No Place Like Home [Jefferson Hatter || OUAT || Mad Red #3]

Chapter 28

A few days have passed, Regina was putting on her earrings in front of a mirror as Rose Red stood behind her, "How's Grace?" Regina asked.

"As good as can be... I'm just glad she's got Henry and Blaze to distract her," Rose Red said.

"And you? How are you doing?" Regina asked.

"Well... Now Hook is living with us... And with Giselle," She smiled, "It's never silent now so I don't have time to wallow in self-pity," Rose Red said.

"Yeah, you don't look good wallowing in self-pity," Regina said.

"Very funny," Rose Red said and rolled her eyes.

They heard the doorbell rang and looked to the door, Regina walked over and opened the door, she looked around to see no one there but looked down to see two baskets filled with green apples, she picked them up.

"A gift," Rose Red turned around to see Zelena behind her, sat on the dining table, "From sister to sister. A step-aunt to step-niece," Zelena said.

Regina picked them up and shut the door behind her as she walked back inside, "What are you doing here?" Regina asked.

"I saw your tree and I thought you could use something better," Zelena picked up one of Regina's red apples from her fruit basket on the dining table, "Red apples are so sickly sweet, don't you think? People tend to like something... A little sharper," Zelena said as she got off the table.

"And green apples are just... Bitter," Zelena picked up one of Regina's decorations, "That's not yours," Regina said as she stood beside Rose Red.

"Story of my life," Zelena said as she put the decoration down.

"Why are you here?" Rose Red asked.

"Oh, sisterly and auntly concern, sisterly and auntly advice, you know," Regina and Rose Red glanced at each other before looking at her again, "I wanted to make sure you two were alright after our little showdown," Zelena said as she walked over to Regina's living room.

Regina and Rose Red followed her, "You mean the showdown you abandoned? We weren't the one who ran," Rose Red said.

"I didn't run," Zelena said.

"Then why did you disappear back to your farmhouse and not fight me so more?" Rose Red asked.

"My reasons," Zelena said.

"We're fine. Are you?" Regina asked.

"Getting there," Zelena looked around the room and took a seat on Regina's sofa, "This is nice. So luxurious. You really don't appreciate what you have, do you?" Zelena said.

"Right. Because I got everything and you have nothing. If you want your superpower to be envy, go right ahead," Regina said.

"Well, they say people go green with envy..." Rose Red said.

"Oooh, you have a point there," Regina said.

"Envy is just another word for ambition," Zelena said.

"Well, that's just..." Rose Red looked at her, "Not true," She said.

"Rose is right," Regina said.

"You see, I strive for things. I work. You..." Zelena scoffed, "...You cast a curse that was just a fancy form of running away," Rose Red scoffed and chuckled behind her hand as Regina shot Rose Red a glare and she stopped chuckling, "With every advantage, you still turn your back on every opportunity for happiness. You, Regina... You just don't take risks, you don't live your life! It's such a waste!" Zelena stood up and examined the mantle, "I can see why our mother was so disappointed in you," Zelena said.