Context: Raven loves Apple. Apple loves her. But then she got poisoned.
Warnings: Kinda angsty, but sweet fluff at the end with the tiniest mention of sex
Others: This takes place after the Dragon Games. Drapple is a no-no, but Rapple is a yes-yes (but I won't judge you) But Darling is here as well, so enjoy some OOC Darling!
Raven hated this. Hated! It had been a month after her mother had been recaptured and Raven and her friends had saved the school. But now everything was crashing down on her, her mother, school, Headmaster Grimm and... Apple. More Apple kissing Darling Charming than anything. Raven has always loved Apple, well, at least after what happened at the Spring Festival. And now it seemed worthless. All of it.
Raven found Apple sitting at her bed. And when Raven said hi, Apple jumped. "Oh, hi Raven." Apple smiled. Raven's face fell and she sighed. "Everything ok?" Apple asked, concern covering her voice, making Raven so weak. And so vulnerable. "No, nothing is." Raven growled, sitting at her own bed, wishing she was somewhere else. "Tell me." Apple pleaded and Raven looked up and shook her head. Of course, Apple wouldn't let go.
Raven shook her head once again, as Apple asked again what was wrong. "Raven Queen, tell me!" Apple demanded and Raven stiffled a smile. Because this was it. She sighed, and looked at Apple. "She kissed you." Raven said. "Wha-? Who?" Apple asked. "Darling! You kissed!" Raven said, standing up. "She had to!" Apple gasped. "I was dying, remember? Because of your mother?" She answered. "Oh I remember. I remember vividly how the life drained from you. It wasn't exactly fun." Raven answered. "You didn't stay. You didn't even try to save me." Apple answered. Raven looked down. Apple was right, of course.
"I had to." Raven said finally, gaze falling back on Appls. Apple took a step forward, but Raven shook her head. "But this doesn't matter anymore. It never will. You'll go on and marry Darling, as your stories become one, like they had to do." Raven said, looking pointedly at Apple. "So you're just giving up? Was this all for nothing?" Apple asked, Raven saw tears well up in her eyes. "You love Darling. That's just how it goes." Raven answered, turning around. "I love you." Apple whispered. And Raven caught it, kept it close to her heart as she shook her head. "No you don't." She replied. The door slamming close was the que for Raven to start crying.
Raven had stayed in their shared doorm for a few hours, crying silently. "Raven?" A voice asked. Raven knew who it was. "Hi." She answered, voice quiet and hoarse. Darling stepped into view. "That wasn't nice, you know?" Darling stated. "Go away, please." Raven begged. "She loves you, Raven." Darling said, sitting down on the bed. Raven inhaled deeply, to calm herself. "She loves you." She whispered, tears streaming down her face. "Raven, you're my friend. I know how much you care for each other." Darling said, taking Raven's hand into hers. "You'd make so cute kids, I have a spell for that. Somewhere." Raven smiled sadly. "Shut up!" Darling hissed. "As weird as this sounds, I do not love Apple! I never have. She's like an older sister to me, since she dated Daring." Darling continued and Raven looked at her. "I had to safe her. You know that." Darling whispered and Raven closed her eyes.
When Raven opened them, Darling was still there. "I know. Why am I always wrong?" Raven asked, she sounded like she was in pain, filled with sorrow and bitterness. "Because you care too much. And for the record, I won't be staying in Ever After after I graduate." Darling smiled. "Chase?" Raven chuckled. "Chase." Darling echoed. Raven sighed. "I love her." She whispered. "Everyone does." Darling laughed. "But I win." Raven smiled. "That you do." Darling nodded, and helped Raven to her feet. "Are you okay?" She asked genuinely. "Yes, but I am stupid. My fairy god-mother am I stupid!" Raven sighed, leaning on Darling. "But you're wise enough to admit it. Now go make things right." Darling said and they left, Raven looking for Apple francticly.
Raven found her way to the patio in the Enchanted Forest. Apple was slumped over, hands covering her face. "Hey." Raven squeaked. Apple turned to look at her, tears immediately starting to pour down. "I'm so sorry. I was stupid. Like really stupid. And so very afraid, and scared and so jealous." Raven said, too afraid to meet Apple's eyes. Until Apple's there. Right in front of her. "I hate you! I hate you so much." Apple started, her voice falling. Raven nodded to every word. "I hate you for hurting me like this." Apple said. "I was so hurt." She continued. "I know, and Apple I am sorry for hurting you. I was just so scared to lose you I-" Raven started, a hoarse sob ending her sentence. "I love you." She whispered instead. "But I know that doesn't fix anything now." Raven said, taking a shaky breath to stabilize herself.
They stayed quiet for a while. Then Apple took Raven's hand and led her to sit at the white bench. Raven noticed her leg was shaking slightly from how nervous she was. She had messed up, big time. Apple sighed slowly. "I know that you were scared. When your mother was here, I was so scared to lose you. And then I did." She explained. She took Raven's head into her hands and looked into her eyes. "But we figured it out, didn't we?" Apple smiled warmly. Raven nodded. "Do you love me?" Apple whispered. "More than ever after." Raven whispered back, and Apple chuckled. "Good. Because I love you as well. Did you know that?" She asked, kissing Raven softly. "I'm not sure. If I got a second kiss, I'd know." Raven smirked and Apple huffed. "Needy as ever." She smiled just looking into Raven's eyes for a minute, before kissing her again.
Raven was lieing in her bed, Apple whispering super sweet things into her ear, like how much she loves her. And Raven would have a blissfully happy smile on her face, because that's what she felt. Happy, loved. She tuned back in from her daydreaming, back to Apple's speech of her love to her. "I love you." She smiled. "I know. I love you too." Apple beamed lazily. Raven brushed Apple's hair with her fingers. "My bed's more comfortable." Apple said, propping herself up to look down at Raven. "This bed just needs time to adjust." Raven smirked. "Any ideas?" She continued, enjoying the way Apple blushed furiously. "Raven, stop." She whined. Raven laughed, wiggling her eyebrows. "That's what you said to me a few nights before, right?" She asked and Apple slapped her arm, burying her face into Raven's hair. "Fine fine, I'll stop." Raven smiled, hugging the girl tightly. "Don't." Apple whispered into Raven's ear, and it was her time to blush. "I'm getting a lot of mixed signals." Raven chuckled. "Shut up. I love you." Apple muttered, kissing Raven softly and sweetly. "Love you too." Raven smiled, returning the kiss just as sweetly, before stripping both of them down.