Chapter Fourteen: No Pretending

"My mother adores you. I can tell already." Fiyero told her. "I knew I picked the right girl." They were strolling around the palace grounds in the light of the moon, her hand in his. "You're amazing."

She was glad he couldn't see what she imagined she looked like at the moment: cheeks flushed, eyes hopeful, repressing a smile. "I did my best."

"It's going to break her heart that you won't actually end up her daughter-in-law."

She could tell he wasn't pleased with the idea of hurting his mother. "You could tell her now, you know. This is your plan. If you decide it's not a good idea, I won't be angry."

"I may tell her," he admitted, "but that won't change the plan. I don't think she'd do anything about it – it's my father this little show is for."

"You really think it's a good idea to tell her, though?"

"I don't know." He squeezed her hand. "To be honest, I'd rather not. At one point, I thought I would, but this feels so private." His gaze flickered over to the palace. "My mother is watching us from the windows." Fiyero grabbed her other hand and tugged her close to him, pressing his mouth against hers, sliding one hand up to her cheek and pushing his tongue between her lips, exploring her mouth for a moment before their lips parted. "Mmm," he breathed. "I think that was sufficient, don't you?"

"Very." How did he have such an effect on her? She looked towards the palace and saw no one in the window. Had his mother disappeared? "Are you going to pretend to sneak into my room at night, Fiyero?"

"I think that's probably a good idea."

That night, they made a little noise to pretend they were getting intimate, though it didn't last long. When their eyes met after only a minute or two of feigned moans and sighs, they fell onto the bed in a fit of silent laughter. "I'm sorry," she gasped between giggles.

"No, don't be." He snorted. "That was completely silly. I don't know what we were thinking. It doesn't sound right, not like that. I think we'll just let me being in here speak for itself. After all, maybe you're the quiet type. And maybe I am, too."

She was still unable to stop giggling. "Are you?"

"Not exactly. You?"

Her little experience hadn't lasted that long and she had only gotten a little pleasure from it. But she didn't want to admit that, so she lied. "Nope."

He raised his eyebrows at her. "Oh?"

The urge to laugh subsided and she realized they were lying in bed together. "That is all I'm going to say about that." She sat up. "How much longer do you need to stay in here?"

"Just a bit." He rearranged the blankets. There was only a candle lighting the room and his eyes caught the light for just a moment. The way he was looking at her made her feel lost in him. If his eyes could do that, and his lips could do what he had done to her earlier, what could the rest of him do?

She shook her head. "You know, it really is nice out here. It's so quiet and peaceful."

"I didn't think you liked peaceful and quiet."

Elphaba laid back against the pillows. "I love it. There's not enough of it anymore. When it's calm like this, things stop rushing. You can almost actually pause and appreciate life instead of worrying about everything all the time."

"I have been missing that, being at Shiz. Things move at a different pace out here."

She closed her eyes for a moment, taking in the silence. "It's fantastic."

"I'm glad you like it." She could hear the smile in his voice. "But you are exhausted and I should go."

"You should. I could fall asleep like this. Is the bed in your room this comfortable?"

"Even more so."

She was almost tempted to ask if she could join him, but regained her senses just in time. "Have a good night, Fiyero."

"You too."

She couldn't get enough of the dry, open air in the Vinkus. There was almost never a cloud, and Fiyero told her that it barely ever rained. Apparently they had a drought, but she certainly didn't mind that.

"I've been wanting to talk just the two of us," Fiyero's mother found her the next afternoon as she was reading outside.

This wasn't good. She could fake it when Fiyero was with her, but she had no idea what to say to this woman. Where was Fiyero? He'd left her alone for a bit to grab something to eat. Would he come back soon? She hoped so. Forcing a smile, Elphaba said, "Good afternoon."

The woman sat down on the ground next to her. "I'm so glad my son found someone. I was so worried. You know the situation, of course."

"Yes." She knew it all too well. "He's been very honest with me about everything. Things with us have moved so fast, though."

"He loves you."

"And I love him." Could the woman see the lie in her eyes?

The woman took both of Elphaba's hands and clasped them tightly. "I've never seen him so happy. I don't want to be pushy, but you'll marry him when he asks you, won't you?"

"I've been thinking I might," she said.

"Oh that's wonderful! I wish you'd known him before he met you, then you'd understand how much happier he seems."

Was he really? He wasn't acting much different in front of his parents than he did in front of her on a regular basis. "He makes me happy, too."

"That's wonderful. I… Fiyero's father and I, we weren't as lucky as you. I love my husband, I do, but I didn't exactly have a choice."

She had noticed that the couple slept in separate rooms, but hadn't wanted to ask Fiyero what that was about. "That's unfortunate."

"I think he's more unhappy about it than I," his mother said, her face changing. "At least, that's how he behaves. I just want more for my son."

"Well, Ma'am, please be assured, Fiyero and I are very much in love and I wouldn't ever hurt him." She couldn't meet the woman's eyes, though, and struggled to swallow.

Fiyero came walking up to them, then and Elphaba had never been more relieved to see him. He settled in beside her and kissed her softly. "Are you sure you aren't hungry, my love?"

She couldn't do this, not with his mother watching them with such a cheerful expression. But she found a little strength in his eyes. "I'm fine, thank you, my sweet."

"Now, Mother, you weren't telling Elphaba any embarrassing stories about me, were you?" Fiyero put a hand on Elphaba's as he turned to his mother.

"Oh, no. We were talking about you, but nothing bad." A single tear fell from his mother's eye as she smiled at the two of them.

That was it. This had to stop. Elphaba pulled away from Fiyero. "I can't do this, Fiyero. This isn't right."

"Fae…"

"Don't."

"What's going on?" His mother asked.

"I'm so sorry, Ma'am. I really am." Elphaba looked at Fiyero. "And I'm sorry, Fiyero. It's not fair to her." She turned and headed back to the guest room, leaving Fiyero and his mother gaping in her wake.