Knocks sounded on the door in rapid succession. "Come on, lover boy. Time to get some cake. I hope it's not made out of spinach."

Fiyero set down his comb and let Avaric in. He went back to the mirror. "What're you doing here?"

"Like I'd miss Veggie Birthday Day."

He fussed with his collar. "Do you think this looks too-"

"Prissy? Stupid? Like a blind person dressed you? Totally."

He shot him a look. "Overdressed. But thanks for the confidence." He fidgeted with the buttons of his dress shirt.

"Lurline, you're such a girl now." Avaric crossed to untuck the shirt and ruffle his friend's hair with a trained eye. "What is it about her that you're so off your game?" Fiyero picked up his present on the way to the door. "It's embarrassing. I may have to revoke your wingman privileges."

"I'll try to survive." They headed down the stairs. "If you're coming, you've got to promise to behave. I mean it. No nicknames. No insults. No come-ons. She's important to me."

"Couldn't have guessed, what with how you talk about her incessantly." Avaric grabbed for the box, and Fiyero shifted it out of his reach. "What'd you decide?"

"Both. I see you got her nothing, so I guess that evens out."

Avaric shrugged one shoulder. "She's your fantasy girl, not mine. Personally, I don't see what you see in her. Sure, she's got a nice as-ow!" He rubbed his ear. "Fine! I'll keep my mouth shut in front of your delicate little princess."

"You don't have to come."

"Did you not see yourself in front of the mirror? Someone clearly needs to save you from yourself."

He rapped on the door, and Galinda opened it. "You had to bring Avaric, too? Perfect." She stepped aside to go to her roommate. "It's Fiyero."

Elphaba turned, all eyes and hair and gorgeous black silk. She tucked the hair behind her ears and took a clunky step forward. "Hey."

He forced himself not to drool. "You look nice."

"Oh, thanks." She hid her eyes on the glittering beads that swept a path across her flared skirt. "It's all Galinda."

How he longed to tip up that chin and assure her that it wasn't. Instead he shuffled toward her desk. "Boq."

The munchkin lifted an eyebrow. "No question this time, huh?"

"Looks like."

Avaric shed his coat and dumped it on the vanity. "So, we drinking here or taking this party on the road?"

"Not that kind of party, Av." From the cold tone and pose of her hip, Galinda still hadn't forgiven his friend for that 'Prissy Bottle Blonde' comment after their breakup.

"So why did you bring Avaric?" Elphaba leaned in to ask. Fiyero showed remarkable restraint not looping an arm around the tiny waist so accentuated by that dress.

"Bring?" He faked surprise. "He followed me like a stray. I was trying to find the little guy a home."

She swallowed a smile. "You do know he's going to give Galinda a heart attack."

They watched the blonde glowering at whatever rude, ungoodly thing Avaric had said now. Fiyero tilted his head to the side. "You know, I'm a little surprised she didn't go for him instead of Tavon. That whole 'opposites attract' thing."

Elphaba dropped her eyes back to her beads. They fell silent for a tense moment. He cleared his throat. "Wouldn't that be one terrifying match though?"

She let out a small smile. "Can you imagine?"

"Please, Lurline, don't make me!" He made a visual loop of the room and asked, "Speaking of, where's Tavon?"

"I haven't seen him in a while, actually."

So either she was sparing his feelings, or Galinda had kept her beau away for fear of what Fiyero would say. It hurt that she thought so little of him as to ruin Elphaba's birthday just for the satisfaction of seeing his traitorous ex-friend off-balance.

A knock at the door drew Galinda from her argument to answer it, and Elphaba jumped up to help her sister wheel in. Nessarose patted her hand. "Happy Birthday, Fabala." Her eyes crossed the room to Boq in the corner, and the temperature dropped several degrees. "What is he doing here?"

"Boq's my friend, Nessa."

Nessa scowled. "So you're choosing his side?"

"No, we're all choosing Elphie's side," Galinda's voice was gentle, but firm. "Can I take that for you?"

"I apologize." Nessa handed over the plain brown parcel. "I'll try to be more charitable."

Boq opened his mouth, only to press it back shut at a glare from Galinda. Fiyero sent him a sympathetic look. He'd been on the wrong end of those glares one too many times.

"So when do I get cake?" Avaric broke the tension. "I assume there's no punch to spike."

Boq steered Avaric into a surprisingly competent discussion of local sports while Elphaba helped her sister get comfortable. Fiyero picked up Nessa's shawl and brought it to Galinda by the closet. "Oh, thanks."

"Need any help?"

She batted a perky smile to her face and shook her head. "Nope. Everything's peachy."

He began hanging coats automatically, channeling the months they'd spent together. "I'm surprised you didn't call in reinforcements." She tilted her head in confusion. "Aren't you seeing someone?"

Her face paled. "What're you talking about?"

"It's okay. You don't have to pretend. I already know." He fought to keep his voice even. "So where is Tavon?"

"You, what, Tavon?"

Now it was starting to get insulting. "Yes, Galinda. I'm not an idiot."

She narrowed her eyes and stepped close to hiss, "Are you kidding me right now? Do you not see what I'm already trying to deal with? If you ruin this party, Elphie or not, I will boil you in nail polish. It's bad enough you brought Avaric. Do you really hate me enough to-"

Knock, knock.

She abandoned him to resume her hostess duties without the slightest sign that she'd been mid-threat. Elphaba met his eyes across the room. Who would that be? Everyone she could remotely consider a friend was already there.

"Sorry I'm late." Liam grinned over a huge bouquet of red roses. "Where's the birthday girl?"

Elphaba tried to subtly duck behind her sister's wheelchair. Fiyero took a step toward her subconsciously, though what he planned to do, he couldn't say.

"Who're you?" Avaric blurted out, sizing up the floral monstrosity. "A flower salesman?"

"Everyone, this is Elphie's friend Liam." Galinda started to introduce him around when she caught the desperate look in her roommate's eye. "Um, Boq, can you help Liam with his lovely flowers?"

The munchkin dutifully stepped up, and the blonde slipped over to Elphaba. "What is he doing here?" she whispered. "Tell me you didn't invite him."

"I ran into him yesterday, outside your class. I assumed…he's not your friend?"

"Why would you think that? Am I particularly known for having friends? For Oz sake."

She took a step back. "He said he knew you. Asked about your tests. He said you were friends."

Elphaba rubbed a nervous hand over her bare arms. "This is a disaster."

"But, he seems so nice. I don't understand," she took in her roommate's clear displeasure and sighed. "Well, I can't disinvite him. It would be rude. Can't you just make nice?"

"Oh, like you are with Avaric?"

Galinda crossed her arms. "You don't like him either. I don't see why Fiyero had to bring him."

"But he did. And he's been …tolerable." Elphaba's eyes flicked to Fiyero. "I'm sure he had a good reason."

Boq had reached the limit of his abilities at interference, and Liam presented Elphaba a single rose with an ostentatious flourish. "Milady. You look absolutely stunning."

She took it reluctantly, and Fiyero stepped behind her, a hand on the small of her back. "Doesn't she, though?"

Liam turned to him with raised eyebrows. "Oh, hello again. I didn't realize you were here." He offered a handshake, which Fiyero returned with a firm grip. "I had assumed, well, since you two broke up."

"Broke up?" Galinda asked. "What is he talking about?" She turned to Elphaba with a cautious look.

Fiyero felt a flush creep up his neck. Nessa filled the silence with, "You two were dating?"

"No," she confessed, looking as guilty as sin, so he took the lead.

"Liam, we've been training together, nothing else. I'm afraid you were mistaken." Though the creepiness of him having noticed their tiff chilled him. He made a split-second decision. "She's with Avaric."

"Avaric?" A roomful of eyes swung to his friend propped over by the bookcase. Except for Elphaba's, which zeroed in on Fiyero's face. He willed her to go with it until they could get rid of Liam. He didn't want that creep to get his grubby paws anywhere close to her.

His friend stood and cleared his throat. "Well, um, I guess the cat's out of the bag, right, honey?" He crossed the room to drape his arm around her.

"You're dating Avaric?" Galinda could not look more shocked. "That's why he's here?"

"Yep." She bit out. "Surprise."

"I can see why you wouldn't want people to know that."

Nessa's face screamed disapproval. "Avaric? The single most degrading philanderer at Shiz. What could you possibly see in him?"

Said philanderer flopped back on Elphaba's bed. "Well, ours is more of a physical relationship."

"Oh, Unnamed God, please tell me you haven't, done, that," she managed to get out, and Elphaba glared at Fiyero so he knew this was all his fault.

Avaric sat up to grin, and Elphaba shoved him back without so much as a glance backward. "No, Nessa, of course not."

"They'll never believe you, honeybunch."

Fiyero took that as his cue to drag Avaric away in the pretense of bringing the presents. "Stop torturing her. I know you enjoy inflicting misery, but it's her birthday. What's the matter with you?"

"You're the one that said she was pretend-dating me."

"Yes," Fiyero paused to gather an armful of bright boxes and bows, "because ruining Galinda's party with my confession of deep feelings for my ex-girlfriend's roommate wouldn't be a total suicide mission at all."

Avaric collected the last few parcels and grinned. "Aw, you said deep feelings. That's it, buttercup. You're ready for your first training bra."

"Just be nice. Fake it."

They deposited the presents in front of Elphaba, all but Liam's bouquet. Galinda cooed and fussed and arranged it all while the rest formed a circle around Elphaba, who could not possibly have looked more uncomfortable. She eyed the colorful parcels like grenades.

"Start with mine," Galinda beamed. She handed over a box that looked like a rainbow had vomited ribbons on it. "Open it! Open it!" Elphaba started to untangle the bows, but the blonde rolled her eyes. "Rip it. It's more fun."

She did as directed to reveal a white lace camisole, soft burgundy sweater and matching skirt. Galinda hugged her roommate with abandon. "Promise you'll wear it at least once." She rummaged under the skirt. "You missed this."

Now Elphaba's eye lit up at the leather-bound volume. "My favorite author. Oh, Galinda, this is too much."

She waved her off with another hug. "Not for my Elphie."

"Why did we start with yours again?" Boq groused amicably. "Now ours will look meager in comparison." He presented a green striped box, which soon revealed several serious texts that Fiyero couldn't imagine as a present for any but Elphaba. He shot Avaric a gloating look. Two down, and what a shock, both with books.

Nessa's held a study of the ancient texts of the Unnamed God in multiple languages. Elphaba accepted it with a thin smile, pretty gracious considering her firm position on the existence of such a deity.

"Mine next." Liam's box was large. Fiyero fought an ugly thought that the little weasel had probably stuffed it with diamonds and chocolate. But as she opened it, he could see her eyes light up. "A first edition Ovidante? How did you get this?"

"I have my connections."

She glossed over his sly smirk with eyes trained on the cover. "This is…wow, thank you, Liam. Really. You shouldn't have."

"I'm glad you like it." Liam leaned toward her, a little too close for Fiyero's comfort.

"I guess that leaves mine." Not that he could compete with a first edition whatever she'd said. He felt the collective eyes on them as he handed her the present. Without bows to contend with, Elphaba fingered the paper along the seam rather than ripping it.

He watched her face as she lifted the lid. Her lips pressed together as her lashes fluttered. "It's…beautiful," she breathed, lifting out the scarf he'd wrapped around his real present.

"It's an Vinkun scarf," he supplied. "Not warm, but pretty."

"Pretty? It's exquisite." She unfolded the silk to reveal red poppies on a green background bordered with blue diamonds. She couldn't know the significance of the diamonds tattooed over his chest, but she could recognize the pairing, no doubt.

Nestled in the scarf was the antique wooden pencil case from the shop window. The sides and edges held carvings of various sports, soccer balls and baseball bats and bowling pins and the like. He'd had the wood grain restored as well as her name engraved on the top. Inside a toy gold medal inscribed as MVP Thropp. Cheap, perhaps, but he hoped she'd appreciate the sentiment.

She swallowed hard. "Thank you."

He nodded back.

Galinda broke the moment to ask, "So where's your gift, Avaric?"

The roomful of guests swung to look at him, clearly empty-handed at his supposed girlfriend's birthday party.

"Oh, I'll give her my present later tonight," he said with a wink. "So cake?"

Galinda brushed off his roguish grin with a clipped, "After dinner."

"We're having dinner here?"

"No," she forced patience. "We have reservations at Chez Marque downtown. Then maybe we could go dancing," she absorbed her roommate's frown. "Or bowling?"

Fiyero held up both hands. "No way. I'm off the clock." Elphaba half-shoved his shoulder, and he handed her the new sweater. "It looks great with that dress."

"Because Galinda bought them both."

Dinner turned out to be as awkward as imaginable. Between Nessa glaring at Boq, Liam testing a very unconvincing relationship between Avaric and Elphaba, and Galinda's general annoyance with them all for not behaving as the guests her perfect party deserved, Fiyero felt all of them could have benefited from some of Avaric's special stash.

He tried hard not to stare at Elphaba, forcing himself to follow the conversation. Nessa had launched into a diatribe about the perils of debauchery, much to Avaric's delight. "So you've never had a drop to drink? Not even a shot of whiskey for your throat?"

"Of course not. If I am in need of relief, the Unnamed God would provide."

Galinda cut off his cheeky retort. "So, Elphaba, how are your lessons going?"

Fiyero peeked over at her, careful to appear nonchalant. Probably a little too careful. She picked at her salad. "Um, good."

Liam turned to ask, "When is your next exam? I'm sure we would all love to come cheer you on."

"Oh, you don't have to. Really."

"Nonsense." The slimeball reached out to touch her hand. "We'd love to support you."

Fiyero kicked Avaric under the table, and the other boy lurched forward, then plopped his arm around Elphaba. "Um, get away from my woman." Ah, his friend, the actor. As subtle and convincing as a monkey in a feather boa.

Galinda redirected the conversation to some project of Boq's. How she knew so much about everyone's lives, Fiyero couldn't say. If only he hadn't dated her, she would probably be the perfect person to solve his problems with Elphaba. Both roommate and best friend, the blonde was an information jackpot even without her oddly psychic insights. Not that she would help him now.

"And that's how the turtle ended up in the ice cubes," Boq picked up a forkful of potatoes. "Pass the pepper?"

Nessa scoffed, "That story's preposterous." The munchkin rolled his eyes, but didn't respond. She turned to her left, which happened to be Liam. "Have you ever seen a turtle slide on its shell?"

"I've not had much occasion to try it."

She snickered. "I suppose not." She looked across to Boq. "I'll not ask why he has."

"Time for cake," Galinda chimed in before it could escalate. "Who wants to help with the candles?" Elphaba stood, but the blonde pushed her back down. "Not you, silly. It's your birthday."

"Not me, either," Fiyero said, "After your sparkler candles last time, I'm not a big fan of fire."

"They were pretty!"

"And dangerous," Elphaba interjected. "I'd rather not spend my birthday immolated."

"No fear. I'd douse you in a tick-tock." Liam brandished his water at the ready, and she ducked away.

"Drenched is not preferable."

"Well. It is, though." Fiyero pointed out, and she stuck her tongue out at him.

"No, no, see? She's so sweet, the water would make her melt," Liam pressed. "Like sugar in the rain." Avaric pretended to gag. "Haven't you heard the nursery rhyme? Boys are made of puppy tails and girls of sugar and spice."

His friend shook his head, "I hate to be the one to break it to you, but that's not where babies come from."

"Never mind. I'll help." Fiyero pushed his chair back. "Fire sounds much better than hearing Avaric's explanation of the birds and the bees."

"See when a man and woman love each other very much," the other boy mimicked. "Or just really, really want to get laid."

Galinda smacked his arm. "Hush, or no cake."

"Yes, ma'am."

Fiyero followed her toward the kitchen. "This cake isn't by chance strawberry, is it?"

"You mean pink?" She lifted an eyebrow. "I know my roommate, thank you very much." Chagrinned, he held the door. "Besides, everyone knows a girl's best friend is chocolate."

"Fair enough."

She decorated the cake with strategically placed candles. "Thank you for helping."

"Of course." He lit the match and followed behind her, catching the wicks afire.

"With everything. This party's been…"

"Challenging?" She sighed. "Don't take it hard. We're a lot to handle."

"Still. I appreciate it. And I'm sorry for what I said."

"What?"

"Threatening to boil you."

"Oh. No worries." He shook the match out. "But for the record," he turned to catch her gaze, "you know I don't hate you, right?"

She nodded, her eyes suddenly on her shoes.

"Because I don't." He squeezed her hand. "Of course I don't."

He let go to pick up the cake. Her lashes fluttered. "And for the record, I'm glad Elphie has you for a friend."

"You do, too." She smiled, and he felt that finally they might have reached a resolution. "Cake's here."

Liam and Boq cleared the space for the cake, and Fiyero set it in front of the birthday girl with a grin. Galinda started singing, and between the six of them, it must have sounded terrible. Elphaba looked a beautiful cross between mortified and touched as she blew out the candles.

"Finally!" Avaric held out a plate. "Corner piece. And don't skimp on the frosting."

"What is your obsession with cake?"

"Are you kidding? Sugary, free, and totally devoid of anything good for you. If it had boobs, I'd never need anything else."

Elphaba sent Fiyero a look, and he grinned. The boob-free cake didn't last long, and they retreated back toward Shiz. "So dancing? Bowling? Mini-golf?" Galinda solicited her roommate, but Elphaba shook her head.

"I really need to get some work done tonight."

"It's your birthday," she protested, but Elphaba remained firm.

"You go. I'll be fine."

"I can walk her back," Liam offered, but Fiyero stepped in.

"No, that's alright. Avaric and I are going that way. And we've got to plan next week's training times anyway. But I'm sure Nessa would appreciate your escort." The girl beamed from her wheelchair, blatantly thrilled at the company.

"Of course."

Galinda drafted Boq to help clean the wrapping paper, and with a final round of birthday wishes, they set off in three different directions. Two blocks over, Avaric wandered off to a strip club he frequented.

Fiyero fell in step with Elphaba. "So did you enjoy your birthday?"

"Oddly enough, I did."

"You sound surprised."

She shrugged. "I guess I am. I've never been a birthday person." He eyed her sideways, and she elbowed his arm. "You know what I mean."

"I'm glad you liked it." They reached the library far too soon. "Are you sure you don't want to change first? Not that you don't look fantastic, but it's a little formal for the library, isn't it?"

"I guess." She ducked her eyes. "Promise not to say anything to Galinda?"

He blinked, "Yeah, sure."

He forced himself not to lean in at the slight pause. Her beautiful face tilted up toward his, an enigmatic smile lighting it. She bit the corner of her lip, mischievous and sexy.

"I kind of like it." She smoothed out the flair of her skirt. "It's nice to feel…pretty."

It was so hard not to kiss her, it physically hurt. "You look pretty," he managed in a voice too hoarse to match his attempt at lightness. With great restraint, he held back how beautiful she looked everyday, constantly, and how alluring he found her. "Especially with chocolate icing on your face."

He wiped a thumb over the imaginary icing at the corner of her lip, glad when she laughed. "So much for that." She opened the door. "Coming?"

He didn't hesitate, though he hadn't been in the library in ages, maybe since he'd started her tutoring. "I think chocolate may be your color."

"You think?"

"Definitely. You'd keep that boyfriend of yours for sure then."

"Oh, yes. Thanks for that by the way. Why anyone would believe I'd be interested in that rude cretin, I can't say. I'm actually a little offended that no one called you on it."

He shrugged. "Love is blind."

She punched his arm.

They trooped up the stairs to her favorite clump of seats. Despite the empty library, he took the seat beside her. "Happy Birthday, 'Phaba."

Her smile was soft, and she leaned her head on his shoulder. "Thanks. It was."

"Not over yet."

AN: Sorry for the length. I got a little carried away. I'm also still working on Shot in the Dark, but I had too much fun writing this. Please let me know what you think, and thanks for reading.