Elphaba sat hunched over the open Grimmerie in her lap, drinking in every syllable of every word as she read through the relatively small section of restricted spells. At first they weren't that bad. Things like how to make a fortune and claiming the heart of one you love. Certainly not anything you would want to fall into the wrong hands but nothing earth shattering either. Not compared to the ones toward the middle, which included the power stripping spell they used on Morrible. But the ones in the back were horrifying. A veritable how to on torturing, maiming and even driving people insane to the point they committed suicide to escape the torment of completely losing their minds.

It wasn't any wonder Yackle got so upset when she realized Breena could read the incantations. It made her half sick to her stomach just knowing they existed.

She closed the book, mechanically laying it on the sofa next to her as her mind continued to reel.

"That was pretty much my reaction too."

"Oz!" She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the voice, shocked to find her sister sitting in the chair across from her. "You scared me!"

"Sorry." Breena apologized.

"How long have you been there?"

"Long enough to know you can read all of the Grimmerie now."

"Oh." Elphaba dropped her eyes.

"Hey, none of that." Breena chastised her.

"But I..."

"I know, Elly. I've been there, remember."

Elphaba nodded.

"Then you know it's not the end of the world."

Her head snapped up. "How can you say that?"

"Because it's true."

Elphaba looked at her in disbelief. "The only reason I can read those spells is because I killed a man today, Bree. I killed a man." She repeated the words, emphasizing each one to get her point across.

Breena sighed. "I'm sorry, Elly. Let me start over, OK?"

Elphaba nodded again.

"I know you probably think I'm taking this whole situation too lightly, but I'm not. I just..." She gestured with her hands. "I know what you're going through and I hate it. So I tried to play if off that you using the spell was no big deal, which was stupid because it's a huge deal. And no matter how many people tell you he deserved what he got or that you didn't do anything wrong it doesn't seem that way. You used your powers to take someone's life. It makes you not want to use magic ever again."

"You felt that way too?"

Breena nodded. "At least I did for a few minutes. But then I got back to the cave and the spell to make things disappear popped into my head and I knew we had to use it or we would have all been goners. I felt horrible for what I'd done, but saving you and the others was more important."

"That's not how it happened today."

"Really?" Breena furrowed her brow. "Because the scenarios seem pretty similar to me. We were both faced with life or death situations, we were both trying to keep people we love safe and we both listened to our instincts as far as our magic is concerned."

Elphaba sighed. "But if I had just stopped to think about it maybe I could have…"

"Addy would be dead right now, Elly." Breena interrupted her. "That's what would have happened if you had stopped to think about it."

"But you said you were going to cast the spell if I hadn't. And you're protection spell..."

"Screw what I said. What if I hadn't been there to cast a spell? If you had hesitated for even a split second, he would have pulled that trigger and the woman of my dreams would be dead. You might have taken Eadlyn's life, Elphaba, but you saved Addy's. Not to mention Glinda and Ginny and Dad and yourself and me. You're a hero as far as I'm concerned."

"I don't fell like a hero." Elphaba's shoulders slumped, tears filling her eyes. "I know I did the right thing, but that doesn't change the fact that I killed someone."

"I know it doesn't." Breena got up, moving the Grimmerie so she could sit next to her sister. "And I'm not saying you should just chalk the whole thing up to experience and forget it ever happened. That's not possible."

Elphaba let herself be pulled into a hug.

"But you can't let this dictate the rest of your life either." Breena held her close as she cried. "If you do you might hesitate in the wrong place at the wrong time and then what? You kick yourself because your magic gave you a solution but you didn't use it? We walk a fine line, sis. And it's not always going to be easy." She gave her a squeeze. "But you're not in this alone."

"I know." Elphaba cuddled against her side.

A comfortable silence fell between them. They stayed that way for several minutes before Breena spoke again.

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from the darker side of our powers."

"How were you supposed to do that?"

Breena shrugged. "I'm sure I could have found a way."

The corner of Elphaba's mouth turned up. "I appreciate the offer."

"I'm serious Elly. If you came to me tomorrow and said you didn't want to do this anymore, I would bind your powers and help you find a nice little house with a white picket fence to settle down in with Glinda."

"And let you have all the fun? I don't think so." Elphaba pulled away to look at her sister when she didn't get the chuckle she was expecting. "You're really serious."

"I told you I was."

"I could never do that to you, Bree."

"You wouldn't be doing anything to me. I just want you to know the option to call it quits and live a more normal life is there if you ever decide to use it."

"Normal?" Elphaba held out her hands. "I've been green my whole life, Bree. I'll never be considered normal."

"You knew what I meant." Breena gruffed. "A life without magic. One where you wouldn't have to worry about what spell is going to pop into your head next or what could happen if you decide to cast it."

"What about you? Let's say, for the sake of argument, that I decided to take you up on your offer and you bound my powers. What then?"

"I'd have to make sure your house was close to mine or I'd miss you horribly."

"Bree." Elphaba gave her a look.

"What? It's true."

"I meant what would happen to you magically."

"Nothing. Being able to do magic is normal for me. I was brought up in a house where my mom not only encouraged me to try new spells, she insisted on it. I was never belittled or punished or told I was evil."

"You didn't have any control over how Frex treated me." Elphaba gripped her sister's hand. "No one did."

"Someone should have." Breena growled. "I can't imagine standing idly by and watching as a child was treated that way."

"Betak says you didn't exactly have it easy after your mother died."

"That was different. His Eminence wasn't my father."

"No, but he was your grandfather." Elphaba countered. "And I know for a fact he didn't like magic any more than Frex did."

Breena scoffed. "You can say that again."

"I'd rather repeat something you implied earlier... We're in this together, Bree. As much as I appreciate you trying to look out for me, I would never could never take you up on your offer. And not just because Yackle said one person couldn't handle all that power on their own either. For all my hesitancy to use my magic sometimes, I would feel naked without it. So I'm afraid you're stuck with me."

"I love you Elly." Breena pulled her into her arms again.

Elphaba returned the hug this time. "I love you too."

They held each other for a moment before pulling apart to sit back on the couch, their shoulders touching as they stared at the Grimmerie.

"Do you think we'll ever had to use any of those spells, Bree?"

"I hope not." Breena replied. "And it might sound odd, but I'm glad they're in the book because Yackle's right. Magic is on the rise again in Oz. I can feel it right here." She patted her chest. "We need to know what we could be up against."

"I can feel it too." Elphaba admitted. "But we'll get through that together too."

"Damn straight we will."

Silence enveloped them again.

"Does Addena know you came all the way down here to the library without your crutches?"

"Nope. Does Glinda know you were down here pouring over the Grimmerie and feeling guilty?"

"No." Elphaba waited a beat. "Do you think we should go back upstairs?"

"Addy's asleep."

"So is Glinda."

"Then I think it's safe to stay here for a little while longer."

Elphaba scooted closer, putting her head on her sister's shoulder. "I was hoping you would say that."

Breena smiled as she leaned her head against her sister's.

A grin spread across Addena's face as she stretched, basking in the feel of the cool sheets against her bare skin. If she had known this was how being in love would make her feel she would have given it a try a long time ago. Of course she was destined to be with Bree so she would have had to meet the witch first but still. She could really get used to this making love until she was exhausted and waking up next to the woman she adored thing.

Her grin disappeared as she opened her eyes. Maybe she should get used to waking up alone in bed instead.

"Bree?" She pushed the sheet aside, grabbing her robe off the chair next to the bed as she headed to the bathroom. "Are you in there?" She knocked on the door, letting it swing open to reveal her lover wasn't there either.

"Damn it Bree." She growled when she noticed the crutches leaning against the table on the witch's side of the bed. She quickly grabbed them and made a beeline for the door. She might be in love but that didn't mean she had to excuse her girlfriend for not listening to her when it came to her health.

"I don't know how many times I have to tell her she shouldn't be walking on that leg." She mumbled as she marched out into the hallway. "Maybe if it falls off she'll finally take me seriously and realize I was..."

The rest of her rant was cut off as she ran into something.

"Ow!" Glinda frowned at her through sleep blurred eyes. "You're not Elphie."

"No, I'm not." Addena put her hand on her sister's shoulder to steady her. "Is she missing too?"

"Missing?" Glinda's voice went up an octave. "Elphie is missing?!"

"I didn't mean missing missing." Addena was quick to explain. "I meant not in your room when you woke up. That kind of missing."

"Oh." Glinda relaxed. "Then yes, she's missing."

Addena couldn't help but grin as her sister yawned. "I forgot how out of it you are when you first wake up."

Glinda frowned. "I'm not out of it."

"Oh really? Then why are you wearing your old cheerleading outfit instead of pajamas?"

"What?" The younger blonde blushed when she looked down, realizing her sister was right. "I... Uh..."

"You don't have to explain anything to me." Addena chuckled. "But you might want to change before we go looking for Bree and Elphaba." She eyed the outfit. "That is if you can squeeze out of that thing."

"It's not that tight." Glinda gruffed as she went back in her room.

"It looks like it's cutting off your circulation."

"It does not!"

"Whatever you think." Addena sat down on her sister's bed as Glinda disappeared into her closet. "Why were you wearing it anyway?"

"I thought you said I didn't have to explain anything to you."

"You don't." She agreed. "I'll just ask Elphaba."

"Don't you dare."

"Why? Because she'd turn an even darker shade of green?"

"Yes." Glinda reentered the room, tying her pink robe. "Let's just say I was trying to cheer her up and leave it at that."

Addena suddenly turned serious. "So it was her?"

Glinda nodded. "Yes it was."

"Is she all right?"

"She will be, in time."

"I'm sorry I teased you."

"You don't have anything to apologize for." Glinda joined her on the bed, grinning when she got a good look at her sister. "You're glowing."

"I am not."

"Oh yes you are."

It was Addena's turn to blush. "OK, maybe I am. A little."

"More like a lot."

"Shut up." Addena nudged her with her elbow.

"I take it that means things are going well between you and Bree."

"You could say that."

Glinda's grin became a smile as she bounced on the bed. "Tell me all about it."

"No."

"Why not?"

"I'm not the kind to kiss and tell." Addena rolled her eyes when her sister stuck out her bottom lip. "Stop that."

"But..."

"I don't ask you for details about your sex life with Elphaba."

"So you finally had sex! That's great!"

"Shhh."

"No one can hear us." Glinda was all grins again.

"I know. I just..."

"Are you happy Dena?"

The question caught her off guard. "What?"

"I asked if you're happy." Glinda repeated herself.

"Of course I am."

"Then what do you have to be embarrassed about?" Her blue eyes sparkled. "Is she really good in bed?"

"You have no idea." Addena clapped her hand over her mouth when she realized what she said.

Glinda giggled. "So is Elphie."

"Linny!"

"What? We're just having a little girl talk."

"More like smut talk."

"Is there a difference?"

Addena couldn't stop herself from chuckling. "You're incorrigible."

"Elphie tells me that all the time." Glinda put her hand on her sister's leg. "I'm so glad you're finally happy, Dena. You deserve it."

"Thanks." She blushed again. "I don't have to ask if you're happy with Elphaba."

"Happy doesn't even begin to cover it." Glinda gushed. "Isn't it great being in love?"

Addena grinned. "It sure is."

Glinda gestured toward the crutches in her sister's hand. "Is Bree being bad again?"

"Always."

"Where do you think they are?"

They both thought about it for a moment before saying, "The library," at the same time.

"Should we go get them?" Glinda asked.

"Definitely."

"OK, but only if you agree not to yell at Breena."

"I wouldn't yell at Bree."

"Maybe you wouldn't as her girlfriend but you would as her doctor." Glinda disagreed.

"Since when does she need you to watch her back?"

"She's my friend so you better get used to it."

"Great. Like the two of you aren't bad enough by yourselves. Now I have to worry about you ganging up on me together."

Glinda grinned. "Elphie will help you out."

"At least someone's on my side." Addena tried to sound stern but was smiling as they walked out of the room.