They began a daily routine. Fiyero began to search for work and she took care of Aiden, finally being more of a mother to the boy. Neither of them had decided where they were planning on going, but they had one another and that was enough for both of them. Elphaba was more loving towards Fiyero, having learned to appreciate the things she could so easily lose. Of course, she could regress back into her old self every once in a while, but he loved her even then.

"Ugh. I hate mornings." Fiyero muttered, sitting up as the alarm clock rang shrilly in his ear. "What's the point in looking for work? I mean, can't we just go back to Kiamo Ko?"

"And clean up a bunch of old, rotting bodies and then live all on our own without anyone else within walking distance? I don't think so." Elphaba said, rolling over in the bed.

"But you've been making it perfectly fine with the odd jobs you've been doing."

"There's another mouth to feed now that you're here, Yero. And do you expect me to do all the work and to support you, my prince?"

"Why can't we just both do odd jobs and not have somewhere official to go?"

"Why don't you just find some sort of work with low hours? We can live off of very little and be perfectly happy."

"I know that."

"But, then again, Aiden… he needs to have a childhood; he needs to go to school. I am not letting him grow up illiterate. It's enough that the child doesn't look like most of the world, he will not be an idiot." She kissed Fiyero and shoved him out of the bed.

"Fae!" He scrambled to his feet. "Fine, fine. But just you wait until you miss me so much that you can't stand being home and not working."

"Sure, Fiyero. I think looking after Aiden is work enough for me."

"Are you still technically in hiding?"

"Not now that the Wizard is gone."

"Then we should have a real life. We should live in a normal house in a normal town. But instead we live in this mess."

"We can't live normally, Fiyero. Not yet. But soon. And you can get a job and we can live happily ever after," she mocked.

"Well, it would be happier."

"And it will be. Just give it a little time. I'd like to see what sort of government takes over before I make any serious decision. I wouldn't want to live that nice, normal life and then have to go back into hiding."

"Normal? We're not…"

"What?"

"Nothing. Ignore that. I love you."

"And I love you. But you need to get some sort of work for money. That way, when it is time to live that life we keep talking about, we'll have something to start with."

"If I have to."

"Oh, don't you do that! You've grown up spoiled, and now you have to do some sort of work and you complain? Please, Fiyero, for me. And if not for me, for Aiden."

He stumbled to the dresser and pulled out his clothes. "Okay, I'm getting ready. Happy?"

"Yes." She got up and, out of his sight, dressed herself. Lifting Aiden from his cradle, she said, "I never thought I'd live again, or love. When I thought you were gone, I almost gave up. I'll admit I lost it for a little while. I never realized how much I loved and needed you until I came home that night to find the blood…"

"Shhh. Why are we talking about this?"

"I just wanted you to know that I won't treat you that way anymore."

"You've proven that already, in less than a week." He hugged her. "Now, I'll go search for work. I should be home around noon or so."

"I'll have lunch ready."

She'd become so domestic that it almost scared him how unlike herself she acted. He loved the way she was now; there was still everything he'd loved about her before. Only now she wasn't cold and snippy. It was hard getting used to, but he liked it. "If I don't find anything, I might just stay home after lunch."

"Good. Aiden will be taking his nap then. We can have some alone time."

"Sounds fun. I'd better get going. Have a nice half day, baby."

"Don't call me that!" She snapped.

"What?"

"If you ever call me baby again, you won't be coming near this body for two weeks, you understand?"

He backed away. "Sorry." But he smiled. There was that old fierceness and fiery quality about her that he'd always loved. "Have a nice day, all right Elphie?"

"I'll see you later, Yero." She smiled at him.

"Bye." He headed onto the streets and watched her close the door behind him and stray into the depths of shadows inside.

The streets of the Emerald City had been changing since the Wizard's death. It was less grungy and broken down then it had been when he'd run into Elphaba two years ago. He wandered the streets for a good hour before finding a small shop with a sign in the window that said, "Hiring".

It was a sorcery store. He could tell that much when he walked inside. A large, balding man stood behind the counter. "Can I help you, sir?" The man asked.

"Yes. The sign outside said you were hiring?"

"I am indeed. Do you have any experience with sorcery?"

"Honestly, not much."

"Well, that's fine. The people who come in here normally know exactly the sort of thing they need, they just need to know if we have it. I live just upstairs and I'm getting tired of keeping the hours I keep. I'd still like to keep the shop open twenty-two hours a day because I've been told by many sorcerers that it's quite helpful to have a shop that's open so often where they can get what they need right away. My wife used to help, but now she's been dead a few months and the little boy who volunteered to help walked out last week. All I'd be asking would be maybe seven hours every day, in the mornings. From about ten until five. The hours are low and the pay is decent, though not great."

"That sounds perfect. Um, I'm really desperate for work right now, actually. Would you consider hiring me?"

"You'd have a few things to learn, but you look like you'd catch on fast. Do you really want to work here? It's not the nicest place…"

"Yes!"

"Consider yourself hired, then. Just fill out a few things." He handed Fiyero some forms, which he filled out quickly. "All right, then. I expect to see you here at ten o'clock on the dot tomorrow."

"Thank you so much, sir." Fiyero said gratefully. "Really. I really appreciate it."

"Don't thank me, just do your job right and that's enough for me. I'll see you tomorrow morning. Goodbye."

Fiyero left the shop excitedly, took note of its address and headed home to Elphaba.

"Fiyero?"

"Yeah, I'm back."

"Any luck?" She was in the kitchen area, spreading jam on bread and holding Aiden with her extra hand.

"Actually, yes." He took Aiden from her, sat down and bounced the boy on his knee. "There's a small sorcery story down on Ozma Street that's open twenty-two hours a day. The man who owns it can't seem to find anyone who'll take the job of handling it seven hours a day."

"I think I know the place you're talking about. What are your hours?"

"Ten to five."

"Sounds pretty good. So, I assume you'll be leaving after lunch today, then?"

"I don't start until tomorrow."

"Well then, good. An afternoon to ourselves. Come eat." She set food out on the small table. "I'll feed Aiden and put him in his cradle. I've already eaten."

Fiyero handed Aiden to Elphaba and sat down at the table, eating his sandwich within minutes. After making a second one and eating that just as quickly, he got up and went to Elphaba, who was staring out the window. He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. "Fae."

She smiled at him "Yero my hero."

He kissed her and began unfastening her dress. "Come to bed."

"It's one in the afternoon." She raised her eyebrows.

"I don't care."

Tugging herself out of his grasp, she flopped onto the bed. "I love you."

Joining her eagerly, he finished what he'd meant to do and kissed her again. "I love you, too."