The trip back to Gillikin was, once again, long and tiresome. Galinda tried to pry more conversation out of the green girl, but every time she did, Elphaba just scooted away and turned a darker shade of green. It amused Glinda for a while before she grew tried and fell asleep against the window. Her father was asleep too, and Elphaba kept a book propped open on her lap. She moved to look out the window, and noticed that Galinda and her father had drifted. Her eyes fixed on the pretty little blonde. Never in her life had she seen someone so... she couldn't find the right adjective. Beautiful - yes, that was true, but not quite what she was looking for. Not adorable, pretty or peaceful - but all of those were quite true as well. The green girl slid off of her place on the bench and knelt before Galinda to examine her. The flaxen curls shone in the moonlight, her pale skin illuminated. Thick black lashes contrasted with pale pink skin, and it both mesmerized and disturbed Elphaba - created a feeling in her gut that she couldn't place, but it certainly wasn't nausea. The little girl's ruby red lips formed a perfect pout, and her pretty brow furrowed as though she was trying to think extremely hard.

Elphaba remained transfixed on Galinda's face until those thick eyelashes fluttered open to reveal shining pale blue eyes. "Elphie?" came a small, sleepy voice, and Elphaba froze - caught in the act. Galinda yawned and reached out to touch Elphaba's face, but Elphaba moved away again and sat back on the bench. Galinda's arm hit the air and fell lazily before she sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Elphie, did you sleep?" asked Galinda, looking over at Elphaba, who stiffly shook her head. "But sleep is good for you. Come sleep on my lap," said Galinda with a smile. Elphaba seemed frightened at the notion, and confused as to why Galinda was referring to her as "Elphie". The little blonde patted her lap. "Your head goes here, Elphie," said Galinda with a smile.

Elphaba looked hesitant, but stiffly laid down on her side in an uncomfortable position, resting her head gently on Galinda's lap. Galinda clapped and grinned, and the noise startled both Elphaba and her father awake. Elphaba shot up off of her lap and stared straight ahead of her, turning yet another darker shade of green. Galinda giggled. "Popsicle, Elphie's skin changes colors!" exclaimed Galinda gleefully, clapping yet again. Her father only smiled, looking in between his buoyant daughter and her horrified new "friend".

The hours bore on until they finally reached the Arduenna Mansion. Galinda bounced excitedly on her seat. "We're home, we're home!" she exclaimed as they pulled in front of the large, luxurious-looking house. Elphaba's eyes widened in wonder - never had she seen a house so large. And, never had she seen someone so excited to arrive home. Galinda was a bouncing, bubbly mess. Seconds later, her hand was in the surprisingly firm grasp of Galinda's tiny pink ones and she was being pulled from the carriage. "Come Elphie, you can meet Momsie!" said Galinda, tugging Elphaba up to the house.

"But my satchel -"

"Kalik will get it Elphie, don't be silly," said Galinda with a giggle that made Elphaba cringe. The man dressed in a very pristinely white uniform who was grabbing the bags smiled at Elphaba's reaction. She wasn't sure when she would get used to such a happy sound. Galinda reached on her tiptoes and pushed the door open, still dragging a reluctant Elphaba along behind her. "Momsie!" called Galinda with a squeal. "Momsie, me and Popsicle are home!"

A figure emerged at the top of a very long staircase, and Elphaba couldn't help but stare. She looked just like Galinda - an older version. Pale, creamy white skin, a head of flaxen curls and piercing blue eyes - though the features around her eyes were soft, very kind. Her face broke into a large smile at the sight of her bouncy daughter. "Galinda, my pet," she said, her smooth voice ringing out as she descended the stairs. She gracefully sweeped her daughter into a hug and spun her around, Galinda's musical laughter bouncing off of the walls of the house - Elphaba had never seen something so magical. And strangely enough, she missed the warmth in her hand when Galinda let go.

Galinda hugged tightly onto her mother's legs when she was put back on the ground before she skipped back over to Elphie and took her hand again. "Momsie, look. This is Elphie!" said Galinda with a smile, tugging a frightened Elphaba towards her mother. The older woman looked at her with a kind smile.

"Is she the one who is to teach you, Galinda, before you both go off to school?" asked the older woman.

"Yes Momsie. Isn't her skin pretty?" asked Galinda as she reached out and stroked Elphaba's cheek with her free hand. "Look, it turned darker!" giggled Galinda.

Elphaba hung her head, only to feel a pair of soft fingers under her chin, gently lifting it up. "Hello, my dear," said the older woman, and Elphaba wanted to shrink away, unused to such kindness. "I am Helina," she said. "And you are Elphie?"

"Elphaba," the small green girl corrected her silently.

"Forgive me, Elphaba," said Helina with a smile. "My dear, I know my eccentric daughter can be much to handle at first," said the woman, and Galinda giggled. "You must learn to take her in stride, and soon you will love her just as we all do. I can promise you that."

Elphaba was taken aback by the woman's kindness, and sighed. "I'm sorry Miss -"

"Helina, please."

Elphaba coughed. "Miss Helina," she corrected herself. "I could not help but be confused... you said before both Galinda and myself go off to school?" asked Elphaba quietly, and she looked up to see Helina smiling brightly.

"Yes, my darling, that is what I said." Elphaba seemed utterly shocked.

"But Miss Ar-"

"Helina, darling."

"Miss Helina, I was not to go to school. My parents would not allow it," said Elphaba.

"My darling Elphaba, you do not live with your parents anymore. You will be attending University when the time comes, with my daughter. And when the time comes, you will be attending local school, for your pre-University education," said Helina, carefully regarding Elphaba's reaction.

"But I am to teach Miss Galinda. I was to be a slave, a servent," said a very flustered Elphaba.

"I feel my daughter would not stand for such a thing, my child. You are going to teach Galinda what you know, yes, however you will not be regarded as a servant, but as a member of our family," said Helina, kneeling down to Elphaba's level. "I agree that little girls should not be servants, no matter how responsible they are."

Elphaba sighed and hung her head again. "Miss, this is too kind. My father would be very displeased."

"Oh, pish posh," said Helina, standing back up and patting her daughter's head. "Your father is not here and he will not know of our agreement. Now, Galinda, my child, show Elphaba to your room," said Helina, and went to greet her husband.

Galinda grinned and pulled Elphaba up the stairs. "Momsie is very nice, you don't have to call her Miss you know," said Galinda.

"Did she mean to say that you were to show me to my room?" asked Elphaba, and she was being tugged along.

"Do not be silly, Elphie. My room is big enough for the both of us."

Elphaba seemed horrified at the idea of having to share a room with the bright young girl. When she was pulled into the room, she was even more intimidated. The room was a soft cream colour, showered with decorations in white, cream, lavender and pink. It was very large, and Galinda's bed was large and circular, with a canopy hanging elegantly over it. It was showered with stuffed toys of all shapes and sizes, with two large wardrobes. Galinda dragged Elphaba over to the slightly smaller bed beside hers, covered in white bedclothes. All Elphaba could do was stare around the room.

"Elphie, we are going to go into town tomorrow to go shopping for you, to decorate your bed and your half of the room as you would like to," said Galinda with a smile. There was a knock on the door and Galinda skipped over to answer it. "Kalik! I didn't get to hug you," said Galinda with a cute pout, and the man smiled and opened his arms, which Galinda happily jumped into. "Come here Elphie, come and meet Kalik."

Elphaba moved towards him slowly and gently took the satchel he held out to her. "Thank you," she said softly.

"It was my pleasure, Miss Elphie," said Kalik with a smile. Elphaba hadn't the strength to correct him, she was far too overwhelmed.

Three years passed quickly in the Arduenna household, and each year Elphaba felt herself become more comfortable being Galinda's tutor, and an accepted member of their family. She still felt rather alienated, but that was normal - she was not used to such a kind family.

And she got used to Galinda's perkiness. As a matter of fact, Elphaba found the young blonde most endearing. Now ten years old, and Galinda eight, the two had managed to form an extremely strange bond. It was unlike anything Elphaba had ever witnessed among children she had seen in her earlier years.

"Elphie!" called Galinda as she skipped into their room and hopped onto the couch, almost landing in Elphaba's lap. Elphaba smiled and closed her book.

"Yes, Lindy?" asked Elphaba, reaching out to pet Galinda's gorgeous head of curls.

"What are you doing?" asked Galinda as she laid down on her side and put her head in Elphaba's lap.

"Reading, my precious, and you interrupted me," said Elphaba with a small smile.

"Oh Elphie, I am sorry! Would you like me to leave?" asked the bubbly blonde as she bounced up. Elphaba shook her head and held Galinda down.

"Do not be ridiculous my sweet. I can continue later. Did you wish to speak to me?"

Galinda thought for a moment. "I think there was a reason I came - but I forget," pouted the blonde, putting a finger on the tip of her nose as she tried to remember. "Oh no! I remember. Momsie told me that you and I are going into town by ourselves today," said Galinda with a grin.

Elphaba looked terrified. "Galinda, you are only eight! And I only ten, that is not appropriate," said Elphaba in a fluster.

"When I said town, I meant the park just outside of town. The one that we go to every Sunday, silly," said Galinda with a giggle. "You can push me on the swings!" Galinda grinned and clapped, and Elphaba smiled, relieved. She did recall that on occasion, Galinda enjoyed pretending that they were older by proclaiming that they were going into town to browse the vendors, when really the tiny blonde was going to the park to play on the swings, and Elphaba was accompanying her with a book.

"Of course, my sweet," replied Elphaba, and Galinda bounced off of her to gather their things, Elphaba watching in admiration of her small friend's unlimited supply of energetic behavior.

The day at the park was more subdued than normal. Galinda sat on the bench with Elphaba and the green girl read to her, before Galinda spotted an iced cream vendor. Elphaba pushed Galinda on a wooden swing afterward, until Galinda dropped her ice cream on the ground. It results in many tears on Galinda's part, and the green girl decided it best that they head back home.

Galinda had calmed down when they reached the house, and was only sniffling a little bit. Helina and Gregerik were out, so Elphaba brought Galinda up to their room and jack-knifed into a sitting position, allowing Galinda to curl up beside her.

"Are you feeling better, my sweet? Would you like Miss Jerica to make you some more ice cream?" asked Elphaba, petting Galinda's small head of curls. She felt Galinda's head nod in consent and Elphaba went to get it. The pretty blonde sat up and rubbed her eyes before looking at Elphaba's side of the room, smiling. It was still fairly bare, other than a bookcase filled with volumes of all sorts, a smaller wardrobe beside Galinda's two, and dark gray, very plain bed sheets. Her Elphaba was a very strange and plain little girl, but Galinda rather liked her that way. Elphaba had no stuffed playthings, but Galinda just assumed that she was what Elphaba used to cuddle up to when she needed it.

On very rare occurrences, if Elphaba had a nightmare, Galinda would normally wake up and toddle over to Elphaba's bed and curl up in ball beside her, allowing Elphaba the comfort of having something close to hold on to if she got frightened, just like when Galinda used to have nightmares when she was younger and her father would hear her crying and lay down with her so she wouldn't be scared.

"My sweet?"

Galinda looked away from Elphaba's bed and locked her eyes on the green girl, who was coming in with a bowl of ice cream. Galinda clapped. "Elphie, come eat it with me!" cried the young blonde. The green girl smiled and walked over to Galinda's bed, sitting down gingerly and handing Galinda the bowl.

Galinda ate more than Elphaba did, and sometimes Galinda would hold the spoon up to Elphaba's mouth and feed it to her, giggling. The bowl was almost done when Galinda's voice piped up. "Elphie, we are going to local school soon! You should be going next year, but Momsie is waiting until I am allowed to go," said Galinda with a smile. "You will be around other little children! Even boys!"

Elphaba sighed and looked down. "I do not know if I will be able to cope with that, Lindy," said Elphaba, and Galinda pouted.

"But I will be there with you! And we can cuddle when we get home if you get too upset or overwhelmed," said Galinda with a smile. "Oh, it will be such fun Elphie!"

"Well we needn't worry about it now, my sweet. You are only eight; three more than five," said Elphaba with a smile, and Galinda grinned, holding up eight fingers.

A/N: So here's the second chapter. Not much has happened yet, just some fluffiness in their younger years. :) Review if you like!