A/N: Sorry for the late update. Life got hectic this week and didn't allow me the time to sit and write. But thank goodness for snowy Saturdays and lazy Sundays! On with the story…

Chapter 4

Cain sighed and stepped away from her. He knew this conversation would be coming. He held his hand out to her.

"Come on, let's take a walk," he said. She stared at his hand for a moment in hesitation before reaching up and clasping it in her own.

Opening the door, he peeked his head out to make sure the hall was still empty. After making sure the coast was clear, he led them out of the closet and around the corner. As they meandered down the hall alone, Cain looked down at their clasped hands. Lifting them, he lightly traced her fingertips against his lips. DG shivered at his side, entranced by the sight of his soft lips teasing her so innocently.

"Where are we going?" she whispered, not trusting her voice. But before he could respond, he stopped in front of a doorway. His eyes still lingered on their joined hands as he reached down and turned the door knob.

The door opened and Cain finally lifted his blue eyes to hers. She swallowed the lump of nerves in her throat, knowing full well where this door led.

"Why are we going into your room, Wyatt?" she asked slowly.

He arched a brow. "Can you think of anywhere else in this place where we'd find privacy?"

Butterflies erupted in her stomach. She unconsciously placed a hand against her abdomen in a vain attempt to quiet them.

Cain smirked as he read her face. "Don't worry, princess. We're just going to talk."

DG had to think a moment. She wasn't sure if she found his reassurance calming or frustrating.

She allowed him to usher her inside, closing the door behind them and locking it. The room was dimly lit, and DG's eyes instinctively moved to the bed. She felt a heat pulse through her at the sight of the disheveled sheets. Finding it suddenly difficult to breathe, she searched the room for something to distract her. Quickly she made her way to the window and pulled back the drapes, allowing the suns' light into the room.

Turning around she smiled in satisfaction as she could finally see things more clearly, but panic set in once more as her eyes were drawn back to the bed. Her mind raced with images of her and Wyatt tangled up in those sheets, his muscled arms holding her tight, those soft lips of his tasting every inch of her naked flesh…

Down girl, she scolded herself. Clenching her eyes shut, she looked back at Wyatt who was staring back at her quizzically.

"Excuse the mess, didn't know I'd have royalty in my room this morning," he smirked. "Restless night…a lot of tossing and turning," he gestured towards the bed and the mess of sheets.

She smiled sweetly. "You're not the only one."

They stared at each other for a moment before DG lowered her eyes and walked across the room to sit in the chair by the fireplace, getting as far away from that bed as possible.

"So…why are you leaving, Cain? I mean, after everything you said last night…"

He walked across the room to sit in the chair beside her, removing his hat and placing it on the table in front of them.

"Now that the family has personal guards, and more recruits are in training, I think it's a good time for me to go wrap up a few things. I had a life before all this, DG. There are still pieces left to pick up, questions that need answering. And I gotta think about where I go from here. I mean, I've no interest in joining up with the Tin Men again. That part of my life has been over for a long time. Jeb has a direction in his life now, and an honorable one at that, and that gives me some sense of peace, knowing he's gonna be all right."

DG felt her heart sink with every word he spoke. She tore her eyes away from him, unable to look as he described his need to walk away from her, leaving her alone in her despair.

"DG," he said loudly, grabbing her attention. "I will be coming back."

DG scoffed and shook her head, not able to speak her fears out loud.

Cain slid off the chair on to his knees in front of her, grabbing her hands. She looked down at him in surprise. His eyes looked almost frightened as he tightened his hold on her.

"Please don't do anything while I'm gone. Please don't leave," he begged. She opened her mouth to speak, but was too stunned to form words.

"DG, I meant what I said. These feelings I have for you…I'm not entirely sure what they are, but they're strong. I know that. I feel that. But I need you to understand…I have to get away from all this. Just for a short while. I need to wrap my head around a lot of things. I mean…a little over a week ago I was still locked up in that iron prison, watching my family being torn from my arms over and over again. It drove me mad. After you released me I went from focusing on my own revenge to getting you safely across the OZ to destroy the witch to finding my son…now that things have quieted down, I can feel the madness fighting its way back in. I gotta go make peace with things, DG. And I can't do that here. As much as I don't want to leave your side, I have to. To be a better man…for you."

The tears flowed freely down DG's cheeks as she stroked his face with her fingertips.

"Of course I understand, Wyatt. I can't imagine what you went through. I saw your pain with my own eyes. I wish I could take it all away for you, but I can't. I understand how you feel, though…needing to get away."

He lifted a large hand and brought it to her face, brushing away a tear with his thumb. "You haven't been yourself lately, Deeg. I know you're still harboring a lot of guilt for what happened to Azkadellia. And as much as I wish I could help you through it all, I think Az is the only one who can help you heal."

DG shook her head and sighed. "I guess it's safe to say that things between us have monumentally changed since last night. Just having you near me, touching me, quiets my mind. Brings me so much comfort. When I'm with you like this…for the first time I feel like everything's going to be ok…I'm going to be ok." DG smiled sadly, finally admitting the truth more to herself than to him. The metaphorical light bulb had lit up over her head, and all the dizzying emotions and questions abuzz in her thoughts since the rooftop last night had finally come together and the realization made abundantly clear. In Cain, she found hope.

"You do the same for me, kiddo," he replied quietly, his thumb still tracing circles on her cheek.

She raised her hand and placed it on his as it cupped her cheek. "Just not enough, huh?" she smiled, trying to lighten the mood.

He frowned. "That's just it…I don't know."

She nodded in understanding, knowing he had to go to find the answers he needed so that he could move on with his life, although everything inside her cried out to him to stay with her.

Sighing she stood from her chair and walked back to the window. He had a view of the courtyard from his room, and beyond the surrounding gates were the bustling streets of Central City.

"It will be nice to get back to Finaqua…to where it's quiet," DG spoke sadly, remember what her sister had said in the dining room. "I just hope that Az's nightmares don't get worse, being that close to the cave and all."

Cain wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against his chest and resting his chin on the top of her head.

"There's nothing there that can harm her anymore, or you," he said, his voice low. She absentmindedly trailed her fingertips over his arms. He bent his head slightly to lay a chaste kiss against her cheek before resting the side of his face against her temple. He breathed in deeply, taking in the familiar fruity scent of her hair, burning it into his memory.

"What am I going to do without you, Cain," she whispered, her bottom lip trembling as she fought back more tears. All of this crying was really starting to wear on her.

He squeezed his arms tightly around her, kissing her cheek again. "Spend some much needed time with your sister, remembering once more who you both were before the witch. I know you two can do it; you just have to stop blaming yourself. Az will get better with time, DG. And so will you. You just have to be patient. You're not one to run at the first sign of trouble. I know how strong you truly can be. I've seen it with my own eyes."

She nodded against his face, losing her battle with her tears once more. And then another frightening thought came to her.

"What about you…will you be ok out there? I mean, you'll be all alone…" she choked on her words.

He smiled. "I won't be alone, sweetheart. Every time I close my eyes I see those big blue ones staring back at me."

She couldn't help but laugh. "You're a smooth talker, Tin Man."

"Just being honest, darlin'."

DG sighed heavily as they both stared out the window.

"I want to tell you to take all the time you need, but…" She bit her lip, hesitating.

"You really want to tell me to hurry back," he finished for her.

She nodded, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment.

"You make it hard to stay away, princess. Or to leave in the first place."

She gripped his hands tightly. "But you still have to leave."

He only nodded in response, the light stubble on his chin brushing across her ear.

"There's only one thing I need to hear you say, DG," he spoke quietly, lowering his head so his lips could graze against the side of her neck.

She shivered from the electricity he was igniting within her. She closed her eyes, tilting her head to give him better access.

"And what is that?" she was barely able to respond.

He stopped and lifted his head so that his lips rested at her ear.

"That you'll wait for me."

Opening her eyes, she turned in his arms, their faces inches from each other. Raising her hand, she gently traced the line of his cheekbone with her fingertips.

"I will wait for you, Wyatt."

***

That night DG tossed and turned in her bed once more. She was filled with excitement at the newfound emotions building between her and Wyatt, but she was also consumed with such sadness at his impending departure. There was still so much to explore between the two of them. The only good thing that came of this new development in her life was that it provided a pleasant distraction from her guilt-laden heart.

DG finally drifted off to sleep just before the rising of the first sun. For the first time since she landed in the OZ, she didn't have a nightmare. Instead, she dreamed of Wyatt Cain.

The next day the palace was frantic with activity. Azkadellia and DG were ordered by their mother to get their packing completed. It didn't take DG long. They had only been living in the Central City palace a week since the eclipse, and DG only arrived with the clothes on her back, which her mother insisted on burning in the incinerator. DG had rescued her favorite bomber jacket, though, refusing to end its life. That jacket and her had quite a history together. She fell in love with it the minute she saw it at the McDougall's yard sale, a week after she had finished fixing up her motorcycle.

"Can't be a biker chick without a cool, leather jacket," she had told Popsicle as he rolled his eyes at her.

Man, she missed that motorcycle. At least she still had the jacket.

Other than that, there was little to pack. The few dresses in her wardrobe, a few books she had hand-picked from the sparse library, her toothbrush, toothpaste and shampoo.

Stepping back from the half empty suitcase, she nodded her head once and brushed her hands down the front of her dress.

Done.

Azkadellia was another story. The girl seemed to have acquired much more in just a week. DG knew that Az was determined to wipe the image of the witch completely from her mind, and as soon as they had arrived at the palace she already had dressmakers in Central City busy stitching her an entire new wardrobe. A more demure, frilly, properly fitted, non-scandalous wardrobe. So DG spent the remainder of the afternoon helping Az complete her packing, with the help their new ladies-in-waiting.

The slew of new servants added to the chaos, bustling about the palace assisting the royal family in gathering their things, loading up the wagons, and simply learning their new roles. By nightfall everything was ready. The satisfied queen quietly commanded they would leave at the rise of the second sun.

"Deeg, you look so exhausted," Az said softly at her side as they sat at the dinner table.

DG yawned and rubbed her weary eyes. The lack of sleep these past two nights was finally catching up to her. Not to mention the weight of her heart at the fact that Cain would be leaving at dawn. Her eyes glanced at the empty seat across the table from her.

"Definitely tired," DG replied, slinking down in her chair.

"Perhaps you should get to bed early tonight, my angel," her mother spoke, her eyes full of concern.

DG nodded.

The door opened and Cain entered the room. DG felt her heart literally leap from its previous sullen disposition. His eyes briefly met hers before he turned his full attention to her parents as he stood at the foot of the table.

"Your majesties," he said, slightly bowing. "My bag is packed and I've helped myself to some tack from the kitchens, as you offered. I appreciate your generosity. I'll be saddling up and riding out before the suns break in the morning. I just wanted to say my goodbyes, and to thank you for your hospitality."

DG's joy was short lived as her heart painfully sank once more.

The queen's lavender eyes twinkled as she stood and gracefully moved towards Cain. She extended her hand and he took it.

"We cannot thank you enough, Mr. Cain, for all you have done for DG, Azkadellia, and for the entire OZ. You will always be considered a hero. I have decreed it so."

Wyatt blushed and pressed his lips together. "There's no need for that, your highness. DG's the real hero. I was just along for the ride."

"Do not be so humble, Mr. Cain," the queen replied, shaking her head. "You, DG, Ambrose and Raw will be written into the history of the OZ as the four who put an end to the witch and brought our land back to life. If it were not for you, I would never have gotten my Azkadellia back…my family back. And for that, I am indebted to you for life."

Cain was not used to so much praise, especially from the queen of the realm. He blushed and tried to avert her eyes, but feared offending her. So he simply nodded and tipped his hat at her.

Ahamo stepped behind her, offering his hand. Cain shook it.

"We truly hope you find what you're looking for out there, Cain," he said. "But know that you are always welcome at Finaqua. You will always have a place with us."

"I appreciate that," Cain replied.

The royal couple stepped aside as Azkadellia and DG came around the table. DG looked everywhere but directly at him.

"Thank you for being such a dear friend to my sister," Azkadellia said meekly. Slowly, she stretched out her hand. DG noticed it tremble.

Cain looked at her hand for a moment before raising his eyes to hers. He took her hand gently and raised it to his lips, laying a soft kiss atop her knuckles.

"I hope you have a safe journey home, princess," he said. DG smiled at him, knowing it took a lot for him to show Azkadellia such kindness, considering he was still having a hard time seeing her without seeing the witch.

Az smiled at him before stepping away from him. Cain cleared his throat as he and DG were finally forced to acknowledge each other.

A nervous knot twisted in her gut as she felt the stares of her family boring into her. Cain shifted his weight, his hands on his hips. Obviously he was feeling a bit nervous under their scrutiny as well.

DG blurted out something…anything to break the awkward tension.

"Did you say goodbye to Glitch?"

He smirked at her. "Yeah, I saw him down in the kitchen. He was glitching over tomorrow's schedule, but don't worry…I gave him a good smack in the back of the head."

Ahamo chuckled and the queen hid a slight smile with her delicate hand. Az frowned, never finding amusement in Glitch's quirks…knowing she was the cause of them. Or at least the witch.

DG was a horrible actress, but at this moment she needed to give it her best shot, burying all the affection she had for this man deep in her heart. She held out her hand.

"Thanks, Tin Man, for all your help. I'm sure glad Glitch and I broke you out of that iron suit, even if you did stink and desperately need a shave and a haircut," she laughed, trying to lighten the mood as much as possible, although on the inside she was screaming.

Cain laughed along with her. He took her hand in his, and they both felt the jolt of energy shoot up their arms at the connection. They stared into each other's eyes for a moment, reveling in the touch of the other.

"Don't be a stranger," DG spoke softly, not trusting her voice.

Cain shook his head. "This won't be the last you see of me, kid."

***

DG was sure that she'd sleep deeply that night, but she had been wrong. As she stared up at the moons outside her window, her mind wouldn't rest with thoughts of Cain and his words to her.

Tell me you'll wait for me.

She'd wait, no matter how long it took. If only to have the chance to stare into those hypnotic blue eyes once more. To feel his lips graze her neck. To feel his large hands against her skin. She'd wait.

Sitting up in her bed, she felt herself breathing heavier at the realization that he was leaving in just a few short hours, sneaking out just before light, before the entire OZ awoke. She was sure she was about to hyperventilate as she relived their goodbye in the dining room. He had squeezed her hand before letting go and striding out of the room. Calming her nerves, she stood and let determination take over. She'd be damned if he was going to give her the sight of his retreating back as the last vision she'd have of him.

If he was going to make her wait for him there in her own personal hell, then she was going to get a little something in return.

Quietly she opened her door and stepped out, turning to close it as quietly as possible behind her. Smiling mischievously, she turned to walk down the hall when she was met by a startled Connor.

"Your majesty?" he asked.

"Shhh." She flapped her hands rapidly in front of his face. He watched her curiously. "I…uh…am going to sleep in my sister's room tonight."

Connor nodded once and turned to follow her down the hall.

Great plan, DG. That won't work…he'll only plant himself outside of her door. Oh, screw it.

Lifting her hand, she closed her eyes for a moment and focused on her light. Within moments it emanated from her palm, and she smiled. Connor looked at her in horror.

"Sleep," she whispered at him before waving her hand over his face. His eyes drooped closed and his body sank to the floor with a thud. DG froze in place, afraid the noise would alert the other guards, but she was pleasantly surprised.

Inwardly cheering her victory, she ran along the corridor, sneaking her way through the palace down side stairs and access hallways to avoid any run ins with the other guards. Luckily the servants were all sleeping.

Finally she made her way to Wyatt's door. Testing the knob, she found it unlocked. Pushing the door open, she closed it quietly behind her and pressed her back to it. She let her eyes adjust to the darkness for a moment. The light from the full moons passed through the window, and DG was thankful Cain had left the drapes open.

Her eyes fell on the bed, but she was shocked to find it empty. The sheets were pulled back, but there was no Cain. She furrowed her brow in confusion. Had he already left?

Suddenly a hand caught her by the arm while another hand planted itself over her mouth to muffle her startled cry. Her wide eyes rolled to the side as Cain's body pressed close against hers. He had literally emerged from nowhere.

After she was sure it was him, she relaxed her body into his as he lowered his hand.

"How did you know I was in here? Weren't you asleep?" she asked.

"I was asleep, but I heard the doorknob turning and hid in the shadows by the door to attack my intruder," he replied, his sweet breath washing over her. She shivered.

"Tin Man senses always at work?"

"You're just lucky I didn't have my gun."

She tilted her head. "That's a first, isn't that thing usually attached to your hand?"

"I had a feeling I didn't need it. Didn't want to shoot the princess by accident."

"You knew it was me who was intruding?"

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her body flush against his.

"I know you, DG. I know you wouldn't let that little awkward moment in the dining room be our final farewell."

DG's lips curled up into a smile as she wrapped her arms around his neck. It was at this moment that she realized that Wyatt Cain was…shirtless. She swallowed slowly as her palms began to sweat as they itched to feel every inch of his bare chest.

"So, princess, here we are, alone in my room. You snuck your way though the dark palace to get here, and by the way I don't even want to know how you managed to slip by Connor. Obviously you had something important to tell me."

DG nodded slowly as she finally pressed her palms flat against his shoulders. Her eyes followed her hands down over his biceps, relishing the feel of the strong muscle beneath her fingertips before sliding her hands back up his arms and down the front of his chest. The light spray of chest hair tickled her palms before sliding lower over his abdomen. She felt his muscles twitch and flex in reaction to her touch.

She looked back up at him and gasped at the heated look in his eyes. It penetrated her, sending a fire throughout her veins that seems to culminate in her very core. She rubbed her thighs together to help quell the need that suddenly made itself known.

DG smiled up at him seductively. "Just wanted to bid you a proper goodbye."