Disclaimer – I own nothing. Not sure why I need to write this, it's obvious I own nothing.

Rating – T(?)

Fandom – Wicked.

Pairing – Gelphie.

Summary – Oneshot set in an AU future if Elphaba and Glinda had not gone to the Emerald City. Gelphie.

Creative criticism is greatly appreciated. I cannot improve without it! If you have any please leave it in a review or a PM on or do it through my Tumblr. Whichever is best for you.

This is mostly book based though there might be some musicalverse sneaking in somewhere.

I'm still not sure what this is, I just started writing and this one shot happened, to me it feels more like a chapter from a larger story, who knows I might extended it at some point. So yeah, I would call it a character story but that would just be an excuse for the fluff (sort of) and little plot.

Shiz had changed little in the past twenty years. It felt as if only yesterday she had roamed these very streets and walked the corridors of Crage hall. But that was, in truth, a lifetime ago no matter how she felt.

They had opened the Conservatory only a few weeks prior, not enough time to gauge the impact of it. Even so something had compelled Glinda to make another visit to the University town, perhaps she merely wished to spend some more time upon thoughts of a happier time full of innocence and mirth.

Still, whatever the reason, she had found herself travelling for the two or so hours it took to get to Shiz unaccompanied. How she had managed that one she still did not know.

Okay perhaps she had told a few white lies and distracted the girl who normally travelled with her with a distortion of the truth.

Oh well, just as long as no one worries. She thought knowing full well there would be a steady building of anxiety the longer she was away. Perhaps she should feel more concerned?

As she found her attention drawn to the familiar front of Crage Hall a gaggle of girls blundered past, their eyes seemed to linger on her face, halting her breath. And then, just like that, the eyes slid away and the girls continued on their joyous way.

It felt almost foreign, the feeling of anonymity. In the City she could barely move for the wont of constant recognition. Sometimes she wished she could just melt away and be forgotten.

A few people had of course acknowledged her, or perhaps they had only taken her to be someone of worth due to her clothing and accessories. Which was as fashionable as always of course.

It was as she was walking towards the Suicide canal that someone careless stormed past, dangerously close to splashing her dress with mud. She stopped to give her skirts the once over, the carmine material was blessedly fine. As her head rose she caught sight of someone else heading in the same direction as the ruffian. Someone familiar.

Someone remarkably familiar.

Ignoring the boy that had trampled past, (he was probably long gone by then), she took few brisk steps towards the figure now in her sights.

"Elphie? Elphaba!" She called out, the tall figure turned, a smile spread across Glinda's face as she realised she had been correct. Not that there was much room for confusion.

"Fancy seeing you here." She said once she had reached the taller woman, "I thought you would be back in Munchkinland doing Eminent...things."

The now stationary woman's lip curled into a smile of recognition.

"Good to see you are as eloquent as always."

Glinda moved her handbag into a more comfortable position.

"Nice to see you just as hypercritical as always."

Elphaba smiled fully, shifting the bag strap crossing her chest in a move that was almost self-conscious.

"It took a lot of negotiating and perception on my part but I managed to wiggle out of it in the end, in a way." Elphaba had never been keen on her birthright, Glinda remembered, in fact she had never been keen on anything she felt she was being forced into, which was most things. "I managed to gain a teaching post here, completely unintentional I assure you, but there are certain benefits."

"And Nessarose?" She had never gotten on too well with the younger Thropp, their personalities did not fit together too well and in truth she had never tried too hard to form some kind of bond with her. There was no need when she had Elphaba. Even so it was basic manners to ask after ones acquaintances. Particularly if that acquaintance was related to her present company.

"She is well. I'll have to return eventually, whenever Nanny chooses to leave that is. I doubt that will be for decades yet." It came as no surprise that Nanny was still alive and kicking, "Until then I can remain here teaching."

"Life sciences I presume," Glinda then added in a lower tone of voice, "it only just occurred to me, the oddity of you teaching here of all places. After...after all that happened." She did not wish to stumble over her words; she still did not know how to touch upon that particular subject. Glinda remembered that time clearly, it had taken all of force to keep Elphaba from running off to do something stupid. She herself was almost swept up in spectacle of it all, by now she felt as if she had always found it near impossible not to be caught up in the full force of Elphaba and her unsurpassed levels of stubbornness. Even now a part of her wished to cling desperately to her friend so as to not lose her again. Not that she had truly lost her before.

It brought back memories of rushed embraces in darkened corners, muffled cries into pillows in the dead of night.

The very recollections caused her cheeks to heat to an undignified pink.

Elphaba did not notice.

"So may I ask why the oh-so lovely Lady Glinda has graced us with her presence. I suppose it has something to do with that monstrosity they just finished building across the way."

"I would appreciate if you did not refer to our Conservatory that way," Glinda said with a faux pout, "We paid for its creation to encourage the performance of the finer arts. I distinctly remember you had an extraordinary talent for singing. And of course I had such happy memories of that area. Of our time here with our friends. I felt I had to immortalise the area, to protect it."

"So you protected the area by building on it. An interesting contradiction."

Glinda gently slapped Elphaba's arm, "You mean thing you."

Elphaba smirked, it was amazing how quickly they fell back into their old routine, "Personally I believe coming here to learn art and music is a waste of time and skill, still I understand your sentiments, though you could have done it a better way. If you used your brain that is."

Glinda pouted and slapped Elphaba's arm once more, harder this time. Elphaba merely laughed boisterously in her direction, which drew the attention of a group of students walking past.

"I always thought you were more interested in architecture then music and art. Anyway." Elphaba said with a smoothing of her skirts. "Should someone of your status really be wandering around on your own? Who knows what Big Bads are lurking in the corners." Elphaba grinned, her unusual sharp teeth showing.

"I think I am more than capable of taking care of myself."

"I'm sure you can my Dear." Elphaba folded her arms as a certain familiar look crossed her face, "Enough about the lack of excitement in my life. How have you been?" Was she imagining the note of barely noticeable concern in Elphaba's tone? Probably. Hope did things like that.

"It has turned out to not be that bad, on my part at least, I think perhaps on he's as well." Glinda tilted her head, the curls of her hair barely brushing her shoulders, "It is a marriage of mutual benefits."

The taller woman raised an eyebrow but said no more. She had always been so insightful.

"And you?" Glinda asked in apprehension, "How is your personal life, besides what you have told me?"

"I thought we just relieved ourselves of this topic. Well not much, I am married –

She was interrupted by the bell ringing in the clock tower.

Glinda could not help the annoyance that crossed her features as she turned to face the blasted tower. She should not be surprised Elphaba had married, she had so many qualities that would knock anyone of their feet. Even her surliness was charming.

"Maybe we can meet for a late lunch, this is my last lecture of the day. It finishes at three," Glinda turned back to the other woman a little bit shocked at the suggestion, Elphaba cast her gaze to the clock towering in the distance, "Unless you need to return home."

Really? What kind of decision was that?

"I can delay my return, you know what they say about the Emerald City, it never sleeps. The trains run almost constantly, thank goodness they finally finished the tracks a few years ago."

"I'll meet you at the café we used to frequent. Near what is now Railway square."

"The one on the corner by that building with the lovely transoms?"

Elphaba nodded her head, already rushing off, the action was so reminiscent of their combined youth that Glinda could not help the broad smile that spread across her face.

Glinda spent her time wandering around the rest of the campus she had access to. Little else had changed. A bit of modernisation here and there (completely tacky in her opinion), but little else.

She could have waited in the café for the hour until Elphaba was finished, but the plans were for a 'late lunch', she would save herself so they could eat together. Like old times.

Glinda found her face encompassed by a shaky smile, knowing Elphaba she would not eat anything at all, she had always eaten so little. It had always worried her.

She left the area around Crage hall at a slow pace; there was no need to rush. She arrived at the meeting place in question a half an hour or so early and as such went for a looping walk around the streets. She was pleasantly surprised to so many of the business that had been there when she was at University were still very much in trade. Back in the City shops were constantly closing down, usually the newer businesses, of course it never took long for something else to open up in its' place. Though things seemed to be growing steadily worse lately.

The distant toll of a bell signalled the third hour and as Glinda rounded the corner to stand by the door of the tearoom she spotted Elphaba making her way down the street, her brow creased in concentration.

She was shocked by the feeling of relief that washed over her at the sight of her friend. Odd, she knew she would turn up. Perhaps there was still some part of her afraid of being abandoned, truly a ridiculous feeling, especially for someone of her age.

She was not a child any longer.

Elphaba reached her side and moved straight to the door to enter the tearoom.

They made their way to a table in the corner, they were only sitting down for a few moments when a waitress walked up to them. Elphaba ordered with no hesitation and they were soon left on their own.

"So," Glinda queried after fiddling in her bag for a few nervous moments, "Why have I not heard from you since we left Shiz? I penned you a letter or two. I thought you had positively disappeared."

"I got the first one, I did reply. I supposed you never got it." Elphaba sounded unsurprised, but little ever fazed her.

"In truth I did move to the City only a few months after University." A rough time, so many changes, it had been frightful.

"You could have sent another from your new home." Of course that was true. Glinda peered out the window, the café and that particular table offered a wonderful view of the square. Though now the train station towered in the background taking away some of its' quaintness.

"Well...you know. I was busy with everything that came with the move. I guess I forgot."

"Maybe the noble Arduennas saw no reason to forward their daughter a letter from a green woman." Elphaba did not hold any malice in her words in spite of the harshness of them.

"They did not know you were. And they would not do that."

The waitress returned and placed their orders on their table and disappeared as quickly as she had arrived.

"What? We were friends? Or something else?" Elphaba knew what she had meant, she reached forward to take her drink and slide Glinda's towards her. She did the same with the plates, "I'm not sure whether that is just you saving face or a genuine act of affection."

"Affection? How could I not saying that be seen as affection?" Why had she said nothing? Surely that would have been her first move when they were roomed at the start of the first year.

"As in you did not see need to mention it."

"Oh I see." That did make an odd sort of sense.

She picked up her drink and took a sip, sweet tea, and knowing Elphaba her drink was bitter Coffee, Glinda could personally not stomach the stuff. Even the smell was off-putting.

"You can eat you know, I know your upper-class manners, conversation can come after."

"You aren't exactly lower class Elphie." Glinda said just as she dug into the strawberries, cream and biscuit with relish. She had not eaten such a thing in a long time in spite of her love of the food. But everyone deserved a treat every now and then. Even someone who needed to watch their figure.

"The reactions of the students must be tiresome."

Elphaba shrugged, "When you have been treated a certain way your whole life you just turn to ignore it." A smile spread across the other woman's face, "And of course I can always threaten them with extra work or a failing grade."

"Tough skin." Glinda quotes, "I would love to be able to be like you. But really Elphie, failing them? Isn't that a bit harsh." She said as she tried her best not to scrape the china plate.

"Of course I would not really do that. And remember if anyone says anything against you point them in my direction. Not that anyone could possibly have anything bad to say. Not about perfect Galinda Arduenna." Her sarcasm was at odds with the kindness of her words, how did she manage to insult and compliment in one fell swoop?

Just as her plate was cleared she heard the telltale sound of a plate being slid across the table, she wordlessly took Elphaba's portion.

"Now don't you try to flatter me, I remember what you used to say. Empty head indeed." Glinda waved her fork sending a globule of cream flying and smiled at the resulting laugh from Elphaba.

Glinda quickly finished off the second plate feeling more than a little full but satisfied all the same.

"Well you did not exactly prove me wrong at first. Just how many hours did you spend curling that lovely hair of yours?"

Glinda pulled a mock look of irritation which quickly crumbled into a small laugh of her own.

Now that made Elphaba's smile grow.

Glinda laid her hand upon Elphaba's, revelling in the simple contact. The warmth that came from such a slight contact was bewildering; even so she still noted the lack of warm metal beneath her digits.

"I thought you said you were married?" Glinda said before she had the time to think over the matter.

You were supposed to try not to overact about it Glinda. She reminded herself.

"I am." Elphaba moved her free hand to retrieve something from her pocket. At first she thought she was retrieving her wedding ring, which she would surely place somewhere safe while working. But the item Elphaba retrieved was a small badge, she held it up to the left side of her chest, were it would normally be fixed.

The sometimes slow moving clogs that made up Glinda's mind clicked into place and sped up, "You are married to your job." She said in realisation, "I could see it no other way."

She tried in vain to cover up her resulting grin.

"Nor would I my Sweet."

Glinda felt her cheeks heat at the use of that particular term of endearment.

She felt the softness of Elphaba's knuckles on the side of her face, brushing an errant curl of hair back into place.

Elphaba retreated back to her side of the table and took a causal sip from her drink. It always impressed her how Elphaba could be so calm and almost ignorant to the possible, or actual, reactions of people before, and around, her.

Glinda could not help the wistful feeling building inside her, how well she knew the mind and body of the person before.

"It's getting late."

She turned to the window to her right, time had really flown, this fact was further reinforced when she found her drink to be extremely lukewarm. And mostly full. She scrunched her nose up in disgust and laid the cup near the edge of the table.

"That is a shame, I suppose I should be on my way, I shouldn't want anyone to worry about me." In truth she could care less about what they thought at that present moment. What they thought ever again.

Elphaba placed her empty cup down, dabbed her mouth with a napkin and stood. "I will walk you to the station."

Glinda smiled at that and hurried to stand, "I'll pay." She picked up her bag and rummaged around until she could extract the correct amount of money before Elphaba could even think about questioning her decision.

"I see you carry just as much as always."

"Shush you!"

Elphaba chuckled as Glinda placed the money on the table.

They exited into the late afternoon sun, Glinda looped her arm around Elphaba's and they set off on the short journey to the train station.

The walk took all of three minutes, as they stopped in front of the entrance Glinda found herself somewhat lost. Elphaba had her head turned in the direction they had come from, the dying sun throwing her face into a pattern of shadows and a colour she could not quite describe.

As she was distracted Glinda took that moment to place her hands on Elphaba's shoulders and, on her tip-toes, leant to place a kiss on the other woman's cheek. Only to change her mind at the last second and ended up laying it on the corner of her mouth instead. Perhaps she lingered too long for she felt Elphaba's mouth twitch, Glinda pulled away and attempted to cover the shy smile that had taken up residence on her face.

"Well, I hope we can meet again soon. Perhaps you could visit me? Lurline knows I could use the company, oh! I do not mean to be forceful it's just that it's been so long and –

"You are rambling." The smirk was not fully on her face.

Glinda blinked and threw the other woman another mock glare.

"I know what you are trying to say, but I am busy here." The smirk and playfulness on her face fell, well this only led to one option.

"Then I will have to make some excuses to come back." Glinda declared, her hands placed on her hips in a position that clearly amused Elphaba once more.

"I'm sure you will." Elphaba clasped her hand which was now hanging at her side and with a squeeze said, "Have a safe trip back."

Glinda grasped the warm hand tightly and then, after ensuring no one was around this time (she had gotten a bit carried away before), leant upwards to place another goodbye kiss on the woman's cheek this time. Though of course she wished to place her lips elsewhere, but now was not the time, and Elphaba was never one for outwardly signs of affection. Sure she could hold her head or touch her face in an almost intimate way, but more than that she would run. Sometimes figuratively, sometimes literally.

And even if no one here recognised her she should have been trying her best not to risk raising another scandal. There was already one about why she and Sir Chuffrey had had no children. That was rather popular at that moment in time. Some of the reasons were rather humorous, others? Not so much.

"Looks like the train is in." And sure enough she heard the call of the train and the stampede of people disembarking from the vehicle.

Glinda released the hand still held tightly in her own, bid goodbye and turned to enter the train station. There was no need to look back; it would not be too long until she was travelling back there. Now she finally knew where Elphaba had disappeared off too she was not about to lose her again.

As she seat herself in the more private carriage and the train began to train pull away she cast her eye out of the window and saw Elphaba still standing in the dwindling light, she must have hesitated before deciding to follow her onto the platform. Glinda felt a smile spreading across her face and lifted her hand in a wave.

No, she would not let that happen again.