One Heart
Rating:PG ?
Subject: (musical verse - especially that Elphaba Looks like Idina and Glinda like Kristin)
Author: XV
Summery: Elphie struggles with the changes within herself brought on by her new relationship with Galinda.

Disclaimer: "These characters are property of L F Baum/ Gregory Maguire" etc. And the song "One Heart?" is from the fringe musical "The Ladies", by Sandra Freeman.

A/N Many years ago I came across a wonderful musical in a fringe Theatre in South London UK, based on the lives of the Ladies of Llangollen, two young women who eloped from Ireland to Wales and made a life together in the early 1800's. I thought several of the songs would be perfect for a little Gelphie fic, you may even consider this a crossover with the musical The Ladies. Sorry that I can't let you in on the tune.

Elphaba paced rapidly from one bench to another in the night dimmed courtyard. Her heart was racing and her mind in turmoil. She'd just had a huge fight with Galinda and had finally torn from the room in a desperate attempt to get away from those knowing, sad blue eyes the blonde had turned on her.

"She's wrong!" she hissed to the damp air. "She's wrong! Isn't she?"

Finally losing some of her momentum, she sat on the bench and tried to figure out where the evening had gone so terribly wrong. It had started out reasonably enough, with the two girls twined together on Elphaba's bed studying for their economics mid term paper.

As usual Galinda was having difficulties concentrating on some of the more mundane details of the subject. And after a while Elphaba had looked down to see that Galinda had actually fallen asleep curled against her side. She watched enchanted as the girl's eyelids fluttered and she murmured some nonsense words as she dreamed. Galinda moved and some of her golden curls tumbled over her face. Elphaba reached over and stroked the hair back, enjoying the silken feel of it running through her fingers.

The movement of her lover's fingers against her skin woke the blonde girl in a most pleasant manner and she smiled up into the face she adored.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep, it's just that economics is such a tedious subject. Even you, my Emerald Beauty, must admit that."

"I admit nothing of the sort, my Pretty. Economics is an important tool of oppression that must be thoroughly understood if it is to be fought and made to serve the people rather than rule them."

The green girl smirked as she tweaked the adorable pink nose so close to her own.

"But, perhaps your dreams were of greater interest to you than professor Klindon's theories on the economics of the aristocracy's Noblesse Oblige, eh, my Sleeping Beauty?"

"Anyone's dreams would be more interesting than that, even yours my darling Elphie."

The green girl, stiffened in Galinda's arms and replied coldly, "I do not dream, silly girl."

Straightening in the bed so that she could more easily look Elphaba in the eye, Galinda fixed the green girl with a piercing stare.

"My love, even before we became so dear to each other, I used to watch you sleep for hours on end, and believe me when I say, you, my love, do most definitely dream."

Elphaba sat up and withdrew herself from Galinda's embrace, her mood darkening with each movement.

"I tell you Galinda, I do not dream. I have never dreamed. It is simply not in me to dream. Is that clear?"

Galinda rose as well, taken aback by her beloved's coldness, something she hadn't experienced for many months now. She looked at Elphaba as the girl went to look out the window. Her first instinct was to agree with her love, apologise and set things to rights as quickly as possible. But she thought about this for a minute and decided that it was important for Elphaba to open up to her. After all she loved the green girl with all her heart, and it hurt her when she closed herself off like this. So squaring her shoulders she went over to Elphaba and gently laid her hand on a stiff shoulder.

"My love, I know that sometimes, often even, your dreams seem very troubled, so perhaps, well, perhaps it's not that you don't dream, but just that you don't remember dreaming."

Elphaba turned and glared at Galinda forcing the girl to take a step back.

"Get this through that thick Gilikinese skull of yours, I do NOT dream! To dream you must have a soul, and I do NOT have a soul!"

At first all Galinda saw in her lover's eyes was a red rage, but as she stood her ground and didn't back away or avert her own gaze, she saw fleeting glimpses of panic and fear in those expressive near black eyes. And she saw, could it be, yes, a slight quiver to the set of that verdant chin. Stepping forward and maintaining eye contact she reached out and laid her hand against the green cheek.

"My love, you do have a soul, if not your own, you have mine."

Looking into those endless depths of blue, Elphaba gasped as she felt something begin to unravel inside her and before she could stop herself she wrenched away from the blonde girl's touch. It was more difficult to tear herself from the pull of those beautiful eyes with their compassion and love all directed at her. Desperate for escape she fled the room, without even taking her cloak.

So here she was, sitting shivering on a damp bench with the threat of snow in the air and no covering to keep her dry. She dropped her head in her hands, as she thought how everything was such a mess. Galinda was right about her dreams, both that she had them and that they were troubled and often nightmarish. She remembered the small cupboard she had been made to sleep in when her nightmares had disturbed Nessarose in their shared room. After a while, through sheer will power, she had managed to stop making any noise when she had her dreams. Over time she had convinced herself that she didn't dream at all anymore, but deep down she knew that this wasn't true. And now her stiff-necked pride had ruined things with Galinda.

Just as she was thinking how stupid she was, she felt the familiar warmth of her cloak being draped over her shoulders. Galinda let go of the cloak and sat beside her beloved, careful not to touch her, but letting her know she was there.

After a few minutes, a still chilled, green hand reached out and took a small warm hand and pulled the twined fingers into her lap.

"I'm sorry my love, so sorry." She held the small hand tighter as she explained about herself and dreams and disturbing her sister and its consequences. Galinda pulled her close and stroked her hair as the green girl shivered in her arms. Finally Elphaba sat up and looked at Galinda.

"Sometimes you frighten me so my love. You look at me and I see, a…a real person reflected back in your eyes."

"Oh my Emerald Beauty of course you see that, you're the most real person I've ever met Elphie." Galinda said as she pulled Elphaba to her once again.

"Tell me what you hope to see when you look at me Galinda. Please, if you tell me, maybe I'll be able to see it too."

Taking Elphaba's hand Galinda placed it over her heart and held it there as she placed her other hand over Elphaba's heart, and without hesitation the pale hand on her heart was covered with her own spare hand.

"I was right about your dreams my love, and I know I'm right about your soul as well. You may not have known you had a soul because it wasn't whole, just like mine wasn't, not until I met you anyway." And looking deep into those troubled emerald eyes she began to sing.

One heart, one mind, one self is what I seek.

Two halves of one soul, set side by side.

I think; you speak my words we are so close.

You hurt; I feel your pain I bleed for you.

I laugh; yours is the joy to see me smile.

And yet you leave me free to be myself.

You do what you must do, and I just watch.

You will take care of me, and I of you.

In perfect harmony and equal love.

Hearing the gentle plea from those beloved lips, something inside Elphaba opened finally to her internal vision and she could see it, small and frail but growing in the nourishing glow of Galinda's love.

Raising her head she smiled and joined her voice with that of her lover's.

One heart, one mind, one self is what I seek.

Two halves of one soul, set side by side.

Set side by side.