"Breathe, Lady Glinda," Sarima soothed, massaging her shoulders.

"I am breathing!" Glinda snapped back before giving a cry of pain. She gripped the arms of the birthing chair tighter.

Surrounding Glinda were her own retinue and elder Arjiki women. Sarima was behind her, attempting to keep her muscles from cramping as more contractions hit. Wynne was in the corner looking slightly nauseated. Sarima hoped she did not pass out. Elphaba was coming over from a small table where she had potions and concoctions ready if need be.

"How is the pain relief spell, my sweet?" Elphaba asked, dabbing her drenched brow with a cloth. "Does it need to be recast?"

"How the hell should I know?"

"I'll recast it just in case," Elphaba said, and murmured the spell. "Better?"

"Not really, no."

"You'll just have to endure then," Elphaba replied. Sarima winced as Glinda glared at her.

"Thanks for the help."

"We're almost ready to push," said the elderly Arjiki woman, Laraj, in front of her. Glinda had not known her until this morning. Her steady demeanor helped.

"Thank Lurline."

"You said it was twins?"

"Yes."

"This will be tricky, but we should be fine. I will ask the Night Shaman to be ready near her table in case we need her."

"Of course," Elphaba replied. "You've got this, Glinda."

"Don't really have a choice, do I?" Glinda groaned again as another contraction hit. Laraj's gray streaked dark hair bobbed.

"Good. Just a little more."

"I forgot to ask," Glinda gasped before grunting in pain again, "How do you know how to speak Ozian?"

"Shiz educated, dear," she replied with amusement in her voice. "But now focus. On my command."

Glinda took a deep breath.

"Push!" Laraj ordered.

Glinda's world narrowed to snatched breaths between sharp pain and strained exertion. There were hands in hers that she squeezed tight. Words of encouragement echoed distantly in her ears as cool rags wiped her brown. Glinda felt something give, and noticed Laraj turn away to hand something to her helper.

"Is it-"

"The baby is alive and we will be checking it. You need to focus on bringing its sibling into the world."

Glinda wanted nothing more than to follow the other woman with her baby, but a pain shooting through her put truth to Laraj's words. Glinda's world retracted back into the haze of pain and pushing. It was not much longer before she felt the other twin emerge. They entered the world crying.

"What a good pair of lungs you have!" Laraj laughed before handing the baby off. "Now we're almost there. A few more pushes and we'll be done."

By the time Glinda had finished and her pain receded, both of her babies had been checked, cleaned, and swaddled. Laraj and one of her assistants carried them to Glinda. The older woman smiled.

"The elder daughter was so quiet one we feared for a moment, but it seems she is fine. Just stubborn," Laraj said as she handed them to her. "And she seems to take her complexion after mother."

"Baby girls." Glinda gasped in awe. One was pale with a full head of brown hair, and the other was an emerald green but bald. "Perfectly beautiful baby girls."

"They are beautiful," Elphaba said. "Must be the Upland genes at work."

"Hush," Glinda replied, not even looking at her. "They're perfectly both of us."

"Did you have names?" Laraj asked. Glinda nodded.

"The eldest will be Nessa," Glinda replied, giving the green baby a kiss on her bald head, "and the younger Rose."

"Good thing, too." Elphaba smiled. "Being called Rose and green? The flower jokes would write themselves."

"Is all you are going to do is stand there and be snarky?" Glinda asked. Elphaba smiled at her.

"I'm just waiting for my turn."

"Oh, right." Glinda smiled sheepishly. "Elder Laraj, can you?"

"I got it," Elphaba replied as she bent down. She scooped up her tiny reflection and held her close. "You forget I took care of Nessa since she was young."

"Sorry. Only child syndrome."

"I'll leave you two alone for a few minutes while we get what we need to clean up." Laraj bowed. "Don't overdo it now. Also, the recovery draught, Night Shaman."

"Yes, I'll remember to give it to Glinda," Elphaba replied distantly, not taking her eyes off the baby in her eyes.

"The sooner the better. We do need to move her to a more comfortable room." Laraj gently urged as she left.

"Aren't you just the cutest little cabbage I've ever seen." Elphaba cooed to the girl in her arms.

"We are not calling her a cabbage." Glinda retorted happily while staring down at Rose.

"Be glad, little froggy, that your mama is so pretty and you didn't get my big nose," Elphaba continued, gently tapping the not-big appendage. The girl gave a yawn in response.

"We're not calling her froggy, either." Glinda huffed but saw the small smile on Elphaba's face. "Come, give me my little emerald back and take Rose."

"You are bald and shiny like a gemstone," Elphaba said as she gently put Nessa into Glinda's arms. "Let me get the recovery draught for you before I take her."

Elphaba returned with the cup for Glinda. The woman raised her eyebrows, gently cocking her head to indicate the children in her arms. Elphaba balanced the cup on the end of one of the stool's armrests, and scooped up the pale Rose from her mother. Glinda sighed but dutifully downed the recovery draught. Showing an agility that made Glinda both nervous and jealous, Elphaba rested Rose in the crook of one arm and picked up the cup with the other hand. She returned it to the table.

"Aren't you quite the squirmer?" Elphaba cooed to Rose as she fussed. "You take after your mom. All wiggles."

"Hey!" Glinda protested softly. Elphaba gave a chuckle and crooked a finger in front of her daughter's nose.

"Though unfortunately not blonde. Then again, people wouldn't believe you are sisters if you were," Elphaba continued. Little Rose opened her mouth and then promptly closed it on Elphaba's finger. "Hey!"

"Hope it hurt," Glinda said smugly as she idly rocked Nessa.

"No. Too gummy. But I'm guessing she is hungry." Elphaba dropped her voice conspiratorially. "Just like your mama always is."

"I heard that," Glinda admonished, amused. "They're going to have to wait a bit, unfortunately. I don't exactly know how to breastfeed."

"Laraj will help." Elphaba nodded. Gently placing Rose in Glinda's free arm, she said, "I'll get her."


On her way back with fresh clothes and towels, Elder Laraj was stopped by Fiyero. The woman had noticed him loitering when she left, but he had not stopped her. Now he stood purposely in the hall; not in the way but noticeable.

"Crown Prince," Laraj acknowledged.

"How is everything going, Revered Elder?"

"Everything went well, Prince." she smiled. "Two healthy children, and the mother is doing well."

Fiyero's face split with a smile. He gave a laugh of joy and hugged Laraj. The woman froze and Fiyero pulled back, hands on her shoulders.

"That's wonderful! Thank you for all your help."

"If I may be so bold, My Prince?"

"They're not mine, if that is what you were going to ask."

"No, their coloring made that evident." Laraj paused. "You've been around the Ozians for too long. We don't generally embrace those outside our families."

"Oh, right." Fiyero nodded. He gently enfolded Laraj's hands in his own and bent to kiss them. She froze again, but this time in shock. "Thank you."

"I-I've got to get these to the Day Shaman." Laraj managed to stutter out. "Excuse me, my Prince."

Fiyero stepped aside and let the woman go. It was only then they noticed Elphaba standing at the door. Laraj excused herself around Elphaba to enter the room, and the woman shook her head.

"You keep that up and people will think they're yours," Elphaba said.

"How long were you standing there?"

"Since you bear hugged the poor woman."

"Oh, right. We were speaking in Arjiki." Fiyero laughed. "I thought Elder Laraj was going to say the same thing, but she told me their color says they're not."

Elphaba stiffened.

"What did she say about their color?"

"Just that. I assumed they're pale like the rest of you Ozians." Fiyero had a thought strike him. "Are they…?"

"Our little Nessa is." Elphaba sighed. "Rose however looks like their namesake."

"Nessa and Rose. What a beautiful way to honor your sister." Fiyero grinned as he approached her. He wrapped the woman in a hug and lifted her off the ground. "I'm so happy for the both of you!"

"Put me down, you brute!" Elphaba replied. "You're the Prince of a country - act like it!"

"As Prince, I do a thing called what I want."

"Ugh, go do some work!" Elphaba commanded. Fiyero put her down. "And stop grinning like an idiot."

"It's a great day, and I'm going to enjoy it," he answered. "Now, you get back in there. Unfortunately, I do have to do some work. I put it off because I wouldn't have been able to focus."

"You're still the same big hearted doofus." Elphaba smiled. She gave him a gentle push. "Never change."

"Never will!" Fiyero threw open his arms and laughed.

He turned around and, with a brief skip, made his way down the hall. It echoed with his whistling of a jaunty and familiar tune. Elphaba shook her head and went back inside. Laraj had finished cleaning up and Glinda had changed. Sitting in a much more comfortable stuffed chair, she arched her eyebrows at Elphaba.

"Fiyero kept you a bit."

"Big softy hugged me and lifted me off my feet while grinning like a brainless idiot."

"That does sound like him," Glinda replied. She looked down at the twins. "I always thought he'd be a good father. He likes babies."

"Really?" Elphaba arched her own eyebrow as she walked over to Glinda. The blonde nodded.

"Uh-huh. Few times I saw him with them he looked like he didn't want to let them go," Glinda answered as Elphaba scooped Nessa up. Glinda glanced over to the corner and Elphaba followed her gaze. Sarima was helping Laraj pack up the last bit. "He'll make a great husband and father for some lucky woman."

"That he will," Sarima replied, turning around. "Offers are constantly being made from the Yunamata, but I hear the Scrow also have inquired about putting forth a bride. Either way, the Arjiki will easily solidify their rule over the Vinkus in the next generation with a princess. And she will be lucky to have a wonderful husband in the political match rather than some boar."

Glinda watched the woman leave with the other Vinkuns. Only when Wynne moved from her corner did both women remember she was in the room. The swordswoman shook her head.

"You two, I swear," she said with a smile.

"What?" asked Glinda as she gently rocked Rose.

"You keep pushing for it like it isn't obvious. Let what will be will be." Wynne stopped in front of them. Keeping her distance but bending at the waist, she looked at Rose. "She's kind of squishy and red."

"That's how they look," Elphaba answered. Wynne looked at her, then examined Nessa. "Really, they're barely an hour old."

"Well, if they take their mothers they'll be gorgeous," she replied.

"Would you like to hold one?" asked Glinda. Wynne shook her head.

"Nah. Not a baby person. Afraid I'll drop them."

"Okay." Glinda nodded and stuck out her hand. "Then help me up. I want to go to my new room."


"Congratulations!" Duran said as he burst into the room, box in his arms. Glinda blinked in her chair while Elphaba, standing next to her, scowled.

"You could have knocked."

"My apologies," he smiled. "I bring gifts; does that make it better?"

"You're lucky the babies are asleep in the other room with a silence charm," Glinda retorted.

"I checked first. Wynne said Sarima was keeping an eye on them."

"And how did you know they were born?" asked Elphaba.

"The entrance of two witches into the world has momentous ripples," he answered, voice heavy with gravitas.

"Wynne told you." Glinda surmised.

"Yes. Well, Sarima sent me a message from Wynne." He gently shook the box. "So, who wants this?"

"I'll take it." Glinda smiled. Duran walked over and handed it to her.

"If it's fighting stuff…" Elphaba warned.

"No." Duran shook his head. "Too early to know their sword preferences."

Glinda pulled from the box a bundle of baby clothes and cloth diapers. Unwrapping another cloth, a set of bottles came out. They had funny little points that reminded Glinda of nipples. Elphaba picked one up and squeezed it.

"What's this?" Glinda asked.

"That's a bottle nipple." Duran smiled. "Made of rubber."

"Rubber?" asked Elphaba.

"Something from another place not available in Oz, so be gentle with them. Clean with cold water."

"What's it for?" Glinda asked. She picked up a piece of paper. "And what's this?"

"It's to feed the baby," he answered. "Let's say other places are more advanced than Oz in terms of baby care. That is a recipe for infant formula. You combine those items with boiled milk and it gives the baby almost the same nutrition as breast milk."

"Interesting," Elphaba replied and picked up the recipe. "Shouldn't she breastfeed?"

"Yes, but sometimes things happen." Duran shrugged. "Better to be prepared."

"Thank you," Glinda said. Placing everything back in the box, she handed it to Elphaba. "We do appreciate it."

"You're welcome."

"However, Durandal," Glinda continued, "I have a feeling you aren't just here to wish us well."

"I was going to leave that until later as I planned to stay for a little bit, " he sighed.

"Better sooner than later," Elphaba retorted.

"Didn't want to cloud happy moments."

"Tell us," Glinda urged.

"Well, as you know I sent Elphaba to do a ritual to determine what was going on."

"Yeah, and I ran into a dark sorcerer there," Elphaba replied.

"Yeah. Sorry about that." Duran smiled sheepishly. "I think that the ritual wasn't actually necessary. It was you that was necessary."

"Why me?" asked Elphaba.

"My guess - and it is just a guess - is that if I had showed up the person would have fled immediately. Instead she engaged in the magic duel with you."

"Why would she have fled from you but not me?

"Because you are relatively unnoticeable magically. I, on the other hand, am a glaring light that can't be missed."

"Oh, because of your spells," Glinda said. Duran nodded.

"I believe that woman is the one who has been the major cause in many things in Oz."

"She didn't look old enough. Barely older than me," Elphaba responded.

"And how old do I look?" Duran asked.

"Good point."

"Anyway, I scryed afterwards and got a much better direction for our next steps."

"Next steps to what?" Elphaba asked. "Getting rid of this woman?"

"No." Duran shook his head. "Just getting rid of her won't change things. We need to restore Oz to balance."

"And how do we do that?"

"We find and bring back the Ozma."