"Be careful." Addena instructed Breena as they made their way across the main entranceway. "This floor can be slippery."

"I'm fine." Breena assured her.

"That's what you said on the stairs." Elphaba pointed out.

"Stairs schmairs." Breena belittled their concern. "I told you I could make it."

"You slid down the bannister." Elphaba reminded her.

"Right after you gave me a heart attack by almost falling." Addena added.

"I didn't almost fall. You were making me nervous, clucking at me like a mother hen. So I decided to take a quicker route. It got me down here didn't it?"

"Me too." Glinda giggled.

Elphaba shook her head. "I still can't believe you followed her."

Glinda pretended to pout. "I couldn't let her have all the fun."

"She used to do it all the time when she was little." Ginny supplied.

"Little?" Addena scoffed. "She did it last Lurlinemas."

"It was the fastest way to beat you to the presents." Glinda defended herself.

Elphaba grinned as she used their linked hands to pull the blonde closer to her side. "My little rebel."

Ginny smiled at the interaction. The green woman had been a little hesitant to take her daughter's hand once they reached the first floor but she didn't pull away when Glinda intertwined their fingers. She had a feeling Dena and Bree would have been holding hands too if Breena wasn't on crutches. As it was Addena was walking as close to the witch as she possibly could without tripping either one of them.

"So are you a shaker?"

Addena frowned at her lover's question. "What?"

"Lurlinemas presents." Breena explained. "Do you like to shake them to try to guess what's inside? If so I'll buy you something extra noisy this year."

"You don't have to buy me anything." Addena answered shyly.

"She's more of a finder anyway." Glinda threw in.

Ginny nodded. "No matter where I hid their presents when they were growing up, she would find them."

"And she can unwrap a present to see what it is and rewrap it so no one knows the difference." Glinda bubbled.

"I did that once." Addena sighed. "And it was only to get you to shut up."

"You opened your little sister's Lurlinemas presents?" Breena quirked an eyebrow.

"Yes, but only because she wouldn't stop driving everyone crazy."

Ginny chuckled. "I remember that year. She was what, five?"

"Six." Addena corrected her. "And all she wanted was an Ozma doll."

"Not just any Ozma doll." Glinda interjected. "It had to be the one with a complete wardrobe."

"Of course it did." Elphaba looked at her adoringly.

"She wouldn't rest until she was sure she was getting it." Addena rolled her eyes.

"Not all of us could want a chemistry set." Glinda goaded her.

"And not all of us could whine around until everyone was ready to pull their hair out. That's why I finally unwrapped all her presents to make sure the damn doll was there."

"That was the first time she slept through the night in a week." Ginny continued to laugh. "I always wondered what caused the sudden turn around."

"There's nothing wrong with a girl knowing what she wants." Breena stuck up for the blonde.

"Thanks Bree." Glinda gave her a smile.

Elphaba gave her hand a squeeze. "So what do you want for Lurlinemas this year?"

"Nothing."

Addena did a double take when she heard her sister. "What? The queen of presents doesn't want anything?"

"I've got everything I could ever want right here." Glinda put her head on her lover's shoulder.

"Glinda I love you, but that was the mushiest thing I've ever heard." Breena made a face.

"Breena!" Lion yelled as he rushed toward them, almost knocking her off her feet as he grabbed her in a hug.

"Lion!" Addena started to pull him away.

"Take it easy." Elphaba chastised him.

"He's fine." Breena returned the embrace the best she could. "It's good to see you too big guy."

"Don't ever make me worry like that again."

Breena grinned. "I'll try not to."

He pulled back to look at her. "Are you all right now?" His eyes got big when he finally noticed her crutches. "Is your leg bothering you? Do you need me to carry you to the dining room?"

"No."

"Are you sure?" He looked at her worriedly. "I could..."

"What part of no don't you understand?" Penny asked as she joined them.

"She wasn't talking to you so but out." Lion gruffed.

"No arguing please." Glinda looked back and forth between them.

Lion hung his head. "I won't if she doesn't."

"It's nice to see you up and around." Penny smiled at Breena.

"It's nice to be up and around." Breena returned her smile.

"Would you people get a move on already?" Fiyero called from the doorway of the dining room. "Some of us are hungry."

"Hold your pants on." Lion replied, earning a laugh from the females around him. He basked in their reaction for a moment before offering Elphaba and Glinda his arms. "May I?"

"We'd be honored." Elphaba answered for both of them as Glinda giggled.

Breena returned her attention to the Lioness. "Addy tells me you've been a big help."

Penny shrugged. "It seemed like the least I could do considering all you've done for me."

Breena made sure Elphaba and Glinda were out of earshot before she spoke again. "Does anyone else know everything that happened in that camp?"

"Do you mean when you..."

"Don't say it." Addena cut Penny off, adding a, "Please," when the Lioness flinched at her tone.

Ginny gave her daughter a sympathetic look. "As far as they're concerned you were hurt protecting me and that led to your fever."

"But no one knows anything more? Even Cade?"

Penny shook her head. "He was too busy fighting while you were..." She cast a glance at Addena. "When what happened happened.

"Good." Breena's shoulders relaxed. "Would you three mind if we keep it that way?" She watched Elphaba and Glinda as they chatted with Fiyero and Lion. "They've been through enough."

"Of course we will." Ginny gripped her arm. "Knowing would only upset them."

"Exactly." Breena gave her a grateful look.

"I'll do whatever you think is best." Penny assured her.

"It would be fine with me if we never talked about it again." Addena stated.

"Are you guys coming or what?" Fiyero called out again.

"Maybe if we were guys we would listen to you." Addena answered him this time. "I don't know about you three, but I'm hungry. Let's go."

Breena sighed as she watched her and Penny start toward the others.

"She'll be fine, dear." Ginny spoke so only the witch could hear her.

"I know. We've talked about what happened a few times. It's just…" She shrugged. "I hate the thought of her going through something like that. I know how I would feel if the tables were turned."

"Then you also know that you can't dwell on the past. You're here now and that's all that matters."

"You give pretty good advice." The corner of Breena's mouth turned up. "It reminds me of my mom."

Ginny beamed. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Addena stopped when she realized Penny was the only one with her. "Is everything all right back there?"

"Bree?" Elphaba turned when she heard the question.

"We're fine." Ginny replied.

"Are you sure?" Elphaba started toward them.

Glinda kept a tight grip on her hand. "She said they were fine."

"But..."

"And we're on our way." Breena interrupted her sister.

"Finally." Fiyero threw his hands in the air.

Lion shook his head. "Drama queen."

Fiyero frowned at him. "Hair ball."

"Boys." The Wizard used his fatherly tone as he came up behind Fiyero. "I think your bickering is holding up traffic."

"Sorry." Fiyero moved aside.

Elphaba smiled at her father. "Good morning Dad."

"Good morning." He pulled her and Glinda into a hug, giving them a squeeze before holding them at arm's length. "You both look beautiful this morning. All that sleep you got during bed day really agrees with you."

"Like sleep caused that glow." Breena chimed in as she and Ginny finally reached everyone else.

"Bree." Addena smacked her on the arm.

"What?" She did her best to look innocent. "I didn't say anything about you glowing did I?"

Addena blushed as Elphaba shook her head and Glinda tried not to laugh.

"There's no point in trying to tame her, Addena." The Wizard smiled fondly as he switched his attention to the other couple.

"Yeah." Breena thought about what he'd just said. "Hey, wait a minute. Are you saying I'm a lost cause?"

"No, he's saying if it's not broke don't fix it." Glinda helped out. "We all love you just the way you are."

"She took the words right out of my mouth." The Wizard pulled Breena and Addena into his arms for a hug before releasing them to gesture toward the table. "We better get started. Everything is getting cold."

"Well we can't have that." Fiyero hurried over to the table, barely sitting down before he started filling his plate.

"Always the gentleman, right Fiyero?" Glinda teased as Elphaba pulled a chair out for her.

"How many times do I have to tell you I'm hungry before you'll believe me?" He spoke around a bite of toast.

"Yero, that's disgusting." Elphaba made a face at being able to see the food in his mouth.

"What?" Fiyero looked confused.

"Makes me glad I have daughters," The Wizard mumbled as he offered Ginny his arm to see her to her seat.

Ginny chuckled. "Me too."

"Penny." Lion bowed at the waist as he held a chair for her.

"Uh, thanks." The Lioness blushed a little as she sat down.

"I've got it." Addena spoke as Breena reached for a chair.

"But everyone else…"

"They're not on crutches are they?" Addena helped her sit down before taking the crutches in question and leaning them against the wall behind them. She whispered, "You can make it up to me later," in the witch's ear as she sat down next to her.

"Where are the Captain and your young lady?" Ginny asked as she sat at the end of the table between her daughters.

"Hey." Lion kicked Fiyero under the table to get his attention. "She's talking to you."

"She is?" Fiyero frowned as he looked at Ginny. "You were?"

"She asked where Maeve is." Breena explained.

"How am I supposed to know?" He shrugged as he went back to eating.

"They had a tiff this earlier." Lion stage whispered to Ginny behind his paw.

"We didn't have anything earlier." Fiyero disagreed. "It's not like we're a couple or something."

"Relax Yero." Elphaba, who was sitting next to him, put a calming hand on his arm. "No one said you were."

"I think they are." Lion piped in.

"Not now Lion." Breena warned him.

"Well I know where Cade is." The Wizard took the seat at the other end of the table. "He's getting his men ready to go back to the Emerald City. We're heading out as soon as breakfast is over."

"We?" Elphaba frowned.

"You're leaving?" Breena asked at the same time.

"As much as I hate to admit it, I have to get back girls. Oz can't run itself." He pursed his lips. "But I want you two to stay here until you're completely recuperated. If that's all right with Mrs. Upland?"

"I've told you to call me Ginny." She scolded him. "And the girls are more than welcome to stay as long as they'd like."

"Thank you. I know they'll be in excellent hands." The Wizard gave her a smile. "But I did have some business I'd like to discuss before I leave."

"Business?" Breena frowned as Addena put some scrambled eggs on her plate.

"Concerning Addena."

"Me?" Addena frowned.

He nodded. "You see, I've been thinking of hiring a physician to see to the needs of the ruling family."

"What? Why?" Elphaba swallowed hard. "Are you sick?"

"No, no." The Wizard shook his head. "It just seems like we've needed a doctor's services a lot more since I found out about you two."

Fiyero snorted. "Isn't that the truth." He started to laugh until he realized Glinda was glaring at him.

"So what? You want me to make some suggestions as to who you should hire?" Addena looked confused. "I haven't really kept in touch with a lot of people I went to medical school with."

"Actually I was going to offer you the job."

Breena choked on a sip of orange juice. "What?"

Addena rubbed the witch's back as she coughed. "Are you serious?"

"Completely. The Gale Force has their own doctors so you would only look after the girls and I. Of course you could consult with them or anyone else you wanted to for that matter. But I thought…"

"Yes." Addena cut him off.

"Yes what?" The Wizard looked confused.

She grinned. "Yes I'll take the job."

"Really?"

Addena nodded. "Really."

"Well then." The Wizard stood to offer her his hand. "Welcome aboard."

"Wait a minute." Breena grabbed Addena's hand as she reached for his. "Addy, are you sure about this?"

The question caught the doctor off guard. "What is there not to be sure of?"

"This is awfully sudden. I just don't want you to feel like you have to accept because we're together."

"I don't."

"Are you sure?" Breena tightened her grip. "Because you know I would live wherever you wanted to practice. If you want to work in a hospital or open your own office or travel halfway across Oz in the Doctors Without Borders program. Wherever you want to go, I'll be there."

Glinda blinked back tears. "That's so sweet."

"I'm not trying to be sweet. I just…"

"Stop." Addena put her other hand over their joined ones. "You're taking yourself out of the equation, Bree. Yes you are." She answered before her lover could even think about speaking. "You need to be with Elphaba to study the Grimmerie."

"I could…"

"You could be quiet and let me finish." Addena tone wasn't harsh as she stared into emerald eyes. "I know it won't take you two forever to learn what you need to learn from Yackle but your magic feeds off of Elphaba's and vice versa. The two of you need to be together."

"But that's not fair to you." Elphaba interjected.

Addena shook her head. "I should have known you'd side with her."

"They're just trying to keep your best interest at heart dear." Ginny stepped in.

"But taking this job is my best interest. Don't you see? I can be with you all the time, Bree. No long shifts or late nights spent with patients to worry about. Not to mention the fact I'll have time to reconnect with Linny too. And Oz only knows life is anything but boring with you and Elly. Like Fiyero pointed out, I'll have plenty of chances to put my skills to good use."

"So you're not taking this job just because of me?" Breena asked.

"No, I'm taking it for us." Addena gave her hand a squeeze before letting go to offer her right hand to the Wizard. "I think it's safe to welcome me aboard now."

The Wizard was all smiles. "You're a very smart girl, Addena Upland."

"Thanks." She smiled. "Now, can I hire any staff I might need?"

He raised his eyebrows. "Of course."

"Good. Penny," she turned toward the Lioness, "how would you like to be my nurse?"

"Your…" Penny was understandably shocked. "Your nurse?"

Addena nodded. "You know more about medicine than you give yourself credit for. And what you don't know I can teach you. You did an amazing job helping me with Bree."

The Lioness was stunned. "I…"

"And please don't take this the wrong way, but you don't seem overly anxious to get back to your village." Addena continued.

"Your right." Penny's eyes were downcast. "There's not much for me there."

"Then take the job." Breena, who was sitting between the Lioness and Addena, put her hand on a furry arm. "We've got plenty of room for you in our family."

"Are you sure?" She still sounded hesitant.

"Positive." Addena replied.

A grin spread across the Lioness' face. "Then I guess I have a new job."

"That's great." Lion congratulated her. "Now we can get to know each other better." He suddenly blushed. "I mean if you want to. We wouldn't have to or anything. Just because you're a Lioness and I'm a Lion doesn't mean we have to..."

Penny blushed too. "I'd like that."

"Aw." Glinda gushed, slipping her hand into Elphaba's.

Breena had an 'I'm sorry' expression on her face as she turned to her father. "I didn't mean to seem like I was second guessing you Dad."

"You were looking out for the woman you love." The Wizard gave an approving nod. "I would expect nothing less." He cast a glance at Elphaba. "From either of you."

Breena grinned as she went back to eating, the room falling into a comfortable silence as everyone else followed suit. Before long most of their plates were clean and a couple of small conversations broke out around the table.

"I really must be going." The Wizard pushed himself away from the table and stood.

"Do you have to?" Glinda practically whined. She never thought with their shared history that she would be sad to see the Wizard go but she was.

He nodded. "I think I've kept Cade waiting long enough."

"Then the least we can do is see you out." Breena turned to reach for her crutches.

"Don't be ridiculous. Stay here and…"

"It's not nice to call your daughter ridiculous." Breena cut him off.

"I… I didn't…"

"She was joking Dad." Elphaba kept him from stammering out the rest of his reply.

"Oh." The Wizard looked relieved.

"And we insist on walking out with you." Glinda spoke as she stood too.

"Oh, well if you insist." The Wizard raised his eyebrows. "Who could turn down such a beautiful escort?"

Breena shook her head as she stood and situated her crutches under her arms. "You're a real charmer Dad."

"Are you coming too Mom?" Addena asked as she kept a close eye on what Breena was doing.

"I wouldn't be much of a hostess if I didn't." Ginny replied.

"Bye." Fiyero spoke around yet another bite of food.

"We'll stay here and keep him company." Penny volunteered.

"Yeah, someone has to make sure he doesn't eat the table." Lion joked.

"Ha ha." Fiyero growled at him. "I bet I can eat pancakes faster than you."

"You're on." Lion forked some more food onto his plate.

"I'll make sure the maturity twins don't choke." Penny nodded toward the boys.

"Good luck with that." Breena quipped as they left the room.

Elphaba shook her head as they made their way to the front door. "I don't know how Yero can go from being so calm and cool during the search to acting like a two year old."

"He's a man." Addena answered. "People have been trying to figure them out for centuries."

"We're not all bad." The Wizard commented.

"They're just blowing off steam." Ginny came to their defense. "Let them have their fun."

"You're right." Elphaba sighed. "I just hope no one ends up getting stabbed with a fork."

Glinda giggled.

"You really don't have to come outside." The Wizard spoke as he opened the door.

"On the contrary…"

They all jumped when they heard the new voice coming from the now open doorway.

"You definitely need to come outside."

"Gregor?" Glinda jaw nearly hit the floor. "But I thought you were…"

"What? Dead? Well surprise, I'm not." He moved quickly, grabbing the Wizard and planting the gun in his hand against the older man's temple. "Don't any of you try anything stupid or he gets it." He slowly started to back out of the doorway.

The girls did the only thing they could. They followed.