AN: I love that you all loved the part about Elphaba threatening Boq :) and BlueD, it's really interesting that you said that you would do the same thing for your little sister... I'll get back at that at the end of this chapter, or this AN will be way too long again.

Thedoctor24601: I actually wrote 'cake' first... but then I decided to be mean and change it to 'pie' instead, heheh.

Moreanswers24, your review made me laugh, and yes, of course you can kill Avaric. Be my guest! *curtsies and steps aside*

Emerald Minded Fictionist: No, that's not bad. I'm secretly smirking now. I managed to corrupt you! *cackles*

Aww, Musicgal3, you're making me crysmile again. Yes, from now on that's a thing, because you and Xanne-Li do it to me all the time. Love you!

Chapter 5. The past is in the past

Fiyero stared at the picture on the mantelpiece in his room, lost in thought.

He had always kept the photo, but he hadn't been able to look at it for a long time. Every time he saw it, all the memories came rushing back; and he usually ended up sobbing on the floor. He didn't want that. Especially since it had hurt and worried his parents, whom he had still been living with back then, to no end. No-one had wanted it to go this way, but they hadn't had a say in the matter. It had happened and they'd all had to learn to deal with it.

His parents had been shocked; but even though they had been rather close to her as well, they hadn't really given themselves the time to grieve. His father had buried himself in his work, worrying about all the political consequences this was going to have and arranging all kinds of things with all kinds of people. His mother had mostly worried about Fiyero, trying to help him deal with his grief the best she could. Most people, however, hadn't recognised that he was grieving in the first place; and those who did recognise it mostly didn't understand why. They never realised how much he had cared.

And then, one day, he had turned everything around and found a way to deal with it all. Not a good way, but a way nonetheless.

He shook his head now, heaving a deep sigh and turning away. He should really learn to leave the past alone, but somehow the memories just kept forcing themselves onto him lately and he just didn't understand why. What had changed? Why couldn't he just continue to push everything away, drowning himself in alcohol and parties and girls in an attempt to forget?

A knock on his door startled him from his thoughts and he ran a hand through his hair, shaking himself from his thoughts. He opened the door, only to find his friends standing there – Galinda right in front of him, looking up at him with a frown, with Elphaba leaning casually against a wall behind her and Nessarose and Boq staying a little bit in the background.

He took in Galinda's accusing look and Elphaba's raised eyebrow and winced. "Did I forget something?"

"Fifiiiiii!" Galinda stomped her foot, squealing indignantly. "You're not even dressed yet!"

"I told you he forgot," said Elphaba, but Galinda ignored her.

She huffed and crossed her arms. "We were supposed to go out for dinner tonight," she said, pouting. "All of us. We were going to meet at our dorm room at seven."

Fiyero glanced at the time. It was a little before eight. "Um… oops?"

Galinda gaped at him. "That's all you have to say?" she demanded in a high voice. "Oops?"

Fiyero grimaced. "Um… well… I'm sorry?" he tried.

Galinda shrieked. "He's sorry!" she screeched over her shoulders at the others. She stomped her foot. "Fiyero, you forgot!"

He frowned, not really understanding why the blonde would be so incredibly upset about him forgetting a dinner meeting with the friend group. "Glin…"

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "You really don't remember, do you?" she asked him in amusement.

His frown deepened. "Um… no?" he said carefully. "Remember what, exactly?"

Boq winced in anticipation. Elphaba put her hands over her ears. Fiyero didn't understand why until Galinda started wailing even louder, her screeches nearly puncturing his eardrums.

"Galinda's birthday," Nessa reminded him, trying to make herself audible over the noise.

Fiyero's eyes widened. "Oh, shiz."

Elphaba's eyes were twinkling with unholy glee. "You're dead."

He narrowed his eyes at her. "You really enjoy this, don't you?"

She grinned at him in reply.

Galinda, meanwhile, was still wailing, and Fiyero held up a hand to silence her.

"Glin," he said, "I'm really, really sorry I forgot."

She looked up at him with accusing eyes, tears standing in them.

"But I only forgot about dinner tonight," he added as an excuse. "I didn't forget about your birthday itself. I even got you a present – the best present ever. Would that make up for it? If I run back inside now, get dressed and then come with you… and if I'd pay for dinner… would you forgive me?"

She hesitated. He gave her his best pout and she caved.

"Fine," she grumbled. "Maybe. But you better hurry."

He kissed her cheek quickly, then stormed back inside, threw on a decent-looking outfit and grabbed his gift. He then joined the others in the hallway, flashing them all a lopsided grin. "Shall we go?"

Galinda kept on giving him these accusing looks all throughout their walk into town and inside the restaurant; but once they were all seated and had ordered their meals, she started to relax a little. Especially when Fiyero pulled out a wrapped present and handed it to her.

"Happy birthday, Glin," he said, planting three kisses on her cheeks, as was the Vinkun custom. "And again, I apologise for being so thoroughly rude as to forget about your birthday dinner." He dramatically put a hand over his heart. "Will you ever find it in your kind and noble heart to forgive me?"

Elphaba rolled her eyes, but Galinda giggled and allowed him to kiss her hand as well. "Of course, Fifi dearest." She unwrapped the present and squealed loudly when she saw what was inside. "Oh, Fifi! A tiara!"

She held up the sparkly thing, silver and adorned with pink gemstones. "I am totally going to wear this to my party tomorrow night!" She rose from her seat to hug him tightly. "Thank you so much!"

He laughed. "You're welcome."

The others handed her their presents as well, and she squealed over every single one of them – a classy pen and a pair of silver earrings from Boq, a small book on make-up and hairstyles from Nessa, and a beautiful, delicate, glass rose ornament from Elphaba. The base consisted of a glass pyramid with an inscription.

Galinda peered at it, trying to decipher the words. "'Great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.'" Her eyes filled with tears and she sniffled. "You consider me a great friend?" Before Elphaba could even open her mouth, she was already being smothered in a hug by the tiny blonde. "Oh, Elphie," she blubbered, "you're so sweet! You're a great friend, too!"

They ended up having a nice evening together. Galinda chattered on about the party she was going to host the next night and about the Emerald City. Everyone pretended to pay attention, but no-one was really listening; Fiyero was drumming on the table with his fingers, Boq and Nessarose were mostly paying attention to each other and Elphaba was watching her sister and the Munchkin a little suspiciously.

She started when Fiyero nudged her arm. "Hey, Fae?"

"Mm?"

"On a scale from one to ten, how mad do you think Galinda still is at me?"

Elphaba studied her roommate's face for a moment. "After that present? A sparkly princess tiara?" She shook her head.

"Zero," she declared. "I think you're her favourite person in the entire world right now."

He grinned, relieved. "Good."

Galinda broke off her chattering to throw the duo a suspicious look. "What are you whispering about?"

"Nothing," they chorused. They exchanged a look and burst out laughing at the same time.

Galinda eyed them warily. "I don't think I even want to know." She looked at Boq and Nessarose, who were just sharing a sweet kiss, and squealed. "Oh! You guys are so cute!"

The two immediately sprang apart, Nessa blushing furiously and Boq's eyes darting everywhere.

Elphaba made a face. She had never seen her sister kiss a boy before; and even though she agreed with Galinda that they were kind of sweet together, she could have lived without seeing it.

"Nessa?" she said, trying not to let her surprise show in her voice. "Since when are you comfortable with kissing in public?"

Nessarose flushed an even brighter shade of pink.

"I'm not," she squeaked. "But Boq and Galinda say I need to loosen up more, and then you were all talking with one another and Boq said that no-one would notice…" She glanced at the Munchkin, who looked rather awkward.

"Sorry," he said sheepishly.

"Don't apologise!" Galinda hugged him, then threw her arms around Nessa. "You two are simply adorabubble together!"

The blonde then started talking to Elphaba about something she had heard from one of her friends and Fiyero lost himself in thought again. He studied both girls, comparing them to other girls he had been with.

Galinda was like most of them. A relatively simple girl to be with: always bubbly and always looking pretty, all too willing to hang on his arm and allow him to show her off. She wasn't anything like Aliyra, not in looks and not in personality. In fact, the two couldn't be more opposite.

That was exactly why it was easier with girls like Galinda.

His gaze drifted to rest on Elphaba. When it came to looks, she maybe resembled Aliyra even less than Galinda did; but they had the same way of viewing the world, the same way of over-thinking everything. Aliyra had been much calmer – a little shy and always kind to everyone. She and Elphaba had the same intense manner of caring about people, but they expressed it in different ways.

Maybe that was what drew him most to the green girl – that she was a lot like Aliyra. Maybe it was just that and nothing else.

"Fiyero?" Galinda pinched his nose. "Hello. Are you listening to me?"

"Always," he said, flashing her a slightly forced grin, and she giggled.

"No, you weren't."

"Okay," he acknowledged. "I wasn't. I was just thinking. Sorry, Glin."

Elphaba was giving him an appraising look, one eyebrow raised. "You must be joking," she said in mock shock. "Was the great and scandalacious Fiyero Tiggular actually… thinking?"

He childishly poked out his tongue and she chuckled.

"Excuse me, Thropp," he said, scowling at her, pretending to be offended. "I do have a brain, you know."

"I know," she sniggered. "It's not a matter of having one, my dear Fiyero; it's a matter of using it."

"Fabala, stop teasing the poor boy," Nessarose chided her sister and Elphaba obediently sat back in her seat. Fiyero noticed that Galinda was giving her roommate a look, but Elphaba did not respond and the blonde sighed and looked down at the table again.

They left not long after that, Galinda claiming that she needed to get enough sleep so that she would be well-rested for the party tomorrow and for her weekend in the Emerald City; and Fiyero and Boq decided to walk the girls back to their dorm room, despite Elphaba's protests.

"Fae," Fiyero finally said firmly. "We're coming with you, no matter what. If not for you, then for Glin and Nessa. You might as well stop protesting."

She did; but not before giving him a long look that, if looks could kill, would have turned Fiyero into a sizzling puddle of prince.

"Don't be like that, Fabala," Nessarose said, frowning a little. "It is only proper for the boys to escort us back to our rooms."

Elphaba rolled her eyes and followed the others out of the café as Fiyero fell into step with her.

"Yeah, Fabala," he teased her. "It's only proper for us to escort you back."

She glared at him, but there was a small grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I know, I know," she said, shaking her head. "She's a little bit… um… you know… sometimes."

Fiyero grinned back at her. "You could say that."

"She's not that bad," Elphaba immediately defended her sister. "She's a very sweet girl, and –"

"Calm down." Fiyero playfully linked his arm with hers and squeezed it. "I wasn't saying anything bad about her. I'm sure Nessa is great."

She gave him an unconvinced look, but didn't say anything else.

Fiyero looked at the others, who were walking a bit ahead of them. When he had assured himself that they weren't paying any attention to him and Elphaba, he looked at the green girl.

"How are the bruises?" he asked her quietly.

She was surprised that he remembered, let alone that he asked her about it, but she did not let it show.

"Fading," she replied. "It's fine."

He scowled. "I still wish you'd let me kick Avaric's ass," he grumbled, but Elphaba shook her head with a smile.

"I appreciate the fact that you want to help me," she said, "but I can fight my own battles, Fiyero. I don't want to give him the impression that I need you to protect me – that would only make things worse."

Fiyero sighed, knowing that she was right. "Still, though."

She squeezed his arm in reply.

"This is it," Boq declared hotly as he stormed into the cafeteria the next morning, plopping down in the seat beside Fiyero and crossing his arms. "I'm done with her."

Galinda nearly dropped her muffin. "What?"

"Nessa," the Munchkin said gruffly. "Elphie, I'm sorry – you can break every bone in my body if you want to, but I refuse to do this any longer. I don't mind escorting her everywhere, or carrying her things all the time, or helping her with everything… I really don't. But I never seem to do anything right, and I'm tired of it! I try my hardest, but she's never happy!"

Elphaba looked at the Munchkin, torn between siding with Nessa because she was, well, Nessa, and her sister; or siding with Boq, who was most likely right. She knew what Nessa could be like, after all.

"What happened?" Galinda asked curiously and Boq huffed.

"Last week I did not push her chair far enough to the table so she had to lean forward to reach the table and take notes," he said, "which I would have fixed if she had just told me, but no, she just threw that at me this morning. I didn't even know I did anything wrong at all. Then the other day, I didn't brush her hair 'the right way' and the day before that I handed her the wrong book when she asked for one. I mean, come on, I'm not perfect! I can't do everything right the first time!"

Galinda reached out to pat his hand comfortingly.

"And now," Boq continued unhappily, "now I went to pick her up for breakfast this morning, and she asked me to tie her hair up with her favourite ribbon… but then again, how do I know which one is her favourite? So apparently I grabbed the wrong one, after which she suddenly turned around and started screaming at me, listing at least a dozen things I had done wrong in the past weeks and shouting yet another list at me of things I did or didn't do that made me simply the worst boyfriend ever, and then she ordered me to leave, so I did. I'm done with her. Really."

"Can't blame you," Fiyero muttered sympathetically.

Galinda was frowning a little.

"A girl likes to be treated like a queen," she mused, "but then again, Nessa can be a little spoilt at times…"

"And temperamental," added Elphaba. She gave Boq a sly grin. "It runs in the family," she informed him.

Fiyero chuckled.

"But she doesn't usually mean what she says," Elphaba continued. "I'm sure she'll come around."

"I'll go and talk to her," Galinda promised, rising and hurrying out of the cafeteria.

By the time Elphaba had to leave for class, Nessarose had already come to see Boq, crying and begging him to forgive her. He had done so immediately, sealing the deal with a kiss, after which he happily pushed her to her first class of the day.

Elphaba stared after them.

"I will never understand relationships," she muttered under her breath.

Galinda giggled and linked her arm with her roommate's. "Of course you will. Once you fall in love –"

"I will never fall in love," Elphaba declared firmly.

Fiyero glanced at her. Galinda just shook her head.

"Oh, my sweet Elphie," she sang out, patting Elphaba's head as if she were a puppy. "So naïve!" She giggled. "You'll see, Elphie. One day you'll fall in love, too. And you and your boyfriend will fight, too; and when he pulls his puppy eyes on you, you'll forgive him, too. That's just how love works!"

Elphaba just rolled her eyes.

Fiyero determinedly stared at the floor.

Okay, so the whole Elphie/Boq thing from last chapter is sort of based on a real-life experience, where I went up to the guy who's in love with my sister and summed up everything I would do to him if he hurt her (especially after the bad experience she's had with her previous boyfriend). I think he got a little scared :P. He's a friend of mine, too, though, and I know he's really nice, so I'm pretty sure he won't hurt her... but I wanted to warn him O:).

Also, you're all very hopeful for Fiyeraba and Fiyeraba weddings and Fiyeraba babies... not yet, my pretties! *cackles*