Ship A3 - Grand Romantic Gesture
Spring D5 - Birth
Trope D1 - Rites of Passage
Scavenger Hunt: SpWD - Dyslexia
Harvest List (Prompt): Settings (Birthday Party); Items (Piñata); Actions (Singing/Chanting)
Garden List (Prompt): Chores (Laughing)
Firework List (Prompt): Hard (Family Matters)
Teams: Poppies; Watermelon
Stacked With: FPC; BAON; StL; Star; Fence; Shower; ER; T3; SN; LiCK; FR; Ship; Once; SpB; TrB; Garden; Harvest; Hunt; Fire
Challenges: New Fandom Smell (N); Small Book (Y); Beastly Era (Y); Do It For Howard (Y); The 3rd Rule (Y); Bi Bi Bi (Y); Lovely Triangle (Y); Setting Sail (Y); Disabled (Y); Neurodivergent (Y); Other School MC (Y); Magical MC (Y); Fandom List E (Y); Red Wave (Y); Bi Rainbow; Rainbow Rainbow;
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenge(s): Three's Company; Larger than Life; Unicorn; Second Verse (Nontraditional; Ladylike; Not a Lamp; Persistence Still); Chorus (Delicious Lie; Fizzy Lemonade; Odd Feathers; Pear-Shaped)
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenge(s): FR (Satisfaction; Evolution); SN (Ameliorate); T3 (Tether); Once (Cabaret)
Word Count: 5,383
~o0o~
"I'm sorry, you what?"
Elphaba thought she spoke clearly. She wasn't entirely sure how the topic had gone from their History essays to birthdays. Well, no, she knew exactly the train of thought as this unit was on major historical figures throughout Ozian history and Elphaba had it on good authority that Dr. Dillamond would be asking for birth and death dates on these figures on their next quiz, so she brought it up to this little study group. Fiyero, shockingly, knew the birth and death dates of the Vinkun historical figures, assuring her that he only knew them due to having them drilled into his head from a young age. They then got to discussing on whether or not he would be well-known in the future and if his birth date would be one memorized by future generations.
Nessarose was certain hers would be as the first wheelchair using Governor of Munchkinland. Galinda had high ambitions and frankly the more people who knew her birthday the better because, in her opinion, the more gifts and/or compliments she would receive.
And Elphaba offhandedly mentioned that she wasn't entirely sure when her birthday was as it hadn't been festivated.
"I've never had a birthday party," she emphasized.
Fiyero and Galinda looked at her like she had stated that she was locked in a cage and fed spiders as a child. A rumor someone had once spread actually. She still never quite learned who started it or why spiders specifically.
"Why not?" Fiyero demanded, turning his attention to Nessarose for answers. "You've had birthday parties right, Nessa? Boq?"
"I had a birthday party last week," Boq reminded him.
"Every year," said Nessarose.
"But Elphaba hasn't."
"Why would she?" Nessarose countered with no malice, but genuine confusion as to why Elphaba's birth would be celebrated.
Elphaba didn't take any offense to that. It was a fact of her life. Nessarose came before everything else, she had known nothing else. Father wouldn't dare make a single day not about her. Elphaba lived and breathed to serve her sister until the day she died. She'd known that since her little sister was born and had accepted it. She had her bit of happiness with attending University at Shiz and would take these memories with her for the rest of her life.
Fiyero and Galinda, however, could not accept this.
"Unbelievable!" said Fiyero, removing the glasses Elphaba charmed to help with his dyslexia. "No cake?"
"I've had cake," said Elphaba. "I bake Nessa's every year."
"But nobody has made you a cake," said Galinda. "Elphie, this is a big deal."
"No it's not, can you just leave it alone already?"
"But why no birthdays?" Galinda stressed.
"I'm green," said Elphaba. "Is that something worth festivating?"
"Clearly you haven't been to the Emerald City," said Fiyero.
"Oh, Father took me there for my sixteenth birthday," Nessarose gushed. "It was beautiful."
"I didn't go," said Elphaba. "He was meeting delegates and they had a maid ready to assist her with anything she required."
That was the first time she truly felt resentment towards her sister and father. A bad attitude would never improve her father's opinion of her. If anything, it would make things worse, so she squashed those feelings down and tried to make as few waves as she possibly could to avoid his wrath and Nessa's unhappiness.
Galinda looked ready to start a fight over this, instead she grabbed Fiyero's arm and dragged him off to a different part of the library. A month ago, it would no doubt have been to snog in some hidden corner. Now… Elphaba wasn't sure where they were at with their relationship, but it seemed to be somewhere in the friends range. Why should she care? She didn't care.
Even if she had allowed herself some small fantasies, well not fantasies, ideas really that she could have a romantic relationship with someone, it wouldn't be possible. She was nurse, mother, maid, and nanny. A nurse, mother, maid, and nanny with a degree. As so many do.
She, Nessarose, and Boq returned to their studies. Several minutes later, Fiyero and Galinda returned looking quite pleased with themselves and returned to their half-hearted attempt at studying. Elphaba appreciated the attempt regardless. They tried at school, she tried socializing for them. It was never a full success, but it was a compromise they all could live with.
Two weeks later, a few days after their midterms, Galinda burst into the room she and Elphaba shared carrying two shopping bags.
"So little?" Elphaba teased, knowing her friend's penchant for sprees. "Is orange the new pink again?"
Galinda gasped. "Don't even joke about that, Elphie! And I didn't go shopping for me, I went shopping for you. Put this on, we're going out!"
Elphaba winced. "Gal, I'm not in the mood to be around a bunch of people and I especially do not want a blind date again!"
"It was one time and this isn't either of those things. It's a little get together with friends."
"Whose friends?"
Galinda giggled as if she had made some hilarious joke. "Your friends, silly! Oh, I did invite Avaric, Crope, Tibbett, and Milla, you're friendly with them, right?"
"I tolerate their presence," said Elphaba drily.
Avaric—Fiyero's friend— could be a space cadet, but he did help her pen a petition to send to the Wizard about the growing segregation between people and Animals. However, most conversations ended in dead air and ranting about politics wasn't always the best way to nurture a relationship. She, Crope, and Tibbett were teacher aids and often spent downtime doing research for their respective professors. Milla was Galinda's friend, and though she had never actively sought Elphaba out for a conversation, she did greet her when they passed each other in the hallway.
"See? It will be fun!" Galinda plopped the shopping bags into Elphaba's lap. "Hurry up or I'm using my training wand to dress you!"
Elphaba sighed and looked down at her work. It wasn't like she was doing anything and she had claimed a lot of study sessions leading up to midterms. It was her turn to give, and if Galinda wanted her to dress up and socialize for a few hours, so be it.
Inside the bag was a dress.
"Galinda, are you sure this is for me?" she asked uncertainly.
"Of course! Just trust me on this one Elphie, please?" She stuck out her lower lip and somehow managed to make her eyes sparkle.
Elphaba sighed softly. It wasn't a cruel trick. Galinda would not make her look bad on purpose… again. Well, if this whole thing was leading up to a big "Gotcha!" then she'd face it with her head held high.
The dress was yellow. Pale and soft like daffodils. It wasn't fancy, definishly something she could wash easily. It had a cinched waist and a circle skirt that went past her knees, the collar was swooped and the sleeves were just past her elbows. She had to wonder if it would fit her petite friend to the ankles and wrists.
Still, when she looked in the mirror, she had to admit it didn't actually clash with her skin. Did she feel silly? Absolutely, but it wasn't hideodious.
In the other bag was a pair of matching flats. Elphaba had always been tall and skinny as a rake, so she appreciated footwear that wouldn't make her tower over the rest of their friend group.
Fiyero once teased that someone had to be able to change the lightbulbs in Munchkinland without a ladder. She hadn't found it very funny in the slightest. At least his stupid jokes were original, but she tried not to show when they hurt her. He had a chronic case of foot in the mouth and Galinda ranted about his dumb comments at least once a week. It wasn't personal, so she didn't take it personally.
Part of her wondered if he was trying to be funny to get people to like him. Well, to genuinely like him beyond the perks that come with his princely status. It made a lot of sense, but she never asked him outright.
After getting ready herself, Galinda insisted on doing her hair. She never minded that part. After an overzealous makeover after what would forever be referred to as The Incident That Led To The Unlikely Friendship Between Elphaba, Fiyero, and Galinda. Or 'The Incident' for short, her blonde, perky friend had been much more gentle.
Elphaba's raven hair was always a source of annoyance for her, long and thick and always wrangled into a plait to keep out of the way, but there was something in the way that Galinda handled it. Running her perfectly manicured nails over Elphaba's scalp, brushing it from end to root to remove any snangles, and sometimes just playing with it while she hummed prettily. The tenderness made her heart ache and she nearly snapped at Galinda the second time, so sure that the gentle touch would turn into a yank, followed by a jeering laugh. But it never came and she soon grew accustomed to this little ritual.
"I love your hair," said Galinda, pinning half of it back with a pearl comb. "See? You are meant for the pearl."
Elphaba felt her neck heat up and looked down at her hands rather than her reflection in the mirror. Her nose was hooked, her face was skinny and narrow, and her eyes… well, she could never meet her own eyes. She hid them behind wire-framed spectacles anyway.
Galinda took her hand, making her heart beat fast.
"Well, no time for a manicure," she said, clicking her tongue in disappointment. "Oh well, some other time."
"Sure… and then I'll ruin them twenty seconds after the polish is applied."
This made Galinda laugh and let go of her hand. Elphaba took a deep, but quiet, breath to put her emotions in check and stood.
"So, where are we going?" she asked.
"Now that is a surprise," said Galinda, giggling to herself. Her giggles (though once irritating) were effervescent, but today they just made Elphaba nervous.
"Gal?"
"Just come on! We don't want to be late! Oh, you don't need that."
Elphaba dropped her bag and let Galinda grab her hand and lead her out of their room. Once they were on the street of the town, she realized they were going to the Oz Dust Ballroom.
"You said this was a little get together," she said apprehensively.
"It is! We just wanted to make sure that nobody could crash in uninvited!" said Galinda.
She pulled open the big double doors to the ballroom and guided Elphaba in.
"SURPRISE!" their friends shouted, some tooting on party horns.
Elphaba looked at Galinda in confusion. Her birthday wasn't until July. It was the first week of April. Galinda was beaming at her. Slowly, she looked back to the room. It wasn't all pink for Galinda. It was… turquoise? With a bit of pink here and there. It was decorated for a birthday party. Balloons, streamers, the glass ball that hung in the middle of the ballroom ceiling was hit with spotlights to cast little rainbows around the room. All the guests were wearing conical party hats. There was a big banner above the stage, the bands played on it read "Happy 22nd Birthday Elphaba" in letters that looked like they were painted by a serial killer. There were a couple tables brought out, each with a table cloth and tinfoil decoration. One was overflowing with presents, another had refreshments, snacks, and a cake, and another was set for people to sit and eat at.
"She hates it," said Fiyero, looking crestfallen.
"She does not!" Galinda insisted. "She's taking it in!"
"This is… for me," she stated, slowly. "But… I don't know when my birthday is."
Really when the new year started she bumped her age up a year. It made the most sense.
"We do!" said Fiyero proudly. "We checked your file and your birthday is April 5th, which is today."
"Do I even want to know how you got into my file?" Elphaba asked, still trying to wrap her head around this situation in general.
"I asked really nicely!" said Galinda, which did nothing to help ease Elphaba's concerns.
They went through all this trouble… for her. She wanted to reject it. Tell them it was unnecessary. It felt wrong, but she also knew if she left or turned it down it would only hurt their feelings. What did she do? Grin and bear it until a decent amount of time passed that she could feign exhaustion and end the party?
Seemed as good a route as any. She knew she wouldn't feel comfortable all evening, but this was important to Fiyero and Galinda. So she could play along until the spotlight left her behind as it usually did.
She forced a smile and it became genuine when Fiyero and Galinda lit up and hugged her.
"Thank you," she said. "So, what do you have planned for today?"
"Ah-ah! First off," said Fiyero, producing a box, "you have to wear the birthday suit!"
"Excuse me?"
Fiyero blinked. "No! Not like that! Just—"
The guys in the room started sniggering. Galinda rolled her eyes and removed the lid of the box. She took out a crown and a cape. The main part of the crown was gold, trimmed with fluffy white faux fur around the rim, the top was purple velvet and there was a cage to secure the rhinestone embedded heart at the top. The cape was the same purple velvet as the crown and also had a white trim.
Galinda nudged Fiyero and he hurried forward to place the crown on Elphaba's head since he was the one who could reach without risk of knocking her glasses off her nose. He also placed the cape around her shoulders and fastened the clasp. He was so close she could see every fleck of color in his eyes. He had one green eye and one blue, though both were startling against his ochre skin. At this distance, she could see that the blue diamonds on his temples had more design to them than she realized.
"There we go," he said and stepped back, flourishing his arms. "Your Birthday Queen!"
The room clapped, though not as enthusiastically as Galinda. Elphaba felt foolish… yet important at the same time. She glanced at Nessa who seemed put out that she had never had a birthday crown before and resolved to ensure she had a tiara for her birthday in October.
"And we've got an entire fun-filled day of activities planned to make up for the birthdays you missed," said Fiyero.
Well, when she was feeling completely uncomfortable, Elphaba did what she did best. She got sarcastic.
"No bouncy house or petting zoo?" she teased.
"We tried," Galinda sighed, with a small pout. "We couldn't get permission for either."
"Plus, I knew you'd want to make sure everyone could participate if they wished," said Fiyero.
Elphaba knew he was referring to Nessa's chair. She would have difficulty in a bouncy house. Her friends had really put a lot of thought into this, hadn't they? The party hadn't actually officially begun but she was already happy with everything.
"Let's start off with the cake," said Galinda.
"You'd think they were a couple of parents," Avaric joked to Boq.
Frankly, Elphaba was glad for the direction. While she didn't mind taking leadership roles, she had no idea how she would even begin to host her own birthday party, though she had often been the hostess for Nessarose's parties since it usually kept her busy in the kitchen to make sure drinks and snacks never ran out.
Fiyero practically steered her over to the table with her cake, which was covered in beautiful icing flowers and read: "Happy Birthday!" in curly letters.
"Matches," he said and patted his pockets. His face fell. "Er… Anyone got a match?"
Avaric smoked, but he had used his last match while waiting for Elphaba and Galinda to arrive.
Galinda brought out her training wand.
"I can light them!" she sang.
"Gal, maybe not—"
"Nonsense, Elphie!" she said. "I can light a few simple candles for you!"
She flicked her wand and the entire cake lit on fire, causing everyone to scream in alarm. Elphaba waved her hands like a conductor silencing an orchestra and the flames extinguished, leaving a charred topping on what once was a lovely cake.
Everyone stared at it in shock for a long moment, then Elphaba broke the silence by laughing. She threw her head back and cackled so loudly and heartily the lights buzzed. She usually tried to tone it down, as Father once called it ugly, but this whole thing was ridiculous and setting the cake on fire just… well… took the cake.
She couldn't tell if the others were laughing with her until she caught her breath. Galinda was blushing and looking completely mortified. Elphaba picked up the cake knife and scraped the burned bit off the top.
"See? It's fine." The last word came out as a wheeze and she waved the smoke away. "Best birthday ever, Gal."
"That's not funny, Elphie," said Galinda, recovering.
"It's pretty funny," said Fiyero, grinning and refusing to back down under her glare. He cleared his throat and sang, "Ding-dong it's the birthday song!"
The rest of the group tentatively sang the silly tune. Elphaba never realized how unnerving it was to have everyone sing to you while you stared at a smoldering pile of sugar.
"Blow out the…" Galinda trailed off and looked at the cake. "Well, make a wish Elphie!"
Elphaba cut the cake into equal slices, took one bite of hers and nodded. A little crisp from the fire, but it was fine. Actually, it was delicious. A vanilla cake with a fluffy cream and blackberry filling. She didn't really like eating in front of others though. When people judged you for everything you did, you grew self-conscious over the strangest things.
"I will save the rest for later," she said, scooping a second slice onto the plate before setting it aside. "What else do you have on the agenda? Hopefully something that doesn't involve fire?"
"We do!" said Fiyero. "Avaric, help me with this."
They hurried over to a curtain and Fiyero grabbed something from behind it. It looked to be a dragon made of paper. Avaric ran a line out and hooked it up so it was dangling in the air while Fiyero brought Elphaba a wooden stick and Galinda's sleep mask.
"I didn't know you were into this sort of thing," she said.
"Elphaba!" Nessarose gasped, blushing furiously.
"I just implied it, you drew the conclusion!" she laughed and looked back at Fiyero, going silent at the look in his eye.
For once, he kept his mouth shut and just gestured for her to move her crown so he could put the mask on her. She was glad she couldn't blush. At least, not noticeably anyway.
"This is very popular in the Vinkus," said Fiyero. "We've got a couple so everyone can have a turn, but the aim is to hit it and get the prize inside. I had one of these every year between the ages of five and eleven, and then my parents said I was too old and made my birthdays formal gatherings for their friends."
"Momsie and Popsicle did the same thing about my sleepovers!" said Galinda.
Elphaba was brought to face the paper dragon, it had a big cartoonish face and green scales. Fiyero placed the mask over her eyes and she smelled Galinda's face lotion. Lavender. She was jolted out of her thoughts when Fiyero started spinning her around.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
"We have to get you dizzy," he said. "Since you're the birthday girl you get five swings and if you miss someone else gets a turn until the pignatta is broken."
Elphaba stopped spinning and stumbled a bit, knocking her crown askew. Fiyero steadied her, fixed her crown, and let her go.
"Okay," he said. "Now—"
Elphaba swung as hard as she could, making contact with something.
"Did I hit it?" she asked.
"A little higher," Fiyero wheezed.
A thud followed. Elphaba peeked out from under the mask.
"Perhaps we should try something different?" Milla suggested.
"What for? I'm having fun," said Crope and Tibbett hummed in agreement.
"I'm fine," said Fiyero, accepting Elphaba's hand. "Just lucky you aren't Galinda's height or my parents' hopes for grandchildren would be dashed. We're going to have to spin you again, just make sure I'm out of the way before taking a swing."
Everyone ran to hide behind the buffet table. Boq had the sense to take Nessa with him, since the height of the back of her chair made it difficult for her to move herself too much.
Elphaba started to protest, but Fiyero wouldn't hear of it. He just spun her around again. A moment later, she heard his voice from farther away.
"Okay! Start swinging!"
She adjusted her grip on the stick and swung, making a visible whooshing noise in the air. She hit nothing and the crowd counted off the swing. She moved and swung again, missing.
"Two!"
Elphaba took a deep breath. She thought she sensed something to her right and swung at it making contact. The paper dragon exploded and something clattered on the ground. She hit it again for good measure and pushed up the mask to see candy and little toys on the ground.
"Damn, Thropp," said Avaric. "You should join the baseball team."
She snorted and scooped up a handful of candy.
It was all her favorite sweets. She stuffed it in a pocket and stepped back to let the others claim some of the prize.
While the others got their turn with the other two pignatta, Elphaba stepped off to the side to sip some of the punch.
"You sure you're alright?" she asked Fiyero.
He opened his mouth and she could see the gears turning behind his eyes as he decided to react. He groaned dramatically and clutched his side.
"I'm dying!" he cried. "It's too late for me! My life is flashing before my eyes! I see Bartolomieu! He looks beautiful!"
"Who?"
Fiyero looked at her straight-faced. "My pet fish, obviously."
"Oh, of course! Your pet fish," she scoffed.
"Hey, he was a beautiful fish with blue and green scales," said Fiyero. "I had him for ten years before my cousin's cat got to him."
"Sorry to hear that," she said. "I've never had a real pet, but I would feed the crows when I was a child until they started attacking the kids who picked on me."
Rather than get weirded out, Fiyero lit up.
"You had a crow army! I wish I had one! Hey Galinda! Elphaba had a crow army when she was a kid."
Nessarose shuddered at the memory while Boq gasped.
"They were yours?!"
Elphaba didn't expect to rope the rest of the crowd into the conversation and immediately clammed up. She didn't want to talk about the crows. Not even the trinkets they brought her. Father was furious, especially when the crows began attacking him. However, Fiyero and Galinda thought that an army of little flying minions was particularly exciting while the rest of their friends reacted how Elphaba expected them to. Galinda noticed the change in attitude and had Boq, Crope, and Tibbett scoop up the prizes into a bowl to clear the way for the next birthday activity Elphaba had supposedly been missing out on.
And something happened to go wrong in some way. Tibbett got a black eye during a game that involved swords, shields, and an overzealous Nessarose who vehemently claimed that since she was paralyzed from the waist down, tapping her legs didn't count as out. Honestly, Elphaba was glad (and a little proud) that her prim and proper sister had gone a little feral. It proved that she was human, rather than the glass doll their father often treated her as.
The punch bowl got knocked over during cornhole which Boq actually helped arrange because it was a popular game in Munchkinland, nearly every family had a cornhole game in their backyard and there was a tournament during the Harvest Festival.
Milla broke her wrist during a game of Finders Seekers—a game where a person was blindfolded and called out "Sound off!" and then everyone else announced themselves—when Avaric hid behind a stack of chairs when she was closing in on him and she crashed into it knocking it (and herself) over. He felt really bad and took her to the hospital to get it looked at.
Nessa seemed to grow a bit bored and feigned exhaustion. Then Boq, Crope, and Tibbett made their excuses. Leaving Elphaba, Galinda, and Fiyero.
"They didn't even stay for presents," Galinda pouted. "And we have this place until midnight."
"Sorry, Elphaba," said Fiyero. "We wanted to give you the best birthday ever and I can't help but feel it missed the mark."
"Well, perhaps it's my lack of experience with parties, but I don't think you missed the mark at all," said Elphaba, sitting down on her 'throne.' "I'm having fun, really, but perhaps next year a quiet dinner with one game?"
"Of course, Elphie," said Galinda, sitting on the arm of her chair and wrapping an arm around her. "Thank you for indulging us. You can take the cape and crown off if you're uncomfortable."
"No," she said. "It makes me feel… important."
"You are important," Fiyero assured her. "Still up to opening presents?"
She ignored the way her heart quickened with both of them leaning into her and looked apprehensively at the table overflowing with presents.
"Well…"
"Oh, don't worry," said Galinda. "While it was tempting to actually purchase things for you to keep, we knew you wouldn't really accept them. So, we each bought gifts corresponding to the birth year you missed and are pairing them with a good-sized donation to the children's home in the Emerald City."
"Oh…" Elphaba breathed. "That's… so good of you!"
"It is, isn't it?" said Galinda, tossing her hair and preening.
Fiyero nudged her and looked at Elphaba. "It's your influence, El. You make us want to do good."
She was sure she was blushing now and looked down at her lap in embarrassment.
"Let's go ahead and open them then," she said.
They brought her throne over to the table to make it easier and pulled up chairs of their own so they weren't hovering over her. She just went with the closest ones and started opening them, admiring what the pair thought she might have enjoyed when she was a child and expressing her hope that the children would enjoy the gifts as much as she would have.
Elphaba tore away the wrapping off the twenty-second gift out of the fifty she had been given (forty-four of which were from Galinda and Fiyero while the rest were from the guests). Beneath it was a wooden chest that read Emerald City Toy Company est. 1885. She unlatched it and opened it. What was inside took her breath away.
It was a porcelain doll, delicate and beautiful. She had a round face, big, doe-like eyes, plump pink lips, and wore a lovely dress of delicate satin and gossamer that couldn't quite seem to decide if it wanted to be pale green, lavender, or powder blue depending on how the light hit it. Perched upon her strawberry curls was a crown of flowers. What was more was that the doll had pale green skin just a few shades lighter than Elphaba's own verdigris. The little card that verified its collectibility deemed that this doll was 'The Fairy Queen' and that she lived deep in the mountains of the Vinkus surrounded by crystal pools that helped her oversee the fair folk across all of Oz.
"Oh, how beautiful," Galinda gushed. "She looks just like you! Well, except for the hair."
"Not much that could be done about that," said Fiyero. "Aw, Elphaba, don't cry."
"I… I hadn't realized I was," she said softly.
Years spent looking at all the dolls Nessarose received with pale skin and rosy cheeks, and thinking how much her own sister looked like them and hating herself for never being able to look like that. And here was a doll with green skin and dark eyes, pretty and delicate as can be. She lifted it out and hugged it to her chest, grateful that everyone else had gone home so that only the two people she loved could see her this way.
"Do you really see me like this?" she asked, her cynicism burbling to the surface. "Or am I just the freak you took pity on? A pet? A charity project?"
"Of course not," said Galinda firmly. "Elphie— Elphaba, we're doing this because we love you!"
She probably just meant a friendship sort of love.
"That's right," said Fiyero. He looked at Galinda and she nodded. "We both love you. Really."
He took her hand and Galinda rested a hand on her knee. She felt a jolt and looked at them. She was never the best with social cues and was terrified beyond all reason that she was misunderstanding this one. How did she respond?
"In love," Galinda clarified.
Elphaba had never been struck speechless before and the gears in her head seemed to be stuck.
"Uhh… I don't…"
They both winced.
"Feel the same?" Fiyero finished disheartedly.
"Understand," said Elphaba. "You're both perfect together."
"We are," Galinda agreed. "But that doesn't change the fact that you are what completes us."
"Triangles are the strongest shape," said Fiyero before looking like he regretted speaking.
Elphaba blinked owlishly. All this… was because they loved her. Both of them. For months she had been scolding herself, beating herself up for having the nerve to fall in love with a couple in a relationship when the fleeting desires she didn't allow herself to dwell on… could be reality.
"Am I dreaming?" she asked. "Or dead?"
"Of course not, Elphie," said Galinda, taking her hand and squeezing it.
Elphaba squeezed it back briefly, then let go so she could place the doll back in its case. She would hate for it to break if her magic flew out of control. Fiyero touched her cheek. The way he and Galinda looked at her was the same tenderness they held for each other. She didn't know anyone could look at her like that.
A knee-jerk reaction told her this was a trick… but if it was then why go through all this trouble or spend all this money? Why wait for a private moment and not an audience?
There would be one eventually.
"You're not worried what people might think?" she asked.
"If I cared what people thought, I probably wouldn't have gotten kicked out of four schools," Fiyero admitted.
"From time to time I might," Galinda admitted. "But I care more about you. Both of you. I think the three of us could be unlimited."
Unlimited… Elphaba liked the sound of that.
"Okay," she said, tentatively taking their hands. "I'm sure people will conveniently ignore the fact anyway."
"That's their problem," said Fiyero, kissing her cheek.
She let out a startled cackle and hid her face in her hands. How embarrassing. She peeked through her fingers to see Fiyero and Galinda beaming. She lowered her hands, unsure how to initiate contact.
Galinda initiated it, squealing happily, throwing her arms around Elphaba's neck and kissing her square on the lips, knocking the crown clear off her head. Had she not already been sitting, her knees might have buckled. A second pair of lips, Fiyero's, pressed to her jaw. She embraced them both, letting down her barriers.
Maybe tomorrow she'd go back to being stand-offish. Maybe tomorrow she wouldn't trust that this had really happened. But until tomorrow, she would believe that these wonderful people loved her and memorize their lips and gentle touch to remind her that someone (sometwo?) really cared about her.