Author's Note: Sorry it's been so long. I was planning on writing through out the summer whenever I could, I ended up only taking one class because I ended up passing my anatomy class, thanks to the odd grading scale at my community college. However, at the end of May my dog passed away unexpectedly and I just have not been able to find the creative energy to write anything. I hope to actually be able to continue updating fairly often but I am currently in my last semester of college so life is kind of busy. I am very happy I have this afternoon free to do whatever I want and have decided to pay a visit to Oz today.

Disclaimer: I do not own Wicked or any of its characters, sadly.

Chapter 6

Weeks went by and Elphaba visiting Kiamo Ko for Lurlinemas didn't come up again. Every time they met Elphaba helped him study and they talked about books. Soon Fiyero found that he really looked forward to their meetings. They met twice a week in the library and sometimes had dinner together off campus.

The entire time Fiyero couldn't get the deal his father had agreed to when he came to Shiz about Fiyero's marriage. He really didn't want to marry Galinda. There was some stupid ancient law that prohibited Vinkun royalty from divorce so he didn't even have that option. He could not stand the thought of Galinda's mindless chatter about frilly dresses and uncomfortable shoes for the rest of his life.

Just when he was giving up on getting to see Elphaba over the break she received a letter from her father.

Elphaba,

I have decided it is time that I, myself, pay a visit to the king and queen of the Vinkus. Naturally this means I will be bringing Nessarose with me and because she needs you to take care of her that means I have to bring you as well. Please do not embarrass yourself or you will be pulled out of Shiz and brought home

I understand you are already acquainted with the prince, as you have some classes with him. This does not mean you will be allowed around him. The only reason you will see him while we are in Kiamo Ko is if Nessa wants to spend time with him, and of course at dinner. If I had any other choice other than to bring you with me I would certainly take the other choice.

I have written to Nessa as well and have informed her of our plans.

You and Nessa will be returning from school to Kiamo Ko with Prince Fiyero. On the journey you will not talk to him. You will only attend to Nessa's needs.

Your father.

"This is great! You get to come home with me after all," Fiyero couldn't help himself, he pulled her into a hug as soon as he got done reading the letter.

"I get to come but I'm not supposed to come near you except for dinner and if Nessa wants to be around you. I'm not even supposed to talk to you on the way there," Elphaba pointed out. "This is starting to get kind of awkward, can you let go of me?"

He hadn't realized he was still hugging her. Fiyero slowly released her, realizing how much he had enjoyed having her in his arms.

"Sorry about that. I was just excited is all," he explained.

"I am too, but I still didn't do anything like that," she told him.

"Maybe we can find a way around your father's rules. After all, he's probably just going to be in meetings with my parents the entire time. It's not like he's going to know where you are and what you're doing every minute of the day."

"That may be true, but Nessa will tell him everything she did all day and if he finds out I disobeyed him I won't be finishing my education here. This is just like him. He gives me something I want but in a way I won't enjoy it. I wanted to come to Shiz to get a degree but he only allowed me to so Nessa would have someone to watch after her except Madame Morrible."

"On New Year's Eve my parents always hold a ball. As the crown prince, now that I'm of age I get the first dance, I also get to choose my partner. If you're still at Kiamo Ko I would like to dance with you. It would be a few minutes we could spend together and it would be my choice to spend that time with you so your father can't really say anything about it."

"I'll be looking forward to it."

A couple weeks later they received their final grades for the semester. Fiyero and Elphaba's grades were exactly the same, straight A's. Fiyero couldn't wait to tell his parents, they would be so proud of him. His parents would also no doubt wonder what was so different at Shiz than any other university he had attended so far.

Fiyero began to wonder himself what was so different. He kept wanting to get A's when he would normally be content with whatever grade satisfied his graduation requirements. In the back of his mind he knew, already, it all came down to Elphaba and him wanting to impress her. She kept asking why he had never put this much effort into any of his grades before but he always evaded the question.

He had already written his mother a letter explaining the situation with Elphaba and received a replu.

My dear Yero,

This is an odd situation. I understand the girls' mother passed away in childbirth. I will assign one of the maids to assist Nessa and will make a suggestion that you and Elphaba get a head start on your readings for next semester. Beyond that I don't know what to do.

I am happy that you are making friends and doing well in your classes. Elphaba seems to be helping you quite a bit.

When you are here, if you can get a few minutes alone with her, you need to let Elphaba know how you feel. I can tell from your letters you enjoy being around her and she makes you happy. I think you may be falling in love with her.

Don't wait too long to write back. I will see you in a couple weeks for Lurlinemas break.

Your dear mother,

Leauda

It was the night before he was supposed to return home and he had not yet written his mother a reply. It didn't matter now, He would see his mother the next evening. He had to pack some of his belongings to take home. Fiyero was halfway through packing his trunk with his text books from this semester when he heard a knock on his door.

"Elphaba, what are you doing here?" he asked in surprise.

"I needed to talk to you," she told him.

"Come in," he stepped aside to allow her inside. "What's going on?"

"What's going on with you?" she asked him. "You haven't quite been yourself since you received that last letter from your mother."

"My father intends to announce the arranged marriage to me when I get home. I only found out because I was eavesdropping when he and mother were discussing it. I'm running out of time to get out of it."

"You are kind of making it hard to fall in love with somebody when the only person you seem to spend any time with is either Galinda or me."

"I really don't want to spend the rest of my life with Galinda. She doesn't seem to understand my mother's point of view on the whole being queen thing, which is odd because my mother has been queen for over twenty years, I think she knows more about this than Galinda. The only reason my father made the arrangement is because of who her father is, the Gilikinese trade minister. I feel like I need to find the daughter of someone with a higher rank than trade minister."

"Your father won't want you marrying me, even though I'm the daughter of a governor. Who would want a prince marrying a girl who's green."

Fiyero gestured for Elphaba to sit down. Since the desk chair was currently occupied by some of the clothes he was taking home she had to sit on the bed.

"Why do you think so little of yourself?" he asked her.

"My entire life my father, well everyone back home really, always pointed out how hideous my green skin is. Nobody even wants to be around me. The only reason you spend any time around me is because I tutor you."

"That's not the only reason I spend time with you. You're an amazing person. I consider you a good friend. Why do you think I tried to come up with ways for us to see each other while you're at Kiamo Ko?"

"Thanks for the pep talk. What time are we leaving tomorrow so I can have Nessa ready to go."

"Probably about 10:00 in the morning."

She got up and walked out the door.