"This sucks." Addena threw herself down on the couch as soon as she entered the living room.

Glinda quickly flopped down next to her with a heartfelt, "That doesn't even begin to cover it."

Fiyero, who was reclined on the other couch, looked up from the book he was reading. "What's wrong with you two?"

"We were supposed to get to spend some time with Elphie and Breena today." Glinda sighed.

Addena nodded. "But then Yackle came upstairs while we were talking about what we wanted to do and 'summoned' them." She used her fingers to make air quotes.

He shut the book and sat up. "She wasn't exactly little Mary Sunshine when she stormed through here a few minutes ago either."

Maeve came into the room, smiling when she spotted Glinda and Addena. "Have Elphaba and Breena made it down yet?"

"No." Addena gruffed.

Glinda frowned at the newcomer. "Could you try and not be so happy when the rest of us are miserable?"

Maeve furrowed her brow as she sat next to Fiyero. "What?"

"Yackle told Elphie and Breena they could have today off and now she's going back on her promise." Glinda continued to frown. "I know it gives you more time to learn the Grimmerie, but we're not very happy about it."

"Yeah." Addena growled. "So wipe that stupid smile off your face."

"Addy." Breena chose that moment to walk in with her sister.

Addena rolled her eyes. "Sorry."

"Elphie," Glinda looked up at her lover as she came to a stop next to the couch. "How long will this take?"

Elphaba sighed. "I don't know."

"She didn't even give you a time frame?" The petite blonde persisted.

"It's Yackle." Breena tried to help out. "It could be five minutes, it could be five hours."

"Five hours?!"

Fiyero flinched as Glinda echoed her words. "Wrong thing to say."

"She didn't mean it that way." Elphaba returned the favor.

"Yeah, I just meant she's unpredictable." Breena sat on the arm of the couch next to Addena. "And we don't like this any more than you do. It feels like she's trying to cram the Grimmerie down our throats."

"We could use some down time." Elphaba readily agreed.

"And you're going to get it." Betak came bustling into the room with a basket in one hand and a couple of blankets thrown over her arm.

"Is that a picnic basket?" Fiyero beamed. "I love picnics."

"It's not for you." The old woman shot him a look. "It's for the girls."

His smile quickly disappeared. "Why do they get to have all the fun?"

"If you think spending nearly a week being cooped up with that crazy woman is fun you give it a try." Betak shook her head.

Maeve eyed the older woman wearily. "Aunt Yackle isn't going to like this."

"Ask me if I care." Betak turned to the girls. "They need a break and they're going to get it." She handed Elphaba the basket and shoved the blankets at Addena. "Now…"

"What are you two doing in here?" Yackle interrupted as she joined them. "I thought I told you to meet me in..." Her voice trailed off when she spotted the basket Elphaba was holding. "What's that?"

"What's what?" Breena tried to feign innocence.

"That." She pointed.

"They're going on a picnic." Fiyero sighed. "The lucky dogs."

"Picnic?" Yackle chuckled. "They don't have time for anything like that."

"I told you she wasn't going to like it." Maeve mumbled.

"They will if you leave them alone today." Betak countered.

"And why would I want to do that?"

"Out of the goodness of your heart."

Yackle scoffed.

"I know you have one in there somewhere." Betak ignored her. "They're young and in love. They need some time alone."

"They have their whole lives."

"Not if you keep smothering them."

"Smothering?" Yackle frowned. "I'm not smothering anyone."

"What do you call keeping them in the apothecary for hours on end?"

"Teaching them."

"I don't know about Elphaba but if you keep pushing Breena the way you have been she'll shut down and won't learn a damn thing."

Breena nodded. "Information overload and I don't get along. It's like I have an off switch in my brain."

"It doesn't with Elphie either." Glinda reached over to rub a green arm. "You should have seen her when exams rolled around at Shiz. All she did for two weeks before they started was go to class, study and sleep. I had to beg her to eat."

"I don't understand why you're so determined to make them learn so fast anyway." Betak didn't bother looking away from Yackle. "It's ridiculous."

"No, this is ridiculous. You don't know the first thing about what I'm trying to teach them."

Betak made a shooing motion behind her back at the girls. "Why don't you enlighten me?"

They all four grinned as Breena slid off the arm of the couch and Glinda and Addena quietly stood up.

Maeve frowned. "Hey, where are you…"

Fiyero's eyes got big, knowing he needed to help the girls. So he did the first thing that came to mind. He grabbed Maeve, cutting her off with a kiss.

Yackle turned when she heard her niece's voice, scowling when she saw what was happening. "Great. Is sucking face suddenly contagious around here?"

Fiyero had Maeve positioned just right to see when the girls were safely out of the room. "Sucking face?" He grinned as he pulled away. "I've never heard it called that before."

"What were you saying?" Yackle growled at Maeve, trying to ignore Fiyero completely.

"I… He…" The poor woman looked completely disoriented for a moment before grabbing the front of Fiyero's shirt and bringing their mouths together again.

The girls were too busy escaping to notice the impromptu make out session happening on the couch. They were almost to the front door when it suddenly opened, revealing Lion. Breena hurried forward to stifle his scream.

"Shh." She tried to soothe him. "It's just us."

He nodded, letting her know it was OK to take her hand of his mouth. "I wasn't expecting anyone to be standing here."

"We weren't expecting the door to open but you didn't hear any of us scream like a girl." Addena grinned. She liked to tease the big cat. It seemed fitting considering he couldn't remember her name when they first met.

Lion returned her grin. It quickly became a full fledged smile when he spotted the basket. "Are you going on your picnic?"

Addena nodded. "We need to get out of here for a little while."

"I know. That's why I helped Betak pick what to put in the basket before I took my run. You're going to love what's in there."

"Not if we don't get out of here." Glinda peered over her shoulder toward the living room.

"Oh, right." Lion gestured toward the open door as he stepped back. "Enjoy yourselves. And don't worry. Me and Betak will keep her busy if she tries to follow you."

Elphaba gave him a, "Thanks," as they literally ran out the door.

They kept up their harried pace until they were well away from the house.

"We did it." Glinda gripped Elphie's hand.

Addena chuckled. "You make it sound like we escaped from Southstairs."

"Close enough." Breena sighed.

"It hasn't been that bad." Elphaba disagreed. "Yes Yackle's been monopolizing our time lately but it's not like she's a warden or anything. We've learned a lot."

Glinda gave her a look. "Are you saying you'd rather spend time with her than me?"

"Of course not." Elphaba pulled her arm to her side, bringing her lover with it. "I just think we should cut her a little slack. She's only trying to help."

"OK, let's make a deal." Breena spoke up before either of them could say anything else. "No more talk of magic for the rest of the day."

"Good idea Bree." Addena was walking close enough to slip her arm around the woman's waist.

Breena grinned. "Why thank you. I do come up with one every now and then. Here," she reached for the blankets. "Let me take those."

"It's not like they're heavy."

"That's not the point."

"Thanks." Addena gave her a loving squeeze.

Glinda leaned ever so slightly closer to Elphaba as she watched them. "Speaking of good ideas Breena, where are we going for this picnic?"

"There's a lake just behind Colwen Grounds. Mom and I used to go there all the time when I was little. And call me Bree. Everyone else does."

"All right Bree." She let it roll off her tongue. "But only if you do me the honor of calling me Linny."

"I might be able to do that." Breena narrowed her eyes. "But I think I'd rather call you something like curly. Oh, or blondie."

"Hey." Addena pouted. "You don't have a cutsie name for me."

"You're my Addy." Breena smiled at her. "But I can try to come up with something else if you'd like."

They chatted as they continued to walk into the woods between Breena's house and Colwen Grounds. But the further they walked, the quieter everyone got.

Addena finally sighed. "Are we almost there? I'm sweating like a pig."

Elphaba furrowed her brow. "I'm pretty sure pigs don't sweat."

"It's a figure of speech." Glinda elbowed her in the side.

"You're too hot?" Breena asked, grinning when Addy nodded. "Glinda, would you mind taking these for me?"

Glinda looked confused as she took the proffered blankets. "Sure."

"Thanks." Breena suddenly picked Addena up, throwing her over her shoulder.

"What are you doing?!" Addena screeched the moment her feet left the ground.

Breena yelled, "Cooling you off!" as she sprinted into the trees before them.

"Where do you think she's..." Glinda's question was cut off by a loud splash.

Elphaba smiled. "Sounds like we're close to the lake."

A few more feet found them in a clearing dominated by a picturesque body of water.

"It's a good thing Bree knew where this place was. Otherwise we might have walked right by it." Glinda put the blankets down as looked at Breena and Addena. "I hope you know it's going to take your clothes forever to dry."

Breena smiled. "Yours too."

She opened her mouth to ask what she meant but didn't get the chance before Elphaba swept her into her arms. "What are you..." Her eyes got big as the green woman ran toward the water. "Elphie!!"

They surfaced beside Breena and a less than happy looking Addena.

"What the hell has gotten into the two of you?" She frowned at Breena. "If you wanted to swim you could have at least let us strip down to our underwear. Hello?" She snapped her fingers in her girlfriend's face when she didn't answer.

"Sorry." Breena gave her a goofy grin. "I was picturing you stripping."

"Bree." Elphaba blushed.

"Give it a try." Glinda eyed Elphie appreciatively. "It's fun."

"Glinda!" She blushed harder.

Breena slipped her arms around the still perturbed doctor. "Don't be mad Addy. I was just trying to have some fun." She pulled her closer. "And we can't go anywhere until we're dry."

"Are you saying we're going to have to cuddle on the blankets in the nice warm sun?" Addena's expression finally softened.

"In our underwear?" Glinda's eyes sparkled as she followed suit and wrapped her arms around her lover.

Addena quirked an eyebrow. "Our clothes would dry faster if we hung them in a tree."

"I'm all for stripping." Breena shrugged.

"Can we not call it that?" Elphaba was still blushing as they started toward shore.

Glinda gripped her hand. "For you Elphie, anything."

"I can't believe how shy you are sometimes Elphaba. Especially considering who you're related to." Addena nodded toward Breena.

"Hey." Breena splashed her.

"Brat." Addena splashed her back.

"Water fight!" Glinda pushed her hands across the surface of the water, soaking all three of them.

A lot of splashing and sputtering later they finally made their way back to dry land.

"I'll get you back for that last one Elly." Addena leaned her head to the side, shaking her finger in her ear to try to get some water out. "You don't mind if I call you that do you?"

Elphaba smiled. "Sorry you got caught in the cross fire. And I think you earned the right to call me whatever you'd like after helping me with the human splashing machine here."

Glinda gave them a smug look. "I can't help it if I'm good."

"Last one down to their underwear is a rotten egg." Breena smirked as Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Hey, I didn't call it stripping did I?"

"You lose." Addena strutted over to the blankets in nothing but her undies, claiming one for herself before handing the other to Glinda, who had quickly shucked her dress.

Breena frowned mid tugging her pants off. "How did you two do that so quick?"

"It's a skill." Addena purred as she spread the blanket on the ground and laid down. "Now hurry up so you can join me."

"You don't have to tell me twice." Breena hurriedly finished with the pants and pulled her sopping shirt over her head before flopping down next to the blonde.

"Here." Glinda led Elphaba over to their blanket. "Let me help you with those."

Elphaba frowned. "But I…" Her breath caught in her throat as Glinda snaked her hands under her shirt, running them up her stomach so her forearms could lift the wet material. "Well if you insist."

"I do." Glinda let her hands pause on the breasts she loved so much for a moment before continuing up to Elphaba's shoulders. "You're going to have to lift your arms for me."

"What?" Elphaba was too wrapped up in the sensation to hear her.

Glinda giggled. "Lift your arms."

Elphaba's cheeks turned a deeper shade of green. "Sorry."

"Don't be." Glinda finished with her shirt and started on her pants. "You're beautiful when you blush."

"Only when I blush?" Elphaba stepped out of the pants as Glinda finished pushing them down her legs.

Glinda looked up at her. "You know better than that."

Elphaba grinned. "Come here." She gripped the blonde's arm, lifting her to her feet so she could kiss her.

"I've been waiting for that all day." Glinda breathed before crushing their lips together again.

"Remember to keep it PG out here kids." Breena grinned at them. "You wouldn't want to scare the fish."

"Aren't we supposed to be doing some scaring of our own?"

She returned her attention to the blonde she was leaning over. "No, if I remember correctly I'm supposed to be thinking of cutsie names for you."

Addena's blue eyes shone as she ran her hand up Breena's arm. "Have you come up with any?"

"A few." Breena leaned in closer, brushing her lips against Addena's ear. "I would call you baby." She started kissing down her neck. "But you're no baby." She continued on her way. "So we could go with sweets." She spent a moment on her collar bone. "Or smoochy."

"Smoochy?" Addena giggled.

"No? How about punkin?"

Addena's back arched as Breena reached her chest. "Don't you mean pumpkin?"

"Nope." Breena kissed first one breast and then the other. "Punkin sounds cutsier."

"I'll show you something cute." Addena gently grabbed the hair on the back of her head, guiding her back up so their mouths could meet.

The clothes were forgotten as both couples let themselves get lost in each other.

"Oh look." Glinda rolled onto her back sometime later, still snuggled against her lover's side. "A swan."

"Really?" Elphaba lifted her head to look toward the water. "Where?"

"Not out there silly, up there." The blonde pointed toward the sky. "See it?"

Elphaba furrowed her brow as she rested her head against the blanket again. "You mean that cloud?"

"Uh huh. See? There's the head and the body. You can even see its tail." Glinda drew with her outstretched finger.

She cocked her head to the side, brow still furrowed. "No, it looks more like a blob to me."

"It does not."

"If you can see a swan why can't I see a blob?"

Glinda sighed. "What about that one?"

Elphaba considered the cloud behind the first one carefully. "A slightly smaller blob."

"You mean you don't see a kitten?"

"No."

Glinda propped herself up on her left elbow so she could look at her lover. "You're not even trying!"

"Yes I am." Elphaba defended herself. "It's not my fault that a collection of water droplets in the sky doesn't look like a cute fuzzy animal."

"You and that scientific brain."

"Yeah Elly." Breena agreed with Glinda. "Even I can see the kitten."

Addena gave the witch stretched out on top of her a swat. "You're not even looking."

"Fine." Breena untangled herself from the doctor so she could roll onto her back, smiling when Addena instantly shifted positions too, curling against her side with her head on her chest. "There. Now I can see the kitten. And a monkey."

"A monkey?" Elphaba frowned. "You're making that up."

"No I'm not." Breena disagreed. "Ladies, prepare yourselves. We have incoming."

As if on cue a flying monkey swept into the space between the blankets.

"Chistery!" Elphaba tried to cover her and Glinda with the edge of the blanket.

"Miss Elphaba." The monkey bowed at the waist.

"Hey Chistery." Breena lifted the arm she had around Addena to wave at him. "Long time no see."

"Miss Breena." Chistery grinned. "It has been too long."

"What brings you to our neck of the woods?"

"Master Lion told me this is where you would more than likely be. I have a message for you and Miss Elphaba." He pulled an emerald colored envelope from the pocket of his vest. "From the Wizard."

"Leave it to Dad." Breena motioned for him to give her the envelope.

"And one for the Uplands." Chistery produced another envelope, offering it to Addena.

"Us?" Glinda looked confused.

"Yes. From the Upper Uplands."

Addena took the envelope. "It's from Dad."

Glinda nodded. "He and Momsie must be back from their trip."

"It's probably a bill for the damages Morrible caused. Ow." Breena scowled when Addena pinched her.

The doctor ignored her. "Thank you Chistery."

"You are most welcome." The monkey bent at the waist again.

"Why don't you go to the house Chistery?" Elphaba kept the blanket firmly in place. "We'll…"

"Miss Betak said you are to finish your picnic." He interrupted her. "Everything else will keep until you make it back to the house."

"Good old Betak." Breena grinned.

"You could join us." Glinda gestured toward the picnic basket.

"Thank you but Miss Betak is holding lunch for me." With that Chistery took to the skies again.

"He's not much for idle chit chat is he?" Addena pushed herself into a sitting position. "Might as well see what…"

"No." Breena stopped her from opening the envelope. "I say we finally take care of the clothes and eat before we let the outside world back in."

"I agree." Glinda nodded. "Otherwise Betak wouldn't be too happy with any of us. I'll handle the clothes if you two get whatever's in the basket ready."

"We can do that." Breena took both envelopes and laid them on the edge of the blanket. "Come on Doc. Let's see what kind of grub we've got."

"Doc?" Addena raised an eyebrow as she accepted a hand up.

Breena quirked an eyebrow back at her. "What? Not cutsie enough?"

Glinda couldn't help but smile at them as she got up too. "I think it's safe to put the blanket down now Elphie."

She started gathering the clothes, giggling at the perplexed look on Elphaba's face.