Chapter 8

Two hours, forty-five minutes and… who even knew the number of seconds until the wedding.

Elphaba turned her head on the pillow, staring at the hands of the clock and blinked slowly. Then she turned to slowly take in the room.

This was definitely her bedroom, definitely her house. Yet just seconds ago, she'd been in a hotel suite with Glinda- Galinda- and Nessarose; and she had definitely expected to open her eyes against the green light and find herself where this had all started- on the bridge over the pond. She had not expected to find herself in her bedroom. And quite frankly, the clock reading of eight-fourteen- nope, fifteen now, was rather alarming. Elphaba couldn't remember the last time she'd slept past seven o'clock.

Elphaba sat up slowly in bed, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes blearily and smoothing her tangled hair, staring distantly out the window. It had happened, hadn't it? Klehr and everything she'd seen? Or was she going mad this close to the wedding?

"I wonder if it's bad luck to hallucinate alternate realities the night before your wedding?" she mumbled to herself as she stumbled out of bed and into the bathroom.

There was no reply, obviously; and the silence made her miss Fiyero even more. Apparently, when a person spent two years on the run- mostly in solitude- they developed the habit of talking to themselves. Once she was with Fiyero however, she was always somewhat startled to absent-mindedly talk to herself and get a reply, which Fiyero still found hilarious. But there was just silence now.

As she washed her face and combed her hair, she mentally ran through the schedule of how long it would take her to get ready for the wedding, and how much time she had to kill. Coffee, top priority. She should probably eat something too. Then bathe and clean her teeth.

Roparzh, Fiyero's captain, had offered to escort Elphaba to the church; and his daughter Mayme had offered to help Elphaba do her hair and makeup. Their family had been so kind to Elphaba and Fiyero since meeting them that Elphaba hadn't been able to think of a way to refuse. Mayme was due to arrive at a quarter to ten, if Elphaba recalled correctly, which gave her plenty of time to let the coffee kick in and for her to regain a semblance of reality- right?

With that decided, Elphaba nodded resolutely at her reflection and exited the bathroom, desperate for coffee. She'd made it out to the hall before something registered in her brain, and she came to a sudden halt before turning slowly.

When she'd left for her walk that night- technically that morning, she supposed- her wedding dress had been hanging on the closet door. She distinctly remembered because when she'd been lying in bed in the dark, trying and failing to sleep; she'd found herself wondering if she happened to wake in the middle of the night, if her sleep-addled brain would think it was a ghost. The fact that Elphaba didn't believe in ghosts was irrelevant to this hypothetical.

And now, sure enough, there was a white gown hanging on the closet door. But it wasn't Elphaba's wedding dress. Or it was, but it certainly wasn't the beaded number she had selected. No, hanging on the closet door was the dress that Glinda and Fenn had selected for her in the Emerald City. The designer gown that Elphaba definitely did not pay for, and had certainly not had time to be altered for her figure.

"Um," she said eloquently, stepping forward in a daze. She reached out gingerly to touch the satin of the skirt, half-expecting it to disappear beneath her touch. But no, it was solid.

"Okay," Elphaba said, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. "Probably not a dream then. Okay."

She let go of the dress and just stared at it. It took her a moment to realise she was standing there with a hand covering her mouth, dazedly blinking at the dress and no longer really seeing it. It was only when her vision was more a blur than white that she realised.

"Okay," she said again, blinking rapidly to bring the room back into focus and lowering her hand. "Coffee."

A few minutes later, with a freshly brewed mug of coffee in hand, Elphaba wandered back to the bedroom and leaned against the doorframe, staring at the wedding dress. It was still there. Still not the one that was supposed to be there.

Her stomach churning uneasily, Elphaba turned and carefully inspected the rest of the house. It all seemed normal. There was nothing missing and nothing else seemed to have appeared that shouldn't be there. There was no indication that this wasn't her world, but Elphaba couldn't help but worry nonetheless.

Combining the coffee with her sudden flare of anxiety suddenly seemed like a terrible idea, so she abandoned the coffee on the nightstand and went back to study the dress again. Just to be safe, she checked inside the closet. Her dress- the one she'd bought- wasn't there. Her shoes she'd bought was the same, as was the small silk purse the saleswoman had insisted she'd needed. But the dress and the veil- they were definitely new.

"Okay, this is ridiculous," she muttered to herself, eyeing the dress suspiciously. "Because this means either my guardian angel stole a wedding dress, or it pays pretty well. Both options are insane."

By the time Mayme and her mother arrived, Elphaba had eaten and bathed and was sitting on the end of the bed in her robe, just staring at her dress. The dress. Not her dress. Ugh.

"Oh Elphaba, that dress is beautiful!" Mayme exclaimed, as Elphaba led them into the room.

"It truly is," Afina agreed, admiring the dress. "It's going to look perfect in the church. I daresay even Mrs Vale will find something to object about with this dress," she added teasingly and Elphaba chuckled weakly.

"As long as Fiyero likes it, I guess."

"Honey, you could walk down that aisle wearing a bunch of rags and that boy would still only have eyes for you," Afina reassured her.

Elphaba's huff of laughter was more genuine this time.

Mayme chattered away happily as she did Elphaba's hair and makeup. She was about to start her last year of university in the fall and was in the midst of picking her classes for her first semester; a topic that normally Elphaba was enthusiastic about. However, she couldn't help but keep waiting for a sign that this wasn't her world still. Thankfully, Afina and Mayme seemed to take her silence as wedding nerves and didn't push her to contribute to the conversation.

"Alright, done!" Mayme announced, putting down the lipstick. "Shall we get the dress on?"

"Okay," Elphaba agreed, carefully moving her hair over a shoulder so as not to ruin the half-updo Mayme had created.

Afina lifted the dress down from the closet door and then checked a tag attached to the tag. "Oh there's a note."

Elphaba turned to her. "A note?" she asked quickly, her heart perking up.

Afina carefully detached it and handed it to her.

Happy Wedding Day. We wish you a lifetime of happiness. You deserve it.

-K

"Who's K?" Mayme asked, glancing at the note over Elphaba's shoulder.

"My guardian angel," Elphaba said, a smile pulling at her lips. Mayme just looked at her in confusion, but Elphaba shook her head. "Never mind."

Afina helped her into the dress and buttoned it. It fit perfectly, and Elphaba's throat swelled as she turned to the mirror and allowed Mayme to fit the veil into her hair. It seemed simultaneously to be just a second ago, but also like a long ago dream that Elphaba had stood in the bridal salon and wished for this. Wearing the gown her best friend helped select and about to marry the man she loved. To be actually experiencing that was rather surreal.

"Oh, I hope Fiyero cries when he sees you," Mayme grinned and Elphaba laughed.

"As long as he's standing at the altar, that's all that matters," she said, fidgeting with her veil as it fell around her upper arms.

Roparzh arrived promptly on time in his carriage, and immediately reassured Elphaba that he'd seen Fiyero to the church just moments ago.

"Mrs Vale was fussing over his tie when I left him," he smiled warmly. "Apparently she thinks it clashes with his boutonniere."

Elphaba rolled her eyes. This was definitely her world, or else Mrs Vale would be less of a pain, she was sure. Of course, the minister's wife would think they clashed- Elphaba already knew Fiyero would be wearing a green tie and the boutonniere was a yellow rose- the same as Elphaba's bouquet Roparzh had brought with him. Although how the green could clash with the yellow when, you know, leaves were green; Elphaba didn't want to know. She just wanted to see Fiyero.

"I suppose we should go rescue him then," she said and Roparzh laughed.

At two o'clock that morning, the little white church had seemed so daunting. Ghostly. But now, as the carriage approached, it seemed so warm and welcoming- full of life. Because Fiyero was inside, waiting for her.

As the carriage came to a stop, Elphaba could hear the chatter and laughter of their guests floating out of the open door and windows and the warmth and love behind it rather took her breath away. They weren't having a huge wedding, and Elphaba had always considered the circle they'd made in town rather small. But maybe, she was forced to admit, she'd formed deeper roots in town than she'd thought.

"Thank you," she said suddenly to Roparzh and Afina, after they'd helped her from the carriage, before Afina could follow Mayme inside the church. "For everything you've done for Fiyero and I."

"You're family," Roparzh replied mildly, like it was just a given and he was surprised Elphaba had even questioned it.

Elphaba didn't know how to explain that she wasn't used to such kindness given so easily, so she just smiled weakly.

"Thank you," she said again.

Afina smiled warmly and lifted the blusher of the veil over Elphaba's face before heading inside the church, leaving Elphaba to slip her hand into the crook of Roparzh's elbow that he offered her before escorting her through the gate of the church.

The inside of the church was quite dimly lit compared to how bright it was outside, and Elphaba paused just over the threshold, blinking to let her eyes adjust. They may not have had many guests, but they were all staring at her and Elphaba had to resist the instinct to shrink back, her hand tightening around Roparzh's elbow as she steeled herself. Letting out a slow breath, she slid her gaze past the smiling faces of the guests to the altar at the end of the aisle, where Fiyero stood waiting for her.

He was beaming brightly at her, and tears pricked at Elphaba's eyes immediately at the sight of him. The relief that washed over her at the sight over his face was only akin to the relief Elphaba had felt when he'd opened the trapdoor at Kiamo Ko and smiled down at her- alive, even if not quite as she'd last seen him. It felt as though it had been weeks since she'd last seen him, not merely hours; and just as she'd feared, there was a moment where as she looked at him, all she saw was the tomb that bore his name in an alternate world.

The flash of memory stung her like a stab wound to her chest, and although Elphaba was aware of Roparzh glancing at her from the corner of his eye; she couldn't move just yet. Not until that image was gone. She didn't want to feel as though she was walking towards his grave.

Instead, she took a deep breath, closed her eyes and steeled herself. She forced her train of thought away from the image of the gravestone, and instead concentrate on what she could almost swear was Klehr's whisper in her ear, asking: "What have you learned?"

And she thought of Klehr, and of Glinda, and of Nessarose.

If you have been through so much together, isn't the wedding the reward? The festivation of everything you've survived?

I can see how much Fiyero loves you, and I'm glad he makes you so happy. That's all I want for you.

Talking yourself out of happiness is a mistake.

And when Elphaba opened her eyes again, all she saw was Fiyero's face. This time, she took a step forward.

When she was within reach, Fiyero extended a hand towards her and Elphaba gripped it furiously as she entwined their fingers together. A flicker of concern lit in Fiyero's face as she moved to stand next to him at the altar.

"You okay, Fae?" he murmured, barely audible over the sound of the guests taking their seats in the pews.

"I missed you," Elphaba said honestly, well aware how little sense that statement would make to him.

Fiyero, however, just smiled softly at her and squeezed her hand. "I missed you too."

"Dearly Beloved," Reverend Vale began to address the crowd, and Elphaba's heart skipped a beat as she tore her gaze away from Fiyero.

Fiyero had, at one stage in the wedding planning process, floated the idea of writing their own vows. Reverend Vale, however, frowned upon such things; "I hardly think a wedding ceremony is the rightful place for such a display of sentimentality," had been his exact words, upon which Elphaba had tried and failed to suppress a snort. She hadn't been terribly keen on the idea admittedly, but that was beside the point. So she and Fiyero instead dutifully recited the traditional vows.

Elphaba may have had worries before about speaking her vows; the contrast of promising to stand by Fiyero for better or worse until death do they part, while ignoring her own doubts and fears. The reality, she found, was that all her energy was centered on repeating the words without stumbling or making a mistake and so she didn't really have the mental capacity to focus on anything else. But the way Fiyero looked at her as he said, "I do"; well, that would stay with her for the rest of her life.

After the rings had been exchanged and the marriage certificate signed, Reverend Vale turned to Elphaba and Fiyero. "Elphaba and Fiyero, before these friends and under the eyes of Lurline, you have vowed to be true to one another for the rest of your lives. With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Fiyero reached forward and carefully lifted the blusher back from Elphaba's face. He smiled at Elphaba, her smile; his eyes crinkling at the corner and his mouth curving so that his dimple flashed. Then he winked at her before swooping her into a deep kiss, that made Elphaba's cheeks flame even as his colleagues whistled and cheered.

"I don't think that was entirely necessary," Elphaba murmured to him when he broke the kiss.

"Oh I think it definitely was necessary," Fiyero argued lightly, his grin widening.

Elphaba shook her head, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling even as she reached out and cupped his cheek in her hand.

"I missed you," she said again.

Fiyero's brow creased slightly, but he just turned his head slightly to press a kiss to her palm.

It was another twenty minutes before Elphaba got a moment alone with Fiyero. Everyone had to congratulate them, and compliment Elphaba on her dress. And then there came the photos; where Elphaba and Fiyero were pulled away into the churchyard garden while all their guests headed for the church hall for the wedding breakfast- a name Fiyero had lamented ever since Elphaba had informed him that breakfast foods were not actually served at such.

"They could be," he'd argued. "Where's the rule we can't have pancakes for our first meal as husband and wife?"

Elphaba hadn't been able to answer that; so, they were having pancakes.

But at the first opportunity once they entered the garden, Elphaba slipped her arms around Fiyero's waist and rested her head against his shoulder, focusing on the rhythm of his heartbeat. Fiyero wrapped his arms around her securely, pressing his lips to the shell of her ear.

"Hey," he murmured.

"Hi," Elphaba choked out.

"Are you okay?" he asked for the third time. It was getting harder for Elphaba not to blurt out everything that had happened overnight (at least, she assumed it was overnight). She didn't think she could get away with an 'I missed you' this time.

"There's been a lot," she said instead.

"Okay," Fiyero said, kissing the skin lightly. "Have I told you how beautiful you look today yet?"

Elphaba lifted her head to meet his gaze and smiled slightly. "No."

Fiyero moved to entwine their hands, taking a step back so he could look at her dress in its full glory. His eyes crinkled as he looked her over and then he chuckled, shaking his head slightly.

"Yep, gorgeous," he declared and Elphaba rolled her eyes fondly. "You know, I spent half the night last night trying to picture what kind of dress I thought you'd choose."

Elphaba arched an eyebrow. "Oh? And how close did you get?"

"The top half was pretty close," Fiyero shrugged. "I didn't expect the veil- and the skirt isn't what I'd guessed. Not that I don't like it," he added hastily, and Elphaba snorted.

He shrugged again, smiling softly. "I think this is just more something I would have guessed that…"

"Glinda would have picked?" Elphaba finished for him.

Fiyero's eyes flashed briefly with relief. "Yeah," he agreed.

Elphaba smiled wryly. "Well, I guess it's fair to say Glinda had some influence in my choice. I'll explain everything later," she assured him, when he tilted his head confusedly.

Then she wrinkled her nose. "Well, I'll try and explain everything. You're going to think I'm crazy," she warned him.

"Oh, honey. I've been thinking that since you started seeing flying houses," Fiyero teased her. "Yet I married you anyway, didn't I?"

Elphaba rolled her eyes. The reminder of Nessa ached, but it didn't sting as much as it usually did.

The photographer called them over, and Fiyero squeezed her hand as they headed across the garden.

"How do you feel?" he asked her.

"Happy," Elphaba said quietly.

Fiyero eyed her carefully. "That's a good thing?" he asked, and Elphaba faltered, turning to him in surprise.

She hadn't exactly told Fiyero what she'd been struggling with during the wedding planning; and honestly, she thought she'd done an excellent job of hiding it. But then again, should she really be surprised that Fiyero knew her well enough to notice and that he'd given her the space to work through it instead of pushing her to talk about it?

She closed the distance between them to kiss him softly. "It's a good thing," she reassured him. "I love you. So much."

Fiyero shot her her smile again, his eyes bright with tears. "I love you too, Fae."

Elphaba had still only been to exactly one party in her entire life (again, presuming that funerals didn't count), and this was the first party she'd ever been to in her honour. And although she was very conscious of the people that were missing from the day; Elphaba felt like she had renewed gratitude for the people she and Fiyero did have around them now.

Dusk was settling over Piscoe Hills as Elphaba and Fiyero finally took their leave from the church hall, bidding farewell to the last of their guests and giving last thanks to those who would be cleaning up the hall.

"Do you want a lift home?" Roparzh offered, he and Afina the last to leave.

Fiyero glanced at Elphaba, and when she shook her head, he grinned back at his captain. "Thanks, Rop. We'll walk."

"Alright. Congratulations again," Roparzh said, clasping Fiyero's shoulder and kissing Elphaba's cheek.

"Come for dinner some time next week," Afina offered. "We'll set it up."

"Sure," Fiyero agreed.

It was at least the tenth dinner invitation they'd been given that day alone, and Elphaba ruefully reflected that this would be the only night they had alone for the next two weeks.

"Short way or the long way home?" Fiyero asked, offering Elphaba his arm as they passed through the church gate.

"Long," Elphaba replied, folding her veil securely over her arm and then taking his arm.

The long way home took them past the pond and over the bridge.

"Is that bench new?" Fiyero asked, as they stepped onto the bridge.

Elphaba looked over at the bench and chuckled wryly. "Looks like it."

She drew them to a stop, sinking down onto the bench and arranging the skirt of her dress so that there was room for Fiyero to sit beside her. He swung an arm around her shoulders, and Elphaba sank into his side contentedly.

The events of the night before were on the tip of her tongue; and while part of her was dying to tell everything to Fiyero (well, mostly everything), she honestly had no idea where to begin. So instead she just sat there, letting the silence settle around them.

"That's weird," Fiyero said finally, sounding bewildered. "Is it just me or does the sunset look a little green?"

Elphaba lifted her eyes, and sure enough, there was a definite green tinge to the sunset. She internally rolled her eyes, huffing out a laugh under her breath.

"About that," she said, which made Fiyero turn to her with an eyebrow raised. "I need to tell you some things."

Fiyero looked between her and sky for a moment and then grinned. "Alright, Mrs Tiggular," he said. "Let's hear it."

Elphaba smiled and reached into her little silk bag, pulling out the item she'd found inside when she'd gone to place the pins from her hair inside after growing tired of them digging into her scalp. Her hand closed around the engraved pocket watch and handed it to him. She watched Fiyero study their initials and the date inscribed on the back of the watch, looking over at her in surprise.

"I couldn't sleep last night," Elphaba began. "So I went for a walk."

It was a story he'd never believe, but it was one Elphaba would never forget.

AN. Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed! I appreciate it. I have no idea what my next fic will be, trying to sort through my plans and see what will work.