In her cell, Glinda woke up with a start. The lumbago was more punishing than the incarceration, but a sense of spring had filtered all the way down the open canyon roof of Southstairs, and she caught a whiff of freshness, of arrogant possibility. Her glasses had broken a year ago. She didn't need them anymore, not really. She knew who was turning the door handle of her cell. She called her name sleepily, and added, "You wicked thing. You've taken your own sweet time, of course."
A smile crossed the worn verdant face. "I meant to come sooner…"
"Got held up, did you?"
"In a matter of speaking." The Witch crossed the room, approaching the blonde's figure. She placed a hand gently on the aged face. "I knew you couldn't stay out of trouble."
"You're one to talk." Glinda smiled at the hand on her face, leaning into the touch. "I thought you didn't believe in souls… but I'm convinced we've met in death."
"We're not dead… not yet." With the gentleness Glinda had long since forgotten, the Witch lifted the blonde into her arms.
"Shiz doesn't seem so far away… I remember that lumpy bed we shared on the way to the Emerald City."
"Shh, my sweet… this place is creeping into that blissful blonde brain…"
"And are you to whisk me off to a safer place?"
The Witch smiled slightly. "I came back for you, didn't I? Our jobs are done… we have served Oz… now it's time to let the next generation take over while you and I fade into the background."
A gentle spring breeze blowing across the fields… the tall grass swaying slightly along with it… a small cottage surrounded by a field of bright red poppies. It was odd, the simple things that one hardly paid attention to, yet could miss so easily. Glinda held onto her sunhat, looking out across the fields and smiling slightly. Even without her glasses, she saw a green figure making her way up the path, unknown packages tucked under her arms.
"Elphie…"
The green woman looked up and smiled slightly as she quickened her stride ever so slightly, soon reaching the cottage.
"Fresh cheese…" was her greeting to the blonde. "And white roses."
Glinda smiled, placing her hands on Elphaba's arms. "And they called you a witch…"
"I am a witch… a wicked witch who came and spirited you away out of captivity."
"Well, if that's wicked, then I surrender my title of being good."
Elphaba smiled slightly. "Is this what you want then? Living such a simple life?"
Glinda looked out across the fields again, the freshness of the air reaching her once more. "This is all I'll ever need… this life… and you, my green savior." Gently, she pulled the once wicked witch down and their lips met.
"Then here we will stay."