It was nearly dawn when they landed in Applerue. There was a sect right outside of the city in need of magical assistance. For the time being, however, the pair was wandering the streets, searching for their guide.

"He said he'd meet us at 99 Macintosh Avenue," Elphaba muttered again, growing frustrated. "What kind of a city is this? We were at 27, took two steps, and now are at 68? Damn Northerners -" At this, Glinda leveled her a glare. "Besides the Northerners of the Upper Uplands and Gilikin and whatnot, of course, my sweet."

"Look, maybe we should find-"

"Shut up."

"Excuse me?" Glinda asked incredulously. "I am the-"

"Seriously, Glinda, shut it. I hear something." At this, Glinda rolled her eyes and stopped her oncoming rant. Elphaba sneaked deeper into the shadows, following the sound. Glinda followed quickly behind, not wanting Elphaba to get herself into trouble.

"P-papa, please," Polo tried to stop crying, wiping his tears on his sleeve. All the six-year-old could manage to think was that his arms and face hurt, and, by Oz, did he miss mamma.

"Fucking brat," Polo's father slurred, pointing his beer towards the door. "Go to hell, go on. Get out!"

Polo, desperately afraid, did as he was bid. As he escaped, another beer bottle broke against the door frame.

Once outside of the house, Polo wandered under the overhang of a nearby building, trying to stop crying for good.

Elphaba followed the sound of glass breaking, until it lead her to a seedy one-story house. She viewed it in curiosity behind the cover of shadows, when suddenly, a child ran out. They watched him sit against a wall and begin to sob, and Glinda's heart broke. Elphaba, however, noticed the scars on his arms; and her heart was pricked with something, a drug of sorts, reminding her of how very similar she was to this child in her youth. She shot a glare towards the house, but turned, instead, and walked towards the boy.

"Hello," Elphaba all but whispered, getting the boy's attention. "Are you okay?" Polo shook his head and tried once again to cease his tears. "Hey, it's okay. You're allowed to cry." She offered him her hand gently for a handshake, and he glanced apprehensively at it. "I'm Elphaba. I know you're not supposed to talk to strangers, but I don't want anything bad to happen to you, and I'd like to help you."

In all of his six years, Polo had never seen a hand raised to him, yet not raised against him. For this, he jumped past it and hugged Elphaba hard. Elphaba hugged the little boy back tightly, and sat down, holding him properly.

Glinda watched this unfold in amazement. She'd always thought she was good with kids. The way Elphaba talked about the children she'd encountered in Center Munch, well, you'd believe the girl hated children for all they were worth. But here she was, her Elphie, comforting a ruddy little boy.

"It's going to be okay," Glinda heard her love whisper. "No one's going to hurt you anymore."

"I don't want to keep him because he's cute. I want to protect him because he's cute, and I want to keep him so I may protect him. That middle piece is very important... I like protecting cute things, okay?"

They had bought the boy a meal and were talking a ways off, Elphaba still keeping her eye on Polo. Glinda knew she was the final say on Elphaba's decision to keep this boy, and wanted to reason as much as she wanted to hear Elphaba reason in return.

"Where are we going to keep him? The two of us can hardly fit on that broom, and for all we travel, that'd be where he'd spend most nights."

"Then, let's stop travelling," Elphaba replied, rethinking her words as Glinda looked to her incredulously. "I would never give up helping Animals, Glin, you know that. But I can be a commuter. We work mostly at night anyways. Let's settle down, half-way. We've earned someplace permanent, don't you think."

Oh no, Miss Thropp, Glinda thought, You will not tempt me with what I've said I wanted from the start. But if she means it... Glinda blinked hard to refocus. "What about the Wizard?"

"We'll find someplace far from where the Wizard would ever look. I'll practice day and night, to make sure he wouldn't even dare looking for us."

"And what do we do until you can find this oh-so-secure fortress?"

"I'll... We'll... Kiamo Ko!"

"What?"

"West, out west, there's a castle. Fiyero's family used to live there." Glinda felt herself bristle at mention of her old ex.

"And so his family is not there now?"

"No, no, the place is run down. They don't have the heart to tear it down, and those pious clowns don't have the stomach to visit it. It's perfect."

"And what if they do plan to visit?"

"I'll erase it, I'll erase their memories, Glinda. And I'll fix it all up, and you can redecorate," Elphaba took the blonde's hands, "Whatever it takes. We can make it work."

Glinda paused a moment. "This place, it's a palace?"

"A huge castle, with brick walls."

"So, every night you'll fly all the way from Kiamo Ko, to whatever sect needs you, and in the morning, you'll be a mother?"

"Not just a mother, Glin. A mother, and -hell- if we're settling down kind of, let's go all the way. I'll buy a ring and everything."

"What? Hold up," Glinda interrupted. "Did you just propose? After asking me to adopt a child and settle down out west with you?"

"Well, sure, it wasn't very romantic, but I can fix that. I'll do it again, later, better."

"What on earth is the sudden change, Elphaba? You're not thinking clearly."

Elphaba sighed, glancing down at their intertwined hands. "It's not all about Polo, necessarily. He was just, a trigger, of sorts. I've wanted this too, Glin. I want to help Animals, but Oz, I want a kind of normal life with you. And, did you see him, he needs us. That's what this whole Animal thing has been about for me. Helping people who need me. And to adopt him, and live with you, be your wife. That's combining my calling and what's always called to me: helping those who need me, and being yours as much as you're mine. Please, Glin."

Glinda was silent for a moment, staring into those deep chocolate eyes. Finally, she relented.

"So, this place will be huge? Why not something more understated, more Elphaba-esque?"

"Truly, I always figured, once I got it all sorted out, I'd adopt all the little cutie pies who needed me."

"And what if we happen upon an un-cute child, or a plain ugly one?" Glinda was teasing now, and enjoying it.

"Oh, gosh, I don't think I could handle it. I mean, I can't imagine even dealing with an ugly person. Imagine if I were ugly- oh, wait."

"Oh, Elphie, you know you're beautiful."

"And you know you're full of shit," Elphaba chuckled. "Compared to me, Glin, even demons are cutie pies. Red is a far more natural skin tone, after all," she teased, sharing a quiet laugh.

"So, we're doing this?" Glinda asked after a few more moments.

"We're doing this," Elphaba grinned. She wrapped the blonde up in a hug, picking her up and spinning her for a few beats. "I swear," she smiled as she set the blonde down, "next time I propose, it's going to be far more romantic. You deserve it, my sweet."

"Damn right I do."