Chapter Thirty-Nine: Patience

"I was thinking I'd ask her after the party," Fiyero told Glinda.

"Can I stay? I'm so far from home anyway that I probably would need to stay until the next day to catch the train."

"Of course. She'd want that, I think."

"And if she says 'no,' what then? Because you need to be prepared for that." Glinda sighed. "I'd hope she doesn't, but you know her."

"If she refuses, I tell her she's welcome to stay and we can continue to be together until she's ready if that's what she wants. I don't think that'll be what she wants, though. She'll run. Assuming that's her answer."

"You're probably right. You're willing to risk that? You don't think you should wait longer?"

"I can't, Glinda. I've been patient with her. I really have. But if she doesn't know for sure by then, she never will and I need to let her go. She can't stay in limbo forever, and we both know that. She either has to stay with me or pursue something else. This is just as much for her as it is for me." Fiyero smiled sadly. "I love her, Glinda. But I understand sometimes that's not enough. If she needs to go, I won't stop her. I want her to be happy, one way or the other, even if it breaks my heart."

Glinda hugged him. "If she doesn't say 'yes,' I might just smack her. You're perfect for her. I may not agree with how this all started, but I still want it to end the right way."

"I'd prefer it never ended. That's why I want to marry her."

Glinda giggled. "You know, she does complain that you get a little cliché. I'm starting to see that, now."

"That's what she does to me," he said.

"How are you going to ask?"

"She sleeps in my room when we stay at Kiamo Ko. I was going to get new sheets, softer ones. I was going to set up some things in my room, an extra bookshelf, a second desk, make it more like a place for both of us. I was actually going to make a lot of the furniture myself. I know how. I'll have the servants get it all set up during the party. When I bring her to our room, I was just going to simply get down on one knee and ask her. I think she'd appreciate being completely alone for that conversation, however she answers."

"Why are you asking me for help when you clearly know exactly what to do? That's perfect and she'll love it."

He smiled. "Good. I've put a lot of thought into it."

"What happens to you if she doesn't accept your proposal and runs?"

"I find some girl in the village that I can at least tolerate."

"So you've thought about it?"

"It's not something I relish thinking about, but yes, I have given thought to it. I also hope that it never has to come to that."

"Me, too. Fiyero, if she runs from you, she runs from all of us. And I know she's thought about running before. She wants to fight, even though I don't think she's certain of what she'd be fighting against. And that would mean abandoning all of us, her friends, her family. I don't want that anymore than you do."

"She'll get herself killed," he said softly.

"Look, let's not think about it. You go perfect your plan. I'll try to work with her on coming to terms with being your queen."

"I thought you said you wouldn't get involved."

"I changed my mind."

"Thank you." Fiyero slipped out of Glinda and Elphaba's room and headed back to his own mechanically, not particularly noticing his surroundings. He was almost to his room when he heard her voice.

"Yero, I was calling across campus and you didn't hear me," she laughed. "I was actually about to head over here anyway, so when I saw you, I figured..."

Had she seen him come from her building? "How long had you been calling after me?"

"Just a tick or two. I'd just left the library."

The library was right next to Three Queens. She hadn't seen where he'd been coming from. "I thought you were going to be in the library all day. Finals are tomorrow."

"If I stare at those books any longer I might lose my mind," she shrugged. "You don't seem as excited about me ditching my studies as I thought you'd be."

"I am," he said quickly. "I was just surprised. I hadn't done the wash and my clothes are everywhere. I usually clean up a bit before you come by."

"I don't mind. I'm surprised you think I would," she laughed. "Fiyero, half the time I'm in your room, both of our clothes are all over the floor."

He couldn't help grinning at that, thinking of the search they'd gone through once when her panties had somehow ended up stuck behind his desk. "True. I don't know why I do it. Habit, I suppose." He unlocked the door and stepped inside, drawing her with him.

"This isn't so bad," she murmured, looking around and putting her bag down.

"You know, you're always telling me that I'm unable to see the bad in you, but I think you have the same problem when it comes to me, Fae. I'm a mess."

"Organized chaos," she decided. "And I love you."

"I can't wait for finals to be over so I can take you home with me and treat you the way you deserve for a few weeks, or months or... however long." He wrapped her in his arms.

"It does sound nice." She smiled up at him. "You're going to let me spend some time alone, right? You can't smother me, Fiyero."

"I know. I had them turn one of the guest rooms into a reading room. You can escape there when you get fed up with me," he teased.

"Really? You did that?" The corners of her mouth tugged up further and her eyes were wide with excitement. "You didn't need to do that, Fiyero. I'm not... I mean, it's only a few months."

"It wasn't a big deal, Fae. They can change it back if you leave. But you realize that you're welcome to stay as long as you please, right?"

"I know. I want to see how we do for the first few weeks before I think about how long I'm staying, Yero. We don't know that we can work long-term. Let's figure that out, first."

He was glad it would have been more than a month when the engagement party was. That should give her enough time to come a conclusion. At least he hoped so. "That's fair." He kissed her deeply. "I can't imagine it not working, though."

"Me, either," she admitted. "It's not like I don't stay with you plenty here. But... I think staying at Kiamo Ko with you might be... I need it. It would be closer to what life would actually be like if we..."

"If we got married?" He prompted quietly.

She stepped back, her hand still in his. "That. Yes. You know that I love you. It's not that. I just..."

"Fae, it's fine. I completely understand." He didn't, not exactly, but he was willing to give her that time. But that was all. If she still wasn't certain, he knew what he had to do, even if it was hard. They couldn't just stay uncommitted and simple forever. But for now, yes, they could, just a little longer.

"You always do." She got closer to him again, sliding an arm around the back of his neck. "You're perfect that way, you know."

He kissed her, tugging her waist against his. "So are you."