"It's been a year." Fiyero said quietly, watching Elphaba's face for a reaction.
They were in her room, alone, with the door closed (though not locked, Glinda was showering and they knew she'd take hours). She was lying beside him, her skirt hiked up slightly and his hand was on her thigh. He'd only touched her like that once before and it had caused her to shudder so madly she'd wrenched away. That hadn't completely discouraged him, and after a long discussion she'd uneasily told him (in the subtlest words she could find) that he could try to do that again, if he wished. So he had and she wasn't complaining. Fiyero hadn't touched her skin there, only the cloth that covered it and it felt… tempting. Blinking, she looked up at him. "Hmmm?"
"Concentrating on something?" He grinned, moving his hand up.
She giggled and kissed him. "Maybe."
Fiyero let his hand linger. "I was just saying that we've been dating for a year."
"So?"
"So… I…" He couldn't manage to finish a sentence. "I… I feel…"
"You feel?" She supplied, gently pulling away and sitting up.
He sat up, too. "I'm not sure. I feel like, maybe, we're getting serious and we should talk about this before we do anything else."
She slumped down on the side of the bed. "Talking about sex… ah, gee, my favorite thing to do."
He slid an arm around her shoulder. "We don't have to if you don't think we're going to do it within… the next six months."
She stared up at him fearfully. "I don't know what we're going to do."
"If there's even the possibility, we need to talk about it."
Elphaba nodded and took a deep breath. "Then we talk about it."
He shifted on the bed so they were both sitting Indian-style across from one another and then he took her hand. "We're not quite at the point where it's immediate, yet, but I want to get this out of the way."
"Maybe we shouldn't do it at all. I mean, you always hear people saying 'wait until marriage' or whatever."
"We do whatever you want. Is that what you want?"
"Well, I actually don't think so. I'm not so keen on marrying altogether, and so waiting until that, for me, seems a bit ridiculous." She shrugged.
He pretended to almost ignore the comment she'd made about marriage. "Okay. Here goes our talk. First of all, I've never done it."
"Neither have I. You know that. And I know you've never."
"Right. I'm sorry. I'm just trying to get everything out there."
She smiled half-heartedly. "I can't believe we're talking about this. It's not as if we have a place to, you know, let loose in, anyway."
"That doesn't mean we won't find one when the time comes." He reminded her.
"True. Fiyero, I want you to promise me that - " There was a short three raps on the door and Elphaba jumped to her feet, alarmed. Straightening herself out, she answered the door, Fiyero just behind her.
Madame Morrible raised her eyebrows at them. "Isn't the door supposed to be open when there is a member of the opposite gender in a dorm and there is no Ama or supervisor around?"
"It is?" Elphaba asked innocently. "I thought it was the door is supposed to be unlocked. Oh, I'm so sorry, Madame."
"It's all right, dearie. That's not why I'm here. I can let that go. I have news for you, Miss Nessarose and Miss Glinda. The Wizard has formally invited you to his Palace." Madame Morrible was, if it was possible for her, beaming.
"What?" Elphaba didn't move.
"Here. This is for you, and leave this for Miss Glinda and I'll go find Miss Nessarose later. These are all the arrangements. You're to visit over the winter holidays so you don't miss any classes. Everything you need to know is written out for you. Congratulations."
Fiyero had to take the papers that Morrible handed Elphaba because she was too dazed. "Elphaba!"
She jumped and then smiled at Madame Morrible. "Sorry. I'm just so… delighted!"
"I am, too, dearie, I am, too." She turned with a swish of robes. "I'm leaving this door open, as the rules say."
"Of course, Madame!" Elphaba faced away from the door and stuck her tongue out. "Whatever." She practically jumped onto Fiyero. "I'm going to the Emerald City!"
"Relax," he set her down. Handing her the papers, he said, "Read them."
He was too calm. "What is wrong?"
"Nothing. I just… I was hoping that, somehow, whether we both stayed or you came home with me, we could be together for the winter holidays." He shook his head. "But that's fine. This is wonderful for you, so I don't mind."
"If my father doesn't insist I return home, I promise the spring holidays." Elphaba tried. "Anyway," she nervously opened the papers, "let's see. Three days into the winter holidays… see, Fiyero, you could stay and we'll have the first three days. And maybe we'll get back early. You never know."
He smiled helpfully. "You're right. So, how long will it take to get there?"
"Nanny isn't to come," Elphaba mumbled, concerned and oblivious to Fiyero's question. "Then Glinda or I will take care of Nessa."
"Three girls, one disabled, wandering the Emerald City alone? Morrible is more lenient than I thought." Fiyero commented. His face turned to worry. "Are you going to be all right?"
"I'll be fine, you dumb oaf." She spun around and then stopped, studying the papers. "Ooh, Glinda's not going to like this. First of all, the three of us are all in a taxi carriage, 'to be shared with whoever may need' and it's the three of us to one hotel room on the three nights it takes to get there and the week and a half we spend in the city. One queen bed. I'll live, but Nessa and Glinda may not be too happy about it."
"Elphie!" Fiyero clutched her hand, face suddenly bright. "We can be together for the winter holidays."
"What?" She was still gazing at the letter.
"I have extra money. I could pay for two hotel rooms, each with two twin beds. And two carriages for the four of us. I could come with."
"You could… what? No."
"Why not?"
"You weren't… you don't have permission."
"It's the winter holidays. It doesn't matter. And we're twenty, it's not as if they won't let me pay for two hotel rooms."
She thought about this. "But the two of us, together, for a long period of time."
"Nothing has to happen."
"Who would stay with who?"
"You'd stay in the same room as I. There would be two twin beds. I can make sure of it. I promise."
Elphaba was hesitant. "I don't know."
He knew she wouldn't do this for herself, but others would benefit. "It would really make Glinda and Nessa a lot more relaxed and contented. Everything would be much nicer and less crowded."
"You're right."
"Please?"
"Well, I can't refuse, can I? That does sound awfully nice." She swayed a little.
He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close. "It'll be amazing."
Glinda came rushing into the room. "Elphie, we're going to… oh! Did I interrupt something?" She pointed at the two of them.
"Just a hug."
"Oh, okay. Elphie, have you heard about the city?"
"Yes, yes."
"Well, Nanny and Nessa are arguing downstairs because Nanny insists the conditions are not personal enough for Nessa, especially considering her disability." Glinda said.
"Are they coming upstairs?"
"Any moment. It's just difficult, you know, with Nessa's chair."
"Of course. Well, the conditions aren't going to be as we've been told. Fiyero's going to arrange for that."
"How?"
Nanny and Nessa made their entrance then. Nessa was raging, "Nanny, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You can't just refuse to let me go because the living environment will be too crowded! The Unnamed God is not against suffering a little. In fact, it would be wrong of us to demand single rooms!"
"Well, you see…" Elphaba said.
Nanny tapped her foot, ignoring or not hearing Elphaba's words. "Still, I am uncomfortable with you three girls alone in the city, especially in such a situation."
"But Nanny, you don't see the point here," Nessa protested.
"Would everyone shut up and listen to me?" Elphaba shouted, raising her voice.
And the three women did just that: shut up. All heads were turned to Elphaba, who stood in the center of the room with Fiyero behind her with his arms around her waist. He looked at her intently, as well.
"I'm going to explain to you the way things are probably going to work and then you can talk. No interrupting me. There will be four of us on this trip: Nessa, Glinda, Fiyero and I. We will have two carriages for the four of us, and two hotel rooms each night with two twin beds in each. Fiyero is going to arrange for that. Since it will not be so squished, and there will be a stronger person to keep us safer, I assume this is not an issue."
"It's not for me." Fiyero said quickly.
"Duh, Fiyero, you came up with it." Elphaba attempted to whack him on the top of the head but he ducked, managing to keep one arm still on her waist.
Nessa turned to Nanny, "I don't see a problem."
Nanny sighed. "You win."
Glinda jumped up and down in delight. "Yay! We're going to the Emerald City!"