Jessie ran up behind Elphaba, lifting her in the air, and spinning her around, as they both laughed. They were in front of Kiamo Ko, and Elphaba felt so safe in her arms, she couldn't bring herself to care.
"This vacation was a wonderful idea, Mrs. Reynolds." Jessie said, smiling up at Elphaba. Elphaba could feel her heart racing. The smile on her face could have easily lit up a room.
()
"Mmmmm, Mrs Reynolds…." Elphaba mumbled in her sleep, a wide smile on her face.
Jessie looked down at her curiously. She had woken up a few hours before, and was sipping on a cup of coffee, watching Elphaba sleep. She blushed, hearing her name said like that. She still couldn't believe that Elphie had agreed to Marry her.
()
Elphaba next found herself standing on the veranda, allowing her to look over the mountain range. The sight was breathtaking, the sun slowly setting in the east, giving off a multicolored effect on the Ozian sky. Two hands on her shoulder nearly made her jump, until she realized it was Jessie.
"You're glowing as much as the sky is." Jessie said, her hands sliding down to the large buldge on Elphaba's stomach. Elphaba looked down, seeing a baby bump. Her hands slid to it, running over it slowly.
"Why wouldn't I be, love? I've never been happier in my life." She whispered, more in shock than anything.
()
The soft gasp that escaped Elphaba's lips had Jessie concerned. She paid attention to her physical reaction. No twitching, no tossing and turning. Her face looked more peaceful than Jessie had ever seen it before. Elphie wasn't in distress, so Jessie shrugged it off, wondering if she did similar when she was dreaming. Jessie smiled, seeing the one e-mail she had been waiting for since she arrived.
()
Elphaba had a smile on her face, as she watched Jessie chase a little girl around a grassy field. Every time Jessie got close, the girl managed to get away, and they both laughed. The third time Jessie almost had her, until she floated up. Elphaba suddenly found herself with her arms wrapped around the little girl.
"Oh, come on! I almost got away!" The little girl protested.
Jessie tsked, "You know floating isn't fair."
"Mommy always says to take every advantage in a contest." She said, sticking out her tongue.
Jessie began tickling her, "Now I gotcha!" Jessie said, laughing, as she continued to tickle her. It wasn't until the laughing girl looked up at her that Elphaba realized the girl had her eyes, and smile.
"Mom, tell mommy to let me go! This isn't fair." She protested.
"You know how to win a tickle fight, don't you? You tickle back!" Elphaba said, before pouncing with the girl on Jessie. They played in the field, all laughing.
()
Elphaba woke, tears in her eyes, and a wide smile on her face. The first face she saw was Jessie's, studying her.
"Good morning." Jessie said, a little concerned with the tears, but the smile offset that.
"Jessie…." Was all Elphaba said, before pulling her into a soft kiss. Jessie smiled, as Elphaba broke the kiss, still smiling.
"What was that for?" Jessie asked, smiling, but a bit confused.
"I had the most beautiful dream." Elphaba said, the tears falling.
"Must've been." Jessie said, nodding.
"Would you like to see it?" She asked.
Jessie raised her eyebrow, "You can do that?"
"Well while we were in school Glinda was teaching me mind reading and memory transference. I haven't done it since I've been on Earth, but I would love to try." Elphaba said, honestly hoping it would work. She would love Jessie to experience this wonderful dream.
"Knock yourself out." Jessie said, with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. Elphaba snaked her hands around Jessie's neck and face. Two of her fingers came to rest on Jessie's temples, as she looked deeply into Jessie's eyes.
Jessie gasped, seeing herself as Elphaba saw her. The gasp turned into a little giggle as she saw her hands caressing Elphaba's baby bump, and a wishful sigh as she saw herself rolling on the ground with a little girl that looked like a perfect combination of Elphaba and her. The girls skin was normal, a fact she knew Elphaba loved. When Elphaba broke the link, Jessie began crying.
"That was beautiful, Elphie." She said, though her sniffles.
"Yes, it was. I do believe it was the best dream I have ever had." She said, hugging Jessie, who hugged her back. Niether let go, until the phone rang. Elphaba laughed a little, before answering.
"Hello? Hello, Marcus. Your timing is perfect, as usual. What did you need. That sounds like fun. I'll ask her, hang on." Elphaba put the speaker to her chest, "Marcus wanted to know after the drama last night if you felt like getting some surfboards and wave runners and spending the day on the water." Elphaba said, grinning.
"That sounds like fun." I'd rather spend the day in bed with Elphie, but she'd rather go surfing, I'm sure. Jessie thought to herself.
Elphaba smirked, before pulling the reciever back. "Yes, we'll meet you on the beach in a couple of hours." Elphaba said, hanging up. If that's what you wanted, Jessie, you should have asked. Elphaba sent back, getting a wide eyed stare.
"How did you do that?" Jessie asked, confused and very embarrassed.
"The mental link has been established. All I have to do is tune into your thoughts, and I'll hear them." Elphaba explained, as Jessie pulled the blanket back over her head, and slinked down.
"I'm going to go ahead and die now. Give Marcus my regards." Jessie said, laughing nervously.
Elphaba laughed, pulling the blanket off. "I'm flattered, Jessie," Elphaba slid into bed next to her, "And I would choose you over surfing any day." Elphaba said, kissing her cheek, as Elphaba's arm draped over Jessie.
()
Jessie should have known when they said time on the beach, they didn't mean time on the actual beach. As soon as she got there, Josey dragged her down towards the water, to a waiting wave runner. Elphaba laughed at the sight of big Jessie being dragged down by this little five seven pencil thin girl wearing a light blue bikini.
"They are an odd couple, aren't they?" Mike said, laughing.
"Yeah, but look at the smile on Jessie. She wouldn't trade this for anything." Elphaba said, getting a nod.
"I know. We kid her, but it's so nice to see her so damn happy. I don't know what you did to our Jess, but I'm damn glad you did." Mike said, hugging her tightly.
"I'm glad, too." Elphaba said with a smile.
"Now that the mushy shit is over, how would you feel about burying your girlfriend in a few waves?" Mike asked.
"Now that sounds like fun." Elphaba said, racing with him to the other wave runner. She slid in the driver's seat, starting it up. A few minutes, and screams from Mike to slow down later, they blew past Jessie.
Jessie looked back at Josey. "You wanna catch her?"
"Let's do it!" Josey screamed, laughing. Jessie opened up the wave runner, chasing Elphie down. Elphie, let's race. Jessie sent, hearing a laugh.
Shouldn't you catch up to me before you challenge me? Elphaba sent, as Jessie blew past her, Josey screaming with glee.
"ELPHIE, SLOW DOWN!" Mike screamed, as Elphie cranked it even more. Jessie stopped fifty yards away, Elphie pulling straight next to her, "I'll take my chances swimming!" Mike said, diving off, as Elphie laughed.
"You wus!" She teased, getting flipped off, as he swam back to shore.
"OK, from here, around the beacon, and back to the beach." Jessie said.
"Josey, you want to ride with me?" Elphaba offered.
"HELL YEAH!" Josey said, jumping over to Elphie's machine.
"Thanks, sis." Jessie said, laughing.
"Don't blame the girl because she wants to ride with the winner." Elphaba said, getting a scoff.
"Don't take this ass whipping personally, Elphie." Jessie said, revving the engine.
"Three….Two…..GO!" Josie said, patting Elphie's shoulder. Jessie and Elphie were in a dead heat until the turn, where Jessie broke out a little bit. She sped towards the beach, watching Elphie trying to catch up. Thinking she had Elphie beat, she eased off the accelerator, as she approached the beach. She was shocked, when Elphaba not only caught up, but blew past her. Jessie leaned on the accelerator, catching up to make it a dead heat to the beach. Elphie inched her out, to Josey's delight.
"Nice riding, baby." Jessie said, as they pulled next to each other. She leaned in to kiss Elphie's cheek, and Elphie pulled her into the water with a laugh. When she came up, Elphie smiled at her.
"You're all wet if you thought you were going to beat me. I live for speed!" Elphaba said, shocked when she found herself in the water next to Jessie, and Josey speeding away on the jet ski. Jessie looked at her, and laughed with her.
"Should we go get her?" Jessie asked.
"Nah, we'll just keep an eye on her." Elphaba said, watching Josie doing tricks on it.
"I'd rather keep an eye on you." Jessie said, holding her from behind in the water, and kissing the back of her neck.
"I love it when you do that. Makes me feel special." Elphie said, wistfully, Jessie swam to the front, so she could look Elphie in the eyes.
"You are special. You're everything to me. Please don't ever forget that." The love in Jessie's eyes when she said it overwhelmed Elphie. She pulled her in, hugging her tightly, and kissing her passionately.
"Oh, get a room." Josey said, blowing past them, not that they heard it at all. They were completely lost in each other.
()
Jessie was laughing, watching Mike and Rick wipe out from the beach. She rubbed some more suntan lotion on, watching her family play and have fun in the water. To her that's what this was, she remembered her grandma telling her some families you're born into and some families you choose. Her grandmother always knew what to say and when to say it. Jessie wished she had that ability, but only for a moment before Marcus trying to build a sandcastle with Elphie caught her attention. Actually, it was the four letter words coming out of Marcus's mouth that caught her attention, as the third tower he had built fell.
"No good piece of shit." He said, kicking the other tower down.
"Relax, Marcus, this is supposed to be fun." Elphie said, patting him on the shoulder.
"To the four year olds that know how to do this shit, maybe." Marcus growled. Elphaba couldn't help but laugh, as he laughed at himself, "I am taking this far too seriously, aren't I?"
"Yes, you are. But you're amusing, so it's passable." Elphie said, patting his shoulder.
"Gee, thanks." Marcus said, laughing, as Josey dragged Elphaba off. Seeing his chance, and Jessie tanning alone, he walked over.
"Lay down, you're in my sun." Jessie said, with an over exaggerated sigh. Marcus laughed, sitting next to her.
"You know, Miss Rich Bitch doesn't really suit you." Marcus said, sitting next to her.
"Yeah, I know. Just trying it out." Jessie said, sitting up with him.
"There's a nasty rumor going around. Something about you and Elphaba becoming partners." Marcus said, looking at her sternly.
"Who told you?" Jessie asked.
"Josey, last night." Marcus said.
Jessie grinned sheepishly, "Yeah, it's true. I asked Elphie to be my partner, and she said yes."
"Jessie, she's not your partner. I'm your partner. She's your wife. What the fuck is this partner bullshit." Marcus said.
"I just….I didn't know if she'd be comfortable calling herself my wife. Partner seemed like the better choice of words at the time." Jessie admitted.
"Jessie, Elphie is a lady. You're gonna slight her if you make her feel like she's just your partner." Marcus said.
"It's just the title Marcus. I'm not even sure Elphie cares." Jessie said, thinking on his words.
"She cares, even if she doesn't admit it. She knows how much you love her, Jessie, but the last thing you want is her thinking that she's just your partner. You want her to know that no one exists in your eyes but her. She deserves that, you know." Marcus said, getting a nod.
"Marcus, she's everything to me." Jessie said.
Marcus looked at Jessie calmly, "I know that. You're everything to her, too. She deserves the best, Jessie. You give it to her in everything, and skimp now?"
That comment really hit home for her. "You're right. I need to fix this."
"So get her alone and do that. The concierge said there's a waterfall on the other side of the island. Why don't you break her away from Josey, and head out there. She loves nature, she'll eat up all that romantic crap." Marcus said, his usual gruffness returning, getting a chuckle.
"I love you, Marcus." Jessie said, hugging him tightly.
"Get outta here, damn it. I'm a tough guy, I'm not allowed to be all mushy and shit." Marcus said, patting her back, "I love you, too, Jess." Marcus watched her walk off towards Elphie, feeling a certain amount of pride. He'd watched her go from an insecure shy kid to a more confident, stronger woman. Even more so since Elphaba's arrival into their little family. He couldn't help but be proud of her.
()
Josey had led Elphie away from the group to just chat with her for a bit. "So, since you are going to be my sister in law eventually. I am going to start calling you sister...or Elphie."
Elphaba blushed softly, "Thank you, I am honored that you think so highly of me Josey."
Josey's smile became a bit more serious. "So sis...I never had an opportunity to really thank you for saving me."
Elphaba similed softly, "You are welcome Josey. I am glad I saved you too. I really enjoy spending time with my sister."
Josey hugged Elphaba tightly, she pulled back after a few minutes. "I'm glad to hear that sis. Cause, you can't get rid of me now." Her smile slowly disappears, "Can you promise me one thing though?"
Elphaba nodded her head, "Of course Josey, what is it?"
"Promise me that you will keep Jess safe? I know she's a tough girl, but sometimes she really gets into some tight fixes." Josey didn't want to admit it, but she was really worried about Jessie getting hurt one of these days outside of the fight ring.
Elphaba nodded her head slowly, "I promise Josey, I will keep her safe."
Josey's smile returned before she laughed softly, "Enough with the heavy, let's race the jetski's."
Elphaba's grin matched Josey's, "You are on sister."
They both raced off towards the jestki's in the water.
()
Jessie walked hand in hand with Elphaba through the lush woods. She couldn't help but smile at how taken Elphaba was with the nature they were walking though. She looked like a kid in a candy store, and Jessie was loving every second of it.
"I can't believe how beautiful this is, Jessie. It's like the hotel and civilization just don't exist out here." Elphaba said, cuddling into Jessie's side.
Jessie kissed her head, "That it does."
"Oh, sweet Oz, look at that." Elphaba breathed, looking at the waterfall. It was amazing, the water cascading around a hundred feet down a natural cliff face into a crystal blue water lagoon.
"That is incredible." Jessie said, as they approached the water. Jessie took off her shirt, revealing a sports bra, and laid it on the ground for Elphie to sit on.
"Almost as incredible as you are." Elphie said.
Jessie slid behind her, holding her close. "Baby, be honest with me. You know what I meant when I said partner, right?"
"Of course, my love. You meant you want me to be by your side for the rest of your life." Elphie said, her voice softer than it had ever been before.
"I'm not sure what they call it in Oz, but here it's called a wife. I want you to be my wife, Elphie. I want the first thing I see in the morning to be your smile and the last thing I do at night to be thanking God for the privilage."
Her words stunned Elphaba into silence. She had always dreamed of being loved like that. She thought she had, but it wasn't to be. She knew Fiyero loved her, why else would he sacrifice his life for her? As much as she had wanted him, she couldn't deny that her love for him wasn't what she thought it was. He didn't make her feel how Jessie made her feel with just a glance. Elphaba turned into her, looking at her.
"I love you, Jessie." Was all she could say, buring her head in the nape of Jessie's neck. Finally she was able to form a few more words, "I would be honored to be your wife Jessie."
Jessie breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that, "Thank you my love."
Elphaba pulled Jessie into a gentle kiss. She pulled back slightly with a grin, "Come with me Jessie, I want to share something special with you."
Jessie smiled brightly at that, "I will follow you anywhere my love."
Elphaba grinned as she took Jessie's hand and led her around the lagoon near the waterfall. Her suspicions were right, there was a path leading up to a ledge under the waterfall. She began climbing the path with a wide smile on her face. There was a wide ledge just below the top of the eighty foot falls. Elphaba had the widest smile on her face as she waited for Jessie to join her.
Jessie wondered what Elphie had in mind. When she saw Elphie climbing the steep path up to the ledge, she began to get nervous. She had to say she would follow Elphie anywhere didn't she? However, watching Elphie climbing in that very sexy black bikini was very enticing. Swallowing her fears, Jessie begins to climb up behind Elphie. Once she gets to the ledge she presses her back against the cold rock wall as she looks at Elphie, "So, was this the adventure you had planned?"
Elphaba grinned as she let her toes hang over the edge of the rock ledge. She looked down into the clear water and saw that it was indeed safe to cliff dive from here. She turns to look at Jessie, "Not quite my love."
Elphaba walks to Jessie and slowly guides her away from the wall. Backing up until her feet are hanging off of the rock ledge. "Dive with me my love. It is safe, all you have to do is step off and I will be waiting below."
Jessie's eyes go wide when she hears Elphie's words, why did she have to be terrified of heights? "C-can't we just fly down instead?"
Elphaba shook her head slowly before planting a gentle kiss on Jessie's lips. "I love you." Before Jessie could protest, Elphaba hopped off of the ledge and gracefully dove into the cool water below.
Jessie watched as Elphaba dove off of the cliff. Her heart was racing and she was nervous as hell, but Jessie trusted that Elphie knew what she was doing. Before she could talk herself out of it, Jessie took a deep breath and stepped off of the ledge. The adrenaline raced through her body as she fell towards the water. She landed in the water with a splash.
Elphaba was waiting for her underwater and pulled her into a deep kiss. That was perfect Jessie.