Well, everyone. Here is the final chapter. My school's spring musical this year is 'The Sound of Music'. I'm playing a nun, and I open up the show with a church Latin (which is different from regular Latin) Gregorian chant solo. Our opening night was last night and we have a show tonight and tomorrow night.

Glinda sighed as she sat at her desk. She had a pile of paperwork that she knew she had to do, but she couldn't focus on it. She put her head in her hands, rubbing her temple.

"Long day?"

Glinda looked through her fingers and chuckled softly, seeing Elphaba leaning against the doorway.

"And to think, it's only ten in the morning."

The blonde sat up and yawned. "There's just so much work to do."

Elphaba walked into the room and sat down on an empty spot on Glinda's desk. "When do you think you'll be finished?"

"Much quicker if I didn't have a green girl sitting on my desk," Glinda replied, looking up.

Elphaba smiled. "I used to do this all the time when I was younger."

"Distract your father while he's working?"

"I preferred to call it 'keeping him company'."

"Whatever you say."

The green girl stood up. "Well, I shall leave you to your work. I just wanted to remind you of our plans."

"Plans?" Now Elphaba had Glinda's undivided attention.

"Which you have obviously forgotten. We're going riding this afternoon."

"We?"

"You, me and my father."

Glinda smiled softly. She had heard the Wizard talking about taking Elphaba riding after he learned that she had a lesson with Glinda. "Well, that's very sweet of you to offer, but I shall have to pass."

Elphaba frowned slightly. "Oh. You're not coming with us? I thought you were."

Glinda shook her head. "No. Besides, you need some alone time with your father."

"Glin, you can come if you want to. I don't mind," Elphaba said, almost pleading. "Plus, I… I don't…"

"You don't feel comfortable being alone with him yet?" Glinda finished for her.

"Yeah," Elphaba admitted after a short pause.

Glinda quickly wrapped her friend in a hug. "Elphie, don't worry about it. Go enjoy your time with your father."

The green girl nodded and gently pulled away. "Okay. Are you sure?"

"Yes, Elphie. Now, go!" She gently shooed the princess out of her office and closed the door behind her.

Elphaba slowly shook her head and walked down the hall, humming softly under her breath.

"You seem very content."

Elphaba turned around and saw Fiyero walked towards her. "Hi, Fiyero."

"Hey. Your father wanted me to tell you to meet him by the stables at one o'clock."

Elphaba nodded. "Where is he now?"

"He's in a meeting right now. My parents came to discuss some business with him."

Elphaba looked confused, but then remembered that Fiyero's parents were the King and Queen of the Vinkus.

"And my older brother is here with them."

"Mieko?"

"That's the one."

Elphaba smiled. "I would love to meet them. I mean, I probably met them at the ball, but most of that night is a blur of 'Hellos' and 'So glad to meet yous' and 'Yes, I am prepared to take over all of Oz one day'."

"Hopefully, not too soon," Fiyero joked before turning serious again. "Are you ready?"

Elphaba sighed. "I mean, I have been studying politics and foreign affairs and relations and other mandatory things for a future ruler to learn. Knowledge wise, I'm probably ready. Mentally, I don't think I'll ever be ready."

The two walked in silence before Elphaba decided to speak again. "Then there's always the topic of marriage and child bearing once I become ruler of Oz."

"You've thought about that?"

"A little bit. I mean, since I'm a woman, they might try to marry me off to some high political figure to help me rule."

"You see marriage as a bad thing?"

"I see marriages these days as a business deal. If I marry, I would much prefer it to be for love. I've read stories about two people falling in love and marrying each other and it sounds really romantic."

"And you want that?"

"Doesn't everyone?" She stopped and looked up at the prince. "I would much rather rule by myself if I have to than marry for business."

"Well, don't worry, Elphaba. When you're ready, your true love will come."

The princess smiled and Fiyero smiled back. He felt the familiar feeling of butterfly feelings in his stomach and he tried to push them aside. He and Elphaba had become very close friends. He didn't want to admit that he was falling in love with her. Would it mess up her friendship with Glinda? He knew the blonde still had feelings for him. He silently decided that Elphaba needed to focus with reconnecting with her father. When she was ready, he would be there for her.

"Fiyero?"

The captain blinked and looked at the princess. "Yes?"

A split second and Elphaba threw her arms around the prince. "Thank you."

"For what?" the prince asked, confused, but returned the hug.

"For being my friend, despite… well… everything."

"That's what friends do. They see past each other's quirks and difference and attempts to drive them out of the palace."

Elphaba blushed. "Well, thank you."

The two continued to walk down the palace. It took Fiyero every fiber of his being not to tell Elphaba how her really felt about her. She wasn't ready, and neither was he. They only knew each other for about two weeks and she still seemed a bit closed off with him.

"I have to get back to work, but I'll see you later," Fiyero said, bowing to Elphaba.

"Okay," Elphaba said, smiling as Fiyero turned to leave. She was now left to her own devices until her father was finished working. She looked down the empty hallway and frowned. Now that she had human contact back in her life again, she didn't want to be alone. She had felt alone for fourteen years and she didn't want to go back to that feeling. She walked back to her room and, upon opening her door, was immediately greeted by Malky.

"Hey," she smiled, kneeling down and scooping the puppy into her arms. "Looks like it's just you and me again."

Malky seemed to have no problem with that and barked happily, licking Elphaba's forearm. The princess chuckled and went into her room to play with the puppy.

"Princess?" Salmya called, knocking on the door. "Lunch is ready."

"Thank you," Elphaba called back, rising to her feet. She washed her hands and tried her best to remove the shed puppy fur from her dress before going down to the dining hall.

Elphaba walked in to find everyone waiting for her. She quickly took her seat in between Glinda and her father and lunch was served.

It was quieter than usual. Glinda was understandably exhausted from all her paperwork and the Wizard looked like he wanted to speak, but something was holding him back. Fiyero alternated from looking at Elphaba and looking down at his plate. Morrible was the only one who was quiet because she was eating.

After lunch, Elphaba and her father prepared for their ride.

"It's getting colder," the Wizard said as he handed Elphaba a warm riding cloak.

"Thank you," Elphaba said as she put it on.

The walk to the stables was quick and quiet. The Wizard didn't know how to start a conversation and Elphaba didn't look like she wanted to start one. Once they got their horses, the Wizard helped his daughter mount the white stallion she had before and after he mounted his own horse, they were off.

"You ride very well," the Wizard said after a while. "Glinda told me you only rode with her twice."

"I'm a fast learner," Elphaba said, her gaze down.

"You always were."

Elphaba nodded and remained silent.

"Elphaba," the Wizard began. "I know I can never apologize to you enough for what happened, and I know we might never be able to go back to the way we were. I'm not asking you to forgive me or want to open up to me right away, I just want you do know that I'm sorry."

Elphaba nodded again. "I know."

"I would give anything to turn back the clocks and bring back your mother, or so I could undo all of my mistakes and be a good father to you. None of this would have ever happened."

"C-Can we go back now?" Elphaba asked, tears forming in her eyes.

The Wizard noticed this and nodded. "Of course, Fabala. Just… can you do me one favor?"

Elphaba looked up slowly.

"Meet me in your mother's music room this evening."

Confused, Elphaba blinked, but slowly nodded as she followed her father back to the stables.

That evening, Elphaba went to meet her father in the music room, wondering what he was planning. She was dressed in her nightgown and dark blue robe and Malky was trotting by her side. She went into the music room and saw her father standing up in the center of the room, a guitar in his arms.

"Father?" Elphaba asked, stepping into the room. "What are you doing?"

"Something we haven't done in quite some time," the Wizard said as he motioned for Elphaba to sit at his feet.

Elphaba complied as he father began to play his guitar. She was surprised that he still remembered it. She guessed he wouldn't have played in a while. As he continued to strum, Elphaba recognized the song. It was a song she would sing with her parents every evening before bed.

"Edelweiss, edelweiss. Every morning you greet me. Small and white, clean and bright. You look happy to meet me," the Wizard sang, his eyes never leaving Elphaba.

The green girl smiled softly. She couldn't believe her father still remembered that song from so long ago.

"Blossom of snow, may you bloom and grow. Bloom and grow, forever. Edelweiss, edelweiss. Bless my homeland forever."

Elphaba turned and saw Glinda and Fiyero standing in the doorway, both in their nightclothes. She motioned for them to come into the room and join them. Glinda smiled as she walked in and sat next to Elphaba. Fiyero followed her and knelt behind the girls.

"Small and white, clean and bright. You look happy to meet me," Elphaba sang, smiling up at her father.

Glinda smiled as she joined in. "Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow."

"Bloom and grow forever," Fiyero sang, grinning at both girls.

"Edelweiss, edelweiss. Bless my homeland forever," all four of them sang in unison.

Once the song ended, Elphaba jumped up and happily hugged her father. "I can't believe you remember that song," she whispered into his shoulder.

"I could never forget that song," the Wizard said, returning the hug.

Glinda and Fiyero smiled at each other and they slipped out of the room unnoticed.

The Wizard gently pulled away and brushed a section of Elphaba's hair behind her ear. "I love you, Fabala."

"I love you, too, Father." Elphaba threw herself against her father again, not even bothering to try and stop her tears.

"Bless my homeland forever," the Wizard sang softly into his daughter's ear, biting back a sob as he kissed her forehead.

The End

Song Used:

'Edelweiss' from 'The Sound of Music'

Thank you all so much for reading, reviewing, favoriting and following. It means the world to me.

ABOUT MY NEXT STORY: My next story, 'A Different Point of View', will be posted tomorrow (Saturday). It's a 20 chapter long Fiyeraba. I've never written anything like this story (you'll see what I mean when you read it), and that makes me even more excited.