Rifiuto: Non Miriena

A/N: So there is another story that goes along with this piece, set years after this story. I found it a few weeks ago. I'll try to start posting it soon. Written: 2012. Rewritten: 2014. Found: 2018.- Licia

Strong, harsh, new cries filled the air, drowning out the screams of both women, and Fiyero turned to his wife as she collapsed in his arms, chest heaving. "Fabala," She met his gaze, reaching up to brush her fingers against his cheek, the babe that had just burst forth from her body in her arms, still crying. "Fabala, guardami, moglie. Per favore, principessa. Parlami." Fear filled his voice, and he swallowed against the lump in his throat. He would not relax until he heard his precious Chieftess speak-

Her breathing slowed, and she searched his gaze, exhausted. "Figlio o figlia, mio principe? Il mio capo? Ho dato alla luce un principe o una principessa?"

Her name for him didn't go unnoticed, for they still called each other by their former titles- something that had been going on from the time she first arrived, and nothing, not even Fiyero becoming Chief of the Arjiki, would change such a tradition. He choked out a strangled laugh, resting his forehead to hers, relieved at finally hearing her beautiful voice. He turned his gaze to the babe against her chest, noting the piece of the sac still upon the babe's head, before letting his gaze wander down. He grinned, pride filling his voice as he breathed, "Hai portato una figlia dai miei semi, il mio capo. Una bella principessa."

She smiled softly at him, resting her head against him. "Una principessa."

He kissed her head, and both turned as Mulhama choked out, "Un figlio? Ti ho portato un figlio, marito?"

Tibbett chuckled, despite the shock he now felt. "Sì, moglie. Ci hai dato nascere un figlio bellissimo."

Elphaba smiled softly at her sister from her place in her husband's arms, her daughter's loud cries matching those of her cousin's, who lay cradled against his own mother's chest. Mulhama was too in awe of the newborn boy she'd just pushed out of her body; the response was similar to how she'd felt when Irji had finally laid upon her chest after birth. Eventually, she turned her gaze back to her daughter, who, despite the fluid and ruddiness of her skin from her entrance into the world, was as pale as her mother; her skin would change with time, to be similar to her siblings' as she grew. It was then that she noticed the intact piece of sac still atop her daughter's head. Brow furrowed, she turned to her husband, who nodded and kissed her sweetly.

It was believed that pieces of the sac left upon a babe's head after birth signified a strong role the babe would take later in life; that the sac was left upon the head of the Chief and Chieftess's newborn princess meant she herself would one day lead the tribe; the sac upon her cousin's head signified he could very well become shaman one day; regardless, they meant great things for both children.

They slowly broke the kiss, her words making his heart flutter. "Che cosa si chiama lei, il mio principe?" A name, for our new daughter.

Fiyero heard her, but couldn't focus on her words, for he couldn't take his eyes off the baby against his wife's breast. No matter the child, no matter the years between them, the sight of them just born still stole his breath away, and it took a few minutes before he was able to drag his eyes from the baby to his wife. "Nostra figlia..."

He looked up, turning his gaze towards Tibbett and Mulhama, who's gaze was firmly latched onto the baby boy in her arms. Both babes were slightly bigger than normal, which had been part of the reason for such long, difficult deliveries, and both were still attached to their mothers, by way of the chords that dangled between their mothers' legs. In a couple hours, the chords would detach themselves on their own. A moment passed, before Mulhama finally spoke, breathing the name of her new babe in a hushed, awestruck tone. "Trism."

Fiyero smiled softly, for he knew the meaning, 'Evening Sun'.

"Yero?"

He turned back to his wife, who waited patiently, the babe's cries slowly starting to calm as she lay against her mother's breast. Fiyero turned his gaze back to the babe, and after a moment, he leaned down, capturing Elphaba's mouth in another soft kiss, that didn't go unnoticed by either Tibbett or Mulhama. The younger woman smiled softly at her older sister, before glancing up at her husband, who kissed her forehead. Against her mouth, Fiyero whispered,

"Sarà... Oziandra."

His wife's smile beamed up at him as he pulled away, for she knew the meaning- 'Returned Love'.

After all they had gone through, such a name was appropriate for this new life created and brought into the world, for not only did this new babe finally complete their family, but her arrival- along with that of her cousin's- meant that only good things could be on the horizon for them- not just their family, but their tribe. This had been the babe Elphaba had dreamed of the night she fled the Thropp house, the night she spirited away, back to the Vinkus, when she'd arrived the following morning, asking to return and Fiyero had kept silent. This was the babe that had been on her mind when he'd followed her to the river, and she'd taken him back into her body in the alcove by the river; it was the babe Fiyero had dreamed of that night, separated from her and near broken.

Yes, this name, this babe, was very, very special for them.

Because unlike her, who had been born into the tribe, for her mother, there had never been a thing like what the whites thought- captivity among the Arjiki.

For Elphaba, there was only love.