AN. Thank you for all your reviews so far! I appreciate them all.

Chapter Three

Elphaba sat at her desk, staring dumbly at the paper in front of her. It was a rare moment when she had some free time in the middle of the day; Nessa was taking a nap after feeling the effects of the summer heat, Frex was in his study doing paperwork, and Carmela was taking care of dinner that night, as Nessa had requested her favourite dish which only Carmela could make to her liking.

Elphaba bit her lip in frustration. So far, after two days, all she had written still was "Dear Yero," but she simply didn't know how to continue from there.

Absent-mindedly, she thumbed the stacks of letters sitting on the corner of her desk, the things that had brought her the only comfort of the summer. There were approximately forty-six letters from Fiyero, she had been pleased and surprised that he hadn't missed a day. She knew he must have sent the first one before leaving Shiz to ensure it would reach her by the first day of vacation, which impressed her even more.

His letters were full of love, telling her all about the Vinkus and memories from Shiz, and most importantly, how much he was missing her. When she wrote back, which was often, if not every day, her letters were full of questions that he would answer in his next letter. She never included any news of herself, for what was there to say?

Galinda was writing too, at least twice a week, and it amused Elphaba to see that her friend's letters were very much like Galinda herself- written on pink paper, with pink ink, and full of long sentences, nonsense words and many exclamation marks. Her letters were full of gossip and news about parties she was attending, and all the plans she had for them when they returned to Shiz in the fall.

It hadn't been a very eventful summer for Elphaba so far, until the last week that is. Their exam results and final grades from Shiz had come their second week of vacation, and Frex had been thrilled that Nessa had done so well. Nothing was said of that fact Elphaba had topped the year, simply because she didn't mention it- to him. Galinda had done well, although she had barely scraped a pass in Morrible's Sorcery class; and even Fiyero had passed high, which he credited all to Elphaba. Elphaba had sincerely congratulated him, she was incredibly proud of him, and when she'd casually mentioned her own results, the resulting twelve-page reply had made her blush. It was so full of praise and pride, and love, Elphaba didn't know how to respond. But Fiyero had taken it upon himself to share Elphaba's news with Galinda and Boq, who had then congratulated her in front of Nessa and Frex when he came for dinner one night. Nessa had been proud of her sister's accomplishments, and Frex had looked surprised for a moment before stiffly offering her a,

"Very good, Elphaba."

It was the highest praise Elphaba could ever remember receiving from her father and she'd muttered a quick "Thank you" before returning her attention to her plate. Elphaba had made the dinner that night, and evidently Boq had praised her cooking skills to Fiyero, because his next letter included an entire paragraph begging her to cook for them when they returned to Shiz, and she'd laughingly agreed.

And now… Elphaba was nervously tapping her pen against the paper, unsure how to word what she had to say. How exactly was one supposed to tell their boyfriend of six months that you were pregnant? For Elphaba couldn't deny that she was anymore, at least eight weeks she guessed, although she hadn't suspected at all until this week. But when she'd realised she was late, and then she'd spent a lot of the morning two days prior throwing up the bacon and eggs she'd made for breakfast, she knew.

They had never talked about this before, after all, they had only been together for six months and they were still at school, a baby was the last thing they were thinking about. Elphaba could admit she was worried about how Fiyero would take the news, although she knew he loved her, a baby was a big milestone for any relationship; not least a relationship between the Vinkus Crown Prince and the green daughter of the Governor of Munchkinland. Which was another reason she was wary to tell him this way, and was having such difficulty writing the letter before her. She wanted to be able to see his face when she told him, wanted to be able to talk everything through face to face, and not have to worry about waiting for the mail to be delivered or to try and guess the tone behind his words. The best she could do, she was resigning herself, was to hide any symptoms from her father and Nessa as best she could for the next two weeks until she returned to Shiz and could tell Fiyero herself.

"Elphaba? Dinner!" Carmela called to her from the top of the stairs and she sighed, standing up and adjusting the skirt of her plain dark dress.

"Coming!" she called back and headed out of her room, heading down the servant's stairs.

When she made it downstairs, the first thing that hit her was the smell of the smoked trout Nessa had requested for dinner and it made Elphaba's head spin.

"Crap," she whispered to herself.

Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and swallowed hard. The nauseating smell lessened somewhat as she headed towards the dining room, and Elphaba relaxed. The scent making her stomach churn was not from the cooked fish itself, just the lingering smell from before it had been cooked that hung heavily in the kitchen; hopefully, she could eat her dinner easily then escape back to her room.

Taking a small bite, Elphaba tested her stomach and was pleased to find it settled in her stomach. She listened in silence as Nessa and Frex made conversation about the classes Nessa was planning to take for her second year at Shiz and what she was hoping to learn.

"I've heard that Professor Levy is a dreadfully hard marker," Nessa said to her father worriedly. "But his class does sound ever so interesting and he is so respected around campus. All of the students I've talked to who have had him say- Elphaba? Are you alright?"

Frex turned to face his older daughter at Nessa's concerned frown. She had placed her cutlery down on her plate, and she was clutching the table edge as the blood slowly drained from her face.

At Nessa's voice, she looked up and met her sister's gaze.

"I- uh, excuse me," she said hastily, jumping up from her seat and running out of the room.

Frex's eyes narrowed suspiciously. The upstairs bathroom was situated opposite his bedroom door, and he was pretty sure he had heard Elphaba being sick a few times in the past few days. Frex wasn't an idiot, he knew his daughter was dating the Winkie Prince, and all of Oz knew his reputation; but he had been willing to give his daughter the benefit of the doubt and trust her not to do anything stupid. Now, it seemed, that had been moot.

Elphaba felt tears sting her eyes as she threw up her dinner into the toilet bowl. The bile stung her throat as her stomach rejected the meal and she couldn't help but whimper, her head swimming. She was startled to feel a cool hand brush her hair back from her face and comfortingly rub her back until she was done.

"Here," Now she recognised Carmela's voice as she handed her a glass of water, which Elphaba sipped, making a face as the disgusting taste of vomit was washed out of her mouth.

"Thank you," she said hoarsely, as Carmela helped her to her feet. "I think I just need to lie down."

"Your father wants to see you in the living room," Carmela told her.

Elphaba groaned inwardly, but at least she wouldn't have to return to the dining room where the fish remained. When she entered the living room, Frex was standing before the fireplace, whilst Nessa sat in the corner.

"You wanted to see me, Father?" she asked and was pleased to note her voice already sounded stronger.

Frex turned, his face a mask of stiffness as he beckoned her forward.

"I'm going to ask you a question Elphaba, and I want you to answer it truthfully. Understood?"

"Y-Yes," Elphaba faltered.

Frex took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment, then met Elphaba's gaze.

"Are you pregnant?"

Nessa and Elphaba both gasped, Nessa with shock and Elphaba with disbelief. 'How could he know?' She wondered wildly to herself, and swallowed hard as he looked at her expectantly, waiting for an answer.

"Yes," Elphaba replied, barely audible and Nessa gaped at her sister.

Elphaba's gaze flickered from her father to her sister for an instant, and so wasn't prepared for the sting that was her father's hand on her face. She couldn't help a gasp escaping her lips, and she actually stumbled back a step. Frex, for all his indifference and cold treatment towards his green child, had never actually struck her before.

"Fabala- is it Fiyero's?" Nessa asked finally and it was Elphaba's turn to gape at her sister.

"Of course it is," she answered, feeling stung that Nessa was insinuating anyone other than Fiyero could be the father.

"Nessarose, leave the room," Frex ordered sharply and Nessa was stung, her father had never spoken to her in that tone before. That was the tone he used only for Elphaba.

Elphaba too, seemed surprised by the way he'd spoken to his favourite daughter, but Nessa obediently wheeled herself out of the room and Frex turned to her, his face white with rage.

"How could you have been so stupid?" he demanded. "Do you realise what you've done, Elphaba? You have disgraced your sister, and this family. You have jeopardised your sister's position as the future Governor of Munchkinland, and mine as present! Do you think the people will trust us to govern their land, knowing you have sinned and borne a bastard child?" he hissed angrily.

Elphaba held back a bitter laugh. Of course he wasn't worried about this scandal affecting her reputation or future, but Nessa's.

"How long?" he glared at her furiously.

"A-About eight weeks," Elphaba replied quietly. She was always unable to argue or defend herself against her father, and this was the angriest she had ever seen him.

"Does he know?"

She knew he was intentionally not using his name and Elphaba frowned as she replied. "His name is Fiyero. And no.. he doesn't. Not yet," she admitted.

Frex raised an eyebrow coldly. "Not yet? You're planning on telling him?"

Elphaba was surprised and confused. "Of course I am."

Frex sneered. "Elphaba, you can't possibly think he'll stand by you and this bastard spawn."

Elphaba winced but raised her chin confidently. "I know he will. He loves me."

Her father snorted. "Really? He loves you?" Elphaba wasn't sure which of those three words was said with more disbelief or scepticism.

"And you think his future as King will be benefited by the knowledge he got a girl pregnant out of wedlock? You think his parents will allow him to marry a girl like you? That everything will be forgiven and you will be acknowledged and accepted as the Crown Princess of the Vinkus?"

Elphaba flinched and said nothing. Because truth be told, these were all the questions that had plagued her subconscious for the past six months.

Frex nodded with satisfaction to himself as he saw the doubt flicker in her eyes and then waved her away.

"Go. Get out of my sight and put your sister to bed. We will talk tomorrow and I will take care of the situation," he ordered and Elphaba fled wordlessly.

Nessa was in her room, running a brush through her hair.

"Elphaba! You really are pregnant?" she asked her sister and Elphaba gave a faint smile.

"I really am," she replied, feeling it strange to acknowledge it aloud for the first time.

Nessa hesitated uncertainly. "Fabala… he didn't… Fiyero didn't… pressure you into…"

Elphaba realised what her sister was implying and felt sick again.

"Nessa, no! How could you even think that? You know Yero, he would never-"

"Yes, of course," Nessa assured her hastily. "It's just… all of Oz knows the rumours before he came to Shiz, and… this isn't how we were raised, Elphaba."

Elphaba knelt before Nessa's chair, looking her sister in the eyes intently. "Ness, Fiyero loves me. And I love him. That's all this baby is, a symbol of the fact that we love each other."

Nessa shook her head, a glimmer of disapproval in her eyes. "Elphaba, it isn't right. You and Fiyero aren't married!"

"I'm aware of that, Nessa," Elphaba rolled her eyes. Then she hesitated.

"Father said he would take care of the situation. What do you suppose that means?"

Nessa shrugged. "I'm sure he'll write to Fiyero's parents and they'll think of a solution. Most likely you and Fiyero will be married quickly, and they'll pretend the child is legitimate."

Elphaba couldn't help but think how dirty that sounded- legitimate. As if should she and Fiyero not be married in the next seven months, their child was deemed not to exist. And she didn't really fancy the idea of Fiyero being forced to marry her for the sake of the child, but knew Nessa was probably right in her prediction. The royal family was well-used to covering up "situations" such as this, she certainly wouldn't be the first.

She also knew she had to write to Fiyero before her father wrote to his parents. She didn't like the idea of him finding out he was going to be a father from a letter; but she liked the idea of him finding out from his parents even less. So, after Nessa was helped into bed, and left with a book, Elphaba headed upstairs to finish her letter to Fiyero. And downstairs in the study, Frex was writing letters of his own.