AN: Thank you so much for all your reviews on Substitute. I have started working on an M-rated Elpharic, which I'll post after this story. As always thank you for reading and your much-appreciated reviews, and I hope you enjoy it.

"Elphaba, help your sister," Nanny's voice cut through the thin walls, and Elphaba didn't dare pretend she'd not heard. "I can't see to dinner and everything else. "

Setting a makeshift bookmark, Elphaba got up and knocked at her younger sister's door. "It's Elphaba. Can I come in?" She waited for her sister's familiar greeting to push the door open.

"Sleep well."

"I did, thank you. I was so tired."

Nessa sat primly on the edge of the bed, and Elphaba moved behind her to brush out the girl's long, glossy brown hair and fasten it back. "Which dress?"

"Could I have the pale blue one today?"

She arranged the dress on her sister's lovely frame, stifling an envious thought at how she could never wear such colors with her unique pigmentation. "Shawl?"

"The white one, please." Elphaba expertly folded it around the girl's shoulders to simulate the arms Nessa did not have. "Thank you, Fabala. How do I look?"

"Beautiful, as always." Elphaba's gruff tone did little to hide her fondness for her younger sibling, and Nessarose rested her head lightly on her sister's shoulder. "Ready?"

Nessa nodded and, with Elphaba's steadying hand, walked to dining room table just in time to see Nanny set down the plates.

"There she is." Nanny dropped a kiss on the top of Nessa's pretty head. "Elphaba, dear, go and fetch your father. Dinner's ready."

She did as she was told, pining again for her book and some peace. Why couldn't he be summoned in the same manner she had?

"Father?" she knocked at the lounge that he most preferred and peeked in, only to find it empty. She sighed. His office, then. She so hated to interrupt him in the midst of his torrential righteous eloquence, what with the subject matter of eternal damnation at the forefront of his mind. Still, in a choice between his wrath or Nanny's, he was a kitten to a tiger.

Her father's office door was wedged shut, and she lifted her hand to knock when she heard him answer, "That's right. She is."

An unusual topic for a sermon.

"I believe it would be an excellent match. Remember she is an heir to the Eminent Thropp as well, and I'm sure the crown prince would be well-complemented by her."

She straightened stiffly. She was the Thropp Third Descending. They were talking about her.

"No, I agree, this marriage shouldn't be rushed. The engagement must be long enough to plan an appropriate wedding."

Wedding! She leapt to her feet. Punished or not, she wasn't about to let him plot her into marriage without a fight. She tugged on the doorknob, only to find it locked. Hammering on the door, she called out loud protests as she tried to pry the door loose.

He heard her hollering and sped up the conversation. "Yes, yes, no, nothing to worry with. Certainly. We'll see you shortly. Excellent. Thank you. To you as well."

Her screams drew Nanny barreling down the hallway at the same time her father jerked open the door with the grimmest mouth she'd ever seen on him, Unionist minister and all. "What is the matter with you?" they asked in unison, though in decidedly different tones.

"He's bartering me off to some cad!" Nanny turned a bewildered look toward her father, whose face flushed. He opened his mouth, but Elphaba interrupted, "I won't let him marry me off to some stuffy prince I've never even met! I won't do it. I'm not some property to be traded about."

"Hush yourself, and let him get a word in," Nanny scolded, and with a calming hand on Elphaba's shoulder, turned to her father, "Frexspar, what on earth is she going on about?"

"I spoke with his Majesty. Everything is arranged for our trip and the engagement. She must have overheard." He turned to Elphaba with a glare, "Eavesdropping is a sin and the handmaiden of gossip."

"Oh, hush Frex. She doesn't need any of that repentance speeching now." Nanny's fingers dug into Elphaba's shoulder now to hold her from raging off. "Have you told Nessa?"

"Nessa?" Elphaba stopped squirming in shock.

"Yes, Nessarose, your sister," her father barked. "I couldn't very well surprise them with you. If your odd color didn't turn them off, your sharp tongue would."

"You needn't be so harsh," Nanny reproached, and he sullenly straightened his jacket.

"It is never wrong to proclaim the truth."

"Nessa?" She blinked, and as realization hit, she had to clench her fists not to hit him. "You've sold off Nessa? How could you?" Just the thought of some crusty, disgusting prince with his lecherous hands all over her darling little sister. She shuddered. "You're the most despicable-"

"Enough!" Frexspar barked. "I'll not take your insolence about matters that have no effect on you."

"No effect!"

"Oh, hush both of you. That's plenty howling for one night." Nanny shooed them toward the dining room. "Dinner's not getting any warm sitting there, and I don't fancy cold stew."

"Is everything alright?" Nessa asked when the group filtered in. "I heard shouting."

"You've been traded away," Elphaba snapped. "He's gone and married you off to some prince."

"I know," she answered calmly as the others took their seats around the table. Elphaba stared at her for a moment. "Didn't you?"

Elphaba pulled her arm out of Nanny's grip as the woman tried to lead her to the table. "No, I didn't know! I didn't know they'd sold my baby sister off to marry some stranger!"

"Fabala, why are you upset? I'm happy to be married."

"There," her father spoke. "She's happy. Now sit down and eat your dinner."

Elphaba started to argue, but Nessa's smooth voice asked, "Please don't be upset."

"I…" Elphaba sat down, confusion quickly making her ranting lose steam. "I'm not upset."

"Clearly," Shell muttered in the particularly obnoxious tone all little brothers are gifted with, and she turned to glare at him.

"I just –"

"Quiet. It's dinner time," Frexspar interrupted. "Let us pray."

Elphaba led her sister back to her room, still in turmoil at the night's news. "Don't be mad, Fabala," Nessa said softly. "I didn't mean to keep things from you."

"I know. I'm not upset with you. Really."

"But you are with Father?" Elphaba didn't answer. "Why are you so angry?"

"How could he sell you away like that? Like some old furniture." She sighed. "How could you let him? You know I would have helped you stop him."

Nessa sat carefully on the edge of her bed, scooting back. "Don't be so insolent. He's only thinking of me." Elphaba's scoff was ignored. "He wants me to be cared for, and married to a prince, I'll have plenty of people to take care of me. I wouldn't have to be a burden anymore."

Elphaba sat beside her. "You're not a burden. I would always take care of you."

"I know. But this way you don't have to." Nessa gave Elphaba a soft smile. "Truly, I'm grateful. I get to be someone's wife, and my intended sounds like a decent man." She leaned nearer to say, "And he's a prince. Faba, I'll be a real life princess."

"You're already our princess, Nessa."

Her sister smiled at her, and Elphaba tried to smile back. "Don't be sad."

"Where will you live? Will you stay in the Vinkus? I'm sure the prince has matters to attend to there."

"Don't worry." Nessa leaned her head on Elphaba's shoulder. "The Unnamed God will provide. You're not losing me, sister."

"Are you sure?" Elphaba stood to pace. "I mean, you haven't even met this prince. What if you're stuck there all the time?"

Nessa stumbled to her feet, and Elphaba caught her before she could fall. "Then you'll just have to come see me."

"If I'm welcome." She held up a hand before Nessa could argue. "And before you say I'll always be welcome where you are, I'd like to point out my unique talent for anti-sociability. I think I'm banned from at least half of Munchkinland as it is. Let alone somewhere I don't even know what offensive customs to avoid."

"Don't fret." Nessa brushed her forehead against her sister's cheek. "Everything will work out. Have faith."

"Hardly my strength." Elphaba stared at her a moment until Nessa's smile worked its infectious magic. She helped the girl sit. "Alright, fine," she picked up Nessa's book in one hand and her own in the other. "I'll keep my doubts to myself."

"Any chance of removing the doubts?"

"Slim to none," Elphaba answered, turning the page with her thumb. "Tell me when."

"Okay, next page." The two fell into their usual evening routine.