1Elphaba leaned against the wall at the bottom of the stairs leading to the loft, half watching Betak as she paced the hallway. She had always thought of herself as a patient person, but waiting for Addena to finish examining Breena was making her half crazy. Not that she could blame the doctor for kicking her and the older woman out until she was done. Betak asked to see her medical credentials and second guessed every move she made. And she had an overwhelming need to be next to Breena which meant she kept getting in Addena's way. Addena put up with them for all of about five minutes after Lion put Breena on the bed before telling them to get out.

So here they were… waiting. Elphaba almost grinned as Betak stopped at the bottom of the stairs, muttering to herself for a moment before continuing to pace. The Munchkin was like a mama bear where Breena was concerned. It made her feel good to know that someone cared that much for her sister.

Sister. It still didn't seem possible. The only experience she'd ever had with siblings was Nessa and no matter how hard she tried, they were never close. As a matter of fact, she wasn't close to anyone. No one wanted her so she thought she didn't want or need anybody either. Then Breena came into her life like a whirlwind. Not only was she more than willing to admit they were related, she genuinely cared what happened to her. She showed her it was all right to let someone in. Elphaba tried to chalk it up to the fact that they didn't grow up together and having someone like her around... someone green... was still a novelty. But now she had to wonder. Maybe their compatibility had more to do with genetics than she thought.

"How is she?"

Elphaba jumped when she heard Betak's anxious question.

"She's going to be fine." Addena answered from the top of the stairs.

Betak frowned. "You think she's going to be all right or you know she will?"

"Like I said, she's going to be fine."

"Can we see her?" Elphaba interrupted before they could really get going.

"Of course. But only for a few minutes. She needs her rest."

"Like I need to be told she needs her rest. She's known her what, a day?" Betak grumbled under her breath as they made their way upstairs. "I've known her her whole life. I've been through this more times than I care to remember. She's got some nerve, coming in here and taking over."

Elphaba knew she should tell the older woman to take it easy on Addena, but the instant she reached the top of the steps her eyes found Breena on the bed and all she could think about was getting to her. She skirted around Betak and hurried to her side.

Her more practical side told her Breena would be fine but seeing her so pale and motionless made her heart tighten in her chest. She drank in her features, wondering how she ever could told herself they were related. They had the same jaw. The same cheeks. The same nose. Looking at Breena was like looking in a mirror.

She reached for her, half flinching until their hands made contact and she knew she wasn't hurting her.

"Sit down."

She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard Addena's voice. "What?"

"You're exhausted." Addena put a chair down next to her. "And I know there's not a chance in hell of you leaving her right now. So I'm doing what I can to make sure you rest." She pointed at the chair. "Sit."

"You could try being nicer."

Addena furrowed her brow at Betak's comment. "Excuse me?"

"That was a little bossy. Thropp women don't respond well to that kind of thing."

She almost said something about the pot calling the kettle black considering Betak was always telling someone what to do but she didn't have the energy to join their bickering right now. Besides, Addena seemed to be able to hold her own.

"I wasn't being bossy."

Betak chuckled sarcastically. "That's a matter of opinion."

Elphaba shook her head. It wasn't very often that Betak found someone who was willing to spar with her. She certainly wouldn't do it. The older woman's sharp tongue cut a little too deep for her. The only person she had ever seen stand their own with her was Breena.

She left them to their fun, keeping her grip on Breena's hand as she moved the chair closer to the bed. Her body protested the movement as she lowered herself into a sitting position but she managed to make it without groaning. The last thing she needed to do was draw Betak or Addena's attention so they could gang up on her.

It took her mind a moment to register just how heavenly it felt to be off her feet. Now if she could just get rid of the nagging headache she'd had all day.

Her eyes started to droop as she looked at Breena, her mind flashing back to her mandatory trip to Colwen Grounds before she went to Shiz. It seemed like a lifetime ago that Breena showed up at her door in the middle of the night with a grin on her face. At first Elphaba thought she was mentally unbalanced or something. After all, this was the same girl who made no secret of following her around during her last visit. But that night was different. Breena blurted out that they were cousins, handed her a book on Ozian history she had always wanted to borrow but her grandfather would never let her touch and promptly started calling her Elly. Instead of kicking her out she let her stay and Breena burrowed her way into her heart. Now she didn't know what she would do without her.

"Elphaba."

She didn't realize she had closed her eyes until they slowly opened as someone shook her shoulder. "Hmm?"

Betak looked at her fondly. "It's time to go to your own room and get some sleep."

She looked at Breena. "But..."

"Didn't we have this same discussion last night?" Addena's spoke from the other side of the bed, her voice teasing. "There's nothing you can do for her right now. And can you imagine what would happen if she woke up and found you asleep in a chair?"

"She'd be pissed." Betak answered.

Addena quirked an eyebrow at the tiny woman for a moment before returning her attention to Elphaba. "Just go for a little while. You can always come back after you wake up."

"I don't want to."

"Well you're going to anyway." Betak grabbed her free hand and tried to pull her out of the chair.

"You might want to take it easy on her." Addena admonished. "She's probably still pretty sore."

"Then she should get up and not give me a hard time."

"All right." Elphaba frowned. "If it will get you two to stop, I'll go."

"That's a good girl." Betak patted the hand she was holding. "Tell your sister goodnight and let's go."

"You don't have to go with me." Elphaba slowly stood. "I can make it by myself."

"Sure you can." Betak's tone was doubting. "Besides, doctor fancy pants over there is kicking me out too."

"I'm not kicking anyone out." Addena gave her a look. "I merely suggested you take Elphaba to her room and go check on the others so Breena can rest."

"And what about you?" Betak raised her eyebrows. "Will you be leaving too?"

"Just as soon as I make sure she's comfortable."

"Why don't I believe you?"

"Enough." Elphaba growled as she looked back and forth between them. "With you two going at it I'm surprised she's getting any rest at all."

"What do you..." Betak's voice trailed off when she felt the weight of Elphaba's stare.

"I'll see you in a little while Bree." Elphaba leaned down to kiss her on the forehead before turning toward Betak again. "Let's go." She looked at Addena as they started to leave. "Take good care of her."

Addena nodded. "Count on it."

"And remember what you said about leaving." Betak said as they started down the stairs.

"Wow." Addena ran her hand through her hair as soon as she was sure they were out of ear shot. "That woman is..."

"Overbearing but harmless."

She jumped, half expecting to see Betak at the top of the stairs again.

"And she means well."

"I just bet she does." A hint of a grin played across Addena's face as she turned toward the bed. "How long have you been awake?"

"Long enough to know Betak likes you."

"That's liking me?"

Breena half chuckled. "It might not seem like it, but yes, it is."

"I'll keep that in mind." Addena took her wrist to check her pulse. "Why were you pretending to still be unconscious?"

"Because I knew Elly would never leave if she thought I was awake." She sighed. "Besides, I was only half pretending."

"How are you feeling?"

"Like a tree bit me."

Addena shook her head as she pulled open the shirt Breena was wearing to take a look at her side. She had unbuttoned it earlier but Betak threw such a fit about what she was doing that she decided to leave well enough alone and didn't push the issue. She could have had a look after she sent Betak and Elphaba out of the room, but something told her the old woman would know what she did and give her hell again. It wasn't like she was undressing Breena for kicks. She had to be able to see her injuries to treat her. The fact that Breena wasn't hard on the eyes was an added bonus.

"Your bruises look a little better, but I think you overdid it today."

"I think you're right." Breena closed her eyes in a wince as Addena gently probed her side. "Did I really pass out in front of everyone?"

"You sure did."

"Great." She grumbled. "That's going to put a major dent in my tough girl image."

"I don't know about that." Addena spoke as she pulled the shirt back into place after finishing her mini examination. "Most people in your shape are laid up in bed or in the hospital, not using mirrors to travel across Oz. That makes you pretty damn tough in my book."

"Maybe." Breena expression turned serious. "Was I a huge drama queen?"

She hesitated, not quite sure what Breena wanted to hear.

"That bad huh?"

"No." Addena was quicker to answer. "I mean, yes, you let the Wizard have it, but with good reason. You had a major bombshell dropped on you when you were already upset over your friend. And he was an ass, admitting he abandoned your mother and Elphaba's mother when he knew they were pregnant. If it was me I probably would have ripped his head off." She shrugged. "I wanted to anyway and it didn't have anything to do with me."

Breena locked eyes with her. "Thanks."

"Your welcome." She looked away when the gaze lasted a little too long for comfort. "I should be going. You need your rest."

"No." Breena grabbed her hand before she could move away. "Stay."

Addena swallowed hard, suddenly finding it hard to think. "What?"

"Please." Breena suddenly looked exhausted. "I..." She clinched her jaw and continued. "This might sound childish, but I really don't want to be alone right now."

"That's not childish at all. Of course I'll stay."

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it." Addena sat on the edge of the bed, looking at her for a moment before she ran her fingers through her short ebony hair.

"What are you doing?"

"Helping you relax."

Breena's eyes started to drift shut. "My mom used to do the same thing."

"Oh." Addena stilled her hand, not wanting to upset her.

"Don't stop." Her voice was getting sleepier by the second. "It feels good."

Addena grinned.

"I could get used to this."

"To what?"

"Having you around."

Her grin became a full fledged smile as Breena's eyes finally closed. She waited until she was sure she was asleep to whisper, "I could get used to it too."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Glinda clutched the mug in both her hands, the coffee inside long since cooled. Not that the warmth it once held did anything for the chill that coursed through her anyway. It wasn't the kind of thing something hot to drink or sitting by a fire could help. Not when it started in her heart, having nothing to do with being cold and everything to do with losing Elphaba.

That's why she was in the living room instead of the kitchen with Lion and Fiyero. The two of them were having too good of a time catching up for her to ruin it with her mood.

"What are you doing in here?"

The sound of Betak's voice drew her from her revere. "I..." She swallowed hard when she saw the look on the older woman's face. "Sorry." She started to get up. "I didn't know it was off limits."

"Off limits?" Betak frowned. "Don't be ridiculous. You can go wherever you want in this house. Breena wouldn't have it any other way. I just meant why are you down here instead of upstairs with your lady?"

"I'm not so sure she's my lady anymore."

Betak's frown deepened at her mumbled response. "What was that?"

Glinda shook her head. "Nothing."

"Don't try that with me." Betak chastised her. "I've been around enough young ladies to know when one is upset. Do you want to talk about it?"

"No." The tears she had been holding back since they were in the clearing suddenly filled her eyes. "I'm afraid Elphaba doesn't love me anymore."

"What?!" Betak was genuinely shocked. "Why in the world would you think that?"

"I..." Glinda hiccuped on a sob. "I knew about the Wizard being her father and I didn't tell her until today. And I shouldn't have told her and Breena the way I did but I didn't want you to be mad at Breena for coming to help us. Now she's angry with me. Really angry."

The older woman shook her head, trying to make sense of the jumbled words the blonde had just strewn together. "So you think Elphaba is angry with you?"

Glinda nodded.

"And you think that means she doesn't love you anymore?"

Fresh tears ran down her cheeks as she nodded again.

"Do you want to know what I think?" Betak continued before she could reply. "You're overreacting. You've been through a lot lately, both emotionally and physically and you're not thinking clearly."

"But..."

"I've never seen two people more in love than the two of you. The kind of love doesn't just disappear."

"You don't know Elphie." Glinda sniffled. "She hates feeling betrayed."

"Don't know..." Betak's voice trailed off as she chuckled. "Child, I've been around Thropp women nearly my entire life. If there's one thing I know, it's them. I'm sure Elphaba was caught off guard by what happened today. And Breena passing out in the middle of that whole scene didn't help anything. But that doesn't mean she thinks you betrayed her. And it certainly doesn't mean she doesn't love you anymore. And I know for a fact she wants to see you."

"How?"

"I just walked her to her room and she kept looking toward the stairs like she was expecting to see someone."

Glinda sighed. "That doesn't prove anything."

"If that's what you think, I can't help you." Betak took the mug from the blonde's hands as she started out of the room. "But if I were you I would go talk to her. That's the only way you're ever going to put your mind at ease. And the longer you stay away, the more likely she is to think you're the one who's upset with her."

That got Glinda's attention. She certainly didn't want Elphaba to think she was mad. And maybe Betak was right. Maybe she was overreacting.

"Upstairs, second door on your left."

The corner of her mouth turned up at Betak's directions as she climbed to her feet and started upstairs. Her newfound bravado quickly disappeared though once she was outside the door the old woman indicated. She had never been a coward but the prospect of Elphaba rejecting her almost had her going back downstairs to think some more. The idea of her love thinking she was upset with her just as quickly had her turning the knob and stepping inside.

"Elphie?" Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the green woman sitting on the edge of the bed, her head in her hands. "Elphie, are you all right?!"

Elphaba looked up as Glinda fell to her knees in front of her. "Glinda?" She pulled the blonde into her arms. "Oh Glinda."

"What is it?" Glinda pulled back to look at her. "Is it Breena?"

"No, she's resting."

"Are you in pain? Do you need me to get Addena?"

"No." Elphaba pulled her close again. "I just need you to know how sorry I am for snapping at you earlier. I was overwhelmed and upset and worried about Bree and I shouldn't have taken it out on you. But you know how I get when I'm on emotional overload. I lash out. And you just happened to be there. I shouldn't have yelled at you. I'm sorry."

"I'm the one who should be sorry." Glinda interrupted, pulling away before she could say more. "I should have told you about the Wizard sooner. But when I realized he might be Breena's father too I wanted to talk to the two of you at the same time. The right time. And it never seemed to work out."

"Glinda..."

"Telling you the way I did wasn't right either, but I didn't want Betak to be angry with Breena for coming to help us. And I certainly didn't expect the Wizard to suddenly appear out of the blue."

"You don't..."

"But I do, Elphie. I want you to know what happened because..." Her emotions got the best of her again. "I don't want you to think I betrayed you. I..." Her tears started to fall. "I couldn't stand it if you hated me."

"Hated you? Glinda, I could never hate you."

"Yes you could. I hurt you, Elphie. I hurt you and I hurt Breena and I made a mess of things."

"First of all I could never hate you. I love you." Elphaba put her hands on the blonde's cheeks. "And you didn't hurt anyone."

"How can you say that? I knew..."

"You knew a secret, Glinda. One that shouldn't have been your responsibility to reveal. My mother and Leandra and the Wizard are the ones at fault here, not you. It was there choice to keep the truth from everyone. I'm just sorry you figured it out and shouldered the burden for their mistakes." She used her thumbs to wipe tears from the blonde's cheeks. "And I'm even more sorry that you thought I was angry at you."

"I love you." She whispered the words.

"I love you too." Elphaba brought their lips together in a sweet caress.

Glinda rested her forehead against her love's after they parted, staring into the eyes she adored.

"We're about the sorriest pair I've ever seen."

She giggled in spite of herself. "We are, aren't we? You were up here thinking I was mad at you and I was downstairs thinking you were mad at me."

"Is that why you didn't come up until now?"

Glinda nodded. "That and I didn't want to intrude on your time with Breena."

"You..."

"Don't tell me I couldn't because I could. She's your sister, Elphie. The two of you are going to need time to yourselves."

It was Elphaba's turn to nod. "Time when she's not flat on her back unconscious."

"Exactly." Glinda pulled back when Elphie stifled a yawn. "I think it's time for someone to lay down."

"Only if you join me."

"You couldn't keep me away." Glinda grinned as she got up to join Elphie on the bed. "We're OK, right?"

"We're more than OK." Elphaba drew her into another kiss. "Promise me we'll never let something like this happen again. That we'll talk instead of assuming we know what the other is thinking."

"I promise." This time Glinda initiated a lingering lip lock.

"We better stop that or neither one of us is going to get any sleep."

Glinda giggled. "You're right. Now come here and I'll..."

"No, I want to hold you this time." Elphaba laid down, opening her arms to the blonde, who gladly accepted the invitation. She ran her fingers through blonde curls once they were settled. "I love you, Glinda."

Glinda snuggled closer into her shoulder. "I love you too, Elphie."

In no time at all they were fast asleep.