Happy was the last word Glinda would say her mother felt when she told her about Ori.

Angry, confused, and entirely against it would be more like it.

"How could you? With that...that terrible man." Her mother fumed, waving her arms around. "He's not good for you—he doesn't deserve you, and you shouldn't do these things with him. Oh, Galinda..." Her mother complained, visibly upset as she touched the mark on Glinda's neck. "Oh, my sweet girl, No..." She cried under her breath.

But Glinda could not let her mother decide for her. She told her mother how she had forgiven Ori, and how he had almost died because of her. Her mother listened, looking more affected by the news of her and Ori than by her recent revelation of the still living Fiyero and Elphaba. It was clear that her mother was not comfortable one bit with the thought of Ori with her daughter, but although reluctant, her mother said to do what Glinda herself thought was best, and to follow her heart more carefully this time.

Her mother had kissed her forehead and simply held her in her arms after that.

...

When morning came, after she hid the mark with her mothers makeup, she joined her parents for breakfast. Her father showed his distaste for Ori as soon as he entered, and her mother glanced at the two of them with watchful eyes, but did not tell her father. She had let her mother know the prior night that she wanted to wait until she knew everything was okay with the Ozian's first and then worry about telling her father, which her mother agreed to.

Soon enough they were on their way again, with her mother telling her they would follow shortly. She wanted to be there for support when she came clean with the public about Elphaba.

When she disclosed the information to Ori about what she told her mother he didn't really react in any way. His only words were 'oh' and he had soon found himself focused on one of the spell book she had bought. He had found them fascinating to read—and it was something to do that was not creating unbecoming marks on her skin since she had prohibited them from doing anything in the moving carriage, especially now that they were on their way to the Emerald City. Glinda herself was trying to get rid of a sudden headache, leaning her head on his shoulder to rest. A headache that only worsened from all the thoughts in her head. She had to deal with Morrible, and she had to deal with the Ozians. She had to decide what she was to say—How she would say it? What to do if everything went wrong? Or even what to do if by chance everything went right?

It was a headache that felt never ending. Too many things to think of that made her feel as if she was a woman older than she really was. She needed a distraction, she needed her mind turned off and her head calmed.

"This one is rather alarming." Ori said, to her luck, turning to her.

Glinda opened her eyes halfway, peering down at page he was reading, "The truth spell?" She wondered.

He nodded, "Yes, just the implication of forcing someone to tell the truth is terrifying."

She stretched her neck and sat up, rubbing her temples, "These truth spells are actually not very effective. They last a few seconds which doesn't really give enough time to get anything out of someone. The most I'd get is a facial expression which in some cases may give out an answer, but you know, they aren't to be trusted." Because a facial expression was the easiest thing to fake. "Why do you think we never used it on any prisoners?"

"Because it's immoral?"

Glinda looked at him blankly and his eyes widened.

"Right." He nodded slowly, looking sheepish, "So...how does it even work?"

"With magic." She mumbled, sending him a small smirk.

He gave her a look, "You don't say?"

She grinned and shrugged, "Honestly, I don't know what to say. How about we try it out and you can see what it does?"

He gave her a wary look, "What would you ask me?"

"Does it matter really? Any truth will pop into your head first and then the spell fades. The only truth spells that are said to be dangerous are those in the Grimmerie, but there is only one person who can really read that."

"Elphaba." He said knowingly.

"Yes, " She affirmed, "So do you want to try it?" She said, smiling at him brightly to try and convince him to go along with it.

"You are not lying when you say I will only think of the truth and not say it?" He still looked uncertain.

"As far as I know..." she said, "If you wish to share any of your truths you are free to, but no person really is. "

He stared at Glinda for a few seconds and she gave him one of her smiles that made people agree with her. She reserved that for desperate measures and her irritating thoughts and her headache were making her find some other way to keep herself busy.

After a while he gave a drawn out sigh and he nodded, "Okay, I guess I can be up for it. We still have hours until we arrive to the city."

"Great!" She clapped her hands and took the book away from his hands. She studied the spell and said it quickly turning to Ori and rapidly questioning him before it wore off.

"You honestly don't care that my parents don't like you?"

She whispered the spell again, "How long have you liked me?"

"Does it have anything to do with my beauty?"

"Do you really like my hair like this?" At that last question he started to burst out laughing.

"You know, the truth is what I've always known. I'd gladly answer those question without a need for a spell."

Glinda lowered the book into her lap and waited.

He blinked and his smile slowly fell, "Oh, you really want me to?"

She nodded and he groaned, covering his face with his palm, "Repeat the questions please." He mumbled through his hand.

"How long have you liked me." She asked, wanting the answer to that first.

He sighed deeply and let his hand fall to his side, "A long while. I would like to point out that that particular question is not very well thought out, I don't think there is a straight man out there who has met you and hasn't liked you in his life."

"Is it my beauty? Is that the reason?" It was certainly Fiyero's reason, and even though he would have never admitted it, Boq's as well.

"I'm also sure that most men would answer yes, and to be honest I would have to be blind not to notice it, but you've shown you are more than..." He waved his hand to gesture to her face and body, "... You are determined and, oh, so difficult at times and it infuriates me that I like that. You love getting under my skin, using my mistakes to anger me. I hated it, you never saw me as a person, you saw a bad man... but at the same time I respected you because you didn't play around with what you felt. You didn't pretend to like me nor held back with what you felt—you went as far as leaving me behind to die."

"Ori..." She started, but he wasn't finished.

"—But you did not do it out of hate like I first thought. You did it because you thought you would let hate decide my fate. I wonder to myself if I would be dead right now, but it's pointless because you as a person would never allow that. I see now that it's not your beauty that causes everyone to love you. It's your charm and your way of being. You're you and you don't pretend not to be. Your beauty is really just a very nice addition."

Glinda placed her hand on his cheek unable to express what she felt with words.

"And to reply to the other question. I am not afraid nor am I worried about your parents. They have a formed opinion about me and I can't change that for now. Your mother not saying a thing to me is incredulous but at the time she is respecting your wishes of not interfering."

She smiled at him, her thumb running over his prickly cheek. She could not help leaning in, but he leaned back.

"You said no activity of any sort." He reminded her, enclosing her hand in his. She raised an eyebrow, pleasantly amused by his resolve. "You made it clear if I made any other mark on your skin that I would have to walk the rest of the way to the Emerald City by myself."

"And that frightens you?" She said with a wide grin, throwing one of her arms around his neck.

He narrowed his eyes as Glinda trailed her fingers on the back of his neck, his lips were pressed together.

She pulled at some of the hairs on his head and let her head rest on his chest. Soon enough his arm was wrapped around her.

...

She almost didn't want to leave the confines of the carriage, his arms kept her warm. All her worries and troubles felt like nothing in that tiny box; but like everything else in her life it had to end too soon.

The Emerald lighting was spotted through a small slit of her curtained windows. She closed her eyes as his nose nuzzled behind her ear and he placed small kisses to the spot. She sighed and sat up. He followed her with his arms wrapped tightly around her waist.

"I think this is my stop, Ori." She said quietly and Ori froze, looking down at her.

"What are you talking about, Glinda?"

"I'm not trying to get rid of you, " She said quickly at the bewilderment on his face, "I just want you to go see your daughter first. I still have to think about what I'm going to say to the people and you don't need to be there for that."

He pulled his arms away to sit up, "That's not —"

She held her hand up, "I'm telling you to go see your daughter—ordering you if I have to. If you are serious about me letting you be there you will listen to me, otherwise I will leave you completely out of it, Galen." She called him by his name and he shut his mouth firmly, scowling.

She reached for him and gently combed his hair back, "Spend a little time with your daughter, and then bring her by. I plan on figuring out what I'm going to say first before I confront Morrible and try to persuade her to go along with it. But first you need to see your daughter and I need to be alone."

She leaned in but he leaned his head away. She dropped her hand from his hair, watching Ori as he glared at the floor.

"You already don't behave as it is when I ask you to and I need no distractions at all in the palace."

Ori's head slowly turned her way, his eyebrows furrowed deeply, "I'm being blamed? "

She nodded quickly and his face slowly relaxed. She grinned and he took his time, but he finally smiled.

"Glinda, If you tell me to sit and be quiet I will do it. Just don't ask me to stay away when your life is in danger. I suggest you come with me and we go to the palace together."

She shook her head, "No, Ori. I want to be alone for a while. I've been with you for weeks now and I need a moment to myself. There is a lot to process that I prefer to do alone...And your daughter needs to see you. I ask that you listen to me, please, and see her."

Ori cupped her cheek, "This is what you want?"

She nodded into his hand. "Yes, it wont be long, I want to see you before the day ends. I just feel horrible that you almost died and I want her to spend some time with you before I throw you into a political nightmare."

He nodded, finally understanding her reasoning, or at least she hoped he did.

They stopped safely minutes later, and she told Ori to give the driver directions to his place of rest.

He complied and she took her bags with her. She opened the carriage door, stepping out. Glinda turned back and kissed him before she left.

"I'll see you and your daughter later."

A corner of his lip curled up and he nodded, "Yes, you will." Then the carriage started going and he was gone.

She was alone again for those few minutes of quiet that she merely floated in the air until she arrived to the palace.

She went from peaceful silence to hearing her name being shouted in the streets with excitement. She waved at them, placing her smile on her face. They all looked so happy. She hoped they would continue to do so when she went public with the truth.

She longed to reach her room but the Ozian's calling out to her in the streets made her pause for a moment.

She couldn't deny she loved their attention but it conflicted with her wish to be alone.

How could she resist it?

With a tired sigh she lowered herself and like second nature her smile came back. The rush of energy ran through her as a circle of people surrounded her. Their voices cutting each other off as they fought for her attention. Questions upon questions were thrown at her and Glinda played them off by replying with simple responses.

She had an urgent matter to attend with a friend.

She did not abandon them, just had to go quickly.

Her haircut was a spur of the moment decision and yes, she liked it.

She managed to drown out their voices as she stared past them into nothing, a smile still on her face.

This was home. This is what she had now.

And her smile widened because she wasn't necessarily alone now. Somewhere out there Elphaba was still roaming with Fiyero. Her parents would be arriving soon, and Ori... Ori... He was now there as more than just a nusiance to her.

She was not alone.

"My friends, " She began turning to each and one of the Ozian's that surrounded her. "I've had a long and winding journey. I am dreadfully in need of rest, but rest assured you will see me out and about quite soon. Let it be known that come tomorrow at noon, I will come out and speak to you all of something dear to me." The Ozians around her started questioning her once more but Glinda giggled and calmed them down.

"No need to worry about me. I am not dying, nor am I sick; I am in full health. I merely have news I would love to let you all know come tomorrow. Now, it pains me greatly that I am unable to stay and speak to you all for longer, but I, like yourselves, need a moment to sleep. "

Some nodded and others began talking again. Glinda smiled at them once more and left.

She did not look her very best when she was talking to them but she felt like herself.

Her feet touched her room and Glinda dropped into her bed. Oh, how she wanted to sleep and forget about everything. But it could not be.

Even with her window closed she could hear the buzzing of the people about the city.

It only served to remind her that she had to prepare for the next day. That her life could not be lived inside a carriage. She kept still for a moment but soon sighed and stood from her spot. She removed the items from her bag and hid them. She lost her thoughts as she matched what she would wear, picking something suitable almost half an hour later. She entered her bathroom and shed her dress, eyes coming to the mirror where she witnessed the red mark crawling down her collar. She felt her face go red although there were no other eyes on her.

She grazed the marks and she smiled, shaking her head and entering the bath.

That time in the bath may just be Glinda's last peaceful moment.

She was finally alone after weeks..She didn't like it much.

She did not like being alone. The only thing that came of it was the feeling of tears beginning to cloud her vision. Though no one could really see Glinda, she covered her face and let them flow.

She didn't really want to be alone.