Red

RED - 10

I woke up the next morning... nude.

Last night wasn't just some crazy dream. It was all real.

I sat up in the large bed, pinning the bed sheet to my chest as I looked around.

Will lay shirtless, and most likely nude as well, next to me, his arm loosely draped across my waist and he snores softly.

I huffed out a tired breath, looking over at the clock on the side table and squinting to see it.

8:42am.

Shit.

"Will, wake up," I began shaking him, the sleep finally leaving my system and I looked around for the nightgown that I had been given for the night, "Will, wake the f*ck up"

"Hm?" His snores ceased and his arm moved from my waist to rub his eyes, "Already up for round 4?" He chuckled deeply, still mostly asleep.

I ignored the blush on my cheeks and hit his arm, his chuckle deepening, "Breakfast will be here in.. 15 minutes! Get dressed!"

"Kitten, my boxers are already on"

"Put a damn shirt on then" I snapped as I rifled through the sheets, looking for my nightgown, Screw my panties for now.

"Rubes, I don't need a shirt. I usually don't sleep with one on" he chuckled again, sitting up in the bed and leaning his back casually against the head board.

I rolled my eyes and ran a hand through my hair frustratedly, my eyes scanning my surroundings as I located my night gown.

I went to slip it over my head when Will caught my wrist and pulled me into his chest before rolling us over, his body over mine.

"I like you alot better like this" he lowered his head and pressed a teasing kiss to my collarbone, his teeth grazing the skin.

"I have to get dressed, Wil-mmm" I closed my eyes as he continued to leave a hickey on my neck, situating himself between my exposed thighs. His lips travelled lower, running over my naked chest and I arched my back, my body responding accordingly.

I turned my head to the side as my nails dug into Will's shoulder blades, his body sliding lower as his kisses traveled towards my belly button.

My eyes fluttered open slightly, and the digital clock on the side table flashed before my eyes.

8:57.

"S-stop... Will stop!" I pushed at his shoulders and he raised his head from my midsection, lust, confusion and concern swirling in his eyes.

"What's wrong? Did I hurt you?" his tone was stiff as his arms wrapped around my waist and he held me in a protective grasp.

"I have three minutes! Get off me!" I pushed at his chest and the worry left, a deep chuckle slipping between his lips as he rolled off of me and sat up against the headboard.

"But I was having so much fun" he tsked as he chuckled more, and I rolled my eyes, trying to recollect myself as I grabbed my night gown, throwing it over my head just as three knocks sounded on the door.

I cleared my throat as I settled against the headboard, "Come in"

Immediately the doors opened and three women entered the room, each one wheeling a cart.

"Good morning Sir. Madam" they greeted us, and I nodded my head at them as they began to set breakfast up for us. Unsurprisingly, the maid serving Will couldn't help herself as she continued to consume an eyeful of Will's bare chest.

Suddenly, I felt his lips at the corner of my mouth and he pulled away after a couple seconds.

I looked at him weirdly, "What was that for?"

"You've got all of today, princess," he smirked, "I'm your Prince Charming"

*****

We spent the entire day in talking in the bedroom that Cindy told us we had to stay in. Later on she came in to discuss Will's departure plan, and when she left we resumed talking... among other things.

It was nearing 10 pm now, and Will was getting ready to leave the bedroom with a good friend of Snow's that was going to take him to the docks. Robin Hood.

"Stop pacing, would you," I rolled my eyes from where I sat on the edge of the bed, watching Will pace back and forth for the past half hour, "Everything will be fine"

"What happens if I get caught, Ruby?" One by one, doubts started to leave his lips and I stood and strode over to him.

"Nothing bad is going to happen to you. Snow trusts Robin. And Robin is one who the sneakiest damn people in this kingdom. Nothing will go wrong"

For a while, he just stood there, staring at me, before he let out a sigh, "That optimistic mind of yours better be the same when I come back"

A lump formed in my throat and I shrugged my shoulders, "You may really like it there"

He shook his head, bracing my shoulders, "What are we even doing, Ruby?" I shrugged off his grip and took a step back, my eyes watering before I could stop them as he repeated, "What are we doing?"

He closed the gap between us, "You know what this is between us, Ruby. Last night proved that. But... I'm going away for a really long time"

"A lot of things can change in a year"

"A year can change a lot of things," another step closer to me until he was as close as he could get without touching me, "A lot of things can stay the same too. But I don't want you waiting for me or any shit like that"

I bit my bottom lip as the doors behind Will opened.

"It's time to go, Will" Snow's voice is the one that spoke, but he didn't turn to look at her.

"We've been in each other's lives for a very long time," I told him quietly, and he nodded his head, "You'll be okay without me,

"Are you sure?" I whispered, and he raised one hand and cupped the side of my jaw.

"Little girls, this seems to say. Never stop upon your way. Never trust a stranger-friend; No one knows how it will end," I leaned into his touch as he continued, "As you're pretty, so be wise; Wolves may lurk, in deepest guise. Handsome they may be, and kind. May be charming—never mind. Now, as then, tis' simple truth—Sweetest tongue, has sharpest tooth"

He leaned down and gently kissed my lips one last time, before he wrapped his arms around my waist. I wrapped mine around his neck and hugged him as tightly as he was hugging me, before we both let go and he stepped away.

"I'll see you someday soon, Little Red Riding Hood"

"I'll see you someday soon, Big Bad Wolf"

-END-

A/n: endings poem from, The Company of Wolves.