The media circus surrounding the pair was, at best, laughable. But most of the time, Fiyero Tiggular found himself angry about the whole thing. He didn't understand what the big deal was. Yes, Glinda was beautiful and beloved, and yes, he was handsome and heroic.

Or so everyone said.

He didn't feel like such a hero.

Today, as the two of them visited a local orphanage, he was struck with yet another one of his many urges to run away screaming. He could disappear into the hills, grow his hair and beard out, and live at one with the animals. Or Animals. Or both. And he could mash up plants and roots and everyone would call him That Crazy Hermit and he could make a big green existence for himself, out there with all the plants.

Except, then he wouldn't be on the Gale Force, which was his best network with which to find Elphaba. Sure, they'd never really come close to catching her, but that didn't mean they wouldn't. Plus, anytime anyone said anything about her, he knew about it.

The plants and animals wouldn't be as informative.

The children at the orphanage all tugged at his heart. He wanted children, he knew. He'd always viewed offspring as Heirs, as was custom. Then, he'd met Elphaba... and fallen in love with Elphaba... and wanted to father her children. The idea of making something out of love was romantic, was epic and brave. The baby would be a piece of both of them...

"Ooh, Fiyero, look at her," Glinda sighed, pointing at a precious little blonde with blue eyes. Fiyero thought it was a little vain to be immediately drawn to the child who most resembled her, but Glinda wasn't perfect, and he didn't expect her to be.

"She's very pretty," he murmured, quietly. "They're all beautiful."

A plain girl nearby smiled to be lumped in with everyone and called beautiful.

It was the babies who got to Fiyero the most. In the year since that one night he'd spent with Elphaba, he'd become increasingly fond of babies, though he mostly kept his sentiments to himself, lest Glinda decide that making one was a very good idea. He'd never get away from her, then! He could leave her, it would be awful, but he could. But not a baby, not a child who had done nothing wrong.

Not that Glinda had done anything, wrong, either...

While Glinda was off reading a story to the children, Fiyero managed to wander to the nursery. The woman who was working there caught sight of him, and was surprised, but saw instantly how taken he was with the babies.

"Fond of children, are you, sir?"

Fiyero nodded a little sadly. "In my own way," he said. "There are so many who need good homes."

"Are you thinking of adopting?"

He met her gaze. "Secretly, I am," he admitted. "I haven't talked it over with... I've been thinking it's a good thing to do, but haven't made any plans." He made his way through the small cribs that held the babies, observing each, ignoring the cries of the few who needed to be burped, changed, fed, or simply held, as best he could. "When they cry, I just want to take them all home," he murmured.

"Most people have the opposite reaction," she nurse chuckled, picking up one such baby and holding him close.

"I'm sure I would before long," he sighed. "But I'm -" Whatever words had been in his head vanished as he caught sight of the little girl in the corner. He knew she was a girl because her information was printed on a pink card. But he would have suspected it, even if there'd been no way to know.

She had warm, dark eyes, and dark hair, and looked... smart. How a baby could look smart, he didn't know, but she did. "Oh, that one," the nurse said, catching him paused in wonder at the infant. "Everybody loves her. Never cries, mostly fusses if something is wrong, and, even then, not often."

"Then why hasn't she been adopted?"

"We think her mother is nearby," the woman said. "We get notes about her every once in awhile, notes for her, for when she's older, and they're very well-written, full of passion, hopes, and love. We're hoping she can get her life together and come back for her, because, to be honest... There's something about her. We keep her from the people we don't much like. We want the best home for her." She looked at him intently. "Can you think of one?"

Everything in him wanted to take that baby home. But adopting a baby with Glinda would be like having a baby with her. And he couldn't very well adopt her on his own and refuse to put her name down on the certificate. "Not right now," he mumbled, watching the little girl, and tentatively reaching out a finger toward her hand. "Maybe soon..." She reached out and grasped it firmly, briefly, then let go just as quickly. "I better get to safety," he said. "Or, get back," he corrected. "I better get back."

He nodded in thanks at the nurse, who made her way curiously to the little girl in the crib. "You have his nose," she whispered to her.

AN:

I broke my own heart on this one. :(

Dedicated to elphaba-thropp, who wanted more of this, hence my changing it from a Oneshot to an In-Progress. Any ideas for another missing moment? Throw them at me.