AN: For danderson, whose puppy-dog eyes even in cyberspace always work. Thanks to everyone who's been reviewing - you're the greatest. I hope you like this chapter. Now, I must go try to sleep at least a little :-D.

Fiyero's jaw hung open in disbelief. "No! Really?" Elphaba hit his arm, and he realized how that sounded. "I mean, nothing against Nessa or anything, but…" He would not have guessed that. He had been totally certain, and even now he was a little suspicious. But then, why would Lzuad pick her sister as his cover story? That wouldn't make any sense.

Elphaba seemed more than a little disturbed by the information. He wondered idly if she'd secretly liked being fought over, and he made a mental note to make sure he continued to demonstrate his extreme attraction for her even without a rival, if Lzuad was in fact telling the truth. "But," Elphaba started, dispelling his assumption, "Nessa has a boyfriend."

"I know! You see my problem." Lzuad sat, head in his hands. "You have no idea how frustrating it is when the object of your desire is totally unavailable."

Fiyero personally had no qualms about it as Lzuad beginning a relation with Elphaba's sister would almost certainly forever eliminate any threat from the very overly-touchy and obnoxiously affectionate lizard-boy. Elphaba however had no such flexible morality. Sometimes he thought it amusing that while she denounced her sister's blind embrace of religion, Elphaba herself was astonishingly devout in the realm of ethics. "But she and Boq are very happy together. We can't break them up. That wouldn't be right."

Fiyero thought of how he'd felt this past month or more with their relationship under fire, and he realized she was right. "Sorry, Lzuad, but we can't help you."

Lzuad shook his head, "Is there any way to convince you? I'm certain she'd be happier with me. That other guy just isn't right for her. She's on totally another level. I can offer her so much more; I'm sure of it."

"Hey, Boq's not so bad. Lay off the guy," Fiyero stuck up for his friend, knowing he'd choose Boq over Lzuad in a heartbeat.

"You would say that," Lzuad countered under his breath, adding out loud. "Besides, doesn't he like your roommate, 'Phaba?"

"Ok, stop calling her that." Just because Lzuad might not be hitting on her didn't mean Fiyero wasn't a little possessive still. "Look, Elphaba, why don't you talk to Nessa and see what she thinks." At Lzuad's panicked look, he added, "Just don't mention names."

"I don't know…," her hesitation was clear.

He reassured her, "You're not breaking them up. You're just making sure they're both happy." Reluctantly she agreed after Lzuad pressed the issue, almost begging her to find out. Lzuad left, the moment Fiyero had been looking forward to. He moved to resume their earlier activity, but Elphaba was halfway out the door.

"I'm going to go talk to her now."

"Of course you are," he sighed. He looked around the empty room for a moment. "So… That's great." He tapped his hands on his knees for a couple seconds before getting bored. "Elphaba, wait up."

After her talk, Elphaba had reluctantly agreed that Boq and Nessa were not really happy together - a fact that hadn't quite been spelled out, but was still evident somewhere between the flying plates and the bitter remarks passed off as poor attempts at humor.

Lying against his shoulder, Elphaba brooded over the dilemma, still not really feeling comfortable deliberately breaking up her sister's relationship regardless. She twirled his button back and forth between her fingers silently for well over ten minutes before Fiyero put his hand over hers. "You know, I don't think I can afford another button homicide," he teased, and she gave him a weak smile.

"Sorry, just thinking."

"Well, stop. It's highly overrated. Trust me." This smile was slightly more genuine, and he grinned at the progress. "Look, there are far better ways to use me in bed than as a pillow to think on."

She rolled her eyes, shoving him playfully. "You wish."

He trapped her against him, his eyes suddenly filled with lust instead of humor. "Yeah, I do." She blushed, and he kissed her slowly, immersing himself in the feeling of her perfect lips against his. He felt fantastic, like a thousand Lzuad-shaped weights had been lifted from his shoulders. Releasing her, he added, "But I know you can't stop that fantastic brain of yours from thinking, so, shall I help or distract?"

"Oh, I get to pick now?" she teased back. "Wouldn't you distract regardless?"

"Probably," he answered honestly, "but I'll try. I'm yours to command."

"Well now," she turned over so her pretty face hovered above his, "that's quite the offer." She leaned down, kissing him deeply, and he wrapped his arms around her waist happily. Her lips trailed to his ear, making him sigh expectantly. She could always do the most fantastic things with his ears. Whispering softly before she began her assault, she breathed, "By all means…distract away."

Grinning, he rolled them over, pinning her beneath him. Oh, he loved her. Every single facet of her was perfection. He kissed her, the feeling of her lips like a drug capable of inspiring pure unadulterated joy like lightning through him. Her lips returned to his ear, and let his wander to the nape of her neck, nipping like at the spot there that made her gasp in his favorite way. Her hands slid down his chest, teasing the buttons that she'd nearly murdered. She felt so good, and he was certain something would ruin it. "Lzuad," he whispered clairvoyantly about a second before the knock.

She smirked. "Since when have you been able to see the future?"

"What can I say, you're just that good." He kissed her again sweetly before getting up to answer the door. He opened the door, "Come on in, Lzuad," without even looking, and the somewhat bewildered boy walked in.

"Did you hear me coming or something?" Fiyero shook his head, looking away, and Elphaba fought a laugh. Lzuad took in her position on the bed, and nodded. "Of course. Sorry."

"It's fine," Elphaba smile carried into her voice as she sat up. "Hi Lzuad."

"'Pha…Elphaba," he corrected at Fiyero sudden stare. That was it, Fiyero was re-nicknaming Elphaba at once. "So…"

He trailed off, so Fiyero took over. Sooner this was over, sooner he was kissing Elphaba's neck again. "What can we do for you Lzuad?"

"It's been two days. I just want to know your answer." He had fought to keep the annoyance out of his words, but it still shone through. Elphaba sighed, and Lzuad moved to sit beside her on the bed. Fiyero frowned. This wouldn't do at all. He fought the jealous feeling that sprung up, reminding himself that Lzuad wanted her sister, not his emerald angel. Lzuad unleashed the puppy dog eyes on Elphaba, "Please. Will you help me?"

She sighed, looking to him, but Fiyero shrugged. "Up to you, hon."

"Alright," she conceded, and Lzuad grinned, pulling her into a tight hug. Already remorseful, she added, "But if she really does like Boq, and he likes her, we'll leave them alone."

"Of course. Anything you say. Thank you, Phaba. Thank you so much. I love you. You're so wonderful." He rubbed her back, exclaiming all this, and Fiyero winced at his extensive praise. Elphaba appeared equally apprehensive, pulling away awkwardly and moving to stand beside her boyfriend.

"As long as you treat her well," she admonished immediately, and Lzuad bobbled his head.

"Oh, I will. I promise." He smiled at Elphaba in a way that Fiyero still didn't quite trust. "Believe me, I know how to treat a woman. You won't regret this." So then why did he already?

"So what do we do first?" She looked up at Fiyero, and he slid his arm around her, peering into her eyes attentively.

"What do you think?"

She shook her head. "You're the general of this little campaign."

"Oh, am I?" he flirted. "So then, you're like the naughty little private?" She rolled her eyes. "No, really, so you take orders?" he leered teasingly, and Lzuad coughed to remind them he was still here. She pretended to be annoyed at his attempts to joke, but her blush said differently. At her stern look, he sighed. "Alright, ok, I'll be serious."

He released her, pacing as he thought. "We should probably start with the two of you getting to know each other, you know, risk-free, before we try any kind of date thing."

"Like as friends?" Lzuad asked, his eyes flicking to Elphaba momentarily.

He stopped pacing for a second to stare at him penetratingly. Dismissing his paranoia, he resumed the pacing. "Kind of. Elphaba, you can introduce them, just as mutual acquaintances of yours." At her hesitant look, he added, "There's nothing even remotely deceitfully or manipulative about that."

She nodded reluctantly, and Lzuad said, "Great. Where, when?"

Fiyero thought for a moment. "Better yet, you should just run into her first. Lay some ground work. Leave her guessing. Don't even tell her your name, just get her attention and leave her wanting more. Be mysterious, but stand out."

Elphaba smirked, "Like, running over her in a carriage while sleeping in the back?"

"Hey, worked with you, didn't it?" he teased, and she laughed much to Lzuad's confusion.

"But how do I do that?"

He shrugged. "Bump into her by accident. Apologize, help her pick up her things, then smile, flirt, and walk away."

"What if I hurt her?"

Another shrug. "Don't."

"Fine, smile, flirt, walk away." Lzuad repeated. "That's it?"

"Get her to tell you her name without asking, then smile and walk away with her wondering yours. Oh, and don't spend more than five minutes. You want to leave her wanting more. And don't forget she has to remember you, so…try to be charming if you can."

"Oh, I can," he responded arrogantly, as if challenging Fiyero. "Fine. Where is she now?"

They turned to Elphaba. "History class. Professor Winkle." Lzuad nodded, headed out. She called out, "Lzuad?"

"Yes, my dear?" Another part of Fiyero growled at Lzuad's words.

"Good luck." He grinned, departing. They stood there for a moment looking at the empty door before Fiyero closed it. She sighed, sitting on the bed again. "So I hope this turns out well."

"It will. Have faith in me." He moved to sit beside her, and she wrapped her arms around him.

"Oh, 'Yero, if I have faith in anyone, it's you."

He grinned at her, kissing her gently. "Good, because I do happen to be very good at this part."

She laughed, "This part (kissing him gently again) or the part where you send my friend to flirt with my sister?"

"Both?"

"Well, you certainly are charming," she laughed again. "Be mysterious, but stand out? Where do you come up with this?"

"I learned that from you, my darling," he flattered, nuzzling her ear again. She tasted divine. He would really like to go back to where they'd been pre-conference with lizard-boy. "You know, Lzuad with Nessa…"

"So?"

"So he won't be around to interrupt for a little while." He eyed her seductively, and she moved to straddle his lap, wrapping her arms tightly around him.

"You know, you're absolutely right." He kissed her again, laying her back against the bed. In a couple minutes, he forgot completely about Lzuad.