Hey Guys, you're not imagining things - yes, I have written another chapter!

Big thanks to liz1015, Popular Galinda, GreenGirl96, greengirl16, gilgrissomlover and Mirsha for the lovely reviews - You've all been ever so nice :o)

Read, Review, Enjoy!


Chapter Four

Elphaba flew as fast as her broom could take her. She wanted to fly so far she forgot everything and everyone. But the harder she tried, the harder it became to push them from her mind. The faces of Fiyero, Glinda and Nessarose swam in front of her eyes, and soon she was forced to land, for tears were streaming down her face, blurring her vision and making it near impossible to see where she was heading. She spotted a cave set into a mountainside, and swiftly flew inside it, landing softly on the rocky floor. She pulled the cape from around her shoulders and curled up in a corner of the cold, damp cave, spread the cape over her body, and sobbed until she had cried herself to sleep.

When Elphaba awoke in the morning, she had completely lost her bearings. However, the memories of the previous day did not take long to come flooding back, and she felt a slight tinge of panic in her stomach. She'd merely wanted to help the Animals, and now somehow she'd ended up a fugitive? How could that have happened? What was she meant to do now? The panic started to escalate, and soon the twinge in her stomach turned to nausea, and she vomited over the floor.

She stayed in the cave for a few weeks, only venturing out in the dead of night to fetch berries for food, leaves for bedding and sticks for a fire. The nausea had not subsided, sometimes she didn't even feel the panic, but the sickness swept through her anyway. One evening she sat in her usual corner, thinking over some sort of plan, and how long it had been since she'd seen the people she loved, taken a shower, had a decent meal, that she realised the absence of some particular necessities, and how she hadn't needed them for some time. It hit her like a ton of bricks. Elphaba was late.

She spent the next couple of days willing her 'problem' to go away. She was still getting sick, but she had an explanation for that now, however much she wished she didn't. She cursed herself for being so careless. She and Fiyero had been so caught up in the passion and the romance and the danger, that they'd completely disregarded the need to be careful. She supposed it served her right. But what in Oz was she supposed to do? She couldn't get herself checked out; the whole of Oz wanted her dead. She had nowhere to go.

A thought struck her. The Animals! She'd been working on a project for Doctor Dillamond in the weeks leading up to his dismissal. Together they had contacted some of his acquaintances who had agreed to help them. Surely they would look after her. That night once Oz was sleeping, she mounted her broom and flew towards the forest, for she knew there was an Animal village deep in the heart of it. It didn't take her long to find. With some of the Animals being nocturnal, they had a fire blazing in the centre of the village to keep them warm through the cold nights. She landed just outside the village, hid behind a tree and listened in on a Hedgehog and a Fox having a conversation.

"...such a terrible ordeal. I heard the whole country is out on a Witch hunt."

"They think she's hiding somewhere in Shiz. Apparently she's plotting to kill Madame Morrible."

The Hedgehog laughed "Good for her, I say. That woman has been nothing but trouble since she took over Shiz. You heard what she did to poor Doctor Dillamond, I suppose?"

"Of course, the poor old Goat may never speak again."

Elphaba decided that now would be a good time to reveal herself. She stepped out from behind the tree and cleared her throat softly. The two Animals span around, and their mouths dropped open in surprise.

The Fox was the first to recover "By all that is holy...the Witch is here!"

"Please," Elphaba started "I mean nobody any harm. I heard you talking about Doctor Dillamond – is he ok?"

"None of us have seen him since he left Shiz I'm afraid. Can I ask - why are you here?"

"I...I need help. I didn't know who to turn to. I'm sorry, I can go."

"Go! Why my dear, you're a local hero around these parts. We all know what you were planning with Doctor Dillamond..."

"It was nothing really," Elphaba interrupted "We just wanted to give you Animals back your rights."

"Oh, it was everything. No one does anything to help us anymore, so the attempt was much appreciated. Come closer my dear, sit with us by the fire, you must be freezing."

As Elphaba stepped into the light, the Hedgehog gasped.

"Oh yes, the green – you get used to it...eventually."

"No, no it's not that," the Hedgehog replied, "You're only a child! From what I had heard about you I had thought you much older, but you can't be any older than 20 surely?"

"I'm eighteen." She replied and there were more gasps.

"Oh you poor thing! Come, come sit with Nanny, I'll take care of you." Elphaba sat down between Nanny the Hedgehog and the Fox, who introduced himself as George and wrapped his tail around her shoulders like a scarf. "Now, you said you needed help. What can we do for you? Is it something to do with the Wizard? Shall we attack him?"

"No! It's nothing like that. I was just wondering if there was anyone here who had medical training. I mean, before the Wizard banned it of course."

"Well, there's Old Doc Milner, our resident Doctor, but he sleeps pretty heavy at night, its best not to disturb him. I have a little nursing training however, can I be of help? I can't promise to be able to help with anything major, but I'll try my best. What's troubling you Lass?"

Elphaba tried to tell her, but she couldn't seem to form the words. Tears began to well up in her eyes and she clasped a hand over her mouth attempting to suppress the sob that was trying to push its way out.

"Oh, hush hush honey...its ok." whispered Nanny, who gathered Elphaba into her arms and stroked her hair from her face. "It can wait until morning. Maybe you should get some rest?"

Elphaba swallowed her sobs. "I'm ok, really. But I think I am...I think I might be....well, I think I'm...pregnant." It was the first time she had admitted it out loud, and it made her sob even harder.

Nanny gasped, and tightened her hold on Elphaba as she cried. "Oh Lass, don't cry, it's ok. We'll take care of you here. You don't have to worry about anything. I promise, everything will be ok."

And for the first time in almost a month, Elphaba allowed herself to believe it.