Title: "Choices", part 3/?

Rating: PG-13/R & still rising... Galinda/Elphaba

Subject: MUSICAL, but has hints at the book (but nothing that would spoil it)

Summery: Galinda is a changed woman after the 'death' of Elphaba, and on her road to redemption, she hits a slight bump - the Wicked Witch of The West herself...

Warning: UnBeta'd!

Author: VixenRaign - AngelicSinner

Previously:

"What if I can't sleep?" she meant it as an honest question, but her cheeks colored as she realized too little - too late - that it had a significant other meaning. Elphaba settled in next to her, on top of the covers, leaning back against the head-board and picking a book up off the night-stand.

"Then just rest. I'll be reading if you need anything." With that she leaned over slightly, and kissed the soft curls atop the head on the pillows next to her. "Sweet dreams, Glin." The grin that spread across her face at that was impossible to wipe away, and Elphaba couldn't help but think how adorable the woman looked, sleeping there next to her, with a happy little smirk on her lips...

"I could get used to that." She warned herself in a whisper a little while later, once she could tear her eyes away, "Just hope it doesn't happen too soon..."

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When Galinda woke up a few hours later, it was to the sight of Elphaba reading feebly in the fleeting glow of a near-dead candle. But it was not the dim light that made her reading so difficult, it was the seemingly exhausting battle she was having with her eyes lids and her valiant attempt to keep them open. The way they wavered every few seconds and she could see them ever-so-slowly creeping closed, almost without the green girl knowing it made Galinda grin with pleasure. But they kept reading, albeit a bit slowly, the pretty green irises flitting back and forth over the page.

"Go to sleep." she demanded, still rather sleepily herself. She'd grabbed the book, placing her finger between it's pages and yanking it out of the taller girl's grip before her tired and slowed brain could comprehend the book was gone.

"Hey!" Elphaba grouched indignant, now slightly more awake and insulted.

"I don't know how to fly a broom," Galinda said pointedly, keeping the book out of the other girl's reach. "And I don't intend to learn my first time out!" Elphaba glared at her, but with the bottom half of her eye-lids already crept up from tired, she just looked squinty.

"I only have 10 pages left until the end of the chapter," she protested, making a garb for the book, "I'll be done in a few minutes." The blonde moved the book away again.

"You'll be asleep in a few minutes, weather you try and finish the book or not - "

"So there's no harm in letting me try, now is there?" she shot back, one of her hands finally grasping the spine of the binding; but Galinda didn't let go. Instead she fixed the green girl with a look. She was not backing down, but she was asking - almost pleading - for her to go to bed. It was a long moment, feeling like many minutes when it couldn't have been more than a single one in fact.

There was a great internal struggle going on inside Elphaba; the blonde was almost shocked at just how visible she could see it in those green eyes and on that face. Elphaba wanted to, but she didn't. She had reasons to do both things, and both equally important to her... And slowly her face became harder, as though all the muscles had stiffened, and her eyes no longer looked tired. Just as Galinda sighed, ready to start a new argument, she felt the book tugged out of her grip suddenly.

"Fine." the girl huffed, shoving the tome into one of the night-stand's drawers and slamming it shut. "Fine." she said the last bit with a tone of self-disgust. The surprise of this small turn of events was almost enough to keep the grin from the corner of her lips... almost.

"Wow," Galinda said a mix of shock and sweetness, "The ever vigilant and non-conformist Elphaba actually submitting to something! What a goose!" she said, nearly laughing. The girl just huffed again, crossing her arms almost violently, but a small smile twitched then hid itself again.

"Not 'something'." she said quietly.

They both knew what it meant, and it would be all Elphaba would say of it for now. She wasn't submitting to the logic; she was submitting to the person -- Galinda. What little words she used conveyed a lot, or she was trying to, however unintentionally. She didn't do this all the time, and although it was a small act; it was her way of saying it would not be the last; nor the smallest or largest. She was Galinda's... no matter how much she didn't want to be just then.

Galinda scooted over under the covers, looking at Elphaba intently. She was looking fixatedly at the wall, as though trying to show just how strong she really was -- she wasn't that tired! She could have stayed up to finish reading... she just didn't feel like it! But as she felt a small hand at her elbow, she looked over at her bed-mate.

Galinda leaned her head down on the older woman's shoulder and smiled. It was a humbled, genuine smile that Elphaba had rarely seen on those soft, pretty pink lips. The girl was happy. That was enough. In truth it was why she'd given up her extra few minutes of reading, in hopes of making the blonde that little bit happier. She was just glad it worked.

"Go change for bed." Galinda said quietly, lifting her head again after a minute. Without thinking Elphaba got up, and headed past the foot of the bed. But as she reached for the drawers, her hand froze half way. She seemed frozen for a second, her fingers twitching, as though in apprehension. Her head twitched as if to look back at Galinda, but it didn't.

She was scared. She didn't even like being exposed when alone. If she could find a way to change without ever being naked she would have made great use of it. Her great hatred for her own body made her know better than to expose it to anyone.

But Galinda said she liked your skin, she rationalized to herself, and she does seem... interested. She could feel Galinda's eyes on her from across the room; she'd learned to sense it, even through all the years of people staring, she still knew the feeling of being watched. I'm not ready. She decided.

Quickly blowing out the sputtering candle at her drawers, and the one at the desk, but she knew - somehow - that if she tried to blow the one on the night-stand out Galinda would stop her. The room was almost pitch black, thankful that the light of the single flame left was not strong enough to quite reach her. Galinda was sorry it was almost already mid-day as the small openings that served as windows didn't allow any decent light in.

In the gloom of the corner where the drawers were, Elphaba changed. Her back turned to the blonde, she tried not to think about what the woman would think if she could see her in the dark. She didn't want to see her expressions if she did; she would be happier with her back turned. Also it hid the more important parts.

Galinda couldn't see a God-damned-thing! She knew that shouldn't have made her upset; she had no right to expect to see some kind of a peep-show; she'd just wanted the girl to get dressed for sleeping and crawl into bed with her... she liked being near her. But when the opportunity presented itself... well, it wasn't wrong to want to indulge in the spoils of Goodness, was it? 'Course not.

There in the dark, there were still shapes. Like a tease - hints of things. A knee... the arc of a shoulder-blade... the curve of a hip. Like the dark had parted to let little glimpses of the girl through. But in the darkness, she didn't look green at all... She wanted to see her green, in all her emerald glory. She really did think it was beautiful; there was no one else in the world like her Elphaba. She loved her for it.

When the girl silently padded over to the bed her movements were mechanical and stiff, and there was a noticeable blush over cheeks and shoulders. She was wearing some simple sort of flowy sleeping pants, also seemingly soft like her bedding. But it was the top half that got her attention. Firstly, that it was a white tank-top, and secondly the girl didn't seem to be wearing anything under it.

"Well what do you know," Galinda teased as the girl climbed under the covers, "Something that isn't black!" Elphaba shot her s short glare and settled in with the covers tucked up to her chin. The blonde was greatly enjoying making the always forthright woman squirm.

"Well, I didn't think anyone would see it - didn't expect it to cause such a stir." she teased back. Galinda turned on her side to face the other woman.

"What about Fiyero?" she asked slowly, "Didn't he ever...?"

"Not really." she said as calmly as she could - not wanting to upset the blonde, "We usually skipped the pajama-stage." she said, glancing at Galinda.

"Oh." the blonde said in an unusually high voice.

"Glin," Elphaba said, reaching out to her under the covers, hoping to reassure her. She found the girls hand, as though she'd been half-way to reaching for her too, and had stopped. she squeezed it softly and smiled; not sure what else to say, or if there was anything else to say.

"Elphie?" she asked quietly, slowly and a little awkwardly scooting over towards the girl. She linked their fingers, holding both hands to her chest, "Can I ask you something?" she asked, so timidly it surprised the taller girl.

"Sure."

"Do you..." she stopped, looking a little annoyed, and sounding scared, "I want to know... Do you... want me?" she asked, slowly, as though she wanted to ask it differently but couldn't seem to force the words out.

"Do I want you what?" she asked, confused.

"No, I mean..." she said, but it had been hard enough to say it the first time, so she just stopped. Tucking the two clasped hands under her chin, she sighed and fell silent. The look of insecurity on the blonde's face, in her whole body and her eyes -- it suddenly clicked in Elphaba.

Leaning over, the green-skinned girl kissed Galinda's head, down her nose, to that cute little cleft above her lips until she kissed those lightly too. Pulling away a bit and smiling, she let out a long slow breath.

"Yeah. I do." she said simply. But she didn't say anything else. Instead leaned in again to catch those soft pink lips, all tiredness and sleep forgotten. With the sweet smells that now filled her bed, and the flowing blonde locks that spilled over her pillow, it was hard to think up pretty things to say.

To anyone who was unknowing of their history, this would have seemed a very odd conversation. The Belle of Oz, asking this green, angular girl if she thought she was attractive. But the blond had needed to know, for some reason, needing reassurance that she wasn't just doing this to tolerate her. She didn't get all the answers she wanted, but as that warm mouth gasped around her shy tongue she knew there would be time later to ask; she would personally make sure of it.

Slowly, Elphaba rolled onto her back, pulling on their joined hands until the highly sensual weight of Galinda was pressing into her. The feeling of their breasts, however clothed as they were, which still wasn't much, felt more intimate than any deliberate touches Fiyero had left there in his often hasty wake. This realization caused the green girl to pull away to catch her breath for a second; an epiphany she'd not anticipated catching her rather off-guard.

Galinda shyly but quickly moved her kisses to along Elphie's boney but sweeping collarbones. Though this didn't help to slow her breathing, that suddenly wasn't her plan; somehow she had to make galinda know this feeling. Smoothly running her rough fingertips from the blonde's cheek down her neck in a sensual tickle, back up, she got the desired shiver she'd been waiting for.

As Elphaba's fingers tangled themselves in the gilded silk that was Galinda's curls, she couldn't help gently massaging the nape of the girls neck. It was so soft, so delicate and warm, and it seemed to turn then girl into the most nubile and submissive creature. Like a cat, wanting to be scratched at the ears, the girl almost purred. The most glorious sound she'd heard in her life.

"Glin," she said with a great deal of effort between her kisses, "What of me?" she asked hastily, weather it was because she was anxious for her answer or for more kisses, no one knew, not even her.

"Whuh?" Galinda asked, somewhere between a question and the beginnings of a soft moan. Elphaba slowed her kisses, moving them from lips to chin, along the jaw, until she was once again at the girls ear, but she didn't stop her gentle touches at the girl's neck; she liked how open it seemed to make Galinda in her actions and words.

"Have you ever wanted me?" She whispered in her ear, stopping her soft kisses until she got her answer. Galinda gulped and took in a deep breath through her nose, obviously trying to compose some part of herself.

"No, I find absolutely no redeeming qualities in you." Elphaba's head shot up so she could look at her. She'd said it in haste, almost in a pant, and almost serious. And that was how the green-skinned girl had taken it up until she's caught the deep flush in the girls cheeks, and the smarmy smirk to the corner of the girl mouth.

"That was a terrible time to kid!" Elphaba admonished her, but couldn't help her smile. Galinda's only response was to pinch the tip of her tongue between her white teeth and giggle. Elphie gave a small pinch the the back of the girl's neck, which made her give a short squeal and jump. It hadn't hurt much, but she got the point; Elphaba had wanted a good, real, honest answer, and she'd scared her half to death. She still didn't regret it one bit.

"You think I would be here, like this, if I didn't?" She asked, sounding serious. The meaning of 'like this' referring her state of dress, the closeness and affections having passed between them; the quiet words of sweetness and woo... There was 'Want', there should have been no need to ask if there was. So Elphaba was obviously asking why.

"You have the prettiest eyes." Galinda said, putting a hand to her cheek, and looking into the deep green irises as a jeweler of Oz would admire a cut emerald. "They don't match your skin, not even close, because they seem to constantly be changing, and they glow like some kind of glass that light could pass through... The fire of your passion for things, weather it be Animal rights or - " she paused, and there was an almost unnoticeable waver as she went on, " - other things... You can see it in them; they give you away."

"My eyes?" she asked, wanting to understand. A feature she never expected anyone to pay attention to, as there were other features about her that were so - well! - obviously green to comment on. Fiyero never said anything about her eyes that she could recall.

"Yes." Galinda said, looking back at the girl's whole face, not just critically at the eyes, "But not just the look of them, but the look in them as well," she said, leaning in and kissing the eye-lids gently as they closed for her, "You've seen so much of this world, Elphie... More than someone our age should have seen..." she pulled back and watched them open, a little glassy as though she agreed but would not admit it to anyone. "But sometimes you see things that others can't... things they don't even know are there."

"Like what?" she asked, a little curious.

"Well, me, for one." she stated firmly, as it put a grin on the blonde's face.

"I was not the first to notice you, you know that - you certainly act like you do." she teased back.

"I meant me, as in the real me; under the dresses, out of the shoes; the raw essence of Galinda Upland." She paused, and tilted her head to the side, as though suddenly having had a visualization of the picture she'd just painted with her words. Elphaba's shoulders shook slightly with suppressed giggles. Galinda gently boxed one of her ears for that.

"Hey! You said it!" she teased back, a laugh or two sneaking out as she said it.

"Quiet." Galinda grumbled as she went on, "You pushed me to be smart - to ask questions, to find the function within the form. No one else ever even tried to get that out of me. I wanted to be a sorceress, I knew it was hard work and a hard talent to gain; I wanted it partly for that reason. And true, I have that status now; but I didn't earn it. I still can't actually do magic... people just let me get by on being pretty. I do like being pretty, but I don't like being dumb because of it." Elphaba nodded, leaning her head on her free arm.

"Beauty fades, wisdom can last forever if you want it to - if you have the will to keep it... The next generation won't remember the 'elegant features of a ruling sorceress by the name of Glinda the Good' because chances are they won't have seen it or known it. But if I did something extraordinary, something someone will remember forever, like every Ozma had, I would be much happier when my wrinkles start coming in." she finished a little disappointedly, as though she already knew that she could never achieve that as she was too pretty and too dumb. Elphaba didn't agree.

"I bet you'd look good with a few smile lines." she said, running her thumbs gently over where they would be in 20 years or so. The smile this brought to the blondes eyes subtle but deep, as she knew Elphaba was not just saying it for her own sake of believing it.

"You're brave and well-meaning; often a dangerous combination, but I admire it in you anyways."

"How do you mean?" she asked, sounding defensive, but knowing it was meant as a compliment.

"When we were trapped in the tower after escaping the Wizard and Morrible, you were so convinced of your ugliness that you were ready to sprout wings - a spell you knew to be irreversible - in order to save us. You knew it was excruciatingly painful, but you would have done it anyways. You're self-sacrificing to the extent that I fear it is your greatest dream to die a martyr... And yet you were so willing to mutilate your body to survive."

"Would you still be here with me if I had spouted wings?" She'd asked it on a lark, but she suddenly wanted to know.

"I don't know." Galinda answered, not looking at the older girl. But it made Elphaba smile none the less; because she was actually considering it. She'd looked away so as to stare at a blank patch of wall, to better visualize, and her eyebrows crinkled in thought; her 'I don't know' obviously taking: in some cases yes, in some cases no.

"Bat wings like the monkeys, or feathered wings like a bird?" she asked back, leaning her head on the taller girls shoulder, neither noticing how much the light had changed in their long discussion; it was already noon, the last candle on the night-stand sputtering out to nothing... It went completely unnoticed.

"Either."

"Bat wings: no." she replied honestly, "Too leathery and fleshy and ick."

"Bird wings, then?" she asked, wrapping her arms comfortably around the girl's middle.

"Small or large?"

"Either."

"Black like a crow, or white like a Ozdove?"

"Either, but I would hope for black." To which galinda replied with a snort as if to say; 'duh! predictable...'

"Retractable, or exterior?" Galinda asked, sounding tired again as she settled against the girl, who was suddenly reminded of her sleepiness as well when she heard the shorter girl yawn.

"Exterior." she stated firmly, as if she knew, closing her eyes too.

"Well, if they weren't retractable... I guess small: yes, Large - depends how large. It the tips of your wings would reach your ankles when you stood I'd have to say no. I guess color wouldn't matter, but I think you'd look rather nice in white wings... you look nice in white..." Her tiredness was effecting her tact, but Elphaba kinda like it; she made a mental note to wear this tank-top if they ever slept here again... if they ever saw each other again after that night.

"I'll keep all this in mind if I ever lose my broom and need a quick getaway." she teased, almost asleep herself. She received a small tap from the back of Galinda's hand, as close as she could get to gently slapping her for her sass with as tired as they were.

"Cheeky girl." she muttered as she drifted off, causing both of them to grin a little. Neither one noticed the soft beating of wings as Chistery peeked in one of the brick-holes too look in on Elphaba. If it was possible for Monkeys to smile, he was. Quietly flying up to a higher parapet, he silently kept an eye out; showing a side of discretion he didn't want Elphaba to see.

The Witches would have their quiet; nothing would bother them... He'd always liked they way they were when they were together. The blonde was quiet and honest and good, and the green one was braver than ever, and loving in a way more people thought Animals incapable of being - but why all the Animals loved her in return. They would have their happiness.

( To Be Continued...)

VixenRaign

AngelicSinner