Note: I noticed that there really aren't many fanfics, atleast of the ones that I've been looking at (mostly/all romance fanfics), that deal with Jeb. He is such an underrated character. For all you Cain/DG shippers out there I think that a Jeb/DG ship would be to your liking because Jeb is just like his father only younger. And for all you Glitch/DG shippers out there you hath converted me! Originally this was meant to just be a Jeb/DG fanfic but somewhere along the line a love triangle involving Glitch got thrown in there. Please read to see what happens
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or Tin Man whatsoever... No Da
Summary: An Uprising... of more than just feelings. When Zero is freed from his tin prison what will our heros do? Can Jeb make DG understand his feelings and win her over? Or will a certain zipper-headed man win her affections? The romance has nothing to do with the uprising of Unwanted and Longcoats led by Zero and a mysterious yet powerful wizard, or does it? The group was hoping to leave DG behind safe in the palace but our little princess has other ideas. Will they save the day or will the O.Z. be taken over... again! And who will DG choose?GlitchxDGxJeb triangle. Hope you like it
Damn it what was this her hundredth time? Dg didn't know, all she knew was that she was lost… again. She'd lived in the O.Z.'s palace for about a year now and she still got lost on occasion. DG was sure she had passed that tapestry before. Looking around expectantly sure she had finally found her way all she found was that she was out of luck. No longer was she lost, but what she realized was that she was in the wrong wing, on the wrong floor, near the wrong dining room.
What would everyone think when she emerged into the breakfast nook in a whirlwind of skirts, for indeed her parents had practically guilted her into wearing dresses. It's not lady like… her mother had said… DG you're a princess now… her father had said. And so it was that DG began to wear frilly dresses fit for the royalty that she was. On occasion, however, she still slipped into her old clothes and snuck out of the palace to mull over everything that had happened since that fateful storm back in Kansas. Trying to map out a route in her head DG had zoned out.
"Princess?" she heard and felt a slight touch to her shoulder that jerked her out of her thoughts. DG swung around to face her "attacker." If Wyatt Cain had taught her one thing it was constant vigilance even in the palace. DG had always been wary of strangers but it seemed like Cain's paranoia had worn off and was seeping into her.
"Woah, don't need to wig out on me there" no matter how long he stayed in the palace Jeb Cain refused to use courtly manners. Especially towards this particular princess
"Oh… hey Jeb" DG said dropping her guard
"Lost again?" he guessed
"No," DG said stubbornly crossing her arms. Jeb cocked an eyebrow at her and crossed his arms right back; "maybe…" his other brow joined the first "Okay, okay! Yes I am!" she gave in
"Well I hate to tell you doll but if you're on your way to breakfast you have no sense of direction what so ever" the young man pointed out with a teasing smile playing across his handsome face
"Shut up" DG said turning red and shoved him lightly "And I told you not to call me doll!"
"That weirdo Glitch…"
"Well that's different" she huffed "besides you can't think of a better name to call me… and Glitch isn't a weirdo. Okay so he's odd but that's not his fault!" she said defensively of her friend
"Whatever…" Jeb shrugged "And I'll try to think of something else." He promised not wanting to get her mad at him again
"Awesome…" DG said absentmindedly as she looked down at her new watch Glitch had invented for her to tell time in the O.Z. Jeb looked at her quizzically.
"Awe…" he said trying to wrap his tongue around the weird word he had heard her say on more than one occasion
"Some…" DG finished "Awesome… its like cool"
"Cool?" Jen asked looking out a nearby window "It's summer…" DG laughed, Jeb blushed
"You're hopeless" she said with a smile
"And you're late" Jeb answered giving her a slight nudge then offering his arm "May I?"
"Since when have you suddenly developed manners?" she chortled and linked arms with him. Jeb shruggd as they started walking
"I thought I'd try impressing a certain girl."
"That just might work," DG considered "Whoever she is, good luck." She said with a friendly smile.
Jeb nearly stumbled over himself at those words. He had thought it was obvious who the girl was. He leveled off his thoughts by telling himself that she was still adapting to her role in the O.Z. even after a year.
Before long the ornate oak doors that opened up into the breakfast nook presented themselves in front of the pair. DG was easily at least half an hour late, if not more. It wasn't like she was afraid of punishment or something, her parents weren't like that, it was just that even though she was a princess DG didn't like drawing attention to herself all that much, especially negative attention. Jeb gave her a teasing little push towards the doors. Creaking them open a crack DG could hear the rest of the royal family along with their guests talking seriously about something that must be important. Before she could eavesdrop, however, she heard Raw's familiar rumbling voice.
"Being listened to. DG at door. Jeb with her." So much for eavesdropping. DG sheepishly opened the door and walked in. Jeb closed the door behind them then threw an arm around her shoulders
"See, told you I'd find her" DG poked him in the side, which made her feel much better, then walked to her seat between Az and Glitch. Az smiled at her younger sister as if to suggest something going on then smiled at Jeb. What was she up to? Glitch however kept his eyes solely on her, his goofy smile that almost never left his face these days completely for her at that moment.
"Sorry I'm late" she said as she sat down, "I'm still not fully accustomed to navigating my way around the palace" she said trying her best to look the part of the princess that she really was. In lieu of looking around at the others, because she felt like everyone was watching her, DG stared at her empty plate positively glowing red. She could feel her parents eyes on her, but the vibes she was getting from them weren't bad ones. Still, she felt too ashamed of herself to look anyone in the eye right now. Pleasant chatter buzzed around her as DG continued to stare at her plate.
"Staring at the plate won't make the food appear any faster Doll" Glitch told her. A hand, his hand, started to pile all of her favorite breakfast foods on her plate. DG looked up to look at him. As always that permanent smile he had was on his face, "Don't worry Deege," Glitch said as he rached to get her some bacon, "You're not the only one who still gets lost" her zipperheaded friend said with a wink and a pat on the hand.
DG smiled and put a hand over is in thanks. Az was scowling at how friendly the two were being behind DG's back but the younger princess didn't even realize it. In Az's mind it wasn't princess like or even lady like to be such good friends with men. What would people think? What did people think already?
"Of course," Glitch said grinning from ear to ear "I don't know what your excuse is" he said patting his zipper with his free hand.
Quickly DG released his hand and answered Glitche's tease with a playful punch on his arm. Glitch laughed, knowing that he had managed tocheer her up, and continued eating his breakfast. DG dug into the food that Glitch had put on her plate. Despie the harsh rality of court life and ethics DG knew that she always had her three friends to depend on. That was all she needed to know to help keep her level-headed. After successfully finishing a big portion of what was on her plate DG turned to her sister.
"So what did I miss?" Az looked at her with a glint of sympathy in her eyes and opened her mouth but no words came out "What?" DG asked concerned
Az shook her head and looked towards Cain who was now speaking in low, secretive, tones with Jeb. DG also looked in that direction. Something was wrong. She opened her mouth about to ask Glitch, who would surely tell her what was going on, but was cut off by Jeb standing up abruptly and storming out of the room. Cain stood to follow him but the Queen stopped him
"Wyat…" she said and Cain looked towards her with a look of hopelessness DG hadn't seen on his face since he had discovered Adora's death. The Queen nodded her head solemnly "Do what you must, just be careful"
And with that Cain was out the doir, DG was totally out of the loop. What was going on? Looking around she found that everyone else was watching the door, except for one furry all knowing viewer. Raw was looking straight at her.
"DG confused, but still want to help" DG nodded "DG go comfort friends?" Nodding again the young princess got up and ran after her friends.
Great! Where had they gone? Following her intuition DG found herself face to face with Jeb Cain outside in a rugged, untended part of the gardens
"Oh" Jeb said as he nearly ran into her "Sorry Deege,:" he said a bit flustered "I was just going to pack."
"Pack?" Are you leaving?" DG asked "Where are you going?" worry laced her voice. Jeb half smiled and ran his hand through his hair.
"My dad told me not to tell you" Jeb said seriously
"Does he seriously think that's going to stop me from finding out?" she asked crossing her arms
"Why is it so hard to say no to you?" Jeb inquired half asking her and half asking himself and the world despairingly. DG shrugged
"I dunno, but that's working out in my favor now isn't it?" she teased
"Seriously though, DG it would be better if you didn't know."
"Tell me what's going on and aI'll decide that for myself" she said stubbornly
Jeb was struggling with his urge to tell her and his father's wishes to keep everything from her. Cain knew DG better than Jeb, and Jeb knew that but for a year now Jeb had been friends with the young princess and he had never kept anything from her. Well there was the small business of not telling her his true and budding feeling for her. He had managed to keep that for her even with that viewer constantly lurking around. And that Glitch guy what was with him? If Jeb couldn't win her affections against that basket case then there was something seriously wrong with him. With a deep exasperated sigh Jeb decided that not telling her would be a grievous mistake on his part.
"Zero's returned…"