Chapter 2:

Author's note: Man that was filled with angst! Okay I am probably going to make that less depressing as the story goes on but I just really want to capture what I think Elphaba is like a mother mostly based off her actions in Kaimo Ko.

The days after the little scuffle between Elphaba and Estella were awkward and held many instances of silence that Glinda had to try her hardest to break. After one night Estella rushed to her room to avoid talking to her mother about the whole thing Glinda forced herself to confront the rather stand-offish green woman. "What happened between you two!" she cried after the dinner was all put away.

"She wanted to fly off on my broom," she explained coldly not even looking the blonde in the eyes.

"That's what this is about?"

"Yes she can't just go running off and she seems upset about it because she is too naive to understand that is a horrible idea."

"That is a stupid reason to stay so angry though."

"I'm not angry."

"Really?"

"No, Estella is the only one who's upset."

"Why don't you talk to her then?"

"She doesn't want to talk to me," she said turning to Glinda with a sad look and closed the distance between them.

"Talk to her," Glinda pleaded knowing that Estella had already refused to speak to her on the matter.

"Fine but I have to tell you she won't be all that happy for me to sit her down and deal with this."

"You can't run from our own kid Elphaba."

"I know, I know I'm not going to run." And with that the witch went straight to the small room that held the little girl. Elphaba had not really noted what her daughter looked like and she was a bit surprised at how grown up she was beginning to look. The room that housed her was more like the size of a walk-in closet than an actual bedroom and had off white walls. Said walls had been carved into with odd swirling patterns that crawled from the bottom to four feet or so which was obviously the work of Estella whom had taken an obsession to carving of all things, on top of reading that was. The bed was in the middle of the right wall and had pathetic looking brown covers that were swelled up from Estella hiding in them. Elphaba came closer to the bed and Estella twisted under the thin sheets and looked her mother straight in the eye her wide green eyes seeming more piercing than usual to The Wicked Witch. They seemed almost as dull yet intense as her but the deep green looked less like her eyes but older woman's odd skin.

"Estella?" Elphaba nervously placed a hand her daughter's side.

"What is it?" she mumbled bitterly and looked away from the taller woman in hate of her gaze.

"I want to talk about," she paused trying to think of a way to delicately put it since tact was not always her strong suit, "what happened a few mornings ago."

"What's to talk about? Why do you even care?"

"What do you mean 'why do I care?' I'm your mother!"

"You sure don't act like it Miss Elphaba," at that moment it had occurred to her that Estella had never called her mom or anything of the sort just Miss Elphaba; the thought disturbed her more than she cared to admit.

"Well I do care so you are going to tell me what makes you so angry with me."

"Why do you hate me?"

"Hate you? Estella I don't hate you."

"Then why are you always gone? Did I do something wrong? I just wanted to see where you go all the time!" the young girl began to cry the tears trickling down her cheeks that were thoroughly flushed with frustration.

"No, no that's not it my sweet," she pulled her daughter into a hug not and slightly tensing up as the tears soaked through her blouse and burning her skin. For the next few moments they sat there and Elphaba soothingly stroked Estella's hair. Eventually, the green eyed girl got herself together to speak clearly but her voice still shook somewhat.

"You really love me?" she asked in a small whisper and Elphaba kissed her on the forehead.

"Of course Estella," she cooed making her daughter smile at her for the first time in a good while. Though she was not totally convinced that Elphaba was satisfied by her and truly loved her she did feel a bit at ease by hearing her mother say that. She had a feeling that she would still not be allowed to use the broom but after her last ride she was not feeling up to it anyhow. Despite all the thoughts swimming in Estella's young mind, thoughts she herself was rather overwhelmed by she just pushed them to the back of her mind and just enjoyed the joy of this moment with her mother even if it was only temporary.

They continued to cuddle throughout the night and Elphaba decided to tell Estella a story like she did so often back when the girl was younger.

"…And the Wonderful Witch finally defeated the cruel dictator and won the hearts of the masses never knowing just how many trials she had to face to get there." Elphaba spoke proudly as though the witch's victory was her own.

"Did she marry the princess?" Estella asked excitedly bouncing in her mother's arms.

"Of course, they were wed and ruled over the people with kindness and care. They listened to the people's cry for help and always made sure they were not ignored. They loved people, Animals, and all other species alike and treated them fairly and respectfully."

"They sound amazing."

"They certainly are," the green woman said with a sad smile. One day she would make that fairy tale a reality, she thought, for not just her sake but also for the Animals that were being abused and for her daughter who has to live in this world.