Breena walked into the forest just behind Betak's house, lost in thought. She hated keeping things from Glinda, but what else was she supposed to do? If she was completely up front with her she would either think she was crazy or outright refuse to go with her. For some reason Glinda's opinion mattered to her, so she didn't want her to think badly of her. And she couldn't let her stay in the Emerald City. Not with Morrible and Nevin on the loose. It was her responsibility to keep anything from happening to the blonde and she fully intended to make sure it didn't.

She stopped when she reached a small clearing and looked up into the starless sky. "Great." She groused as she took in the clouds over her head. "Can't anything be simple anymore?"

She closed her eyes and concentrated, picturing in her head what she wanted to happen.

"Lumen."

A spark flew from her cupped right hand, growing in intensity as it climbed into the sky until it finally streaked through the clouds like a lightning bolt. She grinned as she watched it go, feeling the power that had created it flowing through her veins. The urge to do it again was almost overwhelming but she told herself she couldn't. On some level she had sensed Nevin's power without even realizing it. If she could do that than surely Morrible would recognize a magically produced lighting bolt if she saw one. After all, weather was the woman's self proclaimed speciality. What if she was watching from the palace and pinpointed their location before morning?

She started to pace around the clearing, telling herself she couldn't risk getting them caught just for the thrill of using magic. But when a few minutes had gone by she started to rethink her decision. After all, it was pretty cloudy. What if the one she was trying to signal didn't see her first attempt? And her sleep spell packed quite a punch. That guard couldn't possibly be awake yet. And Morrible and Nevin were probably too busy slapping each other on the back to realize Glinda was even missing yet.

"Lumen."

Another spark joined the first.

"Show off."

Her breath caught in her throat when she heard the voice, not because she was scared of being caught, because she recognized it. And the thought of seeing its owner again had her smiling like a fool.

"Elphaba." She turned to find the green skinned witch standing across the clearing, broom in hand.

Elphaba returned her smile. "Hello Bree."

Breena closed the gap between them, drawing the witch into a tight embrace. "Elphaba." Her smile faded as she felt the hug being returned. "Wait a minute." She pulled back to look at the woman. "What in Oz are you doing here?!"

"I was just out for a spin and thought I'd drop in to say hello."

"Elly, I'm being serious. You shouldn't be anywhere near the city. What if someone saw you? What if…"

"You sound like Fiyero." Elphaba grumbled as she pulled away. "And what was I supposed to do after you sent that message saying Madame Morrible had escaped, sit around and wait to see what happened next?"

Breena frowned. "I didn't…"

"I know you didn't ask me to come, but I had to make sure Glinda was safe."

"Elphaba…"

"Don't give me a hard time about it, Bree. I wasn't doubting your ability to keep her safe. I mean, I wouldn't have asked you to watch over her in the first place if I didn't trust you."

"I wasn't…"

"I just had to make sure she was all right. Is that so hard to understand?"

"Would you shut up for a second?!" Breena shook her head. "I hate when you won't let me get a word in edgewise." She shot Elphaba a warning glance when she opened her mouth again. "I've been trying to tell you I didn't send you a message."

"What?"

"Nope."

"But…"

"I couldn't have even if I had wanted to. Everything happened too fast." Breena gestured with her hand. "One minute I'm standing guard like a good little girl…"

"Standing guard?" Elphaba interrupted her.

"Yeah. As one of Glinda's personal guards."

"Since when does Glinda need personal guards? Did something happen? Did someone threaten her?!"

"No." Breena sighed. "The former captain was the fatherly type and thought she needed a little extra protection, that's all."

"You mean the Gale Force captain? Since when are girls allowed to be Gale Forcers?"

"They're not."

"But you said you were standing guard."

"I was."

"Them I'm confused because you're not a guy."

"I glamoured myself into one and…"

"Glamoured?!" Elphaba's mouth popped open at the thought. "Can you do that?"

"Obviously." Breena moved her hand up and down in a 'look at me' gesture. "I have these stupid pants and the snazzy white shirt to prove it."

Elphaba eyed her outfit. "I hadn't noticed."

"Fashion's always been lost on you."

"I can't believe you can glamour into a man."

Breena rolled her eyes. "Are you kidding me? I told you all about this."

"No you didn't." Elphaba corrected her. "You told me you managed to get a job at the palace that let you see Glinda a lot. I assumed you meant a maid or something. You never mentioned a glamour or being in the Gale Force." She clapped Breena on the shoulder. "Color me impressed."

"You've got enough color already, thanks all the same." Breena grinned. "Now, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, one minute I was standing guard outside Glinda's door and the next the new captain showed up with that Morrible woman in tow. I was too busy saving Glinda from Southstairs to send you any message."

"So they did have her arrested." Elphaba said it more to herself than to Breena.

Breena nodded. "That's usually what happens when someone gets sent to Southstairs."

"I know. But I saw it happen."

"What?"

"I had a vision." Elphaba clarified. "It was choppy, but I saw Morrible and Glinda's reaction and her being arrested. That's why I'm here. Between the message and what I saw, I was really worried."

"A vision, huh?" Breena raised her eyebrows. "Now who should be impressed?"

"Let's hold the meeting of our mutual admiration society later." Elphaba frowned. "If you didn't send the message about Morrible's escape, who did?"

"I have no idea." Breena shook her head. "But I think I smell a rat."

"What do you mean?"

"Someone wanted you at the palace. Someone who knows you're alive. Someone who also knew hearing Morrible was out of prison would make you assume Glinda was in danger and that you'd come here to make sure she was all right. We both know you would have, vision or no vision."

Elphaba clinched her jaw. "It was a trap." She locked eyes with Breena. "But who would do such a thing?"

"I hate to say it, but anyone in the underbelly who knows about you could have had that message delivered." Breena held up her hand to stop Elphaba from speaking. "I know you've been very careful about who knows you're alive, but…"

"But it's pretty obvious someone is working both sides of the fence." Elphaba sighed. "And there's not much we can do about it until they show their hand."

"Then I'm glad Morrible came back."

"What?!" Elphaba gave her a look.

"You're going to need someone to watch your back too. This way I can protect you and Glinda at the same time." Breena realized how serious she sounded and tried to lighten the mood. "Of course I'm sure Fiyero would volunteer to guard your body. Oh, I mean be your bodyguard."

Elphaba shook her head, choosing not to take the bait. "Glinda's safe?"

"She's being fed by Betak, Milynn and Leto as we speak."

Elphaba visibly relaxed. "Thank Oz."

"That's what I was doing when you accused me of showing off. I was summoning…" Breena's voice trailed off as a flying monkey landed beside them, "him. I wanted to tell you about Morrible and that Glinda was out of the palace. But I already did." She shrugged at the new arrival. "Sorry, false alarm."

The monkey looked at Elphaba.

"Hey, you can trust me. I thought I needed you but I don't."

Elphaba smirked as the monkey continued to ignore Breena. "She's right, Lucian. It was a false alarm."

The monkey bowed ever so slightly before taking back to the sky.

"What was that all about?" Breena frowned. "You come around and I'm suddenly chopped liver."

"They're just used to listening to me."

"Whatever. Let's go see Glinda."

"I…" Elphaba swallowed hard. "I don't know if now is the time."

"Sure it is. I was bringing her to you anyway, right? And she hasn't come out and said it, but I know she's freaked out by everything that went on today. You need to see her in person and she needs to see a friendly face she actually recognizes. Besides, having you two in the same place makes my job easier."

"I don't know."

"Elphaba Thropp, if I didn't know better I would say you're scared." Breena's tone was teasing.

"I most certainly am not." Elphaba huffed. "Why would I be scared of my best friend?"

"You tell me." She waited half a beat for a response but none came. "Let's get going then." She started to walk away but stopped when Elphaba didn't follow. "I can hold your hand if you need me to."

"Stop." Elphaba gave her a playful shove.

"All right, all right. There's no need to be violent." Breena started out again, Elphaba falling into step next to her. The square set of the green woman's shoulders and the frown marring her features were hard to miss. "Relax, Elly. I'll be there. And Betak. And Milynn. And..."

"I get the picture. I'll have a regular greeting committee."

"As you should."

"I'm glad you're safe too, you know."

"Aw shucks." Breena blinked her eyes rapidly. "You're gonna make me blush."

Elphaba chuckled. "I missed you."

Breena smiled. "I bet I missed you more."

Elphaba slipped her hand into Breena's as they continued on their way.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Boq stepped out into the clearing as they disappeared into the forest, his metal legs feeling incredibly wooden. This couldn't be. The Witch was dead. He had seen it happen with his own two eyes. Yet there she went, alive and well and holding hands with Breena.

Just thinking the woman's name left a bad taste in his mouth. She had taken poor Glinda out of the frying pan and thrown her right to the fire. She saved her from Morrible and Nevin only to hand her over to El… to The Witch. Well he wasn't going to let that happen. He couldn't.

At this point going back to the old woman's house wasn't an option. Maybe if he had done something to get rid of Breena before he could have handled the rest of them to take Glinda away with him. But now that there were two witches involved he didn't stand a chance. Which meant there was only one thing he could do.

He had to turn Glinda in.

She might end up in Southstairs, but it was better than being with The Witch and Breena. He started out into the night, offering up a silent prayer to the Unnamed God that he was doing the right thing.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

"So let me get this straight." Lion narrowed his eyes. "We're all going to pretend to be… what did you call them?"

"Crop pickers." Milynn supplied.

"Right. Crop pickers." Lion continued. "And we're going to pile into a wagon and ride off into the sunset?"

"Hopefully it'll be that easy." Leto nodded.

Lion furrowed his brow. "What's a crop picker?"

Betak answered. "Someone who picks crops."

"Oh." Lion nodded, obviously still confused.

"They're farm workers." Milynn came to his rescue. "The farmers plant crops and then hire crop pickers to harvest them. We're going to ride out with the pickers and then, when we're far enough from the city, continue on to meet the underbelly."

"Don't let the name intimidate you." Leto reassured him. "The underbelly is just a nickname someone gave the group of activists and Animals who either spoke out against the Wizard or were impacted by his actions."

"Because people think of all of you as being beneath them." Glinda said.

"Exactly." Leto agreed. "Don't be upset Glinda. We really don't care what Ozian society thinks of us."

"But it's not fair." Glinda sighed. "None of you did anything to be treated or thought of differently than anyone else."

"Sure we did." Leto shrugged. "We went against their precious Wizard."

"The stupid old bastard." Betak spat.

"You have to excuse my grandmother." Milynn laughed. "She's always been a little outspoken."

"A little?" Leto joined in her laughter. "I think you mean bluntly."

"Don't you two give me a hard time." Betak shook her finger at them. "I'll tell Breena when she gets back."

"Oh, now I'm scared." Leto laughed even harder.

"Can I ask you something?"

"You just did." Leto grinned at Glinda.

"Stop that!" Milynn slapped his hand.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist." Leto tried to keep his face straight. "Go ahead and ask whatever you'd like."

"Well," Glinda hesitated. "I was wondering how you know Breena." She saw the look Milynn and Leto exchanged. "But you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"No, it's all right." Milynn was quick to reassure her. "We met as teenagers and became friends. That's how she knows Grandmother. When she joined the underbelly I tagged along."

"She's the one who introduced us." Leto stared into Milynn's eyes. "And I've thanked her for it ever since."

Glinda smiled at the love practically radiating from the two. She had a feeling introducing them wasn't what either of them meant when they said they owed Breena but she wasn't going to push. She would just have to corner the ever mysterious Breena later and ask her some questions.

"So why are we riding out with the crop pickers? And how did you know we were going to be coming? I mean, you were at the pub asking more people to help when we got here. How did you know to do that?" Lion picked up his original train of thought.

"Whoa, slow down big fella." Leto grinned at him.

"Sorry." Lion blushed sheepishly. "But if I don't get questions out when I think of them, I end up forgetting what I wanted to ask."

Betak patted his paw. "I have the same problem."

"There's nothing to be sorry for." Milynn encouraged him. "You asked some very good questions."

"Yes you did." Leto agreed. "And I think I can answer them all by telling you a story."

"Yea." Betak perked up. "I love a good story."

"Grandmother." Milynn chided her.

"What?" The old woman frowned. "I do."

Leto ignored her. "Milynn, Betak and I came to the Emerald City just shy of a year ago. Actually we followed Breena here. We knew why she was coming and wanted to help if we could. While she worked on getting a job at the palace we settled in here with Betak and started coming up with ways to get Glinda out of the city if something happened. I struck up a conversation with some of the crop pickers one day and realized their situation could be exactly what we were looking for. Crop picking isn't necessarily an easy job, but the pay is good, the hours aren't bad, anyone can do it and, most importantly, they're always in high demand. They set out each morning in a drove, at least thirty wagons full of workers on their way to the various farms outside the city limits. The Gale Force doesn't bother to check the wagons because a) it would take to long and b) its just crop pickers so who cares?"

"So hiding in one of the wagons would be a good way to sneak out of the city." You could almost see the light bulb appear over Lion's head.

"Exactly." Milynn picked up the narrative. "When we told Breena what we found out, she thought it was perfect. So Leto and I became crop pickers and Breena got her job at the palace. She would sneak out every couple of days to check in and Leto started convincing other crop pickers to go to the further away farms with us."

"Why?" Betak spoke up.

"Grandmother, you already know the answer to that question." Milynn gave her a look.

"Yes, but someone was going to ask and I wanted to be a part of the conversation."

Leto chuckled. "The more distance we can put between us and the city without peeking anyone's interest, the better. A lot of the pickers didn't like to travel to the outlying farms because it cut into their work time. Why put in the effort to travel further to get paid less?"

"So Leto started talking to the outlying farmers and they agreed to give the pickers a travel allowance and sweetened the pot by paying more for their services. Now we have a whole group of wagons that will be traveling with us." Milynn gave her husband an appreciative look.

"And the more wagons around us, the less suspicious we'll look." Leto finished her thought.

"I…" Glinda had tears in her eyes. "I can't believe you did all this for me." A single drop slid down her cheek. "The three of you and Breena have spent almost a year of your lives making sure I'm safe."

"It's for a good cause." He tried to joke but saw how upset she was. "You're a very important woman, Glinda. And not just to those of us here in this room or Breena or even the one who asked her to look after you. To everyone in Oz. You're Glinda the Good." Leto gripped her hand. "We couldn't let anything happen to you."

"Do you hear that Boq?" Lion looked around. "Where is that hunk of tin?"

Betak shrugged. "I haven't seen him since we came in here to eat."

Milynn and Leto said, "Oh no," and stood at the same time. Betak quickly followed suit with Glinda and Lion hot on her heels.

"Boq?" Leto called out as he headed into the front room. "Damn, he's not here."

"Let's not panic." Milynn ran her hand through her hair. "Maybe he's in on of the bedrooms."

"No." Betak spoke as she came out of the only other door in the house. "He's not there either."

"What if he followed Breena? What if she gets caught because that metal ass couldn't leave well enough alone when she asked him to?" Leto sighed angrily. "Why didn't any of us notice he wasn't here?"

"Do you really think he could be putting Breena in danger?" Glinda sounded panicked.

"How many men made of tin do you know?" Milynn replied. "No one would recognize Breena from the palace, but they would certainly know who he was."

"I'm gonna kill him." Lion growled. "The next time I see him, I'm gonna kill him."

Milynn frowned when Leto started toward the door. "What are you doing?"

"I can't just stand here and do nothing. I'm going to…" He opened the door to see Breena reaching for the handle. "Find her on the doorstep."

"Thanks." Breena grinned. Her expression was short lived when she saw how upset everyone was. She hurried into the house. "What's going on?"

"Boq's not here and we thought he…" Lion screamed like a girl when he saw who followed her into the house. "The Witch!!"

"Elphaba?" Glinda whispered her name.

Elphaba swallowed hard as she looked at the blonde. "Glinda."

"I… But you…" Glinda shook her head. "You can't be real."

"I am." Elphaba started toward her. "See?" She put her hand on Glinda's shoulder.

Glinda gasped at the contact, staring into Elphaba's eyes for a moment before slapping her hard across the face. "How could you?!"

"I…" Elphaba was understandably stunned.

"I thought we were friends! I thought we meant something to each other!"

"We did. I mean we do. You do. Nothing matters more to me than you, Glinda."

"Then how could you let me think you were dead?! I mourned for you!!" Glinda screamed, tears streaming down her face.

"Glinda…"

"Shut up! Just shut up!! I never want to talk to you again!!" With that she fled into the bedroom, slamming the door hard enough to shake the floor.

"Well." Betak raised her eyebrows. "That didn't go very well."