Chapter Text
The Emerald City sparkled outside the window, but Galinda barely noticed.
Because she could only think about Elphaba.
The night that Elphaba unexpectedly drop into Galinda's terrace, holding an infant in her arms.
When Galinda noticed a green figure, wrapped in a black coat. She already knew who it was.
She was happy of course but was confused, she thought Elphaba died but...
She doesn't want to complain.
But it made her mad that Elphaba only talked to her because of a problem.
"Take care of him."
"What?!"
Galinda whispered loudly when Elphaba handed her a baby, wrapped in a blanket.
"You haven't came back after you fake your death and now you want me to take care of- some random child?"
"He's my son Galinda."
"What?"
Galinda eyes widen, she then looked at the infant in her arms.
She examined it, she then saw the boy's black hair like Elphaba's, pointy ears like Elphaba's, sharp teeth like Elphaba's.
The infant's eyes slowly opened, showing a green-like emerald eyes just like Elohaba's.
"His name is Liir."
"Liir? My goodness Elphie naming a child-"
Before Galinda could make a comment about the child's name, Elphaba was already preparing to leave.
"W-wait-! You're seriously leaving me again? This time with a child?"
"I can't take care of him or else his life will be in danger too."
Galinda hesitated, she sighed and looked at the boy again.
"Will you come back for him?"
"Hm."
"...Will you come back for me?"
There was silence, and the only sound that can be heard is the baby's coo'ing at Galinda.
"I'll come back for both of you, I promise."
And that was the last time Galinda saw her ever again, leaving her again with a responsibilty that she wasn't so sure she was capable of it.
Months passed as Galinda waited for her to come back while still carrying Liir, waiting in the night at the terrace.
A year passed by and Galinda still waited while having a 1 year old Liir in her arms.
5 years has passed by and Galinda still waited like any other day. Liir then- much aware about his surroundings, questioned her.
"Who are we waiting for Miss Glinda?"
Galinda flinched, she sighed and forced out a tiny smile as she looked at the boy.
"No one my dear, let's go to bed- it's past your bed time."
The next day, She's drinking her tea while looking outside the window. Remembering all those years she waited, and she still is.
She then looked at Liir in front of her, playing his wooden toy soldier in the floor.
His dark hair curled at the edges, his eyes green-like-emerald just like Elphaba's.
She sighed, setting down her teacup. "Liir, dearest, we talked about how dirty it is to play in the floor. Remember?"
The boy looked up at her, wide-eyed, before reluctantly setting the soldier down beside him.
"Sorry, Miss Glinda."
Galinda winced.
She didn’t know why, but every time he called her that, it stung.
Maybe because it reminded her that she was only a caretaker, not truly his mother.
That he's not truly her's and Elphaba's.
The thought sent a sharp pang through her chest, but she formed a small smile.
"It's alright, darling. Why don’t we read something instead?"
Liir brightened at that. "Can you read the one about the talking animals again?"
"Of course." She pulled him into her lap and started reading.
His little body was warm against her, and unconsciously, she stroked his hair as she read.
She used to do the same to Elphaba in their dorms when Elphaba lay down with her,
Those nights felt like a dream now—one she’d never fully woken from.
As she read, Liir yawned and snuggled closer. His eyes drooped, and soon enough, he was asleep, his face nestled against her shoulder.
Galinda held him tighter, something tender swelling inside her.
He was Elphaba’s child, yes, but he was also hers now.
She had been the one to tuck him in at night, to comfort him when he cried, to teach him how to read, to teach him how to write.
Everything a mother would do for her child.
She kissed his forehead softly, whispering, "Rest, my sweet boy. I'll wake you up when it's time for dinner, I love you."
Then, in a sleepy murmur, barely audible, he breathed, "I love you too.. mom.."
Galinda froze.
For a moment, she thought she’d imagined it. But Liir’s little fingers curled into the fabric of her gown, holding onto her as though he belonged there.
As though he always had.
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.
She wanted to correct him, to remind him that she was only looking after him, that she wasn’t his real mother.
But she couldn’t.
Because, in the ways that mattered, she was.
As she sat there, holding Liir in her arms, she wondered what her old friend—her old love—would say if she could see them now.
Would she be angry?
Would she be proud?
Or, just maybe, would she smile that rare, soft smile Galinda had only seen once or twice, when they were alone in the dark?
"Elphie," she whispered into the quiet night.
"I hope you know... he’s safe. And I love him."
And though she received no answer, she swore she felt a gentle warmth brush against her cheek—
Like a whisper of green-tinged magic, still lingering in the air.