Chapter 9

"What is wrong with her?" Elphaba asked the doctor when she approached him. By the time she'd reached the infirmary, Havva had managed to quiet Zara and was sitting in a comfortable chair cooing at the baby.

"I'm leaning toward colic. Were you or your sister colicky as children?" Doctor Magi wanted to know. He was pouring over a medical book of his. It had been a long while since he'd treated babies and he was trying to find anything that would explain the baby's behavior.

"Nessa was always sick but Mother was forced to eat milk flowers while she was pregnant so that isn't much of a surprise. Father despised me so I have no way of knowing if I was sick or not when I was so young," she explained.

"I am sorry. It could be that this little one has a problem with milk. Regrettably gas by itself doesn't really answer my medical questions. However, we can give her something for that to see if it helps," Magi said.

"Well you might as well give her some because this little one is looking for something to eat," Havva smiled as Zara started to fuss. Elphaba went to the midwife and took her baby into her arms.

"Are you hungry, little one?" A gurgle and some more fussing gave her the answer to her question. Havva stood up and led the Princesses over to a private room where Elphaba could breastfeed.

Meanwhile, Fiyero and Ayla had heard everything that the Griffins knew about and had now let them eat dinner and rest. Fiyero had made his way to the infirmary while Ayla quickly went to get a message to her husband.

"Where are my girls?" The Prince asked.

"Zara was hungry. They're in the room over there," Magi smiled and pointed in the direction of the room he'd mentioned.

"Is she going to be ok?" Fiyero's worry was evident.

"Right now we'll battle the gas and that might clear everything up. If not, we keep trying. Not to worry," the Doctor reassured him. That's when they heard Zara fuss. Fiyero was about to head to his family when it was followed by a

"BBBAAAAAAAARRRRRPPPPP!"

"What the hell was that?" Fiyero was taken aback.

"I'm going to need a bath," Elphaba called out. The Doctor, Fiyero, and Havva went into the little room to find Zara all smiles and gurgles while Elphaba's dress was covered in vomit.

"Oh my Oz," Havva tried to hold her breath.

"All righty. We'll take Zara, why don't you get upstairs and clean up?" Magi suggested.

"I think she's going to need a hand," Fiyero swallowed hard, trying to keep the food rising in his throat down.

"Yes, I think so but you're feeling better aren't you little one?" Havva wiggled her finger in front of the baby and she cooed.

"I guess we know what's wrong. Ok, up to the bathtub with you," Fiyero waggled his finger toward the door. Elphaba made no argument and the two headed upstairs.

"So I have no complaints about you getting naked but I can't actually do what I want to do with you…" he teased as he helped her out of her soiled dress inside their private bathroom. He had started to warm the water as Elphaba chuckled.

"Your brain has two modes food and getting me into bed," she smirked. Having just had a baby it would be weeks before she could involve herself in any extracurricular activity with her husband.

"Well I can't help myself," he chuckled, kissing her neck as he held her hand while she climbed into the tub.

"I know and I love you for it. So why are we avoiding the elephant in the room?" Elphaba asked.

"The Griffins and what they know, yeah…" Fiyero gave her a look.

To Be Continued…