"Are you sure I look all right?" The Wizard was practically crossed eyed as he tried to watch what Elphaba was doing. "Other than the obvious of course."
"You look fantastic." Elphaba assured him as she worked on his tie.
"Downright dashing in your tux and tails." Breena added her two cents worth. "You'll be beating the ladies off with a stick."
"I hardly think so." He scoffed.
"There's always women on the prowl at these things for eligible guys like you."
The Wizard tried to look at her. "Really?"
"If you want this tie to be straight you need to hold still." Elphaba chastised him before giving her sister a look. "And you stop teasing him."
"Who's teasing?" Breena defended herself. "Before the night's over I bet he has at least three invitations to dinner and a couple of indecent proposals, if you know what I mean." She winked.
"Breena Thropp." The Wizard sounded shocked.
"Dad." She matched his tone.
"Uh oh." Addena spoke as she, Glinda and Ginny came into the room. "I thought you two could keep her under control."
"When are you going to learn you're the only one who can do that doc?" Breena smiled as she walked toward them. "Ginny, it's great to see you again."
Ginny moved away from her daughters to hug the witch. "It's good to see you again too, Breena." She pulled back to give her a once over. "And who knew you'd look so pretty in a dress?"
"Don't get used to it. This is a one time deal."
"Or so she thinks." Addena took her lover's hand as they all made their way over to the Wizard and Elphaba.
"We talked about this Addy."
"No, you ranted and raved about how much you hated dresses and I listened. That hardly constitutes talking." She frowned when her sister stifled a chuckle. "You think that's funny?"
Glinda shook her head. "I'm laughing because Elphie did the same thing."
"I didn't rant or rave." Elphaba defended herself.
"No, you just said you would either skip the party or come naked."
"Glinda!" The green woman blushed.
"What?" Glinda was the picture of innocence. "You did."
"Is that a last minute touchup?" Ginny changed the subject as they finally reached the others.
"I'm afraid I'm not very good when it comes to these things." The Wizard gave her a smile. "You look beautiful."
"Well thank you. You look quite handsome yourself." Ginny beamed at the compliment. "And thanks for the invitation tonight."
"I heard you were in the city visiting your sister and thought you might enjoy joining us. It's a pity she couldn't be here too."
Ginny nodded. "She and her husband are just getting over that nasty bug that's been going around. She was afraid she would make someone else sick."
"We're going to see her as soon as she's feeling better." Glinda added.
"There." Elphaba patted the knot she had made. "All done."
"Thank you." The Wizard smoothed the tie. "I feel underdressed compared to the rest of you."
"I know exactly what you mean." Ginny embraced Elphaba before pulling back to look at her as she had Breena. "Elphaba, you're gorgeous."
Elphaba blushed again. "Thanks."
Glinda wiggled with glee. "I told her that when we were getting ready."
Ginny chuckled at her enthusiasm. "It's nice to see some things never change."
"I hate to interrupt," Cade spoke as he walked in. "But the guests have started to arrive."
"Already?" The Wizard practically whined.
"I told my men to wait a few minutes before they let anyone in." Cade tried to make him feel better.
"I'm sure it won't be that bad." Elphaba didn't sound very convincing.
"Yeah." Breena nodded. "Just keep telling yourself the sooner we get started the sooner this whole thing will be over."
"You three should try to contain your excitement." Addena dead panned.
"Excuse us for being more of the stay in with a good book kind of family." Breena replied.
Glinda slipped her arm through Elphaba's. "That's why you're lucky to have us around to turn you into social butterflies."
"Maybe they're right girls. This is supposed to be a party after all." The Wizard forced a smile. "Cade my boy, a word before you let people in."
"Of course." Cade followed him toward the door of the main hall.
The Wizard waited until they were out of earshot to speak again. "Do you have everything in place?"
"Yes sir." Cade nodded. "I have men stationed all over the palace and they've been instructed not to let an of the guests go anywhere but the entrance way, the main hall and the banquet hall. Half of the servers are my men as well." He gripped the Wizard's shoulder. "Don't worry. We're taking every precaution we can to keep you and your daughters safe."
"I know."
"Then try to relax and enjoy yourself. Those people out there might be a pain but they're very fond of you."
"Everyone but Aday."
"I don't like him so he doesn't count."
The corner of the Wizard's mouth turned up. "I appreciate you putting up with me."
"What else am I supposed to do? I'm fond of you too." Cade smiled. "Are you going to stick with the plan of letting everyone come to you?"
"I'm going to run it by the girls but I think that would be for the best."
"Run what by us?"
Breena looked amused when they were both startled by her sister's question. "See Elly, I told you they were over here talking about us."
"Well when two such ravishing creatures are around what else is there to talk about?"
"Schmooze."
Cade pretended to be hurt. "I say you're ravishing and you insult me?"
"I call them as I see them." Breena shrugged.
Elphaba shook her head at their interaction. "Did you need to talk to us about something Dad?"
"Yes." He replied. "I think it would be a good idea for all of us to stick together this evening. There are going to be a lot of people here and I didn't want you and Breena to feel too overwhelmed."
"So all we'd have to do is stand around together? No mixing, no mingling?" Breena's eyes lit up when he nodded. "Count me in."
"You're doing this because of that letter you got from Aday, aren't you?"
"No. I, uh..." The Wizard squirmed under Elphaba's gaze. "Yes. I want to keep you girls safe and..."
Elphaba lifted a hand to silence him. "You don't have to justify yourself to us."
"Yeah." Breena agreed. "If you feel this is for the best then we'll do it."
He furrowed his brow. "You aren't going to tell me that you're perfectly capable of taking care of yourselves and try to talk me out of it?"
"No." Elphaba shook her head.
"Even though we really are more than capable of taking care of ourselves." Breena added.
"What about Glinda and Addena?" Cade looked at the blondes, who were busy catching up with their mother. "Wait, what am I saying? They'll be fine as long as they're with the two of you."
Elphaba smirked. "You took the words right out of my mouth."
The Wizard pursed his lips. "You're sure about this?"
"Positive." Breena assured him.
"Do you think I'm being paranoid?"
Elphaba took one of her father's hands. "No."
Breena did the same thing to the other hand, saying, "Maybe a little," at the same time.
"Bree." Elphaba gave her a 'take that back' look.
"I didn't mean it in a bad way," Breena explained. "You're doing this to protect us because you love us."
The Wizard squeezed their hands. "Yes I do."
"And we love you." Elphaba gave a half shrug. "So why would we get upset over the fact that you're watching out for us?"
He couldn't find the words to reply. He was too busy marveling in how incredibly fortunate he was to be a part of Breena and Elphaba's lives.
The sound of unfamiliar voices filled the air.
"I think that's our cue to go back over there." Cade ushered them across the room.
Elphaba and Breena barely had a chance to explain how they were going to handle things to Glinda, Addena and Ginny before the first guests filed into the room. And so started the pomp and circumstance of shaking hands and kissing cheeks and trying to remember, or at the very least pretend to have heard of, everyone who walked up to them.
For the most part he tuned the whole thing out, watching his daughters in action instead. Glinda and Addena might have won the battle over what the girls were going to wear but Elphaba and Breena chose the color, sticking to their signature black. Elphaba's gown was a knee length, long sleeved design with an open back that showed off her luminous green skin while Breena's was a floor length, sleeveless number that let everyone see how well defined her arms were. Neither dress left any doubt about their femininity and made them seem effortlessly elegant.
The same could be said for the Uplands. Glinda's light pink dress was nothing compared to some of the things he'd seen her wear right after he gave her the title Glinda the Good but it was still one of the frilliest things he'd ever laid eyes on. Addena's lavender gown was little more than a sheath covering her body and probably would have looked plain by comparison if anyone else tried to pull it off. And Ginny was a perfect combination of the two in a blue dress that fit just so in all the right places but still had a frill or two.
"Captain Cade!" Milton rushed up to them clad in a waiter's uniform.
"How cute are you?" Glinda gushed.
He ignored her comment. "We have a situation sir."
"Tell me it's not the cream puffs." Breena teased.
Addena elbowed her in the side. "Stop it."
"What situation?" Cade steered the conversation back in the right direction.
"There's a problem at the front door."
The Wizard frowned. "What kind of problem?"
"One that requires Captain Cade's attention."
"Milton." Cade gave him a disbelieving look. "You know to answer the Wizard when he asks a question."
"But..."
"Don't argue with me."
"All right." Milton shrugged. "I just didn't think you would want him to know Master Aday is outside."
"What?!" The Wizard was clearly shocked.
"Are you sure it's him?" Elphaba asked.
Milton nodded. "One of the guards at the front door recognized him. When he told him he couldn't come in Aday started tossing his name around and making a scene. They let the guests in just to get them away from him."
"He has a lot of nerve showing up here." Glinda growled.
Ginny frowned, feeling out of the loop. "Who is this guy?"
"Some scumbag that's been badmouthing the Wizard in the hopes of getting Oz to rethink their decision to let him rule and hold a public election." Addena answered.
"And saying awful things about Elphie and Bree." Glinda added.
"I'll handle this." Cade started out of the room again.
"Wait." The Wizard stopped him. "I want to have a word with him."
"What?" Elphaba frowned. "Why?"
"Yeah." Breena agreed. "Just let Cade throw him in the clink and be done with it."
"That's exactly what he wants." The Wizard disagreed. "He came here in the hopes of upsetting me to the point I would have him dragged away. And what better ammunition could he have than getting kicked out of a party meant for everyone in Oz?"
Cade looked doubtful. "Are you sure about this?"
"Yes." He nodded. "Besides, I can't wait to see the look on his face when I call his bluff."
"Here you go sir." A waiter chose that moment to approach with a tray full of wine glasses. "For the toast," he gave them all a look when no one responded. "The official Wizard's toast to start the party."
"Can't that wait?" The Wizard frowned.
"This was the designated time for the toast." The waiter looked to Cade for guidance. "The other guests have already been given their glasses."
Breena sighed. "Look, just give the toast and then go deal with you know who."
"It wouldn't hurt him to wait a while." Elphaba pointed out.
"Or all night." Addena muttered.
"Fine." The Wizard took one of the glasses, prompting the girls and Ginny to do the same. "Everyone, can I have your attention please?" Even without the mechanical device he used to use in the throne room his voice carried enough for everyone to hear him. "I'd like to thank you all for being here tonight."
Glinda covered her mouth with her free hand when she started to cough.
"The fact that you are here to celebrate my daughters means more to me than you can ever know."
Elphaba rubbed her lover's back when she continued to cough. "Are you all right?"
Glinda nodded and somehow managed to choke out, "Just swallowed wrong."
"Take a little sip of your wine." Ginny suggested. "It will help."
Glinda did as she was told.
"Better?" Elphaba looked at her anxiously.
The blonde grinned, her voice still a little gruff when she said, "Much."
"Acceptance is a very important part of any society." The Wizard continued. "Especially one like ours that has been through so many trials and tribulations. So raise your glasses," he led by example, "and know you have my deepest thanks for making my girls feel welcome."
"Wait!!"
Someone shouted just as everyone was about to take a drink.
Maeve, Lion and Penny came rushing through the crowd, the Lion and Lioness blocking as Maeve shook a piece of paper.
"What in Oz is that?" Someone nearby asked.
"It's a message." Maeve's tone was breathless as they finally reached the guests of honor. "For the Wizard and his family."
"Oh how delightful." A woman said.
"A private message." Maeve added.
"Well it will have to wait until after the toast." A man demanded. "Bottoms up."
"No!" Lion knocked the wine glass out of Ginny's hand. "It might be poisoned."
"Poisoned?!"
"Oh sweet Oz!"
"We're all going to die!"
"Now now, none of that!" The Wizard yelled to make himself heard. "Let's all calm down until we're sure of what's going on!"
"Someone's trying to poison you, that's what's going on." Lion commented.
"Let me see that." Cade snatched the piece of paper from Maeve. The color drained from his cheeks as his eyes scanned the page. "It says one of the drinks on the tray the waiter brought you was poisoned."
"Poisoned!"
"Not ours, one of theirs you nitwit!"
"Besides, none of us have drank anything anyway."
"That's right." The Wizard breathed a sigh of relief. "None of us took a drink."
Glinda swallowed hard as she locked eyes with her lover. "Elphie?"
All Elphaba could do was utter, "Glinda did," as her heart fell to her toes.
