New chapter time! Sorry about the wait, I have a habit of writing this story when I'm laying in bed, and everytime I sat down to do it, I fell asleep! (Just so you know, reviews keep me awake...lol)

Big thanks to deeplyshallow, Pernicia, Elizabeth, Elphaba1fan, jenfalovesjaffas and populardarling for their lovely reviews. You spoil me guys!

I hope you enjoy the chapter and that you all have a lovely weekend. Personally I'm going to get some sleep now cos I have work in the morning...lame!

Chapter Twenty One

The journey back to the Emerald was fairly uneventful. They stopped at night so the Animals could rest, and travelled all through the day, reaching the border between the Vinkus and the Emerald city in seven quick days.

News of the strange travelling party hit the Emerald City just before they arrived. It was well known that the balloon belonged to the Wizard, and so, the night before they reached the city wall they were met by a messenger with a letter, It was Chistery. Elphaba barely had time to pass Liir to Fiyero before the Monkey wrapped his arms around her neck, chattering happily in her ear. He passed her the letter, which she noticed had been hand written by Glinda, she would recognise the bubbly handwriting anywhere.

Wizard,

I don't know what you're attempting to do by returning to the Emerald City, but whatever it is, it's not going to work. The people here are much better off without you.

If you must enter the city walls, I would prefer you do so under the cover of darkness. I will meet with you in the courtyard of the palace at midnight tonight.

Glinda

***

So at midnight Elphaba, Fiyero, Frank, Nanny, Liir and Doctor Dillamond climbed into the balloon and floated over the city wall. The city was sleeping, only a few lights burned in the houses. Frank set the balloon down in the courtyard softly, then jumped out to secure it down. Glinda and a few Gale Force members were waiting for him in the doorway of the palace. He made his way over to the welcome party and bowed politely.

"A pleasure, as always."

"Get on with it Wizard. What are you trying to pull now?"

"I have been shown the error of my ways Glinda, and I am here to set everything right, at last."

She scoffed "And how do you plan on that?"

"I have help." He beckoned behind him to Elphaba and Fiyero. In the dim light of the moon, Glinda couldn't make out who was emerging from the balloon, purely silhouettes. It wasn't until they were standing just 5 feet away did she register who was standing in front of her, beaming. She threw her arms around Elphaba's neck and squeaked in her ear.

"Elphieeee!" She squealed "You're alive!"

Elphaba wrapped her arms around her bouncing friend, hugging her tightly. When they finally pulled away, both women were crying and laughing together. Glinda wiped her eyes, and then noticed Fiyero standing beside Elphaba looking a little sheepish.

"It's good to see you Glinda. I'm sorry, about everything." Glinda reached her hand out to him, which he took happily.

"Oh come here you big dumbo!" she cried, throwing her arms around him. He laughed and hugged her back. She pulled back and looked at him seriously. "Where did you go Fiyero? The Gale Force was ready to kill you, how did you escape?"

Elphaba spoke up. "I um...kinda turned him into an um, Scarecrow."

Glinda squealed again "You were the Scarecrow? All that time?" He nodded and she hit him on the shoulder. "You idiot! Why didn't you tell me?"

He shrugged, rubbing his sore arm. "I guess I thought it would be safer, for all of us."

"Oh, come on inside, we can talk easier in there." Glinda turned to go, but Elphaba grabbed her hand, stopping her.

"First there's something you have to know. There's...someone you have to meet."

Glinda narrowed her eyes, looking sceptical. "Okay..." She said slowly. Elphaba nodded at Fiyero and he walked back towards the balloon.

"Before I show you him, you have to know it was never our intention to deceive you about our relationship. The last thing I wanted to see was you hurt, and I'm so, so sorry that you did."

"Elphie, I know you love Fiyero. And he spent so much time searching for you I should have guessed he loved you too. I can't say I wasn't hurt, but I'm glad you two are happy together. Don't worry about me. Now who is it you want me to meet?"

Fiyero had rejoined them, standing a little way behind Elphaba until they finished talking. Elphaba turned around, and looked into Fiyero's eyes for reassurance. He nodded slightly and passed the sleeping Liir over to her. She took a deep breath and turned back around to Glinda who gasped and took a step backwards.

"Glinda, this is Liir. He's my...well, our...son. He is the reason I was hiding away for so long and why Fiyero and I had to leave Oz." Glinda stood still, staring at the boy, her mouth hanging open. "Please, say something."

"He's...your son?" Elphaba nodded. "But, but that's impossible! How old is he?"

"He's just over a year old."

Glinda did the maths. "But, he can't be." She took another step back. "Because if he was, you two would have had to have been together longer than you have. And that's just not possible." She gave a nervous giggle, "For him to be one, you two would have had to have been sleeping together while we were at Shiz. And neither of you would have done that to me...right?"

Elphaba handed Liir back to Fiyero and took a step towards Glinda, holding her hands out to her best friend. "Glinda..."

"No! Stay where you are."Angry tears were making their way down Glinda's cheeks, she swiped them away furiously. "It's one thing to realise you love someone enough to break someone else's heart to have them. At least that way everyone knows where they stand. But for my best friend to sleep with my own boyfriend behind my back? That's something else Elphaba. How long was it going on?"

"Glinda, we never wanted to hurt you, you have to believe..."

"HOW LONG?" She shouted, making Elphaba and Fiyero wince. The movement jerked Liir awake, and he started to cry. Fiyero gently rocked him, but he didn't want to be calmed. Elphaba turned to take him, but Glinda called her back. "Elphaba, tell me."

Elphaba looked at her hands, she felt like a naughty child. "It started two months before you and I went to the city together." She admitted quietly.

When she looked up Glinda had turned away without another word and was walking back towards the Palace doors. Elphaba tried to follow her, but was stopped by Fiyero's hand on her arm. "Leave her alone for a while, she needs to calm down. Go and see her again in the morning." Elphaba nodded, feeling defeated. She focused her attention on Liir instead, who had given himself the hiccups from crying too hard. She pulled him into her arms, laying him so his head was on her shoulder and she rubbed soothing circles on his back until he had calmed down enough to fall back to sleep. She carried him back to the basket and sat down inside, positioning Liir so he could sleep comfortably on her chest. Fiyero climbed in next to her so she snuggled into his side and shed silent tears into his shirt.