Chapter Forty-Three: Pick Your Battles
Meaning had been brought back to his life. She was his again, and he was never letting her go this time. The way she had talked made him think her feelings on the topic of marriage had changed, too. Forever was an option, if he could get the rest of the world in line with that idea. But if her mind had changed, then the most important part had been dealt with. He just needed a way to fix the rest of it.
"I don't want to go home," he murmured into her ear. "I know it's only two weeks this time, but I hate being there and watching the way your father talks to you. And he barely pays any attention to Amara."
"That's probably a good thing for her. And she's the only thing I'm looking forward to about going home, Yero. I share your feelings, otherwise. But after that, we're all clear until graduation. The only power my father has ever held over me is tuition to Shiz. When that's over, I can be rid of him forever."
"Not if you stay at Kiamo Ko."
"But what if I didn't?"
"Then what about me?" He prodded.
"Fiyero, my relationship with my father is complicated. I think we can both agree I need to get away, at least for a time." She sighed and looked up at him. "You know I want to be with you, but realistically…"
"We still don't have a plan."
"Exactly."
"We'll find something."
"You, my sweet, are far too hopeful."
"Well, if I wasn't, who would cheer you up?" He teased, kissing her nose. "But I will never give up on us. I've told you that." Fiyero sat up a little and looked towards the window. It was still dark. That meant they had at least a little more time. "I'm guessing you won't be sneaking into my room at Kiamo Ko?"
"We can't risk it."
"I agree completely."
"That's a first. I thought you'd argue."
"I've learned to pick my battles." He relaxed down again and pulled her towards him. "I'll fight for you, but I don't see the point of fighting with you."
She rolled closer. "Mm, you are too good to me. Do you know that?" Elphaba kissed the diamond on his neck, then the ones on his chest, slowly moving lower.
"Right now, I have a feeling you're going to be too good to me," he muttered as he lost his train of thought. Her kisses moved even lower and the subject was dropped.
She was out the door before the light, and he watched her go with a bittersweet smile. He knew that probably meant she wouldn't be back until after the winter holidays. Elphaba hadn't been caught sneaking out yet, and they wanted to keep it that way. Unless a good opportunity came up outside of the nights that Nessa insisted on going to church, she only visited once a week. Dealing with Nessa's religious ramblings usually exhausted Nanny and she was completely out only minutes after checking on her other charges. They'd both had a good laugh that it was church that gave them a way to spend nights together. How that would've scandalized Frex!
Before they went home, there was a knock at his door. It was the middle of the day, and Elphaba wouldn't show her face in daylight, so he knew it couldn't be her. Although he would've been less surprised if it had been her. Glinda was probably the last person he expected to see. "Is something wrong?"
Glinda shook her head. "I just thought I could talk to you. About Elphie."
"Um, okay…" Fiyero stepped back from the doorway. "What is it you want to talk about, exactly?"
The blonde stepped into the room and shut the door. "I just… Fiyero, I'm worried about the two of you. I'm not saying you should've stayed broken up, per se, because she was miserable. I mean, she told me she wasn't, but she absolutely refused to talk about anything. All she did was study. But I am concerned that this is only going to be history repeating itself and you two are just going to be disappointed again. I don't know if she can take that. She'll really close herself off if that happens."
"Have you said this to her?"
Glinda shook her head. "She doesn't always take advice well. And even if she did, I'm not posing a great solution, am I? I don't have one at all. I know you two are in love, and that really is wonderful, but I don't want to see it go badly."
"Well, what do you want me to do, Glinda?"
"I don't know!" She looked at him. "Tell me you have some sort of plan, one you're not telling her because you're trying to be romantic about it or something."
He shook his head. "Sadly, no. The only plan I have is one she just won't like and refuses to let me use."
"And what is that?"
"An ultimatum, to both our parents. She seems to think her father wouldn't budge, either way. But I'd walk away from being prince if it meant I could marry…"
"Marry? You're going to propose to her?" Glinda demanded.
"If I'm ever allowed to, yes."
"But she doesn't want you to make this threat to your parents, does she?"
"She's afraid they'll see it as a bluff and take it. But I'm not bluffing."
"And she doesn't want you giving up your life just for her. She wouldn't." Glinda sighed. "I understand why she wouldn't encourage that idea. You'd really do it?"
"I never much liked being a prince, outside of some of the female attention it got me – and I no longer care for that, either, obviously – so yes, I would." Fiyero shrugged.
"But your mother…"
"My mother wants me to be happy."
"But you'd never see her again, Fiyero. And what makes you think Elphaba would walk away from her family? You should hear how she talks about that little girl. She loves that child so much. It would destroy her to walk away."
"I know. I wouldn't force her to."
"Then what do you do?"
"The ultimatum is on my part only, Glinda. I'd walk away. She wouldn't have to. Although she has said more than once that she could use an escape from her father."
"I've never met the man, but I think if I did, I might want to kill him."
"Try spending holidays with him." Fiyero snorted. "She still won't tell me what happened the night she found out."
"He made her pray for hours. He stood over her and shouted at her. At one point he even threatened to have a midwife verify that she was still a virgin. Obviously, he didn't actually do that, lucky for both of you."
He cringed. Fiyero could only imagine what Frex would do to him or to Elphaba if he'd found out about that. "She should've said something."
"She didn't want to upset you further." Glinda stood up. "You love her?"
"Is that even a question?"
She laughed. "I suppose it isn't. Then do what you think is best for her."
Fiyero nodded. "I will." He just wished he knew what that was.
