AN. Yesterday was my Wicked anniversary- two years since the day I first saw the show! Can't believe it's only been two years!

Twenty-Five

Finals passed in a blur for Fiyero. All he could think about was the day… he was counting each day off on a piece of paper that sat on his nightstand, and each day seemed to be movingly torturously slowly.

The day itself would go by quite fast and then Fiyero would go to tick another day off, and it seemed agonisingly painful that he could only tick off one day.

But he had actually studied hard for these exams, and even if he didn't remember the exam himself, he felt reasonably confident- which was huge for him.

But when he wasn't studying or in an exam, he was with Elphaba, trying to get last minute hints about what she was feeling about the situation.

"Are you nervous?" he asked her.

Elphaba thought about that for a long moment. "I'm not sure," she admitted.

Fiyero cocked his head. "How so?"

Elphaba let out a breath as she tried to explain. It was the night before, and the five of them (Boq was finally back in Elphaba's good graces after he'd helped Nessa during a pre-exam panic attack, and thus allowed to be included) had gone to dinner to celebrate the end of exams.

As they walked back to campus afterwards, Fiyero had fallen in step with Elphaba, a bit behind the others.

"What if he doesn't like me? I don't make the greatest first impression," she said simply.

Fiyero didn't know how to respond for a moment.

"He'll like you," he said finally.

"What makes you so sure?" she replied.

He smiled. "He already knows you, doesn't he? So there is no first impression to make. There's just you. And you, are wonderful."

She blushed. "And you, are full of it," she laughed lightly.

Fiyero slung an arm around her shoulders. "Maybe. But it's part of my charm," he grinned at her. "Besides, that is one hundred per cent true."

Elphaba smiled and discreetly shrugged out of his grasp, which he pretended not to notice.

"Do you think he's nervous?" she wondered aloud.

Fiyero didn't have to think about that. "I'd be terrified," he answered and she looked at him in surprise.

"Really?"

He nodded. "Definitely. There's this awesome girl you've been writing to for months now; you've already messed it up once by not showing up; and you don't know how she's going to react when she sees you. Of course he's terrified."

"What do you mean 'he doesn't know how she's going to react'?" Elphaba demanded.

Fiyero stalled. "Uh… just that….you probably have an idea of him in your head right?"

"Right," she agreed.

Fiyero shrugged. "So, what if that image in your head doesn't match up with who he is?"

"I'm not going to judge him on what he looks like, Fiyero," she replied. "I'm looking at his personality. If there's-"

She stopped talking abruptly and Fiyero glanced at her quickly. "If there's what?" he asked.

"If there's that connection I feel with him when we write to one another," she admitted softly. "I don't feel that close with many people."

Fiyero debated for a moment whether or not to ask, but then went with it. "Who else do you feel that with?"

He wasn't sure if she was going to answer, but then she did. "Galinda, for one. Except when she's going on about how I can colour co-ordinate my wardrobe with my skin. Then she loses me."

Fiyero laughed.

"Anyone else?" he prodded, hoping his tone didn't sound as hopeful to her ears as it did to his.

"Sometimes... sometimes there have been moments when I've felt it with you," she said shyly.

Fiyero thought of the Lion Cub, and knew she was too.

"Me too," was all he said.

And that was the end of the conversation.

The next day, Fiyero was a wreck. He wanted Elphaba to arrive before he did, and he knew she'd arrive punctually at eleven o'clock, so he had time to kill. He spent half an hour deciding what to wear. Only when did he realise he was in danger of becoming worse than Galinda did he simply pick something, pointing out to himself that Elphaba would not be caring what he was wearing.

And then after making sure the letter to Elphaba was in his jacket pocket, he had nothing to do but wait.

Meanwhile, Elphaba was pretty sure Galinda was more excited than she was. Galinda spent an hour and a half going through Elphaba's, Nessa's and her own closet to decide what Elphaba should wear.

Elphaba suffered through all of this with surprising patience, and didn't argue when Galinda finally chose a long, black, sleeveless dress. She brushed out her long hair and left it loose in soft waves.

"Good luck, Elphie," Galinda said in a trembling voice, hugging her tightly.

"Bring him to the Wilted Rose after," Nessa suggested to her sister. "So we can all meet him."

"Sure," Elphaba agreed and headed to the canal.

It was a beautiful summer's day, and Elphaba was glad they'd decided upon an outdoor meeting place, because it seemed a shame to waste such wonderful weather after two weeks of rarely spending time anywhere but exam rooms and the library- as partial as she was to the library.

Despite the good weather, there was no one else around the Canal as Elphaba made her way to the willow tree. Galinda was right, it was a beautiful old tree, and would make a lovely meeting spot.

Galinda had forbidden her from bringing a book to pass the time while she was waiting, so Elphaba felt a bit lost and incredibly awkward with nothing to do as she waited.

It was exactly eleven o'clock when she arrived, and she wasn't sure how long she should wait. The tree was situated in a spot so she could see anyone approaching from any direction. But no matter which way she looked, the grounds were empty.

"Please don't stand me up again," she begged in a whisper as she stood under the tree, her arms folded and wrapped around her stomach; although she couldn't help but think that at least in this spot, he couldn't see her skin and leave unnoticed.

"Technically, I didn't exactly stand you up the first time," said a familiar voice, and Elphaba whirled around, startled.

There was still no one there, in any direction. Then, by chance, she looked up. And there was Fiyero, sitting on a branch.

"Fiyero? What- what are you doing here? And up in the tree…? You almost gave me a heart attack," she gasped, one hand on her chest.

Fiyero jumped to the ground. "I was going crazy waiting in my room," he confessed. "But I didn't want you to see me too soon. But I assumed you'd look up, I didn't mean to scare you."

Elphaba was still trying to recover her normal heart rate, and was completely confused.

"I- I don't understand," she said faintly.

Fiyero reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope, which he handed to her. "Read this. Please. Before you say anything."

Elphaba took it uncertainly, and noticed her name on the envelope. It was in "Dathien's" familiar handwriting.

Looking up at him, she saw his encouraging nod and opened the envelope. She read in silence, not lifting her eyes from the paper, trying to absorb everything she was reading. When she was finished, she slowly lifted her gaze to meet his, noting how nervous he was.

But Elphaba only had one question.

"You love me?"

Fiyero almost sank in relief, before registering her small voice asking the question. Nodding, he stepped forward, taking her hands in his even though she still held his letter.

"I love you, Elphaba, Fae, whatever you want me to call you," he said, chuckling lightly. "I love you."

Elphaba couldn't think of anything to say.

"I kind of like Fae," she whispered and Fiyero grinned.

"Me too."

Elphaba swallowed hard. She had just gained so much information in one sitting, her head was swimming.

"How could you not tell me who you were?" she demanded angrily, feeling kind of stupid she hadn't seen it before.

Fiyero had figured she'd be upset, and had to admit she had a right to be. But he'd expected the question, and had an answer ready.

"I didn't tell you for the same reason you didn't tell me about your skin," he said pointedly. Then looked her in the eyes as he replied simply. "I didn't want to lose you. The past few months... your letters have meant everything to me, Elphaba. I didn't want it to stop."

Elphaba just stared at him. She couldn't argue against that.

"After… after the Lion Cub… I thought…"

Fiyero smiled softly and nodded, bringing his head close to hers. "I know. I read the letter," he teased gently and she groaned, burying her head in her hands.

"Oh Oz, the letters…"

"Hey," he interjected, tilting her chin up so she was looking at him. "You were right. About pretty much everything."

"I feel so stupid!," she muttered and Fiyero shook his head.

"Don't. You're hardly stupid, Fae."

"How did I not see it?" she demanded.

Fiyero shrugged. "Well, we were hardly friends in the beginning. And once I knew who you were... I did every thing in my power to keep you from finding out."

"Well, that hardly sounds flattering," she retorted flatly.

"I didn't want to say anything until you liked Fiyero even half as much as you seemed to like me as Dathien," he said quietly.

She said nothing, and Fiyero took that as an encouraging sign. He slowly began to lean in.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" she whispered when their lips were mere inches apart.

Fiyero held back a groan. "Kiss you? Absolutely," he murmured.

She blushed and lowered her eyes. "I meant-"

Fiyero stopped her by closing that final inch, and pressing his lips to her in a sweet, soft kiss. Elphaba slowly and shyly responded to the kiss and it was a long moment before they pulled apart.

And all her protests were gone.

"I love you," Fiyero said firmly.

Elphaba smiled faintly. "I love you," she replied and Fiyero beamed at her.

Then she bit her lip. "What happens now?"

Fiyero paused. "That depends. Are you still mad at me?"

Elphaba wasn't exactly sure what she was feeling, she was still trying to get her head around everything. "I wouldn't say mad. Irritated, maybe... but I understand why," she admitted reluctantly. "Why?"

"Because I want to ask you a question, and I'd rather you're not mad at me when you answer," Fiyero replied.

Elphaba frowned inquisitively and Fiyero took a deep breath.

"Do you remember when I asked you what was going to happen when you met Dathien?"

"You mean you?" Elphaba retorted, her tone laced with sarcasm and then sighed as Fiyero only looked at her.

"Sorry. Not mad, I promise."

She sighed and tried to think back to the conversation he was referring to.

"In the cafeteria?" he prodded gently, and Elphaba nodded in recollection.

"Yes, what about it?"

"Do you remember I made a suggestion about what happen and you laughed at me?"

Elphaba didn't have to think too hard about that one. "what if he wants to date you?" The idea still sounded ridiculous.

"Yes," she replied faintly. "I remember."

Fiyero grinned. "Well, Fae... I want to date you."

Elphaba couldn't do anything other than blush. It sounded both competely wonderful and strange to actually hear him say it aloud.

And it wasn't that she didn't love him, or want to date him, but it was just her nature to be hesitant.

"What about Galinda?" she asked worriedly, wondering how her best friend would take to her dating her ex-boyfriend.

But Fiyero waved a dismissive hand. "Don't worry, she's fine with it. She's been nagging me for the past month to write to you and set up another meeting."

He didn't think about what he'd said, until Elphaba's eyes narrowed.

"Galinda knows?"

Fiyero grimaced. "Uh, well... yes," he admitted sheepishly.

"Galinda's known for the past month and I didn't?"

"I had to tell her the truth when I broke up with her!" he defended himself against Elphaba's furious glare.

"Was she mad?" Elphaba worried.

"She was upset, but not mad," Fiyero reassured her. Then he hesitated. "So, where did we land on the whole dating thing?"

Elphaba stared at the letter in her hand for a few moments before looking back up at him.

"I'm going to hold you to that letter thing," she said, holding up his letter.

Fiyero grinned, recognising that as her agreement. "Easy. Will you write back?"

Elphaba pretended to think about that for a moment. "Maybe," she teased and then kissed him.

Fiyero was taking that as a yes. They did have a whole summer to pass anyway.

The End

AN. I have a plan for the sequel! It literally came to me at 11.30 last night as I was going to sleep.