Title: The Grand Vizier of Oz
Author: Sedri
Rating: PG-13 / T
Summary: "Please come back - you're my daughter, I'd do anything -!" She stopped, hand half-raised and ready to cast a spell. "Anything?" AU, Fiyero/Elphaba. Complete.

Disclaimer: Neither Wicked nor the world of Oz are mine in any way.

Chapter Four
Breathing Time

Year 19
Winter

Doctor Dillamond, newly reinstated Professor of Ozian History at Shiz University, breathed deep the chilly air that floated across the campus and quietly reflected that it was good to be home.

It had been a full five weeks since his arrest and nearly a month since the Great Oz had rescued him (and his fellow Animals) after dear Miss Elphaba alerted him to the outrage, but the effects were lingering. He still didn't trust himself to speak without bleating, his back and legs still suffered cramps from the tiny cage he'd been forced into, and life just seemed too... too jostled to suddenly go back to marking essays and lecturing students.

His peers among the faculty had been most understanding. Professor Harbiel, Morrible's deputy and now the temporary headmaster, had graciously allowed him all the time off he needed to recuperate, and Dillamond had spent most of that time in his private apartment, carefully stretching his weakened muscles and grumbling that he was not as young as he used to be.

Soon after his return, the replacement history professor, Nikidik – the one who tried to have Miss Elphaba and Master Fiyero arrested for theft – had been fired on the Wizard's personal command. Having since heard tales of what that man had told his students, let alone how he'd treated that poor Cub, Dillamond felt no small satisfaction at seeing him slink away from campus with a now-illegal cage tucked pathetically under one arm.

The grounds were quiet today. It was a Monday, mid-morning, and most students were either in class or sleeping off hangovers. The grey clouds that threatened rain kept most others inside, but Dillamond needed to feel the cold air; those seven days in a cage, stacked between a Bear and a Cheetah, had left him with a tight, black knot in his chest that no amount of time in a comfortable sitting room could release. He needed to be outside, breathing fresh air, just being free.

A withered red leaf slipped from the branches above his head, twirling lightly to the stone floor of the courtyard. Dillamond smiled. He was home.

Somewhere behind him, a door banged open and two sets of heavy feet came thumping down the stairs. He turned. Miss Elphaba was coming out of the Life Sciences building, closely followed by a very young man in a green soldier's uniform. Neither saw the Doctor.

"What sort of delivery?" Elphaba was asking, her voice echoing around the courtyard. "Why couldn't this wait until after class?"

The flustered boy replied, "We didn't know where to take them, Miss– ma'am. They're very noisy and it's quite cold and–"

Elphaba stopped dead as she rounded a corner, looking at something Dillamond could not see, and the soldier stumbled as he tried not to run into her. She tensed, her fists clenched, and suddenly she broke into a run, disappearing from view and bellowing, "WHAT do you think you're DOING?" – presumably at the soldier's companions.

Doctor Dillamond followed as fast as his shaky legs could carry him. Reaching the corner, breathing hard, he leaned on the wall and found himself looking across the grass at one of the campus gates, where about twenty ruffled-looking men, all in uniform, were surrounded by just as many jumping, screeching, excited, winged Monkeys.

On leashes.

Elphaba ran towards the soldiers, furious, half her mind filled with all the things she was going to scream at Oscar Diggs, the other half wrapped up in guilt for forgetting about the Monkeys in the first place.

"What's happening?" she demanded. "What are you doing? How dare yo– Oof!"

A heavy weight slammed into her legs, almost knocking her off balance. One of the Monkeys – the one she'd met, Chistery, still in his neat red coat – had run up and was hugging her around the waist, chattering. It took a moment before she realised that he was saying, "El-ba-ba! El-ba! El-ba!"

She blinked, hesitated, then pulled the Monkey's arms away so she could kneel beside him. "Chistery?" she asked, hopeful. "Do you know me?"

"El-ba-ba!"

"You can talk?"

"Elba!"

"...But can you understand me?"

"Elba!"

Her jaw tightened, but she forced herself to smile and ruffle Chistery's black fur. He seemed happy enough, and kept hold of her hand as she stood up. All his companions seemed cheerful too. Despite the leashes, they were crawling and jumping everywhere, fascinated by the grass and trees and metal benches, sniffing the wind and delighted to be outside. It couldn't be more obvious that until today, they never had been.

In control but no less angry, Elphaba turned her glare on the soldiers, most of whom were too busy trying to keep their charges in place to pay much attention. The leader, the only one besides the messenger who wasn't holding a leash, had a green envelope in hand and was trying very hard to look at her without looking at her skin. "Miss Elphaba Thropp?" he asked.

"If you were told to look for the green girl, yes. What's going on?"

He offered her the letter, which was sealed with gold wax. "The Great Wizard of Oz sent us to ensure that these monkeys–"

"Monkeys," she corrected, emphasising the proper pronunciation.

"Yes, Monkeys – were safely delivered to you."

"Like cargo?" she snapped, tearing the envelope. "Why would he do that?"

The solider didn't answer. Diggs' letter did.

My Dear Elphaba, it began,

I hope this letter finds you well, and that you are pleased by the political changes I have been able to achieve so far. I'm sorry not to have managed more, but you will be glad to know that I have written to Shiz's former chemistry professor, a Bear named Telor Arren, offering him the vacant position of Headmaster, as your Doctor Dillamond has already turned it down.

As of yet, my best minds have not been able to discover why Animals have been turning mute – I'm afraid that was Madame Morrible's project, and she left no notes on her theories – but I thought perhaps you might like to try your own methods of therapy. Chistery in particular seems to have missed you, and as long as he and his family are with you, you can be assured that I am not using them as spies of any kind.

I apologise for the leashes, but please believe me when I say this was the only way to safely transport our friends; they didn't understand the idea of travelling to see you, and the train frightened them. Their wings don't seem to be strong enough for sustained flight yet, and I think you'll agree that for now, their safety is more important than their dignity.

If you have no time for a project of this sort, rest assured that they can be safely and easily returned to the city to be cared for alongside the other Animals whom we are tending to in the hospital. If, however, you wish to work with our friends, my staff and I would greatly appreciate any notes you take or ideas you might have. I will keep you updated on any progress made here.

I hope you are happy, Elphaba, and if there is anything more you wish me to do, please know that you need only ask. I look forward to hearing from you.

With love,

Oscar Diggs

She crumpled the paper.

"All right, fine. Chistery? You're going to be staying here with me. Would you like that?"

"Elba!" He hugged her waist again.

"I'll take that as a yes," she said, softening and pocketing the letter with a mental note to burn it later (couldn't risk anyone seeing 'the Great Oz' grovelling to his 'pupil', after all). She turned to her new charges. Now what?

Looking around, Elphaba noticed that a small crowd of students had gathered, and to her relief, Doctor Dillamond was with them, slowly hobbling towards her. Ignoring the soldiers, she hurried to her favourite teacher and briefly explained the situation. (Chistery, not quite as strong as his handler, fought to follow, and failed.) Dillamond was impressed.

"That's quite a responsibility," he said. "The Great Oz must think very highly of you."

She bit back angry words and replied, "I need help. Please. I've never taken care of anyone but Nessa before – I don't even know where to start."

Doctor Dillamond patted her shoulder and nodded. "I'd be glad to help you, Miss Elphaba," he said, looking around and considering the Monkeys. "The first thing we should do is get them inside; it's a bit too cold to walk around barefoot. Have you thought of anywhere they might live?"

She shook her head. "Just our dorm, but Glinda would kill me."

The old Goat smiled briefly, a slightly awed, joyous look that came over him whenever he was reminded of the blonde girl's touching gesture in his honour. To Glinda's relief, he was blissfully unaware of her embarrassed wish that she really had changed her name for him. "Miss Upland would be quite justified in refusing," he said. "No matter. I think the old gymnasium would suffice – it can be locked from the outside and has more than enough space. I'm sure Professor Harbiel will allow it once you explain the Wizard's wishes."

Belatedly, Elphaba thought to check if there was anything else in her envelope – perhaps some sort of letter for the headmaster, explaining the situation, but no. Instead there was an official document with the Wizard's tidy signature and green seal, instructing the faculty of Shiz to supply Elphaba with anything she needed for this 'special project'. Surprised by the blind trust, she wordlessly handed it to Doctor Dillamond. He read with a proud smile.

"Miss Elphaba," he said softly, after a moment, "you are going to do great things in your life."

She blushed, looking away awkwardly and asked, "Which way's that gym?"

Mindful of her embarrassment, he simply pointed. Elphaba reached out to Chistery (whose dogged determination had outlasted his handler's stubbornness), taking his hand and turning to the soldiers. "This way," she said, and walked on.

Two weeks later, as Lurlinemas approached, Nessarose Thropp grumbled as she wheeled herself up the gymnasium's old wooden ramp. It was snowing lightly, and all the extra layers she wore to keep off the chill were just making her sweat as she fought to get her chair up to the door, praying it wouldn't slip on hidden ice patches and wondering why any gym would have a ramp in the first place.

Probably so cripples like her could get some exercise.

Reaching the top, she paused for a moment to wipe her forehead and unbutton her coat, knowing how warm it would be inside. Elphaba kept the temperatures absurdly high, insisting that her Monkeys preferred it that way and ignoring the complaints of any human visitors. Maybe she just wanted to discourage them from coming at all – Oz knows, Nessa thought, she always did like being alone.

As a precaution against any of the clever Monkeys sneaking out and flying loose around campus, all the gym's doors and windows had been sealed save for the one which led through the foyer, and so Nessa had to go through two doorways, careful to lock the first before opening the second. Elphaba kept saying that it was only a matter of time before her friends would be able to wander the streets just like everybody else, but Nessa didn't believe it. Really, she was happy for her sister, and the Monkeys were pleasant enough – last time she visited, one of the younger girls had carefully braided her hair – but she just couldn't see them fitting into society if they were so late in simply learning how to talk.

A waft of hot air came from the second doorway, and Nessa, reconsidering, took off her coat entirely and hung it, with her scarf and gloves, on the coat rack that already held the thicker parts of Elphaba's uniform. Then she went inside.

Her sister was sitting on one side of the room, stripped down to her sleeveless summer dress, with her hair wrapped in a messy bun and glasses on her nose. She was surrounded by several children's books, and was patiently reading to four older Monkeys – Chimps, to be specific. The rest of them were scattered around, playing or sleeping, making a mess of the beds Elphaba insisted on having for them. The more civilized the environment, she said, the more civilized the person. Nessa just shrugged. "Elphaba?" she called.

The older girl looked up, smiling brightly. "Nessa!" she said, then immediately looked to the Monkeys. "Do you all remember my sister Nessa?"

The responding chitter-chatter seemed like a fairly positive answer. Nessa smiled and wheeled her way over, pleased when two of the little chimps – Chimps – scuttled over to her chair with enthusiastic cries of "'llo, 'llo, 'llo!" She got a shock, though, when a big male suddenly grabbed the handles of her chair and pushed her, at an alarming speed, towards the circle of readers. He was careful, though, if not exactly gentle, and stopped just in time, neatly sliding the chair next to that of her sister. Elphaba beamed.

"Thank you, Tripthy," she exclaimed. "That was very thoughtful. Nessa thanks you, too."

Hint, hint. "Thank you, Tripthy," she said dutifully.

Tripthy just shrugged in a very Monkey-like way and wandered off, more interested in untangling a ball of thread than learning from Elphaba's flashcards. She didn't seem to mind. "Tripthy's learning to sew," she explained. "He's already mended things for his mother and brothers and now he's trying to make something from scratch."

"Is it working?" asked Nessa sceptically as she looked at the oddly-shaped bits of cloth that covered the table Tripthy was sitting on.

"Really well," said Elphaba, surprising her. "It was hard to explain the need for a pattern without words, but once he understood he really understood. See the dress Selky's wearing?" she said, pointing to the lady Chimp beside them. "Tripthy made it himself. I just supplied the material."

Nessa looked. Selky's dress was pink, a very simple cut that just tucked in at the waistline, with shoulder straps instead of sleeves, but if rather clumsily stitched, it was a serviceable dress. Nessa was taken aback. "I'm... impressed."

Elphaba grinned. "These are my best speakers," she said, accepting a little hug from Chistery, her star pupil. "Do you want to hear them name the colours?"

"Actually, I'm here to talk to you," said Nessa. "Father's letter just arrived with tickets for the trip home. We leave tomorrow evening. I need your help to pack."

"...Oh." Elphaba's enthusiasm vanished completely. "Nessa... I don't think I'll be going home for Lurlinemas."

"What? Why not?"

Elphaba shrugged, turning to hand her flashcards over to Selky and the other Monkeys, who began to stutter out various words on their own. "I don't... want to. I have things to do here. The Monkeys need me. They won't understand if I just stop coming to see them – we don't have enough words to explain that yet."

Somehow, Nessa wasn't really surprised. No one else was interested in spending time with her anymore – why should her sister be any different? With a blank expression, she said, "Father will be disappointed."

Elphaba gave a humourless smile. "You know he won't."

Nessa shrugged. "Will you help me pack?"

"Sure. I need to be heading back, anyway. Glinda's leaving tonight and I want to say goodbye."

As her sister got up to gather the few things she wasn't leaving with the Monkeys, Nessa frowned and said, "But she's been delayed until Tuesday."

"She has?" asked Elphaba. "How do you know?"

"Boq."

"...Ah." Elphaba picked up her bag and bade farewell to the Chimps, carefully pronouncing "good – bye" and grinning when they repeated it perfectly – though they still called her "Elba" and seemed to think it a delightful nickname. Quite content to let them when she had never allowed it before, Elphaba took the chair handles and began to push her sister. Once in the cool foyer, she asked exactly what Nessa was expecting and really did not want to hear: "How are things with Boq, anyway?"

The younger girl snatched her coat from the rack. "Fine. Can you see my scarf anywhere?"

Elphaba picked it up from the floor. "It's just... you seem so unhappy lately."

"I'm fine. I know I haven't said it enough, but I'm really glad that you got the apprenticeship you wanted. It's a great honour for our family, and it's good to see you so excited about something. You deserve it."

"And your life?"

"None of your business," said Nessa, pushing through the second door and back out into the snow. The shock of cold air nearly froze the sweat on her brow. Grumbling, she rearranged her scarf to cover her head while Elphaba carefully wheeled her down the ramp.

"I'm just worried about you, Nessa," she said. "What you said that day at the train station – it wasn't like you."

Nessa sighed. "I don't really remember what I said that day."

Elphaba stopped them in front of a frosted bench and sat down, facing her sister and using her foot to jam the brake. "You said there was something wrong with you. That bothers me. There's nothing wrong with you, Nessa."

Glaring, Nessa pointedly tapped her right-hand wheel.

"That doesn't count," said Elphaba. "Boq's known you for months. He can obviously see past your handicap, so if things aren't working out, it has to be because you're just not right for each other."

"Since when are you an expert?" Nessa snapped. Her sister suddenly blushed, purple streaks darkening each cheek.

"I'm not, I just... watch people– you," she stammered. "Glinda said it first, remember?"

"Oh, Glinda," sneered Nessa. "Yes, Glinda's the expert, isn't she? How many boyfriends has she had?"

"She never told me."

"I'll bet it's a lot. And I've had one, Elphaba – one. What if that's all I ever have?" her voice wavered, very slightly, but she continued angrily. "What if no one else ever takes the time to get to know me, much less love me? Then what?"

"You'll be like me," her sister said quietly, dark eyes keeping a steady gaze. "You'll make the best of your life alone. Better that than to be with someone who doesn't love you in return."

Nessa's eyes narrowed, very slightly, and then she said something that was either an attempt to change the subject entirely or which showed far more insight than her sister had ever given her credit for. "Will Fiyero be here for the holidays?"

Elphaba jumped, startled, and blinked. "Er... no. He's going back to the Vinkus for his sister's birthday."

"I see." Being the younger sibling, the one always being cared for, Nessa took an odd pleasure in seeing Elphaba squirm under her gaze. "Well, I'll be on tomorrow's train, and I need to pack. Can we go in now? I'm getting a headache."

"Yes," said Elphaba, scrambling to her feet and releasing the brake. "Let's – let's go."