Chapter 31

AN: Tiny mature scene towards the ¾ of the chapter.

Six Years Later

"Give it back!"

"I want it!"

"It's mine!"

"You don't use it!"

"Yes I do!"

"Let me borrow it!"

"No! And stay out of this!"

"Hey!" Fiyero's voice boomed and the house went quiet.

Lately the twins and Zianna have been butting heads.

Liir and Priel, the younger boys, eight and six respectively, got along pretty well, both with the rest of their siblings and each other, which was great since they both shared a room. They were both the more quiet type and happy with just sitting down in front of the TV screen or having a coloring book.

The three older children, however, were more hands on and active. All three of them also shared a room and having that space together led to some interesting games being played inside and outside the house, but also some intense fights between them. Especially now that their maturity levels were changing fast. Zianna was a teenager now, 13, and Mackaeyla and Nailor were 10.

What were they fighting about this time?

"Dad!" Zianna came running into the kitchen, where her parents were preparing dinner, "Mom! Nay and Kaey took my scarf," the same one Elphaba had given to her all those years ago, when she had been only a year old. "Without my permission, they won't give it back!"

"It was in our room!" The twins came running to defend themselves with the green scarf in Nailor's hands.

Zianna grabbed one end of the scarf. "It's my room, too!"

"Hush!" Elphaba silenced them.

"Why's yelling?" Priel came into the kitchen, feeling really cranky at not being able to hear his favorite show.

"Zia, just let them have it for a bit. You know how they are, they'll get bored of it eventually and move on to something else," Fiyero said.

"I just don't want them touching my scarf, they can grab any other clothes I have."

"I want this," Nailor said.

"Me too," his twin agreed.

"But…Mom?" Zianna turned to Elphaba.

The green woman sighed. "Zia, there's no harm in letting them play with it for a bit. Besides, you eventually always get your things back."

"And you'll always favor them," Zianna walked away.

Both Elphaba and Fiyero's eyes widened.

"Zianna Tiggular, turn around," when she did, Elphaba continued, "what is that supposed to mean?"

"They always get away with everything. I get that they're younger but…sometimes…I can't help but feel you love them more than me because they're your actual kids," she left the kitchen and Elphaba was stunned.

"Let's go tie Liir up!" Mackaeyla broke the silence.

"Yeah!" The three children in the kitchen chorused and ran over to the living room where Liir was.

"Hey-" Fiyero went to go after them, but then turned back to Elphaba, who hadn't moved an inch. "Fae? Can you at least blink?" He relaxed a bit after she did. "Are you ok?"

"I think so, I need to go talk to Zia though," they needed to set some things straight.

"MOMMY! DADDY!" Liir screamed.

"Oh dear Oz," Elphaba groaned.

"I got them, you get her," Fiyero gave her a quick peck then quickly ran to the living room.

Elphaba chuckled softly then walked to Zianna's room. She knocked on the door. "Zia?"

"Can you leave me alone?" Zianna said from inside the room.

Elphaba twisted the doorknob and stepped inside the room anyways. She closed the door behind her and crossed her arms. Despite everything, she smiled slightly at Zianna lying face down on the bed.

"Zia, what gave you the idea that you're any different than your brothers and sister?" she asked, gently.

Zianna shrugged without moving the rest of her body. "They're both yours and Dad's. You're bound to love them more than me. And…I don't know. Even if I don't have you completely, I at least have something of yours."

"Baby, but you do have me completely," Elphaba sat on the bed and stroked Zianna's short, thick hair. "Did I do anything to make you think I love you any less? It doesn't matter that I didn't give birth to you, you're my daughter. You are and I love you so much. I love all five of you the same."

"No," Ziana answered her question and turned to lay on her side. Elphaba didn't stop stroking her hair. "Maybe I'm being silly, and overreacting. But I like the fact that you gave that scarf to me, even if I don't remember it. It's mine and it means a lot to me."

"It's alright, hon', I understand," Elphaba pulled Zianna closer and cradled her like she had so many times before when she was little and when she was sick. Zianna sighed and hugged Elphaba tightly. "I'll talk to the twins about it later. And how about this? Tomorrow's Saturday. What do you say that after your orchestra rehearsal, we go out shopping and grab some lunch together? Just you and me," even if she wouldn't admit it, Elphaba knew that her little tomboy liked to shop for clothes.

"You're going to leave Dad, the twins, and the boys alone in the house? Remember what happened last time, Mom?"

"I'm sure they've all learned their lesson," she really didn't think they would try to make their own indoor pool after that disaster anytime soon. Actually, they shouldn't try to do that ever again. Why had they even tried it in the first place? "What do you say?"

Zianna smiled and nodded. Elphaba hugged her tightly.

"I love you, Zia. Never forget that."

"I love you, too, Mama."

A loud screeching sound made them pull apart.

"What in Oz's name is that?" Elphaba rubbed her ears.

"Oh for Lurline's sake, did they grab my piccolo too?!"

"Sit, Mommy," Priel said. "You too, Daddy," he pulled them to the couch.

Elphaba looked at her husband curiously. "Do you know what's going on?" She asked as they sat down.

"I'm as clueless as you are," he wrapped his arm around her. All five of their kids stood in front of them. "What did you do and or what do you want?" Elphaba smacked his thigh, though she was actually asking herself the same thing.

"All of us got you presents; tomorrow's your anniversary," Zianna explained.

Elphaba pulled Fiyero's arm around her tighter. 12 years. Tomorrow they will be celebrating 12 years of being married to each other. Oz, had it really been that long?

"Priel, you go first," Zianna instructed.

The youngest Tiggular grabbed an old shoe box that had been decorated with glitter. So that's where that went, Elphaba thought. Priel placed the box on Elphaba's lap and she kissed her son's cheek.

"Thank you, baby"

"Welcome, Mama," he said. "Open," he tapped the box.

Elphaba smiled and opened the box. Inside, there was a necklace made out of macaroni with a matching bracelet.

"It's so you can wear it when you go on a fancy dinner date," Zianna placed her hands on Priel's shoulders and he smiled up at her.

"I love it," she extended her arms out for a hug and Priel went right to her.

"Me next!" Liir said and gave his father a smaller box.

Fiyero removed the lid from it and took out a ribbon that had been colored with markers. It had many patterns and shapes. He chuckled. "It's a tie, right?"

"Yep!" Liir said, happy that his dad had known what his gift was intended to be and gave him a fierce hug.

"You guys are up," Zianna tapped the twins' heads.

They each placed a box on Elphaba's lap. "It's for both of you," Nailor said.

"We made them at school!" Mackaeyla exclaimed.

Elphaba opened the box and inside were two ceramic pieces that seemed to line up together. Fiyero took out the blue piece that said 'Daddy' on it and Elphaba traced her fingers over the word 'Mommy,' on the green piece.

"You made these?" she asked.

The twins nodded happily. "Yep!"

"It's beautiful guys," Fiyero placed his gift back in the box, lining it up with Elphaba's half. Sure enough, they did line up together.

The twins high fived each other and took turns hugging their parents.

"My gift is a little different," Zianna said. "I've been texting Aunt Galinda and made arrangements with her and Uncle Avaric. Early tomorrow, they're coming to pick all five of us up and we'll stay with them and Lana until the next day. You'll get the whole day to yourselves tomorrow! We already packed our bags, too."

Elphaba's eyes widened and Fiyero's jaw dropped. Zianna hugged her mom and dad and the whole family had dinner together.

Both parents looked over the clothes their younger children had packed to make sure they were appropriate.

The next morning, they hugged their kids goodbye as they all hopped into Galinda and Avaric's car for the day.

"Don't give them any trouble. Hi Lana!" Elphaba cooed at the baby girl in the backseat.

"We'll be fine, Mom," Zianna helped all her siblings settle in the back, "Priel, sit on Liir's lap."

"Ow!"

"That didn't mean 'jump on him'."

"Be on your best behavior," Fiyero said, eyeing the twins. They were definitely the trouble makers of the bunch. "Thanks again, guys." he said to Avaric and Galinda.

"No problem," Avaric started to pull out of the driveway, "we'll take care of them."

"Happy anniversary, you guys!" Galinda waved.

"Bye!"

"Oz, that was fun," Elphaba sighed, letting herself fall back on the bed.

She didn't think Fiyero and her had spent so much time together since they were dating or recently married, and she loved it. They had gone out to walk around town, watched a movie in the theater, had a nice meal out together, and now they were going to spend a quiet, relaxing evening at home.

"Agreed," Fiyero leaned down to give her an upside down kiss. Even after more than 10 years together, she still made his heart skip a beat. He nuzzled his face in her neck, making her giggle.

She gave him another kiss, before rolling over on the bed. "Anything specific you want for dinner?"

He laid down, using her back as a pillow. "Ask me when I'm hungry. I'm still full." She turned so she was leaning on her elbow and his head was on her belly. "You know, I've been thinking about something. Don't you think we should move?"

"Move as in…" she prompted.

"As in to a different house."

She was quiet for a couple seconds. "I've actually given it some thought, too."

"Yeah?" He glanced up at her.

"Mhm," she played with his hair. "Zia's a teenager now, she could use her own space. I'm sure she would love to have a room of her own."

"Kaey and Nay are starting to get sick of each other," he closed his eyes, loving the feeling of her hands.

"They're driving Zia insane."

"Liir and Priel seem ok rooming together for right now. But I have a feeling that will change."

"And not to mention the baby."

"And - what?" Fiyero sat up.

"Hm?" Elphaba asked innocently.

"D-did you say 'baby'?" he cupped her cheek.

"Did I?"

"Fae."

She smiled brightly. "Yes, I said 'baby'. I'm pregnant," she tapped his nose. "You've still got it," she teased.

His eyes went from hers to her belly, his hand tentatively made its way to her stomach and she placed her hand on the back of his neck.

"I'm sure," she answered his silent question and kissed him softly. He leaned in to her, pressing her flush against the bed and shifting his body over hers, their lips moving softly against each other.

Fiyero pulled away, slowly, taking her bottom lip between his teeth, making her whimper. "Our nest has certainly grown these past 12 years," he pecked her lips.

"That it has, and it's still growing," she placed her hand over his on her belly. "How do we tell the kids?"

He laughed. "We'll figure that out later," his fingers worked the buttons of her blouse, "right now, it's our anniversary, we're having another baby, and I have you completely to myself."

"Yes, you do," she shivered. "I love you, Yero."

He slipped her blouse off. "I love you, too."

Meanwhile, with the Tiggular children.

"Ready?" Zianna held her hand up in the air. "Set. Go!"

As promised, Mackaeyla and Nailor held back to give Liir and Priel a head start in the race.

The two boys were attached at one leg, Liir's right leg tied to Priel's left, and were struggling to move forward.

"Move this way!"

"I can't!"

"Watch out!"

The brothers tripped over their own legs and fell face first into the grass. Just then, the twins sped by with ease.

"Inside, outside, inside, outside, inside, outside."

"Not fair! They need to split up!"

"And the twins win!" Zianna said when they crossed the dandelion they had marked as the finish line. "Are you guys ok?" She walked over to her brothers.

"I hate this game," Liir said, untying the rope at his leg.

"Me too," Preil agreed, still lying face down on the grass.

"Alright, you drama queen, sit up," Zianna helped her youngest brother stand up and winced when she saw his face. "Ooh."

"Uh oh. Priel, are you ok?" Mackaeyla asked.

"My nose hurts."

Nailor scoffed. "Well, yeah, it's bleeding."

"What?!"

"Alright calm down," Zianna bent down to Priel's level and checked him over thoroughly. "You'll be fine, it's just a cut. We'll clean it off and it'll be good as new. And what do we need to remember about this incident?"

Liir raised his hand. "Nobody tells Mama."

"Exactly."

"Dinner's ready!" Galinda called from inside the house. All of them started to walk towards the door.

"Ima die," Priel said, holding his nose.

"Don't be dramatic," Zianna said and pulled his hand away from his face.

"What's that mean?"

"It means quit being a baby," Liir said.

"He is the baby," the twins piped in.

"You're mean! Zia," Priel whined and extended his arms.

"Zip it," Zianna warned her siblings and lifted the youngest into her arms. She opened the door and let her brothers and sister step inside first.

You can thank all the kids' interactions to my cousins, sibling, and me; they're all faint memories of things we did.

One chapter left! Small epilogue. Maybe I'll upload it later today, maybe tomorrow. I'll see when I have time.

R&R :)