It was a little after nine thirty at night and it was pouring heavily outside. It had been going on for a few hours now and flood warnings were already flashing across the television set.

Dorothy was currently putting together a salami sandwich in the kitchen. It took everything in her power to keep herself from daydreaming again.

It had been two whole days since her daughter left for Oz and that departure was pretty much the only thing that had been dominating her mind.

Worry and doubts were beginning to stimulate. When she released her daughter into the massive twister the other day, she failed to think about her husband Albert and what his reaction would be towards the fact that his only daughter was suddenly missing.

Needless to say, he hadn’t been in the best of spirits since that day. When Dorothy tried to explain things to him, he had simply ignored her explanations and got the police involved the very next day, obviously thinking that she had been taken by someone in this world.

That really didn’t surprise Dorothy though. He’d always believed that Oz only existed in her head. So there was really no way of making him see the light until Beatrice came back.

. . .If she came back.

Wait! What was she thinking? Dorothy shook her head at the thought. Of course Beatrice would come back. This was her home and Dorothy understood better than anyone else that there was no place like home.

That thought then had put a smile on her face. Home is where the heart is and Dorothy’s will always be here in New York. Therefore, she had no doubt that Beatrice would follow her heart too.

She finished prepping the sandwich and placed it on a small saucer before making her way over to the living room couch.

She sat down next to Albert who looked beyond miserable as he stared off into the distance. The TV was on with the volume down low but it wasn’t receiving any of his attention.

Dorothy placed the saucer on his lap. “You need to eat something, honey” she insisted gently.

Albert shook his head but didn’t turn to look at her. “Not hungry.”

“Glinda will bring her back, Albert.”

Her husband released a tired sigh. “Please don’t start that again, Dorothy.”

“Listen, I know this all sounds insane to you but I promise that Beatrice is all right and will be back any day now.”

He slowly turned his head over to her. “Do you remember the very first day we met?”

Dorothy scooted closer to him and smiled. “Thanksgiving Day 1978. Aunt Em and Uncle Henry had Thanksgiving dinner at their house.” Meeting her husband on that day wasn’t the only reason why that was a day she would never forget. That was also the night she herself was swept up by a mysterious tornado and taken into the world of Oz.

Albert looked as if he was caught up in a memory as he spoke. “You were so shy that day.” He chuckled briefly. “Barely talked to me, let alone looked at me but I didn’t mind at all.”

Dorothy closed her eyes and laid her head on his shoulder. “Hmm, why is that?” She asked even though she was grateful that her introversion back then hadn’t stopped him from his pursuit of her. She was a happy woman and a totally different person now.

“Because I saw that adventurous and ambitious woman inside of you screaming to get out. At church, your Aunt Em used to tell me all about your wild but fun imagination and the creative stories you would make up for the children you use to teach. The way she talked about you…I just had to come meet you for myself.”

Dorothy’s grin deepened at the memory of her Aunt Em. Her aunt and uncle were everything to her. God bless their souls.

Albert removed his untouched sandwich off his lap before he continued on. “You have this fantastical and otherworldly spark about you that I’ve never been able get enough of. Even now when our daughter is missing you still can’t seem to shake it and it makes me so confused.”

Dorothy raised her head from his shoulder in order to see his face.

Albert looked conflicted. “I find myself torn between admiring your imagination and just wanting you to be honest with me. Where’s our daughter, Dorothy?”

Dorothy pulled him in for a precious kiss. When she pulled away, she asked, “Do you love me?”

“Of course,” he breathed softly but his eyebrows were still furrowed.

Dorothy couldn’t help herself and began tracing his strong jaw line and mustache. “Then you’ve got to trust me, sweetheart. Our daughter is fine.” She kissed his lips again. “She’s fine.”

Albert exhaled but it was more of a sound of defeat than relief. “I’m going to go to bed now.” He scooted to the edge of the couch before rising to his feet. Without another word, he headed towards the back of their medium size apartment and entered their bedroom.

It pained Dorothy to see her husband like this. And truth be told, she was missing her daughter like crazy too. Feeling stressed, she leaned forward with her elbows on her knees and buried her face in the palm of her hands.

She wasn’t sure how long she stayed that way but she lifted her head abruptly when she heard the knob to the front door make a sound as if someone was trying to unlock it on the other side. Dorothy was still as a statue as she listened to the sound.

Then the noise was gone and Dorothy couldn’t hear anything other than the pounding rain coming down on the roof and windows.

For a few long seconds nothing else happened. Dorothy hadn’t even realized that she was listening so hard that she was holding her breath so she wouldn’t miss anything.

All of the lights in the apartment were off save for a small lamp sitting on the short round table beside the couch. Courtesy of the dim light, Dorothy was able to notice the doorknob turn.

She gasped and jumped to her feet. Her heart was pounding aggressively in her chest. Could it be? Oh, please let it be, she prayed to God.

The door was suddenly pushed open and in walked Beatrice drenched from head to toe with her wet curly hair plastered to the side of her face. It was the same image Dorothy beheld of her daughter two days ago on her birthday when she came home soak and wet from the storm outside.

The only difference this time around was her wardrobe. Beatrice was wearing a strange orange and white striped dress that stopped just a little above her knees.

Beatrice halted in the doorway and smiled at her mother. Dorothy could see the brutal rain playing behind her. “Hello, mother.”

Dorothy finally got over her immediate shock and screamed with delight before running over to her.

Leaving the door wide open, Beatrice happily ran inside and met her mother halfway.

At this moment, Dorothy could care less about the fact that her daughter just left their apartment door wide open and was looking as if she’d just emerged from a pool. She grabbed her daughter in her arms and hugged her happily. She laughed and shouted, “Beatrice! My baby!”

Beatrice hugged her back with equal affection and laughed. “I missed you.”

Soon Albert was bursting out of the master bedroom and running into the living room. He stopped just a few feet away from them. “Beatrice?” His eyes were wide with disbelief.

Beatrice pulled back from her mother and beamed at her father.

“You’re back?” he asked that question as if he couldn’t fathom it.

She wasted no time releasing her mother in order to run into Albert’s arms.

Albert swooped her up and laughed as he twirled her around. “MY GIRL IS BACK! THANK GOD!”

“Dad,” she chuckled nervously before he sat her back down on her feet.

“Where the devil have you been?” he queried.

“Um…” she smiled at him sheepishly and then looked over at her mother. “Maybe you should take mom’s Oz stories a little more seriously.”

Albert followed his daughter’s gaze and then glanced over at his wife.

Dorothy gave him a look that said, I told you so. “How was it?” she came closer and ran a hand down Beatrice’s damp hair.

Beatrice grew silent for a moment as she thought up the perfect word to describe her time in Oz but apparently several words came to mind. “Unbelievable. Magical. Enchanting. Addicting. Exhilarating.”

Dorothy laughed as her daughter went on and on.

Albert just stood there with his gaze going back and forth between the two of them. Needless to say that he was beyond speechless.

“But overall it was…”

Dorothy made an attempt to finish her sentence. “Unforgettable.”

Beatrice shook her head. “I don’t plan on forgetting it, mom. In fact, I-”

“How about you tell us more after we put you in warm clothes,” Albert suggested with concern and rubbed her wet arms.

Before he and Dorothy could lead her into her room, Beatrice stepped back. “Wait!”

Both parents stopped and stared at her curiously.

Beatrice turned to her mother and smiled thoughtfully.

“What is it, baby?” Dorothy asked. What was Beatrice up to?

“I have a surprise for you, mom.” She walked over to the front door, still opened wide, and gestured for some to come inside.

Dorothy frowned and began to approach the door too. “Who is that, Beatrice?” She gasped and stopped in her tracks when she saw Lion and Tin Man walk inside her home.

Impossible!

Tin Man and Lion? Here? Both of them were giving her beautiful smiles.

“Tin Man? Lion?” she asked with disbelief and stepped closer. After all these years, she was actually seeing them again. “Is that really you?”

“No way,” she heard her husband whisper as he flopped down on the couch with a dazed look on his face. His focus was on the two strange characters standing by the front door next to his daughter. At least now he believed her.

“Dorothy,” Lion whispered her name and grinned.

Tin Man tipped his hat up slightly as he acknowledged her with a heart-felt smile. “It’s been far too long, my beautiful flower.”

Dorothy exclaimed and ran towards them. She embraced them both at the same time.

They both hugged her back and laughed.

“I can’t believe you’re actually here!” She looked between the two of them, a big smile still on her face. “How is this possible?”

“Beatrice told us that you missed us,” Lion answered.

“And that feeling was definitely mutual. So we had to come see you.” Tin Man stated and palmed her cheek. “Time has been quite lovely to you, Dorothy.”

Dorothy laughed, grateful for the compliment. “Me? What about the two of you? You two haven’t aged at bit.” She was amazed by this fact.

“Time has a whole new meaning here than it does in Oz,” Lion shrugged.

“Oh, I’ve missed you all so much!” She wrapped an arm around each of their necks and hugged them a second time.

“Um…mom?” Beatrice’s quiet voice caught her attention.

When she looked over at her daughter, she saw Beatrice gently pulling a third person inside by their gloved hand.

Wait! Dorothy recognized that hand instantly.

Her assumption was proven correct when she saw Scarecrow walk in from the heavy rain, looking just as wet and drenched as the rest of the gang. He eyed her with vast curiosity and intensity.

Dorothy grew wide eyed and unraveled herself from her old friends to gawk at her third unexpected guest. “Scarecrow?” she said softly.

Beatrice was still holding on to his hand as she smiled from ear to ear.

“Dorothy,” he sighed. His lips curled upward into a smile of his own. He stared on as if he was in a trance. “Wow, it’s really you.”

“Oh. My. Goodness!” She approached her old friend with wonderment. She was then excitedly wrapping her arms around him.

Beatrice released Scarecrow’s hand so that he could hug her back.

Dorothy and Scarecrow both closed their eyes as they embraced. It was a very precious moment.

“I can’t believe it!” Dorothy exclaimed and pulled back to gaze at him some more. “Look at you! Oh, it’s so good to see you.” She took a quick swipe at her left cheek after a single tear rolled down it.

Scarecrow gave her a gentle but just as happy smile. “I can’t express enough how wonderful it is to finally see you again. You look beautiful as always.”

They were still holding each other at arms length as they continued to grin and examine each other.

“Oh, Scarecrow you all have always been on my mind. Albert didn’t believe me when…” Her eyes lit up as she thought about her husband. “Oh, Albert! I want you all to meet my husband.” She turned around and walked over to her husband on the couch.

He was still gawking at everyone with great bewilderment.

Dorothy helped him to his feet and hugged his left arm. “Albert, this is the Tin Man,” she pointed at each one as she said their name. “Lion, and Scarecrow. Everyone, this here is my amazing husband, Albert.”

The ganged nodded at him respectively and Albert nodded back with wide eyes, still not saying anything.

Scarecrow gave Dorothy a beautiful genuine smile as he said, “I’m glad you’re happy.” He then took a determined step forward. “Dorothy,” Scarecrow started but he seemed to be have been trying to figure out where to begin. “I want to thank you.”

“For what?” she asked him curiously.

“For being such a kind incredible friend to me when you were in Oz. You may not have realized this but you’ve taught me so much.”

Dorothy had no idea where he was going with this. But she couldn’t help but notice that Beatrice was remaining exceptionally close to him and was watching him with a lingering gaze. Dorothy knew that look very well. Beatrice was watching Scarecrow the same way Dorothy gaped at Albert every day. This made Dorothy curious, not to mention the fact that Beatrice’s new outfit making the two of them look like an official couple was another red flag. What was really going on here?

Scarecrow continued. “You’ve shown me what true friendship looks like and I can’t thank you enough for that. But more than anything, you’ve inspired me to love.”

“What do you mean?” she queried with a puzzled expression.

Scarecrow took a deep breath before he explained. “When you left Oz, I confess that I was miserable and lonely without you. But then Beatrice appeared and helped me see things so much clearer.” He glanced back at Beatrice with a look that Dorothy noticed to be gratitude and admiration before turning back to Dorothy. “I understand why you had to leave. You had to follow your heart.”

Dorothy gave him an apologetic expression “The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you, Scarecrow. Or any of you for that matter.” She glanced back at Lion and Tin Man with thoughtfulness. “You all meant so much to me and still do now. But my heart led me back to New York because this is my true home.”

Beatrice then stepped up to stand next to Scarecrow. “Home is where the heart is, mom.” She attached herself to Scarecrow’s arm the same way Dorothy was currently holding on to Albert. “And my heart is with Scarecrow.”

What? What did she say? She was puzzled for a moment but then her eyes had widen once realization hit. Oh. My. Goodness. Scarecrow and Beatrice were in love!

“Beatrice,” Albert finally spoke. His tone was cautious. “What’s going on here?”

Beatrice’s smile turned sheepish again. “Glinda was kind enough to let us visit you.”

Dorothy frowned at Beatrice’s choice of words. “You mean, let them visit?”

“Um…no, mom. I mean us.”

“Will someone please let me know what’s happening right now?” Albert insisted with an annoyed tone.

Beatrice removed herself from Scarecrow and came towards her parents again. So many emotions were shining through her eyes. “Mom, Dad, I love you both so much. And I really need you two to be understanding about my decision.”

Panic was engulfing her as she eyed her daughter. With hesitation, she asked, “What decision?”

Beatrice straighten her shoulders and declared, “I’m going to stay in Oz.” She paused to take in her parents’ reaction.

They both said nothing but stared at her speechlessly.

“It was unexpected but I’ve undeniably fallen in love with Scarecrow. On top of that, the people of the Emerald City have made it clear that they want me to help Scarecrow guide them. Not only do I want to be there for them but more importantly I want to be with Scarecrow because he’s where I belong.” She took hold of her mother’s shoulders. “Mom, he’s my home.”

“Oh my,” Dorothy whispered with astonishment. Beatrice was more than serious about this choice and it didn’t take Dorothy long to figure out that there would be no changing her daughter’s mind. She had to face the fact that her daughter was in love. And in love with Scarecrow. But what did this mean for the life Beatrice had here in this world?

Albert seemed to have fully recovered from his speechlessness. “Wait! You’re leaving us?”

“It’s okay, dad.” Beatrice turned to him. “This won’t be the last time you see me, I promise.”

“How often can you go back and forth between worlds?” Dorothy asked worriedly.

“I’m not sure,” she answered truthfully. “But Glinda was able to grant our wish of coming here to see you now. So I’m more than confident that I can do it again.”

“But when?” Dorothy insisted and held on to her daughter.

“Try to have faith, mom. If you believe in something strong enough, it’ll happen. You taught me that.”

“This doesn’t make any sense,” Albert stated.

“Please try to have an open mind about this, dad,” Beatrice pleaded. “I’m in love.”

“But…” He began.

Before he could finish his sentence, Dorothy placed a finger against his lips. Still looking at her daughter, she said, “I can see by that determined look in your eyes that your mind is made up.” Her tone was saddened but she was also in awe. Her daughter had matured so much in just two day’s time. “I can’t say that I’m thrilled about your decision, Beatrice, but I can say that I know a thing or two about true love. And there’s no stopping it once it’s born.”

Beatrice smiled at her parents fondly. "Thank you."

“Uh, Beatrice?” Scarecrow called her name.

When she turned back around she saw that he and Lion were taking turns oiling down Tin Man who was now completely rusted and idle in his position. “Oh no,” she frowned. “The rain rusted him out.”

Scarecrow oiled Tin Man’s right shoulder and freed his arm from the frozen position it was in before handing the oil can over to Lion so that he could do the same to Tin Man’s other shoulder. “He’ll be fine. But we should probably get him back soon though,” he said regrettably.

Beatrice turned back to her parents. “I love you both more than you can imagine.” Tears welled up in the corner of her eyes.

Dorothy was feeling sad and content all at the same time. It was a very weird feeling.

“Come here,” Albert pulled his daughter into his arms. She was still pretty wet from the rain but he obviously didn’t care. “I don’t like this,” he murmured. “I just got you back and you’re already leaving me again.”

“I promise to do everything in my power to see you as soon as I can,” she assured him. “Glinda is a phenomenal star who can illuminate even the gloomiest of situations. Just believe, okay?”

Albert kissed her forehead and sighed. “After what I’ve just seen, I’ll be sure to have more faith in the fantastical.” He then gave her a small smile. “I love you, babygirl.”

“It’s time,” Tin Man whispered thoughtfully after Lion lubricated his mouth. He seemed to be fully back to his normal self now. He was pointing out the door at the massive gust of wind swirling around just a few yards away from the apartment complex.

Like the first cyclone, this one was purposely avoiding contact with everything within its range. The tornado remained right outside Dorothy’s door like a car waiting to pick up passengers.

After more hugs and kisses and even more reluctance, Beatrice finally pulled away from her parents and gave them one last pensive smile. Those beautiful hazel eyes that she had inherited from her father were gleaming with tears.

Dorothy’s heart was aching and celebrating for her daughter. She glanced at her old gang of friends again. “Please take care of her,” she pleaded to them as Beatrice walked over to them.

“Will do,” Lion smiled at Dorothy.

“Always,” Tin Man nodded with assurance.

“Forever,” Scarecrow beamed with his focus on the lovely woman who was currently approaching him. He eyed her the way a groom would his bride as she walks down the isle towards him. He extended a hand for her to take.

“Endlessly,” she agreed as she took his outstretched hand.

Scarecrow then made eye contact with Dorothy. With a thoughtful smile, he said, “I’m so glad I got to see you again.” He then addressed Albert with, “Nice to have met you,” before looking back at Dorothy one more time. “Goodbye, Dorothy.”

Something told Dorothy that even though she would at some point be seeing Beatrice again, this was probably the final time she would ever lay eyes on her old gang. And that made her even sadder. What a happy and gloomy day this was. “Goodbye, Scarecrow…Tin Man…Lion,” she said with such tenderness.

She then felt Albert wrap his left arm around her waist in a comforting gesture. She just couldn’t thank God enough for this incredible man of hers. She knew all of this wasn’t an easy thing for him to consume but like the true man he was, Albert was enduring it.

“You will always be missed, my precious flower,” Tin Man told her with red eyes.

“Farewell, my queen,” Lion crooned softly before escorting Tin Man out the door. He kept close to him just case he might rust up again once they got outside.

“I’ll never forget you, Dorothy” said Scarecrow affectionately.

“And I you, Scarecrow,” Dorothy retorted in the same fashion.

With the hand that wasn’t holding on to Scarecrow, Beatrice waved gingerly at her parents. “Bye.” Her voice was barely over a whisper.

The sounds of pouring rain were much louder than her voice at that moment.

And then all four of them exited the apartment.

It was when Dorothy and Albert were once again alone in their medium size apartment that Dorothy realized that nothing was ever going to be the same again.

Their daughter was gone and there was no telling when they were ever going to see her again.

****

Beatrice, Scarecrow, Lion, and Tin Man were back in the pouring rain standing before the giant cyclone.

Lion and Tin Man jumped in the windstorm first. “BACK TO OZ!” Lion exclaimed as they leapt inside. Soon the two of them were out of sight.

Scarecrow faced Beatrice, who was looking back at her parents’ home. She saw them watching her from their doorway. She knew good and well that if she were to change her mind at the last minute her parents wouldn’t hesitate to welcome her back inside. She was going to miss them terribly.

“ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?” Scarecrow asked her once more but he had to holler over the pounding rain and roaring wind.

She then turned to face him. Leaving her parents behind did suck a lot but to leave behind Scarecrow would have been beyond dismal. Therefore, this was a no brainer. Despite the fact that the two of them were drenched all over and in the middle of a severe storm, Beatrice was giving him a huge grin. “WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T LET GO OF MY HAND!” she told him.

Scarecrow smiled back with an immense amount of joy and relief. She could see that he was more than ready for the two of them to start their new adventure together that would go on until the end of time.

Hand in hand, the smiling couple then jumped into the giant whirlwind so that they once more could return to Oz.