A/N: Okay, new chapter and it's some more Gelphie moments I'd say... I would consider this chapter pretty fluffy, but then that's what we love, right? ;) It's too much angst around here, though angst is good. So anyway... thanks to Wolfie who made this chapter readable... what would we be without you? ;)

Enjoy!


Elphaba couldn't help herself. She started crying again. All she wanted to do was hug her friend, but she didn't dare do it. She could only imagine how she had hurt Glinda by not telling her that she had been alive all these years.

The blonde slowly took Elphaba's hand in hers and slowly walked back to the huge stone she had been sitting on earlier. She sat down again and pulled the taller woman down along with her. "I'm sorry, Elphie," she managed to say after a few minutes. She still didn't know if they were all right, but she didn't let go of her friend's hand the whole time.

"I'm the one who has to be sorry, my sweet. Not you," Elphaba answered as she turned to face Glinda.

Glinda looked up and sadly shook her head. "I slapped you, Elphie. I shouldn't have," she said. Still, her heart had jumped when Elphaba had called her 'my sweet'. Glinda had longed to hear those words for a long time, seeing that only the green woman had ever called her that. She would never allow anyone else to call her by the nickname Elphaba had given her.

"Don't be," Elphaba replied dejectedly. "I deserve more then one. What I did to you was unforgivable, but believe me, I missed you. I can't even describe how much I missed you. You were the only one, besides Fiyero, who ever cared about me, and so I asked Blair to take care of you. Everyone told me you were safe, but I still wasn't sure. I guess I was right and-" Here she stopped for a moment to stop new tears from falling. "I just couldn't leave you alone any more, even though I was watching you sometimes from the castle. Once or twice when I was watching you, you were crying, and I desperately wanted to cry with you, but I couldn't. I knew I caused you pain, and-" She was cut off by Glinda.

"Shh, Elphie." Glinda smiled, and some tears were sparkling in her eyes. "I forgive you. For everything. Whatever you are sorry for, it doesn't matter, because I forgive you." Glinda put one arm around Elphaba's waist and moved closer to her friend. "You're back now, and what's more important, you were honest with me." She held her friend tighter just to check that she was real and not just part of one of her dreams which she so often had.

"Glinda-" Again, Elphaba had no idea what to say, but she realized that she didn't want to say anything. This moment was too perfect to ruin with words. She was reunited with her best friend, the sun was shining, and everything was wonderful. At least for a short while.

Then, the Lion decided that it was time for him to interfere, even though he was scared to death. The Wicked Witch of the West was back, and she was talking with Miss Glinda! He couldn't believe his own eyes. He stood up and walked towards his friend. "Back off, Witch!" he exclaimed when he reached them. He sounded anything but brave, though, for his voice was trembling. "What did you do to Miss Glinda?!" He suddenly realized that Glinda's arm was around the Witch's waist. "Ehh...what exactly is going on?" Now, he was scared and confused.

"It's fine, Lion. Really, it is," she reassured him, sending him one of her smiles. "I'd like you to meet my best friend, Lion. And as I said, I knew you would hate her, but maybe I can change that."

"Wait! The Wicked Witch of the West is your best friend? You said your best friend's name was Elphie. How- I mean...this isn't possible at all-" The Lion fell silent.

"Don't call her that!" Glinda demanded. Elphaba gave her an appreciative smile. Glinda started to lecture the anxious Animal. "She has a name, you know: Elphaba Thropp. I call her Elphie, so I never actually lied to you, Lion. And you owe her an apology."

"For what?" He asked, staring at Glinda. He wasn't brave enough to talk to or look at Elphaba yet.

"Because she saved your life, Lion. She isn't responsible for your being a coward. If it wasn't for her, you would have died as a young cub!"

Now, the big Cat seemed speechless, and he even chanced a look at the green woman. She sat there calmly and had a small smile on her feature; she didn't look scary at all. He tried to remember what had happened when he was young, but all he was able to remember was a cage, someone carrying him away from all those people, and then a green hand which gently helped free him. His eyes widened in shock. "You! I remember!" he exclaimed excitedly.

"Oh, you do?" Elphaba spoke up for the first time, sounding surprised.

"Yes- but...the Wicked Witch doesn't save lives she..."

"Don't call her that!" Glinda snapped.

"Sorry, Miss Glinda. What I mean is...how can you two be friends when you're," the Lion nodded towards Elphaba, "supposed to be evil?" He wasn't throwing around any accusations. He merely sounded confused.

Elphaba snorted. "Everyone thinks I'm evil, Lion. Or Wicked."

"But she isn't, Lion," Glinda interjected. "You see, Elphie and I have been friends since our time together at Shiz. She doesn't have an evil bone in her body. She's as good as I am. She just wanted the best for Animals like you, even though the Wizard tried to suppress you all. He was the one who allowed Animals in cages, but Elphie rebelled and had to pay for it."

The Lion stayed silent for a few more moments and thought about everything he had just learned. Then, he turned to face Elphaba and looked her into her eyes. Glinda was right. He didn't see anything in them but caring and a hint of sadness. "I owe you an apology then, Miss Elphaba. Miss Glinda is right. I just knew what everyone else knew, but now that I know better, I'm glad to have met the Wicked Witch of the West-" Here, Glinda wanted to protest again, but Elphaba silenced her. "-and I'd be honoured if I could call her my friend." The Lion gave a slight bow as he finished.

Elphaba smiled, and Glinda was obviously touched by the Lion's words. "Thank you, my friend. You're braver than you think you are," Elphaba responded, meaning every word of it.

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