ElphabaMeridaMatilda: I know that "Fae" means fairy, but this was just a better explanation to the nickname than Fiyero telling Elphaba that he calls her a fairy every time he says it.
Thewickedwitchofmexico: Well… I've only seen Alli Mauzey live, and I love her Glinda, but I also like Katie Rose Clark.
When September turned into October and the baby still had not arrived yet, Fiyero tried his best to steer clear of Elphaba whenever possible. They didn't celebrate their anniversary that year, since Elphaba was not feeling up to it. Fiyero understood, but that didn't mean he was happy about it. The green girl was trying her best to temper her emotions, but all she was thinking about was why she hadn't gone into labor yet.
"Hey, you in there," she said tiredly to her very large stomach. "I know that you're comfortable in there, but I would really like to meet you. So would your father and the rest of the country."
She got a light kick in response, and sighed. This baby was taking its sweet time.
"Hi, Fae," Fiyero said softly, coming into the bedroom.
"I hate everything," was Elphaba's greeting from where she laid on the bed, her back facing the door.
Fiyero knew that no matter what he said, his wife would only shut him down, so he simply settled for sitting on the edge of the bed and rubbing her back.
"This is definitely your child, Fiyero. It's not even born yet and it's already making a habit of being late," Elphaba grumbled.
"I'm sorry," was all the prince said.
"I'm just… I'm just so tired."
"I know, Fae."
Elphaba tried to shift her weight, but failed. Fiyero got an extra pillow and fluffed it before sticking it under Elphaba's side.
"Thanks," Elphaba muttered.
The prince smiled and softly kissed her cheek. "Do you want me to stay?"
"If you want."
"I want," Fiyero smiled as he slid into bed and gently pulled Elphaba into his arms.
"I just want to have this baby already," Elphaba said, her voice slurred with sleep.
"I know, Fae."
Later that evening, Elphaba was in the parlor, reading. She had three pillows behind her back and five pillows under her feet. She looked up when footsteps reached her ears and smiled, seeing Jo walk over to her. "Hi, sweetie."
"Hi," Jo said, staring at his mother's stomach. "When's the new baby gonna come?"
Elphaba chuckled softly. "Soon, I hope."
Jo nodded. "Will it help if I sing to him or her? Will that make it come?"
At this point, Elphaba was willing to try anything. "Sure."
Jo's face lit up and he cleared his throat. "Dancing through life, skimming the surface. Gliding where turf is smooth. Life's more painless, for the brainless. Why think too hard, when it's so soothing?" the young boy sang.
Elphaba tried her best not to grimace. Her son had a nice voice for a three-year-old, but that was the last song she wanted to hear.
Fiyero, who was on his way into the parlor, stopping in his tracks when he heard what song his son was singing. He turned on his heels and made to walk out unnoticed, but he had no such luck.
"Fiyero!"
Stiffening, Fiyero slowly turned around and was met with a hard glare from his wife. Jo had gone quiet, glancing between both of his parents. "Are you okay, Mama?"
Elphaba turned towards her son and sighed. "I'm fine, Jo. Why don't you find Liah and ask her to get you some ice cream?"
Jo smiled and nodded enthusiastically as he ran out of the room, leaving his father to his certain doom. Fiyero slowly entered the room and stopped a few feet away from Elphaba. "Hi."
"A song you taught him?" Elphaba asked, getting straight to the point.
Fiyero grimaced. "He heard me humming it unconsciously and wanted me to teach him. I'm sorry. But Fae, he was only trying to make you feel better."
Elphaba sighed and rubbed her face. "I know. I hate feeling like this. Help me up, please?"
Fiyero smiled and helped his wife to her feet. "Are you alright?"
"Thanks. And yes, I'm fine," Elphaba said as she waddled away. The green girl occupied her time writing letters to her family and Galinda. She tried to keep it happy and upbeat, but was considered really hard when all she wanted to do was give birth.
Three days past and Elphaba was getting sick of being pregnant. She found herself snapping at everyone over the smallest things, and while they understood, they couldn't stop from looking hurt. The weather was slowly starting to get colder, but Elphaba's body temperature seemed to be rising. Liah made sure to keep Jo extra occupied so he wouldn't bother his mother, and while she enjoyed spending time with the young prince, it started to take a toll on her.
"Liah, you should rest," Fiyero said when he saw Liah chasing Jo through the castle again.
"Your Highness," Liah began to protest, slightly breathless.
"Please, Liah. I'll watch Jo. Elphaba in our room, asleep. And I suggest you rest as well."
Liah looked torn, but did as her employer requested, curtsied, and went back to her room, leaving Fiyero to hunt down Jo.
Elphaba had been sleeping, but kept waking up due to her inability to get comfortable, and settled for sitting at her desk, half-reading. Someone knocked on the door, but Elphaba ignored it. Seconds later, she heard the door open and footsteps approach, but didn't turn around.
"Oh, Your Highness!" It was Aya, and she sounded surprised. "I thought you would be resting."
"I was," Elphaba said stiffly.
Aya was silent for a moment. "Would you like a cup of tea?"
"No."
"Oh. A glass of water?"
"No."
"An extra pillow?"
Then, Elphaba snapped. "No, I don't want any of that! All I want is for everyone to stop bothering me and leave me alone! This child is taking its sweet time and it's driving me crazy!"
Aya blinked and stepped back, never having seen the princess this enraged before. "Your Highness…"
Much to her surprise, and to Aya's, Elphaba pushed herself up and slowly stalked over to the frightened maid. "I'm sick of everyone always asking if I want something and hovering down my back and treating me like I'm helpless. 'Your Highness, would you like this?' or 'Your Highness, would you like that?' And the next person to call me 'Your Highness' will get turned into a toad. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"
She was now standing over the shivering maid, her eyes burning with rage and exhaustion. Aya merely blinked and nodded before quickly hurrying out of the room, tears quickly streaming down her cheek. Elphaba's shoulders slumped and she sat down again. She knew she shouldn't have snapped at Aya like that. She was only trying to help. Sniffling, she sat back down at her desk and began to cry.
Fiyero was walking down the hallway when he almost ran into Aya. "Aya?" he asked, noticing the young maid's tearstained cheeks.
Aya quickly wiped her face and curtsied. "Your Highness."
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, Your Highness. I'm fine."
Something about the maid's tone worried Fiyero. "No, Aya. Something's wrong. What happened?"
"It's nothing. It… it was my fault. Excuse me." She made to move past the prince, but he gently grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
"Did Elphaba yell at you?"
Aya refused to meet the prince's gaze and she gently fought to get free. "Your Highness, please…"
"Aya, did Elphaba yell at you?" the prince repeated.
"It was…"
"Yes or no?"
Aya stilled and slowly met the prince's gaze. "Yes," she said in a soft whisper. "But it was my fault. I apologize for upsetting her, Your Highness."
The young maid was now crying and very close to breaking down. Fiyero knew how sensitive she was and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her to dry her tears. "Take the rest of the day off."
Aya looked up and opened her mouth to protest, but Fiyero cut her off. "You need to rest. I'll ask someone else to finish your chores for you."
"Prince Fiyero, I…"
Fiyero gave her a stern, yet gentle look and Aya immediately stopped protesting. "Thank you, Your Highness," Aya said gratefully as she curtsied and left.
Fiyero exhaled slowly as he made his way to the bedroom. When he opened the door, he found Elphaba sitting at the desk, sobbing. He immediately went over to her and wrapped her in his arms before helping her up and guiding her over to the bed.
"I'm a monster, Fiyero," Elphaba sobbed as she sat down, burying her face in Fiyero's shirt.
"Fae, you're not a monster," Fiyero said as he soothingly rubbed her back.
"Yes, I am. I'm a hormonal, extremely pregnant monster. I'm getting angry at people for no reason and I snapped at Aya and made her cry. I can't do the simplest tasks without asking for help and then get snappy at people when they ask if I need help. Everyone's avoiding me, even Jo."
"Jo's not avoiding you, Fae. He's with Liah."
"Because he doesn't want to be around me. I'm pushing everyone away and I…" Elphaba didn't get to finish before a fresh wave of sobs overcame her.
"Fae, everyone understands why you're so upset."
"I still shouldn't be making everyone in the castle avoid me like the plague. Everyone hates me."
"Fae, no one hates you," Fiyero said, cupping Elphaba's chin and gently turning her to look at him.
"Aya…"
"I gave Aya the rest of the day off. She understands, Fae. She really does. She was crying and very scared, but she understands. By tomorrow, she'll be better."
"I should apologize to her."
"You can, but not today. She's still really fragile. She wouldn't tell me what happened when I asked. I think she was afraid she would lose her job."
The couple stayed silent for a moment. Elphaba shifted in Fiyero's embrace and the prince slowly loosened his grip.
"Mama?"
Elphaba looked up and saw Jo in the doorway, clutching a piece of paper to his chest. She smiled at her son and motioned for him to come in. "Hi," she said, smiling as Jo tried to climb up onto their bed, but failed and finally allowed Fiyero to pick him up and sat him in between them.
"The baby didn't come yet?" Jo asked, staring at Elphaba's stomach.
Fiyero chuckled. "Not yet, buddy."
"What's this?" Elphaba asked, looking at the paper Jo was still clutching to his chest.
"It's a picture. It's for you," Jo said as he shyly handed his mother the paper.
Elphaba smiled as the quickly identified the different color stick figures.
"It's our family. The green one is you, the blue one is Daddy, the purple one is Grandma, the brown one is Grandpa, the red one is me, and the yellow one is the new baby," Jo said as he pointed to each of the stick figures.
"It's beautiful, Jo," Elphaba smiled as she kissed her son's forehead. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, Mama," Jo giggled. He looked at Elphaba stomach once more. "Mama wants you to come out now," he said, his mouth inches away from Elphaba's stomach, causing both adults to chuckle.