AN. Here we are, the last chapter. I just want to genuinely thank everyone so much who reviewed, the anonymous reviews, my regulars and the newcomers who just stumbled across this story and stuck with it. I keep every review.

It's kind of fitting, the timing of this story. As I post this, I've just finished my first week of prac teaching, and I first started writing this story during my first lot of prac teaching back in April!

Thanks especially to Julia-Caesar and Hedwig466 for your twitter conversations and support.

Day Nineteen

Elphaba looked around her bedroom with a thoughtful frown. Her suitcase stood near the doorway, two small trunks beside it.

"What's wrong?"

She whirled around to see Fiyero in the doorway and she smiled faintly.

"Nothing's wrong. I'm just making sure I haven't forgotten anything."

Fiyero laughed. "Fae, you had a checklist! It's definishly impossible for you to have forgotten anything."

"I just feel like something's missing," she frowned in frustration.

"Yeah, you," Fiyero replied, rolling his eyes. "Boq's here, we're loading up the carriage and Nessa's saying goodbye to your Father, and my parents are wanting to say goodbye."

Elphaba sighed. "Ok. Did you pick up the food basket I had on the dining room table?"

"Yes dear," Fiyero teased and Elphaba laughed.

She picked up her suitcase as Fiyero reached down for the trunks. He grunted slightly as he lifted the first.

"Sweet Oz, woman. What have you got in here? Bricks?"

"Books," she corrected with a smile and Fiyero stared at her for a moment.

"Fae, we're going to school. Where there is a library. Filled with books."

"But not these books," Elphaba said pointedly and Fiyero shook his head.

"I give up."

"Good idea," she smirked at him and headed downstairs.

When she got downstairs and headed into the front yard, Boq and Frex were helping Nessa and her chair into the carriage. Ibrahim and Kasmira were standing back and watching, as they were leaving later that afternoon.

"Here, Elphaba- let me help you," Ibrahim said when he saw her, striding over and taking the suitcase off her.

Elphaba opened her mouth to protest, but instead smiled. "Thank you."

Fiyero followed with the two small trunks a moment later and took them over to the carriage. Elphaba turned to her father as he walked away from the carriage.

"Look after your sister," Frex said sternly and Elphaba nodded.

"I will."

"Keep up with your studies. Behave yourself and try not to talk so much."

Elphaba flinched slightly. "Yes, Father."

He didn't even look at her as he strode past her into the house. Kasmira frowned slightly, but smiled gently at Elphaba, stepping forward to speak to her.

"It's been so nice to meet you Elphaba. Thank you so much for having us."

Elphaba flushed. "It was no problem," she said sincerely.

She was surprised as the queen stepped forward and hugged her tightly. "You're more than welcome to come spend any vacations in the Vinkus with us," she assured her. "We'd love to have you."

"Thank you," Elphaba said genuinely touched.

"Don't let Fiyero get away with letting his grades slip," Ibrahim added with a grin.

Elphaba laughed. "I won't," she promised.

Ibrahim raised her hand to his lips. "Hopefully we'll see you soon, Miss Elphaba."

Kasmira hugged her again. "Keep in touch," she said and Elphaba nodded.

"I will," she promised, then went to join Nessa and Boq in the carriage.

"Have a safe trip, Yero," Kasmira said to her son, hugging Fiyero tightly.

"Ok, mom. You too," Fiyero replied gently.

Ibrahim smiled. "It's nice knowing we don't have to worry about you getting expelled in the near future," he teased and Fiyero rolled his eyes.

"Thanks, Dad. Love you too," he said sarcastically.

Ibrahim laughed. "You take good care of Elphaba," he lectured his son sternly and Fiyero smiled softly.

"I will, Dad. I promise."

"Invite her home for Lurlinemas," Kasmira urged. "Your other friends too, we'd like to meet Miss Galinda."

"I'll see what I can do," Fiyero agreed.

Kasmira looked tearful, she never did well saying goodbye to her son. "So… study hard. Be good… eat your vegetables-"

"Ok, Mom," Fiyero cut her off hastily before she could remind him to wear clean underwear, and officially embarrass him into the next century.

"Bye."

He waved goodbye to his parents and jumped into the carriage. He was grateful for his parents for arranging their transportation back to Shiz. With four people in the carriage, it was a little lacking for space.

Fiyero looked up to see Elphaba smirking at him.

"What?" he asked defensively.

"Did your mother really just remind you to eat your vegetables?" she asked incredulously and Fiyero winced.

"My mother gets a little emotional when she's not going to see me for months," he admitted embarrassedly and Elphaba smiled softly.

"That's nice. Funny and something I will never let you live down, but nice," she cackled and Fiyero glared at her.

"Thanks, Fae."

They made good time throughout the day, and Boq and Fiyero were especially grateful for the food Elphaba had packed. Nessa was the only one of the four who didn't know what was happening between Elphaba and Fiyero, but Elphaba was wrong by thinking her sister was oblivious.

"What's going on with you and Fiyero?" Nessa asked when they'd stopped to stretch their legs and use the bathroom.

Elphaba couldn't hide her surprise. "What do you mean?"

Nessa rolled her eyes. "Please, Fabala. He's staring at you… more than usual. Are you dating?"

"More than usual?" Elphaba repeated.

"Are you?" Nessa pressed and Elphaba hesitated.

"I don't know," she admitted, unwilling to announce her relationship with Fiyero as official until he'd spoken to Galinda.

"We're working it out."

Nessa shook her head slightly. "You and Fiyero? You'll kill each other within a week!"

Elphaba stilled. "You think?" she asked quietly.

"Elphaba, you're always arguing! And you're both so stubborn! What happens if you have a fight and break up? You won't even be able to be friends anymore."

Nessa looked quite upset at that idea as she and Elphaba left the bathroom. She looked up to see Boq and Fiyero talking by the carriage as they waited for the sisters. Fiyero saw Elphaba and grinned and Elphaba smiled back instinctively.

She remembered what Fiyero had told her when she'd been worried about the same thing a few days prior at Munchkin river.

"What if it doesn't end?"

Elphaba knew she was risking her friendship with both Fiyero and Galinda because of what she felt for Fiyero, but she also felt knew she couldn't continue just being friends with him while she felt this way.

"I guess we'll just have to take that chance," she answered Nessa finally and pushed her sister's chair towards the carriage.

Soon they would be at Shiz for another semester, and Elphaba would have her answers soon enough.

The End

Coming soon: Taking Chances the sequel to Falling in.