I don't know if I'll update again before Christmas...Thanks for the reviews :D

The next thing Elphaba was aware of was being laid down onto something soft while three voices- two deep, one higher- murmured urgently around her. A cold hand was laid on her forehead, smoothing some hair out of the way as it took her temperature.

"If there's something the matter with her then maybe we should take her to hospital!" a voice said; it sounded like melted chocolate run through with sweet caramel and reinforced with the might of diamonds. Elphaba subconsciously smiled.

"She'll be fine, Fiyero. Stop being such a baby," another male voice insisted- a little higher than the last, it was champagne, strawberries and cream from a pressurised can. Not so much to her taste, so in her head she wrinkled her nose.

"Both of you just shut it!" the female snapped, and Elphaba's internal self giggled. This voice was nice: lilac flowers and lemon drops, tinged with silvery strength. "Has she had any funny dreams lately?" Lilac and lemons asked quietly, and there was a long pause while someone composed themselves. It was chocolate and diamonds that replied.

"Um…yeah. Last night. She said she had a vision about her dad coming," he said slowly, and the beautiful voice sounded pained. Elphaba didn't like this; that kind of beauty shouldn't be allowed to be upset, so she tried to open her eyes.

"That would explain it then. Sometimes, when Elphie has one of her funny vision-y things, it's something bad and though she's too strong to admit it, she can't cope with it. Her body just packs up for a little while until it feels she's steeled herself enough to deal with whatever's going to happen," Lilac and lemons said with a sigh of relief, and the cold hand stroked her cheek fondly.

"Why is her dad turning up a big deal?" queried champagne curiously.

"I don't think she'd want us to tell you that," Chocolate replied stiffly, and Elphaba visualised two huge, warm, tanned hands balling into fists.

"You know?" cried Lilac.

"Of course I know!"

"She told you?"

"Told him what?"

"Just shut up, all of you!" Elphaba snapped suddenly, and she was surprised at the words. She wasn't even aware that she could speak, and now her eyes were opening. The people came into view, a girl who leaned over her with a cold hand on her forehead and two young men.

Oh.

"Elphaba! You're awake!" Fiyero cried, launching across the room and gathering her up into his arms. She spluttered a little, her head spinning.

"I think I must have addled my equilibrium again," she laughed half-heartedly, patting him on the back with one hand. Over his shoulder she could see Glinda's incredulous look, but chose to ignore the enquiring stares. Instead, she peered around, vaguely realising that they were in Fiyero's hotel room.

"It was the closest," Meir informed her, catching her confused expression.

"Oh." She gasped as Fiyero tightened his hold around her waist and pressed his lips to the unexpectedly sensitive area just below her right ear. She hissed quietly through her teeth and repressed the compulsion to hold his head there.

"I was so worried…" he muttered gently before letting her go. His expression was sheepish as he patted her hand as an afterthought, only just remembering to keep their cover as far as Glinda and Meir were concerned.

"You needn't be worried, silly. I'm just fine. I'm- oh!" Elphaba made to stand up and wobbled precariously on her feet, so Glinda caught her by the elbow and pulled her back onto the bed.

"You are not going anywhere, Miss Thropp! You are going to stay here, I am going to get a room in this hotel and I'm going to watch to like a hawk until this bloody father of yours turns up!" the tall woman commanded, bundling the Munchkinlander under the covers before she could protest.

"But Glin, I'm fine!" she cried, trying to struggle out of the cocoon of blankets. Fiyero shook his head and pinned her down.

"You're staying here, and that's final."

"But this is your room."

"So?"

"I can at least walk back to my own room!"

"No."

"Don't try and tell me what to do, Tiggular! I won't be bullied!" Elphaba yelled, and it was obvious to everyone that they were arguing for real now. Fiyero set his jaw and forced her back against the pillows.

"You are going to stay here, Thropp," he said, his voice dangerously low. "Even if I have to tie you down, you're staying here." Fiyero's eyes connected with her own, and she silently dared him to make good on that threat. Her breath caught in her throat as his gaze burned into her own, and she wondered if he might just take her there and then. She was certainly amenable.

Meir coughed awkwardly, and Glinda followed suit. Elphaba stopped struggling, which allowed Fiyero to release her arms.

"Okay, since that's settled…I'll go get a room. Coming, Meir?" Glinda said quickly, her voice barely anything more than a squeak. The Gillikinese pair hurried from the room without another word.

A splutter of embarrassed laughter later, and Elphaba tossed her head back and began to cackle raucously.

"Ooooh Oz! Could that have been any more awkward?" she crowed, allowing the unexpected burst of oxygen to make her head spin again. Fiyero chuckled along with her, running a bashful hand through his dark hair.

"I don't think so," he smiled, shuffling closer to her and crossing his legs into a basket.

"I'm tempted to struggle, though, just to see if you'll make good on that threat - or was it a promise? I sort of hope so."

Fiyero's eyed widened and he chortled a little in surprise. "Wow. I certainly never had you pegged as the kinky type," he grinned a little shyly, and the young woman simply arched one perfect eyebrow.

"I'm a woman full of surprises," Elphaba smirked. "There are a few things in my repertoire that even you would be shocked by. Granted, sex wasn't their original purpose, but…I'm willing to experiment." Fiyero almost collapsed on the spot as she winked at him, and wondered how long it would be until Glinda and Meir returned.

"Is that a promise?" he queried, his voice cracking a little in anticipation. Elphaba leaned over to kiss him gently.

"It could well be, my sweet." She kissed him again, harder this time, then broke away. "But for now, since I'm being told to stay in bed like some sort of invalid, you can go and get me some food then bring my stuff through here and take your own stuff next door," she ordered cheerfully, and the Prince immediately pouted and crossed his arms.

"That's not fair! Why can't I just stay in here?" he whined.

"We've been "going out" for around twelve hours-"

"Fourteen hours and twenty two minutes."

"And I'm not entirely sure that we're reading for cohabitation yet. Can you imagine that? Having to wake up next to me every morning?" said Elphaba, privately thinking that waking up to see his face every day wouldn't be half bad. She almost hoped that the opportunity to do so would arise at some point. Fiyero smiled softly.

"I don't know. I think it would be fun!"

"You have trouble staying in a relationship with a girl who you don't have to go home to every night. Imagine if we- if we got married or something! I'm hardly the house-wifey type, am I? I'm not a bad cook, but other than that…"

"You wouldn't have to lift a finger. You'd be crown princess!"

"Then I'd get bored."

"You're just difficult," Fiyero huffed moodily. "Just think, you could have any book you wanted. You could help people! You could have anything you wanted. Anything!" Elphaba felt as though he was trying to push her into marrying him before she'd even decided if she was madly in love with him or just madly in lust.

"Stop it, darling," she purred, crawling into his lap and wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Carefully, she kissed the spot where his neck met his shoulder, just underneath the collar of his shirt, eliciting a soft, guttural moan from the young man in question.

"Okay. I'll take your room," he groaned submissively, knowing that she would wear him down eventually anyway.

"Good. Now, go get some popcorn and we'll watch a movie. If you see Glin and Meir, you might as well invite them back too," Elphaba smiled, pushing Fiyero into a standing position. He exited the room with bad grace, shooting an irritated glare over his shoulder as he went.

"Yero, give me the remote. Give. Me. The - hey!" Elphaba screeched as the Prince held the television remote high above her head. She punched him roughly in the stomach and he doubled over, grunting in pain.

"Fae, that was uncalled for!" he whined, collapsing face first onto the bed. Elphaba plopped down beside him and changed the channel.

"Fae. What does that mean? Is it some kind of Vinkun insult?" she teased, ruffling his hair by way of apology. Fiyero struggled into a sitting position.

"No, actually. It's a Vinkun compliment," he replied.

"What does it mean?" repeated the girl, prodding him in the side. He winced further.

"If you're going to keep beating me up, I'm not telling you!" he cried with a childish pout. Elphaba laughed and held her hands up in defeat.

"Okay, okay. I submit. Now tell me, what does it mean?"

"It's Ancient Arjiki. It means 'beautiful goddess'," Fiyero admitted bashfully, waiting for a further thump to some part of his anatomy for daring to call her beautiful.

A short pause ensued, while Elphaba looked torn between screaming and grinning. The left corner of her mouth twitched into an involuntary smile, and her eyes suddenly found the patterned duvet exceedingly interesting. She traced the swirls with one bony finger, her half smile growing wider.

"Oh," she muttered. "That's…nice." Fiyero linked his pinkie finger with hers and raised her chin so that she was looking him in the eyes. They didn't speak, but a spark of emotion was shared as their eyes connected. The Prince leaned in to capture her lips in a sweet kiss, when a fist began to hammer on the door.

"Elphieee?" Glinda cried, tossing a grin over her shoulder at Meir. He laughed as she thumped the door again. "Elphaba! Open up!" she screeched for a second time.

"I'm coming…Hold on!" the green girl replied from within, yanking her hand out of Fiyero's and making to cross the room.

"Eugh, I'm bored of waiting. Tah tum tah tay uhta mahta laaah…" the former blonde muttered under her breath, and the lock clicked open just as Elphaba reached the door. Meir raised an eyebrow, but chose not to question his new girlfriend's actions. Glinda opened the door to Elphaba's surprised face.

"Oh. Hello?" The smaller girl's expression was confused, and she beckoned the pair inside. Fiyero was sprawled on his side, watching the television without much interest. His hair was mussed, and his t-shirt pulled up slightly where he lay, exposing one side of his gently tapered waist. Elphaba's heart fluttered at the sight of his bare skin, but she kept her outward demeanour composed.

"Hiya Glin. Meir," Fiyero said flatly, waving a hand and not taking his eyes from the screen.

"It worries me a little that you're so good at the spell which allows you to break into people's private rooms…" muttered Elphaba, sitting on the edge of the bed and pulling Fiyero's feet into her lap. She fiddled with a loose thread at the hem of his jeans while waiting patiently for her friend to speak.

"Shush, you. You know I sucked at Sorcery…There was only a few spells I could manage. That one- anyway! This is not the point that I came to make, was it Meir? I was just wondering if you guys would like to come see my show tonight?" Glinda smiled, perching on the little armchair in the corner. Fiyero immediately turned the television off, his eyebrows raised incredulously.

"You have got to be joking!" he cried, leaning up onto his forearms. Meir immediately jumped in.

"Why would she be joking? I thought you two were supposed to be her friends?" said the blonde man hotly, his brows almost meeting in the middle.

"Elphaba is her friend. I sure as hell haven't forgiven her yet. I haven't even begun to-"

"Stop! Stop it, both of you!" Glinda cried, springing to her feet with a distraught expression. Elphaba nodded.

"Cool it with the testosterone, you two. Fiyero, calm down. You don't have to go if you don't want to. Meir…just lay off, okay? You have no right to go off at him in that way." The young woman stood and fixed Meir with a steely glare, her dark eyes narrowed threateningly. The Gillikinese man waited for a few moments, listening to an internal debate, before lowering his eyes and granting Elphaba the winner of the argument.

"I'm sorry."

Glinda rocked from side to side during the interim silence, tears threatening at the corners of her cerulean eyes. Elphaba crossed over to her and took one of her hands consolingly. She was going against all her principals in doing this, as well as ignoring the anger she still felt towards Glinda, but she decided that the happiness of her friend was more important than her own.

"I'll come to your show, my pretty. We could even go for dinner first, yes? These two can stay here and continue their animalistic brawls," smiled Elphaba, patting the cold hand within her own consolingly. Glinda seemed placated and her tears subsided, her usual dazzling smile immediately springing back to her face.

"I have no idea what an animalistic brawl is, but I'd rather not do it with Prince Popularity over there. I'm coming along too!" Meir interjected. This information made Glinda's smile widen.

"What about you, Fiyero?" she asked coldly, wrinkling her nose in distaste. The Prince raised his eyes warily to Elphaba's, who offered nothing but a half smile and a shrug.

"Fine! I'll come!" he muttered, his expression mutinous. Elphaba smirked, barely fighting the urge to faint again.

She had a bad feeling about this.

They strolled into the eating house with a heavy atmosphere; Glinda and Meir in front, holding hands, with Elphaba and Fiyero behind, wanting to hold hands. The place was the regulation emerald green, with green leather booths and Formica topped tables. The little troupe slid into one near the door, with Elphaba and Fiyero facing out towards the street.

"What're you having, my Fae?" Fiyero questioned, leaning his head on Elphaba's shoulder to peer into her menu. She blushed a little at the nickname, as well as the 'my' before it.

"Um…I'm not sure yet. I was thinking maybe the vegetarian lasagne…" she shrugged without even glancing at the menu. "What about yourself, Yero? I'll go and order."

"Chicken burger with fries and a diet soda, if you would be so kind."

"Glinda?"

"Chargrill chicken salad and a mineral water, please."

"Meir?"

"Beef burger, large fries, onion rings, large full sugar soda." This was said with a pointed glance at Fiyero, who looked almost amused at the older man's attempts to outdo him. Elphaba chuckled a little.

"Alright. I'll be right back."

She made her way up to the counter, repeating the orders over and over again in her head so that she wouldn't forget them. In her inattention, she tripped over the spoked wheel of a wheelchair and tottered right into an oncoming waitress, thus causing hot soup to be spilled all over the person in the wheelchair and her companion. Elphaba's verdant hands flew to her mouth; wide open in shock; as the girl in the chair screeched in fury.

"I am so, so sorry!" she cried, scrabbling for something to mop the girl up with.

"Sorry? Look at my new dress! You have ruined it!" the other girl wailed, waving her arms around in a childish temper.

"Nessa, my girl…Come now, don't fret! We can easily buy you another dress. A better dress!" the man with her cooed, and Elphaba's stomach immediately twisted into a tight knot at the familiar voice that seemed to echo from a decade ago. He hadn't looked up yet, being much too focused on Nessarose, and Elphaba almost turned on her heel and fled from the shop. Just as she began to back away, the man raised his head and his eyes instantaneously widened. "You!" he cried, pointing a finger at her as though she were the devil himself.

"Me," she shrugged lamely, coming across a hundred times more brave than she felt. Her father's face seemed to turn a little purple.

"You died," he stated flatly, ignoring Nessa's confused and irritated whining. "You died in a tragic accident! You fell in the lake! I watched you drown and I couldn't help you!" he hissed, hate evident in his voice.

"No, dad, I didn't." Elphaba backed away 'til she reached her own table and held her hand out for Fiyero to take. Frex followed, leaving Nessa weeping behind him. He regarded the three bamboozled people at the table with surprise, before turning almost catatonic at the sight of Fiyero's hand willingly enclosed around Elphaba's.

"You accept her?" he quizzed, running a frenzied hand through his greying hair as he tried in vain to comprehend the matter. Glinda's lips pouted in mystification, Meir's brow furrowed and Fiyero's fingers tightened their grip: he was the only one who realised who this man was.

"Yes, we accept her," he stated, sliding out of the booth and wrapping a protective arm around Elphaba's almost unnoticeably shivering shoulders. The protective gesture did nothing to resolve the mystery for the other two.

"Who is this guy?" Glinda whined as Nessa wheeled herself up to them, tears from her tantrum still streaming down her pale, perfect cheeks. Frex glared up at colossal Fiyero, his breathing coming in sharp gasps. In all of his worst nightmares, he had never expected to see his oldest daughter again, never mind with people who seemed to her friends. Elphaba wrapped an arm around Fiyero's waist, steeling herself.

"Glinda, Meir, Yero, meet my little sister Nessarose and my father, Frex."

Ooooh. Hiyaa :D