Arola Louise Tiggular liked things to be planned. Surprises were not tolerated and anything unexpected was like shooting herself in the head. So it's no surprise that when the Wicked Witch of the West and some stupid scarecrow showed up on her doorstep one morning, she was not very welcoming.

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"Fiyero are you sure you're alright?" Elphaba asked uncertainly as Fiyero continued to stuff straw back into his cloth arm.

"Elphaba, I told you that it's ok. I didn't feel a thing." He was a little disappointed that the spell she had tried had ripped his arm from its socket instead of bringing human flesh, but what he really worried about was Elphaba.

"Fiyero, maybe this is a bad idea. We can see your mother's house and you're still a scarecrow. Is there a plan B?"

"Oh no you don't! Elphaba, please don't back out on me now! We came this far didn't we?" Elphaba had become very fascinated with the ground.

"Fiyero, how do you think your mom's going to react when she figures out I've turned you into this?" Before Fiyero could respond she quickly added, "But I suppose I did promise you... Alright, let's go before I change my mind."

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Knock, knock

Finally having an excuse, Arola turned away from the dishes accidently taking the sopping wet frying pan with her as she walked towards the door. After she opened the door, it didn't take long for the shock to wear off, and for the frying pan to hit the scarecrow square in the face.

"Ouch!" Fiyero cried out in surprise. Arola kept the hits coming.

"Get away from here you monster!" She yelled at the green witch. "And take your scarecrow with you!" Fiyero did not take kindly to people calling Elphaba such names whether it was his mother or not.

"Mother!" he roared. "She is not a monster!" The pan stopped in midair and Arola's face paled.

"Fiyero?" she whispered. Fiyero nodded and Arola fainted.

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"Mother?" Arola heard a voice say.

"Oh well this is just great Fiyero! We've killed her! I told you coming here was a bad idea! I just knew it! But did you listen to me? Oh no you did not! You were all 'We have to go' and '?Everything will be fine' WELL DOES THIS LOOK FINE FIYERO TIGGULAR?!"

"Calm down. I think she's waking up." Arola had to smile at their exchange but when she opened her eyes and remembered just who it was with her son the smile instantly melted into a glare, and her eyes froze directly on Elphaba's.

"You!" Arola snapped as she struggled to get off the couch. Elphaba's face didn't show any emotion. "I thought you were dead! Dead and gone!" Fiyero put a hand on her shoulder.

"Mother, we know you must have a lot of questions but please let us explain-"

"Explain?! Please do! Here's question number 1, WHY ARE YOU A SCARECROW?!" Her eyes widened in rage as Fiyero and Elphaba shared an uncomfortable look. "It was you wasn't it!" She shrieked, pointing a shaking finger at Elphaba. "You put a spell on him!" Fiyero was about to explain to his mother that she had only done it to save his life, but the look Elphaba shot him when he opened his mouth made him close it right back up.

"Madam Tiggular, I know this is all very sudden and that I'm not your favorite person to be around, but will you turn your own son away?" Arola's face showed shock at Elphaba's comment for only a moment.

"Of course I'm not going to turn him away!" She spat. "But I can turn you away!" Fiyero felt his blood boil.

"Fine!" He yelled, surprising both Arola and Elphaba. "If that's the way you want it then fine. I can see this was a bad idea after all. Come on Elphaba, we're leaving." With that he gently but firmly pulled Elphaba towards the door. Arola stood stunned, and then ran after them.

"Wait!" She cried. "Please don't go Fiyero." Fiyero stopped and looked at her sadly.

"You know, I thought you'd be more understanding about this, but all you've done since we've got here is yell and insult Elphaba. I'm not going to stay in a place where my friends aren't welcome. I don't care about what she's done. She did it out of goodness and it just turned Oz against her, but for the life of me I didn't think it would turn you against her as well. I thought you were above that. I guess I was wrong."

"Fiyero, you don't know what it's been like. They told me she had killed you, and then you just showed up on my doorstep with the Wicked-" Fiyero glared at her and she sighed. "With Elphaba, and I freaked out, ok. I'm sorry it wasn't the welcoming you were expecting." She looked at him pleadingly. "Please don't let me lose you again." Fiyero studied his mother's face and then looked at Elphaba who gave him a slow nod.

"Alright." He said. "We can stay for a while." He wrapped her up in a big hug. "And I'm not expecting you to be perfect, but could you two just try to get along?" He asked Elphaba and Arola, who looked at each other uneasily.

"I'll try." Arola winced as she spoke.