As it was asked; my icon is from Louise Dearman's and Rachel Tucker's last curtain call together (Louise's last show as Glinda at Wicked London).

This chapter is shorter than normal, it seemed the best place to stop.

Thank you for all those who review and everyone who takes the time to read.

It was after breakfast had finished that Galinda found herself sitting alone, confused and more than a little lost. Much as she had been since she had received that blasted letter. She was contemplating returning to her room once again, when she noticed Elphaba had hesitated in her steps, pausing to look over her towards her. Galinda met her gaze, suddenly feeling nervousness atop all those other feelings mixed within her.

"Well?"

Galinda looked up from her clasped hands, her head tilted slightly in her bafflement.

Well?

Well what exactly?

"Are you coming?" Elphaba asked, her exasperation obvious to Galinda – even in her current state of mind.

Elphaba was waiting for her?

It had only been a few days ago that they had sat in the study, not doing much in particular. Then the letter arrived. Shell disappeared again, save for a few appearances. And things returned to the way they had been before, only now there was no hope Ama Clutch would be returning. Not any time soon.

So in all it was more than a bit startling. In those few short days before she withdrew once again, Galinda usually either followed after Elphaba or found her later, an invitation from Elphaba was blindsiding to say the least. Even after all they had experienced together.

She jumped to her feet, her hip bumping the table hard enough to send the vase upon it wobbling. Elphaba ignored the display of clumsiness and continued on her way out the door, Galinda following behind, struggling to catch up with her at first.

"Elphie? Where are we going?" She called, but to no avail.

"Patience," Elphaba replied after a too long a pause, "I thought you were taught that."

"Patience towards those whose respect we need," Galinda corrected, "I am already aware I won't get that from you."

Elphaba shook her head, and, from her posture, Galinda could tell she was smiling.

Heat blanketed over them as they exited the building. Galinda was certain by that time of year the weather should be cooling, but, then again, nothing in Munchkinland had been what she had expected.

They continued onwards, Elphaba apparently unaffected by the sudden change in temperature. Likely due to all that time she had spent in Quadling Country.

They took a meandering path that eventually led them to a grove.

The grove was secluded, surrounded by tall Yew trees circling a grassy area and a pond. It was a wonder there was no bench there for Galinda was certain it would be a lovely place to sit in the spring. That was not to say it was not pleasant in the summer, it offered pleasant shade, but she still had the unladylike urge to cool off in the pond.

The only thing off-putting was the grass that sprouted weakly through patches of by now dried mud. The grass did look healthy – likely thanks to the rain of a few days prior – still she was sure it would not remain that way for long.

Things at that place never stayed the same for long.

On the area where the grass was more untouched sat a basket and a folded blanket. Galinda's heart gave a small jump at the surprising show of – dare she call it? – affection.

Her feelings only increased when Elphaba moved to the objects with purposeful steps.

"Well?" Elphaba said, accompanying her words with the snapping of the blanket as she laid it out.

"A picnic?"

"If that's what you see."

Galinda shook her head, perching herself on the smoother side of the blanket. She would hate for her dress to be muddied or stained by the grass, even if the ground was dry. Especially as it was one of the easier to clasp.

Elphaba followed suit, shifting uncomfortably for a while before settling. It was unusual of her to fidget, though Galinda could not blame her. The heat was verging on unbearable, even for one who grew up in Quadling Country. It was better in the shade, but only just.

"Well, look at this." Elphaba had folded over the corner of the blanket, and was in the process of tugging on the end of something in the dried mud. The muscles in the viewable part of her arm strained, until finally the object became free, clumps of mud splattering against the folded part of the blanket.

The item was waved in front of her face, barely recognisable after its ordeal.

She took the shoe gingerly by the heel, her nose scrunching up as she saw the full extent of many days' day and night out in the extremes of Munchkinland's rain and heat.

"Is that?"

"A rather unneeded question don't you think," Elphaba replied as the mud covered and damaged shoe dangled from her finger, "You just need to find the other now."

Galinda gingerly took the shoe, placing it near the basket, having just eaten she was only a little bit peckish. Even so, she was still curious to see just what was in the basket.

"Thankfully they are nowhere near as expensive as Nessie's," Galinda said as she pulled one last face at the accidentally abandoned shoe.

"Hers are handmade."

"Very dear then."

"I mean Father made them for her." There was something about Elphaba's voice, something distant, just as her eyes had become. Unfair treatment? She could understand why Nessarose was fussed over; her…difficulties were more severe than Elphaba's. Even so, it was easy to detect just how affected by it the other woman was.

At least that was the feeling she got.

A fluttering nearby caught her attention just in time to see a small tawny bird hoping to the edge of the pond, dipping its beak into the water. The rustling of a tree's leaves startled the tiny creature, sending it flying off.

"This is quite different from the dusty old rooms you usually hole up in."

She turned just in time to see Elphaba withdraw a book from the basket.

Of course.

They sat in companionable silence for a time, Galinda absorbing the surroundings with relish.

More than once she caught Elphaba lingering too long on a page, looking up from her book to shoot a glance in her direction.

Perhaps she should mention what happened a few nights before. Not the stuff they had already spoken about. But what had happened between them, or rather, what Galinda, herself, had done.

Would it be best to ignore it? Or acknowledge it?

So far they had both stuck firmly to the former.

It took her a reasonable length of time to reach a conclusion, or rather to jump in with both feet before cowering away.

She would broach the subject in her usual roundabout way. It was always easier like that.

"Do you think it's wrong? What I, that is, how I..." Galinda sighed and with closed eyes tilted her head upwards, "What I'm trying to say is, do you think it is wrong?"

"Everything is viewed as wrong by someone, but this time it would help if you told me just what you are referring to."

Galinda bit her bottom lip, who would have thought the words would be so hard to say, "Me. Do you think the way I am is wrong? What I've done?"

Elphaba shook her head as her lip curled upwards, "I think I understand. That is not something you should try to affirm with another, you are how you are born. You should embrace it and be true to yourself. The opinions of others should not matter."

Galinda lowered her head, her eyes meeting Elphaba's own, "You sound like you have thought this over before."

"You should not be so surprised." Elphaba's expression was unreadable now, "And that has been bothering you?"

"Partly."

The book in Elphaba's lap closed with a snap, she narrowed her eyes in anticipation of forthcoming words. Who was Galinda to deny her?

"It's just now Ama isn't here…" Galinda fiddled with her hands, her gaze flitting over to the nearby body of water, "I don't know how to cope, everything has gone to – to…pot!"

"That is what has been on your mind?"

It felt such a relief to spill her thoughts to someone else. Someone she knew would keep it to herself.

"I'm just feeling…feeling…"

"Lost."

Biting her lip, Galinda nodded.

"Hold out," Elphaba stressed, "Things will get better."

"You promise."

"Hold out," Elphaba reaffirmed.

A bird call out somewhere nearby, and something dropped somewhere in the distance.

Galinda exhaled with a short breath, a weight she did not know was pulling her down suddenly felt significantly lighter, "It is nice to have something that lifts my worry, even if only for a moment."

"I was hoping it would take your mind off matters."

"You did this to cheer me up?" Galinda asked, though it sounded very little like a question.

"I didn't say that, did I?"

"Nor did you say you didn't."

"It is good to see you back to some semblance of yourself, thankfully not all the way back."

"I could say the same about you," Galinda responded with a bright smile.

"I feel rather…vulnerable at the moment, especially as my Ama isn't here…" Galinda paused, her voice wavering noticeably, "…and won't be returning…"

"Get to the point," Elphaba stated, not unkindly.

"I haven't been sleeping well at all. Except for that one night," she said before quickly adding, "Your room is the only one with a lock…"

She knew there was no threat to her, but still…

"You really are a child."