No One Mourns The Wicked

Chapter 7

"There were more ways to live than the ones given by one's superiors"

― Gregory Maguire, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Regina and Robin walked up to Morrighan's room.

"Stay here," Regina whispered to Robin. Maybe is her was close, but not necessarily present she would get used to him.

Robin stood just outside the door as Regina walked in. Morrighan had moved the dress form to the center of the room. She had boxes full of tiny beads and had brought the lamp over for light. She was stringing the beads and pinning them to the dress.

"Hi," Regina said before she got too close.

Morrighan looked up over her shoulder. "Hi," she echoed. She turned back to her string of beads.

Regina sat down in as close as she could get without getting into the danger zone of spilling the beads. "What are you doing now?" she asked.

"Seriously?" Morrighan asked. "I'm beading, duh."

"Okay, so talk me through it," said Regina.

"I pick up some beads, organize them on this track, then string them," she says as she does it. "It's not that hard."

"So, you're supposed to be getting a job," Regina starts.

"And I've been reading the newspaper. It turns out no one wants a stranger working for them."

"Well, I've got some suggestions," Regina said. "I've been talking with the principal at the high school-"

"Because you've decided my German diploma one isn't as good as an American one?"

"No. They want to plan a trip to New York, and I was thinking since you've been there before, you could help them plan."

"And how is that a full-time job for the next eight months?"

"It's not, however," she continued, "I thought you might enjoy it. Also, that kid Gideon, his dad owns a shop here in town and he's getting on his years and looking for some help. Gideon helps out after school, but I'm sure he could use some during the day."

"What does he do?"

"He runs a pawn shop."

"That sounds interesting."

Regina chuckled. "Yes, it is. So, what do you think? We could go by the shop tomorrow, and you could talk to Mary-Margaret after school."

"Well, it would suck to get arrested for violating a court order the second I turn eighteen," she said nonchalantly. 

"It would be," agreed Regina.

"It's a deal, then," Morrighan replied. 

Regina got up, but she did not leave. Morrighan when back to acting as if she did not exist. Regina walked around the room. She hadn't put much or up or since the first day she arrived. She found herself drawn to the bedside table with a collection of pictures. She picked one up. It was Zelena in a white gown in the arms a tall man, beaming. Morrighan was standing in front of them holding a large bouquet. The man had a hand on her shoulder. She looked to be around eight years old.

The one beside it was a picture with Zelena holding a baby, the man again with his arms wrapped around her, and Morrighan, a few years older than in the previous picture, was staring at the baby. That must be the child she'd heard in the phone call. Balancing on that frame was a smaller picture, much like wedding one, only Morrighan looked closer to fourteen. There was a girl, maybe ten, standing beside them, holding Zelena's free hand. Zelena was holding a baby and a five-year-old was standing in between the two girls. The man had his arms around Morrighan and the other girl. Everyone was smiling. They looked like the perfect family.