The Hardest Part of Love, Nicole's and WickedlyAsh's 4th collaboration Options

[passionate]

I missed this fic so much (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

You two write SO well. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/heartbeat.gif)

Thank you so much for a fantastic dose of Fiyeraba (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

I can't wait for them to escape and live happily ever after (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laughing.gif)

- passionate

[GreenGirl717]

Miss...this...story....UBER amounts! Sorry if I'm annoying *runs away and hides*

[Nicole]

You know, Ash and I were JUST talking about that...

[I Couldn't B...]

^ You are such a tease.........

The ICBH

[WickedlyAsh]

You know, Ash and I were JUST talking about that...

Indeed we were (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I think Nicki and I both have interest in continuing/finishing this story, we just need to get our schedules on track (with one of us getting ready to graduate high school and the other with a full-time job, it's hard find time to collaborate). But I think we're both hopeful that summer will bring us the time needed to get back to it!

But in all seriousness, thanks for still caring about the story, that means a lot to me and I'm sure Nicki concurs (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[GreenGirl717]

Talking about...What? How annoying I am? Yes, I know. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chuckle.gif) I miss this story SO much.

EDIT: Whoa...we all posted at the same time....weird

[WickedlyAsh]

Okay....soooooo, we've got a new update for you (cue the screams of excitement and adoration). This is hot off the press (Nicki and I finished writing it, hmmm, about 90 seconds ago), and we're bringing it straight to you guys! And we know it's been a while, so here's a quick recap:

Fiyero is Captain of the Guard, and he and Glinda are engaged. Elphaba gets captured and held in the Emerald City Dungeon, where Fiyero has been keeping an eye on her. However, while Glinda is out touring with the Wizard, Fiyero and Elphaba have spent loads of time together and have fallen in love. Averic, another guard who is spying for the Wizard, has caught wind of this and has just informed the Wizard. Glinda, having overheard the Wizard's and Averic's conversation, knows she has to do something to help her friend and fiance (having no idea that they're all lovey-dovey now). Anyway, I guess that's it...here we go!

Elphaba skimmed her fingers along the cold wall of the jail and stared up at the ceiling of her cell. As always, with Fiyero gone and the night having descended, the questions that left during the day were coming back to plague her.

He's Glinda's. That, of course, was first and foremost - not a question, but a statement, a truth, a matter of fact thing that Elphaba had never doubted, not even when they were at Shiz. And he may want her now - he may be choosing her now - but Glinda wasn't around to show that second option. The better option?

What does being with him mean? Obviously it meant being in a relationship with him. Elphaba sighed, her hand falling from the wall and back onto her chest. She didn't do well in relationships. This may have been because she had never been in any, and even had she been, she suspected they probably would have failed.

Would I be trading things? She had gotten Fiyero. He was the prize she had wanted - he was the king of everything a normal girl dreamed of. Sexy, a prince, successful, wealthy. She was nowhere near normal. Would earning him mean that she had to give up the Animals? Because she would never do-

Her thoughts were interrupted at the sound of a door clicking and the unmistakable sound of someone walking into a wall. “Thud - OZDAMNIT!" The voice screaming profanities was undoubtedly female, high pitched, and had Elphaba had to place a color on it, pink.

"Glinda?"

"Elphie!" The green girl stood up, wincing as the wounds on her back stretched slightly, and hobbled over to the other side of the cell. From the little bit of moonlight she could see Glinda, dressed in a rather dusty blue dress, on the floor of the dungeon.

"Are you alright?" She watched as Glinda yanked her high heel out of the bottom of her skirts, a frown crossing the blonde's face as she saw the gaping hole.

"I'm fine, the wall got in my way. It's YOU I'm worried about!" She untwisted herself, standing up and absently brushing off the front of her dress. "I was eavesdropping and heard about what happened. Are you okay?"

It took Elphaba a moment to realize she was talking about her back. "What? Oh, I'll be fine. Everybody heals."

"Elphie, I'm going to get you out of here." The serious expression on Glinda's face would have been comical had the situation been any different than what it was. The green girl shook her head.

"Are you trying to get us both imprisoned?"

"I am not going to let you suffer any longer. You haven't done anything wrong. I just need to find a key..." Elphaba rolled her eyes as Glinda tripped again, a small yelp escaping her mouth.

"You wore heels and a gown to break into a jail?"

"I came straight from the Wizard's tour in my bubble, okay? I didn't have time to change." Glinda glared at her before beginning to look around the room. "Do you know where they may be?"


"I haven't bothered to look. There's no Dog for me to ask to get them, so even if I did find them, they'd be out of my reach." Elphaba shrugged and backed up to her bed, able to focus on Glinda from there in the moonlight. Besides, standing up too long was painful.

Actually, everything was painful.

"I think they're in this desk somewhere." Glinda hobbled over and froze at the sound of footsteps hitting the stairs. She looked over at Elphaba and whispered, "Is Fiyero supposed to be coming?"

Elphaba shook her head and mouthed the word hide.

Averic himself had just returned from his journey, feeling proud and important for being the Wizard's top informant. He immediately relieved the guard on duty, eager to visit Oz's number one prisoner.

He walked briskly down the steps to the lower dungeon, opening the door and met the witch with a smile, noticing that she looked panicked in his presence. Feeling his ego swell knowing that he was feared, Averic smiled smugly as he greeted, "So how is our green goblin doing this lovely night? Or do you prefer the jolly green giant?"

"Still looking prettier than you, Averic, so you can call me whatever you want." Elphaba forced herself to relax, shoulders slumping slightly as she leaned back and looked towards one of the walls of her cell. Glinda was sitting crouched behind the desk, and so long as she didn't look at her, Averic wouldn't either. At least, that was what Elphie hoped.

"If I were you, I certainly wouldn't refer to myself as pretty, especially with those disgusting marks on your back," he chuckled darkly. "I didn't know you and your boyfriend liked it so rough."

"Your boyfriend probably plays rougher." Elphaba flashed him a smile, eyes glinting with annoyance.

"What was that? You're wanting another whipping and your boyfriend isn't here to deliver? Well don't you worry, I'm here to lend a helping hand," he sneered as he turned to the far wall to take the whip. However, he didn't take more than a step before something caught his eye.

Averic crouched down and slowly lifted the scrap of blue fabric from the floor. It was pale blue in color, with a few sequins sewn to one side. It was certainly not from one of the guard's uniforms, and Averic was quick to raise his gaze back to Elphaba as he demanded, "Where did this come from?"

Elphaba thanked whatever lucky star was watching out for her that she had read so many stories when she was younger. Creative minds were fantastic. "It's Fiyero's. He keeps a scrap of Glinda's cloth on him to remind him of her. I asked him about it when I saw it and no, I don't understand it either."

"What a sap," Averic groaned as stood up and quickly strode over to the desk in the corner to throw the cloth in the nearby trash bin. However, he was surprised to find much more than a garbage can and a desk waiting for him. Pulling Glinda up roughly by the shoulders, he smirked, "And is this another one of Captain Tiggular's souvenirs?"

"I suggest you unhand me, or I will be forced to cast a spell and turn you into a pineapple." It was the first thing that had come into Glinda's mind to say, and it was acutally a rather viable threat. She knew all of five spells - and somehow, turning things into a pineapple was something she did rather well. Sadly, she was allergic to pineapple.

"If you mutter so much as one syllable of a spell, be prepared to watch your friend perish," he retaliated with a threat of his own, stepping between Glinda and the door as he pulled out his gun, pointing it directly at Elphaba's head.

"Averic, dahling, if you think I'm afraid of your puny little gun, you're sadly mistaken. Besides, you can't shoot me. The Wizard would have your head for executing me early." Elphaba grinned at him, despite her stomach clenching in knots over and over again.

"I'd receive a Medal of Courage for stopping a potential prison break," Averic corrected.

"And you'd be arrested in the process for assaulting Miss Upland. For the record, you have no proof of a prison break. As you see, I'm sitting on my bed. She was looking for a book. You know, I am allowed visitors."

"Visitors who show up in the middle of the night, don't complete the required check-in with the guard, and hide behind a desk when someone else enters the room?! Don't insult me," Averic rolled his eyes, now moving the gun back and forth between Glinda and Elphaba. Finally, he settled the barrel of the gun on Glinda as he yelled, "You, get into the cell," he tilted his head in the direction of the empty cell adjacent to Elphaba's.

"I'm one of the Wizard's personal friends, and I rank you. Pardon me, Averic, but I don't need to check in with the guard." Glinda moved as she talked, adjusting her dress before taking a few steps towards the cell. Elphaba groaned.

Averic removed the safety from the gun and tightened his grip on the trigger. "I won't ask again," he said in a voice that showed he was nothing but serious.

"And I'm going into the cell, am I not?" Glinda took another step towards it, heels clicking on the stone floor. Inside the cell was a dirt floor. Her heels wouldn't like that, not at all. "Just think about what you're doing."

"Oh I'm thinking alright," Averic started calmly, but his tone quickly changed to a rage-filled shout as he yelled, "I'm thinking you'd better get your ass into that cell before I make you!" He pushed the tip of the gun directly against the back of Glinda's head, pushing her along into the cell and quickly pulled the keys from his pocket to lock her in.

Elphaba was beginning to think Averic was a bit bipolar.

Had Glinda been able to know what Elphaba was thinking, she would have agreed.

Finally having both women safely locked away, Averic breathed a sigh of relief, letting a smile return to his face and said, "With tidings such as these, I think I should go wake the Captain of the Guard. I'm sure he'll be most interested in what has occurred tonight."

Both women stifferend abruptly, but only Elphaba made a comment. "I thought you'd go spend the night with your boyfriend first, but to each their own."

Averic glared at the witch once more as he backed out of the room, "You'll regret crossing me, greenie." And with that, he slammed the door to the dungeon, locking it behind him as he left for Fiyero's home.

[GreenGirl717]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laughing.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laughing.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laughing.gif) Horray! Ashley and Nicole are back! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laughing.gif) I don't think you understand the magnitude of how much I've missed this story.

LOVE Elphaba. I was laughing the whole time. Great writing.

Now I'm just wondering if Glinda took the boyfriend comment to heart or just assumed it was Averic being an arse. Not sure which way I want that to go, but if she does take it to heart...Oh Shiz! DRAMA!

Hon needs to come in and ambush Averic with a bag of nuts...or whip him since you two, Nicole specifically, like whips so much. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/z4dwink.gif)

I must give him credit. Averic did one thing right in this update: He went and got Fiyero. He knows good Fiyeraba when he sees it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/heartbeat.gif)

Hmmm......I don't see how Fiyeraba fluff could possibly be in the works at a time like this...yet you two are brilliant and can probably figure out how to fit it in...hehe Please and thank you!

I'm so happy to read an update on this. Thank you so much for writing! I always enjoy it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[I Couldn't B...]

Call me crazy, but did they both have feelings for each other back at Shiz? Were they both repressing them for a while?

It's been so long since I read Fiyeraba by the dynamic duo, I am out of practice.

Refresh my memory...... anyone?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

The ICBH

[passionate]

It was the first thing that had come into Glinda's mind to say, and it was acutally a rather viable threat. She knew all of five spells - and somehow, turning things into a pineapple was something she did rather well. Sadly, she was allergic to pineapple.

I LOVE you two! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/heartbeat.gif) Too good. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol_2.gif)

That was really creepy but FANTASTIC! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I'm worried for the witches' safety... Please keep them okay (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

And don't make Fiyero hate Glidna too much...

In this fic she's nice.

SO glad you gals are back! THANK YOU FOR WRITING (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bow.gif)

- passionate

[WickedlyAsh]

Fiyero had been up late, thinking about all the revelations he and Elphaba had shared the last few days. He loved her and she loved him, and they would find a way out. Together. However, sleep eluded him as he tossed and turned, as something was tugging at Fiyero's heartstrings.

And as he turned over once more, punching his pillow to form it into a comfortable shape, it hit him. Glinda. The pillow still smelled of her perfume, and his senses had been subconsciously reminding him of the life he had, the life he was betraying.

He knew he was doing wrong by Glinda, that it was unfair for him to take her for granted. He loved her without a doubt, and cared about her more than nearly anything. But what he had with Elphaba seemed to go beyond love in a way he couldn't put to words. But he knew that a time when come when he would have to face his decision, and the hurt that he knew he'd cause.

Suddenly, Fiyero was pulled from his thoughts by a banging at the door. Throwing on his uniform pants and a shirt, Fiyero jogged to the door, opening it to see Averic standing there, wide-eyed and out of breath.

"Fiyero, come quick!"

"Averic, what's wrong?"

"Something's happened to the prisoner!" Averic exclaimed, and Fiyero didn't need to hear anything further. Not even bothering to grab the jacket of his uniform or locking up his house, Fiyero sprinted back towards the palace and dungeons, not even waiting for Averic who trailed fifty feet behind him.

Fiyero ran as fast as his feet would carry him, his mind running through all the possibilities of what had happened. He considered stopping to ask Averic what had occurred, but thought better of it, knowing it would be a waste of time and air, and the priority was to get to Elphaba.

Fiyero finally made it to the guard entrance and sprinted down the stairs, using the keys that were thankfully still in his uniform's pocket to unlock the door to the dungeon. Fiyero threw open the door, sprinted inside, and stopped dead in his tracks as he saw the two occupied cells.

Averic, who had time to catch up as Fiyero unlocked the door, approached with his unwavering smirk. "I told you something happened to the prisoner...she made a friend."

Elphaba gave Averic the middle finger in response to this.

Fiyero's eyes lingered on Elphaba for a moment before drifting over the normally unoccupied cell. It had been weeks since he had seen Glinda, and it pained him more than he could imagine to see her behind the bars of a jail cell. "Glinda?" it came out as a question, and barely louder than a whisper.

"Hello!" Glinda responded with a chirp in her voice and a light wave. "I came to visit, but it didn't turn out quite as planned."

Elphaba snorted. "Clearly."

Fiyero turned back to Averic, who was grinning at the scene before him. "Averic, what in Oz name is going on here?"

"What, you're not happy to see your fiance?" Averic asked innocently. "Or are you nervous that they're in the same room together?" he asked in a mock whisper.

When Glinda eavesdropped, she eavesdropped well, and she had the memory of an elephant. "Dahling Averic, Elphaba is my best friend. She could murder Fiyero and I would still love her anyway."

She turned to the woman in the cell next to her. "Please don't murder Fiyero."

Averic smiled at Glinda as he replied in a sickeningly sweet tone, "Yes, but would you still love Fiyero even if he didn't love you?" he asked rhetorically as he moved to the far cabinet, where his favorite toy was waiting.

Fiyero was so stunned as he tried to figure out what had transpired the last few hours, but everything snapped back to reality as he saw Averic reach for the whip. Fiyero reached for his gun to stop him, but realized he had left it in his rush to check on Elphaba's safety. "Averic, what are you doing?"

"Well Glinda made a good point earlier...I know, it surprised me too," Averic laughed at his own joke, then continued as he passed the whip from one hand to the other. "I can't kill either of them, at least not without the Wizard's permission...but there are a lot of things worse than death, aren't there?"

Elphaba was up on her feet and next to the cell door in under three seconds. "You so much as lay a hand on her, Averic, and I will make your life a living hell."

"Elphie!" Elphaba turned to look at the blonde. "Living heck."

"But I can't simply just beat them, there'd be no fun in that," Averic shrugged, taking another step towards the cell. "I could always have them rock-paper-scissors for it, but I have an even better idea."

"Averic, whatever you're thinking, this needs to stop." Fiyero struggled for words as the two most important people in his life stood only feet away, but he felt helpless to save them. "Averic, you're a good person, we're friends, remember?"

"Friends until you choose that disgusting excuse for a woman over me and over your job! You chose that scum over me, and now it's time for you to make another choice..."

Glinda raised an eyebrow at Elphaba and mouthed how far? Elphaba shrugged her shoulders. Later.

Glinda rubbed a hand over her stomach absently and turned to watch what was going on between Averic and Fiyero.

"So what'll it be Fiyero? Do you prefer blondes or brunettes? Or do you just have a thing for damsels in distress?" Averic walked over so that he was now next to the door of Glinda's cell. "Make a choice Fiyero, which one do you save? Because if you don't choose, you'll save neither from a sound lashing. But regardless of your choice, don't think I won't alert the Wizard to all of this."

"Asshole." Elphaba glared at him and stalked back to the corner of her cell, looking rather like an angry animal in a cage. She could handle another lashing. Glinda could barely handle a stubbed toe.

Glinda's eyes widened as she realized what Averic meant and was tempted to throw a shoe at him. She couldn't be beat. Not now. Her arms wrapped around her stomach tighter.

Fiyero couldn't choose, now or never. He momentarily tried to rationalize it in his mind, but everything just sounded ridiculous. Should he spare Elphaba because she had just been whipped, and could risk serious infection from a second beating? Or should he choose to help Glinda, for he had already set her up to be hurt emotionally, so he should do what he can to spare her the physical pain.

"Come on buddy, time waits for no one," Averic tapped his foot with impatience. Waiting only a second longer, he sighed and unlocked Glinda's door, opening it briefly before locking it again, leaving Glinda trapped inside with Averic. "Alright Fiyero, feel free to keep thinking it over. I'll just get started over here, let me know when you make up your mind." He smirked as he stepped close to Glinda, raising the whip above his head.

A large crack was heard as pieces of Elphaba's broomstick whisteled their way, broken, through the door to the outside world. Elphaba frowned as they began to berate Averic over the head. "Whoops."

Averic didn't hesitate for a moment as he pulled the gun from his holster, took aim at the largest piece, blowing it to smithereens. He knew that, at worst, the small pieces would continue to attack, but would be more of annoyance than significant pain. Turning back to Glinda, he raised the whip once more.

"Averic, stop!"

"Oh ho! So our leading man makes a choice, does he? Shall I switch over to the other cell and deliver the beating you took from me the other day?"

"No...I...just...hurt me instead."

"Oh I intend to, just as I should hurt those who plot against the Wizard. However, I know what will hurt you much more than the crack of a whip," as he turned back to Glinda, ready to strike.

"Averic, don'-"

"He wouldn't hurt a pregnant woman." Glinda looked up, her hands still wrapped firmly around her stomacn. "Would you, Averic?"

So who guessed that was coming?

[passionate]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/cry.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hissyfit.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye2.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cry.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mumble.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye2.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hissyfit.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/realmad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cry.gif)

I hate you both.

- passionate

[I Couldn't B...]

I picked up on the hints earlier in this update. All I have to say is that was freaking low.

I'm disgusted.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/angry.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/realmad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/argue.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/no2.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon_frown.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hissyfit.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/banned.gif)

Yep, that says it all.

The ICBH

[Nicole]

Hey, we made them ANGRY.

ASH, IT'S WORKING.

[GreenGirl717]

Hi -waves- I just got back from NYC and was in a very good mood until I read the last line of this update.

As fantastically written as this update was (well done, BTW), this needs to be fixed PRONTO, ladies.

BUT MAYBE...just maybe...since I know you two would never write that much angst...maybe Glinda had an affair with Chuffrey and the baby's his! Ashley is a fan of Gluff after all. Okay...so maybe that was a stretch...but...you never know (IMG:style_emoticons/default/whistling.gif)

FIX THIS! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/realmad.gif)

Update soon please! kthanks! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Nicole]

BUT MAYBE...just maybe...since I know you two would never write that much angst...maybe Glinda had an affair with Chuffrey and the baby's his! Ashley is a fan of Gluff after all. Okay...so maybe that was a stretch...but...you never know (IMG:style_emoticons/default/whistling.gif)

Do you see a Chuffrey in this fic? No? Neither did I.
Maybe she had an affair with Hon. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[GreenGirl717]

Do you see a Chuffrey in this fic? No? Neither did I.
Maybe she had an affair with Hon. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Do you see a Hon in this fic? No? Neither did I. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) BUT that's a superb idea. (not Glinda having an affair with Hon.) Put the little guy in!