The Emerald Woman and the Little Star
What happens when our Green girl meets a little girl in need of love.
"Oh Elphie I'm going to miss you and Fifi sooooo much"
It was the final day of their final year at Shiz, Elphaba and Glinda where in their room. Glinda was bustling around the room folding frilly pink dresses and putting them into her even pinker (if that was even possible) suitcases and Elphaba whose one lonely suitcase was already packed was sat on her bed reading. Sighing Elphaba put down her book and removed her reading glasses.
"Honestly Glinda it's not like we are never going to see each other again" said Elphaba then seeing her friends face stood up and pulled her into a hug "come on this is silly"
At that moment there was a knock on the door, pulling away from Glinda, Elphaba walked over and opened the door she smiled when she saw Fiyero standing on the other side of it holding a bunch of flowers.
"Hi I've come to see my girlfriend dark hair beautiful green skin haven't seen her have you" said Fiyero with a grin.
"Idiot" said Elphaba pulling Fiyero in for a quick kiss. Their moment was interrupted by a loud sob from behind them. They both turned their heads to see Glinda sitting on her bed hugging her pink teddy bear and bawling.
Elphaba and Fiyero looked at each other then back to Glinda.
"I'll tell you what if she keeps crying like that we won't need to bother with a carriage to get home all we will need is a boat and a couple of oars" said Elphaba she grabbed a near by box of tissues and walked back over to Glinda while Fiyero doubled up with helpless laughter.
2 years later.
Elphaba was nervous as she watched through the window waiting for the carriage to arrive. It had taken months for her and Fiyero to get to this day months of accessments and health checks but all those days of endless questions and form filling had been worth it to get to this day, It was the day they were to become foster parents to an eight year old girl.
Seeing the small carriage round the corner and up the dusty path to the door of the castle, Elphaba moved away from the window just as Fiyero came into the room.
"Fae they're here" said Fiyero. Then he noticed the curtain at the window behind Elphaba was crooked "you where watching out of the window again weren't you"
Elphaba blushed "Guilty your Honour, I'm just so excited and nervous at the same time"
There was a knock on the front room door and Zeke the Butler poked his head around the door.
"Sorry to interrupt Sir, Madam but Mrs Hunter is here"
"Thanks Zeke show her in will you please" said Fiyero.
Zeke disappeared and came back a few minutes later bringing with him a older woman with dark hair with lines of grey running through it she also wore silver glasses with oval frames, a grey suit completed her look. Behind her she pulled the young girl into the room.
"Alice Sophie Rachel Winter will you stop being so silly Fiyero and Elphaba are not going to bite you" Said Mrs Hunter
"No no I don't want to go with them" sobbed Alice she broke free from Mrs Hunters grip he shot across the large front room and made for the double doors which lead to the gardens, Elphaba shot after her and managed to wrap her arms around her before she could open the door.
"No you don't sweetheart it's ok you're ok" said Elphaba as the young girl wriggled and struggled in her arms.
"LET GO OF ME I WANT MY MUMMY" screamed Alice.
"I know baby I know"said Elphaba rubbing the little girls back. After a few more minutes Elphaba felt the little girl go limp in her arms smiling to herself she lifted the sleeping child into her arms and carried her over to where Fiyero sat with a huge smile on his face, Mrs Hunter also looked impressed.
"Well done Fae" said Fiyero as Elphaba gently laid the little girl on to the empty sofa before re taking her seat beside him.
"I have to say Mrs Tiggular you handled that situation very well, this is Alice's third foster placement in as many months she can be quite a handful at times" said Mrs Hunter
Elphaba and Fiyero looked at each other than back to Mrs Hunter.
"What do you mean by handful she's eight years old how bad can she be" asked Fiyero concern in his voice.
"Alice has been through a lot her mother was hospitalised with deep depression four years ago Alice sees her twice a month, she lived with her father for two and a half years he was a nasty piece of work he drank a lot and then got into drugs by the time Alice arrived in foster care she was half starved, filthy and covered in bruises. Alice just doesn't seem to want to settle anywhere I've been trying to find her adoptive parents since she was put into care eighteen months ago" said Mrs Hunter.
"Poor girl has been through a lot by the sound of it, so I take it there's no chance her mother might ever be well enough to have her back" asked Elphaba.
"Unfortunately no her mother will never be able to leave the hospital" said Mrs Hunter.
"Poor little girl" said Fiyero "well I hope that Fae and I can finally give her some stability, is there anything else we need to know"
"Just one more thing Alice is prone to angry outbursts she throws things around as has been known to bite and kick her foster carers in the past she has also run away twice but thankfully was found very quickly, I should also warn you she is very wary about men and doesn't like to be alone with them" said Mrs Hunter.
"It's no wonder the poor little girl is unsettled and afraid of men with what she has been through" said Elphaba " when is Alice's next visit with her mother to take place"
"Next Wednesday at three in the afternoon I will come and collect her and bring her back to you afterwards" said Mrs Hunter "now if there is no more questions I must be getting back"
"That would be all thank you" said Fiyero he stood up and walked over to the front room door opening it "Zeke could you come an escort Mrs Hunter out please"
Once Zeke had taken Mrs Hunter out of the room Elphaba and Fiyero turned to the sleeping child and noticed that she was no longer sleeping she had sat up and was rubbing her eyes after a few seconds Alice noticed Elphaba and Fiyero watching her it was then that she also noticed Mrs Hunter had gone.
"Alice are you ok sweetheart" asked Fiyero as he walked towards the child.
"Where is Mrs Hunter" asked Alice in a wobbly voice getting off the sofa and backing away from Fiyero
"She had to go sweetheart" said Elphaba "did you sleep ok would you like to see your bedroom"
"Gone you mean she left me here with you" said Alice starting to get upset.
Elphaba's heart broke at the sight of the scared child she walked over knelt down in front of her.
"Sweetie I promise you are going to be fine here with Fiyero and I" said Elphaba rubbing the girls arm but the Alice erupted like a volcano.
"I DON'T WANT TO STAY HERE WITH YOU I WANT TO LIVE WITH MY MUMMY" shouted Alice and before Elphaba could stop her she bolted past her and ran out of the open door.
"Alice come back" said Elphaba tearing off after her Fiyero hot on her heels, running down the long castle hall she saw Alice disappear into the kitchen, slowing down as she got the kitchen door Elphaba walked slowly into the room, the scene that met her eyes made her heart crack Alice was sitting under the table with her knees pulled up to her chin and she was sobbing.
A second later Fiyero followed her in to the kitchen skidding to a halt and accidentally elbowing a cast iron frying pan off the side which hit the floor with an almighty clang. The sudden noise made Alice jump in alarm she tried to bolt again but Elphaba was quicker this time she grabbed the little girl around the middle and held her tight. The young girl thrashed about and screamed but Elphaba held a firm grip on her until she began to calm down.
Fiyero stood watching Elphaba in awe as she tried to calm the young girl down from the time he met her he knew Elphaba was someone very special and seeing her with this child only made him love her more he was snapped out of his thoughts by Elphaba's voice.
"Yero will you stop day dreaming and give me a hand please" said Elphaba who was being kicked and head butted.
Fiyero snapped into action he knelt down beside Elphaba and tried to take hold of Alice's legs but the little girl screamed in terror.
"It's ok baby no one is going to hurt you here I promise" said Elphaba
After another ten minutes had past Alice finally calmed down and looked up into Elphaba's chocolate brown eyes she stared for a few seconds then sighed.
" I'm sorry" said Alice.
Elphaba looked at the tear stained face in front of her and her heart quenched she was reminded of her eight year old self when her father would shout at her just for existing.
After a few minutes Elphaba stood up and held out her green hand to Alice.
"It's ok sweetheart but you don't need to keep running you are perfectly safe here I promise, isn't that right Fiyero"
Fiyero smiled at Elphaba then turned to Alice "That's absolutely correct"
Alice looked between her new foster parents then at Elphaba's hand she slowly stood up make sure she was out of Fiyero's reach and took hold of it.
"Elphie can I see my room now"
Fiyero looked at Elphaba and started to laugh "Sounds like that dreaded nick name of yours is going to make a come back"
Elphaba gave Fiyero one of her best death stares then she started to smile " between you and me I have missed it, right let's see about that bedroom"
Elphaba lead Alice out of the kitchen and up the stone castle stairs until they reached the second floor after walking a short way down the corridor she stopped outside of a pair of white wooden doors, smiling she looked to Alice.
"This is your room"said Elphaba she opened the doors to revel an huge round room with soft yellow walls, a white metal bed with soft yellow sheets and numerous toys and books filled the room. Alice stood staring around the room in awe then her eyes fell on the book shelf.
"All those books are for me"said Alice she let go of Elphaba's hand and walked over to the rows of books she looked along them for a few seconds then pulled one off the shelf sat down on the fluffy rug and began to read
Elphaba smiled as she watched Alice start to read then she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Looks like we have another Elphaba on our hands" said Fiyero kissing the top of Elphaba's head.
Alice jumped up at the sound of Fiyero's voice and dropped the book and backed into shelf.
"I'm sorry please don't hurt me Elphie said this was my room I just wanted to read" said Alice starting to shake and sob.
Fiyero looked at Elphaba his heart breaking at the thought of this little girl being so afraid of him, he just wanted to go over to her scoop her up and tell her she was safe but seeing how scared she was he stood aside and let Elphaba go over to her.
"Alice it's ok sweetheart Fiyero would never ever hurt you I promise there's no need to be afraid" said Elphaba as she slowly approached the scared child. As she reached the spot where Alice was stood shaking, Elphaba noticed the small puddle between the little girls legs and realised she had been so scared she had wet herself. Alice noticed Elphaba looking at the puddle and looked at her through wet eyes.
"Elphie I'm sorry I didn't mean to make the carpet wet" sobbed Alice
Elphaba lifted the little girl into her arms and held her tight "Baby you have nothing to be sorry for, come on let's give you a bath"
Fiyero watched as Elphaba carried the little girl down the hall and into their master bedroom he shook his head before turning to go back downstairs and almost walked into Zeke coming the other way.
"Sorry Master Fiyero I was just bringing little Alice's suitcases up" said Zeke
"Thanks Zeke I'll take them, could you send up one of the maids to clean the carpet in Alice's room she had a little accident" said Fiyero
"Of course sir" said Zeke
After thanking Zeke Fiyero carried the two suitcases into Alice's bedroom and put them on the bed he was about to unzip them when a scream erupted from down the hall.