3 and ½ Years Later
The 2004 Tony Awards
The lights dimmed and the music started to play. Idina shifted in her seat and smoothed her dress down. The awards were beginning. Hugh Jackman strolled onto the stage and up to the microphone. He introduced himself, radiating confidence. Maybe some of it will rub off on us, all of the nominees hoped at once.
Idina was so nervous. She was glad she was done singing Defying Gravity, but now it was time to face the hard part. She'd been nominated before, for RENT, and she'd felt the same way back then, but she was younger then. She couldn't get it out of her head that this was her only chance. She practiced the breathing exercises that Kristin had taught her before they went in, barely noticing what was happening around her. Inhale…exhale…inhale…exhale, she pictured Kristin telling her. It sounded like she was giving birth. "Ha, like that'll ever happen," she intoned. Her hands stopped shaking.
"And now, the nominees for the best performance by a leading actress in a musical are:" Idina looked to her husband, shocked. She'd spaced out for a whole hour. "Kristin Chenoweth, Wicked." Upon hearing her…um…friend's… name, Idina sat upright in her seat and clapped like mad. She was so happy for her. If anyone wins tonight, it should be her, Idina thought. She couldn't think of anyone who was more deserving.
Taye nudged her. "Did you see Kristin wave at the camera? Man, you'd think we'd have taught her some New York manners by now." She burst out laughing. A voice startled her, "Idina Menzel, Wicked." Oh, crap, she thought. Her face fell a little, in an effort to appear calm and collected. Even though she knew she wouldn't win, she relished the applause.
She clapped and kept clapping for the two other nominees that were mentioned after her until she heard the woman on stage say, "And the 2004 Tony for best leading actress in a musical goes to: Idina Menzel, Wicked."
She stopped; everything around her seemed to be in slow motion. Her vision blurred. This isn't happening. This can't be real. She took a deep breath. Shakily, she stood up and leaned over to kiss Kristin, who was smiling and clapping, tears almost streaming down her cheek, then turned around and kissed her husband. She made her way up to the stage, teetering on her heels, her blank expression failing and a slight smile tugging at her lips. Kristin reached out her hand and Idina seized it, letting her fingers brush against Kristin's arm as she continued toward the stage.
She was having a difficult time keeping the tears at bay, hearing her summary spoken over the loud speaker and seeing clips of her performance on the screen. She averted her eyes and reached out her hands for the Tony. Up at the mike, she caught a glimpse of Taye crying for her and Kristin holding her hands to her chest, almost in tears. "Thank you," she dabbed at her eye, "thank you." A shout was heard from the crowd, "I love you, Idina!" She laughed and waved at them, "I love you, too!" she laughed again. "Thank you, I-I-I am so proud to be in a musical that celebrates women," she looked to Kristin, "that celebrates their strengths and their differences, and to be in the company of these women this evening is just a dream for me." Her voice caught. "Thank you so much, and Kristin Chenoweth," Kristin looked up at her from her seat, her lower lip quivering. "You are the grace and the light on that stage every night. " Kristin raised her hands to her chest again, their sign that they loved each other. Kristin blew her a kiss. "I- This is something we built together and I love you." Idina's heart beat faster, adrenaline rushing through her. "And Joe Mantello has had the faith in me for 3 and ½ years and kicked my butt into this role, and Stephan Schwartz, for writing the most beautiful music that someone could sing eight times a week. And Winnie Holzman for giving the green girl a heart! And-" she laughed again. She was very nervous. "And-and-and the producers Marc Platt and David Stone and everyone and Tanya Travers my voice teacher! And Heather Reynolds and Bonnie Bernstein and Jobi Horrigan and Joe Delun and Alan get me in and out of this silly green makeup every night. And the cast! Joel Grey, Carol Shelley, Norbert Butz, the crew for getting me safe up and down in that flying machine. And my mother and my father and my sister Kara and my grandmother are here tonight. Thank you for taking me to see Dream Girls and Annie and everything growing up ," she was starting to lose it, " And my beautiful, beautiful husband who tells me he loves me every time I feel like the biggest loser. I love you so much," she was starting to cry. "Thank you everybody!" Idina bowed and blew a kiss to the audience, walking off stage with the two announcers, trying to keep calm.
She breathed in and out as the announcers led her off stage and into the waiting room, where she could clean up and get back out there to watch the rest of the ceremony. On her way in the door, she grabbed a tissue and collapsed on the couch. She thought about her speech. Man, was that embarrassing. She scrunched up her nose as she remembered what she said. "And I love you," flashed through her mind. The next thought that popped up was of Kristin holding her hands to her chest and blowing her a kiss. Taye appeared in her mind after that, but she pushed the thought of him away. Her brain went back into Kristin mode. She tried to guess what Kristin was thinking during her speech. Was she angry that she didn't win, or was she reminiscing on those four words Idina said so powerfully to her? She hoped it was the later.
Taye walked in. Idina looked at the clock and she realized she'd been in there for thirty minutes. Time was flying tonight.
"Hey, baby, how are you? I was thinking about what you said to me in your speech, and I love you so, so much."
"What?"
"You said you loved me , at the end of your speech."
"Oh, yeah, I do, I really do. I love you, pookie." She pushed herself off the couch and went over to kiss him. Wiping her eyes with the tissue, she exclaimed, "Alright, let's get back out there. I'm sure Kristin is worried."
The lights were low at the after-party as Idina stepped in the buzzing room. In the crowd of people, Idina stood on her tiptoes and looked around. She spotted someone and dragged Taye across the room until they stood in front of Kristin.
"Hey there, Idina!" her eyes flicked over to where Taye was standing, "and Taye." She looked back to Idina and flashed a smile. "Congratulations on your win!" Idina took her hands and held them, relaxing in her warm grip. "Thank you. If you ask me, you should have won. You deserved it." Kristin let go of Idina's hands, "Are you kidding? I saw with my own eyes how much work you put into this. I'm glad you won." They beamed at each other, each not willing to believe the other's compliments, but each believing the ones they gave. And I love you. Taye tapped his foot. He looked at Idina. "Look sweetie, I have to go. I need to be at work really early tomorrow."
Idina turned to him in surprise, "But you just got here!" She didn't want him to leave her alone with Kristin. She was afraid of what they might do. And I love you.
"I know, but I have to go! Please try to enjoy yourself, you deserve to celebrate, my little Tony winner." She giggled and he leaned into her, kissing her for more than the necessary amount of time needed to say goodnight. Kristin rolled her eyes.
Idina watched Taye go and turned back to Kristin. She cleared her throat.
Kristin smirked at her. "So, how does it feel to win a Tony?" she asked knowingly.
Idina scoffed, "Like you don't know," she said sarcastically, but then she went back to being sincere. "It feels…it feels like I'm on top of the world."
Kristin took Idina's hands again. Uh oh, Idina thought, it's starting. "That's because you are," Kristin beamed and leaned back, "and, as the queen of the world for the night, I think you should enjoy it." She smiled, scrunching up her nose and giving Idina a sexy look.
Idina stared at her, wide-eyed, her mouth gaping. "…What?"
"Oh, I just think you should let go for a night. Just, you know, relax."
"Oh…I thought you meant-" just then, Kristin dragged Idina out of the room. A few people said "Goodbye" or "Congrats" on her way out, as if they didn't notice she was being pulled along by a mini-locomotive named Kristin.
Kristin got her out of the room and the building all together, and called a cab. She tapped her foot and moved her hand along Idina's arm absentmindedly. A yellow car pulled up to the curb a few seconds later and Kristin pulled Idina in and told the driver her address.
"Where are we going?!" Idina asked, taken aback.
Kristin responded by grabbing Idina around the waist and whispering, "My place," in her ear. The ride was over before Kristin could get any further. She hastily paid the driver, who looked confused and slightly aroused, and towed Idina in the building and into the elevator.
The shiny metal doors closed. "What are we doing, what's going on? What-" Kristin shushed her and gave her a significant glance. Idina's heart beat faster, almost as fast as it did up on that stage tonight. The tips of her fingers tickled and she felt her stomach jump. She knew she loved Kristin, she loved her with everything she had, but she just wasn't sure if she was ready for this. She thought about what they might do. Idina inhaled audibly.
"Getting ready?" Kristin asked with a sly expression.
Idina looked her over. Oh yeah.
The doors of the elevator opened and Idina and Kristin rushed to Kristin's room. She pulled out the key and shoved it in the lock. The door opened and Kristin tackled Idina into the living room, shutting the door with her foot.
Kristin had her pinned on the floor, panting, looking lasciviously into her eyes. "I'm ready."