Well, this is it, the last chapter. Once again, if you're only wondering why this fic was updated even though it was completed, see the author's note at the beginning of the first chapter. I hope you've enjoyed the story so far, and I hope you like the last chapter.

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Fiyero did not hesitate at all as he entered the Great Gillikin Forest once more. His steps were quick in his excitement, and he hardly even registered his surroundings as they passed around him in a blur. He was worried about Elphaba. At this point she would have been down under that trap door for a good number of hours. He wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms and know that she was safe. In his haste, and without Dorothy or the Lion to slow him down, Fiyero managed to reach Kiamo Ko in only two hours.

He approached the castle, peering around to make sure there were no guards in sight. He couldn't see any from where he was standing. In fact, the castle seemed deserted. Fiyero supposed that the guards had simply taken their leave now that there was no one left in the castle. They'd only been there under Fiyero's orders to obey Elphaba, and he supposed that now that she was 'dead' they'd simply returned home. That made things much easier for Fiyero. Instead of sneaking around to the back of the castle, he simply used the front door this time.

From the entrance hall, he quickly made his way to the foyer. Moving around was made much easier now that he had no guards to evade. He stepped into the now deserted room slowly. He couldn't believe that he'd been here only last night. It had been mere hours since Elphaba had been 'melted' and yet it felt like an eternity to Fiyero.

He moved across the room to the trap door quickly and knelt down before it, placing Elphaba's broomstick next to his right leg. He registered with some surprise that Elphaba's hat was gone, though he hadn't seen anyone take it. He supposed one of the guards had probably gotten rid of it in the aftermath of the witch hunt. Fiyero shoved the thoughts from his mind as he brought his fist down and wrapped lightly on the trap door.

"It worked," he said, letting her know it was him. He could not keep the joy from his voice.

Almost immediately Elphaba's torso appeared as the door sprang open. "Fiyero!" she cried. Fiyero had never seen her look so relieved. She flung her arms around him as he helped her climb out of her hiding place.

Then suddenly, Elphaba pulled back, and looked at his straw features as if registering them for the first time. Seeing the embarrassed look on her face, he said, "It's okay, touch. I don't mind."

She placed a green hand tentatively on his burlap face. Her expression softened, "You're still beautiful," she said, admiration shining in her eyes.

"You don't have to lie to me," Fiyero said, placing a straw hand on her arm. He knew his new form was not nearly as handsome as his old one had been. Elphaba was only saying that to make him feel better, and she didn't have to. Things like that no longer mattered to Fiyero.

"It's not lying," she said, running her fingers across his face, "It's looking at things another way." She smiled up at him, and Fiyero could tell she was being serious. He felt a grin break out over his own face as he remembered a time when he'd said the same words to her.

They stayed locked in a tight embrace for a moment, each unable to tear their gaze from the other's eyes. Eventually Fiyero finally turned away and stood up, stooping down to help Elphaba to her feet, the broomstick rolling aside as he did so.

"Oh," he said, just remembering that the broomstick was there. He bent down to retrieve it and then offered it to Elphaba, "I'd almost forgotten, I brought this back for you."

Elphaba smiled gratefully as she took the slightly singed broomstick from him. "How did you get it back from the Wizard?" she asked curiously, surveying the handle to make sure the broom was still usable.

Fiyero had almost forgotten to tell her the good news, "The Wizard's gone Elphaba. He left for Kansas in his hot air balloon earlier today."

Elphaba looked up at him in surprise, "Really? Why would he do that? It doesn't seem like him at all."

"I'm not sure. He was trying to take Dorothy home, and he said he was homesick," Fiyero replied.

Elphaba looked skeptical, "Somehow I imagine there's more to the story than that. Who's taking over now that he's gone?"

"Well, the Wizard had originally wanted me, Boq and the Lion to rule, but we all declined for different reasons, so now Glinda will be filling the position," he explained. At the mention of Glinda's name, Elphaba's face fell, and she looked down at her shoes. Fiyero looked at her concernedly, "What's wrong?"

"Glinda came to see me right before I faked my death," she said quietly. Fiyero's eyes widened, and she obviously knew what he was thinking because she quickly added, "Don't worry, I didn't tell her anything about the plan. We made up."

"Then what's the matter?" he asked.

"The matter is that my best friend thinks I'm dead. She was here the entire time it was taking place. She was still in the room when you sent me the note telling me you'd arrived. I told her it said you were dead, and then I made her hide behind a curtain in the foyer. She came out after everyone left, and I could hear her crying above me. Oh Oz Fiyero, it was so hard not to just open the door and tell her everything," Elphaba said.

Fiyero could see that Elphaba's eyes were beginning to get glassy, and he pulled her into his arms. "I know how you must feel Fae, but it'll be better of no one knows where we are. It's safer for all of us this way."

"I know," Elphaba said quietly, regaining her composure as the two began to walk toward the castle's exit.

Fiyero decided to change the subject by asking Elphaba a question that had been bothering him. "Elphaba I was wondering something. Boq said that it was your fault he was turned into the Tin Man. I know you wouldn't have done something like that without good reason. What happened exactly?

Elphaba looked down at her feet guiltily as she began to explain, "I went to visit Nessa, that was when I put a spell on her shoes that turned them red and allowed her to walk. She was so excited that she called Boq, whom she'd been keeping as a servant, in, and he spotted me. After seeing that Nessa could walk he'd wanted to leave to try and stop Glinda from marrying you. Nessa got angry and tried to cast a spell, but she did it all wrong. Instead of falling in love with her, Boq began to lose his heart completely. I was under so much pressure, the only thing I could think of doing was to turn him into tin so that he wouldn't need one."

"It sounds to me like you saved his life," Fiyero said, seeing that Elphaba felt guilty about the incident.

"Yes, but it's too bad I can never seem to accomplish that without some rather unpleasant side effects," she said, glancing at Fiyero's straw body once more.

He gave her hand an encouraging squeeze. "You do what you can. I'm grateful for your help, and I'm sure Boq would be too if he knew the whole story.

Elphaba smiled slightly, and he could tell his comments had helped a bit. After a few moments she turned to him, "Now I get to ask you a question."

"Okay," he said skeptically, not sure what questions she could possibly have for him.

"You told me that you, Boq and the Lion all brought requests to the Wizard. What was yours?" she asked with a teasing glint in her eye.

Oh well, you see," Fiyero stuttered, now feeling embarrassed, "I didn't really want anything. I made a comment that Dorothy seemed to take rather literally, so I was just playing along to earn her trust."

"Yes, but what did you ask for," she asked again, now smirking at him.

"A brain," he muttered. He would have blushed if he'd had the ability. At this Elphaba burst out laughing, practically doubling over in her amusement. Fiyero grew indignant, "It's not that funny!"

She smiled up at him, "That's the last thing I'd ever imagine you asking for when we were back at Shiz."

Fiyero shrugged, smiling, "People change."

At this comment Elphaba seemed to grow somber again, "That's for sure…" Fiyero cursed himself for ruining her good mood.

As they walked through the forest, Fiyero began to explain his plans for their escape. Initially he'd wanted to leave Oz altogether, but Elphaba didn't seem to like this idea, so he instead suggested they move to one of the more deserted areas of Oz, out by the desert. He just wanted to make sure that they would never be found. This seemed to suit Elphaba more, for she was reluctant to leave her homeland behind.

Finally they reached the edge of the forest and continued walking. They'd decided they were going to move out to the Vinkus, since Fiyero knew the area so well. As they passed the Emerald City for what was most likely the last time, Elphaba hesitated.

"It's time to go," Fiyero said gently, sensing Elphaba's uncertainty.

"We can never come back here can we?" she asked sadly, never taking her eyes off of the sparkling city on the horizon. Night had long ago fallen, and the city sparkled beautifully against the dark sky.

"No," Fiyero said. He knew this was hard for Elphaba. It was hard for him too, but this was the only way they would ever be truly safe. If they stayed around a populated area the risk of being seen would be far too high.

"I only wish…" she trailed off.

"What?" he asked, turning back to Elphaba.

"I wish that Glinda could know that we were alive," she said sadly, hanging her head. Fiyero looked up, and he thought he could see a fleck of pink in the midst of a celebrating crowd. He knew what that crowd was celebrating, it was the reason he and Elphaba needed to get away from all of this. He knew she'd miss Glinda terribly, and he imagined he'd miss the blond a bit himself, but there was no other way.

"She can't know, not if we want to be safe. No one can ever know," he said softly, taking her hand, "Come."

He gave Elphaba's arm a gentle tug, and she spared one last glance toward the Emerald City. With a heavy heart, she turned and followed Fiyero toward their new and uncertain future.

The End

Well, that's it. Wow, it feels so good to have finally gotten around to rewriting this thing. I'm much happier with it now that I've fixed it up a bit. Well, I hope you enjoyed the story.

Thanks for reading.

S.P.