A/N I've decided to update this story every Wednesday.

This story contains a great deal of fluff. While this chapter may seem like a filler, I just felt that it was important for the dynamics of the people on the farm to be spelled out.

Also, Dorothy may seem a little… giggly in this chapter. She's just happy, I guess...haha…haha… hehe...teehee...heeheeeheeeheheee...

Even though I realize that this isn't consistent with the movie or book, but, for the sake of this story, these are the ages I imagine the characters are:

Dorothy- 16 Hunk- 16 Hickory- 20 Zeke- 27 Henry- 65 Em- 61

As always, I love reviews!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Wizard of Oz… if I did, I'd play Dorothy, and all of the musical sequences would be a lot less enjoyable, and may cause you actual pain.

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Hunk awoke precisely at dawn, and, untangling himself from a sleeping Dorothy, he slipped silently out the window and into the frosty morning air, the wind screaming in his ears, fighting him as he picked up a foul-smelling shovel and began the glamorous task of handling manure.

Had Hunk been paying closer attention, he might've noticed the face of Dorothy's Aunt Em in the kitchen window, her eyes trained on him as a wicked smile twisted its way across her face.

Aunt Em was sitting stiffly at the table, slurping her coffee with a determined look in her eyes when Dorothy wandered into the kitchen at 7:00, yawning and patting down her unruly curls down.

"Good morning," she chirped pleasantly, bending to plant a loving kiss on her aunt's head. Auntie Em just grunted, causing a frown to flash across Dorothy's face as she reached for the old pail, swinging open the door and stepping outside, the wind causing her skirt to swirl around her knees.

Humming pleasantly, Dorothy made her way toward the hen house. Passing Zeke on her way, she noticed the older farmhand hunched over his rake, his eyes shut in fatigue. Dorothy bent down to gently set the rusty old bucket down, then she tiptoed stealthily up behind Zeke, a mischievous grin curling its way up her face. Once she was within a reasonable distance, Dorothy crouched and pounced onto his back, wrapping her arms and leg securely around his torso. Zeke gasped, staggering forward a few steps.

"Dorothy!" he exclaimed, putting a hand dramatically over his heart, "I could have died!"

Dorothy threw her head back and laughed as Zeke began to run wildly around, her arms still locked around his shoulders.

Just then, Uncle Henry wandered by, chuckling and shaking his head as he watched Dorothy and Zeke.

"Hi, Uncle H!" called Dorothy as Zeke swerved in his direction.

"Mornin', Mr. Gale!" hollered Zeke, whirling around and zipping off to where Hickory stood, hammering nails into the old barn door.

"Mornin', Zeke, Dorothy!" Henry shouted after them, before continuing toward the house, smiling uncontrollably.

Nearing his fellow farmhand, Zeke reached back and swung Dorothy around until he was carrying her bridal-style. Once he was within a foot or so from Hickory, Zeke yelled, 'Hick, catch!' and immediately tossed Dorothy lightly into air.

Dorothy's screams turned into howls of laughter once she landed safely in Hickory's arms. Hickory spun her around a few times before setting her on her feet. He then proceeded to remove his hat with a flourish, sweeping into a deep bow.

"Good morning, Miss Dorothy. How'd you sleep?"

"I slept wel-" Dorothy began, but cut herself off with a scream when she felt a pair of arms snake themselves around her waist. She was whirled around several times before the arms flipped her around so that she was, yet again, resting bridal-style, but, this time, in Hunk's arms.

"HOWDY, MA'AM!" hollered Hunk, to which Dorothy responded, "HOWDY, HUNK. WHY ARE WE SHOUTING?"

Hunk only laughed and tossed her to Hickory, who tossed her to Zeke, who tossed her back to Hunk, who caught her and pretended to stumble, falling backward into a haystack, Dorothy clutched in his arms. She rolled off of him and into the hay, and Hickory and Zeke collapsed onto either side of them. Dorothy looped her arm through Hunk's and laughed, sending the others into peals of chuckles.

Uncle Henry walked over to them, chuckling.

"I love seeing y'all's reunion every day. You act as though you ain't seen each other in months."

"I'll get working, Uncle Henry, don't worry," smiled Dorothy, and the four of them pulled themselves out of the hay, brushing themselves off as they stood. Hickory and Zeke headed off, waving to Dorothy and reminding her to call them for breakfast. Hunk offered Dorothy his arm again, and Dorothy slipped her arm through his. Together, they started for the hen house.

Upon reaching it, Hunk fidgeted with the lock, until, with one final tug, it gave a click. Hunk turned around triumphantly, bowing dramatically. Dorothy giggled and clapped wildly.

Hunk turned to the hen house, only to be stopped by Dorothy.

"Hang on." she reached out, picking stray pieces of straw from his hair.

"There!" Dorothy smiled, running her fingers through his hair once more before turning him toward the hen house once more, his scalp tingling from its contact with her fingers.

As Hunk stepped inside the hen house, he took a moment to steady his breathing.

Am I ill? wondered Hunk, his brows knitting together with concern. He reached for one of the closest eggs, turning and tossing it carefully to Dorothy, who caught it in her waiting hands and placed it gently in the bottom of the bucket. This pattern continued until the hen house was devoid of any eggs. Grinning, Hunk hopped out, locked it swiftly, then loped over to Dorothy, each of them taking one side of the bucket handle and starting off toward the house.

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Auntie Em watched her niece and the farmhand approaching, laughing and joking in perfect synchronization, and a sick, heavy feeling crept its way into the pit of her stomach. Em's hands bawled themselves into fists when Hunk left Dorothy on the doorstep, galloping away goofily and shouting over his shoulder, "Make the best omelet for me!"

Dorothy laughed and waved before turning around and ducking inside, bucket in tow. She flashed her aunt a greeting smile, which her aunt didn't return.

Dorothy began to hum as she inspected the eggs, preparing the kitchen for breakfast. When she glanced out the window at Hunk, an absent minded smile drifted lazily across her face. the look in her eyes as she gazed distractedly at him caused Em's feeling of dread to slowly spread through her legs and chest. Whether or not Dorothy knew it, this boy had changed her. And Em couldn't have any of that, now, could she?

It only took until to dinner for Aunt Em to hatch a simple, yet surely effective, plan.