10. Night at the Museum
He was 32, she was 29
Tick tock, tick tock.
Time flies by.
Tick tock, tick tock.
He straightened his jacket and oiled his hair.
Tick tock, tick tock.
His shoes are shined and his goatee is trimmed.
He looked in the mirror and sees a man who looks just like him, but tired and wired on caffeine.
He is the King of the Vinkus.
"It's a lovely party, I must say." Pfannee's eyes roamed over the marble statues, carved painstakingly by Quadling artisans. She turned to her friend, Shenshen, and their respective husbands. "To think that our dearest friends, Fiyero and Elphaba have had the chance to attend parties like these all their lives."
Shenshen laughed daintily and rubbed at her husband's arm, "It's a good thing that my dear Maury is appointed Baronet then. We'll get to attend more of these in the future, I assure you."
Pfannee forced a smile, frustrated that her own useless husband is still stuck on the hinges of Nobility. They've got the riches, but no title, and it annoyed her to no end that Shenshen's scrawny twig of a husband got the Baronet appointment not just 2 weeks ago.
"Would you look at that?" Shenshen's hubby, Maury, gestured towards the two large status by the end of the exhibition hall. "The Wizard himself, right next to the new statue of the Grand Vizier. That's a bold message."
"Why would you say that?" Pfannee's husband asked curiously – which, in turn, caused Pfannee to rub her temples in embarrassment.
"The Wizard is implying that our Grand Vizier is on the same stage as himself. Her words hold the same power as the Wizard, is what it's saying." Maury explained. "I've heard many rumours in court about the possibility of the Wizard's eventual relinquishment of his authority to Lady Thropp in the near future. This – "he pointed to the statues, "– confirms it."
Shenshen snorted, "Elphie Thropp? Ruler of Oz?"
"Elphie Thropp indeed," Pfannee's eyes went wide, "Look at that green thing."
The party turned their attentions to the entrance. There stood Elphaba Thropp, the Grand Vizier of the land of Oz. In her youth, Elphaba was a gangly thing, dressed only in frocks and ill-fitting grey clothes. Her hair would be unkempt and her skin was green as grass.
She was still green, of course, but it was a bolder shade. Now that she was someone of the utmost importance, she had the help of secretaries and consultants who made sure that the Grand Vizier never stood in public without having her hair done, her lids painted and her lips puffed – although, it was all very subtle of course.
In the first time Pfannee and Shenshen had ever seen their old collage 'friend', they'd thought that Elphaba Thropp was beautiful. There was something about the sharp cheekbones and jawline that used to look odd in youth that turned into something alluring and charming as she got older.
"Is she accompanied?" Maury asked quietly. And sure enough, a man approached the Grand Vizier from behind and offered his arm confidently. The green lady smiled gently and took it. The two then walked away to greet some of the more important people in the room.
Pfannee all but screeched to get their attentions away from Elphaba, "Glinda has arrived!" She gestured wildly to the entrance again.
Sure enough, Glinda Upland stepped in and all eyes were on her. The gown that she wore was an expensive thing, riddled with shining jewels that matched her equally bright, cerulean eyes. Her smile shone like the sun in midday and her golden curls looked like they were the softest hair ever to grace the head of a woman.
She, too, was accompanied.
"Who is that?" Pfannee made a face. She should never had attended this stupid party. Now that she knew how much better off her collage friends were doing, it made her feel as if she'd been married to a munchkin farmer instead of a Gillikinese banker.
Hell, even Milla had seemed entirely happy with her life with her husband and kids out in the farms.
"That looks like Oliviette Chuffrey's brother!" Shenshen whispered scandalously.
"She snagged a Chuffrey?" Pfannee whined incredulously.
"Glinda the Good is with Callum Chuffrey?" Pfannee's husband exclaimed. "Isn't he a little older than her?"
"She seems happy enough. The Chuffs are loaded." Maury commented.
"The Time Dragon truly waits for no one," Shenshen said wistfully, "To think it's been nearly 10 years since we've met all these people, and we're all now actual adults in society. Some of us are royalty, and some of us are married to munchkin farmers."
"And some of us are married to bankers, but feels like we're married to a munchkin farmer…" Pfannee grumbled under her breath.
"Did you say something, dearest?"
"Nothing, love!" She forced a smile.
Tick tock, tick tock.
Time flies by.
Tick tock, tick tock.
He stepped out of his carriage and patted down his jacket.
Tick tock, tick tock.
They'll be waiting for him inside.
It has been many years since she had started attending all these silly parties, and she would still prefer to simply hide it out on the rooftop. Even with Wickham's reassuring squeeze of her hand, Elphaba still felt like the contents of her stomach might crawl up her oesophagus on their own intent.
She had heard the commotion at the entrance, and instantly knew that Glinda had stepped in. They had arrived on separate carriages because the bodyguards had insisted on riding with them this evening. Apparently the unveiling of Elphaba's statue right next to the Wizard had cause a stir amongst certain groups.
There was something else that had rattled her tonight, however. Something other than the possibility of getting assassinated.
It was just the feeling of being back here at the museum, standing right at this spot, and the thought of seeing him again after all these years. He would be coming, she was sure.
He was King now.
The news of Magnus Tiggular's passing had reached her almost 10 days after it had happened. She had almost succumbed to writing back to his many letters after receiving the note, but she had resisted. He finally stopped writing after one of the newspapers published her possible engagement to Lord Wickham Brewster.
She wasn't engaged, but there was nothing she could've said that would quell the rumours.
Perhaps, it had been for the best.
Something that she couldn't dull, however, was the constant ache in her chest whenever she heard of him, or caught a glimpse of him at a party or two. They hadn't talked in years, and Glinda had been worried about her, but Elphaba could never be sure. She would live with the ache in her heart for the rest of her life.
Even with Wickham's presence in her life now, there was just something that wasn't quite right. She had felt what love was supposed to feel like, and she did not feel that with him. He was simply someone who was there.
"Elphie, are you feeling alright?" Glinda asked when she had finally managed to break away from all the dignitaries who were clamouring to talk to her. "You look… ill."
Elphaba shook her head, "Just thinking about too many things at once. I hate parties." She added wryly.
"Do you want to step outside for a bit? I'll go with you. It's getting terribly stuffy in here anyway." She offered her arm and Elphaba laughed, taking it gently.
They walked by Chuffrey and Glinda told him to inform Wickham of where the two ladies would be if they needed to be found. Then, using expert side steps, they moved to quit the room. It was when they were almost out, that the grand entrance swung in.
The usher stepped in and guided a familiar face.
"My Lord, Fiyero Tiggular. King of the Vinkus."
In the 10 years of having met Fiyero, Glinda had never quite met a man as charming as him. It might've been the allure of being with a Prince – now King, of course – or the exotic tan to his skin. It might also be because of his deep set eyes and slightly hollow cheeks.
Looks aside, Glinda concluded that it was probably because of that boyish smile of his, and his kindness and compassion that surfaced once his carefree persona eroded away.
She realized that she loved him. No, not romantically anymore, but she loved him for being who he was. The ache of betrayal and lost love had ebbed away. Time healed, even if it took nearly 4 years and no contact.
They were adults now. One of them, a King. The other, the most important person in the Emerald City. And herself, the face of the government.
And yet, it only took being in the presence of each other to bring back the flushed cheeks of youth.
"Lady Elphaba." He greeted, and then his eyes flickered to the blond, "Glinda the Good." He smiled at that last bit. There was something strange about seeing Fiyero with facial hair. It made him look older, and definitely, definitely different.
"King Fiyero," Glinda couldn't help the little tug on the corner of her lips. In seconds, they were smirking at each other and trying not to laugh at how ridiculous they sounded. They were adults, nearly to their thirties, and they still couldn't keep a straight face when it came to greeting each other with their proper titles.
They hadn't seen each other or talked to each other in many years, but it was clear that they had missed being in the presence of the other. They were meant to be friends, not lovers.
Elphaba had her brows raised to her hairline, confused and blushing. Glinda saw the emotion that washed over her friend, though it was quickly buried. Elphaba was still in love with him, she realized. And from that look on Fiyero's face, she knew that he loved her still as well.
The years apart had done nothing to diminish their affection.
"We were just going outside to take in some fresh air." Glinda remarked. "Would you care to join us?"
She felt Elphaba stiffen at Glinda's proposal and the green lady pinched her arm covertly. Fiyero did not seem to notice.
"I'd love to." He winked charmingly, "But I'll have to greet some people first. You should go up to the roof instead. It's much nicer than being on street level."
"We're allowed on the roof?" The Frottican mused.
"Probably not, but I used to do that all the time…" His gaze seemed to fall on Elphie, and there was a small smile on her lips before she quickly swallowed it back. "It should be okay." He said.
"We'll be there then," Glinda waved. The two ladies curtsied slightly and Fiyero bowed. Glinda was sure that his eyes were on them all the way, until they disappeared behind the servant's door to the halls.
It wasn't until they were safely alone when Elphaba smacked her arm gently, "What was that about?" She crushed her brows together unattractively. Glinda pulled her along, looking for the stairs up.
"What?"
"The giggling and the friendly? I thought we're supposed to hate him?"
"I don't hate him," Glinda raised a brow, "Do you?"
Elphaba was thrown into confusion again. "B-But—"
"Elphie. That was 4 years ago. I'm sure that I love him as a friend, and nothing more. Besides, I have Chuff now. We're getting married in a month, remember?" She laughed as she made a corner and finally found the spiral steps up.
Elphaba was quiet for a while and Glinda couldn't help but glance over. "What about you? Have you made up your mind?"
"What do you mean?"
She sighed, "I mean. Now that you've seen him face to face again, are you still in love with him?"
They had reached the top of the long flight of stairs, and Elphaba flinched visibly. Glinda hummed and pushed open the door, allowing the cold evening air to prick her skin. Elphie picked up a tile from the pile (they were doing roof repairs) and used it prop the door ajar.
"This is nice." Glinda commented cheerily.
Elphaba was still confused and thoroughly taken aback by Glinda's nonchalant attitude towards their encounter with Fiyero. "You're being too cheerful about this."
"And you are being too stubborn." She frowned, "It's been years, Elphie. If that isn't proof of you still having feelings for him, I don't know what is."
"I-I'm with Wickham." She stuttered, and swallowed.
Glinda made a face. "You know how I feel about him."
"He was there for me." Elphie insisted.
"He was just there." She turned away from Elphaba and stared out at the stars. "It's not love, Elphie. You know that. I don't know what you two are doing, but you don't love each other. You tolerate each other, more like it.
"And who made you the queen of love—"
Glinda scoffed at Elphaba's childish jab.
Behind them, the door rattled, and out stepped the Vinkun King.
Elphaba Thropp had 4 years to sort out her feelings towards Fiyero.
In that 4 years, she had hated and loved him. She had never – for the life of her – managed to feel anything akin to indifference for him. He was always in the two extremes, and even when she thought she hated him, she knew she wanted him.
These were not good thoughts to have when she was known to be dating another man.
Fiyero looked very well. Better – in fact – than she had hoped. There was something about that goatee that pulled her gaze towards his lips. He was still handsome as always, and carried a dignified air with him, curtesy of his new status as King, surely.
He looked and felt the part, but once he pulled his lips into that charming smile he was known for, Elphaba could only see the boyish, caring, idiot boy whom she fell in love – and of whom used to love her.
No!
She couldn't let herself fall into that again. She can't still be in love with him. For years she had fought to reject that – she can't—!
"Is there something on my face?" Fiyero asked, eyes wide and awfully curious.
Elphaba coiled back – not realizing that she had been staring, "N-No! I wasn't—"
"I've been meaning to ask," Glinda interjected smoothly, "Why the goatee?"
Fiyero grinned, "I'm asserting my manliness through facial hair."
They laughed, all except for Elphaba, who was still confused and awkward. Fiyero looked over to her, and she felt her face heat up. She didn't understand what they were now, and she wanted anything but to start discussing that right now, in front of Glinda.
"How are you, Fae?" He asked gently. It's that nickname again.
Elphaba glanced at him, "I'm – "She swallowed, "– I'm good."
"That's nice to hear," he shoved his hands into his pockets, "I heard that the Wizard's relinquishing many of his powers to you? You're well on your way to taking over the entire Ozian government." He smiled amusedly.
"You heard that?" She felt her eyes widen.
"They're placing your statue right next to the Wizard's. You're implied to be on the same stage as the Wizard himself. It's a telling statement." He commented.
"Why, you're actually sounding like a real adult, talking about politics and what not," Glinda pulled her lips into a curious half-smile. "That's not the scandalacious Vinkun Prince I knew."
"Vinkun King please," He scolded mock-seriously.
Glinda giggled and curtsied, "Of course, my lord."
They continued to converse for a little bit. It was mostly between Glinda and Fiyero. Every once in a while, a question would be directed towards Elphaba, and it would all she would contribute. Finally, Glinda declared that she needed to use the restroom and ordered both Elphie and Fiyero to stay put.
The two stood together awkwardly. It was Fiyero who would be the first to break the silence. "Sit together?" He asked, gesturing towards the spot that used to belong to them.
Elphaba nodded wordlessly and they sat, a space left between them consciously. They simply stared out over the Emerald City skyline for a while. She didn't know what to say when she was hardly able to contain the warmness that had consumed her body in his presence. It was a warmness that she hadn't felt in their years apart.
She could feel every little movement from his direction. His shifting from one butt cheek to the other and him scratching his forearm distractedly. It was all tiny little things he did that reminded her of when they were younger. She could almost forget that he was already in his early thirties and she herself was leaving her twenties behind in a year.
"… So I heard that you're with someone now."
Elphaba eyes snapped towards the man sitting next to her. He was looking down at his knees and knocking them together.
"I am. A year now."
She could actually see her words affecting him physically and she felt her heart ache.
"I heard that you're engaged."
Elphaba snorted. "Tabloids."
For some reason, that seemed to lift his spirits a little. This was a dangerous game they were playing. The old feelings were rushing back again, and Elphaba prayed that Glinda would be back soon to save them, before they did anything they would regret.
"It's that lord whats-his-name?" He said, smirking slightly. His eyes flicked to hers, and she laughed, reminded of the first time they had all met. She remembered it as the night she had fallen in love with— Gah! She needs to stop that!
Fiyero seemed to be encouraged by Elphaba's laugh, however, and he continued. "I remember saying that you deserved better than him." He paused, and looked at her seriously, "I still do."
"Do?"
"Do think that you deserve better than him."
Elphaba said nothing to that. She didn't trust herself with him. She's feeling all warm and confused and out of it. It was as if that 4 years apart hadn't happened at all. They were staring at each other and feeling that urge to touch each other's faces all over again.
"What about you?" She asked grimly, not really all that excited to hear about his love life in all honesty.
He shrugged, "I'm King now, so the pressure to get a wife had more than doubled." He began picking at a thread on his jacket, "But no. I hadn't had anyone else in my life."
Else.
They continued talking about frivolous things for a while, neither wanted to be the one to broach the subject of their love lives again. After jumping from topic to topic, they finally managed to settle back into the banter they used to enjoy before everything went to hell.
They talked about everything, from Glinda's penchant for poufy dresses to Milla's fourth child in as many years. It was all very familiar to them, and the mending had begun before either knew what was happening.
One thing led to another, and they were sitting shoulder to shoulder, nagging at each other about where the other stood on Avaric's second marriage – this time to an influential socialite from the Glikkus.
"I don't know. I'm sure Avaric needs a woman who wouldn't be afraid to chain him down for good. This second one still looks like the frivolous type. It won't last." He commented with a flair.
Elphaba cackled, "I think he would never find a woman like that if he continues to marry Gillikinese girls. Munchkin girls are more likely to whip boys into men."
"Really now?" Fiyero smirked knowingly at her, and she felt her lips pull into a half smile. They looked at each other, unable to pull away once that eye contact was made. The air around them had suddenly become warmer than usual, again – another familiar sign.
Elphaba had sensed it first and had frozen in panic when she noticed Fiyero leaning in. Her eyes had fluttered shut as their lips touched – gently. She felt one of his hands come up to cup her cheek, and their kiss deepened. The taste of his lips was familiar, and gentle caressing of tongues was as if they hadn't been away from each other for over 4 years.
Her hands came up to his hair, stroking softly. He pulled her closer to him – so much closer that there were no longer any space between them, and she was nearly sitting on his lap.
There was something about her teasing nibbling on his lips and the gentle thrusting of his tongue that had felt so familiar to them – and yet, even after all these years, and under the circumstances of tonight, it didn't feel rushed. It was as if the Time Dragon stopped and waited just for them.
They stayed like this for a while, until they had to pull away from air.
The kiss was like nothing she had had before. It wasn't urgent like their first kiss, or intensely vulnerable like their second. This one felt… right.
He kept his eyes on her, and she knew that instant that he loved her, just as she loved him. He dropped his arms to her waist, holding her against him and refusing to let go – and it wasn't as if she would want to be let go. She still had her hands in his hair.
She didn't know what to say to him, but thankfully, he would be the one to speak first, "… It's been nearly 10 years – 10 years since I've loved you." He kissed her again, "And it was right here where I realized that my heart is yours forever."
Callum Chuffrey had only just caught a glimpse of his betrothed exiting the ladies' restroom when he called after her.
Glinda spun around, startled.
"Glinda, dear," He began worriedly, "Where have you girls been? You've been gone for nearly an hour. We were worried sick."
The Frottican flushed. "Sorry. We just got caught up with chatting with an old friend."
"Fiyero?" He asked. He had greeted Fiyero just a little more than an hour ago, and the Vinkun King had disappeared right after that. He wasn't so stupid as to not put two and two together.
Glinda noticed the little hint of disappointment in Chuffrey's voice, and so she tiptoed and planted a kiss on his cheek, and smiled. "We were just talking. Elphie's with us too so it's all fine… Although, I'm thinking of just leaving the two of them up there for the rest of the night."
Chuffrey was taken aback by Glinda's scandalous suggestion, "My love, that's hardly appropriate. I mean – wasn't Elphaba accompanied here tonight by Wickham?"
Glinda sighed, and checked for blind spots along the hall way. When she was sure that there weren't any possibility of eavesdroppers, she whispered conspiratorially to her betrothed, "You remember when I told you how Fiyero and I fell apart? Well, it was because he was in love with Elphaba the entire time we were together. And the worst part was that she loved him too."
Chuffrey felt his eyes widening and his brows shooting up to his hairline. "That… H-How…?"
"They're still heads over heels, but neither knows what to do or how to deal with it. And now there's Wickham to get rid of." She grumbled. She noticed the uncertainty on Chuffrey's face and laughed gently, "Are you worried that you're soon going to be married to a sociopath?"
He sighed, defeated, "It's a good thing I'm so in love with you then… So what's the plan?"
Glinda grinned, and then kissed him soundly on the lips.
Fiyero had never felt so nervous in his entire life.
Not when he had stepped up to be King.
Not when he had first broached the subject of breaking up with Glinda.
No.
It was nothing like standing in front of Elphaba Thropp and waiting for her judgement. Even as an adult in his early thirties – and as King of the Vinkus – he still felt like a boy when it came to Elphaba. He wanted to do everything in his power to impress her and to make her happy. He would do anything to serve her, and only her.
Elphaba, on the other hand, looked like she was about to fall apart – not knowing what to do with the utter devotion and love she was receiving from Fiyero.
"I… I don't know what to do." She said in a voice barely above a whisper. He was holding her hands and pouring every last bit of love and adoration to the surface of his skin, so that she might feel it.
"Do you love me?" He asked.
"… Yes."
"Then, I suppose that's all I really needed." He smiled. "All these years, that's all I needed to hear."
She felt her heart ache at his words, and her voice came to her without her permission, "I love you."
He pulled her into a tight hug, his arms around her waist – squeezing. She pulled her arounds around his neck and held him close. He kissed her on the neck, and then somewhere near her temple, and finally on her forehead.
She had almost felt cheated when he didn't kiss her on her lips – and then she flushed at the thought that this was something they did now, and no longer was it just a silly school girl fantasy.
He stared at her, completely serious, "… Leave him. Be with me."
"I-I…"
"Please." He pleaded, and she knew that it had to be done.
She was done running away. The years of torment, of fearing – it was over now. Glinda had said so herself. She was with Chuffrey, and she had only loved Fiyero as a friend. The years apart had healed the wounds of betrayal. It was Elphaba's chance to be happy, a chance long overdue.
And he loves her still, even after all the outright rejection she presented to him. She was done hurting him, and she was ready to love him as he deserved to be loved.
10 years of back and forths – of yes and noes – it was over now.
"I love you," he whispered in her ear as he pulled her into another hug, grinning stupidly against her neck and refusing to let her go – not after what he had to go through to finally get to her.
She squeezed back – grinning as well, and for the first time in years, she felt completely and utterly free.
He was 22, she was 19
"I think it's weird that you haven't planned for your wedding."
"I'm not with anyone, why on earth would I be planning a wedding?" Elphaba growled, irritated that he was even sitting with her at her special corner in the library. Galinda had been detained in Madam Morrible's class and Fiyero had found himself bored and without a thing to do.
"All girls plan their weddings at age 6. It's a universal fact." He popped a piece of sliced apple into his mouth. "You're a girl, so you're obligated to have planned a wedding."
"And why can't boys be the ones to plan a wedding?" She narrowed her eyes at him over her glasses. "Why do girls have to be the ones to fantasize about being bound forever to an idiot boy?"
"Because boys generally do not want to get married and girls do." He stated matter-of-factly.
Elphaba rolled her eyes at him, "Sexist pig. I swear, when it comes to it in the future – I hope that you would be the one who would want to get married and be the one to fuss and worry over the ceremony."
"And what? My betrothed would be the one to give no mind and breeze through cheerily? That won't happen. Girls would be girls, and boys would be boys." He smirked and placed his feet on the table. Elphaba swatted it off angrily and he'd nearly fell back from his chair and flushed.
"Yeah, well I hope the person you eventually fall in love with would give you a run for your money – and not fall for your stupid charms." She grumbled irritably and returned her attentions to her books.
Fiyero leaned forward and scoffed, "And what makes you think I haven't already gotten the girl? It might be Galinda. You never know." He then chuckled, "And if we get married, you'll be the maid of honour. And I'm a hundred and ten percent cure that the dress would be pink."
Elphaba glanced up at a smirking Fiyero and glared hard. She then pulled her lips into a smile and kicked his chair, throwing him off backwards spectacularly. His yelp was accompanied by her barely stifled cackling.
He was 33, she was 30
She was never really sure about what had happened that night at the museum – only that somehow or another, Glinda might've had orchestrated the entire thing. The only thing she really recalled was being at that roof top with Fiyero, clinging on to each other for dear life.
It was a little after that that the Saint Glinda bell tower rung and they realized that they had to get down stairs and face the music. And it was also then that they noticed that Glinda seemed to have disappeared for an abnormally long time.
They had then gone downstairs in search of their bubbly friend in the ladies' restroom, only to find it empty except for one Lady Pfannee. Elphaba hadn't felt any particularly strong feelings towards her, but Pfannee seemed to jump at any chance to mention that they were schoolmates in Shiz and that they were basically in the small social circle – and then after that she moved on to talking about her husband and her wish that he might have a chance in court.
Elphaba, having dealt with leeches like Pfannee her entire life, quickly disengaged herself and exited the restroom.
Fiyero had been waiting for her out in the hall and they'd returned to the main exhibition room together, her arms in his – and closer than what seemed appropriate for two old friends, one of whom who was supposed to be accompanied by another man.
They garnered stares and finger pointing, but Elphaba couldn't care less. Her image consultants and publicity people would have a field day the next day but not right now. Nothing else matter now.
She remembered spotting Glinda's dress first – in the sea of poufy dresses, hers was the brightest – and they approached. She was with Chuffrey – sharing a drink, and Wickham – who seemed confused by the couple's random ramblings. It wasn't until she stepped in with Fiyero's arms around hers, that Wickham seemed to tear away from the Chuffreys.
If she hadn't known better, she would've thought that the blond couple might've been purposefully distracting Wickham the entire night, seeing that Glinda was here with her betrothed and didn't seem to be intending to leave his side at all – not to go back to the roof top where her friends might've been waiting or anything.
"T-This…?" she recalled Wickham saying – his eyes wide and knowing.
Elphaba knew that she should've felt more shame than anything else, but in that moment, she had only felt relief – not so much the next day when the tabloids went insane, of course – but on that night itself, she was happiest with Fiyero's arms cradling hers.
"I'm sorry. We're in love. We have been for nearly 10 years." Fiyero had said. A little too smugly but she hadn't complained.
Glinda had squealed, and Chuffrey had to put a hand over her mouth to prevent any more inhuman high pitched sounds from escaping.
Wickham hadn't been too happy about it, but there wasn't much he could do. There was a little crease in his brow, and then a scowl on his lips. But nothing much came after that except defeat.
He bowed deeply, and then came shoulder to shoulder with Fiyero, whispering something unintelligible – perhaps it might've been a threat? She would never know. She hadn't bothered to ask Fiyero after that night.
He looked over to Elphaba and said, "We could've been something."
And perhaps, they really could. In another life, one where she did not reconnect with Fiyero, they might've been married and lived together for the rest of their lives. In time, she might even learn to love him. But this was not that life – and she would never know.
In this life, she was happy and in love.
In this life, she was lying in bed next to the man she had just married the night before – feeling completely sore from their activities both in the ballroom and in this bedroom.
The giant lump lying next to her began to move, and she knew that he was awake now. It was a nice feeling, knowing that when she opened her eyes every morning, he would be right next to her.
As if he'd heard her ruminating, Fiyero grumbled something under his breath and suddenly pulled her into his bare chest, smothering her with stinky breath-ed morning kisses. She couldn't do much but to laugh and accept her fate.
He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and smiled, "Good morning, Lady Elphaba Tiggular."
She couldn't help but grin at that last bit, "Good morning, Lord Fiyero Thropp." She winced, "Hm. That doesn't really roll off the tongue that well, huh."
"I know what rolls off the tongue really well…" He wriggled his brows at her suggestively and she smacked him.
"Domestic abuse!" He exclaimed, grabbing the offending hand and placing it on his heart.
She looked at him lovingly, and raised a brow, "Remember that one time last year when you had a goatee?"
He growled lowly, bringing her captured hand up to his face and rubbing the lightly stubbled chin. "I liked it. You made me get rid of Geoffrey."
"Geoffrey?" Elphaba cackled, "You named it?"
"He was my only friend,"Fiyero pouted, and nibbled at her finger tips.
She quickly pulled her hand away and instead, traced the outline of his blue diamond tattoos that he had recently gotten on the anniversary of his father's passing. It had apparently been an ancient Vinkun tradition that was practiced by Vinkun Kings, something that Fiyero had never bothered with until Elphaba had trudged it up.
She'd thought it would be a good way for Fiyero to honour his father – and also it had been quite alluring to see the unbroken chain of diamonds leading from his chest and down his abdomen…
"It's a good thing we're married, or I'll have to be scandalized by your leering eyes, Lady Tiggular." He smirked and raised a brow at her.
"You know they're still going to call me Lady Thropp in court, right?" She smacked him playfully, blushing slightly. Being naked with another person was still a little new to her.
Fiyero nodded dejectedly, "I know. But at least in the comforts of our bedroom, I'd like the privilege of calling you Lady Tiggular."
"Well, if you get to call me Tiggular, I should be able to call you Lord Thropp, but that just sounds strange—"
"—and erotic."
She smacked him again, although this time he purred and climbed on top of her, planting kisses along her jaw and down her neck. Elphaba laughed, feeling tickled by his morning stubble, and she knew that they wouldn't been leaving the room for the rest of the day.
A/N And it's the end! I'm not sure if you guys would be disappointed with the way I decided to end this story, but I feel rather satisfied with it.
There will be an epilogue posted tomorrow, so keep an eye out for that.
I'll be moving on to 'Building Bridges' - a business AU Fiyeraba story set in modern Oz.
There's already 2 chapters up there, so check it out if you're into that stuff ;)
Anyway, thanks for reading! Particularly the people who've been reviewing every other chapter throughout this entire journey. It's always such a joy to see your names pop-up in my notifications. :)