DISCLAIMER: in the first chapter...

A/N: at the end. I don't want to spoil it. Can I just say, though... THANK YOU!! I've hit the 100 reviews mark, which makes me so giddy with happiness.

I CAN BE MORE STUBBORN THAN YOU

Before leaving Kiamo Eiver, his parent's castle, Fiyero had talked to his father about getting married and had presented Elphaba as his only viable choice. Albe Tiggular, caught off guard by his son's unexpected behavior, had questioned Fiyero about the girl and had found no great fault, despite her odd verdigris. Not who he thought would lure Fiyero into settling down, but an acceptable choice. Even a politically savvy one.

The journey from the Vinkus to Munchkinland took well over a week and Fiyero spent most of that time going over every little conversation he'd had with Elphaba since her dream. With new eyes, he examined her strange reactions to his proximity and the sadness that would loom in her beautiful brown eyes from time to time.

He was convinced that his mother had been right after all.

All ponderings, an unusual activity for the normally 'brainless' Prince, were put on hold when Colwen Grounds came into view. Butterflies fluttered in his stomach; set determination marked his steps.

He knocked on the wide carved wooden door, identified himself to the butler who answered it and asked to see Elphaba Thropp. Strange, subtle stares from the staff were thrown his way as he waited in the main parlor for Elphaba to appear. Fiyero ignored them; he didn't care.

"Master Fiyero?" As soon as her hesitant voice reached his ears, he was up, turning to face her.

The Prince smiled brightly; Elphaba fidgeted.

"What ar…" she looked down, unsure. "What are you doing here?" she whispered.

"I came to see you. Heard you met the Wizard."

"Yeah, well…" Elphaba continued avoiding his gaze.

"Actually, I have a very specific reason for coming here." Fiyero decided to stop beating about the bush. "Liir." That caught her attention, her eyes flying up to meet his. Still, the emerald girl said nothing.

Fiyero stepped forward; Elphaba staggered backwards.

Seeing the trapped look in her eyes and dreading her eminent escape, Fiyero strode forward quickly and caught her by the arms. Again she averted her gaze. His name escaped her lips, a whimper, but she didn't invest too much in trying to break free. Despite her apparent struggles.

"Elphaba… Elphie. No." He leaned closer to her, resting his cheek against her loose, silk hair. "Fae…"

The whispered nickname proved to be too much. Elphaba's body seemed to become dead weight in his arms and Fiyero lowered her to the floor carefully. Her shoulders, silently shaking, gave way to sobs she refused to let him hear. Not knowing what to say or what exactly he had done wrong to begin with, Fiyero embraced her tenderly and let her cry.

"No, no, no, no…" Elphaba pulled away, desperation shinning in her eyes. "No!" Fiyero made to wipe her tear-stained cheek but she pulled away. "No, Fiyero, you can't! You… you have to stay away from me. Far, far away… and…."

He silenced her.

"I love you, Fae." Her eyes slid shut, her head hung forward. "I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Elphaba shock her head from left to right, disagreeing. Fiyero caught her chin and prodded her to look at him. "I know about Liir, our son. I know about your dream and that you are only trying to protect me. But, I don't care, Elphaba. I love you!" A small smile touched his lips. "Don't you love me?"

He sounded so much like her Yero, her future Yero, and the look in his eyes, the absolute love and devotion her captain of the guard had worn so easily, made it hard for Elphaba to turn away. She had been strong for months now. Not anymore. She had no strength left. Bare green arms slid around the Prince's waist, a heavy head came to rest onto his shoulders. He reciprocated the embrace.

There they remained, on the floor, holding each other near. And that was how the Eminent Thropp, Governor of Munchkinland, found them.

Frex had been informed of the Prince's visit and had decided to make an appearance. Suspicion and curiosity mixed flawlessly in his mind as he considered their unannounced guest's involvement in Elphaba's current 'condition'. The sight of the two youngsters on the floor did nothing to appease that.

"What is going on here?" he did not shout, or raise his voice. Nevertheless, he expected a more startled response from the couple than simply looking up.

Calmly, Fiyero rose to his feet and helped Elphaba to hers. For a moment, she seemed unsteady, so he kept a hand on her arm; a silent support. With more composure than he felt, Fiyero nodded to Frex politely.

"Your Eminence." Elphaba's father returned the gesture. "I'm Fiyero Tiggular, Prince of the Arjiki, in theVinkus. I traveled from the West to see your daughter and ask her hand in marriage."

Frex's eyes narrowed; Elphaba gasped.

"Why?"

"What?" Elphaba whispered.

Fiyero kept his eyes on the bald man in front of him, defiant. "Because I love her."

"So, the baby is what? An after thought?" The Winkie frowned, confused.

"What baby?" Despite his confusion, Fiyero couldn't help but feel anger rising in his chest at the malicious smirk Frex directed at Elphaba. It was only when the green girl tried to pull away, as if ashamed, that Fiyero turned his gaze to his right, where she stood, head down.

"You should go, Fiyero."

He wasn't about to let her slip away. Again. Ignoring the Governor for the time being, Fiyero once again caught Elphaba by the arms, preventing her escape.

"Pregnant?"

She nodded.

"How?"

Elphaba's gaze flitted to the left, over Fiyero's shoulder and into her Father's frowning face. She didn't answer. She didn't know what to answer. He would think her crazy.

"Is it Liir, Fae?" She nodded. "That's wonderful!" Sure, having her pregnant before marriage and all that would prove to be a headache later, but all Fiyero could consider at the moment was the woman he loved, pregnant with the child he had, not so long ago, only dreamt could be his. Elphaba, though, stared at him, incredulous.

How could he be so wonderful?

Frex, having watched the interaction, though clueless as to whom Liir could possibly belong to, if not Prince Fiyero's, wasted no time. Another opportunity to save his family's honor would not present itself so soon.

"You wish to marry Elphaba, even though she's pregnant?" The couple turned to face him.

Fiyero nodded, no hesitation.

"Yero, no… I have to prot… You have to stay away from me."

"No."

It was as simple as that. He wouldn't lose her again.

Frex assented, invited Fiyero into his study and left, clearly expecting the Prince to follow. As Elphaba watched her father and her… well, fiancé disappear around the corner, alarm overtook her thoughts. Sure, this had never come even close to what had happened the first time around, but it was close enough. And, the same way her visit to the Emerald City had presented itself unavoidable, the green girl was afraid that Fiyero's fate might remain unchanged. Or worse. She didn't have the Grimmerie this time around.

Could she risk his life?

And even if she decided not to; was she even strong enough to drive him way?

A quiet tear escaped from the corner of her eye, slowly following the curve of her sharp cheekbone, all the way to her jaw line. It slid through that same line, marking a path with glistering wetness until it reached the tip of her chin. Precariously, the tear hung. And inevitably, it dropped, falling endlessly on its way to meet the ground.

Like her life, the fall couldn't be prevented.

What to do?

A hand unconsciously came to rest on her still flat stomach. An impulse to just run overtook her and Elphaba looked at the front door with longing.

Oh, Fiyero, why did you have to make this harder?

How could I leave you now?

I am pretty sure a lot of you guys are going to complain or at least wonder, about Fiyero's fast acceptanceof her pregnancy... Thay haven't even kissed!! Not to worry, though, all will be explained next chapter. Elphaba can't keep her story hidden from him now! And she won't.

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