The Right Thing to Do

By Vinkunwildflowerqueen

"The Right Thing to Do: It's a matter of honour, of doing good. But sometimes, doing the 'right thing' hurts more than anything else. Especially when it comes to love."

DISCLAIMER: Wicked is not my property or creation. Until I get a time machine, and then I might make a claim for it.

AN. Hi! I'm back! Much later than I intended, I'm sorry. Life has been crazy. See bottom AN for more detail, but without further ado, I present: The Right Thing to do.

1

Fiyero Tiggular had attended eight different universities in the past five years. He had been expelled from four, flunked out of two, and there had been suspicious circumstances surrounding his exit from the sixth. The eighth had been Shiz, and he was just one week from finally graduating.

But even though he was beyond done with school, and all his friends back in the Vinkus had graduated at least two years ago; Fiyero was dreading graduating.

Fiyero knew what was expected of him once he'd graduated. He'd take on more royal duties and start preparing for the- hopefully very distant- day when he'd take over the throne and become king. And that was just part of it. His parents had been dropping hints for what seemed like forever, but when he had gone home for Lurlinemas break, he'd overheard them talking and he knew exactly what was expected of him after next week.

Marriage.

Thankfully, it wasn't an arranged marriage, his parents knew better than that. Besides, Fiyero had a girlfriend. Fiyero and Glinda had been together 2 years, 5 months, 2 weeks and 3 days, since the day Fiyero had first arrived at Shiz. And Fiyero loved her. Glinda had every quality Fiyero had ever imagined in his perfect girl. She was beautiful, sweet, from a good family, beautiful, sociable, kind-hearted and beautiful. Like him, she was popular, loved to dance and go to parties. Her family was wealthy, respected and she was a former debutante. In every way, they were perfect together.

It was thanks to Glinda that Fiyero had found himself part of the first group of real friends he'd had since high school in the Vinkus. Granted, it was perhaps the most mismatched group of friends that the vine-draped walls of Shiz had ever seen. No one would have guessed the five of them would have become such good friends; yet here they were, about to graduate, and all relaxing in the summer sun under a big tree on campus.

"Elphaba put down the book and be sociable, will you?" Glinda scolded her best friend lightly.

Glinda was in great spirits, although she was sad about all the changes that were about to happen. Glinda had a plan for her life, which so far was going exactly to the letter. She had been taught by the finest governess her parents could employ, done a year at finishing school and had been debuted to society and praised as the most sparkling debutante of the season. Then she had come to Shiz, and was now graduating as the girlfriend of Fiyero Tiggular, the most eligible bachelor in all of Oz. Life could not be better for her.

Elphaba didn't look up from her book. "I'm sorry, are we still discussing the riveting and vital topic of how to coordinate your outfit for next week with our graduation robes?"

"Come on, Fae," Fiyero chimed in. "It's not fair Boq and I have to listen to this stuff and you don't."

"Well, I'd offer you one of my books to read; but they have big words in them," she retorted smartly, but she couldn't stop a small smile from appearing on her face as he scowled at her.

Elphaba was probably the most reluctant and least excited to be graduating, even more so than Fiyero, who was at least pretending to be excited. She had accomplished amazing things in her years at Shiz, she would be graduating valedictorian, and she was rather sick of having all her teachers tell her that they knew to expect great things from her in future years. Because she knew that wasn't going to happen. She knew as well as Nessa did what her future held. She would return to Munchkinland and spend her days caring for her sister and running the household, as she had for so many years before she came to Shiz.

"What are you reading, anyway?" Boq asked her in interest.

Boq was proud that he had reached the end of his degree, but feeling a little nostalgic. For him, Shiz had been simply about his love of learning. But he was a lot more confident than he had been when they had first started Shiz. He and Nessa had dated briefly and parted ways as friends; and although it had taken him a year, he got (mostly) gotten over his crush on Glinda and could now form sentences around her without feeling awkward. Boq was already planning, and quite frankly looking forward to, returning to Munchkinland and to his family's farm.

Elphaba slipped her bookmark in to mark her page, and handed him the book. "Here. It's great; I think you'd like it. It's all about the life of human cadavers."

Fiyero gaped at her as Boq took the book from her. "Human cadavers?!"

She nodded. "Yeah. People who have died and donated their bodies to science."

He continued to stare at her. "I know what they are. I just can't believe you're reading a book about them."

"It's interesting!" Elphaba defended herself.

Glinda wrinkled her nose. "It sounds disturbing."

Nessarose shook her head. "I don't know where you find this stuff, Elphaba. And I don't know why you're reading it. It's not as if you're going to work in science."

Nessarose was rather nervous about graduation. She knew what came after this, she would begin taking on more responsibility and working with her father to prepare for the day that she would take over as Governor of Munchkinland. This was the moment she had been preparing for since she was five years old; and all she wanted was to make her father proud. Her older sister was little comfort to her nerves, simply saying that no matter whatever Nessa did, their father would always proud of her when compared to herself.

That was true, and Nessa knew it, but she still wanted to make her father proud. She was going to be the sixteenth Governor of Munchkinland, and she wanted to create a great legacy.

Elphaba blinked. "I know," she replied finally. "But I can still read about it, can't I? Besides, when I die, I may want to donate my body to science. They've used bodies that have been donated for some amazing scientific breakthroughs. And I'm green. People are going to find that interesting," she pointed out.

Fiyero was thoughtful. "That is true... and it's a cool idea. I'd do it too... but I'm not sure what the protocol is on royalty donating their bodies... I feel like it would be frowned upon. I am going to ask my parents about that when I see them next week," he decided.

Glinda looked nauseous. "This is a horrendible topic."

Nessa agreed with Glinda. "Can we please talk about something else?"

Boq and Fiyero exchanged a grimace. The boys were sure whatever topic Glinda and Nessa had in mind, it was a conversation they didn't want to hear. Elphaba looked as though she was having similar thoughts.

"Ooh, I'm going shopping this weekend!" Glinda announced.

Elphaba groaned. "No. Why?! And I'm not saying that because I don't want to be dragged along and waste five hours of my life that I'll never get back. But also, because you're just going to buy more crap which you'll have to pack next week, and I don't want to have to endure your whining because you can't close your suitcases."

Fiyero grinned, chuckling in amusement. Having attended many a shopping trip with his girlfriend, he knew how Elphaba felt. But it was still funny... when it wasn't happening to him.

"I have to, Elphie!" Glinda insisted.

"Is this like the time you had to buy a new pair of shoes because you didn't have any that matched your new nail polish?" Elphaba asked wearily.

Glinda ignored her. "Straight after graduation, I go back to the Vinkus with Fiyero to spend the summer with his family," she reminded them.

They all knew this. And not just because Glinda hadn't stopped talking about it since Fiyero's parents had invited her to spend the summer with them a month ago.

"Which I obviously need a new wardrobe for, and I have to get it before I leave. This weekend is my last chance."

"Fine. But I'm not going," Elphaba said flatly.

"But it's our last shopping trip together as roommates!"

"No."

"Elphie!"

"No. Make Fiyero go."

"Hey!" Fiyero protested.

"You're her boyfriend," Elphaba replied. "I'm sure that's part of the job description to sit there and hold her purse, and carry her bags, isn't it?"

Fiyero couldn't think of a good argument to that. Mainly because his evidence from the past two years would gather that she was right.

"Why do you need a whole new wardrobe for the summer?" Nessa asked the blonde. "You've met Fiyero's parents before."

"I know," Glinda agreed. "But this is different. This is going to be the biggest, most important summer of my life. What I wear has to reflect that."

Fiyero's stomach twisted uneasily. Glinda had been dropping marriage hints for... well, for their entire relationship, but they had been heavier this semester. And she wasn't the only one. His parents had made a few vague mentions that Fiyero had pointedly ignored, and even Glinda's parents had mentioned something briefly over Lurlinemas when he had spent the break with Glinda and her family in Gilikin.

Recently, Glinda had been hinting about the next chapter of their lives, and their future after graduation. However brainless he may be, Fiyero knew exactly what she meant. He was just pretending otherwise. He was so very good at pretending.

"You guys should come."

It took a few seconds and four shocked faces for Fiyero to realise he had spoken aloud.

"Should come where, dearest?" Glinda asked him.

Fiyero faltered, but the words fell out anyway. "To the Vinkus. For the summer."

He looked at Boq and the Thropp girls to avoid Glinda's crestfallen face.

"I mean, who knows when we'll see each other again, right?" he continued, feeling oddly nervous. "And next week is going to be really hectic with graduation and leaving..."

He thought he saw Elphaba's eyes flicker to Glinda briefly before she spoke. "Fiyero... thank you for the thought, but... we can't. I mean, your parents invited Glinda, and for us all to turn up at the last minute, uninvited... it would be a huge imposition."

"My parents wouldn't mind," he reassured her.

"But still," she added hastily. "Nessa and I... well, Nessa has plans for the summer. I'm sure Boq does too."

"Not really," Boq piped up unhelpfully.

"It's a lovely idea, Fiyero," Nessa consoled him. "Maybe we could all meet up in the fall sometime? I really think it's best if you and Glinda have this summer for yourselves."

Glinda had been oddly silent. "No, you should come," she said, surprising Fiyero as she agreed with him. "Like I said, this is a big summer, and I... we," she corrected herself, taking Fiyero's hand tightly. "We want you to be there."

Nessa and Elphaba exchanged uncertain looks.

"Seriously, my parents won't mind," Fiyero added. "What do you guys say?"

"I'm in," Boq agreed quickly.

Nessa bit her lip. "If you're sure your parents won't mind... I don't think Father would object..."

Elphaba still appeared doubtful.

"Elphie?" Glinda asked brightly.

Elphaba grimaced. "I don't know..."

"Elphie, please!" Glinda begged.

Fiyero looked to her. "Come on, Fae. You have to be there," he beseeched her.

Elphaba met his gaze for a moment, then looked away. She raised her eyes back to Glinda and stared between her best friend and Fiyero for another moment and then sighed slightly.

"OK, I'll come. If my father says it's ok," she finally agreed.

Immediately Fiyero's chest felt ten pounds lighter, but his stomach was still in knots.

Fiyero knew that everyone was expecting a proposal this summer- especially Glinda. But the idea of proposing only made Fiyero feel incredibly guilty and uneasy. And that was what Fiyero was dreading most about graduating next week. Why? Glinda was perfect. They were renowned on campus as the perfect couple, and Fiyero knew he should be so lucky to marry someone as perfect as Glinda Upland. She loved him, and he loved her.

So what was the problem? Only that for the past 2 years, 4 months, 3 weeks and 6 days, Fiyero had been in love with Glinda's best friend.

AN. Here are the big updates in my life:

1. Currently up to my neck in report writing, exam marking and job hunting. So, not fun.

2. I've been seeing Wicked a few more times- I just hit my 21st show, which is an exciting milestone! (Commemorative video on my blog if you're interested)

3. I'm obsessed with The West Wing. OBSESSED.

4. Can't remember if this happened before I finished the last story or not- I am driving and have a car! It's purple. His name is Barney- like Barney the Dinosaur, because he's that kind of purple. My godmother named him. I named my GPS though- Hermes. I figured that was appropriate when he's the Greek God of travelling and directions, haha.

5. BTW, nominations for this year's Wicked Awards (this years host is Nelly the Actress) are now open, and close November 30. So this is a PSA- nominate your favourite stories and authors!