Chapter Two

The Bittersweet Connection


Zelena trudged down the stairs, wary of the day that was to come. Although her head was held high, it was clearly evident that she was unsure of what to expect from her seemingly hospitable enemy.

Stepping into the kitchen, Zelena spotted a plate of pastries, with a set of utensils carefully set beside it. Her eyes washed over the food, and then panned up to Regina, who stood by the sink, sipping a steaming cup of coffee. Glancing up, Regina nodded toward the platters of pastries, making sure that she was aware the pancakes were for her.

Zelena took a couple steps toward the table, her calculating eyes glancing over the delicacies set out for her. Perhaps out of spite, though the true reason was unknown to her, Zelena picked up the plate of pancakes, and took another step toward the trash, dumping the stack of pancakes inside. As she watched the pancakes slide off of the plate, a devious smile crept upon her face.

Regina merely rolled her eyes, and placed her mug in the sink. She sauntered past Zelena, whose eyes followed her toward the door. "I'm going out." She reached for the handle, and pulled, beginning to walk down to the the diner, eager to see Henry.

Now alone in the kitchen, Zelena was left feeling confused. She was still unsure of the exact reason for her actions, but she did know that it was meant to anger Regina. Her acts of defiance were getting her no where, and at this rate, she wouldn't be getting anywhere at all.

Zelena felt discomfort, and heard her stomach growl. Her eyes flickered over to the last pastry set out on the middle of the table.

Pie.

Several thoughts ran through her head, calculating the consequence of her possible actions. If she were to take a slice, Regina would most certainly find out. Zelena was much too prideful to admit she needed help, so instead she rummaged through the cabinets and drawers. After wandering through the kitchen, she gravitated toward the living room, and spotted a bowl.

A fruit bowl.

A fruit bowl of apples.

A fruit bowl of fresh red apples.

Zelena heard her stomach grumble, as she inched toward the table, reaching for one of the apples that was delicately placed in the fruitbowl. She plucked one of the apples from the bowl, and held it close to her. She stared at the fruit, and reluctantly took a bite out of the bright red apple.


One Week Later

With their hands clasped together, Regina and Robin walked casually down the street. The wind brushed past them, causing Regina's coat to flutter in the breeze.

"How is Zelena?" Robin asked, as he glanced down at their intertwined hands.

Regina noticed his glance downward, and did the same. She smiled at the sight of their hands, and then glanced back up, to meet Robin's eyes. She gave him a knowing look, believing that his words were only meant to patronise her.

"I am genuinely concerned," Robin protested, upon seeing Regina's facial expression. "Of course, if she is truly important to you, then I suppose she must be alright."

Regina lowered her gaze, and smiled. "She hasn't left the house all week." She paused, debating whether or not to express her next sentence. "I don't think it's good for her."

Now that they were nearing the mansion, Robin turned to Regina. "Lunch later?" He suggested, as Regina nodded tentatively, since she was still deep in thought. He leaned over and pressed his lips against hers.


Regina cautiously stepped into the mansion, scanning the room for the only other inhabitant. She wandered around the house for quite some time before finding her settled in a corner of the library, books sprawled all across the floor beneath her.

"I don't like being disturbed." Zelena said, as she placed the book on her lap.

Regina sighed, and sauntered over. She bit the inside of her cheek, contemplating whether or not her idea had been a smart one. "I was thinking," Regina paused, "Would you like to join me for lunch?"

Zelena's eyes flickered upward, a look of complete surprise etched across her face. She masked her bewilderment quickly, her features morphing into an emotionless expression. "I think I'll have to deny that invitation."

Although Regina understood why she be inclined to deny her offer, she was also able to relate to Zelena and how she was feeling. She remembered how it felt to hide in fear of what others thought of her, despite her intentions to help the Enchanted Forest thrive under her rule.

Even though they were raised under different roofs, both of them knew the importance of a mask. It was a tool that helped rationalise their actions, and make them feel as though the thoughts of others were unimportant.

However Regina didn't have anyone to come to her rescue when she fell under a similar circumstance to where Zelena was now, and she refused to see another suffer the way she did.

"You're going to lunch."

Zelena's reaction was immediate. She narrowed her eyes, and turned her head. "Are you that simple-minded?" She spat, leaning in towards her. "What part of my answer did you not understand?"

Instead of unleashing the intense fire burning inside her, Regina's features softened. "One lunch." She said, as the fire slowly put it self out.

Zelena began to shake her head, but Regina followed her with her eyes. "You owe me that much," she said.

Contemplating her request, Zelena breathed a sigh of frustration. A smile graced Regina's lips, as she stood back up, and headed towards the door. "We leave in two hours." She called, as Zelena fell back onto the sofa. She let out a shuddered breath, as apprehension bubbled inside her.


Zelena stood by the grandiose doorframe, waiting on Regina. Although she wouldn't admit it, she was feeling more afraid than anything else. However, as she had learned, appearances always mattered, and she wasn't about to let one lunch ruin her forever.

Regina walked past her, as Zelena's eyes followed her out the door. They walked together, in silence. The cool breeze fluttered by them, whistling in their ears. As they neared the diner, Zelena's footsteps became audibly slower.

Yanking the door open, Regina nodded to the entrance. The bell chimed, announcing their arrival to all inside. Regina placed a hand on Zelena's shoulder, and followed her into the diner.

Everyone froze. Their eyes gravitated toward the two, tearing down the walls that Zelena had set up between them. Regina, who was already used to their demeaning glares, sauntered into the diner. She found a couple stools around the bar, and nudged Zelena to sit.

Behind the counter, there was a slight commotion. Through the window to the kitchen, Ruby was arguing with her grandmother, and fiercely nodding in Zelena's direction. Eventually, Granny approached the two women from behind the counter. "What do you want?" She asked, rather rudely.

Regina ignored the tone the woman was speaking in, and placed an order for herself and Zelena. When she repeated the order, Zelena nodded in approval.

As they waited for their food, they caught bits of conversation floating throughout the diner. Grumpy snickered behind them, leaning in to whisper something to another dwarf. "The Queen's got the Witch on a leash now."

Regina turned toward the two dwarves, her eyes narrowed. "Maybe I should have you on a leash." She suggested, glancing at their drinks. "It would definitely help with the copious amounts of alcohol you seemed to have consumed." She sent them one last glare, as the two men stood. With scowls plastered across their faces, they moved to the table furthest away from Regina.

"Now," Regina said. "Where were we?" She turned back to Zelena, who also seemed to be smirking.


Gold's cane clacked against the floors of Regina's mausoleum, and, with a small wave of his hand, the daunting casket moved aside.

Silence surrounded him, the only sound coming from the reverberance of the cane, and the soft tapping of shoes, as he descended down the stairs. He turned, and entered the room he knew to hold what he intended to put an end to. He began pulling out boxes from their designated places, until he laid eyes on an emerald.

He plucked the jewel from the container, and tossed the box that had held the powerful item. Gold had attempted to reason with Belle, reminding her that his own son had been murdered by the woman, but Belle only countered with the fact that he had done things just as horrible, and it didn't necessarily mean he was a monster, only misunderstood.

Her reasoning, though accurate, wasn't enough to keep him content. Each time the memory of Neal resurfaced in his mind, a fiery rage burned throughout him, and the need for revenge grew stronger and stronger.

He held out his hand, the stone placed in the middle of it, and, with his other hand, a cloud of purple smoke began to form. Slowly, he brought both hands together, and clasped them. Readjusting his grip, he felt the magic bubbling between his hands.

A beam of light emulated from the brooch, and then it plummeted to the ground. Gold smirked, finally satisfied by his work. He turned around, sauntering out of the room.

Where the light had been emitted only moments ago, green smoke formed from the shattered pieces of the brooch. Green fog consumed the room, until it was leaking through the doors, and seeping into the outdoors.


"Regina!"

Many of the customers took a moment to glance at the source, before quickly resuming to their own conversations.

The young boy who had caused this commotion ran towards Regina, his legs too short for the distance he was running. He noticed the empty chair next to her, and began to climb up onto it.

Regina quickly helped the boy balance himself on the chair, and placed a hand on his back. "Hi." Her eyes lingered on the boy for a moment longer, before moving onto his father, who, upon seeing her, smiled broadly.

She smiled back, and watched as his eyes found the seat next to Zelena. Biting the inside of his cheek, he took the seat beside her.

Zelena glanced over at Robin, and, without doubt she shook her head. "No." Though he was hesitant, Robin sat down anyways. Zelena looked to Regina, almost scowling. "You never said anything about the company joining us."

Surprisingly, Regina chuckled in response. "Think of it as a surprise." She said, glancing in Robin's direction.

Roland hadn't noticed the adult conversation going on, and tugged on the sleeve of Regina's blouse. "Regina?" He asked, tentatively.

"Yes?"

He leaned in closer to Regina, his hair brushing against her skin. "Who's she?" He whispered, though the whisper was useless.

"That's none of your business." Zelena said, as she continued to stare at her steaming cup of coffee.

Roland glanced up to Regina again, and, upon noticing this, Regina glanced down. "Who's she?" Roland whispered, though not quietly enough.

Zelena rolled her eyes at the child's persistence, while Regina only smiled. Roland squirmed in the chair, and Regina placed her hand more firmly on his back. She then leaned in closer to the boy, and began to speak. "She's," Regina paused, "My sister.

There was a moment of surprise, felt by both Regina and Zelena. However, hiding her surprise, Zelena reached for her coffee, and took a sip.

Roland, unplagued by the situation, was aghast. "You have a sister?"

"Yes," Regina said, looking up at Zelena. "I do."

Granny walked past their portion of the table, and set down Regina's cup of coffee. Roland leaned in once more, and whispered: "Why's she made at me?"

"I don't know," Regina answered, relieved that the bout of questions were over. Regardless of her relief, Regina smiled, and followed Roland's lead. "Why is that?"

"Don't take it personally." Zelena said, turning back to Roland. "I hate children." She couldn't help but smile at the confusion her statement caused, as Roland glanced to his father.

"What does pershonally mean?"

Regina grinned, and ruffled his hair. "It doesn't matter."


The doors to the battered barn swung open, flinging both Emma and Hook several feet away. Just as Emma was about to steady herself, gravity seemed to defy itself, and she was pulled into the portal.

Seeing Emma fall into the active portal, he sighed, letting go of his hold on the dirt ground, falling in after her.


END CHAPTER TWO

A/N: Since this is a three shot, the next one would be the last. We hope you have enjoyed this chapter, especially the bond between Regina and Zelena. Thank you guys for the follows, favorites, and reviews.

As always, please review as we thrive for your comments. It just makes our day.

-Cafe and heysansa (No Skye because she's in China D: )

(P.S Did you see the Wicked reference?)