AN: This is just something cute and fluffy that popped into my head - because I LOVE Christmas and despite the fact that I'm already writing Merry Lurlinemas with Musicgal3, I just needed more Lurlinemas Fiyeraba fluff. And more. And more and more and more.

This will most likely be a two-shot... maybe a three-shot or more, depending on how much more winter fluffiness I can come up with. Can you guess where the title came from? *All of you chorus, "Not another Train song!"* Of course another Train song, Shake Up Christmas, though the version being played on the radio here is a cover by Natasha Bedingfield. If you don't know the song, I'm going to chase you around with pitchforks until you listen to it, because it's my favourite and it's amazing.

The kidnapping

Elphaba Thropp sighed inwardly as she sat down at the dinner table. Her father and sister were immersed in some kind of religious conversation, not even sparing her a glance; and for what must be the thousandth time, she wondered why she hadn't just stayed at Shiz for Lurlinemas break – or accepted either Fiyero or Galinda's invitation to spend the break in the Vinkus or Gillikin, respectively - instead of agreeing to come home for the holidays.

She sighed again when she realised that she exactly knew why she hadn't done that. Her father had insisted she come home – and besides, Nessa had asked her to come, and she could never say no to her baby sister.

"Fabala," the wheelchair-bound girl had pleaded. "We haven't seen Father in months! Please? I want us all to be together for the holidays – our entire family!"

Elphaba had hesitated at first, at which Nessa had haughtily added, "And besides, you don't really have a choice – I need you to come with me so that you can take care of me."

Elphaba had eventually caved, knowing that Nessa was right, and so here she was. She had regretted her decision from the moment she had first stepped through the door and her father had come to greet them – Nessa with a warm hug and a lot of questions about Shiz, Elphaba with the impatient order to take Nessa's things upstairs. He had taken Nessa into the salon to have tea with her and talk, leaving Elphaba to wander around the house aimlessly. She had lived there for twenty years, but it did not feel like home at all.

Nessarose and Frexspar had gone to church the night before, on Lurlinemas Eve; and Nessa had insisted on having dinner 'as a family' on Lurlinemas Day. The girl was practically glowing as she talked to her father, gesturing wildly as they were discussing the sermon they had attended the night before. Despite everything, it made Elphaba smile to see her sister like this. She loved to see Nessa this happy… even if that meant having to pretend that they were a happy family having Lurlinemas dinner together.

"Elphaba, how did you do on your midterms?" Nessarose asked her sister. "I showed you my results, but I haven't seen yours yet!"

Before Elphaba could reply, Frex said in surprise, "Nessarose, why didn't you tell me you had your results back?"

Maybe she would have, if you weren't locked up in your office all day. So far for happy family holidays.

Of course Elphaba did not speak that thought aloud, but she couldn't help thinking it. It was always the same. Frex would shower Nessa with gifts and compliments, he showed her off when they were in public and he talked about her to anyone who wanted to hear – about how tragically beautiful she was, how well she did in university and how great a Governess she would be; but when it came to actually caring for the girl, bathing her and helping her dress, and drying her tears when she was upset, Frex was nowhere to be found. That had always been Elphaba's job.

"How did you do, my precious girl?" Frex was asking Nessa now. "Did you pass?"

She smiled at him. "I did, Father. I passed everything. I was so happy!"

Frex immediately started complimenting her until Nessa was beaming. Elphaba just picked quietly at her food.

When the next course was served and she saw that it was a large piece of roasted meat, her heart sank.

Nessa, sensing her sister's mood, lightly touched her father's arm. "Father?" she said softly. "Elphaba does not eat meat, remember?"

Frex, who obviously hadn't remembered, just scowled. "That is the most preposterous thing I have ever heard," he said irritably.

Elphaba already opened her mouth to start arguing about animals and Animals, and that no-one knew where the meat came from these days, but Frex threw her a disgusted look that clearly told her to keep her mouth shut.

"If you don't want to eat the food our cooks spent the entire day making, fine," Frex said, clearly angry with her. "But don't think you'll get anything else."

Nessa threw Elphaba a helpless look. The green girl just gave her sister a half-hearted smile and served herself some salad.

That was pretty much how the rest of the meal went – Nessa trying to engage Elphaba in conversation, followed by Frexspar directing the conversation back to revolve around his most precious little girl – and when it was over, Elphaba all but fled to the attic, where she slept, as quickly as possible. She closed the door behind her, breathing a sigh of relief. She understood Nessa's desire to be a happy family together; but the truth was, they weren't a happy family and they never would be, no matter how hard they tried.

It was icy cold in the attic – as usual during winter time – and Elphaba shivered. She huddled in her thin, raggedy blanket, pulling out a book for herself to read. She preferred books over human company, anyway. Especially if said human company included her father.

Oz, she wished she was somewhere else right now. Longingly, she thought about Galinda and Fiyero, and what they would be doing for the holidays. She imagined a grand Lurlinemas party at the Uplands' home, involving lots of squealing and hugging, a bunch of bubbly blonde society girls, glasses filled with champagne and a room full of pink decorations. She thought about the ball that the King and Queen of the Vinkus would most likely organise, and she imagined Fiyero sipping from a glass of Vinkun wine and dancing with all the pretty girls that would attend. She bit her lip at the thought. He had invited her to come with him to the Vinkus for a few weeks – he said his parents were dying to meet his new girlfriend, the one that had got him thinking, and she had wished she could go. She had even written a letter to her father about it, but he forbade her to go, reminding her that she needed to stay at home to care for Nessa.

She missed both Galinda and Fiyero dreadfully. Especially Fiyero. She had written them both letters, and she had told them how bored she was and how much she wished that she could be with them right now. Galinda had already sent her at least five letters back in the one week since they had parted for the holidays – and the blonde's pink-and-gold letters filled with excitement and exclamation marks always made Elphaba smile - but she had yet to receive her first letter from Fiyero. She tried to ignore the nagging voice in her head that told her that he had probably found a much more pretty – and normal – girl and that he had forgotten all about his green girlfriend back in Munchkinland.

"Elphaba?" Nessa called from downstairs. "Fabala, would you please come down and play the piano for us? You know I love it when you do that…"

Elphaba sighed. "Nessa…"

"Please?" her sister added, and the green girl grumbled, but put her book away and made her way down the stairs.

Frex looked at her disapprovingly. "Why did you go upstairs?" he wanted to know. "You know your sister wanted to spend tonight as a family – and that means all of us, Elphaba. Including you. Why do you always have to ruin everything for Nessarose?"

Feeling her temper flare up, Elphaba snapped, "I didn't think I even was a part of this family to you!"

Nessa gasped. "Elphaba!"

"You're not," Frex said icily. "Not to me."

Nessa looked up at him with wide eyes.

He went to stand behind his daughter's chair and put both his hands on her shoulders, looking over Nessa's head at his oldest daughter. "But you are to Nessa, and so you're staying with us this evening."

Elphaba opened her mouth to retort, but upon seeing Nessa's face, she closed it again. She reminded herself that she was doing this for her sister. Nessa enjoyed this evening and Elphaba would not be the one to ruin that for her.

So instead of letting her temper get the better of her, she ignored Frex and knelt down in front of Nessa's chair, looking up at her sister. "Which song would you like to hear, Nessie?" she asked her gently.

Nessa's face relaxed into a smile – a grateful one. She was happy that Elphaba did not push this further, because they both knew if she did, she and Frex would end up having one of those fights they all knew Nessa hated. Fights involving lots of words, screamed accusations, and even the occasional physical punishment from Frex.

"Play 'Silent Night'," Nessa now begged her sister. "Please?"

Elphaba smiled at her. "Of course." She rose to her feet gracefully and moved over towards the piano, sitting down and flexing her fingers before starting to play. The soft tones of the beautiful melody floated through the house, and Nessa clasped her hands together in delight.

They all sang together, as they did every year. It was the only time that Elphaba truly did feel like she was a part of this family. Frex sang in a low hum, his eyes closed, while Nessa's voice was higher, thin and fragile and pretty, like she herself was. Her eyes were shining and there was a smile on her face as her eyes met Elphaba's, and the green girl returned the smile. She was glad she could make her sister happy like this.

When the song was finished, they all sat quietly for a while before Frex finally rose to his feet. "It's getting late," he said gruffly. "Take your sister to bed, Elphaba."

Elphaba did as she was asked without any protest.

Elphaba, Nessarose and Frexspar were sitting in the dining room having breakfast when a maid hurried into the room.

"Excuse me, Governor Thropp," she said, curtseying for him, then the girls. "Miss Nessarose, Miss Elphaba. Someone is at the door."

Frex sighed, laying down his utensils. He looked at his daughters. "Give me a moment, please." Then he rose to his feet and followed the maid out of the room.

Elphaba and Nessa made pleasant conversation as they continued to eat, and when Frex returned not too long thereafter, he did not say anything; he just sat back down, replaced his napkin on his lap and picked up his utensils again as if they had not been interrupted at all. Elphaba briefly wondered who had been at the door, but then decided it didn't really matter and shrugged it off. She had other things to worry about.

Like why Fiyero still hadn't written back.

When breakfast was over, Nessarose announced that she was going into town with Boq and Frex retreated into his study once again; so Elphaba just fetched herself a book and went outside, seeking refuge in a tree. It was cold, but she had made sure to dress warmly. She preferred the gardens over the mansion itself. It was so big, so dignified, so… empty. She felt so out of place in there. At least out here, she could blend in with the leaves… most of the time, anyway. Now, of course, the tree branches were bare; but despite that fact, and despite the cold, she would much rather sit out here than inside in the official-looking sitting room.

She put her book to the side after a moment, letting her legs dangle down, staring off into the distance. Then she jumped down and wandered through the gardens for a moment, breathing in the crisp winter air. As usual in Munchkinland, the winter was cold, but there was no snow. Elphaba had never seen snow before in her life, but Fiyero and Galinda had both been gushing on about it as if it was the most wonderful thing in the world.

Fiyero…

She sighed and sat down on the old swing in the back of the gardens, swinging back and forth a little. She wondered what he was doing right now. Was he having fun with his family?

Or with some other girls…

She tried to shake off that thought, but the truth was that she still did not believe that he really loved her. They had only been together for a few weeks, after all. After they had saved that Lion Cub together, Fiyero had broken things off with Galinda; and not too long thereafter, he had confessed the true reason for that to his ex-girlfriend: he was in love with her best friend.

Galinda had been shocked at first, but when he had gotten over it – and realised that she and Fiyero really had had nothing but a superficial relationship, anyway – she had helped him. Elphaba had almost laughed at him at first, but once she realised he was being serious, she had hesitantly agreed to go on a date with him.

After that, they had been on a few more dates; and Fiyero had slowly started to succeed in convincing Elphaba that he really was in this for the long haul and that he was in love with her.

Only now she was starting to have doubts again.

She swung a little higher, closing her eyes; but her eyes snapped open again when she suddenly felt two hands against her back, pushing her to swing higher.

She let out a small laugh when she realised who it must be. "Nessa, be careful –"

"I'm not Nessa," a voice chuckled behind her, and she nearly fell off the swing. Luckily, he caught her.

He grinned down at her. "Hello there."

She was completely baffled – she could only stare at him. "Fi-Fiyero?" she managed to get out.

His grin widened.

"What are you doing here?"

He put her down on her feet and bowed. "I received a letter, telling me of a damsel in distress," he said, laughing when she rolled her eyes. "And so I decided to write some letters myself… and now I'm here to sweep you off your feet – literally," she let out a small shriek when he did exactly that, scooping her up in his arms bridal style, "and kidnap you."

She blinked at him. "What?"

He grinned down at her. "I wrote to your father," he said. "So did my parents. We knew Nessarose wanted you here for some family quality time, so we asked your father if you could spend the second half of the break with us. Of course he couldn't very well say no to the King and Queen of the Vinkus, and I believe Nessarose pleaded with him as well…"

Elphaba was surprised. "She did?"

Fiyero shrugged. "She knew that you'd much rather be in the Vinkus with me than here with your father," he said. "She's your sister – despite everything, she does want to see you happy. You spent one week here, and now you're going to spend the other three weeks in the Vinkus with me."

She was speechless. "But… how… what…" she stammered. "Did my father…"

"He wasn't really happy with it," Fiyero acknowledged. "But he gave in eventually. I already spoke to him, and Nessa helped me pack your things. You're ready to go."

"That… that was you at the door this morning?" Elphaba croaked.

"Yep. I asked your father not to tell you yet. I wanted it to be a surprise." He looked at her a bit apprehensively. "So… you haven't really said anything yet," he pointed out to her with a nervous chuckle. "Do you even like it?"

"Like it?" She laughed incredulously, then threw her arms around him, kissing him. "Thank you so much, Yero! This is the best surprise ever!"

He smiled against her lips. "See, that was the reaction I was hoping for." He kissed her again and squeezed her hand. "Come on," he said. "Let's get out of here."

They wasted no time. Elphaba went to say a quick goodbye to Nessa, as well as a hesitant 'thank you' to Frex – who just muttered something and waved her away – and before she knew it, she was in a carriage with Fiyero, heading for the Vinkus.

"I can't believe this is really happening," Elphaba admitted, dropping her head against Fiyero's shoulder as he put his arm around her and pulled her closer. She looked up at him. "To be perfectly honest with you, I thought you wouldn't even think of me," she said. "I thought you'd be having fun with your family, and the guests your family undoubtedly invited…" And the guests' daughters…

He looked at her as if she had grown two heads. "Are you serious?" he demanded. "Fae, of course I've been thinking about you. All the time. I didn't have fun – I spent this entire week alternating between trying to arrange for you to come to the Vinkus and wishing you would be there already. I missed you. So much."

She looked down at her hands, which were resting languidly in her lap. "When you didn't write back, I thought…" She sighed. "I thought you'd forgotten about me."

"Oh, Fae." He took her hands in his, forcing her to look at him. "I'm sorry," he said sincerely. "I wanted to write, I really did, but I was afraid that I would spoil the surprise if I did, because I'm so bad at keeping secrets and… Hey." He tilted her chin up, forcing her to look into his eyes. "I could never forget about you," he said. "I love you."

She gaped at him.

"Yes, you heard that right," he told her before she could say anything. "I love you. It may be a little bit soon, and you don't have to say it back, but I want you to know how I feel. I could never forget about you, and even if there were a hundred pretty girls falling all over me, I would barely even notice them. No words will ever be enough to tell you how much you mean to me."

Suddenly, her eyes filled with tears, and he reached out to touch her cheek. "Fae?" he said anxiously. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry… I shouldn't have been so straightforward –"

She shook her head, smiling despite her tears. "That's not it, Yero." She took a deep breath and looked at him. "It's just that… no-one has ever said that to me before," she whispered.

He was taken aback by that. "No-one?"

She shook her head.

He put his arms around her and pulled her closer, resting his chin on top of her head. "Well, get used to it," he murmured into her hair. "Because I'm planning on saying it to you many, many more times."

She burrowed into his side, leaning into him. "I don't deserve you."

He laughed. "No way. It's the other way around, Fae. You're way too good for me." He kissed the top of her head. "But you chose me nonetheless, and for that I will be eternally grateful."

"Fiyero," she muttered a bit indignantly, and he chuckled.

"Sorry. Too cheesy?"

She opened her mouth to reply, but then she became aware of his hand softly stroking her side, and she forgot what she had been about to say.

They rode on in silence for a while, the rhythmic movements of the carriage lulling them both to sleep.

Her soft voice startled him – he'd thought she'd already been asleep. "Yero?"

He stroked her hair, his eyes still closed. "Yeah?"

Her voice was barely audible as she was drifting off to sleep already, but he just caught her words. "I love you, too."

His heart soared.

Reviews make me happy! :) Shake it up, shake up the happiness...