Chapter 29.

Rifiuto: Non Miniera

Elements in 28? Milla describing Elphaba's personality, and saying that Elphaba was beautiful, and Milla becoming Pippa's guardian

Based on? Mary's mother's personality, her beauty, and Lord Craven becoming Mary's guardian

Book and Author? The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Elements in 29?

Thanks to lizziemagic for reviewing 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 and UnlimitedDream90 for reviewing 23.

Quickly, Pippa pressed herself against the wall as the door opened, and Milla left, going upstairs. Once she was gone, the girl turned her attention back to the kitchen, before deciding against it and returning to her room. She lay in bed for two hours, going over Milla's words again and again. Milla had been best friends with her mother.

But...

Mama had never mentioned being best friends with the redhead. Eventually, the girl climbed out of bed and slipped out of her room, unable to sleep. She wandered through the house, quiet, in an effort not to wake anyone. When she took a wrong turn, she found herself within a room that was shuttered, the furniture covered with white sheets.

After several minutes of trying to figure out where she was, her curiosity got the better of her, and she began wandering around. There was a huge bay window at the back of the room, and after several moments, Pippa realized who this room must have belonged to.

This had been Elphaba's room when she stayed here.

On the vanity, was a jewelry box, a hairbrush, mirror, comb, and several old photographs.

One in particular caught her eye.

It was a portrait of two little girls out in a garden- instantly, Pippa recognized her mother. Gently, she reached out, brushing her fingers over her mother's still features. Though a little girl in the black and white photo, Pippa recognized the aquamarine eyes- they were her eyes.

They belonged to-

"Mama."

Her eyes filled with tears as she stared at the photograph; both girls had big bows in their hair and wore high button boots. The dresses they wore were white, and tied in the back with sashes. They sat together on a swing, looking over their shoulders at the camera, identical smiles on their faces.

She turned from the photograph, to find a small box sitting before her. A thick layer of dust had settled on the top, and she blew it off, before picking it up and lifting the lid-

The sound of someone coming caused her pause, and quickly, she tucked the small box against her chest, and hurried from the room, returning to hers. Once she was safely back in her room, she climbed under her bed with a lantern, and opened the box.

Inside, nestled against the wood, was a stack of photographs.

Carefully, she lifted them out, before setting the box on the floor next to her and turning her attention to the photographs.

They were all of children.

Two little girls.

Milla and-

"Mama."

Elphaba.

One photograph was a formal portrait. Both girls sat together, one held a book, the other held a doll, and they sat together on a chaise, staring into the camera. Pippa recognized her mother's familiar eyes, her small nose. As she moved through each photograph, she spotted things that gave evidence that the two had grown up together.

One of the last photographs was of Elphaba and Milla standing together in formal dress- the type of dress worn for a debut. Both girls wore long white gloves up to their elbows, and their hair was done up nicely- Milla's short curls held back from her face, and Elphaba's long raven locks were pulled back in an elaborate twist of cascading raven curls, and the girls stood close, cheek to cheek.

They both looked to be about fourteen.

After a moment, Pippa set the photographs down and pulled her knees to her chest, Milla's words running circles in her head.

"We grew up together. I knew her before she married the Vinkun prince. We were best friends."

So Mrs. Ketza had known her mother. She'd grown up with her. They'd... they'd been best friends. But... but why had Mama never mentioned Mrs. Ketza to her before? Why did she have to die, without telling Pippa the truth about the redhead who had taken care of her in the last months of her life? Why had she kept the woman a secret, hidden her away, like her beloved garden? Was she ashamed by their friendship?

Or was it something else? Something more important?

She awoke the next morning to sunlight hitting her eyes. After rubbing the sleep away, she sat up to see Nardia enter, a tray in her hands.

"Good morning, Miss. Here's your breakfast."

Pippa watched the girl sent the tray on the table, before asking, "A... aren't we going to eat together in the dining room?"

Nardia turned and looked at her. "Why would you do that?"

"M... my family always ate together." Pippa replied softly.

"Master Ketza has to be at work early. They never eat breakfast together. Only dinner."

"Oh." Pippa bit her lip, unsure of what to say. Eventually, "My... my family always ate together- dinner, lunch... especially breakfast. We never went a day without. Until..." She stopped, feeling the tears begin to prick at her eyes. Nardia nodded, before slipping out of the room softly and giving the girl privacy.

Pippa watched her go, silent.