Chapter 11

There's a place for us,
Somewhere a place for us.
Peace and quiet and open air
Wait for us
Somewhere.

Over the next few weeks Elphaba avoided Fiyero's parents at all cost. His father wasn't hard, since he was always in his study or away. And when they did cross paths he would look the opposite way and act like he never even saw her. Elphaba knew he didn't like her, and though she was use to this, it still bothered her. Apparently, he was still trying to figure out what to do with her. Maybe, a part of her had hoped that Ather would treat her like a daughter of his own. Who was she kidding?

Fiyero's mother, Elvira, on the other hand wouldn't stop looking for her, but Elphaba made sure that they never crossed paths. However, each passing day became harder, especially once Elvira finally caught on that Elphaba was, in fact, avoiding her. Elvira would actually search for her during the day, and Elphaba was finding less and less places to hide. It's not that she didn't like Fiyero's mom, she just didn't like the doctor part of her. Yes. The mother side of her was fun to be around and you always felt loved. However, the doctor part of her was annoying and somewhat demanding. She didn't want a doctor's appointment and she really didn't want Elvira peeking under her dress to make sure everything was alright and healthy. That scared her. Seriously, though. What was the point of a doctor if she already knew she was okay? She knew the answer to this, but she pretended she didn't.

It wasn't until Fiyero started to question her about why she was avoiding his mother, she felt like she couldn't talk to anyone. However, there was Kara. A girl who, surprisingly, believed and understood everything she told her. That is, if she even had the chance to talk. Kara was one of those girls who wouldn't stop talking. And sometimes Elphaba really just wanted – no, needed – silence.

And that's why she was out in the garden that night. Alone. She didn't want to tell anymore lies or be somewhere she didn't want to be. And although, Fiyero had been exceptionally kind to her and she couldn't have ask for anyone better, she still needed some alone time.

Fiyero.

At the thought of him, Elphaba remembered their journey home together and how he had talk to her belly. She thought about the way he made her smile and the way he made her laugh. She thought about his perfect blue eyes and his cute dimples when he smiled his charming smile. She continued to think about him until she realized that she actually missed him. It was absurd. But she had almost been with him twenty-four seven since the day they met, so it felt odd that he wasn't sitting next to her now. She sighed, wishing that he was here. It wasn't long before her wish came true.

"Hey," his voice brought her back to reality. He took a seat next to her on the ground and casually he let his arm fall behind her. "You okay?"

She smiled in spite of herself. "How'd you find me?"

Fiyero nodded towards the castle. "I was looking out my bedroom window when I saw you sitting out here. I wouldn't have seen you in the first place if it wasn't for the moon, which is shinning directly on you."

Elphaba hadn't even noticed the full moon or the bright stars until now. "It's beautiful."

"Yes." However, he was staring directly at her and he was not talking about the moon. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, his lips lingering a little longer than necessary. "May I ask you a question?"

She shook her head. "If it's about your mom and that appointment –"

"It's not about that."

"Oh." She was taken aback. For the past week he had been bugging her about it. "Then what is it?"

"When's your birthday?"

"What?" Disbelief and confusion were written across her face. His random question had surprised her.

He smirked at her. "You know. The day you're born," he teased.

She dropped her eyes, suddenly finding her hands very interesting. "Why do you want to know?"

"Well," he began. "I was thinking about the baby and wondering about the due date. And that's when it hit me. I don't know your birthday." He poked her nose, but she still didn't look up from her hands.

"Does it really even matter?"

Fiyero frowned, wondering why she would even think such a thing. "Of course it does."

"It doesn't matter to me."

"It matters to me."

Elphaba looked up at him. Again, his eyes told her something she didn't want to know. Why did he always have to care so damn much? Elphaba cursed inwardly. Damn him and his caring personality. She silently wondered if he even realized how nice he was. What had she done to deserve someone like him? Suddenly, her mind flashed back to when they first met. Ever think that I'm your miracle? he had said. Elphaba couldn't help the smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She hadn't believed those words, but now she was considering it. "It's just a day where we add one year to our age. A day to say 'Happy Birthday' and sing that stupid obnoxious song. What's the point of celebrating that?" she scoffed at him.

"It's more than that, Fae." He paused before continuing. "It's a day to celebrate our life. It's the idea of knowing that we made it through another year. It's knowing that we're alive. It's The Fates way of letting us celebrate with the ones we love."

She thought about her mother and how fate had taken her life. She thought about how she had never once celebrated her birthday. She thought about how no one had ever given her anything before. But she didn't tell him any of this. Instead, she summed it up with three words. "It's not important." And it wasn't. Her birthday never had been and never would.

"You know that's not true." Fiyero let out an exasperated sigh, wondering how to get through to her. "I want to get you something, Fae."

"I don't want anything." Elphaba shrugged.

"Surely you want something."

"I don't." She didn't bother telling him that simply him sitting next to her meant something to her.

"What do you want?"

"Nothing."

He laughed. "What is it you want, Fae? What do you want?" His eyes lit up as an idea came to him, and quickly he pointed to their only source of light. "You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down." Fiyero smiled at the thought. "Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Fae."

Her eyes were sparklingly with amusement. "I'll take it. Then what?" she told him, playing along with his joke.

"Well, then you can swallow it, and it'll all dissolve, see... and the moonbeams would shoot out of your fingers and your toes and the ends of your hair..."

"But what good will that do me?"

Fiyero intertwined their fingers together and gazed directly into her eyes before speaking. "If you get lost you'll always have a light. A light to protect and guide you. A light that's impenetrable and nothing can harm you. A light to warm you. A light so I'll be able to find you."

"How will I sleep at night if I'm being blinded by this light?"

"Ah, but see that's the thing. It's invisible," he lowered his voice to a whisper. Almost as if he was telling her his deepest darkest secret. "But when needed… the light will be there. Always."

She smiled in spite of herself. "I'm beginning to think that you really think that this light is real."

Fiyero stared directly into her eyes, which were reflecting the light of the moon. And it wasn't until then did he realize how their foreheads were almost touching. "Ah. But it is real, Fae. You just have to look close enough."

Elphaba turned to look up at the bright moon. It really was a sight, and it was so close it almost felt like you could reach up and touch it. However, she knew this was impossible and though she wouldn't admit it, the idea of Fiyero giving her the moon was something special, something insane, and something that was just right. She turned back to him, with a gleaming look in her eye. "I'll tell you what."

"What would that be?"

"I'll tell you my birthday one day in advance."

He frowned. "Only a day?"

She nodded. "Yes, only a day."

Fiyero huffed, clearly angry by this deal, but nevertheless, he accepted it. "Fine. But please tell me if it's anytime this month."

"No."

"No, seriously. I need to know if it's this month."

Elphaba refused to give into his trap. "Why do you need to know that?"

"I'm working on a project. Something special. Just for you."

"I don't want anything."

He shook his head. "I already started. But I think you'll like it."

Elphaba wanted to tell him that she wouldn't like it, but that she would love it. Just the idea of him wanting to get her a gift meant something to her. After all, it's the thought that counts. And it really was. "But why do you need to know if it's this month."

"It's going to take me awhile, but I want to get it done before your birthday."

"It's not this month." Elphaba silently wondered why he needed a whole month to finish. Surely, her gift wasn't this big, but then again, you never knew with Fiyero. Suddenly, she wanted to tell him not to get it for her and not to spend his money, but she knew he wouldn't listen to her. She bit her lip, fighting the urge to argue with him.

Fiyero sighed in relief. He had the perfect gift for her and he knew she was going to love it. However, he didn't know when he would have the time to work on it. He would make time, and surely Avaric would help him. He turned to smile at her, and when she returned his gesture it made his heart flutter. "It's getting late. We should probably go inside."

Elphaba didn't answer. Instead, she gasped and clutched her stomach. Her eyes were shut tight, but she could feel Fiyero's anxious, worried eyes on her. "I'm fine," she forced out.

"Fae, what's wrong?"

Her eyes fluttered open and a smile tugged at her lips. "I'm fine. I just had another…"

Fiyero nodded, knowing exactly what had just happened. A vision. They were starting to come more frequently now, and as soon as they were done they left her extremely exhausted and disoriented. He hated them, but he couldn't tell her this. She loved them; he could tell by the way she smiled after they were done. "What did you see?"

"The same as last time."

It was always the same. Happiness, bliss, etc. Couldn't the baby tell her anything else? Did it really have to waste all her strength on one emotion? Fiyero was getting annoyed, but nevertheless, he still loved the unborn child with all his heart. Smiling, he leaned down and kissed her stomach. "Hey, little guy." And then his eyes grew wide with fear.

"What?"

"I think I felt it."

"Yeah… but you've told me you felt it before…"

He ignored her. How could he tell her that he had lied? "I felt it kick!" The excitement in his voice was evident, and he immediately forgot about how he hated those so called visions. "Fae, I want to hold it."

She just blinked. "Fiyero, I think that's going to be a little hard right –"

"I know. But I really want to hold it now."

Elphaba couldn't help but laugh. "Well you're just going to have to wait a couple of months."

Fiyero frowned. "Months!? That's so long," he scoffed. "Can't it come sooner?"

"No," she yawned.

Gently, he reached up and cupped her face with his hands. "I guess I can wait." She rolled her eyes, and he smirked. "Come on," he tugged at her hand, helping her off the ground. "Let's go. I'm sure you're tired."

She nodded and together they walked back inside, neither realizing that they were still holding hands.

--

Fiyero was violently shaken awake. He blinked a few time in an attempt to focus, but when he saw that it was only Kara, he huffed and rolled over on his side. What time was it? Three in the morning? He wasn't sure, but he knew it was way too early to be woken up. However, Kara just shook him again.

"Fiyero."

The way she had said it made him sit up. Her voice. It was full of fear, worry, and pain. His sister was strong and she didn't scare easily. So whatever it was, he knew it was serious. "Kara, what's wrong?"

"I don't know. I woke up and… and the bathroom light was on…"

"Kara," he cut in. He could hardly understand what she was saying. "Slow down. Now, what's wrong?"

"It's Elphaba," she choked out.

That was all it took for him to throw back his covers and race out of his room. He hardly acknowledged the fact that he was only wearing boxer shorts. He hardly acknowledged the fact that his sister was right behind him. He hardly acknowledged the fact that she was shouting something about blood and a bathroom. He couldn't think. He couldn't breathe. The only thought penetrating his mind was Elphaba. Maybe he was overacting. Maybe she was fine, but why had Kara been so worried? His heart beat quicken as he raced down the hall. It felt like an eternity before he finally reached Elphaba's room, and when he finally got there she was no where in sight. And then he saw the light under the bathroom door. He gulped as he pushed it open.

He opened the door just in time to see her shove some sort of cloth up under her dress. She was on the ground panting, heaving, and near tears. Fiyero rushed to her side and knelt down beside her.

"Fae." He gripped the back of her head and entangled his hand in her hair. "What's wrong?"

"Make it stop," she gasped. "Make it stop."

"Fae," he soothed. "Make what stop?"

But she wasn't listening to him. She hadn't even heard him. Fiyero watched hopelessly as she shut her eyes in pain, trying to force back tears. He gripped her hands to stop her from shaking and it wasn't until then, did he realize that they were smeared with crimson. A color he knew so well and a color that made his stomach lurch.

"I'm bleeding. It won't stop. Yero, make it stop." Her voice was so demanding, heart shattering, and full of worry. Elphaba gasped as she clutched her stomach again.

"Oh… Oz!" Fiyero wanted to throw up. Was she going into labor? He didn't know. He wasn't a doctor. However, he knew that it was way too early for this to be happening.

"I'm going to wake, Mom," he barely heard Kara say, and within seconds she disappeared out the door.

How could he let this happen? It was his entire fault. If he had gotten her to the doctor's sooner she wouldn't be in pain. If he had been with her and not sleeping he could have helped her sooner. She was pleading with him and kept uttering words to make it stop. But how could he? He wasn't a doctor. He cursed silently to himself. Hadn't he told her just hours ago that the moon's light would protect her? Hadn't he told her that it was impenetrable? Fiyero silently wondered if this was the unnamed God's way of telling him that he couldn't have the moon.

"Fae, it's going to be okay," he forced out, and yet, even he could hear the lie behind his own words. How could he tell her everything was perfectly fine when she was bleeding and only six months pregnant?

"Fiyero, it… it… hurts."

Now, he was the one forcing back tears. Silently, he pulled her into a hug, gripping her for dear life. He could only pray that Kara would fetch their mom in time. Maybe, if he held her tight enough everything would be okay. Maybe, if he gently rocked her back and the forth the blood would stop. Maybe, if he whispered soothing words of lies into her ear everything really would be okay. And even if it wasn't…

It was the only thing he could do.

Sorry for the Cliffy. I actually didn't plan for that to happen. It came to me while I was writing it.

And yes that whole line about the moon and the lasso was from It's a Wonderful life. I don't know why I even though about that movie in the first place. It's not Christmas and I haven't even seen the whole thing, so I have no idea why it popped into my head. Lol. All well.