You want a hot body
You want a Bugatti
You want a Maserati
You better work bitch
You want a Lamborghini
Sip Martinis
Look hot in a bikini
You better work bitch
You want a live fancy
Live in a big mansion
Party in France

You better work bitch
Now get to work bitch

-Work B**ch by Britney Spears

Elphaba had just begun to sift through the piles of old textbooks when the sound of a bell caught her attention. "Be right there," she called, knowing it was someone ringing the bell on the counter, meaning they wanted service. The bell rang again as Elphaba started down the creaky spiral staircase. "I said I'll be right there!" The green woman reached the first floor and approached the counter, hearing the bell ring again. She slammed her hand over the bell, trying to keep her composure. "How can I help you?"

"Hi Elphie."

"Galinda?" The Munchkin was surprised to see her, and felt bad about her harsh tone. "Um… I… I didn't think you'd…"

"What? Come visit my girlfriend at work?" Galinda gave a smile. "What kind of girlfriend do you think I am?"

"A good one?"

The Frottican gave her a look.

"Did I say good? I meant amazing and beautiful."

"You're so sweet."

"Elphaba, those new textbooks just arrived. They need to be shelved."

"I'm on it." Elphaba moved to fetch the first box, and as she carried it to the appropriate section, Galinda followed her. "So, are you going to inform me as to why you are here?" the green woman asked, opening the box and pulling the books out.

"Can't a girl just visit her gorgeous green girlfriend?"

"Yes, a girl can, but when it's you, and you've used the word 'girlfriend' three times in quick succession, then I am suspicious."

"You're always suspicious. I think that's your default setting: suspicious and sarcastic."

"Those are two settings, and tell me what it is you want from me, since I am still working."

"Are you trying to get rid of me?"

Elphaba looked at the blonde. "Of course not my sweet. On the contrary, I'm very happy to see you. I just know how you are, and I know that you put on your 'I'm a little cutie' act, you want something from me."

Galinda would have protested further, but Elphaba was right… as usual. "Fine, if you must be that way."

Silence.

"Well?"

"My parents want to have dinner this weekend."

"What?!" Elphaba stood up so suddenly that she forgot she was standing near the ladder and cracked her head on it. "How could they decide so quickly? I thought you just came up with that idea," the green woman said, rubbing her head with a growl.

"I might have written to my mother when I arrived at Shiz…"

"You might have?"

"Okay, I did. But Elphie, this will be good! You can show my parents the person you really are, and then—"

"And then what? I don't know if I can change your mother's mind in one evening."

Galinda's lower lip quivered. "I'd do it for you…"

"Oh, no, not the lower lip quiver."

The blonde didn't stop.

Elphaba let out a groan. "Ozdamnit… fine, fine, we'll have dinner."

"Well, don't sound so excited."

The Munchkin sighed. "Galinda, I would love to have dinner with you and your parents this weekend."

"And we would be glad to have you."

Elphaba shook her head, moving down the skinny aisle to continue shelving. "Sometimes I wonder how I ever put up with you."

"I could say the same about you."

"I wonder the same about me."

Galinda laughed at that before she leaned in, kissing the green woman on the cheek. "I'll tell you why: because I love you."

"A miracle in itself."

"Galinda, aren't you ready yet?"

"Hold your horses, Elphie; I'll be out soon."

"If I had horses, I wouldn't have to hold them; by the time you finished, they'd be too old to go anywhere."

The bathroom door opened, revealing Galinda with her hands on her hips. "What was that?"

"Oh, it's magic. You make a sarcastic comment, and she emerges."

"Elphaba Thropp."

"That's me."

"You're in trouble."

"No I'm not. You didn't use my full name."

It occurred to Galinda that she didn't know Elphaba's middle name, and that sudden realization was going to irk her until she knew. "Well… what's your middle name?"

The green woman let out a snort of amusement. "So you can sound like my mother? I'm not going to tell you."

"But we tell each other everything."

"Well, this will be my one secret."

"Are you sure you want to waste it on something as trivial as that?"

Elphaba sighed. There was simply no winning with Galinda. "You're not going to leave me alone until I tell you, are you?"

"Not for a second."

"Well, have fun with that."

The blonde crossed her arms at that. "I'll wheedle it out of you one way or another." Her gaze fell on the green woman's navy frock. "You're not wearing that to meet my parents."

"What's wrong with it?"

"Elphaba Thropp, you take that awful frock off right now. You're much prettier than that, and I want you to wear something that proves it! How about that black dress you wore at Lurlinemas?"

"No, I hated that dress. I'm not going to wear it to see your parents."

Galinda's eyes narrowed. "We're either going to do this the easy way, or the hard way."

"I'm shaking."

"Fine. You brought this on yourself." The blonde suddenly tackled her roommate, knocking her back on the bed.

"What are you doing?"

"I warned you!" Galinda grabbed the bottom of Elphaba's frock and began to tug at it.

"Galinda—"

"You're not wearing this!" The Frottican managed to get it over the green woman's head, and Elphaba was left flailing as she tried to resist. Her angry protests were muffled by the frock (which was probably for the better), and Galinda finally yanked the clothing free, leaving Elphaba clad only in her black undergarments.

"If you wanted me naked that badly, you could have just said so," Elphaba said, pulling her knees up to her chest.

"That's for another time, but for now, you're going to put on that nice black dress, or I'm going to put it on you."

A grin crossed Elphaba's face. "I get the feeling you want to put it on me."

Galinda turned pink at that, and turned away, pulling dress from the closet. "Just put the dress on, you silly girl."

Elphaba caught the dress with a laugh before she stood, slipping it over her head. "There. Happy?"

"I will be once you put on shoes and fix your hair."

"My hair is fine."

"No braid tonight. You have beautiful hair; you should leave it down."

"It gets in the way."

"Well, that's the cost of beauty."

"You are not backing down on this, are you?"

"No, and the sooner you accept that, the happier we'll both be."

Elphaba shook her head, letting out a sigh. "All right, Glin. You win. I'll wear the dress, and the shoes, and leave my hair down."

"Really?" That had seemed a little too easy…

Elphaba nodded. "Really. I have one condition though."

"What is it?"

"You have to wait until tomorrow."

"Elphaba Thropp—"

"Because if I do all that now, I'll have to sleep that way on the train."

Realization slowly came to the blonde, causing Elphaba to grin.

"Why, Miss Galinda, you didn't forget that we were traveling overnight, did you?"

"I…"

"I'm sure you didn't. Now, may I have my frock back, or shall I be traveling in my undergarments?"

Galinda quite enjoyed being in a private car, and she enjoyed the fact that there was a single bed even more.

"Now you have to sleep with me," she'd said to her companion. Elphaba had merely grinned, and stated she had no objection to that.

The two were currently sitting in the aforementioned bed; Elphaba with book in hand, and Galinda curled up beside her. As the blonde glanced up at the eldest Thropp child, she felt a sudden surge of affection for her. Despite the fact that her mother had made her dislike for the green woman obvious, the Munchkin was still agreeing to have dinner with her, and only because Galinda had asked her (perhaps she'd begged and pouted too). When the Frottican had first met her roommate, she never would have expected such from her; she'd hardly expected a decent greeting. Galinda pushed herself up to place a kiss on a verdant cheek, causing dark lips to twitch before equally dark eyes were on her.

"Everything all right, my sweet?"

"Yes… I was just thinking about how amazing you are."

Elphaba raised an eyebrow. "And what has prompted such thinking?"

"Just you."

"I see." Elphaba leaned down to kiss the blonde's forehead before she went back to her book.

The blonde wasn't about to give up her girlfriend's attention that easily. "Elphie…"

"What?"

"Pay attention to me."

Elphaba couldn't help but laugh at that, and she marked her page before setting it aside. "A woman who knows what she wants."

"I want you." Galinda moved into the green woman's lap, putting her arms around her neck. "Now, when you meet my parents, what are you going to say?"

"Hello?"

"Elphaba."

"Then I'll say, 'Thank you very much for falling in love, or being forced to marry, and subsequently creating your daughter, for she is quite an amazing and beautiful young woman, and I am hopelessly in love with her'."

The blonde blushed lightly at that. "While that's flattering, you can't say that either."

"Well, why don't you tell me what I can say, since you seem to be shooting down all my ideas."

The Frottican gave her a look. "Well, I don't know!"

"Then why am I getting in trouble?" Elphaba flopped back onto the bed, bringing Galinda down with her.

"Maybe—"

A green finger on her lips stopped her. "Shh. I have an idea: how about you lay down here with me, and we worry about all that other stuff tomorrow?"

Galinda smiled. "I like that idea."

As she lay with her head on Elphaba's chest that night, Galinda was lulled to sleep by the rhythmic sound of the train wheels along the rails, and a small smile was on her face as she held herself close to the green woman's warmth.

Upon reaching the Frottica station, Elphaba let out a sigh, and rolled over in the bed so she was facing away from the door. "Maybe I'll just go back to Shiz."

"No, Elphie; we came this far. Now get up." Galinda pinched the green woman's behind, causing the Munchkin to jerk away and sit up, scowling at her. "Hmm. I can see why you like doing it to me so much."

Highmuster was the first to greet the two as they entered, and he informed them that Lady Upland would not be making an appearance until dinner. And so, with time to kill, the roommates found themselves at the stables.

"You know, we've had horses for as long as I can remember, yet I was never given any formal riding lessons," Galinda said as she brushed a white mare.

"Neither was I," Elphaba replied, stroking the snout of a black stallion.

"But you know how to ride."

"It's not terribly complicated, my sweet. I'm sure you could do it."

"You think so?"

Elphaba nodded. "Come on, let's get these horses saddled up, and I'll prove it to you."

Soon enough, the two were out on a trail, Galinda's horse beside her girlfriend's.

"How are you doing over there?" the green woman asked.

"Fine so far."

"See? What did I tell you?"

"Don't jinx me, Elphie. If I fall, I will blame you."

Elphaba laughed, and a silence passed between them. "Galinda… what if I can't change your mother's mind?"

"Why do you have to think that way?"

"I'm not. I'm just stating a very realistic possibility."

"It sounds like you don't want to get along with my parents."

"Galinda, that's not true—"

"Then why can't you just try?" The blonde took off, and Elphaba quickly urged her horse after her.

"Galinda! Galinda, come back!"

The green woman chased her girlfriend up a hill, and upon reaching the top, the mare stumbled, causing the Frottican to fall off and roll down the other side.

"Galinda!" Elphaba led the horse down the hill before jumping off, running to the blonde's side. "Are you all right?"

Galinda sat up, her shoulders shaking as tears ran down her face. "I'm sorry, Elphie… I just wish things were different… I wish we didn't have to try so hard to convince everyone that our love isn't something to be condemned."

"I know, my sweet, but that's the world we live in. We knew it wouldn't be easy, but I'm willing to do anything to stay with you… even spend a night with your parents."

The blonde leaned against her, sniffling. "Thank you Elphie."

The Third Thropp Descending picked her girlfriend up, carrying her back to her horse and setting her on it. Elphaba mounted her own horse, and as the two turned to start back for the Upland estate, Galinda beckoned the green woman close.

"What is it?"

Galinda leaned in and kissed the Munchkin deeply. "That's for being your sweet, thoughtful self."

"Miss Elphaba. We're so glad you could join us for dinner."

Elphaba nodded to Lady Upland. "Thank you for agreeing to have me."

The four sat down, and Galinda squeezed the green woman's hand reassuringly under the table.

"So, Miss Elphaba, you've been quite popular lately," Lady Upland said, tossing a familiar newspaper onto the table.

Elphaba cringed at the blaring headline. "Yes, well I was caught unaware… it was not one of my finer moments."

"You seem to have quite the temper."

"My main concern was getting Galinda away from those vultures. In doing so, I might have gotten a little… carried away."

"It looks like you threw quite the punch," Highmuster said. "It would be well-deserved, based on that black eye of yours."

Elphaba smiled slightly. "This is nothing compared to the other guy."

Highmuster let out a laugh at that, though Lady Upland didn't look amused.

"You find fighting amusing, Miss Elphaba?"

"Oh, calm down, my dear. She was protecting our daughter; I would think you'd find that admirable."

Galinda looked at the green woman, who offered her a small smile.

"Dinner is served."

Four plates were set down, and as the lids were lifted away, Elphaba had to stop herself from crying out. Staring up at her was a fish, specifically a trout; whether it had been an animal or Animal she didn't know, and she really didn't care. All she knew was that there was no way she could eat it.

Galinda noticed, and frowned. She turned to her mother, saying, "I told you Elphaba doesn't eat meat."

"Yes, I know. That's why we're having fish," Lady Upland replied.

"That still counts."

"No, Glin, it's fine," Elphaba said, picking at the vegetables around the poor trout (Trout?). "I'm not that hungry anyway."

The younger Frottican shot her mother a look, knowing she had planned this on purpose. "Elphaba just got a job at the bookstore," Galinda said, trying to change the subject.

"It's nothing special," the green woman added, not wanting to be the center of attention (though that was going to be hard to avoid).

"A bookstore. How… quaint," Lady Upland said. "And you enjoy such a mediocre job?"

"Yes I do because I believe in working for my share, instead of just having it handed to me. I don't like relying on people," Elphaba replied.

"Sounds like a good ethic to have," Highmuster said.

Lady Upland gave her husband a look, but he hardly seemed to notice. She turned her attention back to the green woman, knowing how to get under that sinful skin. "And your family? How are they? You did visit them this summer, didn't you?"

"They're doing well."

"It must be so taxing on your mother, what with having to care for three children on her own. Your father has moved out, hasn't he?"

Elphaba gripped her fork tightly, forcing herself to remain calm. "He comes home from time to time to help her, but no, he does not live with us."

"And your sister; she's an invalid, isn't she? I can't imagine the toll that must take on your mother, having to give her constant care while worrying about you."

"That's enough," Galinda said, not liking where this was headed.

"My siblings require more care than I do, being younger than me."

"I suppose it made your mother's life easier when she sent you to live with the Wizard; I heard you rather rambunctious and troublesome. Though I can imagine why, growing up with your mother the way she was."

"You can stop now," Galinda said, growing increasingly worried.

"I'm just trying to understand why everyone is so enamored with a bastard child; I mean, it was mere luck that the man your mother had an affair with ended up being the Wizard… unless she planned it so she could blackmail him later on." "

Elphaba twitched slightly, feeling herself slipping into that dark place.

"I can see where you get it from; such a poor role model—"

"STOP IT!"

Lady Upland's meal exploded, causing everyone to jump. Elphaba was shaking, and she felt Galinda place a hand on her arm gently.

"Elphie…?"

"I… I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to…" Elphaba stood up, unsure if she should help clean up her mess. "I… I have to go." She turned and quickly ran from the room.

"Elphaba!" Galinda called, standing up and chasing after her. "Elphaba, come back!"

Lady Upland looked at her husband, brushing a lettuce leaf from her arm. "She did that on purpose."

"You were being awfully rude," Highmuster said, taking another bite of his trout. "You've no one to blame but yourself."

Elphaba had managed to make it outside, and she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

"Elphie?"

The green woman turned, seeing Galinda approaching her.

"I'm so sorry, Galinda. I… I don't know what happened. I just… it was just one little mistake…"

"Elphie, shh… it's all right," Galinda said soothingly, placing her hands on the sides of the Munchkin's face. "It's not your fault. My mother was trying to antagonize you."

"I tried Glin… I really did try, but then she started talking about my mother…"

"I know… it's all right…" The Frottican brushed a few strands of loose hair from Elphaba's face, kissing her gently. "Thank you."

"For what? I decorated your mother's dress with her dinner!"

Galinda let out a small giggle. "That was kind of funny…"

"Galinda, we want her to like me."

"I know, but thank you for trying. You've been a good sport so far, and I know we can do this."

Elphaba let out a sigh as she stood outside the den. "Are you sure about this?"

"Yes. She's in there, taking her usual evening wine by the fire."

"In this weather?"

"It doesn't make any difference to her." Galinda gave her girlfriend a smile. "You'll be fine. I'll be in my room waiting for you." She gave her a quick kiss. "Good luck."

The blonde skipped away, and Elphaba turned to face the door, taking a deep breath. She knocked once, saying, "Lady Upland?"

"Who is it?"

"It's me… Elphaba. I was hoping you'd let me apologize."

A pause, and then, "Come in."

The green woman opened the door, entering the den, which was lit only by the fireplace. The Munchkin closed the door as Lady Upland turned to face her, wine glass in hand.

"Well?"

"I'm very sorry for what happened during dinner. My magic… gets out of hand at times."

"Perhaps you should learn how to control it."

Elphaba set her jaw. "Yes, Madame Morrible is working on that with me."

"Miss Elphaba, I understand that what I said might have upset you, but is any of it not true? Did I lie?"

The green woman forced herself to remain calm. "No. You did not lie."

Lady Upland approached, and Elphaba held her hands tightly behind her back.

"Miss Elphaba, I want to make something very clear: I do not hate you as a person. Yes, you are a bad influence with your… radical attitude, but I might be able to overlook that if you were a more… suitable partner for my daughter."

"You're upset because I'm dating Galinda."

"Must you use that word? It only reminds me of how sickening the whole ordeal is."

Elphaba sighed. "Lady Upland, you may not like the fact that we are together, but I love Galinda very dearly, and I can give her a very good life."

"But not children."

"Well, no."

"Miss Elphaba, even if by sheer luck you are the Wizard's daughter, you are still a very important person. Yes, you will be the ruler of Oz one day, and I'm sure the Wizard would like to see his bloodline continued. You being with Galinda does not allow for such. Your relationship would bring both families to an end."

"Honestly, I don't care. I don't care about continuing the Wizard's line, or even my own. I care about Galinda, and I will be with her, whether you grant me your blessing or not, though it will be much easier on your daughter if you approve."

Lady Upland leaned in close. "Listen to me: I do not approve, nor will I. You will never be able to prove yourself to me, so I suggest you end this now before you break Galinda's heart."

"I came only to apologize; do you accept it or not?"

The older Frottican straightened up. "No. Now, leave."

Elphaba nodded, turning for the door. Just before she left, she snapped her fingers, shattering the glass in Lady Upland's hand, and smiling slightly to herself.

Galinda was lying on her bed when the door opened, revealing her girlfriend. "So how did it go?" she asked, sitting up on her heels.

Elphaba didn't reply; instead she crossed the room in two strides, grabbed Galinda by the shoulders, and kissed her fiercely. The blonde let out a muffled squeak, but easily melted into the kiss, running her hands through Elphaba's hair.

"I love you so much…"

Galinda felt a little high from the kiss, and she smiled at the green woman. "I take it the talk went well?"

"Not exactly."

"What do you mean?"

Elphaba shook her head. "Your mother hates me."

"She does not—"

"Glin, she said she would never approve of me… or us…"

The blonde's expression fell, and she let out a sigh. "I'm sorry for putting you through this, Elphie… I thought we could change her mind if we showed her how much we loved each other."

"It's all right, my sweet. Just because we failed now doesn't mean I'm going to give up." Elphaba held the blonde close, rubbing her back in a way Galinda found very comforting. "We'll find a way… I promise."

That way would come much sooner than they thought, because it was the smell of smoke that woke Galinda in the middle of the night. She opened her eyes wearily, looking around the room.

"Elphie… do you smell that?"

The green woman let out a grunt. "What am I smelling? Did you wet the bed?"

The blonde gave her a light smack, and was about to say more when the sound of shattering glass caused her to scream instead.

The room was immediately showered in flames, and in that moment, chaos erupted.