Drinking game: Take a shot every time Nyris says "Mimsey" in this chapter! XD

"I can't believe you ran thirteen blocks to get me," Geri said as he drove an exhausted Elphaba back to the shop.

"I can't… believe I'm still… breathing," she panted, her wheezes slowly silencing into normal breaths.

"Is Villy alright?"

"Scarly and Maven are still at the shop. She was calm when I left, but that was half an hour ago."

"Okay. Thank you so much, Elphaba. But may I ask you another favor?"

"Yeah?"

"We didn't arrange for our nanny to stay with Nyris for another three weeks. And she can't come any earlier. Could you housesit and take care of Nyris for us?"

Elphaba smiled. "Of course. I want to help in whatever way I can."

He let out a relieved sigh. "Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to us. The camp bus is dropping her off at the shop, and I'll give you my housekey. Villy will keep hers."

She took the key. "Okay. Do you have everything you need?"

"Hospital bags are in the trunk. I packed them the day Villy told me she was pregnant," Geri nodded, letting Elphaba rest for the rest of the trip.

They reached the store and he jumped out of the car, leaving the keys in the ignition. Elphaba turned off the motor and slowly slid out, still not fully recovered from her adrenaline-powered sprint.

"Hi, Dovey," Geri said calmly, entering the shop.

Villy looked up, reaching towards her husband. "Geri," she smiled, feeling him take her hand and leaned her head against his shoulder. "My bodyguard."

"I'm here. Do you want to go to the hospital now?"

"Yes. I haven't had any contractions yet, but I still want to go." She hesitated. "Nyris is –"

"Elphaba agreed to watch her and our house. She has my key, so you can keep yours."

"You asked her?"

"And she said yes," Elphaba pipped up.

Villy looked relieved as she turned towards the green girl. "You're the best."

"So I've been told," she chuckled. "I can't wait to meet Little Moxxie!"

Her relief melted away. "I've changed my mind. You're officially the worst."

"So I've also been told."

Villy made her goodbye rounds as Geri gathered her things from her office. She answered Maven and Scarly's last-minute questions, assuring the college girl that she would be fine. She lingered on Elphaba, her hug lasting longer than the others. "Bye, Elphaba."

"This isn't the last you're seeing of me. I'm watching your house and daughter."

"I know, but I don't know if I'll see you again before you leave."

Elphaba gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "You will."

"Ready, Dovey?" Geri asked as he reappeared.

Villy nodded. "Bye, everyone," she waved, taking his arm.

"Bye, Miss Villy," the girls chorused, watching their boss leave and the car disappeared down the street.

"Alright, she's gone! Let's have a party!" Elphaba whooped, and the other two quickly joined in the joke.

A few minutes to four, Elphaba went to the bus stop to meet Nyris, who was very happy to see her, as usual.

"My group performed a song and dance during morning circle time! And I drew a picture for Mimsey and Papa!" she giggled to Elphaba's inquiry about her day.

"I'm sure they'll love it," Elphaba smiled.

"Hi, Mimsey!" the little girl chirped when they entered the store, but paused when she didn't see her stepmother behind the counter or by any of the racks.

Before Elphaba had a chance to say anything, Nyris made a beeline to the back, checking the office and the back room, even knocking on the bathroom door, and ignoring Maven and Scarly.

"Mimsey?"

"Nyris, come here, honey," Elphaba called.

"Where's Mimsey?" she demanded with her hands on her hips and narrowed eyes, as if Elphaba was hiding her mother from her.

She wasn't fazed by the level of suspicion the six-year-old held. "Mimsey and Papa are at the hospital. She's having the baby."

"Right now?"

"It'll take some time, but yes."

"Oh. That's okay." She didn't sound okay. "Are they coming back so we can go home together?"

"I'm taking you home today. And I'm staying with you until your parents come home with the new baby."

Nyris brightened slightly. "Does that mean ice cream for dinner?"

"No. Nice try, though."

The little girl pouted. "Oh. Will they be home tomorrow?"

"I don't think so. They'll probably have to stay there for a few days, but when your Papa says it's okay, we'll go to the hospital and see them."

The six-year-old gave her an unreadable look, and Elphaba didn't know how to interpret it. Nyris was usually very vocal about her feelings, so her quietness was worrying. "Mimsey was supposed to take me to the park tomorrow to ride my bike," she finally whispered. "She didn't say goodbye."

"I know. I'm sorry. The baby's coming a bit earlier than expected. They didn't mean to leave like this. That's why they asked me to take care of you." She tenderly brushed Nyris's long, chestnut hair away from her face.

"That's okay."

"Nyris, I have a present for you," Scarly said, approaching the two and kneeling in front of Nyris.

"From Mimsey?" she asked desperately.

"No, it's from me. Is that okay?"

"Oh. That's okay."

"I made you this coloring book. It's filled with all different types of dresses, and some even have models wearing them." She handed her a spiral-bound book. "You can design whatever dress you want."

Nyris grinned, her momentary sadness forgotten. "Thank you!" she giggled, hugging Scarly and settling herself in her mother's office to color.

"Nice save," Elphaba congratulated her. "You just rescued all of us from a meltdown."

"Does this mean I get extra credit?" Scarly smirked.

"You do, in my book."

After closing, Elphaba went to the office to get Nyris. The little girl had been quiet for the past four hours, and Elphaba assumed she was napping. But when she opened the door, she found the little girl wide awake, staring at a wooden picture frame on the desk.

Nyris looked up and motioned for her to come around. The green girl obliged, taking note of the two photos Villy kept on her desk.

The first one was her wedding photo. The beautiful bride held a small bouquet of orchids, decked in a sparkly, light silver, A-line gown, made of lace and tulle, with a glittery overlay, sheer illusion V-neckline with three-quarter sleeves, and a cross-strapped back. While she didn't make the gown, she had embroidered small lilies on the belt with sapphire thread, claiming it to be her 'something blue'. Geri's suit was white, but his bowtie was sparkly silver to match Villy's dress. Nyris, the most beautiful flower girl, got to wear a flower crown and a rose, tulle dress with a large bow in the front.

The second photo – the one that held the little girl's attention – was the two of them cuddling on the swing at their house. Nyris sat on Villy's lap, and the seamstress rested her chin atop her head. Both had their eyes closed, hugging each other with wide smiles, and Elphaba could feel the warmth and love emanating from the photo.

Nyris ran her fingers over the braille description taped to the frame, even though she couldn't read it. Villy was teaching her, it didn't come as naturally as reading printed words yet. At one point, she loudly and stubbornly declared that she "liked line letters better than bumpy ones", but encouragement from Villy got her to want to try again.

"Ready to go, Nyris?"

She looked up. "We can go now."

Elphaba knew not to be offended that Nyris didn't look excited to take the bus home with her. She knew she'd rather be with her mother. "We'll have so much fun this weekend. I promise."

Nyris was silent, playing her fuzzy backpack clip. By the time they returned home, she was exhausted, wanting to get right to bed.

"You don't want dinner?" Elphaba asked.

"Mm-mm," she hummed, shaking her head.

Her exhaustion made preparing her for bed easier. After a bath and two stories, Elphaba tucked the little girl into bed.

"Elphie?"

"Hmm?"

"Will Mimsey love the new baby more than she loves me?"

Elphaba's heart dropped into her stomach. "Of course not, Nyris. What makes you think that?"

"She's not my real mom. She's my stepmom, but she's the new baby's real mom."

She quickly lifted the little girl into her arms, finally learning what was bothering her. "That doesn't change anything, Nyris. She loves you with all her heart, and nothing will ever change that. She has more than enough love for the two of you."

"Will I love the new baby?"

"I know you will. I have a younger sister, and when she was born, I immediately loved her." Even though their relationship was non-existent at this point, she could still remember a time where she loved Nessa, even if that love turned into one-sided devotion. If she was completely honest, she was more sisterly with Nyris than she was with Nessa. "And even though I don't see her anymore, I still love her."

"That's okay."

"It will be an adjustment, and Mimsey and Papa will have to spend a lot of time with the new baby."

"I know. Mimsey told me. And Papa said I can help take care of the baby. Are you gonna help, too?"

"I'm helping by staying in the shop, but I'll come by when I can."

"Okay."

"Do you feel better now?"

"Yeah." She hugged her. "Thanks, Elphie."

Elphaba returned the hug and retucked her in. "Goodnight, Nyris."

"Night-night."

She waited until the little girl was fast asleep before leaving, softly closing the door behind her. As she walked down the hall, she paused in front of a large, framed photo on the wall near the master bedroom; Villy and Geri's official wedding portrait. Villy's hand rested on Geri's chest, while his arm was wrapped around her waist. She read the quote on the bottom, written in neat script with the braille description underneath:

The best things in life can't be seen with your eyes. They have to be felt with your heart.

As cheesy as the quote was, she had to agree. For a moment, the dressmaker and banker vanished, replaced with herself and Fiyero. She reached out to touch the photo, but in the blink of an eye, it was back to its original state. She rubbed her eyes, realizing she must be more exhausted than she thought.

She grabbed a blanket from the closet and made herself comfortable on the living room couch, grateful that her slip doubled as a nightdress. She made a mental note to run back to her apartment and pick up a few things, not knowing how long she'd have to stay.

"Are you alright? You didn't come home yesterday. I was sitting outside your door for almost two hours."

Elphaba looked up as her fiancée entered the shop. They had just finished a rush and Maven and Scarly were in the back. "Sorry. I spent the night at Geri and Miss Villy's house. She went into labor yesterday and they asked me to housesit and watch Nyris."

"Oh. She went into labor early?"

"She's thirty-seven weeks, so not too early. What did you wanna tell me?"

"I received a letter from Galinda. She wrote to me because 'Elphie's busy with work'. And I'm not? I may not work in an office or a store, but I have piles of paperwork back at home, and all of it needs to be completed before the end of the month."

The blonde had gotten a job in the Emerald City Palace not long after graduation. She had been working in the press secretary's office for a little over a month, and from what she wrote, she was enjoying it.

Elphaba chuckled as she took Galinda's letter. "How's our favorite blonde doing?"

"Fine. She sends her best, and even told us a government secret. No, really, she did," he insisted when her eyebrow rose.

She skimmed through the letter and gasped when she saw it. "No!"

"I couldn't believe it myself."

"How did she manage to –"

"Fiyero!"

He looked up as Nyris ran in from the back, wrapping her arms around his legs. "Hi, Nyris!"

"Did you know Elphie's staying with me at my house while Mimsey has the baby?"

"She just told me. Did she let you have ice cream for dinner last night?"

The green girl crossed her arms. "I'm trying to be a responsible adult!"

"Should we get some ice cream now?"

"Yes!" Nyris giggled.

Elphaba made a face at being ignored. "You two are impossible children."

"Can we get ice cream?" the taller of the "impossible children" asked with puppy-eyes.

Nyris mimicked him, and she found herself on the losing end of the battle. "Very well. But come right back."

"Thank you, Elphie!" the two chorused, hurrying out.

When they returned, Fiyero relayed Nyris's request for him to take her to the playground. Elphaba bit her lip, worried about any potential paparazzi incidents.

"It's gotten much better the past few weeks. They've been leaving me alone, especially after my parents made their anger very clear over my fiancée and her boss almost getting hurt. I think they threatened fines and jail sentences for anyone infringing on my privacy, as well as the privacy of my fiancée and friends."

"It's been much better here, too." She nodded. "Alright. You can take her to the park. Miss Villy was supposed to take her bike riding. She brought her bike here, 'cause I told her I'd take her during my break. I'll stop by the hospital to check on Miss Villy and Geri, then pick Nyris up and take her home when I'm done."

"Sounds like a plan." He kissed her cheek. "Thanks, Fae. She said yes, Nyris!"

Elphaba made sure the Maven and Scarly would be alright by themselves for the rest of the day before heading out with Fiyero and Nyris. She walked with them to the park, then took the bus to the hospital. She didn't know the visitation policy, but decided to try her luck. "Excuse me, I'm here to see –"

"Hi, Elphaba!"

The green girl turned. "Hi, Geri. How are you?"

"I'm okay. I'm just running to get something to eat. Hospital food's free for Villy, but very expensive if you're not the one giving birth. Where's Nyris?"

"She's at the park with Fiyero. He took her bike riding. I'm taking her home when I leave here. Is that okay?"

"Of course. She loves Fiyero almost as much as she loves you."

"I'm glad I'm winning the competition. How's Miss Villy?"

"She's a trooper. She's in a lot of pain from contractions, and her dilatation's stalled."

"Can I see her?"

"I think she'd like that. I'll get you checked in." He got her checked in and handed her a visitor sticker. "She's in room 131."

"Thanks." She quickly found the room and knocked.

"Come in."

She opened the door, her eyes immediately falling on Villy, sitting on the edge of the bed in a light blue hospital gown, her hair in a loose ponytail. She was rocking from side to side, rubbing her belly, but looked up when she heard footsteps entering. "Dr. Thworn?"

"Hi, Miss Villy."

She stilled. "Elphaba?"

"Yes. How are you doing?"

She patted the bed and Elphaba sat next to her. "Fine. How are things at the shop?"

"You've been gone less than twenty-four hours. But we're having fun. We're a riot when you're not there."

Villy chuckled, but stiffened when she felt another contraction. She gripped and squeezed Elphaba's hand as she forced herself to breathe through it. "How's Nyris?" she asked when it ended, rubbing her belly.

"Good. Fiyero took her to the park with her bike."

"I was supposed to take her, but I'm glad she got to go with Fiyero. She loves him almost as much as she loves you."

"Geri just told me. I didn't know I was completing with my fiancée for your daughter's love."

"I know there's more than enough love to go around for both of you. But tell me about you."

"Like what?"

"Wedding plans, Elphaba! Duh!"

"It's mostly just a lot of paperwork at this point. There's not a lot we can do until we get to the Vinkus. But the queen sent me a packet about the royal patronages. I get to choose any charity or organization I want. She wants me to start small, only picking around three, but as time goes on, I'll have to adopt more."

"Have any caught your eye yet?"

"I just skimmed through all the papers, so not really. But once we're married, Fiyero and I will become co-patrons of the Royal History Museum. It holds artifacts from all the Vinkun monarchs. Like, all of them. Its most recent addition was… I think one of Fiyero's baby rattles. It sounds silly, but there's a long history behind it, and that's why it made the cut."

Villy hummed and shifted her weight.

"I've also heard from Galinda. She wrote to Fiyero, because 'Elphie's busy at work'."

"And Fiyero's not?" she laughed.

"Apparently not as busy as me. She's working for the Wizard as his press secretary and let us in on a government secret." She lowered her voice. "This isn't public knowledge yet, but he's training her to be the next ruler of Oz."

"Our blissful, blonde, Ozbucks employee, the next ruler of Oz?"

"Yes. But it's a secret."

"She's risen up in the world. Do you know how?"

"She was notetaking in a meeting, and something about her caught his attention and he promoted her to press secretary. And since he doesn't have any natural heirs, he declared her his successor. I'm just as confusified as you are," she laughed at her boss's expression.

"That's wonderful for her. Can you open the window?"

"Sure."

The stagnant, August heat didn't allow a breeze to filter through, and Villy groaned at the lack of change. "I hate that this room doesn't have air conditioning. Could you put my hair up, please?"

Elphaba gently pulled the hair tie out of her boss's ponytail and quickly racked her fingers through her hair before tying it into a loose, yet secure, bun.

"Thanks," Villy sighed, feeling the tiniest bit better.

The green girl stayed a bit longer, keeping the seamstress company until Geri returned.

"Thank you for the visit, Elphaba," she smiled as she got up, and her husband quickly took her spot. "Send Nyris our love."

"Of course. Bye, Miss Villy. Bye, Geri."

Villy leaned against her husband's arm as the door closed. He kissed her hair and she nuzzled her cheek against his shoulder, but her relief was short-lived when she felt another contraction. "Help me up, Geri."

He helped her to her feet, holding and rocking her as she breathed through the pain. He hummed softly, smiling when he heard her humming with him.

"You're doing great," he whispered, wiping her hair from her face as she relaxed against him. "I love you. Do you want some music?"

"I want some air. Can you ask for a fan?"

He didn't have to leave, since the nurse came to check Villy's progress. "Still four and a half centimeters," she reported. "How many contractions have you had?"

"Just two," Villy said and Geri took her hand.

"It might help if you walk around the room a bit. If you get tired, rock in the rocking chair."

She slowly exhaled. "Okay. Thank you, nurse."

"I'll be back in an hour with Dr. Thworn. Do you need anything else?"

"A fan, please."

Over the next few hours, the contractions intensified. The fan arrived, and while she was grateful, it didn't help with the pain spreading through her body. She refused to lay or sit down, claiming her back and legs hurt too much and she had to stay mobile to keep the pain bearable. The rocking chair helped a bit, but not enough to make the pain bearable.

"Mrs. Moxx, it's Dr. Thworn. Are you feeling any better?" a light voice said from the doorway.

"… No," Villy moaned from where she leaned against the windowsill, swaying in Geri's arms.

"Let's check your progress."

Geri helped her back to the bed, holding her hand as she leaned against the pillows.

"You're six and a half centimeters. You've made some progress. If this keeps up, you'll hopefully have the baby tonight."

"Hopefully? What does that mean?"

She patted her arm and checked her chart. "Let's just make sure you're as comfortable as possible. We can increase your Xafine dose."

It wasn't a cryptic answer, but it didn't answer her question. Once the pain medication was in her system, she started to feel a bit better. "Is the medicine what's delaying this?"

"It's unlikely, but not impossible. I've seen it happen before, but I don't think that's the case with you. I just want you to be comfortable."

"But the baby…"

"I'm not worried about the baby, Mrs. Moxx. But I know you're in a lot of pain. You can continue to walk around and make sure you're drinking plenty of water. I'll come back in an hour."

"Thank you, Doctor," Geri nodded as the doctor left.

"Up," Villy said, reaching towards him and he obliged, helping her into a sitting position. She took a few sips of water before continuing to walk around the room, heavily leaning against her husband's side.

As nighttime rolled around, little progress had been made. Although the outside temperature dropped, Villy's went up. She moved from water to solid ice chips, and cold cloths all over her body in an attempt to bring her fever down. Now the doctor was starting to worry.

When Elphaba returned the next morning, she found Geri leaning against the wall, squeezing a half-empty water bottle.

"Nyris is home with Fiyero. When I left, they were playing 'Princesses and Ponies'. They're like two peas in a pod," she chuckled, but sobered when she saw Geri's somber face. "What's happening?"

"She has a fever. It's not at a dangerous level, thank Oz, but the doctor put her on strict bed rest for the remainder of her labor. She has to stay on her left side and can't move. She's in so much pain, she threw up twice, but there's barely anything in her stomach."

Elphaba's eyes widened in horror. "Geri…"

"I didn't want to think about this, and especially say it out loud, but this is bringing back memories of Taeal giving birth to Nyris. She was feverish and throwing up, losing so much blood while pushing. I know Villy's not sick the way Taeal was, and I hate comparing them, but…" He tiredly rubbed his face. "I hate seeing her suffer like this. And all I can do is wipe her forehead and feed her ice chips. I'm her bodyguard, but I can't protect her."

"If she can't…"

He shook his head. "She's firmly against a C-section. She said everyone in her family who had one suffered severe complications afterwards. The doctor said it would only a last resort, but things will take a turn for the worst if the baby's not born by tonight. One way or another, the baby needs to come today if there's any chance of both of them being alright."

She licked her lips. "Okay. Thanks for letting me know."

"Come back tonight, if you can. If Fiyero can't stay with Nyris, you stay home. No worries."

"I can come, Geri."

He returned to the room to find his wife asleep. He wiped her forehead with the cold cloth and kissed her cheek. "Oh, Dovey."

"I'm awake," she whispered weakly, startling her husband. "My eyes are closed to, hopefully, trick my body into thinking I've slept. But I'm wide awake."

He turned the fan back on, and dipped the cloth back into the ice-cold water. The ice chips were starting to melt, but she still drank them. She started tremoring due to the pain, and was torn between resting in Geri's arms and not wanting him to touch her.

"Geri," she sniffed after a painful contraction.

"Yes?"

"Please don't leave me."

He rubbed circles on her lower back. "I won't, my dove. I'll stay right here. I'm your bodyguard, remember?"

"… Cold cloth?"

He wrung out the rag and lightly wiped her forehead, holding her hand as he whispered soft encouragement, though he didn't think she heard him over her moaning.

When Elphaba returned to the house, she found the two passed out on the couch. Fiyero's arm was flopped over the edge, his other protectively wrapped around the little girl lying on top of him. His mouth was wide open and little snores escaped his mouth. Nyris's cheek rested on his chest, looking like she fell asleep listening to his heartbeat.

She smiled at the sight. She didn't know how they wore each other out, but assumed they did more than play 'Princesses and Ponies'. She didn't want to wake them, and instead, hurried upstairs to grab Geri's camera. She captured the precious sight, now permanently immortalized. Seemingly reacting to the clicking noise, Nyris stirred and her eyes slowly fluttered open. "Hi, Elphie," she whispered with a yawn.

"Hi, sweetie. Did you and Fiyero have fun?"

"Yeah. Look at his nails."

She got a closer look, noticing how her fiancée's fingernails were now the hottest imaginable shade of pink. "Very fashionable."

"Yeah. Did you go to the hospital and see Mimsey?"

"I didn't see her, but I saw your Papa. He says the baby is coming today."

"Today?"

"Yeah. You'll be a big sister very soon."

"Mimsey's being strong?"

"Very strong."

"That's okay." She shimmied off the prince. "Fiyero's really pooped."

Elphaba knelt and gently nuzzled her nose against his. He grunted, sniffed, and slowly opened his eyes. "… Fae?"

"Hey, sleepyhead."

He slowly pushed himself up, yawning and stretching. "Everything alright?"

"Yeah. They're saying tonight."

Nyris tapped her hand. "Can we eat now?"

"Sure. What would you like?"

"Ice cream!"

"What non-treat food would you like?"

"Um… peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwiches, please."

Elphaba smiled with a nod as she went to make the lunch. Both young adults sat with her as she ate, talking about whatever was on her mind, which led to a very intellectual conversation about how fairy magic came from unicorns. Fiyero also made himself a sandwich, and shared half with Nyris, the two of them biting into opposite sides of the sandwich together, making all three of them laugh.

That evening, Elphaba went back to the hospital, as Geri instructed, and found him leaning against the wall opposite the room. "Geri?"

He turned and met her down the hall. "Hi."

"Well?"

"Her fever broke at around two, and soon after, she was pushing. The baby wasn't coming, and she tried five different birthing positions before making some progress. She was pushing for almost two hours, but we now have a son."

Elphaba's face broke into a wide grin and hugged him. "Congratulations! I'm so happy for both of you!"

"He's tiny; five pounds, four ounces, eighteen and a half inches long. He's okay, but Dr. Thworn wants to keep him and Villy here for a while to make sure neither of them, specifically Villy, gets an infection. She's thinking a week."

"How's Miss Villy?"

"I was worried about her, but she's strong and pulled through. She has a lot of pain medicine in her system, so she'll be sleeping a lot. You can tell Nyris that she's a big sister, but she can't come yet. I'll come home and pick the two of you up when Villy's ready for guests."

"Congratulations again, Geri," Elphaba smiled, giving him another hug and hurrying back home.

When she got back, she heard Fiyero and Nyris playing with her kitchen in the library. The two looked up expectantly when she came down the stairs.

"Hey, big sister," she grinned, and Nyris squealed with a large beam.