Elphaba's POV

A/N I own nothing. Words to 'Willemijn's Song' belong to Willemijn Verkaik and words to 'Watch Me Soar' belong to Scott Alan.

I carefully waded into the river, and began bathing my daughter.

She squirmed and I said, "Don't worry, Mels. It'll be over soon."

She giggled and pointed at something behind us. Then she whispered, "Mama."

I gasped and looked at her. "Did you say something, Mels?" I asked.

"Mama!" she repeated, pointing.

"Elphie?" I heard someone call uncertainly.

I sighed, and tightening my grip on my daughter, slowly emerged from the river, growling.

"Elphie, relax," the voice said. "It's me—your Glinda."

"Lin?" I asked.

She walked over to me and then smiled at our daughter.

Melena smiled up at her and, placing one hand against my face, said, "Mama."

Glinda smiled and said, "Yes, that is Mama."

Then Melena reached toward Glinda and said, "Mom."

I smiled and then asked, "Glinda, what brings you here?"

"I'm on vacation," the blonde said, smiling.

I smiled and I said, "Well, Glinda Upland of the Upper Uplands, permit me to introduce you to your daughter. This little girl here is our daughter—I love saying that, by the way—it drives Timon—he's the Meerkat, Pumbaa—he's the Warthog, and Simba—the Lion—crazy—and her name is Melena Sarabi Upland. Melena Sarabi Upland, meet your mom, Glinda Upland of the Upper Uplands."

Glinda paused and said, "Melena was your mother's name, right?"

I nodded.

"And Upland is my last name," she continued.

I nodded again.

"But how did you get the middle name? No one in my family or your family has that name," Glinda stated.

I nodded and said, "Right before we raided Colwen Grounds—yes, I did that—I was pregnant and not really thinking—Timon reminded Simba of his mother, Sarabi—the reason we did that was because I was craving human food. So, I figured I'd name my daughter after my mother and his mother, and give her your last name."

"Why do you call her Mels?" Glinda asked, still smiling at our daughter.

I looked at her and said, "Glinda, I was tired and wanted to talk to my daughter and I started to say 'Melena Sarabi Upland' really fast and what came out instead was Mels and the name just sort of stuck."

Glinda smiled and said, "Our little Mels."

Then we walked back to my nest and I put Mels gently in her bed.

I took Glinda's hand and sat quietly on my bed.

"Elphie, look at how peacefully she's sleeping," Glinda began.

"Glinda, I can't walk away from my daughter," I began. "I want her to have what I didn't have—a mother who loves her, a mother who wants to spend as much time as possible with her little girl. I love Mels and I can't lose her."

Glinda smiled and said, "Oh, I see, Elphie. There's more to it than Mels being your daughter—she's the only piece of me you can have with you."

I smiled and said, "Glinda, promise me you'll never tell anyone about Mels—not until it's safe."

Glinda didn't answer. "Glinda?" I asked.

She looked at me and said, "Elphie, you know your mother's bottle?"

I nodded and asked, "Why?"

"Well, I was wondering would it be okay if I took with me to ask the Wizard about it," she explained.

I grinned and said, "Yeah, ask him how she got it in the first place."

Glinda nodded and, then she said, "Simba needs to return to the Pridelands to help his mother, Sarabi, Serafina—that's Nala's mother—and Nala lead the rebellion against Scar."

"Wait, the lionesses are planning a rebellion against Scar?" I asked, shocked.

Glinda nodded and said, "Things are that bad. Besides, I was hoping I could stay here with Mels while you, Timon, Pumbaa, Simba, and Nala fight Scar. Then, once it's safe in the Pridelands, you'd come back for us."

I nodded and said, "OK, Glinda. That'll be our plan."

Then Nala stalked by us and Mels woke up, and began screaming and crying.

I scooped her up and began singing gently to her.

"It was just a little smile and it shuddered me. Just a little thing could brighten up your day. Such a tiny, little boy, only seven years. Still I saw that little spark in your eyes, a spark of hope, a spark of trust with a lion's bravery, waking up each morning fighting the fight. A little smile, so truthfully and I couldn't help but feel so ashamed of all my doubts and my fears in this perfect easy life that I lived. It was a just a little song that she sung for me. Just a little song—it took my breath away. Just a tiny, little girl—stronger than the sea—with that little song she told me to have faith—telling me to live my life, to follow my dreams, to be proud of everything I achieve. To seize the day and that is strife to make every moment real. You can fight the fight whenever you need in this perfect easy life that you live. But you colored the world with your smile. You let the clouds in the sky follow you. You colored the world with your smile. I just hope I colored your sky a bit blue. Oh, you colored the world with your smile. You let the clouds in the sky follow you.You colored the world with your smile. I just hope I colored your sky a bit blue.Seize the day—that is strife to make every moment real.You can fight the fight whenever you need in this wondrous, precious life, in this blessed and magic life, in this perfect easy life that you live." I sang, smiling tenderly at little Mels.

Glinda watched me and I said, "Glinda, go after Nala. It will help our daughter. Your anger at Nala is upsetting her."

Glinda nodded and I continued soothing Mels as Glinda hunted Nala down.

"I know that it's hard for you to imagine that I'm not that little girl you once knew. I'm no longer twelve what you see is a woman standing in front of you and I—I have been patient. I have been kind. I paid all my dues and I gave up my time.I can't be confined to the past anymore. My wings have grown. Everyone says just to be thankful, just to be grateful, to just let it be. But I'm tired of this waiting. It's always tomorrow. I'm done with perceptions that you've had of me. I've given you blood.You've given me tears. I've given my heart and so many years.It's finally time to fend for myself and open my wings. It's my time to soar.Yes, my time. And I don't need you to love me.That's not what I asked. Just want you to see that I'm more than my past.You have expectations, well they're just too small and I'm dreaming big.So watch me soar.Watch me soar.Watch me soar.It's time to let go.Take a leap.Touch the sky.Feel the wind press against me as my wings to learn to fly and soar. I will soar.Watch me soar.Yes, I know that it's hard for you to imagine that I'm not that young girl you once knew.I' m no longer twelve, what you see is a woman soaring in front of you." I sang.

She squirmed and continued crying.

I sighed and said, "Oh, Mels, why won't you calm down?"

She picked up screaming again and just screamed one word. "Mama! Mama!" she screamed.

I rocked her and said, "Do you want Uncle Timon and Uncle Pumbaa to come over?"

She kicked at me and screamed and fought me and cried. "Mama!"

I sighed and I knew I really had to help her calm down before Glinda returned.