~I open my eyes, only to receive a blinding cascade of sunlight right in my face. I sit up slightly, looking at the weeping branches of the willow tree surrounding me.
Fiyero is asleep right next to me, his naked body entangled in the quilt along with mine. I smile at him; yesterday was so romantic. I am so happy to be his wife.
I tap his shoulder. "Yero…sweetheart," I whisper. "We have to get up." He opens his eyes and looks up at me.
"Well good morning to you too, darling." he says with a smug grin.
"Shh!" I hiss. "What if someone hears you?" I spot my dress and underthings laying off to the side of us, along with Fiyero's clothes. I gather them in my arms.
"Here," he says, taking the garments from me. He dress carefully and quietly, as not to cause any noticeable sound. Then he hands me my things, but before I can put anything on, he wraps the quilt completely around me.
He walks me through the thin drooping branches of the willow and back into the house.
We prepare for our usual morning- I dress and start our morning meal, while he changes into some new clothes before joining me at the table.
As a clear away the dishes, I feel his hand rub my lower back. I smile and turn to him once the dishes are on the counter.
"Yesterday," I say quietly into his ear, "last night. It was wonderful."
He smiles and pulls me close to him. "I love you," he says to me. "So much." He kisses me, long and passionately, then is out the door.
I have never felt so happy. A soothing warmth envelopes me inside and out, and my smile grows into a laugh. I twirl myself around the room. I can't waste all this joy on any normal day- it's time I did something special.
...
~ "Come along, boys," I call to my nephews as they scamper to catch up to me.
I had not been expecting my sister to leave her young children with me today, but how can I refuse when she is so busy as a schoolteacher? So I will have to bring them along on my visit to Elphaba.
"Auntie Karina, my feet are tired," Jonah, the youngest, complains. "Are we almost there?" Gilbert, his elder brother, whines. "Hush now," I say firmly. "Look there. The house up ahead."
I suddenly pick up a delicious scent coming from an open window. Chocolate, fresh fruit, vanilla custard... and cinnamon maybe?
The boys soon catch on as well. "Mmm," Gilbert hums. "That smells yummy!"
We reach the front door, but before I can knock, Elphaba has already opened it. Her hair is tied in a messy bun and she is wearing a flour covered apron. "Karina, what a surprise!" she smiles.
She seems much more cheerful than I've ever seen her. "Good morning," I say. "I was hoping you'd help me with something, if you're not too busy." "Not at all," she replies. "Just doing some baking is all."
"Oh, well see my sister has me watching her boys today," I explain, "and I just don't have anything else for the to do. Could you maybe help me look after them?" "I do need a few extra hands," Elphaba admitted, gesturing toward her kitchen area.
On the table was various baking essentials- bags of flour and sugar, butter and baking powders There were bowls of fresh sweet and savory fruits and jars of jams and preserves. Pie dishes were lined with their unbaked crusts, and a long rolling pin sat atop a large flattened, floured surface of dough.
"I was just about to cut out some cookies," Elphaba continues. She pulls over two wooden chairs and sets them in front of the area of dough. "Would you two like to help me out up here?" she asks the boys.
"Yay, cookies!" Jonah dashes over and climbs onto one of the chairs, Gilbert following him. I watch as Elphaba speaks to them gently and shows them all sorts of shapes to make the dough into.
Together she and my nephews go to work mixing and pouring and rolling, making pies, cakes, tarts and cookies to put into the oven of the wood burning stove. Jonah at one point climbs down from his chair and pulls me over to join them. I help Elphaba show them how to jar and preserve fruits, as well as mix them with sugar and spices for pie and tart fillings.
When the cookies are finished and cooled, the boys sit by the fireplace with glasses of milk and their freshly baked treats. I sit with Elphaba on the chaise, drinking tea.
"Thank you for helping me out today," I smile at her. "It can be pretty hectic with those two around." "Well they're very sweet," Elphaba replies. "I don't see how they could cause so much trouble."
"You're very good with them." I say. "Have you and Fiyero ever thought of having children?"
Elphaba is silent for a moment. Oh dear, should I haven't asked her that? She's probably self conscious about it because...of her skin.
"Well...yes," she finally tells me. I quietly breathe a sigh of relief. "I've just been nervous about it," she continues. "Sometimes I worry that if we do, the baby might come out..."
"Green?" I say, and she nods.
"Fiyero keeps telling me that he'd love our children no matter how they looked, but I just...I don't want them growing the way I did; the taunting, teasing. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if that happened."
I put my arm around her. "Elphaba, that was your childhood, and it was in Oz." I tell her. "You've seen how much acceptance you were given when you and Fiyero first came here, so how could it be any different for a little boy or girl?"
A glint of light appears in her eyes as she looks up at me.
"How could I be so foolish?" she moans. "You're not," I comfort her. Elphaba smiles and looks down at her hands, running her fingers over. "I suppose it would be nice..." she laughs.
"Believe me," I say. "You'd be a wonderful mother."
