A/N: Only 2 more chapters to go. Thanks so much for reading!

A/N2: Shout out to my anonymous reviewer. So glad you liked the last chapter. Some loose ends to clean up here. ;)

Chapter 39

"I can't believe that Glinda will be back any minute," Elphaba said as they sat at breakfast. The remaining days on duty as temporary rulers of Oz had flown by and now it meant they'd be heading to the Vinkus soon.

"Right? Where did the time go?" Fiyero shook his head. There was a knock on the door of the small dining room and the Prince bade the person to enter.

"Look who I found out in the hallway," Boq chuckled as he held the door for Timothy and Damla.

"Just the two soldiers I wanted to see," Fiyero smiled.

"Thank you for inviting us to breakfast," Timothy smiled back before pulling out a chair at the table for hie pregnant wife. Damla was barely showing but Timothy was not taking any chances that she exert herself. Though she refused to be off duty and he hadn't stopped her yet.

"It is much appreciated and I am very hungry for some reason," Damla admitted.

"I love to hear that," Mr. Samuels smiled as he exited the kitchen with the cart and put more plates of food on the table. Then he handed Damla a pre-made-up plate containing fruit, pancakes, and eggs, leaving out the meat. While Damla couldn't give up meat, she didn't need it for breakfast. Doctor Talib's instructions offered other protein replacements for the first meal of the day.

"Good for the little one and for you. If you need more, let me know," the chef winked.

"Thank you. That is so kind of you," she smiled.

"Not a problem," he said before ducking back into the kitchen. The others were taking the food that they wanted and passing around plates.

"So, we called you here because we have news," Elphaba said.

"Oh?" Timothy asked.

"Yes. It would seem that my future wife sent a letter to my parents," Fiyero had a smirk on his face.

"Oh?" Timothy gave the two a look. Damla grabbed his hand, to steady him a little.

"I did. Now I know you have a lot of things on your mind and I hoped that the King and Queen could ease some of them," the green woman explained.

"They already offered me a job," the young man said.

"Yes, well they are the King and Queen," Elphaba chuckled.

"She has a point," Boq chuckled himself.

"They'd like to offer you a piece of property in the Vinkus or some money to purchase a place wherever you decide to settle down," Elphaba said. Timothy's mouth hung open and Damla closed it for him.

"That is incredibly generous. We'll need to thank them profusely," the young woman said.

"Why?" Was all Timothy managed.

"You know why," Fiyero couldn't help but smile.

"Honestly, had I known that saving Fiyero was all I needed to do, I would have shoved Damla out of the way," Boq teased. Elphaba gave him a playful slap on the arm.

"You are family and as such, the King and Queen want to be sure you're taken care of. Did you decide where you want to go?" Fiyero asked.

"We would like to return to the Vinkus. All of our family will be there," Damla spoke up.

"You're coming with us then when we leave tomorrow?" Elphaba wanted to know.

"Yes, if we can," Damla said.

"Of course," the green woman smiled.

"Are Mopsi and Popsi coming with?" Timothy wondered.

"They have decided to stay here with Boq. They want to help Glinda for a little longer. Chistery and his brethren will be coming with us," Elphaba told them. There was a knock on the door and Fiyero looked at Elphaba. Glinda and Bayram were not due just yet and they wouldn't have knocked anyway. Fiyero went to the door, in case it was just a messenger.

"Corporal Roth, everything ok?" The Prince asked.

"Yes, sir… no, sir…" the corporal waffled. Fiyero could see he was nervous, so he had him come into the room. He offered him a seat at the table and asked if he wanted any food. The corporal politely declined.

"Billy, are you ok?" Damla was concerned for her friend. She's never seen him nervous like that.

"I… uh…" Roth stumbled over his words. Fiyero put a hand on his shoulder.

"Should we get the doctor?" He asked.

"I've never had to ask something like this, sir. I don't… you…" Roth managed. Elphaba left her chair and crouched down so that she was at eye level with him.

"You stood by Yero despite being brought out to the woods on false pretenses. You respected him and therefore me when it could have been incredibly dangerous. Whatever you have to say now, is nothing to worry about," she promised.

"I want to go with you but that means abandoning my post," Roth spit it out all at once.

"Hardly, you're just taking up a new one. The Vinkun Army would be lucky to have you," Fiyero smirked and clapped him on the back.

"It's not going to cause a problem, is it?" Roth asked.

"No. I have no doubt that I can get your new commanding officer to agree," the Prince winked, knowing the Zetti would have little problem with it. In fact, the stable hand Aziz had just become a Private, inspired by the men around him and the soon-to-be Captain of the Guard was more than happy to take him under his wing.

"Thank you, sir, ma'am," Roth smiled. That's when they heard the trumpets.

"Glinda is back," Boq said.

To Be Continued…