Disclaimer, you know.
After the panic with the jester Glinda sent everyone home. Dorothy had the scepter and the slippers returned to her. The first thaw and Mr. Diggs's funeral had come and gone. Aislynn had refused to talk to anyone for days. Ellie and Dorothy had tried for days to get her to leave her bedroom. Not even Glinda could convince her. The only time they saw her before break had ended was at meal times. The only time she ever talked now was at school to answer questions in class. It was now the end of another school day, Dorothy had told Ellie to take Aislynn home and she would catch up. As soon as they were out of sight Dorothy walked back into the school and to the gym where Alex was serving one of his many detentions that he had to make up. He was washing the graffiti that his old group left on the gym walls off. When she walked into the gym, Mr. Clarke the gym teacher was surprised to see her here so late.
"Good afternoon Dorothy, what are you still doing here, you didn't get a detention as well did you?" Mr. Clarke asked looking over to Alex.
"No, I figured Alex could use some company." Dorothy said.
"That's nice of you, but you really shouldn't be in the school after hours unless you are serving a detention or are staying with one of the teachers for extra help with your homework." Mr. Clarke replied.
"I know the policy Mr. Clarke, again, I thought Alex might like some company." Dorothy said walking over to Alex.
"Well, I'll let you stay, but you two will need to keep talking to a minimum, he is here serving detentions that he never served." Mr. Clarke said.
"Mr. Clarke, how's my nephew's detention going? Oh hello Dorothy." Mr. Alistair said walking in followed by Mr. Teak.
"Good afternoon Mr. Alistair, good afternoon Mr. Teak." Dorothy said.
"It's nice to see him actually doing work for a change." Mr. Teak said.
"What are you still doing here?" Mr. Alistair asked Dorothy curiously.
"I'm keeping alex company." Dorothy replied.
"That's nice of you." Mr. Alistair said.
"He shouldn't have company, this kind of work deserves solitude and loneliness." Mr. Teak said chuckling.
"Mr. teak would you mind leaving?" Mr. Alistair said looking at his brother in law.
"Yes sir." He said saluting and walking out of the gym.
Mr. Alistair sighed and walked over to Dorothy and Alex.
"Why do I feel that your father still puts no faith in you whatsoever?" Mr. Alistair asked curiously
"Because he despises me, because I've spent years being a bad egg, he refuses to believe I've changed." Alex said scrubbing the walls harder.
"I see, well at least my sister has faith in you." Mr. Alistair said.
"As does Annabella." Dorothy said chuckling.
"Mr. Clarke you're free to leave if you wish, I'll take over from here." Mr. Alistair said.
"See you tomorrow then." He said jogging over to the back door of the gym and walking out.
"Alex, to be honest I'm glad that your serving all your detentions but this extra work is causing you to miss your dance lessons according to your mother." Mr. Alistair said.
"Yes uncle, I figured I may as well prove that I have changed by working." Alex said.
"Well you should take a break at some point." Mr. Alistair said.
"Dorothy?" came the voice of Mr. Foreman as he walked in.
"Oh hello Mr. Foreman, what brings you here?" Dorothy asked as he walked in
"Dorothy, your aunt is in the hospital, she's fine, she just passed out while working, your uncle called me to bring you and your friends to the hospital, Ellie and ace are already in my truck." He said.
"Alex, you should go to." Mr. Alistair said.
"But uncle, my detention." Alex said.
"It's done, just go." He said.
Alex didn't argue, he just got up and placed the rag on the rim of the bucket of water. He then walked over to Dorothy and took her hand. They then quickly walked out of the school and to Mr. Foreman's truck. Soon they were off towards the hospital.
"I'm sure your aunt is completely fine." Ellie said.
"I know, I'm sure she is, but she's never just passed out before, that's normally my job." Dorothy said making them all chuckle.
"Dorothy, don't worry about it." Alex said squeezing her hand.
"I'll try." Dorothy said rummaging through her satchel and pulling out the slippers.
"I'm glad you don't wear those during the school day." Aislynn said.
"Yea, imagine if I accidently clicked my heels together while I was doing school work." Dorothy said
"What would happen if you did that without giving a command to them?" Aislynn asked.
"I asked Glinda that once, she said something about being sent to some random location in oz." Ellie said.
"Well that makes me feel so much better." Dorothy said taking off her flats and putting on the slippers.
They went along the rest of the short ride in silence. When they arrived at the hospital they found henry waiting for them, smiling with Toto on his lap. Dorothy ran over to her uncle and hugged him. He then took Toto off his lap and led them to the room her aunt was in. when they got there they found Doctor Maxwell and Glinda in there. Ellie was surprised to see her sister here of all people and she wanted to know why.
"Ah now we can give them the good news." Doctor Maxwell said.
"What good news?" Dorothy asked walking over to her aunt's side.
"Dorothy, you're going to have a little cousin, or cousins." Em said.
It took Dorothy a minute to register this. Her mind went for a quick swim and left her behind on shore. She dropped the scepter in surprise and it sparked as it hit the ground. It was several minutes before Dorothy managed to say anything.
"Auntie Em that's wonderful." Dorothy said wrapping her arms around her aunt's neck.
"How long have you known?" Ellie asked.
"I've been showing symptoms for over a month now, I just wasn't sure." Em said.
"You've done a good job at hiding it Em, but the weight gain will be hard to hide." Henry said.
"You've known?" Dorothy asked.
"Yes, I have, but we weren't sure." Henry replied.
"Well Dorothy, looks like you'll finally have more family members." Alex said.
"Yea, I'm so…" Dorothy said trailing off, a tear then came to her eyes.
"Dorothy, what's wrong?" Aislynn asked with concern.
"Dorothy?" Glinda said walking over to Dorothy and placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Glinda, you know exactly what I'm thinking." Dorothy said.
"Well you could be thinking a large variety of things." Ellie said wrapping her arms around Dorothy.
"Mr. and Mrs. Gale you don't mind if I take Dorothy to Oz with me?" Glinda asked.
"Not at all." They replied
"Can I come along?" Alex asked curiously.
"Yes alex." Glinda said bending over and picking up the scepter
Alex then walked over and placed his hand on Dorothy's shoulder. Dorothy was on the verge of completely breaking down and crying. She then felt herself lurch forward, when the usual sensations had stopped she found herself sitting on the throne in the chambers. Alex was leaning against one of the arms of the throne and catching his breath. Glinda was standing in front of her with the scepter floating next to her. She walked up to Dorothy and placed her hand under Dorothy's chin.
"What's troubling you my dear?" Glinda asked.
Dorothy looked up at Glinda worriedly. Glinda didn't like this look on Dorothy's face. Tears began to trickle down the girls face. Glinda wrapped her arms around Dorothy tightly.
"Glinda, I'm putting my family in danger, the jester could use my cousin to get to me, he, he, oh Glinda what am I going to do?" Dorothy said bursting into tears.
"Dorothy, I promise you once your aunt gives birth I'll do what can to keep your family protected." Glinda said running a hand through Dorothy's hair.
"Glinda, might I make a suggestion?" Alex asked.
"Sure." Glinda said facing him.
"Why don't you keep Mrs. Gale here?" Alex suggested.
"You mean like keep her here in the emerald city under surveillance and under our protection?" Glinda asked curiously.
"Yes." Alex said
"We'd have to get her to agree to that." Glinda said releasing Dorothy from the embrace.
"It's for her protection, for the child's protection." Alex said
Glinda sighed and looked at Dorothy. She then waved her wand and vanished leaving Dorothy and Alex alone. Alex looked around and wondered where everyone was. He then got up and walked around the throne so he could face Dorothy. She still had tears rolling down her face. He took out a handkerchief that his mother gave him and dabbed her eyes.
"Alex, it didn't take me too long to comprehend what I did, you all realize that even knowing me puts you in danger don't you?" Dorothy asked.
"Of course we do, Dorothy we know the risks, and we know it's dangerous, but that will never stop us from sticking by your side." Alex said taking Dorothy's hand in his.
Dorothy looked at Alex and got up from the throne and hugged him. She found that she couldn't stop crying at this point. She hugged Alex tightly and closed her eyes. She continued to sob into Alex's shoulder for a few minutes before Glinda reappeared.
"Alex would you mind leaving Dorothy and I alone for a bit?" Glinda said.
"Yea, I'll go see if I can't find the others." Alex said as Dorothy released him.
"Oh right, they aren't here, they are at Locasta's castle, they'll be back tomorrow morning." Glinda said.
"Then I guess I'll wait outside then." Alex said walking out.
"Why are they at Locasta's?" Dorothy asked sniffling.
"Dorothy you know why." Glinda said sighing.
Dorothy looked at Glinda with a look of surprise. Glinda couldn't have sent them as a war council. Glinda looked at her with a look of shock in what she just told the child.
"I thought there were going to be no more secret meetings!" Dorothy said backing away from Glinda.
"Dorothy! It's not like that." Glinda said
"Then what!?" Dorothy yelled holding out her hand for the scepter
"Dorothy, I, Dorothy please calm down." Glinda said getting worried as she approached Dorothy.
"How can I calm down when you guys betray my trust!?" Dorothy yelled continuing to back away holding the scepter in a defensive position.
"Dorothy, please calm down, you know what's going to happen if you blow your stack." Glinda said as Em, henry, Ellie and Aislynn appeared in the room.
"Oh dear, Mrs. Gale, get out of here now, just in case." Ellie said
Em nodded and quickly ran out of the chambers, henry followed to keep his wife safe.
"Dorothy, please calm down." Aislynn said keeping her distance from Dorothy.
"How can I calm down if you guys still betray my trust!?" Dorothy asked.
"So she found out then sis?" Ellie said pulling her sister back from Dorothy.
"Sadly I let it slip." Glinda said.
"Oh Glinda." Ellie said sounding disappointed.
"You knew!?" Dorothy asked continuing to back away.
"Dorothy." Ellie said taking a step towards Dorothy.
"Stay away from me!" Dorothy said pointing the scepter at Ellie.
Ellie gasped and backed away. Dorothy soon found herself with her back firmly against the wall. She looked at her friends. She began to feel anger welling up inside of her, she couldn't control it. And next thing she knew a wave of energy was released from her body and she blacked out.