A/N: Elizabeth again! Maddy's prompt for this one-shot was "something to do with Elphaba, Fiyero, Galinda, Nessa and Boq decorating a Lurlinemas tree". I had SO MUCH FUN writing this one, and I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

On a side note, I went and saw 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' on 30/11, and...well...let's just say that all the mentions of the word 'fantasmagorical' kind of inspired a LOT of new words for Galinda's vocabulary, as you can probably see in this one-shot. ^_^ (And, yes, the show was brilliant, by the way.)

Trees and decorations

"You're home late," Galinda said slyly as Elphaba walked through the door. "Where have you been?" She wiggled her eyebrows playfully at her roommate, causing the other girl to blush.

"Nowhere," Elphaba said, averting her gaze.

"You had to have been somewhere, Elphie," Galinda pointed out with a giggle. "Everyone is somewhere. If they're not anywhere, then they don't exist."

Elphaba looked at Galinda, her eyebrows raised. "You know something, Glin?" she said thoughtfully. "I think that's the smartest thing you've ever said."

Galinda grinned. "I know! I am getting so smartified these days, don't you think?"

Elphaba rolled her eyes.

"Sooo…?" Galinda pressed. "Where have you been?"

"Just…walking," Elphaba replied offhandedly. "Like I said I would be."

"With…Fiyero?"

Elphaba's cheeks darkened as she sat down on her bed and bent down to take off her boots. "No, of course not. Why would I be with Fiyero? I went walking by myself. I always go walking by myself. So why have you got it into your head that I was with Fiyero?" Elphaba rambled. She risked a glance up at Galinda, who grinned broadly.

"Because you're wearing his jacket."

Elphaba glanced down to see that Galinda was right. She was indeed still wearing Fiyero's jacket.

"Oh…" Elphaba squeaked. "Ummm…oh, is that who it belongs to? I didn't realize. I just found it on the ground…and I was cold, so I put it on." She cringed internally. That sounded so lame.

Galinda began dancing around the green girl. "Elphie and Fiyero, sitting in a tree…"

"Oh, not again!" Elphaba groaned, taking off Fiyero's jacket. She held it out to her friend. "Look, why don't you take this back to Fiyero?"

"Me? Why not…you?" Galinda winked. "He's probably back in his room by now…"

"Oz, Galinda, don't you ever give up?" Elphaba cried in frustration, by now thoroughly embarrassed.

"Let's see…" Galinda tapped a manicured finger against her chin thoughtfully. "…No." She jumped onto Elphaba's bed and began bouncing up and down. "So tell me what happened – and don't leave out a thing. I want all the details."

Elphaba shook her head. "Nothing happened, Glin. Nothing…important, anyway."

"So something did happen?"

Elphaba scowled. "Just leave it."

Galinda huffed and crossed her arms. "Fine. But I will find out." There was a pause before she squealed, "Oooh, Elphie, I had the most fantabulozmagoricaliest idea while you were out! You want to hear it?"

"No."

"I was thinking that, since Lurlinemas is just around the corner, we really need to start decorating."

Elphaba quirked an eyebrow. "Decorating?" she repeated flatly.

Galinda nodded excitedly. "We need to have a Lurlinemas tree and decorate it and put presents under it and have fun times together," she babbled on, wrapping her arms around her friend and rocking them from side to side.

Elphaba fought to extricate herself from the blonde's vice-like grip. "Why?"

Galinda drew away, eyes wide, and gasped. "Elphie! How can you ask such a thing? It's what you dooo at Lurlinemas!"

"I don't."

"Well, you should."

"Why?"

"Because it's Lurlinemaaas!" Galinda emphasized loudly.

"So you said."

Galinda sighed. "I can see I'm going to get nowhere with you. I'm going to talk about it with someone who actually cares." With a sniff, Galinda grabbed her purse and flounced from the room.

Elphaba rolled her eyes.

"Awww, come on, Fabala, please?"

Elphaba shook her head firmly. "No. I don't do Lurlinemas; you know that."

"Well, you should."

Elphaba shot a look at Galinda. "That's what she said."

"Fabala…"

Elphaba took one look at those pleading eyes and cracked. With a sigh, she muttered, "Okay, fine, whatever. Do what you like."

Nessarose's face lit up and she wheeled herself closer to Elphaba, throwing her arms around her sister. "Oh, thankyou, Fabala!"

Elphaba glared at Galinda over Nessarose's head. "I hope you're happy now."

Galinda beamed.

Nessarose pulled back and looked around the room. "There isn't much room in here, though, is there?"

Elphaba froze, before she raised her eyes to meet Galinda's gaze. "Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No. Not in here. Galinda, I forbid you to bring a tree into our dorm."

"Awww, come on, Elphie, it'll be fun!"

"There's no room!" Elphaba protested. "I don't want to be treading on pine needles every five seconds and running into the thing in the middle of the night. I am not having a tree in our dorm!"

Galinda widened her eyes and pouted. "Pwease, Elphie?"

Elphaba averted her gaze, knowing that, if she kept looking at Galinda while ever she was making that face, it wouldn't take long before she crumbled.

Galinda moved to stand in front of her friend, thrusting her face into Elphaba's.

Elphaba sighed. "I am not having a tree in our dorm," she reiterated, holding up a hand to ward off Galinda's protests. "However, you may have a plastic tree if you like. Only a little one, mind," she said firmly as Galinda began to squeal. "It has to fit on your bedside table, okay?"

Galinda nodded fervently. "Okay. Oooh, thanks, Elphie!"

"So where are we going to put the real tree, then?" Nessarose asked. "We can't put it in my room. Besides, I don't think any of us really want to spend any more time with Madame Morrible than necessary."

The silence which followed that statement confirmed her suspicion.

The three girls looked at each other for a long moment, before grinning and chorusing, "Fiyero's suite."

"Biq!"

"Boq," Elphaba corrected her friend gently.

Boq turned to face Galinda, a huge smile plastered over his face, which was the colour of beetroot. "Hello, M-Miss Galinda. Y-you're l-looking as radiant as ever."

Seeing Nessarose's eyes narrow at Boq and a scowl find its way onto her face, Elphaba quickly intervened. "We're looking for Fiyero. Have you seen him?"

Now it was Boq's turn to scowl. "Why do you want to know?"

"Because –"

"Because we want to set up a Lurlinemas tree, but we have nowhere to put it and we were hoping Fiyero would lend us his suite and – Oooh, you could totally help us decorate eeet!" Galinda broke in, babbling away excitedly.

"I –"

"Come on, Biq, it'll be fuuun!" Galinda clasped her hands together and fluttered her lashes.

"I-I would be d-delighted to join you, Miss G-Galinda," Boq stammered, bowing gallantly.

Hearing a low growl coming from Nessarose's direction, Elphaba interrupted once again. "Great, now let's locate Fiyero."

The group of four headed off in the direction of Fiyero's suite – Boq just about hanging off Galinda's arm; Elphaba on Galinda's other side; and Nessarose wheeling herself alongside her sister, face like a thundercloud.

"Hey, Elphaba," Boq said as the green girl strode ahead slightly in an effort to hurry everyone up, "isn't that his jacket?"

Elphaba looked down at the jacket in her hands. "Isn't this whose jacket?"

"Fiyero's."

"Oh, that his. Yes, well, I found it yesterday and Galinda said it was his so I'm returning it to him," Elphaba said quickly. "Don't want him missing it or anything."

"Which is why you didn't return it last night," Galinda said drily.

"It was too late!" Elphaba protested weakly.

"It was not." Galinda smirked at her friend. "You just wanted to sleep with it."

Everyone stopped to stare at Galinda, and Elphaba's mouth dropped open.

"Don't think I didn't notice," Galinda continued teasingly. "You sneaked his jacket into your bed as soon as I turned off the light and you cuddled up to it," she said significantly, wiggling her perfectly-shaped eyebrows.

Elphaba's face flushed so deeply that one could almost feel the heat radiating from it. "I did no such thing. Let's just find Fiyero."

Galinda giggled as the group moved off once again. "Sure, Elphie. Whatever you say, Elphie."

At long last, they reached Fiyero's suite and Elphaba tapped briskly on the door.

After a bit of a wait, the door was finally flung open to reveal Fiyero. His face lit up immediately. "Fae!"

At the questioning look from Nessarose and Boq – and Galinda's triumphant smirk – Elphaba flushed (again) and shuffled around uncomfortably. "Hello, Fiyero." She shoved his jacket into his face. "I believe this is yours."

"Good morning, FiFi!" Galinda chirped brightly, pushing in front of Elphaba. "We came to ask you a favour."

Fiyero blinked at Galinda's sudden appearance, and then scanned the small crowd with a raised eyebrow. "Must be some favour," he commented. "What is it?"

"Well, you see, I had this brillianterrificus idea last night to decorate a tree for Lurlinemas, and me and Elphie and Nessa were going to do it together, and now Biq wants to join in, too, and we were wondering…could we put the tree up in your room?" Galinda smiled sweetly.

"Why my room?" Fiyero asked, folding his arms across his chest. "Why not your room?"

"Because Elphie refuses to allow a real tree in our room," Galinda said, shooting a dirty look at Elphaba.

Fiyero quirked an eyebrow at Elphaba.

"There's no room," she said defensively.

"And it wouldn't exactly be fun having it in Nessa's room," Galinda said before Fiyero could turn to the wheelchair-bound girl. "You know, seeing as she shares Madame Morrible's quarters and all."

"True," Fiyero conceded. He turned to Boq. "What's your excuse?"

The Munchkin sniffed and turned his face away.

"There's no room," Galinda translated.

"I take it you're still not talking to me, then?" Fiyero asked Boq. The lack of response was answer enough.

"Wellll?" Galinda asked, spreading her hands before her. "Is that a 'yes'?"

Fiyero heaved a sigh. "Fine, we'll stick a tree in my suite. Will that make you happy?"

Galinda beamed and kissed his cheek. "Thankyou, FiFi, dearest. Now come along."

Fiyero looked at her blankly. "Come along where?"

"To get the tree?" Galinda rolled her eyes. "Honestly. Men."

"Just hold on there. You don't expect me to chop down and carry a tree all by myself, do you?"

Galinda laughed. "Of course not, dearest! Biq will help you, won't you, Biq?"

Boq blushed to the roots of his hair. "Y-y-yes," he stammered, "I'll help. B-but only for you, M-Miss G-Galinda."

Galinda ruffled his hair affectionately as she walked past. "Thankyou, Biq. Now let's go!"

Fiyero put on his jacket, and then he, Boq, Nessarose and Elphaba trailed after Galinda as she marched outside. They trudged all the way into the forest, and then Galinda spent two hours searching for the 'perfect tree'. Once she had finally found said 'perfect tree', she gave the tree a hug, patted it, and then demanded that Fiyero and Boq cut it down.

"And what do you propose we cut it down with?" Fiyero asked pointedly.

"Whatever it is you men use to cut down trees," Galinda said lightly.

"I'm assuming you didn't think to supply us with anything, then." Fiyero put his hands on his hips and heaved a sigh. "Alright, come on, Boq, let's go and hunt out a couple of saws."

The boys moved off to locate the campus tool shed, leaving the three girls staring up at the huge tree.

"Glin…"

"Yes, Elphie?"

"Are you sure this thing is going to fit into Fiyero's suite?"

Galinda chewed her lip thoughtfully, while Elphaba arched an eyebrow and Nessarose looked at Galinda expectantly.

Finally, Galinda announced, "We'll make it fit!"

"And just how –"

"You'll think of something."

"Me?" Elphaba cried incredulously, shifting her gaze to Galinda's face. When Galinda walked around to inspect the other side of the tree instead of acknowledging Elphaba's remark, the green girl sighed and threw her hands up in the air, muttering, "Of course I will."

After a while, Fiyero and Boq returned sporting one small hand saw each.

Elphaba looked at them in amusement. "You really think that's going to do the job?"

"It was the best we could find," Fiyero defended.

Boq snorted. "I told you it would have been easier to go to the hardware store," he muttered.

"Look, let's just get on with it, hmmm?" Galinda put in, hopping impatiently from foot to foot.

"Come on, Boq."

The two boys tramped over to the tree and lined up their saws against the thick tree trunk. Just as they began sawing, however, Elphaba's voice floated towards them.

"Have you got a Forest Product Removal Permit?"

Fiyero's head snapped up. "What? Permit? What permit?"

"The permit which allows you to chop down a tree without getting into any legal trouble."

Fiyero groaned. "You're kidding me."

"No. According to the Gillikin Forestry Act of 1859, Subsection 4 Paragraph C – and I quote – 'A person shall not without the written authority of a forest officer remove from any land any forest products without previously applying for and successfully obtaining a Forest Product Removal Permit.'"

"So let's get a permit."

"It's not that simple, Fiyero."

He sighed. "Nothing ever is."

"It could take weeks to get a permit. Besides, I don't think our application would be successful."

Now Nessarose arched an eyebrow. "Oh? And why is that?"

"Gillikin Forestry Act of 1859, Subsection 4, Paragraph A: 'Licences may be granted by the chief executive under, and in accordance with this Act in respect of any land comprised in any public forest or timber reserve or any Oz-owned land for all or any of the following purposes: to get timber for fuel; to cut and split slabs, fencing material, and shingles; such other purposes as may be prescribed.' And just to clarify, chopping down trees for Lurlinemas is not accepted under 'other purposes'."

Boq looked impressed. "How come you know all this stuff off by heart?"

At the same time, Fiyero asked, "So what's all that mean?"

Elphaba shrugged nonchalantly at Boq while answering Fiyero. "It means that we can't get a permit for two reasons. One: you're not allowed to chop down trees just to take away and stick up somewhere else, and two: this is not a public forest or timber reserve, nor does it belong to the Wizard. That is to say, this is a public forest, but this particular tree is still on the university campus, which means it's on private property. The trees here are off-limits."

Galinda flapped her arms about. "Elphie! Stop spoiling things with irrelevant and unimportant laws."

"You're right; the laws are unimportant," Elphaba agreed. "If you don't mind being thrown in the slammer for unlawful deforestation."

Galinda's eyes widened as she let out a squeak. "Jail?!" she shrieked in horror.

"Of course, if we just went to a tree farm…"

"Never!" Galinda declared. "The trees there are all scraggly and scrawny and just…ugh!"

"Well, I say we just cut the thing down."

Elphaba shot Fiyero a disapproving glance.

"We really shouldn't…" Boq trailed off as Galinda wound an arm around his neck.

"Just think how pretty it will look once we've decorated it… all those shiny, sparkly baubles…the fire casting shadows onto the tree…" Galinda whispered seductively.

Boq gulped.

Nessarose glared daggers.

Elphaba rolled her eyes.

Fiyero burst into raucous laughter.

"Well…maybe just this once," Boq said, succumbing to Galinda's charms.

Galinda grinned and turned to Nessarose, who was still glaring at both Galinda and Boq. "Nessa?"

"If Elphaba says it's illegal, then we shouldn't do it," Nessarose said firmly through gritted teeth.

"Elphie?"

Elphaba crossed her arms. "I'm not participating in any illegal activities."

"That settles it," Nessarose sniffed, beginning to wheel herself away.

Galinda turned her pleading eyes onto Fiyero and jerked her head in Elphaba's direction.

Fiyero took the hint and sighed. He moved closer to Elphaba and gave a tentative smile. "Fae?"

"Don't think you can get me to do whatever you want just by turning on the charm," Elphaba said, but her voice wasn't as strong as she wanted it to be.

"But it's Lurlinemas…"

"Great argument."

"…and don't you think it would be nice if we could all celebrate it together with the traditional tree and everything?" He widened his eyes and pouted, mimicking Galinda perfectly.

Elphaba could feel her resolve crumbling with every word Fiyero spoke, and that look… "Fine."

Nessarose stopped wheeling and turned her shocked gaze onto her sister. "What?!"

"But we are not going to get caught. We're going to take extra precautions." Elphaba gazed sternly at the small group. "Got it?"

"But Fabala –"

"If everyone wants a tree that badly and I don't let them have one, I'm never going to hear the end of it. And neither are you," Elphaba pointed out, earning a grimace from Nessarose. "Are you in?"

Nessarose chewed her lip. After one agonizingly and excruciatingly long minute, she finally slumped down in her chair with a sigh. "I'm in."

Galinda beamed and wrapped her arms around Elphaba. "Oooh, thankyou, Elphie!" she squealed loudly. She then hurried over to Nessarose and gave her a quick hug as well. "Alright, boys – off to work!"

Fiyero flashed Elphaba a smile of thanks as he followed Boq back to the tree, making Elphaba's heart flutter in her chest.

Nessarose wheeled her chair back over to Elphaba. "This had better not go wrong," she hissed quietly.

"Would you rather do something illegal or lose Boq to Galinda?"

"I've already lost Boq to Galinda," Nessarose muttered bitterly. "If I ever had him to begin with." She looked at Elphaba suspiciously, scrutinizing her face, and then abruptly changed tracks. "You're only doing this to impress Fiyero, aren't you?"

Elphaba flushed. "I don't know what you mean. I'm trying to pacify Galinda so I won't have to hear about it for the rest of my life. It would be awful trying to live with her going on about it all day every day." She shuddered at the thought.

"Sure. And to impress Fiyero."

"I'm not –"

"I heard what happened when he began to plead with you like that. You melted."

"Don't be silly," Elphaba snapped. She marched over to join Galinda, who was watching the boys work with a keen eye and an appreciative smile.

"Oh, Elphie!" Galinda gushed in a stage-whisper. "Don't they look sexy when they're working?"

Before she could catch herself, Elphaba's eyes floated over Fiyero's body. Even bundled up in thick winter clothes, she could tell that Galinda was right. She very briefly imagined the muscles that lay beneath as they bunched and stretched…

Elphaba averted her gaze as her cheeks heated up. "I…I…really can't say…"

Galinda giggled. "You sure? Well…you'll learn."

"I'm going back inside where it's warmer," Nessarose announced.

Galinda waved her off, never once tearing her eyes away from the sight before her. "We'll come and fetch you when the tree is up."

Nessarose disappeared back onto the campus while Boq and Fiyero kept sawing away at the tree.

When, half an hour later, nothing had been accomplished, save for a small cut in the side of the trunk, Fiyero stood back and wiped his brow, shrugging out of his jacket. "I don't think we're going to get anywhere soon." He handed his jacket to Elphaba with a wink. "Could you look after this for me?"

Elphaba nodded and took the jacket.

Galinda squealed quietly in Elphaba's ear. "Now you'll get to see his muscles at work! Even if he is still wearing a shirt."

"Galinda!"

"We're definitely not going to get anywhere anytime soon," Boq said, trying not to make it sound as though he were agreeing with Fiyero. "I did say we should have gone to a hardware store."

Fiyero looked around. "Anyone got any ideas?"

"Hardware store," Boq muttered.

"Elphie!"

Everyone looked at Elphaba expectantly.

"Hey, don't look at me," Elphaba said. "I'm not the bright spark who decided to chop down a tree using two hand saws. How could I possibly live up to the wisdom of that decision?"

Fiyero poked out his tongue. "Can't you magic it down or something?"

"What am I, a walking spell book?"

"Why not? You're already a walking dictionary, a walking thesaurus, a walking encyclopaedia and now apparently a walking law and legislation…thingo…whatever. Why not add walking spell book to that list?" Fiyero gave her a lopsided grin.

Elphaba stared at him, before throwing her hands up in the air. "Ugh. Fine. Whatever. I'll try and think of something. Happy?" She circled the tree, inspecting it closely from all angles. After a couple of minutes, she announced, "I can't do anything with it."

"But Elphie –" Galinda began in disappointment, only to be cut off.

"I can't do anything with the tree itself," Elphaba explained, "but I might be able to enchant the saws so that they actually do something."

Fiyero and Boq instantly held out their saws.

Elphaba took them and placed them on the ground. She looked at them thoughtfully for a moment, then closed her eyes and began to chant.

Soon the saws began to glow a soft purple and small blue sparks danced over the blades. Then the light faded and Elphaba's eyes snapped open.

"Did it work?"

Galinda nodded slowly. "I…I think so," she whispered in awe.

"That was amazing," Fiyero and Boq chorused.

"It won't be amazing if it didn't work," Elphaba pointed out drily. "Well, go on – try them."

The boys picked up the saws and returned to work. As they began sawing, Fiyero grunted, "It feels better than it did."

After fifteen minutes, the tree fell down, and Elphaba and Galinda quickly jumped out of the road.

"Oh, Elphie, it worked!" Galinda squealed excitedly. "It really, actually worked! Now what do we do?"

"We cover up our tracks," Elphaba said briskly. After handing Fiyero back his jacket, she squatted down, placed her hands on the remaining tree stump and chanted another spell. Immediately, a large tree appeared where the original one had previously stood.

Everyone gaped at the tree, and then Fiyero turned to Elphaba.

"Fae…this is…I mean…you…" He shook his head in disbelief. "I'm speechless."

"Don't get too excited," Elphaba warned him. "It's not a real tree. It's just a convincing hologram."

Once everyone had finished making Elphaba feel highly uncomfortable by marvelling at her talent with magic, Galinda instructed the boys to lift the tree and carry it to Fiyero's suite.

"I have two questions."

Everyone turned to look at Elphaba expectantly.

"Firstly, how are we going to smuggle it in and keep it in without arousing anyone's suspicions? You know, since we're not actually supposed to have trees in our rooms."

Galinda narrowed her eyes at her friend. "How come you didn't mention that rule this morning?"

"I only just thought of it," Elphaba admitted sheepishly.

Everyone was silent for a moment.

"What's the other question?" Boq eventually asked.

"As I asked Galinda before, how are we going to make that thing fit?"

"Surely you've got a shrinking spell in that brilliant mind of yours?" Fiyero questioned.

"That would solve the smuggling problem," Galinda added thoughtfully.

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll cast a shrinking spell on it." Once more, Elphaba began to chant, and the tree glowed a bright yellow before disappearing.

Elphaba opened her eyes and bit her lip when she saw the result. "Whoops."

"Elphieee!" Galinda wailed loudly. "How could you?! Our perfect tree, and we spent all that time and energy on it, and now it's all wasted because you made it disappear!"

Fiyero met Elphaba's guilty gaze over Galinda's head. "Can you bring it back?"

Elphaba shrugged. "Honestly? I have no idea. Probably not, since I don't know where it's gone."

"Hey, guys?" Boq piped up, crouching to the ground. "I think I found our tree."

Elphaba, Galinda and Fiyero all blinked at him. "Huh?"

Boq pointed to the ground, before picking something up and holding it out for all to see.

It was a tree.

It was the size of a thimble.

Fiyero grinned. "Well, at least we don't have to worry about anyone discovering it."

Galinda hit him, before turning to Elphaba. "I hope you can grow it again."

"So do I," the green girl muttered.

Galinda took the tree from Boq and began to head towards the boys' dormitories, being careful not to drop the tiny object. "Let's go set it up!"

Boq trotted after Galinda happily, while Elphaba followed as a more sedate pace, cringing with embarrassment.

Fiyero took her hand and patted it. "Don't worry, Fae," he said gently, "everyone makes mistakes. Some people's mistakes are just funnier than those of others."

Elphaba glared at him. "Thanks. That makes me feel so much better."

Fiyero chuckled and squeezed her shoulders.

Galinda stood looking around the room, hands on her hips. "Right. Where do you think we should put this?"

"Don't you think Elphaba should enlarge it first?" Boq pointed out. "Otherwise it's going to be a bit difficult to decorate it."

"Oh, yes, of course," Galinda giggled. "Silly me." She carefully placed the tree on the floor away from the furniture and turned to Elphaba. "Go on; do your stuff."

Elphaba swallowed nervously. "I'm not so sure this is a good idea anymore…"

"Elphie…"

"Well, I don't want the spell to go to the extreme like last time! I'm sure no-one will be happy if Fiyero ends up with a hole in his ceiling."

Fiyero put his hand on Elphaba's shoulder. "That's not going to happen," he said firmly. "It will work. You can do this."

Elphaba glared at the miniscule tree. "Pressure much? Alright, I'll do it. But if it doesn't work, I am not taking the blame."

Two minutes later, the tree had returned to its normal size and Galinda began directing traffic – at least, that's what it looked like to Elphaba.

"Where do you think we should put it? How about over here by the fireplace? No, not there, to the side a little."

"I think that looks lov-"

"No, it's not quite right. What about over there by the window? No, then FiFi can't see out. That would be sad, especially when it snows."

Said FiFi rolled his eyes as he and Boq moved the tree over to the opposite corner of the room. "Don't I get a say in this? It is my suite, aftera-"

"No, not there, either… Try in front of that wall. No, it sticks out too much. Why don't you put it beside the fireplace and see how that looks?"

Everyone groaned in unison as the boys heaved the tree back to its original spot.

Galinda beamed and clasped her hands together. "Oh! It's perfect! Leave it right there! Don't move it another inch!"

"Galinda," Fiyero pointed out patiently, "we haven't got a stand for it yet."

Three pairs of eyes latched on to Elphaba.

"Oh, no, not again. No, I'm going to go and find Nessa, and then we will go and buy the necessary equipment." She headed out the door, calling over her shoulder, "Have fun holding that thing up for the next hour or so!"

"Aren't you glad now that we did it?" Galinda asked Elphaba and Nessarose the next day as the three girls plus Fiyero and Boq decorated the tree.

"I have to admit that it is looking rather pretty," Nessarose conceded, hanging a purple bauble on one of the lower branches.

"Elphie?"

There was no reply.

"Elphie?"

Elphaba's head jerked up. "What?"

"Aren't you glad that we got a real tree?"

Elphaba opened her mouth to reply just as Fiyero's fingers gently brushed hers, eliciting a small gasp.

Galinda looked at her curiously.

Elphaba bit her lip. "Yes, Glin, it's very nice." She moved around to the other side of the tree, pushing Fiyero to the side with her shoulder. "What are you doing?" she whispered, blushing.

"Just decorating the tree," Fiyero replied, smiling innocently.

"Trying to distract me, more like," Elphaba muttered.

Fiyero's smile widened into a grin. "Are you admitting I distracted you?"

"No," Elphaba said stubbornly, shaking her head.

Fiyero brushed his hand against Elphaba's arm on purpose as he reached across in front of her to hang up a decoration, making sure to keep in physical contact with her at all times.

Elphaba's heartbeat sped up as Fiyero angled himself in front of her. She knew exactly what he was doing. Her eyes narrowed when he finally pulled back, and then she stepped one leg in front of Fiyero's, pressing herself against him as she copied his action and hung a decoration on the tree. After a moment, she stepped back and sent him a challenging look. "Two can play this game, you know," she said, using his own words from two days prior.

Fiyero winked. "You know I can't resist a good challenge." He reached an arm around Elphaba's waist, bending down to hang a bauble on a lower branch, and then pulled his arm back slowly, trailing his fingers up Elphaba's thigh. His grin widened when he heard her sharp intake of breath.

Elphaba reached down and grabbed Fiyero's hand, pushing him away roughly. "That's too far." But her cheeks were flushed, and Fiyero had not missed the shiver that had possessed her.

"Is everything alright around here?" Galinda chirped brightly, popping her head around the tree.

Elphaba turned away in embarrassment, while Fiyero turned his grin onto the blonde. "Just dandy."

Galinda returned his grin and giggled. "Good."

As soon as she had disappeared back around to the other side of the tree, Elphaba put a hand over her eyes and groaned. "Oz, Fiyero, you sure know how to embarrass me, don't you?"

"Yep," Fiyero said cheerfully, snatching a snowflake ornament from Elphaba's grasp and looping it over his ear. He struck a pose. "How do I look?"

Elphaba couldn't help but burst into giggles. "Like an idiot. You need one on the other ear."

Fiyero plucked a matching ornament off the tree and did as she suggested. "Is that better?"

Elphaba shook her head. "You look even more ridiculous."

Fiyero pouted. "You did that on purpose."

Elphaba grinned. "Yeah, I did."

"Come here, you." Fiyero captured Elphaba in his arms and brought his lips to her ear, tracing it gently.

Elphaba's giggles grew louder. "It doesn't have quite the same effect when you're wearing those stupid ornaments," she pointed out, flattening her hands against Fiyero's chest.

"Fabala?"

Elphaba froze, and Fiyero's eyes flicked up to see Nessarose, Galinda and Boq all staring at them, mouths wide open.

"What's going on here?" Nessarose asked slowly.

The pair shot apart as if struck by lightning. "Nothing," they said at the same time, Elphaba biting her lip nervously and Fiyero running his hand through his hair with a sheepish smile.

"Keep decorating," Fiyero added encouragingly.

Boq and Nessarose did so, but not before throwing them suspicious glances, and Galinda just grinned knowingly at them for a moment longer before disappearing once again.

Elphaba whacked Fiyero's chest. "You don't know how to behave, do you? Oz, how am I going to explain this?"

Fiyero shrugged. "Just tell them the truth."

"What truth?"

"That we're together now."

"Are we?"

"It's up to you. But I hope so." Fiyero squeezed Elphaba's hand gently, and then turned his attention back to decorating the tree.

Biting her lip, Elphaba followed suit, her mind racing with Fiyero's words.

On the other side of the tree, Galinda was still giggling madly, though somewhat more quietly. "Aren't they so cute together?" she gushed. "They are just so cute. Aren't they just so cute?"

Nessarose looked at Galinda with a frown. "What's going on between those two?"

Galinda shrugged. "Elphie won't tell me," she confessed, "and neither will Fiyero, but I suspect they're at that 'it's complicated' stage and will soon be moving onto the 'let's go out' stage."

Boq blinked. "You mean…Elphaba…and Fiyero…?"

"Yep." Galinda let out yet another shrill giggle. "Isn't it fantabulozmoziful? They are so cute together!"

"You mean…you're definitely not with Fiyero anymore?" he asked, trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together.

"Oh, no, Biq; we've been broken up for a while now."

"I thought it only happened a few days ago?" Nessarose questioned, trying not to glare at Boq.

Galinda waved a hand in the air dismissively. "Same thing."

"M-Miss G-Galinda, I wonder if I-I c-c-could –"

"Oh, look," Nessarose interrupted, "we've finished decorating the tree."

Hearing Nessarose's comment, Fiyero stepped back. "So we have."

Galinda looked up and admired the tree. "Doesn't it look perfect?"

"It does," Elphaba agreed quietly, catching Fiyero's eye. They exchanged a soft smile.

"There's just one thing missing," Galinda continued matter-of-factly. "It needs something on top."

"You mean like a star?" Fiyero asked.

"No, an angel," Nessarose argued.

Galinda looked around at the group. "So which is it going to be? A star or an angel?"

"A star," Fiyero and Elphaba said at the same time as Nessarose and Boq answered, "An angel."

Galinda sighed.

"How about we compromise," Elphaba suggested with a straight face, "and stick Galinda on top."

Galinda beamed and giggled. "Oh, Elphie, you're too sweet!"

Boq shuffled closer to the blonde. "M-Miss G-Galinda, if I may say so, you would look perfect atop a L-Lurlinemas t-t-tree."

Nessarose glared murderously at Boq.

"Hey, what a great idea!" Fiyero said brightly. "Galinda can be the tree-topper. I'm sure she'd enjoy having the extra space in here for her mountains of clothes." He elbowed Elphaba and winked. "And then I could move in with you."

Elphaba's eyes widened and she shot him a warning look.

Galinda smirked at Elphaba but, thankfully, didn't make any further remarks.

"What about a star with wings and a halo?" Elphaba said in an attempt to turn the conversation away from her and Fiyero.

"Oooh, that's a perfect idea, Elphie! I'll make one tonight." Galinda hugged her friend and then bounced out of the room. Boq followed her and Nessarose wheeled herself after him, her scorching gaze burning into the back of his head. Were her eyes lasers, Elphaba was quite sure the poor Munchkin's head would have melted by now.

At the door, Nessarose paused and turned back. "Are you coming, Fabala?"

"In a second."

With a twist of her mouth, Nessarose gave a stiff nod and disappeared down the hall.

Elphaba turned back to Fiyero. "I have something for you," she said shyly. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a felt shape with a ribbon attached. Elphaba handed it to him. "For the tree."

Fiyero turned the decoration over in his hands, a smile playing at his lips. "A reindeer wearing a crown?"

Elphaba looked at him nervously. "You aren't still sore at Galinda over that, are you?"

He laughed. "No, I'm not still sore at her over that little episode."

Elphaba breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. I wasn't sure whether you'd appreciate the joke."

"I do. Thankyou; I love it." Fiyero hung the reindeer in a prominent place on the tree and then gently pulled Elphaba to him. "I love you." He leant down and kissed Elphaba tenderly. "And you will think about what I said, won't you?"

Elphaba nodded. "I will."

Fiyero smiled. "Good." He kissed her one more time before letting her go. "I'll see you later."

Elphaba returned his smile and slipped quietly from the room.

Another A/N: The forestry laws I made up were based on certain clauses from the Queensland Forestry Act of 1959.

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