Disclaimer you know.
When Christmas had once more come and gone and the date of the school dance was announced Ellie had been trying to convince Dorothy and Alex to go.
"I may have to help take care of the triplets that night." Dorothy said.
"Your uncle and I will be fine for just one night." Em said nursing Robert off a bottle.
"What about the scepter? I can't very well dance when I have to keep people from noticing that this thing floats." Dorothy said.
"Aislynn or I can chaperone, and one of us can hold the scepter whilst you two are dancing." Ellie said giggling.
"What about the jester?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"Glinda said that she and the girls could always show up at a moment's notice." Ellie said.
"I don't have a dress other than my holiday one." Dorothy said.
"That's something all of us could help with, you do have dresses in the emerald city, and your aunt has a solution." Ellie said.
"Yes, the Johnsons were sorting through some of your parents old things and they found a dress that looks about your size, I remember when your father bought that dress for you mother, for their first school dance." Em said.
"Auntie Em…I…no…but…dang it." Dorothy said.
"So you'll go?" Ellie asked curiously.
"Yes, just get me the dress." Dorothy said in defeat
"Can do." Em said.
"Go get Alex from the barn, he was helping your uncle re-shoe the horse." Em said.
Dorothy nodded, and got up. Grabbing the scepter she walked out of the farm house. She ran out to the barn, when she got there Alex was just emerging from barn. Dorothy ran into him and embraced him.
"We're going." Dorothy said.
"Your uncle was telling me they would likely convince you, what did they say to convince you?" Alex asked.
"The Johnson's found the dress my mother wore to her first school dance, great way to get me to do stuff, make me think 'What would my parents do, or what would they want me to do?' and the thing is, my parents would convince me to go all the same, I would disappoint them if I didn't go to at least one." Dorothy said.
"Your parents would be proud that you always think about them." Henry said emerging from the barn.
"I know, I just don't like remembering them, it's painful, you guys know that." Dorothy said.
"Dorothy, where are your parents buried?" Alex asked curiously.
"I'll have my uncle drive us up there after lunch." Dorothy said.
"Dorothy, are you sure?" Henry asked worriedly.
"Yes uncle henry." Dorothy said.
Uncle Henry simply nodded. They then went back to the farmhouse. As they got in Henry ran up to his wife and whispered in her ear. She sighed and looked at Dorothy worriedly. She sighed as Ellie and Brought out a plate of sandwiches for them to have for lunch. After they had all eaten Dorothy went to her bed room and grabbed her jacket. As she walked past her aunt and uncles room she saw Toto and Aislynn keeping an eye on amber and Alicia while Em was taking care of Robert. The three of them didn't really do much, they hardly even cried, only when they were hungry or needed changing. If they were tired they would just start dozing. The three of them didn't like being separated from each other that much either. She looked in at them and smiled. She then continued on her way.
"Dorothy, are you sure you want to go?" Henry asked.
"Yes uncle henry." Dorothy said walking over to Alex.
Henry sighed and grabbed his jacket. They then went out to the truck and got in. soon they were off. When they had finally arrived at the gates of the graveyard Dorothy and Alex emerged from the truck. Immediately the scepter began glowing brightly and a bouquet of flowers materialized in her free hand. She chuckled weakly and grasped them.
"Would you like to come this time uncle henry?" Dorothy asked.
"No, no, I come here on my own a lot." Henry said.
Dorothy sighed and handed Alex the flowers. She then walked up to the gate and pushed it open. She then grabbed Alex's hand and led him into the graveyard. They walked past many graves before they reached the statue that marked her parents grave. She knelt down and traced her finger over the stone.
"So, this is it then?" Alex asked kneeling down next to her.
Dorothy nodded and Alex placed the flowers down upon the grave. Alex read the inscription aloud.
"In loving memory of Frank and Madeline Gale, Parents and friends, may their memory live on and again." Alex said.
"The last time I read that aloud I was showing this place to Aislynn." Dorothy said as Alex wrapped an arm around her.
"What would you do to see them again?" Came the booming voice of Father Time from behind them
Dorothy and Alex looked back in surprise. Father time was standing behind them, now wearing a brown tweed suit and a bowler to match.
"Seeing them again, no, no, out of the question, it would hurt way too much." Dorothy said looking at him as tears began to form in her eyes.
"Forgive me if I offended you in some way." Father time said walking towards them.
"No, you didn't offend me, it's just, and well you probably already can guess." Dorothy said.
"Yes, well, I must return to my domain." He said vanishing.
"I really have no remark for that." Alex said looking at Dorothy.
Dorothy turned back to the grave as tears began to fall from her eyes onto to the stone. Alex wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly.
"I wonder what my parents would think of me with what I've gotten myself into." Dorothy said.
"I'm sure they would be proud that you are defending what you believe in and the people you love." Alex said trying to sound reassuring.
Dorothy smiled weakly and chuckled. She nodded and started crying softly. The leaned her head on Alex's shoulder and closed her eyes. Immediately the memories began flooding back. She cried a bit harder before she sniffed and wiped her eyes. She then got up and tightened her grasp on the scepter. She helped Alex to his feet and they walked hand in hand out of the graveyard. When they were in her uncle's truck and were on their way back to town Dorothy rested her head on Alex's shoulder and cried a little more. When they arrived back at the farmhouse they found that the Teaks were there waiting for them. Mrs. Teak and Annabella were happy to see them, but Mr. Teak gave them a stern look. He had been doing that since the incident in the woods.
"So, you and Alex are going to the school dance together?" Mrs. Teak asked.
"Yes Mrs. Teak, thank you for asking." Dorothy said smiling.
"That's great, when we get home I'll have to take Alex out to get a new suit." Mrs. Teak said.
"Can I come?" Annabella asked curiously.
"Yes Annabella." Mrs. Teak said chuckling.
"Well Dorothy, I'll see you later." Alex said.
"Yep." Dorothy said.
Alex kissed Dorothy on the cheek and then he went with his family back to their truck. As soon as their truck was out of sight on the road Dorothy walked up onto the porch and sat down. At any rate she would be ready for the school dance.