Tonight's was sent in by Ultimate Queen of Cliffies, who has been super-fantastic in that she has taken the time to review every chapter so far (Thank you so much!) She requested Post-musical. Fiyero is human again. Fiyero and Elphaba are decorating a Lurlinemas tree together. Fiyeraba pairing and fluff.

Enjoy!

"Are you sure this is the last one?"

Nodding, Fiyero grunted slightly as he placed the heavy box on the floor. "I'm almost positive. And if it's not, well." He shook his head, rotating his shoulders to ease some of the tightness. "it will have to do."

Elphaba smirked at him form her place at the dining rom table, catching his hand as he passed. "We certainly have enough here to get a god start on things. Besides, I'm sure your parent will thank you for saving them the trouble of lugging the decorations down from the attic."

Taking a moment to catch his breath, Fiyero took a seat next to her. "Yeah. Except that they're the King and Queen of the Vinkus. Shouldn't we have servants for this?"

"It's Lurlinemas Eve, Fiyero. You said yourself the servants have had today and tomorrow off for as long as you could remember. Why change things now."

"Perhaps because our tree has always been up long before Lurlinemas Eve," Fiyero grumbled, crossing his arms like an indignant child. "Why my parents insisted on waiting until we arrived is beyond me."

Linking her fingers through his, the green girl cast him a knowing look. "You know as well as I whose fault this is. Really, Yero, she's your baby sister. Is all of this work so bad if, at the end of it all, she's happy?"

He gave a wry laugh. "Shouldn't she be happy enough to find out we're alive when all of OZ believes us to be the opposite?" Shaking his head, he conceded. "Fae, you know I can never say no to the women in my life. Who am I to start now?"

She chuckled. "I know it was a shock to your family. I'm just glad they've…accepted my past…and me."

The Prince's eyes softened and he leaned forward to kiss her tenderly. "They love you, sweetheart, almost as much as I do." He smiled. "I promise."

Releasing a deep sigh, she nodded. "I believe you. It's just…"

Fiyero said nothing in response, just pulled her further into his arms. He knew very well what was bothering her; he always did. And it broke his heart to not be able to give her the one thing she missed more than anything. "Fae…we've been through this. If there were any possible way, don't you think I would find it?"

"I know," her voice was muffled in his shoulder, yet she nuzzled deeper, needing to feel his arms around her, finding comfort that she had never known before him. "I know you're right." Closing her eyes momentarily, she whispered. "But Oz knows it doesn't make it any easier."

Not knowing how to respond, except the usual placation, the Prince chose instead to remain silent, only tightening his embrace and wishing there was something he could do to make her happy.

A sudden shout of "Yero!" interrupted their quiet moment and the couple separated just in time to see the youngest Tiggular make her presence known. Launching herself at her brother, Maida Tiggular's bright blue eyes shone with excitement and, at the ripe old age of seven, had grown nearly four inches since Elphaba had last seen her.

"Hey squirt," Fiyero greeted with a smile, wrapping the younger girl in a tight hug. "Ready to decorate the tree?"

"Of course!" she announced, letting go of her brother only long enough to hug the green woman. "Miss Elphaba! I'm so excited you're here!."

Elphaba chuckled, returning Mai's embrace. "Me too, Mai. You've gotten so tall!"

Nodding with pride, Maida informed her. "Yep! Four whole inches! Mama says I'll be nearly as tall as Yero when I'm done!."

"Well, you've very well on your way, then." Allowing Mai to take her arm, the green girl cast a smile back to Fiyero, who followed. "So, where is this impressive tree I'm hearing all about."

"Oh, it's in Father's study."

Fiyero groaned. "Seriously, Mai? What happened to putting it in the dining room like we always have."

His sister shrugged. "I think it looks better in there."

Elphaba smirked as he groaned again, no doubt irked at having to move all of the boxes again. Reaching back, she took his hand and whispered. "It's good for you, my sweet. It helps makes up for the all the work you failed to do at Shiz."

Fiyeros' undignified "hey!" was lost as he trio entered the King's study. "Sweet Oz…" Elphaba murmured. In the far corner of the room stood an enormous pine tree. Easily twelve feet in height, it rose majestically toward the ceiling, framed by the large floor-to-ceiling windows that revealed the starry night sky. Shaking her head in wonder, Elphaba could only murmur. "It's absolutely gorgeous."

Grinning, Fiyero came to stand besides her, slipping an arm around her waist. "Just wait until we're finished." Pressing a kiss to her check, he tugged her along behind him. "Come on, girls. Lurlinemas is almost here and this tree isn't going to decorate itself, is it?"

And so on it went. One by one, boxes were unpacked and ornaments were hung with care. The tree made quick work of decorating, taking time to admire a specific piece, learning the history behind it or making up their own.

Fiyero lifted Maida up to place a family heirloom on a high branch, with careful instructions not to drop the aged ball, made of fragile glass. Elphaba looked on, a strange sense of pride in her heart as the Prince handled his sister with such care. Maida successfully hung the ornament and practically beamed under their older brother's praise. Idly, Elphaba noted how well he handled her and there was no doubt he would make a wonderful father one day.

Where in Oz did that come from? Getting a little ahead of ourselves are we, girl?

"Hey," Coming to stand beside her, Fiyero slipped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. "Are you okay? You had this…I don't know…weird look on your face."

She nodded. "I'm fine. Just…thinking, I suppose." She smirked up at him. "But I can hardly expect you to understand what that's like."

"I've never seen him do it," Mai added, solemnly.

"Now, wait just a clock-tick," Fiyero stated, directing an indignant glare simultaneously at his girlfriend and his sister. "I resent that. If you ask Glinda, she'll tell you it' s one of the many things that lead to our break-up"

Elphaba met his eyes, playful glare or playful glare, ignoring the ache in her heart at her best friend's name. "If Glinda were here, she'd also agree with me that your thinking never lead to anything good."

"It lead to us, didn't it?" he shot back, smiling when her expression faltered. "I thought so."

Looking from Fiyero to Elphaba and back again, Maida asked, "Can you guys ever go a day without fighting?"

Fiyero's eyes widened, but Elphaba stepped in first. 'We're not fighting, Mai. Your brother just has a bad habit of trying to best me, that's all."

Maida considered this in silence for a moment and then turned to her brother and said, as if it were the answer to all of the world's problems, "Everyone knows girls are better than boys."

Shaking his head and knowing there'd be no living with either of them should this argument continue, the Prince held up in hands in surrender. "All right, ladies. You win." Turning his attention back to the boxes of decorations, he added, "Besides, we've got a lot more work ahead of us."

Slowly but surely, as they had before, more and more decorations were hung and more and more boxes were being thrown to the side. After another hour, Maida complained of exhaustion, to which she was sent to bed, leaving the couple to finish the job.

"I don't know how you do this every year, " Elphaba remarked, after the third hour of decorating had passed. "Our tree took a maximum of 90 minutes."

Hanging another bulb, Fiyero shrugged. "I suppose I'm just used to it. Living in a palace has its advantages and it's burdens."

A brow quirked. "And this would be?"

Sighing, Fiyero flashed a tired smile at the woman he loved. "I'll let you know." Returning to the box, he pulled out an ornament and motioned her to his side. "I have something for you."

Watching him quizzically, her eyes widened as he handed the object to her. "Fiyero…"

"It's not much," he admitted, turning the ornament over in her hand. Meeting her eyes, he said, softly, "But I hope it leaves little doubt as to my feelings toward you."

The green girl met his eyes, then ran her fingers slowing over the words delicately etched into the glass.

Yero & Fae. One love, one lifetime.

The reality of the words hit her full force. "Fiyero, are you…"

"Not yet, no. I know you're not ready for that." He chuckled as her whole body nearly sagged with relief. "But, Fae, I hope you know that I want to marry you. Desperately so. I'm willing to wait as long as you need, but, please, promise me that when your ready," Taking her hands, he forced her eyes to his. "Please, for the love of Oz, tell me."

Not knowing what else to do, she simply nodded. Lacing her arms around his neck, she kissed him, deeply, leaving no doubt as to her feelings, ready to marry him or not. Drawing back, she whispered. "I do promise, Fiyero. I really do." Kissing him again, she added, "Thank you for being so patient with me."

"I never want to push you into anything you're not ready for." He said, simply. "I just want you to know how much you mean to me and how much I love you. That's all."

"I can live with that, I suppose." she smiled. "And, just so you know, you won't have to wait forever."

"That's good to hear," he chuckled. "How do you feel about a spring wedding?"

"Fiyero…"

"Hey, can't blame a man for trying, can you?" Taking her hand, he led her toward the kitchen. "Come one, " his eyes sparkled. "I know where the head chef hides the best champagne."

"Are we celebrating something?"

"Yeah," he smiled, slowly, "we are." Wrapping an arm around her waist, he kissed her again. "We certainly are."