Disclaimer: I do Not own Tin Man it and all recognizable characters belong to their respective owners which isn't me i'm just borrowing them for a while :)
A/N: A big thank you to Hippo-Griff Tamer from being my Beta for this especially since i sent about four chapters to her all in one day. (Yes i am aware i do not paint Adora and Cains marriage in a good light in this story but just go with it after all this story isn't about them :))
The Ghost, The Tin Man and a Runaway Princess
It had been an entire annual since the witches fall and everything in the OZ was beginning to look up. At least it was until until DG heard something about herself that had her frozen in place, pain lancing through her. Turning quickly away, she returned to her chamber silent tears had already begun to fall. She had always been taught never to eavesdrop for you never hear anything good about yourself when you do but she had wanted to tell him what she had just discovered and even though she had known that he couldn't return the feeling now she had hoped that sometime in the future he just might. Now that hope was shattered. Making up her mind, she pulled a small bag out and began to pack it with a few things and then waited for the cover of darkness.
Sneaking out of the palace at Finaqua would have been easier than trying to get out of the palace she was currently residing in. However, seeing as they were currently in the Capitol, she had to find a way to blend in before she could take off to the destination she had already planned on. Finally, she decided on using the servants entrance as it was always left unlocked at night. Sneaking into the kitchen, she quickly and quietly opened the door and hurried out hoping that no one would see her. Once she was clear of the palace, she made her way to the city gates. This though was going to be a problem for if they recognized her she would be taken back to the palace and she would have to face him. And that was not something she really wanted to do. Especially after what he had said. She placed a glamour spell on herself and hoped that it was enough. Then she boldly walked through the gates, the guards there letting her pass thinking she was simply a servant. She smiled behind the glamour and then slowly walked away from the shinning city.
She left the city and continued to walk until she was far enough away that no one would notice the travel storm she was going to call up. In a clearing nearly two miles from the city, she called the storm and taking one last look at the city she jumped, ordering the storm to take her to her chosen destination. To take her to Adora's final resting place.
DGWC
Wyatt and his son, Jeb were in his room at the palace, when his son looked at him straight in the eye and asked, "Dad, why won't you tell DG how you feel?"
Startled by the question Cain looked at his son like he had grown another head. Surely his son had not just asked him what he thought he had heard him ask. "I'm not sure as to what you are referring to," he returned although he knew. He had known for sometime that his feelings for the youngest princess of the OZ were more than those of a friend. That the feelings he had for her went far beyond friendship and into the realm he just wasn't ready to explore, at least not just yet.
"Dad, we all know that you're in love with her. Anyone with eyes can see it. Everyone, it seems, but the two of you. So again I ask why not just tell her? It not like she would reject you. We all can see that she returns the feeling wholeheartedly."
This bit of information startled Cain even more. He couldn't let DG love him. He just couldn't, no matter how much he wanted her to. He was older than her by at least two decades and there was no telling what that iron suit had done to him. It wasn't something he was willing to discover. "Jeb, I can never and will never love her..." he paused for a moment thinking he had heard footsteps outside the room but when he listened closer he heard nothing more and then continued on. "At least not in the same way I loved your mother."
Jeb stared at his father in confusion. "I know that Dad but Mom would want you to move on. I want to see you happy again and DG...well, she makes you happy. In fact, you are far happier when you are with her than you ever were with Mother. Don't think I didn't hear the arguing between you and Mom. I know you are trying to be all noble and all. Sure DG may be only slightly older than myself and only a little bit younger than yourself, but you need to face it Dad and tell her."
Cain sighed knowing his son was right. He may not love DG in the same way that he had loved Adora but he loved her all the same and it was time to tell her.
"Why are you not upset about all of this Jeb?" he finally asked turning to look at his son.
"I was at first when I realized that you had feelings for DG. I was angry you could forget Mom so easily, but as I got to know her, I came to understand why you fell for her. Mom and DG are similar in so many ways. Both of them are sweet, caring, brave... but DG...DG challenges you which is something Mother never did."
Cain had a feeling his son was keeping something from him. So he asked him why he kept saying that DG was only a little bit younger than himself for he knew for a fact that he was at least twenty annuals older.
Jeb realized then that his father had no idea what had happened to him while in the suit. A fact he himself would never had known had Zero not said something about in it passing so long ago. "Dad, you really don't know do you?"
"Know what?" Wyatt asked in confusion.
"Dad, go look at yourself in a mirror and tell me how old you look to yourself," Jeb said a slight smirk playing on his lips.
Cain shrugged and did as his son asked but he really did see what the fuss was about. He gave himself a once over but he didn't see what it was he was supposed to be seeing. All he saw was himself as he had always been.
Jeb came up behind him and laid a hand on his dad's shoulder. "Dad, you stopped aging when they put you in the suit. It was designed as a torture device to last for all eternity. You come out of it the same age as when you went in. Hence, why you don't look any older. You went in at the age of thirty two and you came out of it the same age. Its like awakening from a deep sleep and no time has passed for you but for the rest of the world time has simply flown by."
Cain was in shock. All of his reasoning for not telling her suddenly flew out the open window. The age difference between them had been his last defense against telling her how he felt and now that that wasn't even a barrier between them made him sink down onto his bed his mind racing.
"Okay, son I will talk to her in the morning."
Jeb nodded and then left his father's room and headed for his own.
DGWC
DG landed right outside the hill that overlooked the valley were the white elm tree stood. She slowly walked to the cabin that sat by the lone grave of the woman that Cain was unwilling to move on from. When she made it to the grave, she threw up a cloaking spell that would prevent any and all from finding her especially her sister, Az. The cloak was designed to remain up until her true love walked through it. It was a clever thing she had done which had allowed for the permanency of the spell. It was similar to the spell the witch had done to Finaqua. However, she had added the true love part to it for she knew that he would not come after her, not now, not ever. He had said he didn't love her and never would and she believed him for Cain never lied it went against his very nature. Certain that she was safe from all outside intrusion, she called up the spirit of Cain's beloved wife.
