Well... it's been a while... for this story. (longer for Prophecy... I'm working on it... slowly but surely. SLOWLY but surely.

Stupid excuses:

SAT classes (ick) are slowing me down a bit along with soccer (which is physically slowing me down). Let me just say, that three 40 minute games in a row with only eight people and no subs REALLY takes a toll on your body. 'Specially if you already have a foot injury and if, during that time, you develop a blister on the bottom of your foot the size of a quarter.

By the way, if you haven't guessed, I still don't own Wicked. If I did, I don't think I'd HAVE to worry about SATs...

016. Purple

Boq was lost. He was confused and slightly put out for being left out of the loop when it came to his friends. He knew that Fiyero and Elphaba were an item now; He was scarred from having it broken to him so suddenly… and in such an unconventional fashion. However, he still didn't know what had happened between them in the Emerald City. They were fairly edgy for a new couple. They had very little of the closeness and buoyancy that he and Glinda had shared when they started dating until a week or so after they returned to Shiz. He knew that Elphaba had always been a bit strange when it came to relationships, but he couldn't imagine what could delay the initial annoyingly care-free air that was supposed to envelope every new couple. Now, Elphaba was sullen again, putting on a half-genuine, half-plastic smile when Fiyero came around. Boq was worried.

"Fiyero?" he asked one afternoon after classes, "I know it seems late that I'm asking this now, but I thought I'd wait 'til whatever it was passed over: What happened between you and Elphie in the Emerald City?"

Fiyero adopted a rather blank look. He was compelled to tell him, Boq really did deserve to know, being his best friend and all, but there was Elphaba to think about. Would she want yet another person to be 'in' on their awkward coming together? Then again, she did tell Glinda…

"I mean, you don't have to tell me everything- or anything!- but… just take care of her, okay?" Boq said seriously. "She's a good girl, I know she is. She's bit misguided, yes, but good straight to the soul that she claims not to have. She was a great friend in day school and she's a great friend now. I'd hate to see anything bad happen to her. Don't take this the wrong way or anything; I love her like a brother would. Growing up together might've had something to do with it."

Fiyero was surprised. He never would have expected Boq to go out of his way to say something like that. Then again, he'd never realized how close Boq was to Elphaba. Perhaps he should tell him what happened in the City.

"I'll take care of her." Fiyero promised. "And I'll tell you what happened then, but you have to promise not to see it as a reflection on either of our characters, especially not Elphaba's."

Boq nodded. "As long as you don't hurt her."

Fiyero nodded. "Alright. Well… things got a bit carried away our first night there. One thing led to another and…" Fiyero began.

"Oh, Lurline…"

"Yeah. We talked about it the next morning. Elphaba seemed to have come to terms with the fact that it happened. She didn't act too strangely- and that was strangest part about it. We talked about what would happen if she conceived. I'd stay with her. But through the day, I think the weight of the situation finally got to her. She wouldn't let me kiss her or put my arm around her. I could only, occasionally, hold her hand. I think she was trying to pretend that nothing happened and that we were only friends again." Fiyero shook his head. "When we came back to the apartment, I finally kissed her, as you well may remember. She wasn't expecting it, which I think may have been why she took to it so well."

Boq cringed.

"Elphaba hid in her room, Glinda talked to her. You stood frozen like an idiot-"

"Hey, Elphaba is like my sister. How would you like it if your roommate started kissing your sister? You might feel a bit out of sorts, too," Boq defended himself. Fiyero chuckled.

"Anyway, that night when the girls said that they were going out shopping, they really went out to see a fortuneteller. Glinda did the smart thing and forced Elphaba and me to talk to each other after that. Elphaba told me she wasn't pregnant, and I told her that I loved her. She didn't say anything back and I started doubting whether she liked me or not. Glinda brought me back to my senses, though. You've really got a smart girlfriend, Boq. She knows people."

Boq smiled. "Yeah."

"I'm late."

"What do you mean you're late?" Glinda asked, panic rising in her voice.

"I'm late, Glinda." Elphaba emphasized. "I haven't bled since it happened."

"But you're not pregnant. Yackle said so!"

"She said that I wouldn't have a child, yes," Elphaba said, "but she didn't say I wasn't pregnant."

"But… how can you be pregnant and NOT have a child?" Glinda whined.

"Well, it's possible that she expects me to abort"-Elphaba cringed at the thought-"or that I miscarry or maybe have a stillbirth… But you're right, Glinda. Yackle can't be wrong. I'm convinced of that much. I'm not having a child."

Glinda's face twisted. "It's not supposed to happen this way!" She cried. "I was supposed to help!"

"Glinda, you did help," Elphaba soothed. "But life has the annoying habit of throwing things at you when you least expect it."

"What are you going to do? What are we going to do?"

Elphaba feign calmness. "Well… I suppose I have to talk to Fiyero about this, don't I? Things just keep getting better…"

Fiyero picked Elphaba up for dinner that evening.

"Hello, beautiful." He pecked her on the lips. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah," she answered. She threw a backward glance to Glinda, who sat on the edge of her bed, forcing an encouraging smile.

"See you both later, then," she called from her spot, and Elphaba closed the door.

"Something's wrong." Fiyero said firmly. "I know it." He held her gaze steadily. "You can't tell me that everything's fine when Glinda isn't perky. Is it about Glinda or you?"

"It's me," she sighed. As usual.

"What's wrong?" he asked quickly.

"Yero… not here."

Fiyero nodded, solemnly and took her hand in his. "Where…?"

"Somewhere private. And we might want to skip dinner tonight."

They ended up in an empty classroom. Elphaba sat slumped on a desk and Fiyero stood in front of her holding her hands.

"What is it?" he asked. He lifted her chin to make her look at him.

"I…"-she cleared her throat nervously- "I think I'm pregnant." Fiyero stared at her incredulously.

"But the fortuneteller…"

"I know," she shot back, but there was no intensity behind it, "She said that I wouldn't have a child, not that I didn't conceive."

"But if you're pregnant, how will we not have a child? A fetus doesn't just disappear on someone, does it?" he tried to reason.

"That's the thing. I think that somehow, the baby dies. No… I know the baby dies. Whether it's on my terms, or if it's natural, I don't know," she explained.

"You're not going to abort, are you?"

"No!" she said quickly. It surprised her how naturally and powerfully she answered the question. It wasn't like she wanted to be pregnant. Fiyero softened.

"You don't want the baby to die, do you? Even for all the trouble it might cause?"

Elphaba's face twisted and she shook her head. The tears came with the realization that despite not wanting to be pregnant, she still wanted the child now that it existed. It was hers after all, and Fiyero's. Fiyero hugged Elphaba to him, letting her release the feelings she usually kept pent up inside. As he rubbed her back, he whispered to her: "I don't want it to die either."

Umm... Reviews are happy-making. A special thanks to my only two reviewers last chapter: CrystalClearElphaba444 and stringofpearls. Hopefully this addition was enjoyable... (I don't quite remember where/if "Purple" does come in anywhere...)

e.r.