Oh my heart it just wouldn't know just what love is.

~o0o~

"So this time loop thing… how did it start?"

Elphaba paused her tracing of Fiyero's chest and shoulder tattoos, but didn't move from her spot against him. She didn't know she could ever feel comfort like this. He was soft and warm, his heart a steady, soothing thump against her ear. The bedding curled around them, plush and buttery. His fingers played with her hair, his knuckles brushing along her skin.

"I don't know," she sighed and resumed her tracing of the swirls. "It just began. I've tried every spell I could find to break free. I even found a time travel spell, but when my time is up, I'm right back there, stepping away from your carriage."

He hummed.

She turned her attention to his necklace, which was a snake coiled into an infinity symbol. The room was mostly dark save for his Vinkun Glass lamp. It was a kaleidoscope of color and added a rainbow of hues to Fiyero's gorgeous brown skin.

"There are times I wish it began when I first wake up," she said. "But I think if it had it would have taken me a few days to realize something was up."

"Why's that?"

"Well, I would have woken up to Galinda hating me again, which I expected because I'd seen it before. It was a game the other children played. Be nice to the freak. Invite her somewhere and then the next day, turn around and act like she's a complete moron for ever believing they'd be her friend. Everyone here acts like children, so it wouldn't be a surprise."

She sighed heavily.

"That's horrible," Fiyero murmured. "I… I know it might seem like I don't, but I do know how you feel."

Elphaba frowned and lifted her head to look at him.

"I was a weird kid," he said. "Weird interests, kinda awkward looking, I hadn't grown into my ears or nose yet. Being a prince just means people won't say the cruel things to your face and the bullying is subtle. When it's subtle and you try to fight back, people treat you like you're crazy and unreasonable. 'You're a prince, you should know better!'"

Elphaba nodded. He did understand.

"When I was fourteen I got good at sports and started going to parties," he continued. "So the guys all wanted to be my friend. When I was sixteen, I got hot and the girls all wanted me. I would have done anything to make sure they wouldn't hate me again. I buried the weird stuff and picked a new persona. One who wasn't obsessed with fairytales and nature, and the only dancing I did was to attract a partner at a party."

"Well, for what it's worth, I think the Fiyero that likes fairytales and nature and dancing for the sake of dancing is pretty groovy," said Elphaba.

He looked at her and ran his knuckles down her cheek. She leaned into his touch.

"Do you think we would have been friends if we'd met before?" he asked. "Before I got stupid?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "You and I didn't exactly get off on the right foot. Your carriage almost hit me, I yelled at you, you made a stupid comment."

He cringed. "It sounds like me."

"It was over a year before I even wondered if there was more to you than a party prince," she said. "I asked you out to lunch and it was nice. I like being around you when you aren't playing a character, and sometimes I do when you are. It sounds crazy, I know."

"So we've never had a day like today before?" he asked, twirling a lock of hair around his fingers.

"Mm-mm. Very rarely," she said. "This is the first time we kissed, though you did come close once. I chickened out and shook your hand instead. And this is the first time we've had sex. That I've had sex."

And she was glad she did. Maybe it was silly, but she suddenly understood what those books she hid from her father were talking about. It was every cliché. Magical, special, wonderful.

She didn't realize just how starved she was for touch and affection until she had a taste of it. It was almost painful, but she didn't want it to stop, either.

"How long has it been?" he asked. "The time loop."

"Mm." She shifted towards the lamp and brought out her most recent journal, flipping it open. "Today is number one thousand and fifty eight. Give or take. So divided by three hundred and thirty-six days in a year makes it about… Three years, I believe."

"Well, that takes out the idea that it could be a prank," he said. "No one is that committed to the bit."

"That's what I said by day three." She put the journal away and rolled onto her back with a soft sigh. "Do you really believe me?"

"Well, I don't not believe you," he said, shifting to his side and propping his head up in his hand. "So… okay, you say you're in a time loop. If you're just crazy, well, they got doctors for this sort of thing and if you aren't then why would I waste your time arguing about it?"

"Good point." She shifted uncomfortably and pulled all her hair out from under her, tossing it so it draped over the side of the bed.

"For what it's worth, duchess, I'm glad you talk to me," he said. "You're someone worth knowing."

She smiled shyly. He kept staring at her and she furrowed her brow.

"What?"

"Did you know you have freckles?"

She chuckled. "Considering it's my body, yes."

"I always thought freckles looked like stars." He dipped his head to kiss the spray on her chest and shoulders, making constellations only he could see.

Elphaba inhaled softly and closed her eyes, tilting her head back. Nessa had always hated her freckles and did everything she could to get rid of them from lemon juice to staying out of the sun. Elphaba never really thought twice about her own and figured they made no difference since she had green skin to begin with.

"Growing up, I liked the stories about the Springtime Fae," he said, continuing to shower her with tender kisses and gentle touches. "Beautiful women with skin the color of leaves. Some legends said they lured hunters away, but I always liked to think that the guys were just too happy to leave. When I had the trial to earn my diamonds, I fantasized about finding one of those oases where they lived. A warm place with beautiful plants and a knock out of a fairy who really liked me and wanted me to stay. A place I was actually wanted and useful."

"It's no oasis, but I could…" Elphaba raised her hands and plants grew around them. The woodwork revived and sprouted, curving into a canopy, vines and flowers twisted around the branches, enveloping them into their own little world. She conjured twinkling lights that nestled into the flowers.

Fiyero looked around, his eyes bright.

"Groovy," he breathed and looked back at her.

"As for the knock-out part, well I think the closest I could get is to actually punch you," she said, making a fist.

Fiyero kissed her fingers and uncurled them to press his cheek into her palm.

"You're breathtaking," he murmured and kissed her tenderly.

Elphaba moaned softly, slipping her arms around him.

It was nice to be held like this. To feel wanted. To feel… safe.

Elphaba set aside her self-deprecating thoughts for the moment. The way Fiyero looked at her, she could actually believe she was beautiful and everyone else was just too blind to see it.

~o0o~

Elphaba inhaled deeply and opened her eyes; She was still in Fiyero's bed, but the space next to her was empty.

Feeling a jolt of hope, she sat up and looked at the clock.

Oh. It wasn't even 9:00.

She sighed heavily and dropped her face into Fiyero's pillow, breathing in his scent. She raised her head again, smelling coffee and hearing the clank of cookware.

She got up and put on her pettipants and Fiyero's shirt. Her hair would be a bitch to detangle, but she'd deal with it if it meant she made it to 10:07.

Fiyero was at the stove, pouring something into a skillet. He was dressed in boxers and a t-shirt

"He cooks too," she said, impressed.

He glanced at her and grinned. "Morning."

"Good morning," she sang, referencing the movie.

He chuckled and looked back at the skillet.

"I hope you like potato cake," he said.

She looked over his shoulder into the pan at the mix of egg, potato, and onions.

"I didn't realize they were made with that many eggs," she said.

"They are in the Vinkus," he said. "Or at least, this was popular in military school. Though this one is better because the eggs aren't powdered."

Elphaba had never eaten powdered eggs and thought it sounded disgusting.

"So they teach cooking in military school?"

"Not always," he said. "But I got KP duty a lot. You'd think being the future King and therefore general of the military means what I say goes, but alas."

"Hm. Go figure," she said, slipping her arms around him. "I'm surprised you're up so early."

He shrugged and leaned into her. "I can get up early when I choose."

Elphaba never would have thought she'd be so affectionate, yet here she was hanging off Fiyero and kissing on his neck. He tipped his head to give her better access. She backed off when he flipped the omelet-pancake over and helped herself to some coffee from the small pot.

They ate at the tiny table. The meal was actually pretty good and confirmed Elphaba's like of potatoes in any form.

"What time do you find out if the curse is broken?" Fiyero asked when they finished eating.

"Ten-oh-seven," she said.

"I think we can find something to do until then," he said, brushing his ankle against hers.

Elphaba launched herself across the table at him. He shrieked in surprise as his chair tipped back and they crashed to the ground.

"Are you okay?" she asked, worried she might have taken things too far.

"Never better!" he breathed, running his hands up her thighs.

She laughed and kissed him fervently. If time ran out, then she didn't want to waste a single second.

The floor was cold and hard but she didn't care. He was warm and solid and there, whispering sweet things into her ear. She slid a hand up his arm and threaded her fingers with his just as he did to her last night.

She didn't care about what it would look like, she didn't care if her actions shamed Nessa or made her a target. Just let her have this. She'd ask for nothing else for the rest of her life. All she ever wanted was just one person to care about her.

Elphaba's spine arched then she collapsed onto him, panting heavily. He raised his head and she knew he was looking at the clock. It was the only decoration on the walls and it could have been left by a previous tenant. She didn't want to look, she didn't want to know.

It would happen or it wouldn't.

Please, let this be it. She raised her head to look at him. He grinned triumphantly and turned to her, kissing her soundly.

She stepped back from the carriage careening towards her and sighed heavily, already missing his warmth.

Guess a kiss from a prince wasn't the key.

She didn't regret it. Any of it. Maybe he would be with Galinda in the end, but for just a little while he was hers and she was his. Just for a little while, he wanted her and broke his own rules for her.

She'd treasure those moments forever.