I do not own Wicked or any of its characters. Oh how I wish I did, but I don't. And thank you to JessyDaCowgirl for ideas and inspiration. There will probably be about one or two more chapters. To the story. I hope you like it! R & R!

Six. Six years since Elphaba died. Six times she had celebrated her death and for what? So that she could claim her popularity, so that she could open her windows and travel the sky and the streets of Oz and hear people shout her name? Was she really so engrossed in herself and her popularity that she would celebrate her best friend's death without trying to make things better? Not anymore. She had been thinking about stepping down but baffled as to who would take her place. She needed someone that Oz would accept as a leader, someone who had done a good deed to receive Oz's respect, someone who….the scarecrow. Of course, Glinda hated him for killing her beloved Elphie but he was also responsible for killing what Oz considered the Wicked Witch of the West. And that deed was the greatest deed of all in their eyes. She had contacted him and spoken with him and after a great deal of convincing he had agreed to fulfill the position when ever Glinda was ready to step down.

It was a year after she had spoken to the scarecrow and it was the day before the seventh anniversary of Elphaba's death. Glinda had called a meeting with all of Oz and she had spent a good portion of the day trying – desperately – to clear her friend's name. Sure, she had promised that she wouldn't but she didn't have a choice now. Things were getting too out of hand. Some had lost respect for Glinda, others believed that it was just stress that was causing such talk but Glinda knew better. It was love. Still, no one would listen to her no matter how much they loved Glinda the Good. The night that led to the dreadful anniversary wasn't a pleasant one. Her mind was made up. Tomorrow she would be stepping down from her position and would hand things over to the Scarecrow. She was leaving the Emerald City and was going to continue her life somewhere else. Maybe go back to Gillikin. Yes, Frottica was always welcoming to Glinda. Maybe she would stay in Kiamo Ko for a while. Possibly even in the castle so that she was able to pay the respects that she had neglected for seven years. Where ever she would end up, it wouldn't be in the Emerald City.

"Some of you may have heard rumors about my retirement. I stand here now to confirm these rumors and to introduce your new leader. You all recall the day seven oh so long years ago that The Wicked Witch had been killed and that these heroes consisted of a small girl, a tin man, and a scarecrow. Well, I'd like to welcome a hero himself, the Scarecrow."

Very hesitantly, the Scarecrow stepped into view and was hit with a loud roar of applause and cheers.

"I will be leaving immediately but my whereabouts will not be announced. As of tonight I will no longer be ruling Oz. I will not be answering questions from here on in. You are dismissed."

Oz was upset that they would be losing such a wonderful leader but having someone that had done a deed such as kill the Witch was an honor as well.

Glinda had retreated to her room and let the tears that she had been fighting, fall. Suitcases were everywhere, all of her clothing packed. Once night fell she would be leaving for the castle in Kiamo Ko under the cover of night. She didn't want people following her or to know where she was. All she wanted was to have time to her self, not to be bombarded with questions and confused and upset Ozians.

By the time nightfall came her bags were shipped off to her home in Frottica and everything was set. Glinda had said her rather painful goodbyes to the staff and soaked in one last look of her room. Things seemed different now. They felt different. A weight had been lifted off her shoulders now that she knew she would no longer be celebrating her Elphie's death. Now she would be able to celebrate her life and mourn her death rather than the other way around.

Glinda wanted to go back in time so that she could have gone with Elphaba that night. If she had Elphaba wouldn't be dead, and Glinda would have been able to admit her feelings to her. Glinda loved that green girl more than anything, even her popularity. But she was afraid. Well, terrified really. Terrified of not being accepted, of not having people bow at her feet and as much as she wanted to spend every waking moment with Elphie, she didn't. She gave up the love of her life for Oz's respect and it took her seven years to realize what a mistake it had been. Maybe if she had told Elphaba of her feelings she wouldn't have surrendered herself to Oz knowing the pain that she would cause Glinda. But now it was too late. She couldn't go back and things would never be better. All she could do was try and make up for the things she had done wrong by paying her respects.

Glinda had a death grip on Elphaba's hat and a single tear from her eye onto the hat before dropping off of the brim.

"I'm coming, Elphie," she whispered to nothing before bubbling herself to the place of her friends death.