"Fae, are you ready to go to the Locklimb Camp?"

She signed the week's menu and gave it to their head of household. "Yes, I'm ready," she nodded, removing her glasses and coming around from behind her desk.

The couple was taking a trip to the Vinkun-Munchkin border to inspect the small regiment stationed in Kellswater, and review the Restwater corn oil agreement. As soon as Fiyero told her, she was reminded of the clause in her marriage contract. Back then, she thought it was the main reason for the union, but it ended up being one of many reasons. It wasn't even far up on their priorities list. Either she wasn't told, or the Eminent Thropp didn't have the full picture. The former seemed more plausible than the latter.

While they wouldn't be crossing the border, this would be the closest Elphaba would be to her home since the previous year. It was too late to send a message to her family asking to meet them there for a quick visit, but there would be a Munchkin delegate at the oil reserve, along with a translator.

Fiyero was apprehensive about Elphaba traveling such a long distance, but she reminded him that she wasn't showing yet, which meant they didn't have a valid reason to cancel the visit.

They were both wearing traditional attire, and Elphaba was feeling much more comfortable in her large headwrap. She stood, smoothing out the skirt of her large dress, and walked out with her husband.

The ride was quick, the carriage speeding down the road. To Elphaba, six hours seemed quick, considering the last time she was there, the rain had slowed her trip.

"The railway project is coming along nicely," Fiyero said, pointing to the workers working alongside the road on the tracks. "They're ahead of schedule because there are workers from the Quadling Country and the Gillikin helping us."

"That's good. No more endless carriage trips."

"I'm excited for easier, faster travel," he smiled, then winced when the carriage hit a bump, and he hit his shoulder against the door. He immediately wrapped a protective arm around his wife, his hands resting on her flat stomach.

"We're not getting any outside help with the canal, are we?" Elphaba asked, gently squirming out of his embrace.

"No. It's too far inland for other providences to see the benefit in helping."

"Ah. A unilateral Vinkun project."

They reached the Locklimb Camp just after lunch, and met with the officers and their wives. Elphaba learned that it wasn't an official inspection, but that was the wording they used to get them to approve the visit. Going over the legal documents was the 'official' part of the trip. Everything looked in order and up to date, and they discussed other potential trade agreements and deals.

"I admit, geography isn't my strongest suit, but I thought the Gillikin River runs parallel to the Vinkus River," Fiyero said, pointing at the map and thinking back to the meeting his grandfather had with the Magistrate of Kellswater.

"That is correct, but the Vinkus River, Munchkin River, and Gillikin River all originate at Restwater Lake," the Munchkin delegate, Mr. Moberin, said via the translator.

Fiyero frowned. "I thought the Vinkus River flows eastward into the Munchkin River."

"It flows eastward into Restwater Lake, which, in turn, feeds into the Munchkin River."

"What about the algae incident last summer? Did it originate in Restwater Lake?"

"The algae didn't originate in the lake, since there were no reports of increased levels."

"There weren't any problems in Munchkinland, to my knowledge," Elphaba offered, though she knew it wasn't much. She was never involved in things like this, and had no useful information to share. But she felt like she should say something, and not remain completely quiet the entire time.

"Restwater Lake isn't on any Vinkun maps. I don't know why we are working with outdated information. We must work with updated ones from now on," Fiyero asserted.

"I'll have our cartographer create new ones at once, my prince," the general promised.

Once they were officially done working, Elphaba pulled the delegate aside, glad to have a conversation in her native tongue. "Is there any news about my family, Mr. Moberin?"

"Nothing pressingly urgent, ma'am," he said. "The Eminent Thropp is in good health, and Their Excellencies are overseeing a new project involving –"

"What about my parents and siblings?"

"All doing well. Last I heard, Lady Nessarose is preparing for her first year of university."

Right. Her sister was going to live the dream Elphaba wanted. "Yes. I heard. I'm happy for her. Have they… said anything about me?"

"Not to my knowledge."

"Nothing?" She wished she could say she was surprised, but she wasn't. She was hurt, but not surprised.

"I will forward any messages you wish."

"Just tell them that my husband and I are doing well."

"Of course."

"Thank you, Mr. Moberin."

He bowed. "Of course, ma'am."

The officers organized a quick bowling game and the royals joined in. Elphaba tried to have fun, but couldn't let go of the fact that her family had erased her from their thoughts. After a long day, they headed home, finally crossing the gate early the following morning.


The next few months were busy for the couple. As the weather continued to warm, they regularly inspected the canal's progress and continued their donor parties. Fiyero's main job shifted to meeting with the other tribal leaders to discuss what the canal would mean for the country's agriculture and economy, while Elphaba mostly continued her job as the event hostess.

Her pregnancy was announced as soon as her baby bump appeared. It could still be easily hidden beneath the loose dresses, but they knew it was better to announce it before the rumors started.

"We only announced it because Hunfter was becoming overly protective of you," Fiyero said.

Elphaba scratched the dog behind the ears. "He gets it from you. He thinks there's something wrong with me because you're attached to me when we walk down the stairs. You don't leave my side, so he won't either. He's a hunting dog, not a guard dog."

"He has many talents, don't you, boy?" He reached out to pet him, but Hunfter growled softly and nudged his hand away before resting his chin on Elphaba's stomach.

"Good boy," Elphaba laughed, then laughed even harder when she saw the put-out look on her husband's face. She sat up on the sofa. "I'm going to the bathroom." She kissed his still-pouting lips and left.

Hunfter glanced at Fiyero before trotting after Elphaba. Fiyero sighed and playfully shook his head before going upstairs to change for his event.

He was traveling to Red Windmill for the annual, tribal boxing exhibition. He was voluntold by the Chieftain to be the Arjiki representative to support their pugilist. While Fiyero's preferred sport was hunting, and occasionally racing, he wasn't opposed to attending the exhibition. He was, however, opposed to leaving Elphaba behind.

Elphaba's morning sickness wasn't just confined to mornings, and she insisted that she'd be fine by herself, but once she found out that Sir Chuffrey had returned to the Gillikin for a business trip, she let go of that argument in favor of inviting Glinda to stay.

"Perhaps I should wait for Glinda's arrival," Fiyero said, trying to stall his departure.

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "She's arriving within the hour, and when she arrives, you're supposed to be well on your way."

"But –"

"Go, Yero. I'll be fine. They're expecting you."

"… Okay. I love you."

"I love you, too."

He hesitated, but kissed her goodbye, his hand resting on her small baby bump, then left. Elphaba stayed on the steps and waved until the carriage was out of sight. She only returned inside once she was convinced that Fiyero hadn't jumped out of the carriage and was running back to check on her.

He would only be gone for five days, but it would be the longest they'd been apart since they met. She understood him not wanting to leave his pregnant wife alone, but she wouldn't be alone. She had an entire manor of servants, two personal attendants, and Glinda. If anything, she wished for moments alone, but she knew that easing his mind would make everything easier down the line.

She went back into the parlor, where Hunfter was sleeping in a sunbeam spot, and read a book until Glinda's arrival was announced.

"Hi, Elphie!" Glinda smiled once she gave Elphaba a proper greeting. She wrapped the princess in a tight hug.

"Hi, Glin," Elphaba smiled, gently pulling away when her airway became restricted.

"Oh, sorry." She quickly released Elphaba and took her hands. "How are you feeling? You're positively glowing. How far along are you?"

"I'm fine. And eighteen weeks. I'm due at the end of December." She flattened her dress against her stomach, revealing her small bump. "I thought July would be hotter, but I'm pleasantly surprised that it's not."

"Your pregnancy has become national news. It's in the papers all over Oz." She sat with Elphaba on the sofa. "Vilem wrote me and said that people are asking about you because word got out that we're friends."

The fact that her pregnancy made national news didn't surprise her. She still hadn't heard anything from her family about it. Then again, perhaps she couldn't fully blame them, since she didn't write to them to announce it herself. They weren't hurt by that, were they?

Colwen Grounds hadn't made any statements regarding her pregnancy, official or not, and she knew they felt like they didn't need to. She was living in the Vinkus now, married to the prince, and no longer Munchkinland's concern. She was the bridge between the two countries, but her ties to her home were fraying.

"You didn't tell me Vilem's been gone for almost two weeks," Elphaba said instead of voicing her feelings.

Glinda shrugged. "The longest we've been apart was four months."

"That makes five days seem like nothing."

She met her gaze. "This is your first time apart from Fiyero isn't it?"

"Yeah."

"I wish I could tell you that it gets easier, but it doesn't. You get used to it, but it's still hard; knowing that they're busy and you're left at home alone."

"What's he doing?"

"He has business meetings with the Chancellor of Tenniken, the Lord-Mayor of Shiz, the High Judge of Settica, and the Magistrate of Neverdale. They want progress reports on our businesses, and other money things they need to discuss." She gave a dismissive wave. "All very boring stuff. But it's good to have some apart time every once in a while. What's Fiyero doing?"

"A boxing exhibition."

"What? He's participating in a boxing exhibition?"

"Oz, I hope not. He told me he was just going as royal support for the Arjiki boxer. He's the reigning champion over the other tribes'."

"Well, you know what they say; when the husbands are away, the wives will play."

Elphaba laughed, then quickly excused herself to the bathroom. When she returned, Glinda was staring at a newly arrived, large bowl of blackberries.

"I've been craving blackberries," Elphaba chuckled, helping herself to a handful. "For breakfast, lunch, and dinner."

"Did you like blackberries before?"

She chuckled. "Not this much. The morning sickness makes it hard to stomach much else."

Once the whole bowl was finished (with Elphaba eating most of it), the two headed outside. They walked through the garden, and Glinda suggested a game of Tvinkiz.

"The last time we played, your ball rolled down the hill into the pond," Elphaba chuckled, watching the servants set up the barriers, circles, and wickets on the grassy part of the garden.

"I've been practicing," she smiled, taking the ball and rolling it to break apart the group of balls in the large circle.

The two spent the next forty-five minutes trying to knock the solid and striped balls through the wickets and into their separate circles.

Elphaba won, and they reset for another match, which Glinda won, and the two went back inside.

"Are you alright?" the blonde asked, noticing Elphaba breathing harder than normal.

"I'm fine. I still have more energy than I did last month." She rubbed her bump. "There's a lot I want to do before my energy runs out, both before and after the baby's born." She sat on her sofa, leaning back against the pillows. She closed her eyes and felt Glinda sit next to her.

"I wish I had words of wisdom to offer."

"It's still pretty early, and I'm enjoying the attention… so far. I know it won't be long before it gets annoying. Fiyero will hardly leave me alone, but I know he's just being protective." She looked at her. "Is childbirth really as painful as they say?"

"Your mother didn't –"

"My mother told me nothing, but I'm not naïve."

"Oh. Well, I would hardly know anything about childbirth, other than that our bodies are made to go through it."

"Oh. You don't… Do you want to have children?"

"I do."

"And Vilem?"

"Is dry as a baked walnut." She laughed, but it didn't sound like she was completely joking, or that she found it completely funny. "We've tried, and gone to numerous fertility doctors across the Gillikin, but… nothing. He's… infertile, and we've come to terms with it. As detached as it may sound, our businesses are our babies."

Elphaba looked like she was about to apologize, but Glinda took her hands and swiftly deflected the unsaid peacemaker, also avoiding her question about pain.

"I owe you a thank you."

"You do? For what?"

"For your help at my birthday party. Once people saw you and Fiyero supporting me and Vilem… but mostly me, the stares and whispers stopped. Not completely, but enough to make me stop noticing it from a mile away."

"You're our friends. You're my friend. Of course we will always support you. That's a given."

"Well, I would still like to thank you."

"Then I would still like to accept your thanks."

She giggled. "I think we should –"

Elphaba cut her off with a sneeze, and the bowl of blackberries was magically refilled. Glinda stared at the bowl, then back to Elphaba.

"Oh… that's new. Um… is this new?"

Too shocked to speak, Elphaba simply nodded, staring at the bowl. "I haven't had an unexpected outburst like this since…" She thought back. It had been a while, weeks, if not months. "A long while."

"It's not uncommon." She sounded nonchalant, but changed her tone when she saw Elphaba's worried face. "Elphie?"

She rubbed her stomach. "Will my magic affect this pregnancy? I already have normal worries, but to throw magic on top of it… it sounds like too much."

"Right now, it seems like your pregnancy is affecting your magic. If all you do is satisfy your food cravings, it will be fine."

"But what if I do more? What if my magic… explodes?" She thought back to the day before she left Munchkinland, wreaking havoc on her home. "I could hurt the baby. And I… And Fiyero would be so upset."

Glinda was at a loss for how to help. She couldn't relate to Elphaba on either front. She didn't know what to say, or if she should say anything. "You have enough control over your magic where I don't think it will be a problem. I think… it goes along with the mood swings." She took her hand. "Everything will be fine, Elphaba." She plopped a blackberry into her mouth. "Juicier than the first batch."

Elphaba slowly reached out and tried the fruit. Agreeing, the girls finished their second bowl.

"Elphaba, if you need to use the restroom, go. I won't cheat," Glinda said, ending her mancala turn.

"It's not that."

"Is everything alright?"

"I miss Fiyero… more than… emotionally. I miss him… physically."

Glinda instantly understood. "Oh, you're feeling horny."

The green girl balked at her language, but Glinda was unfazed. "I've heard it's completely natural at this stage in pregnancy. My cousin went through it."

"He's returning tomorrow, but I feel like I can't wait."

Their time together was passing too quickly for either of their likings, and as much as she loved Glinda's company, she wanted to be in Fiyero's arms again.

The blonde tucked a stray curl back underneath her silk day cap. "I feel the same. I miss Vilem during his long trips. I don't miss him right now, but I did this morning, after waking up from a rather interesting dream."

She figured their friendship was deep enough that this next question wouldn't seem inappropriate. "And… I've heard… I mean… do you know about… have you ever…" She blushed and whispered the rest of her question into the blonde's ear.

"Yes. I know about self-pleasure. And I've done it. If you're asking me if that's the reason I was late to breakfast this morning, then no."

"I'm sorry. I only have a younger sister, who's as pious as they come, and no one's ever told me anything. But I… I found some books… in the library, and it got me wanting…"

Glinda abandoned the game and stood. "I believe I should see these books."

Still blushing, Elphaba pushed herself up and led Glinda to the library. They walked through the stacks towards the center, and Elphaba pulled a few books from an eye-level shelf. Once settled on the sofa by the window, she showed her the books.

"It's in Arjiki, but the illustrations are detailed enough to understand what it's about," Elphaba whispered shyly.

The blonde studied the realistic pictures of naked female and male bodies pressed against each other. Elphaba tried to gauge Glinda's reaction, but her blank face left her little to work with.

"What does this part say?" Glinda asked, pointing to a paragraph above a man and woman in bed together.

She translated the passage instructing couples on how to hit the main pleasure spots in bed. The terminology used for the body parts wasn't wrong, yet not entirely politically correct.

"This is absolutely vulgar," Glinda giggled as she took the book back, flipping through the other illustrations, ranging from self-pleasure to positions she'd never heard of, nor thought were possible. "This is what you've been reading?"

"I found them. Fiyero doesn't know. I didn't want to talk to him first."

Glinda stared at a picture of a woman who was clearly having an orgasm, then met her friend's gaze. "I must admit, I've never seen or heard of books about these things. I learned everything I needed to know from my mother, at an appropriate age, of course. She made sure I was prepared for my wedding night, and whatever might come afterwards, although nothing did. She also told me how to… keep myself happy if my husband was unavailable."

"Fiyero and I… are happy with our sex life, but it's…"

"You're getting bored of the same routine. It's okay to admit it."

"I don't know if Fiyero's getting bored, and I don't think he'd tell me if he was. I… I'm sorry. I shouldn't be talking about this with you." She made to get up, but Glinda stopped her.

"It's alright. I know it may seem uncomfortable, but I'm alright talking about this if you are. I will answer your questions as best I can."

"Will you… tell me what your mother told you?"

Despite their close relationship, Glinda could tell that it took a lot of courage and strength for Elphaba to ask that, and even more strength to not blush as hard. She nodded and started slow, only referencing the vivid images in the book when she needed to illustrate her points. She added details that she learned on her own, as well as personal experiences. Elphaba listened and her blush slowly faded as she got used to the conversation.

"How many times do you do… that?" Elphaba asked, pointing to an illustration of pelvic thrusts in a step-by-step tutorial.

"As many times as necessary until you're both satisfied. Vilem and I do this position frequently."

"It looks tiring."

"You don't know the half of it."

"Prinzinne!"

Glinda slammed the book shut and shoved it under the pillow. Both women stood as Sissalíne hurried over and bowed.

"Yes, Sissalíne?" Elphaba asked, fighting the embarrassed blush with all her might.

"Prince Fiyero has returned early."

"Saved by the husband," the blonde giggled, watching Elphaba's face light up as she hurried as fast as she could out of the library.

Fiyero looked just as relieved, if not more, to see his wife. He quickly gathered her into his arms, whispering how much he missed her, then knelt to greet the baby. He stood to tell her about the trip, but Elphaba cut him off, pressing her finger to his lips.

"I need you. Now," she insisted hoarsely, taking his hand and tugging him up to their bedroom.

Glinda stepped out of the shadows where she'd heard the entire conversation. She knew exactly what they were about to do, and also knew that she didn't need to be here while they did it. She found a maid and asked her to begin packing her trunks. She didn't mind leaving a day early. Yes, the mansion was large and eerily quiet, but she enjoyed the serenity. She had declined Elphaba's offer to stay until Vilem returned, insisting she'd be fine alone in the mansion, and didn't want to overstay her welcome.

She looked down at the book of positions. Hopefully, her friend wouldn't mind if she secretly borrowed it.


Elphaba's twentieth birthday was a stark contrast to Glinda's twenty-sixth: quiet and without a big fuss or party. She only received gifts from Fiyero and Glinda, and only Fiyero was concerned when nothing, not even a letter, arrived from Munchkinland.

"Maybe they sent a gift, but it's delayed. You know how long it takes the mail to cross borders," he insisted, rubbing Elphaba's feet.

She knew that wasn't the case, but was too tired to argue or explain. It had been months since she'd received anything from her family. Even Shell seemed to have forgotten about her. Maybe they thought she wanted to distance herself from them, given their constant clashing. Or maybe because she never attempted to contact them, they had stopped. Were the ties now officially severed for good? "I haven't received any letters from them in months. And… I haven't sent any. It's been a year since I left Munchkinland."

Fiyero looked at her. "… Oh. Right. Yes. You arrived on the twelfth, which meant –"

"I left Munchkinland on my birthday."

"I just never realized how close your birthday and our anniversary are. Just nine days apart. I mean… I knew, in the back of my mind, maybe, but never really considered it."

"I was upset in the beginning. You know I was. But I don't regret anything, Yero. We both had to leave our families to get where we are today." She pushed herself up, shifting so her head was in his lap. "My birthday was never a big deal back home. Maybe my parents would buy me a gift, and maybe Nessa wouldn't annoy me as much, but it was just another day. No one, me included, cared for a big celebration." She kissed him. "I'm satisfied with how we spent today. I love the signed paintings you got me, and I love the box of chocolates Glinda sent. And I…" She paused and groaned. "I have to pee again."

Fiyero chuckled and helped her to her feet and watched as she hurried as fast as she could, which wasn't very fast. When she didn't return, Fiyero went searching for her. He didn't have to look far, since she was outside on the deck, leaning against the barrier. Her head tilted back, facing the breeze, which made her hair dance behind her.

He smiled as he tiptoed up to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind, kissing her neck. She relaxed into the embrace, her face heating as his lips trailed up her neck, his hands resting on her swollen belly.

"Oh!" Elphaba gasped, and before Fiyero could ask her what was wrong, she grabbed his hand and moved it to the left. A few moments later, he felt it.

"That's…" Fiyero whispered.

"The baby's first kicks," she tearfully smiled, and stubbornly wiped her face. "Ozdamned hormones."

He laughed and kissed her again.


A Thropp family member returns in the next chapter. Any guesses who?