Chapter 8
Elphaba had arrived home from school to find Sara in the corner of the living room with her face turned toward the wall. Fiyero sat in his chair reading the newspaper, never taking the time to look up.
"What's going on in here?" Elphaba asked, standing in the middle of the room.
"Fae-Fae," Sara said, turning around.
"Did I say that your time out was over? Turn around and speak to no one," Fiyero scolded.
Little Sara stomped her foot as she turned back to face the wall.
"What happened?" Elphaba asked.
He folded his newspaper, setting it down on the table. Elphaba sat on the sofa across of him.
"I could hear a commotion in the kitchen all the way from the front door as I walked in. Sara was supposedly helping Marcella bake cookies. Her job was to drop just a tiny bit of food coloring in the center of the cookie. But my little princess here decided to open the bottle cap and poured the dye on her hands and arms. Marcella tried washing it off, but Sara wouldn't allow it. She screamed at Nana."
"Ah, I see," Elphaba said. "Did you ask why she had done that?"
"No need to. She was just being naughty," he said.
"Fiyero! When children act up, it's for some form of attention. Find out the reason."
"You ask her. She's not listening to me."
"Sara sweetheart," Elphaba said.
"Yes," she said still facing the wall.
"Alright," Fiyero said. "TIme's up. Come here and tell us why you did what you did."
"Okay, daddy!" She ran to sit next to Elphaba.
"Oh," Elphaba said. "I see." He really is brainless she thought to herself.
"I see?" Fiyero asked.
"Fiyero! Look at the color of her hands and arms."
"It's green food coloring! It should have been on the cookies not on her."
"You really are brainless," she told him out loud.
Fiyero had a puzzled look on his face.
Before she could explain, Sara held up her hands proudly. "Just like you, Fae-Fae!"
Fiyero's mouth dropped.
"Is that why you put Nana Marcella's food coloring on you?" Elphaba asked.
"Uh-huh."
"But why?"
Fiyero joined them on the sofa. "Sweetie, you wanted to be green like Fae-Fae?"
Sara nodded.
Elphaba's heart melted. She couldn't have loved Sara any more than she loved her at that very moment. "Tell me why. No one's ever wanted to be green like me."
"So I can be yours," she said, placing her hand on Elphaba's chest. "You can be my mommy. I don't have one anymore."
Fiyero stared at his little girl for several seconds running his fingers through his hair. He didn't know what to say.
Elphaba was quiet. She was relieved by Marcella's welcomed interruption, who had stood outside of the doorway and heard what was said.
"Sara, I'll give you a bath. That way you'll be nice and clean for dinner. Come on, let's go. And please behave. Be a good little girl."
"Okay, Nana."
"I think you both have things to talk about," Marcella told them. "A lot to talk about...the two of you, alright?"
"Yes, ma'am," Fiyero said.
As Elphaba stared at him with her huge brown eyes, she spoke solemnly. "Talk about what?"
"We really do need to talk," he said. "Sara's becoming attached to you a whole lot."
Elphaba nodded. "I know that. Is that a good or a bad thing?"
"Sara has your temperament. I see a lot of you in her. She has a mind of her own, and by the looks of things, she considers you more of a mommy than a friend. She loves you a lot, and I know you do, too."
"She's easy to love. And she loves you and Marcella more than you can imagine. You didn't answer my question...good or bad...me being around her."
Fiyero ran a hand over his face. "I can't believe I'm going to say this. Don't get me wrong, I really do appreciate you being here, helping out with things...but..."
"You don't want me here."
"Yes, I want you here. It's just that I haven't had daddy time with Sara...not as much as I would want to. I need to get to know my daughter. It's been three months and Sara runs to you, not to me."
"You're jealous of me? Of my relationship with your daughter? Fiyero! Sara loves you! I'm just some sort of playmate to her...that's all. You're her parent."
He held her hand. "Do me a favor. When you're playing with her, even if it's dressing up her dolls, invite me to join in."
She pulled away. "I'm sorry that I stepped over boundaries. It's just that Sara sees me as an ordinary person, and not some green freak. My apologies."
"No need to apologize. You haven't done anything wrong. She's not used to a male figure in her life. It's always been her mother. I was just a weekend dad. It's understandable of her attachment to you."
"If Sara were mine, I wouldn't have left her for anyone. But she's not mine, she's yours. I truly am sorry for having monopolized your daughter."
"You're angry and hurt. Please don't be. I have an idea. Since tomorrow's Saturday, we could do a family thing. Maybe go for a picnic. I'll ask Marcella to make us a basket."
"Sara would like that very much. But you can count me out."
"Why? Do you have plans?"
"No, but I'm not family. It's a time to be alone with your daughter."
"Yes, you are family. You and Sara are the only reason I keep coming home."
"It's best I leave, " Elphaba said.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'll stay with Glinda until I find a place of my own."
Fiyero raised his voice. "What in Oz hell are you talking about? Did I once asked you to leave during this conversation?"
"Like you said, you need to get to know your daughter. And what better way than for me not to be here." Elphaba headed out of the living room. "I'm going to pack."
"Fae!" Fiyero ran after her. "Will you listen to me!"
"My name is Elphaba. Not Fae," she said tearfully.
"Elphaba, don't leave Sara, too like her mother did. She needs you."
He dashed after her as she attempted to climb the flight of stairs to head to her bedroom. Walking into her room, Fiyero caught up with her, shadowing her footsteps.
"This may be your castle, but this is my bedroom...until tonight. So, get out."
"You're being irrational at this moment. Calm down."
Elphaba flung open her closet, and retrieved two pieces of luggage.
"Don't you even care what this will do to Sara? Can we please talk about this?"
She took in a deep breath, then exhaled. Walking toward Fiyero, their faces were inches apart. "What's there to talk about?"
He was mesmerized by her beauty. She had suddenly taken his breath away as he stared at her face. Fiyero had the urge to kiss her. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her to him. His kiss was slow, but passionate. Elphaba didn't fight it, responding to his kiss.
As if her senses had kicked in, she pushed him away. "What are you doing?"
"Elphaba, please don't leave me...don't leave Sara. Stay with me, stay with us."
She pondered over what was said, then spoke hurtful words which broke Fiyero's heart. "I don't do mommy!"
TBC - Chapter 9
Author's Note: Thank you so much, James Birdsong for keeping up with this fanfic and for a great review.
