I appreciate that everyone respected the honor system! Congratulations to Maybe-I-Should-Write-Something and HappyShannon for correctly guessing all three songs. It was Love Song by Sara Bareilles, Take Me or Leave Me from Rent, and Haven't Met You Yet by Michael Buble.

"Elphie, where are we going?"

"Don't worry about it."

Galinda gripped Elphaba's hand tighter as she led her along. Only a few minutes earlier, the green woman had come up behind her, blindfolding the blonde before she could react. Now she leading her to some unknown place and Galinda could do nothing but trust her.

"Here. Sit down," Elphaba said, guiding the blonde into a chair and pushing her in. Galinda felt Elphaba's fingers brush against the back of her head. "All right. Ready?"

"Yes."

Elphaba untied the blindfold and took if off Galinda's eyes, taking a step back. The blonde's eyes adjusted to the dim lighting and she gaped in delight.

She found herself sitting at a dining table that had been set with a white tablecloth and adorned with elegant dishes and flatware. Two tall candles were in the middle of the table, providing the only light.

"Elphaba… what is this?" Galinda asked.

"Remember I told you to trust me?" Elphaba said, moving to sit across from the blonde.

"Well, yes, but—" Galinda stopped as her eyes fell on the green woman herself. Elphaba was wearing a short black dress that hugged her body in just the right way, and her green skin practically glowed in the candlelight. "Elphaba… you're beautiful."

"Thank you."

Their food was served soon and the two made pleasant conversation as they ate, but something was tugging at the back of Galinda's mind. Finally, she sighed and set her fork down.

"Elphaba… this is beautiful, but… why?"

Elphaba looked down. "Galinda… the Wizard's guards are after me."

"Why?"

"I don't know. My guess is that Morrible set me up."

"But… why?"

"Because she still wants the Grimmerie."

"We don't know where it is!"

"That's not entirely true. I talked to your father today, and he told me that he really did give it back to the gypsies. He also said that they supposedly have an underground hideout under the Emerald City. That's where I need to go."

"Okay, we'll leave in the morning!"

Elphaba shook her head. "Your father made it very clear that I was not to take you with me this time."

"What? But, I can't just let you—"

"I'll be fine. I don't want to endanger you, though, which is why I need to do this alone."

"Elphaba… you're just going to leave me?"

"No, no! Well, yes, but… Galinda, there's something I need to tell you." The green woman took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. This was it. This was the moment she had been working towards for four days. "Ever since I saw you in your first performance, I've loved you and in all the time we've spent together, my love has only grown stronger. And even though we may be miles apart very soon, I want you to know that I'll always be with you, and you always with me."

"Elphaba…" Galinda said, her own heart starting to race.

"No, let me finish! I… I know we've had our differences, but I… I think you're the most amazing woman I've ever met, which is why I..." It suddenly dawned on the green woman that she had neglected to do one crucial thing: retrieve the ring. Elphaba stood up. "Give me one second," she said, rushing into the bathroom.

Galinda leaned back in her seat, confused as to what had just happened. She could hear Elphaba in the bathroom making strange noises. "Are you okay?" Galinda called.

"I'm fine," Elphaba replied. She let out a low growl as she stuck her fingers down her throat again, stimulating her gag reflex. The green woman closed her eyes and soon heard the sound of metal hitting the counter. She opened her eyes and sighed in relief when she saw the ring. Elphaba held it gingerly in her fingers as she held it under the faucet. The green woman closed her hand around it before she went back out.

"What was that about?" Galinda asked as Elphaba sat back down.

"Long story… trust me, you don't want to know. Um… where was I?"

"You think I'm the most amazing woman in Oz."

"Right. Uh… well, Galinda, I…" Elphaba sighed, trying to work up the courage to say it. She clenched her fist tightly, feeling the ring bite into her flesh. Why was this so hard? "I…" Her vision was starting to go fuzzy and she put a hand to her head, trying to shake the feeling away.

"Elphaba, are you feeling all right?"

"Y-yes! I just need to get this out," Elphaba said, slamming her fist palm down into the table. She looked down, gritting her teeth. "I… was wondering if you…" The green woman looked down. "I… I have to go!" She stood up and ran from the room, slamming the door behind her.

"Elphaba!" Galinda called, standing up, but the green woman was gone. The blonde sighed. She couldn't understand the sudden change that had come over Elphaba just now… she had never seen her that nervous before! And Elphaba would be leaving soon. It was clear to Galinda that she had to get to the bottom of this… and quickly.


Elphaba sat on the balcony, looking at the green diamond ring in her open palm. Oz, she had screwed that up. What had gone wrong? Why had so lost all her senses like that? It should have been easy!

Galinda Upland, will you marry me?

What was so hard about saying those six words? Elphaba clenched her fists and put her hands up against her head. That had been her only chance… and now she would be leaving to go Oz knows where, chasing down some phantom gypsy group. She sighed and looked up at the moon. The green woman stood up and drew her arm back, prepared to throw the ring as far as she could out into the darkness. She didn't care; she was done with this. Galinda deserved much better than her; she deserved someone who could actually express their feelings! Someone with enough courage to actually commit to her…

"Elphaba?"

The green woman paused, turning around. "Galinda!" She quickly held her hands behind her back, clutching the ring.

"What happened... back at dinner? Was it something… I did?"

"No! No, of course not! It's me. I… I lost my nerve."

"Elphaba… when are you leaving?"

"Now."

"Now? But I… I can't… let you go."

"Galinda, I can't drag you into this. I promised your father I wouldn't!"

"Did you also promise that you wouldn't have sex with me?"

Elphaba stopped before she looked down. "Your mother… wasn't comfortable with it, so I promised that I wouldn't."

"Of course. I should have guessed that." The blonde approached the green woman, running her hands down her chest. She kissed the green woman, pressing her back against the railing. "Elphaba… I'm not separating from you again."

"But Galinda—"

"I don't care what my parents, or anyone else, say. I love you, with every fiber of my being, and I'm coming with you. Also… you owe me some great sex."

Elphaba sighed, but smiled. "Well… I guess I can't change your mind?"

"Nope."

"All right, but Galinda we cannot get caught! We'll have our fun, but then we have to get out of here, okay?"

Galinda nodded. "I'll be waiting," she said before she left with a giggle.

Elphaba watched her go, and then looked down at the ring in her hand. Maybe… maybe another time, she'd have the courage to say what she wanted.


When the green woman got to Galinda's room, she quickly stashed the ring down one of her boots before the blonde could notice.

"Elphaba," she heard Galinda call through the darkness. The green woman turned, only to feel the blonde grab the front of her dress and pull her onto the bed. She felt the blonde unzip the back of her dress and soon, she was clad in only her underwear. She felt Galinda undo the clasp of her bra and that too joined her dress on the floor. Elphaba was suddenly flipped onto her back and Galinda was attached to her lips in a fierce kiss. The green woman made a muffled surprised noise and reached up to place her hand on the back of Galinda's neck, but the blonde suddenly caught her wrist and pinned it down. Elphaba felt Galinda pull away and there was the feeling of cloth around her wrist.

"Wha—" she started, twisting her head to look. She saw that Galinda had tied her wrist up to the bedpost. She looked back at the blonde, who was grinning. "Galinda…"

"I wanted to… experiment."

Elphaba reached over to untie herself, but Galinda caught that wrist as well and tied it to the other post, leaving the green woman defenseless. Elphaba pulled at the bindings, but Galinda knew how to tie a strong knot. She felt the blonde's tongue running down her stomach and she gasped, her body tensing up in slight pain.

Galinda straddled Elphaba's lap and settled herself there, watching her eyes start to turn a light chocolate brown… just like they always did about this time. She knew that Elphaba wouldn't like to be tied down because that would mean relinquishing control… which was just what the blonde wanted. She sat up as she unbuttoned the front of her dress painfully slow.

Elphaba watched the blonde strip down slowly, her hands twitching to feel Galinda's soft skin. She strained against the bonds, which only caused Galinda's smile to grow wider. The blonde finally pulled off her dress and let it fall to the floor. She placed her hands on Elphaba's stomach, feeling the strong muscles underneath. She started to slide her pelvis up against Elphaba's, causing the top of her panties to fold back before going back into place.

Elphaba could only stare as Galinda ground her pelvis against hers, a little harder each time. She could see her pink panties fold back a little each time and she strained against her restraints.

Galinda knew she was torturing the green woman beneath her, which had been her exact intention. She moved her hands down Elphaba's thighs, rubbing her hand against her black panties. She leaned down, taking the fabric in her teeth and pulling it from Elphaba's body before she returned to her original position.

Elphaba tilted her head back and closed her eyes as she felt two fingers slide up inside of her. Her back arched off the bed as Galinda moved inside of her… and then she suddenly stopped, pulling out. Elphaba looked at her.

"Why'd you stop?" she asked, sweat starting down her face.

"I said I'm experimenting, remember?" the blonde replied before she leaned down, teasing one green erect nipple with her teeth. Elphaba groaned, her back arching again.

"Oz, Galinda… you're killing me here."

"Good," the blonde said, slipping her fingers inside the green woman again. She moved inside of her a little longer this time before pulling out again.

"Galinda… please," Elphaba begged, her sexual frustration building.

Galinda grinned, but indulged in Elphaba's pleads, adding a third finger this time. She pressed up against that same sensitive nerve deep inside the green woman and soon enough, she had her hitting her climax, throwing her head back against the pillow and arching her back sharply.

Slowly, Elphaba came back down, relaxing her body and unclenching her fists, only to find that her nails had been digging into her palms.

"Untie me…" she panted.

Galinda complied and Elphaba was on her in an instant, pinning her down.

"You don't get… to torture me… and get away with it," Elphaba said, a wicked grin spreading across her face. She quickly stripped the blonde of her undergarments before she put two fingers inside of her roughly, causing Galinda to inhale sharply. Elphaba continued to pump as she leaned down, sucking the soft flesh on Galinda's neck. Her other hand held Galinda by the hips.

The fast and rough version that Elphaba was using on the blonde caused her to climax soon, and Elphaba covered her mouth with her own, keeping her screams of pleasure from waking the entire estate. After she had brought Galinda back down, she gave her a weak smile, which was returned. Elphaba suddenly realized that now was the time to propose.

"Wait here," Elphaba said, pushing herself up. She leaned over the edge of the bed and reached into her boot, pulling out the ring. "Galinda, I love you so much and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So, will you—" Elphaba saw that Galinda had fallen asleep, her chest rising and falling slowly. She sighed, brushing a few strands of hair from her lover's face. "That figures. Oh, well," she said, looking at the ring. She slipped it into her vest pocket before she lay down beside the blonde, putting an arm around her and pulling her close before joining her in slumber.


"Galinda."

A gentle hand on her shoulder, shaking her.

"Galinda, wake up, my sweet. It's time to go."

The blonde opened her eyes sleepily and saw Elphaba looking at her, already dressed. "Mmm… what?"

"Come on. We've got to get going before your parents wake up."

Galinda sat up with a yawn.

"Look, here's some travel clothes and—"

"Travel clothes?" Galinda said, looking at the clothes Elphaba had tossed onto the bed. "Aww, but these aren't cute at all, Elphie!"

"I know, but they're functional. We're going to have to be able to move quickly, and that won't be possible with you in a ridiculous dress, even though they are irresistibly cute on you."

Galinda pouted, but the look Elphaba was giving her told her that she'd better do what she was told. "Fine," she sighed before she got dressed.

Elphaba slipped into her vest and her hand hovered over the pocket that held the ring. She pulled it out and looked at it. Perhaps now…?

"I'm ready Elphie. Let's go," Galinda said.

"Right," Elphaba said, sticking the ring back into her pocket. Not yet…

"Elphie, are you okay?" the blonde asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Come on, let's go," the green woman replied, taking Galinda's hand in her own. The two left the room and headed down the stairs, leaving the mansion quietly. The sun hadn't yet risen over Oz and Galinda had trouble seeing the path beneath her feet. As they reached the edge of the estate, Galinda stopped and turned back to look at her house. She knew… she knew she might never come back.

Elphaba looked back at the blonde and knew what was going through her mind. "Don't worry. We'll come back… someday."

Galinda could feel tears forming in her eyes and she put her arm up to her face, trying to hide them from Elphaba. She didn't know why, though. It wasn't like Elphaba hadn't seen her cry before.

Elphaba sighed. She knew that this was hard for the blonde. "Galinda… you can stay. You don't have to go with me."

"N-no! I can't stay. I can't… be away from you again."

Elphaba started to reach inside her pocket. "Look, Galinda, I—"

"Let's just go."

The green woman lowered her hand. "All right."


"Two tickets for the Emerald City."

The green woman handed over the money as she took the two tickets. She left the window and went over to the blonde, who was sitting on a bench, looking lost in her mind.

"Galinda… I have the tickets," Elphaba said, placing a hand on the blonde's shoulder. Galinda looked up in her direction, but Elphaba could tell that her eyes weren't focused on her. In fact, the blonde seemed to be… looking through her, more than looking at her. "Galinda, are you okay?" Elphaba asked, sitting down beside the blonde.

"… Yes," Galinda replied. Her sapphire eyes slowly focused and she finally seemed to acknowledge the green woman sitting beside her. "Sorry. I was… thinking."

"I've never seen you think like that before," Elphaba said with a slight smile.

"Elphaba… what if we can't find it? The Grimmerie, I mean? Or this underground hideout for that matter? Morrible will just keep coming after us. She won't stop! And now the Wizard—"

"Galinda, don't worry about any of those things right now. Just focus on me… we'll get through this together."

Galinda looked into Elphaba's dark eyes and nodded slowly. "Elphie… I love you."

The green woman froze.

Now, do it now!

Elphaba started to reach for her pocket. "I love you too, Galinda, which is why I—"

The train whistle interrupted her as the locomotive pulled into the station, its brakes screeching.

"That's our train," Galinda said, standing up. She started walking, and then noticed that Elphaba was still sitting down. "Hey, aren't you coming?"

Elphaba sighed, turning to look at the blonde. Foiled yet again, but eventually, she'd get her chance. "Yeah," she replied, standing up. She went over to join her and felt Galinda intertwine her fingers with her. The blonde smiled at her and Elphaba did her best to return the gesture.

Someday… someday, she'd gather up the courage to tell Galinda how she felt. And that would be a wonderful day indeed.


Mr. Upland sat at the table, his hands folded.

"Gone? What do you mean, she's gone?" Mrs. Upland said in near hysterics.

"She left," Mr. Upland replied.

"Left? Where would she have gone?"

"Wherever Elphaba is… that's where Galinda is."

"I knew it! I knew that green woman would be trouble! You told me to trust her, that the two would be just fine together, and now look what's happened!"

"I told Elphaba not to take Galinda with her."

"Well, obviously you can't trust her as much as you thought!" Mrs. Upland grabbed a hat and placed it on her head, storming towards the front door.

"Where are you going?"

"To the Emerald City. I'm going to report Galinda missing… and have that green menace arrested!"

The door slammed behind her and Mr. Upland sighed, closing his eyes. He had tried… but now, it was all up to Elphaba.

"Keep her safe, Elphaba. And watch out for yourself as well. There's no telling what sort of storm will be blowing your way next."

WATCH OUT! Yeah... so enough of my little challenges. Because I love all of my readers and reviewers so much (I really do) I want to know what songs you'd like to see coming up, if any. So... yes, let me know if you have any preferences. Or not. Either way.