This is the second to last chapter…so sad! I can tell you that the final chapter will be posted on Christmas Eve (the 24th) at 12:00 mountain standard time (but since the site takes up to 30 minutes to post it may be a little longer than that). I hope you all read it!

Galinda was in a very deep coma. Miraculously no bones had been broken in the fall although her body was thoroughly bruised. The biggest concern was how hard she hit her head. When the whole mess with Bella had been sorted out Carlisle arranged for Galinda to be brought to the Cullen house. He had all the equipment needed and more medical prowess than any other doctor so the two conscious Ozians were grateful for this change.

Elphaba spent every waking moment beside her blonde friend as days turned into weeks. With each sunrise it seemed less and less likely that Galinda would resurface. Her body was healing but her mind refused to return to the harsh reality of consciousness.

Fiyero began to worry about the green witch who clearly blamed herself for Galinda's condition. Elphaba had become downright antisocial. Even when the Winkie sat beside her the green girl didn't speak to him except when strictly necessary. Her brown eyes were deeply sorrowful and often overflowed with silent tears. Elphaba's heart was achy and raw.

***

"Elphaba?" the prince began one day.

"What?" she wondered absently, not looking away from her blonde friend. Fiyero huffed into the seat beside her.

"Elphaba you can't go on like this," he insisted. "We need to talk." The green witch nodded but refused to look at him. With a sigh the prince gently cupped her chin and turned her face. "Talk to me."

"I'm just worried," the green girl insisted, looking down.

"We're all worried," the Winkie pressed. "With you it's something more." Elphaba took a deep breath before looking him in the face and answering.

"It's my fault," she whispered fervently. "Victoria was going to kill me but Galinda stopped her. She was so brave." Elphaba's voice cracked. "She protected me when I was supposed to protect her."

"What makes you think that you have to protect everyone?" Fiyero demanded. The green witch was beyond replying. Instead she buried her face in his shoulder and tried very hard not to cry. Though slightly shocked by Elphaba's reaction the Winkie didn't hesitate to wrap his arms tightly around her. "You don't always have to be the strong one," he told her.

"Thanks," the green girl mumbled into his shirt. "Maybe you aren't so brainless after all." They both shook with laughter.

"Leave it to you to ruin a moment like that," Fiyero chuckled.

***

"I'm really worried about her," the prince confessed to Alice. "I mean I talked to her and I thought that would make things better but she still spends all her time with Galinda. She barely eats anything."

"I'm sure your words did more emotional good than you know," the petite vampire assured him. "But Elphaba is Galinda's best friend. You don't often see friendships as strong as theirs. As long as Galinda is like this Elphaba's not going to leave her side."

"You don't think that you could get Jasper to…?"

"In this case it wouldn't make much of a difference."

***

"Carlisle?" Elphaba whispered tentatively, cracking the door to his office.

"I'm here," he answered. "Come in." She entered cautiously and shut the door behind her.

"I was wondering…about Galinda," the green girl began.

"What about her?"

"Well if it looks like she's going to…never wake up," Elphaba continued. "Could you possibly…bite her?" The doctor's eyes widened.

"No," Carlisle answered flatly. "Galinda will wake up; it's just going to take time. I will not damn someone with such a bright future to an eternity of night."

"Ok," the green girl replied, embarrassed. "See you."

***

One day Fiyero found Elphaba hunched over a pile of notes beside Galinda's bed. "What are you doing?" he wondered.

"I'm figuring out how to get us home," the green witch answered. "Madame Morrible was teaching me how to do basic transportation spells before we disappeared."

"Do you remember the words?"

"No but I think if I can get the essence of the spell in my head it will work," Elphaba assured him. "If I can get my magic to cooperate."

"Have you figured out how to do that?" Fiyero asked. The green girl's bright eyes flashed to his face for a moment and her cheeks darkened.

"Maybe."

***

Elphaba lost count of how many weeks Galinda was unconscious. It could have been months. She and Fiyero never returned to school, it would have been impossible to concentrate with their friend lying still in her bed. Bella came to visit from time to time. Each week there was less plaster encasing her body. It worried Elphaba that the pale girl, whose injuries were much more extensive, had almost completely healed while Galinda was still bedridden.

Even the Cullens were beginning to fear for the little blonde's life. It was odd and frightening that she hadn't regained consciousness yet. They tried not to let Elphaba know how worried they were but she could see it in their eyes.

The green girl started sleeping in the chair beside her friend. One night she couldn't seem to drift off so instead Elphaba spent the midnight hours watching Galinda's frail little face. "Please wake up," she begged in a whisper. "Everyone misses you. Fiyero misses you. Alice misses you. Bella misses you. I miss you…I miss you so much." A strong green hand grasped the blonde's pale one. "Prom's coming up," Elphaba continued. "Or so I hear. You wouldn't want to miss the chance to dress up for that would you?" The green girl sighed and her tone became sharper. "You'd better not die. How stupid would it be to die for a sparkly pink jacket?" Tears rippled down Elphaba's face and she placed her hand over the blonde's heart. "Please come back."

The green witch could feel magic seeping gently through her body. She watched with fascination as the spot where her hand touched Galinda began to glow. Elphaba spread out her fingers and the faint light spread too. When she pulled her hand back a luminous green handprint remained for a moment. Galinda's eyelids flickered. "Elphie?"

"Sweet Oz!" Elphaba gasped, leaning forward to crush her friend in a tight hug. "You're ok!" Tears of joy gushed from the green girl's eyes as she pulled back to look at the blonde.

"What happened?" Galinda wondered, beaming but confused.

"You were in a coma for weeks," Elphaba explained in a rush. "We were all so worried about you. I thought you were going to die."

"Well I didn't," the blonde chirped, squeezing her friend's hand.

"Thank goodness you're back," the green witch breathed, still overwhelmed with delight. "I couldn't be happier."

Yeah I know it was sappy but I love sweet little chapters like that. Remember tomorrow at noon is the final chapter…I promise it will be the culmination of all the Fiyerba romance that's been going on in this story…and the Ozians will return home…

IMPORTANT: I need four more reviews saying I should do a sequel before I will actually do one…please give me your thoughts…