The girls chatted and reminisced, for a while, until the strain of the past few hours lightened. "Elphie, while we are sitting here chit-chatting, and you obviously feeling a little stronger, let me clean the bruises and cuts on your back, we haven't done it in awhile." Ok if we must," said Elphaba starting to get up. "No stay put- I can do it in here" Glinda got up and glided into the bathroom and reappeared with oils, ointments and cloths. "Everything the well dressed bruise needs," she quipped. Elphie arranged herself on the edge of her bed and Glinda sat behind her, helping her get out of her shirt. "Oh these are looking much better," she said surveying the situation on her friend's green back. "Oh Elphie" she sighed, "Your side looks worse" "I know- the ones on my thighs are worse too." Elphie adjusted her top around her chest, feeling a chill. "I'll hurry," said Glinda, massaging oil as gently as she could into the bruises the rubbing it off and applying some ointment. " While she was working Elphie thought about how incredible her touch felt, how safe it made her feel. "Speaking of massaging, is it possible to get one of those heavenly warm balm massages." "Why Elphaba Thropp, are you asking for something comforting?" Glinda laughed coming around to face her embarrassed friend. "Yes, I am" She said resolutely. "I actually like that- it feels nice" "Then absolutely you will get one, but later, my love, later. Bruises first." Elphaba stomped her foot on the floor and said, "I never get anything" Glinda's eyebrows raised "I just threw my first temper tantrum." Elphie said with a straight face and both girls burst out laughing.

"Can I ask you a question?" Glinda said, in order to distract Elphie from the discomfort she was feeling while she was cleaning and tending to the bruise on her side. "Whatever you want to know my sweet," she replied wincing as Glinda rubbed in oil. "I know you use oils to…well…. Bathe, for lack of a better term. "Elphie smiled. "But how do you keep your hair so beautiful and clean, I mean I assume washing it is not an option. "You're right, no washing" she agreed, trying not to tense as Glinda spread ointment on her side. "All done" she said kissing her friend. "You ok?" "Actually, I am." Said Elphie truthfully, buttoning her shirt. "Come with me" She eased off the bed and took Glinda's hand. "I will show you my hair secrets" "Oh goodie, I love secrets" Glinda clapped and ran ahead to the bathroom. Elphaba took a tin off of the shelf and handed it to Glinda. "Open it" she said settling down on the padded stool. "Elphaba, this looks like ashes, are you telling me you wash your hair in ashes." Yes, sort of, It's a form of wood ash soap, but with out the water- it's like a powder. I just rub it in and brush it out."

"Oh how clever!" Glinda squealed " May I?" "May you wha… you mean you want to wash my hair- really Glinda, I can still perform basic personal hygiene" "I know that silly. " Glinda huffed. "And that is besides the point, I want to. It will be fun, and I promise you will enjoy it." Elphaba arched her eyebrow "Alright if it will make you happy." Oooooo, Thank you Elphie" the small blonde clapped and squealed again. Elphaba couldn't help but smile at her friends' enthusiasm; it was good to experience some normalcy. Glinda took some of the powder and started working into the long raven tresses. "It's sort of slippery" she commented. She worked it all the way down, then started massaging Elphie's scalp "Wow, that feels really good" Elphaba said "I think I could get to like this physical contact stuff" "I told you you would enjoy it." Glinda grinned broadly. "Elphie I have a confession to make." Glinda said as she started to brush Elphie's hair. "Uh-oh" the green girl laughed

"One night it started to storm, and you were at the library. I knew you wouldn't be home 'til it stopped because you didn't have your cloak" "I remember that." Elphaba said," I wondered if you were ok, but you were asleep by the time I got back" Well… " Glinda continued " I was very angry at you for abandoning me in my hour of need." Elphie smiled. "But I was more scared, So I came in here and found my favorite oil, put a little on a cloth and took it to bed with me, for comfort. "Glinda, you didn't. Really. Wait a minute, you have a favorite oil?" Elphaba said, highly amused. "Yes and yes, and don't make fun." Elphie turned to face her and motioned her to sit on the other stool. " I'm sorry, my sweet." She said taking her friends hands in hers. "Tell me." I needed you, and you weren't here, So I did the next best thing, I couldn't hug you so I smelled you." " I'm very confused," said Elphie. "Your oils are scented, so you are too. My favorite is the clove oil," "I had no idea. Well I'm glad my scent could be of service. Feel free to make use of it anytime." Then Elphaba had a thought, a small gesture to thank her friend.

"Glinda." Elphaba said wearily" "I hate to ask, but would you mind going down to get us something to eat. I'm getting hungry." "So am I actually, and you can ask anything of me and it is yours." She got up and gave Elphie a peck on the cheek. "Why don't you get cleaned up and changed and I will be right back" "That's exactly what I intend to do" she said softly as her roommate flounced out of the door.

Glinda felt good, hopeful. Elphie had come through today- she would be fine, in time. "I know she will" Glinda hugged herself and skipped down to the cafe.

Elphaba got undressed, opened up her clove oil bottle, and started to bathe. She caught herself smiling. "I'm doing this for Glinda, Look at me, I really do care". She started to sing softly as she rubbed the clove oil over her body. After she was squeaky clean and in fresh clothes, Elphaba went about tidying up the table and fixing her and Glinda's beds. "More normalcy." She thought, humming softly.

Glinda put two piping hot bowls of soup, some bread, cheese and of course, Elphie's cider on a tray and headed back up. She loved that Elphie was allowing her to be helpful, "But" she thought somberly, "the real world is fast approaching. She's coped so far-So maybe it won't be so hard."

Glinda opened the door and saw Elphie sitting at the table, and the room a little tidier than when she left. "Elphie I would have…." Don't be silly Glinda, I may be an emotional basket case right now, but I can do chores" Glinda put the tray down and stared at her friend "Elphie, you used clove oil." I figured if I fell apart again tonight this would help lure you to my side." "Elphie, that's just nonsense," " I was just teasing, I know you are here if I need you- really I do" "I am Elphie- and thanks for the olfactory treat" "Your welcome, now what's to eat?" The soup was delicious, and the bread and cheese divine and they ate and talked for a long time.

After dinner Glinda went to get the warming balm, and Elphaba headed toward the bathroom "Ready for your massage", she said wiggling her fingers." "Not just yet my love, I have another surprise for you." You don't have to... " She stopped hearing water running in the tub. "Elphaba, what are you doing? You'll hurt yourself."

"Nonsense" she said, "just because I don't take them, doesn't mean I can't run them. " She came out and took Glinda by the hand and led her over to her dresser. "This is a little surprise for you." She shushed Glinda before she could say anything. "You have been focused on me for two days, and two days with no pampering, is unacceptable for Miss Galinda Upland." She took a small red bottle out of the drawer and handed it to her rather confused friend. "This is one of my rarest and most precious oils that I only use for special occasions." "Elphie I can't…. " I said hush," said Elphie putting her finger lightly on Glinda's lips, leading her back towards the bathroom. "This oil is said to have excellent stress relieving properties." She took the bottle from Glinda, opened it and held it under the dainty nose. Glinda sniffed, her eyes opening wide. "No Elphie, I cant" she breathed "This is Gillkin Rose oil, It's very rare and very expensive. " And the perfect way to pamper the girl who loves to be pampered. " She reached down and turned of the tap, some water splashing her hand. "Elphaba stop that this instant!" She said sternly looking at the red marks forming on the tender green skin. She kissed them lightly, "Elphie your hurt." She sighed. "Will you stop worrying about me while I'm trying to be nice, I may not get through it" Elphaba chuckled. She poured some of the oil into the steaming hot bath, the aroma immediately filling the air. "I told you I would give you what I can, I don't know how to tell you how I'm feeling about all you have done, but I can show you, in a small way." Glinda put her arms around Elphaba's neck and hugged her fiercely, tears in her eyes. "Now strip off, get in and relax already, before your bath gets cold." Glinda opened her mouth to protest. "I will tolerate no arguments, Glinda I mean it, you need this and you know it. I'm fine right now. I will take my pills then go and sit and read. I can live with out you for an hour or so. " She said more tersely than she intended. As she left the bathroom, she turned and said smiling warmly "but only for an hour or so." She blew her roomie a kiss. "Happy soaking." She said shutting the door.

Glinda was stunned; Elphaba had never done anything like this before. But she seemed to need to do this, and that bath did smell delicious. "She does surprise me at times" smiled Glinda as she slipped into the hot tub, sighing contentedly

Elphie settled happily on her bed with a book, She was pleased with herself for thinking of the perfect treat for her stressed roomie. Even though she hadn't let on, Elphaba could see the strain of the last two days on Glinda's delicate face.

"I hope this helps" Elphie thought as she buried her nose in a book.

After about an hour and a half Glinda emerged from the bathroom, glowing, smiling, and looking more relaxed.

"Elphie, that was wonderful, I was more stressed than I thought. Thank you" She said sincerely sitting on her bed. " No need for thanks, you deserved it, and you earned it." Elphaba went over and sat by her friend. "I know this has been very hard on you." She said softly " If you ever need a break from my trauma, or want to talk to me about it, Do it. Promise me you will not hide your feelings about all of this from me, just to protect me. "Never, my precious Elphie, I have never hidden my feelings from you and I promise not to start now."

Now, are you ready for your massage? "I would love one." Admitted Elphie. "But I don't think I can keep my eyes open, and I'd like to be awake to enjoy it." Elphaba got up and went to her own bed. "Well at least let me tend to your back and side," Said Glinda getting the supplies. Elphaba's back was looking much better, but the bruise on her side wasn't healing as quickly. " Since you just bathed, I'll just put on some ointment" She worked quickly. "I'm getting pretty good at this." She said applying ointment gently to the bruise on Elphie's side, feeling her tense slightly. "Done in record time I think", she said giving Elphie a kiss on the forehead. "Is it getting easier for you?" "Yes, it is really, except for my side and thighs, but those were the worst, so it makes sense they would take longer to heal." Elphie said, noting the concerned look on Glinda's face. "Please try not to worry about it- you can see I'm healing and moving better. Please" "I'll not stop worrying, and you can't make me." Glinda said smiling. Elphaba sighed and crawled between her covers, getting comfortable. "Ok then, worry away" "Thank you" said Glinda turning off the lights and getting into bed, realizing how exhausted she really was. "I'm here if you need me. Fresh dreams Elphie" "I know. Fresh dreams Glinda"

The worn out girls feel asleep almost instantly, sleeping soundly, without stirring until a few hours before dawn. Elphaba woke with a start, looking around, wondering if she had had a nightmare. Then she heard thunder in the air and rain on the window; Lighting flashes lit up the room. "Glinda" Elphie went over to check on her friend, She was trembling and whimpering into her pillow, Elphie crawled in to bed beside the terrified girl "Glinda, why didn't you wake me," she said taking the shaking girl in her arms and holding her tightly. Glinda snuggled into her roomies surpassingly strong arms. "You were sleeping so well" She hiccuped, still crying. "And you really needed to, so…" "Glinda, I have enough in me to help you through a storm. Now close your eyes, I'm here now." Glinda's trembling eased slightly, but she jumped and cried out with each clap of thunder. As the storm worsened Elphaba held Glinda tighter, stroking her hair, whispering in her ear, until she calmed a little. "Oh Elphie, Why am I so scared?" "It's all part of your charm, my sweet. Now shhhhh, try and sleep, I'll be right here." Glinda fell into a fitful sleep and Elphie dozed as the storm weakened a little, when it picked up again, Glinda tossed and became agitated. "Why is she so frightened of storms?" Elphaba thought. "Shhhh, my love" She then did something she had never done with Glinda before, she sang. She sang softly in her ear, a lullaby she remembered from long ago. Glinda calmed almost immediately. The small girl moved around and curled up in Elphaba's arms and sighed, slipping into sleep. Elphaba put her head on her friends and sang softly until she too, feel asleep. By the time they woke up, well into the morning, there was no sign of the storm, except the two girls huddled together in bed. Glinda woke first, smelling the slight clove scent and feeling Elphie beside her. "The storm" she remembered unhappily. "Elphie, you're my hero" she whispered kissing her sleeping friend gently on the lips. She tried to disengage from Elphie's embrace without waking her, but the jostling and poking, made Elphie mumble and moan. "Elphie, your Ok" She said waking her gently, "It's Ok." Elphie opened her eyes and found herself staring into Glinda's beautiful blue eyes. "What's wrong?"

Elphie said. "You were dreaming, I think," Glinda replied "Why am I here?" she asked, confused. "There was a storm last night" said Glinda "I remember now", Elphie said, " are you Ok? She lightly stroked Glinda's cheek. "I am, thanks to you" Glinda said getting up. Elphaba stretched, wincing slightly at the pain. She looked at Glinda who was standing over her, hands on hips. "Elphaba, were you singing last night?" Elphie got up quickly and went over to her own bed. "You must have been dreaming." She said, not looking at her roomie "Storm trauma and all" "Elphaba, I remember perfectly well, I was terrified, you came to me, talked to me, held me, stroked my hair, and sang in my ear. Now look at me, "Elphaba, resigned and looked at the slightly irritated girl. "You caught me". She said. "I sang to you, because nothing else seemed to calm you." "It was beautiful, your voice is beautiful" Glinda flung her arms around Elphie's neck and hugged her, "Thank you for last night, I think the stress of the last few days made the scary effects of the storm worse." She removed her arms from around Elphie and then hit her gently. "You mean green thing" she said with mock indignation "Why didn't you tell me you could sing. Elphie smiled, "You never asked," she said laughing.

Glinda was pouting "How could you keep this from me" "Glinda, really" Elphaba chided. "The subject just never came up, I would have gotten around to it eventually." "It was beautiful, amazing actually,"

Elphaba flushed and said "Enough already, lots of people can sing, now drop it or I won't sing for you ever again." Elphaba smiled at her friend, who laughed. "My very own green songbird" Elphie sighed and went to get dressed.