Disclaimer- I don't own Wicked or Rent.

The next morning found everyone gathered together in the dining room for breakfast. Knowing how the previous day's events at the party had upset the girls, the adults tried to keep the mood lighter than usual. They knew that Emmy had questioned Elfie about wanting to turn the two boys purple, and she was amazed to realize that she really would have done it if Elphaba hadn't intervened. What moved Emmy even more though was the sight of the room Elfie had all but destroyed in her anger. Emaurie had always known how much her cousin loved her, but this sight was to her, only visual proof of that fact. She knew that she would have done the same, given the ability. Somehow now, she didn't feel so strange. Elfie had her own powers too. Together, they would learn to master them.

This morning, however, they were deeply debating the values of board games over dolls and tea parties. Hearing them, their mothers were content for the moment. This was quite normal behavior for the girls. They discussed their differences and came up with solutions. Maureen moved the adult conversation forward in a light manner.

"So, how have the Village's Halloween parades been lately?" For her sister and the others she added, "The Village has the best costume parades at Halloween! You wouldn't believe the outfits! Some of them are amazing!"

Joanne laughed and nodded, sipping her tea. "I'd say they were up to standard. Mark tried to get me to join in but I was too busy. I went to the parades though."

Mark raised an eyebrow and half smiled. "Yeah, she went, but she said she had too many legal briefs to get out. Not enough time to make a decent costume."

Maureen bubbled over. "Tell me, tell me! Who wore what? Anything memorable?"

Mark looked around the room, shrugging his shoulders. "Rosie…you know, from the Life Café? She went as the Witch of the West, broomstick and all." He could not bring himself to say 'Wicked'. "One of her friends was a flying Monkey." He looked at Elphaba now, "Sorry."

Her answer surprised him. "Did she at least look good?"

Mark smiled back at her, acknowledging her grace. "Yes, mostly because she was smiling too much to look anything but good." He paused. "Nothing like the real lady of course, no comparison." Her answer was a warming smile of thanks.

"Mommy?" It was Emaurie. "Can we go play now? We both finished our breakfast."

"May we be excused?" This came from Elfie. Maureen and Elphaba exchanged an unspoken look and the former said, "Yes, yes you may."

The green witch then added, "Bring Chistery and the others with you though, and stay close."

The girls promised and before leaving the table, begged Mark to join them. "Please? Please come play in the garden with us? We'll be good, we promise!"

Mark agreed and taking a final sip of tea, he joined the girls and the Monkeys in the garden. He had to run to catch up to them. Luckily, he ran a good deal in New York. Joanne began to giggle softly.

"What?" asked Maureen.

Joanne continued to laugh. "It's just that I've never seen Mark so easily wrapped around someone's finger…or fingers in this case. He's usually swayable, but the girls? Well, can't you see it? If they said, 'Jump', he'd ask, 'How high?' I love it!"

The others agreed and joined her in a good natured laugh, relaxing.

It was then that the air was split by blood-curdling screams…screams that continued on and on. The girls! They were on their feet in an instant each of them recognizing that the screams came from their daughters.

Fiyero was first out the doors and vaulted the railings of the terrace. Emrys was on his heels with Elphaba and Maureen flying down the stone steps. Fiyero could see them in the garden. What frightened him was the fact that Elfie and Emmy continued to scream. It was the sound of pure terror and horror. He felt Emrys at his elbow now, looking to his side, he could see the same fear in his face as he knew he wore on his own.

"Elfie!" "Emmy, Emmy!" Both men called to their daughters, but still, only screams and the sound of loud racking sobs reached back to them.

They could see Mark. He was on his knees, an arm tightly held around each girl. He kept them both faced away from whatever had frightened them so much and the closer they got, the more they could both see that what he was staring at sickened and frightened him as well.

Emrys saw Emaurie try to turn back to look again, then saw Mark tighten his grip on her, forcing her to look away, forbidding her the sight. Fiyero called to them again, and this time, Elfie looked up at his advancing figure. Still she held tight to Mark as if he were an anchor keeping her from drifting away from the place she stood. Emmy had looked up again as well. She saw her father and stopped screaming, though the loud racking sobs continued, even as he held her eyes.

Only when Fiyero and Emrys reached them, would Mark relinquish his iron grip on both girls. He held them fast, and they in fear and horror, had each latched onto him, holding him like a lifeline. He could feel each tremor that moved through their bodies. More than anything, he wanted to spare them a second of the sight before him.

Before him lay the bloody and broken body of one of the Flying Monkeys. He was lying in the grass, one paw extended up and out, as if begging a silenced plea for help, or issuing a silenced warning. Whatever had killed him had done so viciously and violently. The Monkey's now blind eyes stared up skyward in abject terror.

Mark felt quite sick to his stomach, but would not think about it now. He needed to protect the girls as best he could until help came. Elfie and Emmy, had been just ahead of him, when they wandered onto this sight. Their screams were enough to break him out of the shock he felt when he saw it, and he had reacted quickly. He had grabbed each one of them and turned them away from the carnage, holding fast when they struggled at first to look back again. He would never let that happen! This was one of their friends, their protectors, their playmates. He knew they would feel this loss deeply.

He heard Fiyero reach them, take in the sight before him, and suck in air. Then he heard him call to his daughter softly, "Elfie, I'm here, Elfie. Come here." Her answering, "Daddy!" was enough to break his heart.

Then he felt Emrys. "Emmy? Come here, baby."

Mark's arms fell like lead blocks when he released the girls. He knew both fathers would make sure their daughters never again saw what he'd protected them from. Mark, himself, found he could not stop staring at what lay before him.

Maureen and Joanne ran straight to Emmy and Elfie, then saw what had frightened the girls so much. Even Maureen couldn't think to curse now, not in front of the girls. Her mind, however, ran through an alphabetical list of them.

Elphaba had run up, skirts flying and stopped to look at Fiyero who held Elfie so protectively. His face was a mix of so many emotions; she almost couldn't read them all. She stroked her daughter's tense back and kissed her head. Then she noticed Mark. Unbidden, her eyes followed the same path his eyes took, and she froze.

Mark looked up when she released a deep guttural moan of despair; watching her move one step at a time, slowly closer and closer, until she was less than a foot from the Monkey. Then he watched as the powerful Witch of the West reached out a shaking hand to her friend. Fiyero saw Mark look at him as if to ask why he didn't help his wife. Fiyero knew though that helping Fae through this would take time and skill on his part, but for now, she needed to grieve…and grieve she did.

Elphaba ran her hand along the Monkey's face, gently, ever so gently. Then, reaching up, she closed his eyes forever. Her shaking hand ran across his forehead and near his ear she saw two light colored stripes that ran down toward his now ripped open throat. Everyone saw her take in a deep shaking breath, hold it, and then heard her voice; disbelieving, yet soft and shaky, "Grale? Aaah… no, Grale."

She was shivering now, shaking as she clutched his paw for one last time, bringing it to her cheek. "Grale, I'm sorry…so sorry." She knelt there rocking in the grass. Unbeknownst to her, a crowd had gathered. Guards, courtiers, and staff, anyone who had heard the girls' screams had run to the garden.

Now they stood silently and respectfully as Elphaba mourned her lost friend. "I'll find out, Grale. I promise…I…promise."

She began to shake harder, and Fiyero whispered to Emrys, "Take the girls out of here now. I need to …she needs me. Don't let them see though. Don't let them see." Emrys saw the tears that filled Fiyero's eyes; they were there, but he was strong. Fiyero whispered to Elfie, rocking her gently. "Go with Uncle Emrys for now, hmm? You'll be safe, I promise, but Mama needs me now. Okay?" She looked deep into his eyes…eyes that matched hers in shape and color and she nodded.

Emrys motioned to several guards near him with his head, "Behind me."

They understood. They would act as a barrier so that the children could see no more than they had. Emrys shifted Emmy to one arm and opened his other to Elfie. "Come with me, my Pixie. Come with me." She fell into his embrace and he hugged her closely. Emrys waited until the guards had stepped in front of him to turn. The only things Emaurie and Elfie saw on the trip back were the kind and protective faces of the guards behind Emrys.

Maureen was with them, so was Joanne. A look from Fiyero had told Maureen who she should stay with. She had no doubt that her brother-in- law would do all he could for her sister. Mark had gone unnoticed in the grass. He stayed now and watched.

Elphaba still knelt in the bloody grass. She still held the Monkey's paw up to her cheek and rocked, shaking, always shaking. She spoke to him softly.

"Oh, Grale, if only you hadn't stayed with me when I freed you from the Wizard. You'd be safe now…free and safe. You could fly…and…oh Grale, no!"

She never heard the surprised gasp from the onlookers as she pulled Grale's bloody body into her arms and began to rock him gently, as if he were a child. She rocked, and rocked and Fiyero stood back watching, waiting. Then it came. The sound from her throat was low and then grew into a keening wail. All the while, Elphaba rocked her friend gently, straightening his wing carefully, she sobbed. Her dress, face, and hands were now covered in his blood. She never noticed.

Fiyero felt a hand clutch his and looked to see Chistery, mourning in his eyes. The other Monkeys were behind him, drawn, he knew, by Elphaba's pain. "We're so, so sorry." He told Chistery softly. The Monkey nodded sagely. "We know. Elphaba must not…hurt. We still love her…Grale too."

Elphaba had calmed a little but she still held Grale's body gently and rocked him.

Now, Fiyero made his move. He walked up behind her softly and knelt down. He reached out and began stroking her back easily with long slow strokes. She began to talk to him, although her eyes never left Grale.

"He was young, but he came with the others when they left the Wizard. Those marks on his face? They're scars. He was beaten by the Gale Force for fun and one of them used his knife on his face. I had a hard time getting it to heal. I couldn't stop the scars though. He should have left me when he healed; he'd be alive and free now."

"No." Elphaba looked up into Chistery's eyes. She almost looked away but he wouldn't let her. "No, with you we are free. Grale wanted to keep Elfie and Emmy safe! They…loved us! You would die for us…we would die for them, Elphaba. This is what Grale would say to Elphaba. You know this…deep down."

Chistery could see she had listened; now he stroked her cheek just as she had stroked Grale's. "We will take him from you, Elphaba. Don't worry. We will stay with him. Until we know what to do. You must trust your Chistery."

Taking one last look at her lost friend, she once more, stroked his cheek and gently adjusted his wing. "Goodbye, my friend. Thank you for all your gifts to me…your friendship, your faith, your trust and most of all your love. I'll remember them…and you always. Sleep well."

Then, the other Monkeys came forward to take his body from her. As they did, each Monkey stopped to stroke her cheek or pat her hand. Chistery hugged her gently. Carefully, they lifted his body from her lap and moved away just enough to allow them to take off in flight. They were heading towards the extra stable area that they called home when they visited.

Gently, Fiyero turned his wife's head to look into his eyes. He saw such pain and hurt! "Oh Yero…" Then, she burst into tears; loud racking sobs that made Mark catch his breath. No one who felt this much pain at the loss of a friend could be called wicked. He watched silently now, as she rested against her husband's chest and he held her and spoke to her soothingly.

"Let go, my Fae. Let go. That's it. I'm here. Let me be strong for now, just for now. That's it. I love you, my Fae. Let go, Fae. That's it. That's it."

After a time, she got quiet, and Fiyero stood, taking her in his arms. Slowly, he made his way back to the palace with Elphaba cradled in his arms. Mark remained at a polite distance but had stayed just in case Fiyero needed help. He watched them as a couple now. Her pain was his pain. He also saw that Elphaba wasn't the only strength in their relationship. He was the strength now. Strong, firm, and solid, Fiyero was her rock, she clung to him and their love as if he were a lifeline or lighthouse shining there to keep her from harm.

When they reached the palace, Mark dashed forward to open the doors. If that was all he could do, it was enough. Fiyero looked at him, tears still in his eyes, but firm, none the less.

"Thank Oz you were there. If the girls had been alone…thank you for taking care of them, Mark. I know I'm speaking for Maureen and Emrys too. We'll never be able to repay you."

Mark answered softly, gently, "Take care of Elphaba right now. Don't worry about me. That's my payment."

She looked up now. She was covered with blood and still crying softly but she managed to add, "Grale loved the girls. He was very protective of them. He'd want to thank you too…for watching over them when he couldn't. Thank you, Mark. Thank you for protecting them."

Fiyero carried his wife to their bedroom and ran a bath for her. She was still in shock he noted as he gently, ever so gently removed her blood covered gown and clothes. When she was ready, he set her in the tub and began to wash her off. He even washed her long raven black hair. While she sat soaking, he stripped off his own bloody clothes and then joined her in the large tub. When he knew he was clean, he stood up, carrying her with him and standing her beside the tub; he dried her with a soft towel.

Wrapping another around his waist, he moved with her to the fireplace and sat combing out her long hair, drying it with a towel and the warm air. Elphaba leaned into him while he ministered to her body, knowing that Yero knew this was the way to reach her soul as well. In all this time Elphaba said nothing. She had taken her thoughts and grief inward.

She knew Elfie and Emmy were safe and being loved just now by Maureen and Emrys. She would go to them when she was calmer; only then could she help them. Slowly, the morning took its toll, and she slept. Fiyero took this chance to put on fresh clothes and think. He knew his wife. She was pained and grieving right now, but soon, she would be healing. Healing for Fae meant action. That action this time, he knew, in part, would be to seek justice for their lost friend. This time, he more than approved.

A soft knock on the door caught his attention and he opened it just enough to enter the hall and speak to Emrys.

"How is she?"

"Hurting, grieving, but she'll heal. The girls?"

"The same I suppose, but in their case there's confusion as well. They are having a hard time understanding why anyone or anything would do that to Grale."

Emrys now put a hand on Fiyero's shoulder. "I sent orders that Grale is to be buried in our family's cemetery. He was a loyal and protective friend. I can think of no better reason. I'm on my way to ask Chistery if this idea is alright with them. I don't want to offend them and any of their traditions."

"I'm sure it will be fine. We haven't had many losses, but I'm sure they would see it as an honor. I know it will mean the world to Fae. Emrys, there's something else you should know, or realize." Fiyero continued. "Grale's body? When I saw the scene, I realized he had been attacked the same way Gorrian was. Another thing… his hand. It looked like it was pointing, so I looked to see what it was pointing at. I was a soldier, it's what you do."

"And?"

Fiyero looked him straight in the eye. "His hand was pointing straight toward the nursery windows."