CHAPTER TEN
Fiyero walked into his and Galinda's unit, placing a few grocery bags on the counter of the kitchen. Seeing his wife at the sink washing dishes, he walked up behind her and gave her a playful tap on the backside.
"What the fuck!" the blonde shrieked, causing Fiyero to back up, putting his hands up in defense. "Do you manhandle every woman you see!"
"No! Just you!"
"I don't even know you!"
Fiyero's brows furrowed in confusion. "What?"
"What happened?" Galinda asked, rushing into the living room from the nursery.
"This absolute buffoon just grabbed my ass," the blonde said.
"I tapped it!" Fiyero said.
"You still touched me!"
"Calm down," Galinda said, making her way to Fiyero and wrapping her arms around him. "This is Fiyero. Fiyero, this is Gilly. My sister."
"Gilly," Fiyero said.
"You can call me Galadriel. Only family calls me Gilly," she said.
"He is family, he's your brother-in-law," Galinda said. "It was a simple misunderstandification. He thought you were me."
"So he just puts his hands on you when he feels like it?"
"Well, he's my husband... so, yes."
"That's predatory," Galadriel said, turning the sink off.
"If I tell him 'no' he stops. He doesn't have to ask to touch me."
"He should."
"Shut up. How was class?" Galinda asked, kissing Fiyero's lips.
"Better than home at this point," Fiyero said, giving Galadriel a wary look.
"You could go back," Galadriel said.
"This is my house."
"Gilly. Behave. It's an awkward first impression, get over it," Galinda said.
"My sincerest apologies. I thought you were my wife."
"Maybe you should figure out who you're touching beforehand," Galadriel said.
"It's not very often that my wife's clone is in my house."
"She's the clone. I'm older."
"Doesn't matter," Galinda said. "Don't be insufferable."
"How long is she here for?" Fiyero muttered as Galadriel walked into the living room.
"A week. Momsie is here, too."
"At least someone is pleasant. Are the twins asleep?"
"They just got baths. She's getting them dressed."
"I'll go help her," Fiyero said, kissing her lips.
"Thank you."
As Fiyero walked out of the room, Galinda went to the living room and sat next to her sister on the couch.
"You could have apologized to him, you know," Galinda said.
"Why would I apologize to someone the sexually assaulted me?" Galadriel asked.
"He didn't."
"He touched me in a sexual manner."
"Gilly, he thought you were me. It wasn't intentional."
"He can't tell his wife apart from his sister-in-law?"
"We look exactly alike," Galinda said flatly. "He apologized. He didn't mean to."
"Yes he did. If I'd been you, it would have been on purpose."
"Yeah, but it was an accident that it happened to you. You can't hold it over his head."
"Yes I can. That kind of stuff traumatizes people, you know."
"I'm aware. But he apologized. I'm not going to let you make my husband out to be a monster. It was a simple mistake, he said he's sorry. I won't allow my husband's name to be dragged through the Unpassable Desert over an innocent accident."
"It's not innocent to me, it's assault!" Galadriel snapped as her voice cracked.
Galinda's brows furrowed, staring at her sister for a few seconds. "Did someone do something to you? Is that why this is bothering you so much?"
"Women should be able to walk around and not be manhandled."
"That's not what this is. Come here," she said, taking her sister's hand and leading her to hers and Fiyero's room. "Fiyero, we need privacy in here, don't come in please," she called out. "Momsie, too."
"Noted," Fiyero said.
Galinda closed the door, leading Galadriel to the bed and sitting down with her sister. "You tell me what happened."
"It doesn't matter," Galadriel's voice cracked.
"It absoluteously does matter. This isn't only about Fiyero mistaking you for me. This is bigger than that. This house is a safe place, Gilly. You can tell me anything, you know that."
"I can't talk about it..."
"Yes you can. I know something happened to you. Please tell me what happened."
"He might be able to hear me, I don't know what kind of magic he's capable of," Galadriel said, choking back a sob.
"Shiz is protected. No outside magic can penetrate the barrier."
"I'm scared he'll hear anyways..."
"Who? Who are you scared of?"
"Popsicle's assistant..."
"Barloque?"
Galadriel nodded.
"What did he do to you?"
"What didn't he do?" Galadriel said.
"Did he hit you?"
"And more."
"Touch you? Like Fiyero did?"
"And more."
"Was it sexual in nature?"
"It was animalistic..."
"Gilly," Galinda whispered. "Did he rape you?"
Galadriel tried to hold back a sob, but it escaped as her tears slid down her cheeks.
Galinda pulled her sister in for a hug, holding her tightly. "I'm so sorry, Gilly," her voice cracked.
"I asked him to stop," Galadriel sobbed. "I begged and pleaded and I even tried to bribe him, but every time I asked him to stop, he just did it harder and faster... He tied me to my bed, I couldn't get away," she sobbed again.
Galinda whimpered, tears falling down her cheeks. "Did you report it?"
"No..."
"Why not?"
"Who would believe me?"
"Me! I believe you! This isn't right, Gilly, you have to tell the authorities about this. Did you at least get tested to see if you caught anything from him?"
"Oh, I caught something..."
"What?"
"A baby."
Galinda stared at her sister. "What?"
"The doctor called me before we left this morning. She cleared my STD panel, but I'm pregnant," Galadriel's voice cracked. "I can't be a mom, Lindy..."
"You'd be an amazing mother, are you kidding me? How are you feeling about it?"
"I don't want it. I can't do it."
"What do you mean?"
"I need an abortion."
"Are you sure? I mean, that's a really big, really heartbreaking decision."
"I need it, Lindy. I can't have this baby."
Galinda nodded, hugging her sister. "Okay. I'll be with you every step of the way. You'll never be alone in this, Gilly. I promise you."
"But you don't believe in abortion," Galadriel's voice cracked.
"Of course I do, it's not a mythical creature. I don't like it, but it's not my place to judge. If this is what you feel is best for you, I'll be right next to you. My love for you is greater than my dislike for abortion. I will always choose you, even if I don't like your decision. It's not my job to like it, it's my job to support you."
"I can't be a mom," she sobbed.
"You don't have to be. We'll go to the hospital tomorrow. If we do it there, it'll be confidential. No public records."
"Okay...
"Get yourself knocked up again?" Posey asked as she stopped in front of Galinda and Galadriel.
"No. Just a normal check up. Get yourself an STD again?" Galinda asked.
Posey glared. "No. Elphaba didn't tell me there were two of you. How unpleasant."
"Kind of like your existence."
"Galinda Tigelaar," a Bear called.
"You should probably treat the Herpes. You've got an ugly mouth sore," Galinda said as she and Galadriel followed the Bear.
"What brings you in today, Galinda?" the Bear asked, closing the exam room door behind them.
"My sister."
"What seems to be the issue?"
Galadriel chewed on her thumb nail nervously. "Maybe this was a bad idea."
"Do you not want to do it?" Galinda asked.
"No, I do... just nervous."
"For what, dear?" the Bear asked.
"I... I need an abortion."
"I can see why you'd be nervous. It's a big decision to make. Are you sure that's what you want? It's not reversable."
"I'm positive. I don't want this baby. I can't stand the thought of it."
"Didn't you think of the possibility of getting pregnant before engaging in festivities?"
"It wasn't sex, it was rape," Galinda said sternly.
"My apologies. We'll have to perform an ultrasound to make sure you're in the right time frame and then we'll go from there. I'll be back with a tech."
"Thank you."
As the Bear left, Galinda ran her hand over Galadriel's back.
"It's gonna be okay," Galinda said. "I'll hold your hand the whole time."
"Is this the right thing to do?" Galadriel's voice cracked.
"Gilly, if this is what's best for you and your peace of mind and mentality, then it's the right thing to do. You have to put you first."
"Will I regret it?"
"You might... but do you want a reminder of being raped?"
"Of course not..."
"That's what this baby would be. I care more about you than a fetus. I've loved you longer and I love you more than a clump of cells that can't even exist without leeching off of you. Just because it wasn't right for me when I got pregnant and I don't like the idea of it, doesn't mean it's wrong for you."
"You think so?"
"I know so. It'll be our secret. No one has to know."
"Not even Momsie and Popsicle. Not even Fiyero."
"No one. Just us."
Galadriel sniffled and nodded. "I love you."
"I love you, too."