"Coming," Elphaba called, hearing a knock on the door and wondering who could be visiting her just an hour before the great ball. She rushed to open the door and stared at the unexpected visitor for a moment – his dark hair curling gently on his forehead, his rich olive skin, his shiny blue eyes…
„Fae…" Fiyero said breathlessly, taking her in. Elphaba looked stunning – even more stunning than he usually found her. She was dressed in a deep-purple gown, with loose, semi-transparent long sleeves that puffed up at the wrists. The fine fabric, adorned with tiny silver stars and moons, sparkled slightly, giving Elphaba an ethereal air; and her luscious hair, styled into soft waves and secured on the sides with elegant silver clips, bounced around her shoulders, as if begging for someone's fingers to get tangled in them.
"You look…" Fiyero cleared his throat, trying to gather his wits. "Elphabulous."
Elphaba gave him a long, tired look.
"Really?" she said wryly, shaking her head. "We haven't seen each other for six months, and that is what you choose to lead with?"
"Oh, whatever," he scoffed. "You missed me."
She rolled her eyes, but stepped into Fiyero's open arms, resting her head on his shoulder, drinking in everything she'd missed so much over the past months – the warmth of his hands around her, his familiar woody scent, the sound of his steady breath, the way his chin rested on top of her head…
"So you did miss me," he said and a small laugh rose in his throat as Elphaba nuzzled his neck.
"Nope."
"Tyé tá'ai málkiy fímí."
"I am what?" she asked curiously, looking up at him.
"A little liar."
She chuckled softly, straightening up and leaning away slightly to get a better look at his face.
"Are you even allowed up here?" she teased. "And how did you know where I live?"
Fiyero put his hand over his heart.
"I followed my heart," he proclaimed dramatically, but seeing Elphaba's raised eyebrows, added: "Actually, a guard brought me here as soon as I was let in and he heard my name. Miss Glinda's orders, he said."
"Ah." Elphaba rolled her eyes. "So I guess Glinda decided to play wingwoman again?"
Fiyero grinned.
"I can't blame her," he said, cupping her cheek. "I was already happy to see you, but a moment alone is more than—"
She cut him off mid-sentence, stepping onto her tiptoes and brushing her lips against his. This wasn't a passionate, hungry kiss; there was no urgency, no rush, just two of them and the peaceful air around; it was slow and tender and familiar. It felt like coming back home.
"I did miss you a little, you know," she admitted after she pulled away, and a smile spread over Fiyero's face.
"I was hoping you did." He leaned down again, kissing the tip of her nose and giving it a playful tap. "And definitely I missed you. A lot."
He sighed and Elphaba tilted her head, looking at him searchingly.
"What is it?"
"I wish I could have you all to myself for longer, but I'm not the only one who missed you," he said, extending a hand to her. "We'd better go. Nessa and Boq are waiting downstairs, and I don't think they liked being left alone there very much."
Elphaba smiled slightly.
"I just need another second to get ready," she said, giving him one more quick kiss. "Wait for me?"
"I will."
•••
"I can't get over how beautiful Fabala looks," Nessarose sighed dreamily.
"She does," admitted Boq, and Fiyero just smiled proudly in agreement. "I wonder how Glinda managed to terrorize her into this and still have enough time to get herself looking like that."
Truthfully, Glinda did look stunning in her off-shoulder teal gown and dainty silver tiara. Having officially greeted her guests with an opening speech, she'd immediately been whisked away by a swarm of news reporters – together with a reluctant Elphaba, whom Glinda had forced to join her for at least a few pictures. Come on, Elphie, you're a part of this, she'd said before – much to the poorly masked dismay of the journalists – dragging her best friend into the spotlight. And although Elphaba was clearly uncomfortable with being the center of attention, she was doing her best to put on a happy face, and Fiyero suddenly understood why.
"I can't wait for all of Oz to see this side of her," he said under his breath; his words going unheard under the music that suddenly filled the ballroom. If any of these pictures got printed in the papers, even the Wizard and Morrible would have a hard time if they ever – Oz forbid – tried to sell their Wicked Witch propaganda to the public. At that moment, Elphaba looked anything but dangerous. She smiled nervously at the camera while the pictures were being taken, then politely thanked the reporters and quickly wandered off.
"Oh, thank Oz," she muttered once she reached her friends. "I don't think I could deal with people staring at me for even a second longer."
Fiyero allowed himself a small smile. Of course Elphaba would hate the attention, but for once, he didn't care one bit about her feelings. He'd been given perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show her off to the public; to present her as the gentle, warmhearted, brilliant young woman that she was – and he was not going to pass up on it.
"I'm afraid you'll have to," he said, extending a hand to Elphaba. "Because you're going to dance with me."
"I am?"
"You are."
Elphaba made a tortured face.
"But…" She looked around, trying to find an excuse to avoid Fiyero's invitation. "I can't just leave Nessa here on her own!"
"Hey!" Boq exclaimed indignantly. "I know I'm short, but I'm still here!"
"I'll be quite fine, Fabala," Nessarose added, smiling slyly as Elphaba followed Fiyero to the dance floor. She watched, with a mixture of joy and longing, as her sister swayed, somewhat awkwardly, in the arms of her prince, who looked at her like she was the most precious thing in the entire world. She looks so carefree when she's with him, Nessarose thought. She seems younger. I've never seen her this happy. I never expected to see her in love. Why her and not me? She shook her head, surprised and disgusted by the thought. Come on, Nessa, get a grip, she scolded herself. She deserves this more than anyone. Certainly more than you.
"Hey," Boq's voice next to her ear snapped her out of her thoughts. "If you're thinking of stealing your sister's boyfriend, I hate to break it to you but I'm afraid that ship has sailed."
Nessarose rolled her eyes at him.
"I'm just really happy for her," she sighed and Boq looked at her carefully, detecting the subtle grieving note in her voice.
"You know what?" he said, clearing his throat and grabbing the handles of Nessarose's wheelchair. "Let's dance."
She looked at him in complete confusion as he wheeled her onto the dance floor.
"What?"
"Let's dance!"