A/N: Thank you soooooo much for the reviews! And, yes, I know… I haven't written much of the plot, but I thought I would write some kind of introduction, so you know where the characters stand and how I write and talk about them…. And yes, here comes the chapter where it all "starts", so enjoy! Once again, I thank you so much for the reviews, and if I update late, I apologize, since I have tons of homework, and I'm trying to keep up. Hope you like this chapter (it took me a long time to figure out how to write it, so…) here it goes!

also, let's just pretend that the order of siblings in the family is Manek, Irji and Nor, cause somewhere it my head, it was like that…. Also, Liir is 7, so Nor is around 9…And it's already written so… I won't bother you anymore and leave you to read my story!

Chapter 3: Have we met?

All throughout the day, Elphaba had been probing and investigating her new room, as if it were something she had to remember for life. When she first got up the tower, her first look on the room was the window. The view was spectacular: you could see all of the colors of nature; effervescent green blended with the fluorescent mixture of patterns of the flowers and the different life and meaning this brought to life. Further in the distance you could see the mountains, a contrasting figure, for its rocky contours where the opposite to the soft flower petals. Behind those unsteady heaps, you could see nothing but the horizon, nothing but your imagination to fill the rest of the wonderful landscape. It was something to be amazed at. Elphaba had stared out the window and savored this first impression. She could see almost all of Kiamo Ko, which made her remember those days where she thought she could be free and defy anything she put her mind on. But on a second look, this window showed no less than her own life: at fist soft and full of shades of colors… then, uneven and shaken by her decisions, and the rest left for the future to come… no one knew what was to be of her or anyone.

After staring out the window for quite some time, she turned to notice that the girl who had showed her in had left, but the kid was still around, trying to find something to entertain himself. She didn't like kids… and he was no exception. Elphaba sighed and made her way to the door. Liir watched her attentively, interested in her. He had always been… she didn't know why. The boy seemed to observe her, and almost to mimic every little movement she made. 'Maybe I've gone mad—at last.' Thought the woman as she stood beside the door.

"Out." She said. Looking at the boy's eyes reminded her of someone she dared not think about, so she avoided his gaze as much as she could. So now it was time for her to be alone and think over what her next move in life would be.

"Out." Elphaba repeated. Liir looked over at her, grabbed his sweater and stood up. He made his way to the door. The boy never questioned what he was told to do, he just did it, and that's that. But yes, he was interested to know who this woman was. He had been told by several people that she was his mother, but he never believed it. She had never showed any sign of being a mother, and he himself had no resemblance whatsoever to her. She didn't seem to care him joining along, though. As long as he had memory, he had been by her side and slept in the same room as her, though she had never showed any affection. But the boy gave no importance to that… he just did as he was told.

"When can I come back?" asked Liir, looking into the woman's green eyes. As soon as they made eye contact, Elphaba looked away.

"I don't know… just go outside and… do your stuff… don't come back until sunset." With that she shut the door and locked it, so that no one would disturb her.

After meditating a big part of the day, Elphaba decided that it was time to talk to Sarima, which was a very difficult subject for her to overcome. But still, she made her way through the castle to straighten things out, and so that she could have at least, some release. When she came down, the woman was with her own children: Manek, Irji and Nor, was it? Anyway, the moment Sarima had set eyes on her, she straightened up and told the kids to go along and play. The boys, and the little girl (was she even 9?) especially, had stared at her all the way out the door. Never mind, she was used to weird looks.

At first she had asked what her name was, but Elphaba was unwilling to tell so. She had, therefore, called her 'Auntie guest'. She had no problem with names… she didn't like hers anyway.

Elphaba had told Sarima she had come to Kiamo Ko because she had known her husband, but at the sound of the name 'Fiyero', Sarima had backed away and told Elphaba that she didn't want to listen to this. As much as Elphaba insisted, Sarima refuted even more. She was reluctant to hear any stories about her husband and his time in the Emerald City. She claimed to have the right to listen to what she wanted in her house, and Elphaba respected that. Defeated, Elphaba returned to her tower, thinking and insisting that she would try again further onwards.

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The Arjiki price of the Vinkus walked back home from a spectacular haunting day. He had haunted one of the biggest pork in all of Oz, and was pleased with himself.

Since he had returned, he had been resting in his home for months, trying to recover from the horrible experience he had suffered only mere weeks ago. But from last week, he had felt much better, and had decided that some fresh air would be good for the soul and body.

He was happy he was back with his children, though, but he still missed her… those cold nights in the city and the only comfort he had ever found in his life were those lime sweet arms which he longed to be with. 'Think straight—don't go there.' If he started to recall his days at the city he would probably fall into depression and despise himself for not been able to do something about the course of the events that night.

But he was happy with his children. His favorite (though he would never tell) was his petite princess, Nor. She was the sweetest girl he had ever met, and had fallen in love with her the moment he had seen her as a baby. As he made his way on his horse, he saw the grand gates of his castle making a stand and announcing what few was left before he reached his home.

In no time, he reached the doors and entered the structure. He was greeted by the horse-man, and came down from the animal. When he reached the floor, a greeting scream was heard behind him.

"DADYYY!" said the girl Nor, as if she hadn't seen her father in years. She went running towards her dad, and was swept into the air by him. Immediately, she was bathed in kisses and she returned the gesture in laugh and a big hug.

"Hey, princess! How was your day?" said her father as he turned his head towards the little girl.

"It was fun! At first nasty Manek took my doll and he wanted to take off her head!" said the little girl, in a voice that sounded wounded and hurt at only the thought of the memory. At the girl's words, the man did a 'not approving face', and 'tsked' to the action of her older brother.

"Is that so?" father asked.

"Yes! He was bad! But mummy punished him and I got my doll back!" Nor made a happy face and showed her doll to her daddy triumphantly. Then she remembered the big news of the day. "Oh! Daddy! We have a new guest. We call her Auntie guest!"

"Really? How is she like?" asked her dad, faking interest. He loved his girl, but sometimes, she talked too much. Nevertheless he would listen. He loved to hear all of this nonsense…

"Well… she has a weird skin color…and very loooong and dark hair… she's funny looking." At her comments, the man flinched and had a questioning look on his face. 'Could it be… no, it can't be…' thought the man.

"Nor, what do you mean, weird color…?"

"Look, she's right there!" Nor pointed past his shoulder and behind his back. Fear went all over him, as did excitement. What if it was her? But she couldn't be... she didn't know where he lived—and why would she want to come visit here?

Slowly he turned around, only to see Elphaba take her hand to her mouth, with eyes wide open as if she had seen a dead man, who gasped really loud.

"Fi—Fiyero?" were the green woman's last words before she fainted and fell into the floor with a loud dull sound.

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"I know what you think," she said. "But how experienced are you, Lord Sir Fiyero, Arjiki Prince of Kiamo Ko, Mightiest stalker of the Thousand Year Grasslands, Chiefest Chieftain in the Great Kells?"

"I am putty in your hands," he said, truthfully. "I married a child bride and to preserve my power I haven't been unfaithful. Until now. You are not like her," he said. "You don't feel like her, it doesn't feel the same. You're more secret."

"I don't exist," she said, "so you're still not being unfaithful, either."

"Let's not be unfaithful right now then," he said, "I can't wait," running his hands along her ribs, down the tight plane of her stomach. She always brought his hands to her thin, expressive breasts; she would not be touched below the waist by hands. The moved together, blue diamonds on a green field.

The memory stuck with her in almost every dream she had. Elphaba had loved those days where she had become 'secret', as he called her. She was his secret. Those were the days when, for the first time, she had felt loved and cared for. Fiyero had been the reason of her existence, and he had saved her from going down another path.

"Nor, go tell your mother to bring oil from the cabinet over the kitchen. Go! Quick!" a manly voice was heard. A voice all too familiar to Elphaba.

Elphaba realized now that she was in her bed. The last thing she remembered was—no, it couldn't be probable, could it? She flinched in her dream, and her backside hurt like hell, but she was put down sideways, so that her back wasn't hurt in the process. But there was another person with her, an extra weight was beside her.

"Wha—what happened? Yero?" asked Elphaba in a husky dreamy voice.

"Shh… everything will be alright, I promise." The man said, stroking her head and continuing down her side. It felt so nice that a soft smile was formed in the green woman's face. 'Oh, his warm hands… how I missed them…'she thought. Suddenly it hit her.

She stood up as fast as she could with a surprised gasp and backed away from the figure in front of her until she bumped with the wall, and couldn't retreat any further. Though she couldn't help but stare at him, she couldn't believe what she saw.

"Fiyero?" she asked, almost a whisper, perplexed eyes on her face. "No, you stay away from me! You are not him!" Elphaba said, more to herself than to him. 'This man cannot be him! He was murdered, and he – he would have looked for me, had he been back…' the woman thought. She still couldn't figure to look another way.

"Elphaba, please, listen to me." The man said dreadfully, putting his hands in front of him, so as to try and calm her. "This is me, Fiyero…" he alleged, placing one of his hands over his heart.

Elphaba still not cooperated. "Why should I believe you! The real Fiyero is—dead" she still had trouble saying the word. "Who sent you? You're not fooling me! Was it Madame Morrible? I should've known she was following me…. Stay away from me!" she said as the man tried to approach her. Elphaba was shouting now, and she hadn't acknowledge that, but if Fiyero wanted to convince her, he had to work fast, for the sisters were probably on their way to see what was going on. But Elphaba kept thinking in her own twisted mind that she should have known. This was all a plan from Madame Morrible. How insane that woman was!

"Elphie listen, no, it was not Madame Morrible. How can I make you understand?" he asked in a desperate voice. Elphaba just stared a moment and thought about it. Even if he wasn't the real Fiyero, he still fooled her a little. She couldn't resist but hope that he was him. That maybe he had returned. To be with her. To be as they used to be.

After a small pause, Elphaba asked, "Tell me something only Fiyero knows…" making an effort to show no emotion.

"Ok, good. Just let me think…" said the man. He put his hand on his head and thought about it for a moment. "Ha! I got it! I craved--" he sighed before going on, remembering his old action. "I craved on the wooden floor the words 'Fiyero + Fae'…please Elphaba… you got to believe me! It's me…" said the man, the last words in a tender voice, so that she would remember how he loved her.

Elphaba just stared at him. She refused to believe. "That, you could've read." She refuted. She flinched away, and made a movement as if to try and run away. "Wait!" Fiyero said, after he saw her reaction. He knew this was coming, and just in case, he had thought of something else; something more private.

"Ok, yes, I could have read it… just let me prove to you I'm Fiyero." Elphaba stared in disbelief, but seemed willing to hear him just one more time. She nodded to say that it was 'Ok' and he continued. "Elphie--Fae…" and before continuing, he looked sideways to see if someone was there (which there wasn't) and he lowered his voice before carrying on. "You—you didn't let me touch you -even under the most heated passion- you wouldn't allow me beneath your waist." He stated, looking into those beautiful sea green eyes. He could see they were welling up with hot tears, but then decided to go for her, and to hell with what she thought or did not think. She needed him.

"It's ok, Fae… I'm here… shh…" he was holding her now; she had let him touch her again. It felt so wonderful… all these years apart had made them grow up and realize how much they needed each other. They were meant to be.

Elphaba on the other hand, the second she heard what he said, felt relieved and angry at him at the same time. Why hadn't he looked for her before? Why?

But it really didn't matter any more. He was here with her, as it should be. She didn't back away when he drew near her, but instead, let him hold her. She needed him badly.

Fiyero knew how much water hurt her, so the first thing he did was to take off the tear which was threatening to spill with his own thumb. After drying it up, he lifted her chin towards his face, so that hazel eyes could meet lime ones. They looked at each other for what seemed like forever, and as time passed by, their faces grew closer to each other, until their lips met in a soft caress.

At first, the kiss was sweet and forgiving, as well as shy. But after the first contact, the kiss developed into need and then into a firing passion, recalling the days at the city, where the world would stop just for them to make sweet love in their own loving world.

But this was not the city, and they were certainly not alone. Footsteps were heard from the stairs, and both Elphaba and Fiyero broke away to see who was entering the room. They didn't dare to look the other's eyes, but instead split apart, Elphaba with a look of regret and relief, and Fiyero with a concerned and annoyed look at the one who dared interrupt them.

They both turned to the door when Sarima entered the room. "Love, is everything alright?" asked the woman, panting from going up the stairs as fast as she could. Elphaba glanced at her and made a look at the sound of the name she gave her husband. Sarima didn't seem to notice, for she didn't comment on this.

Fiyero looked at her with a startled look. "Huh? What?" he asked, scared that she might have seen something.

"I mean, Nor came looking for me and said that our guest had fainted. I came running as fast as my legs allowed me, and brought a glass of water…" Sarima said, showing the glass with the liquid inside. It was as if she knew Elphaba and Fiyero were kissing, and decided to kill his lover with that firing liquid.

"No! No water." Fiyero spouted. Both women looked at him for the reaction he gave; Sarima, because she didn't expect him to react this way towards… well… simple water. And Elphaba just looked at him lovingly.

"Why not?" asked Sarima, snapping Elphaba out from her thoughts.

"She… it… it bur--"

"It hurts me. I'm intolerant to water." Elphaba interrupted coldly, talking for the first time since the woman had arrived. She didn't intend for Fiyero to cover for her, and less put him and her in an awkward situation, so she had interrupted to save the circumstances.

Sarima looked at her and kept on, "Oh, I'm sorry… I didn't know that!" after that, she put the glass of water on the table beside the door and coming close to her husband, oblivious to his previous actions. Grabbing one of his arms, and stroking it she said, "I believe you have met my husband, Fiyero. He's the Arjiki Prince of the Vinkus. And he's--"

"We have met." Elphaba snapped frigidly. She couldn't help it, but she could not look at the events taking place in front of her. She looked callously at the other woman present and then into Fiyero's eyes, which seemed to apologize throughout his gaze. But she could not deal. She let down her sight, and turned around. Sarima looked at her shocked for the respond.

"I'm sorry," said Elphaba, "I haven't had much rest. I would appreciate it if you could just let me lay down for a while…" with her back still to the couple.

"Oh, sure." Said Sarima. "Come on Fiyero, let's leave our visitor have some rest."

Fiyero tried to look and tell Elphaba how sorry he was through his gaze, but she refused to look over to him. He tried to read her expressions but was unable because of their position. He was suddenly taken away by his wife towards the door, where he stopped trying once more, and gave in to the fact that he would have to talk to her later. 'This was not going to be easy.' He told himself.

When they left, Elphaba couldn't stop the hot liquid from pouring down her cheekbone. This ached like hell, but nothing was compared to the emptiness she had felt all this years, and how it was filled by a new feeling the moment she had seen him again. But now she was left alone yet again, thinking what would be of her and her relationship with his one love. Her hero, once again.

A/N: ok, this is the update…. I know, cliff hangers suck, but I was really tired last night, and I felt really guilty for not writing… so I had to write something for you guys… and that way it would keep you interested! Aren't I wicked? Jeje…. Anyway, hopefully you liked what I wrote, since I didn't know how the characters would react in 'real life'. Please keep R&R since it keeps me motivated! YAY! And also tell me what you think of it so far…. Thanx for reading!

Oh, and (outside not) I GOT MY GRIMMERIW AND SON OF A WITCH TODAY! I'm sooooo happy…. Yeah--- I thought I'd share :-)