"Puppy, Amaris said brightly. Fiyero opened his eyes to see her leaning on him. "Puppy," she whispered.

"No," he whispered back. "I'm not getting you a puppy." He ruffled her hair.

"Daddy," she cried, throwing her little arms around his neck. He smiled and nuzzled his head against hers.

"I've lost my marbles," he told her in urgent tones. She backed up with an excited squeal; this was becoming a morning ritual. "You must help me find them," he gasped. She fell over giggling.

Nor watched from her spot by the fire. She worked a a fish and tarroot mash for Amaris.

Fiyero came over with Amaris clinging to his leg. He grinned at the older children and sat down. Amaris crawled into his lap.

"Where is Mama?" Nor asked.

Fiyero sighed, he had been expecting this. "I haven't been able to find your mother or her sisters. Or your older brother. It took me ages to track down you two."

"Oh," Nor said cautiously, "Irji was killed. They burned him up."

Fiyero looked at her. "He's dead?"

"Yes," Manek confirmed. "Where the hell were you, all those years?"

"Manek, please-"

"No, its alright, Nor. I deserved that. There was no excuse."

"We needed you," Manek said angrily.

Fiyero didn't know what to say. The boy glared at him for several minutes before leaving in a fury. Fiyero looked back at Nor, who stared into the small fire. She kept her eyes trained there even as she passed him the toddler's portion. "Why won't you look at me, Nor?" She didn't answer, biting her lip nervously. "Nor?" Silence. "For what its worth I'm sorry that I wasn't there to protect you. Or to be your father. I know that doesn't make it right but-"

"No it doesn't," she said finally looking at him.

He hesitated before saying, "I was young and stupid and arrogant. This," he waved his hands around his body as a whole, "cured me of that. So at least something good came of it. I'm not making excuses for myself or trying to fix it, but I swear to you that I will do right by you from here on."

"Irji is dead. Mama is gone. And those men...they hurt me," Nor said. "Can you change that?"

"No," he told her. "I know let everyone down. None of this ever would have happened if I hadn't betrayed your mother's trust. I let myself be distracted."

"What do you mean?"

He thought of Elphaba standing in their small den in the Scrow camp, declaring herself one of them. And of Jemmsy and those endless asinine comments amidst blinding torture and said nothing.

"Daddy what happened to you?"

"It's nothing you need to worry about."

Nor sighed and looked frustrated. "I was only her age," she said pointing at Amaris,"But I remember how strong and brave you used to be."

"I thought I was," he corrected her. "I thought nobody could ever get to me. But that was just hubris."

"Where did she come from?"

He looked down at Amaris. How was he going to explain her? But then Nor spared him. Somewhat.

"I don't like you very much anymore."

"You don't have to."

She shook her head. "You rescued us from the labor camp and I suppose we owe you for that."

"You don't owe me anything Nor."

"I can't speak for Manek, but I will stay with you at least. I am grateful, even if...," but she wouldn't finish. Not that he didn't know what she was thinking.


Killyjoy came and flopped in the grass beside Elphaba, laying his head in her lap. She sighed and allowed it, even warmed to it. Apparently he had more integrity than the human population around here. She relaxed and scratched his ears, her anger evaporating into thin air.

That is, until:

"Oh, Elphie. I had no idea that you would get so upset."

Her fingers tightened on the back of his neck and he yelped in protest. She whipped around to face Glinda and he skittered away.

"Elphie, please. They are just shoes. And Nessie is just so happy to have them. Don't you see how ridiculous your being?"

Elphaba blinked in surprise and looked suitably mortified. "Why, you're right. Of course, Nessa deserves them. How callous of me."

"Oh thank goodness, finally your seeing some reason-"

"Toadying bitch."

"Oh dear, now that's uncalled for."

"I already gave her the keys to the kingdom. What now? Perhaps I should just slit my throat and let her lap at the blood."

"I feel a headache coming on."

"Wouldn't want that."

Glinda sighed and began fanning her face in earnest. She was giving Elphaba a somber look.

"I see who you are," Elphaba said, jabbing her finger in Glinda's direction. "You were all ready to be chummy with me back at Shiz, but that was back when I was set to be the Eminent Thropp. And now here you are playing bosom buddies with Nessarose."

"That's not true," Glinda gasped, turning pale. Killyjoy lowered his head and his lips receded into a snarl. Glinda gave him a frightened glance. "Oh dear, Elphie call off your dog."

"Hah! It seems I'm not the only one who sees through that laquered and primped disguise. On the subject of being ridiculous..." But she turned toward Killyjoy and stifled him with a wave of her hand. He came and sat at her feet but continued to glare up at Glinda with a look unnervingly like his mistress's. "I ought to warn Nessa about you. First chance you get that knife will go into her back."

"But I-"

Elphaba drew herself up, it was as if she suddenly had an ephihany. "Why are you here anyway? Aren't you one of the Wizard's lackey's? Consorting with the enemy?"

"Now hold on-"

"I can have you arrested for sedition. But rest assured I am not like the Wizard. I will merely have you deported."

"Elphaba please, there is no reason-"

"Get out of my sight. Get out of this garden, and stay the hell away from my sister!"