As the rest of the week passed, Nessa noticed that her parents because extremely busy. Her father would be in meetings or lock himself away in his office all day, and Melena would always be entertaining guests. Once she learned Livia's schedule, she developed a routine of visiting Elphaba before starting her homework. Sometimes, she would do her homework in her sister's room, pulling up a chair to the bed and writing on a hard book. Nessa noticed how her sister wouldn't question her, but would simply enjoy the time they spent together.

That Saturday evening was the middle-school dance. Nessa had managed to talk her father into putting off his paperwork for the afternoon and spend it with her in the picnic in the gardens. Nessa hurried away to ask Melena and she also agreed, though it took a bit more convincing than Frex. The Governor had informed the maids of the afternoon plans and once their food was ready, he and his family went out into the gardens and set up on the grass.

Nessa smiled as she ate a chocolate covered strawberry. She conversed with her mother about her crush on Boq, and laughed with her when her father turned tomato-red. She saw how her father would instantly calm the moment Melena kissed his cheek and smiled, seeing her parents happy together.

A very soft giggle reached her ears and she slowly looked up, seeing her sister, sitting in her wheelchair, with Livia by the wall of the house. She saw Livia smile as she picked a flower and held it out towards Elphaba. The green girl looked up and reached for the flower, her hand reaching too far to the right. Livia gave the green girl a sad smile before gently guiding her hand in the right direction. Elphaba took the flower and, bringing it to her nose, inhaled its sweet scent. She laughed weakly, her fingers brushing against the soft petals. Livia smiled as she gently stroked Elphaba's hair away from her face.

Nessa continued to watch the scene from a distance, smiling softly at how gentle Livia was with Elphaba… the way a mother should be. A sudden noise caught her attention and she blinked, focusing on her sister, who was suffering a bout of coughs, clasped protectively in her nurse's arms.

Once Elphaba recovered, Livia looked up and frowned slightly. Nessa looked up and saw her father glaring at his daughter. Melena had turned the other way, her back facing her eldest daughter. The nurse got the message and, stroking Elphaba's hair, pushed her back into the house.

As soon as they were out of sight, Frex and Melena turned back to Nessa and pretended as if nothing had happened. Nessa tried to smile and enjoy her time with her parents, but something was bothering her in the back of her mind, and she knew exactly what it was.

Later that evening, after Nessa got into her sparkly, dark blue dress for the dance, she went to her sister's room to visit her before she left. When she got there, she saw Livia sitting on the edge of Elphaba's bed, stroking her hand. Elphaba was half-awake, and getting closer to being pulled into a deep sleep.

"Nessa, what are you doing here?" Livia asked as she looked up, noticing the brunette.

"I… I wanted to talk to Elphaba before I go," Nessa said shyly.

Elphaba stirred and slowly opened her eyes. "L-Livia?"

"I'm right here, Elphaba," Livia whispered, squeezing Elphaba's hand. She looked at Nessa before turning back to the green girl. "Your sister is here if you feel like talking to her."

Elphaba smiled slightly and nodded, pushing herself up.

"I'll be right back," Livia said as she kissed Elphaba's forehead and walked out of the room, leaving the two sisters alone.

Nessa bit her lip as she stared at her sister. What should she say to her? What could she say to her? Now she felt extremely guilty about her wish, and wished there was some way to undo it.

"Nessa?"

The younger Thropp forced a small smile and stepped over to her sister. "Hi, Fabala."

Elphaba adjusted her gaze towards Nessa's voice and smiled. "How was your day?"

"Fine. How was yours?"

"Okay. Livia took me outside. It was really beautiful out. But then I started coughing and she took me back inside."

Nessa nodded. Her sister was completely unaware that she and her parents were out there, too. "Oh," was all she could bring herself to say as she sat down on the edge of the bed.

Elphaba nodded and her fingers trailed against Nessa's dress. "Are you going somewhere?"

"The middle school dance is tonight. Boq asked me if I wanted to go and I said 'yes'."

Elphaba's face broke into a wide grin. "You look pretty," she said, still fingering the dress. "You always do."

"Thank you," the brunette smiled, squeezing her hand. I'm sorry, Fabala. I didn't mean to do any of this.

Livia soon returned and told the brunette that it was time to leave.

"Have fun at the dance," Elphaba smiled.

"Thanks," Nessa smiled, quickly slipping out of the room. She saw her father's office door slightly ajar and slipped inside. "Father, do you like my dress?"

"You look very nice, my dear," the Governor said without looking up from his paperwork.

Nessa frowned slightly, knowing that her father wasn't really paying attention to her. She opened her mouth to say more, but stopped, seeing that he looked extremely stressed and busy. Sighing, she nodded and walk out, closing the door behind her, and went to find her mother.

"Mama," Nessa said as she entered the parlor.

Melena looked up from her sewing and smiled. "Hi, sweetie."

"Do you like my dress?"

"It's very nice, dear."

Nessa realized that she had lost her mother to her sewing project. She felt tears welling in her eyes and she quickly wiped them away. Why weren't her parents paying any attention to her? Because you don't need to be hovered over anymore. You are now normal. You can be independent, a little voice inside her head told her. A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts and she hurried to answer it before the maid. Boq stood on the other side of the door, his hands locked behind his back. He was blushing furiously and looked extremely nervous.

"H-Hi," the Munchkin stuttered softly.

"Hi," Nessa smiled. She turned back to the parlor. "Mama, Boq's here."

"Have fun," came Melena's half-distracted reply.

Nessa bit back a frown and stepped outside, closing the door behind her.

"We're… not going to go in?" Boq asked.

"Why would we?"

The Munchkin relaxed slightly. "Nothing." He offered Nessa his hand, who took it and they began to walk to the school. They talked the way there, giggling and blushing, until they saw the school come into sight. The music was blasting and reached their ears before they were anywhere near the front door.

"What's in the punch?" Nessa asked once they got there and Boq got her a glass of punch.

"Lemons, and melons, and pears," Boq answered quickly.

"Oh my!"

A slow song began to play and Boq fidgeted slightly before turning to look at the brunette. "Would you… like to dance?"

Nessa smiled. "Of course, Boq."

They walked onto the dance floor together and properly positioned themselves and began to dance. Nessa's eyes didn't leave Boq's face as they danced across the floor. They felt themselves growing closer together and Nessa softly leaned her head on Boq's shoulder. The shy Munchkin responded by gently tightening his grip around her. The dance soon ended and they sat at a table in the corner. They got more punched and talked and danced a bit more before the dance was over.

"That was fun," Nessa smiled as Boq led her back.

"It was," Boq agreed.

The soon reached the Governor's house and walked up the steps.

"Well… bye," Boq smiled.

"Bye."

Boq didn't move and the two lapsed into an awkward silence. "Do you… wanna… um…" the Munchkin stuttered.

Nessa gave a small, half-shrug and stood on her toes and kissed Boq's cheek. Boq smiled and kissed her back. "Goodnight, Boq."

"Goodnight, Nessa."

Nessa opened the door and slipped inside, giving Boq a small wave before closing it behind her. She didn't see or hear her mother or father, so she assumed they had already gone to bed, which kind of upset her, since she wanted to tell them about the dance. She figured that if she hurried, she could tell Elphaba instead. She quickly hurried up the stairs and walked towards her sister's room, but stopped when she heard voices coming from around the corner.

"I'm so sorry," a male voice said.

Nessa peaked around the corner and Livia standing in front of a man in a white coat, a doctor.

"No," Livia whispered.

"I did everything I could."

"No."

"But Miss Elphaba has passed on."

Nessa bit back a gasp. Livia collapsed to her knees and the doctor quickly put an arm around her. She looked like she wanted to say something, but couldn't formulate words in between her sobs.

"Are her parents…" the doctor started.

"They're asleep," Livia interrupted, almost bitterly. "The ignored her coughs and pleas for them to come to her. They're fast asleep."

"I would tell them first thing in the morning, then."

"They won't care."

"I'm sure Miss Nessarose would."

Livia blinked. "She has started spending more time with Elphaba shortly after her thirteenth birthday. I don't know what brought about that change. She usually ignored her sister, just like her parents."

Nessa bit her lip to avoid crying out. She didn't want to believe it. She refused to believe that her sister was gone. Her sister, the one who had quelled her nightmares, who always made sure she was comfortable, who always put her first, who she had yelled at for no reason, was not dead. She saw Livia go back into Elphaba's room and close the door behind her. The doctor sighed as he turned the opposite direction and walked away, leaving Nessa alone in the hallway.