Title: When Your Dreams Come True

Author: Aerohead

Email: in my profile

Website: In my profile

Pairing: Fiyero/Elphaba, Fiyero/Glinda, Glinda/OC, OC/OC

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer/Dedication: For L. Frank Baum, Gregory Maguire, Stephen Schwartz, and Winnie Holtzman who own this idea that I'm extending. Thank you for giving me the first part. This is also for everyone in the OibLTibS RPG, so Sheika belongs to F-kun, Destin belongs to Tori, Riley belongs to Nessy, and Kade and Noelani belong to Cree.

Warning: spoiler for the ending of the musical Wicked, but that's pretty much about it.

Genre: Romance, adventure (book/play amalgamation)

Summary: With the government at a stand-still, Shiz is the only safe place to be. But with the arrival of two new freshmen, the old struggle of segregation arises.

Author's Notes: Sorry for the lack of updates. It's been hectic. Also, how Ozma knows Shell will be explained in the next chapter of Witch of the East, which I plan to write by New Years Eve. And…I think that's about it. Oh, all of the quotes Merric, Shell, and Ozma are talking about are L. Frank Baum quotes. This chapter's short, as I've had major writer's block for this story, but wanted to move the plot along. Nothing much happens, really, so if you skip it, don't think I'll mind. Also, if you have a chance, read and review my friend's Phantom of the Opera story, Muse. After nearly the whole school year of being a pain in the ass, she has finally put a story up.

Chapter Eight: A Minor Interlude

Fabala was regretting accepting Nissa invitation to come with her to the festival. For one, the City looked sick with its pink crepe paper streaming everywhere from the top of the highest green building to the smallest green street stall. She shuddered at the sight, before picking up her pace so that she could get inside the Palace and away from the ugliness of the green and pink mixture. Regardless of what Glinda believed, pink and green should not be allowed close to each other.

Of course, the Palace was not a good refuge at all. Inside was worse than the outside, as Glinda had personally decorated. "This is horrific." Fabala breathed.

"What is?" Nissa asked, completely unfazed by the clash of colors.

"Nothing." Said Fabala, a little too quickly. Nissa seemed not to notice, however, and Aran slipped into the Palace behind the two girls, slipping his hand into Fabala's.

"Nissa! You're home!" The Tinman exclaimed, running into the hallway. He stopped, frowning at Fabala. "Miss Fabala." He said curtly. Fabala curtseyed as well she could with Aran's hand in hers. He turned to Aran, staring at the boy with a curious expression. "And who is this young man?" he asked.

"This is Aran Naeva." Nissa said to the Tinman, pushing Aran in front of Fabala. "He's Fabala's betrothed."

"Ten minutes in the Emerald City and she's already spreading it like wild-fire." Said Fabala to Aran as he stiffly bowed to the Tinman.

"Betrothed?" asked the Tinman curiously as he picked up the large bag Nissa had brought. He looked at the girl fondly, before showing the three to their rooms. "I'm sure, Miss Fabala, that, given the circumstances, you won't mind sharing a room with Master Aran?" He said as they made their way up the stairs.

Aran and Fabala looked at each other. "Well, no I wouldn't. I didn't realize we would be such an imposition on Miss Glinda's household, though." Fabala said, her confusion evident in her voice.

The Tinman shook his head. "It's not that, Miss Fabala, don't worry. It's just that Our Lady Ozma has, belatedly, asked some of her old friends from college to come stay with us for the Feast of Saint Glinda. One young man's family is no longer, and she didn't want him to be alone for the Feast, and one doesn't go anywhere without the other." He said.

Fabala nodded as the Tinman stopped them in front of a small room, and motioned Fabala and Aran to enter. "Dinner will be ready in about an hour. You can get ready, but be down before dinner. Our cook won't serve anyone who's tardy."

"Like you'd know." Teased Nissa, before she flounced away towards her own room. The Tinman also left, clanking all the way, leaving Fabala and Aran staring at the center of the room, where the lone bed was situated.

They hadn't shared a bed since they were twelve. "This is…" Aran started, staring at the bed. "I'll take the…" he looked around the room. The only other piece of comfortable furniture was the vanity chair, and it was almost impossible for him to think of sleeping in it.

"We'll share it." Fabala said decidedly. Aran stared at her, and she shrugged. "Well, neither one of us is sleeping on the floor, so the only real alternative is to sleep together." She smiled, although it was rather timid. She shook her head and started to undo her braid. "Now…we should probably get ready for dinner." Her voice cracked as she waved a hand at Aran.

"Do you want help with that dress?" he asked.

"No…no I'm fine." She said. He nodded and walked into the small ablutions room attached to their room. Fabala pulled the light yellow fabric out of her suitcase. She ran her hands over it, before putting it down on the bed. She also took a pair of light yellow slippers out and put them down on the ground, before pulling off her skirt, boots, and sweater. She stared at the ring on her finger for a moment, before shaking her head. "Get ready, Fabala; don't dwell." She said to herself. But she had to sigh. She wished she had some member of her family – other than big-mouthed Nissa – with her to share in her happiness. Though she had to agree with Aran; it probably was a good idea to propose to her away from Fiyero and Elphaba.

She put on the yellow dress made out of Vinkus silk before slipping on the matching slippers. She pulled her hair back into a much neater braid, before knocking on the door to the next room.

"Aran, I'm going downstairs."

"I'll be down soon." He said. She nodded to herself, before heading down.

In the sitting room, Ozma was sitting across from two men. There was a book on the low table between them, and they seemed to be discussing it.

"'I am convinced the only people worthy of consideration in this world are the unusual ones' clearly states that this author believed in the individuality of a person, not in the quality." Said a Quadling as he stood up and leaned over the book. He was pointing to the page.

Ozma giggled coyly. "But Merric, the quality of a person can be found within their personality, which is their individuality." She said.

Merric, the Quadling, leaned closer to Ozma. He seemed to be slightly older than Ozma, and it was obvious he was flirting with her. The third member of their small troupe seemed a little put out, and instead started to look around the room curiously.

He was the one who caught Fabala's attention. With the exception of his pale skin and the fact that he was in his thirties, the man looked very much like Thane. She leaned coughed, catching the man's attention, and she felt herself blush suddenly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude, but…Ozma where's Nissa?" she asked in a bluster.

Ozma smiled and motioned for Fabala to enter the room. "Nissa was asked to help her mother, but she'll be down shortly. Lord Bromley and the young Lord are also here, too. I think I remember that you were fond of the young Destin, weren't you?" she asked.

"We were friends, that's all." Said Fabala quickly.

"Of course." Said Ozma, before motioning to the girl. "Fabala, these are my friends from Shiz; this is Merric, and this is Shell…Shell, Merric, this is Fabala, Nissa's sister."

"That'd be half-sister." Fabala said, staring at the men.

"Oh, good. I see you three have met! Well, let's get to dinner, then!" Glinda said, ushering her guests into the dining room.