AN: And so we've reached the end. I just want to thank all of you for sticking through for yet another crazy story of mine! Thanks for reading, thanks for leaving such wonderful comments and thanks to those keeping in touch throughout. :) I am afraid though I have some not so good news to share. I don't know if I will be continuing the third installment. It's been well over a year since I wrote anything for it and honestly if it wasn't for Throppsicle and I joking around one day about zombies that this story would have ever seen the light of day. (So really you should thank her for prodding me to write this!) I wish I could finish the third story, I really do. It frustrates me that I have no drive for it and am letting so many of you down. :( I am so sorry. But hey, who knows what I may write next? ;) Thanks again for all the support over the years and I hope you've enjoyed reading Verdigris. Happy Halloween!

Chapter 24

Endure

"Glinda!" Elphaba screams, prying her hands from the emeralds, fingers breaking as she tears them from the harsh pull of the crystals. She doesn't care about the pain as she rushes forward to the edge of the pit, eyes riveted to spot in the horde where the blonde disappeared. She can hear her heart pounding in her ears, exhaustion nothing but a memory as her legs propel her forward faster than she's even run. She can't see the blonde, not one wisp of her hair. With every step forward it feels as though a piece of her heart, of her very soul breaks away, crumbling to the ground in her wake. Glinda can't be gone yet! There's no way she's already been turned!

She's been in worse situations before!

And if she can't get herself out…

Elphaba will.

The edge approaches ever faster and Elphaba unleashes her fire enchantment, the blue flames licking up her arms as she prepares to leap down into the horde. The air is knocked from her lungs as Fiyero grabs her around the waist, pulling her back. She thrashes in his arms, screaming for him to release her, scorching the hands clasped firmly over her stomach.

A cry echoes from the pit, primal and fierce.

Elphaba's legs give out under her, overwhelmed with relief as the glint of a sword slashes through the air below, Undead dropping fast as Glinda cuts them down, holding fast, holding strong…holding on.

Fiyero gives a holler, a sound of cheer and praise raised from his throat as Glinda continues cutting a bloody path toward them. Elphaba watches in stunned awe as the blonde fights, fights for her very life, just paces away. She wants to call to her, wants for Glinda to know she's here, right here. Their eyes meet briefly, barely for the span of a blink but it's enough; it's enough to stir within Glinda the burst of speed and adrenaline she needs.

She was so sure the moment Morrible dropped her that the Undead would tear her limb from limb before her feet could even touch the floor. If it wasn't for Elphaba's weather enchantment she's sure they would have. That spare second of time before the first Undead brought it's bony hands upon her shoulders was all she needed to retrieve her fallen sword. His hand was sliced off first, followed by a quick plunge of the weapon through its neck. They converged faster after that first kill, desperate to sink their teeth into warm flesh. Glinda could hear Elphaba calling for her, voice pained and frantic. Her heart beat faster, her sword slicing harder through rotting flesh and bone. She had to make it back to Elphaba.

She was given this second chance.

There was no way she would fail again.

Nothing would stand in her way.

Morrible watches the blonde cutting through her hungry horde with rapt and stunned attention. Appreciation even… for she was the one who shaped the girl into the fierce warrior that she is. A cough rips from Morrible's chest, blood spurting from her mouth. She sags against the platform, every breath rendering a sharp pain into her heart. She swears she can feel the bullet nestled in her lungs, prying the last bits of life from her consciousness.

This is it, she muses.

And she'll be damned if she goes out without bringing the blonde down as well.

Elphaba leans out over the pit, hand stretched toward Glinda, the blonde mere paces from her now.

"Burn them!" Morrible bellows with her last breath. "Burn them… all!"

Elphaba inhales sharply at the command. The guards below the platform are quick to enact the orders given to them. She can feel the hum of power shaking the platform. The incinerators spread throughout the tunnels below soon to blast streams of deadly flame into the containment pit.

As Morrible lies dead, and the smell of oil leaks into the air, Elphaba leaps into the horde behind the blonde.

Glinda feels warm arms wrap around her waist, pulling her close just as fire erupts from the tanks in the tunnels spread throughout the enclosure.

Fiyero turns from the blaze, the heat searing at his skin even from a distance. The pain of the fire is nothing compared to the hurt now settling deep in his chest. This wasn't how it was supposed to end. He isn't supposed to be biting back unforgiving tears on the verge of collapse. As if the very life in him has been taken. Is burning in that fire just as Glin-

NO! He shakes his head. The sting of his tears are finally too much to hold back as he lets them freely fall down his cheeks. They were going to Fliaan. They were going to be safe!

A cry chokes its way from his throat as the inevitable truth of what's occurred hits him.

Glinda's gone.

He couldn't save her...

But he can end Morrible's madness.

He turns to the nearest guard, shouting to be heard above the roar of the flames. "Turn them off!"

The guard falters, unsure whether to obey or not. Fiyero moves forward, fists clenched, an aggressive and challenging scowl etched upon his face.

"Turn them off!" the guard hollers. The rest of the guards echo the command until finally, blessedly, the fire swirling viciously in the pit dies, smoke flooding the air in the wake of its raw power.

Fiyero hears a groan from somewhere behind him. He turns at the sound, surprised and enraged to find Morrible crawling toward him. Her nails dig into the wooden floorboards, veins along her hands ever prominent as she pulls herself toward him, another animalistic grunt pulled forth from her dead lips. Fiyero grabs the guard nearest to him, unsheathing the man's sword as he walks calmly up to Undead and beheads her with a single swipe of the blade.

"Good riddance," he mutters as Morrible's head rolls toward the end of the platform.

"Look!" another guard calls from atop one of the towers, rifle pointed down into the smoke-filled pit.

Fiyero runs toward the edge, eyes desperate to see through the thick smoke just beginning to dissipate. The ground is uncovered first, just a few yards below where he stands. Black, burnt ash covers all. Not a single Undead left, not one bone. Nothing. Quiet.

He drops his sword.

What little hope he held falls with it to clang against the platform.

The sound rings throughout the silent enclosure, driving a deeper wedge into his already weakened heart.

A cough sounds from below, echoing loudly up in the silence.

For a moment Fiyero ignores it, sure it to just be a guard beneath the deck.

But he hears it again, softer this time... familiar.

The smoke clears and there stands Glinda, huddled safely in Elphaba's arms.

Fiyero falls to his knees at the sight. A laugh, an impossible sound of relief, pulls from his throat.

Glinda clings to Elphaba, clutching tight to the front of her blouse with one hand. Her other hand feels as though it is smoldering, the sword long forgotten, melted to the ground. It's a negligible pain in the wake of what's just happened. Of the magic that flares around them, humming so strongly she can feel it vibrating in her gut. Her eyes open, gaze rooted to the green face above.

Elphaba lets out a long breath, legs growing weak as she meets Glinda's eyes. "You all right, my sweet?" she asks, breathless, feeling lightheaded, knowing she is soon to pass out. But she needs to know, "You weren't… bitten… were you?" She wills herself to hang on, to hold out just long enough for Glinda's answer.

Glinda smiles up at Elphaba, shaking her head and she pulls the woman into a hug. "You know me better than that," she muses, pressing a kiss over Elphaba's rapidly beating heart. "They never touched me."

Elphaba grins, her limbs suddenly numb. "I'm so… tired…"

Glinda kisses her, easing Elphaba against her. "It's okay," she whispers. "Everything is okay."

"Glinda…" Elphaba murmurs, eyes falling closed, her breathing slowing.

"I'll be here, I'll be right here when you wake up," she hears Glinda telling her. "I'll always be."

4 Years On

"The real power lies in how well crafted your arrow is." Glinda explains, holding up a half-whittled arrow she'd been carving from a piece of Beachwood. It's taken her a while, and it's nowhere near as elegant as the ones she used to carve before the loss of most of the fingers on her right hand. Four of them were severed years ago in the blaze of fire behind the Palace walls. She tries not to look at the mangled mess her hand has healed to be; at the way the ugly scars streak across her palm, stark and raised along her flesh.

Just like Elphaba's…

Memories of that fateful day are always too powerful to ignore, even now as she stands before her class. She holds her crude arrow up in her left hand, right hidden dutifully behind her back. Her thumb remains, or some of it anyway; a small nub extending from her hand. It's useless most of the time, barely able to grasp anything let alone allow her the dexterity of firing the arrow she displays in her other.

She misses archery. She misses the ease with which she used to accomplish ordinary tasks. She remembers how difficult it was adapting to the loss of her dominant hand. Buttoning a shirt became a daily frustration, penning a letter nearly impossible… Oz, even tying her hair in a ribbon became such a burden that for a while she relented to always wearing it down.

It's been four years though now and things have gotten easier.

Yet even after all this time she still finds herself reaching for things with her broken hand. She's still ashamed of her disfiguration…. her weakness.

A blur of a body darts into view behind her class, shouting, "Real power is in the fists!"

Glinda glares over at Fiyero, her frustration not quite reaching her mouth, amused smirk firmly planted over her lips. She doesn't know why the man is interrupting her lesson let alone doing so in such object opposition to what she's trying to instill into the young minds sitting along the grass in front of her. But seeing the man feigning to throw a punch, much to the delight of the children, finally dissolves what little aggravation she originally held.

She still can't believe they've regained the friendship they started all those years ago at Kellswater. It was a struggle for both of them to get to the comfortable place they are now. Fiyero was in love with her for so long he didn't quite remember how not to be. It took him years to finally turn that love back into the friendship they've formed now. And given time he's turned out to be her closet friend.

She still wishes he'd find a girl deserving of his love, if so just to mollify the obvious jealously that still strikes Elphaba whenever she sees the two together.

She smiles at the thought of the green woman, before a frown mars her features as she remembers where Elphaba is now. Shaking her head clear of thoughts which are sure to worry and upset her, Glinda composes herself once more, focusing on the man still punching the air in an obvious show of exaggerated machismo.

She represses the urge to laugh out loud at his ridiculous antics. She must set an example for the children… even with them in hysterics as they are now.

With a roll of her eyes Glinda walks over to him, giving his shoulder a playfully hard shove as she tries to dispel him from her lesson.

"Hey," Fiyero objects, standing his ground firmly, "I'm trying to teach them something important here."

"This isn't a lesson in being an ass!" Glinda says with a laugh as she pushes against his unrelenting frame. When she realizes he's not moving she crosses her arms over her chest as she stares up at him, still very much the picture of a disgruntled teacher. "Go home before I'm forced to show them just how powerful a fist can be."

The children begin giggling, whispering to one another before Glinda gives them a look from over her shoulder which instantly quiets them all.

Fiyero is smiling down at her, amazed, when she turns back to face him. "That is never going to stop being impressive."

Glinda shoves him again, this time with less force and an obvious smile tugging at her lips. "Did you come here just to get a rise out of me or are you here for a reason?"

Fiyero's grin slips as his expression grows serious. He gives a nod of his head, silently asking if Glinda can speak with him for a moment, elsewhere. She sighs, nodding, motioning for him to go as she turns back to her small class. "Keep working on your arrows," she tells them with a smile. "I'll be right back to help."

Some of the children return to whittle their arrows with renewed vigor knowing Miss Glinda will return to help them and wanting to impress the woman whom their parents regard in such high esteem. The others – the ones Glinda is always complaining to Fiyero about – her troublemakers, sneak behind some hay piles to eavesdrop on the adults' conversation. As they poke their heads around into the barn entrance they're surprised, two giving loud shrieks, when their eyes lock with those of their very much displeased teacher.

"Sticks. Whittle. Now," she growls and they quickly flee back to join their classmates in the grassy field.

"Did I ever tell you how wonderful a mother I always thought you'd be?" Fiyero chuckles as they both watch her students return to their sticks. "Because I'd like to amend that. You'd make a terrifying mother."

"All the more reason I was never equipped with the ability in the first place," Glinda tells him with a half smile as she leans against one of the barns support beams.

Fiyero sighs as he hears the blonde's tone dip. He knows Glinda will never admit it, but he has a feeling she'd love to have a family of her own some day. At one point in his life he was sure it would be with him but now… now he feels for the blonde's loss. For as much as Glinda seems to tolerate the kids who cling to her legs in greeting he knows she enjoys the feeling of being so openly loved.

And for as big a person as Glinda has become in the eyes of those in their Isle town she seems so small standing beside him now.

Taking a deep breath he readies himself to ask the question he's sought her out for. "Have you heard any news?"

Glinda's chin lowers, eyes now downcast to the floor below. She scuffs her boot along the wood, giving a small shake of her head. "I haven't heard from her in weeks. Chistery is always so r-reliable…" the last word comes out as nothing more than a choked sob.

Fiyero is quick to gather Glinda into his arms as the tears she's only ever vowed to shed at night finally see the light of day. He hugs her tighter, whispering, "Elphaba is fine. She always comes home."

"I miss her. I miss her," Glinda cries into his shoulder.

Fiyero clenches his jaw, hating Elphaba in this moment until logic fills him once more and he realizes he can never hate the woman whose absence pains Glinda so. Not when she's out there, trying to save as many lives as she can. Not when she's the sole reason they're all alive today. So Fiyero does all he can, pressing a chaste kiss to Glinda's head and telling her Elphaba will come back to her.

She always does.

She promised to treat Glinda well.

She hasn't broken her vows.

He has faith in her.

As Glinda's cries turn to sniffles he unwraps his arms from around the blonde. She gives him a shy smile of thanks before wiping at her eyes and returning to her class. Fiyero watches her from just inside the barn. He watches as Glinda sighs loudly at the sight of her class playing with their would-be arrows as if they were swords instead.

He watches as she uses her good hand to pluck one of the sticks from a rather jubilant little fighter and with a smirk lights the tip on fire.

The child is shocked by the display of magic, plopping down to his butt upon the grass in awe.

He watches as the rest sit down again and turn their attention back to Glinda. Back to the woman who so effortlessly leads them all.

He watches a smile spread across her face as she lets out a chuckle before carrying on with her lesson.

He watches her carry on as if her wife isn't possibly lying dead in a field of Verdigris back on Oz.

Late that night Elphaba lands her broom roughly in the garden behind the small home she shares with Glinda. As she tumbles head over feet through their strawberry plants she simply allows her body to take the beating she feels due. She's failed, yet again, and this time with far more consequences than ever before. She finally comes to a stop, limbs aching and sore from her fall. She can't help as her memories of the past days come rushing back to her. Images of finding the tiny refugee camp cloistered around Lake Chorge fill her mind. The smiling faces of the children when their parents told them they'd be going someplace safe, finally. The trust those families placed on her shoulders. Losing Chistery to the largest horde she'd seen yet and shortly after the senseless deaths of all the people she promised to bring to safety...

The strawberries squashed beneath her body feel sticky, their smell ever a reminder of the lives lost because of her… because of her need to rescue as many as she can. Elphaba is surprised when fresh tears form in her eyes. She swore she had none left after having shed everything in the desert sky. A sob catches in her throat and she sits up, clutching her chest to control the way her heart seems to want to break free from her ribs. She's never been responsible for so many deaths. Never felt this drowning ache inside her that threatens to swallow her soul whole.

She's done, she thinks. No more. She can't keep making these trips only to come back alone.

She doesn't think her heart can handle another death under her watch. She doesn't think she can survive losing another life.

Especially after losing one as precious to her as Chistery's.

Elphaba cries harder, burying her face in her knees as she hugs them to her chest. This was not how it was all supposed to end. She was supposed to find survivors and bring them to the Isle, bring them to salvation. Save them from the curse her father has wrought upon the Land of Oz.

Elphaba takes a ragged breath as she looks out over the ocean beyond the grassy bluff. The waters appear calm far down below the cliff, moon high in the night sky. As she breathes in the crisp salty air she feels the storm raging inside her subside. It still clouds her vision, senses spiked and mind still filled with grief, but her tears no longer stream from her tired eyes.

She no longer feels as if she will be swallowed whole.

Her soul is still intact, if bruised and battered beyond repair.

With a great sigh Elphaba lifts herself from the ruined strawberries, the smell of death lingering on her skin as she drags herself to their outdoor bathing well and rinses the memories from her body. They will haunt her tonight for sure. She can barely sleep without being plagued with nightmares of all those she's failed. But Elphaba also knows that Glinda waits for her inside, hopefully already asleep in their bed.

Whenever she is wrapped in the blonde's arms Elphaba need not fear the night terrors.

She's always been safe in Glinda's embrace.

The promise of finally seeing Glinda after all these weeks and the dreamless sleep soon to follow in her arms pulls Elphaba from the steady stream of water cascading down her back beneath her blouse. She whispers a simple drying spell, something she picked up long ago from within the pages of one of the many books of magic she'd managed to salvage from her trips to Oz. Her hair wafts in the warm breeze that swirls around her body. As the spell fades she's left dry and continues into the home.

Exhaustion grinds at her joints, her muscles stiffening as she makes her way to the map pined just above their quaint kitchen table. Elphaba tries not to think about how most of the paper tacked to the wall is covered in red. Almost as if the very map is a giant blood stain upon their home. With great effort Elphaba picks a piece of black charcoal up from the small container beside the map and adds, with a heavy heart, a small 'x' over Lake Chorge. The map is littered with similar marks, each one pierces her heart, a little of her soul left behind in Oz.

Another rescue failed.

Another spot in Oz where humans and Animals alike cease to exist.

Elphaba remembers when they first came to the Isle after fleeing the now overrun Emerald City. At least a hundred or so people fled with them that fateful day. Many died on the journey but those who survived were not deterred. They believed Elphaba to have been the one to finally end Morrible's reign. They vowed to follow her anywhere, and that's exactly what they did.

Elphaba can't help but let a rare smile cross her lips as she thinks of who truly vanquished that horrid woman. She wonders how Glinda would have dealt with so many putting such blind faith in her. She's sure the blonde probably would have passed the credit on to her anyway. Or even Fiyero for that matter before ever thinking to take credit herself. He's been a good friend, she thinks. And an ever better one to Glinda. He was content to be a part of the blonde's life and help them whenever he could. She vows to herself, as she always does, not to be so –for lack of better word- green the next time she sees the two together. Fiyero has come a long way since that day they met at Kiamo Ko. But a small part of Elphaba will always still see that angry bit of him beneath the surface. She just wants Glinda to be happy. They both want the same.

And she knows how upset the blonde gets when she leaves on yet another one of her fruitless missions.

Elphaba hates having to go alone but she can't bear the thought of losing Glinda. Especially when the blonde is safe here, especially when so many turn to her for guidance. When so many need to see her just to know they are still safe.

Broken hand and all.

The small community they've built upon the Isle is all most those people have left. What was once a few dozen has now grown to a few hundred. Families reunited, some started, more survivors were brought in. It's been over a year since Elphaba has had to use the small ferry boat tied to the shore. No one has been able to survive the journey back to the Isle with her.

Not even her magic can quell the size of the hordes which now roam the Land of Oz.

She wishes she could just fly those she finds to safety, but she hasn't been able to recreate the same spell that enchants her broom. Nor the one that sprouted wings from Chistery's back.

"Chistery," Elphaba breathes as the fresh pain of losing him so viciously stabs at her heart once again. Before more tears can return to her eyes she quickly kicks off her boots and hurries as quietly as she can to the lone bedroom. She needs Glinda's strength, now more than ever. When she feels on the brink of collapse she needs those strong arms around her; needs to know she's still alive. That she's still here, that's she not the monster she grew up believing herself to be. The one she feels herself to be now.

Elphaba peeks in through the slightly ajar door, knowing the blonde never closes it, just in case she were to return that night. A quivering smile pulls at Elphaba's lips as her eyes land on the peaceful body of the woman she loves sleeping soundly under their covers. With a sniffle and a swipe of the back of her wrist across her nose, Elphaba enters, careful not to wake the blonde as she slips under the sheets behind her. Elphaba shuffles closer, inhaling Glinda's scent deeply as she slides an arm over the blonde's stomach and cuddles up along her back.

This is what Elphaba lives for. This is why she keeps fighting. To make it home to Glinda. To get just one more chance to hold the blonde. To tell her how much she loves her.

Glinda keeps still as she feels Elphaba bury her head into the back of her neck. She knows something has gone horribly wrong on her trip. The green woman only ever returns acting this way when lives have been lost. She allows Elphaba to continue thinking she's asleep, allowing the woman the moment she needs right now. If it were up to Glinda these moments never need happen. If only the green woman would let her come on her searches. Oz, she'd ride upon that blasted broom from here to eternity without complaint if it meant she could know Elphaba was safe. If she could be there to keep her Elphie safe. But she knows it's impossible. Not with the loss of hand.

It's why she's been practicing magic so diligently.

Someday they'll be able to travel together once more.

Until then they have an agreement; one Glinda knows she must see through.

She stays to keep those upon the Isle safe and Elphaba tries to do the same for those still in Oz.

It's not perfect, and it's not what Glinda wants but she knows she can't keep Elphaba's heart from performing the good it was meant to do. She always makes sure the night before Elphaba is to leave that their lovemaking is powerful, impassioned and full of everything she wishes she could put into words but simply can't articulate in any other way. She hopes it makes the green woman wish to return sooner but with every letter Chistery returns with from Elphaba she knows she should have known better.

But this time is different. And her heart stills as she recalls never receiving a letter before Elphaba's return from the Monkey.

What happened?

Glinda slowly turns around in Elphaba's tight embrace, the green woman not at all surprised to find the blonde wide awake. The brown eyes say everything Glinda needs to know and she bites her lip to keep the tears from staining her cheeks as they have the green ones beside her.

"Oh, Elphie," Glinda whispers brushing some of the loose strands of dark hair back behind a green ear. Elphaba clasps Glinda's hand within her own, pressing the back of the blondes fingers to her cheek. Glinda's brow knots with a frown as Elphaba nuzzles along the pale hand and presses light kisses to the blonde's knuckles. When Elphaba's eyes meet hers once more Glinda untangles her hand from Elphaba's to cup the green woman's jaw in her palm. "I'm so sorry."

"I-it all happened so f-fast," Elphaba stammers, voice still very much unstable and hoarse from the tragedy of days before. She swallows thickly as she turns her eyes to Glinda's collarbone and plays with the undone buttons of the blonde's nightdress. "I don't think I can do this anymore," comes out as barely a murmur.

Glinda slides closer until there is but an inch of space between their bodies. She knows she'll regret what she's about to say next, but she also knows it's what Elphaba needs to hear. And if she's honest with herself, it's the absolute truth. "You will," she tells her softly. "I know you Elphaba, you may want to quit now but come tomorrow you'll see those unchecked spots on that map and you'll want to fly off again as soon as you're able. It'll eat you up otherwise if you stay here. You'll always be thinking there are people still out there. You'll always want to do the right thing."

"It's not enough anymore, Glinda," Elphaba sighs, finally looking back into the blonde's steady gaze. "I can't lose anyone else. I c-can't- I'm not strong enough."

"Shhh," Glinda whispers pulling the now crying green woman into her arms. Elphaba clings to Glinda's shoulders, sobs wracking her frail body. Glinda holds her tighter. "The hundreds you've saved would disagree. They love you Elphie; I love you. Have you any idea how proud I am to call you my wife?"

Glinda feels Elphaba shake her head beneath her chin. She kisses the top of the dark-haired head. "Well, I am," Glinda tells her. "I'm proud you keep searching for hope on Oz even though I worry far too much while you're gone. I always know you'll come back though. You promised to always come home."

Elphaba smiles against Glinda's chest, letting out a deep breath as she feels some of her pain ebb at the blonde's words.

"I've missed you," Elphaba admits weakly as she finally pulls from Glinda's embrace to look up at the blonde, eyes no longer hollow. "Thank you for putting up with my inexorable hero complex."

Glinda leans forward, closing the small gap which separates them to press a kiss to Elphaba's temple. "I love everything you are," she says softly, scooting down so that she is eye level with the green woman once more. A slight smirk curls at her lips as she tells Elphaba, "And I think I mentioned once before you never have to thank me for it."

Elphaba smiles at Glinda as she recalls that night. "I've really, really missed you."

Glinda senses the change in Elphaba's tone, the drop of her voice. She touches her forehead to Elphaba's and whispers in a similar tone, "I've missed you too."

Elphaba watches as the blue of Glinda's eyes darkens, matching the deep color of the ocean beyond the window. They can each feel the breath of the other, shortening, flittering across parted lips. A whimper escapes from one of their throats; the jolt sent through both bodies at the sound finally brings their lips crashing together. Glinda is quick to tangle her fingers in Elphaba's hair, pulling the green woman's head closer, their lips bruising at the intensity of the kiss.

A covered leg slips between pale thighs, Glinda giving a groan in pleasure as she rolls on top of Elphaba, their kiss only deepening further. Elphaba feels Glinda's uncovered heat slipping along her trouser leg. She wants them off, wants to feel Glinda pressed against her without the offensive material in the way. As their kissing grows more frantic, lips swelling and cheeks flushing, Elphaba works quickly to undo the buckle of her belt.

It's always like this after they've been apart for so long. Always this lustful, this full of need and longing. The trousers are shimmied down green legs, Glinda kicks them off Elphaba's ankles as her hand works to undo the buttons of her wife's blouse. Glinda rakes her teeth across Elphaba's bottom lip as she sits up in the green woman's lap. Glinda slides her hand beneath Elphaba's blouse, the green woman inhaling sharply at the touch. She picks Glinda's other hand from her waist, sliding it beneath her shirt until it meets its twin.

"Elphie," Glinda tries to remove her broken hand but finds Elphaba resolutely holding it in place against her ribs.

Elphaba kisses her softly, barely a brush of lips as she tells her, "I love you, Glinda, all of you."

Glinda shifts in Elphaba's lap, shy smile pulling at her lips upon hearing the confession. The heated green skin burns into Glinda's palms as the unbuttoned shirt falls open before her. She wants to knead the skin revealed below her, press her lips over the small breasts and feel them brush along her own. But she's far too clothed for that.

Elphaba begins to pant below her, eyes unfocused as Glinda slips her nightdress up and over her shoulders. It's tossed to the floor, leaving Glinda's absolutely nude and blushing body exposed for Elphaba's roaming hands. Hands which are quick to slide up Glinda's back as she pulls herself up and latches her mouth to one of Glinda's breasts.

The blonde sucks air quickly between her teeth at the attention now placed along her chest. She feels her hips roll into Elphaba's as the green woman's tongue drags over a sensitive nipple. "Elphie," she manages to breathe out, tangling both her hands back into the dark hair.

Elphaba loves hearing Glinda call for her. Loves hearing how she makes the ex-soldier breathless above her. Elphaba wants to taste more, needs to taste more. She flips Glinda down to the mattress, the blonde letting out a small yelp at the sudden move. But soon all is forgotten as Elphaba's hands replace her mouth's ministrations and she kisses her way down to where Glinda wants her most. The blonde's back arches off the bed as Elphaba grabs one of Glinda's thighs and rests it over her green shoulder. She can smell Glinda's need pouring from her core and its all Elphaba can do to contain her own arousal as she finally presses her mouth to Glinda's center.

The blonde clamps her thighs against the side of Elphaba's head at the sensation of her wife's tongue slipping along her. Her fingers dig into the sheets below as her hips move up to meet each of Elphaba's long strokes. She can feel her body coming undone, the heat pooling in her lower gut. Once last push sends her over the edge entirely, her legs convulsing as she gasps Elphaba's name out into the night.

She feels Elphaba pressing light kisses to her thighs, over her sex and up to her navel. The soft touches bring her body down, spine relaxing against the damp sheets. A light sheen of sweat coats her body as she finally basks in the afterglow of her climax.

She really can't believe how incredible Elphaba has gotten at this.

She doesn't think she can move and she really doesn't want to. She'll have her taste of Elphaba later, for now she's content to calm her rapidly beating heart as her body continues to tingle.

She's content to have her wife back home.

"Love… you," Glinda says between bated breaths, a lopsided smile firmly planted on her face and eyes closed in bliss.

"Love you, too," Elphaba whispers with a similar grin as she presses her cheek to Glinda's slick stomach, breathing hard as she hugs the woman close. She can feel Glinda's accelerated pulse inside the blonde's thighs still resting beside her ribs. She doesn't want to move. Doesn't want to stop the rush of life surrounding them both. She lives to feel Glinda breathing beneath her; lives to be the cause of the blonde's happiness.

And as Galinda lightly runs her hands through Elphaba's hair the green woman can't help but sink further into her wife.

She lives to continue loving the blonde.

She lives to feel this loved, finally, after so many years alone.

She won't give this up.

Just as she won't give up searching for survivors.

They are there and she will find them.

She will keep spreading hope across Oz.

They don't write her name upon the fallen walls for nothing. They know green leads to salvation.

They know,

Elphaba Lives.