Back in her dorm room, an unsurprised Glinda and a very angry Nanny greeted Elphaba.
Um… I can explain?"
"Go ahead." Nanny said, aggravated.
"Fiyero and I got into a fight last night and we wanted to go somewhere private to talk and the only place that wasn't really public was a hotel room. It wasn't the easiest thing to resolve. It wasn't until very, very late that we made up and by then we were so tired that we just fell asleep."
"In the same bed, I'm sure."
"Well… yes."
Nanny grumbled. "Why do they all turn out like this?"
"We fell asleep on the same bed fully clothed, Nanny. I am not like that."
"The only way there is to prove that much is for you to find some way to prove that you're still a virgin."
Elphaba looked at Glinda and Glinda gave her a look that said, "I wish I could help…". "And how am I supposed to do that?"
"I don't want to have to do this, but it looks like I have to. There's a good, quiet doctor around here somewhere. There's a way to tell, you know, by looking."
"No."
"Would you just cooperate?"
Elphaba shook her head violently.
"You're not a virgin, are you?"
Tears were threatening to start streaming down her cheeks as she shook her head again.
"Your mother's daughter." Nanny stood, disappointed.
"You don't understand. It only happened once. We were drunk. But we didn't do it last night, honest." She got rid of the tears before they even neared her cheeks.
"How am I supposed to believe you when you come sneaking in here at one in the afternoon having been off all night doing Oz only knows what with that boy. Damn it. I tried so hard to make sure that you wouldn't turn out like your mother…"
Elphaba backed away and got closer to Glinda. "Please, Nanny. Don't say that. I am nothing like my mother."
"I don't want you seeing him unless it is within the borders of your circle of friends, am I clear?"
"But, Nanny, no."
"After you graduate, you may do what you want, but you've got half of the year left and I will not let you get pregnant under my watch."
"I won't. Believe me, Nanny. It happened once and it was an accident. We swore to one another that it wouldn't happen again and it hasn't."
"And I suppose you're about to say that you love him? I'm about as sure of that as I am that he loves you."
"He does love me."
"I'm sure he tells you that when he's trying to coax you into bed with him. I'm sure that's what he tells you when you say, 'not tonight' or that you're 'not in the mood'. I doubt either one of you mean what you say."
"I know better than that, Nanny."
"I don't know about that anymore. I don't even want to think about how many times you've thrown yourself away and gone at it with some boy."
"Don't talk about it that way!" But Nanny was already in the other room. Elphaba made an obscene gesture towards the door and sighed.
"Elphie, I'm so sorry. He'll understand, won't he? If it helps any, I could run notes between you two."
She gave Glinda a grateful smile. "I'd like that. Thank you." She scribbled out a note explaining what had just happened and handed it to Glinda. "Can you get this to him without getting in trouble?"
"I can get this to him, wait for him to read it and write a response without getting in trouble." And Glinda left the dorm.
Within an hour she was back, holding a new note.
Fae, this is my fault. I shouldn't have gotten so upset last night. If I hadn't, we could've gotten back to the dorms on time. Anyways, I love you and no stupid rule is going to change that. I think I can last until graduation with only seeing you in groups. Neither one of us will like it, but we can get through this. Did your grandmother really accuse you of so much? I'm so sorry, Fae. I love you. As usual - Your Prince Charming
For several months, things went fine. She sat next to him at dinner all of the time and allowed him an arm around the shoulder or a kiss on the cheek occasionally, because it was all they had. They talked mostly to each other at dinner and continued sending notes back and forth through Glinda. There was less than a month left until graduation when Fiyero received devastating news.
Fae, I'm sorry for not coming with everyone today. It's just… I've just found out that my father has passed away. I'm not going home because if I did I'd miss finals and graduation. I feel very alone tonight, though it's no different, physically, than most others. Know that I'm thinking of you. My only comfort is knowing that I can take you in my arms again soon. I love you, Fae. I miss you – Your Prince Charming
Worried, Elphaba showed the letter to Glinda. "Look at this." They'd just returned from dinner and the note had somehow made its way under the windowsill. "He has to be alone tonight. I feel awful."
"I know what you're thinking, Elphie. I'm not going to tell you not to, I'm just going to tell you to think about it and decide if this is worth whatever consequences you might get."
"What more can she do to me? There're two weeks until graduation and then I won't be in her control anymore. Glinda, I have to."
"Why?"
"Because he's alone and his father just died. Hello? Someone should be with him right now. I should be with him right now."
Glinda nodded. "Then go. I'll watch out for Nanny until you're out of sight. I can't do any more than that, though."
"That's all I ask." She gave Glinda a appreciative look. "Don't worry if I'm not back until morning."
"Go Elphie."
She snuck down the stairs and into the garden. Quickly, she climbed the fence, glanced up once more to see Glinda looking at her from the window. She waved and ran across several fields until she reached the boys' dormitories. Fiyero was on the first floor, second window to the left.
He opened the window when she knocked and helped her in. "It's so good to see you, Fae." He hugged her. "You didn't have to come here."
"I didn't want you to have to be alone tonight." She kissed him and sat down on the bed. "Are you okay?"
He sighed and sat down next to her. "I don't know."
She kissed him on the cheek and took his hand, wanting to comfort him. "It's terrible, Yero. I'm sorry this happened. I wish I could make everything go away."
"Having you here is more than enough. Are you staying tonight or are you going back to your dorm soon?"
"Whatever you want."
"Stay. I need to hold you; I need to feel you breathe. I need to feel alive."
"Then I'll stay." She crawled across the bed and sat by the headboard. "Do you want to talk about it?"
He stretched out on the bed. "I'm not sure what there is to say. It just makes me wonder about mortality and such."
"Oh, darling, don't go philosophical, it'll give you a headache, believe me."
He laughed.
It felt good to make him laugh, to make him happy. She got up and moved around the room, cleaning things up. "It'll be okay, Fiyero. I promise it will."
"I knew it was going to happen. I should've been prepared for this."
"No, Yero, you're never prepared for something like that. No one can evade that."
"Do you realize, though, that when I return home, that I have to accept the throne and be king? I never thought I'd rule this young."
"You'll have your mother. And I'm sure your brothers wouldn't mind helping you out."
"Yes, I have all of them, but will I have you?"
She froze and looked at him. "What?"
"Come home with me. You don't have to commit to anything. It can be like it was over the winter holidays. You can leave whenever you wish."
"I have to go back to Clowen Grounds for a little while."
"I'll come with and then we can go to Kiamo Ko."
"Are you sure you shouldn't go home immediately after graduation?" She asked, finishing her cleaning.
"It's only a week or two late, no one will mind. Just, please, Fae, come with me?"
"I'll go with you. We'll be at Clowen Grounds for maybe a week, hopefully no more than that. Is that all right?"
"That's fine."
She went to organizing his school things, putting everything where it could be found. His dirty clothes were in a pile near the door. "Fiyero, when was the last time you did the wash?"
"I barely ever have to. With everything I have…"
"Oh, yes, of course. I forget that sometimes." Seeing nothing else to do, she sat back down on the bed.
The wind blew wildly outside and they only then noticed that it was raining. "Well, it's a good thing you decided to stay here. It could've been bad if the rain had started when you were halfway back."
She cuddled close to him. "Yes. That could've been…" There was a flash of light and she screamed. Then there was complete darkness.
He felt her holding close to him and he cradled her in his arms. "Are you all right?"
She sat up. "I'm fine. That was more of a shock than anything else."
He moved to put an arm around her shoulder and accidentally slid his hand over her breast. "I-I'm sorry."
"Yero, it's dark. I know that was an accident. And you're acting like it was something painful to me. It wasn't." The lights went back on and she sighed in relief. "Thank Oz for that."
"I know. I'd rather be able to see you than have no idea where I'm putting my hands."
She giggled. "Oh, Yero my hero, are you feeling any better?"
"I think so. I'm glad you're here, let me say that much."
"And I'm happy to be here, if it makes you happy." She gave him a smile. "Whatever makes you happy is good for me."
"You make me happy." He told her.
She kissed him and let him pin her beneath him on the bed as they held one another. They rolled around on the bed, sharing hungry, passionate kisses. He kissed her neck and sucked lightly, leaving a mark. Play fighting, they continued to tackle each other and climb over one another playfully and innocently. Her pure, soft lips parted when his tongue pushed through and searched for hers.
With skilled hands, he unbuttoned her blouse, helping her out of it and tossing it to the floor. He moved his hands over her breasts in circles and she whimpered even as he kissed her. Her hands were tight at the back of his neck, keeping their lips close together. One of her hands slid down his back and began to remove his shirt softly.
Forgetting to hold back, he tugged recklessly at her skirt. She caught her breath and only then did he remember what the limits were. "Fiyero, I…"
"I didn't mean to do that. I got carried away."
But she could see how he wanted her, and she could feel his desire as his body pressed against hers. He needed her. He needed to hold her, to feel her breathe, to feel alive. And all at once she realized that what he really needed, what he'd really meant by the word alive, was to have her altogether. Tonight he'd found out some of the most upsetting news in his life. She didn't want him to be alone, but unless she gave herself up, in a way, he'd still be alone. "No, it's all right. You can do whatever you want. Love me."
She removed her skirt slowly and allowed him to remove the rest of either of their clothing. Closing her eyes, she could feel his hands running over her body, into her body, teasing. Short, heavy breaths came from her throat as he finished undressing her and her body was exposed to the air.
With his hands and his mouth, he explored her body, finding his ways to get closer to her. As reluctant as she'd been to allow this, she'd either convinced herself that it felt good or it really did feel quite pleasurable. She felt her back arch subconsciously as his breath came to her hips, her stomach, her breasts, her neck and finally her mouth again.
She'd wanted it, too. Though she hated admitting it, she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. He was beautiful, his skin soft against hers, his body warm and his mouth tantalizing. Her body ached for his and she allowed him what he –no, wait – what they wanted.
And then they came together, moving slowly, but steadily speeding up. Finally, she allowed herself to open her eyes and he was looking straight at her. The intensity in his eyes frightened her, but she could not look away.
"Yero," she whispered, "I love you."
"I love you, too," he said, moving over her. "Does this feel all right?"
"It feels good." She murmured, tossing her head back.
He nibbled at her neck as they progressed, her nails digging into his shoulders suddenly. She couldn't be pretending this. It did feel good, very good. He mumbled something about feeling pressure or release, but she'd lost focus. A rush of pleasure and ecstasy soared through her and she screamed, crying out his name. A second later, two deep moans came from Fiyero and she could feel him join her over the edge.
He kissed her then and lay beside her, stroking her cheek as their breathing returned to normal. Tiredly, she nuzzled against him and he held her.
With a soft kiss to her forehead, he said, "I love you." He repeated it over and over, his words like a lullaby, singing her to sleep