New Beginnings

A.N. Hello again! I present to you the sequel to "Strength". I hope you enjoy.

Fiyero paced up and down the hallway of the home he, Elphaba, and Glinda shared. Behind the door at the end of the hall, he heard Elphaba's painful cries and Glinda's attempts at being motivational.

"Come on, Elphie! Just a little more! It's almost here!"

He sighed, and settled back down on the window seat. He had been evicted from the room earlier by Glinda, with the reasoning that his nerves wouldn't do much to help Elphaba. He tried to calm his nerves by looking at the beautiful day outside. Indeed, it was a lovely day in Kiamo Ko, where the three of them had lived since graduating from Shiz. Now, it was five years later and, with the exception of the size of Elphaba's stomach over the more recent months, not much had changed since they moved into his family's old summer home. They all found work wherever they could. Elphaba provided care to any wounded or sick Animals that she found. Glinda had become a "fashion consultant", meaning she gave random people makeovers just as she had done to Elphie back in their dorm room. It didn't make too much money, but as long as Glinda was happy the other two didn't care. Fiyero didn't really need to work, with his background and all, but every now and then he would build a piece of furniture and sell it. He had become more of the housekeeper, and more recently had devoted himself to taking care of his pregnant fiancee.

Fiyero and Elphaba had decided to get married about a year ago, but when they discovered Elphaba was pregnant they put the wedding plans on hold until the baby was born.

The baby...

Fiyero's mind once again returned to the screaming coming from the door. It was getting louder, and Fiyero wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing. Glinda's coaching was getting louder, too.

Then, the screaming stopped. Fiyero held his breath, hoping to hear just a little bit of noise to let him know what was going on.

Just then, the door opened. Glinda stuck her head out and waved for him to come inside.

Inside the room, he saw Elphaba in the bed, holding their baby in her arms. She looked up, and smiled at him.

"Hey, Yero. Come meet your new daughter." She extended her arms a bit so Fiyero could see the baby. She wasn't green, nor was she Fiyero's color. She had a very light skin tone, much like Nessa's skin. Fiyero assumed that, had Elphaba's mother not consumed the elixir, than Elphaba's skin would have been the same. The baby opened her eyes, and Fiyero's influence in her became apparent. The eyes were almost identical.

Glinda, who was hastily preparing a makeshift cradle to be used until Fiyero finished building the crib (the baby had been early), spoke up. "Does she have a name yet?"

Elphaba and Fiyero looked at each other, then at the baby. "Well, I'm stuck. Elphie, you got anything?"

Elphaba stared down at the baby for a moment before answering "Vanessa. Vanessa Rose."

"Aww, how sweet." Glinda said, lining a basket with several blankets.

Elphaba then handed Vanessa to Fiyero, and gradually drifted off to sleep. Fiyero sat on the bed, holding his new daughter. "This is too easy." he thought. "Something has to go wrong here." But nothing did. He handed Vanessa to Glinda, who went about the task of putting her to bed, while he laid down next to Elphaba and slept.

A.N. Well, how was that for an introduction? Please review.