38

When the engagement of Prince Fiyero to Elphaba Thropp was announced by the castle, it was naturally huge news and a cause of huge celebration all throughout the Vinkus. Ibrahim and Kasmira had been thrillified when Fiyero and Elphaba told them the news after returning from Galinda and Micah's. Nessa, when Elphaba had written to her, had replied with a short note, that was overwhelming with joy and affection and she promised that both her and Boq would be there.

Elphaba and Fiyero had a very clear idea of what kind of wedding they wanted, and the wedding plans fell into place almost alarmingly quickly. The date was set for May 28th, and it was Fiyero who had suggested the site. They would be married in the grasslands, which by then would be in full bloom with wildflowers and it pleased Elphaba that they would have a relatively simple wedding- as simple as the wedding of the Vinkun prince and princess could be.

It was only family and close friends that would be invited to the ceremony, and then government officials from all throughout Oz would be attending the reception at Kiamo Ko. For Elphaba, that meant Nessa, Boq and Galinda. But she also invited Dr Dillamond, who was thrillified to accept. Elphaba had made an exception to the guest list however, and with Fiyero's help, arranged for Amala and all of her former students from the Emiliani orphanage to attend. Of course, Galinda would be the matron-of-honour and Corin, Fiyero's best man.

Although Galinda was thrillified to be included, she was glad the timing of the wedding would give her ten weeks after her due date to "not look like a beached whale"… or so she thought. She was due at the end of March, not long after Elphaba's birthday. However, when the Vinkus moved into April, she had yet to give birth.

It was a week after her due date that the couple's maid arrived at Kiamo Ko one morning during breakfast and requested Elphaba and Fiyero's presence at the Forsyth's home. Elphaba knew immediately what that meant, and hasted Fiyero up from the table.

"What do you think she had? A boy or a girl?" he asked her as they approached the front door.

Elphaba laughed. "As much as Galinda worried over what she'd do with a boy, I don't think she or Micah particularly care. Would you care?" she asked, stopping suddenly and Fiyero smiled.

"No, I wouldn't care," he answered honestly and Elphaba looked faintly relieved.

"Ok."

They let themselves in and Elphaba led the way upstairs to Galinda's room, where she tapped lightly on the door.

"Come on in," Micah called out softly and Elphaba gently opened the door.

"Glin?"

Galinda was sitting up in bed, her blonde curls sweaty and clumped messily to her head and her face incredibly pale, but she was positively beaming.

"It's a girl!" she exclaimed happily and Elphaba laughed softly.

"Good. So all those pink clothes and accessories you've been buying for nine months won't be wasted," she teased lightly and Micah looked at his wife in bewilderment.

"You told me you hadn't bought anything!"

"Yes, well, we'll talk about that later," Galinda said dismissively, and beckoned for Elphaba to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Elphie, come here."

Elphaba obeyed and carefully inspected her goddaughter. She was Galinda all over, there was no doubt about that, there was not one feature she could pick out as Micah's.

"She's beautiful, Galinda," Elphaba said sincerely and Galinda beamed.

"Do you want to hold her?" she asked gently.

Elphaba nodded. "Definitely."

Galinda carefully handed over her daughter and Elphaba just as carefully adjusted the baby into her arms.

"How are you?" she asked Galinda who sighed.

"Exhausted, sore… happy. Elphie, I don't think I've ever been so happy," she admitted.

Elphaba smiled. "I can tell."

She looked around to where Fiyero was standing, trying to see the baby.

"Yero, come here."

Fiyero came forward slowly. He'd never really had much to do with babies before, and hadn't been exposed to the little ones at the orphanage as much as Elphaba had. But Elphaba calmly handed him the baby and Fiyero let out a breath he hadn't realised he was holding as the baby girl didn't even stir, just continued sleeping.

"She's so tiny," he said in wonder and Micah nodded.

"She looks that way… but she's nearly seven pounds."

Fiyero whistled softly. "Wow. She takes after her father, then?"

"Lucky me," Galinda said dryly and Elphaba chuckled.

"So, what's her name? I assume we finally get to hear it now?"

Galinda and Micah had picked baby names out months ago, but refused to tell anyone. Fiyero and Corin had amused themselves trying to guess, but Elphaba was more amused by how every time the topic came up, Galinda would almost let them slip before stopping herself.

Galinda giggled and nodded. "This was the hardest secret I've ever had to keep, Elphie!" she said dramatically.

"I'm sure," Elphaba agreed. "So, what is it?"

Micah cleared his throat. "Liadan. Liadan Elphaba Forsyth."

Elphaba's eyes widened slightly as she looked at Galinda. "Glin…"

"I wanted to name her after her godmother," Galinda explained tearily and Elphaba hugged her best friend tightly.

"Thank you," she said, unable to find any other words and Galinda only hugged her tighter.

"Now you and Fiyero have to have a girl and then our daughters can be best friends!" Galinda said excitedly and Elphaba only rolled her eyes fondly.

She looked over her shoulder and saw Fiyero with Liadan in his arms, looking immensely pleased by the name choice- Elphaba didn't think he'd be any prouder if he'd picked it himself. But it was a beautiful picture he made and Elphaba felt her stomach flutter.

She'd always known that one day, Fiyero would be a wonderful father. But to actually see him with the baby in his arms…

Since Mena, Elphaba could admit the idea of falling pregnant again terrified her as much as it thrilled her. Being around the kids at the orphanage, had had the affect Fiyero had hoped for and given her some confidence in her ability as a mother; but the idea of actually being pregnant still terrified her, she couldn't bear the idea of going through what she had with Mena again. Seeing Fiyero hold Liadan made her realise how much she did want children with Fiyero, and her fears of anything going wrong with the pregnancy was nothing compared to seeing the look of amazement on her fiancée's face.

"So, are you shortening it to anything?" Fiyero asked Micah. "I mean, I'm assuming you are because Galinda shortens everything, but still…"

Galinda scowled at him. "Lee," she admitted.

"Lee," Fiyero repeated thoughtfully. "I like it. Lee Forsyth has a nice ring to it."

"And it's not too perky," Elphaba added and Galinda laughed.

After a few more minutes, Elphaba and Fiyero left so Galinda could get some rest. Fiyero couldn't help but notice Elphaba was very quiet as they returned to Kiamo Ko, her eyes far away in the distance.

"Fae? Are you okay?" he asked her softly, wondering if maybe it had been too hard for her to see Liadan.

Elphaba blinked up at him in surprise, she had been so lost in her thoughts she hadn't noticed her unusual silence.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just thinking," she replied.

Fiyero frowned. "What about?"

Elphaba stopped and turned to him, meeting his gaze.

"I want to have a baby," she blurted out and Fiyero felt a slow grin spread across his face.

"Now?"

She rolled her eyes. "No, not now," she replied. "But… soon," she admitted. "I don't think I want to wait too long after the wedding…"

She was cut off as Fiyero drew her close and kissed her.

"Are you sure?" he asked her quietly and she nodded.

"Yes, I'm sure," she replied firmly. "What do you think?"

Fiyero groaned slightly and kissed her again. "I think the next eight weeks had better go really fast," he answered and Elphaba chuckled.

She completely agreed.

And for her, they did. For Fiyero… not so much.

Nessa and Boq arrived at Kiamo Ko the week before the wedding and Elphaba was pleased to see her little sister looking so happy with Boq.

Nessa was so excited for Elphaba and Fiyero, and also to finally meet Liadan for the first time. Galinda was loving motherhood and wasn't subtle about dropping hints to Elphaba about how wonderfully thrillifying it would be for their children to grow up together.

Not long after Nessa and Boq arrived, so did Amala and the children from the orphanage. Yulia, Calleigh and Laryn were particularly excited that they had been invited to the wedding and to be in the Vinkus.

"So, after the wedding, will we have to call you 'Your Highness'?" Calleigh asked her.

"And curtsey?" Laryn questioned.

Elphaba grimaced at the thought. "Please don't, girls."

"You're going to be a princess!" Yulia said excitedly. "This will be the greatest story ever for our grandchildren, girls!"

"I thought you said the greatest story ever to tell your grandchildren was the time you touched Fiyero's hair?" Calleigh asked and Elphaba laughed as Yulia blushed.