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Fiyero awoke to the sound of frantic footsteps across his dormitory floor, much earlier than to his liking. Even so, when he willed himself to open his eyes, he was intrigued by what he saw.
In the semi-darkness of the overcast early morning, he could see Galinda scurrying about or, in this case, hopping as she pulled up her skirt, racing to ready herself for the day.
“Momsie was right! Never dwell with boys.” Galinda whispered to herself, hastily tucking her slip inside her skirt.
“No no no no……I will be positively tardilacious!” She moaned, staring out at the window where she could see heavy snow falling relentlessly from the early morning storm.
Fiyero only chuckled, watching with amusement as she tiptoed amongst the slight mess of his floor to collect her things.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked warmly, stretching languidly in the bed, making no effort to move.
“We have our first class together! Linguification! I had assumed you weren’t going and was going to take notes for you…well, maybe I’d have Elphie do that….but come on! We're already late! It's going to take forever to get there in all that snow!” Galinda whined as she struggled with her zipper, which caught in the bunched slip in her rush.
“Darling, it's a snow day.”
“Oh, I know! It’s been coming down since lunch yesterday. It doesn’t even look like they’ve brought the Horses out yet to clear the walkways. Oh, I wish I had brought my taller heels!”
“No, Galinda a snow day.” Fiyero laughed good-naturedly, watching her frustratedly search for her blouse.
“A snow day?” Galinda asked, pausing to tilt her head at him, thrown off by the phrase.
Fiyero held out his hand, beckoning her back towards the bed. Galinda tentatively approached, taking his hand.
“Do you really not know?”
“Of course I know, but we never had them. At my finishing school, we were not allowed a day off, even when it snowed like this. All the professors and students lived on the campus. All the buildings were connected to prepare for weather like this. It was never a question. It is unfashionable to have a lazy day off.” Galinda laughed a little sadly at that, turning back around to see the storm in the window, observing the empty walkways which should be bustling at this hour.
“Then we shall be unfashionable indeed,” Fiyero smirked, tugging Galinda's hand so she fell forward into the bed.
Galinda shrieked as Fiyero grabbed onto her, pulling her unceremoniously back up to her spot next to him.
“Wait…wait!” Galinda cried, giggling as he dragged her towards the pillows.
“I need to get this skirt off! It's pleated, you know,” she said, running out of breath.
“I can take care of that for you.” Fiyero winked at her, reaching over to slowly pull down the side zipper of her skirt, delighting in her scandalized gasp as he leisurely removed the skirt from her, folded it, and set it down on the floor. Galinda shivered beside him, now in just her slip, though he wasn’t entirely convinced her reaction was just from the cold.
“That's…much better.” Galinda stammered, flushed.
“Now you are fit to snuggle.” Fiyero declared, opening the blankets so she could crawl inside.
“That I am,” Galinda giggled once more, settling down beneath his open arms, just barely able to see the blizzard outside over the tops of the blankets.
They sighed together. Galinda lay her head upon his chest, and Fiyero gave her a gentle squeeze. They let the silence settle between them, feeling the pleasant warmth spreading under the comforter.
“How did you know we’d have a snow day?” Galinda asked, her cheek nuzzling into his warm skin.
“Feldspur told me. He can sense those types of things; he feels storms in his body before they arrive. Lots of Animals can. That’s why I didn’t get up. I trust him, and he was right.” Fiyero said, petting her hair.
Galinda hummed at that, feeling herself begin to grow sleepy again. His strong arms around her lulled her further as she felt the cold leaving her body.
“So what will we do today? What happens on a snow day?” she asked quietly, smiling when he leaned down to lay a kiss on her forehead gently.
“Well, we can do what we are doing now, have a lovely winter's nap. Or, of course, have a snowball fight, or take a sleigh ride through the woods. When I was a boy, we would try to build a gump out of snow.” Fiyero said, his voice fond with memory.
“A gump?” Galinda laughed softly.
“Oh yes, we would spend hours working on it; it took forever to get the antlers just right,” Fiyero explained, resting his chin on her head.
“A sleigh ride sounds romantic.” Galinda mused, thinking of herself being paraded around in the sparkling snow, her hair catching snowflakes that would shimmer in the lamplight.
“Very.” Fiyero agreed.
“Perhaps we will do that later.” He yawned, pulling Galinda impossibly closer.
“That sounds nice,” Galinda said, eyes drooping as she felt the pull of sleep invade her head.
“Anything with you is nice,” Fiyero said sleepily, breathing in the floral scent of Galinda’s hair, overtaken with the same pleasant fuzziness that she felt.
Galinda did not respond, having succumbed to the comforting effects of the thick blankets and steady heartbeat surrounding her. Soon, Fiyero could not help shutting his eyes, letting himself fall asleep, floating away with her in his arms.
After their nap, when Galinda blinked her eyes open, the first thing she noticed was the snow still falling steadily out the window.
A snow day indeed. She thought.
She turned to the side to snuggle further into Fiyero and soon found that he was not there. In his place, there were only rumpled blankets as evidence of his presence. It wouldn’t be long before she grew cold in the bed without his heat. Galinda stretched out like a cat, savoring the last bit of warmth inside the comforter before bravely stepping out into the chill of the room.
As Galinda rose from the bed, she was overwhelmed with cold. In just her slip, she began to shiver fiercely as soon as her bare feet touched the icy floor. Fiyero’s fireplace had only weak embers from the night before, leaving a draft flowing in from the chimney, all heat having escaped with the flames.
Galinda quickly made her way over to his closet, searching for something to cover herself with. As she perused various jackets and shirts, a sweater dangling on only one end of the hanger caught her eye. It was a deep Winkie blue, but had many loose threads and runs, a garment that clearly hadn’t seen much light these days. Galinda chanced Fiyero wouldn’t mind if she borrowed it and quickly put it over her head, sighing at how warm and soft it was. It smelled like him, too, and suddenly her chest filled with a buzzing heat that made her forget about the smoldering hearth and the draft.
Intrigued by her closet treasure, Galinda continued to search through his things within, shifting boxes and sifting through shelves to see if there was another garment she could snag so that she could remember this feeling always.When she stooped to investigate a trunk on the floor, she saw something behind the trunk, catching in the gentle light of the room. A tiny glimmer in a darkened corner of the closet. Galinda carefully picked up the source, reaching somewhat blindly for the object.
When she brought it out of the closet, Galinda saw in her hands a beautiful music box, adorned with the emblems of Shiz University. All the edges were lined with gold. On the lid, the main building of the campus was painted in a winter scene.
Galinda loved music boxes. She was mesmerized. She knew it wasn’t hers to keep, but she couldn’t help herself and lifted the latch to open the lid. She gasped softly to herself when the music box sprang to life. Within was a small Horse-drawn sleigh, led by a Horse that was painted a dashing navy hue. The sleigh carried students in their uniforms, books strapped to the rear of the sleigh, making their way towards a backdrop of the familiar silhouette of the science building painted on the inside of the lid. The turning cogs inside plunked out “Dear Old Shiz”, to accompany the students on their way to class in the icy world of the music box scene.
Galinda was so mesmerized by the gentle splendor of the music box that she did not see Fiyero come in, nor did she see him set two mugs of steaming cocoa on the bedside table. Only when Galinda stood to go have a better look in the light of the window did she nearly run into him, almost dropping the box in shock.
“Oh!” Galinda yelped, startled by his sudden presence in the middle of the room.
“You frightened me.” She said breathlessly, gathering herself before him.
“I see.” Fiyero laughed, adjusting a piece of her hair, eyes falling on the sweater and the box in her hands, softly playing its tune.
“Snooping, are we?” He asked, nodding at her appearance.
“Well…you left…so I was cold…and I thought I would find something to warm me up,” Galinda explained, shrinking a bit, “and then I couldn’t help myself, Fi…and I found this,” she admitted, looking guiltily at the floor. “I’ll put it back, I just wanted to look for a moment.”
“Oh, darling,” Fiyero began, frowning slightly, “that was for you. I was going to wait to give it to you the day before we left for Lurlinemas break.”
He gently ran his fingers along the pristine edges of the box to admire it with Galinda.
“This music box...is for me?” Galinda asked, staring up at him in awe.
“Yes, it was meant to be a surprise, so Merry Lurlinemas sweetheart,” Fiyero said, leaning down to kiss her head, pressing the box to her chest.
“Oh, Fiyero, I love it! Thank you, thank you!” Galinda cried, tenderly caressing the box before gently setting it down on the desk, shutting the lid with care.
She then ran back across the room to Fiyero, winding her arms around him in a strangling hug.
“Thank you,” Galinda repeated, voice muffled against his chest.
“You're welcome, darling. I’m so glad you like it.” Fiyero said.
“The best gift ever, truly,” Galinda said dreamily, pulling him down for a soft kiss on the lips.
When they pulled away, Fiyero took her hand and led her over to where the cocoa was still cooling on the bedside table.
“Here,” he said, handing her a mug.
“To warm you up.”
“My favorite.” Galinda smiled, inhaling deep to take in the chocolatey scent as she sat down on the edge of the bed, eyeing the snow falling unceasingly out the window.
“I thought as much,” Fiyero replied, taking a sip of his own mug as he sat down beside her, placing an arm around her waist.
“Gorgeous, isn’t it?” Fiyero said, watching Galinda as she stared at the piling snow on the campus, glimmering softly in the sun, trying to peek out through the clouds.
“Magical,” Galinda sighed, leaning her head upon his shoulder.
“Quite right,” Fiyero agreed, squeezing fondly at her side.
“What do you say when we're finished with these, we head out for a sleigh ride, hmm?” Fiyero asked, keeping his eyes upon the sprawling campus blanketed in white through the glass.
“I’m sure Felspur’s itching to get out there,” he continued, his heart feeling giddy at the prospect of being out in the fresh snow with Galinda by his side, snug together in a sled. A perfect snow day if there ever was one.
“I would love to. Though perhaps another nap first.” Galinda yawned, taking a hearty sip from her mug, letting her head fall heavy on his shoulder, a sign of sleep soon to come.
“Excellent idea. I could think of no better way to spend our afternoon.” Fiyero said fondly, leaning his head so it lay atop hers.
They sat for a moment, sipping, daydreaming together as they both gazed upon the falling snow.
Fiyero sighed deeply, setting his mug carefully in his lap, his mind settling upon a sudden thought in their stillness.
“I love you,” Fiyero said quietly. He spoke so softly that Galinda nearly thought she had misheard him.She realized in that moment that it was the first time she had heard him say those words to her.
Galinda smiled, taken, eyes stinging with a sudden flood of affection and awe. For all who had loved Galinda, nobody ever told her that in a moment of silence, of rest rather than performance. He, by all accounts, was the first to say he loved her, not who she often pretended to be.
“I love you too.” She whispered truthfully, grinning into her cup at the admission.
And for the rest of the day, that was all that mattered. This would be the first of many storms they would endure together, and yet they would love each other through each and every one of them.
After throwing out the last glittery goodbye and a happy Lurlinemas Eve to Pfannee and ShenShen, Glinda finally closed the front door of her apartment. Silence bubbled around her. Her aching ears, overworked from a long day of parades and parties, appreciated the quiet. She was ready to come home hours ago.
Glinda whimpered as she hiked up her frothy champagne skirts and popped off her gold heels. Not golden, gold. Real 24 karat gold that did not yield. Released at last, her poor squashed toes burned red through her glittery, sheer tights. Both her heels with new blisters. Glinda bit hard on her bottom lip. Once she stripped down and got into a bath, she could start the first of what she knew would be multiple rounds of crying tonight.
It was her first Lurlinemas in Emerald City. The Wizard and Morrible insisted she stay so she could make as many appearances as possible as Glinda the Good. Momsie and Popsicle promised to come stay with her, but then they both fell ill with the fiddlehead flu. Fiyero was in the Vinkus now with his family until the new year. Elphaba, of course, no one knew where she was after six straight months of searching Oz.
She was all alone on Lurlinemas.
Maybe she was getting older, finally maturing, but the thought of having a night by herself to just cry and drink champagne from the bottle in her bed sounded like heaven after a hell of a year of trying to fit in with the Emerald City crowd while gluing her shattered heart together. Thank goodness Fiyero came to her so quickly after Elphaba fled. She didn’t know how she could have coped through such a dark time without him.
Glinda took three steps towards her bedroom when a terse knock came at her door.
She closed her eyes. If it were Pfannee or ShenShen, they would have announced themselves already. They wouldn’t have even knocked, just shouted through the door. It must be Morrible or some messenger for the Wizard. She was not going to put those horrendible shoes on again. Luckily, the floor-length skirts hid her battered bare feet, so she set her shoes down, turned around, and shuffled to the door. Her hand gripping the bronze doorknob, she set her shoulders back and bolted a smile on her face.
“Good eve—”
Fiyero stood before her, a dusting of snow melting on the shoulders of his midnight blue coat and the brim of his matching wool hat. He held a brown-paper package tied up with blue string with one hand and his suitcase in the other.
He smiled at her, crinkling his nip-pinked nose. “Happy Lurlinemas, Glinda.”
She gaped at him.
“What are you doing here?” she stammered, lips numb. Maybe she passed out from the pain of those wicked shoes and was now dreaming of him while drooling on the pristine white carpet. “Why aren’t you in Winkie Country? I-I don’t understand.”
“I was halfway there when I realized that I shouldn’t have left.”
Glinda burst into tears. Suddenly, his arms enveloped her, holding her up as she swayed and felt as fragile as spun sugar. She wrapped her arms around him and shivered.
“I told you to go,” she whimpered in his frosted coat. "I know you hate it here.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I hate letting you spend Lurlinemas alone more. Unless…?”
“No, I’m glad you’re here,” she sniffled. “Sorry, I’m a mess.”
“Let’s get you cleaned up then.”
Fiyero scooped her up and carried her inside. As he helped her get out of her dress and into the tub, he explained that Feldspur, who took the train with him, decided to keep his holiday with his herd in the Vinkus. Considering how the screws were being turned on Animal rights in Emerald City, Fiyero offered that Feldspur should stay with his herd. The Horse scoffed and promised to return in the spring.
Once Glinda washed up and changed into her pink silk nightgown, Fiyero carried her to bed. Stripped down to his undershirt and pajama pants, he dabbed ointment on her blisters and wrapped her foot in gauze. He brought her the champagne and charcuterie she had kept chilled in her icebox. They took turns drinking from the bottle, picking at the plump olives and creamy cubes of cheese as the winter storm brewed behind the large, round window to the right of her bed.
“I think tomorrow’s going to be a snow day,” Fiyero mused.
Her body warm and fuzzy from the champagne, Glinda snuggled shoulder to shoulder with Fiyero. “Like that day at Shiz when all we did was lounge in your bed and watch the snow fall?”
“Exactly that. Which reminds me…”
Fiyero scooted out of bed to fetch the brown-wrapped package he had set on her vanity earlier. Glinda set the half-full champagne bottle on her nightstand table and sat up.
“Thank you, dearest,” she said, ripping the paper as soon as the heavy package was in her hands. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“My presence present enough?” he teased as he stretched out next to her again.
She leaned over and kissed him once, twice, thrice. It had been some time since she felt this close to him. They clung to each other like strands of ivy when he came riding into the Emerald City after Elphaba’s flight. They shared the weight of their unbearable grief and unspoken regret until their intense work schedules tore them further and further apart. Their date nights at five-star restaurants and trendy cafes felt more like press meetings than romantic rendezvous. When Fiyero told her he’d be going to the Vinkus for Lurlinemas, she didn’t bat an eye that he didn’t invite her.
His sapphire eyes glittered when she pulled the snow globe out of its box. A flurry of silver glitter and fake snow settled on the figurine of a couple being pulled by a sleigh pulled by a horse that shifted color in the light. She twisted the music box key, and it played a song that sounded almost like “Dear Old Shiz.”
“This is gorgeous, thank you!” Glinda squealed. “I will keep it right next to the music box you gave me last year.”
“Should we make that a tradition, then? Every year, I get you a new musicifying trinket or bauble?”
“And maybe you can hide it for me to find?”
Fiyero snorted a laugh. He took the snow globe and set it next to the music box on her vanity before joining her on the bed again. They finished the wine and the finger foods and set them on her nightstand table. Fiyero cradled her in his arms. He kissed her nose, her cheeks, her lips, until he mapped out her face. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine herself being back in his dorm at Shiz as they napped through the snow day like a pair of cats, still blissfully ignorant of the cyclone barreling towards them.
But she wasn’t ready to fall asleep just yet. She wanted to soak up every precious moment of their second Lurlinemas together with each impulsive touch and tender whisper that was only meant for them.