This time a soft hand affectionally stroked her hair to wake her up, and when Galinda sleepily pushed the sleep mask from her eyes and opened her eyes, she wasn't surprised to have company. She didn't even know how she had managed to fall asleep in the first place since her last trip with one of the spirits, mind filled with pictures she couldn't fully comprehend.
"Hello, Galinda," the strange woman said as she pushed back her hood to reveal her face. Somehow, she managed to look old and young at the same time, black hair neatly piled on top of her head and voice as soft as a warm hug.
"Hello," she replied defeatedly while slipping out from beneath her covers. "You're the third spirit, aren't you?"
The woman nodded, smiling warmly. "The spirit of Christmas future. Are you ready to come with me?"
The fact that she was even asking, unlike the other two who had more or less forced her to see all the things she wasn't even sure she wanted to see, caught Galinda a little off-guard. "I- I don't know. Will I like what I'm going to see?"
The woman chuckled, but somehow it didn't seem like she was making fun of her. "You might not. But sometimes we need to face the things that frighten us."
Reaching out her hand and offering it to Galinda, she spoke again. "That's how we grow."
With some hesitation, Galinda took her hand. What other choice did she have, after all? And besides, she doubted that the future she was about to see could be any worse than what she had already witnessed.
"And I think your darling cat should come with us as well," she said in Chuzzlewit's direction. "You might just learn something too."
So, Galinda took her somewhat reluctant cat under her arm, before letting herself be led across the room.
"Are you ready?"
Galinda only nodded, not trusting her voice enough to answer. Wielding her wand, the spirit of Christmas future opened yet another portal, only this time it was of a striking deep red color.
They walked through without hurry, and soon Galinda felt her body being engulfed with sparkling magic again, the red vortex swirling around them as they flew through the tunnel. But something about this portal was different.
"Why are there so many holes?" Galinda asked as she looked around, trying to get a closer look at one of the alternate exits, but they were flying by too fast.
"The future isn't like the past. Every choice you make alters what will happen next," she explained calmly before gesturing towards their path straight ahead. "But as of this moment, we'll find your most likely future right here."
When they flew through the hole she had pointed at, Galinda was getting ready to being cast out of the portal again, but instead of landing someplace in the future, they were still surrounded by red swirling magic. And, as she quickly noticed, the further they got, the colder their surrounding seemed to get. Which was more than odd, as she hadn't even felt a slight chill when she was flying down the hill through a snowy day of Christmas past.
"It's so cold," she finally remarked when her entire body was covered with goosebumps and even Chuzzlewit's jaw chattered from the cold. Only her travel companion didn't seem to notice the obvious chill in the air. "None of the other ones were cold like this."
"This future starts with a cold choice. After making everyone at the theatre work, you found out that they came in a few minutes late on Christmas day. So, you fired them all."
She turned towards her with a gaze so disappointed as if Galinda had already done what she had just told her.
"Of course I would. That's not a cold choice," Galinda tried to persuade her. "It's simple consequence. I did warn them that would happen."
"Oh, you did, yes," the woman admitted, nodding. "Unfortunately, their replacements didn't quite work out the way you'd hoped."
Galinda stared at her, waiting for her to continue. But when she didn't, she sighed. "What do you mean?"
"Well, what do you want to hear?" the woman chuckled. "Do you want to hear about your old dresses you had to keep wearing over and over again because your new seamstress wasn't half as committed or talented as Elphaba? Or about the women who visited another show instead because that's where they could fawn over your handsome magician? Or about the trained dogs who chased Chuzzlewit through the whole theatre until she could finally cling to you on stage in the middle of the song? Or about-"
Wresting herself free from the spirit's grip, Galinda was close to covering up her ears. "Enough! Even if all that happened, so what? I have a loyal audience. They would stand by me through anything!"
"Good. If that's true, you have nothing to worry about from the future."
She reached out her hand again, and Galinda hesitantly took it. Really hoping that what she had just proclaimed was true.
Their landing was smoother than any of those before. From one second to another, they just suddenly stood in a strange room. A portrait of herself hanging lopsidedly on one of the mold-infested walls was the first thing she noticed. When she kept looking around, she quickly noticed some of her fancy furniture from her current manor house standing around, although her favorite pink couched looked scuffed and her moth-eaten curtains only did a poor job of making the room more homely.
A cold wind blew from one of the windows that didn't seem to close properly, and Galinda shivered in her thin nightgown.
"Where are we?" she asked although a part of her already knew the answer. But before her travel companion could reply, something squeaked under her feet and when she looked down, she couldn't help but shriek at the sight of the mouse.
Then, at only a few feet distance, an older and dirtier looking version of her cat chased the damn creature.
"Get him, Chuzzlewit," Galinda heard her own voice before she could see herself running after both animals. "Get him!"
Galinda could only watch in shock as her alter ego cheered her cat on to catch the mouse who was way too quick for her spoiled house cat. Even that version of herself looked as scrubby as the rest of the small apartment, curls only sloppily tamed, her emerald dress filled with holes.
"That's not-," she breathed, turning towards the spirit of Christmas future in shock. "This can't be me."
In that moment, the dirtier version of Chuzzlewit was slamming against the wall as the mouse escaped through one of the mouseholes.
Her alter ego plunked down into her couch, dust whirling through the air at the motion. "Oh, Chuzzlewit, I'm sorry. That would have been your Christmas dinner."
Even the real Chuzzlewit under Galinda's arm seemed everything else but happy at that statement.
"What is this?" She asked incredulously, gesturing towards her alter ego on the couch. "This can't be my future!"
The woman didn't answer, only pointing towards the half-open window in which a piece of paper seemed to have gotten caught.
The other Galinda noticed as well, walking over to the window and turning the paper around. It was actually a flyer, and Galinda immediately recognized the depicted emerald face without having to read the small caption underneath.
"Elphaba," she whispered, tracing the familiar outlines of her face so perfectly captured by the artist. The elegant bridge of her nose, her high cheekbones, eyes dark as the night. Only then did she read out the caption. "Elphaba Thropp presents a new fashion line for spring. Come to her studio in Wizard's square to see work from the premier designer in all of Oz."
Her alter ego pressed the flyer to her chest. "Elphaba … I haven't seen you in ages."
"What?" Galinda yelled, storming over to her. "You haven't seen her? And she's a success? Go! She can help you! Elphaba would never let you live like this!"
Of course, the other version of her didn't hear her no matter how loud she became, and yet Galinda saw something flickering across her face which almost resembled hope.
"Wizard's square … but she wouldn't be there today, it's Christmas!" She paused, looking so directly at Galinda that, if she didn't know any better, would be sure she was able to see her. "Still, what are the chances of this flyer getting caught in my window? It's almost like … it's some kind of sign."
Galinda was close to grabbing her and drag her all the way up to Wizard's square.
"It is a sign! Do it! Go to the studio and see her!" She didn't care that she was begging; and begging herself at that. This couldn't possibly be the final chapter of her story, hidden away in some stinky apartment. Elphaba had always been kinder to her than she deserved, surely she wouldn't deny her that kindness this time when she needed it most.
Fortunately, someone up in heaven seemed to have heard her, even if this Galinda in front of her couldn't. "Come on, Chuzzlewit. Let's visit an old friend."
"Yes!" Galinda exclaimed, more relieved than she ever imagined herself being. She turned towards the spirit. "That's why you brought me here, isn't it? This is where everything turns around! I want to follow her."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, of course I'm sure! Let's not waste a second!"
The woman nodded gracefully, wielding her wand. "Very well, then."
They exited the portal just a few seconds later, right inside of a beautifully decorated house in one of the Emerald City's finest districts. In every corner there were standing mannequins wearing Elphaba's latest creations. Even if Galinda hadn't known whose exhibition room this was, she would have recognized her best friend's creations from a mile away.
Galinda saw her alter ego entering the house just as she heard Elphaba's voice across the room.
"Holiday? Who said anything about a holiday?"
Shocked to hear these words coming from her best friend of all people, she turned towards her instead of watching herself. Elphaba was talking to a woman who appeared to be one of her employees, and the red-haired girl seemed to be trembling in fear.
Not that Galinda could blame her, as she had never in all the time she knew Elphaba had witnessed such harshness coming from her.
"But it's Christmas," the girl protested weakly.
Elphaba chuckled coldly, smoothing out the nonexistent wrinkles in the shimmering black gown which seemed much too lavish for her usual tastes. "I am aware that it's Christmas. Which means there's only two weeks before we show the new line of the most popular line in the Emerald City. You should beg me to work every day. But, of course, if you're not dedicated enough …"
She didn't finish her sentence, but still the girl seemed to understand the underlying threat well enough. "Oh, I am! I promise! I'm sorry I complained, Miss Thropp!"
"Good," Elphaba smirked as the girl hurried off.
Galinda could only gape at this strange, completely twisted version of her best friend.
"I don't understand," she said to the spirit when she finally found her voice again. "She doesn't sound like my Elphaba at all."
"Your Elphaba?" the spirit repeated, but Galinda ignored her interjection.
"She sounds like …"
She doesn't say it, can't say it, but both of them know exactly who she was talking about. This conversation had been way too familiar, and somehow she know wished she had reacted differently than Elphaba just had.
The silence between them was luckily broken when Elphaba finally caught sight of Galinda, who had stood somewhat awkwardly in the corner during the whole conversation. Galinda examined the face of her alter ego. Had this version of herself recognized their words as well? Did she want to go back and change her own part in it as well? But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't seem to read her own face well enough to tell.
"Galinda!" Elphaba said in a much softer tone than she had used before, pulling her alter ego into a tight hug.
She allowed herself to exhale and relax a little. Now, the course of her future would change. Elphaba would help her get back on her feet, and one day she would repay her a thousand-fold.
"Looking good, Chuzzy," the green woman said to the scrubby looking cat, and if the nickname bothered the other version of her, she didn't let it show.
"I can't believe I found you here at work on Christmas. I thought you'd be home with your family or celebrating somewhere."
Elphaba arched an eyebrow. "I don't really celebrate Christmas anymore. I stopped liking it when-" She paused, tapping her chin. "When did I stop liking it again? Oh yes, when you fired me because I came in late on Christmas day."
"Oh, right, I- um," her alter ego started, searching for words, and Galinda could understand her predicament better than anyone else. What Elphaba had just described hadn't even really happened yet, and still she wanted to die of shame at her friend's bitter words.
Elphaba almost seemed to revel in her uneasiness for a second, before speaking again. "No, it's okay. You actually did me a favor. You proved I'd been wrong, and you were right."
"No," Galinda breathed, suddenly glad that her best friend could not see her. This was her doing; she had turned the most kind and selfless person she knew into this twisted version which reminded her of herself. Learning to hate what she herself had become this night was one thing but seeing Elphaba suffer the consequences was far worse.
She knew that look on her friend's face, but not because she had worn it before, but because Galinda had seen it often enough in the mirror. And somehow she also knew what Elphaba was going to say next, although she was begging her not to do it.
"It is a selfish world," Elphaba said, and although every part of Galinda screamed at her to close her eyes and save herself from this image inside her head, her eyes were glued to Elphaba. "And in a selfish world only the selfish succeed."
Something inside Galinda broke as she heard her say that. If it were up to her, they could leave right now as she had seen more than enough, but she didn't move.
"I see, um- I'm not a hundred percent sure that's really true, actually," she heard her alter ego say. But before she could cheer that strange, but weirdly brave version of herself on, Elphaba answered back.
"Oh, but I am. I tried to be selfless, I looked out for you, I looked out for every one of those little idiots back at the theatre. I even tried to help out one of the poorest orphanages in the Emerald City. You know what happened?"
Her alter ego looked at the ground, face darkening. "I fired you."
"Which meant I had to scramble for work. I found someone willing to hire the green girl, but it took me out of town for months. You know what I found when I got back?" Elphaba asked bitterly.
"No."
"I found nothing," Elphaba all but growled, her pointer finger accusingly tapping against Galinda's chest. "That orphanage I was helping? It closed down while I was away. I'd had no idea. There was one little girl I was ready to take in myself. But she was gone. They all were. Scattered out in the world to try and fend for themselves. I can only imagine what happened to them."
Galinda didn't know if her future self knew about the little girl Elphaba was talking about, but she did. She had seen all of their faces, and now most of them had probably frozen to death on the street or worse. All because of her own narcissistic choices.
Elphaba looked down at the ground, silent for a few seconds as if she was trapped in some horrible memory before regaining composure. "My point is, I learned my lesson. Caring hurts. So I stopped. Now, I just concentrate on myself. And look! I am a star!"
She gestured around the room before turning back towards Galinda. "Just like you used to be."
Galinda couldn't take it anymore. All of this was wrong, Elphaba was wrong, and most of all, she had been wrong her entire life. Maybe it was already too late for her, but she needed to save Elphaba from this nightmare.
"Elphaba, listen to me," she said with as much force as she could, hoping that her words would reach her best friend despite knowing the odds. "Don't make the same mistakes I made! You're better than that and you're better than me, you always have been. Don't be like me."
But, of course, the green woman didn't even notice her presence. Still, Galinda would not give up.
"Elphaba!" she screamed right into her ear, her lips only inches away from her head. "Do you hear me, Elphaba? Don't do this, please! Elphaba!"
Hot tears began to roll down her cheeks as she realized how pointless it was. She could scream as loudly as she could, it wouldn't make a difference.
"So, you can't help me?" the other version of her asked hesitantly.
"I'm done helping people, Galinda. It never works."
Her future self just nodded, although Galinda begged her in her head to try and bring her around again. "I see. I'm sorry I bothered you. Merry Christmas, Elphaba."
With that she walked over to the door and opened it, letting the freezing wind blow inside.
Galinda couldn't believe this. Was this supposed to be it? Elphaba just letting her leave like that and letting her rot away her days in that miserable life?
She followed her alter ego without really thinking about it, still in shock of what had just happened.
"Galinda?"
When she heard Elphaba call her name, one spark of hope flickered inside of her one last time. Maybe she had changed her mind. Maybe she would-
"Here," she said before grabbing a shawl from one of the mannequins and throwing it towards her former friend. "It's cold out there."
And just like that, her last spark of hope died. Elphaba hadn't changed her mind and she would not help her.
This was her future. And she couldn't imagine it getting any better after this last meeting.
"No," she yelled, turning the towards the damned spirit of Christmas future. "That can't be it. This can't be my life. There has to be some mistake! There has to be a way to change things!"
"That chance passed long ago," the spirit explained as calmly as the grave. "As of now, this is the road of your future."
Galinda thought she was going to be sick. "No, it can't be! It's too horrible! I don't want to live this life! I want to change, please, please. Just give me the chance! I want to change; I don't want this! Please, give me another chance!"
"Please!" she screamed as she woke up, drenched in sweat and her face covered with tears. Breathing heavily, she looked around while blinking the sleep out of her eyes. She didn't know what she would have done if she woke up in that horrid little apartment, but as she frantically observed her surroundings, she was still in her old bedchamber.
Sun rays flooded though her window and basked the room in a golden light. A wave of relief crushed over her and she put her hand on her chest in order to try and even out her breathing.
It wasn't too late. Not yet.
Filled with more energy than ever before, she jumped out of bed and opened the windows, letting the cool air flow inside. Chuzzlewit meowed gruffly, turning the other way, but she ignored her sour mood.
"It's morning," she said to no one in particular as she watched the people down on the streets go about their daily business, a scent of candied almonds in the air. "Christmas morning! Nothing's happened yet!"
She hurried back into her room, nudging her lazy cat to finally get her to move. "Come on, Chuzzlewit! All those portals into the future—we can choose a new one!"
Picking up her beloved cat, she danced and twirled with her around the room.
"We don't have to make the same mistakes! We can change everything! And we can still make this the best Christmas ever! Isn't that wonderful, Chuzzlewit?"
Chuzzlewit didn't seem to find anything wonderful in that moment, and Galinda quickly put her down before she would puke on her carpet from all the pirouettes.
"We'd have to go shopping, but it's Christmas and the stores are all closed already," she pondered out-loud. "But we need presents, don't we, Chuzzlewit?"
Looking around the room, there was only on other option. They'd have to do the shopping right here in her manor. It wasn't like she needed all of the stuff she had anyway, and the closer she looked, the more things caught her eye which could serve as presents for her company.
Only two hours later she entered the theater, dressed in the most suitable gown she could find at such a short notice. Elphaba had sewn it for her for one her shows, and although Galinda didn't plan of performing today, it somehow seemed like the only reasonable choice.
With her sack of presents over her shoulder and with her incredibly long skirt, it was rather tricky not to trip and fall, but she managed to get to the rehearsal room in one piece. Before entering, she took a short moment to compose herself, but in truth, she had waited far too long to do this. So, she pushed the door open, and immediately, all eyes were drawn towards her.
"Stop!" she demanded as firmly as she could. "Stop the rehearsals, stop everything!"
She glanced at Elphaba, perhaps to make sure that she hadn't turned into that horrid version already, but everything about her looked normal.
But it wasn't Elphaba, but Fiyero, who dared to speak first. "Please, don't fire us! We're all here! Alright, maybe we were a couple minutes late, but-"
"Please, let us keep our jobs," Pfannee basically finished his sentence, Shenshen nodding in agreement.
"No, it's okay," she quickly said before they would beg any longer, entering the room and closing the door behind her. "I'm not here to fire anyone! It's Christmas—I'm here to send you home to your families!"
Elphaba looked at the others, clearly a bit overwhelmed by her sudden change of mind. "But you said-"
"Forget what I said, I was crazy. I was wrong! I swear I'm not going to keep you here for long, but I have presents."
They all looked at each other but at least they stayed. Galinda couldn't really blame them for still mistrusting her, but she wanted to prove them wrong. But it would probably take a little longer than a few seconds for that.
She distributed her presents while they all seemed lost for words save for the slightly uncertain thank you. While looking through her things, she had found a few pieces of jewelry she thought the girls would like, an ancient candle clock for Biq and a gold-encrusted mirror for Fiyero. The latter seemed grateful, if not a bit confused, but it had been the only thing among her belongings she thought he had any use for.
On top of her admittedly somewhat used presents, she handed each of them a little sack containing their Christmas bonuses.
"Elphaba?" she said, finally turning towards her oldest friend. "I'm saving yours for later, if you don't mind."
The green woman didn't seem to be capable of doing more than nod, but for her that was enough of an answer. Although Galinda's mouth already became dry when she thought about what she intended to do later. Last night had changed her perspective on many things, but somehow the most important one seemed to be her relationship with Elphaba.
She could remember the way her heartbeat had quickened when she had stood in this very room last night with the spirit of Christmas present and had learned about Fiyero's intention towards her best friend. She had tried to convince herself that it had only been anger at her company trying to take her away, but deep down in her heart, she knew that the real reason was an entirely different one.
But this was a challenge for later, at least if everything turned out well.
"Every one of you is so incredibly talented," she told the members of her company who still gaped at her. "And it is truly an honor and a pleasure to work with you. Now, go and have a holiday. I'll see you in two weeks when we open. Merry Christmas!"
After a few more thank you's they all left the rehearsal room until only herself and Elphaba were left.
"Galinda, what is this all about? I-," Elphaba started as soon as the door closed again and they were alone, but soon seemed to be lost for words.
"Elphaba, I know for a fact that you've been working on another show behind my back."
The green woman's eyes widened. "Please, let me explain-"
"And I think it's wonderful," Galinda quickly finished her sentence, pulling her into a tight hug. She had missed this feeling, she immediately realized, wondering for a second when they had really hugged like that for the last time, but quickly pushed such thoughts aside. "I want to go with you to see the kids perform. I understand I might have a couple of fans at the orphanage."
Elphaba brows furrowed together in confusion. "You do … but how do you know about the orphanage?"
"Maybe it came to me in a dream," Galinda chuckled to herself, winking at her best friend, who only shook her head in disbelief.
Of course, she couldn't understand. Galinda herself couldn't understand most of what happened but one thing was certain. It had not been a dream.
About an hour later Galinda was waiting behind the door of the orphanage, seeing the performance she had already witnessed last night again. No one could see her this time either, but soon enough that would change. She and Elphaba had come up with the idea of surprising the children after their show, as to not steal their spotlight, but now they were done singing and she was waiting for Elphaba to announce her as the big surprise.
When she did, Galinda pushed the door open and pulled off the red and white cloak she had chosen for the occasion. "Merry Christmas, everyone."
The children looked at her with wide eyes as if she had come right down from heaven, calling out her name in excitement. She walked over to the stage and was soon engulfed in a tight group hug.
"You were all incredible," she told them over and over again as she tried to pay attention to all of them at once. "And I'm so happy to be a part of your Christmas. Oh, and I have a special present for you all! I am going to personally adopt this place. Anything you need, new furniture, toys, books, anything of everything, I just want you to come directly to me and I will make sure you have it."
She looked over to the audience, scanning their faces until she saw the one she truly cared about. Elphaba's smile had grown bigger and bigger with each one of her words, eyes lighting up like she hadn't seen in years. It was Galinda's favorite sight in the world.
"I want these children to have the best," she said while looking directly at Elphaba. And although the light and the distance made it hard to see, she thought she saw a few tears glistening in the corners of her eyes.
Picking up the little blonde girl she knew Elphaba adored the most, she quietly asked her for her name. She nodded when the girl told her while pointing towards Elphaba who was making their way towards them.
"You are incredible," Elphaba said to her, reaching out her hand to gently stroke the little girl's curls. "Where did all of this come from?"
Galinda smiled, steeping a little closer. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you. But trust me, most of it was because of you."
"Me?" Elphaba asked incredulously as Galinda was putting down the little girl. But instead of leaving to celebrate with the other children as she had expected, she stayed right there at their feet and curiously looked up to them.
"Yes," Galinda confirmed, her tongue suddenly as dry as sandpaper. This had been so much easier in her mind. "I promised you a Christmas present, didn't I?"
Elphaba shook her head. "You've given me more than enough already-"
"Not everything," Galinda answered back, steeping even closer until their faces were only inches apart and she could feel the other woman's warm breath tingling on her cold skin. "I still have so much more to give."
She leaned in before her courage could abandon her and only realized that she was, in fact, kissing Elphaba when the audience broke out in cheers once more. When she pulled back, she searched for some kind of sign in those chocolate eyes, but all she was met with was overflowing love.
"That's not my only present," she said with a smile when the people around them had quieted down a little.
"I'm not sure if I can handle that much more."
Galinda only giggled in response before grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the street. Just like she had ordered, there was a sleigh led by two horses waiting in front of the orphanage.
"Glinny-"
"They're the fastest horses money can buy," Galinda tried to tell her while still grinning like an idiot from her use of her old nickname. "If we leave now, I think we can make it to your family's house in time for dinner. That is, if it's okay with you if I tag along."
"Okay?" Elphaba repeated incredulously. "I don't think I would even want to leave without you right now."
They climbed into the sleigh with a little help from their driver.
"Thank you, Biq," Galinda said to her comedian as he helped her stay upright with her massive dress.
He sheepishly looked at the ground, his ears turning red. "It's Boq actually."
"Oh." Galinda bit her lip before giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Boq, of course. And thank you, anyway."
The Munchkin looked like he might pass out any second, now his entire face being the color of a tomato. Which reminded her of something else entirely, so she quickly looked away. Their little stunt with the tomatoes on her face hadn't happened in this version of reality, and hopefully, it never would, but she had seen it and couldn't help but feel reminded of it.
"It's quite alright, G- linda," he stammered, swallowing the A in her name in his nervousness. Even despite it obviously being a mistake, she actually quite liked the sound of it.
Boq took his place on the driver's seat but before they started driving, Galinda took out the last present she had hidden here in the carriage. "I have one more thing for you. Although this is really more my Christmas present."
Holding out the snow globe Elphaba had given her when they were children, she gave her a timid smile.
"I can't believe you still have it."
"I do! And from now on I will keep it at some special place, so I'll remember to hold the spirit of Christmas in my heart every day of the year. And one day I'll pass it down to my daughter so she will always remember it as well."
Elphaba returned her smile, reaching out for her hand and gently squeezing it. "I'm so proud of you. I couldn't think of anything more beautiful than this."
Just as the sleigh started to move softly through the snow, Galinda leaned in for another kiss.
"I can."
"And did they get to the Thropp's house in time for dinner?" Ally asked as Glinda was nearing the end of her story.
"They did. And every year after that they spent Christmas the same way. They helped others in the morning and spent the evening together with their families and friends."
"And mama? That snow globe that Elphaba gave Galinda, the one that Galinda said she would pass down to her children, is that the same snow globe?"
She pointed towards the snow globe in Glinda's hands. "And what about the names? And Elphaba's green skin? You didn't make all of this up, did you?"
"Who knows?" Glinda smiled as the realization seemed to dawn on her little girl. "But I do one thing—this snow globe is now yours."
"Really? Forever?"
"Yes, forever," Glinda laughed as she handed her the snow globe again which had been the start of so many beautiful things in her life. "So it can remind you to keep the spirit of Christmas in your heart. Every day of the year."
"Just like you."
Luckily, Glinda was spared of having to give an answer, as the door to her bedroom opened in that moment, revealing a not too happy looking green-skinned woman.
"What are you two still doing here?"
Glinda stood up to greet her wife with a kiss on the cheek, which would hopefully also help to lighten her mood. Elphaba scolded her for her lateness on a regular basis, and blamed her for rubbing off on their daughter as well, but today they had really brought it to a new level.
"Sorry, Elphie," she said as sweetly as she could. "We're ready now, aren't we, Ally?"
"Yes, we are!" the young blonde exclaimed, fortunately. "Mom, do you think I could give away some stuff for the hospital, too? I have some allowance saved up."
"I think that would be amazing, darling," Elphaba relented before ushering them out of the room. "But, really, what were you doing that long?"
Galinda smiled as she took her wife's hand and interlaced their fingers. "Oh, you know just telling a story. The best one I know."
the end.