AN: Look, I know this is rushing things, the way it's written, but please, consider how many times I've written Fiyeraba dates... you start getting low on ideas, and I think I like it this sudden, because that's how Fiyero feels at the end of the chapter, and how Elphaba will feel when he explains... okay, no more giving things away. Here you go...

Chapter Four: Idealism

"He didn't even hold your hand?"

"No, Glinda. He understands I want to take it slow and he respects me." Elphaba stuck her nose in the air. "Maybe next time."

"Next time?" Glinda asked, excitedly. "There's going to be a next time?"

"Yes. Right before I came upstairs he asked me if I'd like to see a Comedia d'el Arte piece with him at one of the smaller theaters and then go for soda next Friday night. I told him I'd try to actually be awake."

"Well, that was nice of you. Elphaba, you're really strange."

"Gee, I didn't know." Elphaba replied sarcastically.

Fiyero was happy enough just to spend time with her. He'd always want to touch her, but not being able to didn't stop him from enjoying the dates they went on any less. It wasn't until the third date that they held hands, and the fifth that he put his arm around her, but he didn't really care. And six months after the first date they'd ever been on, he walked her back to her dorm and was very happy when they parted with a kiss.

"What has got you in such a good mood, Fiyero?" Boq asked. He'd been sitting in the lounge studying life science all day, unable to understand why Elphaba hadn't been around to help him.

"Nothing." Fiyero flushed slightly.

"Where've you been?"

"Out with Elphie."

"Oh. Did you have a good time?"

"Wonderful." Fiyero answered honestly.

Avaric, Crope and Tibbett were relaxing on the chairs near Boq, and Avaric seized the opportunity to make a comment. "So wonderful, huh? Get laid?"

"No…" Fiyero shook his head. "I didn't and don't expect to."

"What do you mean?" Crope piped in.

"I'll see what it's like when I'm married, thanks."

Tibbett laughed. "And when will that be?"

Fiyero bit his lip. He hadn't really thought about that tradition much, and he was supposed to have to get married at age twenty. "I don't know."

Avaric rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Excited for spring holidays?"

"Somewhat. My family is not my favorite group of people."

"Why?" Boq asked.

"My mom is strict and crazy. My dad's okay. Then I've got twenty siblings. I mean, twenty-one…"

"You're kidding!"

"I'm serious. My dad wanted as many kids as physically possible… and so he got my mom pregnant every chance he got. There's the triplets, and two sets of twins, so it's not as often as it seems."

"That's still a lot of kids."

"I never really realized until I came here and started to figured out how abnormal I am."

"No wonder he's dating Elphaba!" Avaric exclaimed.

And so Fiyero returned home unhappily. He was quiet, even with his father, whom he was normally able to talk with. It was quite obvious that something was going on with him, and finally, at dinner the second night, it was revealed.

"You'll be marrying Sarima when you return for the winter holidays next year." His mother reminded him casually.

Fiyero bit his lip. "I've wanted to talk to you about that. Mom, Dad, I've been thinking. Do I have to marry Sarima?"

"It's only right."

"But what if I found some other girl?"

"Other girl?" His mother repeated, dumbfounded.

"You have to me married by winter of next year." His father said.

"To Sarima?"

His father and mother looked at one another. Eventually, his father said, "No."

"But if you are not marrying Sarima, you'd better let us know who this girl is and have her agreement for marriage by the fall holidays of next year, then." His mother said quickly.

Fiyero cringed. By then, he and Elphaba would have barely been dating a year. He knew Elphaba wasn't the type to want to marry at all, and even he felt he didn't want to be married to anyone so soon. Still, he resolved, if they were together then and he felt confident they could make it, he'd tell her when the next year began, to give her time before the fall holidays to think it over. This was not a situation he was very happy with.

That night, his father came to his room. "Is there really another girl?"

Fiyero nodded. "Yes."

"All right. I want you to understand something. The rest of Oz is much different than we are. I'm sure you've learned this from being away at college for almost two years, but I still must remind you. Some women are used to more glamour and different customs, some would not like it here. Is your girlfriend Gillikinese?"

"No."

"That's a relief. They tend to look down upon us the most."

"She's from Munchkinland. She's not really a Munchkin, though."

"You have to think it over, though, son. You need to think hard about marrying a girl who isn't one of us."

"It's not that big of a deal, is it?"

"There are traditions here that she might not understand. Women here are expected to act differently than women in other parts of Oz, especially royal women. To be married out here is a little different, Fiyero."

He'd always known there was something different about the couples he'd seen at home and what he saw at Shiz. Morals out here were not the same; he'd figured that out long ago, when, at the age of fourteen, one of the female servants had practically offered herself to him – he had refused, again and again. His parents had been concerned at his lack of interest, and his father was, in some ways, relieved to see that he wanted someone. But that didn't change how strange their custom was. "Why?"

"Monogamy is required, but only for the women. Some women, the more liberal ones, think that's sexist."

Fiyero knew Elphaba would share that view. He himself thought it was pretty unjust and ridiculous. "Dad, I… if she loves me, she'll deal with it, and I'll… I'll stay true to only her, too."

His father rolled his eyes. "That's idealistic."

Fiyero groaned.

"How long have you known this girl, Fiyero?"

"Not long enough. But I'd rather not marry Sarima."

"I know you think love is the most important thing in this sort of situation, but in the long run, it might not be. It'll be easier and more convenient for you if you just marry Sarima."

"I will." His father looked relieved, but then Fiyero added, "If the girl I'm seeing doesn't marry me."

Fiyero's father shook his head. "Son, your mother and I want nothing more than for you to be happy, so we'll let you do as you wish. I'm only begging you to think about it and think carefully."

Fiyero nodded and hung his head as his father left the room. He had no idea what on earth he was going to do.

Upon his return to Shiz, he immediately went to visit Elphaba, though he decided he wouldn't tell her of his family issues quite yet. No one else was around when he knocked, so she kissed him on the cheek quickly and let him into the room. "How was your trip?"

"Fine," he said evasively. "The same old family stuff, you know."

She shrugged. "I've gotten a letter from my father. I'm not very happy about this, but he's adamant. Um, Nessa must've told him that I'm seeing someone, and he insists that he wants to meet you or I can't see you anymore. Normally, I'd just do it anyway, but he's threatened to pull me out of Shiz if I even try anything of the sort. So, well, um, would you like to come visit over the summer?" Blood rushed to her cheeks and she pretended to ignore it.

Perfect. He could get away from his family and spend more time with Elphaba, which would help him make his decision. "Yes! I'd love to."

Shocked and relieved, she ran to him and threw her arms about his neck. "Oh, that's wonderful!" She kissed him passionately, heavily. After a moment, she realized herself and pulled back. "I mean…"

Fiyero laughed. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close again. Instead of kissing her, he hugged her warmly. "I'm glad you think so."

Elphaba couldn't understand what had come over her. But the hug felt so dreadfully temptingly comfortable, so she relaxed. "I'll write my father back. He'll be, um, happy to hear it."

"Great." He smiled. What a wonderful solution, and he hadn't even had to think of it himself! "What's it like?"

"What?"

"Where you live, Elphaba," Fiyero nudged her, "after all, that is what we were just talking about."

"Oh!" She shook her head to clear it. "It's a bit small. I don't know where Father thinks he'll put you – probably in Shell's room, with him."

"Shell?"

"My brother. He's currently eleven and irritating as all hell."

"I'm sure he's not that bad."

"Wait until you have to live with him."

Fiyero took her hand. "Elphaba?"

"Hmmm?"

"It's been six months or so, now, right?"

"Right," she looked at him skeptically, "What are you getting at?"

"Nothing." He dropped her and. "Nothing at all. I told my family we'd been seeing each other six months, and I wanted to make sure I'd gotten it right."

"Oh, all right then."

Fiyero groaned inwardly. He didn't know what he was ever going to tell her.