NellytheActress: OMO! You know what, when I want you to cry, I'll just tell you. This is too hard!
Elphaba'sGirl: We all know Elphaba's gonna win! I mean, the first thing you learn is to never challenge Elphaba to anything that requires books.
ThroppSister: Nice French/Vinkun! Great job!
woodland59: I took a little Spanish when I was younger. Like… kindergarten younger. I don't really remember anything except greetings and colors.
Elphabalover101: Elphaba's smart. She'll succeed.
Maleficent-darkgoodwitch2416: Thank you!
Fiyero was never an early bird, so he had no idea why he woke up before the sun. He looked over and saw Elphaba sleeping peacefully next to him. He softly kissed her nose. Elphaba stirred, but didn't open her eyes. Fiyero chuckled as he slowly got out of bed, careful not to wake up Elphaba.
Elphaba woke up a few minutes later. "Yero?" she asked, sitting up and stretching. She didn't hear Fiyero next to her. She slowly slid her hand against the bed sheets and discovered that Fiyero was gone.
Good, she thought. Fiyero's not around to watch over me like I'm a small child.
It was a beautiful spring morning. The sun was shinning, the birds were chirping, and Elphaba wanted to go outside. She slid out of bed and slipped on her shoes and robe and walked out of her room.
As she walked down the stairs, she heard the voices of Galinda, Fiyero, Castella and her parents-in-law talking. She knew they were talking about her, but she didn't pay their voices much attention. She was more concerned about how she was going to get out of the palace without any of them noticing her.
Elphaba remembered that there was a back door that led outside to the gardens. She slid her hand against the wall until she reached the door. Finding it, she slowly pushed it open, trying not to make a lot of noise. She smiled when she felt the sun's warm rays on her face. She took one step forward. Then another. Then another. She soon found herself aimlessly walking through the gardens, enjoying the fresh air. She memorized the pathways through the garden during her many walks with Fiyero. She stopped when she sensed something in front of her. Reaching out her hand, she felt the rigid bark of a tree. She smiled as she slid down the trunk and closed her eyes, enjoying the peace and quiet.
"I think I'm going to wake Elphaba up now," Fiyero said as he stood up from the table and walked back up the stairs. "Fae, it's time to wake up now," he said as he entered their bedroom. As soon as he opened the door, he made a surprising, and very disturbing, discovery. Elphaba was gone.
"Fae?" Fiyero asked, walking around the room. "Please tell me you're in here."
He didn't get an answer. Panic filled Fiyero's mind. Where was Elphaba? Where could she have gone?
"Fae!" Fiyero called, running through the halls, calling his wife's name. Not finding her, Fiyero decided to search outside.
He ran out into the gardens and searched around every bend and turn. Panting, he turned to go back inside when a green and black figure caught his attention. He breathed a sigh of relief when he realized that it was Elphaba sitting under a tree.
Elphaba closed her eyes and sighed. Everything was so peaceful and pleasant and…
"Elphaba!"
So much for peaceful and pleasant. Elphaba opened her eyes and heard footsteps running towards her.
"Congratulations!" she exclaimed dryly. "You found me."
"Fae, what are you doing out here all alone?" Fiyero asked, kneeling besides her.
"Well, I was trying to enjoy the fresh air and the peace and quiet," Elphaba scowled.
"We should probably go back inside. Breakfast is ready," Fiyero said.
Elphaba sighed, but allowed Fiyero to help her to her feet and lead her back to the palace. She suddenly stopped and her hand flew to her abdomen.
"What? What's wrong?" Fiyero asked.
"Nothing," Elphaba smiled. "It's just… the baby's moving, Fiyero! The baby's moving!"
Fiyero placed his hand over Elphaba's abdomen and felt the baby move.
"It's moving!" Fiyero laughed.
Elphaba leaned her head against Fiyero and nodded. "Our child is moving."
"This is wonderful, ma ange," Fiyero said.
"What does that even mean?" Elphaba asked.
"Wouldn't you love to know," Fiyero teased, kissing her nose.
"Castie?" Elphaba asked later that day, knocking on Castella's door.
"Hi, Elphaba!" Castella smiled, running up to Elphaba and hugging her. "What can I help you with?"
"Can you teach me how to speak Vinkun?"
Castella slowly pulled away and looked up at Elphaba. "Why do you need to know? Not a lot of people speak it anymore. I only know because my parents taught it to me when I was younger."
"I made a deal with Fiyero that I would be able to learn Vinkun in the next six months," Elphaba said.
"Um… sure! I'll help you. I would love to see the look on Fiyero's face when he looses yet another bet with a girl. You know, he really needs to stop making those! You would think that after loosing every single bet he made with Galinda and I, he would know better. But, no."
Elphaba chuckled. "Should we start now?"
"Yes!" Castella smiled as she led Elphaba into her room and sat her down on her bed. Their lessons began with Castella teaching Elphaba basic greetings.
"Okay, so, hello is 'bonjour', or if you just want to say hi, it's 'Salut'."
"Bonjour?" Elphaba repeated.
"Good!" Castella smiled.
"And salut?"
"Perfect!"'
Elphaba smiled. This was easier than she thought.
"One more thing," Elphaba said.
"Yes?"
"What does 'ma ange' mean?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Fiyero called me that."
"Aw, that's so sweet. It means 'my angel'."
"What are you two doing in here?" Fiyero asked, stepping into the room.
"Nothing," Castella smiled, thinking that Elphaba didn't want Fiyero to know about the Vinkun lessons. She ran over to her brother and gave him a hug.
"Alright, ma petite cœur," Fiyero smiled, kissing his sister's forehead and leaving the two girls alone.
Castella noticed the confused look on Elphaba's face and smiled. "It means 'my little heart'. It's Fiyero's special nickname for me."
"It's cute," Elphaba smiled.
"That's what he thinks," Castella smiled, sitting on her bed next to Elphaba. "I'm just kidding, I love it. I think we're good for today."
"Thanks again for helping me," Elphaba said as she stood up.
"Anytime. And, do you want me to keep this a secret from Fiyero?"
"Yes, please. I want to surprise him."
"Consider it done," Castella said, pretending to lock her lips and throw the key over her shoulder.
"Thanks," Elphaba smiled as she left the room.
That evening, Elphaba was standing in front of the window in her navy nightgown.
"Fae, what are you doing?" Fiyero asked, coming into the room.
"Does this nightgown make me look fat?" Elphaba asked, turning around to face her husband.
"What? No! Why would you ask a question like that?" Fiyero asked, quickly pulling Elphaba in for a hug.
"It's just… my stomach is swelling up, my skin feels tight, I feel like I'm a water balloon that's about to explode and…"
"You're beautiful," Fiyero interrupted, kissing her nose.
Elphaba was about to roll her eyes, but Fiyero continued. "You're the most beautiful woman in all of Oz and I am the luckiest man in Oz to have you as my wife and the future mother of our child."
Elphaba blushed, which made her cheeks turn a darker shade of green. "I am?"
"You are, ma chère colombe."
"You know, you shouldn't call me names I don't know the meaning of," Elphaba snapped.
"Alright, but this is the only one I'm telling you. It means 'my dear dove'."
"Don't you sound poetic," Elphaba smirked.
"I do," Fiyero smiled, kissing Elphaba's nose again. "We should probably get some sleep now."
"Okay," Elphaba whispered, allowing Fiyero to lead her to the bed. "Fiyero?"
"Yes?"
"Are you nervous?"
"About what?"
Elphaba's fingers grazed her swollen stomach. Fiyero sat down and wrapped his arm around her. "Fae," he whispered. "Everything's going to be fine. In six months, we will be the proud parents of a healthy baby boy or girl and we'll live happily ever after."
"Promise?" Elphaba asked, sinking into the pillows and closing her eyes.
"I promise," Fiyero said, kissing her cheek and falling asleep.
