"You know you want to kiss me!" Apple sang, her soft, pink lips hovering tantalizingly over Darling's slightly gaping mouth.
Darling stared intently into Apple's wide cerulean eyes, her heavy gaze smoldering. Apple's heart leapt. Butterflies erupted within the depths of her stomach, their flapping wings creating a warm, pleasant tingling to spread throughout her middle and gradually seep into her chest.
Even after being together with Darling for nearly two years, a single glance from the blond warrior princess still managed to send Apple's heart racing frantically and her stomach fluttering dizzyingly. She could, with one look from her girlfriend, be instantly swept back to the early days of their relationship. The days where each moment spent together felt like embarking on a fresh new adventure. Where every hug was a journey which their bodies and minds took to learn the insurmountable power that every simple, innocent touch sparked. Where every kiss was a quest, in which both girls were hungrily seeking the key. The key to each other's hearts that were so eager to be opened, but didn't understand how just yet. When wonderful months spent together gradually, happily transitioned into years, Apple slowly began to feel as if this metaphorical key had been discovered by both herself, as well as her chivalrous companion. She didn't know if they had both found it in the same exact moment, but somehow this key had ended up just where it needed to at precisely the right time. Their hearts had opened up wide, shone light outwards that was so blissfully warm, so unwaveringly bright, condensed with such tender, genuine love.
Ever since this light had begun glowing, neither girl had been able to resist the magnetic pull that persistently but gently squeezed them tighter together with each passing day. Their connection had evolved into one of passion and intimacy, deep and unrestrained emotion. Their bond evoked a seemingly perpetual and indescribably pleasant feeling of warm, reassuring comfort inside of her. It was as if Apple knew, deep within her core, that whatever happened, if Darling, her beautiful princess, her courageous knight, the person she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, was by her side, she was capable of conquering any obstacle that stood in her way. Even if Darling happened to not be physically there at the time, her strength and, most importantly, her love had embedded itself so solidly within Apple, that she never felt truly alone.
Apple had always been a self-assured person, but being with Darling made her the strong,confident woman she had always aspired to be, but never actually believed she could amount.
Apple's mother, Queen Snow White, had always, for as long as she could remember, told her that she had the heart of a princess beating within her chest. A pure heart filled with such benevolence and love for all people that it simply couldn't contain its radiant light and would gladly shine its glow into the lives of others. Apple had taken this compliment to heart more than Snow White probably expected she would. As determined as Apple was, she couldn't take her mother's words any less seriously than as a role she must, must fulfill.
Ever since she'd started spellementary school at the tender age of five and quickly started making friends with her fellow fairytale companions, she had made it her top priority to ensure that everybody around her was safe, healthy, and happy at all times. She made a promise to herself to always retain her cheerful demeanor no matter how unhappy she felt so that other people in her presence would continuously be uplifted. She wanted to inspire those around her, to be a queen that people could look up to and always depend on. This expectation that Apple had created for herself as a young girl used to sometimes weigh her down, cause her to feel paranoid that she would somehow mess up and ruin everything she had worked hard for, that she would disappoint people, not be the ruler that they desired. Most of all, she was terrified of letting her mother down. Snow White had trained Apple from early childhood to be a perfectionist in all aspects of her life. She must be cheerful, outgoing, charming,courteous, hard-working, caring, intelligent, and most of all, popular. She had to be such a wonderful person in all possible ways that nobody would be able to resist loving her. As Snow White had once metaphorically explained to Apple, she needed to be a magnet that people couldn't help but be attracted to.
"But, mommy," insisted the nine year-old. "Don't magnets pull things toward them really forcefully? Shouldn't I always be gentle in every way like you told me to be?"
The queen had smiled brightly, as she frequently did, and crouched blue ones. She reached out, gently tucking a blonde lock of hair behind her daughter's ear.
"That's a very good point that you're making my sweet little Applepie," Snow White chirped. "When you're destined to be a ruler, though, charisma is an extremely important characteristic to have. Of course you never want to be harsh or too insistent when forming a friendship or acquaintance with somebody. You simply need to shine brightly like you do, my dear Apple dumpling, and nobody will feel forced to enjoy your presence. Your personality is positively too alluring to be easily overlooked by anybody. You're something special, and if you just keep being confident and kind, nobody will ever doubt it, alright sweetie?"
Apple sat, dumbfounded, for a moment following her mother's passionately given speech, before shaking her head slightly and giving the queen her dazzling smile.
"Alright, mommy. Thank you."
She pulled her mother into an embrace that the queen quickly reciprocated, wrapping her arms tightly around her daughter.
"You're welcome, my little Apple," Snow White murmured into the young girl's apple-scented hair. "You're very welcome."
Ever since that conversation, which Apple so vividly remembered over a decade later, she had never lacked confidence. Still, there was always an underlying fear of failure inside of her. This feeling had caused Apple to often work unnecessarily hard to compensate for the self-doubt that she felt.
Since senior year, however, when she had started dating Darling, the anxiety and doubt that she felt had gradually begun to melt until eventually it plagued her no more. Darling made her believe in her own self-worth. She didn't necessarily make Apple appear more confident and poised, but she made Apple feel stronger. Maybe nobody else could tell the difference in the young princess, but Darling's love had drastically changed Apple's view of herself. She didn't feel that burning urge inside of her to always be the perfect example for everybody else, the flawless royal leader. She still always tried her best, of course, but she didn't so strongly fear messing up. Mistakes taught you how to be a better leader, an overall greater person.
Apple had always strived for perfection, but she had accepted that it wasn't possible. She now focused on being the best version of herself, always trying her hardest to listen to others, gain as much knowledge as she could, be a compassionate friend and lover, as well as a dedicated scholar. And if there came a time when she messed up, wasn't the greatest example of royalty that day, she knew it wasn't the end of the world. The earth would continue moving, the sun would keep shining, and so would she.
Gone were the days of anxiety-induced panic attacks, fatigue from extreme overworking, the general feeling she had long carried of working hard but still never quite being good enough. Darling had helped her become a more comfortable version of herself, an apple that wasn't always perfectly shiny, but nobody could possibly care because the taste is just too exquisite to ever deny.
The ordeal in junior year with the release of the Evil Queen had been a wake-up-call for Apple. She could still hear Raven's angry accusation echo in her mind, stinging her heart like arrows, but each word holding truth.
"Because you don't listen! What kind of a friend refuses to listen?!"
Apple had sworn to herself that she would never refuse to listen to anybody again. Now, in her junior year of college, she still hadn't broken that promise. She was best friends with Raven. She had the best girlfriend anybody could ever ask for. She was earning her master's degree in communications, as well as minoring in maths. She spent her time at school, studying, ruling her kingdom at her parents' side, and of course, spending time with her friends. She was more happy and fulfilled than she'd ever been. Each day, she woke up excited, yearning to experience the joys of the coming day, even more than she had in high school. Life was good.
Apple began to feel slightly awkward as the moments stretched by. Darling's piercing gaze never left Apple's eyes. She seemed to be looking into the very depths of her soul, every thought and emotion that Apple kept concealed pulled out by the sparkling pools of crystal clear water glistening within Darling's ice blue orbs. Darling's hot breath exhaled, warm against Apple's cheeks. Apple held her own breath, as she continued gazing into her girlfriend's eyes. She lost herself in the glittering expanse of sea, picturing herself bobbing slowly up and down in the midst of gently lolling waves.
The next thing Apple registered was a soft sensation fluttering across her lips. Her eyes, which she hadn't even been aware were closed, shot open. She found lips brushing lightly against hers, gentle and warm. Apple's tongue darted out of her mouth, licking the glossy pink skin. The taste of Darling's vanilla lip balm pervaded her mouth, as Apple kneaded the lips between her teeth. Darling's mouth opened, allowing Apple's tongue to slide in. Darling's hands reached up, fingers tangling in Apple's curly tresses. Lips pressed tightly, as tongues twisted together, circling around and around each other. Darling had barely let out a moan when a high-pitched beeping sounded. Darling groaned as Apple pushed herself up to her knees.
"What did you do that for?" Darling grumbled, licking at the taste of apples that clung to her lips.
Apple exhaled. Her hair was matted to her red, sweaty face.
"Sorry," she mumbled, picking her phone up from the bedside table. "It's Raven."
She thought she saw Darling roll her eyes, as she brought the phone to her ear.
"Hi Raven," she said cheerfully.
"Apple!" Raven cried hysterically.
Apple's heart plummeted.
"What is it, Raven?" she nearly yelled. Her hand trembled by her ear. "Are you hurt?" Barely contained hysteria tremored in her voice.
"No! Dexter is!" Raven screeched. "H-he h-hh-ee-"
The connection crackled as she burst into sobs. Apple closed her eyes, taking a deep breath through her nose. She needed to be the calm one here. Darling grasped Apple's hand, her eyes wide.
"What's wrong with Dexter?" she asked, her voice shaking.
Apple put the phone on speaker.
"Raven." She addressed the other girl calmly. "What happened to Dexter?"
Raven sniffled, her breath hitching.
"D-dragon a-accident," she choked out.
Darling gasped. Apple took the girl's hand in hers, squeezing.
"H-hunter s-said h-he w-was p-passed o-out a-and h-his h-head w-was b-bleeding a-a-an-and…"
She broke down, hoarse sobs echoing over the line.
"Raven, where are you?" Apple asked urgently. She breathed deeply. "Are you at the hospital?"
"Y-yeah." Raven's voice cracked. "St. J-John's M-Medical C-Center. P-please g-get h-here!"
Darling's hand trembled in hers.
"We will," Apple promised, her voice soothing. "We'll be there in fifteen minutes. Just hold tight, okay?"
"O-okay," Raven gasped.
"Ok. Bye, Raven."
"B-bye."
Apple took the phone from her ear, turning it off. She faced Darling. The girl's eyes were glazed over. She breathed erratically. Apple pressed her lips to the girl's temple.
"Everything will he okay," she murmured. "Let's go."
Darling slowly nodded. Apple helped her to her feet. They walked out of the bedroom, into the hallway. Apple grabbed the keys from the metal hanger. She held the car door open for Darling, gently slamming it shut after she got in. She entered from the other door, turned her keys in the ignition, pushed on the brake, and they sped off. Apple held Darling's hand the whole drive.
The two girls raced down the hospital hallway, the white walls blurring past them as they ran. Darling flung the waiting room door open, and they hurried in. Apple could see Raven curled in on herself in a gray metal chair, her entire body quaking with sobs. She ran forwards, Darling at her heels. She dropped to her knees in front of the girl. She reached out,touching her shoulder.
"Raven," she said gently.
Raven unburied her face from her arms, reaching them outwards. She leaned forward. Apple pulled the girl into her arms. She wrapped her arms tightly around the girl, gently guiding her head to lie upon her shoulder. Wails resounded from Raven's quivering frame, blaring in Apple's ear like an emergency siren. Apple held her close, rubbing her hand in circles along her back.
"Shhh, Raven. I'm here. It's going to be alright. You're gonna be okay. Shhh."
She rocked her back and forth, softly cooing in her ear. Raven only responded with more sobs that echoed through the waiting room, bouncing off the blue walls. Darling took a seat next to them. She sat stiffly, twisting her fingers together in her lap. Apple glanced over at her. She had to comfort Raven right now, she told herself. Raven was in a much more dire state. Moments expanded into minutes and Raven continued to cry, her tears soaking through Apple's sleeve, hot against her skin. Apple kept soothing the girl the best she could.
"I'm here, Raven. Shhh. Shhh. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. Dexter's gonna be okay. He's going to be just fine. Everything's alright. Shhhh."
Eventually, Raven's sobs reduced to hiccups and sniffles and she pulled herself up by fistfuls of Apple's shirt. Apple reached out, stroking her thumb across her tear streaked cheeks. She brushed the hair away from her sticky face, tucking the locks behind her ears. Darling handed her a handful of tissues.
"Thank you, Darling," Apple murmured.
Darling slowly nodded, her eyes still glazed over. Apple wiped away Raven's tears with a tissue. She then placed another one over Raven's nose.
"Blow," she gently instructed.
Raven obliged, blowing her nose into each tissue that Apple held up for her. Apple walked across the room, throwing the tissues in a wastebasket in the corner. She then returned, settling down in a chair between Raven and Darling. She placed a hand hesitantly on Darling's tense shoulder.
"Are you alright?" she murmured.
"Yeah," Darling softly replied.
Apple nodded, turning her attention back to Raven. The girls were different. Darling often needed space rather than affection. Raven, on the other hand, always needed affection and never needed space. Apple wrapped her arm around Raven's shoulders. Raven sank into the embrace, her head falling upon Apple's shoulder. She closed her eyes, sniffling.
Apple, for the first time, took notice of their surroundings. Other occupants of the waiting room looked at them, some with sympathy, others with annoyance. Some didn't even seem to notice them. Apple sighed, closing her eyes. She stroked her fingers through Raven's thick, dark locks, breathing deeply as the scent of cinnamon shampoo wafted to her nose.
Minutes of relative silence passed before the waiting room door opened. Ashlynn Ella walked in, her toddler, Willow, resting upon her hip. Her dirty blond hair was assembled in a high ponytail. Her large, forest green eyes were set forward, determined as she walked, her legs moving in long strides towards the girls.
"Have you heard anything?" she asked when she approached them, her voice tight.
Willow looked at her mother with wide green eyes. Her lips made an o shape, revealing a full set of shiny baby teeth in her small mouth. Her long dirty blond hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her pale, chubby cheeks held a faint rosy hue.
"No," Apple replied quietly. "We're just waiting."
Ashlynn slowly nodded. She turned to Darling.
"Hey, can you please hold Willow for a few minutes? I'm going to go check on Hunter."
For the first time that afternoon, Apple's attention was turned to Hunter who was sitting on the other side of the room, slouched, his face in his hands. She'd been so fixated on Raven that she'd forgotten all about him. She shook her head at her own ignorance.
"Sure," Darling replied, her voice soft.
She reached her arms out as Willow was handed to her. Darling held the baby close, gently placing a kiss to the top of her head. Apple smiled. Seeing Darling interact with kids made her hopeful for the future. She shook her head again. Not now. She turned her attention back to the other side of the room as Ashlynn sat beside Hunter, enveloping him in a hug. Apple gave a small, sad smile. Even though Ashlynn and Hunter had broken up years ago, right around the time of Willow's birth, it was just in Ashlynn's nature to be nurturing. She couldn't help but comfort somebody in distress. Her soothing qualities were part of what made her such a good mother.
Apple turned to Raven, who was still lying her head on her shoulder. She could feel her shaking. She wrapped her arm around the girl tighter.
As the minutes passed, Darling got up and began to pace in circles in front of them. Apple silently watched her for a moment. Before she could open her mouth to tell her to sit down, the waiting room door flew open, and in came Chase and Charity Charming in all their glory. Chase walked, his head of blond hair held high. His clean shaven face shone in the eerie glow of fluorescent lights. His eyes, ice blue like Darling's, glinted in the glow. He had his arm wrapped protectively around his wife, Charity, whose long chestnut brown hair flowed down her back. Her dark blue eyes shone in the light, reflecting a bluish glow upon her pale face. The couple strode forward. Darling plopped back in the chair, her eyes wide with surprise and fear.
"Have you heard anything, Apple?" Charity demanded.
She looked directly at Apple, averting her gaze from Darling, whose eyes traveled over the floor. Apple's stomach churned. Heat rose to her cheeks. She took a deep, shaky breath, schooling her features into a neutral expression.
"We haven't heard anything, Your Majesty," she calmly replied. "All we can do right now is wait."
Charity flopped into a chair three seats down from Darling, burying her face in her hands. Chase sighed, running his hands over his face. He approached Darling, placing a large hand on her shoulder. Darling looked up at him, ice blue eyes meeting his.
"Hello, dear," he said.
"Hi, Dad," Darling muttered.
"Everything will he fine," he assured her.
She nodded, though her eyes remained dull. He nodded before sitting next to his wife and hugging her. She sobbed into his chest. Apple watched as Darling gripped her fingers together in her lap, her eyes cast towards the blue carpeted floor. Apple reached out with the arm that wasn't wrapped around Raven, grabbing the girl's hands. Darling's eyes shot up, startled. Apple smiled gently at her. Darling wanly smiled back, as Apple stroked her knuckles.
A relative silence again overcame the room before sobs again overtook Raven. Darling slipped her hand from Apple's, motioning for her to tend to Raven. Apple nodded before turning and encircling both arms around Raven. The girl buried her face in Apple's chest, letting out choked sobs, muffled against the fabric of her shirt. Apple ran her fingers through Raven's hair with one hand, caressing her back with the other. She remained silent this time, the words seemingly drained out of her. She squeezed the girl tighter as the volume of her sobs increased. She placed her lips upon Raven's head, peppering her scalp with soft kisses. Tears seeped through her shirt, as the minutes stretched slowly by.
The waiting room door burst ope. A few minutes later as Daring and Rosabella quickly stalked in. Daring was crying, tears dripping from his dark blue eyes, streaming down his pale cheeks. His straw blond hair swept down his neck, some of the locks matted to his tearstained face. Rosabella's arm was wrapped around Daring's back. Her long brown hair was pulled into a low-hanging ponytail, cascading down her back. Her eyes shone with tears beneath the lens of her red glasses. Light reflected off her tanned face.
Apple uncurled her arms from around Raven. She took Willow in her arms as Darling handed her over. Darling surged forwards, her arms outstretched, as the couple approached. Daring rushed towards her, his arms wide. They met in a hug in the middle of the waiting room, their arms wrapping tightly around each other. They remained in the embrace as minutes passed, Daring's face pressed into Darling's shoulder, crying silently. They separated after a few minutes, slowly walking back to the chairs. They sat beside each other, their arms encircling each other's shoulders. Daring rested his head upon Darling's shoulder. Rosabella sat down in the chair beside Daring. Apple held Willow with one arm, reaching across to rub Raven's shoulder with the other. Raven sobbed into her hands, her shoulders quaking. Apple worried her lip between her teeth as Willow began to fuss, squirming.
"Mommy," she whined. "I want Mommy."
Apple glanced over at Ashlynn, who was still hugging Hunter, rubbing his back.
"Shh, shhh," Apple murmured. "It's okay."
She attempted to comfort both Raven and Willow. Her heart thumped. She blew a puff of air from her lips. She leaned down, kissing the top of Willow's head. Her lips lingered, as she breathed in the toddler's sweet scent. When she looked up, Ashlynn was standing before her. Her shoulders were slumped.
"Hey," she breathed. "I'll take Willow. Thanks so much for watching her."
"You're welcome," Apple replied tiredly.
She gave Willow a quick peck on the head before handing her carefully back to Ashlynn. Ashlynn smiled before walking out of the room, Willow propped on her hip. Apple glanced over at Hunter, whose hands were still clamped over his face. She then turned to the crying Raven. She opened up her arms, gently gathering the girl in an embrace. She pulled her head to her chest, leaning down to place her own chin atop Raven's head. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply. All they could do was wait.