DISCLAIMER: in the first chapter...

A/N: I know, I know... Long time no see. I apologize. End of semester was crazy and I had no time to write, or post or breathe! But, now, vacation time! I will be posting more regurlarly. Please don't give up on me and don't forget to review!

NOT OVER YET

"Elphie?"

The blonde woman, dressed fashionably in pink, as was customary for her, sat sideways on a garden bench. Around her, flowers of various species and colors painted the green garden beautifully. Galinda hardly noticed them, though. Her pale blue eyes were solely focused upon her best friend's introspective profile.

"Elphie?"

Long black hair cascaded freely down bare shoulders. Eyes stared into the distance, head tilted up. Long emerald fingers caressed the growing bulge of her stomach.

"Elphaba?"

The seemingly serene woman turned finally to face Galinda, shattering the illusion of tranquility. Chocolate brown eyes revealed her unrest.

"What's wrong, Elphie?" Elphaba bit her lip, unsure.

"It' just…" She turned sideways, mirroring friend. "This is all different from before. I – I got married! To Fiyero! I'm having a baby. No one died… No one had to suffer for my mistakes. The Animal Banns were really lifted, so easily that I'm still trying to wrap my mind around it. You are here with me!" Elphaba took the pale hand in hers. "We're okay." Tears shimmered in the Munchkinlander's eyes.

Galinda smiled widely, almost giddy. "We're more than okay!" Confusion crossed her face and her lips faltered a bit. "I don't understand. Why aren't you happy?"

"I am!" Sigh. "I am happy. It's just…" The green woman looked down, as if ashamed. "I can't help but wait for the other shoe to drop. It was just too easy."

"You are being a pessimist again, Elphaba. Stop searching for a conspiracy around every corner. You changed history!" Galinda squeezed the hand that held hers. "You did good…"

"But that's just it. Not everything changed."

Galinda's nose twitched, her eyes slightly narrowed; the closest thing to frowning she would allow from herself. "Elphaba, maybe you should tell me the whole dream." The green girl shock her head; her persistent refusal. "Okay. I'm not going to argue about this again. Still…" The blonde sighed.

"Talk to me. What hasn't changed?

Elphaba breathed in deeply, repositioning herself on the bench; her back had started to complain the abuse. It was difficult to find the proper words to say exactly what she wanted – no, needed – to say. "I…Fiyero and I… Morrible's still out there. I have no idea what the Wizard's real intentions are." Another sigh. "I know it sounds minor, but… Just a little slip, Lynn. That's all it took for things to fall apart before. A rash decision, the wrong word."

"Stop worrying, please, Elphie." Galinda ran her hand up and down Elphaba's bare arm. "You have to enjoy the now; the happiness you managed to conquer now. If you spend all your time worrying about the future, you'll loose the present. It's not worth it, my friend."

Elphaba smirked, an eyebrow rising neatly.

"There you go being all wise again. Have you been studying, Miss Upland? All smart on me now…" Blonde curls bobbed up and down as the girl nodded.

"I've turned into you! Shen-Shen and Pfanne are always complaining about it." She hardily seemed upset by that fact, giggling as she was. A genuine smile graced Elphaba's lips.

"Wish I could have been there to see it." There was no sadness behind her words, Galinda was glad to note.

"So! Are we going shopping? Cause you are five months gone already and this baby needs a lot of things!"

"Galinda…" Elphaba was close to whining.

"No, no arguments. Soon, you won't be able to travel. You are almost there already. Besides, I have to return to Shiz in a couple of weeks. I'll only be able to see you again after Liir is born."

"I'm not sure Fiyero will even let me. He is always hovering and acting worried."

The blonde girls shock her head in disapproval, stood up and placed her hands on her waist. She looked positively commanding. "That's a cop out and you know it, Elphaba Tiggular! I know, better than anyone, that you do what you please."

The pregnant woman considered arguing with Galinda's logic. Surely the blonde saw that that point could hardily be used as an argument when forcing her to go shopping. Something Elphaba really didn't want to do. After only a moment of consideration, though, she discarded such thought. It was a fight she was bound to loose; Galinda had a talent of getting her way.

"Okay." The blonde screeched, rather loudly, making Elphaba flinch.

"We'll pack today and be ready to go tomorrow to the Emerald City. No better place to shop and I always wanted to go ther…"

Elphaba hadn't been paying particular attention to her friend's ramble. She could hear the girl's voice; no words registered. Still, the moment the sound died away completely, Elphaba was startled, eyes flying up sharply. Galinda's lips continued moving; the flowers and trees never stopped their dance with the wind… She just couldn't hear them. Nothing, but the loud rushing of blood within her ears.

Her former roommate seemed oblivious to her growing distress.

Then, movement caught her attention, near the archway, which allowed entrance to the private garden. Watching it all in slow motion, Elphaba saw a young child stumbling. With its head down, only dark locks could be seen. But the blood… the vivid red covering the child's arms and chest could not be ignored. Her stomach turned, her chest constricted. Yet she couldn't seem to move.

Then, he looked up.

A boy, with deep azure eyes, reached out a hand towards her, as if asking for help. She felt her breath catch. His mouth opened, screaming. Still, she could not hear him. The distressed boy, a toddler at best.

Her Liir.

Cold hands grasped her bare shoulders, Elphaba's head snapped up. Galinda's worried face came into view. Sound returned all at once, deafening.

"Mommy!"

Elphaba looked quickly back; the archway was empty. No Liir, no blood. Nothing.

"Elphie!"

The green woman turned her head back to Galinda. "Elphie, breathe!"

So she did, only then realizing that the burning in her chest had been the result of oxygen withdrawal. The air rushed in too quickly and Elphaba chocked, coughs racking her body.

"Elphaba, are you okay? Is the baby coming? It's too soon! We have to call Fiyero and a doc…" Tears came unbidden to Elphaba's eyes, matching her friend's, as she struggled to control her own emotions and Galinda's hysterics.

"No!" Deep breath. "I'm not in labor. I just… I had another vision." The Gillikinese calmed down a bit.

"Tell me, Elphie. Don't keep me in the dark again."

The munchkinlander nodded.

"I saw…" Elphaba described it to her in detail.

Though she was glad to be told this time, Galinda soon came to realize she would have been better off not knowing. Yes, Elphaba had been right.

Horrible things…