Disclaimer: All rights to characters from Wicked belong with Gregory Maguire. Alas and alack for me.

Gelphie relationship depicted. If this offends, git along little dogies, it's your misfortune and none of my own.

Ama Clutch eventually showed up, the remains of the day dripping off her great coat, the few parcels she carried looking much the worse for wear after their trip through the driving rain. She was glad to be back in the warm room.

If she noticed or thought anything odd about returning to find Elphaba not only not with her nose in a book, but actually on Galinda's bed, and the two looking as chummy as normal roomies, she didn't say anything to indicate it.

Instead, she simply commented on the weather. "Horrid out today, duckies. Be glad you get to warm your toes by the fire all day, while Ama braves the weather for scones and other treats." She busied herself with the packages, making soft clucking noises.

The girls clambered off the bed, a little nervous, both feeling just a little that they'd been caught at something, ridiculous as that idea was. If anything, they'd been caught acting like friends…hardly the stuff of scandal. Unless one of the pair were green…Nonetheless, Elphaba grabbed her books and her wooden box of vials and retreated with them to her side of the room.

"Goodness, Miss Galinda, its lunch time and you're still a'bed and still in your dressing gown? What will the other Amas think? Amas Dramel and Verla will be by later to pick me up for our Saturday night...dinner club, and I would hope you'd be respectable by then?" She glanced at Elphaba as she put laid out the makings for tea, directing her comments to her. "You, dearie, do something with your hair then, won't you? It's one lovely thing about you, you should accentuate the positive!"

With those instructions, Galinda went off to her dresser, picking an outfit for the remainder of the day, while Elphaba surreptitiously examined her glasses, wondering if she could fix them herself, and toyed with her hair a bit, brushing it, which brought it to near gleaming.

When the kettle whistled, it wasn't long before Ama Clutch took herself off for a nap, and maybe a nip or two, who knew?

Meanwhile, the girls descended on the tea and scones.

"Didn't I tell you she liked you" Galinda said and winked at Elphaba.

Elphaba "hmphed" and sipped her tea. Then added, "A backhanded compliment is better than none, I'll agree."

Galinda nibbled at her scone. "So, all that thick stuff I was reading…I'm afraid I really didn't absorb as much of it as one might think." Elphaba let that statement hang without comment, or even an arch of her editorial eyebrow, while the blonde continued, "What was it all about? What's the appeal?"

Elphaba was in the middle of a bite of scone, so she sipped at her tea, in a something less than dainty fashion, and thought for a moment. "Well, I don't pretend to understand it all. Some of it I'm just interested in because the work is referenced elsewhere. But some of it, like the International Studies in the Philosophy of Science, I'm reading because I just want to understand what Doctor Dillamond's research means…or might mean. It's so exciting to see him working so hard, and so excitedly. He's brilliant. Ever since the various Animal Banns have been making their insidious way into our normal", she said this word witheringly, "social fabric, he's been working feverishly on his project."

Galinda couldn't help but notice how animated and how passionate Elphaba became when she discussed the Goat's research. Boq was the same way really. Sweet on her he might be; he still also waxed almost as poetic about the Doctor as he did about her! Almost. It made her a little feel a little put out and pouty actually. "Boq does go on about him as well, I almost think they'd make a splendid couple, the way he admires him so. And, did you know they've never even formally met?!"

Elphaba had noticed this slight pout, and brought her commentary on philosophy, research and Animals to a close – for the time being at any rate. And then, wanting to reassure her friend's apparently easily bruised ego, she reached out her hand and caught up Galinda's. "Listen, you know Boq hangs on your every word, hell, he'd hang the moon for you if he could. Besides, I thought you didn't return his affections."

She'd made the statement a question at the end. She didn't think Galinda had any true feelings for Boq, but perhaps she was wrong. She should be happy for him if Galinda had begun to reciprocate. But, she was feeling an unidentifiable twinge indicating that perhaps she would not really be so pleased as all that. Because that would leave her the odd one out obviously, she told herself. And it might interfere with Boq helping. That too…

Galinda looked at her pink, soft hand, held by green slender fingers, and suddenly had nothing to say. So she just let Elphaba hold her hand gently.

After a long pause though, she addressed what Elphaba had said about Boq. "Oh, no, no no… No. Now you know I think Boq is dear, but that is it, I assure you. I just…was thinking that you two are very much alike when you're going on about a subject. Though, at least Boq does like to go on about me occasionally too…" and she said a bit wistfully, looking a little petulant once more.

Elphaba rolled her eyes, and sighed dramatically, finishing her tea. "Galinda, you really can be quite trying, did you know that?" The girl really got under her skin sometimes.

She set her cup down, and continued, a little agitated. "So. Your favorite fish on the trotline is not here, so I suppose you're casting your line this way then? Dredging for compliments? Well, I'm sorry to inform you that you've mistakenly caught a Frog…or a Cricket on your line. We're not so flowery of speech as Munchkinlander trout." She picked up her butter knife and her spoon and plate and prepared to stack them. Then, standing, she paused and sighed again before saying "You are bloody lovely and you bloody well know it! Enough?"

Galinda was a little perplexed at the outburst, and looked as baffled as she felt, but she kept silent and watched while Elphaba leaned over her shoulder and snatched her plate and flatware as well. Galinda caught a puff of Elphie scented air as she did so...She wasn't actually finished with her scone, but decided it wasn't a good time to quibble. And anyway, Elphaba didn't quite look like she was finished speaking. At least she still had half a cup of tea in her hands, safe and secure.

Elphaba did finish collecting all the dirty plates she could lay her hands to, and now had set to sweeping the crumbs off the table while she continued, "I swear, I do not understand how this…this… coquettishness, this coy…'save me' routine is apparently part of your charm for Boq, truly I don't. You do more than well enough on your own, or you could do, I know. And I dare say, that as a thinking person, I'm quite certain I'd find other things to dwell on besides how charmingly incapable you pretend to be." She snapped her mouth at that.

And realizing it was also quite the diatribe she'd just spouted, not to mention more than she even wanted to say, Elphaba fell silent yet again for a few breaths. Aiming to offset it somewhat, she rose again still pacing, and finally came to rest gripping the back of her vacated chair tightly in her hands, facing Galinda. "I just…I just mean that, for the love of Lurline, yes, you're lovely! Beautiful. Ravishing. Blah, blah, blah. But…" Quickly, she covered herself as best she could "I mean, anyone with a brain would... Really." She sputtered and ended her last sentence like it had made some sense. Or was a clear statement. And fell silent yet again, a good deal darker in hue now. And then she sat back down in the chair, and wished she had some more tea.

Galinda, for her part, was riveted. She didn't entirely like what she was hearing, goodness knows, but she also found herself urgently wanting to know what Elphaba would say next. Knowing if she 'prompted' her at this point, it would not exactly belie the comments just uttered regarding her perceived neediness and/or helplessness. So, she tried for as subtle an approach, and at the same time as bold an approach as she could imagine at this point. Suddenly she felt she actually cared quite a bit what 'someone with a brain' thought of her. Quietly, and steadily she said "Anyone with a brain? You have a brain Elphaba, a marvelous instrument in action I've seen, and I…find myself wondering what you would have to say about my – " she went silent as Ama Clutch rather noisily opened the door leading from her room.

Elphaba looked endlessly relieved, and Galinda a little frustrated., and foiled. She was going to have to focus her energies a bit more, she thought to herself.

Thanks again all for reading/reviews, as always. They provide incentive…

I'm thinking of uploading combined chapters tomorrow, so after this, it may look different. Or not. If I have too many issues changing names etc., with it, I'll stick with what I have so far.