Sorry for the delay everyone! I know this chapter is super late, but I have an announcement at the end of this chapter.

The party had gotten off to a slow start with Elphaba. She couldn't seem to focus on anything or anyone. She danced with nameless lords and other dignitaries, but none of them seemed to be able to hold her attention for more than a few clock-ticks.

"Your Highness, are you alright?" one lord asked when she stepped on his foot for the fourth time as they danced.

"I am. I apologize," Elphaba said, quickly removing her foot from on top of his. The dance ended and she quickly curtsied before hurrying away. She went over to the refreshment table and grabbed a glass of water. She didn't know why she was so distracted. Of course she had expected Fiyero to be there, but even after their conversation, she still wasn't completely sure he would. He might still be pretty upset with her and still never want to see her again.

No, she scolded herself. Fiyero wouldn't do that. He said he would be here.

Technically, he said 'maybe', the voice in her head told her. And you barely know him. You only spent one night with him, and even that one night was interrupted.

Elphaba sighed as she got another glass of water and finished it in four gulps. She finally accepted the fact that Fiyero might never come. He was probably back in the Vinkus by now. She continued to mill around and danced with a few more people before she saw a familiar face by the dessert cart. She excused herself once more before walking up to the person, trying to keep herself from smiling wider than her face would allow. "Hello, Miss Glinda."

The blonde woman turned around, obviously startled, but quickly dipped into a curtsy. "Your Highness."

Elphaba quickly remembered that Glinda didn't know her secret. "It's very nice to meet you."

"And you as well, Your Highness. But I must ask, how do you know my name, seeing as we have never met before?"

"Actually, that is what I wish to talk to you about." Quickly, she wondered what she was going to say. She couldn't just come out and tell her, for risk of someone else overhearing and her reaction. "We… I… do you remember meeting someone named 'Fabala'?"

The blonde nodded. "I do. We met when your father was giving his speech. She was very nice. She was with one of the soldiers named Fiyero. I don't know if he's here tonight, though." She looked around. "Do you know her?"

"We could say that. Come with me," Elphaba said, gesturing for the blonde to follow her out onto the balcony. A few heads turned, but no one paid the princess and the blonde much attention. Once they were out of everyone's line of vision, Elphaba turned towards the girl across from her. "I'm about to show you something, but I need you to promise me that you will not freak out."

"I… won't," Glinda promised, suddenly wary of what the princess was about to show her.

Elphaba nodded and, with a deep breath, closed her eyes and slowly waved her hand over her head, casting the spell. When she finished, she opened her eyes and saw Glinda staring at her, her mouth agape as she tried to process what had just happened.

"I'm Fabala," Elphaba said, almost sheepishly as she searched Glinda's face for a reaction.

The blonde remained silent as she continued to stare at Elphaba, looking as though she was about to faint. "How… what… why…" she finally managed.

"I can explain everything," Elphaba said quickly, guiding the blonde to a chair. "But I don't have a lot of time. Someone might come looking for me soon."

Glinda sat down, trying her best to calm her nerves. "Okay."

"I wanted to go to a party at the Emerald Diamond Hotel to celebrate the end of the war. At first, my parents said no, but then they allowed me to go out. But they had arranged for me to go to another party, so I changed my appearance and snuck out. I met Fiyero, and then I met you. It was the best night of my life. But then I had to lift the spell and was discovered, which ended the whole night for me."

Glinda was silent throughout the princess' explanation. "You… you were pretending to be someone else?"

"Not exactly. 'Fabala' is a nickname," Elphaba tried, although she knew that wouldn't make it any better.

"You lied to me."

Elphaba noticed that Glinda wasn't as angry as Fiyero had been. She mostly seemed hurt and still a bit shocked. She slowly stood and took a step away from Elphaba.

"Glinda, please. I'm very sorry. But you had to understand why. I never would have been able to meet you or Fiyero if people knew who I was. I wanted to meet people like the two of you, but I knew I would never be able to if I was me."

"I understand," Glinda said. "I just… after this whole war… I don't think I… I didn't think… and a lot happened, especially that night, and…" Her eyes filled with tears and she quickly tried to wipe them away. Elphaba quickly undid the spell and wrapped her arms around the blonde.

"I'm sorry," she said when they pulled away. "I really am. I hated lying about myself, especially when you and Fiyero were being so open and honest."

"It's alright," Glinda said, wiping away her final tear.

"Can we still be friends?"

Despite herself, the blonde smiled. "I would like that."

"Ah, Your Highness, there you are," Avaric said as he came out onto the balcony. "Your father is about to make a speech and he wants you and your mother with him."

"I'm coming," Elphaba said, giving the blonde a small smile and following Avaric back inside.

The Wizard gave a speech about how everyone's help and cooperation helped to insure their great country's victory. Elphaba and Melena stood on either side of him, smiling. Elphaba was secretly scanning the crowds, clinging to the very small hope that Fiyero was there. But she didn't see him. When the Wizard finished his speech, everyone applauded and a chorus of positive murmurs filled the room.

Elphaba excused herself and went to the dessert cart. She got a very small piece of cake and plopped it in her mouth, smiling slightly.

"Nice party you have here," a voice said from behind her.

Elphaba whipped around and almost chocked on her cake. There, standing behind her, was Fiyero, wearing a very nice suit and his jacket with his insignia on it, the same jacket he was wearing that faithful night. "Fiyero…" she whispered.

"I came," Fiyero said with a small smile. He was about to say more, but Elphaba quickly wrapped her arms around him.

"I didn't think you would," she admitted softly.

"I'm sorry. I had to take care of some last minute family business. But I came."

"I… missed you," Elphaba admitted shyly as she gently released the Vinkun.

"I… missed you, too," he said, somewhat awkwardly. "Would you… um… like to dance?"

Elphaba smiled as she took Fiyero's hand. "Of course I would." A waltz began to play and the couple quickly joined the line.

"My parents are watching us," Elphaba whispered as Fiyero spun her.

The soldier cautiously looked up and saw the Wizard and queen eying them like hawks. "I suppose you'll want to introduce me to them, won't you?"

"If you want."

"Exactly how much do they know about me?"

"Well, they know that I had the most incredible night of my life with you."

"If you said it like that, you probably gave them the wrong impression."

"Relax, Yero. They know the details about that. And they also know that you fought in the war and that you're from the Vinkus."

"Did you…"

"I didn't tell them about your family because that's for you to tell if you want," Elphaba said, smiling softly as the dance ended.

Fiyero sighed. "Let's get this over with."

Elphaba smiled as she took his hand and led him over to where her parents were standing. "Mother, Father, this is Fiyero. Fiyero, these are my parents."

"Your Majesties," Fiyero bowed.

"I never thought we would get a chance to meet you. Elphaba's told us so much about you," Melena said, stiffly, but not unkindly.

"It's very nice to meet you, Fiyero," the Wizard said.

"Thank you, sir," the Vinkun responded, realizing that it was just as awkward for them as it was for him. After all, what were you supposed to the boy your daughter met after sneaking off from a private party you told her to go to that she didn't want to go to in the first place?

They talked for a few more moments before Elphaba gently excused the two of them to share another dance. "That wasn't so bad, was it?" Elphaba asked as they danced.

"I don't think they hate me, but I don't think they like me, either."

"You have to remember who you are to them, Yero," Elphaba chuckled. "They'll warm up to you, eventually. At least you're not a completely random person. You fought in the war. That earned you a little leeway with my father."

"And your mother?"

"She'll warm up to you in her own time."

The two continued to dance. Elphaba looked over and saw her mother and father join the dance. "Let's leave while they're distracted."

Fiyero made a surprised noise as the princess pulled him away. "You never did this type of thing before we met, did you?"

"Of course I did. How do you think we met?" Elphaba smirked, leading him to the balcony.

The two looked up at the star-filled sky and Elphaba signed peacefully. "It's so beautiful," she said as she looked at the full moon.

"They are. Even though these are the same exact stars and moon I used to look at back in the Vinkus, but somehow, these seem more special."

"I've always loved watching the moon and the stars. I used to want to watch them all the time. But then I realized that I couldn't. There's so much I've always wanted to do, but couldn't."

"I thought princess could have anything they want," Fiyero said.

"What if the real me wants something else? Something more," Elphaba said softly, still looking at the moon.

"What do you want?"

The princess smiled softly. "I already got what I wanted."

"What was that?"

She turned and wrapped her arms around the Vinkun. "The chance to be a normal girl and have a normal night out. And that's thanks to you."

Fiyero smiled as he gently stroked her hair. His lips found Elphaba's and they shared a long, passionate kiss, both getting completely lost in each other and forgetting the party and everyone else.

Well, that's the end, everyone! Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing. My next story, 'Shine in You', will be up soon (hopefully tomorrow). See you then!