Apple Pie

"Cricket, when the Doctor said you were getting too involved... I hardly doubt that he was kidding. What in Oz are we doing?"

"I don't know, Zelena...Why don't you tell me? You're the one who insisted on having another session."

"Ah yes, but was it I that insisted on going out to eat later? No silly cricket, that was your idea. Just look at all the people staring!"

Zelena watched as the Cricket's eyes slowly observed their surroundings. Indeed, many people looked at them with a twinge in their eye. It made her rather uncomfortable to know that Archie would bring her to Granny's to eat, in front of everyone. This uncomfort was especially out of character for Zelena, who was extroverted despite her wicked ways. She could charm her way through most anything, literally! Zelena laughed to herself, pun was certainly intended. She reminisced on their session... Talk of what they would do with Merida, who was currently staying with Robin and Regina. Zelena sighed, Merida was always with them and yet again she wondered if it would be all for the better. They could certainly provide more for her. What would she tell her own Merida as the little babe became a maturing adolescent. Surely telling her that her birth was for revenge wouldn't take the cake. If anything, it would make Merida despise her. Hate her. Zelena experienced first hand on what one's hate could do but, she could never be like Cora... Which meant she could never give Merida up. Merida deserved to be raised by her own mother and if the time came that she didn't want to be apart of Zelena's life... She would have to find a way to let it go. That was easier said than done. A small part of Zelena would die if Merida did such things and it scared her. How could she be a good mother when her tendencies of the past had been so irrational. Indeed, it would be a hard habit to break.

"So... Are you going to go through with what we talked about?"

"Oh Cricket, you just suggested the idea merely moments ago! I can't just make up my mind on your every whim. I have to think about these things... Especially if my dear sister would allow me to do so. Moving is not that simple. Nothing is simple!"

She had raised her voice on that last statement and she mouthed an apology. She could feel eyes piercing her soul again. Ruby, the wolf girl had taken a step towards the two.

"Excuse me, Dr. Hopper is there something I can d-"

"Alright wolfie, if I wanted to hurt the dear Cricket, wouldn't he be burnt to a crisp about now?"

Archie tried to hold back a laugh as Ruby sashayed away. He hadn't forgotten the last time she had interfered with his conversation with a fellow Mills. Of course, he also remembered how something mad had happened shortly thereafter. Hopefully, that would not be a factor in this episode of deja vu. He smiled brightly at Zelena, whose eyes were sparkling with mischief. He had to remind himself that she was his patient... Even more, he had to remind himself that she was considered mentally unstable until proven otherwise. He scoffed at the thought. She was a bit garish, deceptively charming, and didn't have the best history of making decisions, but she wasn't crazy or mentally ill. All she needed was a push in the right direction, which is exactly what Archie intended to do. He sipped on his tea and looked at the plates that sat before them. There were two plates of Granny's lasagna and only one had been eaten. Zelena despised lasagna, especially Granny's lasagna. She often poked fun at it, and had become quite cynical over the past several months. Even before Archie had been assigned to Zelena, he'd heard her bickering and making conversation with the not-so enthused residents of Storybrooke.

If it's a special, then why is it frozen? Is a special supposed to taste like freezer-burn? You there, have you ever actually had a real lasagna?

He wondered why he'd even bothered to buy her any. She hadn't refused, but she certainly hadn't been enthusiastic about the idea. Perhaps she was being polite? Maybe Archie was rubbing off on her... He was particularly good at doing that. It was why he had been a conscious before the curse. He guided Gepetto and Pinocchio, enjoying it greatly. Somehow, this felt different. He didn't necessarily want to be Zelena's conscious, but instead he wanted to be her confidant. It was a lot to ask and a bit silly, but was it really too much to ask?

"Zelena, how about some dessert. If you haven't already tried it, I'd suggest the pie."

"Oh cricket, that sounds so much better than what we are having right now."

The man called the wary Ruby back over... Out of the corner of his eye, Archie could Ruby cut her eyes at Zelena. He thought this might trigger a hostility in Zelena, but instead she began to laugh wickedly at the waitress

"Is the big bad wolf gonna serve us a pie or should we collect a check?"

"Well my wickedness, I'll be happy to serve you pie... Would you like granny smith? I hear apple pies are a favorite among the Mills."

Archies eyes widened and he cringed as those words passed Ruby's lips. Surely this would set Zelena off, but instead she turned away from the waitress with a blank look on her face. Archie insisted that cherry pie would suffice and Ruby left the two alone. Zelena noticed that he was reaching for her face. Before she could react, his hands were cupped against her face. She looked deep into his kind eyes... He didn't say anything, he just smiled and that was enough for Zelena. He was the kind of person who didn't have to say something aloud for you to hear it. She could hear it with her heart. Why must he look at me in this way? She thought to herself. Every second she spent with him made her fall for him even more. Why couldn't she overcome this... whatever it was, with the cricket. She placed her hand on Archie's hand and for what he thought was going to be an affectionate gesture, resulted in her taking his hand off her face.

"I can't do this, cricket. These outtings, this... It isn't right. I'm out eatting pie with my counselor, whilst Merida is in the arms of another and you want me to move out, but where would I stay?"

"Zelena, I feel as if you... "

"That's just it. You feel. You don't think. It's why you're a psychologist, not a real doctor!"

Zelena rushed out of the resteraunt, leaving Archie to his pie. She was running away from him. Was she that scared? He'd thought that there was something between them... Something magical. It would appear that maybe he had made a misjudgement. She had made a very valid point... Where would she stay? With me... She could stay with me, Archie thought, but besides her being emotionally unstable at the moment, it was the most unethical thing he could do. I mean, offer her a bed at his apartment? What type of Psychologist would that make him? He had to be honest with himself... He was falling in love with his patient. This couldn't work. He had a responsibility and this would leave him unable to fulfill that responsibility. Love... he thought, If only it wasn't so complicated.