Chapter Forty-Two: A Sudden Ending

She loved the feel of his hands, of his body, of his… everything. It seemed like every time they made love it went by much too fast (though at times, she had checked the clock and it had been hours). Everything rushed by her, pleasures shot through her, emotions came to the forefront of her brain… Afterward, though, she was at peace. There was something intoxicating about their lovemaking, something that left her in some sort of mellow high for at least an hour.

He was climbing off of her and kissed her forehead gently. "I love you, Fae."

She smiled up at him, trying to calm the tremors that were still going through her body. "I love you too, Yero."

"Ahem."

She shot up as someone cleared their throat from across the room. Her heart sank and her eyes widened as her gaze fastened on Madame Morrible and Fiyero's parents.

Fiyero was in just as much shock as she was. "What you doing here? Why…?"

"It's Rienna's birthday. We brought her to the City and made a pit stop to come get you so we could all have dinner in the City. I'm glad we didn't bring her up here… Madame Morrible let us in." Fiyero's father's face was flushed. "Do you want to explain?"

"It… it doesn't…"

"It doesn't mean anything," Elphaba spat out. "Prince Fiyero and I were just having sex, your highness. He just wanted sex. That's all."

"Try again. We heard everything."

"How long had you been there?" Fiyero demanded, pulling the sheets around Elphaba – though not himself. She wanted to tell him that his reaction was giving away more of how they felt about each other than his words had, but there was no point.

"Just enough time to see what you've been doing and to hear plenty." Fiyero's mother's nose was wrinkled.

Fiyero's father's face darkened even more with anger. "You promised me, Fiyero, you promised me you wouldn't…"

Elphaba swallowed hard.

"Miss Elphaba," Fiyero's mother put a hand on his father's arm, "I suggest you get your things and go… somewhere. Any money that we were paying for your tuition is revoked. And you are no longer welcome at Kiamo Ko."

"Mother, Father, wait! Please, there are things you don't understand. Elphaba's going to be a delegate to the Wizard. He asked her himself."

"Is this true?" Fiyero's father asked her.

"I… I haven't yet accepted…"

"That's wonderful for you, but it doesn't make a difference. Fiyero, you knew the rules. I told you to do what you wanted, but I specifically told you not to sleep with her. I asked you not to have any emotional connection with her whatsoever. And here you are, whispering how much you love her. Leave, Miss Elphaba."

Elphaba hadn't really thought that the Wizard's proposition would change anything, but it broke her heart to know that it didn't at all. She climbed out of the bed, threw her clothes back on and began to leave.

"Fae, no, please don't. Mother, Father, please don't do this. I love her." Fiyero protested.

Elphaba looked at him, saw the despair in his eyes and blinked back her own tears. Nothing he said was going to change their minds; they both knew that. She mouthed "I love you, too," and walked out the door.

"I want you out of that room within half an hour," Madame Morrible called from behind her. She could swear she heard the old woman smiling in her voice.

Glinda wasn't there when she got there. She wanted to stop and to think, but there was no time. Instead, she threw all of her things in her meager suitcase, books and all. There was barely any time left, and Glinda hadn't come back. She realized then that she wouldn't get to say goodbye. Elphaba pulled out a piece of paper. "They caught us. I will miss you. Goodbye." She threw the note on her best friend's bed and left, blinking back more tears.

She knew where she was going – the City. The Wizard would never take her on as a delegate if she didn't finish Shiz, but that didn't much matter to her anymore. She had other ideas. Elphaba dug through her pockets for the small amount of money Dr. Dillamond had given her (despite how much she'd tried to refuse) for assisting with his research.

Elphaba turned at looked at the building before she walked away. Nessa… she'd never really get to bond with her sister. She supposed it was for the best; she didn't need all the complications that came with family, not with where she was going, what she wanted to do. She wondered what Glinda would tell Nessa when she asked what had happened. She shook her head. She had to stop this line of thought. Instead, she hailed a carriage, a shared carriage. She couldn't let her money run out too quickly. Inside were a small family also headed to the City on a vacation weekend. It was crowded, and the children were screaming, but she didn't care. And she didn't look back.

She was quiet the whole ride, despite the stares the family gave her (children and parents alike). It finally gave her a moment to think (as much as she could through the shrieking kids). She wouldn't cry, not here, not at all. Elphaba had always thought that her goodbyes with Fiyero would've been a little less sudden. She'd hoped they'd have time to really talk, to make love one last time (though she supposed they had). But that hadn't been how it worked in the end. She should've figured it wouldn't be so simple.

She tried to block out thoughts of Fiyero, of Glinda, and focus on the task ahead. Once she arrived in the City, she had people to look for.

AN: Okay, before you all get upset, this IS NOT THE ENDING. There are a few more chapters. I'm adding them right now, because it was unfair of me to wait so long to post this. I apologize for that and I hope you don't hate me! I haven't been myself as of late. Anyway, hope you like the rest of the story.