Title: Star Crossed

Author: Frostydreamer

Disclaimer: Tin Man doesn't belong to me

Characters: Zero, Azkadellia, DG, Cain, Queen, Consort

Pairings: Zero/ Azkadellia

Rating: R/M

Spoilers: All of the Mini-series

Summery: Although inner daemons will always come back, and confusion is mass affect, a final test is left.

This Chapter: They are home

Word Count: 1,291

Chapter Three

Close to Home

Snow white hair fluttered in the breeze of the twilight and pale hands drifted over waves of long grass outside the unmarked doors to the Realm of the Unwanted.

Everything seemed to glow with new born strength in that hour before the first sun rose. It was the hour that she felt most alive in her long lonely life. She could stand there forever if she wanted to, watching the stars fade from one day to another, watching the clear skies turn to dark chaos and make new life out of nothing.

"Master Luteria." Her contemplating gaze snapped towards the little fairy that drifted easily in the breeze. "There is a different entrance you could use. The one that the humans use."

Gold eyes shifted to the double doors that stood before her. Years of abandonment had caused them to seal shut with thousands of layers of dust, while overgrown weeds climbed in to the small cracks along the edges of the stone entry. Just another reminder of how long she had been gone, of how things had changed for the worst.

"Home is just a few steps away little one." Her soft voice carried over the rising breeze.

"Do you not wish to alert the disgusting humans of your return? They have overrun this place you call home."

Luteria let her right palm rest on the old wood. "Their time will come. Soon everyone will be aware of my presence, its all a matter of waiting."

"But Master they—"

"Shut up." Her dark tone left nothing to the imagination if she were to be crossed. These little fairies wanted more destruction, and they knew how to pull a persons strings to get it. Manipulation did not sit well with her.

They watched her silently as she continued to stare at the door. An electric blue spark jumped and rippled into the area around her palm. With groans and creaks the timber under her hand began to rebuild its faded self. After a few second of blue, Luteria let her hand fall away, the smirk she were was enough to drive the fairies into a fluttering frenzy around her.

Ever so slowly the door swung open to reveal a dark passageway. Without a backwards glance she made her way into the dark. 'Home, I'm finally home.'

OZOZOZOZ

"I don't think this is a good idea Az." Zero said as he held on to her. They had been riding for most of what was left of the night hardly a word passing between the two, not that it was possible with the wind blowing past them. Now that they had slowed down to a walking pace, Azkadellia could see the outline of the high peaks of Finaqua in the distance. The first sun would come up soon.

Earlier by the moons glow, they had spotted a few large riding parties but none had approached them.

'Search parties…' Az could only assume that her parents found out she wasn't in her room, and were probably worried. 'how worried…'

"This is the only way Zero." She could feel his arms tighten around her waist as he leaned his forehead onto her shoulder. She maneuvered the horse into a brisk trot. 'We'll be their soon, too soon.'

Zero was tense, to say the least. He hadn't told Azkadellia how he wound up in the tin suit, or who put him there. He had a sneaking suspicion that the Cains were not far from his and Az's destination. There were probably plenty of others who would recognize him as well. He didn't try to delusion himself, he knew they would try to put a built between his eyes.

He watched the earth be trampled below the hooves of the dark animal. An old memory of his mother stirred at the back of his lost mind, 'Things were never meant to stay the same, my son, for something good to come, things must be sacrificed and changes must be made. Be brave and face all, show them you can become more.'

He felt the strands of Az midnight black hair on the side of his temple. He would become more, he had to be more.

OZOZOZOZ

Thousands of thoughts jumped and screamed for DGs attention. 'Who was with her? Why had she gone? Had something bad happened? How--?'

Without a glance behind her DG took off running down the hall, her thoughts drowned out by the stomp of each footfall. She had to go to Az, she had to make sure she was alright.

"DG!"

Cain was right at her heels, "DG we should wait!"

"NO" She didn't mean to sound so harsh but, she was tired of waiting. Tired of being protected, tired of being restrained from all the things she actually wanted to do.

Cain didn't say a word after that, but he kept up with her. 'Like hell I'm ganna let her do this alone…'

They made their way down long halls and spiral stairs the only sound was the occasional squeak of her ankle high boots on the shiny gray marble floor. After many evasive arguments about her attire the Queen had finally agree to let DG choose her own stile of clothing. From that moment on, DG had secretly vowed to lead the OZ in a fashion-revolutionary-movement.

They crossed the doorway into the stable. She quickly looked around for the stable boy for some help, but no one was in site, she figured it was still too early. She made a bee line to her own hazel-nut colored horse, trying to remember what strap went into what buckle. It was times like these that she wished she had her motorbike.

Cain came up beside her and helped her with the horse. She meekly glanced at his face, and then quickly looked back at his working hands. She could tell he was irritated. And she knew it was because of her actions. "Thank you."

Cain stilled for a moment, glancing down at her. Her blue eyes locked on to his. Cains irritation fell away and a small smile played at the corner of his lips. No one could resist those big blue eyes.

Finished with the straps he quickly went over to his white stallion. After a few minutes they were out side galloping toward the direction the messenger had pointed to.

OZOZOZOZ

The Queen rested her forehead onto the crystal blue window as she watched the pair ride off into the moons setting light.

"They've grown so much. And we weren't there." She could feel her husbands' hands on her thin waist. A reassuring presence in the life she was given.

"We weren't left with any other choice, my heart. We have to try and make up for it." Ahamo could feel his wife's pain. It was the same feeling that had been eating away at his mind during the still moments of his days. His youngest did not know who he was and his oldest was broken image of her former self, and he didn't know how to fix them to be the happy family they once were.

"We just need to—to be patient." He tried to reassure himself and his beloved with those words, but somehow in their scarred hearts they both knew that things would never be the same.

TBC

AN: I just wanted to thank nadeshiko1, RumCake, and RikaGreenRider for the reviews you all sent me on the last chapter, I really appreciate them. I hope this chapter is okay and I apologies for the wait, real life likes to get in my way. Next chapter will probably be a while as well, since I'm starting summer courses next week X. Constructive criticism is welcomed.