AN: a slightly shorter chapter after the last one... but to make up for the sadness, there's some Gelphie friendship in this one. And a confrontation about certain feelings...

A Million Dreams

Almost a week had passed since the Governor's visit to Shiz, and it was taking Elphaba a short while longer to get herself back to normal. And it hadn't gone unnoticed.

"Can I sit here?"

Elphaba paused her writing and looked up to see Ollivander stood there. "If Lin sent you, no." she told him bluntly, though she was smiling.

"She's just worried about you that's all. We all are." He sat opposite her.

"I'm fine. My father and I had a disagreement when he got here and he told Morrible not to let me go to the Wizard before he left. I don't think he knows she's the one responsible for the invite in the first place." she shrugged. "And that was a few days ago."

"And you still jump at the slightest thing even though you try to hide it."

"You sound like you speak from experience." she turned back to her paper, writing a little more. She looked back up when he hadn't responded. "Well?"

He froze for a moment while she wrote, as if debating whether to tell her. He hadn't told another soul before. "Uhm... let's just say I know what it's like to feel helpless in a situation."

Her face softened. "Who?"

His green eyes darkened at the memory as his eyes darted from the green girl to the door on his left. "My father used to hit my mother..." He finally told her. "I couldn't help her, and if I tried, I got it too. I managed to keep my sisters out of it though..."

Her eyes flashed with sadness. "Used to? What happened?"

"I noticed your bruise. With the makeup." He avoided answering the question.

"Lin thought it was a good idea... I didn't have the energy to argue... There isn't a way out for me if this trip doesn't work."

"So let us help. I know Fiyero wants to."

She scoffed. "Fiyero wants to set him on fire and leave him there."

Ollivander laughed. "Well, yeah... he's not the only one. But he really likes you, and he doesn't want to see you hurt." he looked at her. "We all know a lovesick puppy when we see one."

"He's just an overprotective friend." Elphaba shook her head.

"Elphaba, we haven't had much chance to get to know each other, and you've no reason to believe me. But please believe this," he looked at her with pleading eyes. "This isn't Nessa wanting her sister's happiness. Or Glinda's matchmaking. This is me observing what I've seen. That boy is absolutely in love with you. I don't know you well enough to read you like the others, so I don't know your feelings."

Elphaba just shook her head again. "Impossible. There's no way."

"Why not?" He asked, only to receive a raised green hand in response. "Yep, saw that when we were introduced."

"Then you know that someone like me can't possibly-"

"Because you're green? I'm gonna assume you're green everywhere and you don't paint yourself for some social experiment." he said sarcastically. "You really don't see it?"

"See what?"

"You might not want to hear it from your close friends, but can you listen to a stranger for once?" he raised an eyebrow and the green girl fell silent. "These past couple of weeks, I've seen you in a different light. Yeah, you're sarcastic, brash, loud. But I also see what they see. you're selfless - you look after Nessa even though it's not actually your responsibility. You're her sister not her mother. You're looking for a way to help the Animals, that shows you're passionate and you care a lot. You've got possibly the biggest heart of everyone I've ever met." he held up a hand to silence her when she opened her mouth to argue. "Yes I can see the green." he told her and she closed her mouth again. "It's not hard to see why he does love you. Besides I think he likes arguing with you and the pain you cause him way too much." He smirked. "But my question to you is do you love him?"

"Yes," the response was quiet, but she hadn't hesitated for a single clock-tick.

"Then what's stopping you?"

"What if it doesn't work and he gets bored of me? Or he decides he doesn't really want to face forever with...this?"

"Then you tell him these concerns and you work through it together. But get bored of you? Oz, Elphaba, have you met you?" he grinned. "I could listen to you arguing with him all day and still be laughing at him."

She giggled quietly.

"And I know a bit of Vinkun from my cousin, so that makes it funnier for me when you both start trading insults and the others have no idea what you're saying to each other."

"If Nessa knew, she'd have me sent to a mauntery to repent." Elphaba smirked. "But I regret nothing. He really is an idiot sometimes."

He laughed again.

She smiled and went back to her writing.

They both sat in silence until Elphaba had finished. "I think that's all I'm gonna get done for now." She sighed, closing the book she had been using for her research and her notebook, before shoving them both into her bag and she stood up. "We'd better go before Glinda comes looking for me and I get banned from the library because she doesn't have an inside voice. We have Morrible's sorcery seminar shortly."

"Ah, yes... She did mention it." Ollivander nodded. "How did she get into that class? She's not entirely skilled."

"No..." Elphaba agreed. "But she is getting better the more I help her. She got into it because of me. I was given this stupid hat to wear to the Ozdust. Even then I kind of thought it was a trick, but it was still a nice gift anyway." She wrinkled her nose. "Oz, I love and hate that hat... I know it doesn't make sense... Anyway, I went to Morrible that same afternoon, and told her that I wanted Glinda to join us, since it was her first pick anyway. She flatly refused, but I eventually told her that if Glinda didn't join the class, then I'd quit."

"A trick? You two haven't been friends from the first day then?"

It was Elphaba's turn to laugh as they left the library. "Oz, no! We loathed each other at first sight."

"I should have known you'd be in that dusty old place, Elphie."

"You mean... The library. Where books are my only friends... Why, yes, I was." She spoke sarcastically to her blonde friend when they saw her in the corridor.

"Elphie!" Glinda stomped her foot and pouted, Elphaba laughed.

Ollivander smiled, watching them both. Having arrived at the same time as Fiyero, he'd clearly missed a lot of tension between the two girls, he could hardly believe, given how close they were, that they hadn't been friends straight away. But then, he did see the differences and difficulties between them. Elphaba, while loud and confident with her friends, was quiet and observatory when alone. Glinda, regardless of her company, had no filter and zero tact. He took the moment between the two to slink away unnoticed and headed out to the courtyard.

The two girls made their way to Morrible's class, joking and laughing with each other along the way.

"Ah, Miss Elphaba! Miss Glinda! There you both are. I was beginning to think you'd forgotten your class."

"Forgive me, Madame, I was studying." Elphaba dropped her bag down on the floor, and then herself into a chair.

"And I was looking for her." Glinda spoke up copying her friend's actions.

"Yes, very well. Are you all set for your meeting with the Wizard, dearie?"

Elphaba suppressed a shudder under the woman's gaze and straightened her back, giving herself some height in her chair. "Yes, Madame, I am. But I am a little nervous though."

"Oh, there's nothing to worry about! The Wizard will be just as impressed with your talents as I am. You're wonderful with magic." Morrible crooned. "And not to worry about your father, dearie. I'm sure he'll come around to you being the Wizard's Grand Vizier one day. Now, shall we begin?"

Glinda and Elphaba exchanged wary looks when Morrible's back was turned.

For once, Elphaba was unable to concentrate on the lesson, her last conversation with Fiyero playing on her mind.

" Fae, no! Don't make excuses for that pathetic excuse of a human." He told her as he paced his room.

"Fiyero, I have no choice! He does these things because he can and he's right! Who in their right mind would want anything to do with me?!"

"I do! And what about our friends?"

"Well we've already established you have no brain! Glinda only feels sorry for me, Ollivander is there because of Glinda, Nessa is my sister and Boq is there because we haven't been able to get rid of him since childhood."

"Elphaba, if you're saying all this because of what he's told you, then he's wrong." he may be brainless but he does love her. "Fae, please. You can get out of this. You don't need to feel guilty for what happened with Nessa." he stopped his pacing and walked to her. She was trying to push him away, and he wasn't going to let her this time.

She looked up at him. "How...?"

"She told me." he held her hands. "Tout homme qui met la main à une femme est un lâche."

"I know..."

He sighed and hugged her tightly, wanting to tear into the man who'd dared to hurt her.

"Yero...?" her voice was muffled by her head on his shoulder.

"Yeah?"

"Please don't do anything stupid? Just... Let me deal with it my way."

He paused, not liking the request. "Fine... But only if you promise me something."

"What?"

"Let me be there with you. Let me help you."

"Okay..."

At the end of the lesson, they both left the room, Elphaba checking her well-worn watch on her wrist for the time.

"At least we have a free hour now." Glinda grinned at her friend. She had noticed her being distracted, and wanted to take her mind off whatever was troubling her.

"Thank Lurline." Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Come on, let's go find the others."

Glinda linked her arm with Elphaba's and they walked away. "What do you want to do for your birthday, Elphie?"

Elphaba shrugged. "It's a whole week away. I don't want to do too much."

"But, Elphie! You'll be twenty-one! You're officially an adult!" Glinda giggled as her friend raised an eyebrow. "Oh, come on! It'll be fun!"

"Nothing big. Glinda please! I'd much rather have a small gathering with my friends. Usually my birthdays aren't worth celebrating."

The blonde nodded and smiled. "Alright, I promise not to go overboard."

"Thank you."

The girls made their way toward Suicide Canal, Glinda lost in thought. Her mind drifted to the last time she stood at the canalside, just days after she had her heart broken, her head still reeling from her conversation with Nessa. Now, she saw the girl's point. Over the course of the last two weeks she had seen how much happier Fiyero had become, and the positive effect he was having on Elphaba. Even though her best friend tried her hardest to hide it, Glinda couldn't help but see the love for each other shining through them both, and she could no longer bring herself to feel jealous of the effort he was making with Elphaba. The protective nature he had shown towards her when her father showed up had the blonde positively beaming with pride and happiness. There truly was nobody more suited to her Elphie than Fiyero. They truly deserved each other, and she deserved all the happiness and love in the world.

"My pretty blonde, what are you thinking about?"

Glinda shook her head, smiling. "Oh, nothing much. Just an idea for your birthday." She told her. "Can you believe it's two weeks until you finally meet the Wizard? What do you think will happen?"

Elphaba laughed despite herself. "Honestly, I have no idea what to expect... Lin, what if he doesn't want me?"

"Is this because of that wretch of a man?!" Glinda scoffed. "Elphie! You're the most amazing sorceress I've ever seen! One of the best people I know! He will love you."

The green witch looked over the bridge to the calm waters below. "What if that's not how my story ends?"

Glinda settled at her side, resting her chin on her friend's shoulder. "What if it is? Elphie, you're strong. You do not live your life in fear, you take whatever life throws at you and you run with it. The Wizard asked for you? We're going to him. He has his doubts? You'll prove yourself. Elphie, I know my talents with magic pale in comparison to yours. But with your help I'll get better, I know I will. And then look at us. The greatest team that Oz has ever seen. We'll be unlimited. "

She couldn't help but smile at her friend's words, allowing them to sink into her brain."Unlimited." She repeated in a soft voice as the blonde hugged her from the side. "Do you really think that?"

"Of course!" Glinda nodded. "And with Olie and Fifi at our sides..."

Elphaba snorted. "I'm sorry... I keep imagining Fiyero as a poodle."

The blonde smiled. "I think he loves you, Elphie."

The green witch tensed slightly. "You're not the first person to tell me that today... Ollivander told me earlier..."

"Then it must be true!" Glinda declared. "He's as good as a stranger to our group and even he can see it!"

"But why would he?! Look at me, Glinda!"

"I am looking at you! And I can see all the reasons why he would!"

"Glinda... It's just not possible... The Green Abomination does not get her happy ending." She stood away from her friend.

"Sounds like a superhero name to me."

"Glinda!"

"Elphaba!"

Both witches were glaring at each other.

"I'm not that girl." Elphaba stated finally. "I can't do this." She walked away.

"Elphaba!" Glinda called out frustratedly and headed back to campus. She smiled, seeing Nessa and Ollivander in conversation and she walked over to them. "Hey."

Ollivander stood up and gave her a soft kiss. "How was your lesson?"

"Oh... It was alright... No different from the last one..." She sighed. "I just argued with Elphie though..."

"What about?" He asked.

"Is she alright?" Nessa asked.

Glinda sat down heavily. "I think she's just... Conflicted. I tried to push her in the direction of returning Fifi's affections."

"And she didn't take it well." Nessa finished.

"I know I should let him tell her..." Glinda nodded.

"I told her the same thing when we talked. She didn't believe me then either." he shrugged.

After a moment Glinda sat upright. "Ooh!"

"What?" Nessa gave her a wary look, but there was a smile on her face all the same.

"We could throw a small party for Elphie's birthday and he could tell her at the party!"

"I'm not sure about that... Fabala doesn't like parties..."

"It will only be contained to our group! I swear, nothing more!"

"And how to you expect to get Fiyero to man up and speak to her about his feelings?" Ollivander asked.

"Well... Leave that with me."

Nessa smiled. Yes, she had her reservations about the gathering. But now she had Glinda's full support, her plan was no longer a lost cause. Her sister would be happy, she and her friends would make sure of it.