My first fanfiction to get over 100 reviews! Thanks to all for reading and reviewing! Oh, and by the way, this chapter is rated M… for mature ^^
When Galinda awoke the next morning, she found Elphaba beside her… still asleep. The blonde sighed and sat up. She had hoped that Elphaba would wake up soon, but the green woman's injuries had looked extensive.
"Is she awake?" Kim asked, entering the room.
"No," Galinda sighed. She placed her hand on the side of Elphaba's face. "But she will be… soon."
"I hope so. Look, Galinda, I have to go to work. Think you can hold down the fort here?"
"Yes."
"I… I'll just be in the town. If you need me, just ask anyone. They all know who I am."
"Okay."
Kim felt guilty for leaving Galinda like this, but she had to. She felt like a mother leaving her child alone for the first time.
"All right. See you later."
"Bye." Galinda heard Kim leave and sighed again. She looked down at Elphaba's sleeping form, wondering how the green woman could look so peaceful, especially when the blonde was worried out of her mind. Galinda lowered her hand and got off the bed. She couldn't stare at Elphaba all day, waiting for her to wake up. The blonde left the room and soon returned with a thick book. She sat next to Elphaba and opened to the first page. "The land of Oz was first discovered in a time when Animals and humans lived mutually…"
The sun was setting by the time Kim got back home. She went into the bedroom and found the green woman still asleep. Galinda was leaning against the headboard, her head drooped down into her chest, an open book in her lap. Kim smiled and shook her head. She approached the bed and took the book away from the blonde gently.
"Mmm… Elphie…?" the blonde mumbled.
"Lay down, honey," Kim said softly, helping Galinda lay down. The blonde suddenly grabbed her arm and Kim inhaled sharply.
"Don't leave…"
Kim tried to pull away, but Galinda clung firmly. "Galinda—"
"Elphie… stay…"
That's why she wouldn't let go. The blonde thought that Kim was Elphaba. For a brief second, Kim considered going along with the blonde; she was quite the catch.
You would take advantage of Elphaba, after all she did for you?
Kim shook her head. No! She wouldn't betray her friend.
"Galinda, it's Kim. Go to sleep," she said, prying her arm away before covering the blonde. She extinguished the lamp before leaving the room, closing the door behind her.
Galinda was a woman used to routine, but when the days started to blur together, she began to lose faith. Elphaba had been asleep for five days now, and Galinda had read the History of Oz twice. And it was driving her insane.
The blonde slammed the book shut and threw it to the floor, burying her face in her hands.
"Hey, are you all right? I heard a loud thud," Kim said, coming into the room.
"I'm… fine. Fine," Galinda replied, looking up. She stood up, her gaze down. "I'm going to take a shower."
"O… kay," Kim said. "Galinda, listen. I know you're hopeful, but you can't waste the rest of your life sitting in this bedroom waiting."
"I promised her I'd wait."
"I know, but what if… what if she doesn't wake up?"
Galinda froze. "She will wake up."
"But what if she doesn't?"
"Don't say that!"
"Galinda—"
"STOP IT!"
Kim was taken aback by Galinda's outburst. "All right. I'm sorry." She watched the blonde disappear into the bathroom. She sighed and turned to Elphaba. "You'd better wake up soon. I'm not sure how much longer your girl can hold out."
Galinda stripped down and turned on the water, feeling the warm spray beat down on her back. She ran her hands through her hair, feeling it stick to the back of her neck. Oz, this was torture! Waiting for Elphaba to wake up… and Kim! Why had she said that? Elphaba would wake up… she had to…
Galinda closed her eyes, putting one hand up against the wall to hold herself steady. Her other hand traveled down between her legs and slowly slid up inside of her center. She tried to imagine that it was Elphaba inside of her; that it was her long, slim fingers brushing up against her damp walls. The blonde winced as she continued to move inside herself, feeling more pain than pleasure. She bit her bottom lip, adding a third finger and thrusting harder.
"Elphie…" she moaned, pressing her thumb against her swollen and sensitive clit. She continued to thrust hard, envisioning Elphaba in her mind… her sweet smile, how she was always so gentle with the blonde, knowing exactly what she wanted and always working to please her… so unlike Fiyero and the way he just forced himself inside of her in a way that would best suit him.
Galinda opened her eyes and found that she had been crying the while time. She withdrew her fingers slowly as she returned to reality. Elphaba wasn't here… and Galinda found that she couldn't hit her climax without the green woman. The blonde turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around her.
"Galinda…"
The blonde looked up to see Kim entering the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She realized that Kim had probably heard everything… but in the moment, Galinda didn't care. She didn't care what Kim thought of her.
Kim approached the blonde, and they drew closer, their lips mere inches apart. There was a hesitation before they met in a gentle kiss. Galinda felt Kim's hand move to the side of her face as their lips met again, her other hand running through her wet hair. She knew Kim could fearlessly allow water to touch her skin like that… so unlike Elphaba.
Elphaba.
Galinda remembered how Elphaba used to wrap her arms around her waist after she had just come out of the shower… how she would take one of the blonde's legs between her own, purposely allowing the water droplets to burn her in just the right place…. how she would lower her head and sink her teeth into Galinda's shoulder; never hard enough to draw blood, but hard enough to mark her… to claim the blonde as her own.
"Kim… Kim, please…" Galinda said, pulling away from her, but she soon found her back up against the wall, her lips meeting Kim's again. Obviously Kim had taken that the wrong way. "Kim… stop. We… I can't do this."
Kim pulled away, looking into Galinda's sapphire eyes. She started to say something, but a knock on the front door interrupted her, causing her to sigh instead. She left the room, leaving Galinda to redress alone.
The blonde couldn't believe she had allowed that to happen. She… she had promised! She had promised to wait! Galinda let out a yell of frustration, pounding her fists into her head once. She looked up and left the bathroom, her eyes falling on the still sleeping Elphaba… and something inside of her snapped.
"Why won't you wake up? Don't you see what you're doing to me? Is this a test or something, because I'm not sure how much longer I can take this, Elphaba!" she screamed.
The green woman didn't move… not that Galinda had expected her to. The blonde sighed and sat on the bed, trying to regain her composure. She just had to keep it together a little longer… just until Elphaba woke up… then everything would be fine.
Kim felt a little guilty for taking advantage of Galinda like that, but the blonde had done nothing but mope around for the past five days. It may have been a little unconventional, but…
Whoever was at the door knocked again, harder this time. "I'm coming," Kim called as she grabbed the handle and opened the door. "Oh… hello, Frexspar."
"Hello Kim. I'm sorry to intrude on you like this, but I was wondering if you had seen Elphaba."
"No, sir. Is… is she in some sort of trouble?" Kim lied quickly.
"I hope for the sake of this marriage she isn't. You see, the man she is set to marry came and said that he couldn't find her, and he seemed to believe that something had happened to her. This marriage is needed to save both of our families, so it is imperative that I find her."
"I see. Well, if I do see her, I'll tell her you're looking for her."
"Thank you." Frexspar turned to leave and Kim started to close the door.
"Why are you doing this to her?" Galinda asked, coming in between Kim and the door.
Frexspar turned back around. "I beg your pardon?"
"This marriage. Why are you putting Elphaba through it?"
"Elphaba understands that importance of carrying on our family name."
"Is that what this is about? A name? What about love? What about happiness? Doesn't she deserve that?"
"She's perfectly happ—"
"No she's not! You don't know your own daughter at all! She's miserable; she doesn't want to be forced into a marriage!"
"Because she loves you, is that it, Miss Upland?"
Galinda paused. So Elphaba had told him about their relationship... well, good! "Yes, that's exactly it! I know both you and Nessa don't approve, but—"
"Nessa? But she… are you saying that Nessarose is still… alive?"
"Of course. Surely Elphaba told you that as well."
Frexspar didn't reply, but the blonde saw a smile cross his face. "My Nessarose… still alive…" He looked back up at Galinda. "Where is she? I must know!"
Now Galinda saw an opportunity to save her relationship with Elphaba. "I'll bring her to you… if you call off the marriage."
"What? You dare use my daughter as leverage?"
"Sir, I have been through hell and back. I am not afraid of you, and I love Elphaba, so yes, I will use Nessa as leverage."
Frexspar looked at Galinda, but he could tell that she was very serious. "I see Elphaba's stubbornness has rubbed off on you. Fine, Miss Upland, I will see what I can do about the marriage… when I see Nessarose. But, mark my words, your father will hear about this."
"Fine. Tell him I say hello." Galinda turned away and retreated back into the house. Truth be told, she had no idea where Nessarose was, but it she had to be with the others, and if she could locate them, she would find Nessa.
"Well, what do you have to say for yourself?" Kim said, coming to stand in front of the blonde, crossing her arms.
"Me? What do you have to say for yourself?" Galinda said, standing up and feeling her temper flare up again.
"Me? What did I do?"
"Are you kidding me? What the hell was that stunt you pulled in the bathroom?"
"Oh, come on, you must've wanted it in a way. You didn't say no!"
"I couldn't say anything with your tongue halfway down my throat!"
"Look, all you've been doing for the past five days is mope around like someone just drowned your new puppy! I heard you masturbating in the shower for Lurline's sake! I just wanted to make you happy, even if it was for a second!"
"I told you I'd made a promise to wait for Elphaba, but no! You had to come in and take advantage of me at the worst possible time, when you knew I was doing everything I could to hold out! You even kept saying 'Elphaba might not wake up, Galinda'. You wanted me to lose faith so that I would come crying to you!"
"Galinda, listen to yourself! What you're saying is crazy!"
"Maybe so, but it's true, isn't it?"
"Galinda—"
"ISN'T IT, YOU BACKSTABBING BI—"
"What's going on in here?"
Galinda turned to see Elphaba clinging to the doorframe, a pained, confused look on her face. "Not now, Elphaba, we're fighting." Galinda turned back to Kim. "I—" The blonde froze and turned back around. "Elphaba… you're awake…"
"I am now. Oz, Galinda, you have the loudest voice in—" The green woman was cut off as Galinda practically threw herself at her, hugging the green woman tightly and bursting out into loud wails.
"I was mumble mumble and then you mumble mumble and I thought you were never gonna wake up!" the blonde sobbed, her voice somewhat muffled by Elphaba's shirt.
"Galinda, my sweet, please calm down," Elphaba said, placing a hand on Galinda's back. She couldn't understand why she was so upset. "Please, your tears are going to bring out all the dirt and blood in my shirt and it's going to stain your pretty face."
Galinda just shook her head, hugging Elphaba tighter. The green woman looked up at where Kim had been, but found no sign of her. Elphaba looked back down at the sobbing blonde before she grabbed her by her arms and gently pried her off.
"Galinda, please tell me what this is all about," Elphaba said, looking at the blonde. She wiped the tears from Galinda's face, ignoring the slight sting in her fingers.
Galinda hiccoughed a few times as she tried to calm down. "Five… five days ago, you were dumped on Kim's doorstep, and you were in really bad shape, so we brought you inside and you've been asleep since then."
"Really?" Elphaba said, rubbing the back of her head, a gesture that Galinda found she had missed. "But… what were you and Kim arguing about?"
"Arguing? We weren't arguing…"
"So, you were about to call her a 'backstabbing bitch' for fun?"
Galinda sighed. She didn't want to tell Elphaba what had happened in the bathroom because that would mean admitting that she had betrayed the green woman again. "Elphaba… do you… do you remember the very first promise we made to each other?"
"That we'd love each other no matter what?"
"Yeah. You… you mean that right? You'd love me no matter what I did, right?"
"Of course."
"Even if I was the most awful person in Oz?"
"Galinda, what are you talking about? What did I miss while I was asleep? Did you kill someone, because even if you did, I'd still love you. I'd be a little more wary around you, but my feelings wouldn't change."
Galinda looked down as tears started down her face again. "I… when I came out of the shower, Kim and I… we…"
Elphaba put a hand under Galinda's chin and tilted her head so that she was looking up at her. "Did you share an intimate moment?"
Galinda felt herself lose all her composure. "Yes!" she sobbed, burying her face in Elphaba's shirt again. "Oh, Elphie, I'm so sorry! I don't know how it happened! I was so lonely, and she heard me… pleasuring myself in the shower, and then we just… kissed."
"You were pleasuring yourself in the shower?"
"I was trying to imagine that it was you."
"Oh… did it work?"
"No. Wait… you're not mad about the kissing?"
"Was that all that happened?"
"Yes."
"Did Kim start it?"
"Yes."
"Okay then."
Galinda looked up at Elphaba, her eyes shining with tears. "Wh-what?"
"Kim has always been an instigator, even when I first met her. She was always trying to find ways to get me to kiss her, so it doesn't surprise me to hear about this."
Galinda couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Baby you're so unusual
Didn't anyone tell you you're supposed to
Break my heart, I expect you too
So why haven't you?
Elphaba wasn't upset with her… she wasn't angry!
Baby you're not even human 'cause
Only an angel could be so unusual
A sweet surprise I could get used to
Unusual you
"Just one thing: did you enjoy it?"
"N-no! Of course not!" Galinda said quickly.
Elphaba smiled before she leaned down, kissing the blonde gently. "Good. Now, I do have one request."
"Anything."
"Help me wash up. I feel very… unhygienic."
Galinda smiled. "I can do that."
Elphaba took Galinda's hand and led her into the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind them. She winced as she took off her vest, allowing it to fall to the floor. She undid her shirt and started to pull that off as well, but Galinda suddenly ambushed her from behind, tying the long, loose sleeves together behind Elphaba's back, pinning them there. Elphaba looked at the blonde and smiled, choosing not to protest. There was a look in Galinda's eyes that she had never seen before. Oh, Galinda wanted sex, but not just for the sake of doing it. She wanted the sex for what it would mean: that the green woman still loved her. She needed this reassurance.
That's why she allowed the blonde to push her up against the wall and undo her pants as their lips met again. Soon enough, the green woman was naked before her lover, feeling Galinda pull away from her. She opened her eyes to see Galinda backing up a few steps, undoing the front of her own dress. The blonde allowed her clothes to fall and pool at her feet, giving Elphaba the full view. She soon came back with a bottle of oil and a smile on her face. After warming some in her hands, she approached the green woman and ran her hands down her chest.
Elphaba wanted nothing more than to feel the blonde's soft skin beneath her fingers, but her arms were currently unavailable, so she lowered her head, her chin coming to rest on Galinda's shoulder. The green woman inhaled deeply, relishing in the sweet scent that was Galinda.
"Don't fall asleep on me," Galinda whispered.
"Don't worry. I have a feeling you're not going to let that happen."
"Elphaba… touch me."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because you tied me up in my own shirt."
Galinda grabbed the green woman's shirt and with surprising strength, ripped it off her body, freeing her. "What's your excuse now?"
"No excuses here." Elphaba wrapped her arms around Galinda as their lips met. One hand ran down Galinda's stomach, feeling the muscles beneath quiver with anticipation. She smiled and bit Galinda's shoulder gently as she slid her fingers inside her center.
The blonde gasped, and gripped Elphaba tighter, her nails breaking the skin on Elphaba's back. As Elphaba delved deeper, Galinda's grip tightened, and small droplets of blood trickled down the green woman's back.
"Elphie…"
"I'm here. Right here."
A third finger and a few more well-placed thrusts left the blonde screaming her lover's name. She collapsed against the green woman, panting. Elphaba withdrew her fingers slowly, her heart racing.
"Elphaba… I can hear your heartbeat…" Galinda said.
"I'll bet."
"I'm so glad we… didn't tell your father you were here."
"What?"
Uh, oh. That was a change in tone that Galinda did not want to hear. She looked up at Elphaba and saw that the green woman's eyes, which always turned a light chocolate brown when she was excited, looking at her with some concern.
"Your father came by… he asked us where you were."
"You lied to him?"
"I had to. You were asleep, and he was still going on about that marriage."
Elphaba sighed. "That's to be expected, I suppose."
"But I fixed it."
"Fixed what?"
"The marriage problem. I managed to convince him to call it off. Well… I bargained with him, really."
"Bargained?"
"I told him that if he called off the marriage, I'd bring Nessa to him."
"You told him Nessa was still alive?" Elphaba said, gripping Galinda's arms. Her eyes had gone dark again. "Why would you do that?"
"I thought you had told him that night you went to have dinner."
"Nessa made me promise to keep it secret!"
"Why?"
"She doesn't want our father to see her the way she is. She would rather have him think she was dead and remember her as she was, rather than see her alive and what had happened."
"Oh, Elphie, I'm so sorry. I was just so upset… I-I didn't know!"
Elphaba sighed and pulled Galinda close, stroking her hair. "It's all right. We'll find a way out of this together."
"Together?"
"Together."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Galinda grinned and held out her pinky. "Pinky promise?"
Elphaba grinned back before intertwining her own verdant finger with Galinda's. "Pinky promise."
Song segment used: Unusual You by Britney Spears