Chapter 5

"What did you do to her? Did you get her drunk?" Marcella asked the next morning noticing the empty bottle of champagne and glasses on the coffee table. She slapped Fiyero on the arm. He laid on the floor next to the sofa. "Did you?" she scolded.

He peered at her through one eye. "Don't worry. Nothing happened. I didn't try anything. We just had drinks and dessert. Let me go back to sleep."

"You do realize that you're on the floor?"

"I wasn't going to leave her here alone. And lower your voice. You're going to wake her up."

Elphaba was stirred from her sleep by their voices. "What time is it?"

"5:30 in the morning," Marcella said.

"Why are you here so early?" Fiyero asked.

"This is the time I start. You wouldn't know since you're in your bedroom asleep. By the time you're up, breakfast is ready."

Fiyero stretched out on the floor, then sat up. "Morning, Elphaba." He wondered how it would feel to awaken each morning laying next to her.

"Hello, Fiyero. We didn't make it to our bedrooms."

"At least you got the couch. The floor's not a comfortable place to sleep on."

Sitting up, Elphaba ran her fingers through her hair. "You could have just left me here."

"Just wanted to make sure you were alright," he said.

"I had a nice time last night. Thank you," she said.

Fiyero smiled. "Me, too."

Marcella stepped back to observe them. It seemed as if they were the only two in the room, and were not aware of her presence. She felt like an invisible spectator watching the scenario before her.

Elphaba excused herself. "I'd better go to my bedroom, and try to sleep a bit more."

"Okay," he said, getting off of the floor. "Since it's Saturday, I'm going to sleep in, too. I'll see you later." Fiyero watched her until she disappeared out of his sight.

"Oh for crying out loud," Marcella said. "Do you even know that I'm still here?"

"What? What are you talking about?"

"My starry eyed prince," she laughed.

Fiyero rubbed his temples. "You're giving me a headache. You like to interpret things that's not worth interpreting. You can skip breakfast. Brunch would be a lot better."

"Anything special you want to eat, Your Highness?"

"Surprise me," he said.

Marcella straightened the cushions on the sofa. "By the way, have you told Elphaba about..."

"Not yet!"

"Don't you snap at me. Sooner or later something might happen between the both of you, you've got to tell her where you disappear to every Sunday morning until the early evening. She just might start asking questions and..."

"And it's my story to tell, Marcella. Not yours."

"I've backed you up from the very beginning, helped you out, especially since it angered your parents at first. I'll always be here."

"And I'm thankful for that. I don't know what I would have done without you. I don't regret what happened. It changed my life completely and for the better."

"You've taken responsibility..."

"Could you be with me when I tell her?"

Marcella place her hands on her hips. "Didn't you say that it's your story to tell?"

"Oh sure. Okay. By the way Elphaba, I forgot to tell you one little thing. I have a three year old daughter. And I just found out that her mother is planning on getting married soon and moving away. And guess what? She's leaving our daughter here for me to raise."

"She's leaving? What is that girl thinking of! How could anyone leave their own child? Could they just not move away?" Marcella pointed a finger at him. "A one night thing and you go and get her pregnant."

"I wouldn't have allowed her to take Sara. The guy Ava's marrying wants children of his own...no one else's. She stupidly agreed to his request. I told her there was one condition, that she's never going to come back to claim my daughter. She's mine."

Marcella nodded in agreement.

"Mom and dad's going to talk to you about Sara, and she'll be moving in here. They wanted her with them at their castle since my baby's familiar with the surroundings and the live in nanny. But she's got her hands full with my sister's son. And I was..."

"Hoping that I'd care for Sara," Marcella said, looking at his pleading puppy dog eyes.

"Yes, could you? I don't want just anyone to watch my child. And my parents hired someone to decorate her room. I'll be here in the evenings and on weekends. Maybe Elphaba could help me...that is if this doesn't scare her away in leaving."

"You've really thought this through. Of course, I'll take care of the little princess. You know I love her. When does all of this happen?"

"In two weeks," Fiyero said. "You think I've been deceitful toward Elphaba, don't you?"

"Not deceitful, just secretive. It'll be fine. Elphaba's a school teacher, so at least you know she loves children."

"Yes, but will she love mine? Will she love me?"

"Of course, she'll love Sara. And I know Elphaba loves you."

TBC - Chapter 6