DISCLAIMER: in the first chapter...

A/N: Thank you to my wonderful readers for the feedback. Thank you also for those who have pointed out some mistakes, I appreciate it. I do make them rather often and don't always catch them when rereading. I think I'll invest on a beta and I'll also make sure to review all posted chapters and fix them (but that will only happen after I finish posting).

Finally, this chap I dedicate to my new cousin, born last Sunday. She is so cute I feel like squeezing her and never letting go! Welcome Kat!!

ENDS AND BEGINNINGS

All things come to an end.

It is the natural progression of life and everyone knows that death is inescapable. What few take the time to realize is that this inevitable evolution applies to all things – big or small. There is no detail that is insignificant, where beginnings and ends are concerned. Days break and fade, flowers bloom and whither, obstacles grow and are overcome… Yes, even problems can't last forever.

But doubt, oh, Elphaba wished she could push all of it away and enjoy the life she had, before it too died.

"It's not paranoia, if they are really out to get you…" Her voice, low and a bit raspy, echoed like a gentle breeze around the four walls, and then disappeared. There was no one near to hear it and no one able enough to reply. Because statues didn't speak, not even this one.

Elphaba lost track of the time she spent staring at the frozen image of Madame Morrible; she was unable to look away. At the same time, the heavily pregnant woman couldn't bring herself to gaze into the hatred filled orbs of her declared enemy. Could she still see, Elphaba wondered. Could she still listen? Could she feel the cold and isolation the small cell evoked?

Guilt and sadness surrounded green skin. No matter how much pain Morrible brought, thought of bringing and was sure to bring had she been allowed to live, she had still been a human being, who had been reduced to stone by magic Elphaba couldn't even begin to comprehend. A life stolen by the Wicked Witch of the West.

Sigh.

She had always felt like laughing at the clever alliteration Morrible had come up with. No one, after all, could twist the truth so believingly as the press secretary could. But the lie it implied had made amusement turn into anger; she had never hurt anyone on purpose… She had never killed anyone.

Another sigh.

She couldn't say that anymore. Maybe Morrible had been right; she was wicked.

"Elphaba?"

She heard her name being called and turned her head slightly to the left, a silent acknowledgement. Still, her eyes remained clued to the curves of the Morrible regal clothing turned to stone. The presence drew nearer and soon, Elphaba could feel it standing by her side.

"You should be resting. Don't waste your time on her anymore."

"That's the difference between you and me, Jonathon. I cannot justify my actions and put them behind me. She may have been evil, but I am not innocent either… I killed her." The last words chocked on her throat. Saying it made it real.

"It was self-defense, Elphaba."

Long raven tresses moved as she shook her head. "One bad action can be justified by another." Silence followed between them, the man who ran from responsibilities and the woman who could not let them go.

Finally, Elphaba forced herself to raise her gaze and met Morrible's frozen stare. She felt her lungs tightened and oxygen lack, but still, she looked at Morrible's dead eyes. No life could be seen within them, yet a look of hatred still shone upon her features. Dizziness engulfed her and her body, suddenly light, swayed from side to side, until strong arms surrounded her.

The stare was broken.

"Enough, Elphaba. You need to rest." The green witch felt too tired to protest and allowed herself to be taken back to her room. Normally, this proximity to the Wizard would have raised the hairs on her arms. Today, she realized, was not a normal day.

When Elphaba found herself sitting on a large seat, with green upholstery and soft cushions, suspicion returned to her suddenly sharp mind.

"Why?"

"Why what? I don't understand your question, Elphaba."

"I'm the one who doesn't understand. Why did you send me those letters? Why did you recede the Animal banns? Why… Why are you being so nice?" Her smart brown eyes searched his and Jonathon could see that Elphaba would not be given half truths. Answers were being demanded and he just hoped that she could forgive him for this particular truth.

"I'm… What I mean is… Uh." What to say, where to start? He breathed in deeply. "Elphaba. Do you remember the first time we met?" Uncertainly, she nodded. "That day, I asked you about the little green bottle you had with you." Another nod. "A bottle like this one." At that, the Wizard withdrew said bottle from his pocket. Elphaba's eyes grew wide like saucers.

"My mother's bottle!" When she reached out to take it, Jonathan allowed the bottle to be taken, no protestations.

"Actually, this one is mine. I… I gave the other to your mother." Her eyes flew upwards in surprise.

"You knew my mother?" He nodded. "How?"

"Elphaba… did you ever wonder… ever considered why you – why you are green?"

"Sure." Shrug. It took a moment for the question to truly sink in and then the bottle in her hands took a whole new meaning. "Sweet Lurline… I've never even thought…"

"I guess you could say that it's my fault, that."

Tears sprung within her eyes, but she held them back. Quickly, Elphaba returned the bottle and rose to her feet, ignoring the Wizard's attempts to assist her. At the bedside table, she paused, breathed in deeply and chanced a glance at Jonathon's expectant face. Few movements were required for her to retrieve her mother's version of the green bottle.

"I smelled it and even tried to figure out what it had inside, but I never tried drinking it." Elphaba slowly turned to look at the Wizard, bottle firmly grasped in her twisting hands. "Why?" A sob she couldn't repress. "Why am I green?"

"It's a sort of soothing drug. Like alcohol, but a bit stronger. I made it myself."

"Why did you give it to my mother!?" No longer calm, Elphaba's temper flared and her voce raised. "Do you have any idea how many times I wondered why I couldn't be like other girls?"

"I never thought it could have this effect and your mother so enjoyed drinking it before…" Jonathon bit his tongue, incredulous of the words he had almost let slip. No child wants to hear these sort of details from their parents lives. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" The word was a mix between anger and amusement. How could a simple word solve any of her problems? "Because of some stupid drug you concocted when you were bored, my father never wanted to have anything to do with me!"

"Your father?" Confused, enlightened, then self conscious. When she had responded to his veiled revelation, Jonathon had assumed she had understood what he had tried to say. His words, apparently, had been far from being clear. He sighed. No going back now… "Elphaba, I'm… I am your father."

Oh, the horrible silence that followed that revelation made him want to run and hide, made him wish words could be unsaid. Her surprised face, mouth half open and eyes unbelieving were somewhat expected… The look, though, of pure horror etched on her delicate features when the meaning of it all truly sunk in, made him feel terribly small and inadequate.

"Elphaba?"

She didn't answer, frozen as she was. Absolutely still, like Morrible in the cellars below, Elphaba couldn't speak or move – even had she wanted to. No, it was all too much for her mind to grasp. That man, that seemingly unassuming man who had filled her life with pain and ultimately was the reason everything had ended the way it had before the time travelling spell had been cast, was… was her father?

"Father?" A glimmer of hope shone for Jonathan. "A father… no, you're no more my father than Frex was. No! The king of the Vinkus is a father, Fiyero is going to be a father. You! You are undeserving of such title." And as fast as the glimmer had appeared, so it did fade. "What did you ever did for me as a father?"

"Elphaba, I didn't know. Had I…" With despair, he tried to make her see, make her understand that had he known about her, no stone is Oz would have been left unturned for her. But she wasn't listening, refused to. With her head shaking from side to side, Elphaba refused to even glance his way.

"No!" She stepped back. "No! Don't touch me. Get away, leave me alone! Go!"

"Elphaba, please…"

"No!! Go away, go away!!" Tears had long since fallen upon her cheeks and he wanted to wipe them away. Her screams were like knives upon his chest and he wanted to soothe her hurt. It was all useless, though. She wanted him gone and if it was the only thing he could offer, which she would willingly accept, well... He could at least give her that.

With his head down and his shoulders hunched under all the weight of what had been lost, the almighty Wizard, quietly went away. When the door clicked shut behind him, Elphaba felt her legs give and slowly sunk to the floor. With her back against the soft bed, she cried. Wept for all the injustices Frex had ever committed against her, for all the times she had needed a father, for all the times she had needed someone – anyone! – to be on her side just because.

Oh, she cried for all that suffering she had been forced to endure silently and all the times she had to bite back her tears. A gate had been opened and all the water which had been trapped inside the dam broke out.

Why?!

Why couldn't the world see that she had had enough?

How much more was she expected to take and not break?

A sharp pain, physical and all consuming distracted her from the emotional pain she had been drowned in. Elphaba gasped, her right hand flying to her throbbing side. The pain had been intense, but fleeting. Elphaba knew that it couldn't be ignored, though. With difficulty, considering her large stomach and all, she rose and made her way to the door. When her hand was upon the doorknob, another sharp pain hit and Elphaba doubled.

Then the odd feeling of having water slink down her legs and an added wait on her stomach and all Elphaba could think of, was Liir and the only thing she could think of to do, was scream.