Fiyero, Elphaba, Nessa and Galinda were sitting in the waiting room, waiting for news on the Wizard's condition. Elphaba was wrapped in Fiyero's arms while silent tears fell down her face. Nessa's gaze was on her hands, neatly folded in her lap. Galinda looked like she wanted to say something to Elphaba, but couldn't find the right words.
"He'll be okay," Galinda said, finally deciding that it sounded comforting… hopefully.
Elphaba bit her lip and didn't respond. Galinda looked away, not wanting to see Elphaba in this much pain.
"Miss Elphaba?" the nurse called, walking into the waiting area.
"Is he alright?" Elphaba hurried, standing up, fear and hoped laced in her voice.
The nurse slowly shook her head. "I'm sorry. He's not responding to any of the treatments. The cut in his stomach is very deep. It could take a while for it to heal."
"No," Elphaba whispered.
Galinda ran to Elphaba's side and hugged her. "Elphie," Galinda said, whispering words of comfort to her friend.
"Also, the Emerald City Palace is being rebuilt. Is there somewhere Miss Elphaba can stay until then?" the nurse asked Galinda.
"She can go back to Shiz with us," Galinda said.
The nurse nodded. "Don't worry, Miss Elphaba. We will keep you informed on the condition of your father."
"Thank you," Elphaba muttered.
The nurse went back into operating room. Elphaba slowly rose to her feet and turned to face her friends.
"C-Can we leave now? Please?" she asked, her eyes shimmering with tears that she refused to let fall.
"Of course, Elphie," Galinda said, pulling Elphaba closer to her as they walked out of the hospital.
Once they returned to Shiz, Elphaba became very distant. She was excused from her classes and she spent most of her time in the room, crying.
"Elphaba," Galinda said one morning. "You need to eat something."
"No," Elphaba muttered.
"You haven't eaten in days!"
"No!" Elphaba repeated, growing aggravated.
"Please?"
"NO!" Elphaba roared, scaring the blonde. She slid off her bed and sat on the floor, breaking into a sob.
Galinda knelt down beside her and slowly placed her hand on Elphaba's quivering shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Galinda muttered.
Elphaba stopped crying and wiped her eyes. "I'm so scared, Galinda."
"I know, Elphie. I know," Galinda said, hiding her own pain.
"What if I lose him? I'm not ready to rule Oz."
"Elphaba, your father will be alright. I promise."
"You can't promise something like that!"
Galinda pulled away from Elphaba. Why wasn't she getting the fact that she was only trying to help?
"I'm sorry, Galinda," Elphaba apologized, reaching for Galinda's hand. Galinda slipped her hand into Elphaba's as she continued. "I know you're only trying to help."
"It's alright. I know how upset and worried you must feel right now."
"But, what if I do lose him?"
Galinda thought for a moment, choosing her words very carefully. "We'll be here for you."
"Thank you," Elphaba whispered as she leaned her head against Galinda's chest, listening to her heartbeat as her crying ceased.
Galinda received a letter from Colin the next day. She thought about opening it, but decided to wait for Elphaba.
Elphaba walked in a few minutes later from having lunch with Fiyero. She was slowly starting to talk to them again.
"Elphie, you're back!" Galinda smiled, jumping out of her seat and ran to hug Elphaba.
"Hey," Elphaba smiled, walking to her bed. "Did anything interesting happen while I was gone?"
"Actually, you received a letter from Colin."
Elphaba stopped in her tracks and turned around. "What does it say?"
Galinda reached for the letter and opened it. "They rebuilt the palace."
"That was quick."
"Oz is a very magical place," Galinda giggled. "He also says that you father is doing fine. He was able to return back to the palace and wishes to see you."
Happy tears filled Elphaba's eyes. "He's okay?" she asked hopefully.
"He is," Galinda smiled, slipping her hand into Elphaba's.
Elphaba smiled and gave Galinda a hug. She was so relieved that her father was going to be okay.
The weekend couldn't have come any quicker for Elphaba. She was going home to visit her father. The carriage sped through the streets of the Emerald City until it stopped at the entrance to the palace. The door opened and Colin appeared.
"Welcome back, Miss Elphaba," Colin smiled.
"Thanks, Colin," Elphaba smiled, gracefully stepping out of the carriage. "It feels good to be back for the weekend.
Colin walked Elphaba into the palace. "I have to go and finish up some work. Will you be alright by yourself?"
"Yes, Colin," Elphaba said, rolling her eyes. "I'll be fine."
"Alright," Colin smiled, walking down the hallway to his office.
Elphaba walked up the stairs to her father's room. She slowly walked in and closed the door behind her. She smiled when she heard the sound of her father's steady breathing. Elphaba walked towards him and reached out her hand. She slipped her hand into her father's, waiting for him to wake up. The Wizard opened his eyes and smiled up at his daughter.
"Hello, Fabala," the Wizard smiled.
"Papa," Elphaba whispered, gently wrapping her arms around her father.
"It's okay. I'm okay, Fabala," the Wizard said, rubbing Elphaba's back.
"I was so scared," Elphaba said, pulling away from her father and wiping her eyes.
"I know you were. I'm so sorry all of this happened," the Wizard said, yawning.
Elphaba leaned forward to kiss her father's cheek. "I'll come back later." She left the room to allow her father to get some more rest.
Elphaba walked up the stairs, a tray with a bowl of soup in one hand, and the other clutching the railing.
"Papa?" she asked, opening the door to her father's room and stepping inside. The Wizard looked up from his book and smiled.
"Papa?" Elphaba asked again.
"I'm here, Fabala," the Wizard said, extending his hand towards her.
Elphaba slowly walked to her father, her hand searching for him. When she found his hand, she smiled and sat down on the bed.
"I brought you some soup," she said, handing the bowl to her father, who took it gratefully.
"Thank you," he smiled, carefully taking the bowl from Elphaba and bringing the spoon to his mouth.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Much better."
Elphaba nodded and looked down.
"Fabala, is there something else?" the Wizard asked.
"Um… I was wondering… what was my mother like?"
The Wizard stopped eating and looked at Elphaba. He could see the hurt and confusion in her eyes. "Your mother?"
Elphaba nodded. "What was she like?"
"Well," the Wizard thought for a moment. "She was brave, compassionate, loving, everything that you are."
"Was she… green?" Elphaba asked, tears in her eyes.
"No, she wasn't," the Wizard said guiltily, slowly reaching over for his green bottle, the same bottle that Melena drank from before Elphaba was conceived. He felt a wave of pity for his daughter. It was his fault that she was green and considered herself ugly. "You look like her."
"I don't even know what I look like," Elphaba muttered so softly that the Wizard almost didn't hear her. Almost.
"You're beautiful," the Wizard said, delicately tracing over Elphaba's sharp features. Elphaba wrapped her arms around her waist and looked away. "You are," the Wizard persisted.
"You don't have to lie to me," Elphaba whispered, getting up to leave.
"Elphaba," the Wizard called her back. Elphaba turned around and looked at him. "You are."
"I'm old enough now to just accept the truth," Elphaba said quietly as she left, leaving the Wizard alone. He started to play with the green bottle again. This is all my fault, he thought to himself.