"Congratulations Galinda and Elphaba." Glinda read off of the cake that Aciola brought out after lunch.

"And look at all of the little bells and flowers. Thank you, this is wonderful."

"It is. Thank you." Elphie repeated as Glinda gave the women a fierce hug.

"Just a small congratulatory token. From the moment he returned from fitting you two for your ball gowns Byjon knew that wedding bells would be ringing for you two someday. He had a sense for these things." Aciola smiled.

"He did at that." Gwenot smiled.

"Is there anything else that I can get for you? I'm due at Hanter's. I'm helping him get ready to move over here."

"We are fine here Aciola, go on and help Hanter." Gwenot replied with a nod and a smile.

"Congratulations again Misses. An engagement is very exciting."

"It is and thank you again. We'll see you when we return on another break." Glinda said and gave the woman another hug. Elphie thanked her also and accepted a warm handshake.

"Hanter is moving here?" Glinda asked as she cut the cake.

"His shop is, in the empty shop the corner. It has some warehouse space with it. It will be one of the shops that will be part of the whole explore and train aspect of this." Gwenot said as she helped serve.

"Oh that's great. And so is this. Mmmmmm yummy." Glinda said happily after taking a small bite of the cake.

"Maybe Aciola should have a bakery downstairs."

"Darling that is a wonderful idea. Well not Aciola, specifically but having a bakery and possibly a confectioners. There is already going to be a small café. Perhaps we could combine them." Gwenot said and jotted down some notes.

"This is all so thrilling. Elphie, Momsie told me while we were in the studio that there is also going to be an after school program that includes tutoring for those who need it."

"Really? That does make sense." Elphie said.

"Byjon thought so too, although he did not outline it as well as he did the rest. He also wanted to set up something, eventually, for kids with an interest in science or math." Gwenot commented.

"We have some teachers on the board and we are hoping to include Lofier and his lab as well as my office and other businesses, but that is a ways down the road." Samion chuckled.

"Five years does not sound like such a long time now." Glinda giggled.

"No it doesn't. Elphaba I know that you were a little overwhelmed by the music room, but I want to reiterate that those things are for your personal use, not just for the foundation. Byjon wanted you to delight in exploring what was there and use it in whatever way you chose, but he knew that your first passion is chemistry."

"I really was overwhelmed. There is so much there, not just recordings, that I couldn't imagine what he wanted me to do with it all." Elphie said.

"I felt the same way seeing his private art collection and his sketches. But talking it through over lunch helped. I saw one of his early sketchbooks, with all of his attempts still there. I'm going to take it with me and see if I can try some of his things." Glinda added.

"And if you find a recording or some of Walik's sheet music that you might like to try, it is all yours." Samion smiled.

"Talking over lunch did help, but you said that he had expectations." Elphie said.

"Not expectations necessarily darling. He wants you to be involved, but in whatever manner you feel comfortable. For now however, the music room and its contents are yours to explore and use." Gwenot said reassuringly.

"I can't wait to be involved. This is all so exciting." Glinda bubbled.

"Darling I am very glad to here that, because Byjon did have some very specific ways he wants you to be involved. Why don't we take our things to the office and continue there." Gwenot smiled.

"So what do I get to do?" Glinda said when they were all settled with drinks and their cake.

"Well Galinda darling." Gwenot started, thinking it was best to just jump right in.

"It was his plan that you eventually be in charge of Jon's House."

Glinda dropped her glass of juice and gaped at her mother. Elphie was just as stunned but started to clean up the mess.

"He what?" Glinda said finally.

"Take a deep breath my darling, we'll go over everything." Gwenot said with a soft chuckle at the look on her daughter's face.

"But Mama, you're in charge and I'm still little and in school. Are you sure that you heard correctly?" Glinda said.

"I'm sure Galinda, very sure. Elphaba darling, leave that. I'll magic it up before we leave." Gwenot said as Elphie patted at the juice stain on the carpet.

"Elphie, Byjon wants me in charge." Glinda said, still trying to get her head around the concept.

"So I heard my sweet." Elphie smiled.

"Why Mama?"

"Because you are a dreamer, just like he was. Let me go back to the beginning and explain." Gwenot said after giving Glinda a long hug.

"The things that we have been talking about are broad scope, the results of a long time of thinking, and quite frankly dreaming. But it started as the simple idea of giving children from all walks of life, but especially those from low or modest means, access to music and art, and help. The one piece that I left out of this so far is one of the major foundation pieces. Counseling."

"Really?" Glinda said very intrigued.

"Yes really. He knew from first hand experience that childhood can be hard and not all children have someone to go to help them sort it out. He had this idea before you even mentioned art therapy, but as soon as he heard it, his mind went to work. He initially saw a place where children could come after school, in the evenings and on weekends and draw, paint, and learn to play an instrument or just sit and talk in an environment where their creativity, in whatever form it took, would be allowed to flourish with no restrictions or judgment. And if they need help getting to the point where it could flourish, they would have that too."

"Momsie, this is…it's…" Glinda started.

"Brilliant." Elphie said quietly and Glinda looked at her, the implications suddenly becoming very clear.

"Absolutely brilliant." Glinda agreed.

"But I still don't understand why me. You are a terrific counselor and far more practical than I." Glinda said.

"Darling, there will be practical people involved in every aspect of this, including your father and I. But this endeavor needs a dreamer, a creative and sensitive artistic soul at its helm, and to Byjon that meant you. You aren't afraid of flights of fancy, experimenting, failing and trying again. Byjon always admired that in you. He also admired the fact that you simply refuse to take no for an answer when you really believe in something and that you are not easily intimidated. He also said that being sorceress, an intuit and an empath couldn't hurt either. He even mentioned once that if the board of directors gave you trouble you could float them all." Gwenot chuckled trying to lighten the mood because she could sense her daughter's struggles.

"I'm not even sure how to respond." Glinda said as she scooted closer to Elphie.

"Welcome to my world my precious girl." Elphie said then kissed her temple and put her arm around her.

"But I'm guessing that Byjon wants you to finish school first."

"Indeed he does. He was very specific about that. He said that if you choose to become the Executive Director of Jon's House, and in spite of what he wanted he did acknowledge that it was your choice, that you would not be allowed to do so until you were twenty-five years old. He wanted you to finish school and then hopefully put your talents to work counseling, doing art therapy, teaching or whatever you wanted to do. He wanted you to really know the set up, provide input, get to know the practical people and them to know you. He wanted you to feel it. In his mind this is destined to be a living, breathing entity, with a personality and a soul. He was positive that you would be able to understand and work with this notion." Gwenot said.

"I'm still not sure how to respond." Glinda said trying to grasp everything her mother was telling her.

"You don't need to respond, not at all. All you need to do today is go back into the studio and look at sketchbooks. Galinda you need to hear this and understand it. This was Jon's dream and he wants us all to be a part of it. Yes, he wants you in charge when you're older, but there are a great many things that have to happen before the first child even enters the building. Byjon had every intention of laying this entire project out for you himself, but time was against him. He would not want you to worry or try to figure this all out now, and neither do your father and I. But it was important to him that you know what is happening, that your voice be heard in the process whenever you have anything to say about it. Your father and I and our advisors will be the practical ones. You my darling, just be the dreamer." Gwenot said with a smile.

"I think she can do that." Elphie chuckled when she saw a familiar look on her love's face.

"In fact I am fairly sure that she is doing it right now."

"Maybe some of Byjon's first attempts at things can be made into something like a how-to book for the kids." Glinda said.

"That's the spirit Galindadoodle." Samion smiled.

"And I'll bet Walik has some too." Glinda said and her excitement was obvious.

"Maybe even Trezia and Cook have similar things and I know Lofier must because Elphie does." Glinda chattered. They let her ramble, chiming in when they wanted and a spirited discussion on just what a special place that Jon's House would be ensued.

As they talked, Glinda wasn't sure but she thought that she felt Byjon's extreme delight and pride.

X

Elphie sat at her desk watching Nusee playing with one of what Glinda called his jingle balls. She smiled when she remembered the little song that her love sang, after the giggle fit subsided, when she had first called them that

"Jingle balls, Jingle balls all over the floor. Nusee loves to bat at them and send them out the door." She sang with a chuckle. Nusee looked up at her, jumped up onto the desk and sat in front of her waiting for an encore.

She sang the reworded children's Lurlinemas song one more time then told her Familiar about her time at Byjon's, learning about the goals of the foundation, the family's role and especially the time she spent in Walik's library after lunch. She showed him the two recordings, one book and the few pieces of music that Samion had finally convinced her to take.

"I don't know how these sound Nusee, because I have yet to learn to decipher these notes." Elphie said as she held out the sheets of music for his inspection.

"But the words are…intriguing and somehow familiar. Glinda said that she thought her father could read music and that I should ask him to play this one for me. She liked it as well. It speaks of dreaming. She's still talking with her mother, so maybe I will go see if Samion will play this, if he is not busy." She picked up one of the pieces of music and got up from her desk.

"Are you coming?"

She chuckled when Nusee hopped off of the desk and ran to the door, and then waited patiently for her to go through it first.

X

"I'm very pleased that you understand why Jon wanted you to eventually oversee his dream." Gwenot said.

"I do, and Elphie thinks it would be very exciting for me. I am very glad though that he said later. I'm not ready for such a thing now."

"No my darling, you are not and he knew that. He wanted you to, as he put it, find yourself first. For right now that is as a student, a sorceress, and as an engaged woman." Gwenot smiled.

"I do love being engaged." Glinda sighed as she fingered her ring.

"It just makes everything better."

"But you've been feeling a little more amorous lately." Gwenot prodded gently when Glinda started to fidget.

"A little is putting it mildly." Glinda said as a faint blush crept over her cheeks.

"I want her all of the time. I mean it's not like I didn't before, but not like this. I've never gotten that worked up in public before, like at the ball. And here too. Even at Ilono's over dinner. I actually started to imagine what it would be like to…" Glinda started in a rapid-fire string of stammered words, but stopped and took a deep breath to try and get her frustration under control.

"Mama, I've never been like this before. I mean surprise happy endings are one thing but this…this, is just different." She finished, her distress evident.

"Darling, this is nothing to be upset about. I promise." Gwenot said reassuringly.

"But what if it makes me unreliable? What if I do something that I will regret?" Glinda said miserably.

"Why do you think that you would? Are you having sexual feelings for someone else as well?"

"What! Mother no. How could you even think such a thing?" Glinda said indignantly.

"I do not think it. But I also can't think of anything at all that would cause you to be unreliable or do anything that you would regret with Elphaba." Gwenot said seriously and Glinda settled down with a heavy sigh.

"So why do you think that you would?"

"Maybe that's not what I think, I don't know. But even she thinks that becoming engaged has made us a little more…something. She said that she seemed more able to indulge me or less able to divert me, she didn't really know either. We seem to have this balance thing worked out so that I'm never sexually frustrated and she doesn't feel like she's denying me. Wait, that doesn't sound right." Glinda said looking concerned.

"It sounds just fine darling. Like you two talk about your sex life very well and can honor each other while still staying within whatever parameters you have set." Gwenot smiled.

"Even though we do…we are intimate." Glinda said with a blush.

"We do have parameters. I call it cast in stone. And there have been times when that stone has taken quite a pummeling, but I am determined that it remain intact until we are married. But… I want her all of the time. Did I mention that?" Glinda sighed unhappily.

"Yes my darling you did." Gwenot said with a slight chuckle and Glinda frowned.

"I'm not making light of this Galinda. I truly understand; I've been where you are. As has Greda, Jilla and I'm sure some of your friends."

"I guess so. But why now?" Glinda said, not really appeased.

"Darling, this will ease. Look at it this way. First, you are an Arduenna who has come into her heightened sexuality early and it is always more intense at the beginning. On top of that you have been around Jilla and possibly others, especially at the ball, who have a great deal of sexual energy." Gwenot said

"That's true." Glinda agreed seeing that there were logical reasons for her problem.

"To make matters worse, and this is just an educated guess, but you may want her all of the time because you know that right now, you cannot have her." Gwenot said gently and the pink on Glinda's cheeks turned a little darker.

"I didn't even think about it that way, all of that does sort of make sense. So it means that things might at the very least go back to normal…normal being what I'm used to dealing with, once we are back at Shiz."

"Probably. But Chaxi has an appointment with Elphaba the week that you return, if you need to make an appointment to see her too, I suggest that you do. This isn't necessarily an empath issue, but I know you speak to her about other things as well." Gwenot said.

"I will Mama, I have before. Elphie and I go together sometimes too. Thank you, this doesn't seem so odd now and I'm not afraid that I will do something that I will regret. Now I'll just enjoy wanting Elphie all of the time." Glinda chuckled and Gwenot arched an eyebrow.

"You know what I mean." She added with a giggle then mother and daughter continued their talk.

X

"Come in please." Elphie heard after she tapped on the door of Samion's den. She opened it tentatively and saw her future father in law sitting at his desk with his reading glasses on and his pipe in his mouth, surrounded by papers. She thought that he looked busy.

"You're busy. I'll go." Elphie said quietly.

"Elphaba darling, come in, please come in. What can I do for you?" Samion said as he removed his glasses and came around the desk.

"It's really not important. I'm sorry I bothered you while you were working." Elphie said.

"Oh I wasn't doing anything that can't wait. Besides whatever you came for has got to be more interesting." Samion chuckled and Elphie smiled.

"Glinda said that she thought that you knew how to read this, to play it." Elphie said handing him the music.

"I think that I can manage this. Let's go to the music room and find out." Samion said as he put his pipe in a freestanding ashtray then ushered Elphie out of the door.

"I found the words intriguing, like a poem, but I am unable to make sense of the notes yet." Elphie said as they made their way downstairs.

"All in good time darling. You just play the way you wish. Did you bring your flute or are you just going to be soaking it all in?"

"I didn't even think about that, do you mind?" Elphie said with a hint of excitement in her voice.

"Not at all, you go fetch it and Nusee and I will meet you in the music room." Samion smiled then chuckled when Elphie nodded and hurried off only to hurry back to say thank you and send the kitten with him.

She quickly attended to her task then stood in the doorway of the music room listening to the simple melody for a bit then walked in.

"This is a very nice simple melody. I'm not sure he completed it though." Samion said after he played it through.

"I remember Gwenot said that Walik had a lot of first attempts that he just put away and did nothing with. I wonder if this was one." Elphie said.

"It could be, it is much more simplistic in style than some of his later work. Come sit with me darling, I'll play it through again then we can sing." Samion smiled then started to play it through. Elphie sat beside him on the bench, listening intently, enjoying the melody and the interaction.

"Ready, I'll start and you jump in whenever you are comfortable." Samion said and Elphie nodded.

He played the introduction then started to sing.

"Everything has its season,

Everything has its time.

Show me a reason and I'll soon show you a rhyme.

Cats fit on the windowsill,

Children fit in the snow.

Why do I feel I don't fit in anywhere I go?" Samion sang and Elphie followed along. It was that last line that had connected her to the song in the first place and the way Samion sang it made her shiver slightly.

"Rivers belong where they can ramble,

Eagles belong where they can fly,

I've got to be where my spirit can run free,

Got to find my corner of the sky."

Every man has his daydreams

Every man has his goal

People like the way dreams have

Of sticking to the soul

Thunderclouds have their lightning

Nightingales have their song

And don't you see I want my life to be

Something more than long...."

As of yet Elphie had only been listening, but she liked the words to the chorus so she decided to join in.

"Rivers belong where they can ramble

Eagles belong where they can fly

I've got to be where my spirit can run free

Got to find my corner of the sky." Elphie sang softly, but with conviction, feeling as though somehow she belonged in those words.

"So many men seem destined

To settle for something small

But I won't rest until I know I'll have it all

So don't ask where I'm going

Just listen when I'm gone

And far away you'll hear me singing

Softly to the dawn:

Rivers belong where they can ramble

Eagles belong where they can fly

I've got to be where my spirit can run free

Got to find my corner of the sky"

Elphie did not sing the last verse but did sing the chorus again. Samion offered to show her how to play the melody and Elphie happily accepted and for a time they played and sang together. Elphie loved this kind of interaction and admitted to herself that she needed it.

"This time last year I could never have even imagined needing a daddy, much less having one." Elphie thought with a hint of amusement.

X

"Momsie listen, music." Glinda squealed when she opened the door to the parlor after the long talk she had with her mother came to an end.

"I told Elphie that Daddy would play that music she brought from Byjon's for her. Come on, let's go!" Glinda bubbled and took her chuckling mother's hand, pulling her out of the door.

"Yeah, Bravo!" Glinda said clapping and bouncing in the doorway when Elphie and her father finished playing the tune.

"Well there you two are." Samion smiled.

"If you think that was good, wait until we add the singing. Are you up for a playing and singing duet, before you try it on you flute, Elphaba?"

"You're going to play it on your flute?" Glinda asked excitedly as she came around the piano and gave Elphie a hug and kiss on her cheek from behind.

"See Gwen, I told you. Little girls get engaged and forget all about their devoted fathers." Samion said with a sad face as Glinda started to go to the sitting area.

"Awwww Daddy." Glinda giggled and backtracked to give her father a hug and kiss.

"I was just distracted by the prospect of a Daddy fiancée duet."

"Ah, well of course. You're forgiven Galindadoodle." Samion chuckled as he removed Glinda's arms from around his neck.

"Ready Elphaba?"

"As I ever am." Elphie smiled and Glinda blew her a kiss from the sitting area.

Samion and Elphie played and sang then received a standing ovation from their audience, except for Nusee who just seemed annoyed by the commotion. Gwenot excused herself to go get them something to drink while Elphie assembled her flute and returned to hear Elphie doing a very good job at playing the melody and to see her daughter bouncing with delight on the sofa.

Gwenot, Samion, Glinda Elphie and Nusee spent their last night of winter break together doing something they all loved, having a good time in the music room. Elphie, with a little encouragement, continued to play the song, with Samion helping her. After only three practice attempts she played a decent duet with him that Glinda deemed a triumph. After a congratulatory kiss, she declared that celebratory dancing was in order and no one argued with her.

After an hour or so of singing, dancing, and lots of laughter, Samion and Gwenot excused themselves. After goodnight hugs and kisses, they reminded the girls that they had to finish packing in the morning and to not stay up too late.

"I can't believe that tomorrow night we will be back at Shiz. It seems as though we have been gone a life time." Glinda sighed from Elphie's arms after her parents left.

"For me it has been, I think. My life started all over again the day I proposed to you. Lyndie I have some things on my train talk list." Elphie said as she held Glinda tightly.

"I do too my love. But the train is tomorrow. Tonight there is dancing and kissing, starting with you kissing me the way that you do, possibly repeatedly." Glinda smiled.

"My precious, are you all right? Did your talk with your mother not go well? Elphie asked as she stroked Glinda's cheek.

"It went very well actually and I'll tell you about it on the train. But the train is tomorrow." Glinda said.

"Tonight is dancing and kissing." Elphie smiled.

"Starting with…" She whispered and brushed her lips against Glinda's.

X

Glinda had been watching Nusee carefully since she, Elphie and the kitten had come over from her room to help Elphie finish packing. They needed to be finished before lunch, so they had started in her room. In there, Nusee had hopped in and out of her valises and tried to help her with her clothes, all the same things that he usually did when they packed. But here in Elphie's room he seemed to be focused on his own things, searching out toys and taking his favorites to his basket.

"Elphie, look." Glinda said quietly pointing to Nusee who was taking his very favorite toy mouse into his basket.

"I think that he assumes that he is going with us, like he did before. He seems to be packing." Glinda said with concern.

Elphie watched as her Familiar came out of his basket dragging a string with a bell on then went back in with a tassel and sighed.

"I told him last night that we would be going back to school today. I think he misunderstood. What am I going to do?" Elphie said unhappily as she watched her feline companion bat an empty thread spool in from the hall.

"You are going to talk to him as you always do my love, explain to him the difference between going to Namom's and Aunt Sali's and going to Shiz."

"Do you think I am nurturing him correctly?" Elphie asked.

"I think you are doing a wonderful job my love. But why don't you ask him, it will help ease your mind." Glinda replied gently, feeling her love's genuine concern and distress.

"I guess that I should. At least talking with him no longer feels silly." Elphie sighed.

"I'll go and tell my parents that you will be down for lunch soon, okay?"

"Okay, I should spend some time making sure that he understands. Since I didn't last night." Elphie said.

"You could not have known that he made that kind of a connection Elphie, I know I didn't. We are still learning about Familiars. You can include it in the letter you to write to Motzia about me setting that fire with your chant." Glinda said.

"That would be a good idea. Are we still taking a walk after lunch?" Elphie asked.

"You bet. We are both ready to go. And Nusee can go with us. That way I can talk to him too." Glinda smiled then gave Elphie a kiss.

"I'll see you soon my love." She said and Elphie smiled and nodded.

After Glinda left, Elphie sat for a bit and watched Nusee attend to, what she could clearly see now was, his packing.

"Nuisance." She said and the kitten poked his head out of his basket and blinked at her.

"Could you come here please? I need to talk to you."

Nusee bounded out of his basket and over to the sofa where Elphie was sitting. He hopped up onto the back and sat down, staring at Elphie.

"Thank you. Nuisance, I'm afraid that I was unclear last night about going back to Shiz. Only Glinda and I are going. This is not a trip that you can take with us, I'm sorry." Elphie said and Nusee let out a pathetic little mewl.

"I'm sorry Nuisance but this is not a short trip like the last two we took. Glinda and are returning to school. Remember we talked about this when we left you the first time. I thought that you would be better off here with people to play with you and care for you and I still think that. I want you to have a real home, but I think that I understand how things are different now. Do you need to be with me more, now that you know that this is your home? Now that we have started to form this witch Familiar relationship, this connection, will it be damaged by my absence? Or did you just want to travel again to some new place to explore?" Elphie said and Nusee tilted his head and mewled.

"I want to do this right Nuisance, I really do. I know that you have helped me make magical choices and you listen when I rant, we have a connection and I want to use that now. Do you remember that exercise, that very first one when I accepted you as my Familiar? I'd like to try that now, so that I can know for sure if leaving you here is the best thing for you. Are you willing?"

Nusee mewled and blinked then shifted positions. Elphie scratched his ears then tried to clear her mind. It was easier than it was the first time and in a few minutes she had a mental link with her Familiar. The initial connection startled her, but not enough to make her sever it. It did not take her very long to get her answers or to make some promises.

"Thank you Nuisance. I feel much better now." Elphie said and Nusee mewled and nuzzled her cheek. Elphie cuddled him for a moment; until he started to squirm then she put him down.

"We should go down to lunch now. You know how Cook gets." She chuckled and Nusee ran to the door, but this time did not wait for her.

"Hello darling." Gwenot and Samion both said when Elphie came into the solarium.

"Did you clear up the misunderstanding with Nusee?" Samion asked.

"I told them that was going on." Glinda said as she ladled some creamy tomato and herb soup into a bowl for Elphie.

"I did and I sort of promised him that he could come to visit us at Shiz." Elphie said and everyone looked at her in surprise.

X

"It sounds as though you and Nusee had some talk." Glinda chuckled as she settled her and Elphie's clasped hands cozily in Elphie's cloak pocket, as they walked to the stables. Nusee was in his special lined pouch slung over Elphie's shoulder.

"I'm glad you did that exercise with him, it was a perfect idea."

"I was still a little disconcerting, but it did make me feel better. He is just where he should be." Elphie smiled.

"And he gets to come and visit with Momsie and Popsicle. That will be fun." Glinda bubbled.

"Well it will be interesting anyway." Elphie chuckled.

Glinda talked about all of the things that they could do with Nusee as they made their way to they stables. The spent some time, in the stalls talking to and brushing the horses. Nusee spent his time sitting on Starshine's rump trying to catch her tail. Elphie didn't want her to be annoyed, but Glinda thought that she was enjoying the game and playing along. After the horses received some sniffly goodbye hugs and pats from Glinda and some goodbye treats from Elphie, Nusee was put back into his warm carrier and they were off to the garzebo.

It wasn't snowing, but it was breezy and rather cold so the girls walked briskly on the short path to the garzebo, talking about the things they needed to do before classes started. They didn't spend much time there, but Glinda really wanted to walk around and tell Minka about the Masquerade Ball and how much fun being engaged was. By they time they made it back to the house they were both shivering. Luckily, Cook had hot drinks waiting for them and they spent some time talking with her, Trezia and Sargy as they sipped them. Samion and Gwenot joined them and they had a good time talking about Trezia's acceptance into the Culinary Institute until Gwenot sent them upstairs to take one last look to make sure that they had everything.

"Lyndie, I need to get something from your mother before we go. I should have done this the other day, but I've been wavering on whether it was ridiculous or not."

"I take it that you decided not." Glinda smiled as she tapped the journals in Elphie's hands.

"Actually it may still be ridiculous, but I figured out that I needed it." Elphie said then explained what it was she needed.

"Oh my love, that is in no way ridiculous." Glinda sniffled.

"Momsie is downstairs in the parlor."

Elphie gave Glinda a hug and kiss, told her to finish up then went down to the parlor. The door was open and Gwenot was there talking to Hensign.

"Elphaba darling." Gwenot smiled, a little surprised to not see her daughter as well.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need to ask you something before we leave."

"Absolutely. Hensign do you mind?" Gwenot asked the butler.

"Not at all ma'am. Miss Elphaba, I'm packing the unopened nectar bottles in your picnic basket, so be extra careful with it." Hensign said.

"Thank you Hensign, I'll be very careful." Elphie smiled and the butler nodded and left.

"Sit down please Elphaba. What is on your mind?" Gwenot smiled and Elphie took a deep breath.

"I started writing in a new journal. I thought that would be appropriate for a new year." Elphie said and Gwenot nodded encouragingly.

"I've written in it a few times, but it's not the same. It's missing something and I finally figured out what it was." She continued and opened the new journal to the first page, which she had left blank.

"What darling?" Gwenot asked.

"Before I wrote in the first journal that you gave me I always read what you wrote on the first page, every time, even if I was writing something good. Before I could completely believe the words, just seeing your handwriting there helped soothe me and gave me the strength to write. I didn't even know how much until I started the new one, and those words were not there to welcome me, even though I know them by heart. Would you mind copying them into this new journal for me?" Elphie said very shyly.

"I know it sounds a little strange, but it would mean a great deal to me."

"I would not mind at all darling and it does not sound strange to me at all." Gwenot said and Elphie smiled in relief.

"I'll take care of that right now." Gwenot said as she picked up the new maroon journal.

"Thank you Gwenot." Elphie said quietly as she handed the regal woman the other journal.

"No need my darling. You are not the only one who knows those words by heart." Gwenot smiled.

"Why don't you go hurry Galinda along, we need to leave soon." She said sensing that Elphie was a little overwhelmed.

X

Because the wind had picked up and it had started to snow, Gwenot and Samion as well as Nusee accompanied Glinda and Elphie into their private compartment to say goodbye. Nusee was there because Glinda saw him in the window after they were in the carriage and could not bear to leave him looking so forlorn and not even Elphie could console her. Samion hurried back into the house, got his over the shoulder carrier and brought him out to the carriage. Now Elphie was putting him back in it while Glinda gave her parents a final sniffly hug because the conductor had made the final all aboard call. As she always did, Glinda waved until the train pulled away from the platform then spent some time in Elphie's comforting arms.

"Well, it's not traumatic anymore, but leaving home like this will never be easy." Glinda smiled as they settled into their seats.

"No, and I think that's a good thing." Elphie smiled.

"Yeah." Glinda agreed.

"But since for awhile now I've been leaving home to go to homey, cozy dorm room and now I'm doing it with my fiancée. I really have no reason to complain."

"I guess not. I know that I've been saying this time last tear a great deal, but this time last year I was a little nervous about you returning. Now I'm returning with you." Elphie smiled.

"And we are engaged." Glinda sighed happily.

"Elphie, what would you think about having a little party this weekend. We can give ourselves an engagement party and celebrate with our friends." She added hopefully a few beats of looking out the window.

"I'm sure there will be a welcome back party at the sing along bar." Elphie said.

"I know, but not that. I mean one at Tyuron's."

"So you want to tell them too." Elphie asked, more concerned than irritated.

"I do, but we don't have to. I think they will be very happy for us and you know it won't go beyond them. Elphie what's the matter?" Glinda said feeling a sudden shift in Elphie's emotions.

"I forgot to tell you something, I was so caught up in talking to Jilla that I forgot, I'm sorry."

"Elphie, It's okay. Just tell me now." Glinda said with a smile.

"Lofier saw my ring when I was changing from my outdoor gloves to my lab gloves. I told him we are engaged. I didn't really mean to, it just came out when he commented on the ring and said I might want to wear it on my non-dominated hand while I was working. Lyndie I'm so sorry." Elphie said miserably.

"Why Elphie? We would have told him eventually. I am assuming that he reacted okay, since if he hadn't you would have fretted and thus remembered." Glinda chuckled.

"He was very pleased and congratulated us, but this is not funny." Elphie replied seriously.

"Oh my love, I'm not teasing you. I'm very glad that you told him, it's okay." Glinda reassured Elphie then moved over to sit beside her giving her a kiss.

"Alright, but I still should not have done it without you." Elphie said only mildly appeased.

"Actually that's why I asked about the party." Glinda said and Elphie looked at her earnest face, waiting for more.

"Usually I can make it to where you land in a beat or two, but this time I can't even see in what direction you leapt." Elphie smiled and Glinda chuckled.

"I'm sorry Elphie. I don't think that we are going to be able to tell our friends all at once, like we did before. For one reason, I'm almost positive that I will spill the beans to Loma and after that it would be unfair to not expect it to spread among the gang."

"Great." Elphie muttered.

"Stop. You know that it will not be gossip fodder."

"No I guess not." Elphie said, but still wasn't happy.

"I want to have a party, in private so that we can squeal and giggle and talk and other things that people do together at engagement parties, instead of just getting individual congratulations. Even though those are nice too." Glinda explained.

"You want a small version of the big party that you are not allowed to have yet." Elphie said as she caught on.

"Yeah, I guess that I do." Glinda said, not even fully realizing it until just then.

"I guess I didn't realize how important that it was to me."

"Then a party we will have." Elphie responded as she pulled Glinda to her.

They talked about what their little party might be like and how it would be very different from the official one. Elphie was concerned that Glinda was more upset about having to wait than she let on, but Glinda reassured her that she wasn't and that she really did understand the need to wait for a formal announcement. They talked a little about telling the cousins and spending time with them and new bits of information, forgotten at the time came up. One of those bits lead to Nief and they talked about him briefly, but agreed that it was not worth dredging through again.

They were reminiscing about how being engaged affected the Holiday Trail, the Lurlinemas Eve Concert, looking for the family ornament and other things that they had done, when the conductor called for first seating in the dining car.

They continued their lighthearted talk as they ate a nice dinner and lingered over desert to relive their favorite moments of the Masquerade Ball.

"Elphie that billiard lesson was one of my favorite moments." Glinda said when they were resettled back in their compartment.

"But it's also one of the things on my train talk list because it's one of the reasons I had that long talk with my mother."

"Are you ready to talk now my sweet?" Elphie asked as she took the bag of candy that Cook had packed for them out of the basket and held it out to Glinda.

"Yep." Glinda smiled as she took a peppermint piece for herself and a cinnamon one for Elphie.

They sat facing each other on one of the seats and Glinda told Elphie all about her conversation with her mother, from what led up to it to what her mother had explained to her, leaving out nothing in between.

"My precious girl, why didn't you tell me that you were channeling those kinds of feelings, we could have eased it like we did at the cabin." Elphie said when Glinda was finished.

"I wasn't channeling anything Elphie, it wasn't like it was at the cabin, not at all. Then, what I felt wasn't my own, all of this is."

"Well the things that your mother told you do make more sense in that light. But I'm still very sorry." Elphie said.

"Elphie this is not about you." Glinda said and Elphie arched her eyebrow.

"I mean, yes it's about you, but not in a blame or fault way. I've been thinking about this in bits and pieces since that surprise happy ending and after Momsie told me what she did, I realized that this is my issue. And like her, Jilla, Aunt Greda and cousins I need to find my way to deal with it."

"Lyndie that doesn't make sense. You only have to deal with it because I can't deal with my issues."

"My love that's not true."

"So you don't take lukewarm baths three or four times a week because I can't have sex." Elphie said a little sarcastically.

"Okay…time out. I know it's not an argument, but it is turning into a brood, which could lead to one. There will be no pacing or pouting about sex." Glinda said and stroked Elphie's cheek for a few beats.

"You pout about sex." Elphie said with a slight smile.

"Playful pouts are allowed." Glinda giggled then gave Elphie a kiss.

"We need to talk about this."

"I know. This was on my train talk list too." Elphie smiled.

"Me wanting you all the time was on your list. I don't know whether to say ooooooh with a giggle or oooooh with narrowed eyes." Glinda smiled.

"Giggle, I think." Elphie said with a smile.

"I'm sorry I was getting broody earlier. I just hate the thought of you having issues with sex."

"I don't really think of them as issues, at least not in a negative way. I think Momsie was right and things will go back to normal for me when we are back into our Shiz routine." Glinda said.

"How can they Glinda, we are not going back the same. We are engaged and by both our admissions that has made things…I don't know." Elphie sighed.

"I understand my love, believe me. And that is what we need to talk about or maybe it might be better to say sort out. May I start?"

"Certainly Lyndie, I'm not sure where to begin anyway." Elphie smiled and offered Glinda another piece of candy.

Glinda settled in and explained in more detail how her mother had helped her differentiate between what was part of being a normal teenaged Arduenna girl, what was part of experiencing the heightened sexuality, what might be empath related and what was being intensified by the newness and stability of being engaged. Elphie agreed that all of that made sense and with Glinda's help, she sorted out her own issues with the subject into manageable pieces so they could talk about them.

They were completely immersed in one of their comfortable, intimate conversations, able to gently poke or push each other a bit on things they thought needed a closer look. They talked in depth about Glinda's feelings about heightened sexuality and how, even after everything, she was still a little afraid that it would make her unreliable. That led to Elphie's fear of somehow hurting Glinda while they were having sex and Glinda's admission that she still sometimes fretted about not being gentle enough, and still wanting to soothe away the hurt. After an intense discussion, punctuated with light caresses, tears from Glinda and a few angry frustrated words from Elphie they both agreed that hurting or taking advantage of one another was not going to happen because of who they were and what they meant to each other. They also agreed to bring all of this up with Chaxi in a couples session.

"Lyndie, this was a part of what was on my train talk list. I think I know how to talk about it now." Elphie said and held a piece of candy to Glinda's lips. Glinda took it in her teeth and smiled.

"Go on Elphie."

"I know that this is a valid issue for me and I'm going to keep working on it and all my issues, with Chaxi and with you. Being engaged has changed things somehow. I found myself wanting you too, in a way that I hadn't before. I don't think it's anything like what you go through…I mean." Elphie started to falter as her thoughts got away from her.

"I'm with you Elphie, it's okay. We are different people and experience things in our own ways remember. Neither is better than the other." Glinda said gently.

"I know, okay. I think one of the things that has bothered me is you knowing what I'm afraid of and that I don't know how to give in all the way will change how we make love. I don't want that to happen. I love making love to you; I love the way it feels, even if I can't give into it completely. I love and need how we are together. Being engaged has given me a sort of confidence I think that I didn't have before, maybe that will help, maybe it won't. But somewhere in all of this, I realized how important, how nurturing our physical activities are, whether it's just snuggling, or making out or making love. Does that make any sense?" Elphie said.

"Yes Elphie it makes perfect sense. Honestly, I'm not sure how knowing all of that would have affected me in the moment. I'd like to think it wouldn't matter, because I understand that you don't want it to matter and that you believe that it will work out. You have said from the start that you will always give me what you can. I have always received what you've offered with great joy because I know it comes from your heart, from how much you love me. This is no different. Does that help what was bothering you?

"Yes, it does. I know that things will affect our sex life and how we relate to one another in general because we are getting stronger as a couple and we will try new things and push ourselves a little. Being engaged is one of those things, like a new step that opens up a new door for us in many ways, but especially sexually I think." Elphie said.

"I agree with that, but with a caveat." Glinda said and Elphie looked at her in amusement.

"What? My wanding professor loves that word."

"What's your caveat my sweet?" Elphie chuckled.

"Our physical life will probably change a little because we are engaged. I was just worried that we might think it has to change because we are engaged." Glinda said.

"I don't think that and I never thought that you did. I'm looking forward to peeking into that newly opened doorway and seeing what's there. I want to try to be more romantic, and other things as well."

"I'm glad that you think that, I think it too. We have a good balance and we need to keep that, we need it.

Falling into bed and making love whenever I'm too worked up, just because we are engaged is not going to help anything in the long run. We still have our stone, granted some of the things might be amended slightly to incorporate our new status, but we will still be true to ourselves and how we want to be. We make love when the time is right, when it means something for both of us, not just as a reaction."

"I couldn't agree more. That stone is a very useful thing." Elphie smiled and gave Glinda a very nice kiss.

They kept talking about that and anything else that cropped up because of it. Most of the intensity had been vented off and the conversation slowly became more light hearted, complete with teasing and lots of chuckles and giggles. But they were still just as engaged in it as they were before and didn't even realize that the train had stopped in between stations. The conductor came by and told them that weather related problems had stopped them right before the bridge between Red Sand and Dixxi House and they would be underway as soon as the tracks were cleared. He also told them that the dining car would remain open and the snack cart would be by very soon. Elphie was very concerned because this was going to make them very late. The conductor said that they were sending a messenger on horseback to the next stop and she could send a wire to Shiz if she wanted. Elphie wrote a quick note to Mr. Frama about the situation, but didn't really feel any better.

"Elphie please don't worry. Not only will Mr. Frama get your wire, but the depot will have information for him too."

"You're right. And if it gets too late you can take a nap."

"Nap? Are you nuts? We are stranded in snowy weather in a cozy private compartment of a train. What could be more romantic?"

"Romantic, really?" Elphie chuckled.

"Oh yeah. You know what I wanted to do when we got back."

"A welcome home dance with many benefits." Elphie said.

"Correct. So we do it now, here. We'll get a snack off of the cart, dance here between our seats, and make out on our seats. How often will we get this chance?" Glinda bubbled.

"Not often, hopefully." Elphie chuckled.

"Oh stop. I hear the cart, go get us something. I'm going to freshen up."

"All right my sweet." Elphie chuckled and went out the door.

Fifteen minutes later they had both freshened up, there was a plate of cheese, crackers and fruit on the little table along with a glass of water and one of nectar. What most amused Elphie was that Glinda was outside of the door to their compartment getting ready to pick her up for their unexpected date.

Not knowing how much time, they had made everything more exciting for Glinda and eventually amused Elphie. They fed each other bites of their snack and sips of their drinks as they made out. Then they moved to dancing as they made out. Elphie sang when her mouth was free, but mainly they just kissed and swayed to their own heartbeats. They also talked a little about, but both of them felt talked out, so when chatting started they sat back down to nibble food, sip drinks and intertwine themselves so that the chatting could effortlessly segue into making out, which led to more dancing.

This cycle continued and they were just as lost in themselves this way as they had been while they were talking. They barely even noticed when the train started to move or what time it was. They were in the dancing while singing part of the cycle when the conductor called that Shiz was the next stop and they scrambled to clean up and get their things together. Mr. Frama was there to greet them, even though they were more than three hours late. He deflected any apologies with a warm and sincere welcome home. By the time all their bags were upstairs and they had changed and crawled exhausted into Glinda's only partially made up bed it was well after one in the morning.

"Night Elphie, I love you." Glinda said sleepily, having started to nod off on the carriage ride.

"I love you too my sweet. Good night and dream well." Elphie said, having the feeling that she would as well.

X

The next morning, even Elphie slept late. So late that she only had time for a quick, early lunch in the cafe before she had to go to meet Professor Thiol.

"I'll come too Elphie." Glinda said sleepily as she started to throw on some clothes.

"We can re-plan our day, since it is starting completely differently. I had hoped for welcome back morning hanky panky."

"I know. It was on the schedule." Elphie chuckled.

"I'd like you to come. But Lyndie, it's time to take off our rings." Elphie said very gently.

"Oh no, that's right." Glinda said with a quivering lip.

"Remember what your mother told us my precious girl. These rings are a symbol of our commitment to each other. They are important, but they are just a symbol. Not having them on our fingers does not mean that we are less engaged." Elphie said as she took their velvet pouches out of Glinda's purse.

"We will still have them with us."

"I know." Glinda sighed.

Elphie took Glinda's hand in hers and kissed it. She gazed into Glinda's eyes as she removed her ring then kissed her finger several times then kissed the ring before sliding it onto the chain.

"This is a symbol of my love for you and my commitment to you, no matter where it is." Elphie whispered then put the chain around Glinda's neck, reaching under the neckline of her shirt to caress the place where it fell and kiss it gently again. Glinda did exactly the same thing with Elphie's ring and said the same words. Then they shared an intense kiss and held each other. They did that for so long that even a quick meal together was not possible. Glinda assured Elphie that she was all right and sent her off with a promise that she would start to get their room in order and they would have dinner whenever she returned, no pressure.

After Elphie left Glinda held her ring and cried a little to vent. She started to put their things away, but that just made her miss Elphie so decided to go see if Loma was on campus yet. She was coming early so they and the rest of their project group could get things ready to teach the freshman class.

Elphie opened the door to their room only an hour or so after she left, surprised that Glinda wasn't there. She started to be concerned because there was no note, but quickly realized that Glinda was not expecting her back for another four hours or so. She had been excited that Professor Thiol being unexpectedly called away had given her some free time and was looking forward to surprising Glinda. She realized after a few minutes that she still could surprise her love and in an even better way.

She set to work quickly putting their things away, making the beds and generally tidying up as she planned. Glinda wanted a romantic night before classes started and she could give her not only a night but a whole evening as well. When the room was put back together and Glinda still wasn't back, Elphie ran out to get some flowers and some dinner. It was early, but she knew that Glinda would not care.

Glinda still wasn't back when she returned so Elphie kept getting things set up. She lit candles and a fire, put on music and sparkled the ceiling then went to bathe. She was excited about being able to do all this and was looking forward to whatever the night brought.

X

Glinda had spent a while talking with some of her classmates who were there early, because Loma wasn't around. When she did finally show up, they talked a little, but Loma was actually only there to get some books she needed. Glinda had one of them in her room so she and Loma walked over there to get it. Elphie wasn't due back for an hour and a half or so, so she figured it was a good excuse to force her to go back to the room and at least make a dent in getting it straighten up.

"It's a shame you can't stay Loma, but I understand. We'll have plenty of time to catch up." She said as they walked up the steps to the second floor.

"I know, you've looked like the cat that ate the canary since we said hello. I can't wait to hear about the Ball. Since Elphaba is gone, you can come with me if you'd like, then join Hy and me for dinner."

"Maybe I will come with you for a bit, but not dinner. Elphie will be back for that." Glinda said as she opened the door.

She saw the candles, heard the music and saw Elphie standing in the study nook in her white satin gown and immediately shut the door then opened it again just enough to put her head in.

"It's me Elphie, it's okay." She said to her startled love.

"Don't move. I'll be right there."

"Is something wrong?" Loma said when Glinda closed the door again.

"No, not at all, Elphie's home early…apparently with a little romantic surprise." Glinda said with a little giggle.

"Ah, well enjoy. I'll see you tomorrow." Loma chuckled and turned to go.

"What was that about?" Elphie asked when Glinda walked in.

"Loma was with me. What's this about, not that I mind." Glinda bubbled.

Elphie explained about her postponed tests and her plans for a night of romance, a complete night that led wherever it led. She let Glinda do an empathic check then they shared a kiss before Glinda went into the bathroom where a scented bath, that was magically warmed, awaited her.

"I'll be sitting right over there." Elphie smiled pointing to her chair then took Glinda's ring off of its chain and slipped it back onto her finger. Glinda did the same then kissed Elphie before shooing her out of the door.

"Elphie." Glinda said fifteen minutes later as she stood in front of the closed bathroom door. She lingered there a bit when Elphie looked up, giving her love her moment. Then she got hers when Elphie slowly walked towards her.

"I love you Lyndie." Elphie whispered as she caressed Glinda's cheek.

"I love you too Elphie." Glinda said returning the caresses that was followed by a long gaze and an even longer kiss.

X

Their date on the train was a wonderful precursor for their romantic night together. They danced slowly, then shared a candlelit meal then went back to the dance floor.

"I want this to go where it goes." Elphie said after a very long, knee-buckling kiss.

"The time is right. It will mean a great deal to both of us."

"Yes my love it will. I want that too." Glinda replied and they kissed again.

As always happened when they knew what their limits were, or in this case weren't, they adjusted the way they interacted. Breasts and buttocks were included in the caresses they gave each other while they danced, little moans of pleasure were met with a tongue flicked on an arousal spot and delicate areas were teased with the gentle brush of a finger.

Elphie ran her finger around the sensitive tips of Glinda's breasts that were pressing against the silk of her nightdress as she led her to the chair. The gentle caresses of the dance were replaced with fervent kisses and purposeful touches as Glinda kissed Elphie hard while straddling her legs. She gazed into her eyes briefly, just to check in then pressed her responding breasts to Elphie's as Elphie returned the kiss she had received.

After many such ardent and fiery kisses, Elphie started to move her hands very slowly up Glinda's nightdress, gently caressing her bare buttocks and thighs. Each breathless whimper or groan was met with a kiss and a more fervent caress. She savored the feel of Glinda's warm skin as she made her way slowly upward. Right before she took the hem of the nightdress in her hands she passed her hand, in just a whisper touch near Glinda's private area. That hint of contact made Glinda's hips press forward and her back arch.

"I love you my precious girl, my world." Elphie murmured as she slid the silk up and over Glinda's head.

As soon as Glinda's breasts were free, Elphie gently kissed each one as Glinda moaned in her ear while kissing her earlobe. This only lasted for a few minutes before Glinda got up, pulled Elphie with her and in a graceful move, removed her nightdress. They pressed their bodies together for long beats, feeling each other's heat and arousal before making their way to the bed.

It had been a long time since they had been like this so they took their time reacquainting each other with the process. Elphie started out in a more dominant position lavishing kisses on Glinda's arousal spot, breasts and stomach while receiving kisses and caresses. With a very gentle push, Glinda indicated that she wanted to shift, so with firm touches and a deep kiss they rolled together until Glinda was in the position to repay Elphie's passionate and gentle attention. They shifted in this manner several times, caressing, kissing and simply touching how and what suited them.

During one shift, Glinda stopped rolling when she was on top of Elphie, moving herself up to her knees. She leaned over and kissed Elphie quickly, before the position could frighten her and helped her scoot into a semi-sitting position, then gazed into her eyes.

"Are you sure this is how you want to?" Elphie breathed into her ear after a deep fervent kiss.

"For starters." Glinda managed to say in a cross between a giggle and a moan.

Elphie gazed into her loves eyes as she traced her finger around her breasts and down her stomach. She saw what she needed to see and nodded then pressed her lips to Glinda's and let her finger cross over the threshold.

Glinda had wanted this for so long that she struggled to not give in at the first brush of Elphie's finger over her ready and willing little node. She sought out her love's lips for reassurance as the gentle finger teased and tormented her as her hips shifted and rolled of their own accord. She let out a gasp as she felt Elphie's lips on her breast at the same moment she felt the long soft fingers she adored enter her. All she could do was hold on to her love as the feeling of the long slow strokes inside of her blended with the feel of Elphie's tongue circling the hard sensitive part of her breast then work its way up to the nape of her neck and back down. She cried out, calling Elphie's name as the strokes quickened and the flicking of a tongue was replaced with gentle sucking and kissing. As she neared her edge, she sought out Elphie's lips blindly, nothing really registering but the sensations that had overtaken her body. She moaned loudly as she crashed over the edge hard when Elphie brushed her bundle of nerves, pressed the spot inside and took one of her nipples between her fingers all at the same time. She had no conception of time, only the pleasure that overtook her again and again, lessening slowly with each wave.

When the waves became ripples, she felt Elphie's lips on her temple and her soft hands on her back helping her shift positions.

"I've got you." She heard.

"And I love you." She felt a kiss then a caress.

Glinda tried to pull herself together because she wasn't ready for this to end yet. From her position between Elphie's legs, she could feel her desire and it was refueling hers.

"I love you too." Glinda said with ragged breath and sought out a kiss.

Communicating with gazes and touches, they shifted so that Elphie was on top of Glinda. They hadn't even settled into position yet when Elphie moaned softly. Glinda gazed into her loves eyes and moved her hand down from Elphie's breast to her delicate area, very gently caressing her node and teasing her opening, but nothing more. She continued to do this through a long deep kiss then Elphie shifted herself to the proper position. Before Glinda moved her hand completely she gave Elphie one last caress then spread her folds.

Elphie looked at her with wide eyes but did not move away.

"I love you Elphie." Glinda breathed.

Elphie whimpered softly as she moved her hand to caress Glinda before doing the same to her. They moved their hands just as Elphie pressed down. She let out a strangled groan as they found the right position, which was now even more intense. They just stayed that way for a few beats as their intimate areas merged in a new, very stimulating way. Glinda started to shift and Elphie moved against her and the found their slow rhythm of circles, slides, and just pressing against one another. Elphie could feel the increasing tingles radiate out from her private area and engulf her body. Glinda's eyes were locked on to hers as she let go and her hips bucked. For a brief moment, all she knew was pleasure before she felt her body go limp.

With a great deal of effort they intertwined themselves to enjoy the after effects together, feeling each other's trembles and sighs as their bodies finished what they had started.

"I love after sex cuddles." Glinda giggled as she traced her finger around Elphie's breast almost half an hour later.

"They are certainly my favorite kind." Elphie smiled.

"Hey Elphie, let's pillow talk while we cuddle."

"You wish to discuss pillows now? You just want to get me to agree to shopping while I'm in a weakened state don't you?" Elphie chuckled and Glinda giggled.

"Pillow talk isn't talk about pillows Elphie, it's talking after sex, or hanky panky while you're in bed together."

"Ah I see. Perhaps the first topic should be finding out how we can set a sound proofing glyph like the one at the cabin." Elphie smiled as she tickled under Glinda's breast. Glinda laughed as much from what Elphie said as she did the tickle.

"I guess I was a little extra expressive, but I did have reason." Glinda chuckled when her laughter eased.

Elphie merely smiled and gave her lips a kiss and her bottom a pat.

"Elphie do you remember what happened my first day back last year?" Glinda asked after some playful tickles, pats and kisses.

"I nagged you to get your bags unpacked because they were in they way." Elphie chuckled.

"This was a much better way to start the new term." Glinda sighed then pulled Elphie into a kiss.

"Indeed." Elphie breathed when her lips were freed.

A/N: The song that Elphie took from Walik's library is "Corner of the Sky" from Pippin. mecelphie