Chapter 2

Kasmira and Liir looked apprehensively out the carriage window as they passed the small 'Welcome to Aleppo' sign and into the town. It had been a long journey, seemingly even longer to the king and queen, wondering just what would await them in the village.

Chistery pulled the carriage to a stop outside a small dress salon, and opened the door, signifying to his passengers they were to disembark.

"What do we do now?" Liir muttered to his wife as he got out and looked around.

Kasmira looked up as the door to the dress salon opened and a man stepped out. He was clean-shaven, weather-beaten and dressed in simple clothes, but she knew him immediately. Of course she did, she'd given birth to him.

"Yero," she breathed.

It had been ten years since she'd seen her son and she'd been grieving him for every moment of those. Since seeing Idina's drawing, Kasmira had been in a whirlwind of emotion as she tried to accept the news that her son, her only child, was in fact alive. But now seeing him, drove that fact home and she was overcome.

"Hi, Mom," Fiyero replied simply and Kasmira almost burst into tears.

She'd never thought she'd be called 'mom' again. She stepped forward and hugged her son tightly, which Fiyero returned gingerly. Glinda had told him how much his parents had aged, but seeing it was another story and brought on a wave of guilt.

"Hi, Dad," Fiyero said quietly over his mother's head as he met his father's gaze and Liir nodded curtly.

"Son."

Fiyero knew that tone, even after ten years, it was a tone that signified just how mad his father was and Fiyero marvelled at the fact his father could still make him feel ten years old again.

"Let's go in and talk," he suggested, easing away from his mother.

Liir nodded again in agreement and Fiyero led the way back into the store. There was an old Ewe behind the counter and Fiyero smiled warmly at her as they entered.

"Thanks for this, Haggar."

"Not to worry, dearie," the Sheep replied. "If you need anything, just let me know."

Fiyero led his parents out to a small sitting room, out of sight and earshot from the store and sat opposite his parents on the couch.

"How are you?" he asked eventually to break the silence. He knew that was a stupid question, and if Elphaba had been there she would have snorted and rolled her eyes, but something had to be said.

Liir's eyes narrowed. "How are we? After ten years, that's all you have to say? I always knew you were irresponsible and immature, Fiyero, but to let us think you were dead… that's a whole new level of behaviour I never expected from you. I thought we raised you better than this- to show more respect to your parents."

Fiyero's eyes narrowed to match his father's. "Dad, I'm nearly thirty-four years old. You can't yell at me like I'm a child again."

Kasmira, always the peacemaker between her husband and son, leaned forward imploringly. "Yero… I don't understand. Why didn't you tell us you were alive? We… we were told the Gale Force…"

She couldn't finish and Fiyero nodded. "Mom, I can explain. It's not that I didn't want you to know," he stressed. "But I couldn't. There were other reasons involved. It wasn't safe for us to be able to tell you."

"Us?" Liir asked sharply.

Fiyero nodded again. "Me and Elphaba."

Kasmira's eyes widened as she recognised the name from a long ago conversation with Glinda.

"The Gale force… I would have died," Fiyero admitted painfully. "I nearly did. I should have died. But Elphaba cast a spell to save me. And when I realised what had happened, I realised we could fake our deaths and leave Oz."

"I don't understand," Kasmira frowned.

"Mom, Elphaba is not and never was what the Wizard made her out to be," Fiyero explained patiently.

"She met the Wizard and found out he was creating Animal banns and stopping them from speaking out, making the Animals the scapegoats for all the troubles of Oz. He offered her a position as his Grand Vizier in exchange for her help and silence. But Elphaba refused, so the Wizard made her into the Wicked Witch of the West."

Liir snorted sceptically and Fiyero glared at his father.

"Dad, think about it. All those stories about we heard- did they ever mention anyone being harmed? All she did was free Animals who were being caged or oppressed, she never harmed anyone."

"Then why did she run?" Liir demanded.

"Because the public believe what they want to believe. They believed the lies that she was Wicked and evil, and they wanted her dead. She was trying to survive… on the run for two years."

"You committed treason," Liir said accusingly and Fiyero agreed unflinchingly.

"Yep. Because I knew the real story. Dad, I loved Elphaba since before she ran, and I knew she would never do what they were accusing her of. And when I found her? Do you think I was going to arrest the woman I love?"

"It was your job to arrest her!" Liir snarled.

"A job I only took so I would have the resources to find her," Fiyero snapped back. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry I hurt you both. But you have to understand- Elphaba's safety is more important to me than anything. I was not and am not going to risk losing her or endangering her."

Liir snorted. "Please, Fiyero, don't be so dramatic. Next thing you'll be telling us that you can't live without her."

"I can't," Fiyero answered immediately with a small smile. "But you're forgetting- I did live without her for two years… and it was hell. So whatever the consequences, I am not going to lose her again."

"But Glinda-" Kasmira began and Fiyero shook his head.

"No, Mom. I stayed with Glinda because I cared for her and she'd just lost her best friend. But I was never in love with her, and it would have been wrong to marry her."

Liir was still not appeased by his son's explanation. "So, letting your parents think you are dead. Your idea of a joke son? Or the Witch's?"

Fiyero glared. "Her name is Elphaba, and she's not a Witch, she's my wife."

Kasmira gasped. "What?" she gaped and as Fiyero's glare softened, he looked slightly sheepish.

Liir looked just as surprised as his wife.

"Elphaba and I are married. Nine years," he confirmed with a nod.

"You're married?"

Kasmira had never imagined her son would ever settle down long enough to get married, and the news of his engagement to Glinda had come so closely to news of his death that she had long since disillusioned herself of that idea.

"And we have three children," Fiyero added softly and Kasmira stifled a sob.

"How old are they?"

"Aerin's just turned eight a month ago. Liir is six and Seraphina is four."

"Liir?" The king was stunned.

"After his grandfather," Fiyero nodded.

"Idina and Jem-" Kasmira began and again Fiyero interrupted.

"Yep. They are two months older than Liir. Glinda was thrilled she and Fae gave birth around the same time, as you can imagine," he said dryly.

"Fae?" Liir repeated with a raised eyebrow.

Fiyero shrugged. "Private nickname. She doesn't like being called 'Elphie'… and her sister used to call her 'Fabala'."

Kasmira frowned. "Her sister…"

"Oh no, Nessa was nuts," Fiyero said cheerfully. "That's a long story, though. But she earned her title."

Fiyero hesitated, wondering what to do next.

"You could come for dinner," he said hesitantly. "Meet Fae and the kids. But if you do… you can't ever tell anyone that we're alive."

Liir opened his mouth to argue, but Fiyero stopped him firmly. "I mean that Dad. You either come to dinner or leave now. But either way, you can't tell anyone. And not just because of Elphaba, I'm a traitor, remember? There'll be people wanting my head just as much as hers, and we won't do that to the kids."

It didn't seem like much of a choice to Liir- either to leave or meet the Wicked Witch of the West who had caused his son to fake his death; but either way have to still pretend his son was dead. But he could tell his wife was ready to leave their son just yet.

"Very well," he agreed and Fiyero nodded.

"Ok, then."