Fifteen reviews for one chapter? Wow, I love you guys! Ugh, and I reward you all with short filler/introspection? How mean am I? Very. But the next real chapter is meaner. Does that scare you?
She had never thought it would be so difficult to stand beside her husband and be congratulated by many well-wishers on her pregnancy. She didn't really feel like celebrating anything. A dinner party had been thrown in her honor, as was the tradition for the royal family. She was glad when the food was served- she didn't have much appetite but it gave her an excuse to not talk and she and Fiyero could stop making pleasantries for their guests' sake. She simply had to sit next to him and smile falsely at everyone when she happened to look up.
She rested her hand against her stomach, wishing the baby would go ahead and be born. A little over a month had passed since she had told him, and she wasn't really showing yet- she herself was probably the only one who could tell simply by looker at her. It all wasn't so bad, though. She was a little excited at the idea of a child, even if she had no idea how to be anyone's mother. Once she had provided the royal family with an heir, she would most likely be able to fade into the background. She would be able to keep to herself and would only be brought out of seclusion at holiday times, like the best china. And hopefully the child would give her something to care for, to fulfill her. Maybe motherhood would suit her. Maybe she'd even be able to forget how her husband, the child's father had hurt her. She'd be able to speak with him so rarely she'd be able to forget they were married, as he'd seem to have forgotten.
She could spend her time with the baby and the few times she would have to be away from the nursery, she could be in the library he had built her. How ironic. She didn't understand how he could be so sweet and gentle at times, even seeming to genuinely care for her. And other times he could do something so harsh, so unthinking. She realized he hadn't wanted to hurt her, but he still had.
Oh damn, dinner's done, isn't it? She thought to herself when she realized the waiter had removed their dishes and Fiyero was offering her his arm. She rolled her eyes and ignored his effort at kindness. She didn't push him away when he put one hand on the small of her back although she sorely wished to. Still, her head snapped around to glare at him. With his eyes he begged her to cooperate for propriety's sake. She didn't push him away, at least.
He wondered how much lower he could get. Surely he would hit the bottom soon. He'd cheated on his wife and informed her of it. He didn't know what he'd expected, but her reaction was certainly worse than he'd hoped for. After that morning her clothing had been removed from their closet, her things from their bedroom. He'd panicked and it had taken several days for him to realize that she'd moved into a room down the hallway.
They weren't really able to hide their feud. No one commented on it, but no one even tried to pretend that everything was alright. The party would have been sooner, right after the realization that Elphaba was expecting. They had put it off, in the hope that they would make up. They hadn't and only now that they were in the public eye did they try to act as if nothing was wrong.
They weren't very good at it. He stared at his shoes and his smile wouldn't quite reach his eyes. She was quiet and seemed always ready to cry. Although everyone excused it as nothing more than normal pregnancy hormones and mood swings, no one really believed that was true. The night took too long. The food wasn't very good, his shoes were uncomfortable, and he wanted nothing more to sleep for about a year. Frankly, he felt like nothing would cheer him.
The guests left, finally and the family traveled back to their rooms. Fiyero and Elphaba didn't speak with each other until it was time for them to part. Standing at her door, he said, "Goodnight," wishing he could undo everything.
She flicked her eyes to him, seeming to wonder why he'd bothered speaking to her. "Goodnight," she said, throwing the door open and collapsing onto her bed. He leaned his head against the cool wood of the door, hoping she would at least tolerate him by the time their child was born.
