DISCLAIMER: I (unfortunately) have no claim to Wicked.

AUTHORS NOTE: Hello! So, finally, a month later (I think) here is the sequel to Falling In. If you haven't read that, it might make more sense to read that first, but I don't think it's 100% necessary. This is officially the longest fanfic I have ever written. 44 chapters!

DEDICATION: This story is dedicated to my wonderful FF friends, Julia-Caesar and Hedwig466. I want to thank you both so much for encouraging me when I had writer's block; cheering me up when this story was really depressing me; making me go eat when I was so busy writing I forgot so I didn't starve; and being amazing friends. You both know how much this story affected me whilst I was writing it, and I'm really grateful for everything.

Taking Chances

By Vinkunwildflowerqueen

1

The carriage pulled to a stop and Galinda Upland- of the Upper Uplands stepped out eagerly. Although she couldn't honestly say she was glad to be back at school, she was glad that she could finally see her friends again, after two months of only letters. It was even worse knowing that her closest friends had spent the last three weeks of vacation together in Munchkinland whilst she had been at home.

Galinda couldn't wait to get up to her dorm and see Elphaba again, and demand all the details of the past three weeks that she had missed out on.

She wasn't expecting to see Fiyero sitting on the dormitory steps, clearly waiting for someone.

"Fiyero!" she cried out in surprise. "Oh, it's so good to see you! Er, what are you doing?" she frowned in confusion.

Fiyero stood up, an odd expression on his face. "I- I was actually waiting for you," he admitted. "Fae said you were coming today."

Galinda beamed. "That's so sweet! You didn't have to do that. Actually," she grimaced apologetically. "It's not that I'm not glad to see you, Fiyero, but I was really looking forward to catching up with Elphie. We haven't seen in each other in so long, and I have so much to tell her. By the way, is she okay? With her head and ankle and everything? Because you know she'll just say she's fine, even if she's not."

Fiyero suppressed a smile. After two months, he'd forgotten how enthusiastic Galinda could be.

"She's fine," he assured her. "No lasting damage. But actually, Glin- I wanted to talk to you about something before you saw Fae."

"Ok," Galinda said slowly, still confused. "What about?"

Fiyero took a deep breath and motioned for her to sit with him on the steps. "Glin… you and I are friends, right?"

"Right," Galinda confirmed, as she gracefully sat down beside him.

"Even though we went out?"

This conversation was so far not enlightening Galinda's confusion. "Right," she said again.

"How serious would you say our relationship was?" Fiyero asked her.

The question surprised Galinda and she had to think about that for a moment. On one hand, she and Fiyero had only dated for two months, on the other- she had sworn to Elphaba the first night they'd met that one day they were going to be married.

"Well, I think was definitely your most serious relationship," she said honestly, with a smirk that would have made Elphaba proud. "But as a whole, not too serious. I think it's better now that we're friends. Why do you ask?" she asked warily, wondering if perhaps Fiyero was here to ask her to rekindle their relationship.

Fiyero paused, wondering how exactly to word this. In the two hours he'd been waiting for Galinda to arrive, he'd mentally had this conversation a hundred times, but every time it just made him sound really stupid.

"I haven't really dated much since we broke up," he began.

"Or at all," Galinda interrupted.

"Yes," he nodded, before continuing. "See, the thing is Glin- there's someone…" Fiyero cringed inwardly, he had no idea what he was saying.

"I have feelings for Elphaba," he said finally in a rush, watching her carefully out of the corner of his eye.

As expected, Galinda looked surprised. "What?"

"I have feelings for Elphaba," Fiyero repeated.

"You and Elphaba?"

The idea had never occurred to Galinda. "When did this happen?"

Fiyero hesitated, before answering honestly. "For a while now."

"How long is 'a while'?" she asked him. "Weeks?"

"Months," he admitted.

Galinda was stunned. Months… suddenly, things clicked into place and she turned to Fiyero, gaping.

"When you broke up with me, you said you wanted to concentrate on your studies. And then you asked Elphie to tutor you. You were so… moodified, and all that time thinking… were you and her- all this time, behind my back?"

"No!" Fiyero burst out in horror. "Galinda, it wasn't like that! Well, it was… but it wasn't," he corrected himself, stumbling over his words.

Galinda looked stung. "Fiyero, tell me the truth," she demanded coldly and Fiyero winced.

"The- the day Dr Dillamond was fired… the replacement professor brought in a Lion Cub in a cage. Fae- Elphaba got mad and… I don't know what happened. Everyone sort of went into a trance, they couldn't control their movements. Elphaba and I were the only ones not affected, so we grabbed the cage and ran. We went to set the Cub free," he explained.

"We were still dating then," Galinda said quietly and Fiyero nodded.

"Yeah. We- uh, we let the Cub loose in the forest. And we were talking… Elphaba thanked me for what I did. She said it proved that I wasn't as shallow and self-absorbed as I pretended to be."

Fiyero gazed out over the grounds as he spoke, remembering that moment. It was far easier than looking at Galinda.

"I tried to bluff my way out of it, and she called me on it. She said I was unhappy. Glin- I was unhappy," he admitted, turning to his ex-girlfriend.

"I was so miserable, trying to keep up that 'dancing through life' charade. Just because it's easier not to think, doesn't actually make life better," he sighed. "I think you know that as well as I do. Being popular and perfect isn't all it's cracked up to be. It scared the crap out of me, Glin. Elphaba barely knew me, but she knew me… does that make any sense? So, I went to leave and she grabbed my hand…"

Galinda looked over and saw him lightly run his hand over his other palm, as though he could still feel Elphaba's touch.

"Did you kiss her?" Galinda demanded, horrified at the images in her brain of her boyfriend and best friend betraying her in such a way.

"No," Fiyero said firmly, trying to keep a note of regret out of his voice as he confessed that fact. "But I wanted to."

He took a deep breath and turned to Galinda, waiting until she met his gaze. "I panicked and ran off. Because I remembered about you-"

"Oh, how kind of you, to remember your girlfriend," she said icily and Fiyero sighed.

"I tried, Glin. I tried so hard to get Elphaba out of my head and focus on you. Because, I did- I do care about you. And we're perfect together, remember?" he said with a faint smile which Galinda shot down with a glare.

"I didn't want to hurt you. That's why I ended it. It wasn't fair of me to be with you when I was thinking of Elphaba."

"So, why are you telling me this?" Galinda asked finally, trying to process all of this.

Fiyero turned to her matter-of-factly. "I promise you Galinda, I never acted on my feelings for Elphaba. Mostly because I never imagined she'd feel the same way. I figured at least if I was her friend, that would be enough and I wouldn't hurt you or risk losing Elphaba. You know how hard it is to get close to her. But these past three weeks… things changed. I want to be with Elphaba and I finally got up the nerve to tell her that."

Galinda was silent for a long moment. "And… and does Elphie… feel the same about you?"

Fiyero couldn't help but smile at the fact that yes, Elphaba did feel the same. "Yeah. I mean, we haven't… labelled it as yet, so much… but I think, I think she does."

Galinda didn't know what to think. It hurt to think that her boyfriend had broken up with her, never minding how long ago it was, because he wanted to be with her best friend.

"But why are you telling me?" she stressed.

Fiyero's answer was simple. "Because you're Elphaba's best friend, and she would never do anything to hurt you. And no matter her own feelings, that includes dating your ex-boyfriend if you're not completely okay with that idea."

Galinda was overwhelmed with a wave of gratitude for her best friend. "Oh, Elphie!" she sighed.

"I know… I know you must be feeling hurt and angry right now, but I'm begging you Glin… please, gives this some thought. Because Fae… she's amazing. You know how amazing she is, and what she's been through and everything she is. And you should know, if you know her at all, you should know she will do anything she can to keep from hurting the people she loves. And she does love you, you're her best friend. She wouldn't think twice about cutting me completely out of her life if you asked her to. But please, Glin- I'm not as selfless as she is. And I'm asking you to give this a chance, because I can't not have her in my life."

Fiyero knew he might be being a little overdramatic, but it was true- he didn't know what he would do if Galinda was too upset about the idea of him and Elphaba being together. He had no doubt that Elphaba would stay as far away from him as she could, no matter how much it hurt either of them.

Galinda thought he was being slightly overdramatic too, but that appealed to her. When she looked over at Fiyero, she saw the urgency and imploringness on his face and that softened her. Galinda was a hopeless romantic and she could see how deeply Fiyero's feelings for Elphaba ran.

"You really like her, don't you?" she asked softly and Fiyero nodded, avoiding her gaze.

Then she turned to Fiyero. "What in Oz's name happened in Munchkinland?"

Fiyero shrugged. "I told her how I felt. It kind of went from there."

Galinda looked disappointed. "That's not a very romantic story. You'll have to change that to tell other people."

Fiyero laughed. "What?"

"Fiyero! You need to have a really romantic story about how you fell in love! The story about how you get together with someone says a lot about them. And then, if you decide to propose, that's even more important-"

"Glin!" Fiyero exclaimed, exasperated. "Do you want to not talk about proposing just yet? Fae and I haven't even really gone out yet and you're trying to marry us off? Oz, you sound just like my father."

Galinda's eyes lit up. "Oh my Oz! I forgot- she's already met your parents! That's huge!"

Fiyero felt overwhelmed. "So does this mean you're okay with this?"

"No, not completely," she admitted. "And I don't like the thought of what will happen if it doesn't work out between you. But… you and Elphie… I never really thought about it. But I wouldn't want to be that friend who stopped my best friend from being happy. So, if she really does feel the same way, I want her to be happy."

Fiyero smiled warmly at her. "That's sweet of you, Glin."

She shrugged and grinned. "I know! That's what makes me so nice!"

When Galinda left Fiyero, she left the carriage driver unloading her trunks from the carriage and hurried upstairs to the dorm room she shared with Elphaba. Flinging open the door, she startled Elphaba, who was lying on her bed reading.

"Elphie!" she squealed excitedly. "Hug me!"

Elphaba laughed, even as she obediently closed her book and sat up. "Hi, Galinda. Good trip?"

"Oh, I missed you!" Galinda practically sobbed as she hugged Elphaba tightly.

"I can tell," Elphaba said, her tone slightly constricted from a lack of oxygen, but she smiled despite herself.

"Oh! Before I forget," Galinda said as she pulled away. "I saw Fiyero- he said to tell you he's picking you up at six."

The look on Elphaba's face was priceless. "Wait- you... Fiyero… what?" she asked finally and Galinda giggled.

"I ran into him outside," she explained.

Elphaba looked guilt-stricken. "Galinda, I'm sorry," she began and Galinda cut her off with another hug.

"Elphie! I can't believe you would have been willing to not date Fiyero if I wasn't okay with it! That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me! Now, I want to know everything that happened with you and Fiyero this summer!"

"Everything?" Elphaba asked warily.

"Everything," Galinda replied, sitting down on Elphaba's bed and looking up at her expectantly.

"Galinda, are you sure?" she asked uncertainly. "I know this can't be easy for you-"

Galinda held up her hands firmly. "Elphie, please. I'll admit, the idea is a little strange," she admitted. "But from this moment on, I'm not being 'Fiyero's ex-girlfriend', I'm just your best friend. And my best friend in the whole of Oz is happy and beginning a new relationship. So, as your best friend, I want to know all the details!"

Elphaba groaned slightly and sat down beside the blonde. "Galinda, I don't know…"

"Well, you do like him, don't you?" Galinda pressed and Elphaba blushed uncomfortably, awkwardly glancing at the door as the carriage driver began bringing in Galinda's trunks.

"Yes," she admitted quietly. "He…" she laughed. "He's either annoying the hell out of me, or making me blush… and the whole thing is awkward and terrifying…What happens if it doesn't work?"

"Well, it didn't work out between Fiyero and I, and we're still friends, aren't we?" Galinda pointed out. "Although I'm not half as stubborn as either of you two," she added thoughtfully and Elphaba sighed.

"True," she admitted. "It's just… he really seems to actually like me."

She seemed almost confused by that and Galinda giggled. "Elphie, you're hopeless. Now, you tell me everything while I unpack, and then I'll help you get ready for tonight! Although…" she frowned. "I don't like that I'm the last to know about this. Fiyero told me Boq already knows and Nessa knows too."

"Nessa only thinks she knows something," Elphaba assured her. "She doesn't really know anything."

That appeased the blonde. "Oh, good."

So, as Galinda unpacked, Elphaba reluctantly told her what had happened while Fiyero was staying with them over the summer. At first she just gave a vague summary, but Galinda pressed for particulars about seemingly insignificant details until she was satisfied. She wanted almost a day by day recap, which didn't really work because what Elphaba deemed important and what Galinda deemed important were very different things.

"Does it really matter what my dress looked like?" Elphaba asked in exasperation when she finally got to the night of the party in Munchkin City.

She'd told Galinda pretty much everything, except that she had sung at the dinner party, and that she was not mentioned on her mother's tombstone, because she knew it would upset her. But Galinda had been pleased that Elphaba had told Fiyero about her mother's death and that Fiyero had agreed with her that it was not her fault.

"I told you that ages ago," she scolded gently. "So, stop saying that."

Elphaba only smiled faintly. Pretty much the only thing Galinda had not asked for details on was Elphaba's injury, she'd already gotten all the information about that from Fiyero. But Galinda had still tutted disapprovingly and examined Elphaba's head, even though there was no remaining mark or scar.

"I still can't believe you did that. It was really brave, Elphie. But Fiyero almost gave me a heart attack when he wrote to me."

Elphaba scowled. "He shouldn't have done that. I could have told him you'd be worried and there was no need for you to be."

"You had a concussion," Galinda reminded her pointedly. "They can be very serious."

"But I'm fine, Glin," Elphaba replied patiently. "And I would have told you, just not through a letter. I was going to wait until I saw you."

"Yes, but you wouldn't have told it right," Galinda said dismissively. "At least this way I got all the details."

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Thank Oz for that," she said sarcastically and Galinda giggled.

"Now, tell me about your dress!"

When Fiyero knocked on the door at exactly six o'clock, there was a moment's pause before the door opened and Elphaba was standing there, smiling rather self-consciously at him. Fiyero couldn't stop a broad grin from spreading over his face at the mere thought he was here, picking up Elphaba Thropp for a date.

"Hi," he said finally and she chuckled.

"Hi. Did we not go over the idea of actually asking for dates, rather than just arranging them?" she asked in amusement and he shrugged casually.

"I was sure you'd say yes."

"Not just pretty sure?" she teased.

Fiyero laughed. "Nope. I was one hundred per cent confident."

There came an irritated huff and then suddenly Galinda was there, pushing Elphaba out the door and thrusting her bag at her.

"Ok, this is all very sweet but you two need to go now," the blonde ordered them and as soon as she'd pushed Elphaba clear of harm's way, she shut the door on her roommate's face.

Elphaba was stunned. "Did I just get kicked out?" she asked Fiyero, who laughed again.

"I think so."

Elphaba rolled her eyes and sighed. "And I actually missed her this summer?"

"Yes," Fiyero grinned, then leant down and kissed her softly.

When he pulled away, she looked up at him. "Because you can?"

"Because I can," he nodded gleefully and she blushed slightly.

He gestured to the closed door. "How do you think Glin is?"

"I think she's putting on a brave face," Elphaba said slowly. "But I think she will be fine with it."

"Fake it until you make it?" Fiyero suggested, the philosophy he had used in his studies for years and Elphaba smiled in agreement.

"So, where are we going?" she asked him and he shrugged.

"Wilted Rose?" he suggested, naming the local off-campus restaurant, and Elphaba agreed with a smile.

"Sounds good."

When they reached the restaurant however, they ran into a small complication neither had foreseen- that the place would be full of Shiz students. Elphaba instinctively tensed in trepidation, but Fiyero merely took her hand firmly and led her inside.

As Elphaba had been expecting, as soon people saw Fiyero Tiggular holding hands with the Artichoke, they began staring and the less discreet ones, whispering behind their hands. Fiyero ignored them all and led Elphaba to a table in the corner of the room, away from most of the prying eyes. Elphaba couldn't see them once she was sitting down, but she could still feel people's eyes boring into the back of her head and she couldn't help but tense awkwardly.

"Fae?" Fiyero said gently and she looked up at him, slightly startled. "Just ignore them," he said firmly and she sighed.

"Right. Ignore them. I swear they're worse than the Munchkins," she complained and Fiyero grinned.

He reached across the table and took her hand in his. "Ignore them," he repeated, meeting her gaze fixedly and Elphaba let out a deep breath.

"Ok," she agreed simply and Fiyero's smile widened, making Elphaba's stomach flip.

Fiyero, to her surprise and pleasure, didn't release her hand as he picked up his menu.

"What do you feel like to eat?" he asked her and Elphaba turned her attention to her own menu.

Once the other people in the restaurant realised that the couple were neither paying them any attention or doing anything particularly interesting that could be used for campus gossip, they blissfully returned their eyes to their own meals and conversations.

Elphaba had ordered the Wilted Rose's famous chicken salad sandwich, and Fiyero chose spaghetti.

"How is it?" she asked after a few bites, just to break the silence.

Fiyero shrugged. "Pretty good. Yours is better," he grinned and Elphaba laughed.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Fiyero," she said teasingly and Fiyero shrugged.

"It's true," he insisted and Elphaba shook her head with a small smile.

They talked easily as they ate and Elphaba was glad to find it was no more different than it had been over the summer. In some ways, it was even better, because there was no Frex there, listening and watching and making Elphaba think about everything she was saying.

The main struggle for Elphaba was trying not to bring up books or school work, Galinda had told her very sternly that afternoon that these were not appropriate date-discussion conversations. But she couldn't think of anything else to talk about, so she willingly let Fiyero control the conversation.

Of course, it didn't take long for Fiyero to notice this, but he knew how nervous this whole idea was for Elphaba, so he didn't bring it up. But as they were waiting for the waitress to bring over their coffee and dessert, he spoke up.

"I ran into Madame Morrible this afternoon."

Elphaba smiled wryly. "I bet that was a fun experience."

He chuckled. "She wanted to remind me that my summer work is supposed to be delivered to her office personally by first class tomorrow."

She grinned. "It's clear she has so much faith that you've completed the work."

Fiyero pretended to look injured and she rolled her eyes. "Yero, are you telling me you would have got the work done if you hadn't come to Munchkinland?"

Fiyero considered that for a moment and then shrugged. "Maybe. My Dad was certainly nagging me enough about it," he grimaced and Elphaba laughed.

"So, what did you do all summer? Besides not do school work?"

Fiyero shrugged again nonchalantly, trying to think of the best way to say 'think about you' that didn't make him sound like a crazy stalker or lunatic. Unfortunately, his brain must still not have been used to actually thinking- either that, or his brain just hated him for making it think because he opened his mouth and blurted out,

"Thought about you."

He froze instantly, inwardly cringing. He didn't know how Elphaba would take that, she was still so shy and uncomfortable whenever he was open about his feelings for her. Sure enough, Elphaba blushed and lowered her eyes, but he noticed a small smile crossing her lips.

When they left the Wilted Rose to head back to the campus, there were still a few groups of curious students lingering over long empty cups of coffee who were trying to have something to contribute to the gossip mill when classes resumed about the apparent new romance between the Vinkus prince and the green girl.

"So, I don't get it. Are they dating now?"

"When did this happen?"

"What does he see in her?"

"What about Galinda? Her ex-boyfriend dating her roommate? That's not cool."

Fiyero heard the whispers and murmurs and gritted his teeth. It was like Munchkinland all over again, and either Elphaba hadn't heard what they were saying or she was pointedly ignoring them. But this time, he thought with a sudden flash of inspiration, he could do something about it.

Elphaba went out the door first, and as she stepped into the street, she turned to Fiyero. She didn't have time to do or say anything before Fiyero had stepped forward, cupped her jaw in his hands and firmly yet gently kissed her. It was a long kiss that left Elphaba unable to breathe, partly because she hadn't had time to take a breath before he'd kissed her, and partly because she couldn't get her brain to form words, let alone take a breath.

She wasn't the only one rendered speechless, when they finally separated, she could see Shiz students from the corner of her eyes, gaping at them through the windows.

"What- what was that for?" she managed to say and Fiyero softly kissed her again in reply.

"Because I don't need a reason," he replied simply.