Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

I. what is this feeling?

Dearest, darlingest Momsie and Momsical,

Guess what?

I can’t hear your guesses because this is a letter, so I’ll just tell you: 

There's been some confusion over rooming here at Shiz. But of course, I'll rise above it, for I know that's how you'd want me to respond. Yes.

There's been some confusion for, you see, my roommate is unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe. You read it right—roommate! Despite your efforts to secure me a private suite, I somehow ended up sharing a room with another girl, one who wasn’t even enrolled! 

By some cruel twist of fate, or destiny’s twisted sense of humor, I accidentally volunteered to share my dorm with her. And, well, I couldn’t very well undo it now, could I? Not when Madame Morrible herself made the request! You know how desperately I want to be accepted into her exclusive sorcery seminar. And I certainly wouldn’t be the kind of person to leave someone without a place to sleep. Even her.

From the moment I laid eyes on this girl, I felt something sudden and new. Our fateful meeting happened after you two dropped me off. At first sight, my pulse rushed, my head reeled—but, as you know how kind I am, I even offered to help her once I become a sorcerer. 

And do you know how she repaid my generosity?

She stared at me—right into my soul—with those enormous, piercing green eyes... and then mocked me in front of everyone! And with her perfectly enunciated little words, no less! That’s when I felt my face flushing . I don’t even know if this feeling has a name. Maybe... loathing. Yes! Loathing! I loathe every single thing about her. I know you raised me better than this, but honestly, I just can’t help it! She gets under my skin like no one ever has. My very flesh begins to crawl!

And can you believe she had the audacity to pile up all my cases while I was out with my friends? And did she apologize? Oh no, I doubt the thought even crossed her mind! But... well, I suppose I won’t lie to you, it is strangely exhilarating having someone who challenges me this much.

You see, Moms, I do admit, it came on fast. Still, I do believe that it can last. After all, we share nearly every class together and I have to see her everywhere. At least I get to to work off some of this pent-up energy in PE. And—wouldn’t you know it?—we’re sparring partners.

And let me just say—she is surprisingly strong. Not that you’d know it at first, since she insists on wearing long sleeves every day. And black. Can you imagine going through life without a single pop of color?! But when she wears her white nightgown her arms are on full display. Such a show-off.

But I suppose these things are sent to try us, and, as you know, I’m not one to back down. At least I have my colleagues here to support me.

I hope to hear from you soon. Please don’t miss me too much! 

With endless love from the one you cherish the most,

Galinda.

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II. feeling things I never felt

Dearest, darlingest Momsie and Momsical,

Nothing is really happening here at Shiz. 

Well, actually, a lot is happening. But isn’t that always the case when you’re me? I’ve joined so many clubs, I’m striving for good grades, and, of course, I have to maintain my social life. Honestly, it’s exhausting being this popular while having to excel in everything.

I know what you’re going to say “Galinda, you’re perfect just the way you are,” and “Sweetheart, you should enjoy more and worry less.” But you know the daughter you raised. I can’t help it. I just refuse to disappoint anyone… (or myself).

Anyway, as if I didn’t have enough on my plate, my infuriating roommate is still driving me insane.

By now, we’ve somewhat settled into a routine—co-existing with fewer pranks than before. But don’t be fooled—we still loathe each other. Everything she does is so irritating. And I just know she does it on purpose.

You see, she’s at the top of all our classes. Especially history, where she always has something ridiculously insightful to say. And sure, fine, I won’t deny that she’s intelligent, but did she really have to be that smart? She never misses a chance to look my way after answering a question, just to smugly remind me that she got it quicker than I did. (Or maybe she’s just rubbing in the fact that she actually has the guts to raise her hand and look like a nerd in front of everyone. I could never.)

And oh, she always has her nose buried in a book! Honestly, I have no idea how a person can read so much and so fast. Not that I care where she goes, obviously, but sometimes she gets back to our dorm way too late, and I just know she’s been holed up in the library. How do I know? Well, aside from the obvious pile of books she drags in, she smells like them. Ugh, this is the worst part. She always smells good. I’m sure it’s just to get back at me for my floral perfumes.

And don’t even get me started on the mornings! She gets up only 20 minutes before class—meanwhile, I dedicate hours to achieving perfection. And of course, she just has to rub it in my face that she looks pretty even without makeup. Not that I like her or anything. It’s just… I do have eyes, you know? They may not be emerald green like hers, but they work just fine, thank you very much.

So, as you can clearly see, nothing is really happening here.

Now, tell me, what’s the gossip back home? I know you’re just dying to spill.

Your favoritest daughter,

Galinda.

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III. here’s a strange thing, your life could end up changing

Dearest, darlingest Momsie and Momsical,

I have so much to tell you! 

You might have already heard, but just in case: guess who’s studying here at Shiz? Prince Fiyero Tigelaar of Winkie Country! Can you believe it? You know how I’ve always dreamed of being a princess, and suddenly, here’s an actual prince right in front of me!

On the day he arrived he took all of us to this scandalocious ballroom (don’t worry, I know how to take care of myself). We danced to a few ballads, and then… we kissed! 

And I felt nothing.

Moms, that’s not how it’s supposed to feel when you kiss the one you’re going to marry, right? That magical moment? Instead, it was just… a blank space. Was your first kiss like that? Did you just know when you found each other? That wasn’t the most exciting part of the night, but we'll get there.

Now, I have to confess something, I gave away Granny’s hat. Yes, the one I used to prance around in, pretending to be a great sorcerer. The one Grandma made just for me with so much love. And before you gasp in horror, hear me out. Because now, that hat belongs to someone who is also special: Elphaba. Yes, Elphaba. My roommate (who, I believe, I’ve mentioned once or twice before). I didn’t exactly give it to her out of the pure goodness of my heart, but in the end… I’m glad I did.

Now, back to the party! So there I was, surrounded by Fiyero and our friends, when—you won’t believe this—guess who showed up?

I’ll give you a moment to guess.

Guesses in? Okay.

Madame Morrible! (I bet neither of you got that right!)

She approached me and announced—brace yourselves—that I was officially accepted into her exclusive sorcery seminar! (Cue screams of excitement!) But just as I was expressing my gratitution she told me it was all because of Elphaba. 

Moms, I nearly fainted.

Apparently, Elphaba demanded that Madame Morrible include me. She said that if I wasn’t in the seminar, then she would drop out. Can you believe it?!

And that wasn’t even the biggest shock, because then Madame Morrible told me that Elphaba was there, at the party.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt so guilty in my entire life. So ashamed of how I had treated her since day one. I had never once extended true kindness to her, yet she had just given me the thing I wanted most in that moment.

When she stepped into the ballroom, everything went still. Even the music stopped (which, even in the moment, I thought was a tad unnecessary). But she walked through the crowd, heading straight for me. And I swear to you, Moms—I could see the hurt in her eyes, even in the dim light. And that broke me. In that moment I knew that my life would never be the same again. Couldn’t be.

And then, ever the person to never back down, she did something that was at the same time weird and endearing. She started to dance.

Right there, in front of everyone, while they whispered and laughed at her.

And before I even knew what I was doing, I was there on the dance floor with her. Some might say I made a fool of myself. But the real fool was the version of me that didn’t want to admit that she is, without question, the best, most brilliant person I know.

We danced. We hugged. We cried. And without a single word, we reached an understanding—we are better together than apart. I think I’ve found a true friend here, Moms. She forgave me. Even after everything.

When we returned to our room, we talked until sunrise. And can you believe it? It was her first party ever. Her first real girls’ night. And now that we’re friends, I’ve decided to make her my new project. I’m going to make her popular! Not because I have to. But because I want to make up for all the time we spent loathing each other. Doesn’t that make me so nice?

But the truth is I didn’t actually have to change a single thing about her. I didn’t even want to. She’s beautiful just the way she is. A few fashion tips to highlight what she already has, and—who knows? Maybe everyone else will finally see what I now see.

Moms, I just know that together, we’ll be unlimited. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us now that we’re friends! Expect more updates soon!

With much love from the best and most popular adviser you know,

Galinda.

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IV. there’s a girl i know, i love her so

Dearest, darlingest Momsie and Momsical,

As always, you were right.

I didn’t have to marry the first prince who crossed my path—especially when I never felt that spark with him. And you know what? It turns out, Fiyero and I are much better as friends. After our barely existent relationship ended, we just… carried on. No heartbreak, no drama, just a really fun friendship. He’s actually a great person to have around, and I’m glad we stayed close.

School is getting harder each day, but nothing I can’t manage. Well… except for the sorcery seminar. I still can’t cast a spell to save my life, and Madame Morrible is not growing any more patient. I swear, I don’t think she even believes I have magic in me. And honestly? Some days, I wonder if she’s right. I never thought accessing my magic would be this difficult.

But at least I have Elphaba. She lifts me up on the days when I don’t think I can keep going. When I feel like giving up, she holds on for both of us.

Momsie, you always say Momsical is your safe place in the world. I found mine in my best friend. Not a day goes by that I don’t thank my lucky stars for bringing her into my life. 

Speaking of which, I finally managed to convince her to join the uni’s choir! And, oh my stars, you would not believe how breathtakingly beautiful her voice is. It’s enchanting. I truly believe the world would be a little better if everyone got to hear Elphie sing at least once. In fact, it’s now a tradition for our little group to have monthly karaoke nights. And to be fair, in our room, every night is a karaoke night whenever we’re feeling inspired. We sing solos, duets, and dance around the room like we did on that first night— the night everything changed.

I’ve been spending so much more time in the library than I ever used to. Sure, sometimes I go there just to enjoy her company, but honestly? We discovered that our combined brains work brilliantly together. Sharing notes, sharing ideas, sharing a life with Elphaba… it’s made me happier than I ever could have predicted. And now I find myself reading in my free time. For fun.

But the truth is, it has been the honor of a lifetime getting to know this girl and calling her my friend. And, at the same time, it’s bittersweet. Because, Moms… she doesn’t see how extraordinary she is.

She has the audacity to think she’s hard to love, when in reality, it’s as effortless as breathing. And that… that makes my heart ache. I’m doing everything I can to remind her, every single day, of everything she deserves. But if you have any advice, I’d love to hear it.

And finally— I am thrilled that you’re coming to visit at the end of the month! I miss you both dearly, and I cannot wait to share all the details in person.

Sending hugs as tight as the ones we’ll have in just a few weeks!

With all my love,

Galinda.

Chapter Text

“Galinda, for the love of Oz, we have to go! Your moms are probably already there” Elphaba called from outside the bathroom. "I don’t want their first impression of me to be that I’m late."

“Knowing those two, I bet they're having this exact conversation right now.” Galinda said as she stepped out, tossing her hair with a flourish. “Momsical drives Momsie insane because she’s always late” she added, her tone laced with fond amusement.

"I just... I really want them to like me," Elphaba admitted softly, barely above a whisper.

"Hey," Galinda called gently, stepping closer and tilting Elphaba’s face up so their eyes met. "It’s impossible not to like you. Just be yourself, and I promise they’ll see you the way I do."

A blush crept onto Elphaba’s cheeks, and Galinda let her fingers brush against it before dropping her hand and continuing with a teasing smile, "And besides, they know the daughter they raised. They won’t mind if we’re a few minutes late."

Elphaba sighed, both in contentment and resignation, and sat at the edge of Galinda’s bed, patiently waiting for her to finish getting ready. Galinda’s moms were visiting for the first time since they had arrived at Shiz, and Elphaba couldn’t shake the nervousness. Galinda was the best friend she had ever had and the thought of losing the closeness they had built terrified her.

The green girl had never had much experience with parents. Her father had never truly cared for her beyond the title she carried as the Governor’s daughter. Financial privilege had never filled the gaping loneliness of being unwanted. And her mother... well, she had died when Elphaba was still too young to remember what it felt like to be loved. Her childhood had been in the hands of her nanny, Dulcibear, who had done her best, but as a Bear, she lacked the human experiences to guide Elphaba the way a mother could.

Galinda, on the other hand, had been raised not by one, but two mothers—mothers who had truly been there. Galinda had grown up in a house filled with love, not just for her, but between her parents as well. It was clear in the way her entire face lit up whenever she talked about them. That kind of warmth had never been a part of Elphaba’s world.

Many times, when Elphaba spoke about her childhood, Galinda had nothing to say—not because she didn’t care, but because she simply couldn’t relate to the ache of not being wanted by the very people who were supposed to love you unconditionally. But she always listened , always held Elphaba through it, and somehow, that had been enough.

"What’s on your mind?" Galinda’s voice cut through Elphaba’s thoughts, pulling her away from old wounds.

"Nothing important, really. Are you ready?"

"Yes! Come on!" Galinda beamed, looping her arm through Elphaba’s as they stepped out the door.

The girls left Shiz and walked through the streets of the city, chatting about everything and nothing all at once. Whenever they were together, the rest of the world faded into the background. Still, Elphaba’s nerves hadn’t completely settled, which was why Galinda had made it her mission to fill the air with conversation, keeping her distracted. It had never been a question in Galinda’s mind whether her parents would like Elphaba. Of course they would.

Maybe she was biased—Elphie was her favorite person in the entire world, after all—but even without that, Elphaba was smart, compassionate, and incredibly easy to love. She had a mind so endlessly curious that she could discuss any topic with an enthusiasm that made others want to listen. Galinda adored that about her. In fact, Galinda adored many things about Elphaba.

They finally arrived at a small, cozy bistro—one they had been to before when they wanted a change of scenery.

"Girls! Good to see you again! The usual table for two?" the maître d’ greeted, already familiar with them.

"Oh, not today," Galinda replied with a dazzling smile. "We’re here with the Uplands. I believe they’ve already arrived?"

The short man led them through the warmly lit dining area, and Galinda reached for Elphaba’s hand, squeezing it reassuringly. The older girl looked like she was one second away from bolting.

Soon, they spotted two women seated in a booth, facing one another with matching affectionate smiles. One was brunette and slightly taller than the blonde beside her. They were so completely engaged in their conversation that they didn’t notice the girls approaching until they were right at the table.

"Is there space for two more?" Galinda teased.

"Dearest!" the brunette gasped.

"Darlingest!" the blonde exclaimed at the same time.

Both women immediately stood, wrapping their daughter in a tight embrace.

"I missed you so much!" Galinda sighed, her voice muffled against them.

"And you must be the famous Elphaba!" the blonde woman said, turning her attention toward the green girl.

"Oh, I don’t know about famous ," Elphaba mumbled, her voice tinged with shyness. "But yes, that’s me."

"Momsicle!" Galinda scolded, though there was no real irritation in her voice. She slipped an arm around Elphaba’s waist, grounding her. "You’re going to scare her."

The brunette chuckled, her smile warm and reassuring. "We’ve heard so much about you in Galinda’s letters. That’s all my wife means."

Galinda flushed a brilliant shade of pink at the implication.

"It’s truly a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Elphaba," she continued.

"The pleasure is all mine, Misses Upland," Elphaba replied politely. "Galinda talks a lot about you."

"Only good things, I hope," Momsicle quipped with a wink.

"Well, sit down, you two!" Momsie beamed. "We want to hear everything —and there’s never enough time!"

The four of them settled at the table, and Elphaba thought she had never seen three people so genuinely delighted just to be in each other’s company. Galinda’s moms were practically glowing with excitement, their eyes full of warmth as they looked across the table. And Galinda—well, Galinda was buzzing with barely contained energy, as she had so enthusiastically put it earlier, “My favorite people in the world are finally meeting, Elphie!”

As soon as they got comfortable, Galinda eagerly leaned in closer to Elphaba and asked, “How was your trip?”

“Lovely, dearie. The landscapes on the way here were beautiful. Too bad your mom didn’t see any of them because she spent the entire ride sleeping on my shoulder,” Momsicle teased, shaking her head with an affectionate smile.

“It’s not my fault you’re so comfortable!” the blonde woman defended, her tone lighthearted, which only made the brunette’s fond smile grow. “But enough with pleasantries! We want to hear everything,” she said, then added with an expectant glance toward Elphaba, “And we want to hear about you too! How’s school going? Do you kids still go to the Ozdust?”

Galinda’s eyes widened. “How do you know about the Ozdust?!” she asked, surprised.

“Oh, daughter darling, what do you think we did for fun during our time at Shiz?” Momsie said with an air of nostalgia. “That place is a legend—practically a rite of passage for Shiz students. Your mother and I had our first kiss there.”

Galinda gasped. “That was the party where you had your first kiss?! You never told me that!”

“Just a silly little detail.” Momsicle shrugged, feigning innocence. “Did Galinda tell you our story, Elphaba darling?” she asked, turning to the green girl with curiosity.

“Yes, but she left out the Ozdust part,” Elphaba replied with a small smirk, casting a sideways glance at Galinda.

“Because I didn’t know that part!” Galinda exclaimed, clearly scandalized.

Elphaba chuckled. “It’s all right, my sweet. I’m sure your moms won’t mind telling me again.” The term of endearment slipped so effortlessly from her lips that she barely noticed, it had simply become second nature.

“Good thing I love that story,” Galinda said, sighing dramatically as she leaned her head against Elphaba’s shoulder. With an expectant grin, she turned her gaze toward her moms, waiting for them to begin.

Momsie and Momsicle exchanged a brief glance, a silent understanding passing between them, before Momsie finally spoke.

“Well, I don’t know how much Galinda has told you about us, but we are Elemental witches. I’m Water, and she’s Earth.” As if to prove her point, the brunette effortlessly rippled the water inside their glasses, the liquid moving in smooth, hypnotic waves at her command. Elphaba watched in quiet awe, marveling at how naturally the magic seemed to flow from her. There was no hesitation, no need for incantations or gestures—it was simply a part of her. “I arrived at Shiz a year before her, so I was more advanced in my sorcery studies.”

“And since I didn’t want to fall behind, I started studying and practicing my magic at night, when no one could see me,” the blonde continued seamlessly, as though they had told this story a hundred times before. Elphaba suspected they had. “One night, I was at the greenhouse, hovering my hands uselessly over a small potted plant. I was so frustrated because that stupid little seed refused to sprout. I could feel my magic, but it wouldn’t obey me. And just as I was muttering to myself in irritation, my beautiful wife walked in and said the most romantic thing ever ,” she finished, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm.

“Talking to it won’t make it grow faster,” Galinda interjected before she could stop herself, rolling her eyes fondly. It was clear she had heard the story enough times to recite it by heart.

“Yes.” Momsie nodded, taking the lead. “She looked so startled, like I had caught her doing something scandalous.” She turned to her wife, smiling warmly at the memory. “But I’d seen her before, and I thought she was so beautiful that I was just looking for an excuse to talk to her. I didn’t want her to know that, of course, so I tried to sound casual. And she wouldn’t admit that she needed help, but I got closer anyway.”

“And to this day, I still remember how in awe I was of your magic,” the blonde added softly. “She condensed the air , and I could see the tiny droplets forming before they sank into the earth. And just like that, a little green sprout broke through the soil.”

“Water and earth,” Momsie murmured, reaching to take her wife’s hand. “They need each other.”

“That’s what she said to me after completely sweeping me off my feet,” Momsicle sighed dramatically. “And after that, we started talking in the corridors, slowly becoming friends.”

“Until you kissed at the Ozdust and never left each other’s sides again,” Galinda finished dreamily, resting her chin in her hands.

“And the rest,” the two older witches said in perfect unison, sharing a smile, “is history.”

“Your story is so romantic! And literally magical, Misses Upland. I can see why Galinda is such a fan of romances—she had the best example at home,” Elphaba said sincerely.

“Oh, Elphaba, that’s sweet of you to say.” Momsie beamed. “And how did the two of you meet? Galinda didn’t give us many details.”

Elphaba tensed slightly. It wasn’t exactly comfortable for her to recall her first weeks at Shiz—how she and Galinda had clashed at every turn.

“Well, it was nothing like yours, believe me,” she admitted with a small laugh. Galinda straightened slightly but took her hand, a silent reassurance passing between them. “We met on our first day at Shiz, but it took us a while to start seeing eye to eye. She drove me insane, and I’ll admit I did plenty of things just to get under her skin. I think neither of us really knew how to handle someone who challenged us, yet at the same time, we were strangely alike in certain ways. But I never hated her. In fact, I think I was just waiting for the day we’d stop being so stubborn. I just… wasn’t willing to be the first to back down.”

“But you did,” Galinda mused softly. “You were the one who showed me kindness that night at the Ozdust.”

“And so did you.”

They were looking at each other now, small smiles playing on their lips, caught in their own little world as they so often were. They didn’t even notice the way Galinda’s mothers were watching them—fondly, knowingly.

“Anyway,” Elphaba continued, clearing her throat, “after that night, we became inseparable.”

“We come as a pair. Do not separate,” Galinda added with a grin. “But truly, I’m so glad we managed to change the course of our relationship.”

“Me too.” Elphaba squeezed her hand. “My life is so much better with you in it.”

Galinda leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek, making the green girl flush a deep emerald.

“That’s adorable!” Momsicle gushed. “We’re so happy that Galinda is dating someone who cherishes her as much as you do.”

Elphaba nearly choked on her water, and Galinda went completely still beside her, as if suddenly lost in thought.

“We’re not dating,” Elphaba blurted out. “We’re just friends.”

“Oh! Of course. Our mistake,” Momsie said apologetically. “Good friends, then.”

“Best friends,” Galinda corrected quickly.

“Right. Well, shall we eat?” Momsie said lightly, steering them away from the awkward silence that followed.

The conversation eventually resumed, the girls eagerly sharing stories about life at Shiz while Galinda’s mothers spoke of home. But even as the chatter flowed easily, Galinda’s mind remained stuck on what they had said. Why would they assume she and Elphaba were together? They had only seen them interact once, and yet… they had jumped to that conclusion so easily. Galinda tried to recall what she might have said or done to give them that impression.

She had only recently admitted to herself that she wanted more than friendship with Elphaba, but she had prided herself on keeping it well hidden—or so she thought. Nothing had changed between them since her realization, and she was terrified that, if she ever confessed, she might lose her best friend altogether. So she chose silence. She chose to hope that, eventually, this feeling would fade.

—------

“I wish we could stay longer, dearest,” Momsie said as she wrapped her daughter in a tight embrace. After lunch, Elphaba and Galinda had walked them to the train station, and now their time together was coming to an end.

“I’m just glad we had today,” Galinda replied, squeezing her mother back. “Thank you for stopping by. And soon, the semester will be over, and we’ll be together again.”

“Not soon enough,” Momsicle sniffled, dabbing at her eyes. “I promised myself I wouldn’t cry. So we’d better get going.” She turned to Elphaba with a warm smile. “Elphaba, you are a marvelous girl. We are beyond grateful that our most precious daughter has a friend like you.”

“Oh, the honor is mine, Misses Upland. I’m the one who should be thanking you for raising such a beautiful human,” Elphaba said sincerely.

Galinda grinned. “You think I’m beautiful?” she teased, making Elphaba blush furiously.

Her mothers watched the exchange, their hearts full of love and hope—hope that, soon, these two young girls would find the courage to admit what was already written in their every glance.

As they bid their final goodbyes, hugging several times over, Momsie turned to Elphaba one last time. “Anytime you want, you are welcome in our home. Please don’t hesitate to visit.”

Elphaba nodded, touched by the invitation.

Then, just before stepping onto the train, Momsicle leaned down and whispered only for Galinda to hear:

“Have courage and be true to yourself, dearest. Time is the one thing we can never get back, and I would hate to see you waste it any longer. Tell her. Your heart already knows what I mean.”

Then, a little louder, she said, “Love you to the moon and back.”

“With every beat of my heart,” Galinda completed automatically, though her mind was spinning.

As the train pulled away, she stood still, watching until they were gone, her heart pounding with the weight of her mother’s words.

She had been so determined to keep her feelings hidden. But maybe—just maybe—she wasn’t hiding them as well as she thought.

The day went on and by nighttime their dorm at Shiz was quiet, save for the soft rustling of paper as Elphaba sat at her bed, pretending to read. Across the room, Galinda lay on her bed, pretending to do anything but watch Elphaba. Now that they were alone, with no distractions, no conversations to redirect their thoughts, no mothers making observations they weren’t ready to face—the weight of something unspoken settled thick in the air between them.

It had been following them all day.

And now, as Elphaba felt Galinda’s gaze lingering on her, she found herself gripping her book tighter, as if that alone could keep her grounded.

“Alright,” Elphaba finally said, shutting her book with a sigh. “What is it?”

Galinda blinked, startled. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve been staring at me for the last twenty minutes.”

“I have not!”

“You have,” Elphaba countered, arching a brow. “Something is on your mind.”

Galinda hesitated, caught.

She had spent the entire afternoon pretending her mother’s words hadn’t rooted themselves in her chest like a stubborn vine. But the truth was, they had. She thought she was doing a fine job hiding the way her heart skipped every time Elphaba called her sweet , the way her breath caught when Elphaba looked at her like she was the only person in the room.

But now she knew. She knew it had been obvious. That someone had seen it. And that maybe, just maybe, Elphaba had seen it too.

Have courage and be true to yourself. 

She took a deep breath, sitting up fully. “Elphie… can I ask you something?”

Elphaba tilted her head slightly, intrigued. “Of course.”

Galinda bit her lip. “Why did you blush when I teased you about calling me beautiful?”

The question hit Elphaba like a physical force. She sat completely still, her mind suddenly blank.

“That’s… That’s what’s been on your mind?” she asked, carefully.

“Yes,” Galinda said, more firmly now. “And… it’s not just that. It’s everything. The way we are with each other. The way my moms assumed we were together after seeing us for five minutes. The way I—” She cut herself off, gathering her thoughts, before meeting Elphaba’s gaze again. “I need to know if I’m imagining it.”

Elphaba’s heart was pounding. She wanted to look away, wanted to retreat into the safety of deflection, but Galinda’s eyes were searching hers, open and vulnerable in a way she had never seen before. And suddenly, Elphaba was very, very tired of pretending.

“You’re not imagining it,” Elphaba finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Galinda inhaled sharply. “I’m not?”

Elphaba shook her head, swallowing hard. “I think… I think I’ve known for a while now. I just didn’t want to name it. Because naming it makes it real. And if it’s real, then it can be taken away.”

“Elphie,” Galinda breathed, sliding off her bed and sitting beside Elphaba, facing her and taking her hands gently. “You won’t lose me. Not now. Not ever.”

Elphaba’s fingers curled around Galinda’s, the warmth of her touch sending sparks up her arm. “I don’t know how to do this,” she admitted. “I’ve never—”

“I think we can figure it out together.” Galinda interrupted, a small, nervous smile playing on her lips.

Elphaba let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, her grip tightening just slightly. “You’re really sure about this?”

Galinda reached up, hesitating only for a second before cupping Elphaba’s cheek. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

And then, slowly, carefully, she leaned in.

Elphaba met her halfway.

The kiss was soft, tentative and yet Galinda finally felt the sparks she had been waiting for all her life. She was kissing her once-infuriating roommate—and now, here they were, standing on the edge of something more, something beautiful. A quiet realization that they had been falling for each other all along.

Galinda’s fingers curled in Elphaba’s hair, and Elphaba’s hands trembled slightly as they slid around Galinda’s waist, hesitant at first, but then pulling her in just a little closer

When they finally pulled apart, Galinda rested her forehead against Elphaba’s, giggling softly. “Took us long enough.”

Elphaba let out a laugh, her fingers intertwined with Galinda’s. “Yeah,” she murmured. “It really did.”

Galinda giggled, and Elphaba’s heart swelled at the sound.

They were still close—so close that Elphaba could see the way Galinda’s cheeks were flushed pink, the way her lips were still parted, like she was waiting for another kiss.

So Elphaba gave her one.

And in that small, quiet dorm room at Shiz, under the soft glow of their lamps, they finally stopped running from what had been there all along.

Chapter Text

Dearest, darlingest Momsie and Momsical,

I believe you’ll be thrilled to hear the good news: Elphie and I are dating! 

The day you came to visit, we shared our first kiss, and it was like seeing the world for the first time. Suddenly, colors shone brighter, and I finally understood what you meant when you said that when it’s the right person, there’s no proof—you just know t hat it’s going to be timeless. 

It’s funny looking back at the letters I sent you months ago. I was so oblivious to my own feelings that I genuinely believed all those overwhelming emotions were loathing. Loathing! The irony of a girl with two moms taking this long to realize she’s a lesbian is not lost on me (or my friends). Thank the Goddess you always saw through me—that all this time, I was falling for my roommate. (Special shoutout to Momsicle for that final push at the train station. THANK YOU.)

And you’ll be even more thrilled to know that I’m making real progress in my sorcery studies! I’m still nowhere near your level—or Elphaba’s, for that matter. Magic comes so much easier to the three of you. But I’m learning to channel the good feelings inside me and let them flow naturally. Elphaba even got me a new training wand— handmade by a sorcerer in town! Can you believe that? I mean, of course you can. You’ve met her . She’s incredible at everything, and she notices the smallest details.

After the kiss, nothing really changed much—except we weren’t officially dating yet. And I wanted to ask her to be my girlfriend. Moms, I was so nervous! And for what , I ask you? Exactly—I had no reason to be! So, I decided to do something special.

I spent an entire week secretly practicing a small levitation spell, and honestly, the spell wasn’t even the hardest part—the real challenge was making it a surprise. But in the end, it worked. One night, as Elphaba returned from the library, she walked into our dorm to find dozens of softly glowing orbs floating midair.

I wanted everything to feel magical—because that’s how she makes me feel.

I’ve spent a week secretly practicing a small levitating spell and the spell wasn’t even the hardest part, it was making it a surprise. But anyway, in the end it worked out and as Elphaba arrived from the library one night I had created dozens of floating lights, softly glowing orbs that were suspended midair in our room. 

Oh, moms, I wish I had some way to capture the look on her face, the pure awe in her eyes as she took it all in. She couldn’t believe I had done it just for her. As if I wouldn’t pull the very stars from the sky if she wanted them. (Oh my, I can’t believe I’m starting to sound like you two!)

I told her I wanted to do something special, something that felt uniquely ours, without an audience. I told her I didn’t want to be just her best friend—I wanted more.

And you won’t believe what she did next. She didn’t even say anything—just lifted her hand, and suddenly, this soft pulse of magic rippled through the air. The floating lights started swaying, flickering like they were dancing—and not just randomly, moms, in sync with our first dance at the Ozdust. It was so romantic.

And then, as if that wasn’t enough, her magic somehow boosted mine, and the orbs glowed even brighter, like we were wrapped in this golden, warm little world that belonged only to us.

She took my hands and told me she had been thinking about making things official for days. And then, she asked me to be her girlfriend. I know the whole point was that I was supposed to be the one asking, but honestly? I was so overjoyed to hear her say it first that I couldn’t possibly care.

The lights swirled around us, and I swear they were moving in sync with our hearts. Of course I said yes. And, as you always say—the rest is history.

The funniest part was the next day when we announced it to our friends. They just stared at us like we were insane. They genuinely thought we had been a couple for months! Apparently, I’m not as skilled at hiding my feelings as I thought. Or maybe… it’s just because it’s Elphaba. She brings out the best in me. Either way, everyone was so happy for us, and that just made my heart even warmer.

Which brings me to another important announcement: I’m bringing Elphie home for Lurlinemas !

Her family doesn’t celebrate it, and honestly, moms, I think the best gift we could give her is the chance to spend a truly happy holiday with us. (Don’t worry—I’ll think of actual presents too!) I won’t even bother asking if that’s okay, because I know you’ll love the idea just as much as I do.

Oh! Elphie is sitting beside me right now, and she asked me to thank you both in advance for your hospitality. She’s also sending hugs! (Which is a big deal, by the way—she doesn’t offer them lightly.)

I’m beyond happy that everything worked out for us, and I can't wait to tell you all the details in person when we’re together.

Sending all my love,
Your now officially taken daughter,

Galinda.