Chapter 25!

Glinda prepared herself for bed as she did every night. Another day gone, another night to come. And tomorrow would be the same. But just as Glinda climbed into her bed, she turned and found a surprise waiting at the window.

Elphaba was tapping on the glass while trying to hold her broom still.

At first, the blonde didn't believe it. She had had fantasies like this before and they had all seemed real, but they all ended the same way. They weren't real. And this shouldn't be any different.

"Let me in. It's freezing out here!" Elphaba said. Glinda still couldn't decide if this was another dream or not, but she went to the window and opened it. Elphaba came into the room and landed, leaning her broom against the wall. When she turned back, Glinda threw herself onto the green witch, kissing green lips passionately. Elphaba made a muffled startled noise and as Glinda pulled away, she realized that Elphaba hadn't really been into the kiss as much as she used to be.

"Elphie… is it really you?" Glinda asked, her fingers running down the side of Elphaba's face, trying to decide if she was really there. Then again, she had never kissed one of her fantasy Elphabas. Elphaba snorted.

"In a sense." she said, pulling away from the blonde and walking around the room. Glinda watched her.

"What does that mean?"

"Galinda-"

"It's Glinda." the blonde said without thinking. Elphaba looked confused.

"Okay… Glinda. We've both changed. I mean, just look at you. Look at me. We're not the same girls we were back then." Glinda went over to Elphaba and wrapped her arms around the slender waist. She could feel Elphaba trembling, but from cold or something else, Glinda didn't know.

"I'm not that different. I just changed my name, that's all."

"And lost yourself along with it." Glinda let go and looked at the green witch.

"You're the one that's changed, Elphie."

"Don't call me that. Please."

"Why?"

"Just… don't." Glinda was starting to grow frustrated.

"What happened to you? Where's my Elphie?"

"Glinda, I'm not the same girl I used to be! I lost her when I lost myself." Elphaba looked down and sighed. "I… I can't be the Elphaba you want. I can't."

"Elphaba… why did you come back then?" Glinda asked softly. Elphaba looked up at the blonde.

"I came because… I need your help. I'm in over my head."

"Well, it's your own fault! I mean, if you had just gone back to the wizard instead of running-"

"Not with that! I can handle being a wicked witch, believe me. It's almost an honor. People are finally noticing me now. Well, as something else than a walking vegetable garden. No, this is something completely different. I made some big mistakes and now, I'm paying for them. Oz, am I paying for them." Elphaba sat down on Glinda's bed, her face in her hands. Glinda sat next to her.

"Elphie… what's going on?" she asked. She could hear Elphaba crying. "Please, Elphaba. Tell me. Let me help you." Elphaba looked up, trying to wipe her eyes without severely burning her hands. It wasn't working and Elphaba eventually gave up.

"Glinda… oh, Oz… Glinda, I'm pregnant!" At this, Elphaba actually burst into tears and buried her face back into her hands, her shoulders shaking. Glinda wrapped her arms around the green girl. She had never seen her break down like this. And she found that it pained her to see Elphaba in this state. Elphaba had always been the strong one, someone whom Glinda could always rely on and lean on. Now Glinda had to be the strong one.

But what if I can't be the friend she needs? How can I possibly return the favor?

By being there. And loving Elphaba more now than she ever had, despite this new information. Oz knew she needed it.

"Galinda, I'm sorry! I betrayed you! I'm so sorry!" Elphaba said as she sobbed. Glinda didn't even notice that Elphaba had used her old name.

"Oh, Elphie! You don't need to be sorry. I still love you the same." Glinda said as tears started to run down her own face.

And even if she hadn't said it, Elphaba knew that Glinda had forgiven her.

The wicked witch of the west had been forgiven by the person she had hurt (and loved) most. It was almost more than Elphaba could stand.

They sat together the rest of the night, Glinda comforting Elphaba until the green witch finally raised her head and looked Glinda right in the eyes. Glinda looked right back at her and saw the dark circles under her bloodshot eyes. This was not the first time Elphaba had cried and it would not be the last. Obviously, the green witch was devastated by the news.

"Glinda… when I have this baby, it won't be mine."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I'm not going to keep it. When I have this baby, I'm going to give it to you. And then I'm going to end my wretched life."

End of chapter 25! Hope you all enjoyed it and, as I always plead, please leave a review on your way out. Thank you to all readers and reviewers! You keep my going.