James and Snow came in through the back door of their grand room and heard laughter. James cleared his throat and the woman in pink and Red in her red cloak looked up. Red bowed just a bit, "Queen Snow White, King James... may I present. Galinda was it?"

The woman in pink smiled a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, "Glinda actually. But, close enough."

Snow took the lead with a smile, "And to what do we owe this visit Glinda?"

"It's a..."

Phelan appeared from out of nowhere and smirked, "Vacation?"

Everyone stared back at her with blank looks on their faces. "Yeah, didn't think that would translate. You're on a walkabout. Taking a little time from well, whatever you're taking it from?"

Glinda nodded, "Yes, yes, indeed I am. You call it a- vacation?" Phelan nodded. "I am Glinda."

Phelan raised her eyebrows, "Guess Baum wasn't quite as inventive as we all thought." She chuckled, "Ah, I'm Phelan, but everyone calls me Wolf."

Glinda narrowed her eyes as they shook hands, "You suffer from Lycanthropy. If you would like I can cure you of it."

Phelan regarded Glinda, "Ah, no, no thanks. Red, I thought we were going to meet for an early supper at the Inn?"

Red smiled and put her arm through Phelan's. "I apologize Wolf. I just got caught up talking with Glinda."

Phelan smirked again, "Ah Red Riding Hood, always about the gossip."

"I am not."

"And the pretty ladies."

"Wolf... I... I am not."

"Are too."

They left the grand room throwing am nots and are toos back and forth. Snow rolled her eyes and James shook his head. Glinda turned to the two rulers. "Your subjects seem very... happy here."

Snow nodded, "That's all we want. For everyone to prosper and find their happiness in Happily Ever After. Just as we have. So, are you hungry?"

"I could eat a bit if you have enough."

James laughed, "Oh, we always have enough. Come. Eat. You can tell us why you wear quite so much pink." James jumped a little as Snow elbowed him in the gut. "What. It's a valid question. Why are you covered in pink?"

Glinda seemed to look towards the great beyond as she took a breath, "Pink goes good with green."

"Finally we're doing something."

Elphaba waved her hand and Baelfire's lips disappeared. He freaked out, pawing at them and making unintelligible noises until Elphaba silenced him with a look. "You get use of your mouth back once we're done. It's not permanent. Amateurs, I'm working with amateurs."

They snuck down a dingy dark hallway and carefully peeked around a corner. Baelfire put his fingers up to his lips again, but dropped them when Elphaba shot him another look. They walked down the hall, "You all think that I'm some green freak right. No power. No spine. Just because I am quiet in your and our co-conspirators presences and don't wish to... give in to my baser urges with you, that all means nothing. Now... sshhh..."

Baelfire stared daggers at Elphaba, but was finally resigned to having no voice. And they were finally where they needed to be. They both looked through the bars down at the quite unconscious and very big Gruff. "So, that's a troll huh. Big guy." She put her hands over the lock of the cell and closed her eyes for a moment. The door popped open. "You're up Bael, let's get him out of here."

Between the two of them they managed to drag the very large troll out of the cell.

"What did you trade for my freedom."

Emma's shoulders shook with laughter. She struck her flint and started the fire. "Ah Regina, first time we've really been alone in..."

Regina wasn't smiling, "Whatever it is..."

Emma held up a hand as she cut off Regina, her laughter gone, "Don't finish that sentence. Don't tell me that you're not worth it. Alright. Alright. Look. I'm sweaty, and tired, and... I'll be back. Don't... just..." Emma shook her head and walked towards the trees leaving Regina in the clearing.

A young man in a guard's uniform came running into the dining room just as Snow, Glinda and James were sitting down. He saluted and then spoke in an out of breath voice, "There... He escaped. Somehow. I was, and then, and..."

James stood and put a hand on the guard's shoulder. "Just take a breath and tell us. Who escaped?"

"Gruff. And..." The guard shook his head, "They have no idea how. The door wasn't broken, and no one saw them or anything."

Glinda had stood and spoke up, "Perhaps I could be of assistance. I have seen all sorts of magics in my life."

Snow and James conferred through a look and Snow nodded. "Alright. Alright. Let's go."

"You didn't come back. I was going to apologize when you came back Em-"

Emma sat staring at the glittering water of the lake she'd found. "Don't."

Regina sat next to Emma, "Will you stay with Snow and James then?"

"No."

Regina frowned, "Then whe-"

"I'm not angry with you Regina, it's more... complicated than that. I thought that, hey, this is Happily Ever After, it'll be simpler. It's not."

"And your promise is complicated?"

Emma turned her head and stared at Regina for a long second. She stood and brought Regina up with her, and then without a word swept Regina off her feet and into her arms and with a heave dropped her off the slight rise and into the water.

Regina sank for a second she was so surprised, but quickly came to the surface, sputtering. When her eyes cleared she blinked up at a smirking Emma, "Wha? Why did you..."

Regina didn't get to finish her question and had to move out of the way as Emma jumped into the water as well, swamping Regina again. "Swan-"

Emma laughed and pulled Regina towards her, treading water. She kissed the dark haired woman, "I love you."

Regina raised an eyebrow at Emma, "I loved you the moment before you drenched me. Now, I'm not so sure of my feelings for you Miss Swan." Emma smiled, "Why did you soak me?"

Emma looked up at the sky, "It's a beautiful night. A gorgeous lake, gorgeous company... and, ask me again."

Regina held onto Emma and slowly kicked her feet in a circle to stay above water. "Are you sure?" Emma nodded and Regina asked a question that was slight different from before. "Does what you promised them have to do with Henry? Or children?"

"No."

"Marriage?"

"No. Definitely no. Only you Regina."

Regina floated closer, they were body to body. "Nothing that would result in your death?"

"No."

Regina nodded, "Okay."

"Okay? That's it?"

Regina paused, "Will you tell me one day?"

Emma groaned, "I hope I will never have to, but- yes."

Regina pushed back a lock of Emma's soaking wet hair, "Is it that bad?"

"No- it's just something I hope will never happen. It's not something that I want to do. So, should we get out and have something to eat?"

Regina smiled, "Not quite yet. I have you just where I want you..." And just under the water kissed the hollow of Emma's neck.

Glinda stood in front of the door and studied it. She lay her hand on it. Paying no attention to the two sets of eyes on her.

She mumbled for a moment under her breath and when she opened her eyes she looked a bit confused, "I- recognize the magic. I think, but I cannot recall from where."

"So, it was magic?"

Glinda took a step back, her hands daintily at her sides. "Yes. I will- meditate on where I have felt the power before. Of course, if the offer of a meal still stands I am quite hungry still."

Snow took Glinda by the arm and led her up the stairs from the dungeon as James stayed behind and gave orders to the guards. Where to start looking for Gruff, etc. "Of course the offer stands. Will you tell us of the kingdom where you hail from?"

"I'd be delighted to. It's an Emerald City for sure."

As three people stepped through the door of Maleficent's castle Elphaba took off the spell on Baelfire's mouth.

He lunged for Elphaba, swearing at her and calling her every name he knew.

It took three of Maleficent's servant guards to pull him off Elphaba, who said nothing back to him. Simply stood and went to her rooms in her wing.

It was Belle who appeared an hour or so later. She gave the door a knock and stepped in. "Maleficent isn't happy."

Elphaba didn't look up from the book she was reading. "Nothing I did was permanent. He was uncomfortable for a brief time."

Belle put her hands on her hips, "Now I know you're holding back your anger. Because every time he opens his mouth I want to slap him, or stab him."

Elphaba looked up at the red head, "You're all a bunch of lily liver-ed cowards playing at evil."

Belle's eyes narrowed and went cold, "I assure you- greenie- I am playing at nothing. We were sent to another world for thirty years at least, and then brought back. Except for my love. I don't remember anything from the other world where we supposedly were, but I do know that The Evil Queen - Regina, she is the only one who has enough to kill my love and for that I will flay her alive and slowly drain her power." She paused, "I wouldn't need help if she hadn't cast some sort of spell on the weak minded of Happily Ever After. Some of them even seem to love her. But, no matter what I have to do, no matter who I have to ally with I will to get my revenge."

Elphaba frowned at the shorter woman. "But, you seem like... don't you have friends on the other side?"

Belle made a face, "I do. And if they get hurt I will be sad. It is also why Maleficent doesn't trust me. But, none of that matters."

Elphaba put her book aside, "Perhaps you aren't the babe in the woods I thought you were."

Belle sat down in front of Elphaba, "So, what's your plan then?"

"Oh, I don't have a plan."

Belle narrowed her eyes at Elphaba, "Then why in the world do you go outside in this cold?" She stood and held her hands in front of her chest, "Alright. You don't trust me yet either... but, when you do... I can be an ally."

Elphaba watched Belle go for a moment, then pushed her glasses up her nose and picked back up her book.