Hi there... Here we go with chapter 31, we're heading towards the end of part 1 and I don't know how long writing the sequel is going to take, but I'm guessing around three to five months:/
Anyway, since there are still some chapters to go, there's no need to get all sentimental about this right now lol.
Reviews are appreciated as always:)
Take care, you guys.

Started writing: 11.02.2020

Finished writing: 14.02.2020

Chapter 31
Together

It was good to see it again; the big mansion made of white brick behind the two pine trees. It was good to arrive back home without rushing inside with a feeling of panic surging through her body. The coachman, Mr Riving, rubbed his big, red nose and murmured a quick goodbye when he'd put down her luggage in front of the door.

Then Elphaba rang the doorbell. She had a smile on her face this time when Nessie opened the door and pulled her down into a hug.

"Fabala, you're here," she squealed, turned her wheelchair and shouted, "Momma, Fabala is here!"

The kitchen door opened and Momma stepped out, an apron tied around her waist, a huge smile on her face.

"Fabala, we didn't expect you until late afternoon," she dried her hands on her apron and stepped closer to pull Elphaba into a hug. There was not a single sign of exhaustion or sadness on her face; no dark circles underneath her eyes and no red welts on her cheeks that would indicate crying. She seemed to be fine. "How are you, my dear?"

The green girl couldn't help but smile; how was she, really?

Perfect, for she was in love. Miserable, for she had to leave her friends and wouldn't see them for eight weeks. Good, for she was here, and they were well.

"I'm fine, Momma," she snuggled deeper into her mother's arms. "How are you?"

"Oh, we're good, all good," Momma said, leant back and stroked Elphaba's black hair from the green girl's forehead. "It took us a while, but we have come back to normal eventually. It was just a matter of time."

She stepped back and rounded Elphaba to pick up her two suitcases and put them next to the staircase.

"It's such great weather, isn't it?"

Elphaba nodded. Great weather, indeed. The sun was shining, and the grass was green, no clouds to be seen on the blue sky.

"Fabala, what about your exam results?" sounded Nessa's voice and Elphaba turned to her younger sister.

"Oh, we haven't gotten them yet," she told them. "But I think I've done rather good, considering the circumstances."

Momma knit her brows. "Circumstances? What circumstances?"

"Oh, you know, I had some girl-problems if you know what I mean."

"Dear me!" Momma exclaimed. "You poor girl. But it went well anyway?"

"Yes, thank Oz, I had Galinda and Fiyero by my side. They were a good help."

Momma tilted her head to one side. "Well, Fabala, it's good to have you back. We missed you."

She smiled at Elphaba, and Elphaba smiled back. She had missed them too. But perhaps she missed Fiyero a little bit more. And Galinda, of course.

"Boq and his mother are here," said Nessa in delight. "They came for lunch."

"Well then," Elphaba brushed her hair out of her face. "Let's go."

They made their way into the kitchen. "Where's father anyway?"

Momma waved a hand dismissively. "He had to go and discuss something with the Mayor of Three Dead Trees. He'll be back for tea, I'm sure."

In the kitchen sat Mrs Underhill on one of three empty chairs and held a teacup in her hand and a smile on her lips.

"Elphaba, how good to see you again," she exclaimed and stood up to give her a quick hug. "How was your second term?"

The green girl sat down in the chair beside her and thankfully took the teacup her mother handed her.

"It was great. There were a few bumps along the road, but all in all, I enjoyed my time at Shiz," she smiled. "I'm excited to go back after the holidays."

She sipped her tea and sighed at the familiar taste. This she had missed.

"And what about Madame Morrible?" asked her mother. "Did she calm down?"

"Actually," began Elphaba with a grin. "It's been rather good in these last days... There's something I have to tell you—something I have to show you."

She stood up. "Wait just a clock-tick."

She rushed outside and got her bag from the wardrobe where she'd left it before. When she returned to the kitchen, sitting down in her chair again, she was met by confused looks.

"Madame Morrible asked me into her study this morning," explained Elphaba, slowly opening her bag to retrieve the Grimmerie from it. "She said—as a replacement for a written exam—I should practice some spells over the course of the holidays."

Momma, Nessa and Mrs Underhill looked at her from wide eyes.

"But spells are very dangerous," Elphaba went on. "if they are pronounced the wrong way. So, she asked me to read one right there and then and- well, I got it right at the first try. And Madame Morrible was so—giddy—and said she would write to the Wizard straight away."

"Oh, Fabala," breathed her mother and took her hands. "I'm so proud of you."

"Are you really going to see the Wizard?" Nessa asked after a second and Elphaba leant forward.

"If he wants to see me," she said and smiled.

"If who wants to see who?"

She turned around, and her smile increased as she saw who stood in the threshold. "Boq!"

He wrung his hands as he did so often when he was nervous or uncomfortable and smiled. "Hi there, Elphaba, welcome back."

He stopped right beside Nessarose, and they exchanged a smile. And Elphaba turned to her mother and raised an eyebrow at her, and her mother waved a hand dismissively.

"Now tell me," said Boq. "Who wants to see who?"

Elphaba let her fingers wander across the cover of the book on her knees.

"The Wizard wants to see me," she answered quietly. "Perhaps."

"Well, that's great news!" exclaimed Boq and turned to Elphaba's mother. "The Wizard's Sorceress, Mrs Thropp, from your family!"

Momma gave Elphaba a warm smile.

"The Wizard's Magic Grand Vizier said Madame Morrible," Elphaba said.

Boq's eyes widened with astonishment. "Magic Grand Vizier, now you're talking!"

For a moment, it was quiet in the kitchen; everyone present indulging in their own thoughts.

"Well, Elphaba," sounded Mrs Underhill's voice. "How about a little demonstration?"

Elphaba looked up.

"Demonstration?" she repeated doubtfully. "But I know very little spells. And I don't really know what they do."

Momma waved a hand. "That's of no matter, Fabala. If you feel up to it, you can show us."

Elphaba tilted her head to one side, considering what to do. Then she carefully opened the Grimmerie and began to search for a spell.

Like the last time she opened the book, the letters were slippery and erratic and formed new words, new spells every single second. It was hard to read one aloud but when the words toppled over each other and whirled across the page, forming a new spell -one that she had heard before even though she didn't know where or when- she snapped at the chance and began to chant.

The words sounded foreign in her ears, tasted strange in her mouth and smelt weird in her nose, and when she opened her eyes again, Elphaba looked into the wide eyes of her mother -wide with excitement and curiosity- and waited for something to happen.

Silence.

"Maybe it didn't-"

Work she'd wanted to say, but at that exact moment, there was a noise behind them, and they all whirled around and stared at the kitchen counter.

Slowly and with much struggle, a silver spoon climbed up the kitchen counter; a small spoon with tiny legs and tiny arms that walked across the wooden surface like a toddler walking for the first time. It walked over to the window and climbed outside, and when it jumped out into the garden, Elphaba thought she'd heard it cheer in a high sweet voice.

They all gaped after it for some time.

"I-I didn't know I could do this," Elphaba stuttered, and she looked at the page in the Grimmerie where the letters were dancing again.

The others stared at her in disbelief.

"Tha-That was a walking, talking spoon," said Nessa after some time and her eyes were still wide. "And climbing. It climbed. Did you see that?"

They nodded synchronously.

Eventually, Momma stood up and walked over to the window, looking outside if the spoon was still there.

"Do you- Do you think there are more things like that?" Boq asked carefully.

"What; are you afraid the spoon will return with his spoon-army to get revenge for being captured in our drawer for so long?" said Elphaba drily and she closed the Grimmerie again, fingers trembling ever so slightly.

"How extraordinary," whispered Mrs Underhill.

Elphaba's mother sat down again, a smile on her lips. "It's long gone, the spoon; that's all I can say."

She took Elphaba's hand and squeezed it. "I'm proud of you, Fabala; incredibly proud of you."

Elphaba looked down at her lose fist lying in her lap and smiled.

When Father returned, it was just the time that Boq and his mother had to leave. Mrs Underhill just took the rest of the banana bread from Momma when the front door opened and Father stepped inside, summer coat folded neatly over his arm.

"Ah, Mrs Underhill, Master Boq," he said and let the door stand open for them.

He turned around and, spotting his green-skinned daughter at the other end of the hallway, a smile formed on his lips, though a surprised one.

"Elphaba, you're home early," he kissed her forehead. "We didn't expect you back before dinner."

Elphaba tilted her head to one side. "Well, Mr Riving is a very good coachman."

"Didn't I tell you?" said Mrs Underhill and kissed Momma's cheek. "Goodbye, Melena, I'm afraid we have to leave."

She waved at Boq to hurry up, and the boy's face was flushed dark red when he hugged Nessa goodbye and fled the house.

"You have a very special daughter, Governor Frexspar; magical, I would say," and with that, Mrs Underhill disappeared.

Elphaba blushed deeply, her cheeks glowing in dark green as her father turned to her with a confused frown.

"What does she mean?"

"Well," said Elphaba, rummaging around in her bag and pulling out the Grimmerie. "She might be talking about this."

Father's eyes widened. "That's the Grimmerie."

Elphaba looked at him in surprise. "Right. How could you tell?"

He carefully took the thick book from her and stroked over its leather binding.

"I would recognise it anywhere. I once saw a picture of it in a book; such an impressive piece of literature."

He didn't even open it but handed it back to Elphaba after mere seconds. "Where did you get this?"

Elphaba stuffed the book into her bag again. "Madame Morrible gave it to me so I could practice some spells before… before I get to meet the Wizard—perhaps."

Father's eyes grew big. "The Wizard? Really, Elphaba, how splendid."

The green girl smiled somewhat proudly. "You think so?"

"Of course, I think so," Father took her arm. "Meeting the Wizard is something very few people get to do. It's something to be proud of, Elphaba, it really is."

"Should we go outside?" interrupted Momma gently. "Drink some tea and eat the cake Elizia baked?"

Elphaba felt her mouth water; she loved Mrs Underhill's cake more than anything.

"Is it strawberry?" she asked and followed her mother into the kitchen.

"It's always strawberry," said Nessa and she was right.

They loaded a tray with some glasses and cups and Momma brew some tea although no one was sure they'd really drink it. But tea belonged to cake no matter the weather, Momma insisted.

And then the whole family went outside on the terrace and sat down at the table in the warm afternoon sun.

"Fabala, what is it with you and Galinda Upland now?" Momma asked, cutting the strawberry cake into pieces.

Elphaba sat up straight. "I know it sounds crazy, but we've become friends. Like… good friends; really good friends. She's a sweet once she's given up her blonde behaviour."

Momma raised an eyebrow at her. "Blonde behaviour?"

"Uh, you know what I mean."

She thankfully took a piece of cake from her mother, leaning back in her chair.

The sun shone brightly down on them, warming Elphaba's face. Yes, she really had missed her home; the house and the garden, her parents and her sister.

She had missed the way it smelt out here on the terrace, had missed the feeling of the sun on her face paired with the smell of the Munchkin cornfields.

It was home.

It was by mere accident that Elphaba found her mother awake at this late hour. She had been searching for a book of hers and eventually had gotten up again to go downstairs and search in her bag when she'd spotted the light in the living room.

It could have been neither Father nor Nessie for Father was in his study, and Nessa was sound asleep. So, the green girl opened the door to find her mother on the sofa; a book opened on her knees.

"Fabala?" Momma turned around, smiling at her daughter. "What are you doing down here?"

Elphaba made her way across the room to sit down beside her mother. "I was searching for my book. But, coming to think about it, it is rather good that I can talk to you once more. Alone."

Her mother knit her brows. "Alone?"

The green girl nodded. She watched her Momma close her book and slowly, Elphaba settled into the cushion, one-foot tucked underneath her, one knee drawn close to her chest.

"So," said Momma with a small smile. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

Elphaba took a deep breath. "Do you remember how I told you that I was beginning to become friends with not only Galinda but with Fiyero too?"

Momma nodded, brows knit.

"Well," Elphaba stared at the hand that was holding her knee, the fingers that were dancing across her skin. "It's become more than that. Friendship, that is; more than friendship."

Her mother sat up straight, eyes widened.

"We had a rough start but- but then he tried to make up for that and wanted to become my friend. Although I don't really know if that was his true intention.", she laughed slightly, "And then the day of the Lion Cub came, and he was there and- I was bowled over by him. And he was bowled over by me, which is rather strange, considering, you know… everything. But he doesn't mind. The green, I mean—that would be weird, wouldn't it? If he did mind it. I would certainly mind it—or would I? He likes it, he says, but then what's there to like about green skin, and-"

Momma put a hand on her arm. "Fabala, calm down. You're talking a blue streak, really."

Elphaba's cheeks flushed.

"A-And some things happened and he- he asked me out," she smirked at her fingers. "That was a good two months ago, I think."

Her mother raised her brows. "Two months? And you didn't think of writing to us about that?"

Elphaba lowered her head. "Well, you see, I don't think that is something to tell your parents through a letter, is it?"

She felt her mother's eyes on her, and she flinched when suddenly she was pulled into a tight embrace.

"It's wonderful to hear this, Fabala," Momma murmured into her hair. "I've always wanted this for you."

"To be in love?"

Her mother nodded. "And to feel loved. It's different with the family, I know. But when there's someone who loves you with everything you are -who isn't part of the family- it feels different. I think you can only thrive in a relationship, Elphaba, especially you."

Then her lips curled into a broad grin.

"When do you plan on telling your father?"

Elphaba groaned. "Oh Oz, why do you think I came to you at first?"

Momma laughed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'd say you should tell him tomorrow during breakfast. That way we're all there and can support you."

She grinned at Elphaba, and Elphaba sighed.

"Say, Fabala, does Nessie know?"

The green girl shook her head. "No, she doesn't. I wrote to her when I felt I was falling in love with him, but I didn't tell her that we began to date."

Momma stroked over Elphaba's hair gently.

"It is truly wonderful to see you so happy, Fabala," she said, and Elphaba smiled.

"I am happy," the green girl snuggled closer. "I really am."

When Elphaba woke up, it was with a twisted feeling in her gut. She was happy to know her mother was happy for her; she was happy she hadn't freaked out. But she felt terrible to know that she had told her mother first and her father would be able to tell because her mother was a terrible actress. And what if it would cause a fight? What if Father would think Momma had known for far longer but hadn't told him?

She didn't really know how things were between her parents; they seemed okay. There were no jibes, no mean remarks. They acted normal around each other, but Elphaba could tell that they were a little bit more cautious about the little things, the small gestures. Her father kissed her mother goodbye when he retreated to his study, now; her mother rested her head against his shoulder when she laughed.

They seemed closer. But then again, Elphaba couldn't tell how fragile their relationship still was.

And her mother knew her too well than to not catch her nervousness when she came downstairs for breakfast. She gave Elphaba a reassuring smile.

"Isn't it great to be back at home for breakfast?" asked Nessa with a smile as she arranged her wheelchair in front of the table.

"It is," said Elphaba, watching cautiously how her father unfolded his napkin and tucked it into the neckline of his vest.

She threw her mother an uncertain look, but Momma nodded.

'Tell them' her eyes seemed to say and Elphaba looked around to catch a glimpse of her father's expression.

Was it a good time to tell him? Did he have a good night's sleep?

Momma cleared her throat and said, almost inaudibly, "Fabala."

Elphaba pressed her lips to a thin line.

For a moment, she looked at the folded napkin on her plate; the one with the flowers on it. Then she swallowed down her fear -if it was fear that she felt- and said, "I need to tell you something."

Father looked up, raised his brow and said nothing, passing the breadbasket on to Nessa.

"I-I'm kind of seeing someone."

Later she thought she might have considered waiting until Nessa had taken the basket from her father before breaking the news to them. For that way, all those buns wouldn't have gone to waste.

But instead, she'd told them before, and her father had dropped the basket in shock.

His face became a motionless wall. "You what?"

Elphaba threw her mother a frightened look. There was an amused twinkle in the woman's eyes as she leant back in her chair.

"I-I'm seeing someone. As in—dating," the green girl watched closely as her Father raised both eyebrows.

Was it shock that displayed in his grey eyes?

Nessa uttered a quiet squeal. "Is it who I think it is?"

"That depends on who you're thinking about," Elphaba said with a small smile.

"Well, who is it?" sounded her father.

The green girl turned around. She was picking her napkin to pieces, crumbling and then smoothening it out on her knee over and over again.

"Fiyero Tiggular."

"I knew it!" squealed Nessa and took her older sister's hand. "Fabala, that's wonderful."

But Elphaba's eyes were on her father and on her father only.

He looked at her from wide eyes; wide with shock.

"Fiyero Tiggular?" he asked. "The Vinkun Prince?"

She nodded slowly.

"I wouldn't have guessed," said Father.

He tugged at his napkin. "And you're… in a relationship? At your age?"

Elphaba almost laughed. "I am nineteen, Father, other girls start with these things much earlier. Don't they, Nessie?"

Nessa blushed and slapped her hand slightly.

Father curled his lips and knit his brows in discontent. "Which I don't like either."

He sighed. "But I guess it's only natural that something like this happens; You're growing up."

Momma chuckled. "Frexspar The Wise."

He nudged her side but gently so, and they laughed together.

"But, Elphaba," said Father and Elphaba straightened up again. "I'd like to meet him."

Elphaba's eyes widened. "Meet Fiyero?"

"Yes. I want to know him; it seems appropriate, doesn't it?"

Elphaba felt her cheeks burn in excitement.

"Oh, Fiyero had asked me if he could visit us at the end of the holidays anyway," she said, and her heart pounded hard in her chest. "He'd be thrilled if he could come here."

Momma and Father exchanged a quick look, then they nodded.

"How about the last two weeks of the holidays?" said Momma carefully, her eyes still on her husband.

Elphaba nodded. "I'll have to ask him, but it should work out."

In her mind, she counted the days until he would be here; 34 days.

34. She would cope, she told herself.