mr. Gold didn’t stay too long, easing the nerves of most of the people in the room when he left.
She thought she caught August staring at her several times and was surprised to find when she went for a glass of punch, that it was Archie he seemed fascinated by.
Granny arrived late but it looked like the diner was slow that night for she had time to bake.
For the most part, she stuck close to Archie and made the occasional small talk. When she saw him look at his watch, she leaned into him and whispered, “Ready to leave whenever you are.”
Granny was the only one who noticed and thankfully responded in a quiet voice.
“Are you to getting ready to leave?”
“Um…”Archie looked over at Ruby. “Yes I believe so.”
“I have to get up early and open tomorrow remember.”
“Yes and then you have Saturday and Sunday off.”
“I know,” Ruby grinned, “and I appreciate it.”
“So what are you two going to do Saturday?”
“Dinner and dancing.” Ruby said, “They have a live band playing at the rabbit hole. Should be fun. “
“Yeah, should be,” he echoed.
Ruby turned to Archie. “I’m just going to say goodbye to Emma and Mary Margaret.”
“I’ll be right there.”
She went over to the kitchen island where Emma and Mary Margaret were standing.
“Archie and I are probably going to leave soon. Thank you for inviting us.” She looked directly at Mary Margaret, “I want to say again how happy I am that your back home.”
“Thank you Ruby.”
“So,” Emma said, “You and Archie huh?”
Ruby smiled and looked over at Archie who was still talking with Granny.
“Yeah, it’s kinda a new thing.”
Emma nodded. “Well he’s a nice guy, I hope it works out.”
Ruby watched Archie approach.
“Thank you ladies for the lovely evening, Mary Margaret, again, I just want to say how happy and relieved I am that you’re free and home.“
“Thank you.” Mary Margaret said.
Emma added,”And thank you for offering to testify.“
“I’m just glad it wasn’t needed.” He looked at Ruby and offered her his arm. “Shall we?”
Ruby smiled and linked her arm in his. “We shall.”
--
When they reached the steps of the bed and breakfast, Ruby was disappointed she lived so close. She wasn’t ready for the evening to end.
“Night cap Mr. Night owl?” she asked.
“Definitely,” Archie responded to her delight.
They entered the house and she led him to the kitchen.
“Scotch?”
“Would be wonderful”
She poured his drink and grabbed an open bottle of red wine from the fridge for herself. She kicked off her heels, poured her glass and took a seat across form Archie at the table.
“A toast to the living breathing Kathryn Nolan.”
Archie grinned. “I’ll drink to that.”
She took a sip and leaned forward on the table. “You were right about Mary Margaret. I’m really glad you warned me.”
“She’ll be okay. She just needs a little time.”
“Oh and it was all I could do to not burst out laughing when Henry gave her that card. We’re so glad you didn’t kill Mrs. Nolan. I feel bad for thinking it was funny because he was so sincere and adorable.”
Archie took a sip of his drink and chuckled, “We’ll it was funny. I had to stifle myself as well. Henry is sweet boy.”
Ruby studied him for a moment. “You really care about him don’t you?”
Archie nodded. “Yeah I do.”
“Poor kid. I know this whole thing has been hard on him. He’d be in the diner often, studying his book as if it had the answers in it. Hopefully now that Mary Margaret’s free, we’ll see him smile m…. ” she stopped noticing how Archie dropped his eyes and frowned at the mention of the book.
“You okay?”
He looked up from the table, “Yeah, sorry Ruby. I don’t want to ruin the evening with talk about my work.”
“I don’t mind. You were there for me when I needed someone to talk to, unless you can’t mention it because of the whole legal thing.”
Archie gave her a small grin.
“Actually that’s for anything Henry tells me in our sessions and you know about the book anyway. It’s just… I use to be so sure that indulging Henry with his fantasy about that book was the right thing to do. I even went head to head with Regina on it, but lately I’ve been second guessing myself,” he paused and took a sip of his drink, “I mean with everything that’s happened recently and everything he’s gone through I don’t know if he’s getting better and yet at the same time, I still believe it’s important to have hope and the ability to believe in a better life and in many ways that’s what Henry’s book is,” he took another pause. “I don’t know. I’m probably just babbling and not making any sense.”
Ruby reached across the table and placed her hand on Archie`s.
“I wouldn`t say that. Dreaming, hoping that somewhere out there is something more, something better, is something I can kind of relate to. I spent years doing it. But I do know one thing for certain. You’re a good man, with a good heart and whatever you decide, I have no doubt it will be because it’s what you truly believe is best for Henry.”
For a moment they just sat there with her hand holding his across the table. Archie looked up and nodded.
“Thank you Ruby that means a lot to me.”
“Any time.” Ruby smiled.
They both sat in silence and as Ruby looked into his eyes, she wondered how long they had before August or Granny would be coming home. They hadn’t even had their first real date yet. Would he think she was too forward if she went around the table, and straddled him on the chair? Or maybe just a small kiss.
She started getting up when she heard the front door. Archie jumped in his seat and looked at his watch.
“I should probably get going. Like you said, you have to be up early to open the diner.”
Ruby pursed her lips together and forced a grin. The moment was broken and wasn’t coming back that night. She would have to wait until Saturday. “Okay. I’ll see you out.”
She led Archie to the front door.
“Will I see you tomorrow?” she asked.
“Maybe. I have a few things scheduled but if not, I’ll be here 6:00 on Saturday.”
“Can’t wait.” Ruby said.
She closed the door behind him and let out a sigh.
Two more days to go.
She had decided after her talking to her grandmother days ago that if Archie did show interest, she would give it a shot, but somewhere along the way she went from being curious about being with a man like Archie, to actually hoping she‘d get the chance. After his adorable stammering request to go out Saturday she knew she had it.
It placed Ruby in a position she was comfortable in. She faltered at many things but Ruby knew how to seduce a man. The initial dance at the beginning was her favorite part: the flirtations, the wanting and the buildup of desire. Ruby loved all the aspects of starting a relationship.
Keeping one was a different matter but Archie wasn’t like the other guys in her life so maybe this time would be different.
They already were different thanks to her Grandmother, who was more than happy to close the diner and come late so Ruby could go with Archie to the party. As far as Ruby could remember, that had never happened before.
She grabbed her favorite leopard print scarf and looked at herself once last time before she heard the bell from the opening front door. She gave herself a confident nod and headed downstairs.
Archie’s reaction was just what she was expecting. His eyebrows rose slightly and a small but audible gasp escaped from his lips.
“You look… lovely.” He said.
Their eyes locked and Ruby had no desire to break the gaze. The thought occurred to her that with Granny at the diner and August gone to the party already, they had the place to themselves.
As if reading her mind, Archie broke the stare and said, “We should probably get going.”
“Alright,” Ruby replied. “I hope Mary Margaret is happy with the party. “
Archie paused at the door. “Well she has been through a lot so don’t be surprised if she doesn’t have the reaction you are expecting.”
“You don’t think she’ll be happy we threw her a party.”
“Oh I’m sure she will but after going through that type of crisis, it’s… well it’s normal for people to be a bit distant. The important thing tonight is she sees her friends are happy to have her back.”
“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.” Ruby replied, slightly confused as she followed Archie out.
_____
As soon as they arrived Ruby understood exactly what Archie was talking about.
She went straight to Mary Margaret and gave her a big hug
“I’m so glad you’re home.” She told her.
Mary Margaret’s response was polite. She smiled and thanked her but she seemed distracted and a little cold. Ruby could understand. She use to drive herself crazy thinking about how she was stuck in Storybrooke. She couldn’t’ imagine being stuck in a cell.
For the most part the party was sweet and uneventful. Dr. Whale was on his best behavior. Mr. Gold didn’t stay too long, easing the nerves of most of the people in the room when he left.
She thought she caught August staring at her several times and was surprised to find when she went for a glass of punch, that it was Archie he seemed fascinated by.
Granny arrived late but it looked like the diner was slow that night for she had time to bake.
For the most part, she stuck close to Archie and made the occasional small talk. When she saw him look at his watch, she leaned into him and whispered, “Ready to leave whenever you are.”
Granny was the only one who noticed and thankfully responded in a quiet voice.
“Are you to getting ready to leave?”
“Um…”Archie looked over at Ruby. “Yes I believe so.”
“I have to get up early and open tomorrow remember.”
“Yes and then you have Saturday and Sunday off.”
“I know,” Ruby grinned, “and I appreciate it.”
“So what are you two going to do Saturday?”
“Dinner and dancing.” Ruby said, “They have a live band playing at the rabbit hole. Should be fun. “
“Yeah, should be,” he echoed.
Ruby turned to Archie. “I’m just going to say goodbye to Emma and Mary Margaret.”
“I’ll be right there.”
She went over to the kitchen island where Emma and Mary Margaret were standing.
“Archie and I are probably going to leave soon. Thank you for inviting us.” She looked directly at Mary Margaret, “I want to say again how happy I am that your back home.”
“Thank you Ruby.”
“So,” Emma said, “You and Archie huh?”
Ruby smiled and looked over at Archie who was still talking with Granny.
“Yeah, it’s kinda a new thing.”
Emma nodded. “Well he’s a nice guy, I hope it works out.”
Ruby watched Archie approach.
“Thank you ladies for the lovely evening, Mary Margaret, again, I just want to say how happy and relieved I am that you’re free and home.“
“Thank you.” Mary Margaret said.
Emma added,”And thank you for offering to testify.“
“I’m just glad it wasn’t needed.” He looked at Ruby and offered her his arm. “Shall we?”
Ruby smiled and linked her arm in his. “We shall.”
--
When they reached the steps of the bed and breakfast, Ruby was disappointed she lived so close. She wasn’t ready for the evening to end.
“Night cap Mr. Night owl?” she asked.
“Definitely,” Archie responded to her delight.
They entered the house and she led him to the kitchen.
“Scotch?”
“Would be wonderful”
She poured his drink and grabbed an open bottle of red wine from the fridge for herself. She kicked off her heels, poured her glass and took a seat across form Archie at the table.
“A toast to the living breathing Kathryn Nolan.”
Archie grinned. “I’ll drink to that.”
She took a sip and leaned forward on the table. “You were right about Mary Margaret. I’m really glad you warned me.”
“She’ll be okay. She just needs a little time.”
“Oh and it was all I could do to not burst out laughing when Henry gave her that card. We’re so glad you didn’t kill Mrs. Nolan. I feel bad for thinking it was funny because he was so sincere and adorable.”
Archie took a sip of his drink and chuckled, “We’ll it was funny. I had to stifle myself as well. Henry is sweet boy.”
Ruby studied him for a moment. “You really care about him don’t you?”
Archie nodded. “Yeah I do.”
“Poor kid. I know this whole thing has been hard on him. He’d be in the diner often, studying his book as if it had the answers in it. Hopefully now that Mary Margaret’s free, we’ll see him smile m…. ” she stopped noticing how Archie dropped his eyes and frowned at the mention of the book.
“You okay?”
He looked up from the table, “Yeah, sorry Ruby. I don’t want to ruin the evening with talk about my work.”
“I don’t mind. You were there for me when I needed someone to talk to, unless you can’t mention it because of the whole legal thing.”
Archie gave her a small grin.
“Actually that’s for anything Henry tells me in our sessions and you know about the book anyway. It’s just… I use to be so sure that indulging Henry with his fantasy about that book was the right thing to do. I even went head to head with Regina on it, but lately I’ve been second guessing myself,” he paused and took a sip of his drink, “I mean with everything that’s happened recently and everything he’s gone through I don’t know if he’s getting better and yet at the same time, I still believe it’s important to have hope and the ability to believe in a better life and in many ways that’s what Henry’s book is,” he took another pause. “I don’t know. I’m probably just babbling and not making any sense.”
Ruby reached across the table and placed her hand on Archie`s.
“I wouldn`t say that. Dreaming, hoping that somewhere out there is something more, something better, is something I can kind of relate to. I spent years doing it. But I do know one thing for certain. You’re a good man, with a good heart and whatever you decide, I have no doubt it will be because it’s what you truly believe is best for Henry.”
For a moment they just sat there with her hand holding his across the table. Archie looked up and nodded.
“Thank you Ruby that means a lot to me.”
“Any time.” Ruby smiled.
They both sat in silence and as Ruby looked into his eyes, she wondered how long they had before August or Granny would be coming home. They hadn’t even had their first real date yet. Would he think she was too forward if she went around the table, and straddled him on the chair? Or maybe just a small kiss.
She started getting up when she heard the front door. Archie jumped in his seat and looked at his watch.
“I should probably get going. Like you said, you have to be up early to open the diner.”
Ruby pursed her lips together and forced a grin. The moment was broken and wasn’t coming back that night. She would have to wait until Saturday. “Okay. I’ll see you out.”
She led Archie to the front door.
“Will I see you tomorrow?” she asked.
“Maybe. I have a few things scheduled but if not, I’ll be here 6:00 on Saturday.”
“Can’t wait.” Ruby said.
She closed the door behind him and let out a sigh.
Two more days to go.