Chapter Four

"Well, ladies, as fun as this has been, I better go too," said Amirio, wanting desperately to break away, but now quite sure how to do it.

"I understand. Let me show you to the door," and with that Ali escorted her 'guest' to the foyer. They stood there for a moment, not knowing what to say.

"Well," the boy began, "Its been . . . Uh . . . Fun."

"Oh yes, so much fun," said Ali dryly. But inside, she just wanted to scream. She wanted to escape; to not have to deal with all this pain and tension she was feeling. Her mother was coming out of hiding to fight the most powerful force known to Oz, and then a boy she had declared her love for walks in the door, with her aunt and mother close by. The last part wasn't very worrisome, but small things like that push some over the edge.

Amirio just stood there, not knowing what to say. All of the pain and emotion was built up so tightly, there had to be some way to let it out. Slowly, a single tear started to leak down the girl's face.

"Ali, are you okay?" asked Amirio, not exactly sure how to behave.

"No... no, I'm not. How can you call this day fun? Not only did you and Blaise get into a fight in front of my aunt, but now I have a whole new issue to deal with, and I . . ." she stopped, put her head in her hands, and sat on the ground. "I don't know what to

think anymore."

Amirio immediately wanted to take back the words that he had spoken. He sat down next to her, trying to comfort her. "Don't worry, Ali. It will all be okay. I know you, and I know that whatever this problem is you will be able to overcome it. I mean, how bad can it really be?"

That just sent the girl into more tears. "Why can't I learn what to say", he thought despondently to himself. He decided to keep his mouth shut, and with a gentle hand, wiped away Ali's tears. Those big eyes stared up at him. They were irresistible. Slowly, as if unsure of himself, he leaned in and kissed her.

Ali could have jumped 20 feet off the ground. Did that really just happen? She wasn't dreaming was she? No, this was too good to be one of her dreams. She leaned in and kissed him back. They both pulled away and looked at each other. "I better be going . . ." and with that Amirio got up and walked out the door.

Ali just sat there, not wanting to move in case that would shatter this wonderful moment. Then she heard Glinda's heels click down the hall. Quickly she stood up and dusted off her dress, praying to Oz that Glinda wouldn't be suspicious.

"So, how was your first kiss?" Glinda said, with a sly grin.

"What first kiss?" asked Ali, but anyone present could notice the blush creeping up her neck.

"Ali, don't lie to me. I have eyes, you know!" Aunt Glinda said with a laugh.

"You were watching?" asked Ali, mortified at the thought.

"Yes, we were, my dear," Elphaba said as she stepped out from around the corner.

"Don't forget about me!" said Fae, wasting no time running up time to her cousin and hugging her. "Oh Ali! Your first kiss! I can't believe it!"

"Where have I heard that before?" asked Elphaba, smiling at her best friend.

Glinda just smiled at the recollection of their college days. Fae continued to babble, not caring that all Ali was doing was standing there. "Was he a good kisser? Were you surprised? Oh, do tell me Ali!"

"How could all of you? That was a private moment, not one to be cooed and awed over!" said Ali, embarrassed, hurt, and very mad at the entourage.

"Um, as I recall, mine was exactly the same way, and trust me it didn't get better. Blaise's mother walked in on us TWICE! It's like a constant threat!" Fae said, blushing at the recollection.

"What a shock, you get caught kissing. I didn't even think that you had your first kiss yet," said Ali sarcastically.

"Why you little…" Fae reached for her wand, but Glinda quickly stopped her.

"Girls! Elphaba and I don't have much time left here, and I don't want to remember you two fighting with each other!"

"Just one little spell! I won't go down without a fight!" said Fae. She did have quite a bit of pride, and when it was insulted, no one was safe.

"With your spell casting ability? Oh no, I'm trembling in my boots," said Ali. She never could resist having the last word.

"Li Tay How De Rae . . .. " Fae slowly began to chant, much to Ali's horror. Aunt Elphaba stepped in and quickly covered the girl's mouth.

"GIRLS!" she roared, sick of watching the two fight. " You know much better. The Grimmerie should only be used in times of utter need. It is not a toy. You cannot cast spells from it for whimsy or fun. Only use it when utterly necessary. This was not one of those occasions. Girls, I'm ashamed. You both know better, or should. Glinda and I need to go now, so please stop the fighting," Elphaba said with certain finality to it. In her mind, she wondered if these would be the last time she would ever see the two girls; one, her own daughter, impulsive and zealous, just as she was when she was young. "My daughter is just like I was at her age," she thought wistfully, remembering those college days, some with good times, others with bad. She then examined Fae. Fae was like her mother too, but was also different. She seemed to keep her head nearer to the ground than Glinda, and actually could read the Grimmerie with some success. In so many ways, the two were similar though; always making sure every curl was in place. "We must make it back," Elphaba thought to herself, not allowing the thoughts of what the girls and the women's husbands would do without them.

"Now, let's not make these last few precious moments together miserable. After all, this may be the last time . . . Well, let's just not make them hateful," Glinda replied, feeling the tears well up in her eyes as she looked at her precious daughter.

"Don't think that. You'll come back, and you both know it," said Ali, determined not to let her emotions get the best of her one more time.

"Ali's right! I mean, you two are the strongest people in all of Oz. Who could defeat you two?" Fae said, trying, as Ali did, to shove out the emotion.

"We're not as powerful as you think," said Elphaba, making a small smile at the childlike assumption that a mother was the most powerful woman in the world, even if this one was partly true.

"Yes, but still, we know that you can beat it," replied Fae. Her faith was like that of a child, never deterred, and always confident in her mother and aunt's ability.

"Let's have no more talk of this. We need to discuss our plans for you girls while we are away," Glinda said, leading them all back to the living room.

"Fae, Nerote is taking my place as ruler until I come back. You two are to stay in school, and most of all don't come chasing after us. This is MUCH too dangerous for you yet. You are both to practice the Grimmerie so that when we come back we can see your progress on your own. We will try to get word out to you as soon as we can. Elphaba, is there anything that I am forgetting?" Glinda said.

"Girls, do not, under any circumstances, come and try to help. We know you mean well, but you're simply too young. We trust your abilities, but you aren't this good yet. We'll send word if we need you, but please, for all of us, stay here!" said Elphaba. She knew how dangerous this was, and didn't want her daughters involved.

"But Mother! I won't even be able to focus! I want to come. Give us a chance to prove how good we actually are!" Ali attempted to persuade, with no success.

"No, you aren't ready yet, and that is final. It's time for us to go. I love you both so much!" and Glinda wrapped them up in her arms, which though they didn't reach all the way around the both of them, tried to take in as much of them as she could.

Elphaba just stood there. She couldn't hug them like that, afraid that it would be the last time. "I love you both very much," she said with tears in her eyes. "Glinda, let's go."

They stepped out onto the balcony, Glinda conjuring up her bubble, and Elphaba sitting on the broom, and flew away. The girls stood on the balcony, waving with tears in their eyes.