Disclaimer- I don't own Wicked or Rent.

A/N- Well, here it is--the last chapter. I'd like to thank all of my reviewers, especially my regulars. You guys helped me write this story better than I might if you didn't review. The sequel will be starting in a week or so, and I've written a one-shot, which doesn't have to do with this storyline, that I posted yesterday. It'd be incredible if you could read and review that. Anyway, here you go—

Fiyero and Emrys paced nervously in the hallway. Every so often, they would stop and look into each others eyes nervously, and then begin to pace again. The wait was excruciating. Just through the doors before them, a child was coming into the world.

The men would lose their concentration when they heard a loud yell or scream come from the other side of those doors. Behind the doors, Maureen and Elphaba fought to bring this much awaited child into the world…a world made safer by all their struggles.

"Aaaahhh!"

"Push! Push now! Come on, you can do this. Push!!"

"AAAHHH!"

"Harder! Push harder…now, push!"

There was a pause and an exhausted voice could be heard.

"I'm tired…so tired…can't push anymore…"

"Oh yes you can, damnit! This baby's counting on you! Now PUSH!"

"Damn it, Faba! I'm too damn tired…Stick your pushing up your…AAAHHH!"

There was a pause, a very long pause, and then, a baby's cry could be heard. It sounded weak at first, and in the hall, Emrys and Fiyero looked at each other in terror. Then, the cry grew stronger…stronger and almost irritated and annoyed. Fiyero strained to hear his wife's voice through the doors and the din.

"Welcome, little one. Nicely done, Reena."

Another voice was barely audible. "Rys… get Rys in here. Rys!"

Emrys reached for the door knobs and pushed the doors open just as Elphaba turned toward the doors. Her face was alight. In her arms, she cradled a small blanketed form.

"Congratulations, Papa! You have a daughter, a beautiful and very healthy daughter. She has her mother's temper, I think."

Fiyero clapped Emrys on the back and watched from the doorway as Emrys ran across the room to Maureen.

Maureen looked exhausted, and was just now biting her lip as she watched Emrys. Fiyero did not see the smile he expected to see. Something told him that there was something that had not been said.

Emrys looked confused by his wife's reaction. Could it be that she thought he'd be upset that the baby was a girl?

"Maur? What is it? I'm just as thrilled with a daughter as a son, love. Don't you know that?"

Maureen looked to her sister; her face was a mask of emotion.

"Faba, please… help?"

Emrys looked to Elphaba in fear.

"Elphaba, is Maureen…"

"Fine, she's fine, Emrys. I promise."

Fiyero held his breath and stepped into the room without thinking. He moved up behind Elphaba, and saw her turn the baby away from his view. He watched her take a deep breath and continue.

"But the baby, I told you she's beautiful and healthy. But Emrys, she's green…like me."

Elphaba pulled the blanket back to show Emrys his daughter. It was true. The baby was beautiful and had her aunt's emerald complexion. Dark hair lay in tufts on her head and she yawned. Her eyes opened slightly and they could see deep blue eyes that would later change.

"Rys? Please tell me…"

Emrys cut her off when he took his daughter from Elphaba gently. His face showed every bit of the love and pride he felt in his child. When he looked at Maureen, he had tears in his eyes.

"Oh, Maur, she's perfect! Look at her! She's the most beautiful baby I've ever seen!"

He had made his way over to his wife's side and laid the baby in her arms gently. His smile and countenance was unmistakable. Emrys couldn't care less that his daughter was green. He touched her hand and her small fist wrapped about his finger. He laughed softly and bent forward to kiss his wife.

"Thank you, love. Thank you so much! Are you sure you're alright?"

Smiling now, Maureen nodded. "I'm good. Tired, but good, thanks to Faba. Faba, how can we thank you?"

The new parents looked to her now. Fiyero saw the effect that her niece's verdigris had on Elphaba. This had been completely unexpected, but Yero knew that the way Emrys had accepted and openly adored his daughter affected his own wife deeply.

She had not been so lucky. He remembered her face when they had used the mirror and had seen Frexspar Thropp's reaction to her at her birth. Fiyero wrapped his arms around his wife.

"Faba?" Maureen asked, concern written on her face.

Elphaba smiled and answered, "Thank me by loving her to distraction. Now we'll leave you alone. Emrys, the nanny will be waiting just outside when you need her. I expect to know my niece's name soon, you know!"

Fiyero let go of his wife and moved to the bed. He looked at the face peeking out from the blanket again and then kissed his sister-in-law on the forehead.

"Congratulations, she's perfect, just as Emrys said. I think she looks a lot like her aunt!"

Smiling, he turned and left with Elphaba.

"Let's stop by the nursery, shall we?"

Elphaba's face lit up. She nodded. "Let's. We should pass the news along."

Further down the hall lay the nursery. It was bright and spacious and had the loveliest drawings painted on the walls. Hand in hand, Elphaba and Fiyero approached the large cradle. While it should have been empty, it was not.

Their own daughter lay there, wriggling slightly and cooing gently. Fiyero grinned and leaned into the cradle, picking up his daughter. Elphaba watched his face as he did. It glowed with a light that no one but this child, their daughter, could get from him. He spoke to her now as if she understood every word he uttered.

"Guess what, sweetheart, you have a cousin! A little girl, just like you! Won't that be fun? The two of you can play together, and climb trees together and…"

"Yero? Aren't they a little young to climb trees?"

"Now maybe, but just you wait. Right, Elfie?"

They had named their daughter Elfie. While they had gone through many, many names, they chose to use the first two letters of Elphaba's name and the first two of Fiyero's. In adding the 'e' at the end they had honored her honorary aunt – Glinda. Elphie was the nickname she had given Elphaba back at Shiz. Elphaba remembered telling her it was 'a little perky' for her. Perhaps it had been for Elphaba Thropp, but it suited Elfie Tiggular perfectly. She had a bright, sunny disposition, and was not surrounded by any of the darkness her mother had been.

Elphaba watched her daughter begin to suck on Yero's shirt cuff. That meant she was hungry and before she became upset, Elphaba stepped in.

"I think that tree will have to wait till after she's fed. If you'll notice, she's trying to make a feast of your shirt cuff again. Come on, little one, Mama will feed you."

Elphaba headed towards the rocking chair in the corner of the nursery. Yero closed the nursery door, and then followed with Elfie. When he got to the rocker, Elphaba had settled down and the upper buttons on her gown were opened. This had become a ritual for them. When it was time for Elfie to nurse, Fiyero would stay and watch.

They were a family and each of them cherished these times together. When she was ready, Yero handed Elfie to her mother and soon she was contentedly nursing. The picture before him stirred something deep in Fiyero's heart. This scene, this stillness and contentment was what they had all fought so hard for...none more than his Fae.

He also remembered how close they had come to disaster and loss…not only of Elfie, but Fae as well. It was a time burned forever in Yero's mind.

--

Elphaba was uncomfortable. She was well past due for delivery and yet the baby still did not come. It was hard to sleep at night. Her size made it difficult to get comfortable anywhere. The only way she could sleep was on her side with Yero holding her firmly from behind. During the day she tired easily now and took things in moderation. Fiyero knew this was hard on her, Elphaba detested moderation. When she had reached the end of her second week overdue, she was more than restless!

"Yero, if I don't get out of here and get some air, I'll go insane! I gave up flying; do I have to give up walking too?"

She was upset, it happened easier now, and tears filled her eyes. Now she was irritated with being irritated! She stamped a foot softly and tried her best to calm down. Fiyero took his wife in his arms. This woman was so many things. She was strong, she was smart, she was loving, and just now, she was angry at her inability to control this situation. Fiyero acquiesced.

"What if we walked through the garden together? Would that help?"

She looked thrilled. "Yero, really?"

"If you'll let me go too. I want some time alone with my wife. We won't have quite as much of that soon. Is it a deal?"

She kissed him deeply. "It's a deal. Anytime with you, Yero."

Fiyero left a note on the desk for Maureen and Emrys and they went to the gardens. They walked slowly and the time was magical. They laughed and joked and also spoke of so many things they had put off. It was as if time had taken a step backward and it was only Yero and Fae walking again. Suddenly, Yero saw how far the sun had shifted in the sky.

He also realized they were in a part of the gardens he had never visited. How long had they been walking? Normally, Fae would have tired, but not today, today it seemed as if she had double the energy she usually had.

"Fae, I think we should start back. We've been gone quite a while and it'll take a while to get back."

She nodded sadly. "Alright, but Yero, can we walk together again tomorrow?"

He took her hand as they turned around. Bringing it to his lips, he kissed it.

"If you want to, Fae. But not quite so far."

They had been walking only a short time when he felt her hand clutch his violently. "Fae?"

Her face was set in a grimace and suddenly, she doubled over, her arm and hand across her belly. He held her tightly and then noticed a puddle begin to run from beneath her. When he looked into her eyes, he saw an emotion there for the first time since he'd known her, fear!

"Oh Oz! Yero, the baby! My water broke."

He kept his voice calm, reassuring. "It's alright, Fae. It could be hours yet. Don't wor…"

He was stopped by a low cry as she doubled over. Lifting her, he carried her to soft grass beneath large tree, so that she was in the shade.

"It'll be alright, Fae. I'm here. I'll carry you if I need to. Catch your breath and we'll try to start back again."

Fiyero prayed. He prayed she would be safe, that he could get her back, that the child would be safe, and many, things he couldn't put into words. When the pain had eased up, he helped her up and they began again. It was only a few clock-ticks before she cried out his name loudly and doubled over again.

"Aaah! Yero! The pains, they're too close! We won't make it back…Aaahhh! I need to push! Oh no…Yero what have I done?"

He lowered her to the grass again beneath another tree. Fiyero knew enough about the birthing process to know that her pains were too close, they were far too close, and pushing right now would not help.

"Hold on, Fae. Try not to push. I don't want to leave you to get help."

She focused on the word 'leave'. "No! Please, Yero, don't leave! If you do…"

Suddenly, she focused on his face firmly. "Promise me, Yero. Promise me, you'll save him…no matter what! No matter the cost." Her voice was quiet and determined now and he knew what she was asking. She wanted his promise to save the child if a choice between her life and the baby's needed to be made.

"Sorry, love, that is the one thing I'll never give you. We'll do this together, you and me. Together we'll bring this child into the world...the same way we created her…together. Sooner or later, someone will miss us and Maureen will panic if she can't find you. Let's see if we can hold on, and if not…we have each other, Fae, just like always."

She was crying now.

"Oh, Yero! Please forgive me. If I hadn't been so willful, he'd be safe right now."

"She is safe, Fae. She has you…and me when the time comes. Relax, love, we can do th…"

"Aaaahhh! Mmmm! Yero! It's…stronger! Mmmmm!"

He saw her trying not to cry out. "Yell if you want, Fae. Maybe they'll find us faster."

She shook her head. "No…I'll need my energy, I need to save my strength."

"MMMM!! Help me get ready, Yero. It's almost time!"

Fiyero worked swiftly. He stripped off his jacket and rolled up his shirtsleeves. Then, he fished about in his pockets and came up with some string and his pocketknife. He took a moment to lean forward and stroke his wife's hair back, kissing her gently after he did.

"I love you, Elphaba. I've never understood what I did to deserve the love you give me; I just know life wouldn't be the same without it. Stay with me, love, I swear I'll make it worth it. I want to teach you so much."

"Like what?" She was sweating and panting heavily.

"I want to teach you to dance, to draw, to sing. Don't let me down, Fae. You've taught me so much, now it's my turn."

Once she had nodded, he began to remove her petticoats and panties. Then he pushed her long gown upward in front, leaving the back of it down so there would be a soft surface to lay the baby on.

It did not take long. Soon, when she told him he looked and saw the top of the baby's head.

"Push, Fae! Push! That's it, love! PUSH!!"

Fiyero caught the baby and used Elphaba's petticoat to wipe her off.

"Yero? I don't hear him!"

She had no sooner said it, then suddenly the air carried the baby's cry through the outer garden. It was strong and loud and Elphaba had never been so glad to hear anything in her life! As Yero worked on the baby, Elphaba decided that now she could finally sleep. Her son was safe with Yero. As she slipped away quietly, Yero looked up and saw her pale face. Her features had slackened and her eyes closed. He swiftly put the baby down and shook his wife.

"Fae! Fae! Stay with us! You promised!"

She roused easily and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yero? Is he alright?"

Fiyero Tiggular smiled at her broadly and as he wrapped the baby in his soft jacket, he laughed.

"She'sperfect! I told you it was a girl, Fae. I just knew it…and Fae?"

Oh Oz! What was wrong?

"Meet our beautiful daughter."

With that, Yero placed the baby in her arms and watched her face as she saw what he had. The baby had her mother's black hair, her father's stunning blue eyes, and his coloring.

"Yero! She's pink!" Elphaba began to cry with relief. "She has your skin! And your beautiful blue eyes!"

"But she has your hair, Fae. And I think she has your cheekbones and nose."

The baby yawned.

Fiyero laughed and stroked his daughter's cheek gently.

"Dancing through life already, little one? It was your mother who did all the work!"

Fiyero bent down and kissed his wife passionately.

"Thank you, Fae. Thank you for being mine…for giving me our precious girl and for trusting me with the most important job of our lives."

The others had come soon after. They had been searching the gardens for some time. A veritable army of gardeners, footmen, kitchen staff and more than half the castle had aided Emrys and Maureen as they searched. They found them there, Fiyero holding his wife in his arms...and in her arms lay Princess Elfie Tiggular.

--

Fiyero slipped out of his memories just in time to see Elphaba sit Elfie up to burp her. He took her from her and did it himself. As he did, Elphaba watched him.

"Where did you go to just then, Yero?"

"Oh, nowhere. I was just remembering."

"The day Elfie was born?" Fiyero nodded. "I know. I was too. Just think, since Elfie came a bit later than we expected and Reena and Emrys's baby came early, the girls are even closer in age than we expected. I wonder what they'll name her."

That night, Elphaba padded down the hall to the nursery and checked on her daughter. Elfie was blissfully sleeping. Elphaba turned toward the basinet, near the cradle. Her niece was awake. She lay trying to wriggle and making the gentle stirring sounds of a newborn.

When she made a sound that Elphaba was sure would become a cry, she lifted her into her arms. She cradled her niece in the moonlight and spoke to her softly.

"What's wrong, little one? What's wrong? You should be sleeping. Only good dreams for you, though. You're beautiful, little one. Never let anyone tell you differently. You're beautiful and you are loved. You have your Mommy and Daddy, Glinda, Uncle Yero and your cousin Elfie, over there, and you have me. You have your Aunt Faba. I'll always be here for you. Someday, you may meet someone who wants to make you think you're different. Well you are, and so am I. But different isn't always bad, you know, sometimes it's very, very good. Yes, it is. Sometimes different is the most wonderful thing in the world."

She hadn't heard Maureen and Emrys open the door. They found her cradling their daughter, talking to her, and humming to her softly in the moonlight. Maureen could see that for her sister, this simple affirmation to her daughter was more than important to Elphaba.

Elphaba was giving her niece all the love and gentle support she'd been denied as a child. Emrys knew as well that his daughter would always have the strength of her aunt to fall back on. As she turned from the window, Elphaba saw them in the doorway. As they entered, they smiled and Emrys spoke softly.

"We thought about names, you know. We decided to follow the example you and Fiyero set, part of one name, part of the other. Meet Emaurie; Emaurie, meet your Aunt Faba."

The green witch looked down at the emerald-skinned child in her arms lovingly.

"Welcome to the world, Emaurie. Remember how much we all love you."

After kissing Maureen on the cheek, Elphaba handed her niece to her mother and softly retreated after checking on Elfie one last time.

Maureen walked over to the cradle with Emaurie. Emrys followed close behind them. The diva reached down and gently placed her green daughter into the cradle next to Elfie.

The sight seemed incredibly familiar. Two baby girls were laying side-by-side in a cradle…one with fair skin and one with green skin.

Maureen and Emrys remembered this well from the mirror. She and Elphaba had been sleeping exactly like this when they were younger. Except this time, the babies would not be separated.

"Okay, kid. If you see any jerk try to take you or your cousin, bite him, and yell for us."

Emaurie made a noise that sounded remarkably a lot like 'yes'.

Emrys and Maureen soon left the room, turning the lights off.

However, they were not gone long when another soft light illuminated the room, awakening the babies. A figure stepped forward in front of the cradle.

"Hey there, little chicas." Angel's soft voice stopped either of the girls from crying. "We don't need to bother your parents with me…I'm just here to see you two."

A second person walked toward the cradle, next to Angel. "Aww! They're both so cute!"

"Mimi, not so loud." Angel said quietly.

"I know, I know. But look at them! They're adorable." Mimi touched Emaurie's cheek. "She took after her aunt…that color green is so pretty."

Angel nodded. "Well, let's not keep them awake for too long. Let's do what we came here for."

Mimi nodded and put her hands on the edge of the cradle.

Together, she and Angel sang quietly and softly to the newborns, "There's only us, there's only this. Forget regret, or life is yours to miss. No other road, no other way..."

They continued the song until both babies were fast asleep. They took one more look at the little girls.

"We'll be back, right?" Mimi whispered.

"Of course, sugar."

Within seconds, Angel and Mimi disappeared completely, as if they were never there.

The light slowly dimmed out, leaving the babies to sleep in peace…one green-skinned, one fair-skinned.

They were both loved, healthy…and beautiful.