"What do you mean you've never had a lollipop?" Cook said incredulously and Glinda couldn't help but chuckle at the look on her face.
"My father used to buy them for my sister and brother, but I did not eat very much candy, so he never bothered to get me one." Elphie said with a smile.
"Well we will have to remedy that." Cook said in her 'I'll get my spoon after you' tone as she placed some different colored hard candy pieces and two tree shaped lollipops in a container for Chaxi.
"I saved the last two candy sheets for you two to break up so take this hammer and get to it."
"I'll do the mint one, you can do the cinnamon." Glinda grinned as she took the small kitchen mallet from Cook.
Chaxi and Gwenot walked towards the kitchen and heard the sound of Glinda's laughter. It was late in the afternoon and Chaxi was preparing to leave. Gwenot and Glinda had sat with Chaxi, Samion and Elphaba as they had their lunch and she smiled slightly when she thought back on how her daughter had persuaded Elphaba to eat a small salad, even though she wasn't really hungry. Elphaba was more quiet than usual, but seemed to be fairly relaxed. After lunch, Chaxi had spent a little time alone with Glinda and encouraged Elphaba to sit and talk with Gwenot and Samion together. Even though it was a casual talk about the town of Tupion's Glen and the surrounding area where Sali and the rest of Samion's family, except his little sister Alika lived, Gwenot sensed that it was important information for Elphaba. Chaxi had spent some time with the girls together and a little more time with Elphaba alone before taking some time to jot down notes in her files.
"She's a very resilient young lady." Chaxi said as they watched Elphaba looking intently at the translucent red slab of hard candy in front of her.
"Just whack it Elphie." They heard Glinda giggle.
"I know. It just hurts my heart to think about all she has gone through and all she still has to face. We owe you a great deal Chaxi." Gwenot said quietly as Glinda's encouraging instructions on breaking up candy slabs played out in the background.
"I am just pleased that I have the skills to help, I know now that a more conventional, for lack of a better term, counselor would not serve Elphaba well. And I have learned a great deal. She will be okay in the long run, I think. She has the intelligence to realize what she needs to do and the drive to try to do it, no matter how hard. And she has you all to help and support her."
"And love her." Gwenot smiled.
"The most important element." Chaxi smiled then they both chuckled at the face Elphaba made when she finally hit the candy slab with the mallet.
"See, fun isn't it?" Glinda laughed.
"Do it again."
"Give it a good one Miss Elphaba. I need pieces, not hunks." Cook said with a merry chuckle.
"Nice whack Elphaba." Chaxi smiled when Elphie hit the candy again.
"May I give it a go?" She asked as her and Gwenot came into the kitchen.
"Be my guest. I don't seem to find this activity as amusing as Glinda does." Elphie smiled and Glinda lightly batted at her while she huffed and giggled.
With a practiced hand Chaxi aimed and hit, breaking the candy into many uneven pieces.
"Very good Mrs. Sumyet. You've done this before." Cook said with an approving nod.
"My uncle was a confectioner." Chaxi chuckled as she picked up a piece.
"And he would have loved this, it is delicious."
"Cheater." Glinda giggled.
They talked candy for a moment or two then Chaxi took her box of treats, thanked Cook, said goodbye to everyone and motioned for Elphie to walk her to the door.
"Now remember Elphaba, we scheduled another session after Lurlinemas, but if you need to see me when you return from Sali's I will be in town so please do not hesitate to contact me." Chaxi said as she put on her coat.
"I will. Thank you Chaxi, for everything." Elphie said quietly.
"You are more than welcome. Now, you have a wonderful time in Tupion's Glen and a very happy Lurlinemas." Chaxi smiled.
"I wish you a happy holiday as well." Elphie said, unused to offering holiday greetings.
"Thank you. Oh and Elphaba, congratulations again on your engagement to Glinda. I can't think of two people better suited for one another." Chaxi smiled.
"Thank you." Elphie said with a slight blush.
Elphie watched her counselor get into the carriage and returned her wave. As she turned to step back into the house, Glinda was skipping into the front hall and Elphie felt her heart flutter.
"Let's go for a walk Elphie." Glinda bubbled as she held a bell shaped cinnamon flavored lollipop to Elphie's lips.
"Okay." Elphie smiled and allowed Glinda put the treat into her mouth.
X
"I wish that it would snow again." Glinda said as she, Elphie and Nusee headed towards the stables. They were all bundled up, with their interlocked hands in Elphie's cloak pocket. Nusee was cozy inside of a specially made, wool-lined, quilted pouch that Trezia made to go over Elphie's shoulder.
"Walking on the crunchy old snow is fun, but new, fluffy snow is better." She added then put her lollipop back in her mouth.
"You just want to make snowballs." Elphie chuckled.
"A lot you know Miss Smartieskirts, I want to make a snowman." Glinda grinned.
"Doesn't that entail making balls out of snow?"
"Great Oz but you can truly nitpick anything." Glinda chuckled.
"I try my best." Elphie laughed.
"It helps make points."
Glinda made an unladylike noise and they continued there slowly walk to the stables watching their breath in the air and listening to the crackling snow beneath their feet.
"Elphie." Glinda said as she pulled them to a stop before they reached the stables.
"I know that you don't want to talk about your session with Chaxi now, and I'm not asking you to. But I hope that worked out whatever problem you had with Daddy." Glinda said.
Elphie looked into Glinda's earnest face and felt her breath hitch as her mind raced. She took their hands out of her pocket and cupped Glinda's rosy, chilled cheek in her warm palm.
"Oh my precious girl." She said in a soft exhale.
"Is that what you have been thinking? That I am having a problem with your father?"
"Well maybe not a big problem. I figure if you were really angry with him, I'd have felt it. I just want you two to be okay." Glinda said and Elphie closed her eyes briefly against the pain she felt.
"Lyndie, it was nothing like that, not at all. I'm so sorry that I made you worry. Chaxi suggested your father sit in with us because I was having a hard time with…well rejection issues, I guess and she thought that some extra reassurance from him would help since my own father seems to be at the root of it. I wasn't angry with him at all, I needed him." Elphie said.
"You needed a daddy." Glinda sniffled and Elphie wiped the tears from her eyes before they could fall down her cheeks then gave her a very soft kiss.
"I needed reassurance that everything would be okay. He gave me that." Elphie smiled.
"Daddy's are good at that." Glinda grinned happily.
"Oh not all of them my sweet, some fathers are not good at it at all." Elphie responded.
"Not fathers Elphie, daddies." Glinda clarified.
"Meaning?" Elphie asked.
"All men can be fathers, because that is the way they are made. But not all fathers are daddies. Some fathers are very good fathers, they provide for their kids well, but that still doesn't make them daddies. I guess it's harder to explain than I thought." Glinda smiled.
"No, I understand. I have a father, you have a daddy." Elphie said as she quickly ingested this new bit of information.
"Yes." Glinda agreed and gave Elphie a kiss, hoping that she did not sir up anything.
"Then yes I needed a daddy and yours was there for me as he always has been. I received the guidance and reassurance that helped me sort through and figure out the things that I needed to in order to have a good time at Sali's and for the holiday in general. I am not even so concerned about Nief anymore, not overly anyway. Feel free to snoop." Elphie said pressing her forehead to Glinda's, giving her permission.
Glinda smiled and gave Elphie a kiss then curled against her chest, which she found a useful place for many things involving emotions.
"Satisfied?" Elphie chuckled and the sound of it against Glinda's ear made her giggle.
"I feel some nervousness and anxiety, just your usual unknown things amount. But I also feel contentedness, a little anticipation, some amusement, all your love and…Elphie!" Glinda bubbled and looked at her love, who was grinning sheepishly and blushing slightly.
"I've got a warm bundle of wiggly beauty pressed up against me, what can I say?" Elphie chuckled.
"Say you are engaged to it, or we will have issues." Glinda chuckled.
"I am not only engaged to it, I am deeply in love with it, grateful for it and looking forward to a romantic dinner and dancing with it." Elphie smiled.
"That must be some warm bundle of wiggles." Glinda giggled.
"She is the best warm bundle of everything imaginable." Elphie said in a low whisper then kissed Glinda with purpose.
"To be continued?" Glinda asked hopefully when the parted.
"Absolutely." Elphie smiled, kissed Glinda again then they continued their walk.
X
"You look lovely darling. Are you and Elphaba ready for your date?" Gwenot asked when she saw her daughter walking to the music room.
"Yep." Glinda said with a happy bounce.
"Where is Elphaba?" Gwenot asked.
"She's waiting for me to come and call on her. It's my turn." Glinda said with a grin.
"That works." Gwenot said with an intrigued chuckle.
"For our very first date she left to see to last minute details then knocked on the door and gave me a flower." Glinda said with a sigh.
"On our second date, I came to get her. But without the flower, she's not really the flower getting type. We don't always do that, but it's nice when we do. One time Elphie planned an indoor date… a surprise picnic in front of the fire and she arranged it with Loma to come and get my help her with something so I'd be gone for a little while and she could set up. She thought that she was being subtle. It was so cute. Then she came down to get me, with a flower and Loma played along. I am so glad that things worked out with her." Glinda said in an excited ramble.
"It sounds like you all are doing very well with your rather unusual situation, but you have plans to check up on and I have a date of my own to get ready for." Gwenot smiled.
"Is Daddy back yet?"
"He will be shortly. Hensign is almost finished setting up things in the music room then he will be in his quarters. Trezia and Jefet went out and they dropped Cook off at her sister's house. So you will have the whole downstairs to yourselves." Gwenot smiled.
"And room to dance, really dance." Glinda said with a happy chuckle.
"The recordings you requested are already in there."
"Thank you mama for… just for being my wonderful mama." Glinda said as she hugged her mother.
"My favorite thing to be. Now go check your arrangements. I believe that your fiancée is waiting." Gwenot smiled.
"My fiancée is patient. My fiancée." Glinda giggled.
"Happy one week anniversary, darling." Gwenot smiled.
"Have fun tonight."
"We will. Enjoy your date too." Glinda said with a bright smile then skipped off to the music room.
Gwenot watched her go with a chuckle then went upstairs to prepare for her own romantic night.
X
Elphie looked at herself in the mirror and shook her head. Even after all of this time it still amazed her that she could look like this, so sophisticated and in Glinda's eyes, beautiful. But she had to admit that she did look different than she did a year ago, even though she could not go as far as to say that she was beautiful. Glinda had told her that the meal would be a simple one of familiar comforting foods, and the ambience would be sparkling and romantic.
"Sparkling and romantic just like the girl who is arranging it." Elphie smiled at her Familiar who was preening himself in the mirror.
"You are not invited on this date with us you know." She said as she went to put her brush back in her bathroom.
"And don't look at me like that, I told you that earlier."
Nusee fussed to be picked up and when Elphie did, he touched his nose to hers.
"Yes I know I was out of sorts this morning. But it wasn't magical and I am much better now. We had fun on our walk. Well maybe not you so much after you fell into that snow bank, but Glinda took care of you. You got your coddling, now I get mine. Neither one of us needs or even wants it all the time, but it has its place. And she is very good at it." Elphie said, no longer feeling foolish when she talked to the kitten. Nusee mewled and nuzzled Elphie's cheek then jumped onto the bookshelf.
Elphie was getting ready to say something when she heard Glinda knock on her door.
"My fiancée is here." Elphie chuckled as she scratched Nusee's ears.
"You are breath-taking my sweet." Elphie smiled after she opened the door and gave Glinda a kiss on her cheek.
"And you are perfection." Glinda said and kissed Elphie's hand.
"Are you ready my love?"
"I am." Elphie smiled and took Glinda's proffered arm.
"Bye Nusee, thanks for loaning me your witch." Glinda giggled.
"You'll get her back…eventually."
"Good night Nuisance." Elphie smiled.
X
"Did you get enough to eat my love?" Glinda said as they moved from their fine linen covered table over to the sofa in the sitting area, carrying their crystal goblets of drinks.
"Considering that I'm still digesting from the holiday meal at Namom's, yes." Elphie chuckled.
"Vegetable stew and seasoned rice, one of my favorite meals. Simple, familiar and comforting indeed."
"Served on fine china." Glinda giggled.
"This is a perfect date my precious. Romantic and sparkling." Elphie said as she put their glasses on the side table then kissed Glinda softly.
"Mmmmm." Glinda sighed as she cuddled close as she ran her fingers up and down Elphie's arm.
"I love the way the fire reflects off of the mirrored tiles." Elphie said softly as caressed gently along Glinda's jaw line with her fingertip.
"I love the way it reflects in your eyes, the flames just dance there. It is beautiful." Glinda said then brushed her lips against Elphie's.
Elphie continued to caress Glinda's face as they softly kissed for a time.
"I love the way it makes your hair shimmer." Elphie said as she slowly ran her hand up Glinda's neck and up to let her hair out of its confines. She ran her fingers through it as it fell around her shoulders.
"Soft waves of sunlight." Elphie murmured in Glinda's ear before placing whisper kisses on her neck while she moved her hand to the back of head and guiding her into a kiss.
Glinda sighed as Elphie's lips caressed hers for a few moments. Elphie sighed when she felt Glinda's tongue caress her lips before seeking entry. It was a time of slow, deliberate caresses, lips against lips, tongue against tongue and fingers against soft skin. It was a time of loving gazes and tender words of endearment whispered in ears as they were caressed or kissed. It was a time of unhurried, gentle passion.
"Mmmmmm, Nusee has something with this nuzzling thing." Glinda sighed after caressing Elphie's cheek with hers then kissing her neck several times.
"Does he now?" Elphie said as she rubbed her cheek gently against Glinda's then gently kissed it before moving down with whisper kisses that became a little more intense as she reached her pulse point.
"Oh Oz yes." Glinda said with a low throaty moan as Elphie sucked gently.
Elphie felt the vibration of Glinda's throat against her lips and let out a soft sigh before kissing to her arousal spot. After only a few moments of feeling her love's tongue and lips caress her there, Glinda reluctantly maneuvered Elphie back into a very deep and explorative kiss before pulling away.
"Shall we sublimate my love?" Glinda said with a breathy giggle that made Elphie's heart flutter.
"I thought you'd never ask." Elphie smiled as she accepted Glinda's outstretched hand.
They started with a waltz, using the space to move and twirl with intimate grace. The tango was next and they made love on the dance floor, giving the dance's intimate movements license that they wouldn't do with eyes on them and couldn't do in the confines of their dorm room.
"Kiss me please." Glinda whimpered softly after the recording ended and Elphie obliged both their needs with a kiss worthy of their dance.
For hours they danced waltzes and tangos, sometimes slowly with subtle passion, sometimes fervently with unhidden desire, indulging in expressive kisses whenever an opportunity presented itself.
"I am so in love with you." Elphie whispered into Glinda's ear after a particularly intimate tango and kiss.
"The graceful movement of your body stirs me in ways…" Elphie said but couldn't continue.
"I understand my love, believe me. I understand. Our stone has taken all the pounding it can tonight."
"On both sides." Elphie smiled.
"But I wouldn't change a moment."
"Neither would I. So should we move this upstairs for after sex cuddles or cuddle on the sofa here?" Glinda giggled.
"Lyndie!" Elphie said with an intrigued smile.
"Well we might as well have been. I feel alive and tingly, flushed and…
"In need of a lukewarm bath?" Elphie supplied.
"Yes, actually. And you do too, in your way. Since going to the lab is not an option, why don't you gather up our dinner things and take them to the kitchen. Please don't wash them though or Cook will kill us both." Glinda giggled.
"I'll go on upstairs, check on Nusee and get your nightclothes for you. We are sharing a bed, because we both need to." Glinda said with a smile.
"You are so many kinds of perfection, I can barely keep track." Elphie said then pulled Glinda into the longest, deepest, most expressive kiss of the evening then sent her off, on wobbly legs, with a pat on her bottom.
Twenty minutes later, after the music room was tidy, the dishes were piled in the sink and she had said hello to Nusee, Elphie opened the door to Glinda's room and saw her standing in front of her wardrobe without a stitch of clothing on.
"How was your lukewarm bath?" Glinda giggled as she selected a nightdress.
"It served its purpose until just a few seconds ago." Elphie chuckled.
"Sorry, I'll put on a nightdress. I took a detour out to the terrace in lieu of a bath, so I'm ready for cuddles." Glinda grinned.
"Oz but you are beautiful." Elphie exhaled as she walked over to Glinda.
"Allow me to help." She said as she took Glinda's nightdress.
She kissed Glinda's forehead, cheeks and lips then put the nightdress over her head. She kissed her palms and arms before gently guiding them into the armholes. She kissed her neck and down her chest, lowering the garment as she went. She gave extra attention to each firm breast then kissed down to her navel before letting the garment fall to cover her completely.
"Someday, I'll finish that journey." Elphie whispered before kissing her then putting on her own nightdress.
"I'm holding you to that." Glinda said in a breathy exhale as she brazenly watched Elphie change before they crawled into bed for quiet snuggles.
X
"Well good morning girls." Samion said with a smile as he put down his newspaper.
"Morning Daddy." Glinda bubbled then kissed his cheek.
"Good morning Samion." Elphie said and gave him a more shy than usual kiss before holding Glinda's chair for her. Glinda understood her love's shyness because they had spent time earlier snuggling and talking a little about Elphie's session with Chaxi.
"Where's Momsie?" Glinda said as Samion held Elphie's chair for her then sat back down.
"Your hail and hearty mother has gone forth to earn a living and provide for the family, leaving me, your humble father here to mind the house and tend to the children." Samion said.
"Popsicle." Glinda giggled.
"Would the children care for some coffee?" Samion chuckled.
"Ignore him Elphie. It's an old family joke and I'll explain it to you later." Glinda chuckled as Samion poured them both coffee.
"Your mother is taking care of some foundation business this morning, she will be back by lunch."
"Did you still want to pick out a tree this afternoon?" Glinda said as she put some scrambled eggs from the warming plate and a piece of toasted bread with apple butter on a plate for Elphie.
"Thank you Lyndie." Elphie smiled.
"I would like to yes. And your mother said that there was shopping that needed to be done." Samion said.
"There is. A family dinner at Ilono's was mentioned too." Glinda giggled as she filled her plate.
"Sounds as though we have a plan." Samion smiled.
"She loves a good plan." Elphie chuckled.
"Especially one that involves shopping." Glinda agreed enthusiastically.
"Elphaba might like the plan more if it involved a visit to our favorite mad scientist's lab." Samion chuckled.
"I would." Elphie grinned.
"I saw Lofier when I was at the office yesterday. He mentioned that he needed to see you before your tests Elphaba. This might be a good time to do that." Samion said.
"I was hoping to talk to him about some things I'd like to mix up for Namom. Lyndie, you don't need me for this do you?" Elphie said.
"For clothes shopping?" Glinda asked with an amused chuckle.
"I was just being polite, besides you know what I like better than I do."" Elphie smiled.
"Yes, I do know what I…uh you like." Glinda giggled and Samion chuckled.
They talked about the afternoon's plans while Elphie and Glinda finished their breakfasts. Afterwards, Glinda suggested that Elphie practice her flute with her father's help, in such a way that neither could deny her. They spent the rest of the morning in the music room and after Elphie recovered from an attack of blushing, brought on by memories of the previous night, they all had a wonderful time. They didn't even realize how much time had passed until Gwenot appeared. They convinced her to join them in a sing-along before she sent them all to get cleaned up for lunch. Glinda knew that her father had stayed home for Elphie's benefit, but she was certain that her love did not. On the way out, she hugged her father and thanked him for being a daddy.
X
"I thought this year was round and full." Glinda said as they looked at the holiday tree selections.
"Oh it is, but I thought maybe your father would finally see the light." Gwenot chuckled.
"Round and full?" Elphie asked.
"Popsicle likes trees that are more round and chubby, but Momsie likes them taller and not quite so round. They decided, before I was even born to get one type one year and the other the next." Glinda explained.
"I see. And which do you prefer?" Elphie asked with a chuckle.
"She has, very diplomatically, kept that bit of information to herself." Samion chuckled.
"Once she got over being upset about the concept of holiday trees and learned about mulch, we tried to get her to break the tie." Gwenot continued.
"We made such a fun fuss about it that she just grinned and said she liked them all, and has kept her counsel on the subject ever since." Samion finished with a smile.
"You're kidding? Glinda, my Glinda not expressing an opinion?" Elphie chuckled.
"Hey!" Glinda said with a giggle.
"It is far too much fun to watch them try to convince one another every year. Besides, I really do like them all."
"Do you have a preference Elphaba darling?" Gwenot said with a smile.
"Gwen! How could you drag our future daughter in law into the seamy side of Lurlinemas on her first holiday?" Samion said with a chuckle.
"I was merely asking an innocent question Sami." Gwenot smiled and Glinda laughed.
"We will be over at the ornaments." Glinda said as she led a chuckling Elphie away.
They are just teasing you, and each other my love." Glinda said as they walked to the other side of the Square.
"I figured as much. This is a very complex event, Lurlinemas." Elphie said.
"I guess it would seem that way to someone who has never participated. Picking out the family ornament is fun. We get one every year."
"You each get an ornament every year, isn't that a lot of ornaments?" Elphie asked.
"Not each, just one. A family ornament. They started the tradition on my first Lurlinemas. We always find one that sort of depicts the year. You'll see them all when we decorate. This years will be really special, because this year has been really special." Glinda said with a happy wiggle.
Glinda told Elphie about some past ornaments as they looked at the virtual forest of decorations hanging from fake trees, fireplace mantles, archways and wire clotheslines strung around the area. When Samion and Gwenot found them, they were browsing among the fake trees. They agreed that they had been teasing Elphie about the tree, but insisted that she needed to speak up about the family ornament. She didn't quite understand what that meant until they all started looking around together and the good-natured debating over ornament qualities started. They looked at ornaments made of glass, wood, cloth and many different other materials. Some were whimsical, some serious and some just did not seem holiday like at all. They laughed a lot and had a good time as they told Elphie about other year's selection processes and they narrowed down their choices.
"My darlings, I believe I have found this years ornament." Gwenot said from in front of a small fake tree that held simple ornaments made of metal.
"We may need some convincing, your track record this time has been off." Samion chuckled.
"Says the man who thinks a Lurlinemas tree made of pipes is a good find."
"It was one of a kind." Samion protested with mock indignity.
"Show us the ornament Momsie." Glinda laughed and Gwenot held up the ornament.
"My treasure, I offer my apologies for doubting you, this is perfect." Samion said with a smile.
"Oh Momsie." Glinda said as she took the decoration from her mother and examined it.
She ran her finger around the stars pressed out of simple metal. There were five; two were more or less the same size, two were a little smaller, but similar in size to each other and the last was just a hint smaller than the rest. They were all stars, but shaped just a little differently. They were all yellow but each was a slightly different shade, with a different kind of something that made it sparkle in the light. They were shaped in a rather haphazard manner; each connected in some manner to the others by a very thin braid of dark metal that also had a sparkling quality.
"It's perfect, just perfect, all the same, but all unique at the same time. Like a family."
"I thought so. Two new stars have been added two our family this year. Our bright and shining, soon to be daughter in law." Gwenot said pointing to one of the medium stars
"And her feisty feline companion." Samion added with a chuckle, pointing to the smallest star.
"Elphie?" Glinda asked as she saw Elphie studying the ornament.
"It's a constellation, sort of. I'll look it up." Elphie said and Glinda stroked her hand to bring her back to the Square.
"She's right. We have a family constellation. And it's just as sparkly and twinkly as we are." Glinda giggled and Elphie smiled.
"I love it." Elphie said and Samion decreed that the Upland family ornament was now selected to a round of applause from Gwenot, Glinda and after a poke in the ribs, Elphie.
"Just humor him." Glinda giggled and Elphie chuckled, as her appreciation of family traditions grew.
