As he watched the spinning couples on the dance floor, Fiyero swallowed the last of his drink and put the empty glass on a nearby table. He had attempted to avoid the elaborate celebration all together, but Glinda had insisted that he participate in the Lurlinemas festivities she had arranged. After she had pleaded with for weeks, he had finally given in; he didn't have the heart to tell her that he had spent his last Lurlinemas planning his wedding to Elphaba. It was a memory he wished he could forget, even though it was one of the happiest times they had had together. He wiped his eyes and cursed the disappearing act Glinda had pulled on him several minutes earlier. Catching sight of her sophisticated green and gold dress, he set off across the ballroom.
"Dance with me?" he asked softly as he touched her arm.
She glanced up at him, "I thought you said that you didn't want to dance."
He grinned and shrugged his shoulders as he said, "And, a couple of drinks later, I've changed my mind."
"Don't embarrass me," she told him reluctantly as she allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor.
"Don't worry," he replied, placing a hand on her waist. "You're safe with me."
She smiled, and they began to move slowly amidst the throng of people, falling into the familiar steps. He twirled her, and as she spun back into his arms, he smiled slightly as he pulled her closer. She responded by resting her cheek against his shoulder and sighed happily.
When the music stopped, he didn't release her right away, so she glanced up at him in confusion. She started to speak, but he shook his head and tugged her gently towards an exit. She shivered involuntarily as the cold hit her exposed skin, and he wrapped an instinctive arm around her waist as he continued to lead her further into the shadowy, snow-covered garden.
"Fiyero, why are we out here?" she asked timidly, looking up at hi stern face.
He chewed his lip for a moment before saying, "Do you remember our last Lurlinemas here?"
She blinked and murmured, "Yes. We came out here to be alone. Fiyero, what do you want?"
"I want to remember," he replied softly.
He cupped her face with his hands and kissed her hesitantly. She stood there, too shocked to move, and when he didn't feel her respond, he pulled away, his face flushed with embarrassment. As he made a move to run away, she grabbed his hand, and standing on her tiptoes, she brushed her lips against his. He moved his lips slowly against hers, taking in her familiar taste and the softness of her body in his arms. He had forgotten everything they had shared before Elphaba, and his head spun with memories of the past, all mixing together until he broke the kiss. Glinda watched him as he gasped for breath, and she waited for him to calm down as she attempted to rein in her raging feelings.
"Fiyero," she said softly, placing a hand on his arm. "You aren't ready for this, and I don't think I am either. We both need more time."
"I'm sorry," he said miserably. "I hate doing this to you."
She shook her head and told him, "Don't apologize. You haven't done anything wrong."
Shoving his hands into his pockets, he took a deep breath and nodded his head.
"I have to go back inside," she said with a slight smile. "Take as much time as you need."
He watched as she walked back to the party, the light from the ballroom enveloping her in its gentle glow as she passed inside. He started after her, but stopped. He wanted to be a part of Glinda's life again; now, the only thing that remained was to figure out where exactly he wanted to belong.