DISCLAIMER: Once again, I own nothing.
AN. Congrats to Moreanswers24 for being reviewer 200!
Chapter 25: The Next Ten Minutes
October, 1942
The wedding was set for October eighteenth.
The reason for October had been fairly simple. Fiyero was keen to get married before the baby arrived in February, and Elphaba didn't want to deal with the hassle of planning a wedding and everything that entailed while in her third trimester.
In October, she'd be six months gone, and figured even that was pushing it a little. But Fiyero was insistent, so Elphaba hadn't argued. Once they'd settled on October, Fiyero had tentatively suggested a date.
"The seventeenth is Nessa's birthday, and the eighteenth is my parents' wedding anniversary. It could be nice to have it that weekend."
Elphaba had been trying to get Jozua settled, cuddling with him on the sofa in hopes he'd agree to go down for a nap. He'd been running around all morning, and she was exhausted. If he slept, so might she.
"The eighteenth," she replied.
"You sure? It's a Sunday," he warned her.
"So? It's going to be a morning ceremony with a small lunch afterwards. What difference will it make?"
In truth, Elphaba didn't want to have to think of her sister every time their wedding anniversary came around. She could handle sharing an anniversary with Fiyero's parents.
So the eighteenth it was.
It was going to be a small wedding. They didn't have that many people to invite. Kalhey and Alvar and their kids, Fiyero's other co-workers and their families. The ceremony was going to be held at the Limelle Courthouse at eleven o'clock, followed by a lunch hosted at Kalhey and Alvar's property.
The original plan had been for Elphaba and Fiyero to host the lunch themselves, but once Kalhey heard about it, she'd put her foot down.
"You cannot host your own wedding reception, especially at six months pregnant," she'd declared firmly.
"It's not really a reception," Elphaba had argued. "It's just lunch."
"Well, Al and I will take care of it," Kalhey reassured her. "Now, do you have a dress?"
"I have a dress," Elphaba nodded.
She'd bought it on sale at the only of Limelle's dress salons that sold formal wear. It didn't seem to make much sense to spend a lot of money on a dress that she'd only wear one day, that wouldn't even fit her in probably less than a week.
It wasn't white, however, it was long. It was a sleeveless silver sheath dress, with a lace overlay over the top. It was currently hanging in her closet, and it was amusing to see Fiyero trying to avoid seeing it whenever he had to go into the closet.
"It's bad luck for me to see the dress before the wedding!" he insisted as Elphaba laughed at him one morning.
"Yero, what more bad luck could we possibly have?" Elphaba pointed out practically, leaning back against her pillows.
Fiyero considered that for a moment and then shook his head. "Yeah, I'm not risking it."
"We already agreed we're not spending the night before apart," she reminded him. "We'll be seeing each other all morning before the ceremony, which again, supposedly bad luck. How are you going to avoid that one?"
She had a point there.
"Ok," he agreed. "But I still don't want to see the dress for the first time until you're wearing it."
"I hope it still fits by then," Elphaba muttered, rubbing her stomach gently.
Fiyero smiled gently, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You look beautiful," he told her.
Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Don't look at me like that," she scolded him.
"Like what?" Fiyero asked innocently.
"Fiyero."
"Elphaba," he mimicked teasingly, grinning as he leaned over and kissed her.
She shook her head. "Nope. You're on Jozua duty while I shower. Kalhey and Alvar are coming for brunch to discuss the lunch plans," she reminded him.
"Fine," Fiyero grumbled. "But when Joz goes down for his nap this afternoon, you're all mine, Mrs Tiggular," he informed her.
Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Still a week to go, Yero."
"I'm practising it now," Fiyero grinned and kissed her again. "I love you."
She smiled. "I know."
When Elphaba had showered and dressed, she found Fiyero sitting on the floor of the living room playing with Jozua, who was giggling madly.
"Has he had breakfast?"
Fiyero grinned and held Jozua up for her to see. "Scrambled eggs and toast, right Joz?"
"Gggs!" Jozua exclaimed excitedly.
"I see that," Elphaba laughed slightly, taking in the egg stains on his shirt.
"Are you hungry or are you going to wait until brunch?" Fiyero asked her.
Elphaba shook her head. "I'm ok for now. I might have some tea, though."
Fiyero got to his feet and handed Jozua to her. "Here. I'll get your tea."
"Thanks, hon," Elphaba said gratefully.
Kalhey and Alvar arrived with the kids at about half-past ten, and they were sitting down to brunch by eleven.
"Have you had any thoughts about lunch?" Kalhey asked them as they ate.
Elphaba and Fiyero exchanged a brief glance.
"Not really," Fiyero replied. "Just that there should be food."
Kalhey blinked. "A good decision," she deadpanned.
"If you're open to suggestions," Alvar chimed in. "Kal makes an excellent grilled cheese sandwich."
Kalhey glared at her husband. "I can cook more than that!"
"I know you can. I just really love your grilled cheeses," Alvar reassured her.
Kalhey laughed, and turned back to Elphaba.
"Are you craving anything in particular lately?"
Elphaba paused thoughtfully. "I've been eating a lot of fruit and vegetables lately," she said.
"That means it's a girl, right?" Alvar cut in.
"Old wives tale," Kalhey dismissed him.
"Nah, I reckon it's a girl," Fiyero said confidently.
"Based on what?" Kalhey asked.
"Wishful thinking," Elphaba replied dryly.
Fiyero didn't deny that.
"You know, you're practically eloping. Smart move," Alvar told them, raising his glass and toasting them, when they'd finished making the menu.
"Yeah, I wish we'd eloped," Kalhey muttered and Alvar nodded in agreement.
Elphaba laughed slightly. "Why? What happened?"
Kalhey checked to make sure the kids were happily distracted before answering.
"Our parents," Alvar said.
"His mother," Kalhey corrected him. "Who a month out, decided there were sixty of her dearest family and friends that needed to be invited, which took our guest list to over two hundred people."
Elphaba winced. "Ouch."
Fiyero winced too, but in sympathy, rather than horror. He'd never forget having a hundred people attend a dinner for his tenth birthday party, of whom he'd only known perhaps twenty.
"And then my brother, who was the best man, came down with the flu and projectile vomited all over the maid of honour on their way back up the aisle," Alvar recalled.
"And his mother showed up dressed in full mourning," Kalhey added.
Alvar rolled his eyes. "It wasn't full mourning."
"She was wearing head to toe black-"
"Well, that's just ninety per cent of Elphaba's wardrobe," Fiyero quipped and Elphaba rolled her eyes at him.
"- And a veil," Kalhey continued.
"Why?!" Fiyero demanded, sounding way too delighted about this story.
"Unofficially, I'm not good enough for her baby boy. Officially, I had the audacity to ask for a Lurlinist wedding instead of agreeing to convert to Unionism," Kalhey said.
"My mom thinks I care about religion more than I do," Alvar rolled his eyes.
"And my mother kicked up a stink because we decided to have a chocolate cake, when it's apparently a family tradition to have fruit cake. Basically, it was one giant headache."
"You're having a cake, right?" Alvar asked Fiyero.
"Vanilla," he nodded, then gestured towards Elphaba. "Her choice."
"Anything heavier makes me nauseous," Elphaba explained.
Although she wasn't entirely sure it was cake related. Elphaba hadn't had any morning sickness during this pregnancy, but ever since she'd told Fiyero she would marry him, she definitely had her queasy moments.
She was desperately trying not to take that as a sign.
After brunch, Elphaba sent Fiyero to amuse the kids while she cleaned the kitchen.
"I can do it later, Fae," he offered, but Elphaba shook her head.
"It's fine. I want to stand up for a bit," she said tiredly, rubbing her lower back lightly.
"I'll help," Kalhey volunteered. "Braxton Hicks?" she asked as the men and kids disappeared into the living room.
Elphaba shook her head, frowning slightly. "No. The kid's just leaning against my spine or something."
Kalhey moved to her side and started prodding at Elphaba's stomach and back, switching into her midwife mode. Elphaba rolled her eyes, but endured it patiently.
It wasn't until the baby shifted in response, Elphaba swearing she felt the baby's legs curl away from her spine, that Elphaba moved.
"Thanks. I need to remember that trick."
Kalhey smiled. "It's kind of my job," she laughed. "Come on. Let's do the dishes."
Elphaba washed as Kalhey dried, a task which left it far too easy for Elphaba to get lost in her thoughts.
"El?"
Elphaba jumped slightly, flushing slightly. "Sorry," she said apologetically to Kalhey. "Did you say something?"
"I asked if there was anything else you needed to organise," Kalhey repeated.
Elphaba shook her head. "No, I don't think so. I've got my dress, Fiyero has a suit. We've got the marriage licence… Jozua has a new outfit, which I'm sure he'll make a mess of in about twenty minutes, if that."
"Rings?"
Elphaba nodded. "Got them, although I'm sure mine will have to be resized once I have the baby. I wanted to wait, but Yero insisted."
They had compromised, however, with Fiyero reluctantly agreeing not to get Elphaba an engagement ring.
"I don't need one or particularly want one," Elphaba had said firmly.
Kalhey frowned critically at Elphaba's hands. "You're not retaining much water. I think you'll be alright," she said. "And if you need help with all the paperwork of changing your name after, I can help. Because it can be a headache, trust me. Are you changing your name?"
Elphaba faltered. "I don't know," she admitted. "I mean, Jozua has 'Thropp-Tiggular' listed on his birth certificate."
"Well, you can change that too," Kalhey said practically.
Elphaba nodded. "I know. And it's not like I have any strong ties to 'Thropp' or that I have anything against being a 'Tiggular'. I just… I don't know. Maybe I'll hyphenate," she said thoughtfully.
"My stepdad's mother tried to tell me if I took Al's name, I was rejecting my family's name, and I wasn't a feminist," Kalhey told her, rolling her eyes as she dried a plate.
"First of all, I had my father's name and not my stepfather's name, so I don't know what it mattered to her anyway. And secondly, my maiden name was Higglebottom. I love my dad and his family, but as if I wasn't going to ditch that for Wood?"
Elphaba chuckled.
"What's the baby going to be? 'Tiggular' or 'Thropp-Tiggular' like Joz?"
Elphaba shrugged. "The plan when we found out was 'Thropp-Tiggular'. But since we decided to get married, we haven't really had a conversation about it. Organising the wedding has kind of taken priority."
"I wouldn't worry about it. It's not a decision you have to make right away."
Elphaba agreed, but that night, when Fiyero returned to the living room after putting Jozua to sleep, she looked up from the book she was reading.
"What surname are we giving the baby?"
Fiyero was taken aback by the sudden question. "What do you mean?"
"When you talked about getting married, you suggested 'Tiggular' for the baby. Do you want to give the baby your surname? Do you want me to take your surname after we get married?"
Fiyero collapsed onto the sofa wearily. "I think it's your decision, Fae," he told her.
"My name or the baby's name?"
"Yours. Both. Are you going to keep 'Thropp'?"
Elphaba shrugged. "I haven't decided. Probably not. But I might hyphenate, like Joz has."
"Elphaba Thropp-Tiggular," Fiyero mused aloud. "So, we'd name the baby 'Thropp- Tiggular' too?"
"But then you'd have a different name from me and the kids," Elphaba pointed out.
Fiyero almost got distracted by the thought of how nice the phrase "me and the kids" (plural)sounded.
"Why don't we wait until the baby's born and see how we feel?" he suggested, unable to think of an answer.
Elphaba wasn't totally content with that, but agreed nonetheless. She felt oddly restless not having made a decision.
"Like a nesting thing?" Fiyero asked tentatively when Elphaba mentioned it.
"Maybe," Elphaba agreed vaguely.
Time has a funny habit of either dragging on slowly or speeding up drastically, and it's usually the opposite one that you'd prefer. The time before a vacation drags, which then goes in the blink of an eye.
For Elphaba, the days until the wedding sped by, and she wasn't sure if she was grateful for that or not.
Another benefit of having the wedding on a Sunday was that she didn't have to worry about losing a day's business at the store. She worked until noon on Saturday morning, as per usual, and the store was oddly busy.
Saturday mornings usually were her steadiest day, but she had a constant stream of customers from open to close. Most seemed to know she was getting married the next day, and Elphaba found herself constantly smiling while thanking them for their best wishes.
"Did we become popular in town and I missed the memo?" Elphaba greeted Fiyero when she returned home in time for lunch.
Fiyero laughed. "I think people just like weddings."
"It's a ceremony at a courthouse. It's hardly the social event of the season," Elphaba scoffed.
"Ah, well, maybe we'll score a few more gifts out of it," Fiyero grinned.
The night before the wedding, Fiyero found himself suddenly awake. The clock on the bedside table read three am, and he gradually became aware that the bed was empty. He wasn't totally surprised, figuring Elphaba was either in the bathroom or Jozua had woken and he hadn't heard him.
So, he settled deeper underneath the covers and closed his eyes, waiting for the familiar dip of the mattress before he'd truly let himself fall back to sleep.
But it didn't come.
Opening his eyes and stifling a yawn, Fiyero dragged himself out of bed. He checked in on Jozua, and found him sleeping soundly and the room otherwise empty.
In the living room, however, there was a dark shadow sitting in the armchair beside the window.
"Fae?" he whispered.
Through the darkness, he saw Elphaba jump slightly and turn towards him.
"You ok?" he asked her, moving closer. "Nightmare? Braxton Hicks?"
Elphaba shook her head. "Pregnancy insomnia."
"Ah."
"I think," she continued.
Fiyero fumbled for a light in the dark so he could see her face better. "You think?" he repeated.
They both flinched against the light as it filled the room.
"What else could it be?" Fiyero asked her.
Elphaba let out a breath slowly, meeting his gaze apprehensively. "Wedding nerves."
Fiyero frowned, sinking onto his knees before her.
"What are you nervous about?"
Elphaba paused. "I don't know," she admitted. "I can't put it into words. I just feel… shaky. There's a feeling in my gut I can't shake."
Fiyero said nothing as he dwelled on her words.
"We can call it off," he said finally. "It's not too late."
Elphaba blinked, surprised. "What?"
"It's not a big deal," he reassured her. "We don't even really have to cancel the whole thing. We could still have the lunch. Probably shouldn't have the cake though. Might be awkward. Although seems like a waste of a good cake, doesn't it?"
"Wait," Elphaba interrupted. "Yero, what are you talking about?"
"We can call off the wedding," Fiyero told her. "It's not a big deal. Honestly."
Elphaba stared at him.
"But… the plan is to get married," she said stupidly.
Fiyero reached for her hands. "The plan is to spend the rest of my life with you," he said softly. "Marriage isn't a requirement for that. I told you that."
"But you want to get married."
He shrugged. "Yeah," he admitted readily. "But do you?"
"I said yes, didn't I?"
"Yes. But if you only said yes to make me happy… you never really said what changed your mind."
Elphaba hesitated. "Because I can't tell you what changed my mind," she said. "It just happened."
"I wondered if I'd pressured you into it," Fiyero said, averting his gaze.
Elphaba paused, a little too long for Fiyero's comfort.
"I can't say that I didn't think about the fact it would make you happy," she said slowly. "Because I did. I knew it was important to you, even though I don't think I'll ever really understand why. But you didn't pressure me, Yero."
"Then why are you nervous? Why are we sitting here in the middle of the night?"
Elphaba had been trying to figure that out herself.
"I can't stop thinking about the vows," she murmured, her gaze drifting out the darkened window.
"They just go around my head on a loop, every moment of the day. 'Til death do us part.' That phrase keeps grating on me. Every time I try and say it, I feel like throwing up. I just keep thinking… forever is a long time."
"Forever was always the plan," Fiyero replied quietly.
"But it wasn't legally binding," Elphaba said. "By declaring it… it's one more thing I have to lose."
She met his gaze earnestly. "I love you. Sharing a life with you, a home, kids. It's everything. But marriage feels like- like I'm giving you the last little bit of myself. And it's not that I don't want to… but every instinct is screaming at me to run."
Fiyero's grip on her hands tightened as Elphaba watched him apprehensively, trying to gauge his reaction.
"I don't know what to do," she whispered miserably.
Fiyero let out a slow breath and then released her hands, which made Elphaba's chest clench. Then he climbed to his feet and gently tugged Elphaba out of the armchair.
"Come with me."
Puzzled, Elphaba allowed him to lead her out of the living room. He took her to the kitchen and then released her hands to light the room, before heading over to a drawer and rummaging through it.
"Fiyero, what are you looking for?"
Fiyero hushed her, and kept rummaging.
"If you tell me what you're looking for, I can probably tell you where it is," Elphaba said patiently.
He closed the drawer, rummaged through another and then left the room, all while Elphaba stood there in bemusement.
Fiyero returned a moment later, holding something in his hand triumphantly.
"Found it!"
"A stopwatch?" Elphaba frowned.
"Sit down," he said, pulling out a chair and helping her ease into it.
He sat on the chair beside her, sideways so that he was facing her. The stopwatch was placed on the table in front of them.
"Fiyero…"
"Just sit," he told her, clicking the stopwatch to start the time counting.
He took her hand again and fell into silence.
Elphaba was silent too, only because she had no idea what he was doing.
The only sound in the room was the ticking of the stopwatch.
"There," Fiyero spoke finally.
Elphaba raised an eyebrow. "There what?"
"That's a minute."
"Ok?"
Fiyero shrugged lightly. "Nothing happened, did it?"
"My patience took a hit," Elphaba snarked and Fiyero chuckled.
"It's a matter of fight or flight," he told her simply. "If the idea of 'forever' overwhelms you. Let's start with a minute. Or ten."
A lump appeared in Elphaba's throat. "And after ten minutes are up?" she asked.
"We deal with another ten," Fiyero said.
Elphaba's vision blurred as tears filled her eyes.
"It's that simple?" she asked hoarsely.
"It's that simple, Fae," he smiled gently, giving her hands another squeeze. "Can you give me ten minutes? Or do you still want to run?"
A tear slipped down Elphaba's cheek. "I can handle ten minutes," she whispered.
Fiyero wiped the tear away gently. "And if you don't like 'til death do us part', we can change it."
"To what?"
Fiyero paused for a moment, thinking.
"For all of my days? From this day forward? For all our tomorrows? If you give me a sec, I can come up with something super cheesy," he offered.
Elphaba smiled slightly, as she wiped away more tears.
"For as long as you're mine," she whispered.
A broad grin spread across Fiyero's face. "For as long as you're mine," he agreed and leaned over to kiss her.
"Do you really want to do this?" he asked her, studying her eyes intently.
Elphaba laughed slightly and kissed him again. "I do," she said.
Fiyero beamed. "Ok. Well, in that case, should we try and get some sleep?"
Elphaba nodded.
"I'll just check on Joz-"
"He's fine," Fiyero interrupted firmly. "Let's go."
He shepherded her back to bed and waited as she got herself comfortable before slipping a hand around her thickening waist.
"Did I help?" he asked with a yawn.
Elphaba turned her head to him and smiled softly. "You helped," she replied, reaching for his hand.
"Good," he said, softly caressing her hand.
And he had, in a way. Even if she didn't necessarily feel reassured, she felt settled. Somehow, Fiyero made it seem so simple. He always had.
I'm going with her.
We're going to be together always.
It's not lying. It's looking at things another way.
One day she'd have to learn how he did that.
The next thing Elphaba knew, the room was filled with sunlight, and Fiyero was entering the room with a tray in his hands.
"Morning," he greeted her.
Elphaba frowned sleepily, trying to sit up. "What's this?" she mumbled.
"Tea and toast," Fiyero said, placing the tray on the bed. "I wasn't sure if you'd be up for something heavier, but you have to eat something. Hang on a sec."
He disappeared as Elphaba slowly sat up and blinked sleep from her eyes, and returned with Jozua, who beamed and squirmed for Elphaba.
"Momma!"
"Hey, sweets," Elphaba smiled, cuddling him and planting a kiss on his cheek.
Fiyero sat on the bed next to her.
"So, here's the plan. I'm going to grab a shower while you eat breakfast, and take Joz with me. Once we're out, I'm going to run you a bath and get us men ready. You get dressed, and we head over to the courthouse. Sound good?"
"Have you eaten?" Elphaba asked.
Fiyero nodded. "I've eaten. Joz has eaten… apparently not enough," he said, watching as Jozua leaned over and grabbed a piece of his mother's toast.
Elphaba laughed. "He's fine. I can share. You thought of everything, I see. Is this something I can expect every morning once we're married?"
Fiyero grinned. "I'll see what I can do."
An hour later found Elphaba taking her dress from the closet. She hoped it would still fit. She felt like she was gaining weight by the minute.
She'd been relatively calm since she woke up, at least compared to how she'd been when Fiyero had found her in the living room that morning.
But as she slipped into her wedding dress, Elphaba's stomach swirled for a moment. The baby nudged her, as though in protest, and Elphaba rubbed the spot gently.
"Sorry, kid. I'm working on it," she murmured.
The dress, thankfully, slipped neatly over her bump and Elphaba exhaled sharply. That was one less thing to worry about.
She brushed her hair out and pulled it back into a half updo. She didn't own any makeup or jewellery, except for a simple silver necklace with an aquamarine pendant that Fiyero had surprised her with after Jozua had been born- the birthstone for March.
Elphaba placed it around her neck and slipped on her shoes. Studying her reflection carefully, Elphaba took a deep breath.
She didn't feel how she thought a bride should feel on her wedding day. Not, of course, that she had any idea what that was supposed to be like.
"Are you ready?" she asked Fiyero, stepping into the living room.
Fiyero turned and a smile Elphaba had never seen before spread over his face as his eyes fell on her.
"Wow," he breathed.
Elphaba blushed.
"You look beautiful," he said softly.
"Well, it fits," she said, gesturing to the dress.
Fiyero moved closer and kissed her gently. "You're beautiful," he repeated.
Elphaba smiled and adjusted his tie slightly. "You're not so bad yourself," she smiled.
The three of them headed to the courthouse, arriving at a quarter to eleven. They were shown to a small room where the ceremony would be held. They'd seen it before, when they'd made the appointment.
It wasn't a very cheerful room, plain walls and bare except for a few chairs. But it was well lit, and they had reasoned that it didn't really matter where they got married, just as long as they did.
As they entered the room, Elphaba came to a sudden halt in the doorway, drawing a sharp breath. The room had been transformed.
There was a flower-covered arch at the front of the room, while cheerful yellow paper lanterns were strung across the room. A length of white material ran down the middle of the room, to create an aisle, Elphaba realised. The chairs had been moved to sit either side of the makeshift aisle.
"Did you do this?" she asked Fiyero, turning to him.
He shook his head dumbly, looking as stunned as she felt. "No."
"That would be us," a voice said.
Elphaba and Fiyero turned to see Kalhey standing there with the wife of one of Fiyero's co-workers.
Kalhey was dressed in a simple purple shift dress, and beaming at them.
"I've been in this room waiting for jury duty," the other woman explained. "I know how depressing it is. Kalhey and I decided you couldn't get married in such a depressing room."
Elphaba was almost speechless.
"You didn't have to do this," she protested weakly. "But thank you. It's- it's beautiful," she said honestly.
Kalhey waved away her thanks.
"It was our pleasure."
The other guests arrived shortly after, and Elphaba and Fiyero were swept up into small talk and accepting everyone's best wishes. Elphaba knew right then and there they'd made the right choice for a small wedding.
Kalhey had taken Jozua away and he was happily running around with Sabella under Alvar's watchful eye.
Fiyero was happily making conversation with the guests, but it didn't escape his notice that Elphaba was saying less the closer it got to eleven. The judge arrived only a minute or two before eleven o'clock. He greeted Elphaba and Fiyero warmly and congratulated them, before confirming they had everything necessary for the ceremony.
Fiyero quickly checked with him about a minor change to the vows, and the judge assured them it was easily done.
"Are we ready to begin?" he asked them.
Elphaba nodded silently, but Fiyero held up a finger.
"Can you just give us a moment, please?" he asked.
The judge nodded and Fiyero led Elphaba out of the room and around the corner.
"Yero?" Elphaba asked hesitantly.
Fiyero turned and took her hands. "How are you doing?"
Elphaba blinked. "I'm ok," she replied automatically.
Fiyero merely raised an eyebrow and Elphaba smiled weakly.
"A little nauseous, but that might be pregnancy related," she reminded him, although neither were convinced of that.
Fiyero drew her gently into his arms and leaned his head down so that his forehead touched hers.
"It's not too late," he murmured.
"I think it's a little late, actually," Elphaba countered. "But I'm ok, Yero."
Fiyero planted a tender kiss on her forehead and Elphaba closed her eyes, concentrating on taking slow, even breaths.
"Fight or flight?" he asked her.
Elphaba opened her eyes and met his gaze.
"Fight," she said firmly.
Then she smiled shakily. "Ten minutes, right?"
Fiyero nodded. "Ten minutes," he agreed.
He pulled away reluctantly and offered her his arm. "Shall we?"
Elphaba slipped her arm into his and nodded determinedly. "Let's go."
As she recited her vows after the judge, Elphaba had a sudden wave of familiarity wash over her, a warmth as though she'd sunk into a deep, warm bath.
In the blink of an eye, she was back in a clearing in the Great Gilikin Forest, thinking no one had ever looked at her the way that Fiyero was looking at her, and being sure this was a dream she would wake up from at any moment.
The emotion was so strong that it took Elphaba's breath away, and she faltered in the middle of her vows. Fiyero frowned slightly in concern, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
Elphaba blushed and glanced at the judge, her mind blank.
"In sickness and in health," the judge prodded her.
"In sickness and in health," Elphaba repeated. "To love and to cherish… for as long as you're mine."
Fiyero's gaze didn't leave hers as he echoed the vows.
"I, Fiyero, take you, Elphaba, to be my wife. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; for as long as you're mine."
They exchanged rings, matching simple bands of silver, although Elphaba's was much thinner than Fiyero's. He'd wanted to put in a chip of diamond or other gemstone, to make up for having no engagement ring, but Elphaba had refused.
Even with Elphaba's slightly swollen fingers, the ring fit perfectly.
"With the power vested in me," the judge announced. "I now proclaim you to be husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
It was Elphaba who moved first, closing the distance between them and reaching for him with tears in her eyes. Fiyero didn't even attempt to keep the smile from his face as he kissed her deeply as their few guests applauded.
Once they had signed the marriage certificate, and taken a few photos at Kalhey's insistence, it was off to Kalhey and Alvar's farm for lunch. They quickly found that the house and property was as decorated as the room at the courthouse had been- thanks to the women's decorating efforts.
"It looks amazing," Elphaba said honestly, bouncing Jozua on her hip as he fussed slightly. "Really, Kal. I can't thank you enough for all this."
Kalhey smiled. "It's my pleasure, lovely."
It was a lovely lunch, and Elphaba found she enjoyed the company more than expected. But by the time they got home that afternoon and put Jozua down for a nap, Elphaba found she was more than ready for the day to be over.
"I could do with a nap myself," she said wearily, once she'd changed out of her dress and hung it carefully back in the closet.
Fiyero hadn't been nearly so careful with his suit, merely strewn it on the end of the bed to deal with later.
"Me too," he agreed with a yawn.
He stretched out on the bed and beckoned to her, his eyes already closing.
Elphaba rolled her eyes and hung his suit up herself, and then climbed onto the bed.
"I was thinking," she said.
"Hm?"
She took a breath. "I want to be a Tiggular."
Fiyero opened one eye, squinting at her. "Wasn't that what we did this morning?"
She chuckled. "I mean, I want to change my name."
Fiyero's other eye opened and he lifted his head. "Wait, Tiggular or Thropp-Tiggular?"
"Tiggular," Elphaba replied. "We should change Jozua's, too."
Fiyero sat up slowly. "Are you sure?" he asked gently.
She nodded. "I'm sure. Thropp… I was never good enough to be a Thropp, according to my father. I debated keeping it, because it's my name, but it doesn't mean anything to me in terms of family. Tiggular does," she said simply.
Fiyero could have kissed her. So he did.
"I love you," he told her.
"I love you, too."
Fiyero lay back down and drew her closer to him.
"You good? No nausea?" he asked her.
Elphaba shook her head, and settled herself against his chest. "No," she said, as though realising it for the first time. "I feel good. Tired, but good."
Fiyero smiled and kissed her temple. "Good," he said, closing his eyes once more.
And the clock on the bedside table clocked over another ten minutes as Elphaba and Fiyero both fell asleep, for the first time as man and wife.
Chapter Title Song: "The Next Ten Minutes" from The Last Five Years the musical