Author's Note: Hello again! I think FanFiction may have been down when I posted the first chapter, so if you haven't read that, please read it first. Also, if anyone know how to upload a chapter from an iPad or GoogleDocs (or both), please let me know. My computer is quickly dying (it's seven years old), and I have a feeling my iPad is going to be it's replacement.
Life is still crazy, but I'm pretty sure it's going to stay that way for quite awhile. Writing was somewhat of a savior the past few weeks, since I was having some conflict with a nurse practitioner I was working under. Eventually, I decided to take some advice that a friend had told me to give to someone else. It consisted of three phrases: yes, ma'am; no, ma'am; and how high? Once I decided to take that advice for myself, it went a bit more smoothly. I tell you this because I have a bit of a quick temper and I'm not always the best at holding my tongue, so I'm quite proud of myself. I also realized that part of the problem was that she actually gave feedback, however it was only negative feedback. When she said nothing, it meant that I was doing well. It just took three weeks to figure that out. So every time she corrected something, there was nothing positive said, and I got frustrated. She did, however, compliment me when I told her it was my last day. So hooray! And for all of you who teach, please, please, PLEASE remember that constructive criticism is best!
I start my Emergency Medicine rotation next, so I don't know when I'll update next. But I'll do my best. Have a great week everyone!
Disclaimer: I do not own-or claim to own-any part of Tin Man.
DG slammed her door shut against Ahamo's retreating back. She flopped down on her bed, her anger keeping her warm against the castle's chill. But she couldn't stop thinking about Ahamo's words. She knew that he was right about Lavender. Only a true mother would send her child away to protect her. And she knew that she had been rude. But that didn't make Ahamo her father. He would never be her father; that title was reserved for her Pops.
She also couldn't get Azkadellia out of her head. Sure, the witch was the one who had come after her, but the witch had looked like Azkadellia, and DG couldn't help but fear her. And to come into her bed at night? DG shuddered, remembering her fear after she woke up and saw Azkadellia sleeping there. She had panicked, forgetting that Azkadellia was her sister, not the witch. I'm going to have to start locking my door at night, she thought. She sighed, suddenly tired. She stuffed her legs underneath the comforter and pulled it over her head, falling asleep almost instantly.
oOo
After calming herself down, Lavender went to Azkadellia's room. Azkadellia was face down in her pillow, crying. Lavender sat down on the side of the bed and stroked her older daughter's dark hair, murmuring soothing words. It had been years since she had comforted her daughter. After the evil witch had possessed her, she never allowed her mother to comfort her, even when the real Azkadellia pushed against the witch.
"It's not fair," Azkadellia said, sitting up, her eyes red and swollen. "Everyone blames me, but I couldn't stop her!"
"I know, Az," Lavender replied, pulling her daughter close. Az leaned into her mother's embrace. How long has it been since I held her like this? Lavender wondered to herself.
Azkadellia wiped her eyes. "I can't blame everyone else for hating me. I know they can't see it any other way. If they look at me, they see the sorceress who tormented them for years, not the girl who was trapped by the witch." She sighed. "I guess I just expected better from DG. I thought she would recognize it better than most." She sighed again and bit her lip. "I guess I was wrong." A few tears leaked out again.
Lavender just kept holding her daughter. "She'll come around. She'll realize it soon."
oOo
An hour later DG woke up, Ahamo's words still sitting heavily on her mind. She knew she should apologize to Lavender and Azkadellia. Azkadellia truly hadn't tried to hurt her; it was just hard for her to separate her sister from the witch that had tried to kill her. But she wasn't going to apologize to Ahamo. Every word she had spoken to him was true.
She sighed and got out of bed. After getting dressed, she made her bed and dragged herself down the hall to her sister's bedroom. She knocked on the door, and walked in after being told to do so.
Lavender and Azkadellia stiffened on the bed when DG walked in. Azkadellia pulled away from her mother, crossing her arms around her torso, hugging herself.
DG balked, not expecting to see both of them. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Fortunately, Lavender saved her the need for speaking. "I assume you're here to talk to your sister," she said coldly to DG.
DG nodded. "Yes, but could I talk to you in the hall first?"
Lavender nodded, stood up, and brushed past DG into the hallway, looking every bit the affronted queen. DG followed behind her. Lavender turned to face her daughter. "Well?" She crossed her arms in front of her chest.
DG took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you before. I'm also sorry for saying that you weren't my mother. I know that sending me with my par—the Nuturebots had to be really hard for you and that only a true mother would be able to do that."
Lavender gave her daughter an appraising look. "I accept your apology," she said. She reached out and gave DG a hug. DG stiffened at first, but then relaxed into the embrace. They pulled apart. Lavender held her younger daughter at arm's length. "I believe you have another apology to give?"
DG nodded. "That's where I'm going next."
"Then I'll give you girls some privacy."
"Thank you." DG headed toward Azkadellia's room.
"DG?" Lavender said. DG turned back around. "Just remember that your sister and the witch aren't one and the same."
DG nodded again, and knocked on the door. She walked into the room and took in Azkadellia's puffy eyes and tearstained cheeks. She sat down on the bed. "I'm sorry, Az," she said to her sister. "I shouldn't have said that you and the witch were the same person. I know that you aren't."
"Then why'd you say it?" Azkadellia snapped back.
DG sighed. "Because I was angry and scared and I panicked. Because the witch that tried to kill me still looked like you. As much as I know that you're a separate person, it's still hard to remember it."
Azkadellia nodded. "I'm sorry for what she did to you. I'm sorry for what she did to everyone. I tried to fight her. She was just too powerful."
"But in the end you won."
Azkadellia smiled. "We did. And she can never hurt us or anyone again." She wrapped an arm around DG and pulled her closer, despite DG's obviously stiffness at the action. "I think I'm going to get dressed and then find some breakfast. Want to join me?" DG shrugged and Azkadellia's face fell. "Oh."
"No, I'll come!" DG exclaimed. She forced herself to smile at Azkadellia, although it didn't quite meet her eyes.
Azkadellia returned her smile. "I'll come and get you in a few minutes."
Someone knocked on the door, then opened it. "Az," Ahamo said, poking his head in the room, "please bring...oh, you're in here." His tone turned hard when he saw DG. "Both of you, please come down for breakfast in twenty minutes."
"Yes, sir," Azkadellia replied while DG nodded. Ahamo closed the door and Azkadellia turned to her sister. "What'd you do, little sister?"
"Something I don't want to talk about and I won't apologize for."
Azkadellia rolled her eyes. She was certain DG couldn't remember, but DG had often been at odds with their father as children. It had usually been better not to say anything until DG was ready to talk. "All right. Then I guess I'll see you at breakfast." DG nodded curtly and left the room.
oOo
Breakfast was tense affair. Lavender and Azkadellia's conversation kept falling flat due to the stony silence between DG and Ahamo. Eventually, everyone gave up trying and they ate in silence.
As the dishes were cleared away, Ahamo turned to Lavender and asked, "What's the plan for the day?"
"DG and I will be going to the dressmaker's this morning to get her some court clothes."
"Pardon me?" DG asked, a mutinous look on her face.
Lavender looked at DG. "Don't interrupt. You need some clothes that are appropriate for court." She turned back to Ahamo. "And this afternoon, you and I have meetings with the advisors."
He raised an eyebrow. "The girls aren't included?"
Lavender glanced at Azkadellia. "Even though everyone appears to be happy that the evil witch was defeated, they're still having trouble distinguishing between Azkadellia, the princess, and Azkadellia, the vessel of the evil witch. They don't trust her."
"Excuse me," Azkadellia said, dropping her napkin in her chair and fleeing the room, her eyes full of tears again. DG followed suit, chasing after her sister.
Lavender sighed. If nothing else, at least they're starting to act like sisters, she thought to herself.
"What about DG?" Ahamo asked.
"They think she's too young."
"You were only a few annuals older when you took the crown. You were younger than Az."
"But my father had died. I'm still alive."
"I see. You don't think she should take a larger role in government just yet?"
Lavender sighed. "I think she needs to get used to being home again."
"She's not a child anymore."
Lavender's eyes turned fierce. "She's our child!"
Ahamo snorted. "She's not convinced she's our child."
Lavender paused, wondering what DG had said to Ahamo. "I don't know what you said to her, Ahamo, but she apologized to me for her comments. And I assume to Az as well."
"Well, at least I'm getting through to her somehow." He laughed. "Did you see the look on her face when you mentioned the dressmaker? I don't envy you, my love."
Lavender smiled back at him. "It'll be fine. Like you said, she's not a child anymore."
"I don't know," he joked. "That look was pretty familiar, even if fifteen years have passed since I saw it."
"It'll be fine," she repeated, looking slightly unsure. She reached up to stroke his hair. "And the two of you will eventually work out your differences." She patted his lapel. "Why don't you go find Az? I'm sure she could use a sympathetic ear—or shoulder—right about now. Oh, and send DG down when you get there. Our appointment isn't too long from now. And tell her to change out of her trousers."
"Sure," he teased, "leave me to do the dirty work!" He kissed his wife, and went to find their daughters.
As always, reviews are appreciated! And please check out my other story, a Harry Potter FanFiction called "The KnowItAlls." Thanks!
