They appeared in the courtyard in front of Gavin's house. Everyone who had stayed the night was there. Assun's father was there. A large collection of Tipps, minus Veren and Felice, was there along with what seemed like half the town.

She found Cain. He was standing next to Raw and Eri, and he was looking at her in shock and something akin to horror. She realized why a moment later. Still clutching Assun, she was floating two feet above the ground in an iridescent bubble, and she was wearing a pink frilly dress. Oh god. Assun's attire more or less matched hers except that it was white. Part of her brain told her she was wearing makeup too, and the lancing pain across and throughout her body told her that she was still injured. The bubble popped, and they fell in a heap on the ground.

They were surrounded instantly. She was alive, and she was in Cain's arms. If only she didn't throb everywhere he touched her, this would be ideal. He chanted her name into her ear like a mantra as he held her and broke it only to call for Raw a few times. Around them were a cacophony of sounds and a sea of blurry faces, but her tin man provided a small barrier.

Several minutes passed before Raw came and pulled her out of Cain's embrace. He put a hand on each shoulder and closed his eyes. As the warmth and relief spread through her, she let her weight sink into the ground. When Raw had finished, he moved off, and Cain had her back in his arms instantly. She wrapped two heavy arms around his back. God, she was exhausted.

"You disappeared on me again," he said, a relieved accusation.

She spoke into his ear. "You said you wouldn't watch me die." He stiffened, "Stop it, Wyatt," she said gently, "let me finish. You said you wouldn't watch me die; I won't watch you die either. I won't watch Glitch or Raw die, and as brave and helpful as you all are, you don't belong in a magic fight. You'd throw yourselves as shields in front of me, and it would rip my heart out."

He pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. "I thought I might lose you."

She smiled. "Have a little faith, Tin Man. I told you, you're stuck with me for life, and since I probably won't be strong enough to walk for the next few days, I'm placing myself entirely in yours hands."

He chuckled, "I can do anything to you then." She groaned; that had been deliberate. The man was evil. He laughed and kissed her, and that drove away all thoughts of the crowd and replaced them with delicious impulses. She wrapped one hand around his neck as the fingers of her other hand spread through his short hair. Her tongue parted his lips and dipped inside as one of his hands ran up her back. The other clutched at her hip and tightened rhythmically.

A hand tapped her on the shoulder. She ignored it. It tapped again, and someone cleared their throat behind them. She pulled out of the kiss reluctantly and turned her head to look at Glitch. "Perhaps you love birds could continue this inside later when you don't have an audience. Right now, I think story time is in order."

She blushed a deep red, snatched the fedora off Cain's head, and crushed it down over her own. It worked for ostriches. He chuckled again and helped her to her feet. She collapsed into his arms. No standing up then, so Cain lifted her bridal style and followed Glitch into the house.

They were joined by about thirty people. The congregation was gathered in the parlor with Gavin and Eri standing like twin sentinels at the door, Assun stretched out across one sofa with her head in Raw's lap, DG copying her on another sofa with Cain, and Glitch, Livia, and Gavin's wife in the remaining armchairs. Assun's father was standing behind the sofa his daughter lay on while several Tipps and members of what seemed to be the city council sat and stood throughout the room.

The stories went on for several hours, and by the end, Cain had to shake DG every few minutes to keep her awake. Gavin had told Adrian, Assun's father, about DG, her friends, and their quest, when he had found the slippers missing. He came in search of his daughter: to apologize to her and help if he could. He seemed earnest, and Assun waved a hand at him that seemed to relay forgiveness. It was hard to tell though since she also seemed to be slipping in and out of consciousness.

When DG had locked them outside, Adrian had very quickly explained what the talismans did when held by a witch whose powers had been locked away. Cain shot the door open before he had time to finish. When they found the room empty, Raw attacked Adrian. The older man was still sporting a black eye. Evidently Glitch had pulled the viewer back to demand Adrian tell them what had happened, but Cain had guessed by then that the battle had been moved elsewhere.

In the hour that followed, various declarations were made by several of the men to seek out the two women. Glitch and Eri had shot each of these down by calmly explaining that they had no idea where to look or how to help, so the men had stewed, grumbled, and worried until the Tipps and townspeople arrived to issue a formal apology to the princess of the O.Z. This had started a long and many-faceted verbal war. Glitch in full Ambrose mode and with a good deal of help from Eri had talked everyone into a tentative truce as they waited for some sign of the two women.

And then DG had popped into view holding Assun looking like the sugarplum fairy carrying her assistant, and that had stunned the crowd into silence. Their appearance was made worse by their injuries which started turning Assun's gown pink and DG's red. Sadly, DG was still in the pink confection. Well, she could change that. Exhaustion and the weight of her new powers weighed her down, but the buzz of magic was still there. She concentrated. Her clothes shimmered and shifted into a white tank top and blue jeans. She left her feet bare. Several people gasped. She glanced over at Assun and put the girl in a long skirt and loose fitting blouse.

Looking up, she gave Cain a tiny chuckle and watched his eyes close as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Assun hadn't moved in several minutes, so DG turned her head to the group and explained briefly what had happened when she had touched the emerald and Assun had touched the slippers. She gave almost no details about the battle but told everyone that the witch was most definitely dead.

"Is Assun without magic now?" Livia asked; she had joined Eri at the door.

"No," DG said, "I think she is only without the witch's power. The slippers" (which a small part of her brain told her Assun was still wearing) "gave her back the Gale magic that had been trapped inside them. When she was separated from the witch, she was separated from the witch's power as well. I'm not sure about the powers of the other witches though, so we won't know till Assun wakes up."

Raw was stroking the girl's hair. "Will not know for awhile. Assun very tired, will sleep some time."

"And so should you," Cain said picking DG up. She didn't have the energy to protest.

"Just a moment, please, Mister Cain," Yvene said laying a hand on his shoulder. Though her face was kept carefully blank, her eyes looked weary and sad. She looked down at DG, "What my grandchildren did to you and," she looked over at Assun, "my granddaughter was inexcusable." Taking a slow breath, she continued, "I am ashamed, and my family and I are in your debt. It seems all of IX is as well." She gave DG a placating look that begged for a response.

A man who Cain quietly explained was the mayor came forward, "How can we express our gratitude?"

"Can I sleep for a week?" DG asked quite seriously. Cain smirked. Raw gave a rumbling chuckle, and Glitch half smiled. The mayor looked shocked.

"There must be something more," he said desperately.

"How about locking up those loony siblings who tried to kill my wife?" Cain asked. DG's heart stopped. She stared up at Cain then over to Glitch for verification. He just said wife right, but Glitch was staring at Cain with an unreadable expression.

It was Yvene who answered, "They will have no further opportunities to harm anyone." The sadness of her response brought DG out of her giddy reverie. Yvene had loved Veren and Felice. They had been her favorites, and she had been forced to see them for what they were and to reprimand them for it. Had they been killed or merely locked away? Now, the lady's least favorite descendants were heroes, and she owed them thanks and gratitude. That had to be painful in so many ways.

"Thank you," she said to the woman and laid a hand on her arm. A tear slid down Yvene's face and she bowed and left. The Tipps followed her.

DG turned a tired smile on the mayor, "I guess we just want sleep then." He still looked shocked, but the man finally shook his head laughing lightly and walked out. The other city council members followed him.

Cain walked to the stairs. Before he climbed the first step, Glitch asked from behind them, "Wife?"

Tehe. Yes, he said wife.

DG's dress and mode of transport in this chapter are my tribute to The Wizard of Oz movie and the musical Wicked.

Elphalba to Glinda, "Well, we can't all come and go by bubble!"

Glinda to Elphalba, "I will now transform your frock into a magnificent ball gown. . . . Ball gown! . . . Ball gown!...Hello? Is this thing on?"

Some styles should stay out of fashion.