Chapter Text
Chapter 55
The sun glinted brightly through the window of the train car, and Elphaba squinted, holding one hand up to shield her eyes from the light. Ten minutes ago, the conductor had announced their imminent arrival in Frottica, and now the city was in view.
The track arced around the shore of a beautiful lake. Big, beautiful sailboats glided across the surface of the bluest water Elphaba had ever seen. Large buildings dotted the landscape on the outskirts of the city, but as the train veered toward the heart of town, large homes and impressively tall buildings loomed tall enough to block out the sunlight.
One building appeared to be made of glass or crystal, light passing through it and illuminating large plants and trees in corners and pictures on the walls. Noticing Elphaba’s gaze drawn to Galinda quickly pointed out that it belonged to the governor of Frottica. Elphaba had laughed dryly and mentioned how the building made her own childhood home seem small in comparison. And small it was not. They’d had gardens and many rooms that Elphaba had spent more time in than she could remember just reading and playing and using her creative imagination to wile away the hours.
She felt her stomach drop, as if she’d stepped off of a tall curb too swiftly. The exhilaration that flooded through her chest felt like seeing the Emerald City for the first time.
Her hand blindly sought out Galinda’s in the seat next to hers. Her gaze was transfixed as the solid ground below suddenly sloped dramatically toward a great, rushing river as the train crossed a tall, elegant bridge. They were so high up the people walking by the riverside appeared so small, as if the train was traveling through the clouds above.
“It’s beautiful,” Elphaba murmured, turning to look at Galinda. “You grew up here?”
“Hmm,” Galinda smiled.
“I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Elphie, you’ve seen the Emerald City. This is nothing like that.”
“It’s still so different than where I grew up,” Elphaba murmured. “There’s so much here.” She gestured toward the streets they were now slowly passing by as the train approached the station. “So many people.”
“It feels like a lifetime since I’ve been here,” Galinda pointed out with a soft smile.
“Did you miss it?”
“Not really until just now,” she admitted. “I’m so glad you’re here with me. I can’t wait to show you around.” Elphaba squeezed her hand and leaned in to press a kiss to her cheek.
The train finally came to a stop with a gentle lurch at the Frottica Railway Station, and it didn’t take Galinda but a moment to spot her parents out on the platform. She waved at them excitedly and got up, tugging on Elphaba’s hand and leading her out to greet them.
“Gigi!” Larena beamed, holding her arms out for her only child. Galinda didn’t let go of Elphaba’s hand until she was running into her mother’s awaiting embrace.
“Momsie!”
“Look at you! My beautiful girl.” Larena smiled and hugged her daughter tightly before pulling back and holding her out at arm’s length. “Look at her, darling. She’s absolutely glowing.”
“That she is. That’s our Gigi,” Popsicle smiled, holding his arms out to hug his daughter while Larena pulled Elphaba into a warm hug. Elphaba startled for only a moment before wrapping her arms around her future mother in law.
“Look at you, Miss Elphaba,” Larena sighed. “Just as pretty as I remember.” Elphaba blushed and shifted her weight awkwardly from foot to foot when she pulled back. “How was your journey?”
“It was beautiful,” Elphaba nodded. “Frottica’s unbelievable.”
“Oh, yes,” Larena laughed. “It’s a bit overwhelming.” She looked back and forth between Elphaba and Galinda and clasped her hands together excitedly. “Oh, just wait until you see all of the renovations we’ve made with the house. It’s positively stunning. Don’t worry, Galinda, we didn’t touch your room. It’s exactly as it was when you left.”
“Really?” Galinda blinked in surprise.
“Your mother entertained the idea of turning your old room into another walk in closet, but when the day came, she simply didn’t have the heart to,” Mr. Upland explained.
“Momsie,” Galinda smiled, lower lip pouting out. “You know we’re staying in the guest house. You didn’t have to do that.”
“Now, hush, Galinda Arduenna Upland. You’re my baby girl. Nothing will ever change that. Call me sentimental, but every time I walk in your room, I remember that little girl that used to beg me to read her a fairy tale before bedtime.” She quickly wiped under her eye and straightened her shoulders. “Besides, one day I may have a granddaughter that will enjoy that room just as much.” She winked at Galinda who blinked at her at the surprise mention of future grandchildren.
Elphaba watched the entire interaction. She watched Galinda reach out and take her mother’s hands like she’d probably done hundreds of times since she was just a little girl. She watched them hug again, watched Larena brush the hair over her daughter’s shoulders, a gentle gesture but one that was probably involuntary at this point. The little smile that curled at Elphaba’s lips matched the warmth that coiled in her chest like being wrapped in a blanket on a cold day in front of a cozy fire.
She’d seen Galinda with her parents just briefly back in the Emerald City, but there was something quite different about seeing them together now. There was no rush. There was only a long summer ahead.
Larena finally let go of Galinda once again, and Highmuster Arduenna reached out and offered his arm to his daughter.
“Are you girls hungry?” he asked, removing his high hat and carrying it in the crook of his other arm. As they started walking away, Larena lingered behind, holding her hand out to Elphaba. Elphaba’s fingers twitched before she reached out.
“When I was a little girl, I always said I wanted two children,” she said wistfully as they walked behind Galinda and her father. Elphaba’s face tingled, and she bit the inside of her cheek when she glanced at the woman. “Two girls. I was only blessed with the one, but little did I know that my beautiful daughter would bring you into my life. And I’m thankful. Elphaba, I want you to know that you are always welcome in our home. We’re simply thrilled to have you here.”
“Th-thank you, Mrs. Upland.”
“Please,” the woman insisted, holding a hand up. “Larena.”
“Larena,” Elphaba said slowly, a shy smile poking at the corners of her mouth. “Thank you, Larena.”
*~*~*~*~*
“Uncle ‘Yero! Uncle ‘Yero!” Melly cheered as she pushed through the cottage door and went scrambling down the steps toward the carriage. Galinda was right behind her, rushing out of the cottage.
“Melena Upland-Thropp, what have Moma and I told you about running out of the house like that?” Galinda sighed with exasperation, gripping the sides of her skirt so she wouldn’t trip on the way down the steps.
The child was already scooped up in Fiyero Tigelaar’s arms and hugging him around the neck by the time Galinda approached the gate.
“She wanted her uncle ‘Yero,” Fiyero chided, hugging the girl tightly. “My goodness, Melly, you’ve grown a whole foot since I saw you last.”
“I’m five now!” she said proudly, crinkling her nose and grinning a gap-toothed grin.
“And just as pretty as your mothers.” He winked at Galinda who smiled back at him with a little eyeroll. He turned his attention back to the curly-haired redhead. “Where’s your Moma?”
“She’ll be along. She’s moving a little slower these days,” Galinda offered sweetly, dimple popping at the edge of her smile. Melly tapped Fiyero on the shoulder and whispered not so quietly.
“Don’t tell Moma she’s fat. Momsie said her belly’s big because she’s having my sister.”
“Ah, I did not say she’s having your sister,” Galinda insisted. Fiyero raised an eyebrow at her. “It could be a boy.”
“Of course it’s a boy. And his name will be Fiyero,” Fiyero pointed out proudly.
“You get the blame for this predicament. You don’t get a say in the name.” Fiyero glanced up over Galinda’s shoulder, and the blonde turned to spy her wife coming down the porch steps, one hand on her lower back, the other at the top of her swollen belly.
“Now, I fully admit that I purchased the book. But I did not misuse magic around it the first time.” He patted Melly on the head. “And I certainly didn’t twist either of your arms the second time around.” Elphaba smirked at him, and Melly squirmed in Fiyero’s arms.
“Will you play with me, Uncle ‘Yero?”
“I’ll be along, Melly. Let me catch up with your mums first, alright?” Melena rushed off, hurrying past Galinda. Elphaba moved as swiftly as she could to catch the girl, gently turning her face up at her. She sighed, shook her head and used her thumb to wipe a smudge of blackberry jam from the child’s mouth.
“Moma,” Melly whined. Elphaba chuckled in exasperation and let the girl run off to play. Elphaba stepped up next to Galinda, wrapping one arm around the blonde’s waist.
“Fiyero. It’s good to see you.”
“You look beautiful, Elphaba,” he offered with a nod.
“You’re sweet when you lie,” she snorted. Fiyero smirked and winked at her.
“Thank you for coming. We weren’t expecting you for another week,” Galinda pointed out.
“Melly came early, and I wasn’t about to miss my nephew’s grand arrival.”
“It could be a girl, you know,” Galinda pointed out. “Melly’s got it stuck in her head that she’s getting a sister. I hope she isn’t too upset if the baby’s a boy.”
“She’ll adjust, my sweet,” Elphaba assured her. She looked to Fiyero. “Dinner should be ready in about twenty minutes. Melly will be in the garden hiding, waiting for her uncle Fiyero to seek her.”
“I wouldn’t keep her waiting if I were you,” Galinda warned him. “She has the patience of her mother.”
“Which one?” Fiyero snorted. Elphaba pointed at Galinda. Galinda pointed at Elphaba. Fiyero shook his head. “This is why I love coming here. The two of you are so adorably domestic.” Elphaba rolled her eyes, and Galinda looked her arm with her wife’s, leaning her head on her shoulder with a happy sigh.
Fiyero took off around the back of the cottage, and Galinda turned to face her wife. A thin grimace tensed on Elphaba’s lips, her brow furrowing slightly. Galinda’s hand immediately flew to Elphaba’s belly.
“Contraction?”
“No, I think he’s run out of room and is desperately trying to stretch out.” She pressed her hand against the side of her belly and sighed.
“Not much longer now, my love.” Hand in hand, they started up the porch steps and into the cottage, the faint echo of Melena’s laughter floating through the windows.
“You’re carrying the next one,” Elphaba sighed, pressing one hand into her lower back and leaning into it, yawning tiredly.
“You said that after Melly,” Galinda laughed. “And who says we’re having another? You said you didn’t want anymore.”
“Yeah, I said that after Melly, too,” Elphaba pointed out. Galinda smiled and leaned in to kiss her wife.
“You know I love you, right?”
“I think you might have mentioned it once or twice,” Elphaba smirked. “I love you, too.”
“Oh, thank goodness. I was worried there for a minute.” She winked at Elphaba and ushered her over toward the comfortable chair by the fireplace.
“What are you—”
“You sit. I’ll finish dinner. It’s the least I can do,” Galinda mused, leaning down to kiss Elphaba’s lips softly. She handed her the book she’d been reading for the past few days and slid the foot stool up so she could prop her feet up.
“I can help you, Gali—”
“I’ve got dinner. Fiyero’s got Melly. You rest.” Elphaba sighed softly and opened her book in her lap, glancing up at her wife.
“You don’t have to fuss over me, you know.”
“Did it ever occur to you that I love to fuss over you? Now rest. Enjoy your book. And if you behave yourself, I might give you a foot rub later.”
“It’s not nice to give ultimatums to a pregnant woman, my sweet.” Galinda leaned down to kiss her again before flitting off to the kitchen, leaving Elphaba to her book. By the time she returned five minutes later, Elphaba was fast asleep.