Yes, it's another one of 'those' stories. If you've read 'Tell Me You Love Me' / 'Life After', 'The Wizard's Daughter', 'Seeing the Light'/ 'Silver and Gold' and 'Vinkun Princess' (all by ME), you know what I mean by 'those' stories.


Melena sat in the parlor, cradling her two month-old daughter, Elphaba, in her arms. She loved her baby with all her heart. But she just couldn't imagine how she ended up green. Out of all the things, she had green skin. Why did she have green skin? That was a question Melena feared would never be answered.

Frex, her husband, stood awkwardly in the doorway, watching Melena with Elphaba. He was very distant with Elphaba. It's not that he didn't love her. He felt that she was green because of a sin he committed. He felt that it was his fault. He felt that he would hurt her.

"Melena," he whispered, stepping into the room.

Melena looked up and smiled at her husband. "Hi, Frex."

"How are you?"

"We're fine," Melena said, smiling down at sleeping Elphaba.

Frex nodded as he looked down at his feet.

"Frex?"

"Yes?"

"Are you ashamed of Elphaba?"

Frex looked up. "N-No. Of course not."

Melena narrowed her eyes, not believing him.

"It's just… she's green," Frex said uncomfortably.

"Yeah. And?"

"I just want to figure out why she's green."

"I don't know, Frex. I want to know as much as you do, but I just don't know."

Frex's gaze returned to his feet.

"I'm going to put Elphaba to bed now," Melena announced as she stood up and walked up the stairs to the nursery. When she turned the corner, she almost ran into her nanny.

"Melena, where are you rushing to?" Nanny asked, stopping herself from running into Melena.

"Sorry. I'm just putting Elphaba to bed."

The sixty year-old woman stepped out of the way and Melena walked past her to the nursery. She opened the door and slipped in, headed straight for Elphaba's crib. Once Melena laid Elphaba down, Elphaba's eyes slowly fluttered open.

"Hi sweetie," Melena cooed, smiling down at her baby. Melena frowned when Elphaba didn't turn towards her.

"Elphaba?" Melena asked, waving her hand in front of the infant's face. Elphaba didn't blink her eyes.

"Elphaba? Elphaba! ELPHABA!" Melena shouted at the top of her lungs. No response. "Frex! Nanny!"

Frex and Nanny ran into the room, hearing Melena screaming. "Melena, what's wrong?" Frex asked, gasping for air.

"It's Elphaba. She can't see! I snapped my fingers in front of her face and she didn't blink. She can't hear, either!" Melena screamed, falling to her knees.

Frex and Nanny ran towards her. Frex knelt beside Melena and Nanny picked up Elphaba.

"Shh," Frex whispered, trying to comfort his wife.

"I can't find anything wrong with her that could have caused this," Nanny said, rocking the baby in her arms. "She could have been born like this and we just didn't notice it."

"W-What are we going to do? How will we communicate with her?" Melena sobbed.

"There's a way," Nanny whispered. "I will teach it to both of you, and teach it to Elphaba when she's older."

"Everything will be alright, Melena," Frex said, wiping a tear from her face and kissing her forehead. "I promise."


Everything turned out to be alright, considering the circumstances. One year and four months later, the Thropps welcomed another child, a beautiful daughter who they named Nessarose, to the family. She was a beautiful baby. Her beautiful peach skin shone in the moonlight and little ringlets of brown hair covered the top of her head.

Two years later, when Elphaba was four, Nanny began to teach her how to communicate with those around her. She would spell into her hand using the sign language alphabet. She would spell into Elphaba's hand first, and have Elphaba repeat it to her. Though hesitant and shy, Elphaba was a very fast learner. She learned the alphabet very quickly and was very eager to learn more about the world around her.

One day, Frex was sitting in the parlor, reading the newspaper. Elphaba walked in, groping towards him. Frex look up and saw his eldest daughter approaching him.

"Hello, little frog," Frex smiled, using the special pet name he gave her.

Elphaba found her father's arm and climbed onto the couch next to him.

"What are you up to?" Frex asked playfully, putting his paper aside.

Elphaba climbed into her father's lap. Frex stiffened, but tried to quickly play it off. Elphaba frowned, feeling her father stiffen. Why did her father stiffen like that?

Frex noticed how upset Elphaba looked and quickly gathered her into a hug. Kissing her forehead, he slowly rocked her in his arms. Elphaba moaned softly, tearing Frex's already-broken heart apart even more. He sighed as he absent-mindedly stroked her hair.

"It's okay," he whispered, kissing her forehead. "I'm sorry."

"Frex?" Melena asked, standing in the doorway. She had just put two year-old Nessa down for her nap.

Frex turned his head and smiled at his wife. "Hello."

"Is everything alright?"

Frex nodded. "Everything's fine."

Melena nodded and smiled at Elphaba. "How is she?"

Frex rubbed small circles on Elphaba's back. "She's fine."

Elphaba gently squirmed out of her father's arms. Letting go, Frex watched as Elphaba felt her way to the table. Stopping, her little hands searched the table top for something. Finding what she was searching for, one of Nessa's picture books, she made her way back to her father.

"What is it?" Frex asked.

Elphaba reached for her father's hand. Grasping it, she pushed the book into his hands and tugged at his arm.

A single tear slid down Frex's cheek. Quickly wiping it away, he looked at Elphaba, who moaned quietly as she continued to pull Frex's arm.

"What does she want?" Melena asked.

"She… she wants me to read to her," Frex answered, not taking his eyes off Elphaba.

Elphaba moaned, louder this time, and impatiently tapped his leg.

"Read to her," Melena said, giving Elphaba a look of pity.

"Melena, she can't…" Frex couldn't even finish his sentence without tears threatening to flow from his eyes.

"I know, but still…"

"Okay," Frex agreed. He turned his attention back to Elphaba and took her hand.

Elphaba smiled as her father lifted her into his arms. Melena watched as her husband and daughter walked up the stairs together.

Frex walked into Elphaba's room and sat down on her bed. Settling her into his lap, he opened the book and began to read.

"Once upon a time…"

Elphaba smiled as she felt the vibrations from her father's voice. Taking a deep breath, she snuggled closer to him and sighed. Feeling her eyelids growing heavier, she allowed sleep to come and cover her.

Frex finished the book and looked down at his sleeping daughter. Chuckling to himself, he lifted her into his arms and tucked her into bed.

"Fresh dreams, Fabala," he whispered, kissing her forehead and sitting in the chair next to her bed.


"Elphaba!" Melena called, running through the house, looking for her daughter.

"Melena, what is it?" Nanny asked, putting her needlepointing down.

"Nanny, thank Oz! Have you seen Elphaba?"

"No. Why?"

"She refuses to eat her dinner."

Nanny shook her head. She turned around to say something else to Melena when a flash of green caught her attention. Turning, she saw Elphaba trying to hide under the table. Chuckling, she stood up and walked toward her.

"There you are, little frog," she cooed, lifting Elphaba into her arms.

Elphaba frowned, upset that someone figured out her hiding place.

"What were you doing under the table?" Nanny asked.

Elphaba grunted and pushed away from Nanny.

"Nah-ah," Nanny said gently, hugging Elphaba closer. "Are you going to sit at the table like a good girl?"

Elphaba moaned and continued to push away from Nanny. Nanny walked back to the kitchen table and sat Elphaba down in a chair. Elphaba scowled, but stopped protesting. Nanny lifted Elphaba's little green hand and placed it on her fork. She knew Elphaba knew how to use her utensils properly because she taught her herself.

"Are you going to eat like a good little girl?" Nanny asked gently.

Elphaba's fingers explored her plate. Stopping, she jumped out of her seat and ran away.

"Little frog!" Nanny called, hurrying after the young child. She found her in Frex's arms, crying.

"What happened?" Frex asked, rocking Elphaba in his arms.

"It appears our little Fabala refuses to eat," Nanny answered.

Frex looked at Elphaba, who had stopped crying. "Fabala," he whispered. "Why won't you eat?"

"Elphaba will eat, she just won't eat her meat."

"Why not?"

Elphaba slowly lifted her hand to her father's face, touching his lips. She felt them move up and down as he talked to Nanny. Placing her fingers on her own lips, she started to mimic him. Frex noticed this and sighed.

"She wants to talk," he muttered.

"She's a very bright child," Nanny said.

"Things will get better," Frex promised his daughter, gently pulling away to look at her. "I promise."


This idea was sitting in my head for a while until I decided to make a story out of it. It's basically a little bit of the Helen Keller story (GREAT STORY! SO MOVING AND INSPIRATIONAL!) minus the drama, plus Nia elements and Wicked. I had to learn sign language for my church's dance group, so I know the entire sign language alphabet. Nessa can walk in this story.

A note from Megan (Most of you know her as 'Nia's friend' via reviews): And you should all totes check out the Pomeranian Puffball because it is honest-to-goodness the cutest and ditsiest looking dog ever. So, yeah.

So… Megan says 'Hi' and depending on the amount of reviews, I'll write another chapter.