DISCLAIMER: in the first chapter...

A/N: I hope this new chapter clears up a few things. To those wondering if I omitted any facts from my story telling: No, Elphaba was not doing anything behind our backs. Keep the wonderful reviews coming and I hope you guys enjoy this.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Colwen Grounds was huge. Imposing and a little overdone, the center of Munchkinland's government stood high atop a hill and overlooked its entire domain. It was too big to be cozy; it held too many bad memories to be welcoming… But it was home and Elphaba found herself happy to lay eyes upon it once again.

For a second, she recalled the last time she had been there, Nessa's shoes and Boq's heart. So many illusions had been lost that day.

The green girl never thought it would have been possible to see it again.

After running away from the palace, no broom this time, Elphaba had wandered the exceedingly verdigris city, lost in memories of that past which was no more. She had reveled in the feeling of perfect happiness that short day had held. Nonetheless, the Wizard's words had haunted her and she couldn't ignore it any more.

Confirming them had been easier than she would have expected. A doctor did the trick. After that new found certainty, though, Elphaba had dived again into a semi dazed stupor.

A baby.

Liir.

It was, of course, impossible. Yet, it was somehow real and she had to wonder. How? She had none of the scars her years on the run had produced; no other sign to support the theory that she had indeed come back in time, replacing an Elphaba that had found herself cast out of time. No proof that her other life had been even real and not the product of a very realistic vision.

Yet, here she was, pregnant.

No answers were brought forth by her hours of wandering.

And now, at home and with a whole new can of worms she simply had not expected to have to deal with, Elphaba couldn't afford to be lost within herself anymore.

Nessarose had come back to their homeland, days prior and met her sister's return with a cheerfulness that was uncharacteristic. Frex, normally indifferent to his oldest daughter's presence, spared Elphaba a small nod. Nothing unusual about that.

"Elphaba? What's wrong?" Nessie's worried voice forced the Governor to actually look at his eldest. He frowned.

The girl stood pale and quiet and hunched. She actually didn't look like the uncontrollable nuisance he had last seen that first day at Shiz. With her hair loose and a close fitting black dress, she actually seemed, well, pretty. A small, and completely new, pang of compassion hit him.

"I'm…" The mouthy child had no words. Huh… Frex got up from his seat at the corner of the room and approached her. Big brown eyes met his, pleading assistance or understanding; he didn't quite know. A hand to touch her arm, hesitation; the hand pulled away.

It was something he had never attempted to do before.

"I'm…" Sob. Was that a teary smile, Frex wondered, confused. Happy or devastating news? "I'm p… pregnant"

Shock.

Silence.

Frex's frown deepened, anger replacing the hesitant worry. "You're what?!"

Elphaba winced. "It's impossible, of course and I… I can't explain it, but…" The babbling stopped and defiant determination replaced it. Elphaba thrust her chin upward and met her father's fiery accusing eyes. "I'm pregnant."

Frex raised a hand to slap his daughter, also something he had never done, but paused and lowered it, unable to go through with the act. The enraged man stormed away, instead. After disappearing from sight, he hesitated, the heavy wooden door hiding him completely. He didn't know why… Curiosity, perhaps.

"Fabala?" his Nessarose said. "Who is the father?" he inched closer, wondering that himself.

"You don't understand, Nessa. I've… I just can't explain." Frex staggered backwards, not sure what to do. Elphaba? Pregnant? Of all the things he had expected from her that had never been it. It was just…

Impossible!

The powerful leader of all Munchkinland retired to his private quarters to think. This could ruin the family, he was sure. Something had to be done! But, what?

The mautery?

Seclusion?

He sighed, exasperated. A commotion, she was. Always had been, since the day she had been born. There to cause him nothing but headache and problems.

--

Nessarose's question had brought forth the elephant in the room. Elphaba's answer had brought silence. What to say after that? Nessa didn't know and her sister didn't particularly want to know. The green girl had merely squeezed her sister's shoulder and left the room.

Now, lying on her bed in her sparsely decorated room, limbs spread wide and eyes closed, Elphaba allowed the past few days to finally crash in. She had managed to keep Madame Morrible and the Wizard at bay, at least temporarily. She had, otherwise, no other plan for the future, which seemed now to include a baby.

Liir…

Certainly had to be him.

Son of a Winkie Prince, whom he would never be able to call dad. Son of a Witch, a green woman no one would ever claim for wife. Specially now.

She was happy and sad and absolutely terrified of doing this alone.

Always alone.

A hand came to rest on her still flat stomach, long jade fingers stroking an infinitely small person she could neither see, nor feel. But he was there, her Liir. Not a sketch composed of drawn lines; never quite perfect. No. A real little boy she would one day hold in her arms.

"I don't know what's going to happen, my precious Liir, but… even if it's just you and me, I'll make sure you have all the love I didn't have." Tears sprung and she let them flow.

Between the silent crying wetting her cheeks and the confused thoughts crowding her mind, Elphaba fell asleep, Liir's beautiful blue eyes smiling at her, encouraging. She didn't understand it, then, but a feeling of hope washed over her, unexpectedly, comforting.

Everything will be okay…

Somehow.