Just a note on the Cowardly Lion; in Gregory McGuire's books the Cowardly Lion's name is Brrr (thus his name in this story)…I just want to be clear, though, that this Brrr is not in any way the same Brrr from 'Good' (this story exists totally outside of any other post musical fics I've written).

The atmosphere was intensely awkward when Glinda entered the dining hall. Seated at a small but elegant quoxwood table were the Witch Hunters. They rose in respect to their ruler, nodding to her and murmuring "Lady Glinda". When the blonde sat her guests noisily took their seats as well.

"It's nice to see you two again," Glinda began, smiling mildly at the Lion, Brrr, and Scarecrow. "Are you well?"

"Yes," Brrr replied first. "I've been living in the Great Gillikin Forest. There's an Animal community there."

"That's nice," Glinda replied politely. She turned expectantly to the Scarecrow and a little shiver traced down the blonde's spine. Every time she looked at the third Witch Hunter's cloth face there was a tremor of deep-seated remembrance in the back of Glinda's mind. It always made her skin tingle with intense memories boiling just below the surface of her consciousness.

"I'm doing well too," the straw man informed her. "I've actually moved to the badlands of Fliaan to help the Animals who fled there during the Wizard's rule."

"Oh," the blonde exclaimed uneasily. "That's very noble."

"And how are you, Lady Glinda?" the Scarecrow asked, his tone implying more than casual interest. Two tawny, Vinkun eyes bored into bewildered, blue ones.

"I…I'm fine," Glinda stuttered. "I mean, things have been awfully busy around here lately, but there's nothing much that I can do about that."

The Scarecrow nodded, though his face still held concern. At that moment two servants entered with steaming plates of food. Since the Tin Man and Scarecrow didn't eat both Glinda and Brrr felt slightly odd enjoying a meal right in front of them.

/

Fiyero watched with mild amusement as Glinda and Brrr watched their food cool awkwardly. "Go ahead and eat," the Scarecrow exclaimed. With a smirk he remembered Elphaba's initial uneasiness at consuming even the smallest snack in front of him. "It doesn't bother us."

Boq nodded in agreement. With that tiny prod the two flesh-hewn members of the gathering immediately dug into their dinners. Fiyero scrutinized Glinda carefully, looking for any signs of pain or unpleasantness in her life. There wasn't much evident in the blonde's face; it was more closed and guarded than he had ever seen it before. This new Glinda, which Fiyero guessed had been birthed the night Elphaba 'melted', was no longer a fluffy, airheaded, mass of perky energy. Now sharp, refined perfection oozed from every aspect of her persona. It was slightly unnerving.

"So have you found a companion yet?" Boq asked the Scarecrow sociably.

"You could say that," Fiyero replied, smiling. "You?"

"Not yet," the Tin Man sighed. His eyes flickered almost imperceptibly to Glinda. "Being made of metal doesn't exactly help my chances. But, I guess you found someone, so it's not impossible."

"No, it's not," Fiyero agreed. "It just takes someone who's learned to see past surface appearances."

"And I guess there's always the hope that someone could turn us back," Boq added optimistically.

Glinda's head jerked up, eyes zeroing on Fiyero. "You weren't always a Scarecrow?" she demanded.

"Well I just assumed," the Tin Man admitted, also turning to the former prince. "Were you ever anything else?"

"Yes," Fiyero answered guardedly. "I used to be human. But I was just as brainless then as I am now." Glinda's gaze became frighteningly intense.

"Did I know you then?"

The Scarecrow affected his most baffled expression. "Not to my knowledge."

"Oh." The blonde's face. "It's just that you look so familiar."

Fiyero shrugged, feeling Boq's gaze burning into the burlap of his cheek.

/

Elphaba knew it was a horrible breach in tradition to spend Harvest Day alone. The holiday was centered around giving thanks for loved ones and eating a big meal with an even bigger family gathered around the table. However Elphaba had never properly celebrated Harvest Day and she didn't feel inclined to now. Frexspar, Nessarose, and Melena, her immediate family, were dead, Glinda would probably never see her again, and Fiyero was off in the Emerald City. That left Chistery and the other flying Monkeys, but they were off at some festival in the Animal village.

So Elphaba, true to her own, cynical nature, sat alone at a rickety, two person table and dined on leftover chicken. Fiyero, romantic fool that he was, had left a note for her to open on Harvest Day, so while she ate the green girl read it.

Dearest Fae,

I can only assume that you stubbornly refused to spend Harvest Day with Chistery or any of the other Animals around here, which means you are probably sitting alone at home right now. Which, to a man raised in a massive Vinkun family, is quite appalling. So I'd like to ask for a favor. Fae, I know you're not a touchy-feely person but could you, just for a second, imagine that you're celebrating Harvest Day properly. Please? For me? When I get back you can yell at me for being a cheesy lunatic all you want. I promise. Just close your eyes for a minute and imagine it.

Love always,

Your Yero

Elphaba glared down at the letter, fully intending to take Fiyero up on his offer to yell at him for being a cheesy lunatic. Unfortunately the witch had learned, in a year spent living with him, that she couldn't deny Fiyero anything. With a sigh Elphaba stopped eating and closed her eyes. Already her mind was rebelling at the utter absurdity of this.

Elphaba tried to imagine her family's table in Munchkinland, but that image was so awash in unpleasant memories that she quickly pushed it away. The green woman sorted through a small mountain of other possible settings, most from illustrations or descriptions in books, and turned them all down. Then, out of the blue, another place filled Elphaba's mind.

It was hardly an orthodox location to celebrate Harvest Day, but it was the happiest table Elphaba could think of. In her mind's eye she saw The Peach and Kidneys, a gritty pub outside Shiz. All her friends were gathered around; Fiyero, Galinda, Boq, Nessarose, even vile Avaric. Cheap food was piled on the table with everyone eating off of everyone else's plate. Happy, contented laughter filled the air.

As Elphaba was bathed in the radiant joy of her memory things began to change. Fiyero moved from a spot beside Galinda to pull the green girl into his side instead. Avaric, sulking at the edge of the table, turned into a faint, hazy memory of Melena. Galinda grew into Glinda, older and stronger and more determined to make people happy. The uneasy looks Boq threw Nessarose became fond.

It wasn't real, but it was undeniably perfect.

And, just FYI, Harvest Day is the Ozian equivalent of Thanksgiving