Over the Rainbow Broom (aka There's No Place Like Home...Base)
by jodief1

Pairing: Ruby/Red (Wolfie) and Dorothy (Kansas)
Rated: Chs. 1 and 3 are T. Other will be M!
Status: I'll get them to home base at least...
Summary: Ruby/Red (Wolfie) and Dorothy (Kansas) commit to True Love, immediately post-5x18, "Ruby Slippers"
Boilerplate: ABC owns these characters, and I'm just borrowing them for fun and naughtiness.

A/N: It happens that I'm a native Kansan, and I'm tickled pink that the Dorothy of my youth finally gets to come out. My teen daughter agreed: what's the point of waiting for marriage when you already have true love? Thanks for reading and for any reviews (= true love for a writer, as you know...)

See larger cover image at postimg DOT org SLASH image SLASH notqk4a8r. Yes, those are real Legos I modded! :)

Dorothy and Ruby savored one another for a long, precious minute. Each woman felt as though she were laid bare by the passion rising within her and dancing between them. Time, always an elusive quarry in Oz, seemed to disappear entirely while the new lovers forged their first bonds of intimacy. Fortunately for their audience, however, they had to come up for air eventually.

Dorothy pressed her forehead against Ruby's ardently, conspiratorially. "I always wondered what true love would feel like," she murmured. Her low, deliberate tones made Ruby's mouth water. But then Dorothy grinned: "So far, I have to say it's fantastic."

Ruby laughed out loud. "Ohh, Kansas, you can say that again!" She felt electrified, lightheaded, as the nervous energy that had propelled her to this place began to dissipate. Cupping Dorothy's face in both her gloved hands, Ruby gave her beloved another firm kiss, and then she took Dorothy's fingers between her own in order to tug her off the bier as she stepped away to make room. "You okay to stand? Great." Ruby took a moment to breathe and compose herself. "Okay. ...So, you already know Mulan, who's been watching over you until I could return. But come meet my best friend Snow White, who should really take the credit for getting me here."

Ruby turned and gestured at the short-haired woman standing next to the Chinese warrior, as Dorothy looked past Ruby to see them for the first time. Mulan and Dorothy moved forward, Toto barking joyfully at their heels, and exchanged embraces with the two lovers. After releasing Dorothy, Snow warmly told her how happy she was to meet her. "And I'm so proud of you for following your heart!" she said while reaching out toward Ruby. "You both make me feel so much more hopeful, despite all of the challenges we're facing."

"Snow – I know you need to get back to baby Neal." Ruby's eyebrows furrowed with concern. "I really miss Granny, myself, but I know that my place is here for now." As she caught a reassuring smile from Dorothy, Ruby gripped her hand resolutely. "Could you please tell Granny what's happened and let her know I'll be back to see her as soon as I – or we – can?"

"Yes, yes," Snow blinked. "Of course." Then she turned back to Dorothy. "But the silver slippers belong to you! How will you…"

"No, thanks." Dorothy was polite, but firm. "I don't want anything to do with those slippers, actually. If they're not here in Oz, Zelena will have less reason to come back to this realm. Please take them away with you."

Ruby chuckled, looking from Dorothy to Snow. "She's right. We'll find another way to get back to Storybrooke once Oz is no longer in danger. I've traveled between realms without the silver slippers before, and I can do it again. Just let Granny know that I love her. And give your sweet baby a couple of extra kisses from me!" She turned to Mulan. "I can't begin to thank you for helping me find my path – you're a true friend. What do you think you might like to do now?"

Mulan smiled. "It has been my pleasure, Ruby. This land is quite fascinating. But if the two of you think you can handle things here, perhaps I should…"

Snow placed a gentle hand on Mulan's arm. "If you haven't got any other plans, Mulan, I could really use some help in Storybrooke. And, you never know – maybe you'll find something, or someone, there for yourself."

Mulan nodded thoughtfully. "I would be glad to help in any way I can. Just…" she turned back to Ruby and Dorothy. "Just take care of yourselves. Oz is a big place. It will be difficult to keep it secure."

"I know. We will." As Ruby leaned down to start removing the silver slippers, Dorothy placed a tentative hand on her back and looked up imploringly at Snow and Mulan.

"Wait – before you go," Dorothy addressed them while Ruby looked up at her, puzzled – "could you…could you be our witnesses?" She gazed lovingly down at Ruby. "That is…if you want to marry me now, Wolfie. Madame Mayor can perform a very quick ceremony. But I think our friends should be here."

Ruby's heart leapt into her throat, and a small gasp escaped her lips before she could stop it. Dorothy's face paled in response, so Ruby gripped her arm to prevent her from getting the wrong idea. Unable to speak, in awe of her love's forthrightness, Ruby lost herself in Dorothy's gaze for a few moments and nodded, smiling broadly even as she felt her eyes well up with tears. Dorothy's color returned, and she grinned from ear to ear.

"Yes," Ruby finally choked out as she straightened up. "Yes, of course, it's perfect." She glanced over at her old friend. "Snow, I know this is happening really fast, but it's true love. What else are we going to do, date for a while first?" The other women laughed. "I do wish Granny could be here," Ruby continued, "but she'll understand." She finished untying the silver slippers and stepped out of them. Now both lovers stood side by side in stocking feet.

"What can I say?" Snow replied in a wavering voice. "I would have married Charming as soon as he woke me, too. We just felt like we needed to put on a big production for the kingdom – and look what came of that! I would be honored to be your witness. Mulan?"

Mulan nodded enthusiastically, beaming at the lovers, who were now gazing into one another's eyes. She cleared her throat to focus them on the task at hand. "Let's do it!"

Madame Mayor, a gray-haired Munchkin in a large hat sporting the shiny mayoral medallion, happened to be standing close by, and she moved cheerfully in front of the bier where Dorothy had just been awakened. Next to her stood her assistant, holding quill and parchment. "By the power vested in me, I ask you all to come forward." The four friends approached her: the lovers stood in the center, while Snow came to stand next to Ruby, and Mulan next to Dorothy (and Toto).

The mayor then asked for the newcomers' names and lands of birth, which were duly recorded by the scribe. She invited Dorothy and Ruby to face one another; they took off their gloves, handed them to their respective friends, and clasped hands. Ruby thought her heart might beat right out of her chest, while Dorothy couldn't see anything but the stunning beauty before her. "In the presence of friends and this community of Munchkins," the mayor continued, "will you both promise to form a loving union for life?"

"We will," both women responded in unison.

"Will you both promise to honor this union above all other commitments to family or community?"

"We will."

"Will you both promise to care jointly for any children or creatures who might come under your protection?"

Toto yipped, and Ruby picked him up, continuing to join one hand with Dorothy's. Everyone laughed, and Dorothy grasped Toto's nape with her free hand. "We will."

"Will your witnesses promise to do everything in their power to support and protect your union?"

Snow and Mulan chimed in: "We will!"

"Then," concluded Madame Mayor, "you now are united in love, in Munchkin Land, throughout Oz, and across all realms." Despite his renewed yipping, Ruby lowered Toto to the ground so that she could wrap her arms around her beloved and kiss her deeply once more, this time to the sound of enthusiastic applause. When they parted, both women felt lightheaded: if ever there were a storybook beginning, this must be it.

Dorothy leaned over to whisper in Ruby's ear, sending shivers down her spine: "There's no place like home, Wolfie."