Disclaimer- I do not own Wicked or Rent.

Emmy ran…and kept running. She darted through hedgerows and under trees with practiced ease, yet with each step she felt more confused, more disturbed and more alone. Finally winded, she came to a stop near a garden wall and a blooming azalea bush. Leaning against the wall, she pulled her legs up to her chin and rocked slowly. It wasn't until she saw the drops of water on her dress that she realized she was crying.

Why? Why would anybody say things like they did…think things like that? It hurt! It hurt and made everything in life till now seem…wrong…like it was all a lie. Now what? I want it to be yesterday, and not go to the silly reception! I don't understand! Help me somebody? But who'd want to help a "weird green girl"?

"Emmy?" She looked up hurriedly at the soft voice she knew so well. She looked to see her Aunt Faba standing before her.

I never felt ashamed around Aunt Faba before. Why do I feel like that now? Why do I feel like I'm going to throw up?

"Don't feel ashamed, little one. Don't ever feel ashamed." Could she read her mind?! Her aunt came toward her and sat down beside her. When Emmy looked up at her, Elphaba reached out a hand, took hers and stroked it lovingly. It was then, like a bolt out of the blue, that it hit her. "Aunt Faba!! You're green!"

Elphaba held back a soft laugh but allowed a wide grin to grace her face. She just then realized that Emaurie had never noticed the color of her aunt's skin. To Emmy, she was Aunt Faba that was it, that was enough.

"There's hope for this world of ours." Elphaba thought.

Realizing what she'd said, Emmy threw her hand over her mouth, feeling complete and utter despair. What if I hurt her feelings? But no, Aunt Faba still wore a smile. Elphaba took the hand covering Emmy's mouth and brought it to her own lips, gave it a quick kiss but did not let go of it.

"You see? Love truly is color-blind, little one. You never noticed because you always knew it isn't really important; just as your parents do, just as Uncle Yero does, just as Elfie does. You know it deep within you. Unfortunately, some people don't and never will. Whatever you're feeling, I've felt it myself…only more so. I grew up with a father who would not have wished for anything more than my disappearance from his life. He blamed me for all the problems in his life, rather than trying to live it well. It's easy to point fingers when someone or something stands out so very much. It's much more difficult to find solutions to the real problems in life. It's difficult, but much more rewarding. Trust me, little one, the words you heard you will more than likely hear again…many times; but Emmy, teach them how to live by example. You don't see your mother as one color and your father as another, do you?"

Emmy shook her head silently.

"Nor do I. I see two people I love and would die for willingly. In you, I see their greatest gifts combined."

Slowly, Emmy leaned her body toward her aunt. "Aunt Faba, you don't think I'm a weird green girl, do you?" Elphaba could hear the need for reassurance in her niece's voice.

"No. What about you? Do you see a weird green woman when you look at me?"

Emaurie was aghast. "No! I see…you."

"Me too. I see you… Emmy, one of the loves of my life. I will always look at you and see the baby I helped deliver. I'll see the girl that many outsiders think is my daughter while thinking Elfie is your mother's daughter. I'll see many things in you as the years go on, little one, but I can promise you weird and green won't be two of them."

Emaurie found herself nestled within the safety of her aunt's arms. She slowly took in all her aunt said and rested there easily. She wasn't embarrassed anymore, she didn't feel sick, she felt warm and loved. Emaurie realized now that her past had been the truth, and the remarks of two rude boys was the real lie. Elphaba sat quietly for some time this way. Whatever time Emmy needed, she would give her.

"You have a great advantage over me Emmy. You have love…lots of it! It took many years for me to receive that gift. Appreciate it; cherish it, lean on it when you have to deal with fools like those boys today."

"Why did you have to wait so long, Aunt Faba?" It didn't seem fair to Emaurie that her aunt went so long without being loved.

"Because I wasn't there yet."

Emmy and Elphaba looked up to see Fiyero leaning against a tree limb, smiling down at them while the sunlight danced in his hair. He came toward them now, flopping on the ground opposite them both.

He glanced at Emmy and smiled his warm loving smile, but locked eyes with his wife. "I hadn't gotten there yet. Just like in a story or a book, you turn the page and there's the prince. Well, one day, when she needed me most, there I was, driving her crazy and loving her beyond distraction! I saw what so many other people never saw, what they never knew, Emmy."

She was spellbound. "What, Uncle Yero? What?"

"I saw her. I saw her heart and I saw her hurts and her dreams and I wanted to bundle them up together for her and hold them up to the light so she'd realize just how special she is. Then, I wanted to make sure she knew how very much I love her…how much I always will."

Elphaba cradled Emmy, yet her niece noticed that look between them, the one that her parents had sometimes. Elphaba looked at her now. "He risked everything for me, little one. He risked his reputation, his heart, even his life…all for a green girl. A green girl that loved him back and always will. There are Uncle Yero's in the world, my Emmy. For every fool, there are a few more like Uncle Yero. Are you ready to go back yet?"

Emmy nodded, smiling as her aunt added, "I'm always here for you, little one. Always."

Suddenly, Emmy and Elphaba noticed Fiyero smiling at them in interest.

"What is it, Yero?" Elphaba was curious about his expression.

"It's just… well; the azalea bush behind you both is blooming. You know pink goes good with green!"

Elphaba could hardly believe it but saw that he was serious. She remembered the words from so long ago and started to laugh.

"What? It does!"

"Yes, Yero… my Yero. I love you."

He pulled her to her feet after pulling Emmy to hers. "And I love you. Now, let's get back and see if Elfie turned those two boys purple like she was planning."

Emmy was incredulous. "Purple??"

Yero lifted her into his arms, "Yes, purple! That's what she was threatening to do after you left. Turn them purple so they'd see what it felt like for themselves to be different. I calmed her down before I left and she was with your father and Mark and your mom. What do you think?"

Emmy considered. "They should be safe, but maybe we should hurry, just in case." She thought a moment longer and was suddenly solemn. "She really loves me a lot, doesn't she?"

Elphaba answered a question with a question. "Do you really love her?"

Her answering nod was violent.

"Well, I'd say you have your answer. Shall we?"

They walked back together that way; Emmy held in one of Yero's arms and Elphaba holding his other hand. Fiyero had Emaurie laughing by the time they arrived. Maureen and Emrys saw them coming. They both studied their daughter's face and sighed in relief.

"Thank God for Faba!" Maureen said after a deep breath as she watched Elfie run towards her parents and cousin.

--

Hours later, after night had fully enthralled Burzee, there was a disturbance.

Sharp yellow eyes cut through the darkness, their owner completely hidden in the bushes near the castle. The eyes stared only at the nursery window, a dangerous flicker of longing within them. As sudden as they appeared, they were gone, accompanied by the rustling of leaves.

The only remaining trace of this strange trespasser was a limp and bloodied Monkey paw reaching out from the shadows.