The Only One That Mattered

Chapter 1 - The First Morning

a/n: welcome back to my friends who may still be poking around on this app! this fic takes place in a different universe from my last Gelphie fic. still world building!

———

The sun danced across Glinda's cheeks and she stirred, slowly blinking herself awake.

"Mmm," she hummed as she turned over in bed, eyes falling shut as quickly as they had just opened. "Yero," Her arm reached across the bed for her husband but was met with empty sheets.

She opened her eyes and propped herself up on her elbows. "Fiyero Tiggular," she said sternly to her bedroom wall, "don't tell me you've already up and left without saying goodbye.."

When there was only a response of silence, she grumbled and swung herself out of bed. She dragged her fuzzy slippers across the floor. "Fiyero!" she called, "You'd better still be in this house!"

She noticed a note on the table by the bedroom door, and marched to it. Glin, it read.

Didn't have the heart to wake you. See you in three days time, my wife. Take care.
Yero

Glinda scoffed at the note. She had specifically asked to be awoken to greet him farewell - in, fact it was the only thing she had asked for regarding his trip to Winkie Country - and he couldn't even grant her that favor.

I suppose this note is meant to be loving, she tried to justify it to calm her anger, I guess I must have looked so sweet sleeping in that sun. She drew the curtains and looked at her golden hair in the mirror, pleased with the excuse she made for Fiyero.

But she couldn't shake the feeling of irritation that kept her jaw clenched. Glinda had always known that Fiyero was a man who loved from a distance. It was most certainly a change of scenery from all of the other men who had almost caught her eye; too clingy. Too needy. Too close. She chose him because he was different from the others. Fiyero loved Glinda in a way that made her feel like she was on the same level as everyone else.

Although, she did miss her pedestal from time to time. 

Glinda

"Can't wait to see you, Glinda dearest! I'll be expecting your prettiest dress— and I know you'll be expecting mine, of course."

"Fabulocious! See you then, dear." I hung up the phone. Shenshen was throwing one of her infamous dinner parties tonight. Although they were always more 'party' than they were 'dinner'. Shenshen's house was always packed with people dressed in magnificent outfits, and of course paired with what felt like an infinite flow of booze. Like a playground for adults! I looked forward to these parties.

Fiyero didn't care much for them, so I was already used to going alone. It was fun getting to spend time with my girl friends and old classmates. But sometimes, if I drank too much, I'd have a little too much fun and get carried away with the idea of being single for a night, since Fiyero wasn't there. And how easy it was to feel like I was back in my middle years — no sort of infidelity, of course, but being around all of my old university classmates brought out that flirty side of me that I shamelessly had to tuck away when Fiyero and I got married.

I eyed my wedding band in the mirror as I tried on my dress for the evening - it was butter yellow, with an asymmetric hem that came down right above my knee. There were tasteful ruffles that made it feel girly but still grown-up.

"Hmmm," I slipped off the gold band and placed it on my nightstand. I shrugged. "It's not like they don't already know about Fiyero."

I grabbed my favorite white clutch and threw on a pair of heels, already looking forward to the moment I could take them off. I touched up my lipstick, tossed my hair in the mirror and then headed to Shenshen's soirée alone.

———

"Glinnnnn!" I was honestly a bit surprised at how drunk Shenshen already was when I arrived, but still happy to see my dear friend nonetheless.

"This feels more packed than usual, doesn't it dear?" I was shouting to be heard over the music.

"Pfannee and his big mouth," she rolled her eyes, "It's like he wants my roof to cave in. Sweet oz!" She giggled and tucked a strand of her ginger hair behind her ear. "Lots of familiar faces from Shiz, though, it's so sweeeeeet. Go say hiiii!" she handed me her drink and shoo'd me away as I grinned at her.

Familiar faces, huh? I almost shuddered at the thought of an old flame reappearing. I went to toy with my wedding band and remembered I had taken it off. Freedom! I thought for a tick, before sipping the drink Shenshen handed me to stifle a chuckle at my own thoughts. I suppose I did miss Fiyero a bit, even though he never accompanied me to these events.

I wondered if he too, was having a night out somewhere on his own. I wondered if he also contemplated taking off his wedding ring for the evening, just to remember what it felt like to not be branded. There truly was a small freedom in a bare ring finger—the way strangers could look at you without instantly dismissing the possibility of something new. For one night, I had freed myself of the label of belonging to someone else. Tonight, I only belonged to myself.

———

I was halfway through my second drink and had just finished my third "catch-up" conversation when everyone began dancing. I found Pfannee in the sea of gorgeous, drunken dancers and he spun me around one too many times.

"Pfannee!" I exclaimed, "you've got to stop giving me the spins when I'm tipsy!" He just laughed. "If I throw up in front of all of our classmates, so help me oz—"

Pfannee laughed again and nudged me off the dance floor. "Go take a break, granny! I heard the wall could use some flies anyway." He winked as I stumbled to the wall. Usually, this was code for "listen to that conversation over there," but with how dizzy I was, getting some stability was my sole priority. Is this what people mean when they exclaim they're getting old?

I leaned against the wall by the kitchen, continuing to watch Pfannee make a drunken fool out of himself. I looked down at where my wedding band should have been and smiled to myself. It was nice getting to catch up with my old classmates and keep the conversation about me— us. Usually I get roped into marriage talk, and then they bring up their children, and blah blah blah. At least tonight I could stand on my own without being interrogated about how my relationship was going.

A small price to pay, I used to tell myself, for the two most perfect people at Shiz getting together. This sentiment used to comfort me in the beginning, but now it seemed like a poor excuse for the basis of my relationship with Fiyero.

I shook my head and sipped my drink. Why am I worrying about this anyway? I'm at Shenshen's party, for Lurline's sake! I should just focus on enjoying myself. I finished off my drink and set it on the kitchen counter amongst the sea of partially finished beverages, and turned to go dance with Pfannee.

I looked up to find him and he was already staring at me, eyes wide. I laughed out loud. "What?! I wasn't that dizzy!" I called to him. He put a hand on his hip and raised an eyebrow as he pointed at the wall behind me. "Turn around," he mouthed rather dramatically.

Oh oz, not another ex-boyfriend, I turned slowly over my shoulder, I can't do another one of those stupid small talk conversations! The whole time I can always tell that they're just looking at my—

My body froze.

I'd recognize that peculiar shade of emerald anywhere.

Elphaba Thropp.