Chapter 26

Everyone tried to appear cheerful on Dawn's birthday, as nervous and as worried as they were. They took the children to the spring fair in the town's square, they got Dawn candies and balloons and lots of presents. They planned a dinner party for her, to which the cook made her favorites and baked a huge chocolate cake. Yet, as they sat in the dining room that evening, Dawn still looked sad and depressed, as she had been all day. She looked beautiful, wearing a new dress, which was made of emerald satin. Glinda knew that the dress reminded her of Elphaba, and that was why she had insisted on wearing it that night. She had a matching satin ribbon in her hair, which was loose and streaming down her shoulders. She held her new doll, a present from Boq and Glinda, and said nothing throughout dinner. She hardly ate, either.

Fiyero glanced at her from time to time, a concerned expression on his face. "Sweetie, are you sure you're not hungry? Look, it's your favorite," he said, smiling at her the best he could.

She shook her head stubbornly in a way that was so Elphaba-like, it nearly broke his heart. He couldn't argue with her. He didn't get her the thing she wanted most for her birthday, her mother. He let her down. It made him feel awful.

The doorbell rang just as Lalley put the cake on the table. Fiyero, who was about to cut it with an enormous knife, froze. Glinda gasped. So did Boq. The children didn't pay much attention, not when that wonderful cake stood on the table in front of them. They didn't see their parents exchange troubled glances from above their heads.

When none of the servants called them to the main hall, they decided that it was probably nothing, someone who was trying to sell something, that's all. As a distraction, they all started singing Happy Birthday to Dawn so they didn't hear the door when it opened. Fiyero picked up the knife again in order to cut the cake.

"Hey, you forgot to make a wish," said an achingly familiar voice from the threshold.

Fiyero raised his head sharply and just stared at her. Was he dreaming this? But then she smiled at him and he knew that he didn't, that it was Elphaba who stood there, leaning on her father's arm, safe and sound and smiling. Thank Oz!

Dawn seemed to realize that faster than he father did, for she jumped off her chair and ran to her mother. Elphaba bent to pick her up, no matter how weak she still was, no matter how heavy Dawn seemed to be all of a sudden. She held her tight and didn't want to let go of her, ever.

"I knew you'd come," she heard Dawn whisper in her ear.

She closed her eyes, holding back the tears that stung the corners of her eyes. "Of course I did," she whispered back, kissing her daughter's forehead. "I promised I wouldn't leave, remember?"

"Is there a hug for me, too?" asked Fiyero gently as he approached them. Elphaba helped Dawn to the floor and turned to face him. "Hey," he smiled at her.

Her forehead wrinkled in confusion. "Do I know you?" she asked, deadly serious.

For a moment he was completely taken aback by that question. He thought that maybe he misread her smile earlier because of the tears in his eyes-

And then she was smiling again. Her expression was unmistakable.

He swept her off her feet and kissed her before she had any chance to resist him. "Welcome back," he whispered once their lips parted.

She looked up at him, concerned. "I thought you were…" she started, gently touching his face.

He took her hand in his and gave it a little squeeze. "Shhh… I'm fine. And you're back. That's all that matters now, okay?" he asked before he pulled her into his arms again. They held each other until someone coughed behind them.

"May I… cut in?" asked Glinda. Elphaba laughed, and she let go of Fiyero and hugged her best friend. "Oh, Elphie," said Glinda, tears streaming down her face. "I missed you so much. I was so afraid I'd never see you again."

"I missed you too, Glinda," whispered Elphaba. "I'm so proud of you for doing that spell, you know."

Glinda smiled meekly. "It was nothing."

Elphaba snorted and smiled teasingly at her friend. "Stop being modest, it's not like you."

Glinda frowned. Everyone else laughed. Boq approached her and gave her a hug as well. "Elphaba, welcome back," he said, smiling. She returned his smile, and knelt to hug Dyre, who was standing behind his father.

"I'm glad they didn't kill you as they wanted to, Auntie Elphie!"

Elphaba laughed softly, in spite of the shock in Glinda's expression. "I'm glad that you're glad, sweetie. And I'm happy to go back."

"Come on, sit down, you must be starving," said Fiyero gently and led her to the deserted table. He turned to look at the Wizard, who was observing the scene from the threshold. As everyone else, he had tears in his eyes. "You too, sir," he added with a small smile.

The Wizard hesitated, then looked doubtfully at Elphaba. She slowly nodded in approval.

"Will cake do, or do you want Lalley to bring you something else?" Fiyero asked, a little concerned. Elphaba had always been skinny, but now she looked even more fragile. He guessed that she hadn't eaten much in the passing two months.

Elphaba shook her head. "I think I can live with that cake," she replied, smiling. "But don't cut it because as I said when I came in, Deanne here didn't make her wish," she pulled Dawn into her lap. "So make a wish, sweetie, before daddy cuts your cake."

"I did," said Dawn. "And you came."

Elphaba said nothing and just held her, breathing in her sweet scent.

"There. See? Can I cut it now?" asked Fiyero, somewhat impatiently. He thought it was better than to start crying again, and he was about to, after hearing what his daughter just said.

To his great relief, Elphaba smiled and nodded. "Yes. Yes, you can."

The rain ceased, finally, but inside the castle, no one noticed it. The Emerald City was illuminated by the pale glow of the moon that came out from its hiding behind the clouds. It was a long and happy evening. The children were allowed to stay up late, and they were sitting in the living room by the fireplace and helping Dawn open her presents. Her sadness disappeared; the sparkle came back to her small face. She got her mother back, and a new grandfather as well.

Glinda watched him thoroughly as the evening went on. She was relieved to find out that he had changed, as he promised. He was great with Dawn, as if he was meant to be a grandfather all his life. Though he was still careful and hesitant near Elphaba, she seemed to accept him and his new behavior.

And as if she knew what was Glinda thinking, Elphaba turned to look at her just then. Their gazes locked. Elphaba smiled, a wide, open-hearted smile that told Glinda everything she needed to know. Thank Oz for silent communication. She was happy to get her best friend back.

"Finally! I thought she would never fall asleep!" was Fiyero's dramatic sigh as he and Elphaba entered into their room. It was almost midnight, and they had just put Dawn to bed. Though she insisted that she was not at all tired, her adrenaline faded away eventually and she was fast asleep as soon as her head touched the pillows.

Elphaba raised an eyebrow as she noticed that Fiyero was locking their door. "What do with have here…" she said, amused. "Are you trying, by any chance, to seduce me, Master Tiggular?"

He didn't answer at first, he just slowly moved closer to her until they were inches away from each other. He touched her face gently, slowly, as if trying to memorize her features. Elphaba closed her eyes, lost in the sensation of his wandering fingers. "Why, do you think I should?" he whispered. His thumb was brushing her lower lip.

She opened her eyes and managed a small nod before Fiyero leaned down to capture her lips with his. His hands let go of her face and slid down to wrap around her narrow waist. Elphaba slid her arms around Fiyero's neck as he lowered them onto their bed. Their kiss deepened and became more passionate and urgent, and it was their mutual need to breathe that forced them to break the kiss eventually.

"Sweet Oz, Elphaba," Fiyero murmured, his breath hot on her skin.

"I know," she whispered back, as breathless as he was.

He leaned down to kiss her again, then moved to spread butterfly kisses down her throat as he tried to unclasp the too many tiny buttons of her dress.

"I missed… this…" she managed to say.

He was smiling against her neck. "Me too," he whispered, "I missed you… so much…" He let go of her dress buttons and looked at her seriously. His gaze was a mixture of love, concern and desire. "Fae… just tell me. Did he…" his voice trailed off.

Nonetheless, she knew what he meant and shook her head slowly. Her gaze never left his when she spoke. "No, he didn't. He tried, at first, but I didn't… I couldn't…" She didn't even realize that she was crying until he got off her, sat on their bed and took her in his arms.

He rocked her against his chest and whispered soothing words in her ear as her cries shuddered her whole body. "Shhh… it's alright, you're okay," he murmured, as if he was comforting Dawn after a bad dream she had. He held back tears of frustration. He was furious. He's kill Luke for doing this for her; he didn't care if he was her brother. This made him shiver. What if she couldn't stop him?

Elphaba's cries had gradually subsided. Fiyero kept stroking her back until she calmed down. "I'm sorry," she murmured into his unbuttoned shirt.

"That's okay," he said gently. He removed his shirt and used it to wipe away her tears.

It was then when she first noticed the scar that was left on his chest from the gunshot, almost three months ago. "Oh my Oz, Yero-"

"Forget it. It doesn't even hurt anymore," he assured her. He shivered slightly when she gently touched the scar.

"Must have been a nasty wound," she said softly.

"I don't remember. I was unconscious, so I wouldn't know," he said, and kissed her forehead. "Come on. Let's get you out of this dress. You need to get some sleep."

Elphaba nodded, too tired to protest. Fiyero removed her dress and helped her get into bed. By the time he had changed into his pajama pants, she was already fast asleep. He got into bed carefully, so he wouldn't wake her. "Night, Yero," she murmured as she felt his arms wrap around her. She leaned back into his embrace.

"I love you, Fae," he whispered right before he closed his eyes. Soon they were both fast asleep, and didn't wake up until the next morning.