Steamed part 2

Yeah, it ended up being too long, so I split it in half. I hope you all enjoy! Also, I'd like to thank my beta, geekgirl18 once more. Thanks for putting up with me and my neurotic self.

Disclaimer – I do not own Glinda, Elphaba, or anyone else in this chapter. I do not own Wicked. I also do not own Maddie. She belongs to Kristin Chenoweth.


A number of weeks passed and soon, all the Shiz students were given another break. This time, however, the vacation was going to be longer than the last one. Many students were collecting their belongings and getting ready to go home for the holidays. Galinda Upland however, was not one of them; when Elphaba had told her to stay behind and focus on her grades, Galinda had taken the words to heart and just like before, hung back, deciding to stay at Shiz to study.

Which was why she was currently pacing around her room, biting on her lip in concentration as she recited all of the facts of a certain case to Nessarose, who was sitting in her wheelchair with Maddie in her lap.

"...Correct." The brunette answered, glancing at the cards containing the answers that she had laid out on the arm of her chair, a textbook on the opposite arm.

"Good job!" Nessarose smiled, and Galinda squealed, clapping her hands excitedly before leaning over Maddie and giving a surprised but not reluctant Nessarose a tight hug of thanks.

The door to Galinda's room opened suddenly, and Galinda turned to look at whoever had come inside. There, in all her shabby finery, stood Elphaba with her hands behind her back, a blue knit cap pulled over her hair as protection from the snow.

"I'm sorry I'm late." Elphaba apologized. She pulled off her beanie, delicately shaking the quickly melting snowflakes off of it with one hand. "I had to stop to purchase something before coming here."

"Oh, it's fine." Galinda bubbled. She leaned back from her hug.

"Say!" She said brightly. "You two haven't met yet, have you?"

"Nessarose, this is-"

"Elphaba?" Nessarose gasped, finally catching sight of the green woman. Blinking, Galinda turned to look at Elphaba. The green woman was looking sincerely shocked; her beanie was dangling on the tips of her fingers, the woman's clutch upon the hat loosened greatly due to the surprise. Elphaba didn't even notice as Maddie jumped off of Nessarose's lap and pawed at her leg frantically.

"N-Nessa?" Elphaba stammered. "What... what are you doing here?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Nessa replied, looking equally as shocked.

"You two... know each other?" Galinda asked, her gaze traveling back and forth between the two women.

"Know her?" Elphaba echoed, turning to Galinda.

"Galinda," She said, returning back to her normal self, "Nessarose is my younger sister."

Galinda blinked once again.

"...Sister?"

"Yes." Someone, Nessa this time, affirmed, turning herself to look at the stunned blonde. "Elphaba is my sister."

As Elphaba walked across the room to stand next to Nessa's chair, Galinda couldn't help but peer carefully at the both of them.

"Now that I think about it..." Galinda said slowly, "I can see a family resemblance."

Both women scowled at that statement, and Galinda could most definitely see the resemblance then. They had the same bone structure- strong and well defined cheekbones, though still soft enough to be clearly feminine, similar noses, and (if Nessarose could stand up) the same tall and gracefully awkward build. They had the same eyes as well, though Elphaba's were somewhat a somewhat lighter brown than Nessarose's. For their hair, however, it was the opposite- Nessa's was a light brown, while Elphaba's was nearly pure black silk.

Glancing at the clock hanging on Galinda's pink wall, Nessa exhaled deeply and shifted in her chair.

"I have to go." She sighed. Seeing the confused looks on both Elphaba and Galinda's faces, she explained to them "Due to the holidays, the hours at the salon have changed. My work shift is starting soon."

"I'll walk you there." Elphaba offered immediately. Reaching for the top posts of Nessa's chair, she paused, fingertips barely touching the wood when Nessa shook her head.

"I will be fine, Elphaba." She insisted. "Really. I don't need an escort, I'm old enough to be able to see myself to there and then back home. Honestly, you treat me like I'm still a child..."

Nessarose trailed off, looking tired and frustrated. Sighing once more, she turned to Galinda.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you study more." She said to the student as she placed the cards and the textbook on Galinda's desk on her way to the door.

"It's alright." Galinda chirped, walking her disabled friend to the door, picking up the textbook on her way.

"Besides," She smiled brilliantly, "Elphie can help me study!"

The book was held loosely in Galinda's hands, and she gave a little gasp as it slipped from her grasp and fell with a soft thud to the floor. As she bent over to pick it up, she did not see the silent exchange behind her back as Nessarose raised an eyebrow and shot a glance at Elphaba.

'Elphie?' She mouthed, and Elphaba couldn't do more than shrug.

"Goodbye, Galinda." Nessa nodded to the blonde once more. She straightened up, and wheeled herself out of the room, but before she left completely she stopped in the doorframe.

"Oh, and Elphaba?" She called, not bothering to turn around. "I'll see you at home."

With that, Nessarose was gone, the door closing shut behind her.

As soon as the younger Thropp sister left, Elphaba turned to look at Galinda, raising an eyebrow of her own.

"Elphie?" She asked, giving Galinda a pointed stare.

"Is it alright if I call you Elphie?" Galinda questioned, gazing innocently at the green girl.

"Well, it's a little..." Elphaba made a face as she searched for the right word to describe her feelings about the nickname newly bestowed upon her.

"Perky." She said finally, and Galinda laughed.

"You can be really strange sometimes, Elphie." She giggled, delighted when Elphaba (though she made another face) did not object to her new pet name.

"Anyways, what made you so late?"

"Oh..." Elphaba shifted uncomfortably, and Galinda noticed that her hands were still behind her back. Quickly, Elphaba strode across the floor and sat down on the bed, facing the blonde who was now standing in front of her.

"Well, like I said, I had to stop and buy something." Elphaba held out what she had been keeping behind her back. There, clutched in hands as green as grass was a brown paper bag, a tiny bow attached to the top.

"I know you're not going back to Gillikin for the holiday break," The verdant woman said as Galinda sat down beside her to look more closely at the package, "So I got you this."

"A present?" Galinda grinned. "For me?" Gently, she took the bag and opened it, pulling out a bottle with a bow that matched to one on the bag.

"It'll save you time." Elphaba told her as Galinda brought the bottle closer to her face for a more careful examination.

"It's shampoo and conditioner in one."

Galinda almost screamed, just barely managing to turn it into a gasp. She nearly flung the bottle out her window in horror; a two-in-one hair care product? She had never used one in her life, preferring to carefully lather her golden locks and then add in the conditioner. Even worse, the little bottle had no name on it; Oz, the bottle wasn't even the vaguest shade of pink! Every inch of the bottle, from its cap to its base, was pure, unlabeled white. Galinda had never used two-in-one products before, but she hadn't even touched a no-name brand for anything in her life. Galinda had grown up using the best of the best brands for everything, from her shampoo to her silverware. Elphaba's gift was like an economizing insult!

But then it hit Galinda.

This little bottle was Elphaba's gift.

Elphaba, who had done so much already by encouraging her to do better in Shiz. Elphaba, who had devoted so much of her time tutoring and helping Galinda learn. Elphaba, who Galinda knew for a fact was struggling to make ends meet and provide a home and food for not only herself but Nessarose as well.

Elphaba, who was currently snapping emerald green fingers in Galinda's face in an attempt to awaken the girl from her stupor.

"...Elphie." She beamed, a new found sense of appreciation and gratitude for the gift in her hand suddenly blooming. "Thank you so much. You're so sweet to think of me."

She touched Elphaba's shoulder in a grateful hold, smiling up at the taller girl. She was going to say more, when-

"Galinda!"

Galinda snapped her hand back as if she were burned, and immediately got to her feet to smile dazedly (but brilliantly) at the owner of the voice. All of this happened within two seconds.

Why?

It was Fiyero who had been the one to burst into the room.

"Galinda," He puffed, out of breath, "Have... have you seen... Sarima?" Gulping harshly, he gasped for air and straightened up.

"I've been looking for her everywhere." He said, voice returning to normal as he got the oxygen he needed. "And I haven't been able to find her. Do you know where she is?"

"Yes..." Galinda said breathily, batting her lashes at him.

As Fiyero stared at her expectantly, the question registered in Galinda's mind.

"I mean-" She corrected, voice still carrying the breathless quality, "No..."

She drew the word out, smiling flirtatiously and striking a pose for him. Fiyero, ignorant to Galinda's attempts to gain his interest, sighed heavily. He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

"Great." He groaned, to himself as he walked out of the door and left. "Now we're never going to catch the coach!"

As the door closed and Fiyero's voice and footsteps faded in the hallway, Galinda closed her eyes, becoming painfully aware of the eyes boring into her back.

"Galinda?"

"...Yes, Elphie?"

"What was that?"

"That was my reaction to Fiyero, Elphie."

"...I see."

After a moment's silence, Elphaba spoke up again.

"I think I've just discovered your problem, Galinda." The graduated student said, and Galinda finally turned around to face her.

"My problem?" Her brows drew together in confusion.

"Your problem." Elphaba repeated, sitting forwards, elbows on her knees, her face balanced on interlocked fingers as she peered at Galinda over the rims of her glasses.

"And this problem is...?"

"Simple." The green woman gazed at Galinda steadily. "Your problem is the very man you're trying so desperately to impress."

The words sunk in for Galinda and, with a jolt, she realized that Elphaba was right.

"...Yes." She whispered her eyes glassy with shock. "You... you're right, Elphie."

Laughing in surprise, she picked up her book once more and flopped back down next to Elphaba.

"I've been smiling and sweet all this time... but no more."

Elphaba blinked and stared at Galinda, who had thrust the law book furiously at her. The blonde woman stared back, an uncharacteristic snarl on her fiercely determined face. "No more whining for me, Elphie."

She shook her head, blonde curls flying. "Take the book and help me study. I'll show Fiyero, and I'll show everyone!"

Elphaba blinked once again. Her gaze dragged down from Galinda's face to the book in her own arms and back again.

A smirk appeared on Elphaba's face.

"I see you're finally determined." She grinned, "So who am I to deny you now?"


The holiday break finally ended and soon all the classes at Shiz were back on track. Normal routines were soon resumed and the classes were back to their normal habits.

Except for the Wizard's first year criminal law class.

Unlike the others, their routines had changed. Workloads had increased, and pressure was rising as the date that the Wizard would post up the names of those receiving the internship drew closer. Clearly, this sudden raise in class work and homework meant that the Wizard was getting close to deciding who the lucky four would be. If there was ever a time to impress the Wizard, now would be the best opportunity.

That was what lingered in the brains of every student in the Wizard's class that day, including one Fiyero Tiggular, who was nearly sweating bullets as the Wizard grilled him on their case study.

"H-he was clearly within his rights to ask to visit the child!" Fiyero stuttered under the Wizard's heated glare.

"Why though?" The seasoned professor asked. "He was only an anonymous sperm donor."

"But without his sperm," The Prince reasoned, "This child would not even exist!"

The Wizard thumped a fist on his desk and pointed a finger at the man. "This is the kind of thinking I want to see," He said. "Because now, you're thinking like a lawyer."

A smile spread on Fiyero's face and he returned to his desk, many of his classmates congratulating him and patting him on the back. Sarima smiled affectionately and hugged him tightly as he sat back down beside her.

Galinda ignored the racket behind her, immediately raising her hand. She waited patiently for the Wizard to notice her and when he did, she glanced down at her newly made and organized notes before speaking.

"Sir," She started politely, "Mister Tiggular makes an excellent point; but, I wonder... did the defendant keep track of every... erm, sperm emission, made throughout his life?"

Galinda paid no attention to the scoffs made behind her back and neither did the Wizard, who simply looked at her, intrigued.

"Interesting." He mused. "Why do you ask, Miss Upland?"

"Sir," Galinda peered up at her teacher with a professional air. "Unless the defendant contacted every person he had ever had a sexual encounter with to learn if a child had been resulted from those unions, he had no parental claim on this child whatsoever."

Amidst the gaping jaws and shocked glances (and the smirk from the green woman watching her from near the door), Galinda leaned forward in her seat, her blue eyes never leaving those of the Wizard's.

"Why now?" She stressed. "Why this sperm, sir?"

"In addition," She went on to say, "By Mister Tiggular's standard, any bouts of self pleasure that the defendant might have had that resulted in the emissions of certain fluids where the defendant's sperm was clearly not seeking an egg could be termed as reckless abandonment."

Galinda fell silent, resting her argument. Behind her, beside her and all around her, the blonde's classmates stared with eyes as wide as saucers.

With a look on his face that said he did not expect it himself, the Wizard said into the silence that had fallen upon the room-

"Miss Upland, you have just won your case."

There was a pregnant pause, broken only by the sound of the bell ringing and the delayed start for the door by the stunned students.

"Oh my Oz." Galinda whispered, getting to her feet, the Wizard's words echoing in her ears. "Oh my Oz." She repeated, beginning to beam.

Once the strength had come back to both her legs, Galinda made a beeline for Elphaba. Just as she approached the green girl, the Wizard stepped in her way.

"Miss Upland!" He laughed, the more wonderful side of the Wizard making an appearance. "Lovely work in class today. I assume you're applying for my internship?"

Galinda's breath hitched, and her knees nearly went weak again. Was... was the Wizard really asking her this? Was her really asking for what she thought he was?

Before Galinda's mind could become too swamped with questions and render herself unable to respond, the socialite saw Elphaba behind the Wizard's shoulder, nodding encouragingly at her.

The blonde took an inaudible deep breath, and her mind cleared. Within that one gesture, she had once again become the confident woman that had won the case in class.

"Yes I am, sir." Galinda smiled. Reaching into her handbag (now with more space since Maddie had been left in her dorm room) Galinda pulled out crisp sheets of paper. Written on the stationary was the résumé that Elphaba had helped her create, and she handed it to the Wizard with a proud smile.

"Thank you in advance for your kind consideration" She said to the Wizard, before heading to the door. Galinda could barely contain her shrieks of delight and as she passed by the students who had stopped to watch, she paused as she stepped by Sarima and Fiyero. Over her shoulder, the blonde gave Fiyero a smug glance that clearly said 'I told you so' before she skipped out of the room, her classmates following after her dejectedly.

The Wizard, reading the resume before him, turned around to speak to his assistant. Before a word could make its way out of his mouth, the Wizard stopped abruptly. His nose twitched and Elphaba watched bemusedly as he lifted the pink stationary to his nose.

Right after, he held out Galinda's résumé to Elphaba, who took it gingerly.

"What's wrong with it?" Elphaba asked, frowning. She had helped Galinda set up the résumé personally, and frankly, she didn't see any problems with it.

"Smell it." The Wizard instructed.

Casting her boss an incredulous glance but not objecting to the command, Elphaba raised the papers to her nose...

...And was bombarded with the scent of the Gillikin Rose.

Galinda's favourite perfume.

"It's-"

"Scented." The Wizard finished for her, a deep belly laugh rumbling his small frame. "You know Elphaba, three months ago this would have gone straight into the trash."

"Be sure to put it on file." The man grinned before leaving Elphaba alone in the classroom.

With no one else finally around, Elphaba slid her glasses up to the bridge of her nose.

"Who's steamed as an artichoke now, Galinda?" She murmured fondly. She let the scent of Gillikin Rose waft through her nose once more before filing the résumé away, and just before she did, she nodded proudly at it and the image of Galinda attached to the front page.

When Elphaba left that day, she was doing something she hadn't ever done before.

She was smiling.