A/N: Shout out to my anonymous reviewer and James Birdsong! Glad you liked it. More on Elphaba right now. Thanks so much!
Chapter 22
"So, I know you don't need a checkup. You were just here last month," Doctor Talib gave her a look, once his office door closed. He offered her a seat in front of his desk while he moved behind it.
"You caught me. Truth is, I need to know if I can help produce an heir to the Vinkun throne," Elphaba admitted as she sat down.
"You're worried that your lineage could cause things to not work as they should," he said.
"That and I don't know if I can pass on my green," she said.
"Well one thing at a time. I'm going to have to ask you some very personal questions and I don't want you to hold back. My powers are limited but I will certainly do what I can," Talib told her.
"Never treated a child of two worlds, have you?" Elphaba teased.
"I seriously doubt that there has ever been anyone like you in the history of Oz," he said.
"Ugabu was here before me. Hidden from the Wizard and his fish woman, she lived a life of seclusion and some skewed views. I have had my issues but…" she trailed off.
"You forget that I have seen those scars you bear. You could have slipped into a world like Ugabu, but you did not, so my statement remains," Talib gave her a slight smile.
"Frex viewed me as less than human. I never thought I'd be so lucky to find those who did not think that way," she admitted.
"What better way to prove Frex wrong than by extending your legacy through a child?" Talib smiled.
"Indeed. So, what did you need to know?" The green woman asked.
"Monthly cycles – on time? All over the place?" He wondered.
"I get one, once a month, but I can't say it's exactly a month. Sometimes it's three weeks, sometimes its five weeks," she admitted.
"No months with double cycles or skipping months, right?" He asked.
"No," Elphaba said.
"Ok. Are they manageable or do you use your magic to manage them?" Talib wanted to know.
"If I used my magic, then I wouldn't have one at all," she gave him a look.
"Point, but I had to ask. Since you're not interfering with your own biological clock, we're in good shape so far. Now, externally, you are the same as most people here in Oz. It is quite possible that, other than your skin color, you are the same on the inside as most people in Oz," the doctor figured.
"Sound logic and I don't disagree but, without cutting me open, is there a way to find out if things are… normal?" Elphaba asked.
"Regrettably, no. I really rather not cut you open for something like this either. I could accidentally ruin your chances with any sort of slip," Talib shook his head.
"So…" the green woman gave him a look.
"So, you're going to have to do what all couples do – don't use protection and have fun. The thing is if you stress yourself about it, it'll ruin your fun. I know that there might be pressure given your future position, but if it all just becomes about trying to because you feel you're required to… not only will that affect your mood but could also affect your body. We may be in uncharted territory but you're healthy with no obvious complications, so we press on," Talib gave her a smile.
"And passing on my green?" Elphaba asked.
"You said that the Wizard had that green liquid…" he said.
"We do not understand its chemical makeup. I can only assume that it came with him from his world. Somewhere more advanced than we are," she heaved a sigh.
"Well, that would be your answer about passing on your green. If we knew more about that, then we might be able to answer the question. Still, Fiyero loves you as you are. I doubt he'd be worried if your children are green. The people of Oz have learned to love you. I think it is something that can be overlooked, provided they have ten toes and ten fingers. You are not the people who raised you Elphaba. You will be a great mother. Just look at how you are with Sarah and Fevzi, with Timothy and Damla, and with all of those you have come across. You were treated horribly and yet you showed all others the kindness and love you deserved. You are the person we all aspire to be, and your children will be lucky to have such a wonderful mother," Talib told her. Tears pricked at her eyes and she soon felt the older man pull her into a hug.
"Sometimes you just forget to love yourself," he told her. There was a knock on the door and the two separated. Elphaba wiped her eyes, hoping it didn't look like she'd been upset. She gave the doctor a nod and he beckoned the person to enter.
"Mopsi, Popsi, and Corporal Norris are ready for their protection spell," Fiyero gave her a smile.
"I bet they are," she chuckled before thanking the doctor.
To Be Continued…