Home Is Where the Heart Is

Rifiuto: Non Miriena

Summary: Elphaba and Fiyero wake to discover that they're in Bar Harbor (baa-haa-baa), Maine. On a whim, they marry, and decide to make Bar Harbor their home. First in the Seaside Series.

He blinked, slowly opening his eyes, becoming accustomed to the light. Slowly, he sat up, looking around, finding himself on soft, white sand, near crashing waves. He looked around, seeing the white foam crashing onto the shore, the water, and the sunset, before looking at a beautiful raven-haired, pearl-skinned beauty laying a few feet from him. Slowly, he crawled to her, and gently, reached out, shaking her.

"Fae? Fae!"

"Mmgmagu." She murmured, pushing him away and rolling onto her side. He rolled his eyes and laughed inwardly. Yep. That was Fae.

"Fae. Sweetheart. Wake up. Wake up!"

Slowly, her dark eyes opened, and she looked into his face. Her brow furrowed and for a moment, she silently tried figuring out who the man next to her was.

"Fae. Honey, are you okay?" Her eyes widened at the nickname, and she sat up, looking around.

"Yero?" He nodded. "Where are we?"

"I don't know."

She turned back to the sea splashing at their feet, transfixed. As he helped her to her feet, she grabbed the front of his shirt.

"Yero.....that....that's the ocean." She met his gaze. "The fictional ocean. But....it's not fictional! It's real! Yero! We did it! We crossed the ocean!" She let out a cry, throwing herself into his arms, her arms going around his neck. He stumbled back, both her legs popped, his arms around her waist. She kissed him, before returning to the ground, her bare feet sinking into the soft white sand.

After a few moments, they walked along the beach, hand in hand, as the foam and waves licked at their feet.

"This is beautiful." Elphaba whispered, looking out at the ocean. He nodded.

"It truly is." They stopped, looking out at the water, deep in thought. "It's certainly--"

"Let's get married." He met Elphaba eyes, surprised.

"What?"

"Let's do it, Yero. Let's get married."

"Fae--"

"Yero, I love you. With all my heart and soul, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And what has this journey taught us, but to live every moment as our last. Please Yero." He met her eyes. After a moment, he nodded.

"All right. Let's do it. Let's get married." She let out a cry, throwing herself into his arms and kissing him. Soon, they left the beach, going into town. It was a small coastal town, named Bar Harbor (pronounced Baa-Haa-Baa), Maine. Quaint, Victorian homes, small town, Mom and Pop shops and restaurants lined the shore, all in all, it seemed to be a living, breathing, turn of the century town stuck in a time warp. Slowly, they wandered through the town, taking in the sights. They found that they had all the necessary papers with them to create new lives- from birth certificates, to social security cards, to drivers' licenses- including money, money that worked in this world.

They walked along the boardwalk, admiring the shops and scenery as they went, when Elphaba stopped in front of a small boutique. She tugged him with her, and the couple entered, looking around. The shop sold everything from candles to clothing, cards to figurines.

"Excuse me, can I help you?" Elphaba looked up from an examination of a dress, meeting the woman's eyes.

"No thank you. We're just looking."

"If you need help, let me know." Elphaba nodded as the woman left to fix something. Elphaba lifted the dress, looking at it. It was a pretty little white summer dress, with a sweetheart bodice, halter neck, and empire waist, with a flowy skirt that hit exactly at the knee.

"What do you think, Yero?" She held it against herself, waiting for his opinion.

"You'd look beautiful." She smiled at him, thinking a moment, before going to the register, pulling him behind. "Come on." Laying the dress on the counter, she gave the woman a small smile. "Hi."

"Hey. This all?" Elphaba nodded, as the woman rang the dress up. "How's your day going?"

"Good. A little hectic, but overall, it's going well."

"That's great. So, special occasion? Or--" She nodded to the dress as she folded it. Elphaba and Fiyero exchanged glances.

"Yes actually." Elphaba said. "We're getting married."

"You are? Congratulations! Is it a big wedding or a small one?"

"Niether." Fiyero said. "It's an elopement."

"Really?" He nodded.

"Yeah. We....met at college, and fell in love...our parents disapproved, so....we eloped. Or, are. Just got here. Figured that, here was as good a place as any to elope too." The woman raised an eyebrow, mirth sparking.

"I know what that's like. Did the same thing a couple years ago. We were going to head back afterwards, but....liked it so much, we decided to stay."

"Is it a nice town?" Elphaba asked, as the woman rang up the price.

"Yes.....um....that'll be twenty-two fifty. And it's very nice. Very beautiful. Especially in the fall, when the leaves change. There you go. Enjoy your stay. And congratulations."

They thanked her, and left. Over the next few hours, they'd gotten a few new clothes, and now, hurried to the courthouse. Walking through the doors, they hurried to the secretary, asking to see the judge.

"I'm sorry, I can't let you."

"But--please. All we want is to get married." Elphaba said, shaking. She thought back to the last time she had seen her father, to the last time she'd seen Glinda, Nessa. She felt, like if she and Yero didn't marry, then they would somehow find their way here and force them apart. And it scared her.

"Fae. Fae listen to me. It'll be all right if we don't get married." He gently took her in his arms, rubbing her back.

"No it won't. Nessa--"

"Shh. Nessa passed away, remember? So did your father."

"But Glinda--"

"Glinda is perfectly happy playing the society queen. She believes your dead, remember?" The stress of the day had finally caught up to her, and she broke down. Silent, the secretary got up, going to them.

"Come with me. I'll take you to Judge Hanson." And she led them down the hall to the judge's chambers. "Judge Hanson? There's a young couple here. They'd like a marriage license."

"Come in." She allowed them to enter, before closing the door behind and returning to her desk.

"So, you two want a marriage license?" They nodded, as the judge got up and moved around the desk. He was a man in his seventies, with bright eyes and a kind smile.

"To make a long story short....elopement." Fiyero said, holding Elphaba protectively in his arms. "Will you?" The judge listened for a few moments, before bursting out in laughter. The couple looked at each other. He was nuts.

"Of course I'll marry you. I know what that's like. My wife Maria and I have been married fifty years. But, before I do, forbidden affair?" They nodded. "Thought so. It was the same for Maria and I. Now, shall we begin?" He called the secretary back in, and soon, started the ceremony.

Before either could blink, they were exchanging rings and vows.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Both gave him warm smiles, before touching lips. Fiyero pulled her into his arms, and kissed her deeply, passionately. When they finally broke apart, they signed the license, thanked the judge, and were sent on their way. As they walked along the boardwalk, Elphaba asked,

"So, what now? Isn't it our honeymoon? What do we do now?" Yero met her eyes.

"Find a place to stay for the night, and then find a small apartment, get a job..."

"What if we don't? What if we can't live here, Yero?" She asked, turning to him. He pulled her into his arms.

"Fae, my love, haven't you ever heard that 'Home is where the heart is'?"

"No."

"Well it is."

"But what's it mean?"

"It means....that wherever my heart is, wherever your heart is, wherever our hearts are....wherever they reside...whether it's here in this little coastal town, or back in Oz, or anywhere....it will always...always....be home. No matter what, wherever our hearts lie, will be home."

"Together?" She asked, pressing her forehead against his, her arms wrapping around his neck as he kissed her gently. He nodded.

"Together." He whispered.