Boq put one hand against the trunk of the tree shielding him from view in an attempt to keep himself from voicing his opinion on what he just heard. First of all, he was eavesdropping. Yes he innocently stumbled across the three of them when he was out for a walk but that didn't mean he had to stop and listen. Secondly, none of them would care what he had to say. The Wizard would ignore him completely, Breena would glare and Elphaba... He couldn't quite pinpoint the expression on her face when she looked at him. It was somewhere between pity and remorse and annoyed him to no end. Why couldn't she just hate him like he hated her?

And last, but certainly not least, why should he care what they did or didn't do? It wasn't like they were friends or even acquaintances for that matter. To them he would always be the one who stabbed Elphaba and to him Elphaba would always be the one who ruined his life. So who cared if they went and got themselves hurt or killed taking on Morrible?

"I wouldn't dream of it."

The sound of the Wizard's voice drew him out of his thoughts and back to a scene that was almost too sweet for words. The old man was standing there holding hands with Breena, a look of pure affection in his eyes. It made Boq want to vomit.

"Let's go."

Luckily Breena spared him from seeing more by pulling away and following Elphaba, who had already started walking again. He came out of hiding as they headed through the massive gates of Colwen Grounds. If they were going anywhere else he might have followed them just for curiosity's sake but not there. The mere idea of stepping back into that hell hole sent a shiver of fear through his tin body.

He turned away, wondering what he should do now. Usually information gleaned from an overheard conversation would have been valuable to someone, but not this time. None of the others would want to listen to what he had to say. Unless...

A smile spread across his face. He was slowly but surely coming to terms with the fact that Glinda was in love with Elphaba. It didn't take a genius to see the looks they shared or the way they were always touching each other. He had never really stood a chance with the blonde anyway. But she would be frantic with worry if she knew what Elphaba was up to. Maybe he could get back on her good side by being the one to tell her. After all, it would be better to be her friend again than nothing at all.

He started back toward the house with a new spring in his step.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I should have stayed behind." Betak clucked. "I'm slowing us down."

"No you're not." Glinda assured the old woman.

"It's not like we know where we're going anyway." Addena mumbled, earning her a look from her sister. "Well it's true." She was quick to defend herself. "They could be anywhere."

"But they started out going this way." Fiyero was just as quick to defend their choice of direction.

"That doesn't mean they still are."

"It doesn't mean they're not either."

"Would you two stop?" Glinda frowned at them. "You're bickering isn't helping anything."

"She started it." Fiyero nodded toward Addena.

Addena rolled her eyes. "That's really mature."

"What did I just say?" Glinda growled.

"You didn't have to come if you didn't want to."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Addena frowned at Fiyero's comment.

"It means you've been bitching and moaning since we left the house." He clarified. "Give it a rest."

"I'll give you a rest!"

"Dena!" Glinda grabbed her sister before she could make good on her threat.

"Glinda, why don't you walk ahead with Fiyero?"

Glinda furrowed her brow as Betak gently took her hand off her sister's arm. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I am." The older woman nodded. "Addena won't mind keeping me company, will you?"

"I guess not." Addena groused as she glared at Fiyero.

"We're wasting time." Fiyero called over his shoulder as he continued to walk.

"Go on, Glinda." Betak motioned for her to join him. "We'll be all right."

Glinda looked at her sister, who shrugged. "OK." She reluctantly followed Fiyero.

"I bet you're wondering why I asked you to stay with me." Betak broke the silence that lingered after Glinda's departure. "I wanted to talk to you." She waited for a response but none came. "About Breena."

Addena sighed. "Look, I know you mean well but..."

"It's hard loving a Thropp woman."

"I never said I..."

"No, but you haven't said you don't either." Betak cut her off. "I've seen the way your eyes light up when she walks into a room. The way you look at her when you thinks she's not paying attention. But the really telling thing was the way you took care of her when she was hurt. You never left her side."

"I'm a doctor. Of course I took care of her."

"Your concern went beyond that of a doctor for her patient. I think you were more worried about her than I was."

"I..." Addena squirmed under the older woman's scrutiny before deciding to go on the offensive. "And you'd be all right with that?"

Betak furrowed her brow. "All right with what?"

"Another woman falling for Breena."

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

"Don't take this the wrong way, but you seem pretty opinionated." Addena gave a half shrug. "And everyone knows how narrow minded Munchkins can be when it comes to things like this."

"Luckily I'm not like most Munchkins." Betak's tone was patient. "People can't control who they fall for. The heart wants what it wants. And Breena's heart wants you."

Her honesty caught Addena off guard.

"I have to admit I was shocked when I realized she loves you. She's kept herself closed off from the prospect of finding someone for so long..." Betak's voice trailed off as she shook her head. "That being said, I'm asking you not to hurt her."

"Hurt her?" Addena frowned, trying to concentrate so she could follow what the other woman was saying.

"Yes, hurt her. Toy with her. Mess with her emotions. Whatever you want to call it. If you have feelings for her, act on them. If not, walk away before she gets any more attached. She may seem tough, but on the inside she's fragile. More so than anyone would ever guess."

"I..." She shook her head. "I don't know what to say."

"You don't know what to say or you're not sure what you're feeling?"

Addena sighed. "A little of both I guess."

"That's to be expected." Betak patted her on the arm. "The two of you have only known each other a few days. Of course it can happen in the blink of an eye." She pursed her lips. "I don't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I just thought someone should give you a version of the 'hurt her and I'll hurt you' speech considering her mother's not here to do it and her father... Well, we won't go into that right now."

Addena regarded Betak for a moment before she spoke again. "I care about Breena. A lot. Probably more than I should considering we don't really know each other, but there's something you should know. About me."

Betak looked intrigued. "What's that?"

"I'm..."

"Boq."

Fiyero's hissed exclamation drew their attention. They looked up the road to find the Tin Man walking toward their companions.

"Now Fiyero, don't… Fiyero!" Glinda tried to stop him as he advanced on Boq but unlike Addena she couldn't hold him back. He dragged her with him as he closed the gap between them.

"Oh for the love of..." Betak growled. "I'm sorry, can this wait until later?"

Addena started to answer but the older woman was already walking away. She muttered, "I guess it will have to," under her breath before following her.

"What are you doing here?!" Fiyero put himself nose to nose with Boq.

"I… I'm…" Boq stammered.

"I didn't really expect you to answer." Fiyero's hand curled into a fist.

"Stop it." Glinda somehow managed to squeeze into the space between them. "You'll just hurt your hand again if you punch him. And Breena's not here to heal you this time."

Fiyero continued to glare at Boq. "That's a risk I'm willing to take."

"You'll face the wrath of Oz from both Elphaba and Breena if you hit Glinda by mistake." Betak spoke as she joined them.

"I have no intention of…"

"Oh cut the macho crap." Addena interrupted him. "You're mad at him for what he did to Elphaba, we get the point. Hitting him again isn't going to change what happened. So just leave him alone."

"Leave him alone?" Fiyero couldn't believe what he was hearing. "He nearly killed Fae and you want me to leave him alone?! Is that what you would do if it was Glinda?"

"No, I'd rip his arm off and beat him with it." Addena shrugged. "But that's me. Be a bigger man and leave well enough alone."

"What's going on?" Lion asked as he jogged up to them. "And why is Glinda standing between Boq and Fiyero?"

"Fiyero was getting ready to hit him again," Betak answered.

"Good." Lion glared at the tin man too. "I'll help."

"Oh no you won't." Addena pointed at him. "You'll stay right there. He doesn't need your help causing trouble."

"But…" Lion dropped his gaze when she raised her eyebrows. "Fine."

Glinda looked at Boq. "Just go."

"I can't."

"What do you mean you can't?" Fiyero clinched his jaw.

"I…" Boq swallowed hard. "I have something to tell Glinda."

Fiyero gripped the blonde's arm, pulling her away from Boq. "I don't think so."

"It's about Elphaba."

"Elphie?" Glinda pulled away, replying before anyone else could. "What about her?"

"What have you done to her this time?" Lion roared, taking a step toward him until he caught the look on Addena's face and stopped.

"I haven't done anything." Boq sounded defensive. "But I did overhear her and Breena making plans with the Wizard."

"The Wizard?" Betak gave him a doubtful look.

"Yes, the Wizard. They're going to the palace to get the rest of the Grimmerie."

"Together?" Betak sounded even more doubtful than she looked.

Boq nodded. "The Wizard is going to distract Morrible while Elphaba and Breena look for the book."

"No, no, no." Glinda shook her head vehemently. "They can't do that."

"Well they're going to. They're already at Colwen Grounds."

Fiyero frowned. "I thought you said they were going to the Emerald City."

"They are. They're going to use the mirror spell." Glinda answered for Boq, fear shining in her eyes as she looked at her sister.

"We have to stop them." Addena's voice mirrored her concern.

"But how?" Fiyero's frown deepened. "It's not like you two can use the same spell."

"Maybe not, but we could use Elphie's broom."

"What?!" It was Addena's turn to frown.

Glinda nodded. "It's the only way we're going to get there in time. And I know how to use it." She added, "Kind of," under her breath.

"There has to be another way." Fiyero argued.

"If there is I'd like to hear it." Glinda looked around at the others expectantly.

"We could wait and see what happens." Boq flinched at the looks everyone gave him. "It was only a suggestion."

"No one asked you." Lion snapped.

Boq frowned at him. "Glinda did."

"It was a rhetorical question." Glinda cut them off before they could start arguing. "Come on, Dena." She grabbed her sister's hand.

"Wait a minute." Fiyero stepped in their way. "Why does she get to go? I'd be better in a fight."

Addena looked offended. "Says who?"

"Oh please." He chuckled sarcastically. "Think about this, Glinda."

"Linny is going because she loves Elphaba and I'm going because I..." Addena swallowed to wet her suddenly dry throat. "Because I care for Breena. So just shut up and deal with it."

"But..."

"You heard the girl." Betak spoke over him. "Shut up and deal with it."

"Let's go." Glinda started pulling her sister back toward the house, not paying attention to whether or not the others were coming too.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

"So you're taking him, right?"

"No, I think you should take him."

"Bree."

"Elly."

"But..."

"Fine, we'll flip a coin to see who has to do it."

"Please girls, such flattery will go straight to my head." The Wizard quipped as Breena dug in her pocket for a piece of change. "Why are you arguing anyway? Why can't I do whatever it is by myself?"

"Because you can't." Breena looked at Elphaba. "And I say we both take him."

Elphaba looked confused. "Both of us?"

"He has two hands doesn't he?"

"What do my hands have to do with this?"

"I guess that's fair." Elphaba ignored his question.

"I thought you'd feel that way." The corner of Breena's mouth turned up. "What do you say we get this show on the road?"

Elphaba nodded.

"Does that mean I'm finally going to find out how we're getting to the palace?" The Wizard spoke as they chanted something. "What was that?" He looked back and forth between them but they didn't pay any attention as they each took one of his hands in their own. "What are you doing?" He frowned as they started walking toward the mirror. "We're going to..."

His voice died in his throat as the surface of the mirror rippled around them. The next thing he knew they weren't at Colwen Grounds anymore.

"I... We..." He stumbled away from them. "That was the oddest thing I've ever experienced." He looked at his daughters. "How did we get here?" He furrowed his brow. "Wherever here is."

"You mean you don't recognize the palace after all those years of ruling?" Breena quirked an eyebrow.

"The palace?" The Wizard looked around. "Well I'll be. How did we get here?"

"We don't have time for that." Elphaba avoided his question.

"But we just..."

"Shhh!" Breena shushed him. "Do you want to let everyone in Oz know we're here?"

"Sorry." He wrinkled his forehead sheepishly. "So what's the plan?"

"We find the book," Elphaba answered.

"That's it?" He felt the girls bristle. "I mean, I thought you'd have something more in mind."

"Maybe if we knew where the book was, we would. But we don't, do we?" Breena gave him a look. "Come on, Elly. We should get started."

"Elly." The Wizard grinned. "I like that nickname. Do you mind if I use it?"

"Yes." There was no room for debate in Elphaba's reply.

"Oh." He looked hurt.

"Can we just... Move!" Breena shoved them both into the nearest room.

"Hey! What's the..." The rest of what he said was lost when Breena clamped her hand over his mouth. His brow settled into a frown as he stared at her.

"Morrible." Breena whispered as she pointed out the doorway.

"That was close." Elphaba watched the former press secretary as she passed the door, completely oblivious to their presence.

"Too close." Breena agreed. "Especially with him squawking like a bird."

He tried to reply but his words were muffled.

"What? Oh." Breena blushed as she moved her hand. "Sorry."

"I should hope so." The Wizard huffed. "You could have just told me to be quiet."

"I thought I did."

"Can you two save the squabbling for later?" Elphaba interrupted. "We need to find out where Morrible went and..."

"She went in the throne room." The Wizard returned the favor. "What? I was watching too." He waited a moment, speaking again when neither of them said anything. "So now what?"

"Go distract her and we'll find the book."

"Right." He nodded at Breena. "I'll go distract her and... Wait a minute." He looked confused. "We're splitting up?"

"Well we can't go with you." Elphaba said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I know, I just... I thought..." He stammered.

"The whole point in you coming was to distract her." Breena reminded him.

"I know."

Elphaba ground her teeth. "If you don't want to do it just say so."

"No, no. That's not it at all." He was quick to answer, not wanting to disappoint them. "I'm just worried about the two of you roaming around alone."

"We can take care of ourselves." Breena assured him.

"I know, but it's a father's prerogative to worry about his children." He gave them a weak smile. "I'll go take care of her. You find the book."

With that he left the room, resisting the urge to look at the girls over his shoulder as he rounded the corner into the hallway. He was afraid they would see the fear in his eyes if he did. And he didn't want them thinking he was a chicken on top of being a rotten bastard for abandoning them. He could be just as brave as them.

His resolve slowly disappeared the closer he got to the throne room. The thought of seeing Morrible again made his skin crawl. There had always been something off about her. But she had the perfect job to help him find someone who could read the Grimmerie so he put up with her. And she didn't seem so bad as his press secretary.

If he only knew then what he knew now.

"Who's there?"

He didn't even realize he had walked into the throne room until he heard her voice.

"I said who's... Oh, it's you." Morrible did a double take. "You!"

The Wizard pulled on his lapels, hoping he looked nonchalant. "Imagine meeting you here."

"But I thought you left Oz."

"Indeed I did. But I decided to come back." He stayed where he was, nervous enough under her watchful eye without moving any further into the room. "And I couldn't resist a visit when I heard you were in charge."

"Really?" Morrible narrowed her eyes. "I find that hard to believe."

"Nonsense. We were relatively close once upon a time. Why wouldn't I want to congratulate you on your good fortune?"

"Good fortune?" She echoed his words before laughing. "Is that what you call having the Wicked Witch running around again? Oh, I'm sorry." She put her hand over her mouth demurely. "She's your daughter."

"Think nothing of it." He waved off the comment.

"But I do think something of it." Morrible retaliated. "Would you like to know what I'm thinking?"

The Wizard shrugged. "If you want to tell me."

"I think you're here with both your daughters." She started toward him. "That's right, I know all about the other one. And I think they sent you in here thinking I would be so happy to see you I wouldn't give the rest of the palace another thought. They're searching for the other half of the Grimmerie."

He scrambled for something to say, finally settling on, "Nonsense."

"You can drop the facade." She stopped right in front of him. "I can sense them you know."

"What?" He swallowed hard.

"That kind of power is hard to miss."

"I... uh..."

"I'll spare you the trouble of coming up with another lie." Morrible smiled wickedly. "Guards!"

"Don't do that!" The Wizard held up his hands.

"I'm afraid you're not in charge anymore." She threw back her head. "GUARDS!!"

He ran from the room, one word on his lips. "Girls!!!!"