I slept in today, which was nice but it has left me a little discombobulated. I poked my head into the Wicked forum to see if there were any stories I wanted to read, thinking, "Oh I wish I could update my story..." Then I realized, "It's Sunday!" I was so excited!

Shortest chapter EVER. Well, not in the history of all chapters in all fan fics, but the shortest one I've ever posted for any of my stories. I think you'll enjoy it nonetheless. But you'll tell me if you do (or don't, I suppose), so I don't have to worry? :D Please?

As Glinda and Fiyero left the Wizard's southern courtyard, he was aware of the space she put between them as they walked.

He didn't blame her for being angry.

But he didn't want it to continue like this. As much as he deserved her silent treatment and resentment for how he hurt her, they both earned honesty between one another after spending so long with one another. He especially owed her at least that.

"Glinda," he said, and turned her head with a small smile while they walked to let him know she was listening. "I just wanted to say that I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you."

"You didn't, don't worry about it," she responded quickly, but she wouldn't meet his eyes again.

"Don't be like this," he said as he tried to match her quickening pace. "Don't be fake with me."

"Fake?" she snapped, spinning and glaring at him incredulously.

He knew he probably shouldn't have said that because now she was going to hit the roof; he was completely aware of how wide-eyed and petrified he must have seemed as they stood facing each other in the empty hallway. Way to be a man, Fiyero.

"Okay, I'll be honest," Glinda responded bitterly. "I was planning on ignoring the fact that you broke my heart simply because I'm happy to see you alive. But since you want to talk about being fake, I suppose I could humor you. For years, Fiyero, you were the fake one, if you remember. You pretended to love me and bided your time until you found her. Do you understand how humiliated I feel? That I couldn't figure it out on my own that all this time, under my nose, you were in love with someone else? That you lied to me?"

"Glinda, wait," he appealed, stepping in front of her to keep her from walking away and to make her look at him. "I didn't lie to you. I never pretended to love you—it was real. But it was not in the way that I should have if we were going to be married. You don't see that you've been the best friend I've ever had! There was no one I trusted more than you."

"Except with your true feelings."

"But that's only because I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I hurt you or if I pushed you away. I can hardly do so now."

"You should have told me," she said stubbornly. "You should have told me how you felt about Elphaba. I would have understood! I may have even been happy for you!"

"No you wouldn't have. You were used to getting whatever you wanted, and it wasn't until long after Elphaba left that you figured out that you can't have it all. And I know you two were friends," he continued, kicking himself for what he was going to say, "but how would you have felt watching as she got everything you ever inwardly wished you had? The things that, despite all the truly remarkable things you've done, you weren't ever able to obtain? The guts to stand up for what you believe in, no matter what everyone else thinks? To let go of your personal dreams for the greater good? Freedom from expectation?"

"…You?" she appended sadly, and he turned his eyes down. "Probably the way that I feel now."

"You and I, Glinda, we're perfect together. Too perfect. There's no room for mistakes, no room for growth. Maybe this is because I got hit in the head really hard, because I don't think either of us has ever heard me say this before, but I want to learn and experience so much more than this superficial life we've been given," he said and gestured to the magnificent palace wall nearby. "And I think you do too. When I'm with Elphaba, I see things differently. And someday, you'll find a man who will help you be everything you can be; someone who loves you the way a husband and a lover should. Someone you deserve."

Fiyero's heart was pained when he looked down at tiny Glinda, as glassy tears filled her eyes and she bit her lip. Staring down at her dainty hands, she asked quietly, "…Do you really think so, Fiyero?"

"Yeah, I do," he said as she wiped a tear away. He stepped forward and enveloped her in an embrace. She laid her pretty head against his chest, and he rested his chin on top of head. Mostly due to her small size, they fit together seamlessly, but then again, they were perfect, albeit too much so.

"I really do want you and Elphaba to be happy together. Even if we couldn't be."

"We still could happy," he suggested, as she turned her head up so she was looking at him. "It's important to me that we stay friends. I know that's a lot to ask…"

"It is a lot to ask," she answered, her face still somber. "But lucky for you, it's important to me too. Don't think that means that I forgive you."

He had the decency to look guilty, and she stepped away and held out her arm to link with his.

"Come on, your true love is waiting for us."

Fiyero chuckled at her teasing remark, glad that for the most part, if only for the time, things were all right.