Ah, gotta love some foreshadowing.

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Chapter Twenty-Three

Over the course of the next few months, Fiyero and Elphaba settled back into their normal routine. They continued their tutoring sessions together, and they both excelled in their academics while being fully committed to their relationship. Fiyero, soon after his injury, purchased a custom engagement ring for Elphaba and carried it with him every day, just waiting for the perfect moment.

Fiyero recovered completely, just as the doctors expected, but Elphaba continued to spend nights at Fiyero's dorm. Their relationship still had not taken that next physical step, but Fiyero and Elphaba were content where they were and found no reason to rush into things.

Winter was passing, and the early signs of spring started to show. Leading up to the couple's six month anniversary, Elphaba began to have several bad dreams, some would even call them nightmares, however she did not feel it was necessary to alert Fiyero of her troubles. After she went to bed a few nights after they started, another one occurred,

"Why did you do this to me, Fae? What did I ever do to you?" Fiyero said, his eyes full of hurt and anger.

"Do what? Fiyero I have no clue what you're talking about!" Elphaba replied, unaware of her actions. She put her hands on his shoulders and tried to search his eyes for an answer, "What is going on?!"

"I can't believe that you're acting like nothing happened! I gave you everything, Elphaba!" his rage built and he threw his fist in her face.

Elphaba woke, gasping for air. Fiyero, who was sleeping beside her, woke quickly, and tried to comfort her, but at the sight of him, she jumped and got out of the bed.

"Fae, what's wrong?" he said, extremely concerned.

At that, Elphaba started to cry and she covered her face with her hands. Fiyero got out of the bed and started towards her, but she flinched and backed away from him. When he tried to get closer, she put her hands on his shoulders and pushed him away.

"Elphaba, what's wrong? Please, tell me!" he said, backing away from her, "Did you have a bad dream?" she slowly nodded at him and he swallowed hard before saying his next words, "Did I do something to make you afraid of me in that dream?"

Elphaba didn't reply and looked at him straight in the eye, "Fiyero, I'm sorry-" she took a step forward and he took that as permission to embrace her tightly, which she melted into. She cried into his embrace, and he soothed her by rubbing her back. When she calmed down a little, he broke the embrace and said,

"Elphaba, please tell me what happened." He said, sitting her down on the bed, "I want to help you, green girl."

She took in a shaky breath and said, "You were accusing me of something, something awful, but I had no clue what it was. We were fighting and you just…snapped and hit me." she said, remembering the hit as if it actually happened, "I can still feel it." she said, and Fiyero's heart broke.

"Elphaba, I will never lay a hand on you like that. I swear it." He said, regaining her eye contact, "You have to believe me."

She put a hand to his face and said, "I do, Yero." She sighed and dropped her head, "I don't know why these dreams are happening."

Fiyero furrowed his brow, "How long has this been going on?"

She looked at him with tired eyes, "A week, maybe two."

Fiyero winced, "Why didn't you tell me, Fae? You've been having nightmares for weeks, and you didn't think to wake me up?"

She sighed, "I didn't want to wake you. Besides, they've never been this bad before."

Fiyero kissed her hair and said, "You shouldn't have to go through this stuff alone, Fae." She put her face in her hands and said,

"I just have this awful feeling that I'm going to end up hurting you, Fiyero. And if I hurt you, I don't know what I'll do."

He put her face in his hands and replied, "Elphaba, you couldn't get rid of me if you tried. I'm not going anywhere, and I love you more than I've loved anyone else. You'll never lose me, Fae."

Elphaba kissed him slowly, and when they broke apart she said, "I love you too, Yero." The pair then returned to bed. Elphaba lie there on Fiyero's chest with him rubbing her back. She traced the diamonds tattooed on his stomach, the images of her nightmare still very clear in her head. Not much sleep came to her that night.