Rick's Ruby

Chapter 5

They went to the living room and dug through a couple bags together until he came up with a new clip for her 9mm. He gave it back to her and she tucked it away in the waistband of her blue jeans. Lori came from upstairs while they were at the dining room table cleaning the weapons and Ruby casually scooted a little closer to Rick, reaching across him for a wire brush. From the corner of his eye he saw Lori shoot them both a repulsed look, and he stifled a grin. It felt good, knowing he had somebody in his corner, and he took the time to watch Ruby as she worked. She had a calm focus on her lovely features, and he noticed she would bite her lip when she was going over the small parts of her gun. It was adorable.

"I bet those clothes are dry now." She said when they'd finished and the two of them went outside and started off around the house. She put her hand up to shade her eyes in the bright sunlight. "I usually hate winter but I'm actually looking forward to it this year."

"I hear that." He said, rubbing sweat from the back of his neck. They got to the clothesline and she started pulling clothes down and stuffing them under her arm. He reached for a pair of her underwear and she snatched it out of his hand and glared at him. He laughed and gathered the pants and shirts closest to him.

Rick and Ruby were heading for the back bedroom with their arms full when Beth bounded down the stairs. "Hey Rick. It was so uncomfortable in Dad's room yesterday and I don't want to sleep with Maggie and Glen." She made a disgusted face. "Lori said I could bunk, but I didn't want to surprise you."

He looked up at her from the bottom of the steps as she came close. "Go ahead. I'm not sleepin' there."

"Oh." She looked at him, slightly surprised. "Ok. Thanks." She bounded off and they continued on to the back bedroom, Ruby grabbing the last candle left on the dining room table.

"Why did she seemed surprised?" Ruby asked as he pulled the door almost closed behind them. She dumped the clothes in her arms on the bed and he added the ones he was carrying.

"We've been keeping up appearances." He said, not knowing any other answer.

She shook her head. "With what I've seen of her so far I think you may be a saint." She spoke softly as she folded the clothes neatly.

"That's funny." He looked up at her slyly from under his brow. "You didn't look delusional." He said jokingly and grabbed the pair of pants she'd given him in the ice house and folded them slowly.

She grinned at him. "All I'm saying is that you must be very patient. Anyway, what was Lori's point? Does she think we're sleeping together or something? Because that seems to be her focus."

"There's no guessing what's running through her head right now. " He said wearily, stepping back and crossing his arms over his chest. "I'll fix it."

She looked up at him and tilted her head to the side, running her eyes over him. She shook her head and finished folding the clothes on her bed. "Nah. It's fine."

"What?" He chuckled.

She looked back up at him. "Believe me, it wouldn't be the worst thing people have thought about me. Besides, you're actually kinda cute. Now, if it was Daryl or something, then I'd have a problem." He laughed and she grinned. "Plus, bonus, it'll annoy the hell out of Lori, so... win win."

"You're somethin' else." He mused.

"I'm gonna take these to Carol." She said, grabbing a few folded articles of clothing. He watched her walk out the door and he went and sat down on her bed, moving the rumpled covers back and thinking about their conversation. She was special, and obviously she didn't hold his actions against her because all she wanted to do was help him now. He wondered how he could have almost screwed up the best thing that had come into his life in ages so badly.