Wow. I hadn't realized how long it has been since I have updated this story… I was reading through my notebook last night and found all my notes for this story. I already have the end written, I have just been working on the middle and what needs to happen to get to that point and for everything to fit…I am still working on that, but I decided to post this and hope that the next chapter won't take as long…Today I bought tickets to go see Wicked for the second time! I am so psyched! I also might be meeting Gregory Maguire! I am psyched about that too!!!!! XD Anyways…enough of my life and on to the chapter you have all been waiting forever for… Hope you enjoy! As Always -Greengirl16

Chocolate Chip Cookies for:

Elizabeth
Claire
Elphaba1fan
Someonerandome
Eowyn-Faith
gilgrissomlover

I hope the wait was worth it and you remember what happened last time I updated...

a/n: sorry for any grammar or spelling errors...I am not perfect and even though I edit and spell check my chapters I still make mistakes... I am not perfect :)

It had been four days since their apartment had been robbed and everything had been almost restored. The furniture was no longer scattered and there was no longer shards of glass on the floor. Fayina had slept with her mother for those four nights, fearing the robber might strike again. Elphaba also feared that, but they had her birth certificate and she figured that is the main thing they had wanted.

She double-checked her daughter was asleep and then pulled out the piece of brown corduroy fabric from her nightstand drawer. She examined it very closely. It seemed familiar, but not familiar enough for Elphaba to place.

It was seven in the morning and Elphaba hadn't slept at all for over 24 hours. She wouldn't let herself because they still could be in danger and she didn't want her daughter to get hurt. "Fayina, it's time to wake up. You have school today." Elphaba said in a soothing voice as she slightly nudged her daughter.

Fayina rolled over and opened her deep blue eyes. "Mommy I had the scary dream again."

"Which one is that?"

"The one about the robber."

"Was it the same as the last two?"

"No."

"What was different in this one?"

"I still couldn't see his face, but his eyes were green."

"It was just a dream," Elphaba said, rubbing her daughters back. "Now you go pick out your outfit for today and I'll get you your breakfast."

"Okay mommy!" Fayina said, perking up and hopped off the bed and skipped to her bedroom.

Fayina's bowl of cereal sat on the table. Fayina emerged from her bedroom in a yellow dress and spun around causing the dress to flow as it spun around with her. "Do you like my dress mommy?"

"Of course! You look like a prince...ss" Elphaba froze at her words. Technically speaking, Fayina was a princess…

"What's wrong mommy?" Fayina asked, noticing the sudden distressed look on her mother's face.

"Nothing," Elphaba smiled, "Now eat your breakfast or you're going to be late."

Fayina sat down at the table and started eating.

"Fayina, Brenden will be coming over for dinner tonight."

"But…"

"I know you don't like him, but he did help with cleaning up our apartment so I think we owe him."

Fayina sighed.

"Promise me you'll be on your best behavior."

"I promise," Fayina said, clearly unhappy and then grabbed her backpack and trudged out the door.

Later that night Brenden arrived. Fayina was setting the table for her mother when Elphaba was answering the door. Fayina glared at Brenden. She had no true reason not to like him, he just didn't seem trustworthy to her at least. There was also no reason he didn't seem trustworthy, he hadn't done anything to harm them, Fayina just didn't like him because not only did he seem to like her mother he also seemed to be up to no good.

The problem was her mother didn't understand why she didn't like him. If she told her mother he liked her, because it was extremely obvious her mother would deny it and she would look selfish. She wanted her mom to be happy. That was the one thing her mom needed because there were days her mother wouldn't leave her bedroom and just stay locked in there with the shades closed and the lights out. Fayina never asked why, she didn't want to upset her mother, but she knew her mom was sad about something and Fayina wanted more than anything to make her mom happy again and make those days where she locked herself in her bedroom go away. She just didn't want the person to make her happy to be Brenden.

Brenden was now sitting down, staring at her mother, smiling. "This food is delicious!" He exclaimed, while taking a bite of the casserole Elphaba had prepared.

"Thank you," Elphaba said, looking shy. "I haven't cooked a casserole in forever."

"Well your skills definitely didn't diminish at all over the years."

Elphaba smiled.

"Will you pass the salad, mommy?"

Elphaba handed her the salad bowl and smiled.

Fayina finished quickly, washed her dish off, and put it in the dishwasher. She then excused herself to go do her homework, which didn't exist because she had already completed it.

Elphaba and Brenden still sat at the table long after they had finished eating. The single candle that was still burning at the center of the table was now a fraction of the size it had been.

"I cannot thank you enough for helping clean up the apartment."

"It really wasn't a problem and you definitely needed the help."

Elphaba thought back to all the broken lamps, shattered glass, and scattered furniture and what it would have been like trying to clean that by herself. She hadn't wanted Fayina to help because of all the glass.

Elphaba smiled and agreed. The two grabbed their glasses of wine and went to sit on the sofa to continue their talking.

Fayina was sitting on her bed reading a book and talking to Mark on the phone when she heard her mom call her name.

"Mark, I got to go. I'll see you tomorrow," she said, and then hung up the phone, folded the page she was on and went to see what her mom wanted.

She walked out of her bedroom to see Elphaba and Brenden on the couch extremely close to each other, too close to be considered 'just friends'. "You called?"

"Yes, sweetie, I put Brenden's coat in my room. Do you mind getting it for him?"

"Nope."

"Thanks, Fayina."

Fayina went to her mom's bedroom and grabbed the only coat in the room that was lying on her mother's bed. It was thick and made of extremely heavy fabric. She brought it back to her mom and then went back to her room to read.

Elphaba handed it to Brenden, who had stood up.

"It's getting late," he said, taking his coat. "Thanks for the wonderful dinner."

"It was no problem," Elphaba smiled, and then showed him out.

He bent down and kissed her on the cheek, causing Elphaba to glance down at the floor shyly. "See you around."

"Of course." Elphaba said, and then watched him walk down the hallway; he was just about to disappear from her sight, when she noticed a patch on the left sleeve of his brown corduroy jacket.

Confused? :P I promise I will try to clear that up as the story progresses :)

Review?