Part 1/4: The Plan
A/N: First of all, I must apologize for disappearing for the last few months. School has been slowly sucking my soul out of my body, much like The Sorceress did. Senior year is kicking my butt, but thankfully I have a small break for the next two weeks so I'm going to try to catch up on my neglected stories.
So this idea hit me as I was watching Tin Man for the 87th time and packing for school. Now the muse has a hold on me and refuses to let go. Also this is definitely carrying and R rating in later chapters. It's not explicit smut, but as close as you can get to it.
"It won't work DG."
"And just why not?"
Cain looked at her incredulously. "You really think you can just walk the streets of Central City without being mobbed? Or worse? There are any number of people out there that would just love to get their hands on a member of the royal family. I'm not going to risk it."
"Look, I've already explained it to you." DG took a deep breath before delving back into her plan. "I use a glamour spell so that I will look like Sarah. You and I will then walk out of the palace and no one will even bat an eyelash. Plus it will give me a chance to practice my magic like Tutor has instructed me."
"I doubt that's what the pooch had in mind," Cain huffed. DG just shrugged her shoulders in response, giving Cain her patented innocent look.
"And what shall we tell people when they ask why I am spending the evening with my son's fiancé?"
DG walked over to where her bodyguard was sitting on the couch and took his hand. "You could always tell them the truth." She pushed him back lightly and placed one knee on either side of his body, straddling his lap. She bent down and placed a lingering kiss below his left ear. "Tell them that for the last few months, you have taken the girl as your lover and were tired of hiding it. You want the whole realm to know about it, damn the consequences." She ground her hips against his, accentuating her final statement.
Cain grabbed her hips to still her movements. "Nice try Sweetheart. But it's not going to be that easy."
DG sat back and looked at Wyatt with sad eyes. "C'mon Cain, I just want one night. One night where I can be myself and not have to worry about being a princess and acting like royalty. I want to be me again. To act like I did on the Other Side."
Cain knew what she was doing, playing on his feelings to get what she wanted. She was resourceful to say the least, but it wasn't going to help her this time. "I'm sorry darling, but it's just not safe."
DG dropped her head in defeat, reluctantly accepting his decision. She knew without Cain on board it would be useless to even try getting out of the palace. The man was as stubborn as a mule. It was over. Unless…
"Cain?" He grunted in acknowledgement. "What if I would make it worth your wild?"
"And how are you going to do that?"
A wicked smile spread across DG's face. She bent down and whispered in his ear again taking a second to nibble on the lobe. DG knew she was successful when she felt a certain piece of Cain's anatomy harden beneath her. "So I guess you're game then?"
Cain sighed. He knew she had won, and she knew it too. Damn stubborn woman. "For the record, I don't like this. There are so many things that can go wrong."
"Well then it's a good thing that my trusty bodyguard will be with me every second."
OZOZOZ
"Are you almost ready?" Cain whispered through the door behind him.
"Give me one second," DG called back.
'Well it's still her voice so I guess she's not done.' He felt stupid standing outside the kitchen doors like this for seemingly no reason, but it was the only room that he knew would be deserted enough for DG's little magic show. Plus it wouldn't be strange a passerby to see DG walk into the room and see Sarah walk out. He had to admit that she'd really thought this thing through.
The door pushed against him suddenly sending Cain stumbling forward. "Oh sorry," DG said covering her mouth to hide the laughter that threatened to spill out.
Cain turned to scold her but stopped dead when he caught sight of her. Gone was the DG he knew and loved, replaced by a perfect copy of his soon to be daughter-in-law. Her raven locks were replaced with fiery red and shortened a good five inches. Her shining blue eyes were hidden behind a cloak of brown while her face took on a rounder shape. Cain let his eyes wander down her body, noticing that her curves had disappeared to make way for Sarah's slimmer figure.
"Well?" DG asked spinning in a circle. "Is it believable?"
"To say the least." He wasn't quite sure how to react.
DG stuck her arm out toward Wyatt. "Would you care to escort a girl to the Eclipse Festival?"
Cain studies her for a moment before sliding his arm through hers. They headed toward the palace's private exit, chatting lightly to maintain appearances. As they neared the gates, DG felt Cain stiffen beside her.
"Calm down, Tin Man. Just act natural and everything will be fine."
The guard at the gate bowed his head in respect. "Good evening, General."
"Owens," Cain tipped his hat in response.
"Taking in the festivities tonight with your…"
"Oh I'm sorry," DG interjected. "I'm Sarah. Jeb Cain's my fiancé."
Recognition of the name dawned on the guard's face. "Oh yes ma'am. Glad to finally meet you." DG shook his hand politely and looked pointedly at Wyatt.
"I'm just escorting Sarah here to the Festival of the Eclipse until we can meet up with Jeb. Have a good night Owens," Cain said as they began to walk away.
"You too General. Enjoy the festival."
OZOZOZ
The Festival of the Eclipse was like nothing DG had ever seen. Her robo parents had taken her to the Kansas state fair a few times when she was a child, but the experience paled in comparison. Gale Square was filled with colorful tents, strings of lights, and throngs of people. A wonderful smell of food wafted through the air, mixing with the chatter of a thousand excited voices.
"Wow," DG breathed, her eyes going wide to take in all the sights. "The O.Z. really knows how to throw a party."
Cain smirked and moved toward the crowded city square. "Are you going to change your disguise? I have to admit it's a little weird to be this close to Sarah…or well, I guess you're not technically…but it looks just like…"
DG laughed softly. "I know this must be a little strange for you, but I really doubt that I can change the glamour without draining myself. I'm not entirely sure how much magic it would take to do that."
"And this is exactly why I thought this was a bad idea," Wyatt growled.
"Oh calm down you big baby. I can make it a little better for you." DG closed her eyes and concentrated, bringing her light from deep within. She felt her skin tingle slightly and grow warm before the sensations disappeared all together. DG opened her eyes and looked at Wyatt. "Any better?"
Cain looked at her, surprised and little shocked to see DG—his DG—staring back. Her baby blues wide and innocent, framed by her black hair, had returned. "You can't be seen out here." Immediately Cain pulled her close to his side as his eyes began scanning the crowd for possible threats while his hand rested securely on his gun.
"Breathe Cain," DG laughed. "You're the only one who can see me—the real me. Everyone else still sees the glamour."
Wyatt eyed her carefully. "Are you sure?"
"Well look around," she swept her hands in front of her for emphasis. "All these people here and there has been no scene. Not to sound egotistical, but I'm sure someone in this crowd would recognize me by now."
He took in her words and studied the crowd. No one was even looking their way. Maybe they were safe…for now.
DG noticed the muscles in Cain's back begin to relax. She snaked her arm around his waist, beneath his duster, slipping her hand into the back pocket of his pants. "So what do you say about escorting a girl to a nice party?"
OZOZOZ
Jeb knocked on his father's door even harder. It never took this long for him to answer his door. Maybe he wasn't in the palace, but where would he have gone?
"Good evening Commander Cain." A pair of guards passed Jeb in the hallway, saluting to their superior.
"Good evening men," Jeb responded. "Would either of you happen to know where my father is?"
The guard on the left shook his head in the negative looking to his companion. The second guard was equally unhelpful.
"All right. Have a good night gentlemen." Jeb walked down the hallway in the direction opposite of the guards.
"Commander!" Jeb halted his movements and looked behind him where a young maid was rushing in his direction. "Sir I believe I saw your father and your fiancé leaving the palace earlier. I believe they were saying something about heading to the Eclipse Festival."
Jeb's eyebrows knit together. "That's odd."
"Were you not supposed to be there sir? I'm sure they said something about meeting you there."
The younger Cain scanned his recent memories for any mention of plans. He couldn't seem to recall any reference to the Festival of the Eclipse. 'Well maybe she said something about it while we…while we were otherwise occupied.' Blush rose to his cheeks at the thought, though he quickly hid it.
"I guess I must have missed the announcement," Jeb mused. "Thank you, Marianne."
"Good evening, Commander." The young woman curtsied and hurried back down the hall to her duties.
Jeb turned on his heel, scraping all plans of military strategy talk and military peruse. He was headed out to the Festival of the Eclipse to find his father and his fiancé.
Wow, this was a long chapter. Sadly the next one will be much shorter.