DISCLAIMER: in the first chapter...
A/N: Kinda of short, but introduces new action into the story. Expect more in a couple of days. Thank you all to my wonderful reviewers for brightening my day. Keep reviewing!
And wish me luck, because dumping is no more fun than being dumped, and persistent men are only romantic when you are interested... Sigh.
CHAPTER 28: A storm approaches
He shouldn't have sent that letter.
The train car jostled from side to side in a rhythmic manner that could have been considered calming, but wasn't. His body, sitting as it was on the supposedly comfortable seat for longer than he really cared to count, was forced to accompany every single shake and tilt and nauseating motion. Right, left, right, left, left turn that pressed his hip left... It was making him dizzy and angry, this nauseating and painful ride. His bones seemed to actually be protesting the abuse.
I don't want to see her again.
I can't see her again.
All that, however, seemed so very inconsequential when his mind could only see her face.
Frex hadn't seen his eldest daughter since he had dropped her and Nessa off at Shiz University at the beginning of the school year. He had made sure to avoid any and all contact with Elphaba, including leaving her few and sparse letters unopened. When the desire to see her seemed to almost overcome his own will and the winter vacation approached faster than he could keep track of the days, Frex had become desperate. So, when the seemingly absurd idea of marriage had occurred to him and when even more surprisingly, the King of the Vinkus had agreed to such an arrangement, Frex had not hesitated.
So, his short and to the point letter.
The governor hadn't attended the wedding - much to Nessa disappointment - and the only pieces of news he had received regarding the green girl had come from snippets Nessa mentioned in her regular letters. Elphaba had really gotten married. Elphaba returned to Shiz with her philandering husband. Displays of public affection between the couple were inappropriate and unconvincing.
It was too little and at the same time, more than he could allow himself to know.
Frex shook his head to clear away the disturbing thoughts that plagued it. What he wanted and what he wanted to want were, apparently, in disaccord. He hadn't meant to write Nessa announcing his visit. He hadn't meant to even visit! And mentioning his wish to see Elphaba had been almost out of his control. But he yearned to see her and to know what she had thought of his arrangement.
He could vividly imagine her angry, showing so clearly her characteristic temper he so despised. Melena had never been so forward in her dislike, though he could now recall a certain amount of defiance in her green eyes. Elphaba's displeased countenance melted away in his mind to another image of her smillling, happy to see him.
Elphaba had her mother's smile.
No!
He wasn't going to think about her and he shouldn't be allowed to see her. That's why he had arranged to send her away on the first place. Completely away from him! Frex experienced a sense of deep regret for being unable to exercise control over his own actions.
He sighed.
I might be loosing my mind.
Any other thought, or inner chastening and deep contemplation was interrupted by the last jolt the train suffered as it came to a complete stop. His body was pushed forward one last time and then back against the cushioned seat, the fog that had been surrounding him for some time now, finally being forced to dissipate.
Panic reared its head.
What was he supposed to do or say when he saw her? He had never been a loving father and... Frex breathed in deeply, seeking to calm his racing heart. He wasn't, after all, even sure if she you show up. Elphaba was probably still angry at him.
The governor of Munchkinland left the private compartment of the train with his back straight and all the air of dignity one in his position was supposed to bear. He would never be caught in puclic acting like a scared and insecure little boy. He descended the few steps and soon found himself amid other passangers. His glance swept the crowd for a flash of green and it took him a while to catch a glimpse of Nessa and her wheelchair, for she wasn't with her sister. The only person accompanying his younger daughter was a short boy with dark hair, who seemed unable to stop fidgeting.
Elphaba hadn't deemed to show up.
Anger replaced the last traces of insecurity he might have still cultivated.
"Father!" He forced a smile to his stern lips. "Oh, Father, I missed you so!"
"Dear Nessarose..." Frex made a show of looking around, pretending to search for Elphaba as an afterthought. "And I supposed your sister didn't dain to come pick her father up after such a long trip."
Nessa was quick to appease; Boq remained silent. "Elphaba and Master Fiyero will be joining us for dinner later today, Father."
"Very well."
With hands clasped behind his back, the Governor positioned himself beside Nessa's chair and proceeded to the exit, taking for granted that the tall Munchkin would push his daughter's chair. No other words were exchanged and a tense atmosphere hung ominously in the air.
And Nessa couldn't understand.
Her dear, loving father had been acting strangely ever since they left for Shiz University at the beginning of her first year. His stern, but caring disposition had changed and she couldn't figure out why he had suddenly lost interest in her. When she had received that letter, explaining to her the need to arrange a politically savvy marriage for Elphaba, things had finally started to make sense.
It had all been her sister's fault.
Like always.
Nessa found herself hating Elphaba for attracting more attention at Shiz than herself, for befriending perfect Galinda and leaving her outside the social circles, for forcing their father - for reasons still unknown to her - to arrange Elphaba's marriage to handsome Fiyero, who seemed to like Elphaba despite her appalling green skin. More than anything, Nessa resented her sister for somehow changing their father; Frex was distant and cold these days, even with her his darling daughter.
Head held high and back straight, Nessarose Thropp allowed herself to be pushed by quiet Boq, who never spoke to her unless spoken to and who never quite looked into her eyes, but loved her nonetheless.
And Boq... well, Boq pushed the chair and tried to make himself as invisible as possible, silently wishing he could be anywhere else but there.
----
"Yero!"
The exclamation was immediately followed by an incontrollable bout of giggles. Fiyero ignored the unconvincing protest and continued his close exploration of his wife's lovely neck. He traced a path of kisses from the back of her ear to the base of her spine and then to the bone a the tip of her shoulder.
"Oh,Yero..." giggles turned into moans. Fiyero's hands played with her long black hair, a new fetish of his. "We... Oz, I can't think straight when you do that."
"Good." His hot breath on her ear provoked shivers all over her skin.
"No, not good. We are going to be late."
Another wet kiss behind a green earlobe, another moan. "I like to make an entrance."
"My new dress will wrinkle and Galinda will be disappointed." Elphaba tilted her head sideways, allowing her husband more ample access to the sensitive skin behind her neck.
"You don't care about clothes..."
"Nessa will be angry." Her breath hitched.
"And..." The whisper in her ear caused her melt against him even further.
"Frex will be angry." Fiyero finally paused and met Elphaba's misty gaze through the mirror they stood in front of. "You're right..." She grinned when her own words really registered in her numb brain. "Let's make an entrance." He grinned back, turned her body around to face his and without another word, continued his exploration of her skin.
Eyelids, cheekbones, nose, cheek, chin, the space between her chin and her lower lip and then, finally, her begging lips. Elphaba was putty in his hands.
All earlier intentions on her part to be ready on time for the dreaded lunch with her father were forgotten.
