DISCLAIMER: in the first chapter...

A/N: Thank you for the wonderful reviews. Here is a surprise and a complication to our Elphie!! Keep up your comments and if at any point you think I stirred off course, let me know!!

Senini, Pandora of Ithilien & all who were unsure: Galinda's 'confusing' dialogue was on purpose. You'll understand next chap, I promise.

GRIMMERIE ONCE MORE

The dark, gloomy room was exactly as she remembered it. The gigantic metal head, though, seemed to have lost its imposing quality. Elphaba felt empowered by that.

"Miss Elphaba Thropp! Wonderful to meet you." The Wizard, nothing more than a graying old man, evoked from her the same feeling of repulsion. Elphaba fought hard to hold it in, but she managed it.

When Madame Morrible made her own grandiose appearance, on the other hand, the hatred Elphaba felt, almost poured out. It took a great deal of self control to hold it in. Through the whole meeting, Elphaba stayed silent, missing Galinda's presence by her side.

Then, the Grimmerie. Leather bound, seeming normal and achingly familiar. She feigned awe and the power hungry pair bought her performance without question. Elphaba opened the book and could practically hear the swimming words sounding in her ears. Tempting and dangerous.

Innocently and with a touch of faked inadequacy, she raised her gaze to the Wizard's.

"I… I can't read this." Glinda's voice echoed in her mind." The words are like… moving around the page."

Disappointment.

Triumph!

Morrible took the book away and Elphaba waited. It was all uncharted territoty now. The Wizard came closer and placed a hand on her shoulder. She fought the urge to shrug it off, while he tried to ooze sympathy.

"I'm certain that, with more practice, you'll be able to use your powers at will. I'll be sure to save a spot at my Ministry for you, Elphaba. Reading the Grimmerie is a very rare talent." Elphaba fought back a shudder; he was standing too close.

"But…" She discreetly moved a step back, acting ashamed. "I can't. Not anymore." Morrible frowned profoundly and looked at the girl suspiciously.

"What do you mean, my dear?"

"I haven't been able to do magic, Madame. I… I don't know why." Shy look, faked tears and then look down. Perfect.

Silence fell over the room. Before Elphaba could spout any more lies or Morrible had time to interrogate her, something completely unexpected happened.

The dark emerald room started spinning around the raven-haired girl. Her feet seemed without balance; her knees turned to jelly; her head felt heavy. Elphaba lost control of her senses, scared at her sudden bout of dizziness. Then her stomach turned and her eyes involuntarily fluttered close, a desperate attempt to hold the meager contents of her lunch in.

All this happened in the span of a few seconds, before darkness overtook the green girl completely and she fainted. The Wizard, having noticed her strange behavior and her unexpected unsteadiness. He reached an arm out and called to her.

Are you okay?

She didn't answer, loosing consciousness soon thereafter. The Wizard caught her surprisingly light body before it hit the ground. And it was in that moment, beautifully long hair framing her innocent, relaxed face that the older man saw Elphaba, for the first time, how she truly was. A girl. A young woman barely beginning a life he had been trying to corrupt.

Could he do that?

Madame Morrible showed herself indifferent to the occurrence; maybe a little annoyed. The Wizard ignored her, cradling Elphaba gently in his arms. When she remained persistently unresponsive, he lifted her easily in his arms and left the imposing room.

"Where are you taking her?" Ah, a reaction!

"To one of the guest's room." Voice firm, like the leader her was supposed to be, the Wizard left no chance for arguments. "Fetch a doctor, Morrible."

She frowned deeply, and the small pout that twisted her lips left her looking all the more like a fish. Without choice, she complied.

--

Asleep, Elphaba looked years younger. And eerily familiar.

The Wizard had watched the girl in slumber, deep breaths raising her chest intermittently, while only half listening the short doctor speaking. So, it was understandable that he be caught off guard when such a word finally registered in.

Pregnant.

"Excuse me?"

"Well, the young lady seems to be perfectly healthy, if a little overly thin. The dizziness is rather common in pregnancy, so I wouldn't worry about that." The doctor directed a poignant look at the Wizard. "She needs to take better care of herself."

The ruler of Oz merely nodded, lost for words. Had he just been scolded?

The doctor left. And, just as he started loosing himself in thought once more, he heard a thudding sound; he turned around. Morrible had emptied the navy blue satchel Elphaba had been carrying onto a round table near the door.

"Madame Morrible?" she glanced up, only a little chastened. When he didn't add any more, she continued ruffling through the girl's belongings, almost suspiciously.

Whatever protests he might have planned to utter were put aside when a flash of green caught his eye. He stepped closer. A small verdigris bottle stood out. The Wizard reached for it and closed his long fingers around its cool surface, reverently.

Impossible!

A moan distracted him once more; he turned to face the bed. Elphaba was slowly waking up. With her right arm, she propped her upper body half way up; with her left hand she touched her forehead lightly. A second of confusion and fragility.

Then, her features hardened and an icy look was thrown his way. He staggered backwards. She looked suspiciously around and presented a façade so different than her slumbering face that the Wizard had to wonder about her paranoia.

"What have you done to me?"

"Nothing! The doctor said it was normal given your condition." Elphaba paused, hostility fading away.

"Wh.. What condition?"

"The baby. Didn't you know?"

"No way." She shook her head, incredulous. "Impossible."

Seeing her defenses down, the Wizard produced the bottle, which had only been momentarily forgotten.

"Where did you get this?" Elphaba rose quickly from the luscious bed and snatched the small trinket back. Without meeting anyone's gaze, she hastily collected her other belongings and made to flee. A strong hand on her thin arm stopped her progress.

"Where?"

"Chin raised, defiant. "None of your business." But her attempt to break free failed. Desperate green eyes pleaded an answer; she conceded defeat. "It was my mother's. My Nanny gave it to me at her funeral."

Shock.

Withdrawal.

Elphaba didn't think twice about it, and left.

This time, no great announcements were made; no guards were called. No one tried to stop her and no one chased behind her. She sighed; relieved her rashness hadn't put it all in jeopardy. Before Elphaba moved completely out of earshot, Morrible's voice sounded faintly, demanding an answer. If the Wizard said anything, Elphaba didn't catch it.

She simply hurried away.

Amid her fuzzy mind, pounding heart and rushing ears, Elphaba couldn't think of anything else to do.