She bit off a scream as she literally flew from the bed, instinctively backing herself against the wall as her eyes drank in her surroundings. Where in Oz was she? What was she doing here? Why was everything so overwhelmingly pink?

It reminded her of Glinda's side of their room at Shiz. Everything, from the bed comforter to the little accent rug on the floor to the floss in the bathroom was pink. Not the same shade of pink mind you. No, everything had to be a different shade so the decor didn't get monotonous. Where the girl managed to find things in so many variations of the same hue was beyond her. It wouldn't have surprised her if there was a store somewhere in the Upper Uplands that sold nothing but…

Her eyes narrowed. The Upper Uplands. That's where she was. At Upland Manor. In Glinda's childhood room.

Most of the night before was a blur. She vaguely recalled Glinda shoving her down on the bed when she tried to convince her she wasn't tired. And she couldn't help but remember the blonde crawling in next to her to cuddle. You didn't tend to forget a body like that plastering itself against yours. At some point she must have drifted off because here she was waking up to sunlight streaming through the window.

And what a sight she would have made if someone walked in right then. Standing there with her wild eyes, messy hair and green as sin skin with the overly pink wall as a backdrop. She took a deep breath, telling herself it was all right to calm down now. Obviously whatever she'd been dreaming about wasn't real. But try as she might something still didn't feel quite right.

"Glinda." The blonde's name slipped from her lips as she took a more controlled look around the room but the woman was nowhere to be seen. "Glinda?" She tried again as she started toward the private bath attached to the room. "Glinda?" The corner of her mouth turned up. "What could you possibly be doing in there that would keep you from answering..." Her voice trailed off as she opened the door to find that room empty too.

"Me?" She finished her thought as she turned back toward the bedroom. Well that was just great. Part of the whole 'I'll go to bed if you'll stop asking to join the search' deal was that Glinda would stay with her until she woke up. Granted it was a condition Fiyero threw in at the last minute, but Glinda had been more than willing to accept it considering they thought she would try to sneak out in the middle of the night.

But what if Glinda was the one who did the sneaking? Could the blonde have waited until she was asleep to creep back downstairs and try to talk to the guys into letting her help with the search?

Surely Cade would tell her no. He was a real men have their jobs and women have theirs kind of guy. And tramping around in the woods was definitely a man's job in his opinion. But Fiyero was a different story. She could still remember the way his friends laughed at him behind his back at Shiz. She had chuckled a few times herself. It was hard not to when he was always at Glinda's beck and call with that 'I'm perfect, you're perfect so we should be perfect together' look on his face.

Well there wouldn't be any laughing this time. There might be some yelling and a little bodily harm thrown in for good measure but there would definitely not be any laughing.

"Elphie."

She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard Glinda's voice. She was so lost in thought that she didn't hear the door open.

"I didn't mean to scare you." Glinda tried not to giggle as she put the tray she was carrying on the table by the bed. "How long have you been up?"

Relief surged through Elphaba as she stared at the blonde. She wasn't off working her feminine wiles on Fiyero after all. She was right here, looking at her with an expectantly cocked eyebrow. "Did you say something?"

"Not really." Glinda smirked. "I just asked how long you'd been up."

"Oh." She blushed, embarrassed at the idea of not hearing her the first time. "Not long."

"And here I thought maybe I looked particularly stunning this morning." Her smirk became a full fledged smile when Elphie's blush deepened. She walked toward her with a wiggle in her step, wrapping her arms around her once she got within reach. "Good morning my love." She placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

Elphaba couldn't stop herself from grinning as they parted. How did Glinda always have this effect on her? Just moments ago she was a crazy, mixed up, half awake mess who was ready to fly off the handle and now she was gazing into the bluest eyes she'd ever seen like a lovesick fool. And people used to think Fiyero was bad.

Glinda matched the intensity of her stare. "Did you sleep well?"

Elphie nodded. "You saw to that."

"The cuddling was nice, wasn't it?"

"Very."

"We'll have to do it again sometime soon." She gazed at her adoringly. "But for now I've got breakfast in bed for you."

Elphaba tightened her grip around a slim waist when the blonde started to pull away. "I missed you when I woke up."

"Really? Is that because you want my face to be the first thing you see every morning or because you were afraid I went to join the search behind your back?"

She hesitated before mumbling, "A little of both I guess."

Glinda started to giggle until she realized her love was serious. ""Elphie, we had a deal. Did you really think I would go back on it?"

"No." She sighed. "I don't know."

"That's not exactly a vote of confidence."

"I didn't mean it that way." Elphaba was quick to tell her. "It's just... Sometimes you're too brave for your own good. It's almost like you think you have to prove yourself to me or something."

"Sometimes I do."

Elphaba frowned. "What? Why? I've never..."

"No, you haven't." Glinda interrupted her. "But I let you down Elphie. I should have been with you from the beginning and I wasn't. I nearly lost you forever because I wasn't brave enough to admit what you meant to me."

"Linny..."

"Let me finish." She waited to make sure Elphie wasn't going to try to speak again. "Thinking I have to prove myself to you is something I'm probably going to struggle with for the rest of my life. Especially now that I know how wonderful being with you is. But it's something I have to deal with on my own."

"No it's not."

Glinda sighed. "Elphie."

"We're in this life together, Glinda. Together." Elphaba gave her a squeeze. "So I'll help you with the proving yourself thing if you help me with the being overprotective thing." She leaned her forehead against the blonde's. "I'm sorry I doubted you."

"You don't have anything to be sorry for." Glinda held her close. "And I'm sorry for worrying you."

"You don't have anything to be sorry for either."

Honey colored eyes stared into blue for a moment before they moved to kiss each other at the same time. They let themselves get lost in the sensation for a while before pulling apart.

Glinda sighed contentedly. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"This is nice, but we better eat before the food gets much colder."

"I'm really not..."

"Don't even try it." Glinda pointed at her threateningly. "You're going to eat."

"But..."

"We had this discussion already."

Elphaba furrowed her brow. "We did?"

"Well, technically we didn't but eating falls under the same category as sleeping. You have to keep up your strength Elphie. I can't have you falling off your broom because you're weak with hunger."

"Weak with hunger?" Elphaba chuckled.

"It's not funny Elphie." Glinda cupped her cheek. "I worry about you just as much as you worry about me."

"I know." Elphaba covered the pale hand with one of her own. "I'll eat."

"That's my girl." Glinda moved her hand, grabbing the one covering it to drag Elphaba back to the bed.

The green woman used her other hand to point toward the small table by the window. "Why can't we..."

"Because it's called breakfast in bed for a reason."

"But..."

"Don't argue."

"I'm not..."

Glinda pushed her down on the bed. "You might not think so, but you are." She started messing with the things on the tray. "You'll be out there soon enough. And I'll be here, worried sick until you come back." She paused. "So just let me pamper you for a little while." She sighed when Elphie put her hand on her arm. "Fine. We'll skip breakfast so you can get downstairs."

"I was going to say pamper away."

She looked shocked. "Really?"

The corner of Elphaba's mouth turned up. "Really."

"Oh." Glinda's shoulders relaxed a little. "In that case, sit back and I'll take care of everything."

"So this is a full service breakfast in bed." Elphaba pursed her lips. "I'm impressed."

"You should be. I wouldn't do this for just anyone you know. I thought the cooks were going to pass out when I told them I would bring this up here myself."

Elphaba chuckled. "Will it ruin your reputation as an Upland?"

"No. They're used to me doing odd things."

"So I'm odd now?"

Glinda giggled as she sat down on the bed and handed her a plate. "No, you're gorgeous."

"Food and compliments." Elphaba accepted the plate. "I may have to let you do this pampering thing more often."

"I hope so."

They lapsed into a comfortable silence as they ate, taking turns giving each other loving glances as they did.

"So, was there any news while I was asleep?"

Glinda's heart clinched at her lover's seemingly nonchalant tone, knowing how worried she was about her sister. "No Elphie, there wasn't."

"Oh." Elphaba stared at her plate.

"I talked to Fiyero while I was downstairs." Glinda continued. "There was another storm during the night, so they really couldn't do much. But Cade is out with the men right now. He seemed pretty hopeful that they would find something."

A knock at the door kept Elphaba from answering. Glinda gave her leg a reassuring pat before scooting off the bed to answer it.

"Bernie." The blonde was obviously shocked to see her. "Is something wrong?"

"No miss." Bernice smiled. "I wanted to let you know The Wizard just arrived."

"What?" Elphaba was off the bed like a shot. "My father is here?"

Glinda furrowed her brow at her reaction. "Elphie?"

"My father is here, Glinda." She shook her head. "He's here and I don't have any information for him."

Bernice watched the green woman pace for a moment before turning back to Glinda. "Miss?"

"Thank you for coming to tell us Bernie." She gave the older woman a smile when she continued to watch Elphaba. "It's all right. You can go."

"Are you sure?" Bernice didn't like the idea of leaving them alone.

"I'm positive." Glinda gave her a nod before shutting the door. "Elphie?"

"What am I going to do, Glinda?" Elphaba ran her hand through her hair.

"The first thing you need to do is calm down."

"Calm down?" Her voice went up an octave. "How am I supposed to do that? He's here because Breena is missing. I went to him for help and he agreed. He's going to expect me to know something by now."

"Elphie, he agreed to come because he loves you both. And he's not going to expect anything from you."

"Of course he is."

Glinda frowned as Elphaba slipped her shoes on. "What are you doing?"

"I need to talk to Fiyero before I see my father."

"But I already told you..."

"Something could have changed between then and now." She started out of the room. "Are you coming?"

Glinda hurried to keep up with her, knowing this was something her lover needed to do. She should have realized second hand information wouldn't be enough for her, even coming from someone she trusted. Especially where Breena was concerned. And she couldn't say she would have felt any differently if Dena was the one who had been kidnaped.

Her thoughts came to a screeching halt when she ran headlong into Elphaba's back. She grabbed the green woman's arm to keep herself from falling down, recovering to find they had already reached the makeshift headquarters they established the night before. And there sat the Wizard.

"Elphaba."

He rushed over to them, taking his daughter in his arms. Elphaba stood stalk still, not returning the hug but not pulling away either. He held her, giving Glinda a look over her shoulder but all the blonde could do was shrug. He finally let go, taking a half step back.

Glinda resisted the urge to fidget, wondering what Elphie would do. When they had suffered through what seemed like an eternity of silence she finally said, "How was your trip?"

"Fast." He answered, elaborating more when Elphaba continued to just stand there. "Whoever commissions the horses for the guard certainly knows what they're doing. I'm going to have to see they get a commendation."

"I'm sure they would appreciate that." Glinda bit her lip when Elphaba still didn't say anything. "Would you like some coffee or tea?"

"Tea would be great." The Wizard winked at his daughter as he gestured at his throat. "I'm parched from being on the road. And coffee never seems to hit the spot quite like tea."

"Elphaba." Glinda was relieved to see the green woman snap out of her almost catatonic like stare to look at her when she said her name. "Would you like to join us?"

"I can't. I need to get an update from Fiyero."

The Wizard was relieved to hear her voice and said, "An update?" out of reflex in the hopes of getting her to say more.

"Yes. He and Cade have been handling the search so far because..." Elphaba refused to look at him. "Because I was asleep." Her jaw clinched. "So I don't have any news for you."

"Elphaba..."

"You don't have to say it." She cut him off. "I know how disappointed you must be."

"Disappointed?" The Wizard frowned. "Why in Oz would I be disappointed?"

"Because I don't know any more about what happened to Breena then when I came to the palace last night."

"And?"

"And?" Elphaba echoed his question as she finally looked up. "I came to you for help with the understanding that I would be in charge of the search."

The Wizard's frown deepened. "You did?"

"Yes. And I should have been. Maybe then I wouldn't be standing here telling you I have no idea what's going on."

"That's funny." He tugged at the lapels of his coat. "I thought you came to me because I'm your father and you knew I would be concerned about Breena."

"Of course you are." Elphaba gestured with her hand. "That's not what I meant."

"No? Then maybe you meant I shouldn't be concerned about you too."

"Me?" It was Elphaba's turn to frown. "Why would you be concerned about me?"

"Because your sister is missing. Because you were exhausted when you came to see me last night. Because you made Oz knows how many trips between the palace and here using magic that must have drained you more than you already were." The Wizard cocked his head. "Do you get the picture or should I go on?"

"But Bree's the one you should be worried about."

"And you're the one who feels responsible for what happened to her." He held up the index finger of his right hand to keep her from speaking. "Don't deny it. I feel responsible too and I wasn't even here."

Elphaba exhaled through her nose. "That's ridiculous. It wasn't your fault."

"It wasn't yours either."

"But if something like this had happened with Nessa..."

"I'm not Frex."

Glinda swallowed hard as silence reigned again, wondering if she should try to step in and help. Luckily the Wizard spoke, saving her the effort.

"Morrible might not have been worth much, but she was very thorough when it came to recruiting you for me. I know that Frex treated you horribly and that that's what you're used to from the father figure in your life. But I'm not him Elphaba. And if you think I'm going to browbeat you for taking care of yourself you're mistaken."

Elphaba looked confused. "But..."

"There are no buts involved." The Wizard took her hand. "I love Breena and I'm beside myself that she's missing right now. But I love you too. I just got you back Elphaba. And I have a hell of a lot to make up for. I don't know what I would do if I lost you again."

"I..." Elphaba was at a loss for words. "I love you too."

"Thank you." A tear rolled down the Wizard's face as he pulled her into a hug, repeating, "Thank you," in a barely audible voice when she wrapped her arms around him.

Glinda sniffled as she watched them. What she wouldn't give to get her hands on Frexspar. Someone needed to make him pay for the emotional scars her poor Elphie had.

"Well now that we've got that cleared up," the Wizard pulled back to look at his daughter. "Why don't you join Glinda and I for that tea?"

Elphaba wiped at the tears on her face. "But..."

"I spoke to Fiyero." He kept her from saying more. "He's going to take a fresh group of men out as soon as Cade gets back. And he already knows you'll want to go with them. He's going to send for you as soon as they're ready to leave. So until then I insist you keep your old man company by having some tea."

The corner of Elphaba's mouth turned up. "My old man?"

The Wizard nodded. "I've wanted to be called that my whole life."

"Then I supposed the least I can do is have tea with you." Elphaba looked at her lover. "Unless Glinda wants you all to herself."

Glinda knew she didn't have to respond. She took Elphaba's hand and led the way toward the kitchen, a small smile playing across her features when she saw Elphie offer her free hand to her father.