Chapter 2

Glinda leaned against the closed door. She closed her eyes and felt each and every sore muscle in her body. She'd take a long, hot, relaxing bubble bath later. But right now… it wasn't over until it was over.

Elphaba screamed again as the maid put another wet towel on her sweaty forehead. She kept murmuring words of comfort to Elphaba, who didn't seem to be aware of them. "It's alright, darling… you're fine now… breathe it out…" she said. Elphaba actually seemed to relax a little. The maid raised her head to look at the doctor, an old Zebra, who shook its head hopelessly. Elphaba was a difficult case.

Glinda approached her bedside and held Elphaba's hand. Surprisingly, it was as cold as ice. Elphaba was shivering so violently now, Glinda had to hold back tears of frustration. For that night, she had to be the strong one. It was the least she could do to support her best friend.

"Glinny," whispered Elphaba.

Glinda opened her eyes when she heard her nickname. Boq called her Linney from time to time, and she called Elphaba Elphie, so it was only fair that Elphaba would call her Glinny, whether she liked it or not. "What is it, Elphie?" she whispered back.

"Promise me something?"

Listening to her voice, weak and broken, so unlike her confident self, tore Glinda's heart. She made enormous efforts to push back the tears that formed in the corners of her eyes as she slowly nodded at Elphaba's request. "Of course. What is it?"

"Take care of him… Fiyero… and this baby… because I don't think I can…" She moaned in agony as another contraction hit her full force. The pain was unbearable; it was like nothing she had ever felt before. It was tearing her apart. She closed her eyes… or didn't she? If she didn't, why everything became so dark all of a sudden? The room faded away… fog… darkness… unconsciousness… death? Was she dead…?

"Elphaba, listen to me!" Glinda's shout was fierce.

Even in her semi-conscious condition, Elphaba detected the raising panic in her friend's voice. At least now she knew she wasn't dead just yet. She wasn't sure how encouraging that discovery was. She was too weak to open her eyes, so she nodded slowly, so Glinda would know that she was listening.

"You can! You will! You are not going to lose this fight, do you hear me? You are not going to give up like your mother did! You are defying gravity, remember?"

I'm defying gravity… It seemed so long ago now. Glinda held her hand and Elphaba shook it.

"I can see its head now!" the doctor said from the other side of the bed, a hint of urgency in his voice.

"Come on, Elphaba, you're almost there," whispered Glinda.

"You heard the doc, honey," added the maid. "Give us a nice strong push and let this baby out." Her voice seemed so far away.

Elphaba was nearly unconscious, yet she did as she was told. Glinda never left her side; she whispered soothing words while Elphaba pushed and screamed, and suddenly there was another voice in the room except from the doctor's, or the maid's, or Glinda, or hers…

It was the most beautiful sound of a baby's crying.

"A girl!" the doctor announced triumphantly as he took the baby away to clean it. "A perfect, beautiful little girl," he informed happily.

The dawn was breaking on the Emerald City but no one in the room seemed to notice it, or even care. Elphaba started laughing and crying at the same time. Glinda hurried to the doctor's side to see the baby. She wasn't green, that was for sure, she observed, somewhat relieved. She was tiny and beautiful, her eyes were gray and alert, her hair was soft and black. Glinda picked her up once the doctor finished the examination, and handed her to Elphaba.

"There you go, baby girl," she murmured softly, laying the baby in Elphaba's lap. "Say hello to your mommy." The girl didn't cry. Her gaze was curious and wandered from Glinda to Elphaba. She lied relaxed in her mother's arms. It was a perfect image, as far as Glinda was concerned. It brought tears to her already teary eyes. "Oh, Elphie," she sighed.

Elphaba looked at the baby, her baby, as if hypnotized. "She's…" she started, but stopped. She didn't know what to say. She stared at her daughter, her daughter, sweet Oz!

"I'll get Fiyero for you, sweetie," said Glinda. "And then I'll go informing the people outside that you are alright."

Elphaba nodded, distracted by the baby. She looked at her, completely fascinated. She had never seen something so tiny in her entire life; except from Nessie when she was born, perhaps, but it looked so many years ago. "Glinda?" she said right before Glinda opened the door. Their eyes locked and she smiled. She didn't have to say anything. Silent communication worked best for them sometimes. Glinda returned her smile and left the room.