Guess what? This story is officially back. I can't promise that updates will be super fast, but there will be semi-regular updates from now on…this story will probably be significantly shorted than 'The Emerald Apple' though and I can't guarantee that the planned sequel 'The Emerald Ribbon' (about the Twilight characters in Oz) will ever actually come to fruition.

"Where are you off to?" Fiyero queried as Elphaba, Jared, Paul, Sam and Embry prepared to depart.

"None of your business," Paul retorted.

"We're going cliff diving," the green girl told her boyfriend with a smirk.

"Can I come?" Elphaba bit her lip.

"Sam, can he come?"

"I don't see why not," the alpha shrugged. "Normal people do it all the time."

"Well not normal people," Jared rephrased with a grin. "No one who's normal would jump into water that cold."

"Well I'm not normal then," the Winkie insisted. "I'm going."

"Going where?" Galinda wanted to know. Paul smacked his forehead.

/

In the end all four Ozians tagged along. Storm clouds boiled overhead like frothy, gray cotton, but the werewolves (and La Push's resident green witch) were perfectly warm. The same could not be said of their human companions. Galinda was shivering in the cute, pink bikini she borrowed from Emily. Boq didn't plan to actually go diving, so he was still fully clothed, but Fiyero had his shirt off. Though the Winkie was determined not to look like a sissy in front of the werewolf boys his arms were crossed in clear discomfort.

Elphaba, who was in a one piece, also borrowed from Emily, came to Fiyero's rescue by cuddling into his lap. "Fae have I ever told you how hot you are?" he whispered in her ear.

"Literally or figuratively?" the green girl snickered even as she cast him a scolding glance.

"Both."

"Well you haven't seen her naked in the woods," Paul coughed with a malicious grin.

"What?" Fiyero demanded, standing up and unseating Elphaba.

"We don't exactly wear clothes when we shape shift," the werewolf explained with a smug expression. "And there aren't always convenient bushes nearby." The Winkie did not look happy about this new information but, seeing as he was facing off against werewolves, there wasn't a whole lot he could do. The same was not true for his girlfriend.

"You'd better shut your face," Elphaba warned him, lifting her lip in a snarl.

"Or what?" Paul challenged.

"Paul…" Sam warned.

"Elphie…" Galinda grumbled through chattering teeth. Boq subtly put an arm around her and she was too cold to move away.

"Let's just start the diving already," Embry suggested, pushing his way between the two warring parties.

"Alright then," Paul shrugged, stepping backwards. "Let's let Greenie go first." It was an obvious challenge.

"Elphie's flown on a broomstick," Galinda pointed out, much warmer now that Boq had her in a not-so-subtle-anymore embrace. "I don't think the cliff will be much of a problem." As if to prove her friend's point Elphaba stepped up to the rocky edge. She gazed downwards and realized that this was a heck of a lot scarier than riding a broomstick. Flying with magic meant the green girl had control over her actions; control that would be lacking in a freefall.

"Well go on," Jared prompted. Instead Elphaba took a small step backwards.

"It looks a lot higher from up here," she gulped.

"Don't tell me you're afraid of heights," Paul chuckled meanly. Fiyero gave him a warning look, which the immature werewolf ignored. "Are you afraid you'll melt?" he continued. The green girl, to her credit, ignored Paul's taunts.

"Come on Fae," Fiyero said softly, coming up behind her. "You can do this."

"I can't," she whispered. In response the Winkie slipped an arm around his girlfriend's waist.

"You don't really have a choice," he chuckled. Then, without an ounce of hesitation, Fiyero swept Elphaba into his arms and cannon-balled off the cliff. About halfway down her scream of fear turned into one of frantic exhilaration. They sliced into the water like a knife and bobbed up laughing.

"Fiyero Tiggular that was not funny!" Elphaba giggled.

"I think it kinda was," he responded, earning himself a smack.

"Well you're brainless," the green girl reminded with a grin. Then she kissed him.

/

Galinda watched from the cliff top as Elphaba and Fiyero paddled to shore. "Your turn," Embry informed her.

"That's ok," the blonde declined with a nervously polite smile. "You can go."

"Ladies first," Paul retorted.

"They're just hoping that your top will come off when you hit the water," Jared teased.

"Then I'm certainly not jumping," Galinda chided, crossing her arms defiantly.

"Don't worry; I'll make sure these two behave," Sam told the blonde. "Just jump."

"But…" Galinda searched for an excuse. "Why don't any of you want to go?"

"Newbies always go first," the alpha explained.

"Fine," she pouted, taking a deep, shuddering breath. Before fear could take hold the blonde squeezed her eyes shut and stepped into empty air. Wind whistled past before a cold, icy fist closed around Galinda's body. She opened her eyes to a barrage of wildly disorienting bubbles. Which way was up?

/

"Crap," Sam cursed, squinting at the gray water below. "She isn't resurfacing."

"What?" Jared called over a vicious gust of wind. Before the alpha could repeat himself Boq leapt after Galinda.

Ooh cliffhanger (literally)…let me know if any of you readers are still out there…