A/N: Here we are with Chapter 18! It's bizarre to think we've come this far.

GalindaisPopular: Oh, that's so cool! Congratulations to Wicked! Thank you for your kind review. To answer your question, yes I have a few ideas cooking in my head for future Wicked multi-chaps. I think I have an idea of what I might do for my next story, but it may be subject to change if another idea takes off first. I also have a couple ideas for another fandom (Oz the Great and Powerful, if anyone's interested), so I'm not sure exactly what will get written and when. But definitely be on the lookout, as there may be more coming after Features of a Rose is finished and packaged nicely with a bow. I'll hopefully have more information to pass on to you as Features draws to a close.

Elphaba clung to Fiyero with a kind of desperation she hadn't experienced before.

The vision still hung around her like mist.

Nessa. No, Nessa. What would he do to her?

One thing was crystal clear. She could not go home. No. Not now, not ever.

"Elphaba," it was Dr Dillamond's voice she heard. It seemed to be laced with forced calm. "Can you tell us what you saw? It's very important."

Elphaba turned her face away from Fiyero's chest to peer at him in fear. "I have to stay here, Doctor. Please, let me stay."

"Of course," his tone stayed level. "Elphaba, do you have a reason to fear going home?"

"My father," she rasped. "He knows. He's going to kill me."

Fiyero's alarm seemed to shoot to the ceiling. "What? What does he know? I thought he didn't know about the Animals?"

Elphaba shook her head. "He doesn't. I never told Nessa, so she can't have told him that."

"Then what?" Fiyero pressed.

"Nessa told him about the boys. Or she's going to. In the future." With every second, it was getting harder to say what she needed to. "She doesn't know where we are, but she's... she's suspicious." Frantically, she turned her wide brown eyes up to Fiyero beseechingly. "But she hasn't realised you're gone. You can go back. There's still time."

"Whoa, Elphaba, slow down," Fiyero gripped her upper arms. "What do you mean, 'He's going to kill you'?"

Just like that, all the steam left her. "Please don't let him, Fiyero. Please," she begged weakly.

Fiyero looked stricken, as if it was dawning on him that she was serious. He lost all his words.

"Right," Dr Dillamond said firmly, taking charge. "Everyone," he raised his voice just enough to be heard but kept it low enough not to distress Elphaba further. "The meeting is on hold. You may all go."

Agitated murmuring broke out amongst all those present. The young Elephant was the first one brave enough to approach Elphaba, despite his mother's objections from behind. "Miss Elphaba?" he tentatively touched her with his trunk, prodding lightly. "It's okay, you're safe here. We'll protect you."

Elphaba cried softly, but managed to reply, "Thank you."

Fiyero himself flashed a weak smile at the little one. "Could you get Miss Elphaba a drink?" he asked. "It would help her."

The little Elephant straightened, proud to be given a job. "What kind of drink, Sir?"

Fiyero laughed. "I think water would be fine."

"Yes, Sir!" the Elephant said, clomping out with a sense of purpose. His mother followed him out, mouthing a 'Thank you' at Fiyero.

Once they'd left, Fiyero's smile slipped off his face.

"Now," he started. "Tell me everything."

"Don't let him hurt me." She seemed fixated on that point.

"No, of course not," Fiyero assured her whilst gathering her into his arms. She went willingly, perhaps more willingly than she ever had since the explosion. "Why are you afraid of him?" He fought to keep his voice steady.

Just then, the little Elephant came back with a clay cup of water which Fiyero accepted gratefully. He handed it to Elphaba, who took it, although she didn't lift it to her lips. "Go back to your mother now," Fiyero urged the Elephant kindly, and he went.

Elphaba struggled inwardly with how to answer his question, not least because it was so broad. There were so many ways she could answer him; so many things she could say. Why was she afraid of him? She almost laughed.

At her silence, Fiyero tried a different question. "Okay, then." He stopped, taking a deep breath. "Has he ever hurt you before?"

She didn't want to tell him. Or maybe she did, and she was just afraid to. What if Frex somehow found out that she'd told him? It was bad enough that she'd already blurted out, 'He's going to kill me.' The fear of the moment had boiled over and she'd said it without thinking. Now Fiyero was asking her directly.

Could she tell him? But what if she did? She'd never told anyone, and she'd survived until now. Would the universe try to punish her if she asked for his help? Somehow, that seemed entirely feasible.

Even worse, what if Fiyero looked at her differently? What if he finally realised what a witch she was that even her own father hated her? He would leave. Maybe he wouldn't marry Nessa at all, out of shame. Then she'd have no one. She'd have lost her only friend. Or maybe he wouldn't even believe her and this would all be for nought.

But she wanted to tell him. Overwhelmingly, she wanted to. If only she could force her mouth to speak.

But she couldn't. Not now. There was only one thing she wanted him to know. "Fiyero, you have to go. Please. He doesn't know you're gone yet."

Fiyero sighed. "I can't go, Elphaba. Not when you're this upset."

"You have to!" she almost shouted, verging on hysteria. The need to protect him was quickly overclouding everything else. "Think what it would look like if we both disappeared on the same night! Can't you see Father wouldn't take that well? And Nessa?" She hadn't meant to make that argument. But she couldn't take it back now.

Fiyero's shoulders slumped. "I'll go back," he said finally. "Not for your father, but for Nessarose's sake."

Elphaba bit her lip hard, but nodded, appeased.

"But," he held up a finger. "I'm not going anywhere until I make absolutely sure you're alright."

Elphaba opened her mouth to protest.

"No," Fiyero interrupted her softly, tenderly. "I won't leave you yet. Oz, Elphaba, did you honestly think I would?"

Resigned, she simply looked down to avoid his gaze.

"Well, I won't." He grasped her chin and forced her to look at him. "And I'm only going back long enough to... have a conversation with Nessarose that needs to be had. Then I'm coming back."

Elphaba stared at him, her eyes bursting aflame in horror. "What do you mean, you're coming back? Fiyero..."

"Elphaba, will you listen to me for a minute?" The words weren't unkind, but they were firm. "You are right that I need to go back to Colwen Grounds for now, but not for the reason you think. I promise to explain when I come back. Just... understand that if you're staying here – if there's some reason it won't be safe for you to go back – then you're out of your mind if you think I'm going to leave you here."

"Yero... Why?"

He looked at her strangely. "Hasn't anyone ever stayed with you when you're in trouble before?"

Elphaba thought about that. "Mareem." She thought again. "No one else."

Fiyero closed his eyes momentarily. "Alright. Well, can you at least accept that that's what I'm doing, even if you can't understand it? Is my word enough for that?"

Chewing on her lip, she nodded. "Yes."

"Good."

"Does this mean you're going to leave Nessa behind? Even though you're courting her?"

The question was abrupt but Fiyero almost looked as though he had expected it, even though his face creased in discomfort. "We'll talk about that later, okay? I promise I won't treat Nessarose with any disrespect, if that's what you're thinking."

Elphaba studied his face to see whether he was genuine. To her surprise, she found that she believed him. She'd never trusted anyone when it came to Nessa. Not that there were many people she needed to trust. But Nessa was her baby sister, and it was her job to take care of her. It had always been that way.

Somehow, even the fact that Nessa had just ratted her out to Frex didn't change that.

"Miss Elphaba, could I have a word?" Dr Dillamond walked back toward them. Elphaba hadn't actually noticed him leave. He approached them carefully, a soothing smile on his face. His forehead, however, was marred with lines of worry and his mouth seemed stiff. "I'm sorry to have to interrupt you with practicalities, but if you're going to be staying with us, we'd better find you somewhere you can sleep."

"Oh, yes of course," Elphaba rose slightly to sit up straighter in Fiyero's lap. Hastily she tried to wipe away the evidence of her tears. It wasn't fooling anyone, but neither Fiyero nor Dr Dillamond commented. "I can sleep on the floor. Please don't put yourself out for me."

Dr Dillamond frowned. "Nonsense, Elphaba. You're under our protection now. We don't have anything very comfortable I'm afraid, but the least we can do is provide you with some straw to sleep on like the rest of us here."

Recognising that it wouldn't do to put up a fight, Elphaba merely agreed. "Thank you."

"Master Fiyero, is there anything we can do for you?" Dr Dillamond turned his eyes to the prince inquisitively.

Fiyero shrugged. "Not really." He paused. "Actually, could I speak to Mareem for a moment?"

Dr Dillamond looked surprised but agreed easily. "Certainly. She's just around the corner. You can't miss her with all the noise the children are making."

Fiyero's mouth pulled up in an almost-smile as he turned to Elphaba. "I'll be back in a minute. Will you be alright?"

Elphaba rolled her eyes in a bid to show Fiyero she was fine. "I'll just be with Dr Dillamond."

Fiyero nodded and gently shifted her out of his lap. Elphaba's face flamed as she realised just how their present position must look to Dr Dillamond. He wasn't remarking on it, but she didn't buy that for a second.

As soon as she lost the contact with Fiyero, she instantly had to fight the urge to slink back into his arms. Get a grip, she reprimanded herself. You've survived eighteen years with minimal human contact. You never used to have this problem.

Crossing her arms, she stoically followed Dr Dillamond as he led her to the other side of the warehouse. Most of the Animals were already asleep there, pressed together like sardines with the children cocooned next to their mothers. Straw had been spread out everywhere it could be placed – on the floor, in raised nooks in the wall and on benches. It was hardly elegant, but it was clean and dry, and right now it couldn't have been more inviting had it been a feather mattress.

Dr Dillamond made his way over to a wooden crate tucked in the corner, withdrawing from it a grey, ratty blanket. He handed it to Elphaba with an apologetic look on his face. "It's all we have, I'm afraid. I don't think it will cover you, but you're welcome to use it." He whispered so as not to wake the others.

Elphaba, however, wasn't going to complain. "Thank you, Dr Dillamond. This will be fine. Anyway," she shrugged, "it's not as though I slept in a master bed at home." She stepped carefully over a sleeping Gorilla to reach an available patch of straw, settling down on it with a weary groan.

"You're the Governor's daughter, aren't you?" Dr Dillamond asked her.

Elphaba nodded in confirmation.

"So, what were your sleeping arrangements like? I imagine the Governor's mansion must be very grand."

Elphaba tightened the blanket around her shoulders. It was indeed small, and thin, but it was better than nothing. "It is. The grander rooms are kept for guests though – and my father and sister, of course."

Dr Dillamond seemed speechless. Elphaba couldn't imagine why.

Just then, Fiyero appeared behind Dr Dillamond, and Elphaba automatically stood, leaving her blanket and stepping back over the Gorilla to meet him. In his arms was Cowper, and he greeted her with a bleak smile. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," she whispered, taking hold of his hand to squeeze it. "Thank you."

His smile widened and she felt heat rise to her cheeks. "If you're settled then I should start heading back. It's a long journey." He yawned as he said that, and Elphaba frowned deeply. She hadn't seen it to begin with, but weariness was etched into his face and he even seemed to be swaying a little with fatigue.

"I'm sorry," she breathed. "You're exhausted. I've been expecting too much of you."

"No," Fiyero laughed a little. "Of course, you haven't. I forced my company on you in the beginning, remember?"

She did remember. Her mouth twitched a little at the memory and she shrugged mischievously. "I suppose you did."

Fiyero's eyes were alight with amusement. "Are you eager to be rid of me now?" he teased playfully.

Elphaba shook her head, her blush deepening. "No. Never." She looked away shyly, suddenly becoming aware that her breaths were becoming shallower.

Fiyero squeezed her hand – she still hadn't removed it. "Then I'll come back quickly."

Elphaba met his gaze once more, noticing how they danced.

"Or maybe that's too much of a threat," he added.

A giggle bubbled out of her lips. "A terrible threat." Their light-hearted banter lifted her spirits a little, but just as quickly they dampened again, and she found herself simply looking at him, taking in all the ways his face had changed since all this had started. It saddened her. "Are you sure you'll be able to get back tonight?"

Fiyero shrugged carelessly. "I can manage."

Elphaba was unconvinced. Abruptly, she was hit with a wave of inspiration. "Wait," she took several steps backwards. She looked him up and down, biting her lip in concentration, mouthing something silently as though imagining how the words would taste. Her hand shook a little at her side as Fiyero and Dr Dillamond watched her curiously. Then she stopped mouthing whatever she had been saying.

Fiyero tilted his head in interest. "What are you doing?"

"I'm not completely sure," Elphaba admitted. She closed her eyes and continued muttering, a grunt passing her lips every once in a while. She opened her eyes and sighed, seeing their puzzled looks. "I found a transportation spell in one of the spell books at home. It isn't very strong, but I thought I could combine it with a visualising spell and... possibly a binding spell? If I could bind you and Cowper together... and then try to visualise Colwen Grounds..." she cut herself off, huffing slightly. "I don't know if I can do this."

"So, you want to use your magic to save me the journey?"

She fidgeted with her sleeves, looking embarrassed. "Like I say, it might not work."

Fiyero looked impressed. "I think you could do whatever you put your mind to," he said sincerely. "But there is the carriage to remember."

"Oh," Elphaba stopped. "I forgot about that."

"Don't worry, Fae. I can sleep in the carriage, and like you said," he winked, "the driver won't say anything."

"Fae?"

Fiyero reached out and briefly touched her hair. "I was playing around with the syllables in your name. Elphaba. El-pha-ba. Pha-ba-la. That is where 'Fabala' came from, isn't it?"

Elphaba nodded mutely.

"Pha-ba. Fae."

"Fae," Elphaba tried it out. Then she smiled timidly, which Fiyero took as confirmation of her approval.

"I think 'Fae' suits you," Dr Dillamond nodded in agreement.

Elphaba coughed. "You'd better go then. So you can get back sooner."

Fiyero rolled his eyes. Evidently, he'd been spending too much time around her if he was picking up her mannerisms now. "I'm fine, Fae."

She scowled. "Just go. Or do I have to drag you out?"

Fiyero looked a little too interested in that idea. "Would you really drag me?"

Dr Dillamond intervened. "You had better go, Master Fiyero. Don't misunderstand – we aren't kicking you out, and you can return whenever you wish. But Miss Elphaba is right. It is late. Very late."

Fiyero nodded. "Alright then." He turned back to Elphaba, swallowing a little. "I'll see you soon."

"Okay."

He left, and Elphaba found she didn't know what to do with herself anymore. While Fiyero had been there, when she could talk to him, she had been able to ignore what had happened, at least to some extent. But that wasn't an option anymore.

Dr Dillamond soon left as well, patting her shoulder in comfort.

Left alone, Elphaba lay down on her straw bed, placed her glasses carefully beside her head and wrapped the blanket around her as much as she could. Her feet stuck out at the bottom and she tucked her arms inside the rough material, doing her best to create her own cocoon.

Silence.

She couldn't sleep. The vision played out again and again before her eyes, and she shuddered as she was forced to stare helplessly into the livid eyes of her father. Nessa had talked about not seeing Elphaba "since last night." That likely meant that the interaction wouldn't happen until tomorrow morning. That knowledge was probably worse than if it had already happened.

As the minutes ticked by, she wished more and more that she wasn't alone.

Eventually, she must have fallen asleep, though she wasn't sure when it happened. All she was aware of was the sun piercing through a high window somewhere, the beams landing directly on her eyelids. She squinted, fighting against the morning. Surely she'd only just fallen asleep.

Her head pounded horribly, and she moaned as she lifted a hand to her temple. Somewhere to her right, she sensed shuffling. The other Animals must have been awakening.

Elphaba lay still for as long as she could, hoping the others would leave her be for a little while longer. It worked for a bit, until at last, she felt the sensation of a paw gently shaking her awake by the shoulder.

"Miss Elphaba? It's Khanija. I'm sorry, but you'd better get up now."

"Khanija?" Elphaba slurred.

"Yes. Come on. We're about to share out the water."

With heroic strength, Elphaba managed to push herself up by her arms, letting out a weak cry as the movement caused her headache to increase tenfold. She put her glasses back on and made it to her feet. The Animals were congregating around various barrels located at different spots in the warehouse.

Khanija watched her with concern, and when Elphaba met her eye, the Tigress smiled. "How are you this morning?"

"Fine," Elphaba muttered. She didn't feel fine at all, but what else could she say?

Khanija looked at her sympathetically, then nudged her hip. "Let's go. Don't want the water to run out."

Elphaba found herself in a line with Khanija and several other Animals waiting for their turn at the barrel. She watched as they came up individually, collecting a small jugful each and wandering away with it, carefully making use of what they had to wash. Khanija took a jug in her mouth from a pile by the wall and held it out towards Elphaba.

"Thank you," Elphaba murmured, stumbling forward to keep her place in the line while Khanija slipped in behind her. When her turn came, Elphaba dipped her jug into the freezing water as she'd seen the Animals do, then stepped aside as she waited for Khanija to claim her ration.

This done, they both wandered to the side of the room. Elphaba slid her back down the wall with her knees bent. Warily, she dipped a finger into the water. She was used to bathing in water that hadn't been heated, but this water was bitterly cold – much worse than anything she was used to – and seemed stale. Nevertheless, she bit the bullet and carefully poured a small amount into her hands, splashing it selectively over her face and neck, and pushing up her sleeves to wash her arms. With the little that was left, she dampened her hair. It wouldn't make much of a difference without proper soap, but it was better than nothing.

Khanija leaned over to tell her, "We'll have soap rationed out this evening. You can wash your hair properly then, if you'd like."

Elphaba nodded her understanding.

Once she was done, she stood up, trying to conceal from Khanija how hard she was shivering. All the Animals made their way en masse to the spot by the wall where they had picked up their jug to return it, and then Khanija bid Elphaba follow her.

She took her to a long table where a large pot of something was stationed, along with a collection of clay bowls and spoons. Behind the table stood a Bear, who took one of the bowls and filled it with a measly portion of something that looked like porridge, then handed it to Elphaba with a warm smile. "Good morning, Miss Elphaba," the Bear greeted her. "I do hope you slept well."

Elphaba smiled back woodenly. "Yes, thank you." She wrinkled her nose at whatever the substance was she would be eating but swallowed her disgust as she found a place on the floor to sit. Figuring she might as well get it over with, she promptly began to shovel it into her mouth. It tasted foul, but when she'd finished, her stomach still rumbled ominously. Oh well. She supposed that would be all she would get to eat right now. It was more than she'd eaten some days of her life, anyway, when Frex had been particularly angry with her.

Frex.

Nessa could be telling him right now. Would Khanija notice if she excused herself to throw up her breakfast?

And what of Fiyero? More than anything, she hoped he was alright. She couldn't banish the dreadful fear that something would happen to him. After all, he was as much involved in all of this as she was.

Oh, she never should have sent him back! But she had to, didn't she?

She wondered again what it was that Fiyero wanted to talk to Nessa about. Heaven forbid he was thinking of confronting her on telling Frex about... everything. But then, he had promised not to disrespect her. Did a confrontation qualify as disrespect in his mind? She didn't know.

Dread ate away at her from the inside out. It was almost as fearsome as the realisation that she had fallen in love with Fiyero.