Disclaimer, you know.

That Tuesday in the afternoon, dorothy found herself once more in the hayloft. Zeb was in the barn as well, but this time so was Joe and Lorretta.

"School ended up closing early today, did we tell you that?" Lorretta asked.

"No, but I kinda guessed, otherwise you wouldn't be here." Zeb said

"Well, there was a gas leak, school might be closed for a few days, and remember." Lorretta said.

"When school's out, Mrs. Wilson doesn't do lessons." Zeb said excitedly.

"Zebediah! Dorothy! Mrs. Wilson called! Lessons are canceled until the school reopens!" came Melinda's voice from the house.

"Well, it looks like we can double our work output." Dorothy said lying down on the hayloft.

"The entire town is going to be busy trying to fix the gas leak, or checking themselves into hospitals out of paranoia, there's not gonna be much work for you two to do, outside of the typical farm chores and those don't take long, it's gonna be a slow business week." Joe said.

"Ugh, I hate slow weeks, I'd rather be shucking corn at Lorretta's place than a slow workweek." Zeb said.

"I've shucked corn before, it can be amusing if you turn it into a competition." Dorothy said.

"And how often do you get a chance to do that?" Joe asked.

"JoJo, did you forget she has a boyfriend?" Zeb asked.

"Zeb, you know the only reason he lets you call him that is because I'm here, right?" Lorretta asked.

"Yes, I know." Zeb said.

"Anyways, dorothy, speaking about your boyfriend, what's he like?" Lorretta asked.

"Oh, he's wonderful, he practically never leaves my side, even when I'm sick, or the few times I've been in the hospital." Dorothy said.

"I thought hospitals only let family stay over?" Joe asked.

"They make an exception for him, well, for me really." Dorothy said.

"that's nice of them." Zeb said.

"yes, it is." Dorothy said

"Oh, right, Zeb, my mother is making sourdough bread loaves today if you wanna come over and get one or two later." Lorretta said.

"What's Sourdough?" Dorothy asked causing everyone, including Jim the Horse to turn and look at her funny.

"you've never heard of sourdough?" Lorretta asked.

"If I have, it was in passing, and not passing anything memorable." Dorothy replied

"Sourdough is a special kind of bread, made by yeasts that naturally occur in the environment, it's a bit hard to explain, but if you're willing to listen to a lecture, I can go get my mother." Lorretta offered.

"No, I'm good." Dorothy said.

"Okay Zeb, it's no longer an offer, it's a demand that you go to my house later and pick up some loaves of sourdough, dorothy needs to try it." Lorretta said.

"Yes, Ma'am." Zeb said.

"Dorothy!?" came Melinda's voice.

"uh-oh." Lorretta said.

"It's probably my aunt, getting all paranoid, I'll go see what she wants." Dorothy said climbing down from the hayloft.

As she exited the barn picking straw from her hair again she walked up to her aunt who was holding the phone.

"Em is calling, apparently, there's an issue." She said handing dorothy the phone.

"Auntie Em?" Dorothy asked.

"Dorothy, when was the last time I took you to see the dentist?" came her aunts voice.

"Um, I don't know, it's been more than a year, at least a couple, why?" dorothy asked.

"Well, I'm at the dentist with ace today, and Madeline had her teeth checked by the royal dentist in emerald city, and it turns out they both had cavities forming, not deep enough to cause pain but enough to cause a noticeable sticking with the tools, alex is presently in there while ace is getting her tooth filled, call me a paranoid aunt and mother, but I think you should go get your teeth checked." Em said.

"Because, it's Cavities? And Like the Flu, everyone seems to be getting it?" dorothy asked.

"Yes, Ellie is having her teeth checked next, I'll call if she has a cavity." Em said.

"auntie Em you could just tell us over the radio." Dorothy said.

"So, what's the matter? Friends have cavities?" Melinda asked.

"Friends, Sister's in arms, my boyfriend, all have cavities." Dorothy said.

"Ooh sister's in arms, that's what Emily, your mother, and the rest of our female posse used to call ourselves, though our battles were more, keeping the Teak's boy on the ground, and less emotional." Melinda said.

"Oh, trust me, our battles are physical, and emotional." Dorothy said.

"Dorothy, I want you to go see a dentist, even if it's a walk-in, please sweetie, we've all had cavities at one point or another, don't let them get too far, I don't want you to feel that." Em said.

"Auntie Em, I'll get my teeth checked as soon as convenient." Dorothy said as knock came on the door.

"I'll check what it is." Melinda said.

"Now, Sweetie, I know you're not a fan of the dentist, because you don't like sitting there for long periods, but it's for your own good." Em said

"Oh, dorothy, I've got some good news, one of those travelling dentist trucks is in town, free check-ups, cleanings and fillings for the day." Melinda said.

"we'll that's a coincidence." Em said.

"zeb had his teeth checked the first of the year, as he always does." Melinda said.

"Auntie Melinda, would you like to talk to auntie Em? I don't know 'all' the details of my life, and I'd rather not start now." Dorothy asked

Melinda nodded and took the phone out of Dorothy's hand, handing her the card that she was given with the add. Looking at it dorothy found that it had no pictures but it had the details she needed. However, turning it over she found that it had a Large O and Z emblazoned on the back. She immediately rubbed the bridge of her nose. She couldn't tell if this was a plan by Ozma or By Madeline, or by Glinda. But she didn't really want to know either, all she knew was that within 10 to 15 minutes she found herself walking up to a rather large portable dentist office rather nervous as her aunt talked to the secretary.

"well there's no one on the list for next, so I could put her in." The secretary said."

"Perfect, dorothy you sit there and wait, I have to run home quick and check on your uncle." Melinda said.

Dorothy nodded and sighed. Sitting down in a nearby chair she immediately looked over at the secretary, she was smiling at dorothy. Suddenly a girl came out of the truck and looked at dorothy. She smiled, and walked over to her.

"So, I see you got the message?" the girl asked.

The girl couldn't have been much older than dorothy, she had reddish-orange hair, freckles down her nose, and on her cheeks. She was wearing a light blue shirt and jeans. Her skin was pale as Dorothy's was. The look in her eyes told dorothy that this girl hadn't seen much of the world. She was however snapped out of thought by her named being called.

"Ms. Gale?" Came a man's voice as another person exited the truck

Dorothy sighed, got up, and walked into the truck. It seemed bigger on the inside than it was on the outside but she thought nothing of it. however, as she sat down in the dentist's chair she immediately noticed something that stood out. The woman who seemed to be acting as an assistant to the dentist looked familiar.

"Doctor Rosen will be with you in a moment." Came the voice that confirmed it, Glinda's.

"Glinda, what are you doing here?" Dorothy asked curiously.

"Madeline suggested it, well, I say suggested, more like begged me to allow it, and it wasn't just her." Glinda said.

"Let me guess, Ozma?" dorothy asked.

"Yep, aren't you going to ask how I'm even qualified to be a dentist's assistant?" Glinda asked.

"Glinda, I've given up questioning things." Dorothy said.

"Well, I'm not really qualified, I found a book in the library, that I consult when he asks for tools." Glinda said.

"and you came since most Ozians aren't allowed to leave Oz?" Dorothy asked.

"On the nose my dear, ah, Doctor Rosen, this is her majesty, Dorothy Gale." Glinda said

"Ah yes, Ms. Gale, I've heard so much about you." Came a rough voice from behind her.

As the man walked around the chair dorothy could see him putting on a pair of emerald green plastic gloves. He had pale skin and greying red hair. She began to assume that the girl outside was his daughter.

"She prefers dorothy." Glinda said.

"I see, well, dorothy, don't worry, I saw the hatter just this morning, and everyone in the palace, and most of Oz, know the connection between you two." He said putting the chair into a reclined position.

Within a few minutes dorothy was having her teeth cleaned and examined. Doctor Rosen did indeed find a small cavity and pointed out it was in the exact same place Madeline had it. but it wouldn't need any numbing to be drilled.

"Hmm…I guess Madeline was right." Glinda said as the mirror behind her started to ripple.

"That'll be her now I assume." Doctor Rosen said as both Madeline and alex appeared in the mirror.

"Any damage?" Madeline asked.

"cavity, same place." Glinda said looking at dorothy who was still sitting there while doctor Rosen was getting the filling prepped.

"I told you." Alex said looking at Madeline.

"Hey, I was hoping she wouldn't have one, because that means we both need to change our habits a bit." Madeline said.

After the cavity was drilled and filled, dorothy yawned and sighed.

"she doesn't like dentists that much, last time her aunt took her to one, she complained about being bored for hours after she and I met up afterwards." Alex said.

"Alex you're not helping." Dorothy said.

"Sorry, anyways, you're not alone, I had two and if it's any consolation ace only had one." Alex said.

"Maddie?" dorothy asked.

"on it." Madeline said punching alex rather hard on the arm.

Alex said nothing, he simply grumbled.

"Alex, you know I love you, but at times like this, I can be rather irritable." Dorothy said.

"Well, Ms. Gale, apart from the cavity you have a wonderful set of teeth." Doctor Rosen said

"thank you." Dorothy said.

"dorothy, I'll call you with the radio later, I should really get home, I promised my father that I'd help him with a table and chair set today." Alex said.

"Dad, there's been no one out here for the last half hour." Came the girls voice.

"veronica, come inside then, and tell Mrs. Blitz that we may as well close up shop, what is it, 2 in the afternoon?" He asked looking for a clock.

"three." Veronica replied.

"Your daughter?" dorothy asked.

"yes, and Mrs. Blitz is my secretary, normally my wife and I, who have been doing dentistry in the emerald city for years, mostly during the wizard's time, are literally, booked to the teeth, she's so speedy that she has the appointments organized before I can even blink." He said.

"dorothy I'll keep an eye on you, we'll talk later." Madeline said as the mirror faded.

"Wait, doctor Rosen, if you're normally booked to the teeth, how were you free to come here? with Glinda and your secretary, and your daughter, no less?" dorothy asked.

"today was one of the off days." He replied.

"Dorothy, when you're back in Kansas I do need a favor." Glinda said.

"anything, Glinda." Dorothy replied

"I need you to help me teach Ozma how to swim, we tried, and she nearly had a panic attack the moment she started sinking." Glinda said.

Dorothy couldn't help but snort at this, she knew it was wrong to laugh, but for whatever reason she couldn't help it.

"Well, Ms. Gale we should really get going, I'm sure we'll be seeing you in emerald city eventually." Doctor Rosen said as he daughter walked in.

"I'm sure, maybe in a couple of months, I uh, never actually told my cousin, or really any of the Hugsons about Oz." Dorothy said.

"I don't blame you." Veronica said.

"well, I'll leave you guys too it." Dorothy said starting for the door.

"Ill be watching dear." Glinda replied.

Dorothy smiled and curtsied before leaving. Just then the truck started driving away. She looked around and eventually found her cousin Zeb, Lorretta and joe waiting for her on a bench. As she walked over she noticed Lorretta was carrying a cloth bag.

"So, any damage?" zeb asked.

"A single cavity, drilled and filled." Dorothy said.

"ha, Lorretta owes me five bucks now." Zeb said.

"oh, shut it, anyways dorothy, I brought you some sourdough to try, its best if fresh cut, so I have a fresh loaf in my bag." Lorretta said.

"that's very nice of you Lorretta but you didn't have to, anyways, where's auntie Melinda gone?" Dorothy asked turning to zeb.

"Lorretta's mother showed up with, 7 loaves of sourdough?" Zeb asked looking at Lorretta.

"Yep, so I asked if I could run home quick and grab a fresh loaf for you to try, since it is your first time." Lorretta said.

"you know, I don't think I've heard your mother shout before." Joe said.

"She always gets a little anxious when its someone's first time." Lorretta said leading dorothy over to the bench and letting her sit down.

She then handed dorothy the cloth bag which was quite warm. Taking the loaf out of the bag she found it was round shaped. It had squares along the top and let of an almost irresistible smell. At the urging of the other three she broke off a piece which came off with a crackling sound as the crust broke. It was crispy on the outside, but looked soft and fluffy on the inside. Bringing it to her mouth she took a bite. Immediately she got a taste that was sort of citrusy, almost like lemon zest, mixed with the yeasty taste of the bread. She couldn't deny it was good as she found herself absentmindedly eating the rest of the piece in her hand.

"I think she likes it." zeb said.

Dorothy looked at him and nodded.

"It's really nice." Dorothy said.

"isn't it? it's one of Mrs. Martin's specialties.

"Actually, speaking of my mom, she and a few other people are going to be selling various loaves fresh at this year's carnival." Lorretta said.

"Oh, I can't wait, I love that big portable cooker they drag around." Jim said.

"I know you do, anyways, we should get back to the ranch, my mom, and your guy's aunt will start worrying if we stay out too long, we're just supposed to get you and have you try some sourdough." Lorretta said.

And with that, they all got up and started for the ranch, dorothy snacking on the loaf the entire way.