AN. RecycledBookworm- that line was actually one of those times I didn't pick the reference until after I wrote it, haha.
Thank You to Kelly, who had to deal with many random phone calls and messages with my random questions.
Twenty-Six
By the time they started back at Shiz, everyone knew that their resident green girl, was the daughter of the Wizard of Oz.
And of course the news had consequences, some better than others.
As Elphaba had predicted, Elphaba suddenly had everyone on campus being nice to her, trying to be her friend. But as Melena had said, she knew who her real friends were and Elphaba wasn't swayed by the false compliments and desires of everyone else.
Elphaba had chosen to continue working at Identity, even though she no longer had the need. And Idonea and Alun were thrillified, because once people heard that the Wizard's daughter worked there, their business tripled.
One of the biggest consequences however, was Fiyero's parents. Fiyero received their letter in the first week of semester, which contained glowing praise of Elphaba and an open invitation for her to visit the Vinkus any time she wished. His father even praised the match, which made Fiyero promptly crumple the letter into a ball and throw it into Suicide Canal.
He and Elphaba were sitting by the water, her sitting between his legs and leaning against him.
"So they suddenly like me now?" Elphaba asked.
Fiyero sighed. "Of course they do. You're the daughter of the Wizard of Oz."
"The green, illegitimate daughter," she retorted and Fiyero kissed her neck with a smile.
"But his daughter none the less."
Elphaba was happy to be back at school, although she had found it harder than expected to say goodbye to Melena.
But her mother had given her the best parting words Elphaba could have wished for. After hugging her tightly, and promising to write and reminding her that they would see one another at Lurlinemas, Melena had said one thing.
"Do you remember the lullaby?"
Elphaba had chuckled faintly. "I think it's safe to say it's ingrained in my mind forever."
Melena smiled. "Then remember these lines. 'Wherever you fly, this isn't goodbye.' This is just… see you later."
The words, and the whole song was a huge comfort to Elphaba throughout the beginning of the semester. But Fiyero, Galinda, Nessa and Boq had all noticed that Elphaba seemed to have some kind of inner peace, as she came to terms with everything that had happened over the summer- the good, the bad and the indifferent.
And then in October, she received a mysterious letter from Oscar, inviting her, Nessa, Fiyero, Galinda and Boq to the Emerald City for a weekend, which ruined the peace slightly.
"What could he want?" Elphaba frowned at the letter, hoping their might be a clue within the letter, but there wasn't.
Galinda shrugged. "It could be anything. Are we going?" she asked hopefully.
"I just don't understand why he'd invite all of us," Elphaba said, not answering the question.
"Elphie, come on! Let it go! He's just trying to do something nice. He knows we're all friends, and probably knows you'd be a lot more comfortable with us there."
"I don't know…" Elphaba said uncertainly.
"Elphie," Galinda said warningly.
Elphaba sighed and rolled her eyes. "Ok! Ok, we can go."
Galinda squealed and hugged her. "Yay! This is perfect timing, the winter fashions are just hitting the stores now."
"Oh, well I'm glad you've got your priorities straight," Elphaba said sarcastically.
The others all agreed that the trip was a good idea, although Fiyero and Nessa agreed with Elphaba that it sounded like there was more to the trip that the invitation let on.
"But you won't know until you go," Nessa pointed out.
They had been invited to the palace for lunch on Saturday, and Galinda and Nessa were particularly stressed over what to wear. Galinda changed outfits three times, and was talking about changing a fourth time when Elphaba told her they had to leave.
"Besides, why are you so nervous? You've already met him," she pointed out, running a brush through her hair, and pinning it back with a thin silver headband.
"Yes, but I've never been to the Palace," Galinda replied.
Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Let's just go, please?"
When they arrived, Elphaba and Nessa were pleasantly surprised to see their mother was there.
"Do you know what's going on?" Elphaba asked her after greeting her.
Melena shook her head. "No, I'm just as in the dark as you are."
When Oscar finally arrived, he didn't keep them waiting to explain his intentions.
"I wanted to ask you, Elphaba, how you felt about a debutante ball?" he asked her as they ate.
Elphaba stared at him blankly. "For who?"
He chuckled. "For you, of course."
"Why?"
Oscar seemed surprised. "When young ladies of a certain social status reach a certain point, they have a debutante ball to show society that they are… well, in society."
"And I need one why?" Elphaba asked, still not understanding.
"Well, as my daughter, you are now at a certain level of social standing."
"But aren't I too old to be a debutante?"
"Not necessarily," Oscar shook his head. "It's true that most debutantes are between sixteen and eighteen, but there's no age limit."
Elphaba hesitated. "Look… I appreciate the offer, but it's not really my thing," she refused politely.
To her surprise, Melena spoke up. "Don't be so hasty, Elphaba. You may not think it's your thing, but it could be a lot of fun. I was a debutante, and it was a great night."
"My parents met at their debutante ball," Galinda chimed in. "Popsicle escorted Momsie and then they courted for a year before marrying. And they're not the only ones who have those types of stories."
"That's true," Melena nodded.
The whole idea was ludicrous to Elphaba, not least because her knowledge of debutante balls was limited to knowing that the girls wore white ball gowns- which would look ridiculous with her green skin.
"I still don't think it's my thing," Elphaba insisted.
Oscar sighed. "Elphaba, as my daughter, it's kind of expected. I hadn't thought of the idea either, until it was brought to my attention by several members of my administration and several high dignitaries. Fiyero's parents included."
Fiyero was startled. "Wait- what?"
Oscar nodded. "Your parents wrote to me and asked if I was planning to debut you. And the idea made sense."
"Debut me? I'm not a, a…" Elphaba was so incensed, she couldn't even think of a proper analogy.
"Elphaba, the fact of the matter is, it is expected. And you are at the age where it would not be uncommon or improper for you to be getting married," Oscar stated simply.
Elphaba could only gape at him.
"I think it sounds like fun," Nessarose said quietly.
"I would love to see it," Melena admitted.
Elphaba looked between Oscar, Melena and her sister and then sighed wearily.
"When would this ball be?" she asked dully.
Oscar beamed. "It would be in late November. And once you've finished eating, I have a surprise for you."
When they'd all finished, Oscar escorted them to the parlour where he and Elphaba had first met.
"In the hope that you would agree to the ball, I had the liberty of asking a few local designers to bring their collections here for you to browse through, perhaps to find a dress," he explained to Elphaba.
She looked wary, but Melena and Nessa looked intrigued, and Galinda looked ready to die of excitement.
"Come on, Elphie. It can't hurt to look," Galinda needled her best friend.
"And if you find one now, you won't have to look again," Nessa added, knowing her sister.
As she'd predicted, Elphaba caved. "Sure, let's get this over with," she agreed.
The girls all left to an adjacent room where the dresses and designers were waiting, leaving Oscar with Fiyero and Boq. Realising he was in a room with Elphaba's boyfriend and father, Boq made a hasty escape.
"Sorry, where's the bathroom?" he asked Oscar.
"Make two lefts and then it's the third door on the right," Oscar replied and Boq quickly left.
"Traitor," Fiyero muttered under his breath, who had come to the same realisation Boq had.
There was an awkward silence, and then Oscar turned to Fiyero.
"So, you and Elphaba have been dating for how long now?"
"Almost nine months," Fiyero answered. Then he decided to ask a question of his own, one he'd had earlier.
"Over lunch, you mentioned marriage to Elphaba."
"Yes," Oscar replied. "It's not too early to be thinking about it."
Fiyero almost laughed. "Excuse my bluntness, Your Ozness, but it's really obvious that you don't know Elphaba too well yet."
"And why is that?"
"Elphaba's been alone her whole life until now," Fiyero explained. "She makes her own decisions and is fiercely independent. You've been in her life for a few weeks, and you think she's going to let you choose a husband for her? That's not going to happen."
Oscar didn't seem offended but he didn't give Fiyero's words much thought. "I'm not choosing a husband for her, I'm simply making sure to invite eligible young men who could be a suitable husband for her. If she so chooses."
Fiyero bristled. "You seem to be forgetting that Elphaba isn't 'eligible'," he retorted tightly.
Oscar raised an eyebrow. "Are you intending to marry Elphaba?"
Fiyero had the same response he always did, 'maybe, one day.' But before he could say anything, they heard footsteps and a rustling of fabric approaching.
"Yero, my mother and Galinda are insisting on this dress, and Nessa's being no help at all. Can you please tell them it looks ridiculous?"
Fiyero looked over nonchalantly and his jaw dropped, the colour actually draining from his face. Elphaba was wearing a white ball gown, which was strapless with a full skirt made of layers and layers of tulle. There was a band of crystals around her waist, and the skirt floated to the floor. With her hair loose and draping over her shoulders, only pushed back by the silver headband; she had never looked more beautiful to Fiyero, even as she stood there looking frustrated and with her hands on her hips.
"It- it doesn't look ridiculous," he managed to croak out.
Elphaba rolled her eyes. "You're no help either," she complained and left the room.
Fiyero turned immediately back to Oscar.
"Yes."
Oscar raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"Yes. I intend to marry Elphaba," Fiyero said firmly.
It had hit Fiyero like a ton of bricks when he saw her, he couldn't say why; but he knew it was true.
Oscar only looked at him, not saying anything.
"Excuse me," Fiyero said, standing up and leaving the room.
He went out the door Elphaba had disappeared through, and found her in front of a mirror, still in the dress and frowning critically at her reflection.
Fiyero came up behind her, gently turned her around and then kissed her deeply, taking her by surprise.
"You look incredible," he murmured, pulling away slightly.
"I look like a marshmallow," she grumbled. "I guess with the green it's a mouldy marshmallow, but-"
Fiyero shook his head and kissed her again. "You are amazing and sexy, and the most beautiful girl I've ever seen in my entire life," he told her, pulling away once more.
Elphaba blushed, either at his words or the way he was looking at her, she didn't know.
"I'm going to shut up now," she whispered.
Fiyero grinned. "Good idea."
And then he drew her back to him. Elphaba's last clear thought was that now she had no hope of getting out of wearing this dress to the ball. But if this was the reaction she got, she could bear with it for one night.
AN. There's a picture of Elphaba's debutante dress on my blog!