Disclaimer: I don't own Wicked or any of its characters.

"Fiyero, where-?"

"Shhh..." Fiyero whispered. He glanced back to ensure they weren't being followed, then led Elphaba to a small rowboat waiting for them in the forest. Elphaba helped him drag it to the river a few yards away. Fiyero stepped in first, then tried to help her in, but she hesitated.

"Fiyero, why are you doing this?" she whispered.

For the first time, the thought that perhaps Elphaba didn't love him back crossed Fiyero's mind.

"I..." He stood stammering on the boat.

"Fiyero, if this is a trap-"

"It's not a trap!" He insisted in a loud whisper. "I just..."

Elphaba stared at him with a mixture of confusion, sympathy, and...something else.

"Okay," she said simply. Fiyero gaped at her as she climbed into the boat and sat down. She looked at him expectantly, and he quickly picked up the oars and began to row.

Before long, they reached a beautiful cave full of glowing lights. Elphaba gasped as they entered, and Fiyero thought the lights looked beautiful on her skin.

Elphaba's focus drifted back to Fiyero. He was looking at her in a way she'd never been looked at before.

"I can't believe it's you," he breathed.

"I know the feeling," she whispered back.

"All the searching, all the waiting..." he grinned. "It's finally paid off."

Elphaba had momentarily lost herself in Fiyero's blue eyes. The glowing lights of the cave reflected off of them, creating dancing patterns as he studied her face.

"I love you," he whispered. Elphaba's breath caught in her throat. No one had ever told her those three words in her life, and now she was hearing them from someone she loved back. Realization suddenly dawned on her that their time together wouldn't last long. The Gale Force was hunting for them; all of Oz would soon know of Fiyero's betrayal and would be looking for both of them.

"Fiyero, we...this can't last. You know that, right?"

Fiyero sighed. "I know. But we can still have just this moment together, can't we?"

Elphaba nodded. "Just for this moment..."

"As long as you're mine," Fiyero finished.

Their lips met, and the cave seemed to glow brighter, water dripped louder, and their hearts beat faster. And though Elphaba was still sitting in the boat, she felt like she was flying higher than she'd ever soared on her broom.

She was happy.