Author's Note: There's a lot I need to say before we begin, my friends. First and most importantly, I need to thank another user: Mother yackel. She helped me with plot ideas and fixing things that were missing and might as well have co-authored this story.

Second, this story is... different. It's explicit. More than usual. Let me explain why. In this version of the story, Elphaba and Fiyero did NOT run into one another in the City at the Chapel of St. Glinda that fateful day. Instead, Fiyero goes back to the Vinkus unharmed. And because she has not had her little affair, because she forgets she's human (being with Fiyero brings her back to herself, I think), she actually goes through with killing Madame Morrible. As a result of this, the Resistance is more open in society and war is soon approaching. So when Elphaba is sent to speak with Fiyero about joining their side of the war, she's running from something. She's running from herself, from what she's done. And Fiyero is in a loveless marriage with children who are basically afraid of him and a tribe that doesn't understand him because his education opened his eyes. Both of them are desperate for something, anything, to get them away. That's why they're both the way they are with one another. It's not about even mutual affection, not love, not at first. It's just to take them away - for Elphaba, to be reminded that she's human, that she can feel human things and for Fiyero, to remind him he's more than just a King and a leader.

So, remember these things as you read. Thank you all, as usual, for being my faithful readers. I appreciate you.

Chapter One: Six Years

Elphaba paused outside of the cold, stone palace and took a deep breath. He knew she was coming. Well, not exactly. He knew someone from The Resistance was coming. He didn't know it was her. She hadn't seen him since she'd dragged Glinda to the City all those years ago and then left her to return alone. She hadn't seen any of her friends. For the most part, she wasn't supposed to. This was an exception.

Trying to get the Vinkus involved in the war had been the plan for some time, though she had been unaware until recently. They'd done research on her, on her history, and had found out that she knew the Arjiki King from years before. She'd been told to come out here, hoping that they'd have better results if Fiyero was approached by a familiar face. Fiyero was married now with three children, they'd told her.

Six years. It had been more than six years since she'd spoken a word to him, but she hadn't forgotten his face. She wondered if he had changed. She wondered if he looked less like a sweet, naïve boy and more like a man. Had fatherhood changed him? Had marriage? She recalled the sapphire diamonds that had been tattooed on his skin. Those she would recognize, no matter how much time had passed.

She had changed, too, of course. Much like his diamonds, however, her green skin would always give her away. But Elphaba was far from the innocent young girl she had been when she had disappeared. She'd seen more of life than she had expected, had lived on less than a meal a day for weeks at a time. She'd slept with men to get her way, had killed, even. There were times when she felt like she wasn't a person anymore, like she was merely a piece of something bigger. She simply existed, not really being anyone.

Swallowing hard, she raised her hand to the knocker on the door and slammed it down hard, listening to it echo along the empty plains surrounding the palace as she drew her cloak tighter around her and gripping her small bag.

The door opened and he stood there, shock outlined in his features. His mouth was fuller, his chin more prominent, as though all of his characteristics had become more defined. After a moment, he blinked and quietly said her name. "Elphaba." It wasn't a question, nor was it a greeting.

She curtseyed quickly and looked back at him. "King Fiyero."

Shaking his head, as though pulling himself back to reality, he stepped aside. "Come in. I… I hadn't expected you…"

She smiled sadly. "I know."

"How long has it been?" He asked amiably, recovering himself.

"Quite some time," she answered politely, feeling strained.

"Why don't I introduce you to my family? I hadn't realized it would be you, or I would've had them at the door to greet you as well." Fiyero shut the door behind her and called out, "Sarima, could you please bring the children down for just a moment?"

There was a commotion somewhere up the winding staircase and, after a moment, a squat, dumpy woman appeared with three young children. "What did you want?" The woman asked, exasperated.

"This is Elphaba, she's… an old friend from school. Elphaba, this is my wife, Sarima, and our children: Manek, Irji and Nor."

Elphaba nodded, noticing how the children's heads were bowed, as though they were fearful to make eye contact with their own father. She also noticed the way he looked at them, as though he were uncertain about them. Having a king for a father must be somewhat intimidating. She wondered if Fiyero had felt the same way about his father that his children clearly felt about him.

Sarima sighed. "Nice to meet you." She turned to Fiyero and said shortly, "My sisters are waiting in the other room, and you interrupted Manek's studies." Without even waiting for a response, she ushered the children back up the stairs.

Fiyero's cheeks darkened and he shrugged sheepishly. "Why don't we discuss things in my study?"

Elphaba followed Fiyero down the hall into a room with two bookshelves, a large couch and an ornate desk. She sat at the chair across from the desk while Fiyero sat behind it.

The moment she sat down, he sighed. "Is this where you went, Elphie? When you disappeared? To work for the Resistance?"

"Yes." She knew he expected her to say more, but she wouldn't.

"We missed you. Glinda was heartbroken and your sister… she was so angry."

"I can imagine." She put her bag down beside her chair. "Let's get down to this. War is coming, Fiyero, and you need to make a decision as to which side you're on."

"That's it, Elphaba? No conversation, no small talk?"

She groaned. "Is that what you want? Fine. Ask whatever you want."

He shook his head. "You really don't care? You don't want to talk? Have you heard from anyone? Or have you gone years without a word from anyone you cared about?"

She lowered her eyes. "Maybe I'm a little curious, but it's best I don't find out. I'm only here with you because they asked me, Fiyero. Yes, I've been with the Resistance since about the time I left. No, I haven't spoken with anyone. You're the first person to know me by my real name in a long time." Elphaba hadn't known what he would ask her, how he would react. She didn't want to get emotional with him.

"What do they call you? Your people?"

"Fae."

"It's pretty," he said.

"Look, we need to talk about what you're going to do. Honestly, I'm surprised you allowed anyone to come out here at all."

"You're right, though. War is coming. And with Madame Morrible dead, it's become clearer that your side is stronger than people might have thought."

At the sound of Madame Morrible's name, Elphaba flinched. She'd been told killing the old woman was a distraction from a larger coup, an assassination plot on the Wizard – one that had failed. She, however, hadn't failed. There had been casualties along with Horrible Morrible, but it was a price that had to be paid for the greater good, she'd been assured. And as long as she reminded herself that she had no soul, no real self, what she had done didn't upset her. But for some reason, when it had come from Fiyero… but he didn't know what she'd done. And he wouldn't. She steeled herself and continued the conversation. "We are. And we will win. You can help. Think about it, Fiyero. The Wizard treats your people like barbarians, like you don't matter. If you were one of the leaders in overthrowing him, you'd have more clout."

He leaned back in his chair. "And what happens to you?"

"I'm supposed to stay here for some time, try to convince you and give you the best advice I can. If you agree, I'll probably be expected to stay longer, handle magical things for you and be your liaison with the Resistance. But you're getting ahead of yourself, Fiyero."

"Right. And what happens if you lose? What happens to my people if the Gale Force comes out here after them?"

"You fight. Fiyero, the Wizard barely tolerates you. He'll probably start a genocide of your people when he's finished with the Animals and the Quadlings. You can't let that happen."

He considered her for a moment. "I suppose I'll think about it. In the meantime, I don't see why we can't catch up. You've wondered what became of your friends, your family, haven't you? I'm still in contact with many of our old friends, Elphaba. I can tell you how they've been."

Why did he insist on making this personal? Then again, that's probably what her cell leader had wanted when she'd been sent out here. A reminder of the good old days couldn't hurt her chances at persuading him. "Why not? But first why don't you tell me about you. You have a wife and three children. You're a king. Things have changed. Tell me about all of that."

He waved dismissively. "You knew I was arranged to be married and I needed an heir. What else is there to tell?"

"Marriage and children change things, Fiyero. They change people."

"So does running off into the City and hiding out for more than five years," he shot back.

"You act like my leaving hurt you in some way. You barely knew me."

"I wanted to know you. And things… the whole group of us were never the same after that, Elphaba. Although I don't know if it was so much you leaving as it was the whole experience at the Philosophy Club."

She'd almost forgotten about that. They'd all been headed that way when she and Glinda had taken off. Elphaba had always wanted to know what had happened there – out of mere curiosity, of course. "What happened?"

He rested his elbows on his desk and rested his head on his hands. "Things got out of hand. Tibbett was so traumatized he never spoke again. Last I heard he was in a home for invalids."

Tibbett? Outgoing, bold and effeminate Tibbett, unable to speak? She could see from Fiyero's face that he didn't want to go into any more detail than he'd given her. "What about everyone else?"

"They're fine. Crope was broken-hearted for a while, but he moved on. We all did. He and Glinda became closer friends. They'd both lost a close friend."

She stared at her lap, letting the minor barb he'd thrown sink in. "That was cruel, Fiyero."

"It was true."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because I want you to know you were missed, Elphaba. I want you to understand what you ran away from."

"Stop putting it that way! I didn't run away. I went to fight for what I believed in, Fiyero. I had to. You weren't in our meeting with the Wizard. You can't possibly know what I've had to do. You make it sound like I ran away and had a simple, easy life. It was anything but!"

He raised his eyebrows. "Oh? What have you been up to, exactly?"

"I can't tell you. It's not safe."

"Even if I agreed to fight for you?"

"Are you going to?"

"I don't know. That's not an easy decision."

"Even if you did, though, no, I wouldn't tell you. I can't, Fiyero."

"Tell me something, anything, Elphaba. Even if it's not what you did, tell me how you felt, what you've been through. Give me something, Fae."

She cringed at the use of her code name. Quietly, she admitted, "I missed all of you, too, you know. Of course I've wondered what happened to everyone. But it was best I stayed away."

"Then let me tell you about everyone, and then you can join us for dinner. Sarima's sisters prepare a good meal, I can promise you that. You'll be staying for a while anyway, won't you?"

"Yes."

"Good. The guest room is set up for you. You're welcome here."

But she wasn't so sure she believed that.