"Hold still, Fae,"
"I can't help it! Water and I have never been fond of one another."
"I know, but you have to let me wash the salve off."
"Yero, I swear when this is over…"
"You will be my willing slave," Fiyero teased.
Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Only in your wildest fantasies, my dear."
She let out a yelp and clenched her teeth against the pain. Fiyero immediately stopped. "Do you want me to finish later?" He didn't want to wear her out so soon after her recovery.
"No," she replied hoarsely. "Just finish quickly."
The task was completed with little protest. Elphaba quickly dried off and dressed. She was feeling much better and had been able to keep her breakfast down. She had also revised her plan to leave Oz. It would never work anyway. All she wanted to do was go home and see Leina. Glinda approached her quietly.
"Are you ready to go now?"
Elphaba took her friend by the hand. "Yes," she said with a smile. "I am."
Fiyero flopped on the bed.
"It is good to be home. I'm exhausted!"
"You're exhausted? What about me?" Elphaba laughed. Leina giggled at her father. "I missed that sound," said Elphaba. She nuzzled Leina's neck, which elicited more laughter from the baby.
"Lucky baby," commented Fiyero.
Elphaba gave him a mock sympathetic look. "I think Daddy feels left out, Leina."
Leina twisted slightly away from Elphaba and stretched her arms toward Fiyero. Her little hands opened and closed eagerly. Elphaba crossed to the bed and put Leina down. Leina crawled over to Fiyero and laid her head on his chest. Fiyero gently rubbed her back.
"Now I'm jealous!" Elphaba teased, hands on her hips. Fiyero stuck his tongue out and held Leina closer.
"Don't stick your tongue out unless you intend to use it, dear."
"I would, but you're too far away."
Fiyero's eyes sparkled wickedly. Now Elphaba was crawling on the bed. She lay on her side, close to Fiyero. Fiyero pulled Elphaba down with his free arm and kissed her. They kissed until Elphaba felt a hand on her stomach. She broke the kiss to look down at Leina.
"Mine!"
Elphaba and Fiyero laughed at their daughter. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. You have to share Daddy with me," Elphaba said.
Leina lay her head back down and Elphaba kissed it. Fiyero closed his eyes while Elphaba scooted down to put her head on his shoulder. They were soon sleeping peacefully.
"You wanted to see me?" Glinda approached Shell cautiously.
He stood under a large tree. His face was darkened by the shadows of the leaves. He had taken a liking to this tree since he first arrived. He supposed it was the quiet strength it possessed, much like his sister.
"Have you ever noticed how beautiful nature is?" he asked her.
Glinda nodded slowly. "I have always been fond of flowers, especially roses." She wasn't sure where he was going with this.
An image of Glinda lying on a bed of rose petals crept into Shell's mind. He quickly pushed it away. There would be time to daydream later.
"For too long I have been so caught up with the secret missions to undermine the Wizard that I've forgotten about the little things in life. I want to slow down and truly appreciate the world. I never had someone to care for until now. I just hope she feels the same."
Shell wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her close to him. Glinda reveled in the warmth of his touch. She nearly swooned when his lips met hers. She shivered involuntarily. She had never been kissed like this before.
"I love you," she whispered against his lips when the kiss finally ended.
"I love you too, but what about Boq?"
Glinda frowned. She had forgotten about him. "I love him, but not the way I love you," she declared firmly.
Glinda ran a dainty finger along his chest. "I don't want to think about him right now," she said softly. "I just want to kiss you again."
Shell smiled seductively. "Your wish is my command."
They kissed until the moon rose high into the sky.
