As they settled into the living room after breakfast, the easy atmosphere lingering between them, Elizabeth shifted slightly, her gaze falling on Ruby with thoughtful curiosity.
"I’ve been aning to ask you," Elizabeth began softly, folding her hands neatly in her lap, you said you stayed with a friend while in Florittle. Do you trust her that much?"
Ruby offered a small smile, her hands resting over her lap. "Yes, I do. How can I not trust her?" she replied quietly. "Rayna... she’s been there for through everything even before now, she’s been there for . Always. When this happened and I called her... she didn’t even let finish before she offered her space to co clear my head. Honestly, I don’t know what I would’ve done without her."
Elizabeth’s expression softened, a genuine warmth lighting her eyes. "She must be a very good friend," she murmured, her voice touched with a rare tenderness. "To have taken such good care of you."
Ruby nodded, her lips curving slightly. "She is. She’s like the sister I never had. I owe her so much."
"I see. How long have you both known each other? Does she know Ivy too? Is she friends with Ivy?" Elizabeth asked and Ruby shook her head.
"No, she isn’t. She doesn’t even like Ivy since she’d seen Ivy talk disdainfully at when we were much younger," Ruby said, wondering why Elizabeth was asking so much about Rayna and why she was keen on knowing if Ivy was connected to her.
Elizabeth nodded and a small thoughtful pause stretched between them before Elizabeth spoke again. "How about she moves over here? To Zeden," she suggested gently, her eyes eting Ruby’s with sincerity. "I could help her settle—buy her a house, and Stefan could even get her a position in the company if she’d like that."
Ruby blinked, surprise flickering across her face. "Really?" she asked softly, uncertain if she’d heard right.
Elizabeth smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling faintly. "Yes. I think it would be good for you to have soone close. Soone you trust. And after everything she’s done for you, I think it’s only fair."
Since she’d first hand heard how evil Ivy could be and knowing Regina was also in support of Ivy, Elizabeth thought it would be nice to have Ruby have soone she could trust close to her. At least, then Ruby could be safe and not feel too heartbroken by the actions of people she called family.
A quiet warmth unfurled in Ruby’s chest at the unexpected offer. She hadn’t anticipated Elizabeth to be so considerate—not after everything—but this felt real. Genuine.
Though she wasn’t sure Rayna would agree to such an offer since she’d grown used to living in Florittle, Ruby wouldn’t mind raising the topic. She would nothing more than to have Rayna here. She had never thought of it but now that Elizabeth had ntioned it, she’d give it a shot.
"I would love that," Ruby admitted softly, her heart lifting. "But it’ll all depend on Rayna. I can’t make that decision for her. I’ll talk to her. See what she thinks."
"Of course," Elizabeth agreed gently. "No pressure. I just wanted you to know the offer stands. Family—" she paused briefly, her eyes softening even more, "—should always be close."
Since the ones supposed to be family to Ruby weren’t acting like one, there was no cri in referring to a stranger acting as one to Ruby as family.
Ruby’s lips curled into a genuine smile, her heart swelling with gratitude. For the first ti, she felt the walls between them slowly, steadily crumbling. And with that, the future ahead didn’t seem so daunting anymore.
Later that afternoon, after breakfast and their small talks had ended and Elizabeth had gone ho, Ruby walked over to the balcony just off the living room since Stefan had gone into his study to take care of so urgent business.
The soft breeze kissed her skin as she pulled her phone from her pocket, her fingers hesitating for a brief mont before she tapped Rayna’s na.
She knew she should have called her best friend last night but she hadn’t. The guilt tugged at her heart, but so much had happened in such a short ti that everything felt like a blur. She hadn’t even had enough ti to herself.
Steeling herself, she pressed the call button and brought the phone to her ear. It didn’t take long. Rayna picked up almost imdiately.
"Finally!" Rayna’s voice rang through the line, her usual playful tone barely masking the concern beneath. "I was starting to think you fell off the face of the earth."
Ruby’s lips curved into a small smile, her heart warming at the familiar voice. "I’m so sorry," she murmured, shifting to lean against the balcony railing. "I should have called you last night when we arrived. But I just hadn’t have enough ti to call. I’m so sorry, Ray."
"It’s okay," Rayna said gently. "Actually, Stefan already called last night. He told you were back safe and was too tired to call. I figured you’d call when you were well rested and free."
Ruby blinked, her brows lifting slightly in surprise. "He called you?"
When had he had the chance to call Rayna? Ruby mused.
"Yeah," Rayna chuckled softly. "Guess he knew you’d be too tired to call after the long Journey. He just wanted to let know you were okay. It was sweet, honestly."
A soft laugh escaped Ruby’s lips, the tension in her chest easing. "He’s been... incredible," she admitted softly, her eyes drifting over the gardens below. "Honestly, I don’t know what I did to deserve him and I really feel grateful he chose ."
Rayna’s voice grew more teasing. "Girl, please. You deserve the world. And I’m glad he finally figured that out."
They shared a light laugh before Ruby’s voice softened again. "Actually, that’s part of why I’m calling. There’s another," she said and Rayna rose a brow.
"Really? What’s it?" she asked curiously.
"Well, I talked with Elizabeth—Stefan’s mom—and... things are better. Surprisingly. She apologized to . She was waiting here already before I even woke up."
Rayna was silent for a beat. "Wait. The dragon lady? She apologized?"
Ruby giggled. "Yeah... I’m still in shock myself."
Rayna whistled. "Wow. That’s big. Like, really big. She must really want what’s best for her son if she could lower herself to actually apologize to you."
"I guess," Ruby agreed. "And she... she asked how I managed while I was away. I told her about you. And she actually suggested sothing I didn’t expect but actually love."
"Oh?" Rayna asked curiously. "What’s that?"
"She said... if you’d be willing, she could help you move over here. To Zeden," Ruby explained cautiously, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "She offered to help you settle—get you a house, maybe even a position in the company if you’d want it. I know you wouldn’t want to work in the company but then you get to be close to in a house that’s yours."
For a long mont, Rayna didn’t say anything. Ruby bit her lower lip, waiting to hear what Rayna would say.
"Wow," Rayna finally murmured. "That’s... honestly, I wasn’t expecting that. At all."
"I know," Ruby said quickly. "I told her it would depend on you. There’s no pressure, Ray. I just... I’d love to have you here. Closer. But if it’s not what you can do then you don’t have to force yourself."
The line was quiet for another breath before Rayna chuckled. "Well, well. Look at you, about to be a fancy wife and already inviting to the big city," she teased softly. Then her voice grew gentle. "Honestly, Rubes... I’d love to be close to you too. Let think about it? I just need to tie up so things here. And you shouldn’t worry about forcing myself. You know no one will force into doing what I don’t want to."
Ruby felt a weight lift off her chest. "Of course. Take all the ti you need. I just... I missed you."
"I missed you too," Rayna said softly. "And I’m really, really happy you’re safe and happy, Rubes. That’s all I ever wanted for you."
They lingered on the phone for a little longer, sharing updates, laughter, and easy conversation until Stefan’s voice called softly from inside the house, asking if she was okay.
"I should go," Ruby murmured. "But... thank you. For always being there."
"Always," Rayna promised. "And hey, tell that man of yours I said thank you for calling. I like him a little more now."
Ruby laughed, her heart light. "I will."
As she ended the call and turned back toward the house, Stefan t her at the doorway, a soft smile on his face. "Rayna?" he asked gently.
Ruby nodded, slipping her hand into his. "Yeah. I told her... about your mom’s offer."
"And?" he asked, pulling her close.
"She said she’ll think about it," Ruby murmured, leaning into his warmth. "But she’s happy for . For us."
Stefan’s arms tightened around her, pressing a kiss to her temple. "I’m glad," he whispered. "You deserve to have the people you love close."
She smiled against his chest, her heart fuller than it had been in a long ti, and her heart grateful for this mont of peace.
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