Chapter 3

Fiyero poked his head into the kitchen where he found Marcella with her head into the refrigerator. "Where's Elphaba? Didn't see her car in the garage."

She turned and straightened up. "I was deciding on what to make for your dinner. Anything special you want to eat? Elphaba called earlier. She and her colleagues were going out."

The prince pulled out a chair. "Oh. Thought she was still angry at me. Maybe she is, that's why she went out."

Marcella lowered her eyeglasses to the tip of her nose. She was a petite woman in her early forties who seemed to have defied Father Time. Her long dark hair was always tied neatly in a bun. Her face was flawless. There was a twenty year age difference between the both of them. She had taken care of Fiyero since he was five years old. "What'd you do this time?"

"Hey! What do you mean what'd I do? Did she say anything to you?"

"You know Elphaba. She won't say what's bothering her."

"I don't want any dinner. I'll make something later. You're done for the day."

"I'm not easily dismissed." Marcella removed her apron, and pulled a chair opposite of him. She drummed her fingers on the kitchen table.

"What?"

"So, what happened?"

"I'm not five anymore. You don't need to know everything."

She squeezed his hand. "What happened?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. Nothing."

"You used to run to me every time something went wrong. When your parents scolded you, you'd come crying to me. You said I always made you feel better. What happened to that little boy?"

"He grew up," he said, pulling his hand away.

"You're a young man now but I still care."

Fiyero raised his voice. "She got angry for no reason at all! All I asked her if she ever felt lonely. And she blew up. Babbling about me going back to my old ways."

"Dancing through life days?" Marcella asked.

"Uh-huh."

"And you don't?"

He lowered his voice. "It wouldn't seem right."

"It was never right, Fiyero. What's changed?"

"Everything. Since she came along. I'm looking at things in a different way."

"Maybe you should tell her how you're feeling. You're feeling something."

He shrugged his shoulders. "I guess. Maybe. Not sure."

"Yes, you're sure," Marcella said, rising from her chair. "You just don't want to admit it. The others never meant anything to you. This one does." She kissed the top of his head. "Elphaba's a brilliant girl. And a good girl, too. Don't mess things up, my Prince. See you tomorrow."

Elphaba walked through the front door of the castle.

Fiyero was headed to the kitchen. Glancing at his wrist watch, he smiled, and turned to meet her. "Hi! You're home early. It's only 7:30. How was dinner? Marcella told me you had gone out with your colleagues.

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "It was alright. They had drinks before dinner. After we ate, the group decided to have more drinks. They were getting a lot tipsy and loud. So, I decided to come home." She held out two take out bags.

"What's this?" he asked, grabbing the bags.

"Leftovers. Seafood pasta and dessert...any your favorite red velvet cake. Have you had dinner?"

"I will now. Told Marcella she could leave early today. I was just going to fix me a sandwich. Perfect timing! I'm famished. Thanks."

"Look...about last night...I'm sorry. I..."

"Forget it, " Fiyero said. "It was a stupid question anyway."

"Oh. I'm going to take a shower then."

"Okay. I'll finish your pasta, and by the time you're done showering, I'll have the dessert set up. We could go into the family room, and maybe watch a movie?"

"That would be nice. I'll be down in about twenty minutes or so."

"Okay."

"And Fiyero?"

"Yes," he said, as he opened the leftover dinner bag.

"To answer your question, about being lonely...I used to be...but not anymore since I moved in here. Since you're here."

Fiyero smiled. "I'm glad you're here. How'd you know red velvet's my favorite cake?"

"Marcella. She'll teach me to bake it one day."

"That would be nice."

"It's a peace offering for the way I acted last night." Before he could respond, Elphaba pointed to the top of the stairs. "I'll go take that shower now. I'll be back later."

Fiyero had found his missing puzzle. A puzzle which he hadn't even known was missing. He had someone to come home to, someone he would want to grow old with. Marcella was right. She always was. He felt something toward Elphaba. But did she feel the same way?

TBC - Chapter 4