Elphaba was brooding. It wasn't the weather, though the dismal rainy day seemed to reflect her mood. It wasn't Galinda's annoyingly perky questions about her welfare, though they were truly tedious. It wasn't the mocking of the others, though it had only increased as the girls, fueled by their jealousy, released their venom for her dating Fiyero.

No, it was what Nessa had told her. Her own sister, though she didn't feel much like one. Elphaba had always been a devoted caretaker to the favored daughter, more servant than sister or friend. She had been on the receiving end of the girl's harsh and judgmental words before, but perhaps because she actually cared about the subject, the words stung more than ever.

Nessa had been criticizing her for spending so much time alone with Fiyero, livid when she had heard that Elphie had spent the night in his room the day of her dizzy spell. "You know he only wants one thing,:" Nessa's words were bitter after her breakup with Boq. "Don't you even consider how this looks? What it does to Father and I? You're so selfish!" Elphaba's temper had risen to the occasion of course, and the sisters exchanged heated words back and forth. The ones that really ripped her heart apart were when Nessa in a rage had thrown out, "Well fine. Go be the little soulless slut you've always wanted to be. At least finally someone will have you. Sometimes I wish you were never born to plague Father. You'll be the death of him, and I'll never forgive you." Elphaba felt as if she had been physically slapped.

She had thrown the door shut behind her, storming off to fume in peace. Eventually she exhausted her supply of anger, left with only the aching hurt and guilt at the truth of Nessa's words. She was only a destructive force everywhere she went. Fiyero couldn't love her. How could anyone?

After avoiding her roommate's pesky inquiries for over an hour, she had finally climbed into the closet for a little peace. Despondent, she considered how she ended up with this life. She had always thought she would somehow end up with … more.

Some time later, Galinda answered the door. "Oh, thank goodness you're here." She didn't hear Fiyero's murmured response, but Galinda's voice floated through the closet door again, "I'm so worried….no she won't come out."

There was a soft knock at the door, and Fiyero's voice came, "It's me. Can I come in?" She didn't respond, so he opened the door a little, slipping into the cramped space with her.

Fiyero approached her cautiously, obviously aware of her melancholy as he crouched beside her. "Elphie?" She looked up gloomily. His eyes sought hers, questions and concern floating in the air between them. "What is it?"

Turning away, she didn't answer him, and she couldn't look at him without tearing up at the soft look in his eyes. He knelt beside her, tentatively resting a hand on her shoulder. When she didn't resist, he slipped his arms around her, and she allowed herself to be held and pretend that she could be loved.

"Baby, what's the matter? Please tell me." His voice was gentle and pleading, but she couldn't. She didn't want him more than anyone to see her this way.

"Go away." She whispered, trying to maintain what little dignity she had left. She was nothing if not proud, and it was humiliating to be so weak. She was supposed to be the strong one. She wasn't supposed to have feelings.

He only pulled her closer against him. "I'm not going anywhere. I care about you, and I'm not leaving you alone."

The words from Nessa's mouth still burned in her mind, and she felt angry tears hot in her eyes. She would not cry in front of Fiyero. She refused to be that pathetic. This was too mortifying to bear. Hiding her face, she turned to face the wall, curling up into herself protectively.

Fiyero was beginning to get alarmed, his worry thick in his voice. "Elphaba, please, tell me what happened. I don't think you can imagine all the horrible things I'm picturing right now." His fingers clasped her reflexively as if desperate to stop the unseen threat. He shook himself to calm and refocus, summoning his inexhaustible patience. "At least tell me if you're physically alright."

She nodded from her position curled against the wall, and he breathed a sigh of relief. "Ok." He repeated it to himself a few times, a mantra. "Is it something I did? Something I said?"

She looked up surprised. Why would he think that? He had been so wonderful to her. He had shown nothing but restraint, knowing even holding hands in public made her uncomfortable. "No. Of course not."

"Good." He smiled softly at her, pulling her gently back to her position against him. "What can I do to help? Who would you like to have killed?" He had relaxed enough to joke, and his loosened anxiety released some of her own. "I'm very skilled at both torture and mercy killing, whichever you'd prefer. My personal favorite is death by banana, partially because it's so embarrassing in the afterlife. Imagine having to explain that." She smiled at his inanity, letting his humor diffuse the awkward tension still in the air. She snuggled into him, grateful for his presence in her unworthy life.

After a moment silence fell. He wrapped her in his arms protectively. Twisting a lock of her hair around his finger, he played with it idly with a thoughtful look on his face. Letting his face fall against the top of her head, he breathed deeply, dropping possessive kisses on the top of her head as he rubbed her back soothingly.

Serious again, he tilted her head up to look at him, and his tenderness at the unshed tears in her eyes was so touching. Fingertips caressing her cheek, he conveyed his sympathy with his expressive eyes. "You can tell me, you know. I promise, no matter what happens, you can trust me. I will always be here for you." He sealed his promise with a gentle kiss, and she felt the tears finally escape. They burned as they touched her skin, but Fiyero had already begun wiping them away. She felt that traitorous hope regaining its place in her heart. Perhaps she could believe him.

It was then that she heard more knocking on the door, followed by Nessa's tearful voice. "Oh, Galinda, I said such awful things to her. I feel just horrible. I have to apologize. I was just so angry at her for what she said, and with Boq and all, I just took it out on her. I'm such an awful sister." Galinda whispered something, and Nessa's voice was shocked, "What do you mean she's in the closet with Fiyero?"