A/N: We have arrived at what was originally the last chapter! It's another short one I'm afraid, but I really just needed to round off the story. Anyway, the epilogue will be a lot longer. ;) I hope I did okay with this chapter. I did some last minute editing but I'm not sure if I'm really happy with it. Here you go!

Chapter 7 – Testing New Waters

The hushed voices whisper in a low murmur, but they are muted and dull. There is a line, and they are on one side; Galinda and Elphie on the other. The masses can only watch, and speak their judgemental words, but never act, never cross that barrier and break the blissful bubble of joy that Galinda and Elphie stand in.

There is a wedding canopy. The girls wear white dresses and Elphie's hair is full of white flowers. Galinda cannot fathom how she wanted this with Fiyero – when she looks around, she sees only a faint impression of her old romance, a fading image of the boyfriend she used to think was perfect. Now real perfection stands before her, takes her hand and plants a kiss on it.

'You are everything my sweet,' says Elphie. 'I vow to be yours forever.'

'Then mine you will be. I love you.'

And any remain of the muted background voices fades into silence.

.../...

Baby pink or rose pink – that was the question.

Hands on hips, Galinda frowned at her wardrobe choices. Her Elphie would love whatever she wore, but Galinda knew that she did not favour the ones of the tight, frilly, pink variety. She would smile and tell her that she looked wonderful, and Galinda would know she was telling the truth – but Galinda also knew that only the most superior apparel would cause her girlfriend to stare at her with that slight, narrow gaze which meant she was brimming with desire.

Sod it, she thought. Blue it is.

She took out another, more modest dress and smiled. Galinda knew, despite Elphie's lack of comment, that this particular dress was one of the favourites. She remembered the conversation from the first time she'd dared to bring it out from the back of the closet:

'I have not worn it in an absolute age for fear of looking like my mother,' she'd said.

'My sweet, if your mother looks anything like that, she must be an incredibly beautiful and elegant woman.'

'But it's so...grown-up.'

'And do you not wish to appear grown-up? You are hardly a child anymore. I daresay you have the curves to pull it off.'

And that had been that. One tiny compliment from Elphie and the dress made it to the front of the wardrobe among the favourites, rather than squashed into non-existence. Galinda put it on and peeked in the mirror. Now that she'd worn it a few times she had come to see that the dress was, indeed, elegant.

She decided to leave her hair down.

Her Elphie, after all, loved her with her hair down – 'As opposed to those unnatural curls you always put in. Why in Oz does one need to curl curly hair anyway?' she had said on numerous occasions. Galinda had pouted, but had proceeded to leave her hair untouched more often. She had not been oblivious to the twitch on the corners of Elphie's lips as her girlfriend noticed what she had done.

Make-up, however, was not up for negotiation. She slathered the stuff onto her face, expertly using it to widen her blue eyes and chisel her cheekbones. The green girl didn't have the skin for make-up. Galinda had tried several times but had given up when Elphie had an allergic reaction to some eyeliner. She grimaced as she remembered the blisters that had formed on her Elphie's skin.

Finally, she was ready, and she sat on the edge of her mattress with her legs stretched out in that uncomfortable position. Her Elphie would be returning from the library soon to pick her up for dinner, and Galinda had to look perfect upon her girlfriend's arrival.

Some old habits would never be broken.

The rattly old doorknob twisted and Elphie strode in. She looked up from the stack of books she was carrying and glanced at Galinda with that narrow gaze.

'Beautiful,' she said, lowering the books onto her desk.

Galinda stood and stretched her legs. She flushed red as her girlfriend gave her an amused smile and a peck on the lips.

'No; you are,' she responded, but inside she was beaming.