Twenty-Four
Elphaba had to feel sorry for Melena. If it was hard for her to hear and comprehend the news; she couldn't imagine what it must be to hear that the travelling salesman you had a brief affair with twenty-one years ago and had conceived a child with, was now the ruling leader of all of Oz.
When they'd first returned from the Quadlings, Elphaba had still been somewhat in shock. It had fallen to Nessarose to break the news to her mother about just who exactly Elphaba's father was.
Melena had taken the news relatively well, her main concern was how Elphaba was taking it. And the main debate was how to move forward. They were all worried about how Elphaba was dealing with the news, and each had their own theory on what to do next.
Galinda thought the best thing to do was to give Elphaba time to sort through her own thoughts and feelings on the matter. Fiyero had protested against that, and had been forced to admit Elphaba's fears about her relationships with Melena and Nessa.
"She needs to talk everything through with someone, or she gets all freaked out," he insisted, two days after they'd returned to Munchkinland.
"Trust me, Elphaba seems confident, and she can be; but when it comes to stuff like this, she doubts herself too easily."
"What exactly are you suggesting?" Nessa asked, who had gotten rather upset at the idea that Elphaba felt she was to blame for all the misfortunes in her own life.
"We just need to talk it out with her, and help her come up with a plan of action."
"What plan of action?" Boq asked. "What can she do with this?"
"Can't she write to the Wizard?" Galinda suggested.
"And say what, 'I'm your illegitimate daughter from twenty-one years ago'?" Fiyero asked sarcastically.
Melena spoke over them. "Guys, I appreciate your concern for Elphaba, but she may not want to do anything."
Nessa agreed with her mother. "All she wanted to know was who her father is, she hadn't decided if she wanted a relationship with him or not."
"But he's the Wizard of Oz!" Galinda stressed. "Elphie's been dreaming of working for him since… forever. She told me. She picked her whole course at Shiz based around the hope of working for him."
Melena interjected once more. "I think that's irrelevant at the moment. And yes, she wanted to know who he is, but she also wanted to know who he was... if that makes sense."
"He's the Wizard of Oz," Galinda said as though it was obvious.
"That's his title, it's not who he is," Fiyero corrected her.
Melena agreed with him. "If Elphaba feels she still has questions, she may want to try and meet him."
"And then we're back to square one," Boq spoke up. "How does that happen?"
Nessa looked uncertain. "I feel like if people find out the Wizard has an illegitimate daughter… I don't know how that will affect his reign over Oz."
"From a political viewpoint, it could be bad," Melena added.
"But where do we go from here?" Galinda asked.
"We go to the Emerald City."
They all turned to see Elphaba standing in the doorway to the living room. She had bags under her eyes, and seemed a few shades paler than usual.
Without saying anything, Galinda scooted over on the couch to make room between her and Fiyero. Immediately, Elphaba walked over and sat down in the space; leaning into Fiyero as Galinda took her hand in a silent sign of comfort.
"What were you saying, Fae?" Fiyero asked gently.
Elphaba's voice was tired as she answered. "I think I need to go to the Emerald City. Because you're right," she said, looking at Melena.
"I still have questions… even though the hot air balloon from my dream makes sense now," she said, recalling the story of how the Wizard had come to Oz- in a hot air balloon.
"And I have no idea how one goes about seeing the Wizard… I grew up in the City and never heard of anyone seeing him. But it makes more sense to do it from there than here. By the time any letters get there and back… it could be too late. We only have a month left of vacation, and I want to try and get this sorted before we go back to Shiz."
It made sense and Fiyero was quick to support her. "We can stay in my family's apartment, it's large enough for all of us," he suggested.
"And it would be quicker to return to Shiz from there," Galinda added.
Elphaba looked at her mother. "Would you come? Not just for this, but…. I'd like you to meet Kistine. She pretty much raised me."
Melena smiled encouragingly. "Of course I can come."
So, once again, they all packed up and left Munchkinland, this time for the Emerald City. Melena had only been once, years ago, before she was married to Frex, and she marvelled at the changes.
She was also impressed by the lavish apartment owned by Fiyero's family. Fiyero and Boq were sharing one room, Melena and Nessa in another, and Galinda and Elphaba took the third.
And Elphaba wasted no time once they arrived, writing immediately to the Wizard's palace, requesting an audience with the Wizard.
"What reason did you give?" Nessa asked her sister curiously.
"I just said it was of a personal nature," Elphaba replied. "I don't know who opens his mail and I didn't think we should broadcast the news."
"Good idea," Melena agreed.
She was feeling rather nervous, she and Elphaba would be going to the orphanage shortly to meet Kistine. Elphaba had written to Kistine from Munchkinland to fill her in on everything, and Kistine had suggested the meeting. Melena wanted to meet the woman who had raised her daughter, but it was a nerve-wracking idea at the same time.
The others were planning to go out sightseeing and shopping whilst Elphaba and Melena did that, and then Elphaba would join them for dinner, leaving Melena and Kistine to talk. That had been Melena's request, wanting some one-on-one time to learn more about her daughter's childhood.
"Why am I nervous?" Elphaba demanded of Galinda before they left and Galinda only laughed.
"It will be fine, Elphie. But good luck."
"Why do I need luck, if it's going to be fine?" Elphaba retorted, and Galinda rolled her eyes as she left.
"This is it," Elphaba said, as they stood outside the orphanage a short time later.
Melena stared up at the building, trying to imagine her daughter growing up here. Just the mental images broke her heart.
"Ok, let's go."
Elphaba knocked on the door, and when it was opened, allowed herself to be hugged tightly by Kistine before taking a deep breath.
"Kistine, this is my mother, Melena Thropp. This is Kistine," she introduced them.
Kistine smiled warmly. "It's so nice to meet you, Melena. Please, come in."
She showed them into her parlour and insisted Elphaba re-tell the story in more detail of everything she'd found out until now. The only thing Elphaba didn't mention was exactly who her father was, she left it only that he was a travelling salesman named Oscar.
"What a strange name," Kistine mused and Elphaba and Melena exchanged a look.
Forty-five minutes later, Elphaba left and went to join the others for dinner.
"How'd it go?" Nessa asked when she arrived and had sat down.
"I think it went well. They seemed to be getting along when I left," Elphaba replied.
Melena returned to the apartment two hours later. She and Kistine had talked for a long time, and Kistine had been happy to share as much detail as Melena wanted on Elphaba's childhood. And Elphaba was surprised when Melena came straight up to her and embraced her for a long moment.
"What was that for?" she asked, faintly confused.
Melena smiled. "Because you are an exceptional young woman and I'm very proud of you."
Elphaba hadn't known what to say to that.
Meanwhile, her letter to the Wizard went unnoticed and unanswered; as did all the subsequent letters she sent.
By the time they had two weeks left before semester would begin, Elphaba was annoyed and impatient. She had written to Idonea and Alun, telling them a brief overview of the situation, and they knew she would not be available for work until semester began. And that was another thing that annoyed her.
"I'm losing work," she complained to Fiyero. "I know I don't need it as badly as I did last year, but I like it. And I do need to buy my books for this semester. I guess I have the money, but I like knowing I have a steady income."
"Maybe you're going about this the wrong way," Fiyero suggested.
"What do you mean?" Elphaba frowned.
"Well, you've been keeping your letters vague so no one knows the truth, which is still a good idea. But maybe you need to keep it vague, but with a really big clue so he'll know what you're referring too."
Elphaba looked surprised. "That's a really smart idea, Fiyero!"
"You don't need to sound so shocked," Fiyero protested.
Elphaba laughed and kissed him. "Sorry," she apologised.
So Elphaba sat down and wrote yet another letter to the Wizard. When she'd finished, she went over the living area where Fiyero and Boq were playing hangman.
"Sorry to interrupt this very important activity," she said dryly, sitting down next to her boyfriend.
"But can you tell me if this sounds okay?"
Fiyero put down his pencil. "We'll forgive you. I'm only three steps from being hung anyway."
Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Ok. Listen to this."
She cleared her throat and began to read.
"Your Ozness,
My name is Elphaba Rozek and I am twenty-one years old.
I am writing to you to request an audience with yourself, regarding a mutual friend of ours- Melena Thropp.
It is through Melena that I have into possession of this item, which I believe belongs to you, and I am now returning it to its rightful owner.
Sincerely yours,
Elphaba Rozek."
Boq understood what Elphaba was referring to immediately.
"You're going to send him the bottle?"
Elphaba shrugged. "If it gets me in to see him, sure."
"Do you think it'll work?" Fiyero asked.
She stared at him exasperation. "Fiyero, it was your idea!"
"Well, what do I know! You're the smart one!" he defended himself.
Elphaba rolled her eyes again, and decided to go ask Nessa and Galinda their opinions. "By the way, the word is 'masquerade'," she told Fiyero, patting his knee as she got up and left.
Boq groaned. "Elphaba, you're not supposed to tell him the answer!"
Elphaba just laughed.
It was three days after sending the final letter that there was a knock on the apartment door.
"I'll get it!" Galinda sang out, being closest to the door.
She opened it to find a man standing there in a palace uniform. "May I help you?" she asked politely.
"A letter for Miss Rozek from the Wizard of Oz," the man said, holding an emerald green and gold envelope out to her.
Galinda gasped and her eyes widened. "Elphaba!" she called out.
Sensing her friend's tone, Elphaba hurried out from the bedroom she and Galinda were sharing, where she had been reading.
"What is it?" she asked, as everyone else in the apartment entered the room.
"Miss Elphaba Rozek?" the man at the door asked.
"Yes," Elphaba replied.
"A letter for you from His Ozness."
The apartment was dead silent as Elphaba took the letter from him and opened it. She read it in silence before looking up at Melena.
"He wants to see me tomorrow. I'll be there," she added to the man at the door, who bowed and left.
"Oh this is so exciting!" Galinda exclaimed as Elphaba shut the door. "Elphie, what are you going to wear?"
Elphaba stared at her blankly. "That's the most important thing here? My wardrobe choices?"
"Yes," Galinda insisted. "Come on, Nessa and I will help you find something."
They eventually chose a dress for her to wear, and then got around to discussing the other details. Elphaba had decided that she wanted to go alone, and Melena had agreed to her daughter's request.
Elphaba hadn't thought she was nervous about it, but as she lay awake that night, listening to Galinda's even breathing, she was suddenly panicked. This was a huge step, and it completely freaked her out. Knowing that there was no way she'd be able to sleep now and wanting to try and distract herself, she lit the lamp next to her bed and picked up the book she had been reading earlier.
After reading the same paragraph three times and not once taking anything in, she sighed and gave up on that too.
"For the love of Oz," she muttered, swinging her legs out of bed and grabbing her robe.
She slipped out of the room, and was going to go sit in the living area, but instead found Boq asleep on the couch. Given that he had been there reading when she went to bed, Elphaba guessed he'd fallen asleep there. Not wanting to wake him, she crept down the hall and into the room where Fiyero was sleeping, snoring slightly.
"Yero?" she whispered, shaking his shoulder gently.
He opened his eyes blearily, looking confused and concerned to see her standing there.
"Fae? Are you okay?"
She nodded, then realised he couldn't really see her in the darkness. "I can't sleep. I think I'm nervous about tomorrow," she admitted, sitting gingerly on the edge of the bed.
Fiyero sat up, and lit the lamp beside the bed.
"Why?" he asked gently.
Elphaba shrugged, sighing deeply. "I don't know. I can't figure out if I'm nervous because he's my father or because he's the Wizard."
Fiyero could understand that. "Can I ask you something? What happens after you meet him? Do you want a relationship with him?"
Elphaba had been thinking about that and had an answer. "No. I mean, it's different with Melena, because I have Nessa. I honestly don't know if I'd want a relationship with her if I didn't have a sister."
"You would," Fiyero said knowingly.
Elphaba tried to roll her eyes, but she couldn't help but smile.
Fiyero chuckled, and took her hand, gently pulling her back on the bed so she was sitting against the pillows next to him.
"I just need to know who he is," Elphaba said quietly.
"I get that," Fiyero said.
Elphaba relaxed against him, feeling calm for the first time since getting the letter from the Wizard.
"And how are you doing with everything else?" he asked.
"Good," Elphaba replied honestly. "I guess… there was a part of me that always assumed I'd done something wrong and that was why my parents gave me up, or why I was never adopted… but I don't think that anymore."
Fiyero kissed the top of her head. "Good."
Supressing a yawn, she looked up at him tiredly. "Thank you. I should go, I think I can sleep now."
"Just stay here," Fiyero suggested.
Elphaba looked at him in surprise. "Really?"
"Why not?" he shrugged.
She leaned up and kissed him softly. "Ok," she agreed.
"One second," he said, getting out of bed.
Elphaba slipped under the covers and lay down, watching in bemusement as Fiyero got a blanket out of the closet, then returned to the bed. Instead of getting in beside her however, he lay on top of the covers and threw the blankets over himself.
"Er, Yero? What are you doing?" she asked.
He had the grace to look sheepish. "Well, I don't want your mother to think we're having sex," he explained.
Elphaba laughed. "What?"
"Well, she asked and I told her we weren't, and I don't want her to think I lied to her. I want her to like me."
Elphaba raised herself onto her elbows. "Melena asked you if we were having sex?" she asked, not sure how she felt about that.
Fiyero entwined her fingers in his. "You can't blame her, Fae. One minute she has a baby, and the next minute she has a twenty-one daughter who's dating… well, me."
Elphaba rolled onto her side to face him. "She does like you. And why is it so important to you that she does?"
Fiyero looked at her earnestly. "Because she's your mother. And you're trying to have a relationship with her; and I don't want to make that harder by her not approving of me."
She leaned over and kissed him. "I love you."
He smiled and wrapped his arms around you. "I love you too, Fae. Get some sleep."
The next morning, Melena was the first one up. The door to Galinda and Elphaba's room was open, but when Melena peered inside, only the blonde girl was inside, fast asleep. Assuming Elphaba was already up, Melena checked the apartment but found only Boq still sleeping on the couch. It concerned her to not see her daughter anywhere. As she went to check the bathroom, she passed by the boys' room, and saw the door was ajar. Hesitantly, she pushed the door open and looked inside.
Elphaba and Fiyero were curled up together, both fully dressed, much to Melena's relief. Fiyero seemed to be lying on top of the covers under a blanket for some reason, and Elphaba was wrapped in his arms, her face peaceful.
As Melena hastily retreated to the kitchen to begin making breakfast, she felt tears coming to her eyes. She remembered how when she was little, Nessa would be unable to sleep or have a bad dream, and would only be comforted when she was brought into bed with her and Frex.
It was finally hitting Melena everything that she had missed with Elphaba, who was seeking comfort with her boyfriend and not her mother. She knew it must have been something like that, because she knew Elphaba had gone to bed in her own room the night before.
"Good morning," Elphaba said quietly a few minutes, entering the kitchen without Melena noticing and making her jump.
"Morning," Melena answered.
Elphaba noticed the tears in her mother's eyes, and was concerned. "Is everything okay?"
Melena forced a smile. "It's fine. I'm just realising… I missed so much with you. And I can't get that back. You're all grown up."
Elphaba softened, and she hugged her mother, initiating the hug for the first time.
"We still have time, Mom," she assured her.
Melena pulled away and looked at her in surprise. "You called me Mom."
Elphaba smiled slightly, she hadn't even been planning on it, it had just slipped out.
"Yeah, I did."
Melena beamed and hugged her again. "No matter what happens today… thank you."
Elphaba was in agreement. Whatever happened today, she had her mother and her sister. And she felt really glad about that.
AN. Just a random note to say I love hearing from people all over the world both through this site and via twitter. It's really cool getting messages from people in other countries. So thanks to everyone who says "hi"