EPILOGUE (Part One): OURS

"Something is going to happen today," Elphaba told Fiyero in bed when he awoke. "Company. I can feel it."

"Hallidah and Calix?"

"They're just down the street. I don't feel this when they come by."

Fiyero paused for a moment.

"Fae…you don't think—"

"Don't jinx it," Elphaba hissed. "We mustn't get our hopes up."

"But you said—!"

"All I said is that I can feel something. That's all," Elphaba said as she sat up to get out of bed. "For now we ought to start our day."

Elphaba gasped as Fiyero pulled her back into bed and settled over top of her.

"Why in Oz's name would we do that?"

Fiyero leaned down to indulge in a luxurious kiss and Elphaba sighed, melting into it.

"We can't stay in bed all day," Elphaba breathed as they parted, but even as she said it she was winding her legs around Fiyero's hips. "You won't distract me."

Fiyero laced his fingers with Elphaba's and pinned her hands above her head. In doing so he spotted a glint as the metallic bands they wore on their ring fingers caught a ray of sun.

"Was last night not enough?" Elphaba muttered, her resistance waning as Fiyero kissed her neck. "Or the night before that? Or the—"

Her breath hitched as Fiyero's teeth took hold to brazenly suck on the skin of her neck.

"You know most couples tire of each other after almost twenty years—"

"We are not most couples," Fiyero muttered against Elphaba's skin.

He was right about that.

On any other day Elphaba would have eagerly succumbed to Fiyero's advances…but she still had that feeling. In a swift maneuver, Elphaba pushed Fiyero aside and pinned him beneath her with a breathless grin.

"A gallant attempt, my love," Elphaba said. "But I'm afraid I must disappoint for now. There's too much to do…we need to prepare."

"Prepare for what?"

"Heaven knows…" Elphaba shrugged with a smile. "But it's something good."

"It better be," Fiyero grumbled as Elphaba slid off of him and out of bed. He propped himself up on his elbows to watch her as she dressed for the day. "Out to work on the garden, then?"

Elphaba rolled her eyes and bent to kiss him.

"Good one."

Exiting their bedroom, Elphaba strolled across their sitting room and into the adjoining kitchen of their cozy seaside cottage. She filled their tea kettle with water from the sink and put it on the stove with a relaxed sigh.

"Tea, love?" Elphaba asked when Fiyero approached and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"No thanks. But are you taking yours out on the deck?"

"Maybe," Elphaba replied coolly. "Why do you ask?"

"Ah, no reason," Fiyero said, his lips brushing against her ear. "I was just…thinking about doing some laps."

Elphaba concealed her knowing smile.

"Enjoy yourself, darling. Maybe I'll see you out there."

"Maybe you will."

The rush of the ocean met Elphaba's ears as Fiyero opened the back door to their deck. Beyond it was a bumpy slope leading to their own rocky patch of beach. The cottage was a fixer upper in an undesirable location for most locals due to its proximity to Ev's boundary line. Citizens of their tiny village were, not for no reason, superstitiously wary of the desert.

However, it was perfect for Elphaba and Fiyero who had personal motives not to stray too far inland.

Utilizing her antsy energy, Elphaba busied herself with some light cleaning. She lazily waved her hand through the air to magically clear dust from their bookshelf, wobbly chessboard, and dining table set with four mismatched chairs. But upon opening their front window to banish the dust outside, Elphaba's breath hitched as a strong tingle rolled up her spine. She leaned out the window which overlooked their remote street, overwhelmed with sudden expectation.

"It can't be…" she reasoned with herself.

But her hope was stronger.

Elphaba closed her eyes, breathed deeply, and permitted herself the chance to wish hard, as if her own hope could be used as a signal. A beacon.

A homing device.

Footsteps.

Elphaba's eyes snapped open at the sound of boots on cobblestone and gasped when she caught sight of who—as if by magic—was now standing at the foot of their front pathway, squinting quizzically at their door.

Her wish.

Her boy.

"Liir…" she mumbled to herself, hardly believing her eyes. "Oh…oh! Liir!"

Scrambling from the window, Elphaba tore out the front door as fast as she could manage.

"Liir!" Elphaba called again as she burst out onto the porch.

"Mom!"

Dropping the bag and broom he had in hand, Liir sprinted up the steps and straight into his mother's waiting arms. Beside herself with elated laughter, Elphaba squeezed Liir in as tight a hug as she could manage.

"Oh I knew it was you!" Elphaba declared in joyful disbelief, pressing kisses to the top of Liir's head. "I knew it was you I felt coming!"

Through the open front door Elphaba could hear Fiyero reenter the house from the back deck.

"Fae?" he called.

"Yero, come quick!" Elphaba shouted, still not releasing Liir. "Our baby is here!"

"What?!"

"I said our baby is here!"

Fiyero rushed out onto the porch with a dumbfounded expression, his hair still damp from his swim.

"Liir—?!"

"Dad!" Liir grinned, rushing to hug his father.

"How—how—I don't believe it!" Fiyero stammered in surprise. "I don't believe you're here!"

"Well, I'm here!"

Liir pulled out of the hug and stepped back slightly, allowing his parents to take a good look at him.

"Oh you've grown!" Elphaba gasped, taking Liir's face in her hands as she inspected him. "Your hair is so short! You look so grown up!"

"It's only been a year," Liir chuckled. "Not even!"

"Eleven months, one week, and four days," Elphaba rattled off. "Oh but I knew you'd find us. I told you, Liir, didn't I tell you?"

"Look at you!" Fiyero remarked, brushing a patch of dirt off of Liir's cloaked shoulder. "You're a mess, son."

"Gee thanks," Liir rolled his eyes. "We did have an awfully long way to go to get here so—"

"We?" Elphaba furrowed her brow. "What do you mean w—"

"Liir Fiyero Upland! You know your Auntie can't run very fast in these shoes!"

The expressions on Elphaba and Fiyero's faces slowly began to fade as the sound of frantically clacking heels on cobblestone heralded the arrival of a second visitor to their home.

"No…" Fiyero breathed in disbelief.

Her blonde curls were windswept and rumpled, her face was sweaty from the chase, and she was wearing a laughably impractical outfit for travel. She had aged, much like them, but with an uncanny amount of grace that only she could have ever pulled off. The pictures from her album didn't do her justice. Their memories of her didn't do her justice. Standing before them after ages apart, Glinda Upland was more beautiful—far more beautiful than Elphaba and Fiyero could have ever prepared for her to be.

Glinda, panting from her pursuit, tossed her luggage to the ground with a harried huff.

"Liir, I told you to—" Glinda began. But she cut herself off with a delicate double take as her eyes swept over the porch and at last locked on the pair of people that were standing beside her godson. "I told you to…wait for…me…"

"I'm dreaming," Elphaba mumbled, largely to herself."Surely I'm dreaming."

Activated by Elphaba's voice, Glinda stumbled back a step and clapped a hand over her heart as if she were trying to hold it inside of her.

"Oh!" Glinda squeaked in soft surprise. "Oh…oh my…"

Then, for a long moment, nobody moved. Nobody said anything. They merely stared at each other across the lawn in surreal shock. In the end it was Elphaba who broke the spell of silence by shakily stepping off the porch. Her eyes shifted downward to observe that her watch, plain as day, was still at home on her wrist. She returned her gaze to Glinda.

"Is this really happening?" Elphaba breathed, hesitant to believe even after her watch had confirmed reality. "Glinda…is it really you?"

"It's really me," Glinda nodded weakly, her green eyes glossing with beautiful tears. "It's me, Elphie."

Upon hearing her long-dormant nickname, Elphaba shattered with a sudden sob and sprinted forward to throw herself against Glinda, her dearest friend, in an awestruck embrace.

"Glinda. Glinda!" Elphaba choked, weeping into Glinda's curls. "Oh, my Glinda."

Glinda's perfume overwhelmed her and unconsciously conjured sweet memories to Elphaba's mind. Memories of Glinda. Of Glinda. Glinda. Glinda, Glinda.

"I've missed you Elphie. I've missed you, I've missed you, I've missed you," Glinda whimpered, joining Elphaba in her heaving sobs of joy. "I've missed you."'

"Could fate possibly be so kind to me?" Elphaba blubbered. "I never thought I'd live to see this day!"

Glinda tried to pull back to look at Elphaba's face but Elphaba shook her head and clung to her tighter. Her fingernails all but dug into Glinda's back, desperate for closeness after the years—the decades of suffocating distance.

"No, please," Elphaba begged. "Just a bit longer. Just until I can believe it."

"Forever, then, Elphie," Glinda assured, stroking Elphaba's hair. "For all time."

Elphaba at last leaned back but kept Glinda's hands clasped in hers and held firmly against her heart.

"I never thought I'd see you again," Elphaba whispered weepily. "Even in my most optimistic moments I dared not hope for this."

"Well I did. Just like I said I would," Glinda affirmed, squeezing Elphaba's hands. "I never stopped hoping, Elphie. I never gave up. Not even once."

"You always believed more in the power of wishing," Elphaba murmured. "It seems that after all this time I am the fool for doubting you."

Glinda brought the tip of her finger to Elphaba's nose in a soft boop.

"Just never doubt again, Elphie girl."

"I never, ever will."

Elphaba turned and gave Fiyero a joyous look, unabashedly wiping her own tears.

"Yero, it's our Glinda!" Elphaba beckoned him with a teary chuckle.

Upon her invitation, Fiyero wordlessly crossed towards Glinda and they met in an overwhelmed hug of their own.

"I missed you, Glinda," Fiyero said in a strained voice, shaking from the shock.

"Of course you did. Why wouldn't you?" Glinda laughed tearily. "Oh, how I missed you too, Fiyero. My beautiful, beautiful prince."

Liir approached Elphaba as Fiyero and Glinda continued to hug and murmur to each other in affectionate reunion.

"Surprised, Mom?" Liir asked. "We hoped you'd be."

Elphaba, still trembling, wrapped her arm around Liir's shoulder for support.

"Oh darling…" she mumbled, kissing the side of his head. "You have no idea."

Fiyero and Elphaba helped Glinda and Liir bring their belongings inside.

"I hardly know where to begin," Elphaba said, breathlessly disoriented. She gestured to their cozy living space. "This is the place."

"Quite a step up from the last one, huh Liir?" Fiyero nudged him.

"I'll say."

"Yes Liir showed me that little town you were in before…" Glinda said.

"Mmhmm," Elphaba crossed her arms. "And what did you make of it, Glinda?"

"It was…" Glinda stalled for a long moment, obviously struggling to think up something kind to say. "Quaint."

"How I've missed your pretty lies!"

"We magicked ourselves there first, just for the first leg," Liir explained. "Then got directions to Ev at the tavern."

"Clever boy," Elphaba said with pride.

"And then followed Liir's keen inner compass thingy the rest of the way! Didn't we, Liiry?" Glinda said brightly. "Though I must say I'm relieved that we know where we're going for next time. Even by bubble I quite loathe the desert!"

"Next time?" Fiyero said hopefully.

"Next time," Glinda assured him.

"I'm overwhelmed," Elphaba admitted. "That's quite advanced. You both really transported yourself all that way?"

"We've been training all year to go longer distances," Liir said.

"Yes, that's right. Oh, Elphie, you'll be so proud over Liir's magical progress!" Glinda gushed, wrapping her arm around Liir's shoulder. "Especially at…go on honey, tell them."

"Auntie Glinda," Liir rolled his eyes.

"Tell them!" Glinda nudged him.

"I've sort of been taking some sorcery electives…" Liir said. "At Shiz."

"Shiz? Shiz?!" Elphaba blurted out. "I knew it! Oh, I knew it! Yero, our boy goes to Shiz!"

Liir covered his face as Elphaba and Fiyero aggressively high-fived each other in celebration.

"And he chose it all on his own!" Glinda said, giggling in delight over their reaction. "I only had to encouragerize him a teeny tiny bit."

"You abducted me to tour the campus!"

"Abducted is such a strong word, Liir," Glinda tossed her hair. "You can be ever so dramatic, you know."

"I told your father you'd end up at Shiz," Elphaba grinned competitively. "He wasn't convinced but I knew. I knew."

"All I said was there are other schools out there!" Fiyero held up his hands. "After all, I should know. I've been to all of them."

"Screw those schools! Our boy is too smart for those schools, too good for those schools," Elphaba said, gesturing to Liir boastfully. "Besides! It's clear that Liir wanted to follow in his mother's footsteps."

"Or mine!" Fiyero protested.

"Or mine!" Glinda added.

"Yeah your mom talks a big game, Liir, but guess what?" Fiyero said. "She didn't even graduate. She's a lousy college dropout!"

"Not by choice!"

"Okay so maybe I did want to follow in your footsteps—all of your footsteps," Liir allowed, sheepish over their praise. "A little."

"Well we're over the moon proud of you, kid," Fiyero said.

Liir smiled at that.

"Enough about school," Glinda decided. "I've brought gifts!"

Glinda hoisted her heavy pink bag onto the kitchen counter and stuck her arms into it to rummage about.

"Glinda you did not need to bring gifts!" Elphaba scolded.

"Who do you think I am, Elphie? Honestly."

Glinda waved Liir over to help her, which he did. Elphaba and Fiyero raised their eyebrows as Glinda began piling things onto their counter.

"Alrighty! We've got Shiz merch, baked goods, some of Liir's graded essays—"

"How did you get those?" Liir complained.

"I have new pages for the scrapbook and...oh! Elphie. I thought you'd find this funny."

Glinda tossed Elphaba a small plush witch doll. When Elphaba caught it the witch screeched 'I'M MELTING' from its voice box. Elphaba cackled at the souvenir, indeed finding it funny.

"What a pitiful scream. Mine was much more frightening," Elphaba said. She held it up to Fiyero. "Does it look like me, Yero?"

"Not nearly as cute," Fiyero winked before spotting the next thing Glinda pulled from her bag. "Glinda is that—"

"Vinkun coffee," Glinda confirmed, scooching it across the counter. "It's horrendible stuff, Fiyero, really, but I remembered how much you liked it."

"Sweet Oz, I love you Glinda," Fiyero said. He meant it. "Liir—have you ever tried any?"

"I mostly drink tea."

"Not anymore. Let me make you a cup."

"Yero, you'll give the boy a heart attack with that stuff!"

"Ah, come on, Fae. He might like it. He's Vinkun after all!"

As Fiyero and Liir began busying themselves with coffee preparation, Elphaba moved to stand beside Glinda. She watched as Glinda pulled out all sorts of things including a bouquet of fresh flowers.

"You overwhelm me, Glinda," Elphaba shook her head. "Especially since I'm empty handed."

Glinda paused for a moment before thoughtfully slipping her hand into Elphaba's and giving it a squeeze.

"Not empty anymore, is it?" Glinda asked, looking up to meet Elphaba's eyes again.

"No…" Elphaba smiled softly. "No it is not."

"Seeing you and Fiyero again is all the gift I need," Glinda assured Elphaba sweetly. "That said—I do have one more real, actual gift. And I've saved the best for last!"

Glinda released Elphaba's hand and reached into the bag to yank out a bulky round hat box and lid.

"Oh Glinda, not another hat…"

"It's not a hat!" Glinda said before waving over Fiyero and Liir. "Come over, boys. Come look."

"What's this?" Liir asked.

They all three watched as Glinda dramatically opened the hat box. Nothing was inside.

"An empty box," Elphaba muttered. "I'm touched."

"Empty for now, Elphie."

Glinda grabbed a ladle off their counter, placed it inside the box, and closed the lid. When she opened the hat box the ladle was gone.

"Ta-da!"

"I don't understand," Elphaba frowned. "Where is it?"

"In Oz! In a hat box of my own back home," Glinda explained. "I've enchanted them."

"But we needed that ladle!" Elphaba protested. "It's our only one!"

"Oh I'll get you another silly ladle—see the bigger picture, Elphie! Now we can send things to each other like that!" Glinda snapped her fingers. "Gifts, photos, letters…"

"Are you serious?" Fiyero said.

"Yes! I've tested it several times."

"Brilliant…" Elphaba said, examining the box. "Glinda, you're brilliant!"

"Of course I am!"

"Why didn't you tell me you were making this?" Liir asked excitedly.

"I wanted it to be a surprise!" Glinda shrugged. "Happy early birthday, sweetie. Now we can be pen pals with your parents!"

"I love it, Glinda," Elphaba said, folding her hands over her heart. "I do. We—"

But Glinda cut her off with a violent gasp and seized Elphaba's left wrist.

"Glinda, what are you—"

"Elphaba Thropp…" Glinda said, her eyes fixated on the coppery metal band adorning Elphaba's ring finger. "Or—or should I say Tigelaar?! Elphie, did you—did you and—"

"Glinda…" Elphaba began.

Glinda lunged for Fiyero's wrist and held it side by side with Elphaba's, squealing loudly as she compared their matching bands.

"Liir!" Glinda shrieked, dropping Elphaba and Fiyero's hands. "I thought you told me they weren't married!"

"They weren't!" Liir said, his eyes alive with excitement. "You guys got married?!"

Elphaba and Fiyero exchanged a look.

"Well—" Fiyero began.

"It's about damn time!" Glinda said, bouncing excitedly.

"Uh—" Elphaba said.

"What changed your mind?" Liir asked.

"You see—"

"Oh!" Glinda squealed. "Oh I couldn't be happier for you both—!"

"We didn't get married!" Elphaba blurted out.

An awkward silence crashed between them.

"But…but the rings?" Glinda said.

"This part of Ev is kind of traditional. We found that it was just easier to wear these so people didn't…you know. Get on our case," Elphaba explained, anxiously fidgeting with said ring. "Right, Yero?"

"Right…" Fiyero confirmed with a clear of his throat. "Yeah. What Elphaba said."

"Oh," Liir said, his disappointment evident.

"Oh…" Glinda echoed, perhaps even more disappointed than Liir.

There was another beat of uncomfortable silence before Glinda straightened her spine to squash it.

"Well…silly us!" Glinda announced brightly, rubbing Liir's arm. "Our mistake. Your not wedding rings are lovely nonetheless."

Elphaba and Fiyero were thankful Liir and Glinda had carved out a few days for their stay, because the first afternoon and subsequent evening went by entirely too fast. After dinner the four of them congregated in the living area where they went through the plethora of new pages Glinda had created for their scrapbook.

"And while I did have to hound him for them, I finally got Liir to give me a couple photos he took with his school friends!" Glinda reported.

Elphaba looked towards Liir who was seated beside her on the sofa.

"Your school friends?"

"It's no big deal," Liir rolled his eyes.

"Yes, he and his friends are a rather charmed circle," Glinda gossiped. "And they're dears, all of them. They've even taken a few day trips to The Emerald City!"

"That's because you bribe them with expensive outings," Liir said.

"Not only because I bribe them with expensive outings!"

"Sounds like a fun group," Fiyero said.

"I agree. So maybe college isn't so terrible, hm?" Elphaba raised an eyebrow.

Liir sighed. "Maybe not…so terrible."

Elphaba gloatingly wrapped her arm around Liir and squeezed his shoulder.

"Told you so."

"Well it hasn't all been easy," Liir grumbled. "I didn't get along with my roommate at first."

"How interesting…" Elphaba said, shooting Glinda a private wink. "Neither did I."

Though they tried not to show it, Glinda and Liir were visibly fatigued by the magical strain of their journey. Liir's exposure to Vinkun coffee kept him awake but jittery and concealing yawns behind smiles was already second nature to Glinda. Still, not long after the sky got dark, Elphaba felt a soft pressure land against her shoulder. She looked over to see that Liir, in an apparent crash from caffeine, had fallen asleep against her. Heart melting, Elphaba kissed his hair and leaned her cheek against the top of his head.

"He looks so little when he sleeps," Glinda sighed. "Is he not the sweetest boy?"

"That's thanks to you," Fiyero said.

"No, no," Glinda waved a dismissive hand. "It's all in his genes."

"Fiyero's right, Glinda," Elphaba said, rubbing her hand up and down Liir's arm as he slept. "You've done an outstanding job with him."

Glinda took momentary pause over their praise.

"I want you both to know that I never tried to replace you. I never tried to be anything I wasn't," Glinda explained. She looked over to Elphaba. "I never tried to be his mother, Elphie. I—"

"Glinda," Elphaba cut her off gently. "You don't need to explain anything. You raised our child…we can never, ever thank you enough."

"Oh…" Glinda said with a faint shake of her head. "There is no need to thank me. Keeping him was the most self-serving thing I've ever done—and I once declared myself the winner of a beauty pageant I was judging!"

"Deservedly so, I'm sure," Elphaba smiled wryly.

"I did take him to the Cloister but—oh…I just could not give him up," Glinda shook her head. "I didn't want to lose him. I didn't want him to lose me. We needed each other, you see. We'd both lost too much already…far, far too much."

Quick tears jumped into Glinda's eyes and she laughed weakly over them. Fiyero handed Glinda a tissue and wrapped his arm around her for comfort.

"Oh thank you, Fiyero," Glinda sniffed, nestling into his shoulder. "You're so thoughtful, still so thoughtful."

She dabbed at her tears, comforted by Fiyero's embrace. When she'd settled enough, Fiyero took one of Glinda's hands and laced their fingers.

"I question sometimes if what I did was really the best thing for him," Glinda confessed. "His life would have been less confusing without me around—and less stressful out of the public eye to be sure. But we've been kindred spirits, Liir and I, and the very best of friends," Glinda expressed. "Loving him…being his godmother…why it's been the greatest joy of my life."

"No one could have done it better, Glinda," Elphaba murmured. "Could a stranger have given him a less complicated, less confusing life? Perhaps. But nobody in all of Oz could have loved him more than you."

"Thank you, Elphie. I know I'm not a true parent. I know he isn't really mine—"

"But he is," Elphaba interjected softly. Glinda looked over at her. "He is yours, Glinda. He's yours, he's mine, he's Fiyero's…"

Elphaba reached her free hand over to take Glinda's other hand, linking the three of them together.

"He's…ours."

Liir stirred with a sleepy sound and Elphaba released Glinda's hand to brush her fingers across her son's cheek.

"Mom?" Liir mumbled, groggily coming to.

"Let's get you to bed, darling."

"Should I take the couch?"

"No, your dad and I have something better to show you," Elphaba said, standing to help Liir off the sofa. "You're not claustrophobic, are you?"

Elphaba and Fiyero led Liir across the kitchen and opened a side door. Fiyero reached in and pulled a string to turn on a lightbulb, revealing a tiny room with just enough space for a nightstand and a twin bed.

"We thought you might like to have a space of your own," Fiyero explained. "You know…for when you come visit."

Liir peeked inside and spotted his wool blanket from their old place fondly folded at the foot of the bed, the book he'd gifted Elphaba standing by on the nightstand, and a decorative wooden 'L' hanging on the wall above his bed.

"You didn't know when I would come…" Liir said quietly. "How did you know to set this up for me?"

"We put it together as soon as we moved in," Elphaba answered softly. "We wanted to be ready…for whenever this day came."

"Yeah, it was just a pantry that we gutted the shelves from," Fiyero explained. "It's nothing fancy…but it's yours."

"It's perfect," Liir said genuinely. He turned to hug Fiyero, moved by the gesture. "Thanks, Dad."

"You're welcome, kid."

Liir turned to hug Elphaba next.

"Thanks, Mom."

"You're welcome, baby," Elphaba said, kissing his head goodnight. "Sweet dreams."

Liir retired to his pantry and closed the door behind him.

"That was good of you," Glinda said, standing as Elphaba and Fiyero crossed back towards her.

"It's a glorified closet," Elphaba dismissed. "It's no palace bedroom."

"Well now he's got the best of both worlds," Glinda said.

"That he does."

Elphaba, Fiyero, and Glinda trickled off into silence and looked amongst each other. Though he was only one room away, Liir's absence could be prominently felt. Pulses quickened as the realization that they three were at last alone together began to gradually sink in. Silent tension slowly built and hung heavily in the air between them.

"Well I suppose that leaves the sofa for me," Glinda said with a flighty gesture towards it. "I've never slept on a sofa before but I guess there's a first time for everything—"

"Glinda…" Elphaba cut her off, her voice weighty with meaning.

Glinda blinked.

"Yes?"

Elphaba and Fiyero exchanged a glance in wordless agreement before Elphaba slowly stepped towards Glinda. Glinda's cheeks pinkened as Elphaba took her face in her hands, met her eyes for a moment, and then slowly kissed her. Glinda's body stirred and heated over Elphaba's kiss, a heat that further deepened when Fiyero kissed her next.

Glinda had imagined this, imagined them, on many lonely nights. She'd never felt the urge to take another lover, relying instead on her memories to provide her satisfaction. But she'd forgotten. She'd forgotten just how warm they felt, just how sweet they tasted. Her imagination paled in comparison to the tenderness of the real thing.

When Fiyero broke his kiss with Glinda he took Elphaba by the hand. They crossed to their bedroom door and indulged in a kiss of their own before looking back expectantly towards Glinda. Elphaba stretched her free hand towards her.

"Glinda…" Elphaba called quietly, commandingly. "Come to bed."

Glinda's heart pounded and she crossed away from the couch and towards the beckoning partners, slipping her hand into Elphaba's when she reached her to connect the three of them together.

Indeed there was a first time for everything, but the sofa would not be occupied that , Fiyero and Elphaba welcomed Glinda into their bedroom, into their bed, where the three relished in sweet reunion before falling into the best sleep they'd known for years and years and years.

Morning came with a sense of giddiness as the four sat to share breakfast, tea, and coffee for those brave enough. Fiyero was proudly sporting his new 'Shiz Dad' sweatshirt and, after lots of pestering, convinced Elphaba to wear her matching 'Shiz Mom' sweatshirt too.

"Do you still garden much?" Liir asked as he peeled a fresh orange.

"Good Oz no," Elphaba rolled her eyes. "If I never plant another vegetable I'll die a happy witch."

"Turns out we hate gardening," Fiyero shrugged. "Who knew?"

"But there is a rather nice farmers market on my walk home from work," Elphaba explained.

"Work? What do you do for work?" Glinda asked.

Fiyero nudged Elphaba with his elbow.

"Tell them, Fae."

"Oh hush!"

"She's a librarian," Fiyero grinned.

"Librarian's assistant," Elphaba corrected. "Give it time, though. The librarian could drop dead any moment."

"Elphie! How morbid."

"Oh she's a crotchety old thing that hates me," Elphaba waved dismissively. "Anyway, the job pays a pittance but it's work I enjoy. Having access to books alone makes it worth it."

"Do they all have all their pages?" Liir asked.

"Most of them," Elphaba smiled.

"Well never fear! I'll be sure to compensate whatever hosting Liir and I puts you out for," Glinda said cheerily.

"Ah, don't worry about it," Fiyero dismissed.

"No, no! I insist. It always fills my heart to help the less fortunate."

Elphaba snorted, tickled over Glinda's blunt remark.

"Yes, Elphie?"

"I'm just so pleased that you haven't changed," Elphaba said with affection. "I hope you never do."

Liir was anxious to see the ocean so Fiyero offered to take him down to the beach after breakfast. Elphaba and Glinda opted to stay behind, content to watch them from the wooden porch swing on the back deck of the cottage.

"You look marvelous, Elphie. Truly," Glinda complimented, tucking Elphaba's streak of silver behind her ear. "I wish I've aged half as gracefully."

"Are you kidding? You've hardly aged at all."

"Yes but I've—"

Glinda pinched her lips shut and Elphaba raised an eyebrow.

"You've what?" Elphaba grinned. Glinda shrugged. "Glinda…have you had work done?"

Glinda scoffed.

"There may have been some teeny…teeny tucks here and there," Glinda admitted, patting her face. "It's expected in The Emerald City!"

"Well whatever it is it's working."

"Boy Fiyero sure stayed pretty though, didn't he?" Glinda nudged Elphaba's shoulder.

"He did, didn't he?" Elphaba agreed with a smirk. "The problem is that he knows it. He likes to swim laps while I'm out on the deck to watch him. He thinks it gets me hot and bothered."

"And does it?"

Elphaba shrugged coyly. "No comment."

"Well it's clear something got you hot and bothered before we arrived," Glinda commented. "Considering that bruise you've been sporting on your neck."

Elphaba's hand clapped over her neck with a mortified look.

"Oh sweet Oz," Elphaba groaned. "I've been waltzing around my son with a hickey on my neck!"

"I don't think he saw," Glinda giggled. "Besides, it's good for him to know his parents are still passionate."

"Mhm. And what about his Auntie?" Elphaba hinted suggestively.

Glinda forced back a flirtatious smile. "No comment."

Elphaba took Glinda's hand and they leaned their heads together, watching Fiyero and Liir run around on the beach in the distance.

"What a beautiful place," Glinda remarked. "What a lovely little life you've carved out here."

"It is peaceful, isn't it?" Elphaba agreed.

"Especially compared to where you came from," Glinda alluded. "I'm sorry Elphie but I was appalled when Liir brought me to that little town!"

"You're appalled by open toed shoes."

"Be serious, Elphie. It troubles me to think that you spent so many years in such a wasteland."

"It wasn't all bad at first," Elphaba said. "We had a home, a purpose, even friends. But after awhile…it did start to feel stifling."

"How did you bear it?"

Elphaba paused for a moment.

"Fiyero," she answered simply. "I got through it all, survived it all…because I had Fiyero."

Glinda considered this for a moment.

"Elphie?"

"Glinda?"

Glinda lifted Elphaba's left hand so it was in front of her own face and gave it a small shake. Elphaba sighed.

"The rings."

"Yes, the rings!"

"They're just cheap trinkets Fiyero found at a flea market! It'd turn my finger green if—well, you know."

"Elphie. Come on."

"Oh, out with it already," Elphaba muttered, yanking her hand out of Glinda's. "I figured you'd fight me on it so fight me on it."

"Elphaba…why in Oz's name have you not married that poor man yet?" Glinda asked earnestly.

"It's complicated."

"What's complicated about it? You love each other!"

"Of course we love each other! But it's not like it'd even really change anything," Elphaba said logically. "We still live and operate as if we're married. What possible difference could it make for us?"

"Well if it doesn't mean anything to you then why haven't you just done it already for him?"

Elphaba opened her mouth but closed it with a sigh. She didn't have an answer for that.

"Aha! See? I don't think that's it," Glinda pointed out. "I think you do want to marry him and you simply won't admit it."

"Well even if I did…" Elphaba sighed sharply. "I've missed my chance, Glinda. I've crushed his hopes one too many times."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean he's stopped asking me."

Glinda softened. "Oh, Elphie…"

"I think he assumed Liir was my…you know. Hang up. After he left Fiyero planned a proposal—a really thoughtful proposal," Elphaba said with a slight buckle to her voice. "And I still said no."

Elphaba closed her eyes and shook her head at the memory.

"And I just saw all of the hope leave his eyes, Glinda. It was awful—just awful," Elphaba recounted. "After that we got the rings and haven't spoken about marriage since. He's completely given up on me, Glinda…and I don't blame him one bit."

"Well if Liir wasn't your 'hang up'…then what is?"

Elphaba took a deep breath and opened her eyes with a meaningful look towards Glinda.

"Me?" Glinda said, her face falling in understanding. "No. Elphie. Don't tell me you've—"

"It can't be a complete surprise, Glinda. Not after last night."

"Well yes I know but…"

"Glinda how could I have promised all of myself to Fiyero…when I left part of my heart back in Oz?"

"Oh, Elphie...I don't know what to say."

"I've tried to ignore it, Glinda. I've tried to fight it. But even after all this time, no matter what I do, there you still are…" Elphaba murmured. "A little bit of Glinda on my heart."

"But after all this time…"

"I love you, Glinda. Fiyero and I both do…but it's a little different for me."

"Why?"

"Because…"

"Because what?"

Elphaba hesitated as her throat constricted.

"Why, Elphie?"

"Because…" Elphaba said hoarsely. "Because I never said goodbye."

Glinda blinked. "What?"

"You called for me, Glinda. Twice. You called my name before you left and I didn't even have the decency to look back at you!"

"Oh, Elphie…" Glinda shook her head. "Oh, Elphie girl. But you…you were—"

"I know. I know I was," Elphaba sighed impatiently. "But even so the moment haunts me. Such callousness. To let you walk out of my life forever without a second look? As if you meant nothing to me? Glinda…I have never, ever forgiven myself."

"Well forgive yourself!" Glinda demanded. "I have!"

"But—"

"One moment between us could never have erased everything we shared!"

"But don't you understand?" Elphaba stressed. "I couldn't get married, Glinda. Not with how I ended things with you. Staying unmarried, in a way, became the penance I had to pay. Besides, it wouldn't have been fair to Fiyero if I accepted him! He deserves a bride with a settled heart. What a pity that he's always had his mind set on me."

"Oh, Elphie. Cynical Elphie! You act as if you were doing this as some sick favor to me!" Glinda scolded. "Do you really think that's what I was hoping for you? For you to be depriving yourself of the life you wanted?"

Elphaba shrugged and swallowed tightly, unable to respond. Glinda softened over Elphaba's display and took both of her hands in hers.

"If you're looking for my blessing, Elphie, then you have it. With all my heart you have it," Glinda told her softly. "If that's what you've been waiting for, may nothing else stand in your way. Because I love you too, you know? I love you…and my hope for you is still what it has always, always been," Glinda whispered earnestly. "Elphie…I want you to be happy."

"But I want you to be happy too—" Elphaba began.

"Oh honey I am!" Glinda insisted. "I've got my work, I've got my shoes, I've got my gorgeous godson. I've got my Fiyero back now. I've got my Elphie. Whatever else could I need?"

Elphaba still looked troubled and Glinda pressed her hand to the side of Elphaba's face.

"Stop limiting yourself, Elphie," Glinda urged gently. "If you and Fiyero marry…why should that have to mean there's any less love for me?"

"You promise?" Elphaba asked softly.

Glinda offered Elphaba her pinky.

"I promise, Elphie. You've got me for good."

Elphaba hooked her pinky with Glinda's and then leaned forward to kiss her for good measure. To strengthen the seal. When they parted Glinda put her hands on Elphaba's shoulders and gave them a small shake.

"Now I positively insist that you marry Fiyero or I will," Glinda warned. "I'll even make him go through with it this time."

Elphaba laughed half-heartedly.

"Oh, Elphie…" Glinda sighed. "You do want to marry him, don't you?"

"Yes," Elphaba admitted at last. "Yes of course I do. But I'm afraid it may be too late…"

"It's not too late, dummy! He'd marry you right here right now if he could. In fact…"

Glinda trailed off, an idea lighting in her eyes.

"What?" Elphaba asked, not liking Glinda's tone.

"That's exactly what we should do. Get married, Elphie. Today! I'll officiate!"

"You officiate?"

"Why I'm the most sought-after officiant in Oz," Glinda said with a haughty toss of her hair. "Pricey too. But I'll give you the friends and family discount."

"How good of you."

"What do you say?"

Elphaba laughed, all at once intrigued and panicked.

"I don't know, Glinda. It's like I said…he's stopped asking me."

"Well then you know what you need to do."

"And what is that—" Elphaba began but was cut off when Glinda hopped up from the porch swing. "No, Glinda, wait!"

"Yoohoooo! Fiyero!" Glinda shouted, waving towards the beach over the deck railing. "Get up here! Elphaba has something she'd like to—"

Elphaba stood and clapped a hand over Glinda's mouth.

"Have you lost your mind?! I can't!"

"You can."

"I can't!"

"You can."

"I can't!"

"You can, you coward! Oh look there he is!" Glinda beamed as Fiyero and Liir approached the deck."Fiyero, dearest!"

"What did you want?" Fiyero asked Glinda.

"Me? Nothing. Elphie on the other hand…"

With a strong push, Glinda shoved Elphaba towards the steps from the deck, forcing her to clumsily stumble down them and collide into Fiyero.

"Whoa—okay there?" Fiyero asked, catching Elphaba by the waist to steady her.

"Come to Auntie, Liir," Glinda beckoned.

Liir joined her up on the deck with a puzzled frown.

"What's happening?"

"Just watch," Glinda said excitedly, wrapping her arm around Liir's shoulders. "Go on now, Elphie. Tell him."

Elphaba looked up at Fiyero but her mouth suddenly went dry. Seized with heart thudding nerves, she felt as if she were still that schoolgirl in the poppy field rather than Fiyero's partner of twenty years.

"Okay there, Fae?" Fiyero asked in confusion.

"Fiyero?" Elphaba mumbled.

"Yeah?"

"…Yero?"

"You look kind of pale—"

"Yes, well—"

"What's the matter—?"

"Fiyero, Glinda said she'd marry us!"

Fiyero's mouth fell open over Elphaba's frenzied declaration.

"Wait—what?"

Elphaba swallowed fearfully.

"Glinda said she'd marry us, Yero…" Elphaba repeated, lifting her eyes to his. "Today."