Ok, so as promised here's chapter 14! This is your December update even though it's coming today, but I'm not going to be able to get onto the computer tomorrow so I thought it was better early than late! Thank you to all of the lovely people who reviewed chapter 13, you know who you are!

Chapter 14 – Complications

The next morning at breakfast the family were sitting together talking casually about nothing in particular. Then Sulid made a comment which disrupted the tranquillity of the atmosphere. As she poured herself a cup of coffee, she kindly enquired, smiling at her future daughter-in-law,

"So, Elphaba, when were you planning to let your parents know of yours and Fiyero's engagement? I'm sure they'll be very excited that their daughter is going to be married."

Elphaba visibly stiffened and paled, and she trembled slightly as she answered.

"My mother is dead, and as far as my father is concerned, I might as well be. Excuse me."

And she rose from her seat, and left the room in as dignified a manner as possible. As soon as the door closed behind her she turned and ran back to her room as fast as her long legs could carry her, the tears stinging as they streamed down her cheeks.

As soon as Elphaba had left the room, Fiyero rose. He was about to leave the room after his fiancée when he caught sight of his mother's face. He went to her at once, putting his hand on her arm and hugging her gently.

"Oh, mother, it's not your fault, you weren't to know. I should have said something before but I never thought about it. Her mother is dead, and she doesn't have a good relationship with her father. As far as he is concerned, the only good thing about her getting married is that she'll be spending less time at Colwen Grounds. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go and find her, I've no idea what she could do in this state." He kissed Clyara's forehead, for the little girl was looking puzzled and miserable at the sudden disappearance of Elphaba, and then hurried out of the door and towards Elphaba's bedroom.

Elphaba had dropped to the floor just inside her room and lay there sobbing bitterly. She didn't even know entirely why she was crying, but Sulid's motherly words had struck a nerve and she couldn't cry in front of Fiyero's family, especially not Clyara. She heard a soft tap at the door, and moved slightly out of it's way before murmuring a soft "come in". It flew open and banged closed, all ceremony thrown aside, and within seconds she was held tightly in Fiyero's loving arms.

"Oh, my darling, what is it? You were fine and then all of a sudden everything just collapsed. Mother didn't mean anything by it, it's my fault for not telling her…" he broke off as Elphaba rounded on him, eyes blazing, as the words tumbled from her lips in her fury.

"Tell her what, Fiyero? Tell her everything about my dysfunctional family? Tell her that my father hates me and will only be pleased I'm getting married because it'll keep me away? Tell her what?"

Fiyero had recoiled at the force of her anger and resisted the urge to pull her into his arms again, or worse, to shout back at her. Instead, he put his hand on her arm and spoke softly and reassuringly to try and calm the frustrated girl.

"Fae, listen to me. I'm sorry that you've been hurt, and I'm trying to help you. I love you, darling. That's never going to change."

Elphaba nodded in silence, and then spoke so softly it was almost a whisper.

"I was rude to your mother, wasn't I, Yero. That wasn't fair, not after how good she's been to me. I ought to apologise…but…come with me? Please."

Fiyero rose and lifted her by her hand, but stopped her before she could open the door. He drew her to him, and kissed her tenderly, then drew back, not sure how she would respond after her previous outburst. But her lips followed him, and kissed him again, to which he responded passionately. When they drew apart, some of the anger and hurt had gone from her eyes. He took her hand and they left the room together, heading back to the informal dining room.

Meanwhile, once Fiyero had left the room, things had not gone so smoothly. Clyara had sat in silence for a few minutes, her bottom lip trembling, and then silently began to cry. Her mother crossed the table and lifted her daughter into her lap, kissing the top of her hand and rocking her back and forth gently.

"What's wrong, my poppet?"

Clyara whimpered and buried her face in her mother's warm, comforting shoulder.

"Mommy, it hurts."

"What does, honey?"

"My head…Elphaba angry…upset…hurts in my head…her upset me upset too."

Sulid didn't understand much of this, but guessed from what Elphaba had told them before that this was an empathic breakdown, and somehow that Elphaba's feelings of hurt had hit her daughter strongly. So she continued to rock her gently and kiss her forehead and cheeks, and stroke her hair.

At this point the door opened, and Elphaba entered, clinging onto Fiyero's hand, looking pale and drawn. She sat down on a chair opposite Sulid, and lifted Clyara, who had run over to her, into her lap, and then spoke to her future mother-in-law.

"Sulid, I was very rude then and I'm sorry. My father and I don't have a good relationship, I was planning to write to him and tell him so that he can have had a chance to cool down before I see him back at…home."

Sulid didn't miss the pause before the word 'home', and spoke gently to Elphaba.

"My dear, this is your home now. You are family, and I hope you know that you aren't a guest in this house, you are one of us. And as for what was said earlier, forget it ever happened. I was not angry, just concerned about you."

Elphaba nodded and smiled weakly at Sulid. Then she turned her attention to the little girl in her lap.

"Now, sweetheart, what's up? Tell Elphaba about it."

Clyara whispered something unintelligible and Elphaba looked her in the eye.

"Sweetie, we've talked about this before, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong."

Clyara nodded quietly and then spoke again, leaning her head against Elphaba's shoulder. She spoke of the sudden 'hit' of emotions she had felt from Elphaba, the fear and anger she had felt, emotions which were hard for an old woman, let alone a little girl, to comprehend. When she had finished she fell, exhausted, back against Elphaba's chest, nearly asleep.

Elphaba picked her up and, motioning to Fiyero, carried her down the corridor to her nursery, where she laid her down on the bed and tucked a blanket over her. She then kissed her forehead and left the room with her fiancé, who had watched the incredible tenderness with which she handled his baby sister with amazement. Now all that remained was to find out how to help her.

AN: So there you all go, another chapter! Sorry it's a bit shorter than usual, I have so much work at the moment it's been manic but I promised a chapter and a chapter you will get. Next update on the 1st January or before if you're lucky! Happy Christmas to all readers if there isn't an update before then.