Disclaimer: Isn't mine. But I do own some merchandise that I bought before (and after) the SHOW!! (Am very excited because I actually saw it live and it was amahhhhzing)...

Author's Note: I AM SO SORRY! I know, it's been forever. Forgive, forget and review?

A perfectly snow white blanket had been spread across the grass beneath the tree. On it sat a wide variety of fabulous-smelling vegetarian dishes and a basket full of warm bread. A bottle of champagne was nestled in, next to a vase full of poppies that sat in the very center of the blanket. A short candle anchored down each corner, offering light that would help the two see what they were eating after the sun had set.

Elphaba stared speechlessly at the spread, feeling the always-unwelcome sting of tears in the corners of her eyes and struggling to blink them back.

The adorable grin on Fiyero's face faltered slightly. "Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful," Elphaba managed at last.

The look of relief that crossed his face at her words just clogged her throat even more. "Sit," he suggested softly, gesturing to the blanket.

She nodded and complied. "How much trouble…Fiyero, you…" Elphaba stammered helplessly, staring at the spread.

He came to stand next to her. "Do you mind?"

"Oh, no, of course not!" she exclaimed, hurriedly scooting over to make room for him.

It was the first time Fiyero had ever seen her like this. He couldn't deny that the reprieve from her constant sarcasm and guardedness was a relief. He sat beside her and reached for the champagne. After it had been de-corked and poured into the two flutes, he held up his own, turning to face her, and said, "I propose a toast."

Her hand trembling slightly, she copied him. "What are we toasting to?" She was gratified to hear that her voice was not emulating her hands.

He smiled softly, his gaze meaningful but enigmatic. "We're toasting to you; to talents; following your dreams; being so much more than meets the eye, and being you, no matter what anyone else thinks. And suddenly he was no longer speaking and his arms were around her.

She couldn't care, not at that moment, that what they were about to do was wrong. It no longer seemed significant, or, in fact, real, that Fiyero and Galinda were considered by everyone except him to be a couple, nor that Galinda was supposed to be her best friend. She turned her head to kiss him full on the mouth, putting her champagne down beside her and wrapping her arms around him. For the briefest of moments his shock outweighed his ability to respond, but he quickly overcame it to kiss her heartily.

She pulled away first and fixed her gaze on the blanket below her, having realized with a jolt that this was just wrong. "Hey." Fiyero gently placed one finger under her chin, lifting it so that she was looking into his eyes. "It's all right. I'm sorry."

She shook her head. "You didn't do anything. It was me. It's just that…I don't feel right about this. Us." He looked hurt, but she held up her hands. "Galinda thinks you two are together. I know you said it was just one kiss, that she doesn't mean anything, but she doesn't see it that way…which I most certainly would not be telling you if this…thing wasn't going on between us."

Fiyero exhaled. "That certainly could be a problem. I'll talk to her soon. Maybe even tomorrow. Okay?" He threaded his fingers through hers.

She nodded, steeling herself to say whatever was coming next. "Unless you think it's easier to just stop this. Whatever it is."

"What—Elphaba, I don't want to stay with her. I don't even really know how I ended up with her." She relaxed, and he realized that what she was saying wasn't coming from her own desires to end their budding relationship, but guilt. "Come on," he added, "we'll eat and you can tell me what happened with Morrible and all the stuff that you want to do in the Emerald City."

They filled their plates and Elphaba ate for a bit before beginning her tale. "This is amazing. How did you get them to make it for you?"

He shrugged. "Asked nicely."

She nodded, knowing from the look on his face that he was waiting for her to tell her story, so without further ado she began. "After you left, she just said it. No fanfare, nothing that Morrible is known for…you know, all her ridiculous flourishes and dramatic pauses. I think that she was trying to take some of the joy out of the news because of the lack of propriety that she witnessed…

"I knew that she was furious and I wanted to fix it. I acted like I didn't want her to have the wrong impression, even though the impression that she had was far more accurate than the story I fed her."

Fiyero laughed. "I can only imagine. What did you tell her?"

"I told her I'd been walking to my next class—her sorcery seminar, fittingly enough—and gotten stuck in the rain. I went under the bridge to avoid it, and that's when you showed up. You saw me standing there and came over to make sure that I was all right."

"Elphaba, you're a genus. How in Oz did you come up with all that on a moment's notice?"

She tilted her head. "I'm not sure. Cleverness? Luck? Take your pick."

"But she was there when we left with the cub, wasn't she? Or did…whatever you did back there make her forget?"

"I don't know. I would think she would have contradicted me if she knew I had lied to her."

"Right." Fiyero agreed quickly, wanting to discredit the startling revelation that she may have caught all along. "Still, it was genius."

"Thank you." She had said the words earlier in the day as well, but they still had that slightly stiff, unused quality about them. As Galinda would have said, she had trouble 'expressing her gratitution.' She seemed to know exactly where his mind was. "Not to ruin the evening, but are you going to tell her about us?"

He closed his eyes, wanting to squeeze the blonde popularity queen out of his mind. "I don't know. Do you think it's necessary?"

"Yes. It would certainly be…wiser. She deserves honesty."

"I know." He nodded. "And I'll handle it. But, Elphaba, can we stop talking about it, just for tonight? We don't have to be an us until this is settled if it's easier to celebrate as friends."

She nodded and went back to her food.

"So," he grinned, "what's the first thing you'll do in the Emerald City?"

She seemed to light up. "I don't know. I want to see and do as much as possible. It's such a cultural area. There are so many beautiful buildings, museums, libraries…there are even musical performances."

"It sounds amazing, Elphaba. I'm really happy for you."

A companionable silence fell as they continued to eat. Surprisingly, it was Elphaba who posed the next question. "What would you ask the Wizard for, Fiyero?"

He reddened. "Swear you won't laugh or tell anyone."

She nodded.

"I'd ask him for…a brain." At her look of surprise he backpedaled. "Not a brain, really, but…I'd kind of like to be smarter. I guess wiser is the word I'm looking for."

Her expression was serious. "You're smarter than you think you are, I've told you before."

He shook his head. "I would tell you that you don't have to lie, but I know that you wouldn't. So thank you…even though I don't necessarily believe you." Before she could argue with him, he queried, "What about you? What are you going to ask him for?"

"I'm going to talk to him about Animal rights. There's no reason he wouldn't at least listen, and after all, he's the Wizard of Oz! There's got to be something he can do."

The conversation died again, but neither of them felt compelled to continue it. When they'd finished eating, Elphaba inquired, "How did you get all this out here?"

"Well, a few of the cooks who so kindly made it for us helped me carry it all out."

"I'll help you carry it back in."

Knowing it was useless to try to argue, Fiyero nodded. "Do you want these?" he asked, holding the vase full of poppies.

"I would like them, yes, but…"

"Galinda," he cut in, "that's right. You share a dorm…I'll save them for tomorrow morning then, all right? They'll seem more like a farewell gift then."

She nodded. "Thank you."

"My pleasure." Fiyero assured her as they headed toward the kitchens.

After everything had been dropped off, he continued to walk with Elphaba toward her room. "What time do you leave in the morning? I want to make sure I'm there."

"Six. I know it's probably early for you…"

"It's worth it." She blushed a bit, but said nothing. When they reached the door, he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "See you tomorrow morning, then."

"Tomorrow morning." She said by way of goodbye, and disappeared into the dorm.