AN: My first response when I saw my messed-up review page was a murderous, "MUSICGAL!", but it was PocketSevens (sorry, Elizabeth! xD). Sorry, though, you still didn't break her record. Just check out your review, then hers, and you'll see why :P. (And that was not even near her longest review...)

Fae'sFlower (love your new username): Thanks for all the pie!

PerlogAnnwyl: Yeah, me too :3.

Day Eight

The first thing Boq did when he saw Fiyero the next morning was apologise for everything he had said to the prince the day before.

"I wasn't thinking," the Munchkin admitted. "I was just mad at you for getting drunk and spending all night out with Elphaba while I had to clean up after and take care of you all, and I took it out on you. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, too," Fiyero apologised. "I mean, I shouldn't have run off like that. I worried all of you for no real reason."

Galinda just squealed and threw her arms around him, crying out that she was so happy he hadn't been murdered or eaten by sharks. Nessa was glad he was back, too, though she didn't like what Boq had told her about the couple.

"I can't say I approve," she said, frowning slightly. "Elphaba, I would have thought you more sensible than this. Fornicating on a beach in the middle of the night? Really?"

Elphaba already opened her mouth to defend herself, but then Galinda choked on her drink with laughter because Nessa had actually used the word 'fornicating', which in turn made Fiyero grin as well; and before they knew it, they were all laughing and Nessa didn't mention it again.

"So how was it, Elphie?" Galinda asked curiously that night, when she was sitting at the end of Elphaba's bed. She watched her friend brushing out her long, raven hair, noticing that Elphaba's face became a few shades darker and that she was avoiding Galinda's eyes.

The blonde squealed. "It was nice, wasn't it?"

"It was," Elphaba admitted, still not looking at her friend.

Galinda bounced a little. "Did it hurt? Was it awkward? Was he being sweet and gentle, or was it rushed and passionate?" She puckered her lips and made kissing noises. "Ooh, I can't believe I can actually get this kind of information first-hand now! I mean, Pfannee and Shenshen always boast that they've already done it a million times, but everyone knows they're both still virgins. They're too scared to do anything. And the girl magazines just don't cover it, you know? So, Elphie? Tell me – what was it like? Exactly? I want details."

Elphaba spluttered. "Details?!"

Galinda nodded earnestly. "Like… who was on top? Did you talk during it, or before, or after? What did he say, what did you say? How many times did you do it? Is Fiyero big?"

"Galinda!" Elphaba cried, mortified.

The blonde waved a manicured hand. "Okay, forget that last question. But you've got to answer everything else," she said sternly.

Elphaba sighed. She really didn't want to talk about this, but she knew that Galinda wouldn't let it go if she didn't, so she took a deep breath. Then she rattled off, "It did hurt, it wasn't awkward, Fiyero was very sweet, it's none of your business who was on top or who said what, and we only did it once."

Galinda raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe twice," Elphaba muttered, looking down.

Galinda squealed again. "Oh, Elphie!" she gushed. Then her expression twisted into one of concern. "Did it really hurt?" she asked. "I mean, they always say it does, but…"

"It does." Galinda caught the faint grimace crossing her friend's face. "It really does."

The blonde moved to sit next to Elphaba and put her arm around the green girl. "Are you okay?"

Elphaba flashed her a small smile. "I'm fine, Glin. Really. It's only normal that it hurts the first time. The second time was a lot better already."

She let out a soft laugh. "And Fiyero… you should have seen him – I tried to hide from him how much it hurt, but of course he saw right through that. He was so worried, he kept asking if I was okay and if I was sure that I really wanted this… he was so sweet, Glin. I think…" She fidgeted with the hem of her dress and chuckled, sounding incredulous. "I think I really do love him."

Galinda smiled softly. "Aw, Elphie… that's so sweet."

"And I think…" Elphaba shook her head. "Oz, I can't believe I'm really saying this… I think he might love me, too."

She abruptly rose to her feet and started pacing. "This is crazy. I must be wrong. Glin… how is that even possible? Just… look at us. He's amazing and I'm an abomination. He's the handsomest man in Oz and I'm the ugliest person in existence. He's a prince and I'm an artichoke." She shook her head. "It can't be."

"And yet it is," said Galinda simply. "Because you'd have to be blind not to see how much he loves you, Elphie. And you're not an abomination. You're not. Nor are you ugly." She rose, too, and took her friend's hands in her own. "You're wonderful," she said, looking up at Elphaba, "and I'm proud to call you my friend."

Elphaba gave her a watery smile and Galinda hugged her. "I'll leave you alone now," she said. She giggled and teased, "Unless you want me to send Fiyero in…"

Elphaba threw a pillow at her, both of them laughing.

Galinda became serious again. "I'm kind of glad this happened," she said. "At least you stopped dancing around one another. It was starting to get annoying."

Elphaba raised one eyebrow.

Galinda hesitated in the doorway. "Elphie?"

"Hmm?"

She took a breath. "Can I ask you something?"

Sensing that this was about something serious, Elphaba nodded and said, "Of course. Is something wrong?"

"No." Galinda shook her head. "It's just… I know that I was teasing you before, about giving me details, and such… but there's one thing I'd like to know and I hope you won't think of it as too personal…"

"How about you just ask," Elphaba suggested drily, "and if I think it's too personal, I throw a pillow in your face?"

Galinda giggled. "That works. Okay." She looked at her friend. "I always read in those magazines about these things," she said. "And they say a lot of things about protection, and such… but how does that really work? I never really understand. Those magazines never describe it in too much detail and like I said, Pfannee and Shenshen don't have any real experience. I tried to ask my nanny once, when I was younger, but she got all awkward and said I'd have to ask Momsie about that, but I never… Elphie?" she cut herself off, concerned, when she saw that Elphaba was looking pale, her eyes wide. "Are you alright?"

"I…" Elphaba took deep breaths, but she was feeling faint and dizzy. "I just…" She stared at Galinda, her eyes even more huge than usual.

Galinda sucked in her breath with a sharp hiss when she realised what this was about.

"Elphie…" she whispered, her own eyes wide as saucers now, too. "Please tell me you used protection."

"I…" Elphaba hugged herself, squeezing her own waist tightly. "We were just… tipsy, and… not really thinking straight, I guess…"

"That's no excuse!" Galinda suddenly yelled. "For Oz's sake, Elphie! I would have thought you, of all people, would be smarter than this! What if you get pregnant?"

Elphaba stared at the floor, ashamed and scared now of what might happen. Upon seeing this, Galinda calmed down as quickly as she had gotten upset.

"Okay," she said. "Okay. We'll deal with this. When was your last period?"

Elphaba shrugged helplessly.

"Work with me here, Elphie!" Galinda shook her gently. "When was your last period?"

"I don't know!" Elphaba pushed her hands through her hair. "Three weeks ago, maybe? Four? It just… comes and goes. Sometimes twice a month and sometimes only once in two months. I don't know!"

"Okay! Calm down!" Galinda squeezed Elphaba's shoulder. "Don't worry, Elphie, really. It will be fine."

"Father would kill me," the young witch whispered, clearly horrified. "I'm not joking, Galinda. He would be furious. The best case scenario would be for him to disown me. He might hit me, or force me to break off the pregnancy. Nessa will shun me, Fiyero will hate me, Father will pull me out of Shiz –"

"Hey!" Galinda shouted in an attempt to get Elphaba's attention.

The green girl looked at her, panic clearly visible in her eyes, and Galinda softened.

"It will be okay, Elphie," she said soothingly, stroking Elphaba's arm. "Really. Listen to me. Nothing might have happened, okay? Maybe you're not pregnant at all. Maybe we're panicking over nothing here."

"And what if I am?" Elphaba whispered hoarsely.

"Then we'll deal with it." Galinda continued to comfortingly stroke her friend's arm. "I'll help you, Elphie. I can't do anything about your father, but I will help you, and I just know that Nessa will, too… and Fiyero loves you, Elphaba. He really, really does. He has for months already. I honestly think that if you turned out to be pregnant right now, he would marry you."

"But I don't want that for him," Elphaba insisted desperately. "This was my mistake, not his, and I can't let it ruin his life!"

"It was a mistake both of you made," Galinda corrected her, "and so both of you will deal with it. And besides, Fiyero would never see marriage with you as 'ruining his life'. Ever. If it doesn't happen now, I'd be extremely surprised if it doesn't happen within the next two years or something."

Elphaba just looked at her and Galinda pulled her into another hug, stroking her long, black hair.

"It will be fine, Elphie, really," she said reassuringly. "There's probably not even a problem. Let's not panic or worry until we have reason to, okay?"

"Okay," Elphaba agreed in a small voice.

Galinda let go and looked at her friend earnestly. "And you have to tell Fiyero," she said, knowing Elphaba would most likely try to keep this a secret from him. "Okay?"

Elphaba squirmed. "Glin –"

"No." Galinda shook her head violently. "He loves you, Elphie. You're together now. You share these things. You did it together, you'll worry about this together; and if it turns out there is, in fact, reason for worrying – which I highly doubt – then you'll deal with that together, too. I won't let you shut him out the way you always do with everyone. You'd try to protect him, I know, but he has a right to know. If you don't tell him, I will."

"Galinda –"

"Promise me."

Elphaba looked crestfallen and her shoulders slumped. She hung her head. "I promise."

"Good." Galinda smiled. "Now give me a minute to grab a nightgown and then scoot over. I'm sleeping here tonight. You shouldn't be alone right now and Fiyero might already be asleep."

Elphaba could feel tears stinging her eyes. "Glin?"

The blonde turned. "Yes?"

Elphaba managed a shaky smile. "You're the best friend ever."

Galinda smiled, too, wide and beamingly. "I love you, Elphie."

Then she slipped out of the room to get her things.