1If you could look past the gaping hole in the front of Breena's house, it was a truly beautiful day in Munchkinland. The sun was shining in a cloudless sky, the birds were singing and Elphaba was showing off more than a little of that gorgeous green flesh by sporting a tank top.
Glinda still couldn't decide if she should be thanking Breena for talking her sister into wearing the less constrictive top or cursing her because it was turning out to be such a distraction. She couldn't concentrate on what Addena was saying for staring at Elphie.
Her breath caught in her throat as her lanky lover gestured with her hands, obviously trying to get a point across to Fiyero. There was something so mesmerizing about the way she moved. It made Glinda want to go shove the former scarecrow out of the way so she could put herself into those lithe arms. It also made her realize just how much she didn't like being stuck on a blanket on the lawn while he was at Elphie's side. She could help with the repairs just as well as anyone else.
"Linny."
"Huh?" Her sister's voice barely registered.
"You're drooling again." Addena waited for an indignant response at the prospect of such a thing but none came. "I'm sure Betak has something in the house you could use as a bib." She looked at her expectantly. "Oh for the love of…" She reached over and closed her sister's mouth.
That got Glinda's attention. "What are you doing?!"
"You were catching flies."
"Catching flies?" Glinda frowned. "What are you…" Her voice trailed off as she wrinkled her brow. "I was off in lala land again wasn't I?"
Addena nodded. "More like Elphaba land."
"Sorry. It's just… how can you not stare at Breena? Not that I was looking at Breena." She was quick to clarify. "I'm staring at Elphie, but Breena is wearing the same type of top and…"
"Calm down, Linny. I knew what you meant. And trust me, I am watching Bree. But I can carry on a conversation and look at my girlfriend at the same time. You, on the other hand, aren't just watching Elphaba. You're sitting there getting all hot and bothered because Fiyero is over there with her."
"I am not."
There was the indignation Addena was looking for earlier. "Yes you are but I can't for the life of me understand why. It's not like you have anything to be jealous of."
"Jealous? I'm not jealous."
"Linny."
"What? I'm not." Glinda squirmed under her sister's 'don't lie to me' look. "OK, maybe a little." She swallowed hard when her sister continued to stare at her. "Fine. I am. Are you happy now?"
"Of course not. But at least you admitted it."
"Can you blame me? Just look at him." She gestured toward the house. "Does he have to stand that close? And why does he keep touching her? There shouldn't be any touching going on. What does he know about house repairs anyway? He's a prince for crying out loud. Princes don't know anything about anything!" She pointed at her sister when she opened her mouth. "And don't you dare tell me to take it easy because we both know you'd be the same way if he was being all buddy buddy with Breena."
"He is buddy buddy with Bree. They're friends Linny." Addena half chuckled. "And you should know Elphaba would never even dream of being with anyone but you."
"It's not her I'm worried about." Glinda huffed.
Addena grinned. "You're so cute when you pout."
"Stop being mean or I'll kick you off the blanket."
"Go ahead. I'll just go get my own."
Glinda finally grinned. "I've missed this."
"Being told not to be jealous?"
"No, us being together."
"I've missed it too." Addena shook her head. "I can't understand what happened to us. We used to be so close."
"We still are. We just grew up. You went off to become a doctor and I ended up as Glinda the Good."
"That's not an excuse."
"You're right." Glinda nodded. "It's not."
"Then let's never let it happen again."
"I don't think that will be a problem considering we're in love with sisters who are practically joined at the hip."
"Actually we're joined by our magic but that's just semantics."
They both jumped when they heard Breena's voice.
She smirked at their reaction. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"Sure you didn't." Addena quirked an eyebrow as she looked up at her. "What have you got there?"
"You mean this?" Breena dramatically flourished the tray she was balancing on one hand as she squatted in the small space between the blondes. "Lemonades to go around."
"How sweet." Glinda smiled as she and Addena both took one of the proffered glasses.
"Thank Betak." Breena returned her smile. "She said she didn't see any point in the two of you getting parched just because you insist on sitting out here ogling me and Elly."
"Ogling?" Addena frowned. "I'm not ogling anyone."
"Riiight." Breena's voice dripped with sarcasm. "You haven't taken your eyes off of me since we came out here."
"Maybe I wasn't looking at you. Maybe I was watching Lion."
"Lion, huh?"
Addena shrugged. "It's not my fault if you just so happen to be working in the same area as him."
Breena nodded before pursing her lips. "Are you sure you don't want to reconsider what you're saying?"
"Why would I?"
"You do know who you're messing with right?"
Addena's eyes shone with mischief. "Hit me with your best shot."
"OK, but just remember that you asked for it." Breena looked toward the house. "Hey Lion!"
The oversized feline looked up from the board he was measuring when he heard his name. "Yeah?"
"Addy thinks you have a nice butt."
Lion's mouth fell open. "What?"
Addena gripped Breena's leg. "What are you doing?"
Breena ignored her, hoping Lion would catch on to what she was doing when she covertly winked at him. "She's been staring at it all day."
"She... I..." Lion's cheeks were so red they were almost purple. "Why would she do that?"
Fiyero stepped forward but Elphaba, who caught her sister's signal, grabbed his arm, shaking her head when he shot her a look.
Breena made sure Addy wasn't looking at her before winking again. "I think she likes you."
You could almost see the light bulb appear over Lion's head as Breena rolled her eyes toward Addena. "Oh." He practically squirmed at the chance to play along in one of the witch's games. "Well, uh... That's just too bad."
Addena started to say something to Breena but returned her attention to Lion instead. "What?"
"Sorry." Lion shrugged. "You're just not hairy enough for me."
Everyone except Addena laughed, making Lion puff his chest out with pride.
Addena frowned at a giggling Glinda as she crossed her arms over her chest. "None of you are funny."
Lion smiled. "Yes we are."
"No," Addena growled. "You're not."
"Oh come on." Breena tried to reason with her. "You have to admit it was a little funny."
"No it wasn't."
"Sure it was."
"No it..."
"Not even a teeny weeny little bit?" Breena interrupted her, holding her thumb and pointer finger a hair's breadth apart. She raised her eyebrows when she didn't get a response. "I tried to warn you." She sighed when she continued to get the cold shoulder. "You should expect this kind of thing by now. It's part of the reason you fell for me."
Addena cocked her head. "Who says I fell for you?"
"This does." Breena closed the gap between them, somehow keeping the tray steady on her hand as they kissed.
Addena wrinkled her nose as they parted. "I don't know. That was kind of..."
"I'm not done yet. Here." Breena shoved the tray at Glinda. "Hold this for a second."
Glinda was more than happy to comply as she watched Breena pull Dena into her arms, drawing her into a steamy liplock. She shared a smile with Elphaba when she realized she was watching too.
"Don't worry about us." Fiyero called out. "We're only trying to fix your house over here."
"Trying being the operative word where you're concerned." Breena retaliated as she and Addena parted. She touched her forehead to the blonde's. "Did that spark your memory?"
"Yes." Addena caressed one of her cheeks. "But I might need another refresher course later."
"Bring an apple for the teacher and I'll see what I can do for you." Breena winked at Glinda as she took the tray back. "Thanks."
Glinda giggled. "Any time."
"Well look who finally decided to rejoin us." Fiyero razed her again as she stood and started toward them.
"Watch it or you won't get any lemonade." Breena warned him.
"Oh," Fiyero gestured with his hands. "I'm so scared."
"You should be." Elphaba took one of the glasses. "Betak's lemonade is legendary."
Breena held the tray out toward Fiyero. "That's because her secret ingredient is Quadling whisky."
Fiyero looked surprised. "Really?"
"No." Breena dead panned, making Elphaba chuckle.
Glinda watched her sister as she tracked Breena across the lawn with her eyes. "Do you have any idea how adorable you two are together?"
"Probably about as adorable as you and Elphaba."
"Not quite but you definitely run a close second." Glinda grinned. "It's great to see you so happy, Dena."
"She's amazing." Addena's tone didn't match the look in her eye as she continued to watch the woman she loved.
"All right." Glinda put her glass down and turned toward her. "Out with it."
"Out with what?"
"Whatever it is that's bothering you."
Addena furrowed her brow. "Nothing is..."
"Don't even try it." Glinda interrupted her. "I know you, Dena. And you know me. So you might as well just tell me before I annoy you to death trying to find out what it is."
"I appreciate your concern Linny, but nothing is bothering me."
"Dena."
"Really."
"Dena."
"I'm serious."
"Dena."
"Linny."
"Dena."
Addena raised her eyebrows. "Linny."
Glinda mirrored the gesture. "Dena."
"Linny." Her voice was a barely concealed threat.
"Dena."
"Just drop it."
"I'm afraid I can't do that." Glinda made a show of smoothing out her skirt.
"Linny."
"Dena." She sing songed. "I can keep this up all day you know."
Addena sighed. "Linny!"
"Dena!"
"We haven't had sex yet!" Addena clapped her hand over mouth when she realized how loud her revelation was.
"Ha!" Glinda pointed. "I knew I could… Wait a minute. Did you say what I think you said?" The expression on her sister's face said it all. "Wow."
"No. There's no wow." Addena shook her head. "Just forget I said anything."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have reacted that way." Glinda put a calming hand on her sister's leg. "That's just not something you hear everyday."
"You shouldn't have heard it today either."
"But I did."
"Pretend that you didn't."
"Dena."
Addena gestured with her glass. "I'm going to get a refill."
Glinda sighed as her sister got up. "Dena, wait." She scrambled to catch her. "Hey." She gripped her arm.
"I really don't want to talk about this Linny. It's between Bree and I."
"I understand that, but it's pretty obvious you're upset. I mean, I know I've made an art form of annoying you but you normally don't blurt things out like that." She waited for a reply but none came. "Just talk to me, Dena. It will make you feel better to get it off your chest. And I promise it won't go any further than us."
"I know." Addena rolled her eyes. "I can't believe I'm making such a mountain out of a mole hill."
"Why don't you let me be the judge of that?"
"All right. Let's walk and talk." She waited until her little sister looped their arms together to start moving again. "I love her Linny. She's everything I've ever wanted."
"But?"
"That's just it, there is no but. I wouldn't change a single thing about her. We just haven't… you know. I think everyone assumes we have because we're sharing a bed, but we haven't."
"I know I did." Glinda nodded.
"And it's not like we're lacking anything by not doing it. We kiss and cuddle and get all moony eyed just like other couples."
"Then what's the problem?"
"It's not so much of a problem as a dilemma." Addena sighed. "We both agreed we want our first time to be something extra special and we've only been together a couple of weeks, but what if she's waiting for me to make the first move and I'm waiting for her to make the first move and neither one of us ever makes it?" She frowned when she saw the expression on her sister's face. "I'm being stupid aren't I?"
"No." Glinda quickly assured her. "I just think it's so sweet that you want it to be special."
"Linny."
"I'm serious Dena."
"So am I." Addena sighed again. "Seriously stupid."
"You're not stupid." Glinda gave her arm a squeeze. "I think you should talk to her about it."
"What?!"
Glinda nodded. "Get it out there in the open."
"I don't want her to think I'm pressuring her."
"She won't."
Addena's frown deepened. "How do you know?"
"Because it's Breena we're talking about. She loves you just as much as you love her. And you might think you're good at keeping your feelings to yourself, but you're not. Especially when it comes to someone who really knows you. Would you rather be honest with her or have her pick up on the fact that something is bothering you and confront you about it?"
"I never thought of it that way."
"That's why a fresh perspective helps."
Addena mulled it over. "So you really think I should talk to her?"
Glinda nodded again. "I do."
"Then I will." She looked toward the house and scowled. "Just as soon as I find out who that is touching her."
"What are you…" Glinda's voice trailed off when she saw a strange woman was indeed standing with her hand on Breena's shoulder, who seemed to be having some kind of conversation with Elphie, Lion and Fiyero. "Who's that?"
"How am I supposed to know?" Addena snapped.
"Hey." Glinda drug her feet to slow her sister down as she stomped across the yard. "Now who's being jealous?"
Neither one of them said another word as they continued toward the house.
"Hold still Lion." Elphaba chastised him.
The cat squirmed. "But it tickles."
"You're going to think it tickles if you don't let Breena finish." Fiyero scolded him too.
"What happened?" Glinda dragged her sister with her as she went to stand by Elphaba.
"Mr. Fix It here decided to try to saw his paw instead of the board." Breena answered. "But we're taking care of it, aren't we big guy?"
Lion nodded.
"Bree?" Addena instantly went into doctor mode.
"It's not a big deal." Breena assured her. "He barely cut his pad." She let go of his paw. "And now it's good as new."
"Thanks." Lion smiled.
"That was amazing."
"I try." Breena glanced over her shoulder, doing a double take when she realized she didn't know the woman behind her. "Who are you?"
Addena growled, "And why are you touching her?"
"Yeah." Breena pulled away from the woman and went to Addena's side in one fluid motion. "Why were you touching me?"
"Sorry." The woman held up both of her hands. "I realized what you were doing and wanted to get a better view."
Fiyero frowned. "How did you know what she was doing?"
"I..."
"Maybe you should start out by telling us who you are." Elphaba interrupted her.
"OK. I'm..."
"And why you're here." Glinda added.
"Would you like my height, weight and date of birth too?" The woman quipped.
Addena frowned at her. "Now really isn't the time to be a smart ass."
"Easy there tiger." Breena gripped her love's hand, pulling her close.
"I know it might seem like we're being paranoid, but we've been through a lot lately." Glinda explained.
Lion pointed at her with his now healed paw. "Yeah. So don't make Elphaba and Breena get all magical on you."
Fiyero smacked him on the arm. "Don't tell her they can do magic!"
"Oh!" Lion growled at himself.
The woman grinned. "I already know who they are."
"Did the house need silent repairs because I thought fixing a hole that size would mean making some noise." Betak came bustling out the front door, frowning when she saw the newcomer. "Who is that?"
Breena shrugged. "She hasn't told us yet."
"I haven't really had a chance." The woman pointed out.
"What did I tell you?" Addena would have taken a step toward her but Breena held her in place.
"Maeve?" Yackle's face was a mask of disbelief as she came up behind Betak. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"You're a hard woman to find Auntie Yackle."
"Auntie?" Lion gasped. "Are you two related?"
"Yes we are." The woman turned her attention to Elphaba and Breena. "The name's Maeve and I'm here to take her place," she tipped her head toward Yackle before smiling brightly. "I'm your new magical advisor."