"Shhh!"

Elphaba's body jerked as the noise pulled her from the depths of slumber.

"I swear if you two wake those girls I'll skin you alive!"

She frowned, wondering who Betak was threatening in the hallway.

"And don't think I'm kidding! Now scoot!!"

The old woman's voice retreated as she continued to chastise whoever she was talking to. It wasn't like she was yelling at the top of her lungs or anything. There was just a certain spot right outside the door where you could hear everything someone said.

"Do it again Elphie."

Her eyes opened when she heard Glinda's voice, instantly landing on the blonde, who was using her stomach as a pillow. Glinda giggled in her sleep as she cuddled closer to the green witch.

Elphaba stared at her lover. She looked so innocent, all alabaster skin and perfectly mussed curls. Like one of those cherubs artists were so fond of painting. Just stick a pair of wings on her back and the image would have been complete, right down to the deceptively sweet grin gracing her lips. But Elphaba knew better. As a matter of fact, she probably knew Glinda better than anyone.

She was one of the privileged few who got the opportunity to see the real Glinda Upland. Not the poised and polished leader of Oz so many people adored but the overly emotional, always there with a kind word, would give you the shirt of her back if you asked for it Glinda. The one who loved so hard her affection knew no limits. Who could charm just about anyone, including an anti-social, hard headed witch that was convinced the entire world was out to get her. That's the Glinda who captured Elphaba's heart and wrapped it around her dainty little pinkie.

Which meant Elphaba saw a side of Glinda no one else did. Only a lover would know the grin on her lips wasn't so sweet after all, but testimony to the fact she had succeeded in making a certain someone scream her name the night before. OK, so it was really more of a loud moan but Glinda was very proud of her accomplishment.

The thought brought a wistful smile to her face. As a child she never imagined having a knight in shining armor like Glinda described. As a matter of fact she never imagined having anyone. Not until she met Galinda Upland of the Upper Uplands at Shiz and started dreaming of what it might be like to spend her life with her. Even then she never thought it would actually happen. Especially after she faked her death to keep Glinda safe. But here she was, waking up after a night of passion to the person she cherished most in the world.

She whispered, "I love you doesn't even begin to cover it," as she tenderly ran her fingers through golden locks.

Glinda mumbled, "I love you too, Elphie."

Elphaba stilled her hand until the blonde started to snore softly, making her chuckle. That was a sure sign Glinda wouldn't be getting up anytime soon. And as fun as it would be to languish where she was until she did, Elphaba told herself to get out of bed. She came up with the idea of cleaning Breena's room as a thank you for healing her and she couldn't do that if she was lying around.

She grabbed one of the pillows, somehow managing to position it under Glinda's head as she scooted out from under her. The blonde was none the wiser as she latched onto the pillow and continued snoring.

"Sweet dreams my love." Elphaba planted a soft kiss on her brow before making sure she was covered with the sheet. "I'll see you in a little while."

She went to the closet, opting for a long black dress rather than pants and a shirt. Glinda would appreciate the change in apparel. Especially if they decided to try for a repeat performance of their activities the night before. The dress didn't have any buttons.

Elphaba gave Glinda one last glance before leaving the room, trying not to think of the blonde as she made her way toward the stairs leading to Bree's room. It wasn't easy, but she had to concentrate on how she was going to get rid of the mess in her sister's room rather than how nice it would be to watch Glinda sleep. Otherwise she would crawl back in bed and Breena would end up cleaning her own room.

Unless she came up with a spell to do away with the glass then she could go back to her lover with a clean conscience. After all, it wasn't like Breena would be up any time soon. Addena wouldn't let her out of her sight until she was sure she was rested.

She nodded at the idea. No fuss or muss with the clean up and she could still get back to Glinda before the blonde woke up. Then she wouldn't miss that adorable little yawn Glinda always let out as she opened her eyes.

She was so lost in thought she didn't notice the Wizard standing in the middle of Breena's room until she almost ran over him. She reached out to steady them both, shocked to see he had his nose in the half of the Grimmerie they liberated from Morrible.

He jumped so bad he nearly dropped the book. "Elphaba." He gave her a wane smile when he realized he'd been caught. "You scared me."

Her eyes drifted to the book before returning to his face. "What are you doing?"

"I…" He stammered. "I was just…"

"Just what?"

"Uh..." The intensity of her stare made him gulp.

Elphaba frowned as she ripped the book out of his hands. "I can't believe I was starting to trust you."

"No!" The Wizard raised his voice but just as quickly lowered it again. "You can still trust me, Elphaba. I wasn't doing anything with the book."

"You're acting awfully guilty for not doing anything."

"You startled me." He pointed out. "I came up here to clean up the mess the glass made as a thank you to Breena, but Betak must have taken care of it after I explained things to her last night because the place was spotless when I got here. I noticed the... whatever that is," he gestured toward the mangled purse Breena had chosen to carry the books, "and curiosity got the better of me. I know I shouldn't have touched it, but I couldn't help myself. There's just something about it that draws you in. But I wasn't going to do anything with it. I couldn't even if I wanted to. It's gibberish." He looked at her pleadingly. "You have to believe me."

Elphaba didn't have to do anything of the sort, but there was so much conviction in his voice and honesty in his eyes. It was nothing like the 'I'm saying what I know you want to hear' routine he pulled when they met for the first time at the palace so long ago.

"Please, Elphaba."

Great, now he was begging.

"Say you believe me."

"I believe you." The words left her mouth almost before she thought them.

"You do?"

His hopeful tone made her breath catch in her throat. He was trying. Really trying.

"You mean it?" The Wizard reached out as if to touch her arm but stopped short.

"Yes." Her flat tone probably didn't sound very convincing but her head was reeling too bad for her to care. The man standing before her, the man she had so despised just a few short days before, was seeking her approval. No, not just a man... her father.

Once upon a time she would have given just about anything to have someone come along and say Frex wasn't her real father. It could have been a scholar or a ditch digger, she wouldn't have cared. But if someone had told her the Wizard was her father she would have laughed in their face. He was her hero. The one person she knew wouldn't care about the color of her skin or get upset over the powers she possessed. And he would never use her as a prop, letting people poke and prod and ridicule her to make himself look better.

Or so she thought. The pedestal she had put him on quickly crumbled when they met and he immediately conned her into giving Chistery wings to prove she could not only read the Grimmerie but cast the spells it contained. And when she stood up to him he let Morrible turn the whole of Oz against her. He even challenged a child to kill her and bring him her broom to prove she was gone.

She should have hated him, but she couldn't. Instead she wanted to let him fill the roll he seemed so eager to play.

"Thank you."

The sound of his voice shattered her thoughts, bringing her back to the present.

"If I blew it with you right now it would ruin any chance I have with Breena. You girls tend to stick together, which is understandable mind you. I just didn't want her thinking I was feeding her a line last night."

Elphaba frowned. "Last night?"

"We had a little chat." The corner of the Wizard's mouth turned up. "She said she was willing to give the whole father daughter thing a try. To be honest with you I think between her injuries and being worried about you she wasn't in her right mind but I'm going to hold her to it. She set the rules and I plan to follow them."

"Rules?" She echoed his words again.

He nodded. "Number one on her list was that she wouldn't get involved in things between us. She said when or if you forgave me it had to be on your terms. But I know if you're upset she'll be angry with me. So thank you."

"You're welcome I guess."

"And I owe you an apology."

"You? I think I'm the one that should be apologizing. And saying thank you for that matter."

It was his turn to frown. "For what?"

"I haven't thanked you for what you did at the palace yesterday. And I'm sorry for automatically assuming you were up to something just because you were looking at the Grimmerie."

"You don't have to thank me and I don't blame you for being suspicious. I don't exactly have the best track record where that book is concerned."

"That doesn't mean I should have jumped to conclusions." Elphaba spoke up before he could say more. "You've been up front about your intentions and I'm ashamed to say that Breena and I haven't made things easy for you."

"Why should you?" The Wizard gestured with his hand. "I abandoned your mothers, Elphaba. I knew I was going to be a father and I opted not to face up to my responsibility to either of them or you girls. The way I see it I was getting what I deserved."

"No one should be treated that way."

"You ought to know." He looked at her sadly. "That's what I wanted to apologize for. I don't know how I'll ever make up for the things I've done to you but…"

"Stop." Elphaba cut him off again. "You can't change the past so stop beating yourself up over it."

"But…"

"No buts. I'm willing to drop it, why won't you?"

"I should stop looking a gift horse in the mouth, right?" The Wizard shook his head. "I can't believe we're talking like this."

Elphaba grinned. "Me either."

"Does this mean you won't tell Breena about the Grimmerie?"

"On one condition."

He nodded. "Anything."

"You give me the same chance you're giving Bree."

"What?" He was completely blown away. "Did you just… are you saying…"

"If you two are going to work at this, why shouldn't I?" She shrugged. "The way I see it, we're a family. We should be in this together."

"Oh Elphaba!" The Wizard pulled her into his arms and spun her around.

Elphaba couldn't stop herself from laughing. "I'll take that as a yes."

"Of course it's a yes!" He pulled back to look at her. "Thank you. I…" Tears swam in his eyes. "I can't even find the words."

"You don't have to. Your reaction said it all."

He stared at her for a moment before hugging her again. "This is like a dream come true."

She started to answer when an image of Morrible filled her head. She tried to push it away but it didn't do any good.

The Wizard felt her tense. "Elphaba?"

Morrible standing on a balcony, looking out over an angry mob of Ozians.

"Elphaba?"

Raising her hand to conjure a turbulent storm cloud.

"Elphaba?" He tried again as he pulled back to look at her.

Lightning splitting the sky as it streaked toward the crowd.

He held her wooden body in one arm, passing the other hand in front of unseeing eyes but getting no reaction. "Can you hear me, Elphaba?"

People screaming as the bolt struck its target, another quickly following the first.

"Answer me."

Gale Force seeming to appear out of nowhere as rain started falling in droves.

"Talk to me, Elphaba."

People being shot, stabbed and beaten as the soldiers advanced.

"Answer me!" He gave her a shake just as her body went limp, barely catching her before she slid out of his grasp. "Elphaba?" His swallowed hard when she didn't respond. "By the Unnamed God what have I done?" He scooped her up and hurried over to the bed. "Please wake up, Elphaba," he gently laid her down. "Please."

She laid there, completely oblivious to his pleads.

"What do I do now?" He ran a shaky hand through his hair. "Breena. I'll find Breena. She'll know what to do." He started to turn away from the bed but stopped himself short. "I have no idea where she is!" He looked down at Elphaba again. "Glinda! She's bound to be in your room."

He didn't hesitate this time. He flew down the steps and the hall, not stopping until he reached the door he was looking for.

"Glinda!" He pounded on the door, barely waiting a second before he slammed his fist against it again. "Glinda!!" He threw it open. "I…" His voice failed as she started to sit up, the sheet covering her doing very little to conceal the fact she was naked. "Oh!" He put his hand over his eyes and turned away.

"What?" Glinda groggily looked at him. "What's going on? Why…" Her eyes got big as she woke up enough to realize who she was talking to. "What are you doing in here?!"

"I'm sorry." He kept his eyes covered even though he wasn't looking in her direction.

"Get out!"

"But…"

"Get out!" Glinda repeated herself, throwing the pillow she'd been laying on for emphasis.

"I…"

"Just go!"

"It's Elphaba!" he yelled, hoping she would listen.

"Elphie?" Glinda frowned. "What about Elphie?"

"She… I…" The Wizard was still flustered at the situation.

"Spit it out."

"She's unconscious."

"What?! What happened?!"

"We were talking and I hugged her and…"

"She let you hug her?" Glinda shook her head. "Sorry, not important. Keep going."

"She tensed up," he did as he was told. "I tried to get her to answer me but she wouldn't so I gave her a little shake and her eyes rolled back in her head and now I can't get her to wake up."

"She was all right before that? She wasn't acting strange or anything?"

He shook his head. "No. She was fine."

The blonde visibly relaxed. "She had a vision."

"A vision? What are you talking about? She's unconscious! You have to come with me!"

Glinda raised her eyebrows at his outburst. It obviously wasn't going to do any good to try to explain the situation to him. Of course if the same thing happened to her in front of her father he would go off the deep end too. And she had to admit, The Wizard really was trying with Elphie and Breena.

"All right," she agreed. "Give me a minute to get dressed and I'll come with you."

"I'll just… wait in the hall." He awkwardly shut the door again, mentally kicking himself once he was alone in the hall. Not only had he knocked his daughter out, he saw her girlfriend naked.

"Let's go."

He nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard Glinda's voice, shocked when he turned to find she was already dressed. "That didn't take long."

"When it comes to Elphie I don't mess around. Where is she?"

"Upstairs." The Wizard quickly averted her gaze, wondering if he would ever be able to look at her again without blushing.

"With Breena?"

"No, I think Elphaba and I both had the same idea to clean up the mess from last night as a thank you to Breena but it was already done by the time I got there. I'm not sure where she is. That's why I came to get you."

"Makes sense." Glinda nodded.

The Wizard risked a glance at her. "I want to apologize again. I didn't mean to…"

"Don't mention it. It's not like you really saw anything anyway. Now we better stop standing around here chatting and go check on Elphie."

"Right!" He couldn't believe he momentarily forgot what they were doing.

He followed Glinda as she started down the hall, praying to whoever was listening that his daughter was going to be all right.