I won 2nd place for Best One-Shot Author and joint 2nd place for Most Humorous Author in the Seventh Annual Greg Awards! Thank you all so much! It means the world to me!
Thank you all for calling off the Nia Hunters.
And just for reference, Khylana is pronounced Ka-la'-na (The 'y' is silent). And her nickname, Lanie, is pronounced La'-nee. Enjoy!
Nelly – I wrote this before reading the new chapter of 'Oz Again'. I just wanted to let you know I'm not stealing your nickname.
Everyone was beyond thrillifyed to find out that Elphaba was alive. They all made frequent stops to the bedroom, since Elphaba wasn't allowed to get out of bed until she had all of her strength back.
"She's so cute," Galinda cooed, tickling Khylana's nose.
"She's tiny," Castella observed.
"Of course she's tiny. She's a baby," Fiyero said, dramatically rolled his eyes.
Elphaba laughed. "Galinda, would you like to be the godmother?"
Galinda's eyes widened. "Really?" Elphaba nodded. "I would love to! Thank you, Elphie!"
"Uh, Glin? You do know that the job doesn't come with a wand and fairy wings, right?" Fiyero asked.
Galinda's face fell. "Y-Yeah. I knew that. Of course I knew that. Why wouldn't I know that? Everybody knows that."
The whole room laughed as Galinda's face turned a bright shade of red. "When are we going to have the ball?" the Queen asked.
"What ball?" Elphaba questioned.
"It's a Vinkun tradition to have a ball when a child is born into the royal family."
"Oh? When is it usually held?"
"When the child is one month old."
"We can have it then," Elphaba nodded, cradling Khylana in her arms.
The first month was the hardest for Elphaba. All Khylana did was eat, sleep, poop and cry. Her least favorite was when she cried in the middle of the night.
Elphaba and Fiyero were sleeping peacefully in bed. Elphaba was curled up against Fiyero, enjoying the peace and quiet. A loud cry came from the nursery and her eyes jerked open. She sighed and pushed away from Fiyero.
"Fae?" Fiyero slowly opened his eyes and looked at his wife.
"Khylana's crying. I'll be right back," Elphaba said.
"No. I'll go. You stay in bed," Fiyero said as he jumped out of bed and took Elphaba's hand.
"Yero, I'm fine," Elphaba said, trying to contain her yawn.
"F-"
"Yero, go back to sleep. I'll be right back." Elphaba pulled her hands free and walked towards the door. Her fingers grazed the wall and she quickly found the doorway and walked to the nursery. Fiyero waited about ten seconds before following Elphaba down the hallway.
Elphaba walked into the nursery. "It's okay, Lanie. I'm here," she cooed, picking up the fussing baby and rocking her in her arms.
Khylana continued to cry. She wasn't hungry or needed a diaper change. Elphaba took care of those things not long ago.
"Did you just want some company?" Elphaba smiled. She slowly walked over to the rocking chair and sat down. She sang a lullaby as she continued to rock her in her arms.
"J'entends le moulin. Tique, tique taque. Mon père a fair batir maison," Elphaba sang.
Khylana's crying slowly died down to a small whimper. Elphaba smiled and continued to sing. "La fait batir à trois pignons. Sont trois charpentiers qui la font."
Fiyero was smiling in the doorway, listening to his wife's beautiful voice. He yawned, feeling the lullaby begin to work on him.
"Le plus jeune c'est mon mignon. Qu'apporte-tu dans ton jupon?"
Khylana sighed, beginning to fall asleep. She reached up and grabbed her mother's finger.
"C'est un paté de trois pigeons. Asseyons-nous et le mangeons." Elphaba yawned. The lullaby was beginning to work on her. "En s'asseyant il fit un bond, Qui fit trembler mer et poisson."
"Et les cailloux qui sont au fond," Fiyero sang the last part.
Elphaba froze. She didn't know Fiyero was standing there. "Fiyero?"
"Your voice is beautiful. Did Castie teach you that song?"
"Actually, no," Elphaba said proudly. "My father used to sing this song to me and I translated it into Vinkun for Lanie."
Fiyero walked into the room and placed a comforting hand on Elphaba's shoulder. "Shall we sing some more?" he asked.
Elphaba opened her mouth, but before she could respond, Fiyero already started to translate the song into Ozian.
"I hear the millwheel. Tique, tique taque. My father is having a house built," he sang in his tenor voice. "It's being built with three gables. There are three carpenters building it."
"The youngest is my darling. What do you have in your apron? It's a pie made of three pigeons," Elphaba sang. Ah, well, she thought. If you can't beat them, join them.
"Let's sit down and eat it. While sitting down they all leapt up, causing the sea and fish to tremble," Fiyero sang, wrapping his arms around Elphaba.
"And the stones on the bottom of the sea," they finished together.
Khylana stopped crying and was blissfully asleep, her breaths full and even. Elphaba sighed and placed Khylana back in the crib.
"Now will you come back with me?" Fiyero asked, taking Elphaba's hand.
"Yes, Yero," Elphaba giggled, allowing Fiyero to lead her back to their room.
As the night of the ball came, everyone was busy preparing. Elphaba spent most of her time with Khylana in the nursery. Galinda was taking care of the decorations and invitations, Fiyero managed the food, and Castella made a checklist to make sure they took care of everything.
"Fae?" Fiyero asked, coming into the nursery the night of the ball. He was wearing a royal blue uniform with a golden rope hanging from his shoulder. Elphaba looked up, wearing a royal blue ball gown, the same shade as Fiyero's uniform. The skirt of the dress went all the way down to her ankles and the sleeves stopped at her elbows. Her hair flowed down her shoulders, stopping in the middle of her back.
"Yes?"
"It seems Galinda invited someone to help us celebrate a little early."
"Really?" Elphaba asked, standing up. "Who?"
Fiyero led her out to their balcony and opened the door. "Oz," he said casually as the sound of loud cheers flooded Elphaba's ears.
"Yero," she whispered, stepping closer to Fiyero.
"It's okay," Fiyero whispered back. "Just smile and wave."
Elphaba did as she was told. Soon, Fiyero led her back inside.
"Galinda is going to get it now!" Elphaba hissed, storming towards the door.
Fiyero pulled her back. "You mean you didn't enjoy it?"
"I did," she admitted.
Fiyero smiled. "That's good."
The party was a big success. Elphaba stayed by Fiyero's side as she met everyone and was congratulated on the birth of their first child. After a while, Elphaba excused herself to go up to the nursery and tend to Khylana.
"I'm so glad to be out of there," Elphaba whispered, allowing Khylana to grab her finger. "It's nice to have some peace and quiet."
"Elphie, what are you doing up here?" Galinda asked, coming into the room.
"And there goes the peace and quiet," Elphaba muttered.
"I heard that! Anyway, you haven't answered my question. So, I'll do you the honor of repeating it. My question was 'What are you doing up here?'"
"I just wanted to get away from all the noise for a while."
"Oh. I'll join you."
"Galinda, I said get away from all the noise."
"Wh- Ohhhhh. I get it."
"No, Galinda! I didn't mean it like that! I –"
"Elphie, relax. I was kidding."
Elphaba cracked a small smile and turned her attention back to Khylana.
"Well, don't spend all of your time up here. The guests will start to wonder where the princess has disappeared to."
"I'll be right down."
Galinda nodded and walked out of the room, leaving Elphaba alone with the baby.
"Your godmother sure does know how to –"
"ELPHIE!"
"Nothing," Elphaba whispered, not wanting to anger the blonde.
"Fae, there you are. Why are you up here all alone?" Fiyero asked, entering the room.
"And no one trusts me alone," Elphaba sighed, shaking her head.
"Of course I trust you. I'm just worried about you."
"I know you are," Elphaba said, standing up with Khylana in her arms. Fiyero wrapped his arm around Elphaba's waist and led her back to the party.
A month had gone by since then. Elphaba was sitting in the parlor in front of a large weaving loom. Fiyero came in, carrying two month-old Khylana in his arms. He walked into the parlor and saw Elphaba. He stared at her for a moment, wondering how she could do that.
"I learned how to weave on a loom when I was younger," Elphaba smirked, jerking Fiyero from his daydream.
"I… um…. I…. wh…." Fiyero stuttered, unsure of what to say.
Elphaba chucked and stood up. "I know that's what you were thinking."
So, she's a mind reader now, Fiyero thought.
"Yes, I am."
WHAT?! Oh Oz, that means…
Elphaba smiled as she listened to Fiyero panicking. "I'll take Lanie."
Fiyero quickly handed her over to Elphaba, not wanting to hold an infant while he was freaking out.
"How are you feeling?" Elphaba asked as if commenting on the weather.
"I… I… you…"
"Yero, I'm not a mind reader."
"B-But, y-you just…"
"I had no idea what you were thinking. You're just so predictable."
"I read about that," Fiyero muttered.
"I'm so glad you did. I'm going upstairs to put Khylana down for her nap."
"I can take her," Fiyero offered.
"After your almost-panic attack, I think I'd better do it," Elphaba chuckled.
Khylana's eyes were opened, gazing up at her mother. She turned to look at her father. Seeing her father stand before them, his arms crossed over his chest and his lower lip sticking out in a pout. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Winning the battle, her lips curled into a full smile.
Fiyero looked at Khylana, and soon, he was smiling. "What are you smiling at?" he asked in a playful tone.
Elphaba, wondering why Fiyero was talking like a baby, frowned. "Why are you talking like that?"
"Khylana's smiling," Fiyero whispered, wrapping his arm around his wife.
Elphaba grinned, but it quickly turned upside down.
"Fae?" Fiyero asked, wiping a tear from Elphaba's cheek. "Are you alright?"
Elphaba bit her lip and shook her head. Fiyero didn't have to ask what was wrong. He gently took Khylana from Elphaba's arms.
"What's wrong?" Galinda asked, coming into the room.
"Nothing," Fiyero said. "Can you please take Lanie upstairs for her nap?"
"Sure," Galinda said, taking her goddaughter from Fiyero and walking up the stairs.
"Mon ange," Fiyero whispered, quickly pulling Elphaba in for a hug. He whispered words of comfort in her ear until she calmed down. He knew Elphaba hated it when people pitied her, but this was different. Very different. She would miss special moments like that in Khylana's life. Her first smile, her first tooth, her first steps, her first everything.
"I-It was her first smile, wasn't it?" Elphaba sniffed, shaking in Fiyero's arms.
Fiyero, not having the heart to lie, nodded. "Yes."
It's moments like this I'm going to miss, Elphaba thought sadly.
Galinda, Castella and Elphaba were sitting in the parlor together. Four month-old Khylana was lying on her play mat, fully engrossed in her star mobile. Her little hands reached for the tiny, yellow stars spinning around in front of her.
The adults were fully absorbed in their conversation. Galinda was chattering about boys, with Castella listening with great interest. Elphaba played with her fingers, not fully listening to Galinda rant about how 'Ozmazifying' and 'hunky' all the boys were at the party.
"And did you see the one with the red hair?" Galinda prattled on. "He was totally looking at me!"
"Isn't that Fiyero's old friend?" Castella asked.
"Who?" Fiyero asked, entering the room.
"The tall, handsome one with the red hair and the freckles," Galinda clarified.
"Oh, you mean my friend, Elenus?"
"THAT'S THE ONE! He was totally giving me 'The Eye'. And we had the most enchanting conversation ever!"
"I think Miss Galinda might be in love," Elphaba smiled, finally deciding to at least pretend to be listening.
"OHMYOZ, you think so?" Galinda said, jumping up and down on the couch.
Elphaba grabbed the edge of the seat, trying not to lose her balance and fall off the chair. "I think you are."
"EEP!" Galinda squealed.
A childish giggled filled the room. Everyone stopped and looked over at Khylana, who was lying on her stomach, looking back at the adults. Her lips were curled in the biggest smile her face would allow.
"Was that…?" Elphaba questioned.
"Lanie?" Galinda finished.
Khylana giggled again. It was high pitched and loud. She stretched out her arms, wanting someone to pick her up. Fiyero rushed to her and picked her up.
Khylana squealed and reached for her mother.
"Here," Fiyero said, setting Khylana in Elphaba's lap. Khylana laughed and snuggled closer to Elphaba.
Elphaba smiled to herself. At least this was a first she didn't miss.
Yes, I got the whole "Galinda invited someone to help us celebrate a little early" from Mulan 2. It's so funny.
Song Used:
'J'entends le moulin' (Special thanks to Elphabalover101 for giving me this song suggestion!)