I only got one response to my question, so there will not be a continuation of "Connected". Enjoy this chapter!
Regina stood in her backyard, looking lovingly at her apple tree. Even though Emma had chopped down the old one, she had bought Regina a new one to make up for it. With only a little bit of magic, Regina had been able to grow the tree to its full size.
Reaching up, Regina gently pulled an apple from a branch. Breathing deeply, she concentrated on her small portion of dark magic. The apple glowed purple before returning to its normal look.
Henry looked down at Regina from his room. He had seen her do something to the apple that she was holding, but he didn't know what it was. Reinforcements were needed.
Emma walked hurriedly towards the front door of the mansion. Henry saw her coming and opened the door. "She's just been standing in the backyard staring at an apple," he said.
"You called me here because she's staring at an apple?" Emma asked.
"She did something to it," Henry explained. "It glowed purple." Emma's eyes widened before she started running towards the backyard. She opened the back door and stepped out. Regina was standing still, gazing intently at the apple in her hand.
"Regina," Emma called.
Regina jumped before turning to face Emma. "What are you doing here?"
Emma started to slowly walk towards Regina. "Henry called me. He's worried about that apple that you're currently holding."
"There's nothing to be worried about," Regina said quickly. "It's a normal apple."
"Don't lie to me," Emma scolded. Regina said nothing, but looked down at the apple again.
"What'd you do to it?" Emma asked.
Regina tensed. "It's just a sleeping curse. The same one that I used on your mother."
Emma's eyes widened. "You're not going to eat that are you?" Regina winced in reply and tightened her grip on the apple.
"It will be fine," Regina mumbled. "Henry has you anyway. He doesn't need me."
"Regina, don't you dare eat that apple," Emma said. "He needs you just as much as he needs me."
Regina looked at her, debating whether she wanted to eat the apple or not. "Regina, please. Don't eat that apple," Emma pleaded.
"I'm sorry," Regina whispered. She took a bite of the apple, chewing it and swallowing. Emma held her breath and waited. Maybe Regina hadn't done the spell right?
After several moments of silence, Regina's eyes closed and she fell to the ground. She was asleep.
"What happened?" David asked. Emma had called him and Snow in a panic. She had no idea how sleeping curses worked, but both David and Snow had been through it. They would know what to do.
"She put a sleeping curse on the apple and then ate it. What do we do?" Emma asked. She had moved Regina into a more comfortable position, and realized with a start that the scene oddly resembled Snow in her glass coffin.
"True Love's Kiss," Snow said. "It's the only thing that breaks the sleeping curse."
"So someone go get Henry!" Emma exclaimed. When neither of her parents moved, Emma glared at them.
"It's not that kind of True Love," David explained. "It has to be your romantic True Love."
Emma cursed under her breath. "Well how are we supposed to do that? Last time I checked, Regina isn't in love with anyone."
"Yes she is," Snow whispered. Emma looked at her in confusion.
"You," Henry said, walking into the backyard. "She's in love with you, ma."
"Henry, don't be ridiculous. Your mom isn't in love with me," Emma scoffed.
Henry rolled his eyes. "Trust me, she is. You guys have just been avoiding actually saying it because you both have a fear of rejection."
Emma looked down at Regina. Would her kiss actually work? "Kiss her," Henry encouraged. "I'll bet money on it working."
Emma took a deep breath before leaning down and lightly touching her lips to Regina's. Magic and love filled the air, and Emma pulled away as Regina gasped. Her eyes snapped open, and the first thing she saw was Emma's smiling face.
"You woke me up," Regina whispered.
"Yeah," Emma said. "I guess I did."
"I didn't want to wake up," Regina said. "You saw me eat that apple. I did it for a reason."
"Yeah, well," Emma said. "I'm not ready to let you go. I love you."
Regina reached up and grabbed Emma's jacket, pulling her close. "You really don't want to love me," Regina whispered.
"Too bad," Emma whispered back. "I already do." She leaned down and closed the gap between her and Regina, kissing her passionately. Regina tensed, but finally gave in, deepening the kiss.
They broke apart and smiled at each other. "No more poison apples," Emma said strongly. "You're really making me start to hate that fruit."
"Sorry," Regina chuckled. "No more poison apples. I promise."