Author's Note: Thanks for all your reviews. It's really great seeing what people think of the way Elphaba and Fiyero are behaving. I love how some people are calling him a jerk and some people are saying he's really sweet. This chapter might even out the field a bit. ;) And I'm glad you all enjoyed the chicken scene so much! I had a great time writing it.

vinkunwildflowerqueen: This is where you get to find out about the book. ;)

Ultimate Queen of Cliffies: Again, you got all my own favourite lines. Should I be surprised? No. Am I surprised? No. But I still love you for it.

Thedoctor24601: Thankyou for your lovely review! I'm glad you're enjoying the story.

Bombafan: (Is this a CATS fan I spy? :D) I'm really happy you're liking this so much.

And everyone else, I still love your reviews. Please keep them coming!

CHAPTER 5:

It was an hour and a half later when Elphaba returned. Immediately, she looked around for Fiyero, and almost instantly spotted him lying in front of the fire, his chest rhythmically rising and falling with the even breathing which comes with sleep. Smiling softly at the sight, Elphaba quietly closed the door behind her and tiptoed over to Fiyero. He looked so peaceful that Elphaba simply didn't want to disturb him – so she didn't. Instead, realizing it must be approaching lunch time, Elphaba made her way into the kitchen, but not before taking one last look at Fiyero over her shoulder.

After a little while of wondering what to do about lunch, Elphaba finally settled on making toasted cheese sandwiches.

Several times whilst she was preparing their meal, Elphaba glanced into the sitting room. Each time she looked, Fiyero appeared not to have moved a muscle.

Once the meal was ready, Elphaba turned to go and wake Fiyero, only to find him standing in the doorway, running a hand through his messy hair and looking at her with sleepy eyes.

"Lunch?" he questioned, stifling a yawn.

Elphaba nodded and smiled slightly. "You know just when to wake up, don't you?"

Fiyero let out a husky chuckle but did not reply as they sat down at the table and began to eat.

After a few minutes of silence, Fiyero asked gently, "Are you okay?"

Elphaba nodded and smiled slightly. "Fine, thanks."

"And your hand?"

Elphaba glanced down. She – or, rather, Fiyero – had not put on a fresh dressing after she had taken off the last one, opting instead to let it breathe for a bit, and the burn appeared to be healing well. She held out her palm for Fiyero to see, and he nodded in satisfaction. Elphaba went to pull her hand back, but Fiyero kept hold of it. Elphaba blinked up at his face and tried to catch his gaze, but to no avail. Fiyero just stared at her hand and began to trace soft patterns around the burn with his finger.

"Ummm, Fiyero?" Elphaba said eventually, fighting off shivers.

"Mmm?"

"I kind of need that hand back so I can have my lunch before it gets cold."

At long last, Fiyero looked up. "Sorry," he murmured absently, letting go of her hand.

Elphaba pulled back her hand and finished her meal, her eyes often flitting up to Fiyero's face.

Fiyero, meanwhile, kept his eyes trained on his plate the entire time.

They continued to sit at the table in silence long after they had finished eating. After a while, Elphaba spoke. "I'm not the only one who has had a change come over them today."

"I know," Fiyero replied quietly. He flashed her a lopsided smile, finally raising his eyes to look at her. "Prefer this side of me?"

"Much," Elphaba said immediately, fighting off a blush when she realized how eager she'd sounded.

Fiyero chuckled. "Good."

Elphaba paused, before changing the subject. "Do you suppose we'll get out of here anytime soon?"

Fiyero smirked slightly. "Sick of me already? Or are you scared to be alone with me for much longer?"

"Why would I be?"

"In case your resistance to me breaks and you're forced to admit your attraction to me."

Elphaba groaned. "Not this again. You promised no more cracks!" she said, glaring at him accusingly.

Fiyero put up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I don't know. But hey – look on the bright side."

Elphaba shot him a look. "And just what may that be?"

"We may get to miss the exhibition!"

Elphaba's gaze hardened. "Try again."

"You get to spend more time alone with me?"

"Oh, joy," Elphaba muttered.

"Hey, most girls would kill to spend some time alone with me!"

"In case you hadn't noticed," Elphaba retorted, "I'm not 'most girls'."

Fiyero rolled his eyes. "Boy, is that true," he muttered bitterly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Elphaba demanded.

"Well, every time I think I'm starting to get somewhere with you, you suddenly go back to being sarcastic and defensive."

"'Get somewhere' with me?" Elphaba screeched shrilly. "Oh, I see. I'm the only girl who won't fall down in a dead faint at your feet, so you're trying to seduce me so I won't spoil your perfect record, is that it?"

"No, that is not it!" Fiyero yelled angrily, standing up so suddenly that his chair toppled over. "I want to get to know you better, Elphaba. I thought you were worth getting to know. Well, if you carry on like this every time someone gets close, perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps you're not worth getting to know, afterall." With that, Fiyero whirled around and strode into the adjoining room, leaving Elphaba sitting in shock, silent tears streaming down her face.

A moment later, the front door slammed, and Elphaba inadvertently let a loud sob escape her lips, her head falling into her hands.

The afternoon wore on and Elphaba, unable to fathom why she was crying, managed to calm down a bit, but Fiyero did not return. Despite herself, Elphaba began to grow worried and made up her mind to go looking for him. She hurriedly left the cottage, but not before ducking into the bathroom to discover Fiyero's jacket – now completely dry – still draped over the bathtub. With the jacket in her hand, Elphaba hastened through the nearby woods, calling Fiyero's name, her voice panicky. He would surely be freezing by now, and Elphaba was frightened of what she might find.

Elphaba finally found Fiyero sitting on a log, staring blankly out over a frozen stream. "Fiyero!" she cried, relief evident in her voice.

At the sound, Fiyero turned, before standing up.

The two looked at each other uncertainly for a moment, before Elphaba began to run straight for him. She screeched to a halt at the last moment and threw herself onto Fiyero, wrapping her arms around his waist and nearly knocking him over in the process. "Thank Oz you're safe!"

Fiyero gently lifted her chin and saw tears falling freely down her cheeks. "Elphaba?"

"I thought I'd killed you."

"What?" Fiyero frowned in confusion, searching her eyes.

"I made you angry," Elphaba explained. "When I realized you'd left without your jacket, I thought I'd sent you to your death. I've been searching for ages." Elphaba sniffled and pulled back to hand Fiyero his jacket.

"Thanks," Fiyero said gratefully, putting it on, "but I already feel a lot warmer now that you're here." He pulled her back to him and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry for storming out on you like that."

Elphaba shook her head vigorously. "I'm sorry. Did you really mean what you said about wanting to get to know me better?"

"Every word."

Elphaba was quiet for a moment. "No-one has ever wanted to get to know me before. Well, aside from Galinda," she corrected herself. "I'm not used to it. I guess it's just instinct to assume you must have an ulterior motive or something nasty up your sleeve. I'm sorry for doubting you."

"I guess I haven't given you much of a reason to trust me, have I?" Fiyero murmured, stroking Elphaba's hair.

Elphaba closed her eyes. "I trust you, Fiyero," she whispered. "I trust you more than I want to. And it scares me."

Elphaba's words surprised Fiyero, and they touched him deeply. He rested his chin on top of her head. "Don't be scared," he assured her quietly. "I won't let you down. I promise."

"Thankyou, Fiyero."

They spent another moment in silence, before Elphaba finally pulled away. "We should get you inside before you end up with pneumonia."

Fiyero wordlessly took Elphaba's hand and the pair made their way back to the cottage. By the time they reached the quaint building, the sky was beginning to darken with the onset of evening.

Once they were safely ensconced within the warmth of the house, Elphaba immediately set about cooking dinner, while Fiyero went and had a hot bath. When he finally emerged, wearing a thick jumper he had found hiding in his suitcase, Elphaba was already serving their meals.

"Feeling a bit warmer now?" Elphaba asked, glancing up at him briefly before turning her attention back to what she was doing.

"Much." Fiyero wrapped his arms around Elphaba's waist from behind and breathed in deeply. "Mmm, that smells divine. You're a marvel in the kitchen, you know that?"

Elphaba stiffened as she suppressed a shiver at Fiyero's touch. "I'm not really," she said modestly.

"Yes, you are," Fiyero insisted. "You're amazing."

Elphaba scoffed. "Fiyero, I think that's a little far-fetched. Now, do you want to eat or don't you?"

"Well, yeah," Fiyero conceded, reluctantly letting go of Elphaba's waist.

Dinner, as Fiyero had predicted it would be, was cooked to perfection, and, afterwards, he suggested they retire to the sitting room.

"Uh, after I have my bath," Elphaba said, and Fiyero agreed readily.

While Elphaba was in the bathroom, Fiyero knocked on the door. "Elphaba?"

"No, you may not join me in here!" Elphaba called back.

Fiyero grinned. "Damn. Oh, well, I'll just pop outside for a few minutes instead."

"You sound like you're talking about going to the corner shop – innocently, of course, because your plan really is to sneak around the side and peek through the window. Hate to break it to you, Tiggular, but in case you hadn't noticed, there are no windows in here."

Fiyero laughed. "Will you be alright by yourself?"

Elphaba rolled her eyes and emitted an exasperated sigh. "Yes, Fiyero, I'll be fine."

"Okay. I won't be long."

And he wasn't long, either. He returned only a couple of minutes after Elphaba emerged from the bathroom.

As he entered, Elphaba looked up from where she sat in front of the fireplace, frowning when she saw what was in his hand. "Sticks? What do you need those for?"

"You'll see," Fiyero said cheerfully. He strolled casually over to his suitcase, pulled out a small bag and ambled over to the fireplace, dropping down beside Elphaba. He held out the bag and the sticks with a smile, cocking his head to the side. "I hope you like toasted marshmallows."

Elphaba's face lit up. "Do I? I love them!" She beamed.

"Great!" Fiyero placed the sticks on the floor and enthusiastically opened the packet of marshmallows. He offered the bag to Elphaba, who grabbed a handful, picked up a stick and began threading on the fluffy sweets.

Fiyero grinned as he followed her lead and waved his stick over the fire. "This is more like it."

"Mmm," Elphaba agreed as she popped a marshmallow into her mouth, savouring its gooey sweetness. "Definitely."

They sat in silence for some time, eating marshmallows and just enjoying each other's company, before Elphaba spoke up again. "You were right."

Fiyero looked at her. "Of course I was. What about?"

"That book. There is a special reason why I read it when I don't usually read romance novels."

"Look, Elphaba, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to…"

"I do want to." She paused, chewing her lip for a moment. "It was my mother's favourite book," she told him quietly, her gaze fixed on the fire. "She was always reading it. When she died, Father burnt all of her books."

"He knew how much that one meant to her?" Fiyero questioned softly.

Elphaba shook her head. "I rescued it. Hid it away. I never dared to read it until I came to Shiz, though, lest he discover it." She shrugged. "Somehow, I feel closer to her when I read it. Is that silly?" she asked suddenly, looking up at Fiyero.

Fiyero shook his head. "Not in the slightest."

Elphaba gave him a small smile, and Fiyero shifted closer, draping an arm around her smaller frame. Elphaba leant into his embrace and laid her head on his shoulder.

They stayed that way for some time until Elphaba's eyes began to grow heavy and she announced she was going to bed.

"Good idea," Fiyero agreed. He moved to lie down, pulling a startled Elphaba with him.

"What are you doing?" she squeaked.

"Keeping us warm."

"Why do I suddenly not trust you?"

Fiyero held up his hands. "No hanky-panky, I promise. That is, not unless you want to…"

"No," Elphaba interrupted a little too forcefully. "No," she repeated, softer this time.

"Then we won't," Fiyero said simply.

After another moment of hesitation, Elphaba gingerly lay down beside Fiyero, who immediately wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer so that her back was pressed against his chest.

Fiyero had just closed his eyes when Elphaba flew bolt upright. He sighed. "Elphaba –"

"The horses!"

Fiyero opened his eyes and blinked at her. "What?"

"The horses. We forgot to feed them," Elphaba explained.

"They'll be fine," Fiyero said, tugging her arm.

Elphaba gave him a doubtful look. "Perhaps I should just go and –"

"No," Fiyero said firmly, "you stay here. I'll go."

Elphaba watched as he stood and slipped on his jacket. "Maybe I should come with you…"

"I'll be fine."

"It will be quicker…"

"I'll just get them some fresh water and hay. I won't be any longer than ten minutes." As he headed out the back door, he called to her, "Leave it for fifteen before you call out the search party."

Fiyero kept to his word and was not outside for more than ten minutes. As soon as he was inside and shed of his jacket, Fiyero reclaimed his spot behind Elphaba. "It's snowing," he announced, nuzzling Elphaba's hair.

"Is it?"

"Mmm-hmmm. Look." Fiyero tipped Elphaba's head back so she could see the window. Just as Fiyero had said, tiny snowflakes were floating down against the black sky.

"Great," Elphaba muttered, "now we'll be stuck in here forever."

"I don't think so," Fiyero said thoughtfully. "It's only very light, and it doesn't look like it will get much heavier." His voice took on a teasing tone. "Besides, even if you did have to stay here with me forever, it wouldn't be that bad, would it?"

"I suppose not," Elphaba admitted reluctantly.

Fiyero smiled and burrowed his head into her neck.

"What…? Fiyero you're damp," Elphaba stated, sounding slightly confused.

"I am?" came Fiyero's muffled reply.

"Yes." Elphaba turned her head as far as she could to look at Fiyero and chuckled when she saw the cause of Fiyero's dampness. "Fiyero, your hair is full of snow!" she told him.

Fiyero lifted his hand and ran it through his hair, causing snowflakes to shower all over Elphaba.

"Thanks, Fiyero," she said drily.

Fiyero raised his head to grin at her. "Any time."

Elphaba brushed the flakes first off herself and then out of Fiyero's hair.

"Thanks," Fiyero said softly, catching her gaze. He brought his hand up to gently trace Elphaba's cheek, before planting a light kiss there. "Goodnight, Elphaba."

Elphaba blushed and spared him a shy smile. "Goodnight, Fiyero."