Misunderstood

Disclaimer: I do not own Wicked or any of the characters involved with it, with the exception of the ones that I create.

A.N.: Sorry this is so long in coming. I had some complications with getting seriously ill and stuff so I wasn't able to even think of this. I'm sorry it's kinda short, I still have to get back into the swing of things. Enjoy!

Chapter 11: Mistaken Love

When Elphaba returned to the small hideout, Fiyero was out front, pacing. "Elphaba!" He came running over. She dismounted her broom and walked over to him. When he neared, he was a bit more cautious. Well at least he's not coming flying at me. "Elphaba I was so worried about you and I didn't know where you had gone or why and I'm babbling now aren't I…" Fiyero came to a stop as he saw her slightly amused look. "Look Fiyero I just had to clear my head. Everything came at me so fast and I couldn't deal with it. You know how I am." He nodded in assent and smiled. Oh he knew alright. He remembered how when he had first came back into contact with her, in the Emerald City, all those years ago. She had fled him even then, afraid of what would happen. He waved his hand at her, beckoning her in. She followed in after him, her broom dragging in the dust.

"I got some food while you were away. Look: bread, cheese, and a bit of ale." The table was small and set, and Elphaba was grateful for it. She sat on one side and he sat on the other. It was quiet while they ate, only the sounds of chewing and swallowing audible. It was slightly uncomfortable too. Both had things on their minds that needed to come out, but both were too wary to bring them up. Finally, she broke the silence, "So…how did you find out I'm still alive? I mean, only Nanny, Liir, Glinda, and Nor know about it so far." He finished chewing his bread and swallowed. "Well, when Nor found me, she told me that she had heard rumors of your death, but she didn't believe them. She said that you were too tenacious to die." They both chuckled at this. "Anyway, Nor also told me that she had also heard rumors that you had some how thwarted your murder, and that she was going to travel up to Kiamo Ko to see if anything was true. She said to me before she left to come and wait here and that if she found you that you would probably come to this area of town, so I was to wait for two months."

There was nothing for Elphaba to say. The words hung in the air, seemingly light, yet very heavy. "Fiyero…how long…why didn't you…" she trailed off, looking down at her very green hands. She heard him shuffle his feet around and clear his throat several times. He tried to speak up a few times, but he failed. She was getting up to go when suddenly he began to speak. "You have to understand that I love you and always have and will. I wasn't able to move for the longest time Elphaba. I know that you saw all the blood and gore around the old mill. It took me a very long time to recover. You have to understand that I was also in prison, under the watch of the Gale Force. The only time that I was released, if you even want to call it that, was when they thought that I was of no further use to them and I had died. I was in very, very bad shape Elphaba. The people who took me in were actually rebel Animals, for your cause. They took me in, fed me, and nursed me back to health. By the time I was well enough to get up and move around, to travel, I had heard about your death, and Dorothy had already come back to the Emerald City. I was heartbroken. I couldn't stand to go back to Kiamo Ko and relive everything."

Through all of this she had stood silently. She refused to acknowledge anything, lest all the pain, suffering, and emotion escape her. Although she tried, she began to silently cry, the tears leaving burn marks as they trailed down her fragile skin. He still loves me. But do I love him? All this time he was trying to get better, so he could get back to me, and the love that we shared. The tears came harder and faster. Do I love him, after everything that I went through with Sarima and the rest of his family? After what I know now do I love him? Can I ever love him again? After all the torment and stress, the emotions and emptiness…she looked carefully at his face and he looked carefully back at her. He drew near to her, and caressed her arms. Tears fell onto his blemished skin, and tarnished hers as well. He rubbed her arms gently and wiped away her tears. Fiyero cupped Fae's face in his hands, the face that he had longed to see for so many years. Their lips touched, but it was only joyful for one of them. I don't love him in the way I used to. She broke away. "I'm sorry Fiyero. I can't." His eyes grew very sad, but he nodded and let her go.

They sat across from each other, both silent. Fiyero cleared his throat and she looked up. "So. Um, what do you plan to do now?" Without really thinking she replied, "Well, I was thinking that I could go and find Glinda. Get updated on how things are going and such." Fiyero looked a bit happier and said, "Ok, I'm coming with you. We should go in the next few days, just to be safe." She nodded and softly said, "Ok".

That night, as they were lying on their separate cots, she laid thinking of what had happened. She touched her lips and could still feel his touching hers. It pained her to no end that she no longer felt the same about him. I'm sorry Fiyero. I wish things could be different for the both of us. The night went on to no end, and it took her a long time to finally drift of to sleep.