It was early in the morning as Ruby got woken up by the noise of her alarm. She always hated the early shifts but granny always made her do that. When she wanted to stay up late, she always threw her into the early shifts. She remembered the many arguments about those shifts with her. They were always fighting it over and over, but Ruby always loved Granny with her heart. She wouldn't and couldn't be without her, not with happened. Something changed Ruby's and Granny's life more then ever. She remembered it as yesterday and it took a lot for both of them.

Ruby was working her shift. She was having the last argue with Granny about how she was spending her time. Ruby wasn't going to stay around. She was sure of that. In the back of her mind, the images of Boston kept showing around. She wanted to leave, her Granny was annoying her more then ever, and she lost her freedom. Something she didn't want to lose. She quickly threw away her apron as she headed to her place. The place she called home, where she has been living with Granny. She grabbed her bag, as she filled it. She wasn't going to let anything get into her way. She wanted and needed to get to Boston. She prepared everything and was ready to go, when she got a phone call. She had to hurry back to her work because something was happening.

Ruby run as fast as she could as she saw Granny there. Ruby first thought she was joking but sooner or later Granny fell to the ground getting a heart attack. Ruby quickly dropped her bag as she run to Granny, trying to help her. She called the Hospital quickly as she at least made it. That day took much out of Granny but also for Ruby. Ruby couldn't leave anymore that was sure. She had to take over for now. So Ruby stayed.

Ruby got out of her thoughts as she grabbed her outfit to work in the Granny's Dinner. The sun was shining as she looked up. It was great weather and she had to work. She opened the shop as she looked around seeing Granny again. "Hi Granny, is it going alright now?"Ruby said as she grabbed herself a coffee, as she waited for customers to walk in.

He stood in the back room trying to get a bit of spilled coffee off his vest. He had come by early to speak to Granny to see what her take was on all that had happened in the town and to ask if she and seen or heard about any wolves in town. She of course had gotten a bit spooked by the fact there was a dead man in her shop and in reaction spilt a bit of hot coffee onto him. When Ruby had entered with the sound of the bell going off over the door he looked up.

Graham being out of sight kept his ears open and listened to her talk to Granny. Though Granny had not said anything. She was probably still a little startled by Graham showing up. He was surprised though that Granny hadn't mentioned there was a dead man walking around in their laundry room."Yea, just fine" he heard the old woman say and Graham went back to trying to get the stain off his shirt and vest.

He grew frustrated and unbuttoned the vest. Anyone could tell by the way he had taken his vest off that he was a bit upset. It was of course an accident and he wasn't going to stay upset very long, but it was his favorite vest and t-shirt.  His hands quickly went through the buttons of his shirt.  Graham removed the shirt and tossed it into the washer inside out. Once the detergent was in, he shut the door to the washer. He wasn't going to worry about the noise it would make. Ruby would find out he was a live soon enough.  The washer started to run  water and Graham looked around  the laundry room. There had to be a spare shirt around here, right? 

For the first time Ruby saw something different from her Granny. It was weird. She was a bit paler then normal but all she did was look away from Ruby. If there was something she couldn't believe or was hiding. Ruby took a sip of her coffee as she looked up around the place. There was no one here, but why was Granny looking so strange. Like she saw a ghost. The voice of Granny was heard, as she looked up. Yeah just fine..

Ruby knew her Granny more then ever, and if she said that it was not going okay. She knew that was how Granny worked. She walked to Granny as she put her down on a chair. "Okay spill it Granny, you looked like you seen a ghost."She said. Her grandma looked up as the answer already settled itself. She heard the washing machine in the laundry room as she looked at Granny. "I thought no one was here, but by the looks on your face, that ghost is there."Ruby said.

She put down her coffee as she stood up. She wanted to know why Granny was acting so strange, so she took her steps to the laundry room, as she opened the door. She took a few steps further as she closed the door behind her. There he was standing shirtless as the mouth of Ruby opened. He was there half naked standing there. It was non other then the old sheriff. The one that passed away a few years ago. He was back, and he was there trying to find a different shirt. Ruby grabbed a shirt as she walked over to him. "It has been a long time Graham. It is good to see you alive again.... and half naked. I never thought we would meet again like this."She said as she looked at him. "At least the rumors were true then."Ruby once said again, as she walked closer touching his body and giving him the shirt.

Graham/Huntsman

He turned around to find Ruby holding a shirt. He smiled as he extended his arm to take it. "Thanks for the shirt." He puled the shirt over his head and slipped his arms in it. It was just a little snug, but it would do. "Rumors about me?" He didn't exactly want rumors to start about him. He still wanted to have the one up over Regina. He pulled on the sleeves of the shirt "So that's all I get, it's been a long time Graham. No, How are you alive? No hugs? Really Little Red" Ruby had always looked good in red as she did now.

He moved toward her and wrapped her arms around her. "I'm glad to see you." He held her tight. "Granny seemed to not like my reappearing act. Spilt coffee on me. So I'm just borrowing the washer and dryer." His accent slipping from his lips  as he let go of Ruby. He took a few steps back. "Ms. Ruby, while my clothes are washing would you care to keep me company over a slice of pie? Do you still serve that famous pumpkin pie?"  

Ruby gave a smile when he took the shirt and thanked her. It was nice to see him again and while she didn't believe the rumors at first, she knew it was about him. Maybe it was her wolf inside her that knew he was it, but she had to find out. "Yes rumors."Ruby said. "The rumors I believed, because they told me, a old wolf has returned."She said as she took a few steps to get closer to Graham. "There is only one wolf I know."She said grinning as she pulled him closer. She gave him a big hug and then a kiss on the lips. His lips were warm, as she could feel he was alive again.

She then felt the arms wrapped around her, as the moment felt great. "It is good to see you. I am happy that you are back."She said. She heard about Granny as she laughed. "Well what can I say, Granny got a heart attack and isn't all the good with ghosts.."She said. Lucky it didn't gave her a heart attack again.Ruby thought as she looked back into the eyes of Graham. "Well you are always welcome to use the washer and dryer Graham. You got any place to stay now you are back in town?"She asked. His accent slipped his lips as she looked at him. "I would love to keep you company, and yes we still have that pumpkin pie."She said as she smiled to him.

Graham/Huntsman.

He smiled as her lips departed his. "If only all my welcomes would be so warm." He held her in his arm as if making sure all of it was real. It was weird feeling being in one time then suddenly being in the future. He knew things had changed, knew that everyone knew who they were, but everything looked and felt as it had before his demise. "I am glad to be back." As Ruby told him about Granny's heart attack he looked down to the floor for a moment. "I am sorry to hear about that. She seems better now though." He moved toward the door and allowed Ruby to exit first.

Graham followed Ruby out of the Laundry room and back into the diner. "I haven't allowed the thought of where I might rest my head for the night cross my mind. I know Mary Margaret would allow me use of her floor." The truth was if he had to he'd find shelter in the woods. His eyes roamed around the familiar business and saw Granny standing there. "Sorry for the scare earlier.I hear you still serve your famous pumpkin pie. That's good to know." Graham apologized as he moved to sit down at the counter. Once he found himself situated he looked over toward the woman in red. "How have you been Ruby? "

@ruby

The kiss felt warm and magical. It was a great feeling she never wanted to let go. She felt how he kept her in his arms. She wasn't going to show him how much she cared about him, but she knew that she fell in love with him, and the passion in her and his kiss showed everything. Ruby never had a feeling for a man other then Peter, but he was better then Peter. He was there right now, and nothing was going to stop her to eat him, to make the mistake she did with Peter. This was her second change, and maybe. Maybe one day she was going to get him in her heart. At least the start was there already and she enjoyed every minute with him. She then heard his words as she sighed. "It is fine, she is a tough one, it just ruined my plans to go to Boston, but now that you are back, I really don't mind."Ruby said.

She then followed him outside the Laundry room as she looked at Granny. Granny nodded with the pumpkin pie as she gave 2 pieces and then left to go somewhere else. It was the first time Granny did something to not stop her from falling in love and spend time with someone. She felt happy that it finally could happen. She gave a smile as she heard him talk about a room. "Well I have a spare room, it might not be so good as the room of Mary Margaret, but it is open for you if you want it."She said. The pumpkin pie was the specialty of Granny, and she loved it very much, like every other Storybrooke person. It has something magical, even if it wasn't that. She then looked up as she heard the question. "Well what can I say, been working extra shifts, since Granny wants me to take over. Other then that, I am trying to spend time with friends."Ruby said. "But what about you, how are you now?"She asked as she took a bite of the pie.

Graham/Huntsman

@ruby

"I may take you up on that offer Ruby." He wasn't sure what to say. Well, he knew what he should say, but in the manner he said it that was a bit more puzzling. He decided to take a little bit longer chewing on the bite of pie. "Now with pie in me, I'm great. I'm still readjusting to all the changes." He hadn't known ruby had friends. Though why would she not have friends, clearly an attractive young lady. Graham had always just thought Granny seemed to have a chain on her, but clearly not as much anymore. It was nice to see the confidence the woman in red exuded. He took another bite of his pie, then set the fork down as he finished swallowing. It's very good pie. I'm having a hard time holding back and enjoying it."

Graham looked around to notice that Granny had left. He was going to give her another compliment on the pie, but seeing she was gone there was no point. " What about the business, it seems rather slow. I remember being here around this time and there would be at least eight customers." Looking around now he noticed it had just been him and Ruby. "I'm actually a bit relieved, just because I'd rather keep my home coming from becoming town news. No welcome home surprise parties or anything of that nature." He pointed n Ruby's direction with a look that said , 'yes, i'm talking to you'. "No conspiring with Mary, Henry, or Emma" He took in a deep breath as a smile came to his lips and his hand moved to pick up the fork again.

Between Mary's hot chocolate and Granny's pumpkin pie he could really loose his figure. He brought the piece of pie up to his lips and once more allowed himself to savor the taste. "So tell me, are there any other wolves in town? Last I was here there was just one." With things having changed it made him curious to know if wolves had re inhabited the woods.

Ruby looked up as he stated the offer. Ruby gave a smile as she looked to him. "That is fine by me. Welcome then."She said laughing as she took a bite of the pumpkin pie. It was hard for her to sometimes get friends. Granny was picky but something changed in that woman. The heart attack. She was still sometimes stubborn and trying to stop Ruby from stuff, but she became weaker with the chain. There was Mary Margaret and Belle. They have been friends for a long time. It was good that she had those new friends, it was something she enjoyed in her spare time. To be with them. She gave a smile when she heard him speak about he pie. Ruby wasn't even done at all, as she shove it to Graham. "Here is a extra one then, just two bites gone."Ruby said.

Ruby looked around as it was true. They were the only customers around here. "Sometimes it is too early for anything. It will come around, I have seen it that it was full."She said. It was true, times have changed and sometimes it was full, sometimes zero people. But that was how people needed the coffee or anything else. She looked up and then laughed when he started to point fingers. "You really think I am that bad, that I would conspire with Mary, Henry or Emma. You must be really think I am that bad."Ruby said grinning but also enjoying it. She never thought about a Welcome home party, but maybe that wasn't such a bad idea.

The next question was something she had to think about. "There has been one wolf yes. There hasn't been more I think. I am not sure really, I have been hearing a howl lately. Something that showed there is a wolf around here. But if there are more. I couldn't tell you Graham."Ruby said as she looked around the place and then back to Graham.

Graham/Huntsman

He looked over at Ruby as she told him it would be fine if he said with her. He wanted to be close to Emma and Henry, but he knew that place was too crowded as it was and that was made evident by trying to spend the night there last night. Emma wasn't exactly coping well with the fact that he was back, at least that was the conclusion Graham had come to. Maybe she had come to terms with him being back, but he was now well aware of the time that had passed between his death and present day and that probably made it harder for Emma. His eyes looked to the piece of pie blankly as he pulled himself off a piece with his fork. The piece was too big so he used the fork to break it down more.

Ruby was soon pushing her plate in his direction and his attention went back to her. His eyes moved from the plate and followed up her arm till his eyes were on her eyes. "Well, I'm still glad that it's not full today. It would be bad if everyone learned I was back so quickly. "By that he really meant Regina. He needed time to come up with a plan. Regina after all had crushed his heart, he knew that was what happened, it was the only explanation. He took in a deep breath and exhaled before taking another bite of pie. "Thank you for the pie." He said as he switched his empty plate out for Ruby's plate. "And yes, yes I do think you'd conspire with them. I know you." He moved his shoulder into her nudging her slightly before his fork went back into the piece of pie.


Graham listened to Red's words about the wolf, his wolf most likely. "The one with the two different colored eyes? He's still around?" He wondered if the wolf had been looking for him, why else would it howling if their were no other wolves in the area to hear it. "Well then I guess I'll have to go on a search and discover for myself." He wondered if anything had changed about the woods. He would find out sooner or later. "In fact, maybe i'll go do some searching in a bit. I'd ask you to join me, but I can see you are clearly very busy here."

Ruby wasn't sure what he was thinking. There were enough reasons he could go to someone else, so she just was going to wait for whatever he was going to do. Ruby just wandered if Graham already seen Emma, or already told he was back. She gave a smile as both eyes met with the piece of pie in front of them. "Yeah well maybe it sooner becomes full but I am not so sure, it looks like it is going to rain outside soon."She said as she heard him say thank you and that she would conspire. "I wouldn't conspire at all Graham."She said as she looked at him. "I am not that cruel.... yet, and I wasn't thinking of a party at all, but thank you for giving me ideas"She said as she laughed at him.

She then looked at him when he was talking about the wolf. "No it was a wolf with a bit of black fur and gold eyes. And if I remember it correctly the wolf was also female."She said as she looked at him. She then heard him talk about going to search alone because she was too busy. "No I can go, it doesn't look like Granny is going to have a full house here and there are going to be 3 others soon. I can take the day off."She said. Anything to be with you.Ruby thought as she gave a smile looked at Graham.


Graham/Huntsman

"Are you sure one eye wasn't red and the other blue that only had a gold glare to it?" He remembered his wolf, the wolf that had stuck by his side for a good portion of his life was the one he had seen in town before he died. "That wolf has taken an arrow for me. It led me to Regina's graveyard. I should find her, make sure she is all right." He stood up quickly hoping this wolf she spoke of was the same wolf. "I can't pay anything for the pie, not yet, but I'm good for it." He needed to find a new job so that he could gain some income. He of course wasn't really sure what he'd be doing.

"Good, not afraid of a wolf are you Ruby. Though you should know she doesn't like other wolves that much." He looked over his shoulder in red's direction with a smile on his face. Whether he was joking about that or just smiling to make her relax well that was up to Ruby to decide. The two headed out of Granny's and he placed his hand on Ruby's back when they had stopped just outside. "The last I saw her was two blocks to the left by the shrub. But apparently it's been months since then." It had been almost seven months since he had died. He honestly still couldn't believe he had died. It really had felt like hours between the time he blacked out and the time he woke up. If anything had happened in those months of his dead he didn't remember any of it. "It could be a good place to start." @ruby

"No the wolf I saw has gold eyes and black fur."Ruby said as she looked at him. She heard about the wolf from Graham but she knew once the full moons rise, she turned into that black wolf. Something only Granny, Snow and Charming would know, unless Henry knew about it too. "Maybe she returned, we could always check Graham, but the wolf I am telling and who I saw wasn't her."She said as she stood up with him. "No worries, you get it from the house."She said. Granny probably wouldn't like it but Ruby needed to help Graham. That was the least she could do after what he has been through.

Ruby blinked for a second and looked up at him. "No not afraid of a wolf. Nor would I think, I am a problem, since I am not a wolf."She said. Her face not showing a single emotion trying to hide that secret. She wasn't sure if he knew, but she rather waited for that. She felt his hand as she touched him on his back too. "Graham you were the sheriff, follow your instinct, I know you can do it."She said. She then heard him tell what he thought. "Lets go that way then."Ruby said as she smiled to him.

Graham/Huntsman

"Thanks, but I will pay you back, eventually. Once I find a job." That was weird to say. He knew who he was and what he use to do and he missed it, but he missed his life as Graham, at least when Emma had come into town and started to change thing. His eyes looked over to Ruby "You know I was raised by wolves. I know their scent, know how to track them, I just thought I'd let you get us started in the right direction." He then moved his eyes away from Ruby and to the path in front of him. "I remember there use to be no wolves here." He wasn't sure what they could talk about besides the wolf. He felt like bringing Emma and Henry up wouldn't be appropriate. He wasn't really sure why, maybe it had been the Welcome Back kiss Ruby had planted on his lips earlier.

"I guess the curse breaking changed things." His wolf, the grey one with the two colored eyes, it was here before the curse broke. This new wolf maybe it came after the curse broke or had been hiding out with the one that seemed to follow him around the most back in the Enchanted Forest. He removed his hand from her back and placed them by his side. His hands slipped into his pant pockets as they leisurely strolled down the sidewalk. "Are you sure Granny isn't going to miss your services? I'd hate to be the reason for a future argument."


@ruby

"It is fine Graham, you don't have to pay me anything at all." Ruby said as she looked at him. She heard his story as she gave a smile. "If you are raised or not by wolves, I am telling you after the curse broke, I have seen one wolf."She said. She looked at him and she really wanted to tell the truth. The truth she didn't see any wolf except her. "Graham."Ruby said as she gave a soft smile and sigh. She wasn't sure how he would react, he wanted to find the wolf so bad, but all it looked like was that he wasn't going to find it.

"Yes you can say that.... that the curse breaking changed stuff."She said as she felt his hand slipping away as she heard him as about Granny. "Granny can take care of herself, I need to tell you something. That is way more important."Ruby said. She took a few steps further, as she turned around to stop his tracks. "That wolf I talked about. It wasn't your wolf."She said as she looked down. "The wolf I was talking about, the wolf full of black fur and gold eyes. I am that wolf Graham."She said as she didn't want to look in his eyes. She told him the truth and she was ready for any reaction he was going to give, even yelling or disappointment.

Graham/Huntsman