I'm Not Sad Anymore
One-Shot 8: What I've Always Wanted
AN: Okay, I finally have an idea. Yay! So in the future, I think I'll be updating on Saturdays. Not every Saturday, but hopefully like twice a month, maybe three. Please continue to give me ideas, so I can update often. I saw Idina Menzel in concert for the third time last night! She was absolutely incredible, as always. If you have the opportunity to see her on her world tour, please do. You won't regret it!
Disclaimer: I do not own the story or characters of Wicked.
"Fiyero!" he heard his name be called as he was walking towards the cottage where his wife was waiting for him.
"Jamena! Hello. It has been some time since we've seen each other. How was your trip to Oz?"
"It was quite pleasant," the Ox replied. "Lady Glinda has done a remarkable job at reintegrating Animals into Oz. Cornelius and I felt very welcome."
"That makes me happy, Jamena, and I'm sure Elphaba will feel the same way. I never had any doubt that Glinda would do a fine job leading Oz."
"Speaking of Glinda," Jamena started, "there is some news from Oz I think you and your Elphaba would be very interested in hearing."
Elphaba had spent her day tidying up their cottage for Fiyero's return. He had gone for his quarterly trip to gather supplies from the outskirts of Oz, and the emerald woman had nothing else to do, being their neighbors, the Oxen, had just returned from their trip to Oz. It had been a while since the Animals had been to Oz, as it was only recently that a measure was passed allowing them to even visit. Glinda was trying, and Elphaba recognized it.
Elphie couldn't help but feel somewhat jealous of her friends. Not that she wasn't happy Jamena and Cornelius had been welcome in Oz, it just reminded her that she wasn't. At this point, five years after leaving Oz, Elphaba was content in the life her and Fiyero had created for themselves. But every once in a while, she was reminded of what she left behind in Oz.
The woman was pulled out of her thoughts by her husband entering their abode. Elphaba instantly placed down her duster and walked to her husband, grabbing a pile of wood from his arms and placing it by their fireplace. Returning to him, she noticed Fiyero's arms were now empty and she placed herself in them, offering a far better alternative to the wood that had previously occupied the space. "I missed you, Yero," she mumbled into his chest as her husband wrapped his arms around her.
"I missed you too, my love. As always." Elphaba pulled her head back so she could kiss her husband.
After the kiss, Elphaba led Fiyero to their loveseat. "You've been hauling all of those things. You need to rest."
Fiyero smiled. "That was the plan." The scarecrow knew he needed to talk to Elphaba about what Jamena had told him, and he pondered the right way to start as they sat together. "So, I ran into Jamena as I was arriving home."
Elphaba lifted her head off her husband's chest to reply. "You did? How was their trip?" Elphaba was afraid Glinda's attempts to treat the Animals equally were failing.
"She said it was wonderful. Oz is getting better, Fae, and you helped that happen," Fiyero reassured, running a burlap hand up and down Elphaba's back.
Elphie smiled and hesitated, thinking. She wanted to ask if that meant maybe one day, the two could return to Oz, but she knew it was impossible. There would always be someone who wished ill-will on Elphaba, and someone would try to harm her and Fiyero. She knew that, but she couldn't keep the sliver of hope that she had always had from growing some. "Glinda is doing a good job. And she's keeping her promise, that's all I asked of her."
"Speaking of Glinda, Jamena and Cornelius also heard some information about her." Fiyero moved to sit up, taking his wife with him.
"Is she alright?" Elphaba asked, panicking.
"She's perfectly fine, Elphaba. I apologize, love, I didn't mean to scare you." Fiyero placed a hand on his wife's cheek, knowing it would ground her and take her out of panic mode.
"Sorry, Yero, that was irrational. You just seemed very serious is all."
Fiyero dropped his hand from the woman's cheek, placing it on her thigh. "Elphaba, Glinda has had a child."
"A baby?" Elphie clarified.
Fiyero nodded. "Who…?" Elphaba was confused.
"About a year after we left Oz, Glinda was married to a Lord Magnus Chuffrey. This is their first child."
Elphaba nodded slowly, repeatedly, trying to absorb the information Fiyero had given her. She had always been easily overwhelmed, and her husband knew this, so he gave her all the time she needed to adjust. "Fae, sweetheart, are you alright?"
She nodded. "I was just thinking, how things could be different. You could be this child's father, or I could be there, or I could be dead."
"My love, we've been through this. It doesn't do either of us any good to spend our lives wondering what might have been. This is the life we have, and I think, despite everything, it's a pretty good life."
"Fiyero, do you know anything about the child?" she asked, ignoring the man's statement.
"It's a girl." Fiyero paused before adding, "Her name is Melena."
Elphaba's head shot up. "Melena? After my mother?"
Fiyero shook his head and smiled. "After you."
"That's dangerous," she disagreed. "Glinda shouldn't have done that."
"Fae, no one knows it was her name or that it is your middle name. She's safe. It's alright."
Elphaba nodded. "Alright, I'll accept that for now." She, as always, was concerned for her best friend's safety. If Oz knew the truth behind her daughter's name, Glinda could be a target, and Elphaba more than anyone else knew how that felt.
"How do you feel about all this?" Fiyero asked, still afraid his wife was in a world of panic.
"I'm happy for her. She gets to live her life, and that's all I've ever wanted for her."
Fiyero took Elphaba's hand and squeezed. "And you?"
She nodded, smiling. "This is all I've ever wanted for us."
"In the silence of night I have often wished for just a few words of love from one man, rather than the applause of thousands of people."
― Judy Garland
AN: Please let me know what you think and give me ideas! Thanks!