Chapter Thirty-Three: Girl Talk
Elphaba could not stand the way Fiyero's mother had been looking at her. Every day, if she happened to say something at breakfast, or if she passed her in the stone hallways, there'd be a look. Elphaba could tell Fiyero's mother was still scorning her, and probably Fiyero, too, for what they'd done. She understood that what they'd done was wrong, but she could not take the glances anymore.
Elphaba shuffled quietly into the sitting room, where she knew Fiyero's mother was. "Um…"
The elder woman looked up, a slight disdaining gaze in her eyes. "Yes, Elphaba?"
"May I sit down?" She asked nervously.
"Go ahead. Is something wrong?" With a closer look at Elphaba as she sat down, she asked, "You're not pregnant, are you?"
Elphaba shook her head vigorously. "No. Fiyero and I are going to wait for a little while for that; I think I told you."
"You did. But decisions change or accidents happen." The woman shrugged. "What is it you wanted to talk to me about, then?"
Elphaba took a deep breath. "I'm sorry about what you saw Fiyero and me doing. I know we've already talked about it, but I don't feel like you've forgiven us… or me. We were going upstairs, it was very late. I kissed him and he kept touching me, though I told him we had to get to our room. The next thing I know, I'm up against the wall and he's all over me," as usual, she thought to herself, biting back a smile, "the first thing that came to my confused mind was to respond. Honestly, I know I should've known better, and a split second later, I probably would have come to my senses. It… I know it looked like it was all me, because of…" She was flushing darker, if possible, now. "Because of where my hands were. And my hands shouldn't have been where they were in the middle of the upstairs hallway. Your son is a very, um, passionate man, and sometimes he loses control, taking me along with him."
Fiyero's mother nodded. "You're right. It did look like it was all very much your doing. I did think it your fault, though my husband sensed it was my son's, as you noticed by the way he talked to the two of you. I would have to guess that he knows that part of my son better than I would, wouldn't he, being a man?"
Elphaba giggled and then bit it back. "I guess so."
"And maybe it isn't fair of us to expect you two to hide these things. You've been married less than a year, and most couples wouldn't have to worry about who watched them at that point, because they'd be living on their own. Maybe we should've discussed that with you before."
It was Elphaba's turn to shrug. "It's fine. We should've been a bit more discreet. I just wanted you to understand a little more."
"I do." Fiyero's mother smiled at her. "Men can be… a little intense sometimes, can't they?"
"A little." Elphaba smiled.
"Well, whatever happened, I'm glad you're enjoying marriage."
"Why wouldn't I?" Elphaba asked, surprised. "I love Fiyero."
"Of course. Sometimes I almost forget how different your circumstances are from mine."
"Your marriage was arranged, wasn't it?"
"Yes. And, though I've come to love my husband, I can't say I enjoyed the first years very much."
"But aren't those supposed to be the best years?"
"It took me some time to really care for my husband. I tried, but it was forced for a long time. To me, that first year or so was just boredom and uncomfortable sex."
Elphaba stared at the floor. "Oh."
"The men in this family have the somewhat discomforting trait of, well, I'm sure you know…"
Elphaba simply shook her head and would not raise her gaze from the floor.
Fiyero's mother sighed and touched Elphaba's shoulder gently. "Come on, you can talk to me. You're my daughter-in-law, after all."
"Well, honestly, I had no idea what you're talking about."
"You do, but you don't want to think that's what I'm talking about. What I was trying to say was that the men in this family happen to have very large… male parts…"
Elphaba choked and drew her knees up to her chest.
"Calm down. It's just girl talk, here."
Elphaba dropped her knees, though she wouldn't look at the woman.
Fiyero's mother smiled knowingly. "I'm not going to judge you because you have sex with my son every night. For Oz's sake, you're married. I'd worry if you didn't. But the last female above the age of fourteen who I talked to got married and moved out of the castle. Besides, we're family. We're both girls, there's nothing you have to hide."
Elphaba took a deep breath. She'd never had a mother to talk to about "girl stuff", or about sex. "Still… Fiyero's your son."
"Exactly. Which makes you close enough to being my daughter. I'm sorry for blaming you about that little… display with my son. If I'd ever been that young and in love at the same time, Oz knows I might've behaved that way."
"I know you want me to be comfortable with you, but I'm not one to talk about that sort of thing with anyone. I barely talked to my best friend about it. I'd happily discuss anything else you wish to talk about, though," Elphaba offered.
"I understand. You should hear some of the village women talking about their husbands, though. It is… amusing, to say the least. Anyway, I know it must be difficult living with my son. I can put up with his odd behavior because he's my son, but how can someone else?"
"Easy. I love him. He's a good man, even if he's a bit… needy."
"Needy, he is. He was a mommy's boy until he went off to college."
"And then he was fine, for some time, until he attached himself to me. Why he chose me, I'll never understand. I know he loves me, but he's so affectionate at times that it makes me nervous."
"He wants to do everything for you."
"And he does. I'm not the sort of person who'd even allow that sort of exhibition of feelings, but it's so sweet…"
"Fae!" Fiyero wandered into the room and sat down next to Elphaba. "You got up without me. You know I can't sleep once you've gotten up."
"I don't know how you'll survive if we're separated for more than twenty-four hours, Yero." Elphaba rolled her eyes. "I've been up long enough, anyway. Where have you been?"
"Looking for you. There are several places I would've guessed you'd be before I checked here." Fiyero put an arm around Elphaba, brought her closer, and kissed her temple. "You know I can't function without you."
Elphaba pushed Fiyero away good-naturedly. "I know you love me, but I think you should be able to live without me for at least small periods of time, Fiyero."
"Not when I don't have to," he protested, gathering her into his arms. It seemed he only noticed his mother after confirming that he had Elphaba. "Hey, Mom."
"Good morning, honey." She stood. "Look, I've got to go make sure the servants are making breakfast. Sometimes, if I don't remind them, they sleep in." She gave one last glance to Elphaba. "If you ever want to talk, Elphaba, you're welcome to come to me."
"What would she need you for? She has me and she can tell me everything." Fiyero argued.
Elphaba smiled at him helplessly and buried her face in his neck. "Well, almost anything."