Happy holidays, everyone! This oneshot is a Secret Santa gift for elphabaoftheopera for the 2024 Tumblr Wicked Secret Santa!

Fiyero smiled as he stood by the window, watching Elphaba sleep. He wasn't a morning person by any means, but once he realized how peaceful Elphaba looked while she slept, he found himself getting up at least once—no more than three times—a week just to soak in her ethereal beauty. Was it a bit creepy? Yeah, probably. Did he ever get caught? No. Would he stop if Elphaba caught him and –

"Fiyero."

The Vinkun blinked and focused on his wife, whose face scrunched up as she looked at him. She couldn't tell if she was narrowing her eyes in annoyance or simply squinting because her vision was blurry without her glasses. Either way, she was no longer sleeping in ethereal peace.

"Good morning," Fiyero smiled, padding back to her and climbing onto the bed, staying on top of the covers as he kissed her nose.

"What are you doing?"

"It's time to go."

She blinked up at him, pushing herself up onto her elbows, and yawned. Mid-yawn, she let out a surprised yelp, almost choking on the air switching directions in her throat, as Fiyero pressed his lips against hers. "Sharing a morning breath kiss is your idea of romantic?"

"It was our first kiss of the day. That's romantic in-and-of itself. And there's a lot more where that came from."

Elphaba smirked. "Such scandalacious behavior," she chuckled as Fiyero stole another kiss, wrapping his leg around hers. "What would your newlywed wife say?"

"If she asks, I'll tell her I was with my girlfriend."

"Your ex-girlfriend."

He booped her nose. "The best ex-girlfriend ever."

"We really mustn't make a habit out of saying that. It'll give people the wrong idea. Wouldn't one think that bringing your ex-girlfriend on your honeymoon would be frowned upon?" Elphaba blinked innocently, fighting the smirk with all her strength.

"I have no problem with it. Especially if your ex-girlfriend is adorably adorable."

She wrinkled her nose.

"But we really should get ready."

"I thought we weren't leaving until this afternoon."

"Perhaps I don't want to waste a single tick-tock."

"Yero, we just got married. We have all the tick-tocks in the world ahead of us." Nevertheless, she moved to get up, but Fiyero pulled her back down. "Yero!"

He gave her an overly vocal kiss. "Okay. Now we can get ready."

Elphaba laughed and playfully wiggled out of his arms. She jumped out of bed, looking at him over her shoulder before disappearing into the adjoining bathroom.

Elphaba rarely laughed, so when she did, he knew he'd done something to earn it. Only a few people were privileged enough to see her softer side. He knew she spent years maintaining her carefully constructed walls, and once he got to know her, he made it his mission to tear those walls down.

She really was his whole world. She had been the first to see past his dancing-through-life façade and rip off his mask. She hit him with the truth, and a few of her schoolbooks. And he had been the second (because she very adamantly kept Glinda in the first spot) person to see the person underneath the hard, green exterior and get to the shy, insecure girl who gave up on being loved years ago. Now, here they were, happily married for almost two days, about to journey to Otour, a small village near the Thousand Year Grasslands, for their honeymoon.

When choosing a destination, Elphaba mentioned that there weren't many romantic locations in Munchkinland (though Fiyero knew that wasn't the only reason she was reluctant to return to her home country). Glinda suggested the Emerald City, but both Elphaba and Fiyero agreed that they didn't want a place filled with hustle and bustle. The Quadling Country was in its rainy season, making the marshes extra soggy and not very romantic. That left only the Vinkus.

After hearing Fiyero extol the beauty of his homeland, Elphaba expressed interest in seeing the Vinkun countryside. She was particularly curious about the Hanging Gardens of Krum, and even more intrigued as to why Fiyero had never visited.

"I'm sure there are places in Munchkinland you've never explored," he said in response to Elphaba's comment.

"Mostly because my father wasn't interested in taking me around."

Fiyero fell silent for a moment, then wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I will show you off to everyone in the Vinkus. We'll go everywhere."

Now that he had graduated from Shiz (with Elphaba's active help) and was officially assuming full-time crown prince duties, he could only escape for three days. Initially, Fiyero felt upset about the shortened vacation, but Elphaba had revealed that she didn't want an extended honeymoon.

"Just being with you is like a dream come true," she had admitted during a rare moment of tenderness, and Fiyero had melted like butter in her hands. "I don't need a long honeymoon to prove our love."

Fiyero looked up as Elphaba emerged from the bathroom, wearing a robe with a towel wrapped around her hair. When she undressed, she was clad in her undergarments and a simple slip. She had just finished buttoning her dark blue blouse when Fiyero finally stopped gazing at her and hurried into the bathroom for his turn. Elphaba rolled her eyes, but couldn't stop the blush from spreading across her cheeks. Even after all these years, it still took her by surprise that Fiyero actually liked –loved– looking at her.

After breakfast, the couple grabbed their bags and loaded into the coach. After saying goodbye to his parents, Elphaba and Fiyero climbed in and set off. Fiyero had insisted on starting the no-staff weekend with him driving the coach, but his father was quick to remind him of why he still didn't have his license: an incident involving an axel, a clothesline, and a bread cart.

"A whole weekend without staff or royal duties. However will we survive?" Elphaba mused with a soft chuckle.

"Well, quite easily without the royal duties," Fiyero grinned. "And we didn't have royal staff at Shiz."

"I had to teach you how to separate your laundry. You wouldn't have had any white shirts if I let you do it yourself."

"Maybe I liked off-white colors."

"Maybe I should've let you wear that pink shirt and get busted by Morrible." Elphaba rolled her eyes and settled against his side. "Thank you."

"You're thanking me? I should be thanking you for making sure I didn't go to class wearing a pink shirt. Especially when Glinda –"

"No, I mean thank you… for marrying me."

He glanced down at her. "Fae, marrying you was not some duty I did because I was being held at gunpoint. I married you because I love you."

"And you couldn't stand me returning to the Governor's Mansion to be Nessa's servant."

"Because I love you, and you deserve so much better than that. You showed me that I deserve more than just being satisfied with going through the motions of life. I desired to return the favor."

She looked up at him with her brown, doe eyes, and fully relaxed against him.

They reached their accommodations in Otour by the afternoon, and after a quick refresh, Fiyero dragged Elphaba back out, her on one arm, and a picnic basket on the other.

"Are we going to see the Hanging Gardens of Krum?" she asked.

"I was saving that for tomorrow. The summer lends itself to showing off Vinkun nature the best. There's something else I want to show you."

The coach dropped them off at the edge of the Thousand Year Grasslands. Fiyero thanked their driver and offered Elphaba his arm, leading her through the tall blades of refreshed, green grass.

Elphaba smiled as she stretched her hand to the side, letting the tallest blades tickle her fingertips. She heard the soft sound of water rushing and looked up as they approached a mountain in the distance.

"That's the Vinkus River," she said, pointing to the winding stream of water at the base of the mountain.

"Yes," Fiyero confirmed. "And that," he pointed up to the mountain, where a waterfall of five separate streams rushed down, "is the Suoran Straoms, or the Five Sisters Streams, the second tallest waterfall in the Vinkus."

Elphaba looked up at the water rushing down the side of the cliff. She had seen drawings of this in their textbooks, but seeing the wonder in real life was a wondiferous experience.

"The legend is that long ago, while the Vinkus was in a deep drought, the five tribal daughters came together to pray for rain. Then, the stones in the cliff cracked open, and water flowed down in separate streams, landing on each of their heads and drenching them, creating the Vinkus River, and rehydrating the land."

Elphaba hummed, acknowledging that she heard the story while still mesmerized by the water. Fiyero smiled, seeing her eyes filled with childlike awe.

"Some said that the original water that flowed out was enchanted water. Crops flourished, thirsts were quenched, and some say that it was the clearest, sparkliest water they'd ever seen. There was also something about it being a fountain of youth source, and some who drank got an extended life span. I was maybe seven or eight years old the last time I was here. I took a big, refreshing gulp directly from that middle stream, thinking that it was going to make me live forever."

"And?"

"I got horrendibly sick and was bedridden for a week. My parents thought I was going to die. My thirst wasn't quenched, but my colon was cleaned out."

Elphaba snorted out a laugh. "I guess its magical properties had run out."

"Something that I should've been told before. See, this is the problem with legends. Some of it's real, and some is made up, but no one ever tells you which parts are true."

He set the basket down and pulled out a red and white gingham picnic blanket, neatly arranging their delicious spread. He and his wife shared a peaceful lunch, reminded of their picnics by Suicide Canal in their days at dear old Shiz. Fiyero threaded his fingers through Elphaba's as they watched the five streams of water rush down the side of the mountain.

"Elphaba."

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too, Yero." She snuggled closer and inhaled the fresh, country air, moistened by the water.

"Yero! Wake up! Wake up!" Elphaba smiled, shaking her husband's arm.

Fiyero peaked out from under the covers, giving Elphaba the same look she gives him when he wakes her up early. "Fae, I don't have to look at the clock to know it's way too early for –"

"We're going to the Hanging Gardens today! Remember? You promised!"

He had never seen her so excited for anything before. Her eyes were bright and alert, and once Fiyero gained more consciousness, he noticed how she was already dressed. He yawned and pushed himself up.

Elphaba bounced on the balls of her feet as she resisted the urge to tear the covers from his body to assist in his waking. "Yero," she almost whined.

Oz, she was so adorabubble when she was really excited about something. Fiyero had never been able to deny her anything during their courtship, and knew he wouldn't be able to start during their marriage. So he pushed himself up, kissed her 'good morning' and went to get ready. "Fae, we have to eat breakfast," he said when Elphaba tried to pull him out the door the second he finished combing his hair.

"We can eat on the way there."

"No, we can't. We have to catch the boat. It leaves every hour on the hour."

Elphaba glanced at the clock. Eight-oh-five. Ozdamnit.

"And eating on the boat is less than ideal. Trust me."

"So don't drink the waterfall water, and don't eat on the boat. What is it with you and learning the hard way to leave natural water sources alone?"

Fiyero chuckled and shrugged, succeeding in getting his wife to sit and have breakfast with him. Elphaba eagerly told him what she knew of the history of the hanging gardens. Fiyero neither confirmed nor denied her suspicions, which piqued her curiosity, yet made her antsy.

"Yero, if we don't hurry, we'll miss the boat!" Elphaba frowned, finishing first and pulling him up. "And I'm not waiting another hour."

Fiyero calmly got up and placed their dishes in the sink, rinsing them with water. He heard Elphaba impatiently tapping her foot behind him, and knew he'd owe her extra kisses to make up for annoying her. "Ready?" he asked brightly, finally working up the courage to turn around.

Elphaba wordlessly grabbed his hand and pulled him out the door. He barely had time to grab his satchel – which contained their money and boat tickets – from the hook as he was all but dragged out.

They made it to the trolley stop just in time and caught the streetcar. A few heads turned as the prince and princess boarded, but no fuss was made per Fiyero's published requests. An older gentleman offered his seat to Elphaba, but the green woman politely declined.

"Already starting your benevolent report with the people, I see," Fiyero chuckled at her ear.

"We'll only be on for a few stops. I'm much too excited to sit," Elphaba shrugged, actively having to remind herself not to start bouncing like Glinda.

Fiyero smiled and slipped his hand into Elphaba's. He knew he had to keep the public displays of affection toned down when they were out in this much public, but he couldn't resist. The nearby passengers who saw smiled at the royal couple, some older couples looking like they were remembering their newlywed days.

They reached their stop with ten minutes to spare. Fiyero procured the tickets from the satchel he was almost forced to leave behind and gave them to the captain as he helped them aboard. The ferry was a decent size, not a pleasure vessel, yet not a large ship. Having never been on a boat before, Elphaba was torn between wanting to watch the water, and being safely seated in the center of the boat.

Fiyero wrapped his arms around Elphaba's waist, easing her fears and allowing her to enjoy her first boat ride. The wind made the whisps of hair that freed themselves from her braid dance around her face. The twinkle in her eyes mirrored the twinkle of the crisp, clear Vinkus River water beneath them. He loved this view. He could get used to this view.

The boat ride was only a few minutes, and the captain helped them disembark on the dock. As soon as her feet touched the ground, Elphaba's gaze was locked upwards on the grand structure hanging over her.

The Hanging Gardens of Krum.

It was even more magnificent than she had imagined. Shaped like a temple, the ascending series of tiered gardens featured a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and vines, resembling a massive green mountain. High walls and stone pillars were adorned with flourishing vines that bore bright flowers. "It's… beautiful," she whispered in awe.

"The Hanging Gardens of Krum are less legend and more a blend of agriculture, architecture, and fact. It's the most factually mythical wonder in Oz," Fiyero explained, gently taking her hand and guiding her forward. "Unlike the Five Sisters Streams, which have purely mythical origins, ancient plans survive detailing the garden's architecture and engineering. Being close to the river ensures everything remains well-irrigated, and everyone knows to respect the flora to help this place maintain its paradise-like life." He led her up the steps to the first terrace. "It was very modern for the time it was built."

Elphaba was amazed at how the plants could live and thrive when not connected to the earth. She noticed the irrigation system running along the walls, the trickling water almost sounding like soothing music. "The water looks like it's flowing upward," she observed, noticing a clear, narrow tube of water moving against gravity.

"It's not an illusion. It's a capillary action. A new engineering feat that allows the water to travel upward with a little push."

Her gaze followed the water upward. "Incredible."

Fiyero led her through all the levels, showing her the native Vinkun plants and more architectural wonders. The grandeur of the greenery surrounded Elphaba, and for the first time in her life, she felt at peace surrounded by so much green and truly appreciated the color's beauty.

As they ended their final night in Otour, Elphaba sat in front of her vanity as she slowly ran a brush through her hair. She didn't realize she was humming until Fiyero started humming with her. She turned, smirking at him when she saw him lounging on the bed, wearing only his pajama pants.

"Hey," Fiyero grinned.

"Hey," Elphaba grinned back, braiding her hair and slipping out of her robe. "You're staring at me."

"Yeah."

"You normally only stare at me in the mornings."

"Maybe you're even more beautiful in the evenings."

Elphaba rolled her eyes. Fiyero invitingly patted the spot next to him, encouraging her to come to bed. The green woman obliged and snuggled under the covers with her husband.

"I had a wonderful weekend," she smiled against his lips. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Fae. I loved watching you have fun."

"But you had fun, too, right?"

"You know me. I'm always having fun."

Elphaba blinked at him. "Fiyero…"

"I just… couldn't stop myself from thinking that… I've never seen you so happy. Your joy today even outshined our wedding."

Elphaba pushed herself up onto her elbows. She opened her mouth, but cut herself off as she decided to say something different. "I was very happy on our wedding day. I was feeling so many emotions, but Glinda wouldn't allow me to mess up my makeup. You're the first person to ever make me feel this happy." A pause, then, "If you tell Glinda I said that, she'll kill both of us."

"I didn't come too late? I was worried that you had endured too much sadness and that nothing I said or did would make you truly happy."

"No. You arrived right on time." She kissed him. "You saved me just in time. You make me really, truly happy."

He smiled, pulling her close as he chuckled at her giggle, a sound that Glinda clearly influenced. After a bit of cuddling, the couple lay in comfortable silence, and Elphaba was sure Fiyero had fallen asleep when –

"Hey, Fae?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to stay here forever?"

She hummed. "I'd love to, but I was kind of looking forward to being your princess. As much as I love this honeymoon phase –"

"What if I want to stay in the honeymoon phase?"

"I've heard that couples in the honeymoon phase are so lovey-dovey that it starts to feel like they're trapped in a bubble, and it leads to them letting their lives pass them by."

"So… no forever honeymoon phase?"

"Staying here on a forever honeymoon might throw a monkey wrench into our post-honeymoon plans. And I had a lot of plans."

"Okay," he agreed, hoping her plans aligned with his and included family planning. He was silent for a moment, then added, "Have you ever thought that somewhere out there, a monkey might be having a 'human wrench' thrown into their plans since humans get a 'monkey wrench' thrown into ours?"

Elphaba had already closed her eyes. "Fiyero, close your eyes and go to sleep."

"Okay." He closed his eyes for a tick-tock, but then they shot open. "But can I say one more thing?"

She forced her eyes open and rolled over to face him. "Yes?"

"You're my most favoritist ex-girlfriend I've ever had."

"Was that a compliment?"

"Yes. You're my favorite out of many. That's a major accomplishment," Fiyero said with a boyish grin.

She decided to humor him. "You're the only ex-boyfriend I've ever had. Goodnight."

"So I'm the only one that matters!"

"Fiyero."

"Yes, dear?"

"Go. To. Sleep."

"Yes, dear."