A/N I would like to dedicate this chapter to my two reviewers FaesFlower and charliesguns1004 thanks for taking the time to read and review my work 😁
The Emerald Woman and the Little Star
Chapter Three
Alice slowly reached into the cupboard and ran her hand over the black pointed hat then the long handle of the broomstick to the green end with the bristled tip. The little girl ran her hands over the bristles for a few seconds then she noticed wooden box in the bottom of the cupboard, letting go of the broomstick she bent down and pulled the box out of the cupboard and opened it up to reveal a folded back cape and book the little girl picked up the book and opened it.
Back down stairs in the kitchen Fiyero was helping Elphaba chop some carrots when he noticed her suddenly stop, putting down his knife he turned to her.
"Fae what's wrong"
"I don't know Yero I just have this awful feeling something is not right" said Elphaba then after a few seconds her eyes widened "Yero the Grimmerie someone's opened it"
The pair looked at each other then realised the same thing at the same time
"Alice" they said together.
Elphaba tore out of the kitchen Fiyero behind her and ran up the stairs. Elphaba flew down the third floor corridor towards their bedroom as she reached the door she saw little Alice sitting on the floor the book open in front of her and she was trying to pronounce the words. Elphaba ran over to the little girl and grabbed the book from her closing it with a snap.
"Alice what are you doing with this book" asked Elphaba with a pant.
Alice was startled by Elphaba's sudden arrival she jumped and started to back away from her.
"I'm sorry I'm sorry I just wanted to see please don't hurt me Elphie" said Alice tears pouring down her cheeks.
"Oh baby no one is going to hurt you here remember what Fiyero said down stairs" said Elphaba she put the book back into the box, placed the box back into the cupboard and closed the doors making sure they locked tight, then turned back to the little girl "come here baby" she held her arms out to the scared child.
Alice frozen for a few seconds her eyes fixed on the door way where Fiyero stood watching.
"It's ok Alice I'm not going to hurt you I promise go on go to Elphaba" said Fiyero
Alice looked between them for a few more seconds then slowly walked over to Elphaba and buried her face into her waist. Elphaba stroked the top of the little girls head "it's ok baby you're ok" said Elphaba. Scooping the little girl up into her arms Elphaba carried her over to the bed and and sat down with the little girl on her lap.
"Elphie why did that book have funny words in it" asked Alice.
"Sweetheart it's a special book that's not meant for little girls to read" said Elphaba "so no coming into this room without mine or Fiyero's permission ok"
"Ok I won't" said Alice her head buried in Elphaba's shoulder. Hugging the little girl tight against her Elphaba looked over to Fiyero who was standing in the door way her eyes shining with unshed tears.
Returning Elphaba's look Fiyero's heart quenched every fibre of his body longed to walk over and wrapped both girls in a tight hug but he knew the little girl would freak out if he went near.
"Fae I'll go and finish preparing the dinner if you want to stay with the little one" said Fiyero
Elphaba smiled at him "Thank you Yero I'd appreciate that a lot"
Fiyero nodded and headed back down to the kitchen, once he was gone Elphaba turn back to face Alice and found that the little girl and fallen asleep sighing she looked at her watch and saw it was almost five o'clock.
"Alice come on sweetheart you can't go to sleep now" said Elphaba rubbing the little girls back.
Alice opened her eyes and looked at Elphaba "I'm tired Elphie" The little girl started to fall asleep again.
"No baby come on I know you are tired but it's too late in the day for you to nap" said Elphaba she set the little girl on her feet and stood up "let's go and unpack your suitcases"
Alice took hold of Elphaba's hand and the two of them headed down the hall to The little girls bedroom on entering the room Alice headed straight for the dolls which where still lying on the floor.
Elphaba smiled at the little girl excitement then started to remove clothes from the suitcases and putting them into draws and hanging things in the wardrobe she had just finished hanging the last two dresses when she felt a tug on her arm.
"Elphie will you play with me" asked Alice holding a doll up to Elphaba.
"Of course I will sweetie" said Elphaba taking the doll and sitting down on the floor beside the little girl. The two were still sat in the same positions half an hour later when Fiyero appeared in the door way.
"Dinner is served ladies" said Fiyero putting his head around the bedroom door.
Alice jumped at the sound of his voice and dropped her doll before diving onto Elphaba's lap shaking.
"Hey it's ok baby Fiyero is not going to hurt you remember, let's go have some dinner" said Elphaba she moved the little girl off of her lap and stood up holding her hand out to her.
Alice locked her eyes on Fiyero for a few seconds then slowly turned to face Elphaba still shaking.
"I'm not allowed to eat after breakfast time" said Alice "Daddy said I can only eat once a day because I'm greedy" said Alice her lip wobbling.
Elphaba knelt down in front of the little girl and took hold of her trembling hands.
"Sweetheart remember what I told you earlier little girls need to eat more than once a day you are in no way greedy if you eat your dinner your daddy was wrong to tell you that" said Elphaba.
"But if I eat I will get in trouble and Fiyero might hurt me" said Alice starting to cry.
Fiyero walked slowly across to where Alice stood crying, the little girl watched him her eyes growing wider the nearer he got to her. Once Fiyero was near enough to speak to the little girl but so near as to scare her he knelt down and spoke softly to her.
"Alice I promise you I will never ever hurt you no matter what you say or do I will never hurt you" said Fiyero "isn't that right Fae"
"Yes that is very right" said Elphaba "Now let's go and have some dinner before it gets cold"
Downstairs in the dining room Elphaba sat Alice down at the table, the little girls eyes grew wide when she saw the meal in front of her pork chop, new potatoes, peas and carrots after a few seconds she turned to Elphaba confusion on her face.
"Elphie I'm not allowed this food Daddy says I can only have breakfast cereal" said Alice
Elphaba's heart ached for the little girl she put down her fork and turned to face the child next to her.
"Baby it's ok to eat your dinner no one is going to hurt you, little girls need this type of food to grow up big and strong" said Elphaba.
Alice looked over to Fiyero on the opposite side of the table then with her eyes never leaving him she picked up her fork and started shoving the food into her mouth as fast as she could without stopping between mouthfuls.
"Hey Hey it's ok sweetheart slow down no one is going to take your food away from you" said Fiyero.
At Fiyero's words the little girl stopped eating and dropped her fork like it was on fire before diving underneath the table. Elphaba put down her cutlery and pushed her chair back so she could see the little girl who sat cowering under the table.
"Alice come on sweetheart it's ok come back and finish your dinner" said Elphaba. Alice looked at Elphaba then slowly came out from under the table and back into her chair "that's a good girl thank you".
Once they had finished dinner Elphaba took Alice into the sitting room and set her up with some paper and colouring pencils at the small coffee table in the middle of the room. Sitting down on the settee Elphaba watched the little girl slowly pick up a pencil and begin to draw. After a few minutes Fiyero joined Elphaba on the settee bring two cups of tea with him while the maid followed behind and put the small beaker of juice down on the table beside Alice who immediately picked it up and gulped it down.
Elphaba watched the little girl guzzle her drink down and shook her head.
"Oh Yero that poor child feels so unsettled and scared it makes my blood boil just trying to imagine what that poor little might has been through.
"I know Fae I feel the same way at least she seems to like you" said Fiyero.
Turning back to Alice Elphaba noticed the little girl had started to shift around and not be able to sit still.
"Sweetheart do you need the toilet" asked Elphaba.
Alice looked at Elphaba and shook her head violently "no"
"Are you sure it's ok if you do" said Elphaba.
Alice shook her head again and went back to her drawing, Elphaba sighed and turned back to Fiyero.
"I think she does need to go but she's scared to say" said Elphaba "I don't want to force her though"
Back at the table Alice did need the toilet but she knew that her daddy only let her go in the morning and before bed and even then he would only let her use a bucket in the corner of her room and it wasn't bed time yet so she would have to wait but after a few seconds Alice knew she couldn't wait any more she stood up as she did so she spotted the bucket the window cleaner had left by the back doors looking over shoulder to make sure Elphaba and Fiyero weren't looking the little girl dashed across the room to the bucket.
Seeing the little girl suddenly move out of the corner of her eye Elphaba quickly put her cup down and followed the little girl across the huge front room she reached her just in time to see the little girl standing next to the bucket pulling her pyjama bottoms and knickers down.
"Sweetheart what are you doing" said Elphaba.
The little girl jumped her bottoms and knickers half way down her legs.
"I'm sorry I'm sorry I need a wee wee I know it's not time yet but I really need to go" said Alice starting to sob.
"Oh baby I asked you if you needed the toilet why did you say no" said Elphaba she quickly pulled the little girls clothes up, scooped her up and carried her to the downstairs bathroom, once in the bathroom Elphaba pulled the little girls bottoms down and tried to sit her onto the toilet but Alice began to scream and kick out.
"No no no I'm mot allowed to use the grown up toilet" screamed the little girl "daddy only lets me wee in a bucket I need a bucket"
"Oh baby it's ok you're ok come on do your wee wee sweetie" said Elphaba she moved the little girls bottoms which had fallen off in the struggle and knelt down in front of the toilet trying to calm the little girl down Alice kept fighting to get off the toilet then suddenly Elphaba felt the little girl stiffen and then heard a tinkling sound as the little girls bladder finally let it self go.
Alice stopped struggling and started bawling at the top of her lungs she tried to get off of the toilet but Elphaba gentle put her hands on the little girls waist.
"No let me go" said Alice.
"No baby you can't get up until you finish doing a wee" said Elphaba holding the little girl still after a few more seconds the tinkling sound stopped and Elphaba smiled she lifted the little girl off of the toilet then pulled some toilet paper off of the roll and handed it to her "here you go sweetie can you wipe yourself for me"
Once the little girl had wiped herself and put the paper into the toilet Elphaba flushed the toilet and helped the little girl put her bottoms back on then both girls washed their hands. As they left the bathroom Alice looked at Elphaba.
"Elphie please don't tell Fiyero I did a wee wee in the toilet he will be so cross" said Alice burying her face in Elphaba's waist.
"Sweetheart you are supposed to do your wee wee's in the toilet Fiyero won't be cross" said Elphaba stroking the top of Alice's head.
Alice pulled away from Elphaba and looked up at her "can I finish my picture now Elphie"
"Of course sweetie" said Elphaba "now remember next time you need the toilet you can tell me"
Alice nodded and headed back to her drawing, Elphaba watched her then sat back down next to Fiyero.
"Everything ok" said Fiyero.
"I was right she did need the toilet so was about to pee in the window cleaners bucket" said Elphaba " but I managed to get her to the bathroom I had to fight with her to get her to pee into the toilet her father only let her use a bucket"
Fiyero shook his head "if I ever get my hands on that man"
"I told her it's ok to wee into the toilet but I think it's going to take a long time for her to get used to it" said Elphaba she looked at her watch and saw it was half past seven " I suppose the next hurdle is getting her settled into bed" she looked over at the little girl who was gulping the last of her juice down.
"Let's do bedtime together" said Fiyero pulling Elphaba into his arms "What time do you think we should try and get her down by"
"I'd say about eight" said Elphaba standing up she walked over to Alice and knelt down beside her "Alice it's time to put the colouring away now it's nearly bedtime"
"No Elphie No bed I'm not tired" said Alice
"Sweetheart I said it's time to pack the colouring away now please" said Elphaba she started to put the pencils back into the wooden pencil box but Alice grabbed the box off the table and threw it across the room. "Alice you do not throw things now go and pick it up please"
"NO" shouted Alice.
"Alice you do not shout at me that's naughty now please do as I have asked" said Elphaba. The little girl scowled at Elphaba but picked up the box from the floor "Thank you good girl"
Once the pencils and papers were put away Elphaba lead Alice upstairs Fiyero following behind a safe distance, Elphaba lead Alice to the bathroom to clean her teeth while Fiyero folded the bed sheets back on the little girls bed ready for her to get into.
In the bathroom Elphaba handed Alice her toothbrush and the little girl slowly cleaned her teeth once her teeth were clean Alice tried to dash out of the bathroom but Elphaba grabbed her hand.
"Hold on sweetie I need you to do a wee for me first" said Elphaba.
The little girls eyes grew wide with fear as Elphaba walked her over to the toilet.
"no I don't need to" said Alice trying to pull away from Elphaba.
"Alice it's ok to go to the toilet I promise you don't want to wet the bed do you" said Elphaba pulling the little girls bottoms down.
"NO NO NO NO" screamed Alice trying to pull her bottoms back up.
"Sweetheart stop it's ok" said Elphaba she moved the little girls hand and tried to lift her onto the toilet but Alice was having none of it she kicked out hard catching Elphaba's side almost knocking the wind out of her which made Elphaba let go of the wriggling child Alice yanked her bottoms up and bolted out of the bathroom and down the hall to her bedroom Elphaba behind her.
Alice ran into her room and smacked into Fiyero who was putting stuffed animals into the little girls bed.
"Alice are you ok sweetheart" said Fiyero just as Elphaba skidded into the room.
"Alice baby it's ok" said Elphaba she picked the little girl up and held her close.
"What happened Fae" asked Fiyero.
"Toilet fight again" said Elphaba "she's terrified of it"
"No toilet no no no" Alice mumbled into Elphaba's shoulder.
"It's ok baby if you don't want to go I believe you"said Elphaba she walked over to the bed and tucked the little girl into it "now how about a story"
"Nemo" said Alice pointing at the book that Fiyero had left on the bedside table.
"Nemo it is" said Elphaba she picked up the book and began to read and within minutes the little girl was fast asleep.