AN: Yes... the final chapter. I hope I tied every loose end up in this one - I just couldn't think of much else to write, and then I had inspiration for more stories... yeah.

Fun fact: In this chapter Elphaba's fear of storms resurfaces, and we had, like, a really bad storm last night. No thunder or anything, just rain and lots of wind. It was kind of fitting :P. Unfortunately that also means that we don't have the tiniest chance of having a white Christmas this year, but oh well.

Moreanswers24, that's fine, of course. I'm sorry about your uncle :(.

I'm going to start a new story very soon. It'll be called "Ghost of green girl's present" but unlike the title suggests, it has nothing to do with A Christmas Carol. You'll see ;).

And just in case I can't manage to update something again before tonight... Merry Christmas to you all! :)

Chapter 14. I'll stand by you

Over the next few days, Elphaba slowly recovered; and to put it mildly, she was not pleased when she found out what had happened.

"You'd better not be saying what I think you're saying," she growled, staring at Fiyero as if he had betrayed her.

He sighed. "I'm really sorry, Fae, but it's true," he said. "He's your father."

"He is a lying, cheating, manipulative piece of –"

"Elphie!" Galinda scolded the green girl from her spot in a chair next to the bed. "Manners!"

"Look, Fae," Fiyero said, softly rubbing his hands up and down her arms in an attempt to calm her down a little. "I know this must be a shock…"

"A shock?" she echoed heatedly. "This is worse than him declaring me a Wicked Witch in the first place!"

"Now, Fae –"

"Elphie, don't be overdramatic," Galinda said sternly. "It's not that bad to have him as your father!"

"Oh, it's bad, alright!" Elphaba ran both her hands through her thick, raven hair in frustration. "I'd much rather have burnt to death at the stake!"

"Elphaba!" Fiyero and Galinda shouted at the same time, Fiyero sounding shocked, Galinda reprimanding.

"Don't say that," Fiyero added, sounding pained, and she softened.

"Sorry."

"Now, Elphie," Galinda said, trying to make her best friend see reason. "I know you hadn't expected this. None of us had. But it's a good thing. He saved you from your execution, he saved Fiyero from a life in Southstairs, and thanks to him, Morrible will spend the rest of her life in prison. He really cares about you, Elphie. He lifted the Animal Banns for you."

"If it weren't for him, there wouldn't have been Animal Banns to be lifted in the first place!"

"Galinda is right, Fae." Fiyero smoothed Elphaba's hair away from her face, twirling a strand of it around his finger. "You should have seen him when he realised what he had done to you, to his own daughter… he was devastated."

Elphaba was conflicted. "But…"

"I'm not asking you to like him," Fiyero said. "You don't even have to have a relationship with him, if you don't want to. He will let you go the moment you're healed, and he's already clearing your name…"

"He has quite a good story, actually," Galinda chimed in. "He told the people you're actually his daughter, but that Morrible had put a spell on him that brainwashed him, or something. He said he finally discovered Morrible's treason and put the old hag in Southstairs. The people bought it immediately. Everyone is feeling sorry for you now - the poor Wizard's daughter who came to see her father and was declared a Wicked Witch."

Elphaba scoffed.

"I talked to him," Fiyero said. "He said that if you don't want to see him anymore from now on, he won't judge you. He's hoping that you might forgive him one day, but he's not going to force you to like him."

"He couldn't if he tried," Elphaba grumbled. "So you're asking me now to give him another chance?"

Fiyero shook his head. "I'm asking you to think about it," he said. "That's all. Above all, right now, I'm asking you to at least accept his help and stay here until you're healed."

She scowled and crossed her arms. "You want me to stay here and do nothing for the next… what? Week?"

"Yes," Galinda said sternly. "You, Elphaba Thropp, are not leaving this bed anytime soon. I know it's impossible to keep you down, but last time I complied when you wanted to get out of bed and look how that turned out."

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "We did save Fiyero," she pointed out.

"And your fever did worsen," Galinda retorted. "Plus you were abducted by the Gale Force."

"Which had nothing whatsoever to do with my fever or me not taking the time to heal."

Galinda scowled. "That's beside the point, Elphie." She paused. "How did they find out where you two were, anyway?"

"I asked Oscar," said Fiyero, rubbing his forehead. "Morrible got suspicious. First Galinda comes in and hands over Elphaba, after which she is assigned a position in the government; and mere hours later, the Wicked Witch of the West and the traitorous Prince Fiyero Tiggular are missing from Southstairs. It took Morrible a while – she even went back to Shiz to talk to some of the students – but finally she realised that we had been in Galinda's dorm room all this time and she sent out the Gale Force. That's when she brought Elphaba's things to the Wizard and he realised that you were actually his daughter."

Elphaba nodded tiredly. "Of course. We should have thought about that," she muttered.

"I told you it wasn't a good plan, Elphie," Galinda said.

Elphaba sighed. "Yeah. I guess you were right for once," she said teasingly.

Galinda stuck out her tongue.

When Elphaba yawned, Fiyero kissed the top of her head. "You should get some sleep. Give your body a chance to heal."

She sighed irritably. "Fiyero, I'm -"

"Don't you dare say you're fine," Fiyero warned her.

She closed her mouth.

Galinda giggled, rising to her feet. "I'll just go, then." She hugged Fiyero, then Elphaba. "Stay in bed," she told the green girl. "And listen to Fifi."

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Yes, Mummy."

The blonde just giggled again and skipped out of the room.

Fiyero was in the sitting room one night a few days later, talking to Oscar. There had been much talking the past days, but Fiyero felt that they were reaching an understanding. Oscar had explained everything to them and tried his hardest to be the best man and ruler he could be, and though Elphaba hadn't completely forgiven him yet, Fiyero knew she appreciated the effort. They had reached a point now where at least they all got along relatively well and were able to have normal conversations that didn't end with Galinda shrieking and throwing objects at the Wizard, or with Elphaba's magic flying off the handle.

Elphaba's temperature was back to normal, for which Fiyero was incredibly grateful. She was still weak and she needed to take it slow, but she wanted to get out of here, and the doctor had given her permission to travel to the Vinkus with Fiyero and his parents.

Fiyero grinned as he remembered her first meeting his parents. She had been nervous, but his mother had just smiled and asked her about herself, at which Elphaba had visibly relaxed. Lori had told her son later that she quite liked the girl.

"She's smart, she clearly cares about you a lot, and I think she's had a rough life," Lori had said to Fiyero. "The complete opposite from the girls you usually date, Yero. I must say I'm quite proud of you."

Fiyero had been apprehensive about his father's reaction to Elphaba, and when Hamold had first entered the room and stared Elphaba up and down for ten seconds, Fiyero's worries seemed to be justified.

"I must say," Hamold had said drily, his first words to Elphaba, "that I had expected you to have more warts."

Fiyero had been shocked at his father's rudeness. Elphaba, however, had just said sarcastically, "No warts, Your Majesty. I'm also not a hundred years old and I don't eat babies. Any other rumours I can clear up for you?"

A smirk had tugged at the corners of Hamold's mouth. "No, that's it, I think. Although there is one thing I'd like to know. Do you love my son?"

"More than anything in this world," she said immediately, and Hamold had smiled.

"Good."

After that, Elphaba and Hamold had somehow taken an instant liking to one another. Fiyero didn't understand anything about it, but suddenly they seemed to be best buddies, discussing books and politics as if their lives depended on it.

Fiyero didn't question it, though – he was glad his parents and Elphaba were getting along.

"So you're leaving for the Vinkus tomorrow?" Oscar queried now, and Fiyero nodded.

"We are," he said. "Elphaba is coming home with me and my parents to heal, and next summer, she and I will be going back to Shiz to finish our education."

"Yero?"

Fiyero turned around, only to find Elphaba standing in the doorway. She was bare-footed and dressed in her nightgown, with a blanket drawn around her shoulders. She had been asleep when he had left the room, but apparently something had woken her up.

He rose to his feet, moving over to her, and wrapped his arms around her waist. "What's wrong, Fae?" he asked her softly.

She bit her lip. Thunder roared outside, making her cringe, and he suddenly understood her anxiety.

"Come on," he said to her. "I'll stay with you." He looked at the Wizard. "Goodnight, Oscar."

Oscar smiled first at him, then at Elphaba. "Goodnight, Fiyero. Elphaba."

"Goodnight," she said quietly, allowing Fiyero to lead her back into the bedroom.

"It's silly, really," she said as she crawled back under the blankets. "I've spent more than one night out in a thunderstorm by myself, during my days as the Wicked Witch, but… but they still scare me."

"What did you do?" he asked, drawing her into his arms. "When you were out in a storm by yourself?"

She settled down, burying her face in his neck. "Curl up under a blanket," she murmured. "Wait it out. Think about you."

He tightened the grip of his arms around her. "You really just should have come to find me," he said. "Those four months without you were awful."

"I know. I'm sorry." She looked up at him. "It won't happen again."

"Ever?" he asked nuzzling her cheek.

She pressed her lips against his in a searing kiss. "Ever."

Epilogue

"Fiyero?" Elphaba descended the stairs, searching for the Vinkun prince. Most of the time it was herthat was late for everything – usually because she was in the library of the huge castle, completely absorbed in a book – but right now it was Fiyero who was running late.

"Yero, where are you?" Elphaba looked into a room. There was a mug standing on the coffee table and there was a book lying open on the couch, indicating that he had been here, but she didn't see him. "Fiyero?"

"In here," she heard him call from the adjoining room.

"We're having dinner with your parents, remember?" she said, moving towards the doorway. "They're waiting." The room she stepped into was a study, with a heavy desk and some shelves filled with books that blocked her sight. "Are you coming?"

"Could you…" She heard him swallow. "Could you, um… come here, first, please?"

Puzzled, she moved further into the room until she could see him. He was pressed up against a wall, looking positively terrified. "Fiyero? What's wrong?" she asked, alarmed.

He pointed at something on the floor, his finger trembling. "M-Monster," he choked out.

She followed his gaze and bit back a grin.

"You're laughing at me," he said accusingly.

She hid a smile. He knew her too well. "No, I'm not. I swear I'm not."

He scowled. "Yes, you are. Oh, come on, Fae, I thought we'd been over this," he said pleadingly. "It's funny, ha ha, now please, please get that thing away from me."

She shook her head, allowing the smile to grace her lips now. "I know we've been over this," she said. "I just never saw it with my own eyes. Never thought your reaction to these things would resemble my reaction to a heavy thunderstorm." She took a step forward, then wrinkled her nose. "Okay, I get why you're creeped out. This one is… just… ew. It's a really big one."

"I know," he said in exasperation. "Believe me, I know. Why do you think I have been standing here for half an hour already?"

"You've been standing here for half an hour?" she echoed incredulously. She shook her head. "Why didn't you call someone?"

"No-one heard me!" he protested. "It's a big castle! Come on, Fae, just remove the thing!"

She grimaced. It really was big. And fat. And hairy. "Yuck."

"Please don't dangle it in front of my face," he begged her.

"Of course not. I promised you I would never do that." She scooped the spider up in her hands, shuddering slightly – she wasn't very easily impressed by spiders, but this one really was disgusting. "I might save it for Galinda, though." She grinned, even as she walked over to the window. "I bet you could hear her scream all the way in Quadling Country." She opened the window and tossed the spider out of it. "It's gone."

"Promise?" he asked her in a small voice.

"Promise." She turned back to face him. He slowly came out of his corner, still looking a bit frightened, and she laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Yero my hero," she teased him.

He scowled at her. "Don't laugh at me."

"Never." She kissed his nose. "Come on, let's go and join your parents for dinner."

He looked at her. She was wearing a deep purple gown, simple but elegant – the style she usually wore these days. He much preferred it over her old black frocks. Her hair was tied back in a messy bun, making her look classy and casual at the same time. He grinned. Only she could pull off a look like that with an entire country looking up at her as their princess. "I love you," he told her.

She quirked an eyebrow at his random outburst, but she was smiling. "You're such an idiot," she said fondly, kissing him. "Where did that come from?"

He shrugged. "Just… I don't know. You never fail to amaze me." He swept her up in his arms bridal style and kissed her again. "You know, now that we're married and stuff, the people would expect us to produce an heir soon."

"Is that really all you can think about?" she demanded in exasperation. "Sex?"

He feigned innocence. "What do you mean, my dearest darlingest sweetie pie?"

She pinched him. Hard. He gasped and nearly dropped her. "Ouch, Fae!"

"Serves you well." She writhed until he put her down on her own two feet again. Then she looked up at him. "Are you serious?" she asked him softly. "You want children?"

He grew serious, too, upon hearing her tone of voice. He took her hands in his and leant down to kiss her forehead. "Only if that's what you want, too, Fae," he said. "I love you. I would love to have kids with you someday, but it doesn't have to be in the near future; and if you don't want children at all, then I'll be perfectly happy spending the rest of my life with you - just the two of us."

She smiled up at him. "I love you, Yero," she sighed, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head against his shoulder.

He planted a kiss on the top of her head. "Did you say my parents were waiting?"

She pulled away, looking stunned. "Oh, Oz!"

He chuckled. "It's fine, Fae. They know me. I'm never on time for anything." He offered her his arm, which she accepted, and they started walking towards the dining room together.

"You really wouldn't mind?" she asked him. "If I wouldn't want children?"

"I would prefer to have children," he admitted. "But I meant what I said, Fae. As long as I have you, I'm happy. I don't care about anything else."

She leant her head against his shoulder.

He said, "I'd love to have some mini-you's and mini-me's running around the house, though. Castle," he corrected himself quickly.

She sniggered, raising her head to look at him. "Mini-Elphaba's and mini-Fiyero's? Are you sure you're up for that?" she teased him. "Think about it – brainless green kids who dance through life whilst causing magical power explosions everywhere they go. Who knows, maybe they'll fly around on broomsticks, too - cackling as they fly all over the Vinkus and sing silly songs about life being more painless for the brainless."

Fiyero grinned and pulled her closer. "I'm already looking forward to it," he said honestly.

She smiled and dropped her head back against his shoulder. "Someday."

He stopped walking, turning her to look into her eyes. "Really?" he asked hopefully.

She nodded, biting her lip. "Not right now," she said softly. "I don't think I'm quite ready for that yet. But… someday, yes. I'd love to have children with you, Yero."

A beaming smile lit up his face and he pulled her flush against him, kissing her deeply. "I love you so much," he said breathlessly.

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him again, softly this time. "I love you, too, Yero my hero. Come on, let's get downstairs," she said, tugging at his arm. "We've kept your parents waiting long enough. And wipe that smug grin off your face," she added, trying to sound stern, but her smile gave her away.

"Yes, dear," he said teasingly, following her to the dining room; but he wore his goofy grin for the rest of the night.