Next Chapter!

A lot of the dialogue comes straight from the show, minor changes. Let me know what ya'll think!

I also wanted to let ya'll know what timeline I'll be working off of, in terms of Az and DG's ages:

Az-11, DG- 5: The Witch was released and posessed Az.
12,6: the Witch took that next year to become aquainted with Az's body and magic, and steadily took control away from Az. Az fought but evenually lost. The Witch celebrated by killing DG. :(
16,10: The Witch overthrew the Queen and captured Glitch, beginning her Reign of Terror.
17,11: Cain was put in the suit, and Glitch under went forced surgery.
21,15: The Queen was moved from the Northern Isle 'Prison' to the magical sphere prison, and the Mystic Man was 'captured' (read as 'let slip his location') and was put on the vapors.
24,18: Raw's village was discovered and captured, Raw ran away from the battle.
26,20: DG's return and the defeat of the witch.

So, all this basically translates into, Azkadillia was posessed for 15 years, but only ruled the OZ for 10. DG lived on the Otherside for 14 years, Cain was in the suit for 9, The Queen was in that magical sphere thing for 5 years (gezz...), Glitch resisted giving the Witch any information for 1 and the Mystic Man was a Drug addict for 5. OH! Another little tidbit... Jeb is 18 months younger than DG, ad roughly 8 years younger than Az... Yep. I also figure that Glitch is 28, The Queen and Ahamo 49 and 50, Cain just turn 31 without the suit, 40 with it.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Tin Man. It's sad isn't it?

Chapter One: The Return

DG woke with a jolt. Sitting up quickly, she immediately checked for any possible dangers. A paranoid exercise Wyatt drilled into her like her own name.

WYATT!

DG started to feel the panic set in again as she tried to locate his body. He can't be dead… He's been shot more times that I'd care to count. He isn't dead!

But as she inspected the area around her, she found she wasn't in the rundown theatre anymore. No. She wasn't even in the OZ anymore.

My room? At the farm house? But… What?

As DG got up and shuffled across the converted attic space to the window, she was running through the memories plaguing the consciousness.

My family… All of them… Dead… But… She pulled back the lacy curtains robo-mom had insisted on, and she saw the farm.

It made no sense to her. The farm had been destroyed when the travel storm hit. A few weeks after the eclipse, DG had convinced her Mother to allow her to come over for a few 'essentials'. She had seen the destruction herself with Cain and Glitch by her side. She knew, beyond a doubt that there was no repairing the damage.

And she had been okay with that. She felt more at home in the OZ than Kansas ever had been for her. Yeah the princess crap and the palaces were so not her, at all, and Restoration and Reconstruction was going to be long an extensive – and grueling – work, but it was home to her. She had a family she was quickly reconnecting with and remembering, wonderful friends, and a people she cared greatly for. So, seeing the farm pristine like before she had left it was unsettling.

DG backed away from the window and caught sight of her calendar. The calendar where she use to count down to her Australia trip. The date read the day she arrived in the OZ.

This new – slightly jarring – knowledge ran through her head and she just sat dumbly on her bed. Was… Was all that a dream? There is… No way in hell that was all in my head. I'm not that… that demented! Magic, a whole new family… A sister possessed by a psycho witch. A man with half a brain! Me falling in love with a cop. Why would I have dreamed that up? Cain… Oh God, Wyatt…

DG finally gave in to the urge to just curl up and cry. She must have been not muffling the sound in her pillow as well as she had thought she was, because Emily had heard and come up to check on her.

"DG, are you awake, sleepy bones?" When no replay came and the odd noise continued, Emily stuck her head in the door a ways, "DG? DG! Are you alright, sweetheart?"

Of course the endearment only renewed her tears, as DG could not get the image of ice blue eyes going truly cold out of her head.

"Hank! Hank, hurry! Something's wrong with DG!"

It was a good while before DG was aware of her robo-rents trying to coax her down. Finally though, she was able to calm down enough to sit up and speak. Even if the tears hadn't stopped yet.

"So-sorry guys… Ju-just an awful dream…" she hiccupped slightly.

"Oh darling! Heard you tossin' and turnin' again," her father cooed. She didn't lose complete control this time, she only winced slightly, and really wished her parents would just stop talking, "That creepy cave dream again?"

"Y… yeah…" The déjà vu was so thick; DG could have probably punched through it. Then she remembered. She had had this conversation with Popsicle out when they were fixing the turbine last time.

Or in the dream, because I haven't done this before. No way. Other than time travel and… Wait…

Then she remembered another part of her 'dream'. Her lovely one-on-one time with the OZ. She asked to be sent back in time… Is that where she was? Really back at the farm, before she went to the OZ? If so, her father was still in the Realm of the Unwanted, her mother hostage, Az possessed, Raw on the run – maybe already caught by the Papay? – Glitch held by those annoying ankle biters, and Cain… Oh God, Cain is still in that suit! She was certain that she had been given a gift, a chance to change the way things turned out. She would have to wait out today, wait for the travel storm, but then she would find Cain, Glitch and Raw and save her sister, much more quickly than they did last time.

But for now, she'd live in the present. She knew that she had to keep her knowledge of the future valid, so she'd have to choose what she changed very carefully. So for now she would keep things as close to the original as she could, "It was different this time. I wasn't alone. There was a woman there. She had the most beautiful lavender eyes I've ever seen."

"Liz Taylor?"

"Haha," DG remembered mentioning that to her father – Ahamo – that Popsicle had compared the Queen to the actress and he couldn't stop laughing. Of course her mother didn't understand, but it helped her bond with a man she couldn't remember, "No. Actually, I'll draw you a picture of her."

Popsicle smiled at her, "If you are wantin' to draw, I think you are going to be fine. When do you have to go to work, DG?"

"Oh, stercore," DG said under her breath, rolling over to look at the clock on the end table, "My shift start ten minutes ago!"

She quickly scrambled off the bed and ran to her closet.

"What did you say?" Momster asked worried.

She hesitated slightly. She had used an Ancient word equivalent to an English curse, Glitch had accidently made her aware of. It helped her sailor's mouth. She could use it and people would know that it was Ancient but not what it meant. She could curse – when she needed to – and still princess-like. After all a princess who knew even a little of the Ancient language was a great thing.

"Umm… Nothing."

While she was stopped, she also started to think about what she was doing. What would it matter if she didn't show up for her shift? She'd probably be fired, but she wouldn't be here tomorrow anyway. Plus she could use the time to prepare for her trip to the OZ and beyond.

But what if I'm wrong?

What if that was all a crazy dream… But it was too weird and she so desperately wanted it to be real. The good with the bad, as awful as it was. Plus Popsicle said she had been having the cave dreams before now… So it must be!

"Guys… I… I don't know if I can go in today…"

She turned to see her parents watched her worriedly, "Did your nightmare bother you that much, honey?"

"Yeah…." Bothered was probably the last thing she was right now, "She – the woman – said a storm is coming."

If DG hadn't been looking for it, she would have missed the look that passed between the Tik Toks. That was hopeful enough for her to be able to go on, confirmation wise, "What storm?"

"I don't know," DG sighed, turned back to her closet, "I'll ask for clarification next time."

Finally her robo-rents left her alone, and she was able to start planning and thinking about what she had to set up. Cain was always bugging her about running into things head first with no forethought. He would be proud how much she was working on this.

She would have to so careful with her actions, something fairly foreign to her. Thankfully she had been training to be a diplomat under her mother. Granted this was pretty much completely different, but maybe the concept was the same. In Council meetings and Peace talks, you had to think through the repercussions of a small comment would have on your goal. She hadn't been very good at it, but she had to use that skill now.

DG figured it would be good to follow the 'flow of time', she supposed, when she first arrived in the OZ. She would find Glitch quickly, and have him lead her to Cain's cottage. They had stumbled on it by accident, and therefore she had no idea where it was. She'd have to have faith that Glitch would… well, glitch in the same way that he had the first time. They would get Cain to take them through the field of the Papay and find Raw. At that point, she would start being a more active player in this game.

Central City was important. She would need to keep the Mystic Man alive, at almost any costs. How many times had her mother said she wished she had his council when the riots began, or the magic was acting up? He would probably be able to speed up their research in that respect. Toto had said that he was extremely studied and verse in the Magic of the OZ. He was vital.

She also didn't want the Witch to find out that she was still alive too early on. She'd have to keep that on the down low. Cain, Glitch and Raw would need to know, but how? She was definitely not having them go to the Northern Palace to just be captured.

Wait. We get the Mystic Man off the vapors and he would spill. That wouldn't cause and questions about her sanity or her trust.

Trust… How could she do this? She'd end up manipulating her family and best friends… Yes, it was to save them, but… When – and they most definitely will – they find out what she was doing they would hate her, Cain especially. Could she do that? If it saved their lives – and that of the people – could she handle losing their friendships? Probably not, but she could pretend and she'd still have her family. Az would still love her and her parents would understand. It's what needs to be done. Hopefully eventually, she could explain everything to them, make them understand she hated that she was doing this, but she had to. She couldn't let them die after surviving so long.

Cain was also something she thought about a lot throughout the day. She remembered how he was when he first came out of the suit, which was completely understandable. Actually he should have been worse. The fact that he wasn't foaming at the mouth said a lot about his strength and character. But going from how they had been in the last few months to that again, would be hard. There was a lot he had to work through and he made a great deal of progress. She had helped him talk through things, but that was after the Eclipse, after she had gained his trust and shown that she cared. By that evening all she had come up with was taking each situation as it came. She loved him and she would be there for him, and hopefully not turn him away too much.

DG was also able to get some supplies to take with her. She had found a canvas drawstring bag in the back of her closet. She had gotten the first aid kit out from the bathroom and took some of the supplies – bandages, hydrogen peroxide, and stuff like that - and threw in some aspirin for good measure. She also set aside her Salvation Army combat boots she wore for hard farm work. While she loved having her converse with her in the OZ (when she got to wear them), the boots were more practical for trekking around the kingdom. She also left behind her favorite leather jacket. She didn't want it ruined this time. Plus, again, her long dark brown water proof jacket was more practical. Just hopefully it won't get her mistaken for a long coat. But there's enough difference between dark brown and black, right?

She also threw in some rations and water bottles. She was grateful that Jeb had gone behind his father's back and given her a basic lesson in fighting with knives. Popsicle's hunting knife would be a good fall back if things get hinky. She also rolled up a couple bras into a make-up bag to have for after the eclipse. Hopefully she could avoid too many corsets.

DG also thought about the future of a lot of her things. The farmhouse would be wrecked again, but the storage shed out towards the edge of the property would be just fine. She could move the things she wanted to keep safe out there and hopefully she could convince her mother again to let her come over. She took a box of clothing – jeans, t-shirts, pjs, leather jacket – and her converse out there. She was also able to move her motorcycle without her parents questioning her too much. She knew almost for a fact Cain wouldn't let her bring it back, and if by some slim chance he did, her mother would have a heart attack. But still this way she wouldn't have to see it in pieces.

She had finished most of her preparations by dinner time, and she could tell her parents were on edge. She figured something was going to happen, but she had a lot on her mind. So she grabbed bowl of Momster's homemade chicken soup and sat down on the porch railing to enjoy it one last time. Maybe I could sneak the recipe and take it with me… Probably not… Damn.

But robo-mom always had something to say, "DG, are you alright?"

"Yep, all good. Been cleaning my room, chores and such."

"Getting things ready?"

DG sighed, setting down her spoon, "Ready for what, mom?"

"I was wondering if you're planning a trip," And she pulled out some Australia flyers and put them down on the table.

DG figured that she wouldn't make a big deal out of this. It didn't matter anymore. So she just smiled serenely at her, something she picked up from the Queen, "You went through my stuff?"

They seemed thrown off by her lack of reaction but Popsicle continued on anyway, "She's been worried. We both have. You've been acting strange, distant."

"If you spend your every spare moment drawing your pictures, dreaming of another life, you're going to end up not living the one you've got," Momster tried to explain to her.

"This isn't my life," DG told them matter-of-factly, "This town, that job, taking other people's orders. That's not life, just passing time. There is more out there than this."

"And you think you'll find better out there?"

DG was quiet for a moment, turning her head to look out over the horizon, holding her hands in front of her. In that moment, Hank and Emily were acutely aware of DG's long forgotten heritage.

"I know there is better out there."

"Will anything stand in my way?"

"Lilo see nothing, but…"

"But what?"

"Lilo feels a power. A bright light casting out the darkness. Light from the Otherside, connected here."

The rest of the evening was quiet, as DG steeled herself for what was coming. Time seemed to crawl by. Finally she couldn't take it anymore, and decided to take a nap. She would need the energy.

When she fell asleep she began to dream. She saw the images her mother had wanted her to see. Before it had scared and confused her, but now it was a comfort. The dreams were real and the OZ was real. She saw her mother's face, strong again, but frightened.

"A storm is coming."

Last time, when DG reached out in her dream it was from fear of falling back. Now she just wanted her mother's embrace. She had only known the woman a matter of months and her memories were more than when she first arrived, but still not much. Even with all that, she loved Lavender, her mother. She loved Emily as well, and she would always be the one who raised her, but DG felt more of a connection with the Queen than she ever had with Emily. Of course they butted heads. DG had lived very differently on the Otherside and they both had very powerful and different personalities, but she was her mother. And she missed her mom.

"A storm is coming."

I will be there soon, Mother.

But soon enough DG awoke to thunder. The storm was, indeed, coming.

DG looked out the window and watched as the five Longcoats appeared in the field. It was time to go home.

DG was surprised how calm she was. But knowing what was going to happen had done a lot for her sense of peace. She could understand now why Wyatt liked to know all the details.

She was able to move around her room, quickly and quietly, pulling on her boots and jacket. Rushing and hurrying would get her nowhere. Besides it would take the Longcoats a few minutes to walk up to the house. She really didn't need to forget anything.

She pulled on her bag and made sure it was snug on her back. She didn't want it flying off in the storm. She heard her parents talking down in the living room and knew it was almost time.

With one last steadying breath, the bang of the front door and a prayer that she was doing right, DG headed down stairs for her nurture units. She made it to the first floor and saw her robo-dad doubled over in pain. She called and went to him, and was grabbed by a Longcoat. She smiled, everything was the same.

She elbowed the man behind her in the stomach and kicked him for good measure. She helped Hank stand and push over the bookshelf on top of the man. She watched as Emily struggled with her own Longcoat, and debated helping until she was able to step on his leg and get away. They climbed over the bookcase and DG 'accidently' fell into Hank making the bullet miss his leg.

DG allowed them to pull her upstairs and to her bedroom. Once they made it to the window, they began arguing about 'the plan'. She really wanted to shout at them that that had clearly gone out the window, but she kept her mouth shut for the time being. Besides, as she looked out the window, she could see that the travel storm was close, but not close enough yet. These last few seconds were important.

Eventually Hank and Emily were forcing her out the window, just as the Longcoats were breaking down the door. The three of them made it out on the roof in time, but the storm was still a foot or so out. The Tik Toks were going on about how the Longcoats were after her, but she wasn't listening. She was watching the storm. A few more seconds.

The head Longcoat stuck his head out the window and shot. Thankfully the wind was messing up his aim, and Emily and Hank were already pushing her towards the storm. Finally they could jump.

DG didn't hesitate, didn't fight. She was ready to go home. She gripped her packs strap and took a flying leap. The spinning was just as intoxicating as the other three times she's used a travel storm. She was out cold within two minutes.

When she woke again, she was on solid ground with something sitting on her chest. As she pushed it off she called out, "Mom! Dad!" She didn't know if she was calling to Hank and Emily or The Queen and Ahamo.

The brightness hurt her eyes. The storm was dark and the OZ had always been brighter than Earth, even when it was raining. As she got up and looked around, she remembered why. Two suns generally made things brighter.

The little princess smiled, "Honey, I'm home."

Yay! DG's in the OZ again. I'm writing this to the show (like I'm watching it and getting the exact dialogue) and I looked at the time. I'm less than ten minutes in… This is going to be a long Fic. I hope ya'll enjoy it! Leave a review please and tell me your thoughts!