My buddy "Denpa Wave Chick Saki" co-wrote this with me. Enjoy!
"Dear Oz, Galinda, could you have packed any more into these trunks? Why didn't we just bring your entire room?"
The blonde laughed. "Because my whole room wouldn't fit. Duh."
"Oh yes. Of course. How silly of me." The green woman sighed, as she set down the last trunk. "Well...here we are again. Our second year at Shiz. How does it feel to be back?"
Galinda collapsed onto her bed with a smile. "It feels wonderful! I don't have to worry about Popsicle watching my every move anymore."
"Yes, I suppose that is an added benefit," Elphaba said, opening the first trunk andcausing a small explosion of dresses. "Really?"
The blonde looked over at the noise, bursting into laughter. "Elphie, are you alrght?
"I'm fine, but damn woman! All these dresses? Really?"
"I can't help it. I love clothes!" Galinda got off the bed, starting to pick up some of the dresses and hanging them up.
"I can tell! What if you had to choose though? Between clothes...or me?" Elphaba turned away at that, moving to another trunk.
The blonde looked at her. "Well, of course I would choose you, Elphie. Do really doubt me that much?"
"N-no. Of course not...just forget I said anything." A pause. "You can go down. I'm sure all your...friends would like to see you."
"I'm not going to just leave you here with all this work."
"I can handle it...besides, I'm sure I have nothing to say to anyone down there."
"Elphie, I'm not leaving. I can unpack for myself."
"Fine...if you insist. We'll unpack until dinner, since everyone is required to go, and hopefully that will appease you." Elphaba cast a smile over her shoulder at the blonde. "Sound all right to you?"
Galinda smiled back. "It appeases me very much." She went over to the green woman to give her a kiss. "And now I am even more appeased."
Elphaba's face darkened slightly. "A-all right...let's get to work then."
"Galinda!"
The blonde turned when she heard her name, smiling. "Yero! It's so good to see you." She gave him a hug before the two took their seats at a table.
"And it's good to see you. I hope your summer was enjoyable?"
Galinda glanced beside her at the green woman, smiling to herself. "Yes, my summer was quite enjoyable." Elphaba hardly glanced at the prince, choosing to instead attack a piece of lettuce with her fork.
Fiyero turned politely to the green woman. "And you, Miss Elphaba? Did you enjoy your summer?"
"As much as one green servant can," Elphaba replied.
Galinda gently took the green woman's hand in her own underneath the table. She gave a small smile when Boq sat next to her. "Good evening, Master Boq. It's so pleasant to see you." Elphaba blushed slightly, but she gave the blonde's hand a gentle squeeze.
"Good evening, Miss Galinda!"
Galinda smiled at him again. "I trust you had a good summer break?"
"Oh, yes...it was just fine." The munchkin gave the blonde a smile, glancing at Elphaba. "And you...?"
"My summer was very nice. I think it might have just been my favorite summer so far, in fact." She gave Elphaba's hand a squeeze.
"That's very good...I'm glad."
Elphaba pulled her hand away from the blonde, as she stood, taking her plate with her. "I will be back."
"Alright, Elphie." Galinda frowned a little but quickly smiled again. "So what did you two do with your summers?"
Fiyero stuck his tongue out, making a face. "I spent my entire summer dealing with politics and such."
Galinda reached over to pat his hand. "Oh, I'm sorry about that, Yero. That sure is a boring way to spend summer. Well what about you, Boq? What did you do?
"Not much. I worked through most of it."
"I wish I only had to work in the summer," Elphaba said, returning and sitting beside the blonde heiress again.
"Do you work now?" Boq asked.
Elphaba gave him a look. "What a question to ask, Master Boq."
Galinda frowned a little. "Elphie, you know you don't really have to work while we're at school."
"Oh, Galinda. The things you say," Elphaba said, mussing the blonde's hair a little.
"Heeeey! Don't mess up my hair!" She scooted away, putting her back into place. The green woman smiled slightly.
"Good evening students, and welcome back for another year at Shiz!" Madame Morrible announced from the front of the room. "Let's all stand for our university song." Galinda stood up with rest of the students, ready to sing. Elphaba stood as well, glancing over at the blonde beside her, a slight smile crossing her face.
"O hallowed halls and vine-draped walls. The proudliest sight there is. When grey and sere our hair hath turned we shall still revere the lessons learned in our days at dear old Shiz. Our days at dear old Shiz."
After a few moments, Galinda smiled back. She sat down again, when everyone was done singing. Morrible continued talking, but Elphaba ignored her, leaning over to whisper to the blonde, "Wasn't that just lovely?" Her tone was, of course, sarcastic.
She grinned. "Oh, yes. That was positively lovely."
When dinner finished, the two headed back up to their room, where Elphaba resumed unpacking the blonde's things. "So, Glin, I have some bad news."
Galinda took some of the dresses from the green woman, moving to hang them up in the closet. "What's wrong, Elphie? It's not something I did, is it?"
"No. Nothing you did. It's just...I couldn't...repair your dog. I tried, really I did, but Fae just damaged it too much...I'm sorry."
"Oh..." The blonde sighed. "That's alright, Elphie...You tried."
"Galinda...did you have your heart set on that specific cuddle buddy?"
"Well...I guess not. But I really liked it...because you won it for me."
"W-what would you say if I said...I made you a new one?"
The blonde's eyes widened a little. "You...you made me...?"
Elphaba went to her bag and opened it, pulling out the doll she had sewn. "I know I can't replace Annabelle...or your dog, but I hope...this is acceptable." She held it out to the blonde.
Galinda slowly took the doll, tears welling in her eyes. "E-elphie...you didn't have to..." She gently stroked the doll's black hair.
"W-well I felt bad that I couldn't fix the other one...so I figured...I'd just make you a new one...that wouldn't make Fae jealous."
"I...I love it...Thank you so much!" The blonde threw her arms around Elphaba.
The green woman stumbled back, almost falling over, but she caught herself, wrapping her arms around Galinda. "I'm glad...though I hope I won't have to be competing with this mini Elphaba for your attention."
"Nothing could ever have any comparison to you, Elphie."
"Except for the fact that I cannot be your 'cuddle buddy'."
"That doesn't matter to me...as long as you're mine."
"It...matterstome," Elphaba muttered, before she moved away from the blonde to resume unpacking.
"What do you mean?" Galinda sat on the edge of the bed, looking at her.
"I...please don't be mad, but after we came back from the lake...and you had those nightmares...you came to me, and I was able to protect you. We...we slept in the same bed, but once they went away and you returned to your own room, I...I missed you. Even though I knew it was wrong for me to sleep in the same bed as you...I still wanted it..."
"I began to hope that the nightmares would return...not because I wanted you to be frightened...but because it might have meant...you would come back to me."
"Elphie..." The blonde sniffed. "I would like nothing more than for you to always be my cuddle buddy. I just...I didn't want to push you too far..."
Elphaba looked at her. "I understand, but...are you sure that's something you want? For me to sleep in the same bed as you? I...I don't want to be selfish...I don't deserve to be selfish..."
"I love you...and I don't see what could be so bad about sleeping in the same bed."
"B-because it's not...proper...two women to sleep in a bed together...especially if one happens to be green..." Elphaba looked down at her hands.
Galinda moved over to her, taking her hands in her own. "Being green has nothing to do with this. We love each other. Is it so bad to enjoy being close to the one you love?"
"N-no...I suppose not." Elphaba looked at her. "S-so I can...we can...together?"
"I would love to."
The green woman nodded slowly. "I...thank you." She leaned down to kiss the blonde softly.
"I love you." Galinda kissed her again.
"Love you too, my sweet." Elphaba gave the blonde a small smile, before she resumed unpacking, finally finishing and putting everything away. It was about ten o'clock at night when she was able to change into her nightdress and collapse on her bed, the Grimmerie in her lap again.
Galinda came out of the bathroom, smiling at the sight. She sat at her vanity to brush through her hair. "This writing...I've never seen anything like it before." The light shone on her glasses, as she turned the page. "Not even in any of the old manuscripts in the library..."
"Maybe it's not from Oz...Or maybe it's just a bunch of nonsense that somebody scribbled into a book." She giggled.
"No...it has to mean something...these words...the way they're arranged. For example, listen to this: 'Aven tatey tae tum'...It simply doesn't make any sense, but, in a way...it does..."
The blonde shrugged. "It just sounds like a bunch of mumbo jumbo to me."
Elphaba looked up at her. "This book...these words...they mean something, and I will figure it out, no matter how long it takes. I have to know..."
"Alright then, Elphie. Just promise me one thing?"
"And what is that?"
The blonde moved over to the bed by Elphaba, laying her head in the green woman's lap with a smile. "Don't tire yourself out over this?"
Elphaba blushed slightly, looking down at her. "I...I'll try not to, my sweet. Are you, perhaps...ready for bed? You seem ready to fall asleep with your head in my lap."
"I can't help it if you're comfy."
"Perhaps we should move you into your own bed, and I can continue to be comfy there."
"But I like being over here with you."
Elphaba smiled slightly, before she closed her book, setting it aside and taking off her glasses. "Alright. Then here we will stay." She extinguished the lamp before sliding under the blanket, holding the blonde close. "Fresh dreams...my sweet."
Galinda snuggled closer to her with a smile. "Nighty nighty, Elphie."
The green woman woke early the next morning, finding a certain petite blonde had somehow managed to move in such a way during their slumber that she was now lying on top of Elphaba. She smiled slightly at the sight, leaning up to kiss the heiress' forehead. Galinda smiled in her sleep, burying her face further into the green woman's neck. Elphaba ran a hand through her blonde curls. "Galinda, my sweet, it's time to wake up and get ready for our first day of classes."
"Mmmmmm...you smell good, Elphie..."
"Ah, so you are awake."
"Yeah...you just woke me up."
"Well, I wasn't sure...sometimes you don't wake up right away...sometimes you're stubborn."
The blonde chuckled. "Stubborn like you are all the time?"
Elphaba made a face, before she kissed Galinda. "Perhaps you would prefer me a different way?"
"Nuh uh!" She hugged the green woman tighter. "I like you just the way you are."
"Well that certainly is reassuring to hear." Elphaba turned to yawn. "So...have you decided what your area of study is going to be? You know Madame Morrible is going to be asking us today."
The blonde groaned. "Don't remind me..."
"You haven't decided yet?"
Galinda sighed. "I have too many things expected of me...Popsicle wants me to study magic, which I'm alright with. I like magic. It's interesting...And then there's the government officials who are saying I should also study politics, but it's so boring! I would much rather study art than either of them."
"Then choose art, if that's what you truly want," Elphaba said, stretching her arms over her head, before she wrapped them around the blonde again.
"But I have a duty to Oz..." She rested her head against the green woman's shoulder. "And what about you, Miss Smarty? What do you want to study?"
"I have decided to follow the study path of life sciences."
"What would you like to do in the life sciences?"
"Well, this whole issue with Animals and animals...and humans of course...they must be connected somehow, and I want to know what that connection is. Do Animals become animals? Or are they simply born? And why do humans feel they must exert such superiority over the Animals and animals? Are we not Animals ourselves?"
"That's interesting..." She smiled up at the green woman. "But I'm sure you'll be fantastic at it."
"We'll see about that...and why not study both sorcery and art?"
"I suppose that could work."
"I'll even study politics and be your political advisor to save you the trouble."
The blonde giggled. "That would be wonderful."
"Then it's settled: I will study life sciences and politics, and you will study art and sorcery. Perfect." She gave the blonde a smile.
"And then we'll always be together."
"Yes...that does sound...wonderful..." Elphaba sat up, the blonde in her lap as she rubbed one eye. "Well...we must prepare for the day ahead."
Galinda held herself closer to the green woman. "But I want to stay here..."
"As do I, but you know very well we cannot. A day of classes lies ahead of us."
"But classes are so boring..."
"Surely you do not feel that way about your art class?"
"Well, not art, of course...but everything else."
"I am sorry, my sweet, but you know we don't have a choice. How about after our classes end, we go shopping?"
"Do I get to buy you stuff too?"
"Well, I can't buy things for myself, now can I?" Elphaba gave the blonde another smile, reaching behind her own head, groping around for her glasses.
"But usually you get all embarrassed if I try to buy things for you."
"I will try my best to behave," Elphaba replied, locating her glasses and slipping them on. "Oh, hello there. I knew that lovely voice had to belong to someone beautiful."
The blonde giggled. "Well, of course it's me. Who else would be cuddling and kissing you in bed?"
"You make a good point there." The green woman kissed the blonde again, holding it as long as she could, before she forced herself to roll out of bed. "Time to get ready." Galinda groaned and curled up tighter into a ball. "Galinda, please don't be like this. What can I do to make this more bearable for you?"
"Stay in bed with me."
"You know we can't. We have to get ready, or we'll be late, unless you forgo your bath and I forgo my oil cleaning."
The blonde frowned, dragging herself out of the bed and over to the bathroom. "Fiiiiinnnee..."
"I'm sorry," Elphaba said, grabbing her bottle of oil. "We can come back and...um...cuddle during lunch...if you wish..."
Galinda's head stuck out of the bathroom. "Are you being serious right now?"
The green woman's face darkened. "I...I'm sorry! Was that inappropriate? I thought...you...nevermind..."
"No, don't be sorry." She giggled. "I would love if we could cuddle more at lunch."
Elphaba nodded. "Y-yes. Me too...um...I'm just going to wash up...in the closet...okay?" The green woman disappeared into her closet.
"Alrighty then. I'm just going to take a quick bath." Galinda went back into the bathroom, shutting the door but leaving it slightly cracked so she could hear Elphaba if she said anything.
Elphaba finished and slipped into a dress, picking up her bottle and heading for the bathroom to put it away, assuming that the cracked door meant Galinda had not yet gotten into the tub. She pushed it open just in time to see Galinda sliding into bath. The bottle fell from her hand, as she covered her eyes. "I'M SORRY! WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING?"
The blonde quickly covered herself with a splash, blushing. "I...it's fine, Elphie. I mean...it's not like you don't have the same...uh, body parts or anything..."
"T-that's not the point!" Elphaba turned to leave, running into the doorframe with a grunt. "I'm okay!" The green woman shook it off before leaving, slamming the door behind her.
When Galinda finished her bath, she wrapped a towel around herself and rushed straight to her closet with a blush. Elphaba was sitting on her bed, her nose buried in the Grimmerie. "I...I'm sorry again..." she mumbled.
The blonde pulled on a dress and went back out into the bedroom. "It's fine, Elphie." She sat down at her vanity, starting to fix her hair. "If there was anybody in Oz I would allow to see me like that...it would be you..." She blushed heavily.
The green woman inhaled sharply, looking up. "Wh-what? I...I don't deserve..."
Galinda blushed harder, looking down. "I think you do..."
"But how...I...your body is something private...something only...certain people should be allowed to see...I can't imagine how I would...be permitted."
"I think that the person I love...should be permitted."
Elphaba could only stare at her. "Galinda, I...I don't know what to say...are you sure?"
The blonde looked up at her shyly, giving a small nod. "Y-yes...I'm sure."
The green woman stood, approaching her. "I...um...Galinda..." She cut herself off by kissing the blonde. "Perhaps you should finish getting ready...we need to leave soon."
Galinda reached up to gently stroke her cheek. "I love you, Elphie...and every single part of me is only for you."
Elphaba blushed. "And I am...yours..." She turned away, sliding the Grimmerie into her bag before closing it. "Are you...almost ready?"
"Yeah. I'm ready." The blonde picked up her own bag, giving a smile to Elphaba.
"Then off to class we go," Elphaba said, putting her bag over her shoulder before opening the door for the blonde.
As Galinda through the open door, she noticed an envelope taped to the wood. She took it down and opened it, reading it with a groan. "Well, it looks like we're going to have to miss our first class. Madame Morrible signed us up for our appointments with her this morning..."
Elphaba frowned. "But...but that means missing Dr. Dillamond's class..." She sighed. "Fine...let's get this over with."
"Hopefully it'll be over fast, and you can make it to at least some of Dr. Dillamond's lecture."
"Hopefully..." Elphaba followed the blonde to the headmistress's office, her gaze down the whole time.
"You can go first, Elphie." She sat in one of the chairs by the office. "Then you can get to your class faster."
"Ah, ladies, there you are. Miss Galinda, please come in, and bring your...escort," Madame Morrible called from her desk. Galinda mouthed "sorry" to the green woman before heading into the office. She took her seat in one of the chairs in front of the desk. Elphaba followed, sitting in the chair next to her. Madame Morrible shuffled through a few financial papers before looking at the heiress. "Welcome back to Shiz, Miss Galinda. I trust your first night was enjoyable?" She didn't wait for an answer before saying, "I'm sure it was. Now, have you decided on where you would like to focus your studies? Your father said something about sorcery."
"Yes. I would actually like to focus on both sorcery and politics." The blonde forced a smile.
The green woman looked at her. "What happened to art?" she asked, before she could stop herself.
"Miss Elphaba, hush. Do not push your personal preferences on her. I think that is a fine choice, Miss Galinda."
"As the future leader of Oz, it is what's expected of me. And so I will happily do so." Galinda gave a small bow of her head. Elphaba gripped the arms of her chair angrily, looking away.
"Oh, my dear, you're just too good," Morrible said. She looked at Elphaba. "And you?"
"Life sciences," the green woman managed to growl.
"Ah, yes. I'm sure that field will fit one so young and...bright." Elphaba's grip on the chair tightened. "By the way, would either of you happen to know anything about the statue outside Briscoe Hall? Apparently it turned to straw last night. Harmless magic, of course."
Galinda's eyes widened slightly. "I have no idea how that could have happened."
Morrible waved a hand. "I'm sure it's nothing, just a few rambunctious students. Thank you, ladies, you may both go to class." Elphaba stood up, stalking from the office, fists clenched tightly.
The blonde quickly followed after her. "Elphie? Elphie, what's wrong?"
"You lied to me!"
"What?"
The green woman whipped around to face her. "You told me you'd study sorcery and art, and I would study the politics for you! But instead, you..." Her eyes shone with tears, and she took off her glasses, swiping at the wetness. "I thought you were finally going to break free from your father...but you didn't. You caved in...and chose to forgo your passion."
"I'm sorry, Elphie. It's what is expected of me. I am going to be the next leader of Oz. My father thinks it would be good for me to know sorcery, and it is required that I learn about politics. I don't have to focus my studies on art to still love it. Elphie, I can still have my art...it just won't be my primary study..."
"Don't." Elphaba put her glasses back on. "Just...stop." She shook her head, "You knew all along what you were going to choose." The green woman gave Galinda an angry, but hurt, look. "Next time, don't lie to me," she said, pointing a finger at her, before she turned and started for Dr. Dillamond's classroom.
The blonde let a tear fall, whispering, "I'm sorry, Elphie," before she left for her art class with Professor Riviera.
All through her morning classes, Elphaba felt a feeling a guilt forming inside of her. She shouldn't have gotten so angry with the blonde...she was only doing what was expected of her. By the time lunch came around, Elphaba found herself waiting impatiently outside Galinda's classroom. The blonde walked out of her classroom, very intently flipping through an art book. She walked right by Elphaba without even noticing her and kept walking down the hall towards the cafe. The green woman did a double-take. "H-hey!" She chased after her. "Galinda, I'm sorry for how I acted, please don't be mad!"
Galinda looked up at the sound of her name, giving her a smile. "Oh, hello, Elphie. Sorry. I didn't see you."
Elphaba looked down. "S-so...I guess this means...we're not..."
"I never was mad at you, Elphie. I'm surprised you are not still mad at me, though."
"I was...but then I felt bad." She readjusted the strap on her bag. "So...did you still want to...um...you know...go back to the room...?"
"Of course I do." She gave her a smile. "But how about we grab a bite to eat first, though?"
Elphaba nodded. "Y-yes...that sounds fine."
"Very well then. Let's go." Galinda hooked her arm through the green woman's, leading her to the cafeteria.
"Did you want to eat here, or get our food to go?" Elphaba asked, as they entered the building.
"To go, of course." She leaned in close to whisper to her. "How else am I supposed to cuddle with you while I eat?"
The green woman darkened. "I...I suppose that does make sense." After packing up their food, the two headed back to their room, and upon arriving, Elphaba settled herself on the couch. "Care to join me?"
"I would love to." With a smile, Galinda settled onto the couch next to Elphaba, cuddling up against her. Elphaba put an arm around her, holding her close, as she opened her box, beginning to shovel noodles into her mouth. The blonde giggled, starting to eat her own pasta. "This is quite delicious."
"Yes," Elphaba said, through a mouthful of food. "Though I don't see why that warranted a laugh. Pasta amuses you?"
"It's not the food that made me laugh. It was you, Elphie."
The green woman paused. "What...what did I do?"
"You were eating funnily."
"O-oh...I apologize. Usually I have better manners...I only eat poorly when I'm alone...and comfortable."
"Awww...you're comfortable around me, Elphie?" The blonde grinned.
Her face turned dark green. "Well, I...um...yes...I am." She resumed eating, forcing herself to stop talking.
Galinda giggled. "I love you too, Elphie." She rested her head against the green woman's shoulder.
Elphaba finished her food and set the box down, repositioning herself on the couch and pulling Galinda back against her with a sigh. "Love you too, my sweet."
The blonde smiled, nuzzling her nose against Elphaba's cheek. "I wish we could stay like this forever."
"Well, my next class has yet to find a professor...and your next class is with Morrible, and I'm not exactly feeling friendly towards her...so we could just stay here..." Elphaba kissed the tip of the blonde's nose.
"Can we? You wouldn't get mad at me for skipping class?"
"Not her class..."
"Oh, so that's how it is? I can't miss any class unless it's Madame Morrible's?" Galinda laughed.
"As horrible as it may sound, at the moment, yes. I didn't appreciate her low comment on my skin color this morning..."
"Then it's settled. We're going to skip our classes." She leaned back in to give her a soft kiss. "And, for what it's worth, I happen to love your skin color."
"Thank you, my sweet." The green woman held her close. "So, how were your morning classes?"
"They were all right. Professor Riviera gave me a book on art though. I think I might actually read a textbook for once." She giggled.
"I noticed that. You were so fascinated by it that you walked right past me without so much as a sideways glance." A pause. "It was a little offending, actually."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Elphie. It was just so interesting. I couldn't help it."
"I could see that. I suppose that's payback for all the times I tuned you out with my books."
"I promise not to do it again...well...I promise to try not to do it again."
"It's alright. I'm glad to see you actually reading for once." Elphaba ran a hand through her golden hair.
Galinda sighed happily at the feeling, scooting a little further down on the couch so that she could wrap her arms around the green woman and bury her face in her shoulder. "Elphie, I...I am sorry about this morning..."
Elphaba looked down at her. "It's all right. I'm sorry I got so upset. I guess...I just wanted you to be able to do something you wanted for once...instead of always being restrained by what others expect. It isn't fair to you. It isn't fair for them to ask all that of you." She tilted the blonde's chin up so their eyes met. "Just know that, no matter what happens, I will always be at your side."
"I'm not giving up on my art, Elphie. There was just no need to make it my main study. What will the people of Oz care I'm an amazing artist? Nothing at all. But if they're being ruled by a sorceress who also knows about the politics of the land...well, they'll be much happier. I still love my art, Elphie. I even talked to Professor Riviera about it. She's willing to give me the work that she would normally give to her students who are focusing on art. So I will be doing all of the work...it just won't be official." She gave her a small smile.
The green woman sighed. "I wish...things didn't have to be this way." She held Galinda close, stroking her hair.
"We can't change what is, Elphie. We can only do our best to make the most of it."
"Yes...I know that...but if I see you skimping on your art, I'm coming after you." She smiled slightly, resting her chin on the top of Galinda's head.
"Then I will do my best, Elphie...for you."
"Not for me...for you, my sweet."