He woke up the next morning to the sight of Elphaba, asleep and warm and lovely, curled up at his side, with her hair spread messily around her face and her arm thrown protectively over his chest. For once, he could just look at her, uninterrupted, taking in each little detail: her emerald lips, her pointy chin, her eyebrows, furrowed even as she slept; the tiny freckles scattered all over her cheeks. As another ray of sunshine fell onto her face, she stirred slowly like a sleepy cat, opened her eyes and smiled drowsily at Fiyero. She reached over and brushed a strand of hair out of his forehead, curling it slowly around her finger.
"How often does it happen?" she asked after a while, looking him in the eye with a serious expression.
"Hm?"
"The nightmares. How often…?"
Fiyero frowned.
"Every once in a while."
"I wish you'd told me," she said quietly, moving her hand to stroke his cheek. "It's okay to need someone to lean on, you know."
He looked away, trying to hide a bashful smile.
"I know."
• • •
As they walked down the stairs a while later, they were surprised to find queen Fiyalla, who looked like she had been waiting for them specifically. She wore her usual gentle expression, but there was something different in her air, something that made Elphaba uncomfortable.
"Good morning!" the queen said as her bright eyes pierced through her son. "Miss Elphaba, I apologize, but I must steal my son for a minute. We won't be long."
She grabbed Fiyero's elbow and unceremoniously dragged him into the adjacent room, turning around with an apologetic smile before closing the door – or rather trying to close the door, which clicked quietly and stayed ajar. As Elphaba started pacing around nervously, trying to occupy her mind with something, she heard the queen mention her name. Oh no. What did I do to upset her? How did I mess up now? She stood still, heart pounding, far enough from the door so that she could jump away at any second but close enough to hear the conversation.
"With all due respect, mother, what goes on between me and Elphaba is not your concern. I'm an adult, I'm responsible for myself. You need to stop worrying about me."
"This is not about you, Yero," the queen said and her voice sounded surprisingly harsh. "This is about her."
"What?"
"I know you've had… experiences in the past. Everyone knows; everyone who ever reads the papers, at least."
"Mother—"
"But Elphaba is not like those girls you used to… associate with."
Elphaba felt her heart sting. Well, there it is, she thought bitterly. She does hate me after all.
"This is a girl who has been through much. Too much for someone this young."
"What—" Fiyero's voice trembled. "What did she tell you?"
"Nothing. It's written all over her face. Yero, I touched her hand a few days ago and she flinched, as if she thought I was going to hit her. She could get really hurt."
There was a prolonged silence, and when Fiyero spoke again, his voice was filled with shock and anger.
"I can't believe you could even suggest that I would ever do anything to hurt Elphaba."
"Yero. I'm certain you wouldn't do it intentionally… All I'm asking is that you think before you pressure her into something you both might regret. I've heard the rumors…"
"And you trust the rumors more than your own son?" Fiyero asked, the hurt apparent in his voice. The queen gave no answer.
"Mother, I've never loved anyone like I love Elphaba. I don't think I've ever loved anyone at all before I met her. I know I never will love anyone like I love her. She is everything to me. The last thing I would do is pressure her into anything she's not ready for. Or rush into anything that I am not ready for. She's far too important to me. I thought you could see it. I thought you trusted me." He paused for a moment. "I know I've disappointed you in the past; you and father, and our people. But all I'm asking is another chance."
Now there was silence on the queen's part.
"Yero…" she finally said, and though Elphaba couldn't see her face, it was apparent that she was choked up. "I didn't mean to make it seem like I don't trust you. I'm sorry. It's obvious that you really care about her a lot, and watching you two together, I'm really proud of the man you've become."
"Thank you," Fiyero said quietly, and chuckled. "It's all thanks to her, you know."
There was another period of silence, after which the queen added, in a soft voice:
"And, Yero? You've never disappointed me."
• • •
The summer was over far too soon, Elphaba thought, standing to the side and watching Fiyero say goodbye to his family. She felt like she was encroaching on a private moment, so it was even more of a surprise when the king addressed her directly with a warm smile.
"It was truly a joy to have you here, Miss Elphaba. I shall miss our invigorating debates."
"As will I, Sir," she said sincerely. "It was a joy to be here."
"Look, Miss Fae! We made this for you!" Safiya called out, and as Elphaba crouched down next to her, she smiled proudly, and placed freshly-woven flower crown on Elphaba's head. "Now you look even prettier than before!"
She threw her arms around Elphaba, who had been rendered speechless both by the gift and the hug. For a moment, instead of the tan, dark-eyed Vinkun princess, she saw a pale girl with hazel curls, stretching out her arms from her wheelchair.
"Thank you," she said, fighting back tears, and stood up, turning to Fiyero's parents again. "And thank you both so much for having me."
"It's been our pleasure," said the queen, taking Elphaba's hand in both of hers. "We do hope to see you again soon. Yero better take really good care of you!" she added and Fiyero rolled his eyes.
"I will," he said, giving his mother one last kiss on the cheek and mussing up his brother's hair before grabbing Elphaba's hand and leading her into their carriage. As they rolled out of the courtyard, Elphaba could see the Tiggulaars waving amiably after them, and couldn't help smiling.
"I'm getting a little jealous," Fiyero said, raising his brow. "They looked like they were about to miss you more than me."
Elphaba rolled her eyes and nudged him playfully into the ribs.
"I'm just saying," he laughed, but then seemed to grow sad all of a sudden. "I don't blame them, though. I'm going to miss you, too."
She gave him a puzzled look.
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, you know. It was wonderful to be with you the way we were in those last few weeks. It won't be easy to go back to pretending…"
"Fiyero…," she said, although she didn't really know what to say to that.
"No, I know," he said, raising his hand to silence her. "I know. I'm not going to fight you on this."
He mustered a half-hearted smile.
"Well, I guess I'll have to make the most of the next few hours. As long as you're mine."
Elphaba shook her head.
"Don't be silly," she said, taking his hands and bringing them to her lips. "I'll always be yours."