AN: I know this story has been dead so long, it's more like a zombie at this point. It might have taken me three years, but I can officially say I have finished it. I'm editing the last chapters now, so I can promise that it will be completed in the next few weeks. Thank you to anyone who is still willing to read the end, and my sincerest apologies for the wait.

"So where are we going?" The brunette leaned toward Fiyero, eyelashes aflutter, and he stepped away on the pretense of opening the door. For a random phone call from his date book, she seemed to be taking their prospects very seriously.

"Yeah, what's for dinner?"

He glanced sideways at Avaric. "Surprised you lasted the breath without any vegetable jokes."

"Nah, saving it for Arti." He cast a roguish grin at his friend's date. "So how did a looker like you get roped into this?"

She giggled, though for the life of him, Fiyero couldn't say why. "Silly." Her coy smile screamed confident seduction. Had he actually found her attractive once? A trim figure and a sweet face, perhaps, but those grating, empty-headed giggles…

If it deterred him, it certainly didn't Avaric. His friend puffed up like a turkey in heat at the long-legged beauty. "What an adorable laugh." Fiyero hid his incredulity as he led them up the stairs. No doubt he missed more batting eyelashes, but somehow he thought he'd live.

"You know, if you get tired of my friend here, I'd be happy to-"

"Introduce you to his girlfriend," Fiyero interjected a firm reminder as they reached the girls' room.

He reached forward to knock on the door, only to meet empty air. "Hey." Elphaba stood gripping the doorknob like a life preserver. "You're early."

"You're waiting for us," he pointed out. "Nervous?"

"For my apology dinner? Whatever for." She let go of the door to turn off the lights.

"No Galinda? Here I thought she'd try to weasel a quadruple date out of this, or die trying."

Elphaba kept her eyes on the key as she locked the door. "She already left. They had previous plans."

"Oh." He blinked. Plans with Tavon were enough to miss this? A unique opportunity to double with her nearly reclusive roommate? He dismissed an irrational sting of jealousy. "Elphaba, this is –" Damn. Why did he have to be so bad with names?

"Keiwie." The brunette flashed a pretty smile, though she tucked both hands behind her. "You must be Avaric's girlfriend."

"Yes, unfortunately." Elphaba eyed her a moment, and the other girl shifted back a step as if afraid to be touched. "We'd better get going."

They started toward the stairs, and Fiyero leaned close to whisper, "You look nice."

"Thanks. Galinda sorted me out before she left." She fidgeted with the bow of her sash, and he fought the urge to still her fingers. "I should have worn a sweater."

"Definitely not." He eyed the long lines of her bare arms, and she drew a steadying breath.

"You should go back to Keiwie, or Avaric'll chase her away before we get downstairs."

"I'd rather talk to you."

"Yeah, yeah." She waved him off, and he fell back to tolerate the brunette's newest round of giggles.

A hand with long pink nails dropped on his forearm and squeezed. "Fiyero, you have the funniest friends!" He grimaced a thin smile.

Elphaba knocked on her sister's door, and he buried his hands in his pockets to keep from running them down her soft, silky skin. His date shifted closer, no doubt to get away from Avaric's creepy leer on the other side. He shot his friend a meaningful glare.

Between Avaric flirting with Brunette, Brunette flirting with Fiyero, and Fiyero trying not to flirt with Elphaba, the hallway started to feel suffocating, and they hadn't even picked up the lecher responsible for the entire evening.

Liam opened the door with a wide grin at Elphaba. "Don't you look stunning? Thank you for the invitation tonight. Nessa's been thrilled."

"Where is she?"

"Dressing." Eyebrows lifted, and a murderous look crossed Elphaba's face. "She's been obsessing over which shoes to wear for the last couple hours."

"Shoes?" Avaric snickered. "Not as if it matters for her, right?"

Fiyero smacked him, and unintentionally bumped across his new pet boa. She clung to his bicep. "Careful, Fiyero, silly."

By the end of the night, he wouldn't be able to tolerate that word.

Nessa wheeled up, intricate silver shoes glittering on her feet where they rested on the wheelchair. "So sorry I'm late."

"Not at all," Liam took her hand. "They've only arrived a few moments ago."

"Fiyero? I didn't know you were coming." Nessa blinked up at him. "And who is your lovely date?"

He turned to look at the brunette, drawing a total blank. "Keiwie, right?" Elphaba supplied.

His date nodded, gazing at him expectantly, so he added, "Right. Kiwi."

"Keiwie," she corrected, dropping the dotty voice to fix him with a suddenly lucid stare. He flashed his best apologetic smile, and she giggled another, "Silly."

"That's me." He shot Elphaba a look over the brunette's head that begged for death, and then resumed his charming mask.

"Shall we?" Liam led the party out of Crage and down the street to a waiting carriage. They eyed the smallish cab. "I apologize. I didn't realize there would be more of us."

"Not a problem. Someone'll just have to sit on a lap." Avaric climbed up with a wink at Fiyero's date.

Elphaba helped Nessa up while Liam loaded her chair beside the driver's bench. They squeezed on either side of her, the two sisters sufficiently lean to fit in a single seat, and Avaric sprawled on the opposite side. Fiyero crammed himself into the corner, but the brunette climbed on his lap and flung both arms around his neck.

"We can make room for you."

She tossed her hair with an inviting smile. "Don't be silly."

"I don't think that's very safe," Elphaba snipped.

"Fiyero will protect me, won't you, honey?"

"Probably safer if you sit on the bench," he replied. Much safer, if Elphaba's expression was anything to go by. The brunette gave an aggrieved sigh and took Avaric's eagerly proffered hand to move between them.

"So, you never said where were we going."

"Dinner."

"I meant where, silly. I have a sensitive stomach. My daddy says I eat like a bird." She punctuated this with an unnecessary laugh.

"I'm sure you'll manage," Elphaba's tone was dry. Nessa lifted an eyebrow, and her sister bared her teeth. "Is the café acceptable?"

"Didn't you say we have reservations at the bistro?" She shot Fiyero a look, but he was glad he'd taken the initiative to set it up. If she wanted to make up with her sister, the campus café wouldn't cut it. "Yes, you mentioned it yesterday."

"Right. Silly me."

"I don't eat meat," Kiki piped up, and Elphaba rolled her eyes.

Fiyero cut off Avaric before he could add in his undoubtedly tasteless joke about meat. "They have lovely salads, if I remember correctly."

She tossed her long brown hair. "Alright. But I only eat imported lettuce. I simply can't stand the greens from around here."

Avaric snorted, and Fiyero's heel caught him in the ankle. Liam cleared his throat. "It appears we've arrived. At last."

Fiyero sprang off the carriage before it stopped. Elphaba ignored his hand down, but he caught her hand anyway. "Say the word, and we can disappear."

"It's just dinner."

"Fine. But remember, I offered. And you owe me one."

"Me?"

He gestured toward the brunette as Avaric lowered her, eyelashes aflutter, to the ground. "I'm putting up with Giggles over there for you, aren't I?"

"Yes, what a sacrifice." But she melted into a reluctant smile.

The maître d' showed them to their table, and Fiyero snatched the chair by Elphaba. Liam eagerly claimed the empty seat on her other side, and the others arranged around them. Nessa glanced from left to right. "Avaric, wouldn't you rather sit by your girlfriend?"

Both answered in unison, "No." Elphaba amended, "That's alright. We prefer to see each other across the table."

"Liam, switch."

He looked ready to rebel, but the Thropp DNA asserted itself in her stern expression. Liam stood, and with a reluctant sigh, Avaric hauled himself up and plopped down beside Elphaba, a petulant frown making clear his feelings on the matter.

Liam prompted Kieli in conversation, and Fiyero let his fingertips drift to Elphaba's lap as he kept his eyes forward, his face blank. She matched him, drawing a slow smile from them both.

The waitress came to take their order, and the brainless brunette laid her head on Fiyero's shoulder. "It's so hard to decide. Pick something for me, will you, darling?"

He winced at the now crushing grip on his hand. "Um, she'll have the coq au van with a salad."

Her head jerked up. "I told you. I don't eat meat."

"Oh, right. Of course. Just the salad, then."

Her arms crossed her chest. "Are you calling me fat?"

How in Oz had she gotten there? "If you don't eat meat," Elphaba hissed through a catty smile, "I'm pretty sure vegetables are the only other option."

Avaric swallowed a guffaw. "Yeah, who doesn't like vegetables? Right, Fiyero?"

A sudden wince from Avaric spoke of a sharp heel meeting a thick instep. Fiyero's date, displeased at the spotlight on her tantrum so easily diverted, sniffed. "Well, I guess I'll just have water. Since I'm too fat to be pretty to you anymore."

"Kiva, don't be like that."

Her nostrils flared. "My name is Keiwie! How can you not remember it? Since you love vegetables so much!" She tossed a hateful look toward Elphaba, who for her part managed an innocent face.

"Kiwis are fruits. Not vegetables."

The brunette gave a shriek of frustration and stormed off just far enough that Fiyero was clearly meant to pursue. He gave an aggrieved sigh and set his napkin on the place setting. The waitress tucked her notepad in her apron, "Um, I'll come back, shall I?"

Avaric set a hand on Elphaba's with a voice oozing mock sincerity, "Sorry about her calling you a vegetable. She must not realize that's our thing."

Fiyero excused himself and went after the brunette. She waited to make sure he saw before turning off in a huff. He trailed after her, his attention drifting to those lucky enough to be with the person they preferred. And not chasing a lunatic drama queen. He turned the corner toward another series of candlelit tables, and stopped in his tracks.

He blinked, hoping he was mistaken, but the dancing shadows couldn't hide his friend's familiar face. A pretty redhead chuckled and leaned in for a kiss, which Tavon happily supplied.

Fiyero stood transfixed for a long moment. His friend, who he'd dreaded dating his ex-girlfriend, was actually cheating on Galinda. In front of his very eyes.

"What do you think you're doing?" he choked out.

"Fiyero, hey. What're you here for?"

"How could you?" Fiyero felt his pulse pounding in his ears. "Galinda's a great girl. How could you cheat on her? And not even have the decency to try to hide it."

"Cheat on- Galinda? What're you talking about?"

Fiyero took an angry step forward, his hands balling into fists. "Don't play coy. I know you've been seeing her."

The redhead's wide eyes darted back and forth between them. "What?"

His friend turned to face her, palms out. "I don't know what he's talking about. Honestly."

"You-" he grit out, but when he pulled back for a swing, a hand grabbed his arm.

"Fiyero," Elphaba soothed in a tense tone, like calming a wild animal. "Keiwie's back at the table. We should go back."

"Sure. Right after I punch the crap out of this jerk for cheating on Galinda."

"He's not-"

"Worth it? Oh, I know," he snapped back with a sneer. "But she's my friend, and she deserves better than this clown."

"Look, mate, I don't know what the hell you're talking about, but you need to chill out."

Elphaba stepped between them. "You're being an idiot. Stop it."

He took a reluctant step back. "I'm going to tell her what I saw. She deserves the truth. So you'd better tell her before I have to, or I swear to Oz-"

"Fiyero, he's-"

He shook free. "Save it." He stormed back toward the table. Though she trailed him, trying to get his attention, he refused to give her the opportunity to defend the creep, even if only to keep Fiyero from doing something stupid.

Nessa spotted them, fanned a sharp wave, and nodded toward the opposite side of the table. Avaric had his arm draped around the dramatic brunette, whispering something in her ear. At her sister's significant look, Elphaba looked lost for a second.

"Oh! Um, Avaric, how could you?" Elphaba smacked him on the arm, and the burly boy grinned.

"Hey. Back?"

"Yes. And you're flirting with her." She belatedly forced a scowl.

"I-"

"That's it. We're through." She dropped into her seat with a relief that in no way matched her words.

"Okay. If you say so." Avaric ran a flirtatious thumb under the brunette's chin to tip it toward him. Fiyero tapped his arm and jerked a head toward the door. "Oh, right. We'll go then, yes?"

The brunette bounced to her feet with a haughty nose in the air. "Sounds fantastic."

"Oh, Fabala!" Nessa grasped her sister's hand. "How terrible! I'm so sorry, though what else you could have expected with that cretin is beyond me. I can't believe you…"

But the words rushed past without him comprehension as the brunette collided with a girl sneaking past them.

"Galinda?"

"Honey, I got your coat." The munchkin froze as half a dozen sets of eyes swung to him.

"Boq?" Nessa's jaw dropped.

The blonde staring open-mouthed at the group cleared her throat. "Um, I can explain."