AN: Your reviews were funny ^_^. Ozzie almost screamed, Fae Tiggular went crazy, and Musicgal nearly broke her own 'aww'-record. Seriously though, I'm glad you're all happy with this.

Ozzie: You're right to be suspicious. And you might want to bring the Frex Hunters back at some point in this story... only you might want to change the name, because Frex himself is, as Fae Tiggular expressed it so nicely, dead as a doorknob, and he will stay that way ;).

Fae Tiggular, you're right about Frex being dead and Morrible not posing a threat. However you're not right in that nothing bad can happen now. It can, and it will :D. And I'm not sure how many chapters yet - probably less than YMH itself, but it probably still will be a full-blown multichap.

Siarenthander: Again, do you read minds? O.O You're not exactly right... but you're close. (And it makes sense that your friends call you Lyss, since your real name is Alyssa. It is funny, though ^_^. How I know your real name is Alyssa? I read minds, too. No, kidding - thank your friend Xanne-Li ;).)

Musicgal: Yeah, I know. I want one, too :3.

More family & Fiyeraba fluff before the drama will break loose :D. Oh, and I decided to bring Fiyero's cute Vinkun nicknames back, with one addition. You'll see ^_^.

Chapter 2. Big Decisions

'ELPHIE!'

Elphaba cringed. Nessa, whom she had been talking to, looked at her sister in amusement. 'What did you do now?'

'Nothing!' Elphaba protested. 'Well, nothing that I know of!' She looked at her daughter, who was playing with her dolls on the floor. Nessa followed her gaze and stifled a laugh. 'Do you think she turned Galinda's wardrobe black?'

'I hope not,' Elphaba muttered. 'Even besides the fact that I made her promise not to use her magic without consulting me first, that would be a problem.' The corner of her mouth twitched. 'And incredibly funny.'

Nessa giggled.

When Galinda stormed into the room, however, she didn't look upset. In fact, she looked happier and more radiant than the green girl had ever seen her. With a loud squeal, the blonde launched herself onto the couch, jumping up and down on it before plopping down next to Elphaba and throwing her arms around her friend. 'He proposed! Paro proposed!'

Nessa beamed back at the blonde and Elphaba smiled broadly. 'Really?'

'Yes!' Galinda started bouncing again. 'He asked me just a minute ago! I ran off right away to tell you guys!'

'Ooh, let me see the ring,' Nessa asked pleadingly. Galinda pretty much shoved her left hand into Nessa's face, a giant diamond adorning her ring finger. 'Look!'

'Oh my Oz!' Nessa gasped. 'It's enormous! And so pretty! Congratulotions!'

Elphaba hugged her best friend. 'Congratulotions, Glin.'

'Lyssie, look!' Galinda showed her goddaughter the ring. 'Auntie Galinda is going to be married!'

Elyssah's face brightened. 'To Uncle Paro?'

Galinda nodded and Elyssah jumped to her feet eagerly. 'Can I be a bridesmaid?'

'Of course you can!' Galinda cheered, hugging the little girl. Elyssah wrinkled her nose. 'Wait. Does that mean I have to wear pink?'

'You bet!' Galinda sang, and her goddaughter made a face. Then her face brightened again. 'Auntie Galinda?'

'Yes, Lyssie?'

Elyssah hugged Galinda's legs, looking up at her pleadingly. 'Does that mean you're going to move to the Vinkus and live here with us?' she asked eagerly.

Galinda faltered. She exchanged a look with Elphaba, who smiled back sadly.

'Oh, sweetheart…' Galinda knelt down to level with the girl. 'Your Uncle Paro and I are going to move to the Emerald City after the wedding,' she told her goddaughter gently. 'He has found himself a job there.'

Elyssah's face fell. 'So… you're leaving?' she asked in a small voice, lower lip trembling.

Galinda hugged the girl. 'We are, but we'll come back many, many times,' she promised her goddaughter. 'Every vacation and also a weekend, every once in a while.' She playfully shoved the girl. 'And besides, we're staying her until after the wedding. We're getting married in the Vinkus! So you can help me prepare everything, alright?'

Elyssah nodded. 'Alright.'

When Fiyero's mother came in, Galinda practically jumped the poor woman. 'Lori! Did you hear? I'm getting married!'

'How could she have heard?' a sarcastic voice came from the doorway. 'I proposed not even two minutes ago.'

'Paro!' Galinda squealed, running up to him and kissing him deeply. Nessa averted her eyes and Elyssah made a face. 'Yuck.'

Elphaba laughed. 'My sentiments exactly.'

Galinda just stuck out her tongue.

'Lori, are you okay?' Paro asked worriedly, even as he wound his arms around Galinda's waist and pulled her closer. 'You seem a little… I don't know. Stressed out.'

Lori gave him a tired smile. 'I'm fine, Paro, thank you. It's just…' She ran her fingers through her hair and sighed. 'There have been these slight… outbursts… going on in the Vinkus lately.'

'Outbursts?' asked Elphaba, pulling Elyssah into her lap and combing the girl's hair with her fingers, starting to braid it. 'What kind of outbursts?'

'Rebels,' Lori replied darkly. 'There is a small group of people in the Vinkus that doesn't agree with the way Hamold and I are ruling. They protest against pretty much everything we do – every law we pass, every move we make…' She shook her head. 'It's not like they can take over, or something, but I'm still worried that they might pose a threat. Hamold is telling me not to, though, so…' She smiled at the others. 'He thinks everything will be okay, and he's probably right. Anyway, Galinda, Paro… Congratulotions!' She hugged Galinda and kissed Paro's cheek. 'I'm happy for you.'

'Can we have the wedding here?' asked Galinda excitedly. 'In the large ballroom? There's going to be a banquet, and a ball, of course; the ceremony could be in the palace gardens, and-'

'Glin,' Elphaba interrupted her drily. 'Why don't you wait for her to agree first before you already start planning what is going to take place where?'

Galinda smiled sheepishly. 'Oh. Right. Sorry. I get a bit carried away.'

Lori laughed. 'I understand, Galinda. It's fine. I would be honoured if you would have your wedding at Adurin Iir.'

Galinda squealed and hugged the Queen, then Paro. 'Did you hear that, dearest? We're going to be married here!'

'I heard, Glin.'

Naturally, Galinda just couldn't stop talking about her upcoming wedding. She immediately recruited Elphaba as her maid of honour and Nessarose and Elyssah as her bridesmaids, and started planning things out right away, dragging Elphaba off to the salon to show her what she had in mind for the reception.

By the time Fiyero came in, just before dinner, Elphaba was about ready to strangle her blonde friend. When he entered, she looked up at him pleadingly. 'Save me.'

He chuckled. Galinda planted her hands on her hips indignantly. 'Elphie!'

'Or just kill me now,' Elphaba begged her husband. 'Either way, it's better than just leaving me here with… with that.'

Galinda whacked her arm. 'You are a wicked person, Elphaba Thropp.'

'Does that mean I'm dismissed?'

Galinda threw her hands up in the air in exasperation. 'Fine. Go. Whatever. We'll finish planning tomorrow.'

'The wedding isn't for another six weeks, Glin.' Elphaba paused. 'I'm actually surprise that you planned it to be so soon. I'd think you'd need at least six months to plan the entire thing.'

Galinda waved her away. 'I just want it to happen as soon as possible!' she gushed. 'And besides, with the help of my wonderful maid of honour,' she glared at Elphaba significantly, 'I could get it done in six weeks.'

'Good luck with that, Glin,' Fiyero grinned at her, before quickly snatching his wife away. Both of them ignored the indignant squeals of the blonde as they hurried into the hallway and towards their own rooms.

Elphaba exhaled slowly. 'Thank you.'

He chuckled again. 'You're welcome, a chroí.'

'I've been wanting to ask you that.' She planted her hands on her hips and he looked at her, confused. 'What?'

She looked at him pointedly. 'Where did the new nicknames come from?'

He smiled at her. 'They're Vinkun,' he said. 'I decided I should find myself something to call you beside Fae.'

'Because one nickname isn't enough for me?'

'Because we're married now,' he corrected her, drawing her closer. 'Now I can take my pick. I can call you whatever I want. I could call you Fae, but I could also call you a chiste, or a chroí, or a mhuirnín…'

'What does that even mean?' she demanded. He beamed at her. 'My treasure, my heart, and my darling, respectively.'

She groaned softly and shoved him. 'You, my dear Yero, are so sappy.'

'But you love me for it, right?' he asked her, and she smiled and leaned up to kiss him. 'I most certainly do, a mhuirnín,' she teased him.

His grin broadened. 'I love you.'

'Seriously, though,' she mumbled as they walked on and she let her head drop against his shoulder. 'I might just adopt those nicknames for Elyssah. Vinkun is a beautiful language, and those pet names sound really cute.' She looked up at him. 'Just a chiste and a mhuirnín, though,' she told him, wrapping her arm around his waist. 'Because I only have one heart, and that's you.'

He pulled her to him, pressing her closer as he kissed her deeply. She slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him back, melting into him. After a while, they pulled away to breathe, and he rested his forehead against hers and ran his fingers through her long, raven hair. 'I love you,' he breathed, laying his palm flat against her cheek. She smiled and turned her head to kiss his wrist. 'I love you, too, Yero my hero.'

'Would you get a room already?' someone yelled. They pulled apart, only to find Boq there, pushing Nessa's chair through the hallways.

The girl giggled. 'Oh, Boq, leave them be. They're cute.'

He grinned at the couple. 'No denying that, but still.'

Elphaba stuck out her tongue. Fiyero laughed. 'Nice to see you, too.'

'Fabala,' Nessa addressed her sister. 'We were actually looking for you - we want to talk to you.'

Elphaba nodded, moving away from Fiyero, but keeping their fingers entwined. 'Sure, Nessie. What about?'

'Could we sit down somewhere?' Nessa asked. 'In private?'

Fiyero cocked his head a little. 'My study?' he offered, and she nodded. 'Sounds good to me.'

They moved into Fiyero's study room and sat down. Elphaba looked at her sister worriedly. 'What did you want to talk to me about, Nessie?'

'It's nothing serious, don't worry,' Nessarose quickly reassured her sister. 'It's about… about what we're going to do after Galinda's wedding.'

'Are you going back to Munchkinland?' Elphaba guessed, and Nessa nodded, taking her sister's hands. 'Fabala… You know we love it here, in the Vinkus.' She paused. 'But it's not home for us.'

Elphaba smiled and squeezed Nessa's hands. 'I know that, Nessie. I understand.'

'After the wedding, we're going back,' said Nessa. 'For good. I… I'm going to take my rightful position as Governess of Munchkinland. And… ' A small smile making its way onto her face now. She took Boq's hand. 'Boq and I are planning on marrying, as well.'

Elphaba was stunned. 'Really? He asked you?'

'Not really,' Nessa admitted. 'We just… we were talking about it, and… we decided it was the right time. It's not official yet,' she hastened to assure her sister. 'And it's not going to be anywhere in the near future. It's just… going to happen. Someday.' She looked at her sister and at her brother-in-law a bit shyly. 'And of course I'd love to have you there.'

'We'll be there,' Elphaba promised, squeezing her sister's hand again. 'Of course we'll be there! All of us – you know that.'

Nessa smiled at her, seeming a bit sad. 'I'll miss you all, though,' she confessed. 'When we're back, I won't be able to come to the Vinkus every vacation – I'm going to have duties there, and… and I'll miss you so much. You two, and Galinda and Paro, Lori and Hamold… and Lyssie, of course.' She smiled at the thought of her niece, and Fiyero smiled back at her. 'Well, we could always come to you,' he offered. 'And if we can't get away from our own duties, perhaps we could send Lys to stay over at your place for a little while.'

Elphaba didn't say anything, but Nessa could see that she wasn't comfortable with that idea. 'You don't have to do that,' she reassured her sister. 'Fabala, I know you don't want to leave her out of your sight.'

Elphaba smiled a bit mirthlessly. 'Overprotective mother, I know. I guess I'm just experiencing some separation anxiety when it comes to Elyssah. Or Yero, for that matter.'

He took her hand and squeezed it, and Boq shook his head. 'We understand,' he told her. 'I mean, it's not like Frex is going to rise from his grave or something…'

'Oz, I hope not,' Elphaba muttered under her breath.

'…but after everything that happened, we get that you don't want to leave her,' Boq finished. 'It's fine. We'll find a way to see each other.' He looked at Nessa. 'If we have to, we could even get my father to temporarily take up the role of Governor again,' he suggested. 'He's been Governor – or, well, Governor replacement – for five years now. He could handle a few weeks every now and then.'

Nessa's smile was radiant. 'That's a brilliant idea, Boq, thank you. And I'm glad you understand, Fabala.'

The raven-haired witch embraced her younger sister. 'Of course I do. I know that even though I consider the Vinkus my home now, Munchkinland still feels like home to you. It's okay, really. I'll miss you, too, but I'm proud of you, Nessie.' She smiled. 'And congratulotions. You deserve your title as Governess, and I'm sure that you and Boq are going to be really happy together.'

Nessarose smiled, then nodded. 'Alright then, I guess we'll be going again. I think Galinda said she needed to plan something about the wedding with me…?'

Elphaba choked. 'Don't go,' she advised her sister seriously. 'I mean it. Don't do it, or you'll regret it.'

Nessa laughed. 'I think I'll go and hide somewhere, then. Bye, Fabala. Fiyero.'

'Bye,' they both said, and Boq pushed Nessa's chair out of the room.

Elphaba bit her lip. Then she blurted out, 'Do you think I'm stupid?'

Fiyero shook his head in mild exasperation, winding his arms around her waist and kissing her softly. 'Fae,' he said, stroking some hair away from her face. 'You're not stupid. Not at all. Alright, perhaps you're a bit overprotective of Elyssah – and of me – but so am I.'

She chuckled faintly at that, remembering one time before they were married, when she had taken Elyssah out for a walk and forgot to mention it to Fiyero. In his panic, he had sent out military search patrols to look for them. She had been completely bewildered when there had been soldiers coming up to her to escort her and her daughter back to the castle.

She detached herself from him and tugged at his hand. 'Come on. Dinner is almost ready.'

'Mommy?'

Elphaba came out of the bathroom attached to Elyssah's bedroom, only to find Elyssah herself standing in front of the mirror, frowning slightly as she studied her reflection.

Elphaba moved to stand next to her daughter. 'Yes, sweetie?'

Elyssah looked up at her in the mirror. 'Why aren't I green?'

The young witch was actually a little stunned by that question. She had expected it to come, someday, when Elyssah would realise that not all people were green; however, she had expected her to be wondering why her mother was green, not why she herself wasn't.

'Because most people aren't green, a mhuirnín,' Elphaba replied, carefully starting to brush her daughter's hair. 'In fact, I know of no one else who is green beside me. You got lucky – you got your father's skin colour.'

Elyssah's frown deepened. 'Why lucky?' she demanded. 'Do you think green is ugly?'

Elphaba sighed, putting down the brush and turning the little girl around to look at her. 'Elyssah,' she said gently. 'Forget what I said, okay? I'm just green, and you and Daddy are not. Let's leave it at that, alright?' She turned her around again, picking up the brush and continuing to untangle her hair.

Elyssah was quiet for a few moments and Elphaba thought she would drop the subject, when she suddenly spoke up again. 'I don't think it's ugly.'

Startled, Elphaba met her eyes in the mirror. 'What?'

'Green,' Elyssah clarified. 'You're not ugly, Mommy. You're really pretty.'

Suddenly, there was a lump in Elphaba's throat. 'Lys…'

Her daughter turned around, looking up at her with huge, sapphire blue eyes. 'Mommy?' she asked in all her childlike innocence. 'Will I be as pretty as you when I grow up?'

The green woman let out a strangled laugh, picking her daughter up and hugging her tightly. 'You're going to be way prettier than I am when you grow up, Lys.'

'That's not possible, Mommy,' Elyssah said seriously, shaking her head. 'You're the prettiest in the whole world.'

Elphaba hugged her again. 'I love you, a chiste,' she told her daughter, kissing her forehead. 'I love you so much.'

'Love you too, Mommy.' She hugged her mother back, then asked, 'Will you read me a story from my new book?'

'Of course, sweetie.' Elphaba put her daughter down and moved to take the book from the nightstand. Elyssah crawled into her bed and Elphaba sat down on the edge of it, opening the book. 'Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess…'

'Mommy?'

'Yes?'

Elyssah rocked back and forth, looking up at her mother. 'I want the princess to be green.'

Elphaba chuckled softly. 'Of course, Lys. There was a beautiful green princess-'

'Do you really think green is ugly, Mommy?' Elyssah interrupted her again.

The dark-haired witch faltered for a moment.

She put the book aside and pulled her daughter into her lap, looking at her. 'Listen to me, Lys. Do you think that green is ugly?'

Elyssah shook her head violently, sending her hair flying all around her head. 'I think green is pretty, Mommy. And Daddy does, too. He told me that.'

Elphaba just stared at her daughter for a moment, blinking back some tears that threatened to spring to her eyes. Sometimes she still couldn't believe how lucky she was to have Elyssah, and Fiyero, too. She wasn't sure what she had ever done to deserve them, but she was immensely grateful for them both.

She smiled and hugged the little girl again, stroking her ebony hair. 'Then so do I, a mhuirnín,' she said quietly in answer to Elyssah's question. 'So do I.'

Reviews are very much appreciated! :)