A/N: I've been trying to put this chapter up since Sunday, but as I'm sure everyone is aware, the site's log-in has been down since the weekend. I wanted to get this up quickly, in case everything messes up again. Let's hope not.

The first half of this chapter is not in the musical, but everything from Fiyero's entrance to the throne room through the end of the chapter is.

Leaving

I was pacing my bedroom when I heard the light knock at the door.

"Fiyero?"

I sighed and glanced at the clock. I'd been barricaded in my room for almost two hours, pacing for the majority of that time, and I was no closer to deciding what to do about my situation. On the one hand, I didn't want to marry Glinda. On the other – I didn't see that I had a choice. No one except Glinda herself would understand if I announced that I did not want to become the husband of the Wizard's vizier. No one except Glinda - and maybe not even her - understood how I was feeling. And no one knew whom I really loved.

I crossed the room and pulled the door open.

Glinda stood on the other side, her hand raised to knock again. She smiled sadly, timidly. She had changed into a fancy ball gown. It suited her, but I felt nothing. Nothing like the feelings I thought I used to have for her.

"Will you come to the ball?" she asked softly.

The ball. Our engagement party.

"Glinda…"

She looked away, but not before I saw the tears building in her eyes.

"I know you don't love me," she whispered.

My shoulders slumped and I stepped forward, hugging the small woman close.

"I do love you Glinda," I told her. "Just – not like that. I'm sorry."

"I never gave you the chance to tell me otherwise," Glinda sniffled, carefully wiping the tears away from her eyes before her makeup could run.

I took her hand and kissed it. "You're beautiful, Glinda. And you're braver than you think you are. You were Elphaba's friend when no one else would be, even though she was...different, and it could have ruined your reputation. And you stand up there in front of all those people and lead them, even though you don't think you're qualified. You're a very special person."

Glinda blushed, and then hesitated. "…are you going to leave?"

"No. I'm not going anywhere. I'll marry you, Glinda. Because I'm not as brave as you are."

"But you don't want to marry me!" Glinda wailed.

I leaned forward and kissed her lips gently. "Let's go."

--

The party was large, fancy, and exaggerated. There were countless couples twirling on the dance floor – most I did not recognize.

As usual, Glinda stood out from all the other women, whose dresses were a great deal more demure. She led me onto the dance floor, dazzling the others with her most public smile. I forced myself to smile, too, and found that I had gotten so used to faking emotions it was almost too easy to pretend to be enjoying myself.

As it turned out, the party, for me at least, was short-lived. Glinda and I had no sooner begun our third dance than one of the Gale Force approached me stiffly.

"Captain Tiggular, there is an, uh, a disturbance in the throne room."

The look in his eyes betrayed the urgency his words and manner did not. I stepped away from Glinda immediately.

"I'll be back," I told her. She looked frightened, but nodded. I felt her eyes on my back as I followed the soldier out of the throne room.

Once we were out of sight, we broke into a run. The man shoved a gun into my hands.

"What is it?" I panted.

"The Wizard," he said shortly.

The throne room was not far away from the ballroom. A second soldier met us as we approached the tall doors. There was a fraction of a second when all three of us paused; then the man I had come with leapt forward into the room with us on his heels.

The Wizard was hiding behind his mechanical contraption. His head poked out when the door opened, and I saw relief – and maybe disappointment? – etched on his face. He seemed to be unharmed.

"Are you all right, your Ozness?" I asked at once.

"Fiyero!"

I froze and slowly turned.

And there she was. Elphaba. She had not changed much since I had last seen her, except that she looked older, and somehow even more beautiful than I remembered, even in a simple black dress, her combat boots, and the hat. She held an ancient broomstick in one hand.

I caught my breath, shocked to the very core to see her here, today of all days.

"I don't believe it," I murmured, swallowing.

Elphaba looked relieved to see me. "Oh, Fiyero, thank Oz, I thought you were-"

I pulled up my gun and aimed it straight at her. "Silence, witch!" The words burst out before I had time to think about them, but unconsciously I knew that I needed to pretend, harder than I ever had before. There were others watching. Still, the surprised look on Elphaba's face hurt.

"There's a Goat on the lam, sir," one of the soldiers told me.

Dr. Dillamond? I shook my head, thinking fast.

"Never mind that, fetch me some…some water." The irony was almost funny.

The others exchanged glances.

"…water?"

I nodded sharply, without taking my eyes or gun off Elphaba. "You heard me. As much as you can carry. Now."

"Yes, sir!" They saluted and departed.

Elphaba took a step forward. "Fiyero…"

"I said silence!" I barked, moving quickly to the Wizard and grasping his arm. Surprising even myself, I threw him to the floor and aimed the gun at him instead.

"No!" the Wizard gasped.

"Don't make a sound, Your Ozness, unless you want everyone to know the truth about the Wonderful Wizard of Oz," I snarled, my tone icy. I glanced at Elphaba, my heart still beating wildly. "Elphaba, I'll find Dr. Dillamond later, now get out of here!"

She stepped closer instead. "Fiyero, you frightened me. I thought you might have changed."

I took a long look at her and smiled grimly. "I have changed."

The doors opened again and I jumped, certain it would be the soldiers with the water. Instead, Glinda entered.

"What's going on?" Her eyes found Elphaba and widened. She half-screamed and flew forward, hugging her friend tightly. "Elphie! Oh, thank Oz you're alive!" She let her friend go and stepped back. "Only you shouldn't have come! If anyone discoverates you…"

"Glinda," I interrupted her impatiently, "you'd better go."

She frowned at me. "Fiyero, what are you…?"

"Please, just go back to the ball!" I pleaded.

Glinda suddenly seemed to notice the Wizard at my feet. She gasped and looked very rapidly from him, to me, to Elphaba, and back again.

"Your Ozness, he means no disrespectation!" she explained quickly. "You see, we all went to school together…"

"Elphaba!" I urged, jerking my head at her.

Glinda looked confused. "Fiyero, have you misplaced your mind? What are you doing?"

I hesitated, then closed the distance between Elphaba and I and took her hand.

"I'm going with her." I felt Elphaba stiffen under my touch and sensed her staring up at me in shock.

Glinda mouthed wordlessly. "W-what are you saying? Do you mean – all this time…the two of you…behind my back?" She was clearly on the verge of tears.

Elphaba started forward. "No, Glinda, it wasn't like that!" she exclaimed.

I pulled her back. Thudding footsteps were fast approaching the room - we had to leave. "Well, actually, it was…but it wasn't." That made perfect sense. I felt pained, but there was no time to explain. "Elphaba, let's go! Now!"

She followed me willingly as we dove out of a side door. I heard Glinda calling after us and cringed.

"Fine! Go! You deserve each other!"

Forgive me.

A/N: You should know what comes next...Hint: Romance.