Chapter 78. Heart to Heart
Rifiuto: Non Miniera
The sound of footsteps outside her bedroom door aroused Fae from her peaceful slumber. Still slightly asleep, she climbed out of bed, pulled on the robe laying on the edge of the bed, and poked her head out her door.
The shadow of a person flitted in front of her eyes. It went from one room to the next, before slipping into the nursery. Glancing around quickly, she slipped out of her bedroom, and followed, silently opening the door to the nursery. She watched, as the person reached into the crib, and only relaxed when she heard Elphaba's voice.
"Hey." Elphaba whispered, reaching into the crib and scooping her daughter up. "Shh. Hush, hush my sweet. No more crying my sweet girl. No more. Now's not the time for tears."
She moved to the rocking chair in the corner, and sat down, cradling her daughter in her arms as Fae slipped into the room, seemingly undetected, and leaned against the way, listening. She watched Elphaba slowly loosen her robe and gently let the strap of her night gown fall, revealing her breast.
"Hush, my little one." The baby calmed somewhat as she sucked.
"When you're old enough, I'll take you out. I'll take you on your first broom ride. But you'll have to hold tight to me, sweet girl." Elphaba whispered, rocking back and forth.
The baby whimpered. Finished, Elphaba gently removed her daughter's mouth, and pulled her gown strap back up her shoulder, leaving her robe undone. Then, she burped her daughter, and continued to rock her.
"Shh. Shh." She hummed a gentle tune. Fae had a hard time not falling asleep against the wall; it was the same tune her mother used to calm her whenever she got upset.
"You don't have to stand in the doorway by yourself. You can come in you know." Fae jumped, hearing Elphaba's voice. She looked up, to see the young queen beckoning her forward. Slowly, the girl moved towards her.
"H...how did you know I was there?"
Elphaba chuckled softly, continuing to rock.
"I heard you follow me. I'm not stupid. I know the sound of footsteps when I hear them." Fae blushed, and looked down at the girl in Elphaba's arms. "She's so....innocent. So trusting. I only hope you'll stay that way."
"I always have been." Slowly, she knelt next to the rocker, taking Elphaba's hand in hers. "I always have been, and I always will be. That won't change." She said, noticing the tears in Elphaba's eyes. The woman shook her head slowly.
"No you won't. You'll grow up." She said, choking on the last two words. She wiped the tears off her cheeks, accepting the sting of the moisture on her fingertips. Then, she looked down at Fae.
"You won't be my baby girl anymore. And that scares me." Slowly, Fae took Elphaba's hand again, lacing her fingers with her mother's and pressing her palm gently against the queen's.
"Why does that scare you? I....is it because I'm going to leave you? I won't leave you until you want me to. You're the one that urged me to go to Shiz, that wanted me to see the world. You're the one that.....that gave me an option of marriage. You're the one that taught me to ride a broom."
"It doesn't matter. Once you turn eighteen, I loose my baby girl for good." Elphaba told her, meeting Fae's eyes. The girl shook her head.
"You won't loose me, Mama. I promise."
Elphaba cracked a smile through her tears.
"Mama. Now that....arguement back at Shiz makes sense. Now, I understand why you kept calling me that. It's because, I am. I just....didn't know it then." She said, looking down at the baby in her arms. Fae smiled and squeezed her hand.
Once the baby was fast asleep, Elphaba got up and placed her back in her crib, rubbing her back and kissing her forehead before placing her back among the blankets.
"Goodnight, my little one." She whispered, going to the door, and turning off the light, as she left, heading back to bed.
"Goodnight Fae."
The teenager followed. Once the two were in the hall, Elphaba wrapped her robe closer to her.
"Well, goodnight." Fae said, hugging her and heading back to her room.
"Goodnight." Elphaba whispered. She thought a moment, then,
"Fae?"
"Yes?" The girl asked, turning to face her.
"D....you want to go down to the kitchen and get a cup of coffee?" Fae thought a moment, caught off guard. Then, slowly, she nodded.
"Sure. I'd like that." The smile that appeared on Elphaba's face was one of relief.
"Good. Come on." She held out her hand, and glancing at her, the girl took it. Elphaba pulled Fae closer to her, tucking her arm under her own, then, brought the back of Fae's hand to her lips, kissing it gently. Fae smiled, remembering how her mother would do that to her whenever they went somewhere together. She looked up at Elphaba, as the woman led her down the stairs to the kitchen, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. Silently, Fae gave the woman a small smile; Elphaba was acting like her mother after all.
No shit Shirley, she is your mother, just younger.
Fae however, didn't let that thought cloud her mind. As they entered the kitchen, Elphaba gently let go of Fae; the younger girl seemed slightly lost at the break of contact. She moved to the counter, and pulled out two cups, filled the kettle with water, lighted the stove by brushing her fingers together, turned to Fae, leaned against the counter, and asked,
"Coffee or tea?"