Chapter 9

Author's Note: Thank you, PocketSevens! It's because of your PM, I got to write Fiyero and Sara's dialogue regarding leaving and loving.

"Elphie?" Glinda tipped toed into the bedroom. "What are you doing in here? It's such a beautiful day outside, let's go out for a picnic!"

Elphaba lowered her reading glasses to the tip of her nose, peering at her. "What is it about picnics that you and Fiyero seem to think will make things better?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Never mind."

Glinda sat at the foot of the bed. "You can't spend your whole life teaching and on your free time just reading books. If not a picnic, let's do something fun!"

"I don't do fun."

"I know!"

"Don't tell me shopping. I don't like to shop," she said.

"Okay, how about I do your hair and make up?"

"We're not at Shiz anymore. Glinda, I really do appreciate you letting me stay here until I find a place of my own."

"You're very welcome! And you can stay as long as you want to! It's like being back in school. I get to be with you everyday."

Elphaba cracked a smile.

"Okay, it's none of my business , but..."

"None of your business," Elphaba said. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Well, I do. Fiyero never loved me, but I know he loves you. And you love him. Why don't you talk to him?"

"No," Elphaba said flatly.

Glinda stood up, placing her hands on her hips. "When it comes to relationships, you're not very bright. You're smart, but you don't have any common sense when it comes to admitting or accepting love. You can't accept the fact that someone could ever love you."

"I don't want to hear it, Glinda."

"And poor little Sara. She's probably feeling unloved at this moment, and angry that you left them."

"I've never imagined having a family of my own, much less someone else's who could actually love me. It's not for me. I'm sure there will be lots of young women lined up at the castle wanting to be a mother for the little princess. Fiyero will have no problem finding a replacement who'll want to be her mommy."

"Elphaba Thropp! Will you stop talking nonsense! You're miserable. Go to them. They're as miserable as you are. They'll welcome you with opened arms."

"How would you know that?"

Glinda took two steps back. "I sort of bumped into Marcella."

"Where?" Elphaba closed her book, raising an eyebrow. "So help me, Glinda if you went to..."

Glinda nodded. "I went to the castle, but Fiyero and Sara weren't home. Marcella says they miss you a whole lot. There's no laughter in the house anymore."

"Because I'm so much fun, and full of sunshine," Elphaba said in a sarcastic tone. "I don't want to know what you talked about."

"Oh Elphie! What am I going to do with you!"

xxxxxxxx

Fiyero found Sara in Elphaba's bedroom sprawled on the bed with her doll. She whimpered silently hugging the pillow she once shared with Fae-Fae.

"There you are. Sara sweetie, grandmama and grandpapa wants you to have a sleepover at their castle. Doesn't that sound like fun? You get to play with your cousin, and Auntie and Uncle."

She shook her head. "What if Fae-Fae comes home?"

Fiyero carried his daughter, and sat down on the bed, placing her on his lap. "Didn't we have this talk before? Fae-Fae won't be coming back."

"But why? Cause I was naughty?" Her green eyes filled with tears as she buried her face against her father's chest. "Bring her back, daddy."

He, too cried. "I can't, sweetie. And she never said you were naughty. She left because of me. She's staying with Glinda for now."

She looked up at him, batting her eyelashes. "That pink lady?"

Fiyero smiled. "Yes, that pink lady. She's nice. Don't you like her?"

Sara rolled her eyes. "Blonde."

A flashback of the beginning of Shiz ran through his mind. "That she is."

"But Fae-Fae's not hers."

"She was never ours either. Can't keep her like she's some favorite toy."

"But I love her."

"Me, too," he said, embracing her tightly. "Me, too."

"We visit her?"

"I don't think so." Fiyero pondered the thought. "No, we can't," he said, kissing the top of her head. "We should leave her alone."

"Daddy?"

"Yes?"

"Will you leave me, too? Like mommy and Fae-Fae?"

"Of course not. Don't be silly. You're mine to keep. And I love you."

"Mommy and Fae-Fae, too. And they went away."

"But I won't. I'll never leave you. I'll love you more each day."

"Promise? Forever and ever?" She asked, squeezing her father tightly as if he'd leave her at that very moment.

"I promise with all of my heart...forever." Fiyero embraced her, teardrops fell atop her dark locks. "And ever. You're the best thing that's happened to me."

"And Nana Marcella?"

"She'll always be with us. Took care of me when I was very little. She never left me, and now she'll take care of you...of us."

Sara pulled away from his embrace. Staring at her father, her tiny fingers wiped his tears away. "Don't cry, daddy. I'll take care of you, too. I promise. Forever and ever."

Fiyero smiled.

"Daddy, I'm hungry."

"Okay, let's go find Nana. What do you want to eat?"

"Grilled cheese sandwich."

"That sounds good. Grilled cheese, it is."

They walked out of Elphaba's room. Fiyero closed the door, and locked it...as if locking her bedroom would vanish his feelings for her.

TBC - Chapter 10