"It's not here."

"Mother…"

"It's not here!"

"Calm down. I'm…"

"Did you hear me? IT'S NOT HERE!!"

Nevin winced as his mother's voice bounced off the walls of the room. "I heard you." He held out his right hand to keep her from saying more, muttering, "Half of Oz heard you."

"But it's not here!!!"

"I think we've established that already."

"Don't take that tone with me!" Morrible glared at him. "I don't believe you realize the magnitudification of this situation."

"You're right, I don't." Nevin adjusted his still healing left arm in its sling. "You've spent two days in here tearing through Glinda's things like a mad woman."

"Well I had to see if it was here."

"Let's not go back to that. Just tell me why you're so fascinated with a book you can't even read."

"The Grimmerie isn't just a book!" She looked at him like he was an idiot. "It's the most powerful source of magic in all of Oz!"

"I know that, but you can't read it. So what good is it to you?"

"She can!"

Nevin frowned. "Who can what?"

"She can read it. The Witch. Elphaba Thropp!" Morrible gestured wildly with her hands. "She is the only person who has ever been able to read the spells out of that book."

"And my contact told me she doesn't have it."

"Exactly."

Nevin sighed, his frown deepening. "Would you please speak like a normal Ozian?!"

"If you would stop to think about it, I wouldn't have to!" She returned his frown tenfold. "I won't always be around to explain everything to you, you know!"

He rolled his eyes, thinking, "If only I were that lucky," as she continued.

"She doesn't have the book now, but she did. Which means she must have given it to someone for safe keeping when she faked her death. Who better to entrust with something so valuable than your best friend?"

"But Glinda doesn't have it. You destroying her room proved that."

"No, it proves it's not here. That doesn't mean she didn't put it somewhere else."

"Which she? The Witch or Glinda?"

"Glinda you twit!" Morrible shook her head. "Keep up for the Unnamed God's sake!"

"I'm trying!" Nevin shut his eyes and took a deep breath, willing himself to calm down. The last thing he needed was to get into a full blown screaming match with his mother. It wasn't worth the time or the effort. Nothing he said ever made a difference anyway. "OK, we've overly established that the Grimmerie isn't here, but you still think the Witch gave it to Glinda."

"Yes."

"Then where do you think it is?"

"How am I supposed to know?! Maybe you should ask your all knowing contact."

"My contact knows about the Witch and her friends, not Glinda."

"Glinda is with the Witch."

"Which means my contact should automatically know where this blasted book is?"

"Yes!"

"This is ridiculous!" Nevin started for the door. "And don't even think about suggesting that my contact ask about the book." He shot a look over his shoulder as she opened her mouth to reply. "That would be blatantly obvious and then we wouldn't have anyone to tell us anything."

"Don't talk to me like I'm a child!"

"I'm sorry Mother. I know you want the book, but you're going to have to forget it for now. I'm sure in time the Witch will ask for it. When that happens we'll get to it first."

"You better hope so." Morrible growled the words. "Because if Elphaba gets her hands on that book again, we're done for!"

"We'll just have to make sure that doesn't happen." He continued out of the room. "Now if you'll excuse me, it's late. I'm going to bed."

Morrible clinched her jaw as she watched him go. "Forget it for now he says." She spat the words. "Incompetent, foolerizing boy!!"

She snatched a bottle off the floor and hurled it at the wall, the sound it made as it shattered doing very little to soothe her frayed nerves. She didn't just want or need the Grimmerie, she had to have it if she wanted to stand a chance against Elphaba. But it was Nevin who was worrying her more at that moment.

He was steadily pulling away from her. First it was sneaking off to try to stop the witches on his own. Yes he got shot for his troubles, but that didn't seem to phase him. Now he was holding secret, closed door meetings and sending squads of Gale Force guards out of the city to do who knew what. They were supposed to be ruling together. Instead he was doing as he pleased and leaving her out of the loop completely.

Obviously he didn't know who he was dealing with. He might have been her son, but no one was going to stop her from taking her rightful place in Oz.

No one.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

She teetered on the fine line between awareness and slumber, her mind at war with itself over which way to go. One direction meant rejoining the land of the living, which wasn't such a bad idea. After all, she couldn't lie around doing nothing forever. But her other option was just as appealing. It was nice to not have a care or worry in the world. To not have everyone and their brother depending on you to make decisions for them. And the dreams she was having about Glinda… Who wouldn't want to lose themselves to something like that?

As if on cue a face started to appear in the swirling maelstrom of her unconscious thoughts. She fully expected to see blonde hair, blue eyes and alabaster skin.

At least she got the eyes. Not the soft, caring ones of her best friend though. Hard, soulless ones set in a scowling silver face. Pain screamed through her as the face got bigger and bigger, finally pushing her over the edge.

Elphaba gasped as her eyes opened to nothing. It was black. Pitch black. Her right hand trembled as she reached for the spot next to her heart where the dagger had entered her flesh, fully expecting to feel the warmth of her own blood against her fingers. But a phantom ache was all that remained of the wound and the damage it had caused. Did it really happen? Had she been stabbed or was the whole thing a figment of her imagination? Either way, where was she?

She winced as she propped herself up on her elbows, her body protesting the movement. Obviously she had been wherever she was long enough for knots to form in her muscles. Her eyes were drawn to a dying fire nearby and to Breena in the process.

Memories suddenly washed over her. Getting the message about Morrible's escape. Meeting Bree in the clearing. Glinda slapping her. The Gale Force showing up as they tried to leave. Glinda gripping her hand as she turned to find Breena. Boq appearing out of nowhere. Agony as he slammed a dagger into her chest. Knowing from the looks everyone gave her that she was going to die. Using the last of her strength to tell Glinda she loved her. Drifting toward the brink only to be pulled back. Feeling Breena's presence as warmth surrounded her.

She blinked, taking a deep breath as she returned to the cavern. So it did happen. Boq tried to kill her and Breena saved her life. She looked at her cousin again, gratitude stamped on her brow.

Cousin. It still felt odd using that word. No one in her family had ever given a damn about her. Hell, no one in her life gave a damn about her until Bree came along. Before they met she was perfectly content in her almost nonexistence. People left her alone and vice versa. Then her family made one of their infrequent trips to Colwen Grounds so her grandfather could have a look at her and Nessa and there was Breena. The first time they laid eyes on each other Elphaba knew there was something different about her. That didn't mean she wasn't still leery of her. She tried to avoid her during their short visit and did a pretty good job. It wasn't until she was forced to stay with her grandfather before she went to Shiz that Bree finally broke through her defenses and told her they were related.

Since then she had been one of the few constants in her life.

"No."

The mumbled word drew her attention to her right. Her eyes had adjusted to the dark enough to let her make out Glinda laying on a bedroll similar to her own.

"Elphaba, no."

"Glinda?" She hissed as she tried to get up.

"No…"

She did a hasty stretch, mentally promising to do a better job later if she could just get to her friend.

"Don't leave me."

Her heart broke at the words.

"Please, Elphie…"

That did it. She pushed through the pain, half crawling half dragging herself to the blonde's side. "Glinda?"

"No." Her brow furrowed as her head tossed from side to side. "Come back!" Her eyes flew open.

"Shh." Elphaba gripped her hand. "It's all right."

"Elphie?"

"I'm here."

"Elphie!" Glinda threw her arms around her. "Thank Oz!"

The embrace threw Elphaba off balance enough that she landed on top of her friend. She quickly tried to push herself away but Glinda's hold was too tight to let her go very far.

"Oh Elphie, it was awful. Simply awful! You were walking away from me and I couldn't get you to stop or turn around or wait for me. You just kept going and I kept falling behind until finally you were gone. You left me!"

Her words came out in one breath as she continued to hold the green woman close.

"Why? Why would you do that? Why would you leave me, Elphie?"

Elphaba was shocked to feel the blonde's body shake as she sobbed. "I didn't." She returned the hug the best she could, trying not to squash Glinda in the process.

"Yes you did." Glinda's words were muffled against Elphaba's shoulder. "You were gone for a whole year."

Her heart sank at the accusing tone. Glinda's words hurt worse than the slap she gave her before. She knew this discussion was inevitable but she didn't expect to be backed into a corner the instant her eyes opened. Instinct told her to flee when she felt Glinda's grip loosen, but she didn't. The blonde deserved better than that. So she pulled back and looked down at her instead.

Glinda mentally kicked herself as she let go of Elphaba. What did she think she was doing, attacking her like that? The poor thing had been unconscious for the better part of two days. "I'm sorry, Elphie. I shouldn't have…"

"It's all right."

"No it's not. You just woke up." She cocked her head. "You did just wake up, right?" She closed her eyes. "Of course you did. You were still asleep when I laid down. And that couldn't have that long ago because it's still dark outside."

"Glinda…"

"It was that stupid dream." Glinda cut her off, feeling the need to explain herself. "It got me all worked up and when I opened my eyes and saw you and everything just came pouring out. That's not a very good excuse, but it's all I've got. I…"

"Stop apologizing." Elphaba put her finger against Glinda's lips. "You have every right to feel the way you feel."

"But…"

"No buts, Glinda. I hurt you and you're understandably angry. I would be too if the tables were turned." She raised an eyebrow when the blonde opened her mouth. "I faked my own death. That's not something we can just sweep under the rug."

"You're right, but now is hardly the time to…"

"Now is as good a time as any. I have a feeling we're not going to be alone very much once everyone wakes up."

Glinda grinned. "You're probably right. We've all been really worried about you."

"And I appreciate that, I do, but..." Elphaba sighed. "I'm fine now. And I don't want you to hold back because of what happened."

"Hold back?"

"Don't go easy on me. Yell. Scream. Say what you need to say. I don't want this coming between us again, Glinda. I want us to put it all on the table now and be done with it."

"OK, Elphie." Glinda nodded as she sat up. "But you have to do the same. I made mistakes too. Ones we really need to talk about."

"Fair enough." Elphaba sat so they were facing each other. "Where should we start?"

"How about if you explain why you let me…I mean everyone think you were dead?" She felt Elphie staring at her. "All right. I really meant me. Why did you let me think you were dead for a year?"

"To protect you."

"Protect me? It broke my heart!"

"I know and I'm sorry. But it seemed like the only way out."

"Out of what?"

"The mess I made. You were right, Glinda. I made a huge mistake by getting mad at the Wizard and running away with the Grimmerie. Not that I ever could have done the things he obviously wanted me to but maybe if I hadn't lost my temper I wouldn't have become the Wicked Witch of the West. But I let my emotions get the better of me and things spiraled out of control. Dr. Dillamond couldn't speak anymore and Nessa got killed and Fiyero was tortured by the Gale Force. Everything I touched fell apart."

"Actually I'm responsible for what happened to Nessa."

Elphaba frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"When Fiyero ran away with you I…" Glinda chewed her lip. "I kind of suggested to Madame Morrible that she could use Nessa to get to you."

"What?!"

"I was mad at both of you."

"She dropped a house on my sister, Glinda!"

"I never meant for that to happen! I just meant for her to persuade Nessa to try to draw you out of hiding. How was I supposed to know she was going to call up a cyclone that would take a house from another dimension and bring it here?! I never wanted Nessa to get hurt, let alone killed!" Glinda put her hand on Elphaba's leg. "Please believe me."

"I do." Elphaba put her hand over the blonde's. "I know you would have never intentionally done anything to harm her." She sighed. "And if you stop to think about it, it's still my fault. I was the one in hiding. I was the one Morrible was trying to get to. Nessa just got caught in the crossfire."

"Elphie…"

"That's what it all boils down to. Me, as you so eloquently put it, 'flying off the handle.' I got so wrapped up in what I thought was best I didn't stop to think about what I was doing. Or the people I was hurting. You. Nessa. Fiyero."

Glinda blinked back tears. "I don't blame you for what happened to Fiyero."

"That's because you don't know the whole story."

"Yes I do. The Gale Force followed me to the corn field after Nessa died in the hopes you would be there. Fiyero showed up in time to rescue you but got captured." She swallowed hard. "In a way what happened to him was my fault too. He would still be alive if…"

"He is alive."

"Wh…" Glinda's mouth hung open in shock. "What?"

"Fiyero's alive."

"What?! But how… He… We both saw him being drug away! And you got that note saying he was dead!"

"No, I got a note from him saying he was very much alive."

"You said he was dead!!"

"I said you would never see his face again." Elphaba closed her eyes. "I was so wracked with guilt over his being captured to free me I cast a spell out of the Grimmerie. I have no idea how, but I turned him into a scarecrow."

"A…" You could almost see the gears turning in Glinda's head. "You mean the Scarecrow, don't you? The one who traveled with Dorothy!"

"Yes." Elphaba nodded. "He waited until the coast was clear to come and get me from Kiamo Ko so we could leave Oz together."

"I can't believe this." Glinda pulled her hand away from Elphaba and stood so she could pace. "You faked your death so you could be with him!"

"No. I did it to protect you. I told you that."

"Protect me from what? The fact that my best friend stole my fiancé?!"

"No! To protect you from everyone else in Oz! Damn it Glinda, they hated me!" Elphaba clinched her jaw. "People who didn't even know me took up weapons and torches and marched all over Oz to find me so they could kill me. Can you imagine how quickly they would have turned on you if they knew we were friends? Why do you think I asked you not to clear my name? I couldn't let anything happen to you!"

"Why?! Because I'm too fragile to handle something like being your friend?!"

"Because I love you!!"

The words hung between them.

Glinda stared at her. "What did you say?"

"I said I love you." Elphaba avoided her gaze, her voice barely audible. "I have ever since you rode in on that luggage cart our first day at Shiz. I didn't know what it was then but as we got to know each other I realized…" She sighed. "It doesn't matter. As soon as I get the Grimmerie from you I'll find a way to reverse the spell and you can be with your fiancé again."

"Elphie I…"

"Nothing happened between us, Glinda. At least not what I'm sure you're thinking happened."

"Oh Elphie."

"I'm not even sure why I ran away with him. No, that's not true." She gestured with the index finger of her right hand. "Part of me wanted to see what you saw in him. What he had that I didn't. And when it was all said and done, I didn't want to be alone. I finally knew what it was like to have people in my life who cared for me." She glanced in Bree's direction. "And Fiyero didn't have anything left to lose."

Glinda's eyes glistened as she listened to her.

"I, uh…" Elphaba started to stand, swaying ever so slightly when she finally reached her feet. "I need some air."

"Wait!" Glinda called out as she started to walk away. "I thought you said you wanted to get everything out on the table."

"What do you think I just did?"

"You. But what about me?"

Elphaba swallowed hard. "Glinda, I don't think I can…"

"Shhh." Glinda walked over to her, shocked to see tears on her cheeks when she stopped in front of her. "Don't cry Elphie. You'll burn yourself."

"No I won't. I'm not allergic to water."

"But…"

"That rumor stemmed from something Nessa said at Shiz. Someone commented on how green I was and she told them I was moldy because I was allergic to water and couldn't bath. Obviously someone believed her."

"What about the oils you used at Shiz?"

"I grew up in Quadling Country, Glinda. The water there's not fit for any use and father wouldn't hear of us not practicing good personal hygiene. Old habits die hard."

"I've got so much to learn about you."

"Imagine that." Elphaba's voice was void of emotion. "The green girl is still an enigma."

"Would you be quiet and listen?" Glinda reached for her. "I was going to continue by saying that there's one thing I know for sure."

"That you're going to slap me again?"

"No." She cupped her cheek. "That I love you too."

"Don't say that. Someone like you couldn't possibly love…"

Glinda cut her off by covering her lips with her own. It was a bold move, but she had no intention of not letting Elphaba know how she really felt. Not after coming so close to losing her again.

"Someone like me." Elphaba finished her thought as Glinda took a half step back. She swallowed hard and stared at her. "Do you mean it? Really mean it?"

"No, I go around kissing everyone like that." Glinda giggled. "Of course I meant it."

"But what about all that 'I'm going to marry Fiyero' stuff?"

"I'll admit it took me a little longer to figure out I had feelings for you. But that night, in our room after the Ozdust when I told you you were beautiful, I knew. I'd never felt anything like it before. I didn't say anything because it scared me to death."

"Me too." Elphaba grinned. "Still does."

"That makes two of us." Glinda raised her eyebrows. "So what do we do now?"

"How about more of this?" Elphaba snaked an arm around her waist, pulling her closer and bringing their lips together again.

Glinda grinned when they parted to take a breath. "I like the way you think."

"I like the way you taste."

"Elphaba Thropp!" The blonde smacked her on the arm. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Love me."

"Always."

Their lips met again in a soft and lingering caress.