Chapter 15

Author's Note: James Birdsong, thank you very much!

It felt like a ton of weight had been lifted out of Elphaba. After several kisses, they pulled apart.

Fiyero twirled strands of her hair around his finger. No words were spoken.

"Why me?" Elphaba broke the silence.

"You want to see someone who has a good heart? One who puts aside her feelings and happiness for others? Look in the mirror."

"It'll only be my reflection staring back."

"Yes. And I love that reflection. I love you."

"I don't know what I did in my life to have deserved someone like you. And if something ever happens to you, I'd be devastated. I love you with all of my heart. And I love Sara as if she were mine. I've missed her. I've missed the both of you."

His blue eyes twinkled.

"What? You're smiling with your eyes."

"For someone who's not much on words when it comes to feelings, you've said a lot. Since you left the castle, left us, I've been worried about you, missing you. I wanted you back into our lives. Anger got the better of me when you came by that day. Then Marcella got sick. But I would have come for you. I wasn't going to let you out of my life."

Elphaba pulled him close, embracing him. "Thank you for caring so much."

He whispered in her ear. "If I don't leave now, I might not want to leave tonight."

"Stay. I don't want you to leave, stay with me."

Fiyero kissed her with such passion that Elphaba nearly collapsed against him. He lifted her in his arms. "Here? Or your bedroom."

Resting her head against his shoulder, she spoke barely in a whisper. "Bedroom."

xxxxx

Fiyero was gentle and loving. He cuddled Elphaba as she laid her head on his bare chest. Running his fingers through her long locks, she felt safe in his arms.

"Morning," Fiyero said. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes," she said, caressing his left arm. "And you?"

"More than well. First time in weeks. We could stay in bed all day."

"I'd like that. But I have to go to work. Kids will wonder where I am." Elphaba sat up in bed.

"What time is it?" Fiyero asked, pulling her back down onto him.

"Time to get up. Jump into the shower and get ready. Are you going to the hospital?"

"Yes. I could come by later this afternoon when you get home from school. Would you like to see Marcella?"

"That would be nice. And Sara?"

"Since tomorrow is Saturday, I'll bring her home for the weekend. Maybe we could spend time with her at the castle."

"Oh."

"I'm sorry, Fae. I'm moving too fast."

"It's just that maybe you two could come here instead? Kiamo Ko was never my home."

"It was always your home. You're right. It's best we come here. The last time Sara was home was that day with Marcella."

"I could cook for the both of you. I have lots of arts and crafts here for Sara to do. Art supplies that I got for my students. We could do a get well card for Marcella. By the way, what happened to the pony? Did you get rid of it?"

Fiyero slightly laughed. "Just like Marcella. Yes, I got rid of the pony. Gave it away to a friend."

"That's good. Okay, I really have to get ready."

Fiyero laid still, his arms around her. He didn't say a word.

Elphaba sensed his change of mood, and held him. "Are you alright?" When he didn't answer, she looked up to him. Tears rolled down his face. "I'll call the school, and have my teacher's aide take care of my kids today."

He nodded.

Elphaba wiped his tears away.

"Marcella has always loved me. Even when I was out of hand. She yelled at me, scolded me. I wouldn't listen to her. I'd tell her she was fired. She'd laugh at me and said only my parents could fire her. She never laid a hand on me. I was mean to her. And she still loved me. I never told her I loved her...love her. I've never thanked her for everything she's done for me. I took her for granted, but she still stood by my side. Never been sick, and now this happens.

"Well, when you see her today, tell her how you feel, how you want her in your life, how much you love her. And how much you still need her in your life."

"I'll take care of her. Don't want her in a private home, and be put away. She'll come back to Kiamo Ko. I'll have the best of everything for her."

Elphaba held back her tears, but a few escaped from the corner of her eyes. "You're a good son."

xxxxx

Fiyero entered Marcella's room finding Rada sitting at her mom's side.

"Hey. How is she?"

Rada immediately rose from her seat, and embraced him. "The same. You're back. Where were you all night? I was worried. You didn't come back."

"I'm back now," he said, stepping away from her. "I had something to do."

Rada arched an eyebrow. "Or doing someone."

Fiyero glared at her. "Don't start."

"You'd better not be doing that dancing through life crap again," Rada scolded. "Thought you loved Elphaba. Auntie told me all about her. And mama, too, the last time I spoke to her. You'd better not be sleeping around with just anybody. You'd better fix things up with her."

"Are you done? We're not little kids anymore where you have to know every detail of my life. You may be older than me, but I'm bigger than you now."

"I'm sorry, Fiyero. But you're still a little brother to me. You were angry when you left yesterday. And you had reason to be. I was being selfish. I'll stay for as long as mama needs me."

"She'll have the best care. Once she improves, I'll set her up on a floor of her own at Kiamo Ko. Doctors and nurses around the clock. And you come home anytime you want to."

"Thank you. You've been thinking."

"She's not dying on us. I promise you that. And last night...I was with..."

Rada held up her hand. "No need to tell me where you were. You're an adult. But remember, you're still a daddy. I do hope you're behaving."

Fiyero hugged her. "I've grown up a lot since you've been gone." He then walked over to Marcella, kissing her forehead. "Wake up soon, we all love you."

"Fiyero?" Elphaba entered the hospital room. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know someone else was in here," she said, seeing Rada next to him.

Rada playfully shoved him. "I'm Rada, Marcella's daughter. And you must be Elphaba. I know of you from mama and Auntie. Very nice to meet you." She hugged her.

Elphaba was taken aback, not accustomed to hugging people she just met, or hugging anyone for that matter. "I'm sorry to have interrupted."

"Not at all. We had this fight yesterday, Fiyero left abruptly. Didn't come back until now. I'm glad he was with you last night. I mean, he was wasn't he?"

Elphaba turned to Fiyero.

"One thing about Rada, she still thinks she has to account for my whereabouts. Always. When we were growing up...,"Fiyero said.

Rada interrupted him. "You know what he used to do when I had dates? He'd dress in his princely attire to meet them. Asked a lot of questions. Made them nervous. I never had boyfriends for too long."

Elphaba smiled. "It's very nice to meet you, Rada."

A sudden groan startled the three. Looking toward Marcella, she stirred a bit.

"Mama!" Rada pushed Fiyero aside. "Fiyero, Mama's up!"

Fiyero rushed to her. Marcella wrinkled her forehead, as if questioning her whereabouts. She looked at Rada, then Fiyero, and then Elphaba who stood at the foot of the bed. Her eyes scanned the room. Turning to Fiyero, she whispered Sara's name.

TBC - Chapter 16