Well, it's been forever and a day since my last update. Just want to say; SORRY! Real life plus a massive case of writers block is not good for this story. Seriously. I know where I want to go, but there are these tiny little roadblocks in the way. Anyway, sorry for the wait, but since I've overcome this problem, they'll come closer and closer together.

As always, reviews are appreciated ;)

A figure stood in the second story of Glinda's summer house, looking down through a large window at the long and looped driveway. As the carriage appeared at the end of it, the figure tensed up, watching it.

Then, a voice was heard behind him. "Who the hell are you, and how did you get in??"

Drat. A housekeeper. Unexpected, and an added complication. The figure whirled around, and looked her in the eye. Then, when the housekeeper blinked in surprise, the form disappeared instantly, leaving no trace of anything behind, nothing to let anybody know that it had been there.

The housekeeper placed a hand on her forehead, suddenly lightheaded. "Hmm…" But she wasn't thinking about the figure, no. In reality, she was thinking about the dumplings the cook had just made as an appetizer for that night's dinner.

But the figure wasn't on her mind at all. Not even subconsciously. It was as though it had never happened.

X

The carriage stopped directly in front of the double doors that made up the entrance to Glinda's summer home, although it was several yards away. Immediately, the door was kicked open by one of Elphaba's steel-toed boots, slamming into the wall of the carriage.

Almost immediately after, Glinda's blonde head popped out, eyeing the door. "Honestly Elphie, do you have to wreck my carriage? At the very least you've ruined the paint, plus my grand entrance-"

Elphaba, from inside the carriage, rolled her eyes, fighting with herself not to kick Glinda out of the carriage the same way she had kicked the door open.

"-is completely ruined, and you know how I absolutely love to impress people with my entrances. Elphaba, are you even listening to me? I do expect-"

It didn't work. Planting her boot on Glinda's back, she gently pushed her out. The sight was comical, Glinda the Good falling out of a carriage, her arms pinwheeling. Even though the petite woman landed somewhat clumsily on her feet, she turned slightly, giving the emerald woman a glare. "That was not called for, Elphie."

Elphaba ignored her friend, instead turning to Fiyero, who hadn't moved the whole carriage ride. Gently placing two fingers at the crest of his neck, she signed in relief as she felt his pulse, considerably stronger than before. Taking his hand in her own once again, Elphaba brought it slowly up to her lips, pressing a kiss to his palm.

"You need to wake up, my hero. Fight it. You aren't going to die, my sweet." Other than a flicker of Fiyero's eyes underneath his eyelids, there was no response. Sighing, Elphaba squeezed his hand, moving her gaze to the small square of sky that was visible from the slammed-open door.

If anybody can hear me, please help him wake up. Just for a moment. You'll make a believer out of me if he opens his eyes right now.

Finishing her plea, Elphaba moved her eyes to Fiyero's closed eyelids. No recognition whatsoever. Elphaba's mouth set into a firm line. That proved it, there was no god, Unnamed or not.

Bending over her lover, she pressed her lips to his, then, patting his leg and letting go of his hand, she got up from her seat, moving towards the door. Poking her head out, she quickly spotted Glinda a few paces away. "Glinda. Come here." Sighing in frustration when the blonde childishly refused to look at her, she closed her eyes momentarily, then spoke. "Alright, fine. I'm sorry. Now get over here."

Glinda smiled, "Now that wasn't that hard, Elphie, was it? Goodness, you really need to think your actions through." But she walked over to the carriage, peering into it. "Yes?"

"Move." Once Glinda was out of the path of the door, Elphaba jumped out, landing gracefully, almost catlike, on the ground. "Get in there, we need to get him out. I can carry him, but you'd be squashed. So help me get him out of that space, and I can do the rest."

Nodding, Glinda climbed into the carriage. Gently moving Fiyero to the ground, she began slowly sliding him out of it. As head, shoulders, torso emerged, Elphaba held him up so as not to jostle his broken ribs.

Once Fiyero was mostly out of the carriage, the emerald woman scooped him up into her arms, so she was carrying him in a modified bridal style that didn't jar his ribs or head.

Glinda's jaw dropped. "Elphie, how are you doing that??"

Elphaba grimaced, "Very difficultly. Now, if you don't mind, show me to where we'll be staying."

Glinda nodded quickly, "Alright, follow me, then." She was getting a bit excited despite herself, because as soon as Fiyero was situated, she would finally get some answers.

Soon, they stood in one of Glinda's many guest rooms, the one they were in being the closest to her own rooms. Ignoring Glinda, once again, Elphaba quickly staggered to the bed, laying Fiyero on it as gently as possible.

Pulling out the bandages that the so called 'doctor' had left, Elphaba held them up to her nose. Yes, she was paranoid, yes, she was sprouting conspiracy theories, but she was not placing anything on her Fiyero that might have been poisoned or tampered with. He was a prince, after all.

Smelling nothing, she began unwrapping his chest, the bandages growing bloodier and bloodier as each layer was unwrapped. But when she finished doing so, a small smile appeared, for the bleeding had stalled. There was progress, thank Oz.

Rewrapping his chest, she lifted Fiyero up slightly, placing a pillow underneath his head. Gently lowering his head onto it, she brushed her knuckles along his cheekbone briefly, and then turned away. Keeping her eyes on the ground, she nodded slowly. "Thank you, Glinda."

Glinda gently took Elphaba's arm, carefully, as though she was afraid Elphaba would slap her for doing so. The emerald woman had, in fact, on several occasions slapped Glinda for physical contact. Elphaba didn't react, so Glinda began steering her out of the room. "You, me, garden, explanation. Seriously, Elphie."

Elphaba let herself be led away, for she didn't know her way around the house yet. She remained silent, not answering, keeping her eyes on the floor as they headed for the garden where nobody would be around to overhear.