Disclaimer: I do not own this... D:

Chapter 4: Adoring

Somewhere

Lights hovered overhead, the same deep almost ominous sway that rocked ever so slightly from side to side, the pain had slowly dulled as the freezing metal beneath him slowly began numbing away everything, the cold leaching away any warmth that he still possess. His arms strained against the bindings, the shackles pulling taut under the pressure before he slumped back down, his chest burning with the almost unbearable tightness that swept across his ribs.

Suddenly maniacal laughter twittered off to his left, his head twisting back, blue eyes scanning the darkness and coming face to face with the Alchemist, the gnarled features distorted grotesquely with the mirth the man felt at watching the great Tin Man reduced to such a state. The slow awkward limp became evident as the Alchemist slowly swept around the table, one foot half dragging with a scrapping shuffle across the stone floor. "There is no use, Mr Cain."

A hand clasped against his head, pinning it down to the headrest of the cold table. For a brief moment he caught sight of the corpse sprawled out in a similar fashion only a few feet away, the features having being twisted in one last moment of terror before the end had come. A leather band was buckled into place, holding his head still and his eyes stared upwards into the face of his capture, concealing every reaction to what he knew would come. "You will gain nothing from torturing me." His voice a mere hint above a whisper sounded deafeningly loud to his ears.

"Oh, I don't need you to talk." A hand seized his jaw, stilling the sharp jerking struggles as Cain was straining hard against his bonds, wanting to remove the smug little smile off the distorted features of the Alchemist. "I have my own methods of getting what I need." An arm sweeping out towards the corpse sprawled out on a similar plinth as he was, a clawed hand twisting the head around at an impossible angle as the face was revealed. "As you can see, Mr Reese was quite willing to help."

Cain yanked hard against the leather band and metal shackles, the links clicking together sharply as his blood boiled as he recognised one of his fellow Tin Men, one of those that had been reported missing. Yet, something about the corpse… was strikingly off, instead of a man that should have been well into his sixties, the one before him was a youth, barely older than his son Jeb. Still the face was definitely that of Mitchell Reese no matter the age. "I will kill you."

"Bold words." A short cackle of laughter escaped the Alchemist who was slowly circling Cain, those crimson tinged eyes studying his features with an intensity of interest that made his stomach almost lurch. "But I have heard them numerous times before, Mr Cain. And though some have gotten a little closer than others." A finger lightly brushed down across a cheek marked by shrivelled burnt flesh that had eaten away at one ear. "However, none have ever succeeded and all of them are now quite dead I assure you."

"What I want is in your mind…" A sharp fingernail traced a slow line across Cain's forehead, drawing a thin line of blood from the bruised and discoloured skin. "I want all that you have…" Leaning down, the mutated man hissed low for only him to hear, "I want the secrets that you hold… All of them."

Suddenly the door to the side swung open, sending a cascade of light into the dark recesses of the room, illuminating for a brief moment the horrors and half successful experiments that littered every surface in the dank expanse of the chamber that was far more vast that what had originally been exposed by the single light from above them. Two burly men carried in a large object, the soft low hum rumbling out from the strange metal box resting on intricately carved metal legs that was set down at the head of the table. The deep sound working its way into every single shred of his body as the table and his very bones vibrated along with the noise that was not quite audible yet still as clear as a bell in his mind.

"I want it, I know you were the one he gave it too." A hand brushed across his forehead, smearing the small thin line of blood across his ash pale skin, before lifting his crimson fingers to the lid of the heavy metal box, lightly tracing the seal on the edge of it as it slowly began humming faster. Each low pulse coming quicker, and quicker as the light was cut from outside as the men hurried away, the door thumping closed and leaving them in an overwhelming gloom.

Yet, across the ceiling a faint green radiance slowly began to spread, as a tiny crystal no bigger then a fingernail slowly began to rise from within its cage, the blood awakening it and its song reaching out towards Cain.

"Remember the Mystic Man." The harsh rasp of irritation and low malice rose from within him, a hand dragging his head backwards at a rather unnatural again, bringing both the Alchemist's face and the small emerald shard into view. The tiny gem hovered above the open lid of the box, the thing slowly beginning to spin around, running like a clock hand backwards. The clawed hand reached out to grip the rotating jewel, scarlet drops spattered down across his cheek as the sudden green light flared a deep bloody red, and a vivid flash that rushed over him like a wave. "Remember the green city…"

A sudden shift rippled through his body, his soul being jerked hard almost out of his body, a white shiver rising from his flesh as his mouth opened against the sudden feeling of disembodiment. The deep shadow of bright verdant green flared across his vision blinding for a moment, while memories were roughly pulled to the surface as if a Viewer had reached into his brain and caught hold of a thread slowly beginning to unravel it.

"Do you know what this is?" The Mystic Man stood before a large painting that decorated one wall of the man's greeting room, gesturing towards the image of a shining city, its roofs and streets glittering with the brilliant sheen of Emeralds in the light of the suns rising over the backdrop. Pausing on his examination of the image entitled 'The Emerald City', a hand lightly reached out to hover over the soft sweeping fields that decorated the landscape surrounding the magnificent metropolis.

A wordless sound escaped his lips as the memory blurred and flared into being, the tiny string being yanked hard from the end, drawing more slowly out of him in a fine thread that was being wound as an almost invisible line around the hand and gem. Almost like wool being processed on a spinning wheel and being slowly coiled around a spindle.

"Yes, that is it. Return to your time with him… focus." Came the soft rasp, urging the memory to the surface, though it was faded and a half remembered moment from a time in his passed before all this had happened… before the witch and the O.Z. being plunged into darkness and famine. "Very promising."

"Another one?" The other Tin Man laughed, the laughter-lined face of Mitchell Reese danced before his eyes, observing the younger man with bemusement as Wyatt Cain manoeuvred a struggling criminal in through the doors, the cuffed youth wearing more jewellery and shiny object than a decorated Solstice tree. A hand thumped against his back, warmly squeezing his shoulder before a larger hand reached out to grip the bonds of the walking jewellery store. "Not a smart one, are you?" The older policeman mused to the captive that was exclaiming he did nothing wrong…

His body jerked in reaction to the memory a shiver of freezing cold danced across his skin, the briefest moment of recognition between the laughing man and the corpse across from him resulted in another flash of memories that danced through his head. Gooseflesh prickled across his arms and legs, the breath being sucked out of his lungs and making any attempt to speak impossible. His mind attempting to drive towards other memories away from those he was being forcefully directed to.

"Go back." A voice hissed into his ear, the Alchemist viewing the memories as if he were there in Cain's place, each emotion and physical action being relieved within a moment as it was being almost erased from Tin Man's mind. "The City." The man attempting to direct the flow of thoughts, driving the twirling gem on with the offer of more blood… more of these memories to feed the strange unnatural hunger.

Abruptly he was dumped into a slightly later memory, his eyelids dropping closed, shoulders trembling under the force of the draw, the echoes of death flaring around him brilliantly, disjointed as if he was watching from outside of his own body at the memories flashing by him.

"Adora!" His voice carried through the thick undergrowth as he rushed through it, his body twisting through the waves of green branches. "Jeb!" Another shout, loud and clearer than the first, while he pushed himself faster, everything spinning, heart racing in his chest, "Adora!"

And suddenly breaking through the undergrowth, he jolted to a halt, eyes fixing on the monstrosity of another iron maiden, the heavy metal contraption sitting on a steep angle, backing onto the trees facing towards him a little. Slowly moving towards it, his heart caught slowly in his throat, finding the catches unlocked on the side, yet he flung it open, blue eyes being met with a bare interior. A whisper of his son's name escaping his lips, as a few stray drops of water trickled down onto him.

"Go back!" The Alchemist roared, a new blossom of pain erupting along his side, his body shuddering under the sharp stabs of burning hot soots that rippled through his gut and radiating outwards across his limps and weighing them down like lead. "The city! Where is the city, Cain?" For the man had ignored the images that became vivid and brilliant as only a short few months time had passed since that horrifying moment.

Before he twisted slightly, stepped passed it and jolted sharply at the sight of a wooden board held upright in the earth, his feet taking him forwards as his heart was slowly sinking even further. Everything melted away as his hat was pressed against his chest, his knees giving way as he sank down to the ground before the grave marker. His heart being torn clear out of his body at the name of 'Adora Cain' written upon the marker, eyes burning with the tears that were silently sliding down across his cheeks, he reached out a shaking hand to touch the damp wood, ignoring the soft rain that had slowly begun to fall.

Yet, suddenly there was a warm hand squeezing his shoulder softly, the presence of DG hovering close in an effort to comfort him in some small way, though no words passed between them in that silent moment of grief. Leaning forwards, his lips lightly touched the damp wood, salty drops sliding down onto the moss and small flowers that were withered on top of the shallow mound. And from his fingers dropped the shiny Tin Man badge, the object being left behind to remain with his wife…

The life was slowly seeping out of his body, the threads throbbing with the soft sound of his heartbeat as the months that had passed were slowly being drawn from his wounded frame, each memory becoming blurred and faded as they were sucked away after he had relieved them. A hand gripped his throat tightly, squeezing hard and forcing Cain's eyes open to gaze upwards into the burning crimson brown eyes of the Alchemist, the man's expression darkening with each passing second. "Stop playing around, Mr Cain. I have little patience for this."

His eyes stared upwards, the thread becoming broader and thicker, as other memories danced across his mind, the long years of imprisonment… and the last year they had been together… before Zero had come to their home… before he had been found out…

"Adora? My Adora?" The Alchemist gritted out, the image and fresh pain of that particular discovery flared out horribly, his twisted features warping even further with the hatred that slowly rose and also was washing over Cain as well. The thread tangling again tightly around the man's fingers, the life that was slowly been drained from Cain coiling into the body of the man, his features slowly being magically repaired as Cain's own memories were stolen as payment for the repairs being done.

The image of Adora trapped and bloody in the hands of Zero flared into life, the man's hands wrapped around the slender throat as she struggled hard against her captors against the backdrop of the house by the white Elm. Her screams suddenly dying on her lips, a sickening crack sounding clearly though the heavy rain, her head twisting sharply at a grotesque angle. Her eyes that had once held such love and passion faded slowly into darkness as she flopped limply to the ground like a ragdoll. Her eyes staring dully at him all the life extinguished in one violent moment, rain drops sliding down her cheeks and almost made her look as if she were crying.

The world twisted sharply as the face over his appeared again, his attempts at preventing his memories being reached only resulting in recent wounds being forced open sharply, yet the images, the visual picture of those thoughts were fading, being stolen from him before his mental fingers could grasp the thread as it unravelled faster and faster.

The memories surfacing of the imprisonment of Zero infuriated the man, and for a brief instant when he looked up he almost recognised the dark brown eyes of a rival who had also been in pursuit of Adora's attentions… a man that had committed such crimes that even he shuddered at the memory of the magic and power that had dwarfed so many others. And also that this man had been used by the Witch in her plots from what he knew… Could this truly be the same old man? One that should have been dead years ago… Satir Velmar.

Before the wave of displacement shivered through every muscle of his body, slowly contracting inwards on itself in a slow migrating wave of feeling, his skin gradually tautening as the life was drawn from him, and the years were slowly being dragged from his body. And the bright light of the gem blinded him completely to the world as he tumbled backwards further into his memories.

Ozia Manor, Along The Old Road, Near Central City

A shriek escaped her lips as she bolted upright, sheets tangling around her limbs and making her struggle sharply against them, while the soft shivering waves of terror ran their way across her body. Azkadellia clutched at the sheets, her struggles becoming more pronounced, for as each moment passed her the feeling of imprisonment, of complete and utter claustrophobia rose upwards within her belly sending her heart racing faster and faster.

Suddenly her bedroom door crashed open, a gun drawn and scanning the room as a weary blonde haired man stood in the doorway, his chest heaving slightly as he flicked on the lights with one hand, clearing the room of for any possible danger, while his eyes settled slowly on the woman in the centre of the large bed. The gun was holstered as he crossed the beautifully furnished room to suddenly clamp his hands down around the slender wrists, carefully disentangling her from the sheets and holding her hands still, while she attempted to get as far away as possible from the strong grip on her.

"Azkadellia." Jeb's tired voice broke through the terror of the nightmare, his grip tightening, when he tugged her forwards and into the light of the nearby lamp, dipping in so that she could catch a glimpse of his face in the gloom of her bedroom. "Wake up, it's just a dream."

She shivered sharply, her wide brown eyes blinking closed for a long moment before she finally came back to herself, trembling and trying to swallow the sobs that broke through her usually calm mask. Her hands finally pulling free from the almost bruising grip, the elder Princess was shaking like a leaf in the aftermath of her nightmare. "Jeb?" Doe brown eyes had lifted to the man's face, staring at him for a long moment before her face buried themselves back into her hands and soft silent sobs were escaping her lips.

For all the anger… all the hatred he had had for this one woman, never quite believing that the 'truth' about that a Witch had possess her and forced her to do such terrible things. As much has he had been a sceptic in the beginning, the long months watching her for any sign of darkness any sign of that evil and he would have killed her within a heartbeat. But watching those tears trickle across her fingers, he knew this woman no matter how you looked at it was definitely not the same one as had ordered the death of him and his mother…

"Yes, Princess." He responded, though his expression reverted back to that solemn lifeless one that had been the only one she had seen for days… the news of his father's death had stolen the very life out of the man, though in the darkness of the night she had heard the distant sound of his tears, which tore into her as if they were her own.

"Thankyou." Her brown eyes closed, trying to cut out terror of the memory, the image of Ambrose's terror as his brain was torn from his head, the horror of watching the intelligence and spark of something uniquely his die in his eyes… Fingers were scrubbing hard at her eyes, trying in vain to remove the tears that were continuing to fall. "Thankyou for waking me." The honest words reinforced the strange understanding between them, she had very quickly learned to appreciate the sometimes gruff presence of the young blonde fighter, for though he would always continue to hate her in some small way, he had prevented several attempts on her life.

"It was clearer this time." Brown eyes lifted to gaze into blue, her hands wringing together in her lap, "I saw his face this time…"

"This is good news." The warm hand touched against her shoulder lightly, his own silent apology for the faint bruises that dusted her wrists from his overpowering grip he had used on her. "Do you think you can identify him now?"

"I think I might be able to." Her heart was suddenly leaping at the possibility, for the Princess sort to right as many of the wrongs the Witch was responsible for, for in her memories were keys to who had done what… and thus she had been able to bring together several families, others she had been able to try to give some recompense too. But it was the inability for any of the Alchemists that she knew to successfully replace Ambrose's brain back into his body that haunted her most. Her eyes closing tightly, her heart squeezing one at the thought of the man, a very faint flush working its way across her cheeks. It was in her memories of the operation she had supervised being done on Ambrose that would give them the key to finding the man who had performed the operation. For if he could take it out… then it was most certain that he had done something to prevent it ever going back in…

The distant sound of footsteps moving down the corridor made her head snap upwards, her eyes flickering to Jeb and then back out into the darkness, through the open door. It was impossible… he couldn't be here… And suddenly her bare feet hit the floor as she slipped passed Jeb, sliding slightly as she found herself crashing into a strong chest and almost rebounding onto the floor, but strong arms suddenly wrapped around her shoulders, keeping her upright.

Wide brown eyes stared upwards, her lips opening to try to give out a welcome to the man before it died on her lips, Glitch's expression was grave, the usually bright and always cheerful man who had forgiven her… forgiven what had happen to him and had never once blamed her for it… gazed down at her with dark eyes, ones that sent a jolt of fear rushing down her spine.

"Azkadellia. I need your help." The sometimes twitchy personality had sobered, his head lifting upwards to catch sight of the youth still standing beside the bed, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly as his grip around the woman's slender shoulders tightened ever so faintly in an almost possessive motion. "Yours too, Mr Cain."

"Princess DG has gone after the Tin Man."

The Old Road, Near Milltown

The first burnished rays of dawn were slowly peeking over the edge of the horizon, the long drive through the night having made a fair distance along the old road, yet now there was a moment where DG was leaning close to the open window on her side of the truck, blue eyes staring out into the fading darkness and in through the trees towards where she was sure Milltown sat. A small stab of pain slowly wound its way through her heart at the thought of her parents… her foster parents who had vanished from her life as if they had never been in it.

For as much as she wished to ask Aster to stop the truck, to pull over and allow her to go to that place her father had always talked about, the one 'perfect' place in the world, she knew she couldn't. Because each moment now meant something, a shiver rippled down her spine at that thought, the raw scream hovering in the back of her mind urging her to hurry as fast as she could. "I promise to visit." She whispered softly, resting her chin on her arm as it sat on the wound down window.

"Hey, Lad." Something was suddenly thrust into her lap, her eyes blinking suddenly being dragged from her thoughts, before regarding the piece of fruit and hunk of bread that rested on her knees, before turning to regard her new companion. "Eat somethin'. Before you get any scrawnier." There was a large grin and a wink at that, though she tried to return it she winced as that large hand descended on her head once more, rubbed furiously for a moment before returning to the wheel.

"I am not scrawny." DG barked back, giving the man a very short glare before trying almost in vain to right her now messy hair. Her lips curved in a rather almost childish expression of distaste and shot the man

"You are. Like a twig." That got another ripple of laughter from the large man, and she realised that he could barely fit properly into the cab, his knees so close to the steering wheel that it was almost catching the edge of it. Dark green eyes flickered back over to the 'boy', before glancing out the window to the right for a long moment. "So Galen, what exactly is it we are after?"

For a long moment she paused, her thoughts running through the possibility of telling the truth or lying through her teeth to this man. "I owe someone a favour…" That didn't quite sound right… not even convincing that she would go to some lengths to leave the castle and escape the City. "A big favour and I have to find him…"

Though it was highly vague and didn't even start covering the information he wanted, he gave a slightly nod before sighing, this kid was definitely in trouble… of the worst kind. Running away. That much was obvious from the style of exit from Central City the boy had chosen. "Well, I guess lad, I'm in this for the long haul." A hand ran back through his dark chocolate locks, the long strands clinging to his hand before he flattened them back down against his broad skull. "But I need to deliver my cargo on the way." A thumb jerking back towards the large metal box that was sitting underneath the pile of garbage just behind him, "Don't worry yourself though, won't take long."

"Famous last words…" She sighed softly, just almost being able to predict that something… something was going to happen now that he said 'it won't take long'.

"Famous…?" One eyebrow twitched upwards, questioning and pausing for a moment to watch the kid out of the corner of his eye, now he definitely knew whoever this kid was… he was going to be neck deep in trouble before he could count to ten. But for some reason, he didn't mind one bit. "Whatever you say, Lad, whatever you say…"

Victory Celebrations, Day After The Eclipse, Royal Palace, Central City

The raw sound was turned into a soft mumble of noise from within the great ballroom of the Central City Palace, the triumph over the Witch, and to some Azkadellia, and return of the Queen to the throne was being marked as a great victory for the light. The party having begun to truly move into the swing of joy and dance a few hours before and now was nowhere near its climax, the music streaming outwards cutting across the voices and filling the gardens with the bright cheerful sound. But it was not enough to warm her heart, not enough to cut away the chill of despair for all those that had lost their lives in this battle against the Witch, nor could she simply push away the guilt that clung to her heart at the revelation that it had been here that released the demon from her prison.

Suddenly she realised she wasn't the only one who had sort to escape the vivid mass of finely dressed people and bedazzled Resistance Fighters mingling together within the high faulted rooms behind her. In the long shadows of a tree, Wyatt Cain rested against the trunk, his tailored clothes done in rich blues and whites offset by the silvery pistol resting in his hands, the formal wear looking rather out of place on the man, yet definitely gave him a strange… rather noble air and his eyes closed as if fallen asleep in the shelter of the gardens.

Her fingers twisted into the long red pleats of her fine dress, the silken wispy fabric barely making a sound as DG slowly approached him, her heart suddenly hammering in her chest. Teeth catching her lower lip after a moment, just unable to take her eyes off him, before a delicate blush rose along her cheekbones head turning away. Something within her squeezing ever so slightly at the sight of him like that, unable to think anything at all…

"I see I'm not the only one who decided to leave the party." The slightly husky voice startled her, his eyes remaining closed as he shifted ever so slightly, head turning a little towards the sound of her shoes on the manicured lawn.

"I don't feel comfortable with… so many people…" Head ducking away, she stood beside him, glancing back over a slender shoulder at the doorway she had just come through as the servants carefully closed it once more muffling the sounds from inside further. "I'm a country bumpkin."

A small smile curved his lips at that, shifting ever so slightly to one side and she took the invitation instantly, dropping down to the grass beside him and offering a tiny smile of her own. Her fingers reaching out to snare his hat and run her fingertips over the fine felt, tracing lightly around the rim, before his attention was turning to Cain. "Indeed you are, Kiddo."

A pout formed on her lips as a finger poked him in the shoulder, shuffling even closer to him again, the faint breeze sending a very slight shiver down her spine. "I am not a kid." Before his hat was completely freed from his grip and placed on the other side of her, making sure it was clearly out of reach for him, though she did get a low growl of annoyance, before a hand was being held out to her, his eyes remaining closed as he demanded his hat back from her.

"Sure thing, Kid." He mused, ribbing her slightly with the intentional repetition, one pale blue eye popped open to look at her, though his hand reached across her to go after the hat, the searching hand suddenly been captured in two smaller ones. A soft touch brushing against the silver of his wedding ring, before it flittered away, both eyes suddenly opened as he watched the unreadable expression pass across her face. "DG?" His voice quested softly, his hand being caught tightly in her grip, her fingers white knuckled and her bemusement over the hat fading quickly away to be replaced by something that seized his throat abruptly and quieted any more words from him.

"It's my fault." If he hadn't been listening intently to her he would have missed the quiet words, her head dipping sharply so that long strands of raven hair fell across her features obscuring them from view. "It's my fault that she's dead… that… so many are dead." A finger brushed across the silver band before her fingers jerked away as if scorched by the reflective metal.

"That's impossible. Zero killed… Adora." He managed to get out, his azure eyes running across her downcast features, feeling the horrible shadow of both that pain… but also the new one at seeing her tormenting herself over something she was not responsible for. His free hand hesitated before it brushed the stray strands of hair out of her face, lifting her chin and catching sight of the tears slowly streaking down her cheeks, the deep shadows of guilt clouding those usually perfectly blue eyes. "Kid… DG, it was not your fault."

"Isn't it?" She challenged, her chin coming up, her entire face looking so crestfallen he wished he could find some way to erase all the misery that had come barrelling into her life within the passed two weeks… "Isn't it, Tin Man?" The Princess suddenly trying to shake her hands free of his, the warmth of his touch burning into her like a hot knife. Her heart aching horribly at the thought that she had hurt him… through her careless actions… Blue eyes darting away from his, struggling to not meet his eyes as that strong hand was forcing her jaw upwards, leaning over her slightly, while a soft thumb brushed at the tears that stung her eyes and left her cheeks red and raw.

"Look at me, DG." Every contact between them was suddenly gentle and filled with an emotion that she could not describe as she found herself suddenly tumbling forwards into his arms, her feeble attempts at escaping the embrace proving quite impossible, when those arms snapped closed light a string. "Look at me." His voice so soft against her ear, her head lifted so that their eyes met for one brief moment and she saw the truth that he truly did not blame her for anything within them. "It isn't your fault."

The dam broke suddenly within her, spilling out over her like a tidal wave, her tears falling faster as she sobbed into his shoulder, her face burying itself against the warmth of his shirt, dampening it with each new drop, a hand resting against her hair, lightly stroking it as he whispered soft reassuring words under his breath. Though she could not hear them, the vibration from his chest and throat soothed away a little of the pain, her fingers curling into the woollen material of his shirt, twisting it sharply and refusing to let go to the one lifeline that had suddenly come when she needed it the most.

Slowly the tears and muffled sobs began to slow, shoulders trembling with the tiny hiccups realising that she had drenched his shirt with her tears, yet the warmth and security of his embrace left her wanting… Twisting slightly, she realised just how big a fool she had made of herself in front of Cain, her hands pushing against his chest lightly, her legs tucked up beneath her resting across his legs, her red dress brushing across his black straight-legged pants. "I'm sorry…"

"Don't be." Came the simple response, her head being suddenly pulled back against his dry shoulder, the strong arms around her refusing to release her, no matter how much she was going to decide to struggle, the man quite clearly not able to let her off on her own after such a scene. "Just stay, DG, just stay here. I promise nothing will happen to you."

The offer made her heart leap into her throat, surprise at such words showing in her face, before his hand was slowly stroking through her hair, doing the only thing he knew how and being glad that it was him she had allowed to comfort her. "Really?" Her weary voice muffled against his shirt, fingers returning to curl back into it, crushing the fabric between her fingers.

"Yes, really." His slightly stubbled cheek rested against the silky soft raven locks of her hair, shifting her weight closer in against him so that she was being tucked suddenly within the folds of his jacket he slipped around her, using the edge of his cuff to brush away the last of the moisture from her tears. Both of them falling silent in the deep shadows of the tree and neither seemed to care about the celebrations in the background, more intent on one another as something new and fragile found a place to grow within their hearts.

OOC: Thankyou for being patient with me while I get through the first parts of the story, but hopefully the two 'fluffy' moments XD make up for the wait! Though I might add in a little tension between Glitch and Azkadellia, is it me or is Glitch actually jealous? LOL. PLEASE REVIEW! begs so that I know what you think