"You asked to see me, Professor Yarrow?"

When Elphaba had been called out of her last exam and asked to come to the headmaster's office, she couldn't help but wonder what kind of trouble she was in this time. None of her hypotheses, however, involved her and Nessarose alone, which is why she was surprised to see her sister seated in front of Professor Yarrow's desk.

"Please, take a seat, Miss Elphaba," the vice-headmaster said, clearing his throat. His little beady eyes, which appeared even smaller behind his impossibly thick glasses, flicked down to a letter that lay open on his desk as he ran his hand through his balding hair.

"I know this is very sudden, but I have just received an urgent message from Munchkinland. Governor Thropp requests to see you as soon as possible, on a matter of great importance."

Elphaba looked over at Nessarose.

"Excuse me, Professor," she interrupted. "I think there must be some mistake. Surely, our father has only asked to see my sister?"

Professor Yarrow squinted at the letter and shook his head.

"No, the message very clearly states that Governor Thropp wishes to receive both of his daughters, Miss Nessarose and Miss Elphaba," he said, and both Nessarose and Elphaba looked at him in disbelief. "Given the urgent tone of the message, I have taken the liberty to arrange your transport."

He folded the letter and slid it across the desk in Nessarose's direction.

"A carriage will be waiting for you here tomorrow morning."

•••

"I still think you shouldn't go".

Fiyero, Glinda and Boq had all come out to the courtyard to see off the Thropp sisters, but if Elphaba was being honest, she would rather Fiyero had stayed behind.

"And I still think it's not your decision to make," she told him sternly.

Unsurprisingly, he hadn't taken the news of her and Nessarose leaving for Munchkinland very well; his fists clenching at the mere thought of Frexpar Thropp. Fae, why would you want anything to do with this man?,he'd exclaimed when Elphaba told him she'd decided to grant her father's request. He's a sick monster, you've told me so and I've seen it for myself! Besides, you haven't recovered fully yet! What if he does something to you? What if he hurts you and I'm not there to help?

She couldn't say she didn't understand him – seeing her father was the last thing she wanted to do and her insides squeezed at the thought of having to endure his presence again. Still, Fiyero's overprotective attitude was getting on her nerves. For Oz's sake, Fiyero, will you stop treating me like child? she snapped finally, hearing him try to dissuade her for the hundredth time. I know you're worried, but I don't need you to take care of me all the time!

Although she wouldn't explain it to Fiyero – not when he was being so obstinate – she had more reasons to go to Munchkinland than just common decency. She had an inkling as to why she and Nessa were suddenly requested to go back to Munchkinland. Father's dead. After he heard what you've done… How you disgraced us… He died of shame, embarrassed to death. Nessarose's cutting words had imprinted themselves into Elphaba's mind, no matter how hard she tried to forget; no matter if she knew that they hadn't been spoken by this Nessa. If father is about to die, she thought darkly, I want to be there to prove that at least his death wasn't my fault.

She shook off her thoughts when their carriage entered the courtyard and focused on helping her sister get settled inside.

"Thank you, Fabala," Nessarose whispered softly. "You know, you really don't have to go… I know Fiyero doesn't want you to…"

"Fiyero doesn't decide what I do," Elphaba said curtly, earning herself a disapproving look.

"Would you at least go and say goodbye to him properly?" Nessarose pleaded. "Please? Can you do that for me?"

Elphaba sighed. She did feel guilty about the way she'd handled the conflict; having been aloof cold, and barely allowing Fiyero to embrace her as they were saying goodbye.

"Fiyero?" she called, getting out of the carriage again and taking a few hesitant steps towards him, as he left Glinda and Boq behind to meet her halfway. She held out her hand and waited for him to take it before saying, quietly but firmly: "Kyé ámia't."

A slight smile appeared on his face as he nodded and squeezed her hand.

"Kyé akhí ámia't."

•••

"Fabala? He's asked to see you."

Elphaba flicked the invisible dirt off of her skirt and straightened up as she saw Nessarose emerge from their father's room. They'd been back home in Munchkinland for days, and this was the first time she was allowed – or, rather, requested – to see her father. With a deep inhale, she mustered a smile in Nessa's direction and walked into the dim-lit bedroom.

„Father," she said coolly, instinctively lowering her head, as she'd been taught to do; then forcing herself to raise it again. Frexpar lay in his bed, looking like he was freezing despite the mountain of covers; his face sickly pale and glistening with sweat.

"Elphaba," he greeted her weakly, but his expression was unreadable as he motioned towards the chair standing beside the bed. Elphaba fought the urge to pinch herself, having trouble comprehending what in the name of merciful Oz himself was happening; and hesitantly sat down. Frexpar took a deep, wheezing breath, followed by a few coughs.

"Seeing that you have come here," he said grudgingly. "I'm certain you also suspect why I requested you to." She looked at him attentively, but didn't react, so he went on. "I'm dying, Elphaba."

Despite the calm tone, his eyes were filled with fear and Elphaba, against all odds, felt the tiniest flicker of pity sneak its way into her heart.

"I don't know how long I have left; if it's days, weeks, maybe a little over a month," Frexpar continued. "However long it may be, I feel obliged… to sort things out with you."

He looked at her intently, trying to elicit any sort of reaction, but Elphaba kept a stone face. She would listen to what he wanted to say, but she was not going to make it easier on him. He must have sensed her resolve, for he took another wheezing breath and continued.

"I imagine you want me to say that, deep inside, I've always loved you," he said, frowning, as if the very words put him in considerable pain. "But I won't lie to you. I never did love you, Elphaba. I never could love you. I will admit, I never even really tried to love you."

She felt like this admission should make her feel grief, anger, maybe disappointment… But she felt nothing. Nothing at all.

"Still, I've made mistakes when it comes to you," Frexpar said after a while, gritting his teeth. "I know you have felt guilty… I know you've felt responsible for your sister's disability, for your mother's passing…"

Elphaba clenched her fists.

"You mean you have made me feel responsible," she stated bitterly. "You forced that guilt onto me."

A fit of coughing shook Frexpar's entire body, leaving him struggling to catch his breath, flailing about like a fish out of water; and it felt like even his body itself was trying to delay the moment he would have to admit that she was right.

"Yes," he choked out finally. "That's true. I shouldn't have done that. I…" He squeezed his eyes shut. "I know it's a lot to ask, but I hope you can forgive a dying man."

The request stunned Elphaba. It was shameless of him to ask; but she was shocked to have him care, in any capacity, about her thoughts or feelings. She wanted to hate him; she deserved to hate him, yet somehow, she couldn't. He didn't fix any damage he'd done to her, that much was certain; but all the damage she'd suffered later, the wounds and scars and breaks that had nothing to do with him, made all of his wrongdoings seem insignificant.

"Elphaba?" Frexpar's voice broke through her thoughts.

He didn't deserve forgiveness, he should die feeling at least a small part of the guilt he'd made her feel her entire life; the life of abuse and mistreatment.

"Please. Say you can forgive me," he begged again, more desperately this time; and despite all her doubts, Elphaba couldn't bear to outright deny his request. Looking into his eyes and carefully weighing the words, she said:

"Maybe someday."