Thank you to Lishalove for reviewing. I'm glad you like the chapter.

Thank you to berserkeroo for reviewing. I'm glad you didn't die. And nobody that would care goes out there. At least not intentionally.

Thanks to Melanie for the review. She calls her Rae because when she was drifting off to sleep she tried to say raven and it came out Rae.

Thanks to nursejoy7 for reviewing. Well, I hope you find one. Remember, sometimes people need to learn in relationships, too. You'll find both girls doing that a lot in this story.

Thanks to MyLittleElphie. People do extraordinary things when they want something really bad.

Thanks to Tessa for reviewing. I'm glad you liked it.

Due to a lot of events coming up, I'll be taking a short hiatus. Watch for this story to be updated at the latest on May 9. Maybe sooner, depending.

As always, read, enjoy, review. Comments and Critiques welcome.

4/28/14

The next week was both typical and extraordinary for the two girls. Sunday had been a day of relaxation. The girls woke (with Elphaba giving Glinda a kiss or three), ate breakfast in the room, took a stroll by the Suicide Canal, and then Glinda cuddled with Elphaba in bed while Elphaba read. Both girls ended up falling asleep in the afternoon heat, and Glinda's stomach woke them. They took lunch at a little café and then walked through a street bazaar. Elphaba bought a rose for Glinda, and Glinda bought her a sun catcher because of how Elphaba's eyes seemed mesmerized by it. The Quadling was both amazed and honored when Elphaba spoke to him in Qua'ati.

The two had returned to the dorm and Elphaba had insisted on doing some magic practice. Nessa joined them. Glinda thought she was perhaps too attentive to Elphaba as Nessa watched her suspiciously. Then, they cleaned up to go to dinner. Nessa begged off, citing her need to go to chapel. Afterwards, they went through their nightly ritual of cleaning, cuddling, and sleeping together.

Monday was an eventful day for Elphaba, though only one was of her choosing. Elphaba joined the rest of the Charmed girls for breakfast, something they were still slightly wary off. However, they were beginning to be accustomed to her presence which possibly caused them pay more attention to the interaction between Elphaba and Glinda.

After breakfast, Elphaba walked Glinda to her Sorcery class and then went to Life Sciences. As she was reviewing her notes a newspaper was dropped on top. She glared up at Boq, who had done it.

"Master Boq, I do not appreciate you interrupting me."

"Read it, Elphie." Boq replied seriously.

Elphaba glanced down. There was an article on Munchkinland. Elphaba quickly digested it. The state of Munchkinland was being strangled by the drought and her grandfather was doing poor job of mitigating it. She knew it was because he was dying, but that was not a widely known fact. At his lack of attention, Munchkinland was fragmenting.

"And?" Elphaba asked.

"And? Do you not care that Munchkinland is falling apart?"

"I have no interest in politics."

"Politics be damned! This is about people, Elphaba! You're next in line to be governor!"

"You know as well as I do that the people of Munchkinland would not accept me as governor. Nessa will have to be it."

"Really? Because from what I hear there are some wishing you'd come back and be governor now."

Elphaba's eyes narrowed. "I would wonder how they would know so much about me to make such a conclusion."

"Did you really think that the Munchkinlanders in Shiz would not write home about the Third Descending?"

"I have gone out of my way to not flaunt myself to them."

"And that's what they like. Elphie, everyone knows you're smart, hardworking, say what you mean, and fair! Munchkinland does not need a figurehead ruler anymore; it needs someone strong and decisive to solve its problems."

"Are the people of Munchkinland not smart enough to do it themselves?" Elphaba questioned with disdain.

"They're hardworking people but don't have the direction they need."

"Then they don't deserve happiness if they cannot find it themselves."

"Not everyone is you, Elphaba!"

"The Munchkinlanders should be able to choose their own fates."

"I agree." Avaric put in. Elphaba wondered when he arrived. "If they are too weak and bleat like sheep for a shepherd, they deserve who they get."

"I couldn't disagree more." Fiyero responded. "There needs to be a direction for people; something to unify them towards a greater goal than themselves. The Vinkus has no overarching authority, and its people suffer. They are at the mercy of the whims of nature. The tribes that have thrived the most are those with the strongest leadership."

"Yet look at Gillikin." Avaric came back. "There's no overarching authority but the barons run it effectively."

"Did not the Ozma reside in Gillikin until fifty years ago?" Fiyero rebutted.

"Yes. That could have had an effect."

"I'd also say because the barons are very strong and competitive with each other. They constantly strive for preeminence over their areas, giving them direction. None of the other countries of Oz have that."

"You've thought about this a lot, Prince. You seem to have me at a disadvantage." Avaric smirked and Fiyero smiled back at him.

"My job is to lead the Arjiki to predominance. My grandfather took over the Ozma's waterworks, Kiamo Ko, to give us a permanent stronghold against the other tribes and a trading post with the other countries. My father has continued that trend, strengthening our trading ties. I've seen that Gillikin is the strongest country of Oz, and tried to figure out why so I can shape the Vinkus the same way."

"And you determined it is because of us barons?" Avaric asked.

"No. It's a matter of geography. It has a mix of good soil in the south to farm, hills in the middle for easy defense and grazing of livestock, strong natural resources in the east and west, and forest in the north. The barons grew strong off this wealth by using it wisely. The Vinkus is not as rich in natural resources by wise use will strengthen it."

"So you want to make the Vinkus stronger than Gillikin?" Avaric goaded but Fiyero's smile held.

"That's unlikely. You see, Gillikin has much greater wealth than the Vinkus. It also has much greater dominance over the culture of Oz. If the Emerald City is the heart of Oz, than Gillikin is the soul. Those who run Oz are born in Gillikin, educated in Gillikin, and marry Gillikins. Gillikin also has the strongest militia in Oz, left over from when it conquered or subdued every other country to some extent. That is of course, except for Munchkinland."

"And why was that, oh great ruler?" Avaric teased. Fiyero turned his smile on Elphaba.

"That was because of the Eminents."

During this political conversation Elphaba had sat silent, absorbing the information. She did not know what Fiyero meant by Eminents, as only one had come into conflict with Gillikin. She resolved to find out later, and filed away the information for another time.

"Be that as it may," she said, "I still have no interest in becoming Eminent."

"Elphaba," Boq said, rejoining the conversation, "I think that if anyone other than you takes over Munchkinland it will suffer."

"Don't be so dramatic, Boq. Munchkinland does not need me." She replied stiffly. That finally caused Boq to lose his temper.

"Damn it, Elphie! You care so much about the bloody Animals, but couldn't give a damn about Munchkinlanders!"

She pierced him with a withering glare but for once it did not cause him to shy away. She turned her head back to the professor and could not be drawn back to the conversation.

The conversation was not resumed either during intercession or after class. However, it weighed on Elphaba's mind. When suddenly there was quiet around her, she realized the Circle members had broken up and looked up to see Fiyero looking at her expectantly.

"What?" she asked.

"Did I offend you?"

"With the conversation earlier? No I'm tempted to say it was almost informative."

"Informative?"

"Almost."

"I see. No, I meant with my comment just now."

"I apologize. I was consulting with the only person around with intellect and was not paying attention."

"Has Miss Elphaba turned religious?"

"I was not talking to a deity, but merely myself." She replied dryly and Fiyero laughed.

"Well, Miss Elphaba, I said it would be simplest way to solve our respective dilemmas would to be married."

Elphaba started a bit. "How so?"

"Well, then the Vinkus and Munchkinland would have a single heir."

"You forget, Master Fiyero, that the Eminent title is matriarchal and the Arjiki patriarchal. No one child could inherit both."

"There has been exception in the past. Think, then if Miss Glinda were to marry Avaric, our little circle of friends would be the most influential in Oz."

The idea of Avaric and Glinda caused Elphaba to flush but with jealousy.

"I don't think she would go for Avaric. Now, if your please excuse me, I must be off. I have important business to attend to."

"Do you want to-"

"I am not hungry." She called over her shoulder as she most assuredly did not storm off.

Glinda caught Elphaba halfway between the Sorcery Hall and the Life Sciences Hall.

"Hi Elphie."

"Hello, my sweet. How are you?" Elphaba asked distractedly. Glinda looped her arm through Elphaba's.

"Good but I can see the wheels turning in your brain. What's up?"

"Something Fiyero said."

"Did he ask you out for lunch again?"

"No. Well, yes, I think he was going to but I stopped it. He made some comments about Munchkinland."

"Like what? Something bad?"

"No. Something astute but vexing."

"You're going to have to be more specific."

"Boq made a comment that Munchkinland needs a strong leader now and for the future and I that I should be it."

"Ok, stop." Glinda said, and maneuvered them towards a nearby bench. "You're going to have to start at the beginning. Where did Boq come into all of this?"

Elphaba sighed. "Boq dropped an article about how Munchkinland is falling apart on my lap and basically told me he thinks I would be the best person to put it back together."

"That's a great compliment. But you've said yourself you don't want to be Governor."

"You remembered. Thank you, my sweet. It's also because I don't think Munchkinland would accept me. But Boq said that Munchkins in Shiz have been writing home, telling their families good things about me."

"I can see that. I think you're pretty amazing."

"I should hope so. Anyway, Fiyero commented that Gillikin is stronger because of the barons whereas the fractured Vinkus is weak. He thought I should take over Munchkinland since I would be a strong hand."

"Elphie, I don't anything how a state is run but I think if you put your mind to it, you'd make an amazing leader for Munchkinland."

"But I don't want to be in politics! I just want to study and research."

"Elphie, dear, you're campaign for Animal equality is politics."

"That's not politics; that's just right."

"And what is a leader's job, dear?"

Elphaba looked at her askance. "You say you nothing, but you seem to have a lot of knowledge about politics and running a state."

Glinda giggled. "I was meant to be a statesman's wife. I know about the concepts of politics and state. It's the running it I know nothing about, and the thought of learning how gives me a headache."

"I'm sure, my dear, you would have made a great statesman's wife."

"Who knows? Maybe I will someday."

"Thinking of leaving me already?"

"On the contrary; thinking of staying with you for a good long time. I think I could bring some flair to Munchkinland."

Elphaba flustered as the thought of Glinda as her wife came into her head. She had an image of her greeting guests at Colwen Grounds with Glinda beside her. Even in head, she scowled and did not remember all the particulars of politics, and Glinda saved her. It made her happy and sad at the same time. Elphaba stood and Glinda followed. They linked arms and headed to the dorm.

"Did I say something wrong, Elphie dear?"

"No, my sweet. I was simply thinking what a great governess you would make." Elphaba said and paused. "Are you sure you want this, my sweet? You would be amazing in politics. I dare say your husband would take second billing to you."

"No, my darling girl. There are things now more important to me than my social standing. "

The two girls had just gotten back to the dorm when Nessa knocked on their door. Elphaba went to open it and Glinda got ready to leave. She was going to do some last minute shopping for items they needed for the ball. She decided that she better go to the bathroom before the long trip to the boutiques and salons. What she walked out into was an argument the like she had never seen between the Thropp sisters.

"Your sins will be our ruin, Fabala!" Nessa yelled, her voice high and shrieking.

"What sins are those, Nessa? I've been nothing if not dutiful to you!" Elphaba came back, her low timbre growling across the room.

"Your sins of the flesh! You indulge yourself too much and it will curse your life!"

"I have no idea what you are talking about! I do not indulge myself of any pleasure."

"You do! You do!" Nessa shrieked, a manic glean in her eye. She caught sight of Glinda. "And there's the harlot that leads you down to hell!"

"You leave her out of this, Nessarose!" Elphaba voice finally raised in volume. "She has done nothing to be brought into this!"

"She is it! It is her that will condemn you, Fabala!" Nessa shrieked again. Glinda was taken aback by the girl's change in demeanor.

"She has done nothing, Nessa, but help the both of us this entire time."

"It is her sinful use of magic that has brought this predicament onto us. She has dragged us into Morrible horrible scheme!"

"That is Morrible's doing. You cannot blame that on her, Nessa!"

"I can! She has corrupted you, Fabala! Corrupted you to a life of sin!"

"How am I already more sinful than before? I do not believe your god exists, therefore what more sin can I bring on myself?"

"You may not believe you have soul but you corrupted it and your body by reveling in the perversion she has brought!"

"What are you on about, Nessa! What perversion? Sorcery?"

"If that were the summit of your sins! You know of what I speak, Elphaba!"

"I have no idea what you are rambling about!"

"Your carnal relationship!" Nessa spat and Elphaba went rigid. Glinda's hand went to her mouth. "You and that Lurlinists filthy deeds."

"That has nothing to do with you, Nessa." Elphaba voice was low and cold.

"It has everything to do with me, Elphaba! You will bring ruination on our house!"

"You know as well as I the Unnamed God does not look down upon same sex relationships."

"It's not the relationship I look down upon; the Unnamed God is clear that there should be no relations before marriage."

"An archaic rule set to keep from overpopulating and having their society suffer."

"Our bodies, Elphaba, our bodies are gateways to our souls! Without a relationship with the Unnamed God's blessing, any premarital relations allows poison into our souls. It will bring ruination on us."

"I do not believe that, Nessa."

"And what of Munchkinland? How can you have an heir to the Eminence without being able to produce one?"

"I will not be Eminent, Nessa, you know that as well as I. I guess you're going to have to supply the children."

"This is not a joke, Elphaba! Your relationship will hurt our position."

"Damn the position!" Elphaba thundered. "We are more than what we are born and should not be caged by the lineage of our parents!"

"You speak madness!"

"I speak truth. Nessa, for the first time ever I've gotten the power to choose my fate; choose it! I have been a dutiful sister to you, and Shell, and a dutiful daughter to Father. But my fate is now my own and if I choose to intertwine it with Glinda's then that's my choice!"

"You will choose her over your family! You will choose her over me!"

"I will not be guilted into choosing sides, Nessa. That is a false choice."

"So you are choosing her over me!"

"Is that what this is about?" interjected Glinda quietly. Both girls turned to her and saw caring eyes. "You're afraid of losing your sister?"

"I'm afraid for her soul!" Nessa shouted back. Elphaba looked back to her.

"Nessa," she started quietly, "nothing has changed about the nature of my soul from before. Are you afraid that you'll lose me?"

"I fear for you to lose yourself in temptation." Nessa replied, not nearly so manic. Something was creeping into her voice.

"I have many faults but over indulgence in pleasure is not one." Elphaba replied gently.

"You will be taken from me and salvation by this…this…" the girl was starting to lose her bluster and her voice weakened. Elphaba walked over and enveloped her younger sister in her arms.

"What is it, my pretty?"

"Are you going to call her that now? Will she be your pretty from now on?" the younger girl cried. Even in her state, she turned her head so her tears would not fall on her sister.

"Is that what you worry? That your place in my heart will be subverted by Glinda?"

"I cannot lose you, Elphaba." Nessa sniffled, and then broke into sob.

"Hush, my pretty, hush. You will not lose me. You will always be my pretty. My love for Glinda does not change my love for you. I do not have only so much to share. In fact, loving her increases my love for you too."

"Nessa," Glinda said and came over to where the younger girl could see her, "I will never do anything that takes Elphaba from you. You are her sister, and therefore you are my sister. You will always have a place in her heart, and mine."

That was all it took for Nessarose to break down. Her choking sobs were indistinct at first, but both girls slowly started to make out words.

"I…I…sorry… So…sorry…wrong…sin…shameful…"she sputtered out and began repeating herself. There was nothing the two girls could do but hold her and whisper soft assurances in her ear. Nessa's sobs slowly died out, leaving only a sniffling young girl. Glinda pulled out a handkerchief, and helped the girl clean up.

"I'm so sorry." Nessa whispered hoarsely. "It was shameful to think, you would, you would…"

"Hush, my pretty girl, hush. There is no need for that again." Elphaba softly cooed. "We are human and you are forgiven."

"Can you get Nanny? I need…I need chapel."

"I'll get her." Glinda said and left the two sisters. She woke Nanny (not so gently since the old woman was hard to rouse) and she went to Nessarose. They could tell she knew something went on, by did not say anything. Without a word, Nessa left.

"Well, that was interesting." Glinda said with a sigh. She fell backward into her bed.

"If Nessa knows, who else might?" Elphaba asked softly. Glinda looked at her.

"Nessa probably figured it out because she lives next to us, Rae. She is with us all the time. The others aren't."

"You're right, of course."

"Thank you." Glinda smiled and stretched her arms. One hit the purse she had placed there when she had been ready to go shopping. "Oh! I still have shopping to do! Do you want to come with?"

"No. I think…I think I need some time to myself."

"Then I shall leave you to it." Glinda said and sat up. She gave Elphaba long and loving kiss, and walked out of the door. Elphaba sighed and gathered her things. The library would help her think.

Glinda sighed happily as she entered their shared room. It had taken awhile, but she had found two perfect masks for her and Elphaba. Glinda's was a baby blue with sliver swirls and accents while Elphaba's was black with light blue accents. It fit them perfectly. She frowned as she saw the room was dark. She also bought three more new frocks for Elphaba to replace the old ones, along with a surprise.

"Elphie?" she called out. When there was no reply, she turned up the lamp but there was no one in the room. She placed her bags down by her bed, hiding the secret purchases under it.

"Probably in the library still." She grumbled. "Well, I'll fix that."

Glinda hurried towards the library. As she entered the doors and looked around she realized that she did not know where Elphaba would be. She decided to check the Life Sciences section first. When she was not there, she went to the sorcery section.

Not finding her there either, Glinda started to worry about finding her but remembered the flocator spell they were taught at the beginning of the year. She needed something that Elphaba was connected to, and quickly pulled out the rose that she bought her two days ago.

Closing her eyes, she focused on the spell. In her mind she felt a tug urging her in a certain direction. She opened her eyes and followed the pull. It led her to a back corner in the library where an old door was. Glinda went through it and up a dusty stairwell. At the top she pushed through the door and found a corner of the library obscured by shelves. There sat Elphaba, staring at her.

"How did you find me, my sweet?"

"A locator spell."

"A very useful spell."

"Very limited spell. It's dictated by an object's connection with the person. It tends to be very close proximity only."

"I see. Why have you tracked me down?"

"It is time for dinner. Have you sorted yourself?"

"Well enough for now." Elphaba replied and stood. She walked over to Glinda and gave her a gentle kiss. Glinda grabbed the front of her dress and pulled her closer, intensifying the kiss. As they broke a breathless Elphaba arched an eyebrow.

"An idea popped into my head." Glinda giggled in reply, and Elphaba's other eyebrow joined the first. "Oh, no, not now. But sometime."

"Perhaps if I am ever so daring."

"Rae, I love you but I have to tell you, when you get going your wants make me blush."

"I do not believe that."

"Really? Who teased me to the brink of orgasm and left it like that in the park?"

"That was a culmination of a long series of events."

"Like teasing me in the dressing room?"

"Among others. If I remember you were quite the tease during the day."

"True, but remember dance night. Who started that?"

"I seem to remember you doing so?"

"I did not lift you against a wall."

To that Elphaba said nothing, and Glinda smiled as they headed down the stairs and back to the room.

The rest of the week passed by quickly and uneventfully. The girls got up, had breakfast which Elphaba sometimes joined, went to class, went out or stayed in for lunch; studied their specializations and practiced magic; took strolls by the Suicide Canal; and had dinner either by themselves or with the Charmed Circle. The social talk turned whenever it could to the upcoming ball. Every night the two would clean, cuddle, and give each other a kiss goodnight. Sometimes Glinda's hands would roam, sometimes Elphaba's mouth would; but nothing came of it because both were tired.

The only incident of note was that a Munchkin approached Elphaba in her Life Science class at intercession on Wednesday.

"Excuse me, Miss Thropp?" he said tentatively.

"Yes?" she replied evenly.

"I'm ashamed to say that I overheard you conversation with Master Boq on Monday."

"I'm guessing that is the cause of this conversation."

"Yes. I'd just like to say I think you'd make a fantastic Eminent, and know quite a few who share the same belief."

The comment left Elphaba flustered and the boy retreated before she could catch his name.

Friday was a busier day than normal. The girls (sans Elphaba) had booked time at a spa. Elphaba had not minded since it meant that she would get some extra study time in that day to compensate the time missed for the ball Saturday. The boys also were heading off to the tailors and groomers (on Avaric's coin).

Glinda was giddy all through sorcery class but was even more so when she performed all the required spells perfectly on the first (and subsequent) attempts. Miss Greyling left her with outstanding praise and blissfully alone. Glinda took the time to practice her personal spell. Just before class ended she managed to get it to work on a cup of water. She could barely contain her excitement.

The Charmed Circle met for lunch at a café and then promptly departed for their destinations. Glinda snuck a quick hand squeeze before she got into a carriage with the other girls. Elphaba chatted with the boys while they waited for a carriage to pull up. As they got into the carriage Avaric looked at her.

"Sure you don't want to come? You could take part in guy talk about our intended dates." He said with his trademark smile.

"Considering my date is my sister I will work under the assumption that you mean how beautiful they look unless you want violence to be my reaction." Elphaba replied firmly.

"Of course." He smirked at her.

"And considering your date, Master Fiyero, is Glinda I should hope your thoughts remain above Master Avaric's corruption." She said, leveling him with a look.

"I shall try to remain as pure as possible, Miss Elphaba." Fiyero said with a charming smile.

"When one examines how you have fared so far there is not much hope."

"No chastisement for me, Elphie?" Boq mock pouted. She turned her look on him.

"Boq, aside from one out of character adventure involving climbing, you have always been nothing but a gentlemen." She replied as the boys sat and the cabbie prepared to go. Elphaba's lips quirked in a smile. "Something I am sure bothers Miss Milla to no end."

"Wait, how do you-" but the rest was cut off as the cabbie took off. Elphaba smiled to herself and headed back to the room.

That night Glinda came back bubbling (and possibly tipsy) from the spa. It took over a half an hour for Elphaba to settle her down so they could go to bed. The blonde was all giggles and kisses while they cuddled, frustrating Elphaba who was still trying to read. Finally, Elphaba kissed her, and every time she bubbled Elphaba kissed her again. It did not get Glinda to calm down, merely shift her focus to something else. An hour later, Glinda has sufficiently been distracted and Elphaba could cuddle her to sleep.

This chapter contains the dates of Sunday, the 23rd of Newspring to Thursday the 2nd of Highspring.