She was sleeping in Fiyero's room on his bed. The doctor had just checked on her and said she'd be fine but she was extremely weak from the blood loss, but she'd heal fine. Everyone breathed again. Mark hadn't said anything to anyone but the doctor since they'd fallen through the portal.

"Mark, she's fine, she's going to be okay, we're okay." said Maureen, rubbing Mark's back.

"Yeah, I know." said Mark.

"But are you okay?" asked Maureen.

"I'm fine." Mark shrugged Maureen off. Through everything that had happened, Mark hadn't had time to think about how Elphaba loved...loved this other guy, this Fiyero or whatever his name was. Mark didn't have to look twice at Fiyero to know he loved her. But he'd loved Elphaba and for the longest time he thought she'd loved him, but that was only because she couldn't remember who she really loved. Mark should've realized she had another life back from wherever she came from. Why had Galinda lied to him? He smirked when he realized he'd gotten the girl of his dreams again....and he'd lost her...again. He realized that there was always going to be someone better than him that always got what he wasn't strong enough to hold onto. Joanne was Maureen's better than him choice and Fiyero seemed to be Elphaba's. He felt so pathetic, but he still loved her, and she'd never even loved him.

The King and Queen let everyone stay in the castle of course. They were such nice people. Angel hung out with the Queen a lot and gushed over her wardrobe. Collins and Rolfe discussed logic or whatever people who had college degrees talked about. Roger and Mimi disappeared into their room and had yet to come out. Maureen and Joanne were out in the courtyards taking a walk together. Lucas and Galinda were with Fiyero by Elphaba's side while she rested. Mark was alone. He would've gone to be with Elphaba, but he didn't want to be in the same room as him. So he sat outside of the room, having nowhere else to go and no one else to be with. He looked up when he heard the door open. Galinda came and sat next to him.

"You know, it's not true what Fiyero said." said Galinda.

"What's that?" asked Mark, "He said a lot of things, and I'm really not in the mood for someone to tell me a bunch of lies to make me feel better."

"You'd rather just wallow in self pity wouldn't you." Galinda said.

"No!" Mark snapped.

"You know, she did love you." Galinda said, "She just didn't remember Fiyero who she'd already fallen for."

"She didn't love me." Mark sighed, "It's always going to be him that she loves, it's always going to be the better option for everyone, it will always be Fiyero."

"Yes, it will always be Fiyero." Galinda nodded. She suddenly became a little sad, "And it's always going to be Elphaba for Fiyero."

"Wait, are you in love with Fiyero?" asked Mark.

"I was." Galinda sighed, "I was Mark, I was so in love with him. But no matter what I did or what I do, nothing is going to make him love anyone but Elphaba. And Lucas, he loved Elphaba, but no matter what he did or does, she's always going to love Fiyero."

"Why are you telling me this?" asked Mark, "Are you going to tell me that no matter what I do, Elphaba will never choose me over Fiyero?"

"Nothing you do." Galinda said, "You loved Maureen didn't you?"

"Yeah." Mark said.

"I bet you thought you couldn't love anyone but Maureen ever again." said Galinda, "Because it hurt so much when it ended. But you did, you fell in love with Elphaba and now you're going to fall in love with someone else, and maybe they'll love you back. I don't know. But you can't beat yourself up over this. Don't think you were nothing to her, because for a while, you were everything to her, you were special to her and you're special to a lot of people Mark."

"Yeah, well, I'm not going to believe it until I hear it from her mouth." said Mark. He stood up and walked away. Galinda sighed and went back into the room.

**************

A week and a half later, Elphaba had healed well and could walk. She hadn't told anyone yet, but she'd found the perfect spell that would fix everything. Mark had avoided her lately and Fiyero became a little possessive, but Elphaba cut him some slack because of the time they'd spent apart, well, that and the fact that he'd found her kissing someone else. It was dinner and everyone was at the table but Mark. Elphaba excused herself and went to find him. He was outside in the courtyards in the rose garden.

"Mark!" Elphaba called. He looked up when he heard her and smiled softly at her.

"Hey." he said.

"Mark, why have you been avoiding me so much?" asked Elphaba.

"Why do you think?" asked Mark, "Because it hurts to see you Elphaba, especially when he's with you."

"Mark," Elphaba walked up to him so she was right in front of him, she held his gaze, "I know how to fix this all. I found a spell, you won't have to feel any of this...pain anymore."

"What does the spell do?" asked Mark.

"It will send you and everyone who belongs in New York City back and back in time to the day when Galinda and I appeared and you won't remember anything about me, Galinda, Lucas or Fiyero or anything that happened past that day." said Elphaba.

"No, Elphaba, I don't want to forget loving you." Mark said, "I don't want to forget you."

"I don't understand." said Elphaba, "I'd think that you of all people would want to forget me."

"No," said Mark, "Look, I love you, I want to remember, even if you don't love me, or never loved me."

"Mark, I will always love you...." Elphaba said, laying a hand on the side of his face. Mark put his hand on top of hers and closed his eyes and breathed in as he reveled in her touch. He finally opened his eyes.

"Just...not as much as Fiyero." he said.

"Mark..." Elphaba sighed, "Don't make me say it."

"No, it's fine, it's fine," Mark said hurriedly, seeing how distressed she was, "Listen, it's fine, I'm not mad at you for choosing him, but I don't want to forget you Elphaba."

"It's all for the best, don't worry." said Elphaba, "And if it's any condolence, I won't forget you." she said and then she kissed him, one last time, softly on the lips. Mark was surprised but he quickly recovered and kissed her back. He knew this would be the last time he kissed her and he didn't want to forget it. She was about to pull back but Mark pulled her in again and she let him kiss her, finally he pulled back.

"I don't want to forget that." Mark said softly.

"It will only cause you pain." said Elphaba.

"No, it won't." Mark said, "Don't take away my memories of you, they were good, great memories and they'll be all I have left of you."

"You really don't want to forget?" asked Elphaba.

"No." said Mark, "I don't."

"Ok." Elphaba sighed, "Ok."

**********

Fiyero watched from the window in the hall. She stood with him outside and spoke to him. Fiyero couldn't hear what they were saying, but it seemed a very intimate moment. Fiyero felt possessive all of a sudden, he watched as she put her hand on the side of his face and he held it there and closed his eyes as she spoke to him. He opened his eyes and said something to her. She looked down, guilt in her eyes. Mark hurried to correct whatever he'd said and she looked back up at him. They talked some more before Fiyero saw something that shocked him. She kissed him, she actually leaned forward and kissed him. Fiyero thought he'd be angry, but surprisingly, his own reaction surprised him, he seemed to understand. It was a goodbye for Mark. Fiyero finally realized that Elphaba had loved Mark. He wondered if he was really what Elphaba wanted....