Chapter 55: Father Knows Best

It took three days before her father showed up at Clowen Grounds, her younger brother in tow. Her great-grandfather's face twisted into displeasure when Nelya announced her father's presence. He hadn't even bothered to write. "He's going to say he came here for you, Fabala."

"I know." Elphaba sat on a couch beside Fiyero.

"Fae," Fiyero whispered into her ear as they listened to her father's footsteps in the hall, "why don't we show him just how happy we are?" And as her father stepped into the room, Fiyero dragged her into a passionate, deep kiss. When they drew apart, he said loudly, "I love you."

Clearly thrown, she murmured, "I love you, too."

He slid an arm over her shoulder and turned to the doorway, pretending he had only just noticed that Frex had entered. Fiyero stood and gave the man a challenging gaze. "Good afternoon, Sir."

Taking Fiyero's hand, Elphaba stood as well. "Nice to see you, Father."

"When I heard you were in Munchkinland, I had to see you, Elphaba."

Her great-grandfather rolled his eyes from across the room and bit back a grin. Voice dripping with sarcasm, Elphaba said, "You never wrote that you wanted to see me. In fact, you never wrote at all."

"I'd been wondering why Elphaba hasn't heard from her father the past two years, but I didn't think it would be kind to ask." Fiyero added.

"Not very fatherly of you, is it, to hand your daughter off to a strange man and then leave her alone?" Her great-grandfather said. "Not to mention the fact that you didn't tell us."

"It was your granddaughter's idea," Frex said defensively.

"And my granddaughter has been dead for years."

"Why are you really here, Father?" Elphaba demanded.

"To see you," he insisted.

She sighed heavily and plopped back down on the couch. "I don't know why you bother continuing to say that."

Fiyero sat back down beside her. "She doesn't need you." He gave her father a look. "Not that you would've been there if she had."

"I knew she didn't. Fabala has always been a strong young woman."

"By the way, Father, it's funny how you scraped together enough money to send Nessa to Shiz but you had to marry me off so that I could go."

"You are Thropp Third Descending. You'd need to marry eventually, anyway, to pass on the line…"

"To a prince from a land you've always considered godless and uncivilized?" She shot back. "Lucky for me, he's nothing of the sort. But you didn't bother to check. Or care."

"I was only doing what was best for you. A union between the East and the West would make us stronger." Frex said.

"You didn't care. If you had, you would've spoken to me about it." Her great-grandfather said. "Instead, you left her there without a friend or family."

"She seems to have gotten on just fine." Frex indicated towards Fiyero.

"And what if I hadn't?"

"You're strong. You can take care of yourself. I knew that."

Fiyero felt his fist clench just listening to the man talk. "Maybe that's true. But everyone needs family." He wanted to take Elphaba away from this conversation, bring her home to Kiamo Ko where she'd be safe from this. But they had business here, and Elphaba would never let him protect her, anyway. Her father was right that she was strong.

At that moment, Shell burst into the room. He'd apparently been babbling at Nelya in the hall. "Fabala!" He ran straight to Elphaba and encompassed her in a hug.

Elphaba looked stunned. Fiyero remembered her saying that she'd rarely been touched as a child, and he wondered if this behavior was normal for the ten-year-old. She blinked slowly. "Shell, my sweet boy, since when have you gotten so tall?"

Two years. It had been two years since Elphaba had seen her little brother. He probably only recognized her because of her skin. Fiyero smiled kindly at the young boy. "Nice to meet you, Shell. I'm Fiyero, Elphaba's husband." He stuck out his hand for the child to shake.

Shell took it eagerly. "Hi, Fiyero!" The young boy then hugged Fiyero, as well.

"I apologize. He's been hugging everyone." Frex shrugged.

"That's fine. I have a little brother, myself. He's a little older than Shell." Fiyero knew the conversation about Elphaba's father's behavior was over for as long as Shell was in the room. He looked over at Elphaba, who was studying Shell as though he were a new person. He probably was, after so long.

"So you and Fabala are married? Do you have any babies?"
"No, not yet." Fiyero could only imagine Elphaba's face, but he didn't want to look over and betray that he knew she'd be uneasy with that question. "Maybe one day, though."

"And you love Fabala? A lot?"

"More than life itself."

"Fiyero, please." Elphaba grabbed his arm. "He's ten. Don't talk like that with him." Under her breath, he heard her add, "Or at all."

But he wasn't doing it for Shell. He was doing it for Elphaba's father. Fiyero couldn't help wanting to prove that he was in love with Elphaba, and she with him. He doubted that her father had expected that. "I'm sorry, Fae. It is true, though."

"It's a cliché expression."

He wrapped her in his arms. "I know. But it was developed for a reason."

Frexspar cleared his throat. "Prince Fiyero, it is good to see you. I don't suppose I really properly greeted you when I came in. I hope Elphaba has been good to you."

"I can only hope I'm good enough to her." Fiyero replied, looking the man in the eyes. "She deserves better than I can give."

Elphaba groaned and collapsed back on the coach. "Fiyero, stop putting on a show."

"It's not a show, Fae. I love you."

"I know that. And I love you. But you're going over the top. He doesn't care."

"No, he doesn't. And that's the problem. You all but abandoned her on our doorstep," Fiyero said, turning to Frex. "I could've been abusive. I could've been the reincarnation of evil. You never bothered to find out. You just handed me your daughter and walked away. I don't care how strong you think she is, leaving her with a perfect stranger was wrong. Yes, I love her, and we are happy together, but it could've gone a very different way."

"She was my daughter, not yours."

"Well, now she's my wife. And she shouldn't even have to be around you. I don't want you here. I don't think she does, either. I'd appreciate it if you left." Fiyero looked down at Shell, who was standing by his sister's side with confusion and a little bit of fear. "He can stay, though."

Author's Note: I got another review begging me to continue this story. I would like to assure you all that I do intend to, at some point. There are stories I've given up on. This isn't one of them. I just... got ahead of myself and got no outline. It will come at some point, friends.