(A/N: I just realized I haven't updated this in a long time. You guys can thank Alice Inn is 'Not That Girl' for this chapter, she finally got me writing again! This is a serious chapter and a lot of insight to the characters feelings and minds in this, mostly Fiyero. This is boring, but it is a chapter to help build the relationships and characters of the story. Please review if you will!)

After going on a date, Elphaba realized she hadn't moved on and that she really wasn't ready to date or get involved with anyone. She had felt no attraction to Brennan, but even so, throughout the entirety of the date, she'd felt guilty and like she was cheating on Fiyero, even though she and Fiyero were no more. She remembered being immensely relieved when she realized Brennan and her were old friends and could never date, it'd be too awkward. Brennan agreed to that they weren't interested in each other that way. She let Brennan walk her back to the palace, a trail of paparazzi was behind them and Elphaba fought the urge to whirl around and break their cameras. When Brennan put his hand in hers, she let him, because she thought it was a friendly gesture.

***********

Fiyero and Galinda were trailing behind Elphaba and Brennan as they walked back to the palace. They mingled with the paparazzi who were terrible at hiding in bushes and behind street signs.

"Omigod!" Galinda squealed, "They're holding hands!"

"What?!" Fiyero cried, pushing a man out of the way and staring open-mouthed at the two before him. They looked like a couple enjoying a nightly stroll in the Emerald City, they looked like him and Elphaba on the beach, holding hands like they were now. Fiyero wanted to rip his hand out of hers and make sure he never touched her again. Fiyero spluttered and gasped and fought for words to express his anger and immense resentment, but he couldn't find anything to say, so for once, he remained silent. Galinda looked at him, looking as though she was ready to retort to any comment he might make, but to her surprise, he wasn't saying anything.

"Daniel what's wrong?" she asked softly, putting a hand on his shoulder and they stopped walking, letting the paparazzi run ahead of them. Daniel seemed frozen, as though just realizing some terrible truth. He didn't respond to Galinda and just shrugged her hand off.

"What do you care?" he asked coldly and then brushed past her, leaving her standing in the middle of the sidewalk, dumbfounded as to what had happened to make him so upset. Fiyero walked through the streets, hands shoved deep in his pockets and cap pulled down lower. He hurt all over, his head, his arms, his legs—his heart. He was in so much pain and he just wanted it all to go away. He wasn't mad at Elphaba, no he could never be mad at her, it was Brennan he was angry with and Frex and himself for letting her go without a fight, because he couldn't fight. That was what sickened him, he was fighting for her life, but he couldn't fight for her love. At first he'd wondered why nothing could be won without a battle, now that he was ready to fight a battle, he had to choose between which to fight. How unfair was it that he had to fight and choose at the same time? Why did he have to just stand by and watch while someone else fought the battle he'd already won? He didn't realize he'd strayed back to the palace until he heard voices. Elphaba and Brennan were at the doorway. She was smiling at him and he was smiling back, but differently somehow.

"Even though the dating part was a disaster, I'm glad I caught up with you." said Elphaba, "You were always a good friend and I hope you continue to be."

"Thanks." said Brennan, "Will I see you again anytime soon?"

"Come to the palace anytime you like, you're welcome to come." she said.

"I will, thank you." he said, "But for now, goodnight Elphaba, sweet dreams." he kissed her hand and departed. Elphaba stared after him, a shocked look on her face and she looked back at the hand he'd kissed. She finally turned away and went inside, closing the door. Fiyero felt another stab to his heart as he'd watched the intimate scene between them. He groaned as he leaned away, not wanting to go back to the palace. He wandered through the Emerald City instead, not going anywhere, but everywhere at the same time.

***********

Galinda stared at Daniel's retreating back. What had happened? He'd seemed fine earlier, except for that annoyance and anger she could always sense, but she had always thought he did that for the sake of arguing. Could Daniel really be hurt inside? Was it because she kept calling him straight? Was it because he wasn't really gay and was in love with Elphaba? Why was he so—Galinda was about to think 'angry', but then with a sudden jolt she realized that was the wrong word, he was angry per se, well he was, but beneath all that, he was incredibly sad and miserable. But why? She began to follow after him, wanting to comfort him but with a start, she realized he'd vanished. She couldn't' go wandering through the Emerald City at this late hour, especially not by herself. But she wanted to find Daniel. She wandered a while, an hour at least and couldn't find him, so she made her way back to the palace, hoping he'd be there. She walked inside wearily and was hit with a force, an embrace actually.

"I was so worried about you!" Elphaba said, "Where in Oz's name have you been?!"

"Oh, I'm sorry to worrify you Elphie," Galinda said, "But I was out looking for Daniel."

"What?" asked Elphaba, slightly shocked, then she registered the information, "Where is he?!" she asked urgently.

"I don't know!" Galinda cried.

************

Fiyero looked up at the sky and saw a gentle glow on the horizon. It was still mostly dark, but a slight pinkish glow was there. He sighed, it was nearly dawn, he'd ben out all night. He started to trudge back to the palace. He made it back in about twenty minutes, exhausted and dirty from falling a lot in his sleepy, heartbroken haze. He opened the door and was shocked when he felt someone hit him. No, they weren't hitting him—

*************

Elphaba had been waiting at the door ever since Galinda came home without Daniel. She had set a chair up there and waited, staring at the door. The door finally opened and she saw the familiar brown cap and she leapt forward, throwing her arms around Daniel.

"I was so scared something had happened to you!" she nearly yelled at him, relief washing through her, "You are so stupid, you stupid---I don't even know, I'm just glad you're ok, because if you weren't, I would go and find your dead body and then kill it again and then wake you up so I could yell at you, then kill you again!"

"Elphaba, it's ok, I'm fine." said Fiyero, putting his arms around her. He felt a wave of happiness and emotion flow through him at the concern and obvious caring in Elphaba's voice. Sure she was threatening him, but he could tell she really had been worried about him, so much. He realized with a shock that he'd forgotten how good it'd felt to hold her in his arms; her holding onto him and him holding her. It felt good and Fiyero closed his eyes, realizing that he had been wrong before. He could fight two opposing battles. He'd already won her love before, he could do it again, even with more competition. Brennan was nothing and he would always be nothing to him and Elphaba, Fiyero would fight his hardest to make sure.

**********

Galinda watched from behind a pillar as Daniel walked in and Elphaba ran to him and hugged him, nearly crying with relief. She'd been watching Elphaba watch the door for a while now and she knew that Elphaba was falling for Daniel. It was clear to her now. Daniel wasn't gay, of course he wasn't, he was only saying that because for some reason he didn't want Elphaba to fall for him, but he also couldn't fall for her. Galinda didn't know why he restricted himself so, but it had to be import, because she could tell it was tearing at Daniel's insides just to watch her hold hands with anyone else. Elphaba she could tell was going to feel guilty right after she pulled out of the embrace, she would be thinking of Fiyero, like always. Sometimes Galinda just wanted to hurt Fiyero Tiggular, for hurting Elphaba. But right now she need to focus on this confusing love story between Elphaba and Daniel, and it seemed Brennan too. Daniel had a secret, Galinda knew he did, but she just had to figure out what.