Chapter Two:
Elphaba tore through the halls of Kiamo Ko, not exactly running, but nor was it the dignified walk that befit the image of a princess- even a princess by marriage.
"Have you seen Prince Fiyero?" she demanded of a passing steward, who looked alarmed and stuttered for a moment before being able to answer her question.
"I believe he's in the study with the King, Your Highness," he finally replied and Elphaba dashed off again.
She reached the study and knocked, but didn't wait for an answer before entering. Sure enough, Fiyero and Ibrahim were in there, both bent over some papers. Both men looked up at her with smiles, and immediately faded at the expression on her face.
"Sorry, can I borrow Yero for a moment?" she asked, fighting to keep her voice steady.
"Of course," Ibrahim replied, his eyes filled with concern for his daughter-in-law.
Fiyero jumped up and followed Elphaba from the room as she urgently led him up to their bedroom.
"Fae, what's going on?" he finally asked, trying to remain calm but finding it difficult as he took in the look in her eyes.
Elphaba opened her mouth, and was overcome by tears. She laughed slightly, feeling ridiculous for crying but unable to help herself. And neither the tears or the laughter helped reassure her husband. Fiyero stepped forward and closed the gap between them, his hands firm around her upper arms.
"Elphaba. What's happened?" he asked firmly.
A brilliant smile lit her face. "I'm pregnant."
Fiyero just gaped at her soundlessly.
"Are- are you sure?" he finally managed to get out, his throat tight.
Elphaba nodded and Fiyero hauled her to him in a deep, passionate kiss. It had been a long eight months since he and Elphaba had begun trying for a baby and it had been hard for both of them. When Elphaba had gotten her period the month before, Elphaba had started talking about the odds and it being not meant to be, and maybe they should begin looking into adoption. Fiyero had agreed, seeing how much pain she was in, although he was not willing to give up hope just yet.
And now here they were. They were going to have a baby. Their baby. In Fiyero's eyes, it was nothing short of a miracle.
"When?"
"March," she replied breathlessly, her voice still trembling.
Fiyero was still trying to get his head around it. "I- I don't understand. Were you late? You didn't say anything."
"I didn't realise," she laughed. "I've been so busy this week, I lost track of the date. I'm only two days late, but I just... I had a feeling. I can't explain it. And now... Yero..."
Fiyero chuckled and kissed her again, lifting her into his arms and gently spinning her around.
"Oz, I love you," he whispered, tears springing to his own eyes.
Elphaba was just glowing. "I love you," she returned softly.
She buried her face in his shoulder, and Fiyero wrapped her tightly in her arms; and they just stood there, both shedding a few tears as the reality sank in. They were having a baby.
They announced the news to Ibrahim and Kasmira that night over dinner, and both the king and queen cried as they congratulated their son and daughter-in-law. They both knew what this meant to them, and it was only Kasmira and Ibrahim who knew that they had been trying for this for the past nearly eight months. Elphaba hadn't wanted to tell even Galinda or Nessa, just in case.
But now that it had happened, Elphaba was thrillified and so eager to share the news with her family and friends. But she was so early on in the pregnancy, she thought it was too soon to tell anyone besides the King and Queen. Fiyero was just as impatient as she was, but they both reluctantly agreed to wait a while before saying anything.
"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" Kasmira asked her, finding a moment alone with the mother-to-be after dinner.
Kasmira loved Elphaba as though she was her own daughter and not just her daughter-in-law, and she couldn't be happier about the idea of becoming a grandmother.
"I feel great," Elphaba replied honestly. "Except it doesn't really seem real yet," she added with a slight laugh.
"It will soon enough," Kasmira promised her.
"I just want to be able to tell everyone. Galinda, and Nessa... but it's too soon. And I hate that I can't tell them in person."
Elphaba knew that they would all be as excited as she and Fiyero were, and she wanted more than anything to be able to be there to see the expression on their faces when they heard the news. But Elphaba and Fiyero just couldn't leave the Vinkus at that moment; and Elphaba didn't think the others would be able to come to them.
"Can't we just invite them here?" Fiyero suggested
"Out of the blue? Because that wouldn't be suspicious at all," Elphaba replied.
Fiyero frowned. "We can't just invite our family and friends to visit us for no reason at all? What kind of people are we?"
Elphaba rolled her eyes, even as she laughed slightly.
"Or why can't we just ask them to come and tell them we have news?"
Fiyero didn't need Elphaba to roll her eyes before he realised why that was a bad idea. They'd learned before that you couldn't vaguely tell anyone- particularly Galinda or Nessa- that you had news without saying what it was. Not when you were in remission from cancer. It tended to make people panic.
So, finally, after what felt like an eternity to both Elphaba and Fiyero, she was able to sit down and write the letters. One for Galinda, one for Boq and one for Nessa and her father.
Her father.
Elphaba wondered how he'd feel about becoming a grandfather. She and Frex were in a pretty good place at the moment, but a small part of Elphaba was afraid that her pregnancy would bring back memories of her birth. Elphaba was sure that if her father made a comment about the possibility of the baby being green... she wouldn't be able to handle that.
That small worry aside, Elphaba was feeling good. She had no morning sickness, plenty of energy and was just so completely happy. And Fiyero was just as thrillified.
"If I could do a cartwheel, I think I'd be doing cartwheels down the hallways," he told Elphaba sincerely, who laughed.
"You can't do a cartwheel? Seriously?"
"I used to be able to, when I was a kid," he admitted. "I should probably practice them though..."
Elphaba raised an eyebrow. "What? Why?"
"So I can do them with the baby," Fiyero explained as though it was obvious.
Elphaba laughed. "Ok. Any other skills you need to learn before I have this baby?"
"Maybe I should actually learn to juggle," he replied thoughtfully.
"Yes, I'm sure the baby is going to judge you for your lack of juggling and cartwheel skills," Elphaba said sarcastically.
A letter from Munchkinland arrived in mere days after Elphaba sent them, and she opened it eagerly, looking forward to her sister's reaction. And Nessa didn't disappoint.
Dearest Fabala,
I am so happy for you! This is the best news I could ever imagine! Oh, I've been so hoping this would happen for you and Fiyero! Of course, I didn't want to say anything, but I have been praying for you.
I'm going to be an aunt! I hope you're well, and that you're feeling ok. You say you're due in March? Father, Kai and I would love to come out to be there when the baby is born, if that's ok. We don't want to put you out, and if it's easier, we'll just come out once you actually have the baby. Do you think it'll be a boy or a girl? Do you have a preference either way? Does Fiyero?
Kai is visiting Munchkinland at the moment, and he sends his most sincere and heartfelt congratulotions, he agrees that it's simply wonderful.
And Father is just as happy for you both. The first grandchild! It's such an exciting milestone in our family history! He's already decided that the baby will call him "Opa", it is the traditional Munchkin name for Grandfather after all. He also said that Momma would be extremely happy about this- although she'd probably insist that she was far too young to actually be a grandmother. And then he locked himself in his study for a long time... I guess it made him miss Momma.
But he is happy. It was actually his idea for us to come out to the Vinkus.
Please let us know as soon as possible when a visit would be convenient, and don't worry- we'll understand if you would rather us not come out until the baby is born.
I saw Boq this morning and we discussed the news at length, but I know he's planning to write his own letter, so I'll let him extend his own well-wishes. We literally only got your letter this morning, so I haven't had time to talk to Galinda yet, but I can only imagine how excited she will be!
Please give my best wishes to Kasmira and Ibrahim, and all my love to you, Fiyero and my unborn niece/nephew. I am truly so happy for you Fabala.
Love, Nessa."
Boq did indeed write his own letter, and Galinda's letter was ten pages long, and so little of it made sense, she was just that excited. Elphaba and Fiyero happily and readily invited them all to the Vinkus for the baby's birth in February, they were in agreement that they wanted to share this moment with the people closest to them.
But what they were most agreed upon was that March seemed like an age away.