A/N: Haha! Oh, trust me! I wish he would kiss her too! And I'm the one writing it! Now I may take a different route to the musical here... Of course, they're still going to the Emerald City, that much is for certain... But I also want Elphie to graduate and Fiyeraba to thrive... I'll have a think about it.

A Million Dreams

"You never did explain what you were planning yesterday." Boq probed Nessa as he pushed her through the courtyard.

"Because I don't know myself yet..." Nessa said softly. "You said it yourself, Fiyero likes her, might even love her. It's obvious to everyone but her. I'll bet Glinda knew and that's why they broke up."

The Munchkin shook his head, chuckling softly. "Miss Nessarose, I didn't have you down as a gossip." he teased in a mock scandalised whisper.

She blushed a pretty pink and giggled softly. "I'm going to find a way to get them together. I know, ordinarily, Glinda is the one with a sack full of Cupid's arrows... But somehow I don't think she'd easily go along with setting up her ex-boyfriend with her best friend."

"If you don't think she'd set them up, what makes you think that she'd be fine with you doing it?"

Nessa shrugged. "I don't know... But what I do know is if she doesn't get the OK from Glinda, Fabala wouldn't even entertain the idea of just one date, let alone an actual relationship with him just out of principle..." She knew she'd have to get the blonde onboard before she did anything else. She just hoped that her plan wasn't over before it even had a chance to live.

Boq just simply smiled at her. He may have only initially asked her to the OzDust dance just to impress Glinda, but, despite her spoilt nature, he saw that she was kind, and cared deeply for the ones she loved, and he couldn't help but love her for it. He even hoped that one day, he might actually just fall completely in love with her. "Is there anywhere you wish to go?"

"Why don't we go and sit by the canal for a while? It's such a lovely day to waste it indoors, especially when I have to be stuck in Literature, Economics and Mathematics this evening."

"As the lady wishes." He spoke cheerfully and he wheeled her in the direction of Suicide Canal.

They sat on the bridge for a short while, the pair chattering away before Nessa began to grow bored, and she was wheeled along the canal once more.

"Glinda! What are you doing here? I thought you'd be with Elphaba and Fiyero? Or even Ollivander?" Nessa smiled at the blonde up ahead, who was throwing pebbles into the water.

Glinda jumped at the voice. "Oh... I was... I just needed a moment to myself."

Nessa knew something was bothering her. "Would you like to talk about it?" she asked, which Glinda gave a small shrug in response.

Boq, sensing that this was to be a girls-only conversation, quickly kissed Nessa on the cheek. "I'll just be right over there. Shout for me when you're done," he told her and left the girls alone, retreating back to the bridge.

"I don't want to pretend anymore."

Nessa looked confused, but remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"I love Elphie... she's like the sister I never had... And of course, so are you... But I'm not stupid. I can see Elphie has feelings for him, and he told me he loves her. But I can't pretend that I'd be ecstatified to hear he'd asked her to be his girlfriend right now if it were to happen that is..."

"Of course, it's bound to hurt, Glinda. Fabala is your best friend, and she'd never do anything like that if you expressed your hurt."

"I know!" The blonde lamented. "I know... And that's what makes her the bestest friend... And it makes me selfish."

"How so?"

"Because I'd be taking away her happiness... And that's not a very goodly thing to do. I can't be selfish, not with Elphie!" she wailed.

"Then don't. Glinda, it's okay to be sad, but you can't possibly expect Fiyero to go celibate for the rest of his life, nor can you stop him from seeing whoever he wanted."

"Nessa, if it was any other girl, I wouldn't care, in fact, I'd probably throw a party. But it's Elphie... It's my best friend! Would you be okay if you and Biq broke up, and suddenly developed feelings for him and pursued him?"

Nessa shook her head. "That's hardly likely to happen, and I really don't think that their feelings for each other have been a sudden developmentation. I agree, that something happened to make them realise it." She added, seeing the blonde about to argue. "But I think this has been a slow build for a while."

"It's just... why her?"

"I don't know... I don't think even they know it themselves. He knows he loves her. And if Fabala has acknowledged her feelings for him, she's doing everything she can to avoid it and not act on it, because of you. Surely that's not fair on her..." Nessa knew to appeal to her friend's "goodly" nature was an underhanded trick, but she had to make her see reason.

"Has she said anything to you?"

"Only doubts about her self-worth, and the fact that a Prince 'couldn't possibly see her that way'. And that it wouldn't be fair to you. She doesn't believe any of this is a real possibility." Nessa told her honestly.

"She truly believes she's not loved?" Glinda gasped sadly before wailing once more. "But I've tried so hard to-"

"It's going to take longer than six months to undo seventeen years' worth of hurt, neglect and put downs... I don't think I've ever seen her cry, not even as a child."

Glinda had, only once. She'd seen her friend's panic attacks more times than she cared to think about. But she'd only seen the green girl cry once. It wasn't the insults she had to endure on a daily basis that did it. Not even the time she played that cruel prank on her with the hat that began their friendship. It was, however, that very same night, when she told the blonde the story about her mother's death, how she believed it to be her fault, and there was nothing Glinda could do to make her think otherwise. Thus began her declaration to make her popular, which was... still a work in progress.

"In fact," Nessa continued in the blonde's silence. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen her smile, or laugh, or be young and carefree before she came to Shiz with me. You and Fiyero are responsible for that." she smiled.

Glinda sighed softly. "I need to let them be happy, don't I." she nodded as though answering her own question. "I told him to tell her before we left for the Emerald City."

"That's still a month away." Nessa nodded. She still had time.

"Thank you for listening to me." Glinda bent to hug her.

"It's no trouble, you know that." she returned the hug.

The blonde smiled and walked away, and Boq made his way back to his girlfriend. "Is everything alright?"

"I hope so... She told Fiyero to tell Elphaba how he feels by the time they leave for the city. I just hope she didn't tell him that knowing that Fabala could very well reject him on the spot because of her loyalty to her."

Boq nodded silently. As much as he liked Glinda, he no longer had the idolising rose-tinted glasses on around her, he couldn't deny that there was a manipulative streak in the blonde.

"Can you take me back, please? I don't feel like being out here anymore, and I need to find Fiyero."

"Why?"

"I think it's time I spoke to him about my sister."

The Munchkin said nothing else after that and obediently wheeled Nessa back to campus.

Elphaba was the last to leave her Literature class, having stayed behind to discuss her essay with her professor.

"Fae, come on!"

Elphaba smirked, she knew that tone meant that he was incredibly bored and had been waiting for her for a while. She left the essay on the desk and headed out to him. "You know, you wouldn't be so bored if you went to the classes your friends are not in."

"But Mathematics is boring. And pointless!" He complained. "Why don't we go for something to eat? I'm starving."

"Because you stupidly missed breakfast, it's 11:30 and we still have Life Sciences."

"But food." He pouted.

"Will still be there at 12:30." she shoved him forward.

Nessa smiled when she saw them enter the courtyard. "Fiyero! Do you perhaps have a moment?"

"All the time in the world for you, Miss Nessarose." he grinned at her and dramatically bowed. "How may I be of service?"

Elphaba scoffed. "Idiot," she spoke softly with a fond smile.

"Could I speak with you privately?"

"I know you love me, Nessa, there's no point in denying it to everyone."

The sisters just laughed at him.

"Leave her be!" Elphaba smiled.

"Alright, fine." he waved nonchalantly. "Of course, you can." he grinned again, following Nessa to a spot out of earshot of Elphaba and Boq. "What was it you wanted to talk about?"

"Your feelings for my sister."

He stared at her in shock.

"I'm not blind, or stupid, Fiyero. An idiot can see you're completely besotted with her. Now, while your... reputation was questionable, it's also evident that you're trying to change that."

He nodded. "I am. I'd do almost anything for her."

"And... she deserves to be happy. I think you make her happy."

"Nessa, I do love her. More than I ever thought possible. It terrifies me because this has never happened before with any of the girls I've been with. Usually, I can easily say the right thing and I can... well, you know." He shrugged. "But she doesn't feel that way about me."

"Because her self confidence and self-worth are at rock bottom. Fiyero, I do believe she does feel the same way, she'd kill me for saying this, but she doesn't see why you'd love someone like her."

"Someo-... How can you-?"

"Just see it from her standing point. She's been told all of her life all she's good for is caring for me... Everyone shunned her because of her skin."

"How can I change that?"

"Show her how much you care. Just continue to be yourself around her. You have to build her up before you make any moves. Talking it through with her would also help I think..."

He nodded. He meant what he said. He'd do anything to see Elphaba happy. "I may need help with Glinda though." he sighed.

Nessa nodded. "If Fabala sees that Glinda doesn't approve, there's no way she'd do any of this," she spoke. "I did speak to her just now, she was so confusified with it all."

He nodded and walked back to Elphaba, Boq taking his cue to leave them to it.

"What was that about?"

"Oh... Nothing major." He grinned as they walked to their class. "What are you doing later?"

"Studying for my Astronomy and Sorcery exams then off to Economics with Nessa. Why?"

He shrugged. "Just thought we could go out. As friends, I mean..." He had to tread carefully, he knew. She scared easily.

"We could go tomorrow?" She suggested, to his surprise, and his face lit up.

"Why not? There's a carnival on this weekend in the next village over."

She faltered mid-step. "I..." she trailed off and he didn't hear what else she said.

"Fae? What is it?" he asked, looking confused when she mumbled again something unintelligible. "Sorry, what?"

"I said I've never been to one before..."

His face softened and pulled her against his side, repressing a grin when she didn't shove him away as she usually would. "It's fine. I don't mind taking you." The way she looked up at him with so many nerves and so much wariness had his heart melting and breaking simultaneously. "Fae, for as long as we're friends, I'm going to do these things for you." He had hoped to continue to do so for the rest of his life with her as his wife one day. "I promise you, as long as I'm around, you won't be unhappy. I won't let you miss out on anything again." He pressed a kiss to her forehead which made her smile.

"Come on, we'll be late," she said softly, trying to ignore the fluttering in her stomach, the thudding of her heart in her ears, the lump in her throat. She couldn't allow herself to envision her future with him. She couldn't let herself see her future self holding his hand, kissing him, having fun with him the next time they would attend a funfair or a carnival together. The only future she wanted to see but knew she couldn't have. No, her friendships were too important to her, and despite what she'd hoped, she had no future outside of Shiz if the Wizard did not accept her and take her away from Munchkinland. Everything was riding on that one short day to the Emerald City in four weeks' time.

Seeing that he wasn't going to get any more of a response from her, Fiyero just kept his arm around her as they walked. He knew from experience that when that dark look graced her face, she would be stuck inside her head for a while. He kept his surprise well hidden when he felt her make the smallest of attempts at hugging herself closer to him. 'One day, Fae. One day I will show you how much you mean to me. How much I love you.' He thought to himself. He knew Elphaba. He knew she much preferred private and intimate to swankified social events. If he was going to prove to her his love for her, he was going to have to finally use his brain. Nessa still seemed unsure about Glinda's acceptance, and the more he thought about it, so did he. He just hoped that the younger Thropp would be able to resolve it and fast.

They hadn't even noticed the stares from the other students, Elphaba hadn't even heard the whispers until Shen Shen's shrill, irritating voice sounded like a fire alarm. "What's Fiyero doing with the Artichoke?! I thought he was with Glinda!"

Elphaba froze on the spot, and Fiyero glared.

"What did you just say?" He spoke in a dangerous tone, a dark look in his azure eyes. "I suggest you back away now and apologise before I forget myself."

Shen Shen paled considerably, any further taunts she had died on her tongue, leaving her stammering for the right words.

"Yero, leave it..." Elphaba's voice was quiet. She was looking at the floor, her expression neutral, but he knew her better than that.

"No, Fae, I will not." He turned to her, gently cupping her face in his hands making her look up at him. The unshed tears he was met with broke him, and he did everything he could to keep his temper in check. She would not appreciate him being overprotective. "Fae, I know you say you're used to it all, but you shouldn't have to be. You're my friend and... I love you." It was the only way he could confess it right now without her running away. "And so does Glinda. She wouldn't just threaten violence, I'm pretty sure she'd have thrown a pink stiletto in the general direction. And probably have a good aim."

Every instinct was screaming at her to run, to get away from the whispers, to get away from the sincerity in his eyes. Away from the love she felt for him. Her eyes widened at his own confession before a small smile tugged at her lips. "Yeah... she would have..." she said quietly.

He stayed there for a short moment before dropping his hands, instead holding her hand in his before she could turn and run away. "Come with me."

No words came as he dragged her through the corridor. Past their Life Sciences class. He didn't stop until they reached Elphaba's sanctuary. The library. He pulled her inside, not stopping until he reached their corner at the very back of the library, where nobody save for the librarian would disturb them, and he crushed her against him in a tight hug.

It didn't take her long for her resolve to crumble and her tears fell, her arms locked together around his waist and her head against his shoulder.

Reflexively his hold tightened around her when he felt her thin frame shuddering with her silent sobbing. "I'm here, Fae," he whispered in her ear, kissing her hair. He kept whispering words of comfort to her the whole time.

It seemed like an age had passed, and Elphaba felt she had wept more than she ever had her whole life. Tentatively, she loosened her arms around him. "Sorry..." she sniffled.

"Shh." He told her softly, reaching behind her at the box of tissues that had been discreetly placed by the librarian some time ago, he retrieved a tissue from the box and held it in front of her face.

She let out a choked laugh and took it, wiping her face and her nose with it. "Sorry about your shirt..."

"I don't mind, Fae." And he didn't. He usually didn't know what to do with a crying female, but with her, instinct kicked in. "You don't have to pretend with me."

"Who's pretending?"

"So you always cry on my shoulder in the middle of the library?" he smirked, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Shut up." she huffed and lightly pushed him, but at least now she was smiling, but it didn't last. Normally she'd have torn him apart for jumping to her defence, but something stopped her. She knew it was her crippling self-doubt, the fact that to herself, and to everyone around her, she was worthless. They were right. Why exactly was the Crown Prince of the Vinkus around her?

"Alright, stop that." He looked at her. "Fae I know you. You think they're right. Well, last time I checked, they were not my parents. They do not get to decide who I choose to spend my time with, who I become friends with, or who I date."

"Your parents would hate me too."

"No, they love you." He blurted out and then winced.

She looked up in shock. "What?"

He shuffled on his feet. "I may have written to them about you. I mean... Not just you, I did tell them about the rest of my friends too..."

"What did you tell them?" she asked warily.

"The truth."

"Yero...-"

"That there's this beautiful green girl from Munchkinland, too smart for her own good, sassy, sarcastic, absolutely brilliant at everything. Keeps me on my toes. Actually gets me to use my brain and has the biggest heart of all."

"Yero! Be serious!"

"I am serious! Elphaba, I know it's hard for you to comprehend that someone could think you're an amazing person. But please, I'm telling you the truth, it is genuinely what I think and how I feel about you."

She didn't believe a word of it. "And what did your parents say to that?"

"I just got word from them this morning actually, and they've invited my friends to come back to the Vinkus with me in the summer. And yes, that includes you. They want to meet the woman who takes absolutely none of my nonsense and actually made the Brainless Prince think." He smirked.

A blush darkened her cheeks and she ducked her head. "Yero, I... I don't think my father would-"

"He might if it came from Nessa." He cut her off.

"Have you even asked her?"

He shrugged. "Details. I'll sort it." He looked at her. "Alright, I'll ask them all at lunch." he amended when he saw the look she gave him. "But can you really see Nessa pass up the opportunity to go somewhere new? Or Glinda for that matter? Or even you? I mean... Boq may take some convincing..."

"No, I suppose that's true." She agreed. "So, we come back from the Emerald City, father is none the wiser about that. Then we have one more month left of school before we break for the summer."

Fiyero nodded. "And this might just be the first ever school I don't get kicked out of." He grinned, definishly proud of himself.

"Congratulotions." she said dryly. "What would your friends back in the Vinkus say?" she teased.

"Most of them wouldn't care." He shrugged. "Miko, however, would most likely faint on the spot. He's been convinced I'd be the boy who never grows up forever." He grinned. He knew his best friend would also love to meet the woman responsible for such change. And then declare he marry her immediately.

"Who's Miko?" she asked, her arms locking around his waist again.

"Probably one of the only close friends I can fully trust back home. Best friends since we came out of the womb, he's like my brother."

"Which one's older?" she smiled, her head on his shoulder. She loved hearing stories from his childhood.

"He is, by three weeks. And he likes to remind me of it frequently."

"Is this the friend you keep talking about in your childhood?"

"The very same. And his brother, Luka, being the other friend. Two years younger than us. We've all taken the rap for each other so many times."

She smiled and would have asked more, but her growling stomach had other ideas. She flushed dark green with embarrassment.

He laughed. "Come on, I think it's time for food."

"You always think it's time for food."

He landed a kiss on her temple with a grin, ignoring her pointed glare and dragged her out of the library to the canteen.

Most notably, the whispers had stopped.

They both grabbed their lunch and walked over to the table their other friends were making their way to.

"Elphie? What happened?" Glinda could tell she'd been crying.

"Fabala?" Nessa looked up at her sadly.

"Not here. Please." Her voice was tight, and no one argued with her. She sat with Fiyero while the other three went to get their own lunch and they returned swiftly.

Elphaba didn't like the silence around them. "How're everyone's finals coming?" she asked.

Glinda groaned. "There's too much... thinking!" she complained.

The green girl laughed. At least the tense silence was gone.

"Very funny, Fae," Fiyero smirked and shook his head. "I received a letter from my parents today, and they seem pleasantly surprised that the Brainless Prince hasn't been kicked out yet." he grinned. "They've also extended an invitation to my friends to stay with us for a couple of weeks in the Vinkus this summer."

As predicted, his words were met with squeals of delight and excitement from Glinda and Nessa. Poor Boq didn't know where to place himself.

"Really?" Was his question.

"Of course! There's no better group of people I'd rather spend the summer with. Don't let the titles fool you, they're not that scary." He grinned.

"You have to say that. They're your parents." The Munchkin grumbled.

"Fabala! I'll write to father tonight. Oh, I do hope he'll let us go!"

"We'll be able to have someone assist you, too, Nessa, if you didn't want Fae to worry about it too much."

The younger girl's eyes gleamed with happiness.

"Anyway, even if he says no, we'll just bundle you two into a carriage and take off with you." Glinda grinned.

The sisters exchanged an amused look. They didn't doubt for a clock-tick that the blonde was quite serious and would do just that.

Elphaba took a moment to look around the table. Even at his offer of extra help just so she didn't have to worry, her heart grew. She observed the faces of her friends and her sister. This right here, this was her family. This was exactly how she imagined a real family to be. In this group of people, she found that she belonged. And she loved them. She never wanted this moment to end.