As the years went on, I oversaw the slow improvement of Munchkinland. Things still weren't happening as quickly as I liked, but as I grew into my role, people began to take me more seriously. Of course there were bumps in the road, more bumps than I was expecting, but I slowly overcame them. Fiyero proved himself most useful in helping me. I really looked to him for advice and he always had beneficial things to say.

A month after my twenty-first birthday, I found out news that rocked my entire world. But I didn't tell Fiyero right away. I waited another two months before I told him.

"Are you sure, Fae?" Fiyero asked me when I told him the news after preparing for bed.

I nodded wordlessly, pulling my nightgown tighter against my stomach, revealing a small baby bump.

He slowly approached me and leveled his head with my stomach. I couldn't help but chuckle softly as he pressed a gentle kiss against the baby bump. Tears formed in my eyes and I wiped them away, choosing to blame the hormones.

"We're going to be parents?" he whispered as he stood up.

"We are," I whispered back.

It was his turn to chuckle and he softly kissed me. "How far along are you?"

"Three months. I was just cleared by the doctor. I wanted to wait until my first trimester was over."

Fiyero hugged me gently and I hugged him back. We were going to be parents. I had a loving husband and I would become a mother in six months. For the first time, I felt like I had a normal life.

The following morning, we called the entire staff together in the dining hall to announce the news. As expected, they were very excited and offered their congratulations.

"I fully intend to keep all of my obligations," I said, running a brush through my hair. "I haven't had any of the normal pregnancy symptoms… yet. No morning sickness or weird cravings."

"You did ask for ketchup on your pasta," Fiyero pointed out.

I looked at him in the mirror. "How do you know that's not a Munchkin thing?"

"Is it?"

"… No."

Fiyero laughed, then sobered. "I just want you to take it easy. Try not to stress yourself out too much."

I was going to say that the first job of the Eminent Thropp is to always be stressed, but I simply nodded. "Okay, Yero."

I feel that I might have jinxed myself, because the next morning, I couldn't stop throwing up. My stomach, for some reason, felt the need to forcibly eject the previous night's dinner.

Fiyero held my hair up and rubbed my back as I hung over the toilet. I felt miserable. I wanted to go back to bed, but then I remembered all of the things on my To-Do List.

"I'll take care of it, Fae," Fiyero said as he helped me to my feet.

"No, Yero –"

"No. You go rest," he said, escorting me back to the room.

"I feel better now."

"If you feel better tomorrow, you can come back to work."

I frowned. I didn't appreciate being told what to do, but deep down, I knew he was right. I felt lightheaded and exhausted and was in no position to try and work. "Okay."

He kissed my forehead and helped me lay back down. I was fast asleep within a few minutes. I woke up feeling slightly better, but my throat was very sore and scratchy. I slid out of bed and twirled my robe around my shoulders before slowly making my way down to the kitchen.

"Oh, Your Eminence," a member of the kitchen staff bowed when he saw me. "Are you feeling better?"

I gave him a half-shrug and nodded at the pitcher of lemon water. He understood what I wanted and poured me a glass. I nodded my thanks as I walked out, sipping the glass. I went to my office, thinking that Fiyero was there. He was sitting at the table by the window, reading documents and taking notes. I knocked on the door, smiling as he jumped in surprise.

"Hey," he smiled at me. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," I said softly, then coughed and took a sip of the water.

"Are you hungry?"

"Yes, but I don't think I could keep anything down."

"How about some soup broth?"

I thought for a moment. I should be able to keep the broth down. I hummed and Fiyero rang for the maid.

"If you feel like working, there are some documents on your desk needing your signature."

I smiled and walked over to my desk. I was well-aware that I was still in my nightgown and robe, but I supposed I could still sign some papers.

"Your Eminence," a footman bowed in the doorway. "The Prime Minister of Quox is here to see you."

I looked up in surprise. I checked my date book and realized that I did have a meeting. I looked down and realized I wasn't exactly wearing 'meeting' clothing. "Oh."

"What shall I tell him?" the footman asked.

"I could talk to him, Fae," Fiyero volunteered.

"I'll get dressed quickly," I said, rising to my feet. I looked at my husband. "Please entertain him until I get back."

Fiyero nodded and I hurried up to my room. I washed very quickly and threw on a dark blue dress and ran my fingers through my hair before pulling it back into a bun. Once I deemed myself presentable, I walked downstairs to meet with the Prime Minister. When I got there, he looked like he was ready to leave.

"Your Eminence," he bowed.

"Prime Minister," I nodded. "Follow me, please."

"Actually, Eminency, I do not require this meeting with you anymore."

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

"His Highness has given me great advice and I –"

"You were discussing our meeting topics?" I demanded, glaring at my husband.

Fiyero looked over at me. "You… you were taking a while and I didn't know if you felt sick or –"

"I do apologize, Your Eminence. We thought that since you were unwell –"

"I am perfectly fine," I all but growled. I belatedly remembered that I had to keep my composure and took a deep breath. "Is there nothing else we should discuss?"

"No. Prince Fiyero has helped me."

"Very well. Good day, Prime Minister," I nodded and left as quickly as I could.

I could hear Fiyero's footsteps behind me, but I ignored him as I went back to our bedroom and slammed the door behind me.

"Fae?" Fiyero asked as he slowly opened the door and peaked his head inside.

I ignored him.

"Fae, I'm sorry. I really am. I was just trying to help you," he said as he approached me and gently wrapped his arms around my waist.

"I don't need your help!" I cried as I pushed him away. "I can still carry out my own duties!"

"I know, Fae," he said calmly, and I began to feel bad for snapping at him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

I deflated. "I know." I bridged the gap between us and gave him a light hug. "I know you're just trying to help."

I looked over the menu for the dinner party with a sigh. Most of the foods I couldn't even eat, and it was too late to change everything. It's not that they were on my list of banned-foods, but they were foods I knew I wouldn't be able to keep down, or that sounded appetizing when I first made the list, but not anymore.

The news that I was pregnant was now common knowledge in Munchkinland, as well as the rest of Oz. I received letters of congratulations from Nessarose, Father, and a very long one from Galinda. I also received more official letters, but I let Fiyero open those. It meant that I didn't have to try and hide anything from anyone, especially the officials coming for the dinner.

As Nanny helped me into my evening dress, I critically looked at my reflection in the mirror. "I want a different dress, Nanny."

The older woman looked at me. "Why? This one looks very pretty on you."

"This one makes me look fat."

I could tell she wanted to protest, but instead, she hurried over to my closet to select another dress. I said no to everything she pulled out for me and could tell she was trying not to get frustrated.

"What about the silver gown?"

I shook my head as I sat down on my bed. I buried my face in my hands and let out a very unladylike noise.

"You must make a decision soon, Miss Elphaba. The guests will be here soon."

I looked up. "The… silver gown."

Nanny smiled and helped me into the dress. "You look beautiful."

"I look fat."

"You look pregnant, which is nothing to be ashamed of."

I smiled at her. "I admire your patience, Nanny."

The older woman chuckled and Fiyero came in. "Wow," he smiled. "You look beautiful, Fae."

I smiled at my husband in his white shirt and dark blue suit. "Thank you, Yero."

"Shall we?"

I nodded and took the arm he offered to me as we walked to the dining hall together.

The meal was very lively. I really did try to eat, but I didn't want to have to excuse myself to get rid of it. Although I enjoyed the dinner, it was getting a little too political for my liking.

The officials all wanted to know my stand on different issues, and while I answered them to the best of my ability, I was getting very tired. I just wanted to talk about something else, anything else, other than politics.

Fiyero seemed to sense my stress, because he would constantly try to change the subject. When one of the officials started talking about their children, the subject immediately shifted to my pregnancy.

"I don't even know if I'll be able to eat breakfast tomorrow morning," I confessed to Fiyero that night. "And they asked if I have names picked out yet."

"Well… do you?" he asked me.

"Of course not! Why would I? I'm barely even showing!"

Fiyero was silent and I didn't know if I had hurt his feelings by snapping at him.

"But I do know one thing."

"What's that?"

I took a breath. "I… I don't want my child to have the same type of upbringing I did. I want him or her to feel loved. I want our child to be able to feel like they can come to us with their problems; that we're not carelessly pushing them away, off to the side."

"You… you felt like that growing up?" Fiyero asked.

I realized that I had never given him the rundown of how I was raised. "I just… I want things to be different."

"They will be, Fae," he promised me.

Another short-ish chapter. Sorry, y'all. But more things are brewing for the Fiyeraba.