Hello! Here is Chapter 3!

Enjoy!

Chapter 3

On Wednesday afternoon, after school, I went to Ursula's hotel and told her that I was fully committed to our mission. She was thrilled, of course, and tried to convince me to take shots with her in the hotel bar. I declined, for the sake of my students' education. That night at dinner, I told Fiyero and Melrina my definite plans for spring break. Fiyero was completely supportive, as he always is when it comes to my plans in life. Mel was fairly quiet about the whole thing. I had a sneaking suspicion that she was less than happy with it, but I remembered how annoyed I would get at her age when people (most often Nessa) would ask me to tell them what was bothering me. She would tell me when she felt comfortable.

On Friday, none of my students were in the mood to learn, so instead we played some educational games that I had devised: Biology Basketball, History Hangman, and so on. I didn't bring out these games often so they would be a treat, but they caused every single one of my students to be interested in getting facts right. It was a win-win for all.

When I got home that afternoon, Ursula was sitting on our front porch. She grinned as I walked up the steps and sat down next to her. "Your husband would like to have one last night with you," she told me. "So we'll leave tomorrow at dawn. I've managed to use the nearby Ixxan River to make a clean gateway to my world. And, I made the potion for your transformation today too, so I've had a pretty productive day!"

The mention of my "transformation" made me cringe. "Is there anything I need to do to prepare for this?"

Ursula shrugged. "Not really. Just wear something that's waterproof and easy to get out off. Don't want any wardrobe complications in the water."

"What, will I be naked?!" I asked, horrified at the prospect.

"No! Of course not! We merfolk may not have a lot of modesty, but we do have some. I have some shells for you, don't worry." That did not comfort me in the least, but there was no turning back now.

Fiyero made dinner that night, with Melrina's eager assistance, because, "Daddy can't cook to save his life!" We had a lovely meal, which evolved into a spirited game of Wordsmith: Melrina and myself against Fiyero. We beat him eventually, much to Mel's glee. As I waited for Melrina to finish her bath, I thought about how scared she had been of the water as a toddler, and how ironic it was that tomorrow, I would be immersed in the very thing that all of Oz thought had killed me.

After I told Melrina the story of me accidentally turning one of the neighborhood kids into a frog for the one thousandth time, I was about to leave her room when she called me back. "Mama?"

"Yes, sweetie?" I answered, coming back towards her bed.

"I don't want you to go with Ursula tomorrow."

"Why not?"

"I'll miss you!" she cried. "And you yourself said that Ursula was a crazy old witch. Why would you help her?"

"Because she's my friend and she trusts me," I said, wrapping my arms around her. "I've told you what she did for me. I have to repay her."

"But you did repay her! With your voice!"

"It's more complicated than that. She needs my expertise right now. Her sister is in a really bad place right now. We have to intervene before someone gets hurt. And, if this goes smoothly, I'll be back before you know it!"

"But what if you're not?" Her twisted up face screamed for reassurance.

"That's not gonna happen, Mel. Ursula wouldn't let anything happen to me, and I'm pretty good at protecting myself. Everything's going to be fine. You just need to go to sleep now and be good for Daddy while I'm gone, okay?"

"Okay, Mama," she said resolutely, seeming to realize that there was no convincing me to stay.

I kissed her. "That's my strong girl. Good night. I'm leaving very early tomorrow, but I'll come into your room to say goodbye if you want."

"Alright. Good night, Mama." I gave her a comforting smile as I left her room. If there was one thing my period of silence had taught me, it was that sometimes a simple gesture or expression could say so much more than words could.

"How is she?" Fiyero asked when I came into our room.

"Confused, worried for me," I replied as I got in bed with him. "I tried to explain it to her the best I could, but she still doesn't want me to go." I felt my whole body relax as he put his arms around me.

"Neither do I."

I looked up at him with surprise. "You don't? You should've told me that!"

"Nothing I could've said would have mattered. And it's only part of me that doesn't want you to go, the selfish part. The other part of me knows that this is what you're best at. I could never hinder you like that."

I took a clock tick to contemplate this. "You don't mind being married to someone who seems to always be caught up in something?"

"No, of course not!" he insisted. "I relish being your husband, Fae! Looking back at all you've done since I met you, and how you've managed to survive it all, I just think, 'Wow. That girl choose me.' And then I feel indescribably lucky. And even though I'm worried for you, I'm confident that you're going to come home to me and Mel in one piece. Because that's what you do! You get through stuff! Even if you don't manage to save Ursula's sister or whatever, if you still return to me, that would be enough. More than enough, Fae."

"Oh, Yero …" That was all I could get out before we were locked in a passionate embrace, caressing each other just as we had done twelve years earlier in the Gilikin Forest. We made love as though it was the last time we would get to do so. It was a comforting reassurance that no matter what I did, Fiyero would always be there, supporting me. For once, we went to sleep at about the same time.

The next morning, I got up before dawn and practically dragged Fiyero out of bed with me. I dressed in a simple black dress with a camisole underneath, because I knew I would rather have dinner with the Wizard and Madam Morrible than wear those shells. Our quiet breakfast was, of course, interrupted by Ursula. "Just FYI, Elphaba, I could unlock your door with a hairpin," she informed me. "You should really take care of that. I know a good protective charm if you need one."

"I'll take it into consideration," I said. "Would you like some eggs?"

She waved me away. "Nah, I had breakfast at the hotel. They have the best bacon ever!"

After breakfast, I slipped into Melrina's room. "Mel?"

The covers moved, and Mel sat up in bed. "Mama? Are you leaving now?"

"Yes, I am," I answered, sitting down on her bed. "Be good. Take care of Daddy. Think for yourself. Be smart, be strong, and I'll be back soon."

She launched herself onto me. "I'll miss you, Mama!"

"I'll miss you too, sweetie." I gave her an extra squeeze before holding her at arms' length. "I love you."

"Love you too." And with a quick kiss on her cheek, I left her room.

Ursula was impatiently waiting by the front door when I came back out into the living room, so I knew I had to make my goodbye to Fiyero fairly quick. Without even thinking, we fell into each other's arms. "Come home, Fae," he pleaded into my hair. "Please come home safe."

"I will," I said. "I promise." I hoped to myself that I would keep that promise. After a kiss that was probably more drawn out than Ursula would have liked, I left my family to start this unexpected adventure.

Yeah. I have no doubt that all you Hamilton fans totally did not miss Fiyero channeling Eliza in this chapter. To me, Fiyero and Eliza have quite the similar situation: they both love people who just cannot settle down. But then again, at least Elphaba didn't have an affair and then write a long essay about it …

Anyway …

Cheers,

Elle Dottore