Maleficent, her partner Holly, and Holly's niece Maddie all simply materialized in a mass of green smoke. Mal's chosen color was black, they both chose Holly's gold color because it was less ominous. And ominous was not what they wanted.

They had arrived at a hospital corridor already steaming with storybook humanity. Snow and "Charming" were there, so Tink, Ingrid, and Elsa. Blue was there, with Nova and Leroy watching Henry (though with Leroy it's hard to know who actually needed watching).

The Mayor and the Sheriff were there, ostensibly in their official roles, but then, this did concern a sister and new best friend.

Sitting in the waiting area were Hook, Ursula, and Cruella. They were the most despondent looking heroes on could ever lay eyes on, but then, up until 40 minutes ago, they were nothing more than queens of darkness. Ariel, part-time mermaid and part-time candystriper walked over to the seated three and gave the woman a hard, heart-felt hug, which the woman returned.

"I wish I could use all of my arms right now..."

"Don't worry, Ursula, heroes don't need that many arms...except maybe tonight." and with that, the mermaid kissed her one-time adversary on a tear-stained cheek.

And in the room across the way, Eugenia Lucas tries to console an inconsolable granddaughter as Ruby continues to hold the hand of a shallow-breathing redhead, as if that could will Zelena back to consciousness. When Ursula brought both Witch and Wolf from the ocean's waters, both were near death. When Ruby's red hoodie was placed on her, the transformation from wolf to human had great recuperative powers. The same could not be said for Zelena.

Meanwhile, outside, everyone was congratulating and consoling the three unlikely heroes. There were, of course four, but the fourth was sitting next to a deadly still Zelena.

Regina was almost as inconsolable, thinking what could have happened. She almost lost her sister one in the last few days, she did not want to face this again. The Queen was taking a break from joining the Wolf in their vigil. Emma and Tinkerbell came to her; Tink held Regina's hand, while Emma hugged her hard. The prerequisite question about what could either one of them do came up. Regina slowly and tearfully shook her head from side to side, then took the blondes, each to an arm, and brought them close for an embrace where the Queen let the tears flow, then for a second, she sees the trio who saved her sister. The heroes approached the villains.

"I just wanted to...say...I...just wanted...to..." Regina then collapsed in the arms of Emma, crying uncontrollably. It was then that the three villains embrace the the heroes.

Then they heard it.

"VICTORRRRRRRR!" Ruby screamed the doctors first name at the top of her lungs. Dr. Whale rushed into Zelena's room followed by everyone in the hall: Regina, Emma, Mal and her lover the lover's niece. The Charmings ran in, so did the Dairy Queens, Tink and Blue. A small room packed with humanity.

And there, laying on the bed, hands held by her sister and Ruby, worked over by Whale, was Zelena. She was pale, she was not moving, silent. But her eyes were open. She was breathing.

Then Victor Whale gave an uncharacteristic thumbs up.

Zelena was going to live.

She couldn't even get suicide right, thank the gods.

And she looked across the room. Smiling, tearful faces. Former adversaries and co-conspirators. They should have hated the fact that she had failed. But the were smiling. crying and smiling and it seemed jubilant that the wicked witch had made it. It was as if they...no, that was not possible.

Then she turned and looked at her sister. And her sister's lover. And Ruby.

And when Ruby Lucas mouthed those three little words and kissed the redhead's tear streaked face, it was then that it hit her. That which she could no longer deny.

The Wicked Witch of the West was indeed totally and completely...loved.

TBC

A/N: Not the best, I know, and a beta is in order. I just want to repeat a promise I made to these extraordinary characters: there will be redemption, good and evil will come together, no one dies.

The usual disclaimers.

A better, longer, and more upbeat chapter next time.

Reviews, please.

Aloha.