And I'm back. Sorry it took so long but school is insane. And now I'm going away this weekend... And I have no clue when I'm going to be able to update next... Sorry again!

I'm gonna warn you now, this is a bit angsty at first... I have no idea where it came from, it just happened (Maybe I shouldn't write when I'm stressed, but it calms me down so... I don't know). And once again, thoughts are presented in italics. Enjoy! :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Oz the Great and Powerful or any of its characters so on and so forth.

Several months after Oz and Glinda's conversation that night things in Oz had calmed down enormously. The rebuilds they had spent so much time and focus on were nearly done and the country was far along the road to political stability once more.

Oscar shut off the praxinoscope, leaned back in his chair and sighed. It had been a particularly difficult day for him; there had been a family who had come in with an incredibly sick child asking him if he would be able to cure her as every healer in their town had been unable to do anything. He had had to claim that he was not properly trained in the art of magical healing and had referred them to Glinda who had been more than willing to see what she would be able to do for the sick girl. While the story had a happy ending for the girl who walked out of the castle cured but in need of a few days of rest, it had made him wish that he did not have to lie to the family, that he actually had magic so he could attend to some of these requests himself and not feel useless.

"Wizard?" He heard a small voice ask; he turned to the source of the voice and saw China Girl standing in the doorway of the room that housed the praxinoscope.

He smiled slightly at her presence, "Yes dear?" He asked her.

"Why are you sad?" She looked up at him expectantly.

"Come here," He patted his knee and she came over to him and climbed up onto his lap. "I'm just a bit sad because I was unable to help a family who came in with their sick daughter today."

"Unable to help them? But I saw them with Glinda and she was able to heal her, she said the girl is going to be okay."

"I know she is, and I am happy about that, I just wish that I was able to help her myself and not have to lie about the reason why I can't."

Before China Girl could reply, Finley came into the room, clearing his throat to catch their attention. "Glinda sent me to find you two; she said to tell you that dinner is ready and that she expects you in the dining hall in a few minutes."

"Thanks Monkey," Oscar said with a hint of annoyance in his voice, as much as he loved his little family the last thing he wanted to do right now was sit down to family dinner when all he wanted was to be alone for a while.

China Girl hopped off his lap and left the room calling after him to come along, Oscar sighed and stood up and Finley look at him questioningly. "You okay Oz? You seem a little downbeat."

"Yeah, I'm okay," Oscar said, feigning a smile. "Now we better head to dinner before Glinda comes and yells at us for letting it get cold."

"Are you okay? You were awfully quiet at dinner this evening." Glinda asked Oscar as she came into their chambers. He looked up from the book he was reading in bed.

"Why would I not be okay? I just didn't have much to say today," That was actually true, just not for the reasons that he was hoping she would believe.

"Really? China Girl told me otherwise when I was saying good night to her. Finley seems to think otherwise as well, though he doesn't know why." She gave him a pointed look, "Please tell me the truth Oscar."

Oscar sighed, "Alright, so maybe I'm not exactly fine. It was just a long day, that's all." He put his book on the nightstand and laid down hoping that she would end the conversation there. He thought he had succeeded until he felt the bed sink down next to him and a small hand rest upon his shoulder and heard a voice in his ear.

"C'mon Oscar, please talk to me. Don't bottle it all up; you do trust me don't you?" Glinda begged him, please don't shut me out; let me help you.

Oscar sighed again and rolled over so that he was facing her. He saw the worry etched on her face and felt slightly guilty. "It's about that family that came in today with the sick child," He saw the worry in her eyes change to confusion as he spoke.

"Why ever so? That sweet little girl is going to be perfectly okay; all she needs now is a couple days of rest." Glinda was genuinely confused; what on earth is going on in your head Oscar?

I know she is, and trust me I am extremely thankful for that. It's just that I can't help but think of the fact that I had to lie to that poor family about why I was unable to help her myself, I felt useless not being able to help that poor child myself. And then I got to thinking, what if that were my child that I was unable to help? That would make me the world's worst parent."

"No it wouldn't. You're only human, there's only so much that you're able to accomplish. Everyone feels that way sometimes, it's part of what makes you human."

"But that's exactly it, I am human. And here I am in this magical land full of all of these amazing magical creatures that can do so much, and I'm only human. I know it's completely ridiculous for me to be thinking this, but I can't help it. I mean-"

Glinda cut him off, kissing him firmly on the lips. Oscar pulled back, confusion written all over his face. "I couldn't think of another way to get you to stop talking," Glinda blushed. "Oscar sweetheart, none of that matters. So what if you don't have magical abilities or anything that might have been considered superhuman where you're from. There are plenty of species here that aren't considered extraordinary, species that rely on others for help. That's why you do what you do and why that family brought in their sick child instead of trying to help her themselves." She paused and kissed his cheek gently, "It's okay to feel useless once in a while, that's completely normal, just remember that even if you're unable to help someone, there is always someone else who is able to. All you have to do is point them in the right direction, that's as good as helping them yourself."

Oscar pulled her into a hug, "I love you."

"I love you too," Glinda returned the hug.

"Remember our conversation that night several months ago?"

Glinda smirked, "You mean the one where you stated that you intended to marry me then completely bailed on me when I brought up kids? That conversation?"

"Well when you put it that way... But yes, that's the conversation I'm referring to. I've given it some thought," Oscar paused, pondering how to pursue the topic he was about to bring up.

"What about it? Come on, you can tell me anything, you know that." Glinda smiled, has he actually given it thought? Or is this too good to be true?

"Well, I know I ran away from the topic at the time, but despite what you may think, I actually have been giving it plenty of thought." He took a deep breath, and gazed into Glinda's curious eyes. "These past few months and especially today have made me realize that that's something I would like. Wait a minute, let me finish," He said as Glinda opened her mouth to say something. "I would like kids some day, and I know now that I am capable of it, taking care of China Girl has made me realize that; at least, I think I'm capable of that, China Girl is a bit different you know, not to mention she's not exactly a baby. Hey, hey, hey," Oscar cut Glinda off as she went to say something again. "But seriously, I want to do this right. There might not be anything traditional about us, but this is something that I want to do right."

Glinda's smile grew, "So what you're saying is you want to marry me first?"

"Yes, but that my dear, is a conversation for another time." He leaned towards her and kissed her gently, "Good night love."

"Good night Oscar."

About a week later Oscar had gotten a hold of the perfect ring for Glinda. He contemplated the little velvet box in his hand and smiled; he had told her he wanted to do this right, but he hadn't mentioned that he was going to propose this soon after that second conversation. But, if he was being honest with himself, he didn't want to put it off and longer than he already had to. He smiled; it was time to do right by Glinda in their unorthodox relationship, even if he still wasn't a hundred percent sure about kids.

He heard a door open and two voices call his name; he looked up to see Finley and China Girl in the doorway looking at him. "You wanted to see us?" Finley asked.

"Yes, yes, come in and be sure to shut the door behind you, we mustn't have anyone else hear this." Oscar quickly stuffed the ring box in his pocket before they could see it and guess what he was up to ahead of time. When he saw that the door was shut he beckoned the two closer and knelt down so he was at their height, "Okay, listen closely."

"Why are you being so secretive Oz? Should we be worried?" Finley asked, effectively cutting him off.

"Yeah, we all know how you being secretive turned out last time," China Girl and Finley laughed. Oscar cringed at the memory of the time he had tried to make a special dinner for them a couple of months ago to surprise them with. It had simply blown up in his face.

"Very funny you two, nothing will explode this time. Well, yes things will, but fireworks are supposed to explode."

"Fireworks are involved?" China Girl's eyes lit up, she loved fireworks.

"Yes, but not on as large a scale as you guys have seen them before, it's going to be a small display that we put on in the throne room. And it's going to spell out words."

"What are they going to say Oz?" Finley asked.

"It's going to be a question," Oscar pulled the little velvet box out of his pocket and opened it to reveal the ring resting inside. "I'm going to ask Glinda to marry me."

"Oh yay! And that ring is so pretty!" China Girl squealed.

"Nice man, but what makes you think she's going to say yes?" Finley asked; a playful smile on his face.

"Very funny Monkey," Oscar deadpanned. "But seriously, I need both of your help. I'm planning on doing this tomorrow, and I need you two to keep Glinda busy and out of at the very least the throne room and the area surrounding it tomorrow. If you could keep her out of the castle that would be best."

"How are we supposed to do that without her getting suspicious?" China Girl asked.

"I don't think we need to worry, she's suspicious about everything Oz does. Especially when she's worried about the possibility of him blowing himself up somehow."

"You're hilarious, you know that Monkey? Just do whatever you need to, just keep her out of here and try to make sure she isn't too suspicious, deal?"

"Deal," China Girl and Finley said in unison.

Evening was beginning to fall the next day and China Girl and Finley knew it was time to start heading back to the castle, Oscar should be ready for them. It hadn't been easy at first but China Girl had convinced Glinda to take her out into the Emerald City for a detailed tour as she hadn't seen much yet. When she had convinced them though, Finley had 'conveniently' decided to come along in case he could be of assistance.

"Glinda," China Girl said, suppressing a yawn. "Can we head back now, I'm tired."

Glinda smiled down at the young girl, "Of course we can, we can look at the rest of the city another day. Here, let me carry you home." She bent down and picked up the little china doll and let her rest her head against her shoulder. I'm going to have to do things like this with these two more often, it's a shame Oscar couldn't come though, she thought. Oscar had told her that he needed to take care of something with the Tinkers, though he hadn't told her what.

They continued along the pathway to the castle, China Girl dozing against Glinda's shoulder. "It's a shame Oscar couldn't come with us, isn't it?" She asked Finley, in hopes that he knew what Oscar was up to and would tell her.

Oh, I knew she would get suspicious; Finley panicked and hoped that would not give anything away. "It really is; do you know why he wasn't able to?" Here's hoping deflection works.

"No, no I don't," Glinda looked down at the ground in disappointment wondering what Oscar could possibly be hiding from her.

China Girl awoke as they walked into the castle, "Can we go find Oz?" She asked, looking up at Glinda with pleading eyes.

Glinda smiled, how could she deny this request? "Okay, we can go find him. But then it's time for you to go to bed, alright?"

"Yes, of course."

"Now, do either of you two have any idea where he is? I don't know if he's finished with whatever it was he was working on today." Glinda bit her lip gently, the castle was huge and she had no idea where in it he could be.

"He told me he was working in the throne room, but he didn't say what it was. I hope the praxinoscope is alright," China Girl replied, hoping that Glinda wouldn't catch her lie.

"Hmm, he doesn't seem to have told any of us, throne room it is then."

The three walked into the throne room where there was no one to be seen, the vast room was completely dark.

"Oscar?" Glinda called out, putting down China Girl. The response she got was a miniature firework soaring up into the air, exploding in an array of bright colours. She gazed up at them, mesmerized. She was mesmerized enough that she didn't see Oscar sneaking across the room, exchanging winks with Finley and China Girl as he knelt on one knee at Glinda's feet.

The fireworks changed then and Glinda looked at them in confusion which turned into shock as they spelt out the phrase; Glinda, will you marry me?

She heard a small cough and looked down and shrieked when she saw that Oscar had appeared at her feet. She felt tears well up in her eyes as she saw him there, on one knee holding a ring up in one of his hands. "Oh Oscar, of course I will. A thousand times yes." She began to cry as Oscar got up and put the ring on her finger. She heard Finley and China Girl clapping and cheering as Oscar pulled her in for a kiss then a hug.

"Thanks guys," Oscar said to the two as he released Glinda from the hug.

"Wait a minute," It all clicked together in Glinda's mind. "You two knew the whole time?" They nodded. "You three are going to be the death of me, you know that. I can't believe that I didn't figure it out." She glared at Oscar

"Well the idea was that you didn't figure out." Glinda didn't flinch. "C'mon, you did enjoy it, didn't you?"

Glinda faltered a second and then smiled, "It was perfect. Thank you, all of you."

"You're welcome. Now come on guys, I believe we have something to go celebrate." Oscar began to walk out of the throne room, Finley and China Girl close behind him. Glinda watched them for a moment before chuckling and following after the three.

And scene. I sincerely hope this chapter lived up to your expectations, because once again I went into it without a plan. I should probably stop doing that, but it does kinda work for me. Anyway, I don't know when my next update will be as I want to update my Professor Layton story next before updating this again. And like I said, I go away tomorrow and am away for a few weeks without internet so I won't be updating then. My apologies!

Anyway, maybe leave me a review? I'd like to know what y'all are thinking if it's not too much to ask :)