Okay guys, yay, I updated! I was unsure as to where to go from my last chapter but now I have a general picture. This chapter is basically fluff, but it lays the groundwork for what I want to do next.

A short response to some reviews (have I mentioned that I love reviews?)

to Burtonite Bec: Our beloved Elphie, a druggie! Imagine the thought. No, I didn't think of that at all. shivers Thank goodness indeed

To Kennedy Leigh Morgan ("For being so new at the writing thing you sure are good at it."): Why, thank you! That really means a lot. Well, in fourth grade, I was voted "most likely to be author" hehe. Well, enough of me, let's get to the story.


Through the Night

Boq could hear birds chirping, and feel sunlight streaming through a window onto his face. He groaned, not yet wanting to wake up. His mind had the cloudy feeling of one that had not gotten a good night's sleep. He opened his eyes and looked about, confused.

The night's events came back to him as his surroundings came into focus. He stretched out his legs and groaned again. Glinda's chair wasn't the best choice for a place to sleep, he thought regretfully.

He looked at the top of Glinda's curls visible from beneath the covers of the bed as he reflected on the previous night. Fiyero had not been at Shiz for four (or, was it five?) days. Glinda had complained of constant nightmares since his absence.

'Please,' she had begged him, grasping one of his hands in both of her own. 'Just until I fall asleep.'

So he had consented. He sat in the chair near her bed as she dozed off. His eyes had closed without his recollection, and he had woke, dazed and confused, hours later. He had contemplated moving into Elphaba's bed, but decided against it. He was afraid that if he laid in her bed, with his face upon her pillow, he would smell her on the bedclothes and feel her presence, missing her more. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew it was unlikely that he sheets still held her scent after months of absence, and yet he still decided against it, and remained in the chair.

He heard a noise in the room and was pulled away from his thoughts. Glinda had rolled over slightly in the bed and he could now see her face. He watched her as she slept, intrigued. He believed that one of the best ways to learn about a person was to see them asleep. It's the one time that a person is most completely and utterly themselves, when they drop the defenses they put on to guard from society. Boq found this thought strangely comforting. He had a strong desire to know what Elphaba looked like while she slept, but he pushed the idea from his mind and returned his thoughts to Glinda.

I've never met anyone so proper. She was lying on her back with the covers pulled neatly up to her chest. Her head rested delicately on the pillow with her golden curls spilling out behind her. Her breathing was even and a smile graced her lips.

Doesn't look like she's having any trouble with nightmares right about now. He smiled at her.

As if on cue, she opened her eyes and saw his smile. She smiled back.

"You didn't have to stay all night," she said, stretching her arms out above her head.

"I drifted off," he yawned as he climbed from the chair and headed off in the direction of the bathroom.

A few minutes later, he drifted out of the bathroom, rubbing his eyes. He suddenly ran into something quite solid and almost fell backwards.

"Oh, I- sorry," he said as he realized that it was Glinda he had run into.

"Oh-I" she stammered.

He looked at her as he felt his heart beat an unfamiliar pattern in his chest. They had not discussed the day under the cherry tree, and he had brushed off the kiss as being impulsive and had forgotten about it. Now, however, he had a strange urge to do it again.

They stood looking at each other for a few moments as Boq tried to build up his courage. Glinda began to walk, trying to pass him. He made a move towards her and put his hands on her chin to raise her face towards his. He kissed her and she melted, wrapping her arms about his shoulders. He put his arms around her back and pulled her close. He held her tight, wanting to take all of her pain and absorb it, to carry it for her.

He drew in a breath to speak, but found no words, so he kissed her again.


Fiyero stood, gazing out the small window into the evening sky. Far away upon the horizon, the sky showed a smear of oranges and yellows. Light was fading fast, however, and most of the sky was already dominated by a deep indigo.

He heard a rustle of sheets behind him and turned to observe his lover in the receding light.

She appeared to be sleeping soundly, for the first time since he had arrived. The remaining light cast deep shadows on her striking features. Her arm was sprawled up and around her head in a sweeping motion. Her hair was lying across the side of her face in a shrouding way.

He walked to the bed and knelt down beside it. He reached towards her to brush the hair back from her eyes, but decided against it. She looked so peaceful.

"Yero," she murmured.

He wondered if she somehow knew of his presence, even in sleep. Her intuitiveness amazed him, even now.

He crawled into the bed on the other side of her and remained silent, watching her. Oh, how I miss her. He longed to hold her. She had slept most of the time since he'd arrived, and even when she was awake she was jumpy and quick to anger. He tried not to hold it against her, but still he resented it.

He gave into impulse and brushed the hair back from her face to see her better. She opened her eyes at him and smiled.

"Sleep well?" he asked.

"Remarkably."

"No nightmares?"

She shuddered, very slightly. "Thankfully."

"Could've sworn I heard my name mixed into that mumbling of yours."

"Oh, is that so? And I had thought my dreams were pleasant."

"You know you want me," he said, playfully pushing her. She smiled in response.

He looked at her, lying beautifully in the half-darkness. He longed to tell her of his love for her, but bit his tongue. Every time he had tried, she had shushed him, or waved him off. In his moment of thought, they had fallen silent, and she looked at him in a peculiar way.

"Elphie?" he said, trying to gauge her response, but there was none. "I love you." She placed her fingertips upon his lips. "Don't," she whispered.

"Oh, Elphaba, why must you always do that? Why can't I tell you?" he asked, anguished.

She let her guard down, slowly. "Show me," she breathed, nearly inaudible.

He was quite sure he had misunderstood her. "What?"

She leaned her face in close to his. "If you love me," she whispered, "then show me."

He wanted nothing more. He pulled her into a tight embrace, drawing her into him. He kissed her fiercely and she kissed back with as much intensity.

He pulled his shirt off over his head and fell back into the embrace. He could feel her hair trickling across the pillow, and the silky warmth of it gave him goose bumps. His hands wandered to the hem of her dress and began to tug it lightly. She removed it and threw it carelessly across the room. He heard the cat meow in protest as the dress presumably landed on its head. They both laughed openly in the way that overly happy people do. He saw the sparkle in her eye. He knew that she loved him too.

Though she was still laughing, he kissed her again. His hand traced the outline of her smooth skin, tentatively, expecting her to stop him.

She pulled her mouth away from his and whispered into his ear, "I am yours."

Her breath in his ear sent chills down his spine. She let him love her as she never had before.


Okay, so I actually liked this chapter, though it was a bit short. Tell me all what you think, and I'm welcome to advice where you want to see it going. I have a general picture, but just interested to see what you all think. Thanks to those who reviewed, I will try and update again soon. :)