Chapter 6
Fiyero found Elphaba in the library one night. He watched her from the door sipping his cup of coffee. He knew she felt comfortable living at the castle. She wore loose pajama bottoms and a tank top. There was a time she hid her green skin when she had first moved in with long sleeved and high neckline tops.
She turned suddenly which startled Fiyero.
"How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Know when someone's watching you."
"It's a gift," she said, removing her reading glasses.
Fiyero sat across of her, placing his mug on the table. "I need to talk to you."
"Okay." Elphaba closed her book. He looked serious and it frightened her. She inhaled slowly, then exhaled.
He fidgeted for several seconds, circling the rim of his coffee cup with his finger.
"Fiyero? What is it? Is something wrong?"
"You may have noticed that on Sundays I'm not here from the morning until the early evening."
"I've noticed, but it's none of my business. I don't expect you to tell me of your whereabouts."
"Aren't you even curious? Don't you care?"
"It crossed my mind. But like I said, it's none of my business."
"I would wonder where you were," he said.
"Okay, since you brought it up, I'm assuming that you're visiting someone, seeing someone."
He nodded. "I have...for the past three years."
Elphaba felt as if a sharpened point of a lance pierced her heart. "I wasn't going to stay here forever."
Fiyero saw the look on her face. He grabbed hold of her hand. "It's not what you think."
She stared at their joint hands, then pulled away, rising from her seat. "You needn't explain. This was only a temporary thing anyway. I've overstayed my welcome. You can move her in anytime."
"Will you sit down," he commanded. "And listen to me."
"I don't want to know explicit details!"
"Sit down! And quit jumping to conclusions!"
"I can perfectly hear you standing up. And I'm not deaf. You don't have to yell."
He let out a loud sigh in annoyance. "Elphaba, could sit down, please?"
Plopping down on her chair, she gazed at him as if to cast a spell.
"Her name is Sara and she's..."
"That's great! But I don't need to know anything about her...about your love life."
"You're angry," he said. "Or something. It bothers you that I might be seeing someone? I questioned myself if you had feelings for me, now I know the answer."
"Oh for Oz sakes! What exactly are you trying to tell me?"
"Well, if you quit interrupting I'll tell you."
Silence deafened the room. Elphaba waited impatiently when he blurted out what she had never expected.
"I have a three year old daughter! And her mother's getting married and moving away. And my daughter's moving in here with us in a week and a half."
For the first time in Elphaba's life, she was speechless.
"You're quiet. Say something. It was a one time thing. She got pregnant. There's no relationship other than our daughter being the common denominator."
Elphaba grabbed Fiyero's cup of coffee, gulping it down as if it was a bottle of wine.
"Yes, I'm a father. It's hard to believe, isn't it?"
"That's why you were always gone during the weekends while we were in school. Thought you were just dancing through life. Having a good time. Forgive me for what I thought of you."
"Apology accepted. Well, yes. Having a good time with my daughter. There were talks about me having fathered a child, but people thought it was just rumors. Household staff and guards were sworn to secrecy. Sara will be here in a week. She'll be in the adjoining room next to me. My mom hired an interior decorator. As long as it won't be all pink..."
"Then make sure it won't be Glinda decorating the room," Elphaba smiled.
"Are you alright with all of this? I mean, it's a lot to take in. You're a teacher, you like kids, don't you?"
"If I didn't, I wouldn't have picked teaching as a profession. Tell me about Sara."
Fiyero smiled. "Thank you. She has long brown hair, curls at the end, and green eyes. Smart for her age, and very inquisitive. She loves to color and paint. And loves it when I sing to her. Knows her alphabets and can count up to 12. Also knows her colors."
"Very impressive. Does she know that she'll be living with you and that her mom will be moving away?"
"Yes, but Sara's too young to comprehend this sudden change. Marcella will be taking care of her during the days. And me in the evenings. But she'll be right next door if I need her. How does a private tutor sound?"
"She'd be better off in a school with children her age to play with. Sara could play dress up and have little tea parties with her friends."
"She could go to school in maybe a year. But, you'll be here to teach her things before then?"
"Yes, I'll be here. That is, if you want me to stay."
"Of course I want you here."
"Thank you. But I'm concerned that she won't like me...being that I'm green. Unless she's color blind."
"Sara will love you. You already have things in common with her."
"Like what?"
"The color green. Told you she has green eyes." Fiyero winked at her. "And me! You both love me."
"Goodnight, Fiyero," Elphaba said, leaving the library.
Fiyero jumped up from his seat, and caught up with her. "Hey!" He took hold of her arm, and swung her around to face him. "I know you feel something for me. I do, too, feel something for you." He inched slowly toward her. "Elphaba, I..."
Elphaba took two steps back. "Let's just concentrate on Sara. It's late, I'm going to bed. Goodnight again, Fiyero."
TBC - Chapter 7
