"She passed out..."

Maeve's words echoed through Elphaba's mind as Glinda led her into the house. Bree was unconscious again. She was with Addena, which mean she was in good hands, but the doctor hadn't said anything about her waking up yet, which was bad. That wasn't the kind of information Addena would keep to herself.

What if Bree was back in the place where she'd been stuck before? What if she couldn't get out this time? What if she never woke up again?

The thought made her head spin. This was all her fault. Addena had made it abundantly clear that Bree was too weak to do any magic and trusted her to make sure she didn't. She had every intention of making sure her sister followed the doctors orders until she had her vision. Then all she could think about was getting to Glinda.

Damn her powers anyway. If they were as sentient as Yackle seemed to think how could they make her chose between her lover and her sister? How could they warn her that something was going to happen to Glinda when her only chance to get to her involved Breena helping her with a spell?

She shouldn't have panicked. She should have some up with another way to get to Glinda. She should have stuck to her guns and said no when Bree mentioned the transportation spell. But she didn't. And now her sister was paying the price for getting her lover back.

"Glinda!"

The sound of someone calling her lover's name pulled her from her thoughts a split second before Glinda's hand was torn from her own. Elphaba looked up sharply, ready for a fight.

"Oh Glinda." Bernice held the younger woman close. "Thank the Unnamed God you're safe."

Elphaba relaxed when she saw the maid.

"Hello to you too Bernie." Glinda returned the embrace.

"It's so good to have you home." Bernice held her at arm's length to inspect her. "A little rough around the edges but still in one piece."

Glinda grinned. "That's one way of putting it."

"And you." She turned her attention to Elphaba. "Thank you for bringing our little Glinda back to us." She let go of the blonde to grab the green woman, pulling her into a hug.

Elphaba looked at Glinda, who gave her an encouraging nod. "You're welcome." She awkwardly patted the woman on the back.

Bernice took a half step back to look at her. "She means the world and all to everyone in this house."

"She means a lot to me too." Elphaba glanced at the blonde again. "She's my everything."

Bernice pursed her lips as tears filled her eyes. "You're such a sweet girl. I don't know how anyone could have ever thought you were wicked." Her eyes got big as she clamped her hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry."

"It's all right." Elphaba downplayed her concern.

"It most certainly is not." Bernice's tone was stern. "You might be tough Miss Elphaba, but deep down every young lady wants to be accepted. So don't pretend it doesn't upset you." She cupped a green cheek. "Don't let people badmouth you, dear. You don't deserve it."

Glinda sidled up to her blushing lover, knowing she was about to go into kindness overload. "See why we've kept her around for so long, Elphie?"

"Because I was the only one who would put up with three women like you, your sister and your mother?" Bernice raised an eyebrow.

"Obviously not." Glinda countered. "Elphie and Breena are braving our family too."

"Like I said, she's a good girl." Bernice smiled at Elphaba again. "And so is her sister. Speaking of which, I'm sure you would rather be upstairs checking on her instead of standing here talking to me. So go." She made a shooing motion with her hand.

"Has anyone said anything? About how she's doing?"

Bernice shook her head in response to the blonde's question. "Not yet."

Glinda slipped her arm around Elphie's waist when her green shoulders slumped.

"But I'm sure everything will be all right." The maid spoke again. "I haven't really had a chance to meet Miss Breena yet, but I know she's a fighter. She has to be if she's in a relationship with Addena." She half grinned at Elphaba, hoping to lighten the mood. "Just like you if you're willing to take on that one."

"Come on, Elphie." Glinda stuck her tongue out at the older woman as they started to walk away. "Let's go check on Bree."

"Your mother and the Wizard just headed upstairs a few minutes ago." Bernice called after them. "The Wizard." She chattered to herself as she walked in the opposite direction as the girls. "Who ever would have thought I would see the day that the Wizard was roaming around Upland Manor?"

"I'm beginning to think this whole magic thing is more of a curse than a gift." Elphaba mumbled as they made their way up the stairs.

Glinda tightened her grip on her lover. "It's not a curse Elphie. Think of how many times your and Breena's powers have saved our lives."

"It's evenly matched with how many times they've put us in danger." Elphaba sighed. "Just when it seems like we're getting a handle on what we can do, something else pops up. There are too many unknowns. Too many variables."

"There goes that scientific mind again." Glinda chided her. "I know this sounds cliche, but you need to relax a little where your powers are concerned."

"You mean be more like Bree?"

"No, I wouldn't ever want you to change who you are Elphie. But sometimes you need to trust yourself more."

"Have faith in what I can do?"

Glinda nodded. "Exactly."

"That's what Bree told me."

"She's pretty smart." Glinda looked at her girlfriend. "Like her sister."

"If I'm so smart why couldn't I find a way to save you without endangering Bree?"

"Oh Elphie." Glinda pulled her lover closer. "Stop being so hard on yourself."

It was on the tip of Elphaba's tongue to tell her that was easier said than done but someone else beat her to speaking.

"Glinda?"

They were both shocked to find they had not only made it all the way up the stairs but were to Glinda and Addena's rooms already. Ginny and the Wizard were standing just outside Addena's door, the Wizard's hand still on the doorknob.

"Glinda!" Ginny rushed toward her daughter.

"Momsie!" Glinda let go of Elphaba to run to her mother.

Elphaba watched as they met in a bone crushing hug. She wanted nothing more than to do the same with her father but she couldn't bring herself to look at him, let alone close the gap between them. He must be furious with her for what happened to Breena.

"Elphaba?" His voice was gentle as he walked toward her.

"I..." She tried to swallow the lump in her throat.

"Thank Oz you're all right!" Glinda and Ginny spoke at the same time as they held each other at arm's length. They both gave a relaxed giggle before embracing again.

"I'm sorry." Elphaba's voice was barely audible as her father reached her. "I'm so sorry."

His breath caught in his throat as a single tear made its way down her cheek. "There's nothing to be sorry for."

She finally looked at him before throwing herself into his arms.

Addena's eyes snapped open when she heard a door shut.

"It's all right." Breena rubbed her back. "It was just our parents checking on us."

She propped herself up on one elbow to look at her girlfriend. "What are you doing up?"

"Unlike some people I don't sleep like a rock."

"Well they're done so you can go back to sleep."

"You won't get an argument from me." Breena yawned.

"Wow." Addena raised her eyebrows. "You must really be tired."

"Um hm." The witch shut her eyes.

Addena grinned as she looked down at her, nearly jumping out of her skin when she heard someone yell out in the hall. "What the hell was that?"

Breena yawned as a second voice joined the first. "Sounds like a party."

"What's going on out there?" Addena glared at the door.

"X ray vision isn't one of my specialties."

"Smart ass."

"Would you rather I be a dumb ass?"

The corner of Addena's mouth turned up. "It's good to see your sarcasm is still intact."

"It would take a lot more than a fever to get rid of that."

Addena clinched her jaw when the voices sounded again. "That does it." She started to get off the bed.

Breena grabbed her arm. "Where are you going?"

"To tell them to shut up."

"That's not very nice."

"They're yelling is interrupting your rest. I don't have to be nice."

"Aw." Breena gave her a goofy grin. "I love when you get all momma bear where I'm concerned."

Addena stared into her green eyes. "It's my job."

"No, this is your job." Breena pulled her down for a kiss.

"Oh no you don't." Addena reluctantly pulled away. "I'm still going to check things out."

"Would you at least consider 'be quiet' or 'pipe down?'"

Addena shook her head as she gave her girlfriend a peck on the lips. "I'll try to be nice. You go back to sleep."

Breena watched the doctor use her hand to smooth a few blonde strands as she stood. "You should leave it messy. It will add to the scare factor when you start yelling."

"Shut up." Addena gave her another kiss.

"That's still not very nice." Breena grinned as she let her eyes close again.

Addena watched her for a second longer, running her fingers through short dark hair before heading for the door. What she found when she did made her freeze in the doorway.

Ginny and Glinda were clinging to one another, tears streaming down their cheeks. The Wizard was holding Elphaba too, her head nestled against his shoulder.

"Glinda?" She finally found her voice again.

"Dena!" Glinda squealed as she pulled away from their mother to throw her arms around her sister.

"Shhh!" Addena shushed her, glancing back into her room.

"Sorry." Glinda bit her lip. "I'll... Wait a minute." She pushed back to look at her. "If Bree's unconscious why do we have to be quiet?"

"She's been very sick." Ginny tried to explain.

"And I'm not unconscious anymore." Breena called from the bedroom.

"You're supposed to be asleep." Addena chastised her.

Elphaba's head shot up. "Bree?"

"I'm trying, but all that yakking is keeping me awake."

"Bree!" The green witch pushed past her father to run into the room.

"Wait." Addena pulled Glinda with her as she hurried after Elphaba.

"Hi Elly." Breena was all smiles.

Addena managed to grab Elphaba's arm as she started to hug her sister. "Don't!"

"Dena!" Glinda frowned at her.

"I'm sorry." Addena let go of Elphaba. "I shouldn't have done that. It's just, the instant she sees that cut on your forehead she's going to try to heal it and she's still too weak to be doing something like that."

"I'm a lot stronger now, my fever broke. Remember?" Breena furrowed her brow as she looked up at her sister. "And it's only a little cut."

"That's not the point." The doctor snapped.

"Maybe she's right." Elphaba took a half step back from the bed. "Maybe I shouldn't..."

"I was just joking." Breena reached for her sister's hand, sighing when Elphaba avoided her. "I won't heal you. I promise."

Addena rolled her eyes. "We've heard that one before."

"I can control who I heal and who I don't you know. At least I can when the connection Elly and I isn't in danger."

"I think she's serious." Glinda came to her defense. "As a matter of fact I'll help her prove it." With that she leaned down to give Breena a hug.

"Glinda Upland you stop that this instant!" Ginny used her best mother voice.

The Wizard couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth as he said, "They'll be fine."

"Thanks Glinda." Breena grinned as the blonde pushed back after a moment.

"Anytime." She leaned in to give her another squeeze. "And thank you for keeping your promise."

"I'd say you're welcome but you look like you've been through a meat grinder so it hardly seems right."

"You're such a charmer." Glinda returned her grin as she straightened up.

"I think I proved my point." Breena spoke to her sister.

Elphaba stayed where she was.

"Come on." Breena gestured with her hands. "I don't bite."

Elphaba swallowed hard as she hesitantly sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Oh for the love..." Breena grabbed her.

The move caught Elphaba off guard. When she realized her sister was touching her she struggled to get away. But the longer Breena held her the more relaxed she got until eventually she melted into the embrace.

"Bree." Her voice shook. "I... I thought..."

"It's all right, Elly." Breena tightened her grip. "I've got you."

Elphaba wrapped her arms around Breena and cried.

Glinda latched onto Addena. "I love you."

Addena closed her eyes as she nestled her cheek against her sister's blonde curls. "I love you too."

The Wizard put his hand on Ginny's shoulder as she sniffled, blinking back tears of his own.

"All right, that's enough." Breena finally spoke after a few minutes. "You're squishing me. Not to mention soaking my nice clean nightgown."

Elphaba wiped at her cheeks as she sat up. "Did your fever really break?"

"That's what my doctor says." Breena nodded toward Addena.

"It did." Addena confirmed. "And her wound is looking great. She'll still be weak for a few days but other than that I think she'll make a full recovery."

The Wizard felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders. "Well it's about damn time."

Breena grinned. "That's what I said."

"How did you get hurt in the first place?" Glinda asked. "I know there was some fighting at the animal camp but Elphie didn't exactly have time to go into detail."

"She was protecting me." Ginny gave the reclining witch a grateful look. "She saved my life."

"I don't know if I would go that far." Breena blushed.

"I would." The older woman countered.

"How about you two?" Breena quickly changed the subject. "What happened at the caves? I mean the spell obviously worked." She quirked an eyebrow at Addena when the doctor gave her a disapproving look. "What? I can at least talk about magic can't I?"

"I found Glinda, that's what happened." Elphaba stepped in, not wanting to go into detail about what happened.

"And then she kicked Eadlyn's ass." Glinda finished for her.

"Glinda." Ginny tisked. "Such language."

"That's what happens when she hangs around ruffians like us, right sis?" Breena gave Elphaba a playful nudge, taking her sister's hand when she didn't get a response. "What about Eadlyn? You didn't..."

"No." Glinda shook her head.

"I thought about it." Elphaba added before her lover could say more. "After everything he's put this family through he would have deserved it." She glanced at Glinda. "But someone made me see the error of my ways."

Glinda smirked. "So she threw him around like a rag doll instead."

"Good." Breena gave Elphaba's hand a squeeze.

"And then Cade and his men showed up and arrested him." Glinda finished the story.

"So he's in custody?" The Wizard clinched his jaw when both Elphaba and Glinda nodded. "That means I get to pass sentence on him."

"Lock him up and throw away the key." Ginny suggested.

"I'm sure there's room for him in the cell Boq and Morrible are sharing." Breena yawned.

"I think that's our cue to leave." Elphaba started to stand up.

"Hey!" Breena kept her grip on her sister's hand. "Where do you think you're going?"

"You heard Addena, you're going to be weak for a while yet Bree. You need your rest."

"But..."

"And I should really take a look at Linny and Elphaba." Addena interrupted her girlfriend.

"They're just scratches." Glinda waved away her concern.

"You'll let her examine you and that's final." Ginny used her mom voice again.

"And don't you argue." The Wizard followed suit as he pointed at Breena.

"Fine." Breena yawned again.

"Words can't describe how glad I am that you're all right." Elphaba hugged her again.

"We Thropps are made of tough stuff." Breena quipped.

"So are the Arduenna Uplands." Ginny chimed in. "But everyone in this room is exhausted so I'm officially declaring tomorrow a bed day."

"Bed day?" The Wizard crinkled his forehead.

"Bed day!" Glinda clapped her hand. "We haven't had one of those in ages."

"Everyone stays in bed all day." Ginny explained. "And we haven't had one because we were never all together."

"Sounds good to me." Breena was already half asleep.

Addena smiled. "Let's go you two. The sooner we get your examinations over, the sooner we can all get some sleep."

"I'll stay here with Breena." The Wizard volunteered.

"You're coming with us aren't you Momsie?" Glinda reached for her mother's hand.

"Of course I am." Ginny was more than willing to take Glinda's hand in one of her own before reaching for Elphaba with the other. "Come along, dear. You can visit more with her once we're all rested."

Elphaba placed a gentle kiss on her sister's cheek. "I love you."

"Love you too Elly."

"I'll be back in a little while." Addena took Elphaba's place on the edge of the bed.

Breena didn't even bother to open her eyes. "I'll be here."

"You better be." Addena gave her a kiss before bouncing into a standing posiion ha . "Let's go."

"I'll take good care of her," the Wizard assured Elphaba as she walked by him, looking at Breena wistfully.

The corner of Elphaba's mouth turned up. "I know you will."

He watched the four of them leave the room before returning his attention to Breena, not at all surprised to find she was already out.

"Sleep well little one." He pulled the blankets up over her. "Because when you're feeling better I'm having a talk with you and your sister about scaring me."