If there were two things Elphaba Thropp hated, they were waiting, and having to sit in a clinic room with absolutely no reason to. They tried to make her stay by telling her of treatments for shock and giving her information on panic disorders; and she was able to handle perhaps an hour of that before she threatened to jump out of the window if she did not get some rest. She was exhausted and she really did want to rest but she did not trust the Wizards sudden change of heart so easily.

He may have given them all a room in his palace and let his personal doctors treat them all but Elphaba did not trust the man. Nothing would change her mind on him now; he could help them, heal them, tell his men Morrible tried to kill him, and even call for Fiyero's and Galinda's parents—His actions had already done enough. Her sister was dead and she had just recently found out that her father had also been in one of those tubs, along with a couple of others that she didn't ask about. Apparently her father, once pulled out by one of the wizards men, had killed himself after seeing Nessarose's body. It tore her up knowing that she really was a cause for their deaths but she didn't want to think about that unless she wanted those doctor's to come and restrain her for destroying the room.

Lurline knows they almost did when she made a crack in the wall when she found out.

Someone else mentioned that another of the bodies was of Menia Tenmeadows—Avaric's mother, also suffering the same fate as her dear sister. It was only three minutes since the palace nurse left her room and that was already too much. She threw her legs over the small cot and peered outside the room to check if anyone was around. She walked barefoot through the hall and found the room she knew Fiyero was in, cracking the door open after making sure no one was around and shutting the door behind her.

Fiyero turned her way and smiled. Elphaba hurried to his side.

"Mind giving me a hand?" He smirked and Elphaba rolled her eyes.

"That's not funny you know." She said, moving Fiyero so she could sit beside him.

He chuckled, shuffling to the side to giver her better access. "I find it a little funny."

"Leave it to you to find humor in almost losing a hand."

"I find that I usually have a firm grip on what's funny." He joked again, a twinkle in his eye.

Despite herself Elphaba cracked a tiny smile letting her hand rest on Fiyero's uninjured hand.

"Your hand is not gone so the jokes don't flow as well." She told him and Fiyero stared at his bandaged hand.

"It looks like someone took a bite off of my hand and spit it back out, it's horrible" He smiled, though it didn't really reach his eyes this time as he continued staring at it.

"You can tell all that from seeing the bandages?" She said leaning her head on his shoulder and Fiyero shrugged.

"I don't need to see it to know how it looks like."

"It's not horrible." She said again, taking his bandaged hand gently into her own to lay it on her lap.

"It will be when it's scarred over." He uttered as she rubbed his arm as a way to comfort him.

"And that bothers you? I would think you would be glad about it, now having some story to try and woo girls." She said sarcastically and Fiyero stared at her.

"I don't want to woo any girls. I only need you." He said quietly with a smile.

Elphaba moved her hand to hold his. "If that's so then I'll gladly give you my hand."

He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss on her knuckles. "As long as you promise you'll never let go."

"Nothing would make me let go." She said sincerely, looking into his eyes.

Fiyero smiled gratefully. "That's good to hear because it's no longer your hand….It's ours."

Elphaba snorted, "You're being cheesy." She said, secretly taking every word he said to heart.

"I'm a handful sometimes." He cracked joyfully and Elphaba bit her bottom lip to stop her laughter.

"You are an idiot, Tiggular." She sighed, tilting her head up to kiss him.

Fiyero parted back slightly, still grinning, "I have to hand it to you, you know me well."

Elphaba groaned."They are only getting worse."

Fiyero's eyes flicked towards his hand. "My other option is to sit and dwell on my scarred hand so I find it handy to find humor in my situation."

"Please stop." She chuckled and Fiyero grinned brightly, taking joy in what he thought were the wittiest puns.

"I'll make all the corny jokes as I can make if I can see you smile like that." Elphaba twisted in her seat to take Fiyero's face into her hands, kissing him deeply. Fiyero moaned and tried saying something between pauses to breath, but for some reason she didn't let herself stop, she couldn't get herself to stop. It was only after a few minutes when she needed to breath more than she needed to kiss Fiyero, she pulled away. Fiyero's eyes were still closed when she let his face go, his mouth turned up in a smile.

She felt embarrassed for some reason even though they were sort of together. It just didn't feel like an appropriate thing to do in a sort of hospital room. "I'm going to check on Galinda and let you rest now, I'll be back when you behave," She said in a hurry and Fiyero's face split into a cheeky grin.

"I'm the one that has to behave? Wait, no kiss goodbye for this handsome prince?"

Elphaba was already red enough as she rushed out, hearing his loud laughter from outside. She shook her head and took a few steps into the next room where she assumed Galinda was in.

She was right because when she entered the only person there was the blonde, clearly still drowsy.

"Hey you." Galinda said sleepily, turning her head towards her.

"Getting better?" Elphaba asked, silently hoping her face was green enough to mask any blushing on her face. Galinda merely stared at her.

"I would be if Fiyero would let me rest. What's with him?" She wondered and Elphaba sighed, running a hand through her loose hair. "He's decided he is some sort of pun master now that his hand isn't as perfect as his face." She explained and Galinda smiled. "Oh."

"Yeah." She breathed helping Galinda sit up, fixing her pillow so she could be more comfortable.

"So how are you? I've been worried sick wondering where you were living while you were gone."

She shrugged sitting beside Galinda. "I was around. Safe." she answered.

"With Avaric?" Galinda asked, turning her attention to her fingers.

She shrugged again, "You could say."

"And…how is he?" She asked, brushing her hair behind her ear, Elphaba noticed the slight amount of blood still smeared in her hair, and she looked away.

"I don't know." She said honestly, feeling her heart ache at the sight of Avaric's blood. A reminder of what happened only hours prior.

"His heart was still beating." Galinda murmured looking down again.

"That doesn't change the fact he shot himself in the head." She said plainly, looking at what Galinda was really trying to do; she was trying to clean the blood that was stuck underneath her fingernails.

"Do you think he'll be okay?" Galinda asked her quietly, her focus on her nails and Elphaba shrugged again.

"I can't say, I honestly thought he was dead. There was a lot of blood." Too much blood to have survived it.

"He better not be."

Elphaba raised an eyebrow and Galinda's face seemed to flush. "I want to thank him, for what he did. It's nothing more…he saved my life." She finished softly making Elphaba's lips turn up a bit.

"You will eventually." Was the only thing she could manage to say not entirely sure herself if it was true or not.

Sadness clouded the blonde's expression. "If he's still alive."

"Well yeah…" Elphaba trailed off, trying to find something to steer the conversation away from death. "I just wanted to tell you that what you did was extremely stupid..."

Galinda didn't seem fazed by her words in the slightest, "It wasn't any worse than running away like a fugitive."

Elphaba grimaced, "That's somewhat true if it wasn't for the fact that it was Morrible that you were pretending to work with."

Half of Galinda's face curled up in a smile. "I had her fooled."

"And then you didn't."

Galinda sighed and nodded."And then I didn't," she agreed. "but it's not because she suspected anything of me, it was because I tried to run."

"Which really was a stupid move."

"Hey," Galinda said in her own defense, "It's not as bad as marching into the palace room with magic blazing from my fingers." Galinda wiggled her fingers in front of Elphaba's face, Elphaba smiled pushing her hands away.

"Can we just agree that we were both stupid?"

"I guess…" Galinda smiled sharing a laugh with Elphaba.

"Now really," Galinda said, fixing her expression. "You never answered my question. How are you?"

"Trying not to get caught in here. I was supposed to rest in my room and—"

Galinda held a finger up to quiet her, "And that's not what I meant. How are you personally after—"

"I'm fine." She snapped. She didn't want to talk about that or anything to do with it.

"You don't want to talk about it, I understand, but if you ever do need to let it out and cry you know I'll be here no matter what." Galinda took her hand and gave her a small smile.

Elphaba stared at her hand and swallowed, "I..I appreciate it, I do, but I'm not going to cry."

"It's not healthy to keep your emotions hidden." Elphaba didn't look up. She already knew what Galinda was going to do and she wasn't going to fall for it.

Her expression hardened as she replied, "That may be but I fear it far more unsafe for me to lose control."

"I see…" Galinda sighed, letting her head fall back.

Elphaba attempted to change the subject once more, "There's something I wanted to ask you, It's about Sanevan."

Galinda leaned up, curious. "Sanevan?"

"Yes," Elphaba nodded, having so many questions. "Was he working with Morrible as well? Were you two together or anything?"

Galinda frowned. "He left days after you did, I haven't seen him really, so I don't know?"

"So nothing happened?" She asked again and Galinda looked confused.

"No, nothing happened—why exactly are you asking that?" Galinda wondered and Elphaba shrugged.

"To see if you listened to my warnings."

Galinda's eyes were on her and Elphaba turned away feeling awkward. "Just that?"

"What else would there be?"

"I don't know but since he left so soon after you did…I thought...that perhaps you two had something before?"

She was quiet and that was all that Galinda seemed to need as a response.

"We were never together, and I did not pursue him," Galinda explained, "He defended me against Avaric, I loved that he did that and I made myself believe that I loved him. He was like a prince come to save me when he protected me." Galinda finished and Elphaba nodded slowly.

"I don't even know why I asked."

Galinda gave her a knowing smile. "You asked because you obviously still have something with him."

Elphaba didn't reply because she was confused herself with that. He was important to her, but so was Fiyero now.

"Then go." Galinda said softly.

She raised an eyebrow. "Go where?"

"Talk to him." The blonde plainly said. "Go to him."

She shook her head. "And leave you guys here with the Wizard?"

"We'll be fine…my momsie is coming!" Galinda said with a cheerful grin.

She shook her head once again. "I don't think I can leave."

Galinda smiled. "Since when do you ask permission to go where you want?"

"I just don't think its safe to leave you guys." She didn't want to go. It wasn't safe for them and it might not be safe for her.

"You've never met my mom."

"I haven't, but I know she isn't here yet and I don't know what can happen if you guys are alone."

"Stop making excuses you thickheaded weenie." Galinda said playfully jutting her tongue at her.

Elphaba was perplexed for a second at what Galinda called her. "...I've heard a variety of green jokes throughout my life..." She shook her head, "But never in my life has someone called me a thickheaded weenie?"

"Someone had to say it. You marched right into the wizards palace so don't chicken out of talking to Sanevan because he may have killed someone."

Elphaba frowned, "We are taking this whole thing much too lightly. We are talking about a guy who may have killed Boq?"

Galinda shrugged it off, "That doesn't mean you shouldn't talk to him, especially if he was ordered to do it. It's not his fault."

When Elphaba didn't respond Galinda sighed heavily. "Just go and talk to the boy nothing's going to happen!"

"Did you forget that he may have killed Boq?" Elphaba reminded her again because Galinda didn't seem bothered by that fact. She could be trying to persuade Elphaba to go talk to a murderer.

"He may have or I suspect it might have been Avaric; but even if he did do it, I think you wont be able to move on with Fiyero if you don't talk to Sanevan." Galinda said simply going back to cleaning her finger nails.

Elphaba froze, caught off guard. "Fiyero?" She squeaked and Galinda gave her a knowing look.

"Elphie, " she sighed in exasperation, "I could hear you guys talking from here."

She blinked. "Oh."

Galinda started giggling. "I'm not mad, he and I were together for a week so it's no problem."

"I'm...still not going anywhere. Not with you guys hurt."

Galinda rolled her eyes. "I'm fine."

"And drugged up. Fiyero is trying to joke about the fact he lost most of his hand and…" She sighed tiredly, rubbing at her head. "I can't leave right now."

"If that's what you think is right, who am I to stop you?" Galinda said, moving her head to get more comfortable. Elphaba helped her lay back down. "But know that it's going to be hard to move on until you do talk to him."

Elphaba groaned knowing that it was true.

"Besides the Wizard wont hurt me or Fiyero, Morrible was the one calling the shots. The wizard was just the face, so if you go we'll be fine."

She chuckled, "I really do appreciate your help with this but I can't go. I can't stand the thought of leaving both of you and being by myself."

"You think you'll break without someone to worry about don't you?" Galinda said surely and Elphaba scratched at her neck.

"Not breaking. Having a complete mental breakdown and destroying everything in my path is more like it."

Galinda's eyes widened as she nodded slowly. "I see, stay here with us then."

"That's the plan." She sighed, smiling slightly at Galinda's expression.

"So...are we talking our room back at Shiz destroy everything or anything or anyone in your way is dead?"

"Don't know and I don't want to find out." She said earnestly and Galinda giggled.

"Yeah neither do I."

"So do— " They both went quiet when they heard the knock from the door.

"Hello, are you awake?" The voice said through the door.

"Who is it?" Galinda asked carefully.

"Oscar—Er, the Wizard." Came the reply.

Galinda looked at Elphaba, and Elphaba scowled, he was the last man she wanted to see. Even so Elphaba automatically helped the blonde sit up. Galinda sent her a grateful smile before clearing her throat.

"Come in." Galinda chirped and the door opened.

The Wizard stepped inside and looked taken back when he saw Elphaba sitting there. She stared back blankly more concerned over the tall dark haired man who stood at the door meekly. He was the one who had hurt Fiyero and he was just standing there at the door, it was his fault that... Galinda placed her hand on her arm to calm her, and that was the only thing that stopped her from rising from her seat and attacking him. Galinda gave her a warning glance before the wizard started speaking."I just came here to personally tell you that your parents are here." He said quietly and Galinda smiled brightly.

"They are!"

"Yes, I've had them sent up for you…Miss Elphaba?" He said turning to her. She felt Galinda's hand tighten on her arm.

"Yes." She said stiffly knowing that if Galinda let go so would her cool.

"Shouldn't you be—never mind. I never got the chance to—"

"If you're going to apologize for anything I would recommend you keep it to yourself. I will never forgive you." She spoke darkly not letting him finish.

His mouth fell open a bit, looking at them remorsefully. "I never meant any harm to you or anyone."

"That's nice." She muttered fixing her glare at the man standing at the door. No harm in changing people's past, right?

The man looked away shamefully and the wizard looked at her and back at Galinda before nodding. "Very well, I should let the prince know his parents are here as well." He took one last look at them before stepping out.

"You know you should probably rethink that no forgiving thing." Galinda said a moment later dropping her hand from her arm.

She bit the inside of her cheeks in a grimace. "My sister and my father are dead. I will never forgive him."

"What if your father wasn't…" Galinda stopped and shook her head with a tiny smile. "You know what this can wait, you should probably go with Fiyero. My momsie is going to give the wizard an earful real soon."

"I kind of want to see that now."

"I'm not surprised but as you can see I'm physically okay, Fiyero on the other hand—"

Elphaba raised her eyebrows and Galinda looked back sheepishly.

"That's not really…Well...No." She corrected herself. "I just meant that his mother is going to want to kill the wizard so you should probably make sure she doesn't."

She huffed crossing her arms. "Why would I do that? He deserves it."

"He really doesn't, he isn't at fault for what happened. Morrible is and she's dead already."

"Lets not argue."

"You only say that because I'm right, but sure." Galinda laughed and Elphaba rolled her eyes at her.

"Now really I hear the footsteps I'd go now because If you thought I talked nonstop when you first met me you will realize that pales in comparison to my mother."

"You convinced me, I'll go now."

"Okay Elphie, I'll see you soon. I still need to give you your bottle back."

She smiled at Galinda who waved at her before taking off. Elphaba did not sneak around anymore since the wizard had already seen her. It wasn't very far either so there was no point.

Fiyero smiled widely when she entered. "See I knew you couldn't stay away."

"I only came because your parents are here." She told him truthfully and Fiyero understood.

"Ahh."

"Yeah, " She said taking a seat. "I really wanted to stay with Galinda and listen to her mother yelling at the wizard but I decided to be supportive for your mother when she sees your hand—any jokes come out of your mouth and I swear I will leave and not return." She said rapidly when she saw the way Fiyero's eyes twinkled.

"You'd really leave me over a hand joke?" He said amusingly and Elphaba nodded.

"Yeah, your mother doesn't need to hear them."

Fiyero chuckled and sighed. "That's true. I don't necessarily want her to cry."

"I don't think your mother will cry, I fear she'll go momma bear on the wizard."

Fiyero smiled but shook his head. "She won't, she is still a royal— " His words were cut off when they heard the yelling in the halls. There was no mistaken his mother's voice and another with it as well, and hearing the loud pitch of her voice only led her to believe it was Galinda's previously mentioned mother.

"I'll be back." She told him quickly rushing out of the room before one of them killed someone.

When Elphaba walked out of the door her whole body froze when a blonde woman who she could safely assume was Galinda's mother, raised her hand and struck the wizard in the face.

"I don't care if he is the wizard or if he is the unnamed god himself, Elarra, I was told my daughter would be safe—she is in the infirmary which means that that statement is untrue." Her mother huffed holding her purse like a weapon. The wizard held a hand to his face and flinched back in terror at the raised purse. It was very amusing to her to see someone who was worshipped by so many, recoil from such a petite woman.

"So I would like if he stopped preventing me from seeing my daughter."

"I wasn't preventing you from it I only meant—"

"You mean to step out of my way so I can see my child." Galinda's mother demanded and the wizard nodded.

"I-Yes, ma'am." He said and Galinda's mother lifted her head and brushed past him.

Elarra noticed her and seemed to visibly relax.

"Elphaba, thank goodness you are okay." She said coming to her happily. Fiyero's mother eloped her in a hug and Elphaba didn't know what to do or say. It took her by surprise actually, his mother didn't know her well and she was still hugging her.

Elarra pulled away lightly to look her over. "You are unharmed, right?"

She could only nod.

"Good. Where is my son? Do you know if he's…" She didn't to finish to know what she wanted to ask.

"No." She told her with a smile and that single word seemed to be enough for his mother to start tearing up.

"He is my son?" Elphaba nodded and Elarra laughed yanking Elphaba into another hug.

"Where is he? Why isn't here to see me?" She asked and Elphaba glared at the wizard who had begun to back away.

"He didn't tell you?" She said frowning at the wizard who paled in his place.

"What was he supposed to tell me? I was sent to come see my son who was being kept safe."

"He is safe you don't have to worry about, but I should warn you when you enter the room that—"

Elarra tried to hide the panic in her eyes. "He's hurt isn't he? Where is he?"

"That room." She pointed and the Queen rushed off without another word.

The wizard looked as if he wanted to say something but he held back. Elphaba turned to leave so she could be there with Fiyero but she wanted to know something.

"What happened to my friend Avaric, the one who shot himself?"

The wizard seemed surprised that she was speaking to him. "Mister Tenmeadows?"

"Yes."

"He was cleaned and is being kept beside his mother, along with your sis—"

"That's all I wanted to know. " She said harshly fleeing the hallway, eyes brimming with tears. Her sister was dead and so was her father. She had held her sister's lifeless body felt the coldness of her skin, but she was at least hopeful that Avaric had survived. Wishful thinking on their part when he shot himself in the head… But she thought that there was a chance there for him when her sister did not have a chance.

He kept his promise until the end. He had sacrificed his life to protect the person he loved.

Now it was her turn to keep her promise.