AN: *hands out tissues to everyone* There, there.

Luna the Zekrom: Thank you! I did get the title from the song. I usually use song lines or something like that for titles, because I'm horrible at coming up with such things myself.

Fabala123: Heheh, thanks, I kind of liked that AN as well :P.

11. The Way Back

They all stared at her, unsure of what they had just heard.

"What?" Glinda eventually asked and Elphaba bit her lip.

"It's a long story," she said, which they all knew really meant that she didn't want to talk about it.

"We have time," said Hamold. The others nodded, wanting to know what she had meant.

Elphaba nodded, too, and looked at Fiyero, keeping her gaze on him the whole time she spoke.

"At some point during the labour," she said quietly, "I fell unconscious."

Lori nodded, looking faint. "I remember."

"I was..." Elphaba was quiet for a moment. "I don't really know what happened. I mean, I'm not sure. All I know is that it seemed... magical." She took a deep breath. "I don't know how I knew this, or what was going on, exactly... I don't think I'll ever know. But I felt, somehow, that I had to make a choice. I was losing my baby..." Her eyes flicked to Xalo for a moment before settling back on Fiyero. "I was losing Xalo," she said softly. "I could feel it. Maybe... maybe it was my own magic kicking in, saving him... I don't know. All I knew was that I had to choose between myself and him."

"And you chose him," Fiyero breathed, unable to believe it. The disbelief and bitterness in his voice made Elphaba cringe a little, even as she nodded.

"I had to," she said, near tears. "Don't you understand? He..." She couldn't go on, and Hamold took Xalo's hand, recognising that this conversation would get emotional and that the young boy should not be there to witness it.

"Why don't we give Mummy and Daddy some time alone together?" he suggested quietly. Xalo nodded, his eyes wide, and obediently followed his grandfather out of the room. Glinda and Lori stayed, lowering themselves into arm chairs by the bed, watching Elphaba.

"Why?" Fiyero asked almost accusingly. "Why did you do that?"

"Yero," she began, but he cut her off.

"You knew I couldn't live without you. You knew that. I told you so many times. How could you choose him over yourself? How could you do that to me?!"

"Fiyero!" Glinda exclaimed, shocked; but Elphaba just looked away, a tear rolling down her cheek.

"I never believed you," she whispered. "I never believed you were serious when you said you couldn't live without me. I thought you were exaggerating... I didn't realise until I stayed here, and I saw you, and what my death did to you. But even if I had known, I couldn't have made another choice, Yero! I couldn't just let my son die! And I knew... I knew you'd hold on. For Xalo."

"I did hold on for him," he agreed. He started pacing, suddenly unable to look her in the eye. "But you have no idea how hard it was."

"Of course I know how hard it was!" she shouted at him. "I was there, remember? I was here all the time! It was hard for me, too, Yero - watching the ones I love more than anything grieving for me the way you did, all the while knowing I was still there, but unable to let you know!"

"Then why didn't you move on, if it was so painful to stay here?!" Fiyero yelled back at her.

She recoiled, as if he had slapped her, and he immediately winced. "Fae... I'm sorry... I didn't mean –"

"Why didn't you, Elphie?" Glinda asked softly, trying to prevent the two from getting into a fight. They were both just too emotional right now. "Move on?"

"How could I?" Elphaba whispered. "I couldn't leave you. Fiyero, Xalo... you, Glin. I couldn't leave any of you. They said I had to move on or I would be trapped here forever, and I said I'd rather stay trapped and watch over you until the end of time than move on and leave you behind."

Fiyero was crying again. "I'm sorry, Fae, I shouldn't have –"

"It's okay," she cut him off. "I understand. You're mad at me."

He started shaking his head, but she held up one hand.

"It's okay, Yero," she said again. "You're mad at me for leaving you... I know how you feel. I felt the same way about my mother when she passed away. And I know it wasn't her choice, and this wasn't really mine, either... or, well, it was, but the choice between Xalo and myself was an impossible one. I had to choose him. You're allowed to be angry with me, it's okay. I don't mind."

"I want you back," he said, a catch in his voice. "I need you back. Elphaba... I can't lose you again."

"But I can't come back," she said, looking into his eyes. "Oz, Yero, don't you think I want to? For five years, I've been trying to get back, but it's impossible. I'm dead."

He flinched at that and she softened. "I can't, Yero. I'm sorry. You have to let me go."

"Let you go?" he echoed incredulously. "Now? After grieving for you all this time, I finally have you back... and then you're telling me to let you go?!"

"Like I said, I can't come back." She shook her head. "And I can't stay here like this forever, either. You need to move on, Yero. You and Xalo both. I should go and leave you alone from now on."

"No!" he cried immediately. She could see the panic in his eyes and it broke her heart all over again.

"We have to try, Elphie," said Glinda, who also had tears running down her cheeks. "You can't expect us to forget about you. Not now, not after this. We have to try to find a way."

Elphaba sighed in frustration. "Glin..."

"You may not have found a solution," Glinda said stubbornly, "but that doesn't mean there isn't one."

"I searched all over Oz, Glinda! I eavesdropped on sorcerers, I read their books over their shoulder. I never even found a hint of a spell that could bring people back from the dead!"

"But there is one thing I know you haven't tried yet." Glinda looked at her former roommate. "A certain person who might hold the answers to this mystery."

Elphaba's eyes were wide. "Glin... no," she pleaded. "It's too dangerous. She'll never agree to help, anyway –"

"Not for nothing," Glinda agreed. "But for her freedom..."

"No! You cannot risk the lives of people in all of Oz for me, Glinda! I won't let you!"

"Calm down, Elphie," the blonde snapped. "I'm not going to let her loose on the people! I'd find a way. I'd strip away her powers before setting her free, or something like that. But I think it's worth the try."

"What is?" Lori asked, puzzled. "What are you two talking about?"

Glinda shared a look with Elphaba in the mirror and they said in unison, "Morrible."

Fiyero paled. "What?"

"She might know a way," Glinda said softly. "I think we have to try it... to ask her. I'll go," she said. "I'll leave as soon as possible and I'll try my hardest."

Elphaba nodded, whispering, "Thank you."

They suddenly saw her fading, and Glinda bit her lip. "The spell is wearing off."

"What?" Fiyero was starting to look panicked again and Lori rose to her feet and placed a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him.

"She'll still be here," Glinda said quickly. "We just won't be able to see her anymore." She looked at Elphaba. "I'll talk to Morrible, Elphie. We'll figure this out somehow."

Elphaba nodded. "Thank you, Glinda. For everything," she added. "You're the best friend I've ever had."

As she faded further, she quickly looked at Fiyero, who choked out, "I love you, Fae."

"I love you, too, Yero my hero," she whispered. Then she slowly disappeared.

"Right," Glinda said, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I'm heading back to the Emerald City now and I'm going to talk to Morrible. You guys just... keep an eye on Xalo, and..." She glanced at Fiyero. "Try to keep it together."

The prince took a deep breath and nodded, and Glinda came forward to give him a tight hug and an encouraging smile before conjuring up her bubble and flying out of the window.