Disclaimer- I do not own Wicked or Rent.
While Elphaba slept, life went on. While her body, mind, and spirit healed and rested, the others awaited the return of the Witch of the West. Fiyero stayed beside his wife keeping watch. King Emrys' attention and time had been diverted by some of the many unavoidable duties of his station... his daughter and niece never far from his mind.
Mark was inexorably drawn to the gardens and their vistas. He couldn't help wishing he had his movie camera! The views and landscaping were lovely and while planned, Mark knew they were meant to look unhandled and wild for the most part. It was calm there, and he wandered there now, his thoughts on the two little girls he had come to love. When he caught sight of the burial plot in the distance, Mark prayed that it remained as it was now. For the first time in a long time, Mark prayed…prayed hardthat no small new plots need be added.
Joanne had borrowed a law book from Emrys' library and was on her way back to her suite. She felt sure that comparing the legal codes of Burzee to those of New York, might give her the bland but encompassing distraction she needed. Still, a part of her was far off, somewhere in a Burzeean wood with Emaurie and Elfie. As she was passing the nursery she heard a noise and ventured a look through the open doors. The sight before her eyes broke her heart.
Maureen was wandering about the room slowly, Emmy's ripped stuff animal held tight in her hands. As she came to a particular spot in the nursery's mural, she reached out and stroked it gently. Looking closer, Joanne realized with a wince that it was the character that resembled Emmy. Then she heard a sound come from the diva she had never heard before…a strangled sob.
Unable to stand it any longer, Joanne entered and went to her ex-lover. Just as Joanne expected, when Maureen realized she'd been discovered, she made a quick attempt at recovery…an unsuccessful one. Out of instinct and past practice, Joanne moved to her and pulled her into her arms to console her. It worked for a moment or two, and the diva found solace in her arms, her tears wetting Joanne's shoulder. Then she drew a great shuddering breath and pulled back…uncomfortable in a way she never had been before.
As she wiped her eyes Maureen smiled. "Thanks…sorry about the shirt. Oh God, where are they?"
Joanne understood. The subject of 'them' was over. Whatever relationship they had had in the past was over now. Consolation was one thing…but anything else was out of bounds. Joanne covered now with the ease that came from her work in a courtroom.
"They're safe. You heard your sister; they're safe and together and…Maureen, they're smart. They'll stay that way until you can get to them. Try and have some…"
"Faith?" Maureen's voice sounded bitter. "Yeah, well faith is Faba's thing… though God knows why! Faba and Rys! I think he has the market covered."
Joanne knew she was being led firmly away from the precipice of falling into loving Maureen again. Maureen had mentioned Emrys. Joanne liked him a lot, and in many ways she and Emrys were the same...organized, dependable, and strong. The differences were apparently what drew Maureen to him. Whatever they had, it was strong…strong and undeniable. The old Maureen would have thought nothing of toying with them both.
This Maureen was firm and insistent in her devotion and faithfulness to her husband. Maureen's only weakness now had been born of pain and duress. Joanne could only respect it and regret that she'd been unable to bring out this side of her diva. She drew the subject back to even safer territory.
"The mural…it's incredible. It even has Emaurie in it."
"And Elfie." Maureen moved to where her niece was painted. The child looked like a fairy or sprite. Joanne nodded. "I get it. Elfie, elf, that's cute."
Maureen shook her head vehemently, stroking the portrait lovingly. "Pixie. That's Rys' nickname for her-- Pixie. He got it from one of the earlier murals. At the rate they're growing, Rys will be having another painted in no time." She paused, trying to gather herself together. "Hopefully…oh God, let there be another mural!"
In an effort to draw her mind away from its present path, Joanne spoke up.
"There will be! Tell me about Burzee. You're happy here, I can see it. Is that why you never came back? Emrys and Burzee?"
Maureen looked at her wryly. "Nice try there! Belt me over the head with a frying pan, why don't you? Who do I look like…Wile E. Coyote? I did notice the dramatic subject change. But yeah, part of it was Rys…a lot of it was Rys, but more than anything, it was Elphaba. I found out I had a twin sister and I had to get to know her. Besides, it was time for me to move on. But Faba, she was the cherry on top of the sundae. I mean here was this twin, this powerful witch, and she accepted me…probably because of her past." At a confused look from Joanne, she continued. "I won the parental lottery. Who knew being kidnapped and dropped into another world could be so good? But Faba's parents…her father…he was a miserable son of a…."
"Don't you mean your father?"
"Not really…I mean he was no prize whatsoever, but the father who raised Faba, now he was a total…let's just say I'm glad he's dead. If he wasn't, I'd gladly bury him alive and party on his grave! Anyway, with all the abuse she suffered she could have hated my guts. She didn't. She didn't and she shared herself. No judgments, just her. I saw her past when we used this mirror to get closer…become whole again. It sucked, Joanne! Anyway, she's strong and she shares it. It doesn't surprise me that she risked herself going into Emmy's portent with her. It helped Emmy and it helped us. She loves Emmy as much as she loves Elfie. She even delivered her! Thank God Glinda is here to keep an eye on her now. They were roommates in school and good, good friends. Glinda understands the magic better than I do. Together, we might just pull this off."
Maureen realized she had just come full circle emotionally. She had traveled from despair to hopeful optimism. "Feel any better?" Joanne asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yeah, yeah I do. I think I can finally see a light in the distance."
Joanne smiled broadly. "Good, good!"
Her humor was tempered by a wry comment from Maureen, "Yeah, now let's just hope it's not an oncoming train!" With that, the two women left the nursery.
-----
Off in the distant forests of Burzee, Elfie and Emmy walked hand in hand under Zara's watchful eyes. She wanted to complain, but even she could find no fault with these younglings. They were polite and cooperative and followed her instructions to the letter. They were careful and quiet and traveled where she demanded uncomplainingly. Zara apprised each of them now as they walked.
The Witch's spawn was spirited; she could see it. Beneath her green skin, her spirit seemed to be held in check by her friend and her very presence. This youngling was less eager to burn and more likely to act with a quiet intelligence. Zara had to give her credit for one thing. When she had pounced at them both back in the burial place and singled out the green one, her friend could have escaped. She was only after the Witch's child after all. Yet, she remained and offered her friend unswerving devotion. Even having heard her say she would use this pale one for food if it became necessary, she remained calm and close to her companion. T
hey reminded Zara suddenly of another two…two younglings…two devoted to each other. Just the thought and picture caused a sharp pain to flash across the Lioness' head. She closed her eyes suddenly and growled, her head twitching in pain.
"Are you alright?" It was the friend, the pale one. Zara saw genuine concern written on the youngling's face.
"I'm fine!" she growled at her. Still, she knew the child appraised her.
"Excuse me for saying so, but you don't look it right now. You look like you have a headache. Do you? My mother makes me a tea from tree bark when I have one. I could make it for you if you like. I'm sure it's safe, Mama wouldn't use it if it wasn't."
Zara appraised this one even closer now. In her eyes she saw only honesty and a true desire to help. Still, Zara chose to pass on the offer.
"We haven't the tools to make it here, but…I thank you. Here, sit beneath that tree and we'll rest a moment. The trail will get more difficult soon." Then, she was lost in her thoughts as she lay upon the ground a few feet from them.
Elfie sat down beside Emmy. "What are you doing?" Emmy asked quietly. Elfie looked in her cousin's eyes. "Mama told us to be smart. She didn't want us to risk anything. I'm doing what Mama wants. She's coming, Emmy. I know she'll come! She'll come and get us out of all of this. I know it! Relax and be smart. We can do this. I know it!"
"I wish Mommy and Aunt Faba were here now! She isn't…right. You know that Elfie!" Emmy glanced at Zara with her eyes alone in order to show her cousin who she spoke of.
Elfie nodded slightly and answered in a whisper. "I know, but…I keep feeling her pain, Emmy. She's hurting so much! Not just from her headache, but something else, something bigger. It feels like a weight…I can't describe it any better. I wish…"
"What?" Her cousin asked, taking her hand again.
"I wish our angels were here…I know they could help us." The young empath rested her head on her cousin's shoulder. Picking up on Zara's pain had weakened her.
Emmy squeezed her hand and used her other hand to stroke Elfie's long hair. "Me too. I wish they were here too. I don't think I've ever wished for anything so much in my life!"
Elfie nodded, her eyes closed. "I haven't either. The only thing I want more is Mama and Daddy. I need a hug from Daddy!" Emmy watched a tear run slowly down her cousin's face. It caused them to form in her eyes as well...like a kind of magic.
Quietly, the cousins sat and let their tears fall. Their only sources of comfort…each other and their memories. They had no way of knowing that they had just changed the odds in their own favor.
-----
Elphaba lay sleeping deeply, Fiyero still stretched out beside her. He had dozed off, safe in the knowledge that his arms around his wife would alert him when she woke. A familiar voice pulled at Elphaba, urging her toward consciousness.
"Elphaba? Come on Chica. That's it, wake up, you can do it. A little more, come on."
Opening her eyes, Elphaba thought she was dreaming. "Angel?" It was half a question and half a statement and all she could manage as she tried to decide whether she was still dreaming or not.
"In the flesh…so to speak. Come on Chica, work with me. I know you need the sleep but your babies need you more."
That pulled her quite close to overriding Glinda's spell. The final kick was the blurry presence of a large, unknown man near her bedside. She was awake instantly, jumping to her feet unsteadily, and nearly causing Fiyero to fall off the bed.
"Who are you? Angel? Angel! Who is…"
Angel's warm and enveloping smile gave her a sense of ease, but still… Angel walked to the man's side and as she moved Elphaba saw his eyes…eyes that watched only Angel. Elphaba knew that look; it was a look that Yero wore when he looked at her: love, passion, the look of a soul mate. Elphaba relaxed and then watched Angel hit this large man on the arm playfully.
"Baby, I asked you to wait until I could introduce you! Do you want to scare the poor woman to death! Hasn't she been through enough already?!"
Elphaba felt Fiyero behind her, his hands on her waist, ready to thrust her behind him if necessary. Only Angel's presence gave him pause. "Angel?"
"Hey Cherie! Ooh! You're lookin' fine! Anyway, Elphaba, Fiyero, I'd like you to meet my baby. This is Collins…he's like me. Now anyways. He's been watching over your little Chicas with me for a long time."
Collins nodded to them, genuine warmth in his eyes. "It's a pleasure. Your Elfie is a beautiful soul."
This seemed to stir Elphaba who drew in a harsh breath and put a hand over her face. "Angel! Elfie, Emmy, they were kidnapped, kidnapped by a Lio…."
Angel put up a hand. "I know, I know. That's why we're here. Those little babies? They wished for us to be there so hard…we're… here."
Collins' deep voice was soothing, "Mimi is watching over them right now. She's another friend…been watching over them since they were born. Don't you worry; they'll be safe while she's there."
"How can you be so sure?" Fiyero had finally recovered enough to join the conversation.
Collins' mouth curved into a knowing smile, a fatherly one. "Because Mimi loves those girls like they were her own. We all do. None of us had a chance to have kids in life…it's like we were given another chance. We watch over your girls and help them just be. We're there as a kind of backup. Little ones that strong need all the help they can get just being themselves. Mimi? She's like a mama cat. That Lioness doesn't stand a chance! Right now, those babies just need to know they're not alone out there. Elphaba gave them a head start in that with her portent, but if she tries it too often, well, there won't be a strong witch standin' when you need one…and you will…need one that is."
Angel took Collins' hand affectionately. "He's right, but Chica, you're going to have to work together on this one…all of you. You did a great job with Glinda! Just enough love and just enough of a kick in the ass. Now she's workin'. It's time to get your sister and Emrys in on this now."
"The mirror!!" Fiyero fairly yelled, he was that excited.
Angel put a hand over her heart and gave him a stern look. "Dios! Fiyero, have a heart! How much excitement do you think we can manage?! Just because we're dead doesn't mean we don't scare easy! Now, what about that mirror?"
Fiyero looked at them all excitedly. "I got thinking, we used the mirror before to see the past. Couldn't we enchant it so that we could see the girls…in the present?" He looked at them hopefully.
Elphaba thought hard and then she began to smile. She turned and kissed him deeply. "You're a genius! I have the extra spells that were taken out of the Grimmerie. One of them must be the one used to enchant the mirror originally. The only thing we have to do now, is change the spell just enough to get it to focus on 'the now' and the girls. The spell will call for all of us: Glinda, Reena and me. It should be stronger that way, especially since two of us are the girls' mothers. Oh Yero, you're brilliant! I forgot all about the mirror. Let's get Reena and Emrys and Glinda. I want to see my baby again."
-----
Emmy and Elfie had fallen asleep. Walking so far and so long had finally taken its toll on the four year olds. Elfie was especially tired because she hadn't been able to tune Zara's intense emotions out. They swung back and forth and it was tiring and confusing. She woke now to a familiar voice.
"…Forget regret or life is yours to miss….
Elfie's eyes lit up and filled with tears all at once. "You came! You came…"
Mimi moved closer to Elfie who squeezed Emmy's hand to wake her. "Of course I came, mi hija. Of course I came. Angel and Collins came too. They're with your Mama and Daddy right now, Emmy's too. Don't you worry! I'm going to stay right here with my girls. She might not see me," Mimi gestured to Zara. "But don't you worry! If she gets rowdy, she'll feel me! Nobody messes with my little Chicas, not without answering to me!" Mimi dried Elfie's eyes and tweaked Emmy's nose playfully.
Just then, Zara awoke and checked on the girls. They were there, but something wasn't right. She jumped up and stalked closer to them. Glaring at the girls, she moved closer and watched happily as Emmy and Elfie backed up against the tree. Then it happened. It was like she hit a wall. She simply couldn't move closer, not without feeling a gnawing fear deep within her.
What she didn't see was Mimi standing in front of her, pushing against her head. "Back off you b…othersome creature! Go back to your corner and go back to sleep!"
Mimi was intense and filled with a maternal fury that both girls recognized. They watched as Zara did as she was told. Mimi turned back to the girls.
"It's alright. You get some sleep. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. I also don't need to sleep, so you don't have to worry about her sneaking past me. Rest, my brave girls. I'll be here when you wake up."
The girls nodded and thanked her softly. As she was ready to drift off Elfie finally asked a question that they had been dying to ask since they were toddlers.
"Can we know what to call you? We always wanted to know."
A smile lit Mimi's face and she nodded, "Sure you can know. You can call me Meems."
"Thank you Meems, for always." said Emmy.
"We love you." said Elfie.
As the girls drifted off to sleep, Mimi watched them. In a small way, it felt as if they were her girls… the girls she and Roger never had a chance to have. God help anyone who tried to hurt them! She had been keeping them safe since they were born, she was not about to stop anytime soon!