The girls stood side by side, staring at the door their father had just rushed through, too lost in thought to do anything else. Coming up with a plan that put not only their own lives but the Wizard's at risk was one thing. Actually carrying it out was another. Especially now that the ball had officially started rolling.

"These are going to be the longest fifteen minutes of our lives, aren't they?"

Elphaba didn't hesitate to say, "Yes."

They continued to stare until the deafening silence finally became too much for Breena. "It's too quiet in here."

"That's what happens when no one says anything," was Elphaba's flip response.

"Really?" Breena's voice dripped with sarcasm. "I never would have guessed."

Elphaba mentally kicked herself. "I'm sorry, Bree."

"Me too." She half heartedly grinned. "I guess it doesn't pay to have two stressed out smart asses in the same room."

The only answer she got was a nod as they went back to their own thoughts. But it didn't take long for Breena to speak up again. "I can't just stand here. I have to do something."

"Do something?" Elphaba echoed her words.

"Yeah, like talk." She used her hand to gesture back and forth between them. "We could talk."

"About what?"

"I don't know. Nothing too heavy just..." Breena shrugged. "Small talk."

"Small talk?" Elphaba sounded doubtful. "Neither one of us is any good at that."

"It doesn't mean we can't try."

"All right. Go ahead."

"Me?"

"It was your idea wasn't it?"

"Yeah, but..." She sighed when she saw the look she was getting. "All right. How about..." she looked around. "Why do they put chairs in here?"

"What?"

"It's not like anyone sits in them. As a matter of fact, no one ever really uses this room. They're always in too big of a hurry to get to the good stuff in there." Breena pointed toward the actual restroom. "At least I know I've never paid any attention to the lounge. Have you?"

"I spent most of my life in Quadling Country. We were lucky to have a latrine let alone a…"

"Elly," Breena interrupted her. "Work with me here."

"I am. You asked if…"

"I know what I asked. And I know where you grew up."

Elphaba bit her lip, "I was being too literal again wasn't I?"

Breena nodded. "Just a little."

"Sorry, I have a bad habit of doing that."

"It's all part of your charm. Like being a smart ass."

Elphaba grinned. "You know now that I think about it, you're right. Who needs a lounge?" She grabbed her sister, pulling her through the open doorway leading into the restroom. If she wanted small talk she'd give her small talk. "Just think of how many more sta..." The word 'stalls' stuck in her throat as Breena shoved her into the closest one to their right. "What are you doing?"

"Shhh." Breena shushed her. "Stand on the toilet."

"What?!"

"Shhh!"

"What?!" Elphaba repeated herself, only quieter this time. "I agreed to small talk, not whatever this is."

"We're going to have to stand on the toilet seat if we don't want them to see our feet."

"If we don't want who to..." Elphaba's voice trailed off when she heard the hinges on the outside door squeak. She whispered, "Someone's coming," as she hurried to stand on one side of the toilet seat.

"That's what I was trying to tell you," Breena's voice was barely audible as she joined her. They leaned toward each other to keep the top of their heads from being visible.

"What if whoever it is tries to come in here?"

"We'll just have to take care of them."

Elphaba looked at her like she was crazy. "How are we supposed to do that without attracting attention?"

"We'll..."

"Because I'm not walking all the way to the mens room when there's a perfectly good one right here." A man's voice interrupted their hushed conversation.

Elphaba frowned and nodded toward the closed door of the stall in disbelief earning a shrug from Breena.

"But this is a ladies room." Another man's voice quickly followed the first.

"So? A toilet's a toilet. And if you think I'm getting too far away from the throne room after what happened earlier you're crazy."

"What makes you think anything else is going to happen?"

Both girls froze as the door to the stall next to theirs banged open and the man started relieving himself.

"This is Morrible we're talking about."

"So?"

"So she's a loon. She wouldn't have taken off like a bat out of hell with all those guards if something wasn't up. I can't believe I'm not with her."

It was Breena's turn to look at Elphaba. How were they supposed to strip Morrible's powers if she wasn't even there?

"Where did she go?"

"I already told you. Munchkinland."

Shocked green eyes locked with equally surprised brown.

"Why would she want to go there?"

"Who cares? Now let's get back before she does. I don't want to miss anything else."

Elphaba and Breena stayed where they were until they heard the outside door shut. Even then Breena crept down from her hiding place and silently opened the stall door, peering around the doorframe into the lounge to make sure no one was there before turning back to her sister.

"What are we supposed to do now?"

"We have to go back." Elphaba stated.

"But what about the Wizard?"

"I don't want to leave him here any more than you do, but she's going after Glinda and Addena. Why else would she go to Munchkinland?"

Breena ran her hand through her short hair. This wasn't supposed to be happening. They weren't supposed to be choosing between their father and their girlfriends. Because as much as she wanted a relationship with the Wizard, she wanted one with Addy more. The blonde would win hands down every time. "You're right. Let's go."

Elphaba swallowed hard, knowing they were doing the right thing but hating it just the same. "We'll come back for him as soon as we're sure they're safe."

"I know."

With that they joined hands and hurried to the mirror in the lounge, barely waiting until they finished the chant to walk into it. Before they could blink they were back in Elphaba's bedroom.

"I'm telling you there isn't anyone up here. We've already checked three..."

They both froze as the door opened and two Gale Force officers stared at them.

"Times." The officer on the right finished his thought. "Well I'll be damned."

"It's the Witch and... whoever that is!" The one on the left whined as he gripped his counterpart's sleeve.

"I can see them." The man snapped, shaking his head. "I don't know where you two were hiding but Morrible..."

"Where is she?" Elphaba interrupted him.

"What?" He frowned.

"She asked where Morrible is." Breena reiterated the question.

"She's not here." The frightened man answered. "She took Glinda the Good and her sister and left."

"Damn it!" Breena growled. "We're too late."

"No, you're just in time." The first man grinned. "I'm going to..."

"Amitto." Breena didn't even look to see if the spell made them vanish, she just kept looking at her sister. "That bitch has Addy and Glinda. She could have taken them anywhere."

"No," Elphaba shook her head. "She'll take them to the palace."

"How can you be so sure?"

"It's us she wants, Bree. They're just bait."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Breena turned back to the mirror. "Let's get this over with once and for all."

"Hey!" The sound of Lion's voice drew their attention to the open doorway.

"Watch it you idiot!" Fiyero's voice almost overlapped.

"You two stay out of this." It seemed only fitting that Betak spoke next. "I can take care of myself."

"What's going on here?" An unfamiliar male voice joined in.

Fiyero's reply was laced with rage. "He was putting leg irons on her!"

"And?"

"And? And?!" Fiyero was livid. "She's an old woman! Do you honestly think she's going to run away?!"

"Leg irons are standard procedure with prisoners."

"Prisoners?" Breena hissed the word, keeping them from hearing more of the other conversation. She clinched her jaw as she started out of the room.

Elphaba grabbed her arm. "Where are you going?"

"To help them."

"But..."

"We've already left our father behind and lost Addy and Glinda, I'll be damned if I'm going to let something happen to Betak too."

"I wasn't trying to stop you." Elphaba defended herself. "I was just going to say you can't go charging down there. We need to have a better idea of what's going on first."

"You're right." Breena relaxed in her grip. "It's just... Nothing is going the way it was supposed to. Everything is falling apart."

"Which means we can't." Elphaba moved her hand from her sister's arm to cup her cheek. "Look at me, Bree." She waited until she complied. "We're going to make it through this. Together we can do anything, remember?"

The corner of Breena's mouth turned up. "You better watch out, Elly. You're optimistic side is showing again."

"Heaven forbid." She stroked Bree's cheek. "Let's go help the others."

"I'm sorry." Breena spoke as Elphaba started toward the door. "I didn't mean to freak out."

"You call that a freak out?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

They joined hands and left the room.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Panic tried to seize him but he somehow kept it at bay as he ran down the hallway. Now was hardly the time or place for a meltdown. Not that the situation didn't warrant one. He had just singlehandedly ruined their plan. The Oxvine root was gone. His only chance to do his part and get rid of Nevin was nothing more than a useless piece of shriveled nothing now. The girls were going to face Morrible with the Gale Force at her beck and call because he was too clumsy not to fall coming up the stairs. They were doomed and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.

A little voice in the back of his head told him that wasn't completely true. The root was just an easy out for him. There were still ways he could kill Nevin.

His throat went dry at the prospect. He was guilty of many things in his life but murder wasn't one of them. The mere thought of taking someone else's life was enough to make him sick. He wasn't capable of doing something so horrible.

That annoying voice spoke up again, reminding him of the fact he might not have killed anyone himself but that didn't mean there wasn't blood on his hands. Who ordered all those atrocities against animals and Animals alike? Yes it had been an edict from the Merchants Council but he could have taken a stand and tried to say no. And who was it that asked Dorothy Gale to kill the Wicked Witch and bring her broom back as proof that she was gone? He had sent a farm girl after his own daughter.

Tears filled his eyes. He couldn't lose Elphaba or Breena. He wouldn't. The moment he realized they were his daughters a hole he didn't even know was there filled in his soul. He was a father to two incredibly beautiful young women who were counting on him not to let them down.

He couldn't believe they were willing to give him a chance. Neither one of them said much about their pasts, but he knew they had suffered at the hands of the male figures in their lives. Elphaba was raised by Frex, who treated her as more of a side show attraction than a child. The thought of her going through half of what Breena described made him want to track the fool down and beat some sense into him. Then there was Breena, who was forced into slavery by her own grandfather when her mother died. Of course they called them servants, not slaves, but he knew better. His Eminence wasn't shy about telling stories when he came to the Emerald City for political gatherings. Remembering how the old man's eyes would light up when he talked about the horrors he put his servants through made the Wizard's skin crawl.

No, he wouldn't become another disappointment to the girls. He was going to come through for them. Even if it did mean killing someone.

But first he had to find Nevin. And in order to do that he was going to have to lose the guard that was still chasing him. At least he hoped it was still only one. He hadn't heard anyone else join the pursuit and the young man was too intent on catching him to sound a proper alarm.

He stopped at the next door he came to, praying it was unlocked. Maybe if he ducked inside the boy would pass him by and he could get back to finding the former captain of the guard instead of running for his life.

Luck seemed to be on his side when the knob turned. He opened the door and slipped into the room, quickly shutting it behind him.

"Is that you Cade?"

His blood ran cold when he heard the words come from somewhere in the suite of rooms.

"It's about time."

He thought about running again but something told him to follow the sound of the voice instead.

"Thank goodness her royal pain in the ass agreed to let us work in four hour shifts instead of the eight we used to. Otherwise I'd die of boredom."

He stopped outside the open bedroom door, wiping his suddenly damp palms on his pants.

"What's the point in sitting here anyway? It's not like he's going anywhere. You heard the doctor when he was here yesterday. He's in a permanent vegetative state. Whatever that means."

His breath caught in his throat as he walked into the room. There, laying in the bed in all his glory, was Nevin. He couldn't have mistaken him for someone else if he wanted to. The boy was the spitting image of his mother. Not the hefty, mean tempered woman she had become but the svelte, oddly pretty in her own way younger woman he had met so long ago when he personally welcomed her as the new headmistress of Shiz.

"Hey, you're not Cade."

He looked at the guard, taken aback by his hulking appearance. Couldn't he have been a bit smaller like the one that chased him up the stairs? "No." He tried to keep his voice even. The man would be able to tear him limb from limb easily enough without letting him know he was scared. "I'm not."

The man frowned. "Then who the hell are you and what are you doing here?"

He swallowed hard, knowing things were about to get interesting.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Boq drummed his silver fingers on the armrest of the throne as the elbow of his other arm leaned heavily on the opposite armrest, his chin in his free hand. He knew he looked like a pouting seven year old but what else was he supposed to do? Morrible had been gone for what seemed like an eternity.

As if on cue a tornado suddenly appeared in the middle of the room, forcing him further back on the seat of the throne. He watched, mesmerized, as Morrible stepped gracefully from the swirling funnel. Barely a second later Glinda and Addena spilled unceremoniously to the floor behind her when their mode of transportation disappeared.

If he had a heart it would have beat faster at the sight of the blonde. Even with her windblown appearance she was still the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. Her sister wasn't exactly hard on the eyes either. Maybe he could talk Morrible into letting him have them both.

"What are you doing?"

Morrible's mocking question pulled him from his thoughts. "What?"

"I said," the older woman sneered, "what are you doing?"

He said the first thing that came to mind. "Waiting for you."

"I guess the Scarecrow wasn't the only one who needed a brain." Morrible sighed. "Let me rephrase the question. What are you doing there?" She stared at him icily as she gestured at the throne.

"I..." Boq finally caught on to what she was talking about. "Oh. I just..." He quickly climbed to his feet as she raised her eyebrows. "Sorry."

"Don't apologize." She swept past him, taking his spot in the chair. "And don't confuse this situation for more than it is. We're not friends, Tin Man. We're not really even business associates. You provided information and I intend to pay you for it. But not until the witches have been dealt with." She shooed him away with a wave of her hand. "Now go entertainify yourself with them until Elphaba and her sidekick get here."

He tried not to shake too badly as he nodded and started toward the girls.

"You." Addena's voice was pure venom as she helped her sister to her feet. "You sold us out!"

He was too busy staring at Glinda to pay attention to what she said.

"Why Boq?" Glinda shook her head. "Why would you do this?"

"Vengeance." The word slipped easily from his lips.

"What?" Addena frowned.

"Elphaba did this to me." He gestured at his metal body.

"To save your live," Glinda was quick to defend Elphie.

"So she says." Boq snapped. "But how do we know, Glinda? Were you there? I was and I can't even remember what happened. One minute I was finally telling Nessa off and the next thing I know I wake up made of tin."

"Nessa tried to cast a spell on you. Elphie..."

"Saved my life." He finished the sentence for her. "She turned me into a walking scrap heap, Glinda! How did that save my life?"

Addena instinctively put herself in front of her little sister.

"And Nessa hated magic. Why would she suddenly try to use it on me? I'll tell you what I think happened. Elphaba realized the depth of my feelings for you and got jealous, so she turned me into something she knew no one could ever love."

"That's not true!" Glinda growled.

"You have your version of the truth and I have mine."

"You're twisted." Addena commented.

"No I'm not!" Boq raged. "I'm finally going to see Elphaba Thropp get what she deserves! Her and that freak sister of hers!"

Addena took a half step toward him, her hands curled into fists. "Bree is not a freak!"

"Yes she is! They both are!"

"You're upset because they reversed the spell on Fiyero, aren't you?" He didn't answer but Glinda could see the truth on his face. "Oh Boq, Elphie and Breena would have made you human again too if they could."

"No they wouldn't!"

"Yes they would."

"Then why didn't they offer?!"

"Because they can't." Glinda's voice was sad. "Nessa cast the spell that shrank your heart, not Elphie."

Boq frowned. "What in Oz are you talking about?"

"When you told Nessa you were leaving she got angry and tried to cast a spell out of the Grimmerie. But she didn't know what she was doing and instead of making you fall in love with her, it shrank your heart." Glinda explained.

"No."

"Elphaba did the only thing she could at the time to save your life." Addena joined in. "She turned you into someone who doesn't need a heart."

"You're lying!" Boq looked back and forth between them. "You would do anything to defend them!"

"She's not lying, Boq. Elphie..."

"Don't call her that." Boq interrupted her. "If you want to talk about her you have to call her the Witch."

Glinda glared at him. "Never!"

"Then I won't have to hear any more about her, will I?" He smirked when he saw tears swimming in her eyes. "Don't worry Glinda. This will all be over soon and then we can be together."

Addena knocked his hand away as he reached for her sister. "Back off!"

He switched his attention to the older blonde. "I'm thinking about asking for you too."

"Sorry to disappoint you, but you'll never have either of us." Addena's tone was confident. "Elphaba and Breena are going to come here and..."

"What?" Boq looked at her expectantly. "You two are at her mercy," he tipped his head toward Morrible. "They're going to come running with their tails tucked between their legs and beg her not to hurt you."

"Shut up!" Glinda screamed.

"Truth hurts sometimes doesn't it?" He smiled. "Soon ladies. Very, very soon you'll both be mine."