AN. No one guessed my favourite line from the last chapter, although I LOVED reading all YOUR favourite lines. Mine was actually this one from Galinda: "Yes. You do play, don't you? Fiyero said you were using it as a plant holder, but I think he was joking… even though I didn't really get it."

Thirteen

Fiyero was happy to go home for Lurlinemas, although he was actually sorry to leave Shiz just when they were forming such a strong social group.

There were no words to say how proud Fiyero was of his ex-girlfriend. When she had first come to him and told him her plan to share her private suite with Elphaba, to save her both having to live in a horrendible apartment with no heat and save some money in the process, he had been both stunned and pleased.

"Why would you do that? Until three days ago, you hated Elphaba. And now you're going to live with her?"

Galinda had hesitated briefly. "Look, Fiyero… I know I was mad… really mad when you broke up with me; but the fact is… you had a point. I was being awful to a girl I didn't even know, because she was different. And, I got to know Elphie a little when I saw her in the hospital, and between that and how she was living… I'm not saying we're going to be best friends, but I wanted to do something nice. To make up for it."

And Fiyero hadn't known what to say in response.

And it seemed to be going well so far. The two girls were getting along well in their new living arrangements. Of course, there'd been a few minor squabbles, but overall, it was going well. Of course, when the news got out, it was all over campus.

For perhaps the first time ever, people were staring at and whispering about Galinda for reasons other than envying her wardrobe or her love life. They'd heard all sorts of things, from blackmail, to spells, to even a rumour that Elphaba and Galinda were lovers- which Fiyero was pretty sure had been started by Cailean.

But the five of them had somehow formed their own social group, even if Elphaba was often reluctant to come out with them.

Elphaba was back at work, but after admitting the situation to Idonea and Alun about her former living arrangements and finances, was working fewer hours. On the last night of semester, Elphaba had entered the OzDust for the first time as a customer and not as an employee.

"Admit it, you only wanted me to come for my employee discount," she teased them.

"Yes," Fyonn nodded.

Fyonn and Cailean sometimes joined them, sometimes not. They liked Elphaba, and of course, were in the circle that Fiyero and Galinda formerly frequented.

Fiyero glared at Fyonn for his answer and he shrugged casually. "What? It's why I'm here!"

In the last week of semester, Fiyero had come to a decision. To act upon his fascination with Elphaba. Yes, that's what he was calling it. Spending so much time with her since she'd been in the hospital, even more than he had when they were doing the assignment together, he'd just become more and more aware of it.

Because she was no longer just the brilliant, beautiful green orphan she had been before; now she was the brilliant beautiful green orphan who sang like an angel and heard songs in her head.

But what it came down to, was that Fiyero had never felt about anyone what he felt for Elphaba. It wasn't just that she fascinated him, it was that he looked at the world through different eyes since he'd met her. And the idea of committing to one girl for an extended period of time- possibly forever, didn't sound so totally impossible if that one girl… was green. Fiyero had no clue if she felt anything for him, but figured it was worth at least him asking her out and seeing what happened. At best, she said yes. At worse, she said no and they remained friends.

The big hurdle he knew, would be his parents. He had decided it would be best to give them warnings of his intentions before he actually acted; so that if things did go well between him and Elphaba, they wouldn't be surprised. And they might even come around to the idea of him dating a green orphan with no family, money or connections… yeah, Fiyero didn't really have high hopes for that.

His parents, Bohdan and Lada, weren't snobbish or mean people, they were the King and Queen, and beloved by all their subjects in the Vinkus. But Fiyero, despite all appearances, wasn't stupid. He knew by even mentioning Elphaba to his parents, they would know it was different- because he certainly never mentioned any other girl to them. And as a prince, Fiyero knew he was expected to eventually marry… well, a princess. Or at least a girl with high (read: appropriate) social standing. Elphaba, as an orphan… had pretty much no social standing whatsoever.

They wouldn't have anything personal against Elphaba, and should they ever meet, they would be perfectly polite and cordial to her. But his parents would never approve the match for anything more than friendship. And Fiyero was hoping for a lot more than to be Elphaba's friend.

He brought it up his first night home for the holidays, after his parents had praised him for managing not to get expelled or flunk out of Shiz as of yet and they'd discussed their Lurlinemas plans.

He hadn't been sure how to work it into the conversation, but his father had provided him with an excellent opening.

"So, Yero," Bohdan looked at his son from the head of the table. "Have you made many friends at Shiz?"

Fiyero swallowed the mouthful of food he was eating, placing his knife and fork down as he did so.

"Actually, yeah. I've made some really good friends."

Lada raised an eyebrow in interest. "Really? Anyone special?"

"Uh, two guys Cailean Hoisin and Fyonn Rix, Galinda Upland-"

"Of the Upper Uplands?" his father interrupted and Fiyero nodded.

"Yeah, that's her. Uh, Boq Hilder, Nessarose Thropp- the daughter of the former Munchkinland Governor? Oh, and Elphaba Rozek."

His mother frowned. "Rozek… that name sounds familiar… who are her parents?"

This is it, Fiyero told himself. "Actually, no one knows."

Bohdan looked confusified. "What do you mean, Fiyero?"

"She's an orphan," Fiyero explained. "She was raised in an orphanage in the Emerald City. No one knows who her parents are."

His parents looked horrified. "That's awful!" Lada exclaimed. "She was never adopted?"

"No. Oh, and she's green," he added as an afterthought, just to see his parents facial expressions.

"She's green? What does that mean?" Bohdan spluttered.

"It means her skin is green. Anyway, she's at Shiz on a scholarship. She's really smart, I worked on an assignment with her during the semester and we did really well- mostly due to her, I'm pretty sure."

Fiyero took advantage of his parents stunned silence to press on. "Actually, when we go back to Shiz, I'm going to ask her out. I really like her, and I think you would too."

His parents exchanged a look before his father spoke. "Fiyero, I'm sure she's a lovely girl. But think about this. If you were to date this girl, the press would be all over it. They'll dig up every bit of information on her they can find."

"And what will they find?" Fiyero demanded.

"That's exactly the problem," Lada said sharply. "She's some orphan girl from the Emerald City? And green at that? This will be news all over the Vinkus, and you're fine with that?"

"She has no title, no social standing," Bohdan chimed in. "Hardly the appropriate status for a princess."

Fiyero rolled his eyes. "Guys, I'm not talking about marrying her, I'm talking about dating her."

"At your age, they may as well be the same thing to the press and you know that, Fiyero!" his mother snapped.

His father tried to calm the situation down. "I just don't think this girl is appropriate for you to enter a relationship with, son. What about Miss Upland or even Miss Thropp?"

Lada looked at her husband and grimaced. "Miss Thropp? Really?"

Bohdan shrugged. "If not for her father's death she'd still be the Governor's daughter. And they say she's tragically beautiful."

"She's also crippled," Lada reminded him.

Fiyero felt insulted on Nessarose's behalf. "Mom, Dad, please! Nessarose is a lovely girl, but we're just friends. Galinda and I tried dating, it didn't work out. I want to date Elphaba, and I wasn't asking your permission to do so!"

"Fiyero, please listen to reason," Lada begged her son. "I'm sure Elphaba is a very nice girl, we have no objection to that!"

"No, you just object to her lack of parents," Fiyero retorted. "Or is her skin?"

His parents just looked at one another, neither willing to say anything. So, Fiyero simply got up and left the table.

"It doesn't matter what they say," he muttered to himself as he headed up to his room. "I'm going to ask Elphaba out no matter what. She might not even say yes for Oz's sake!... Oz, I hope she says yes."

There was only one more thing he wanted to do before they got back to Shiz and he fulfilled his plan of asking Elphaba out. He and Galinda, and Elphaba and Galinda all seemed to be on good terms at the moment, and Fiyero wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible.

So, when he mailed Galinda's Lurlinemas present to her, at the same time he mailed presents to Nessarose, Boq and Elphaba, he slipped a note in with Galinda's.

"Hey, Galinda- Happy Lurlinemas!

Listen, there was something I wanted to talk to you about before semester ended, but I forgot, so I thought I'd do it now.

I'm going to ask Elphaba out after the holidays. I figured, given you're my ex-girlfriend and Elphaba's new roommate, some warning for the situation might be nice.

Have a good break!

Fiyero."

Galinda's reply didn't come until after the holidays, and the first few pages were filled with her account of all the holiday parties she'd been too since she'd returned home. Finally, she got down to the addressing the subject matter of Fiyero's note.

"You're going to ask Elphaba out? I admit, I suspected you would sooner or later. Whether you're willing to admit it or not, I was pretty sure you had feelings for her when you broke up with me. I appreciate the warning, Fiyero, thank you."

Fiyero was surprised by her response. Had he had feelings for Elphaba when he broke up with Galinda?

'Um, you still have her horoscope, don't you?' a little voice in his head said pointedly and Fiyero had to admit there was a point there.

He did still have that tiny scrap of newspaper with Elphaba's handwriting on it from the first day they met. It was where it had been for months, inside an envelope in his nightstand, brought home to the Vinkus with him from Shiz.

Absent-mindedly, Fiyero walked over and took it out. A small smile crossed his face as he re-read her words for the millionth time. "You will meet a green waitress today. Do not keep her waiting and tip her well, and she won't spit in your food."

The more he knew Elphaba, the more it made him smile. Because although she (probably) wouldn't actually do that, it was definitely something she wouldn't be afraid to say to his face. It was one of the things he liked most about her.

And he didn't even notice when he put the horoscope in his wallet instead of returning it to the envelope in the nightstand. Or maybe he did, but he wasn't going to speculate about what that meant.