AN: I'd like to dedicate this one to Malou, who has become a great friend to me over the past year and who turned 25 yesterday. Better late than never, right? A very (belated) happy birthday to you! May this be an awesome year and may your happy ending be as happy as this story's :P. (And while we're at it: if you're a Walking Dead fan, go check out her story Guts Over Fear!)

To Silvine Fae Graycin and Mother Yackel: This story is nearing its ending... so is your fight. So my decision is as follows: since I've grown rather fond of Gazilon and you can't seem to beat one another, I think I'll just keep him myself. *dodges time-travelling werewolves, Night Furies, and flying Monkeys* Just kidding, just kidding! How about I clone him so you can both have one?

21. For Better and For Worse

He awoke the next morning with a goofy smile on his face that even sleep hadn't been able to wipe off. He stretched slowly, feeling his leg touch something; and when he looked to his side, it was to find Elphaba peacefully sleeping beside him. His smile finally faded, however, when he realised that she did not look like she was wearing any clothing and he risked a peek under the blankets at himself. Yep. He was naked. So it hadn't been a dream after all.

He swallowed, wondering how she would react once she woke up. He could imagine her exploding again, throwing a book at his face, and storming out, only to never speak to him again. Maybe she'd hex him. Or worse – maybe she'd just shut him out again. Why in Oz hadn't he stopped before this happened?

And then he watched her stretch beside him and he knew why. He was working on his self-control issues – or determined to do so, anyway – but she was just too irresistible.

Her eyes opened and he braced himself, giving her a careful smile. "Good morning."

"'Morning," she mumbled, yawning. She gazed at him drowsily. "Why are you looking at me like you're expecting me to murder you? What did you do now?"

"Well, it wasn't just me," he protested and watched as she realised their situation and flushed a little.

"Oh."

She didn't say anything else and she didn't move away when he reached out to touch her chin, making her look at him.

"Do you regret it?" he asked solemnly.

She was quiet for a moment, waiting for the expected stab of panic and the urge to run off, but neither came. She looked up and saw the anxiety in Fiyero's eyes. She knew he was worried about this – worried that he had gone too far and that she would explode again. But she had been in this just as much as he had and, she realised with mild surprise, the answer to his question was clear.

"No."

A hesitant smile broke through on his face. "Really?"

She shrugged. "I know I always said I wanted to wait," she said. "I was scared, I guess... but I always knew I wanted my first time to be with you." She chuckled softly. "And now I don't even remember what I was scared of in the first place."

His smile widened. "I'm glad." He pulled her into his arms and she snuggled against his chest, heaving a contented sigh.

"So I suppose what comes next is you wanting to walk me back to my dorm room and me snapping at you?" she asked innocently.

He grinned. "Actually, I was thinking maybe we could go and get some breakfast first. I'm starving."

"Of course you are." She rolled her eyes. "Breakfast it is, then. And you'll pull out my chair and pay for everything?"

"No," he said. "I'll kick out your chair from underneath you and let you pay for my food as well as yours. How does that sound?"

"Rude." She sniffed. "I don't think I want to be associated with you anymore."

"Too bad." His breath caressing her cheek made her shiver. "You're stuck with me now, Thropp. I've got you and I'm not letting you go again."

She propped herself up against the pillows to look at him. "Really?"

"Really," he said, completely serious now. He leant over her and kissed her slowly and softly. "I love you, Fae, and I know we'll have to face a lot of challenges, but I'm willing to work on everything if you are."

She nodded, closing her eyes and just relishing in the moment for a short while. "I'm willing."

He eyed her suggestively. "I noticed."

That earned him an elbow in the stomach and she slipped out of his bed with a huff. He was still doubled over and breathless by the time she emerged again from his bathroom, completely dressed.

"Like I said," he puffed, "I'm still working on it."

She smiled sweetly at him. "I know."

He grumbled, but eventually dragged himself out of bed and into his clothes as well and when they walked across campus together, joined hands swinging between them, he felt like skipping. He didn't, of course. That would not be manly at all. But that didn't mean he didn't secretly want to.

Elphaba had half expected everyone in the café to fall silent and stare at them as they walked through the door. That was not the case, of course. She did notice the fleeting glances and quiet whispers, however, when they saw their joined hands. Fiyero must have noticed it, too, because he drew her a little closer to his side.

The moment Galinda, who was sitting in the back, laid eyes on them, she started squealing.

"Oh. My. Oz!" she squealed. "Finally! It was about time!" She giggled. "That answers my next question about where you were last night, Elphie! You scandalacious thing!"

"Why don't you talk a little louder so the people outside can hear it, too?" Elphaba suggested sarcastically, but Galinda just giggled. The green girl was glad her sister was not here. She would probably have lectured her for hours about what the Unnamed God thought of "fornicating" before marriage.

Cohvu, who was sitting beside the blonde, grinned. "She's right, though, El. It was about time."

"Elphie," Galinda gushed, linking her arm with Cohvu's, "I have had a revolution."

Upon seeing the blank look on Fiyero and Cohvu's faces, Elphaba translated, "Revelation."

Galinda waved her hand impatiently. "Yes. That." She shook Cohvu's arm. "Having a gay best friend is the best thing ever."

"So now that she can't date you, you've been proclaimed her gay best friend?" Elphaba asked Cohvu in amusement and he made a face.

"Apparently."

"You see," Galinda rattled on, "this means he can give me advice on which boys to date, because he can see which ones are attractive and he knows how boys think! It's brilliant! Perhaps he could even go shopping with me!"

"Okay. Galinda?" Cohvu detached himself from her. "Being gay is not the same as being a girl. You realise that, right? Not all gay guys like sparkles and shopping."

"If Cohvu had liked sparkles and shopping, we probably would have realised his sexual orientation a long time ago," Elphaba said with a grin.

Galinda pouted. "Fine, then. I'll just drag Elphie out shopping again."

"For your information," Elphaba told Cohvu, "not all girls like sparkles and shopping, either."

Galinda pretended not to hear that. She scooted over and patted the free spot beside her. "Sit, Elphie. You, too, Fifi. Tell me everything."

"Everything?" Fiyero echoed, faintly alarmed.

Galinda giggled. "Yes. Everything."

Elphaba scowled at her roommate. "No."

"I'll go and get us something to eat," said Fiyero, pressing a kiss to Elphaba's hair.

"Subtle!" she called after him. "Very chivalrous of you to run off and leave me to answer the nasty questions!"

"Shut up, Elphie," said Galinda with a huff. "I don't ask nasty questions."

Just then, however, Elphaba noticed Lanae coming through the door and she bit her lip. "Glin?"

Galinda followed her gaze. "Oh."

"I should go talk to her," said Elphaba quietly.

Galinda shook her head. "Elphie, no. Fiyero should. You have nothing to say to her."

"The least I could do is apologise for kissing her boyfriend, Galinda." Elphaba looked at her friend. "I know she's probably pretty mad at me, but I should try to make it right nonetheless. Fiyero hurt her the most, but I'm not completely blameless."

Galinda closed her mouth and nodded and Elphaba moved in Lanae's direction. The girl saw her coming and stopped, waiting for Elphaba to reach her. They looked at one another for a while before Elphaba spoke.

"I want to apologise," she said.

Lanae let out an incredulous laugh. "You? Please tell me Fiyero didn't send you to do this."

"He didn't." Elphaba shook her head. "I wanted to do this. Because I did some things I shouldn't have done and it's only fair of me to apologise for them."

"Oh, Elphaba." Lanae deflated, heaving a long sigh. "I'm not mad at you. I was, a little, after I found out you kissed him, but... you're not at fault for loving him. You can't choose whom you fall in love with." She looked the green girl over. "Are you two together?"

Elphaba bit her lip and Lanae nodded. "So that's a yes, then."

"I'm sorry –"

"No, don't." Lanae held up a hand to stop her. "It hurt, I won't deny that. I really did like Fiyero. I don't know if I loved him, but I did like him. I can't blame either of you for being in love with the other, because like I said, you can't choose whom you fall in love with. I just blame him for the way he handled things with me."

Elphaba smiled wryly. "I can imagine. He's an idiot."

"He is," Lanae agreed with a small giggle. "I'll get over it, though. Really. I hope he'll treat you with more respect this time around and that he won't hurt you again." She shrugged. "I'll just have to try and move on, I guess."

"Thank you," said Elphaba. "For understanding. And good luck."

"You, too." Lanae squeezed the green girl's arm before turning around and going to stand in line to get some food.

Elphaba jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder and she spun around.

Fiyero gave her a sheepish look. "Sorry. What did she want from you?"

"Nothing," she said. "I wanted to apologise to her. You should, too, by the way," she added and he nodded.

"I will. What did she say?"

"That she doesn't blame us for being in love, just you for the way you told her." She glanced at him. "She's sweet, Yero. You shouldn't have hurt her like that."

"I know, I know." He sighed. "I'm not good at that. At not hurting people, I mean. I seem to hurt all the best people in my life. My parents by disappointing them, Lanae by the way I treated her... you."

Elphaba shrugged. "Well, relationships are for better and for worse, right?"

He chuckled. "Right."

By that time they had reached their table again and Galinda, having heard the final part of their conversation, suddenly started beaming.

"Guys," she said enthusiastically, "I have an idea. Come to the park after you're done with breakfast, okay? Please? It's important."

Elphaba and Fiyero agreed a little hesitantly and Galinda dragged Cohvu off, claiming they had things to do to get ready.

"I wonder what she's up to now," Elphaba muttered and Fiyero chuckled.

"We'll find out soon enough."

And they did. Because when they arrived at the park when they had finished their breakfast, Galinda was standing there, looking solemn. She was flanked by Boq and Nessarose.

"What did you do to Cohvu?" asked Elphaba.

Galinda shrugged. "He thought this was a ridiculocious idea and he said he'd just leave me to it," she said. "I think he's missing out on something big. Okay, Fiyero, you can stand here by Boq, and Elphie can stand with Nessa. Now we can begin. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today –"

"Galinda," Elphaba interrupted her roommate. "What are you doing?"

The blonde blinked innocently at her. "Just listen, Elphie."

"You do realise that you are not authorised to marry us, right? And that, even if you were, it is generally a good idea to first ask the bride and groom whether they actually want to be bride and groom?"

"This isn't a wedding, Elphie, don't be ridiculous," Galinda giggled. She cleared her throat and began again. "We are gathered here today to witness the rekindling of the relationship of Elphaba Thropp and Fiyero Tiggular."

Elphaba groaned. "You're not seriously doing this, are you?"

"Shush, Elphie. Nessarose Thropp and Boq Parlone will witness the vows Elphaba and Fiyero are about to make." She giggled. "So, Elphie, as for your vows: do you, Elphaba Melena Thropp, take Fiyero to be your boyfriend, and do you promise to let him pull out your chair and walk you home every now and then? Oh, and do you also promise to not get mad at him unless you have a real reason to – because, let's face it, Elphie, you have a horrendible temper – and to talk about your feelings with him?"

Elphaba crossed her arms.

Galinda raised her eyebrows.

Elphaba set her jaw.

"I have time, Elphie," Galinda sang. "I will haunt you and giggle at you and dye your clothes pink until you say "I do"!"

Elphaba, knowing how stubborn her roommate could be sometimes, sighed and relented. "Fine. I do."

Galinda giggled. "Good! And Fiyero Hamold Tiggular, do you take Elphaba to be your girlfriend, and do you promise to study and try to be less brainless and to never, ever, ever, ever, ever cheat on her again? Ever?"

Fiyero opened his mouth, but Galinda cut him off. "Ever, Fiyero."

"I got it the first time," he said, offended, which made Elphaba smirk and Galinda giggle.

"So?"

"I do," he said and Galinda squealed.

"Then I now pronounce you husband and – I mean, boyfriend and girlfriend! You may kiss!"

"Thank Oz this is over." Elphaba turned around, just as Fiyero was about to kiss her, and she glared at him when she realised what he had been about to do. "No, Yero. You're not giving her that satisfaction. This whole thing is stupid."

Although he had to agree that it was slightly ridiculous, a part of him thought Galinda sort of had a point and he said as much to Elphaba when they were sitting in the library later that day, studying.

She rolled her eyes. "Yero..."

"Obviously, we didn't need a ceremony to "rekindle our relationship"," he said, amused. "But those vows... it was over the top – it's Galinda, after all – but I did mean it, Fae."

She softened. "I know." She kissed his cheek. "Me, too."

One more chapter to go - and here is a sneak peek for my next fic, Living Lies (you might have seen me mention it under a different title; I've changed it at least three times already, haha):

"I could be wonderful," she echoed softly. He nodded. "I would even degreenify you," he said and her head snapped up. He smiled at her. "There is only one condition."

And of course it will be Fiyeraba!