A/N: This acts as almost a sequel to chapter to the chapter "A Conversation With Dorothy" from the first story. A moment of peace admist the chaos happening. See if you can spot some Judy references.

...

It was still difficult for Bryson to process everything Glinda had told him.

But at the least, it seemed like the end of her revelations.

Glinda assured she would give the news to Tommy, and Bryson agreed that it was for the best.

He still couldn't help but be rattled by it all, however. He was left wondering what the implications of Tommy being a child of Oz would be.

That night, everyone from the throne room sat a large dinner table with the most luxurious food and furniture Bryson had ever seen.

The meals Oz had were maybe the best food Bryson had ever had, and according to Glinda, 'unhealthy' foods didn't exist in Oz.

Copper ate his meal on the floor.

Bryson's eyes lingered on Dorothy, partly because he just liked to look at her and partly because he wanted to tell her what Glinda had told him.

There was a lot he still wanted to tell her.

She would glance back at him.

They gave each other a smile for the time being.

Everyone ended up going their seperate ways, although they all had a nice conversation at the dinner table, despite what was going on around them. That was always a plus in Oz, being able to have pleasant conversations with lovely people.

Afterwards, Bryson went to shower in his room.

He was thankful for it, knowing he really needed it. He ended up just slipping back into the same clothes.

The shower was fanastic, however. It seemed the water that fell onto his body almost had a rainbow tint to it. It felt better then any shower he had ever had.

He was in a blissful state as he got out, wondering if any of that 'Jitter Fruit' stuff was worked into the shower.

He sat down onto the bed, reaching for his backpack.

He pulled out one of his journals and began to scribble and jot down ideas.

He was still as determined as ever to stop the people trying to take over Oz. Thankfully, Glinda had talked it out some more with the Alliance.

He suddenly stopped when he realized something.

He had never been much for sleeping alone.

He still needed to talk to her.

They had talked so much yet still had so much left unsaid.

"Forget this." He huffed, tossing his journal into his bag and getting up out of his bed.

He needed to take action here, he thought.

He searched each room, trying to remember which one it was Dorothy had gone suddenly remembered it had been the one across from his room.

He took a moment to just look at the door, knowing who was on the other side.

She somehow always either made him nervous or put him at ease.

He decided to just reach over and simply knock on her door.

There was a pause. He looked down, biting his lip until he jolted his head upward upon hearing the door open.

There was Dorothy, seemingly fresh faced after a shower and back into her dress. Her hair seemed to be recently brushed.

"Oh, Bryson. Hi." She said with a nervous laugh, looking up at him.

"Uh, hey, hey." Bryson said in response. "Sorry if I'm.. disturbing you or something. I know it's late."

"Oh, it's alright. I was just doing some thinking myself. I was actually sort of struggling to sleep." She said softly.

Her eyes lingered on him. She looked up at him and he looked down at her, their hands almost touching from their hands against the door.

Bryson bit his lip, wondering if he'd almost kiss her if they kept looking at each other so closely.

"I've never really slept well by myself for some reason." Bryson said softly.

Dorothy's face twitched slightly and she rubbed her fingers against the door, looking down and then up at him. "Do you wanan come in?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah." Bryson whispered back simply, slowly walking in with her.

"You liking your room?" Bryson asked, looking around the pink room surrounding them.

"Oh, yes. It's quite lovely. Glinda's palace really is extraordinary. She's very generous." Dorothy said softly as she looked around the room.

Bryson noticed all the candles and lights still around the room. Bryson had turned off all his lights earlier.

"Yeah. Could you uh.. not sleep because of the lights?" Bryson asked, looking around the room.

"Um.. something like that." Dorothy lingered, glancing over at him. "Well. I sort of kept them on. I sort of hoped it would help me sleep. If it wasn't so dark."

Bryson gave an understanding smile. "I've done that a few times."

"It's just hard to get used to it. Sleeping by myself." Dorothy explained. "I've never slept well by myself either."

"Yeah. It's kind of a recent thing for me, too." Bryson stated, lingering on her as they just stood across from each other.

"Hey. You know.. Glinda told me everything about Oz earlier. And I mean. A lot of important information. About.. the Wizard. And how she got into power. About Ozma. I didn't know a lot of this stuff." He continued.

"She told me some things about Ozma, too." Dorothy explained. "I don't think I trust Ozma."

He found it nice to hear someone else share that feeling. "I still find it weird.. he.. or she.. whatever Ozma is.. sent me to take those people down alone. I mean.. had it just been Bruce and his partner.. it'd be sort of.. fine.. but.. knowing how many people are behind it? I can't believe she really expected that... did.. did you know she wanted to erase my memory of Oz?"

"Yes. Glinda told me earlier. Now that's a reason I just.. really don't trust Ozma. That's awful. To erase your memory of such a wonderful adventure." Dorothy sighed.

"Yeah.. did you know that Ozma somehow managed to send a message to me? Through my phone. Saying I needed to watch my back or something." Bryson told her.

"What? That's so.. grim!" Dorothy exclaimed, troubled by what she was hearing.

"Glinda said her and Scarecrow convinced her not to do anything like that." Bryson mumbled.

"Glinda told me Ozma wanted your memory wiped because you were from a certain forbidden section. But she didn't say much else." Dorothy said.

Bryson gulped.

Maybe he could start to ease into the truth.

"Yeah. I mean. We're not from the same universe. We're both outsiders and technically live in the real world.. but. I'm just.. from another universe, it seems." Bryson explained.

Dorothy frowned, crossing her arms a bit. "Glinda said that too. I.. I had always thought we lived in the same place. I would get excited when I heard anything about Tennesee mentioned." Dorothy said.

Bryson felt awful.

He had given her all that false hope?

At least she was being eased into the truth.

"Well. We're here now." Bryson stated.

Dorothy smiled slightly. "Yes. We are."

They stayed silent, both of them seeming awkward and nervous about the situation, Dorothy scuffing her feet on the floor.

Bryson noticed something in the corner of the room.

It was a large brown piano.

"Hm. Mine didn't have one." He mumbled. "Do you play?" He asked.

Dorothy suddenly became very flustered and clapsed her hands together. "Oh, um. Y-yes. I do. I asked Glinda if she could put it in here. That kind of thing relaxes me."

Bryson gave a knowing smirk, an idea suddenly planted into his mind. "Maybe we can play? Could be relaxing. Stressful around here." He smirked as he walked around the piano, sitting down on it and patting a space for her.

"Oh, um. S-sure." Dorothy said, still nervous as she slowly sat down.

"I mean, I'm not very skilled or anything. But we can try, right? I mean, you did teach me how to dance." Bryson smirked.

Dorothy blushed at the memory and looked down before looking back up at the piano. "Yes.. um." She giggled nervously before taking his hands, allowing them to brush against hers while she started to play a few keys. "Now, these are the basics. Like the major keys. It's easier to remember if you assign numbers to them."For instance, 1 is C; 2 is D; 3 is E; 4 is F; 5 is G; 6 is A; 7 is B; 8 is C. Notice how the numbers 8 and 1 both represent the note C, but number represents a lower or higher C. The number 1 represents middle C." Dorothy continued to go on about the piano and Bryson just smirked. He loved to listen to her talk.

As they played simple little notes and small fragments of melodies together, their hands got closer and closer.

It caused Dorothy to freeze for a moment, lingering for a few minutes.

Bryson looked at her, a smile slowly appearing on his face.

She giggled slightly and looked at him, then down again.

She took his hands as she explained the chords, letting his fingers brush against hers some more.

She licked her lips slowly, looking up at him.

Bryson smirked and continued to play with her for a few more moments before an idea suddenly sprung to him.

It was an idea that made his heart race a little.

Like a lightbulb shining in his brain.

It was something he had wanted to hear for a long time, but he had never gotten the chance.

He licked his lips, looking at her for a second before getting up out of his chair as Dorothy continued to absent mindedly fiddle with the piano keys.

He leaned his arms over the piano, looking down at her with eyes full of admiration.

He decided to just stare at her for a minute.

It still felt so surreal that the girl he had been in love with years before he had even met her was in front of him.

She was so focused on the piano, and Bryson just enjoyed watching her as he prepared to ask what was on his mind, studying her face before taking a deep breath, as if he should get himself ready for what might happen if he asked.

"Hey, uh. Dorothy?" Bryson asked.

Dorothy looked up from the piano with a slight smile, a bit distracted from the piano.

"Can you do something for me?" He asked quietly.

"If I can." Dorothy responded with a sweet tone and smile.

Bryson brushed his fingertips along the side of the piano and grinned, looking down and back up at her as he thought over his words.

"Will you.. sing me a song?" He asked, his voice slightly shaky, an excited yet nervous grin on his face.

Dorothy took a moment to respond, her smile frozen before she chuckled slightly. "Well, how do you know I can?"

Bryson didn't need to think about it, his smile fading as he focused on what was in front of him.

"Because you sing when you talk. When you walk. And your eyes.. they're.. singing right now."

Dorothy looked dumbfounded, like a deer in headlights almost. Her eyes were as wide and magical as ever, filled with emotion, searching him.

"They are?" She asked in the softest voice Bryson had heard her give before.

"Uh huh." Bryson said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. And to him, it was. "You kinda have this.." He squinted, trying to put it into words.

He never followed that up, feeling so entranced by the look she was giving him.

"And just what have I?"

Bryson stuffed his hands in his pockets and circled around the piano, Dorothy turning around to look up and down at him as he paced the piano.

"A quality that's.. far away from everybody. Something special lighting everything around you." He said, stopping to look down at her as she stayed still on the piano.

"Gee." Dorothy responded. "I didn't know I had that." Her voice made it as seem as if she was in as much of a trance as he was.

"I always have known that." Bryson said simply with a shake of his head, his voice giving a slight crack as he leaned against the piano, just a few feet from her.

Dorothy continued to look at him with her big doe eyes, seemingly speechless.

Bryson turned around, pacing around the room to keep talking before he suddenly heard the piano start to play and was blessed with the most angelic sound he had ever heard.

I'm always chasing rainbows..

Watching clouds drifting by...

My schemes are just like all my dreams...

Ending in the sky...

Some fellows look and find the sunshine..

But I always look and find the rain...

Some fellows make a winning sometime...

I never even make a gain, believe me...

Bryson's mouth hung open slightly, staying frozen in place as he listened in.

That was it.

That voice he had heard so many times on a TV, on a computer or a phone.

But nothing could do it justice.

Not to hearing it in person.

It was more beautiful then the entire land of Oz to him.

It didn't even sound like singing.

It jus sounded so natural to her.

Tears leaked down his face as he stood still and listened to her.

It was angelic.

It was haunting.

It was delicate.

It was hypnotic.

Rich and soulful.

But no word could really describe what it felt like to listen to her sing in person, to hear her without any filter or technical limitations.

It was just.. her.

I'm always chasing rainbows...

Waiting to find a little bluebird in vain...

Some fellows look and find the sunshine...

But I always look and find the rain...

Some fellows make a winning sometime...

I never even make a gain, believe me..

He had never felt so amazed yet so at ease.

He felt himself getting choked up, quiet sobs emitting from him.

I'm always chasing rainbows

Waiting to find a little bluebird..

In... vain...

The song suddenly slowed down and came to a stop and Bryson had never had so many chills on his body.

There was silence within the room, something he needed.

There was so much that was amazing to see about Oz.

Just when he thought he had seen it all, he heard Dorothy's voice.

He thought he had seen it all, but nothing had been such an amazing experience for him as this.

The song itself already resonated with him, but her voice just made it all the more emotional.

Slowly, he turned around, his face stained with tears.

Dorothy gapsed slightly with large eyes when she saw his tears, gulping slightly as Bryson made his way over to her.

He didn't say anything in response, not yet.

His physical reaction said it all and he didn't know how to put it into words yet.

He wiped away his tears and sniffed, smiling at her in approval, waiting a few more moments before he spoke again.

"Hey, um. Do you want me to help you with the lights?" Bryson asked softly.

"Oh, yes, yes. That's very kind of you." Dorothy answered.

Bryson smiled at her, his eyes lingering on her for a second before he began to walk around the room, turning off the lights.

He turned off some of the main ones, some of the strange Ozian rainbow looking lamps around the room.

Dorothy watched him before slowly getting off the piano. She helped with shutting them off, the two looking at each other across the room and smirking as each light went out.

There were only a few more sources of light left by the time they were done, one of them being the light in the big chandelier in the ceiling.

Dorothy stepped forward slightly, rubbing her hands together nervously.

She reached down for some stick like object that was also glowing mulitple colors.

"Umm.. do you think you could help me with this one? It's just. You're um. Taller." Dorothy said.

Bryson could make out a blush through the minimal light.

She handed him the strange glowing stick and he lifted up to try and find the way to turn the big chandelier off.

He struggled before Dorothy helped.

"No, it's here." She said with a giggle, lifting up her hand to gently grab his, guiding his hand towards the switch.

The light was switched off and Dorothy's hand lingered down his arm, smoothing it out and looking back at him.

"I think we should leave the rest on. I sort of like just a little bit of light." She said softly.

Bryson looked back at her, getting a bit closer to her and wrapping his arm around her shoulder, leaning his head against hers.

He chewed on his lips, leaning closer into her ear, breathing a bit heavily, overwhelmed as he pressed into her.

"God.." he whispered. "I really missed you." He said bluntly.

She took a deep breath, leaning slightly further into her, seemingly surprised, unsure of what to say.

"I thought about you a lot." He whispered again, letting his lips brush against her neck.

She hummed softly, Bryson's fingers that were rested against her arms twitching in response. "There is no way... I'm gonna let anyone take you away this time." He whispered again, his voice deeper, nuzzling his lips against her skin. Not only did he mean he wouldn't let Theodora or Bruce or anybody take her like Rabadan had, he was determined to make sure he they wouldn't be seperated again.

She hummed again, looking up.

"There were a lot of nights where I just wished you were with me. So I could talk to you about what was going on with my life. Because I knew you would understand." He whispered again.

Dorothy paused, biting her lip and giving short heavy breaths.

"I'm here now." She whispered with a shaky voice.

"Dorothy.." he whispered once more, mumbling against her neck.

"Y-yes?" She asked, jumping slightly before Bryson rested one hand on her shoulder and let the other brush against her neck.

He paused.

"Can you.. sleep with me?"

She gulped.

"Yes." She said with a shaky voice. "Although, I don't th-think my uncle would like it very much if I let a boy share a bed with me." She stuttered slightly.

Bryson shrugged, smiling slightly. "It's just a bed. It's just.. laying together. Nothing else to it. You're technically an adult. You don't have to do what anybody asks of you, really." He said. "But it's of course up to you."

"No, no." She said, turning around to face him, wrapping her arms around his shoulder and looking up at him.

He held her by her hips and looked down at her with love in his eyes.

"I was going to ask you. I just didn't know how to.. do it." She muttered. "I'd feel more comfortable with you there. Especially with everything that's been happening."

Rubbing her hips gently, he nodded and smiled.

"Alright, then." Bryson said, slowly letting go of her and gesturing towards the bed. "Which side do you want to lay on?"

"Oh.. it.. it doesn't matter to me." She replied, eyes focused on him, hands behind her.

He smiled and slipped into the bed, giving her plenty of space.

She bit her lip and slowly made her way into the bed, smoothing her dress out before slowly laying next to him.

She seemed awkward about it at first, gulping as her eyes slowly peaked over to him.

He looked back and she looked away.

He looked away and she looked back.

He looked back and she looked away.

They did that a few times before they lingered on each other's faces and laughed silently to each other.

Bryson propped up some of the pillows and the covers and it all settled in.

He was sharing his bed with Dorothy.

He had never felt so ease and so comfortable, letting his worries fade away for the time being.

He stayed laying next to her for a few minutes and they found themselves looking into each others eyes.

"I've sort of imagined this a few times before." Dorothy said, barely even whispering it.

Bryson stayed silent, looking at her in slight disbelief for a few minutes.

"Really? I have too." Bryson whispered.

Dorothy looked at him with those big brown eyes. "..Really? It.. it's sort of helped me sleep before. That night when we laid together in the woods when you were first in Oz... it.. helped me sleep. A lot. You being there. And there were times I would wish you were with me in my bed back at home. To comfort me." She said softly. "Especially after.." she stopped, getting a little choked up.

Suddenly, Dorothy let out a few quiet sobs.

Bryson looked extremely concerned and reached around to pat her back, rubbing along it. "Shh.. it's okay. Are you alright, Dorothy?" He asked in the most comforting voice possible, rubbing her arm and petting her hair.

She sniffled and rested her head into him, hugging him tightly.

"Oh, Bryson, I.. so much has happened recently." She stressed.

"Do you wanna talk about it? Talking is good. I've been meaning to talk to you about a lot, actually." Bryson responded.

She sniffled for a few more minutes, Bryson not caring how wet his shirt got. "Toto.." she sniffled.

"Toto.." she sniffled again. "He's gone."

That hat Bryson like a freight train.

He had never met the dog, but Toto? The Toto?

"Oh my god.. your dog. Dorothy, I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I know how horrible it is to lose a pet." He said softly, stroking her hair.

She sniffled some more, slowly looking up at him. "You.. you do?" She asked through her tears.

"Y-yeah." Bryson sniffled. "My dog. Lucky. He died shortly before I got here."

Dorothy's face got even sadder and she buried herself into him, clutching to him tightly.

"Oh, Bryson, that's terrible."

She cried for a few more minutes and Bryson let his own tears leak out before she looked up at him. "I'm sorry, I'm a mess."

"No, it's like you said. It's good to cry." Bryson whispered, stroking her hair.

"It's just.. nobody was around to mourn. Aunt Em and Uncle Henry seemed sad for me but they didn't.. they didn't truly understand. They acted as if I was being over dramatic after a while. I.. I just knew that you would. And I wished you were around." She whimpered slightly against him, clutching to his shoulders as he stroked her.

"I know exactly how that is." Bryson said, not believing how much they could relate with each other. "My dog.. when Lucky died.. my mother told me days later. She had him put down without even telling me because he was all the way in Tennessee and I was across the country. That's a whole other thing.. but.. it isn't fun. Here in Oz, people value human lives just the same as animals. Different in our outside world.." Bryson sighed.

"I know.. and.. it happened months and months ago, but he was one of my best friends in the word." Dorothy said, edging closer to Bryson and wrapping an arm around him. "Never asked for anything at all. Always comforted and me and was by my side. And no one at all understood it. It wasn't until I got here anybody cared. I've actually been wanting to.. tell you about this for a while. It's.. it's nice to get off my chest, you know?" She said, looking up at him, sniffling and wiping away her tears.

Bryson reached over and helped to wipe them away.

"I'm still so sorry your dog passed away." Dorothy said softly.

"I'm just glad I have someone who understands. Someone I can talk about it with." Dorothy sighed softly next, resting a hand onto his chest and laying onto him.

"I am too." Bryson said, stroking through her hair. "Just be glad you gave Toto a long and happy life. Cherish the fact you got to spend so much time with him."

Dorothy sniffled and smiled up at him. "I suppose it's best to focus on the time you spend with someone.. rather then dreading how long you've got."

Bryson reflected on Dorothy's words for a moment. He wondered if he should take her advice.

"I just try to remember the good times. I remember once Lucky yanked some of our toilet paper and ran around with it around the house a few days after I first got him." Bryson laughed with her.

"I remember I was walking with Toto once when I was really little. He ran into the mud and I was chasing after him. I fell into the mud and I was so messy the entire day. But I didn't care because I was having fun playing with Toto." Dorothy said fondly.

They stayed silent, laughing with their memories.

"You know.." Dorothy said, turning to him. "I already feel better. Thank you." She said softly.

"Of course. It's what friends are for and all of that.." Bryson replied, wondering how accurate the word 'friend' was for them.

They continued to stay silent before Dorothy mentioned something. "You said you moved away from Tennessee."

"Right, right. I've been meaning to talk about that. I.. I haven't fully discussed all of that yet." He said to her. "To anybody."

"Well, you can talk about it with me." Dorothy assured as she looked up at him.

Bryson smiled.

"Well.. after I graduated from school, I moved away to California. It was a quick decision, but I just. I wanted to live out my dreams. And. Well.. my father. He's really sick. He's got cancer. I.. I wanted to try and get enough money to give him more treatment. And I wanted to do it quickly." He explained.

Dorothy seemed shocked and gasped a little when he mentioned his father's condition.

"Oh my goodness, that's terrible. Poor thing, you've been through a lot recently." She frowned, wrapping her arms around him.

Bryson hugged her back, enjoying her warmth and comfort.

"Is he alright? What's been happening to him?"

Bryson shrugged, trying not to let any more tears fall. "He's been getting worse and worse. I moved to California partly to get more money for him, but I just ended up making it all worse. I just rushed into it and thought I could manage it quickly. Time has been my worst enemy recently."

"Are you alright? I.."

"I.. yeah. I mean, you know my dad used to be pretty rough. But after I got back from Oz he changed for the better. I just hate to see him like this. It's the only thing that makes me wanna go back, so I can be there for him. I was actually supposed to be there in a few days, back home. To help my mother during Thanksgiving while my dad's sick. I haven't seen them in a few months while I've been away." Bryson explained.

Dorothy rested her head against him. "I'm glad he changed.. I didn't like to think that you might be suffering back home."

"Things were going well for a while. Really. After I got back from Oz, my life changed for the better. But there was always this lingering question in my mind.. about Oz. How it happened, how I went through all that. How I missed everyone from there, including you. If I'd ever see you or anybody else here again. And for the longest time I accepted I may not ever get answers for it.. until that key we've been using showed up at my friend's house. I took it and I studied it. And.. you things were going well. I met a girl, actually." He bit his lip, but proceeded knowing Dorothy wouldn't make a big deal out of it. "Her name was Alison. I liked her a lot at the time, but... I just knew she didn't really get me.. or understand how my mind worked like you would. I couldn't talk to her like I could talk to someone like you. I was supposed to move to L.A with her, but as I was getting distracted with planning everything and my dad getting sick I sort of ignored her and she met some other guy. Didn't tell me about it, but I knew when I caught them and didn't feel.. all that upset.. that I really didn't want her. And when I moved to L.A, things just got really bad. I tried to get more money and failed every single time, you know? I started realizing what a huge mistake I made. That I should have stayed back home. One of the only good things to come from it was me meeting Tommy and taking care of him. Poor kid. His father is terrible. His aunt is all he's got and she might be hurt right now for all we know. I just.. aside from him, L.A's been horrible to me."

"Glinda told me the people behind all the.. bad stuff right now sent someone to hurt you." Dorothy said. "And that she sent someone to protect you."

"Yeah.. I had been researching Oz for the longest time. I began finding clues, too. Those people in the Alliance, I had researched them and found out about them before I got here. They had a missing persons report online and there was this big conspiracy. I kept trying to prove Oz was real. Now that I know the consequences and see all these people taking it over I'm never gonna try that again." Bryson said softly.

Dorothy stayed silent for a few moments longer. "Have you been all alone in California?"

"I've had my friend Donny come with me but... he's not the greatest friend in the world, to be honest with you. But he's been through a lot with his dad too. So I just sort of.. laid in bed alone. Thinking about Oz. You." He confessed as he looked at the ceiling. "I was trying to sale these scripts to different movie studios, actually. I've always wanted to do something creative professionally. But it hasn't worked out."

"Really? I.. I think you could do it. Make pictures and such. I can't afford to see many, but I would see yours. You could give Clark Gable a run for his money." She teased.

Bryson chuckled. "I dunno."

"You could. I think you've just been focusing so much on how much time you have you haven't stopped to think you have all the time in the world. We're young, you know? Nobody said we'd have it all figured out immediately." Dorothy proposed.

Bryson smiled, loving how she always knew what to say. "You know what? I think I need to take stuff like that into account."

"You do." Dorothy said quietly.

"What about you?" Bryson asked. "What's your life been like since I left?"

"Well, Glinda sent me back home not long after you left. There was no sign of the Ruby Slippers and that was always how I got to Oz and home. She sent some of those green twisters afterwards and I've visited Oz a few times a year that way, but I've made sure she's sent them in a deserted area. I don't want any damage. The first twister that sent me here did more then enough." She said. "I just miss my slippers. I could click my heels and go back and forth to the two worlds whenever I wanted. I went to Oz several times a week with them and now my trips are limited. Right now, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are on vacation and they let me stay home alone for the first time of my life. Glinda had good timing and sent a twister for me and I've been staying as long as I can until Em and Henry get back." She said softly. "I just hate that now it's an uncertainty if I'll make it back to Oz again without those slippers." She sighed.

"Maybe we can ask Glinda more about them when this is over." Bryson suggested.

"I hope. I remember when I got back from my first trip in Oz, I woke up in my bed confused. Everyone around me said it was a dream, but I knew it couldn't be true. I was proven right when I eventually got up and saw the Ruby Slippers still on me. Em and Henry throught it was some costume or something and put them away for the longest time. I tried to tell them it was from Oz, but they didn't believe me. Said I shouldn't be walking around in such expensive shoes because they could be worth something. I was wondering like you were.. if Oz actually happened or if it was just a dream. I talked about it all the time and people thought I was crazy. Even Aunt Em and Uncle Henry did. They sent me to this.. therapist. I got so mad one day when they tried to see if they could sale off those Ruby Slippers. They said it was the last straw and wanted to get me help for my Oz obsession. I hated it. That they didn't understand. I started to regret leaving Oz in the first place because of how lost and alone I felt. But.. the therapist they sent me to turned out to be a very bad man. He tried to hurt me. I ran away to home. Em and Henry weren't there and I smashed the case they put the Slippers in and finally got into them. I panicked... thinking that terrible man posing as a therapist might try and come after me. I clicked my heels and wished to go to Oz. I did."

Bryson was amazed hearing this story. He had always wanted to know what happened after Dorothy got home, and here he was, hearing exactly how the story unfolded.

"Wow.. so the therapist guy.. what did he try to do?" Bryson squinted.

"He said he was gonna strap me up and give this.. electric shock therapy he called it.. until I stopped with the Oz nonsense. Because I was real stubborn and wouldn't admit it was a dream. Who knows what else he would have tried to do.. I'm thankful I got away." She whispered.

"Wow.. what happened after that?" Bryson asked, worried almost and on edge even if the story was old.

"I got back to Oz and that horrible man we saw earlier.. the Nome King.. he had been trying to take over Oz with that witch we ran away from. Mombi. They were terrible. Knome King managed to get my slippers at one point and almost destroyed everything in Oz.. but Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Jack Pumpkinhead, Tik-Tok, and Gump and I managed to defeat them and they were thrown into the Emerald City dungeon.. up until now when Theodora's spirit freed them. They're terrible, Bryson. Mombi even tried to take my head off and put it in a collection she had of.. other heads. It was terrifying." Dorothy shivered. "But after we beat them, I went home with the slippers. Em and Henry had been looking for me for ages. They had the man who tried to hurt me imprisoned for being a fraud therapist and they apologized for not understanding me. Since then, I've held back from mentioning Oz around them and have visited many times after." Dorothy explained.

"Well, at least that man was taken away. I can't believe he wanted to.. shock you. That could have life long damaging effects." Bryson gasped. "And Mombi wanted to take your head? Put it in some collection? That's.. awful. I'm just glad you beat them."

"And after that.. you came and we stopped Rabadan. I was sad about not getting to see Oz as much without the slippers.. and I missed you also. Uncle Henry and Aunt Em I remember tried to get me to go on dates or go to school dances and sometimes I did but.. the boys were all so dreadful. I always sort of.. compared them to you."

Bryson blushed. "Really? That's sort of how I was.."

"But you said you liked me more then that um.. Allie? Elizabeth?" Dorothy trailed off.

"Alison."

"Right. I can't believe she went off with someone else! Had I been around, I would have knocked her lights out." She huffed.

Bryson chuckled. "Had you been around, I doubt she'd have been in the picture."

Dorothy looked down, blushing again. "I wish you could have been the one taking me to those dances. I wish you'd have been at my school, too. The boys there are jerks. I'd get made fun of for always talking about Oz when I was younger."

"I got made fun of a lot, too. I always thought it would be better with you there." Bryson said in agreement.

Dorothy paused. "I'm just glad we're here right now. And.. I hope we can find a way.. to not get.. all seperated again."

"We'll find a way." Bryson said confidently. "Somehow. Someday."

They sat in silence for the longest time before Bryson spoke up again.

"Hey. Dorothy."

"Yes?" She mumbled.

"Can.. can you sing me to sleep?"

Dorothy giggled against the pillow.

"It's just. I imagined it before and it helped me sleep in the past. I think it'd help." He admitted.

"I suppose I can, yes." She said, sitting up slightly and leaning against his ear. She took a moment to think of something.

Silent night, holy night..

All is calm, all is bright...

Round yon virgin, mother and child...

Holy infant so tender and mild...

Sleep in heavenly peace...

Sleep in heavenly peace...

It was nice to just hear her sing anything.

And in that moment, nothing else mattered.

Her voice put him to sleep almost immediately.

They would worry about Tommy and what they were going to do about Oz in the morning.

All that mattered now was that they were together, wrapped in each others arms peacefully.