A/N: This will be my last update for a little while, but I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 3: The Gift

"Who is this friend, Elphaba, you are meeting in the forest tomorrow?" Yackle asked, as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I already told you...she found my necklace and returned it to me," Glinda answered, as she sat in front of a mirror and continued to brush her golden hair.

"Well I'm glad she found a friend," Nanny answered, with a nod of her head. "So tell us...is she a looker?"

"You ask the most unimportant questions," Madam Morrible muttered, with a roll of her eyes. "The most important question is this Elphaba person green skinned?"

"No, her skin is like mine. What a silly question Madam," Glinda giggled.

"It's a not a silly question," Yackle replied, her voice got suddenly more serious. "A green skinned person would tell us if this stranger a servant of Maleficent! Or even worst her daughter."

"I thought the rumors of Maleficent having a daughter was a hoax," Glinda retorted, as she stopped brushing her hair.

"We can't assume it was a hoax, but I wouldn't put it pass Maleficent to pull a stunt like that," Yackle said, as she checked the tip of her wand. "Just be weary, Princess, the other fairies and I will keep an eye on you, but you need to use commonsense as well."

"I will," Glinda assured her.

"Good, Nanny, Madam, let's go," Yackle called, as she exited the room.

"Hey, I didn't get an answered my question yet! Is this Elphaba a looker?" Nanny argued, as she followed the two other fairies.

Glinda just let out a soft chortle as result of the Nanny's banter as she went back to brushing her hair. The Princess then was driven into deep thought how she could repay this Elphaba for finding her necklace. Her eyes suddenly lit up as she rushed over to her closet and searched it for a few moments before she found a pointed black hat.

...X...

The next day Glinda waited by the river again for Elphaba. She didn't have to linger long before the taller woman pushed though the trees.

"I am so delighted to see you again Princess Glinda," Elphaba said, as she gave her a bow.

"The feeling is mutual, for you see I don't have many friends myself. Well, oh yes, I have other royal and well to do friends, but sometimes I long for a more simple friendship. Anyway, I have something for you." Glinda then removed her hand from behind her back and held out the gift to the taller woman.

"A gift for me?" Elphaba asked in shock, as she took the gift which was a tall pointed black hat.

"I just had to thank you for finding my necklace again," The Princess answered, as she smiled when she saw Elphaba try it on. "Do you like it, Elphie?"

"I love it. Wait, what did you just call me?" The Wicked Witch questioned in confusion.

"Elphie," Glinda replied. Her blue eyes were sparkling, and Elphaba could feel her heart quicken as a result. "I just thought of it now. I think it's a delightful nickname, but if you don't want like it I will refrain from calling you that."

"No, you may call me that if you like," Elphaba answered, with a grin, as she fixed her new acquired hat. "What should we do today?"

"Well, I was thinking you could meet the three fairies that help look after me. They are really kind hearted. They were a little worried about me seeing you again, but I'm sure if they meet you their worry would disappear."

"Sure, that sounds like a good idea," Elphaba replied, her voice trembled only slightly. She had to keep a stoic appearance, so her cover wouldn't be blown.

"Follow me," Glinda said, as she gave the taller woman a shy smile. Elphaba noted it was a smile that friends didn't exchange. This smile was reserved for lovers. Elphaha just shook her head. Her mind must be playing a hoax on her and followed the Princess.

...X...

"You live here?" Elphaba asked, as her eyes fell on the small cottage.

"I don't stay here often. I switch between the castle and here to confuse Maleficent," Glinda answered, as she found the hidden key and entered inside. "Madam! Nanny! Yackle! It's me, Glinda! I have someone here for you to meet!"

Within seconds three different color puffs of smoke filled the air. When the smoke cleared three fairies stood before the two women.

"Madam, Nanny, Yackle, this is Elphaba. She's the one that found my necklace. I bought her here so you could meet her," Glinda said, as she stood to the side, so they could get a good look at her.

"Nice to meet you," Elphaba said quickly, with a bow of her head. A few moments of silence passed, and the Wicked Witch thought for some reason her cover was blown.

"Well she's not green so that's a good sign," Madam Morrible muttered, as she flew around the taller woman.

"She is quite the looker as well," Nanny added, as she nudged Yackle.

"I do admit she is a handsome woman," Yackle replied, as she poked Elphaba in the gut. "Don't you eat girl? You are quite skinny."

"I eat, but not from a royal diet," Elphaba answered, as she fixed her hat. She was feeling quite uncomfortable being examined like this. Also how they talked like she wasn't even there perplexed the Wicked Witch.

"Oh, stop probing my new friend. Do you like the hat I gave her?" Glinda asked, her voice filled with excitement.

"I thought it looked familiar," Nanny replied, as she flicked that hat with her finger, and Elphaba flinched at the unexpected action.

"I always thought that hat was so bizarre," Yackle said, as she still eyed Elphaba in suspicion.

"It only looks bizarre because this Elphaba is so very strange," Madam Morrible answered with a chuckle. She was so amused by her cruel joke.

"I wouldn't talk," Elphaba growled, in a low voice so the fairy couldn't hear.

"Oh, Madam you are so Horrible!" Glinda scolded, as she stood in front of her tall friend. She did this to shield Elphaba from anymore hurtful comments.

"Don't be cross, Princess, we are just speaking out loud," Yackle said, with a wave of her hand. "We do that from time to time as you know. Like crows we cry and chatter out loud just because we know we can."

"I take it Fiyero has met this Elphaba?" Morrible asked, as she drummed her boney fingers against her arm.

"Yes, he has met her. He was distrusting of her as well," Glinda murmured, as she took Elphaba's hand. In turn a sly grin formed upon the Wicked Witch's mouth. She tried to hid it but Nanny saw.

"Prince Fiyero does seem like the jealous type," Nanny replied, as she poked Elphaba in the shoulder with her wand.

"A Prince jealous of me? Surely you jest," Elphaba cackled. "I am only a commoner. He is of royal blood. What does he lack that I have?"

"He must sense something, but he is known to be envious about almost everything that involves the Princess," Yackle added, to Nanny's words.

"Well he does have a great responsibility," Elphaba said, as she let her gaze fall upon each fairy. "Who knows when Maleficent will strike. It's important to keep eyes open."

"Very true," Morrible agreed, as Yackle and Nanny nodded their heads.

"Okay enough talking to Elphaba. I wish to spend alone time with her," Glinda replied, as she pulled the Wicked Witch away towards the door to exit back into the forest.

"I just know we are going to be together forever!" Glinda exclaimed, as she led the way.

"You think so?" Elphaba asked, with a turn of her head. She bit her lip as she touched the green elixir bottle that was safely in her pocket.

The fair haired princess nodded her head, "I know so."

The Wicked Witch made no reply as she then ran her fingers over the dagger on her belt as she whispered to herself, "Not if my mother's plan can help it."