The Emerald Woman and the Little Star
Chapter Seventeen
Fiyero lead the little girl down the path to the pool house, pulling the key from his pocket he unlocked the doors and lead Alice inside closing the door behind them. Alice's eyes widened when she saw the large swimming pool she let go of Fiyero's hand and started to walk towards it but Fiyero quickly put his hand on her arm.
"Hold on sweetheart let me put the towels on the rail first" said Fiyero he took hold of Alice's hand and walked over to the long metal rails that covered the wall he let go of the little girl's hand and hung the towels up he turned back to Alice only to find she was standing at the edge of the pool he quickly rushed over to her, moved her away from the edge and then crouched down in front of her "Alice you mustn't get that close to the water without me or Elphaba it's dangerous you could fall in and drown"
Alice looked at Fiyero for a few seconds then started to panic "I'm sorry I'm sorry don't hurt me"
Fiyero scooped the little girl up "baby it's ok I'm not going to hurt you I promise, now let's get in the water shall we" he put the little girl down on her feet again then sat her on the side of the pool her feet dangling into the water "stay there until I'm in the water ok".
The little girl nodded and watched as Fiyero climbed down the steps into the water then moved to stand in front of her then reached out and tried to lift her into his arms but the little girl panicked and stood up backing away from the pool
"Don't want to swim no no no" said Alice "want my Elphie"
"Sweetheart it's ok I promise nothing bad is going to happen to you" said Fiyero from the water "come on baby you will like this it's fun"
The little girl stood staring between Fiyero and the water after a second she slowly started to walk towards the edge of the pool.
"That's it good girl come to me baby" said Fiyero. Alice stopped just before the edge of the pool and looked at Fiyero.
"Fiyero keep me safe promise" said Alice.
"I promise you darling you will be perfectly safe with me" said Fiyero. Alice smiled and slowly sat down on the edge of the pool and held her arms out to Fiyero he scooped her into his arms she shivered as the cold water hit her skin.
"It's cold Fiyero" said Alice
"I know baby but as soon as we start to move around it won't feel as cold, I'm going to lay you on the water now don't be scared I will hold you the whole time I promise" said Fiyero he laid the little girl onto the water keeping hold of her round the middle "ok sweetheart kick your legs"
Alice slowly started to kick her legs as she did so Fiyero slowly moved her through the water.
Back in the castle Elphaba had woken up she sat up and stretched her eyes fell on the clock the red numbers flashed eight thirty at her she then turned to Fiyero's side of the bed and found it empty she got out of bed and headed to the bathroom once she had emptied her bladder she carried on down the hall to Alice's room she entered the room and saw the little girl's bed was empty, panic filled her body leaving the little girl's room she headed down the stairs after finding the sitting and dining rooms empty she started to panic even more.
Heading down the hall towards the back doors she spotted Mary Ellen coming the other way.
"Good Morning Madam" said Mary Ellen.
"Good morning have you seen Fiyero" said Elphaba.
"Yes Madam he took the little one to the swimming pool about half an hour ago" said Mary Ellen.
Elphaba was livid "he did what, does he want her to get a cold it's not exactly that warm out" she stormed down the hall and out of the back doors and down the path to the pool house as she put her hand on the door handles she took a deep breath and tried to calm her anger, opening the door she walked inside then closed the door behind her.
Alice was laying on her back in the water and Fiyero was holding on to her and moving backwards through the water while the little girl kicked her legs and giggled loudly.
Elphaba walked over to the edge of the pool her face like thunder.
"Fiyero Tiggular what do you think you are playing at" said Elphaba.
Fiyero jumped at the sound of her voice and almost dropped Alice into the water.
"Oz Fae you made me jump what's the matter" said Fiyero.
Elphaba glared at him "I wake up to find my daughter missing and have to find out from the maid that you have taken her swimming when it's still so cold out are you trying to get her ill"
Fiyero sighed and walked over to the edge of the pool he sat the little girl on the side then pulled himself out of the water he then grabbed the towels and handed one to Elphaba for Alice then wrapped the other around himself before turning to Elphaba who now had the towel wrapped child in her arms.
"What are you getting so angry for you were still asleep I woke up and went to the bathroom Alice was using the potty when I went in I felt like a swim so I asked her if she would like to come I mean she's my Oz dam kid too Fae" said Fiyero trying to keep his temper.
Alice looked between Elphaba and Fiyero she then started to wriggle about in Elphaba's arms making Elphaba almost drop her.
"Alice stop wriggling baby I nearly dropped you what's the matter" said Elphaba readjusting her grip on the little girl.
"Want to swim with Fiyero" said Alice.
"No baby no more swimming today it's too cold, let's go and give you a shower" said Elphaba she turned to leave the pool house as she did so the little girl spoke.
"I'm Fiyero's Oz dam kid too Elphie" said Alice glaring at her.
"Excuse me young lady you do not speak to me like that" said Elphaba then she turned to Fiyero "in future can you watch what you say around Alice because as you just heard she will repeat it".
Elphaba walked out of the pool house the door banging closed behind her she carried the little girl up the path towards the castle, once inside she headed straight up to the upstairs bathroom she set the little girl on to her feet and turned to switch the shower on. Once she had it on and at the right temperature she turned back to the little girl only to find the towel on the floor and the little girl gone. Heading out of the bathroom she caught sight of the little girl at the top of the stairs.
"Alice come back here now please" said Elphaba walking towards the little girl.
"No Elphie I want to swim with Fiyero" said Alice and she shot down the stairs.
Elphaba took off after the little girl as she got to the bottom of the stairs she saw the little girl disappearing out of the back doors increasing her speed Elphaba ran out of the back doors and managed to catch up to the little girl on the path she put her hands on the little girl's waist and picked her up, Alice started to kick and scream.
"LET ME GO ELPHIE I WANT TO SWIM" said Alice she swung her elbow backwards and smacked Elphaba in the face.
"Alice stop it I said no more swimming it's too cold you are shivering" said Elphaba "let's get you in the shower before you get a cold".
The little girl started to cry "I want to swim Elphie please"
"I said no Alice it's too cold for swimming" said Elphaba she carried the little girl back up to the bathroom still kicking and screaming, once in the bathroom she set the little girl on her feet and tried to remove her swimming costume but Alice pushed her hands away and wriggled about "Alice stop it stand still".
Once she finally managed to get the little girl's swim suit off of her Elphaba tried to get her into the shower but Alice kicked out at her catching Elphaba in the side and knocking the wind out of her she then bolted from the bathroom as the little girl ran down the hall way she smacked into Fiyero coming the other way.
"Where are you going in such a hurry little lady and with no clothes on" said Fiyero he scooped the little girl up and carried her back to the bathroom where he found Elphaba sitting on top of the closed toilet gasping for breath "Oz Fae are you alright what happened"
"Tried..to..put..Alice..in..shower..she..kicked..my..side..knocked..wind..out..of..me" said Elphaba between gasps.
Fiyero looked at the little girl in his arms he put her on her feet and knelt down in front of her.
"Alice you do not kick people that is unacceptable behaviour and I will not tolerate it, now I would like you to say sorry to Elphaba then get into the shower please" said Fiyero.
Alice looked at Elphaba then back to Fiyero she glared at him and folded her arms "No Fiyero I want to swim no shower no no no"
"Alice look at me please you don't tell me no now do as I have asked or you will have a time out" said Fiyero. The little girl's eyes widened and she walked over to Elphaba and tried to climb on her lap but Elphaba put her hand out to stop her.
"Alice .. do ..as..Fiyero..asked" said Elphaba not panting as much any more.
Alice looked at Elphaba then sighed "Sorry Elphie" she then walked over to the shower and got in.
"Good girl Alice thank you" said Fiyero then her turned to Elphaba "are you ok to sort her out or do you need some help"
"I'm..good now thank you Yero" said Elphaba she stood up and walked over to the little girl "right sweetie let's get your hair washed"
A short while later Elphaba was in Alice's room the little girl was dressed in a denim pinafore dress with a long sleeved rainbow coloured stripy top underneath and a pair of white fluffy tights she was sat still on her bed while Elphaba blow dried her hair once her hair was dry Elphaba tied it into a pony tail.
"There you go baby now you play here while I get dressed then we can have some breakfast" said Elphaba.
A short while later the three of them sat around the dining table eating boiled eggs and toast. Elphaba had just finished the last of her toast when the phone rang she quickly swallowed her last mouthful then went into the sitting room to answer the phone, she came back a few minutes later.
"That's was your mother Yero she's coming over after lunch with the tailer to measure Alice for her dress and tiara for the ball" said Elphaba.
"I know someone else who would look even more beautiful than she already is in a tiara" said Fiyero grinning at Elphaba.
"Oh no no no no you can forget it Fiyero you know I don't do anything fancy I clash with it" said Elphaba.
"Fae don't start that talk" said Fiyero with a sigh.
Alice watched the two adults talking while she drank her juice once she had finished she put the cup back onto the table and slipped out of her chair without being noticed she left the dining room and headed down the hall to the back doors finding them unlocked she slipped out into the garden then headed down the path towards the pool house.
Back in the dining room Elphaba was still trying to convince Fiyero that her in a tiara was a bad idea she was about to list all the reasons why when she noticed Alice had gone.
"Yero did you see Alice leave the room" said Elphaba panic in her voice.
Fiyero shook his head "she's probably gone upstairs to play, you go and look and I'll clear the table" Elphaba nodded and left the room she was about the head upstairs when she noticed the back doors were open a thought crossed her mind she walked back to the dining room door and poked her head around it "Yero did you lock the pool house doors when you left"
"I think so Fae why" said Fiyero starting to panic himself.
"The back doors are open and I have a feeling Alice has gone back to the pool" said Elphaba she then pulled her head out of the door and headed out into the garden she shot down the path towards the pool house as she reached the end of the path she was shocked to see that the doors to the pool house were open panicking she ran into the pool house just in time to see Alice who had taken all her clothes off except her knickers about to climb down the stairs into the pool. Elphaba rushed over to the little girl and grabbed hold of her.
"LET ME GO I WANT TO SWIM" shouted Alice.
Elphaba moved away from the edge of the pool then looked at the little girl.
"Alice I told you no more swimming today what where you thinking you could have drowned" said Elphaba. The little girl thrashed about trying to get free of Elphaba's grip but she held her tight "Alice stop it now let's get your clothes back on"
"NO ELPHIE NO CLOTHES I WANT TO SWIM" shouted Alice kicking her legs out.
"Alice I said stop it now I said no swimming" said Elphaba she picked up the little girl's top and tried to put it on her but Alice fought against her "Alice stop fighting me please and put your tights on"
Alice continued to fight against Elphaba but after about ten minutes she had managed to get all the little girl's clothes back on she then carried her out of the pool house making sure she locked the doors behind her then made her way back to the castle with Alice still fighting against her grip. Once inside the castle Elphaba locked the back doors then put the little girl back on her own feet. As soon as Elphaba let her go Alice shot to the back doors and tried to open them then kicked the bottom of them when she found they wouldn't open.
Elphaba walked over to her and crouched down in front of her "Alice look at me please, you don't kick the doors I have told you it's too cold to swim any more today now I would like you to stop this behaviour or you are going to have a time out"
Alice glared at Elphaba then turned away from her and started to pull on the door handles again, Elphaba reached out and removed the little girl's hands from the door again but Alice pulled one of her hands away from her reached out and hit Elphaba across her face just as Fiyero came out of the kitchen having finished doing the dishes. He walked over and was about to kneel down beside Elphaba when she shook her head.
"It's ok Yero I've got this, she then turned to the little girl, Alice you do not hit me I will not tolerate that kind of behaviour now you are going into time out" said Elphaba she stood up and picked the little girl up making sure she pinned the little girl's arms to her sides so she couldn't lash out again she carried her up to the spare room and put her inside then knelt in front of her again "Alice I'm putting you in time out because you didn't do as I asked and you hit me now you will stay in here for eight minutes" she stood up and closed the door holding the handle.
Inside the room Alice screamed and banged on the door then after a few minutes she went quiet, outside the door Elphaba looked at her watch and saw the eight minutes were up she opened the door and saw the little girl standing next to the wall her face tear stained and a puddle between her feet sighing Elphaba walked over to the little girl and knelt in front of her.
"Alice I put you in this room because you didn't do as you were told and you hit me that is unacceptable behaviour and I will not have it now I would like you to say sorry please" said Elphaba.
"I'm sorry Elphie" said Alice "clean knickers please I'm wet"
"Ok baby come on then let's clean you up" said Elphaba "you go to the bathroom and I'll find you some clean knickers and tights ok"
Alice nodded and headed off to the bathroom, Elphaba quickly made her way into the little girl's room and found some clean clothes then headed to the bathroom when she got there she saw the little girl had taken off her wet tights and knickers and was trying to wipe herself with a dry flannel.
"Hold on baby let me wet that flannel first" said Elphaba.
A short time later the little girl was clean dry and playing happily in her room. Elphaba watched her from the door with a smile she was about to head back downstairs when she felt a pair of hands on her shoulders.
"Are you alright my Fae" said Fiyero. Elphaba turned around and rested her head on his chest breathing in his scent, Fiyero wrapped his arms around her and rub his hand up and down her back. "I'm sorry Fae its my fault she had that massive tantrum"
"No Yero it wasn't your fault it was mine for stopping her swimming this morning" said Elphaba "I went over the top"
"No Fae you were right it was too cold to be swimming I guess I just wanted to share something with Alice" said Fiyero he looked into the little girl's room and noticed she was no longer playing she was now standing still next to her bed and was starting to go red in the face "erm Fae is she doing what I think she's doing"
Elphaba looked at the little girl and groaned.
"I think so yes" said Elphaba she walked over to the little girl and sat on the bed beside her "Baby are you doing poo let's go to the potty darling".
The little girl didn't reply she was now bright red in the face and making little grunting nosies a second later she turned to Elphaba.
"I'm finished Elphie clean knickers please" said Alice.
"Sweetheart why didn't you use your potty or the toilet baby" said Elphaba as she again found some clean knickers and tights for the little girl.
Alice shook her head "No Elphie don't want to poo in potty or toilet no no no only wee wee"
Elphaba scooped the little girl up "Alice it's ok to use your potty no matter what you need to do next time you need to poo I'd like you to try and use the potty please"
"NO Elphie no go in potty" said Alice.
Elphaba sighed and carried the little girl to the bathroom. Once she had cleaned the little girl up Elphaba lead her down stairs for lunch they had just sat down to eat when the door bell rung.
"Your mothers early" said Elphaba looking at Fiyero he got up and went to open the door when he did the person on the other side of it wasn't his mother.