My buddy "Denpa Wave Chick Saki" co-wrote this with me. Enjoy!

Elphaba had never thought she'd find herself this happy to be making her way back inside the palace. But after the past grueling weeks without her blonde counterpart, the green woman couldn't be happier to return. She hoped that Galinda was awake, or at least feeling better.

"It was lonely without you."

Elphaba paused at the voice, before she turned, seeing Nessa approach her. "Glad to see I'm liked enough to be missed."

"You know Galinda misses you if you're gone for more than five minutes."

"Speaking of, has she gotten any better?"

Nessa paused before saying, "In a way...she is better, but staying awake is hard for her...she falls asleep a lot. There isn't as much coughing, and no more blood."

"That's good to hear. Is she awake now?"

"I heard her getting into the bath, so I hope she is."

Elphaba nodded before she headed into the blonde's room, closing the door behind her. "Galinda?" she called, approaching the bathroom door and knocking a few times. "Are you still...indecent?"

The blonde in question was curled up in the tub, her head resting upon her hands as she leaned against the side, sound asleep.

When she didn't get a reply, Elphaba gently pushed the door open, smiling slightly when she saw the sleeping blonde. She knelt beside the tub, beginning to stroke her golden hair.

It wasn't too long before Galinda started to stir. Her hand moved up to rub sleepily at her eyes with a soft groan.

"I hope you enjoyed your nap, my sweet, but this isn't exactly the best place to take one. Might I suggest the bed next time?"

Galinda looked up a little, immediately sitting up upon seeing green in front of her. She rubbed her eyes again to make sure she wasn't imagining things. "E-elphie?"

The green woman smiled slightly. "You seem surprised...I take it you have been thinking as much about me as I have of you?"

Galinda quickly leaned forward, pressing her lips against Elphaba's. "I haven't had a single thought since you left that hasn't been about you..."

"And here I believed that I was the only one who thought too much." Elphaba smiled again, gently cupping the side of Galinda's face. "I'm glad to see you're feeling better...I worried about you the whole time."

The blonde leaned into the touch with a smile. "Much better now that I have you back."

"Yes, well...are you almost finished with your bath? I still need to bring up your things, and perhaps afterwards, you'd like to cuddle? I could make a fire if you wish...it's getting colder, and I don't want you to catch another illness."

Galinda nodded. "That sounds wonderful. I'll just need a few minutes to get dressed."

"All right." Elphaba stood. "Don't fall asleep again," she said before she left, heading out to get Galinda's trunk from the carriage. "Malky, miaow miaow," she said to the white feline curled up on the seat. The cat jumped onto her shoulder as she left the carriage and started back for Galinda's room.

The blonde was stepping out of the bathroom, drying her hair with a towel, when she saw her girlfriend walk into the room. She froze, staring at the cat on her shoulder. "I-is it safe for her to be in my room?"

Elphaba paused in thought, as she set the trunk down. "Would you feel better if she stayed in my room for the night?"

"Please? I don't think she likes me..."

"All right." Elphaba left and deposited Malky in her old bedroom, watching her curl up on the bed. After closing the door, the green woman returned to Galinda's room. "There. Feline-free."

"Thank you, Elphie," Galinda called from the closet, letting her towel drop and slipping a dress on.

The green woman had moved to the fireplace, kneeling beside it as she began to make a fire. "

Galinda walked out of the closet and went over to the bed. She pulled off all of the pillows, throwing them onto the floor over by the fireplace, before she pulled off her extra fluffy comforter, dragging it over to where her girlfriend was as well. With the fire started, Elphaba sat back, watching the dancing flames, not noticing the blonde. Galinda leaned back against the end of her bed and watched her with a smile. "Elphie...come sit with me."

The green woman turned, before she moved to settle herself behind the blonde, drawing her back into her arms and pulling the comforter around them. "So tell me...has anything exciting happened?" she asked, kissing the top of Galinda's head.

The blonde nestled against her with a soft sigh of happiness. "Not very much really. Everything has gone away...I just get tired a lot now. The doctor said it's because my body is still trying to recuperate..."

"Yes, that's what Nessa told me as well." Elphaba paused before saying, "Everyone asked about you...at Shiz..."

"And what did you tell them?"

"I told them it was none of their damn business."

The blonde gaped up at her. "Elphie, you didn't..."

The green woman looked away. "Well, it wasn't...I didn't want them to know..."

Galinda reached up to place a soft kiss on her cheek. "It's alright, Elphie..."

The green woman considered telling Galinda about Fiyero, but she decided against it. "So...what does my sweet want for breakfast tomorrow? I can make you anything you like."

"You don't have to make anything for me. I'll just be happy waking up with you next to me." She smiled.

"If you're sure that will suffice." Elphaba sighed. "Oh, my sweet...Shiz was hell without you."

The blonde cuddled closer, burying her face in the crook of her neck. "Home was hell without you."

"Even with Fae and Nessa and anything you wanted at your beck and call?"

"It isn't the same without you here..."

"Glad to see I'm so missed..."

"Of course you're missed...Rosie missed you too...and Fae..." The blonde yawned.

Elphaba smiled slightly. "I it's time to take you to bed." She stood with the blonde in her arms, setting her on the bed gently before she began to move all the pillows back.

"And you'll stay with me, right?"

"Of course, my sweet." Elphaba left to change into her nightdress, and when she returned, she slid into the bed beside her girlfriend, pulling the comforter over them. "Fresh dreams."

ZZ

Fae was wandering down the halls of the palace, stopping to sniff every other thing just like any dog would do. Upon reaching one door, though, her nose finally picked up the smell of something new. She padded closer, sniffing along the crack under the door. The maltese jumped back with a yelp of pain when a white paw suddenly batted at her through the crack, scratching her nose.

Malky hissed at the nose that had been sniffing around her territory, daring it to come closer or try that awful sniffing again.

The puppy inched closer again, not getting as close this time. She sniffed at the door cautiously. The feline swiped under the door again with another hiss. Fae jumped back with another bark. She jumped up, pawing at the door with a low growl.

Safely on the other side, Malky began to tease the puppy, her paws shooting out under the crack and batting Fae's hind legs.

Fae tried snapping at the paws, but she kept missing. When one of the cat's claws caught her own paw pretty badly, she took off running with a yelp.

Elphaba stirred at the sound of Fae's yelp and sat up slightly, looking around the room. "Fae...?" The puppy came running into the room and jumped up onto the bed, immediately curling up and licking her wounded paw. Elphaba pulled the puppy into her arms. "Aww...what happened?" Fae whined at her, trying to wiggle around so she could reach her paw again. The green woman held the puppy's paw away from her tongue, as she gently shook the blonde. "Galinda..."

The puppy tried to wiggle away again, but she found herself stuck in the green woman's arms. Galinda slowly stirred, turning to look at her girlfriend with a sleepy smile.

"Good morning my sweet," Elphaba said, leaning down to kiss the blonde. "Your puppy seems to have gotten herself injured, so I'm going to bandage her up, all right?"

"You don't have to, Elphie." Galinda sat up, taking Fae into her arms. "I can take care of it..." The blonde put a hand gently over the injured paw and healed it. She brought the puppy up to kiss her nose, easily breathing a healing spell over the scratches there too.

"Please don't overexert yourself..." Elphaba said, watching her. She looked at the puppy. "What happened to you anyway? Were you chasing the mice in the pantry again?"

"I'm fine." Galinda pulled the green woman forward for a kiss. "Though I do think that we should go back to bed..."

"But- mmmm..." Elphaba was drawn in by the kiss and soon forgot her concerns with Fae. "Mmm...but we just...woke up..."

Fae jumped off the bed and ran off. Galinda laid back down, pulling her girlfriend with her. "But I'm still awfully tired..."

Elphaba ended up slightly on top of the blonde heiress. "A-are you?" She kissed her again. "Do you feel all right?"

"I feel fine...just a little sleepy still..." She smiled into the kiss.

"All right." Elphaba rolled to the side, taking Galinda into her arms again. "Go back to sleep then, my love."

"Mmmm...thank you, Elphie..." The blonde cuddled close to her, quickly falling asleep again.

Elphaba didn't fall back asleep, but she enjoyed having Galinda in her arms. She loved watching the blonde sleep, something she had had to go so long without. The green woman decided she would wait until the blonde woke up again. In the meantime, she was content just to lie there with her.

ZZ

It wasn't much later into the morning when Elphaba stirred again, opening her eyes and feeling a slight chill. Upon looking down, she discovered that not only had Galinda managed to remove their nightdresses during the course of the night, but she was now clinging to the green woman, her face buried in Elphaba's neck and somewhat hidden by long raven hair. Elphaba shook her head, not entirely surprised and somewhat amused.

After letting loose a small cough, Galinda nuzzled her face further into her girlfriend's neck in her sleep.

Elphaba stroked the blonde's hair for a few moments, but she frowned slightly when she heard her cough a few more times. She gently shook Galinda's shoulder. "Galinda...wake up, my sweet...we must do something for that cough."

The blonde cracked an eye open. "It's fine, Elphie...sometimes my throat is just still scratchy from before..."

"Even so, I at least want you to drink some water." Elphaba reached over and picked up a water glass, sitting up as she brought it back over. "Sit up and drink please?"

Galinda reluctantly sat up with a sleepy groan, but she grabbed the glass and took a few sips. "See? I'm just fine."

"Yes, well...I want to be sure." She set the glass back down before laying on her back. "Now," she started, pulling Galinda up to lay on top of her, "what shall we do today?"

"I would be willing to do anything," the blonde giggled happily, gently stroking Elphaba's hair. "As long as I'm with you..."

"Well, I don't plan on going anywhere, so that is a given." Elphaba's eyes closed at the feeling of fingers running through her hair. "And you know me...I'm not so good...at planning...fun activities..."

Galinda smiled, leaning down to place a lingering kiss on the green woman's lips. "I'm sure I could think of plenty of fun things to do..."

The green woman's face darkened slightly. "I-I don't think we can stay in bed all day...n-not that that's what I thought you meant! I just...um...I..."

Galinda grinned. "That's what I wanted you to think. Although, as appealing as that sounds, I was thinking something along the lines of ice skating."

Elphaba's blush grew darker. "You...you wanted me to think about having...sex? A-and you really think I'm...appealing?" A pause. "Wait...I have never skated a day in my life."

The blonde giggled. "Yes, I did want you to think that. Of course I think you're far more than just appealing. And don't worry. I'll teach you." She leaned down to give her a soft kiss between each reply.

A small moan escaped the green woman, and she held the blonde tighter with each kiss. "I-if you're sure...that's what you want."

Galinda gave a happy sigh. "Though if you keep holding me like this...we may never leave this bed..."

"I'm sorry...I just missed you so much...the feel of your skin..." Elphaba ran her hands down Galinda's back as she gave her neck a gentle kiss. "But, if you want to skate, then up we must go." She sat up, taking Galinda up with her.

The blonde couldn't hold back a small shiver of pleasure. "Maybe we should wait a little...it has been an...awful long time since I've seen you..." She kissed Elphaba deeply.

Elphaba let out a muffled noise, but held Galinda close. "It has been...too long..." She ran a hand through the blonde's hair. "I didn't like it..."

"Me either..." Galinda gave a soft moan at the feel. "You're never allowed to leave me again."

"If that is an order, then I will gladly comply," Elphaba said, pulling the blonde in for another kiss.

"Good." She smiled. "Then it is most definitely an order."

"Then here I will stay." Elphaba took the blonde's hand, gently intertwining their fingers.

Galinda leaned her forehead against Elphaba's, bringing their hands up to kiss hers. "Forever and ever."

"Until existence itself decides to end." Elphaba kissed the blonde's hand, offering her a smile. "I will always be by your side...no matter what."

The heiress looked at her from behind slightly bashful eyes, saying softly, "I love you."

"I love you too, my sweet." She kissed the blonde again. "And there is no need to be shy about that."

"I know there isn't, but I can't help it. I've never felt this strongly about anyone before..."

"Well, I am flattered, and I can say the same about you. You're a very special person, Galinda Arduenna...and I love every single thing that makes you who you are."

"Even when I force you to stop reading and pay attention to me?" She grinned.

"Even then..."

"When I force you to where dresses?"

Elphaba winced slightly. "As much as I don't like dresses...yes, I still love you then too."

"You even love my annoyingly adorable and yet high-maintenance personality?"

"Yes, I even love that too, as impossible as it sounds."

"Well, then I must say that I am the luckiest girl in Oz..." Galinda smiled, leaning in to kiss her softly. "To have found a girlfriend who loves me so much and is willing to put up with me."

"Lucky indeed, for I do have to put up with a lot." Elphaba smiled as well, returning the kiss. "But you have to put up with me as well, which is a feat in itself. And I love you even more for it."

"It's easy to put up with you when I love you so much."

"Exactly how I feel, my sweet."

Galinda glanced over at the clock. "Well, perhaps it is time to take our love outside. Preferably in ice skates." She grinned.

"If that is what you wish." Elphaba gave her one last kiss before rolling out of bed and going into the closet. "Out of curiosity, how did you manage to get our clothes off last night?"

"I can't tell you everything. Though you should know that if there's something I want...there's nothing I won't do to get it." The blonde grinned yet again, heading into the closet herself.

"That sounds somewhat ominous." Elphaba turned around after pulling on her frock, letting out a "GAH!" when she saw Galinda, not expecting her to be there. She jumped back against the wall, looking down.

"There's no need to be so scared, Elphie. I don't look THAT bad in the morning." Galinda giggled, turning to look through her dresses but glancing over her shoulder again. "And I don't bite...much."

Elphaba turned dark green at that. "I-I didn't think you looked bad...a-and I...um...biting? Much? Um...I...I don't...are you...nnn..."

"Am I what?"

"UM...n-nothing..." Elphaba left the closet, moving to sit on the bed and begin putting her boots on, her face still dark green.

"Oh, no you don't." The blonde quickly pulled on a dress and followed her. "Am I what?"

"Are you...implying that...you do...bite...?"

"Well, I didn't mean it like that when I said it," the blonde giggled. She moved to stand in front of her. "But as for what you're thinking...I guess you'll just have to wait and see..." She grinned wickedly before leaning in to press a lingering kiss on Elphaba's lips, sucking on her bottom lip and nibbling on it a bit.

Elphaba's eyes closed at that and she held Galinda close, allowing the blonde to hold the kiss as long as she wished. "I...I see...I'll have to...keep that in mind..."

It was a few more minutes before Galinda finally mustered up the will to pull away. She smiled at her girlfriend breathlessly. "Indeed you will..."

Elphaba gave her a slight smile, before she resumed putting her shoes on. "I'll bet there aren't even a pair of skates that I could wear," she said as she stood, going into the blonde's closet to retrieve Galinda's own pink skates.

"Oh, you'd be surprised." While her girlfriend was gone, Galinda pulled a box out from under her bed and held it out to the green woman when she came back out. "Happy early Lurlinemas, Elphie." She smiled.

Elphaba raised an eyebrow. "Gifts already?" she said, handing the blonde her skates as she took the box, opening it to find a pair of black skates. "Oh...I see you did some planning while I was gone..."

"Well, you were the one who had a vision of me putting on ice skates. I just wanted to make sure that you could go with me."

"I see." Elphaba gave the blonde a soft kiss. "Thank you." She handed the blonde her jacket as they started from the room. "You're so thoughtful."

"I try to be." Galinda slipped her warm coat on. "Shall we see if Rosie wants to come along?"

"We could ask her, if you wish."

Galinda clapped her hands happily. "Then let's go see."

Elphaba followed the blonde to the brunette's room, and after knocking on the door, they found Nessa sitting with Fae in her lap, saying something they couldn't hear.

"Good morning, Rosie. How are you?" The blonde moved forward to give her sister a hug and pet her puppy.

"All right," the brunette replied. She noticed the skates the two were holding. "Going out I see."

Galinda nodded. "Mhmm. Would you care to join us?"

"Well...I can't exactly participate, can I?" Nessa tried to smile. "But I'll go if you want me to..."

"Come with us, Rosie. I have a surprise for you."

"Oh? All right then..." Nessa turned and followed the two from her room.

"What is this surprise?" Elphaba asked the blonde in a low voice.

"You'll have to wait and see." Galinda led them both outside.

"I want to know now..."

"Yes, what is the surprise?" Nessa asked.

"You'll both just have to wait a few more moments to find out," the blonde giggled.

The three reached the frozen pond and stopped, both brunettes looking at Galinda expectantly. "Well?" Elphaba asked.

Galinda laughed, before she ran over to a nearby tree, going behind it. She came back out pushing a large object covered by a sheet. "This is an early Lurlinemas present for you, Rosie."

Nessa raised an eyebrow. "And that would be...?"

The blonde pulled off the sheet, revealing a chair with blades on the bottom. "A new chair for you, so that you can actually join us out there when we go skating."

Nessa had to remind herself that she needed to be grateful...always grateful...and Galinda had gone through the trouble of getting that for her. She didn't need her legs...she didn't... "Thank you...it's very nice."

Galinda's face fell a little. "Do you like it? Because it's alright if you don't. You don't have to use it you don't want to."

"No, it's fine, Galinda. Thank you." Nessa gave her sister a smile.

"I love you, Rosie." The blonde moved over to hug her sister. "And I only want you to be happy."

"I know you do..."

Elphaba watched the two, before she sat down and began to put her skates on. She wanted to say something, of course, but could not bring herself to find the words.

"So do you want to try your new chair?" Galinda smiled hopefully.

"Yes...thank you." Nessa pushed herself out of her wheelchair and into the new one, looking at the hopeful blonde. "It's very comfortable."

"I'm glad." Galinda sat down to put on her ice skates.

"How are you even supposed to get over to the ice with these things?" Elphaba asked, having stood up and was now trying to walk. "It's impossible!"

The blonde giggled. "You have to balance yourself."

"It's like trying to walk in those stupid heels!" Elphaba fell over, landing on the ice with a grunt. "Ow..."

"You have to be careful, Elphie." Galinda stood up and went over to help her stand again.

"Oh, do I? Thank you for pointing that out." Elphaba took the blonde's hand and stood, but her feet almost slipped out from under her. She clutched the blonde's arm, trying to force her legs to work. "How the hell does this work?"

Galinda giggled. "It'll take practice."

Elphaba released the blonde, sliding a little away as her arms swung in an effort to steady herself. "This...is not...working!"

"Try taking slow and smooth steps. Let yourself glide." The blonde got behind her sister's chair and pushed it onto the ice.

"That's helpful," Elphaba said, trying to do what Galinda suggested, but she only succeeding in falling down again.

Galinda couldn't help but giggle again. "Would you like me to hold your hand to steady you?"

"I can...do it..." Elphaba said as she got to her feet, took two clumsy steps, and promptly fell again.

"Stop being so stubborn or you'll end up waking up with a sorry bottom tomorrow. Come hold onto Rosie's chair and use it steady you."

"And take Nessa down with me? I don't need that hanging over my head." Elphaba got to her feet again, trying to remain upright. "All right, now... if I just stay perfectly still, this will work perfectly."

Galinda giggled, placing herself behind Nessa's chair and starting to push her gently. "I suppose that's true, Elphie. Except you won't have any fun if you just stand there and don't do anything."

"I will have more fun doing this than continually falling on my ass."

"Awwww. You're no fun..." The blonde put on a joking pout.

Elphaba reluctantly tried taking a step, and succeeded in hitting the ice again, sliding a few feet and lightly bumping into Galinda's legs. "Happy?"

The blonde stumbled a little, but she remained standing. She held her hands out to her girlfriend with a laugh. "Yes. Yes, I am."

Elphaba took the offered hands, standing with a groan. She started to fall again and clung to Galinda, saving herself. "Don't let go..."

"I won't. I promise." She gently pulled away, still holding onto her hands. "Now, let's take a nice slow step..."

The green woman did so, clutching the blonde's hands as she fought to keep her feet underneath her. "Okay, I took a step, am I done now?"

"No way. You just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Come on."

"Galinda..." Elphaba took two tiny steps, wobbling slightly. "This is far too stressful...I already have enough stress in my life!"

"Elphie, take a deep breath and take another step. It just takes practice." Galinda looked up into warm chocolate eyes with a smile.

The green woman nodded before taking another hesitant step. "You...you shouldn't...be out here...you'll get sick again..."

Galinda chuckled. "I'll be fine. Now, stop making excuses to get out of this."

"I'm not...I'm just looking out for you." Elphaba attempted to take another step, but ended up stumbling, this time taking Galinda down with her.

The blonde gave a squeak before laughing, clutching tightly to Elphaba. "That was very...graceful."

"I know..." Elphaba sighed before brushing a strand of hair behind Galinda's ear. "I love you..."

"I love you too..." She whispered back with a blush.