For disclaimer and other stuff, see part 1 and thank you for the reviews to XxXxIcePrincessXxXx, LaurenneTiggular, TillIlltryIllneverknow, gilgrissomlover, Rosie85 and Love That Wicked.

Chapter 20

Glinda was still hurt that no one had told her that Elphaba was alive and wanted to accompany Fiyero and Tanith to Evergreen. Fiyero had protested vehemently. He had intended to ask Elphaba if he was Tanith's father but with Glinda in the room, he wasn't sure it would be such a good idea. But when Glinda had made up her mind you couldn't get her to do things otherwise.

They had taken a carriage to Evergreen, Fiyero letting Tanith sitting on his lap and Glinda holding Elphaba's knapsack. She wanted her friend to have her belongings back and ask her about the letter she had found in the bible.

As they entered the cottage Kaikoura was already waiting for them.

"Glinda, nice to see you," she said politely and as she turned to her son and the child he was carrying, Kaikoura gasped.

"Everything alright, mother?" Fiyero asked worried.

"She is Elphaba's daughter?" Kaikoura asked for confirmation, but already knowing the answer. Kaikoura knew who had fathered Tanith, too. Not that Elphaba had told her, but seeing the child, Kaikoura was reminded of a little boy she had raised, her little boy Fiyero, who was now grown up and had fathered Tanith.

"Yes."

"Fiyero, she looks like you. Even with the black hair, there is no doubt. Tanith is your daughter." Kaikoura told her son.

Shocked by finally hearing what he had always presumed, Fiyero sat the child down.

"You mean…" but he couldn't continue.

"I am sure but you should go in and ask her," Kaikoura told her son.

Fiyero took Tanith's hand and walked towards the room Elphaba was staying in. Glinda was about to follow her but Kaikoura stopped her.

"Let them talk alone, first. They need to talk and we shouldn't disturb them. You will have time to talk to her later."

Glinda nodded. Kaikoura was right. Fiyero and Elphaba had a matter to settle.

There were no joyful embraces for Fiyero. No impulsive kisses. Elphaba merely reclined on her bed, robes pulled around her, toddler nestling on her chest, face solemn and suspicious.

When both had first entered the room, Elphaba's eyes lit up upon discovering that she had her daughter back. Tanith had ran up towards the bed and, with a little help, was now settled in her mothers arms, happy to have her mommy back.

"I understand I have you to thank for the return of my daughter." The bite was familiar, but there was no strength to it, not to mention odd overtones of genuine thanks to it as well. "Thank you."

"Our daughter." Fiyero sat on the edge of the bed.

Once he'd wanted to scream the question in anger at the woman before him, but now he was soul-weary, hurt. He just wanted an answer.

Brief, blinding panic flared up in Elphaba's eyes. Flabbergasted Fiyero followed her gaze down to see she was clutching Tanith in her arms in an almost crushing grip, as if she was afraid that Fiyero would take her away from her again.

When she raised her gaze again, Elphaba was calm and controlled, the way he remembered her.

"Our daughter? Were you there when she was born? I think not, although they assure me I did create several inventive curses for you during her delivery. I felt alone but I wasn't alone. People who cared for me were there but you were not. You have chosen a different life for yourself before she was born." Her hand drifted down the toddler's back. "Were you there when she smiled her first smile? Did you ever wake up at night, hearing her cry, and feel your heart clench because something was wrong and you didn't know how to help her?" The words beat at Fiyero, guilt echoing in his chest. "Were you there when she took her first step or said her first word? Did you ever comfort her when she fell or woke up screaming? You seem so intent on claiming your daughter, Fiyero, can you tell me why you were never there?"

It wasn't his fault. It wasn't his fault! She never gave him the chance to be a father by withholding the fact that she had gotten pregnant.

"Sweet Oz, Elphaba, did you ever give me the chance?" Fiyero clenched his fists and found to his utter shock he was less than a breath away from attacking her. He took several breaths before continuing. "You never gave me the chance. You never told me. I could-" the words broke and it took all of him to continue. "I could…I would have been there. You know I would have." Truth seeped out of the words, spilling like ink across a blank page. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I was so stupid, I swear, but I was wrong, I do love you Fae, why didn't you tell me?"

Elphaba watched him seemingly unaffected by his impassioned words. "Tell me, if I had told you, would you have cared?"

The words were an outright slap in the face. Fiyero reeled under the impact, unable to think, unable to form words.

"You never knew because you never cared to know. You were never given the chance because you were never there to give the chance to. After all, what would the Great Fiyero Tiggular, captain of the Gale-Force, prince of the Arjiki, fiance of Glinda the Good, care for an outcast and his bastard child?" The words flowed out like raw silk. "Why stay? Why bother with a lover you don't need? Why have any ties when there's nothing here compared to the life you have with Glinda? What would one, small child be compared to all that?"

"She is my child. She's ours," he whispered.

"Go, be with Glinda and let me live in peace with my child. Alone," Elphaba said, turning her head away. Her words had an air of finality.