DISCLAIMER: I do not own Tin Man or The Golden Compass, just my character. Enjoy.

CHAPTER SIX

The Queen and Consort were going to Central City on business. Cain was to come but they wanted him at the castle watching the princesses so Jeb came in his spot.

Standing on the steps of the castle, Cora looked on Central City. "This place is so cool looking. It must be super fun to see."

Jeb stood next to her, "If you go with the right people and to the right places."

Half turning to him, "Who are the right people?"

"I have a feeling that's a trap so I'm not answering that question. Let's go. We have a job." He turned, going up the stairs.

Heading up with him, "Dork."

"You should drag my father through here. He didn't have fun the last time he was here."

"That's because he was on the run. And I'm a firm believe that he would probably want to shoot himself in the arm than show me around Central City." Catching up with him.

"You're right, he would rather do that." He joked.

Cora gasped pushing Jeb through the doors. During the meeting Cora couldn't help herself but stair out the windows. Central City in her eyes looked so inviting. Feeling jittery and wanting to go check it out was causing Gobo to pace.

She heard the Queen call for her "Yes your majesty?" Crouching next to her.

Keeping her voice low, "Is everything ok?"

"Everything is fine. Why do you ask?"

"He's making the others nervous with his pacing." Looking over to Gobo.

Motioning for Gobo to sit, "I'm sorry, your majesty. It's just Central City looks super inviting and I guess my excitement is over flowing to him, causing him to pace. We will try to calm ourselves. I am really, really sorry."

"It is ok."

Going back to her place, Cora tried to stay calm. The meeting lasted for another hour before it ended.

The Queen had meetings all day, every day for a week.

Both moons had risen when they arrived back in Finaqua. And all Cora wanted to do was take a long hot bath. Grabbing the book Glitch suggested she read, she climbed into the warm water after the tub was filled.

Finishing up, Cora placed the half finished book on the edge of the sink before getting out and wrapping the soft fluffy towel around herself.

"You probably don't look half bad with this on." Cain smirked as he held up the collar that was given to her.

He was standing over by the window, "It's not for me but for Gobo."

Swinging it around his finger, "What a shame, but my statement still stands."

Cora went over grabbing the collar from him, "Perv." And with that she smacked him upside the head.

"What was that for?" Bring his hand to the back of his head.

"For going through my stuff. Now out please." She pointed to the door.

Cain went over to her pinning her against her dresser. "Why don't you put that damn cat out and I'll show you how much fun touchy-feely really is."

She tried to keep her cool. "He's in the bathroom. Smelled you when you first came in about 20 minutes ago. He says you should try using your shower more often."

Looking at the door, "Why is he still in there?"

"In case you planned on having your way with me he didn't want to be in the room."

Taking a step back, "Good job on killing the mood."

Leaning on the dresser, "How did you think I felt? I just spent all day traveling after spending a week in nonstop meetings with the Queen."

"You just like being a tease, don't you?" He said angrily.

"That's all it will ever be. Teasing."

Walking half way to the door than back to her. "Why?"

Pushing off the dresser, "Because you're still stuck in the past. I saw the way you looked at me when I went on the double date with DG. It took you this long to actually act on that feeling. Something in the past is making you feel guilty with moving on. I don't want to do anything till you have come to terms with it and are able to be with me fully in the present."

Throwing his hands up, "That is the most absurd reason I ever heard for not doing it."

Her hands went behind her back, looking to the floor "Then where's your wife?"

The anger seemed to grow faster in him now, "What has Jeb told you?"

Scratching behind her ear, "Nothing. He's never brought it up and I've never asked."

"Then why bring her up? She has nothing to do with us." He went for the door.

"She has everything to do with us. You can't even think about her, let alone talk about her, without getting upset. And every time you think of moving on, she comes up and you feel guilty for thinking of moving forward. Which is keeping you from moving on."

Glancing over his shoulder, "If Jeb or I haven't said anything about it, then how did you come to that very wrong conclusion?"

"Because that's it. You two never talk about her. And you wanted to rip my head off for even bringing her up. You can say I'm wrong all you want. But deep down you know I'm right."

Cain slammed the door leaving her room. Gobo slinked his way from the bathroom to the bed.

Watching him, "What nothing sarcastic to say?"

Curling up at the end of the bed, "For what? For bringing up a sore subject he wasn't ready to talk about in the first place? Or for taking that knife and repeatedly stabbing him in the back with it? I'm still debating on which one you did hurt the most."

"I hate you."

"Because you know I'm right."

Crawling under the covers, "I hate when you are."

"You wanted to see me, your majesty." Cora stood before the Queen the next day in the thrown room.

"Mr. Cain has asked for a few days off and I have granted him it. He has been working nonstop since he has met DG and I believe he deserves this. So, in his absence, I would like you to take his spot in watching DG till he returns." She informed her.

"What about you, your majesty?"

"I will be fine. Jeb has picked someone to take your spot who will do fine."

With her answer, Cora bowed and went to her new spot. She found DG with her box full of color pencils, her giant notepad and eraser.

Reaching her at the last step, "Where are you off to?" Cora asked.

Pointing her notepad at the doors, "To go draw. See how long before Cain comes to reprimand me for being out there alone without him."

"You don't know?"

Dropping her arm, "Know what?"

"Cain has taken a few days off. Your mother has me watching you now till he gets back."

"Why?"

Shrugging, "I don't know. You want to go ask your mom or go draw?"

Smiling, "Cain deserves it. He works too hard."

"Yes, he does. Well, when Cain watches you what does he normally do?" Following DG outside.

"Usually breaths down my neck telling me what I can and can't do."

Scanning the area as they walked out, "As long as it doesn't involve us getting maimed, hurt or killed in any way I'm cool with it."

"You got yourself a deal." DG smiled.

While DG sat by the bank, Cora and Gobo lingered off to the side. An hour into them being out there, Azkadellia and her bodyguard Jeb joined them.

Cora kicked at a rock when Jeb approached, "Hey."

Moving next to her, "Hey. Heard my father took some time off. Figured it had to do with him being very pissed this morning."

Hanging her head low, "He's pissed at me from last night."

"What were you doing with him last night?" An eyebrow arched as he looked at her.

"I was being a freaking douche. I'm afraid if I tell you what I said, you'd be pissed at me too."

He leaned over, pushing her body with his. "You brought up my mom didn't you?"

Looking up at him all wide eyed and sorry, "I honestly didn't think he would flip out the way he did. I figured an up yours or a drop dead with a little hissy on the side. At least he would be talking about it."

Jeb ran a hand through his hair, "I brought her up one time and he punched a hole in my wall."

"I was angry at the world like your dad is. Then I thought my parents didn't raise me to sulk and hate everyone and everything when their memory was brought up. They raised me to enjoy everything I can and do things that make me happy."

"Both your parents are dead?"

Sticking her hands in her back pockets, "Yup. But I was dishonoring their memory by living in the past and not moving on."

"I'm glad someone else said something to him. I told him she would want him to move on. That she wouldn't want him like this. I have moved on, but he is still stuck."

Cora faced him, "So you aren't mad I brought her up?"

He turned to his head at her, "I am happy about it. Now I am not the only one who sees what he is doing."

She gave him a hug, "Oh my god, thank you! I felt so bad about it, like I over stepped a boundary or something."

Patting her back, "I think deep down my father really likes you. So it would take a lot for you to cross a line."

Backing away, "You really think he likes me? I always thought he just like flirting and giving me a hard time like I do him."

"He came to me yesterday playing it off like it was one of those father son talks. Asking if I liked anyone of the opposite sex. I said there might be someone. And he asked what was I doing to woo her?"

"He didn't say woo did he?" She bit her bottom lip.

His head bobbed a yes, "It was so funny. I think he was nervous because through out the conversation he would mean to say me but would say I instead. Like he wanted advice."

Shaking her head, "Your dad is so odd. Next time if he tries that throw in a nice dinner or something. Just him and I."

"Anything else would you like me to throw in there for you?"

Biting on her finger as she thought, "I believe I'm good."

They both laughed hearing someone call for DG. Both had turned to the voice.

"Who is Glitch with?" Jeb wondered out loud.

"Looks like someone new for DG and….shit, it's Alexander. I'm not here." She moved behind Jeb.

Looking over his shoulder, "To late. He saw you."

"What are you doing over here? Who's this?" Alexander approached.

Sucking some air threw her teeth, "I am Princess DG's temporary bodyguard for a few days till her original one returns. And this is Jeb, Princess Azkadellia's bodyguard."

Cocking his head, "Bodyguard? But you're friends with DG."

Shrugging, "What? She can't be friends with someone who doesn't have a title? Pretty shallow if you think that." Crossing her arms.

"No not that, that's fine. It's just that when DG said cousin I figured….."

"You need to open your ears because she corrected herself when we first met. Who's your friend?"

Checking back at the group, "My brother. When he said he was coming here I had to tag along to see you. You have to be joking. You're not a bodyguard."

Jeb snorted trying not to laugh. He left the two to be alone.

Cora's eyes grew watching Jeb leave them, "Yes, Alexander, I am. I was hired to be the Queen's personal guard. She assigned me to watch DG for a few days so here I am."

Pacing with anger, "So you lied to me?!"

"Technically, I never did. Princess DG and I are friends. You can ask her if you like. Also you never asked what kind of title I had if I had one. You just assumed I had a title right up there with you assuming jewels were me. That collar you got for Gobo was made for a female animal. Gobo is a boy. Not to mention he does not wear a collar, messes up the fur and it's distracting. I can get caught if I'm hiding somewhere that I need to be hidden." She gave him an apologetic look.

He was still pacing, "You're a bodyguard."

"Still doesn't change who I am. Just what I am doing with my life."

Alexander had nothing else to say and just went to go talk with the others. Jeb came back with a big mischievous grin on his face.

"I guess you wont be hearing from him for awhile."

Chuckling, "Shut up."

"What? You weren't the love of his life?" He teased.

"Nope, but he is so missing out. I am a freak in the bedroom."

Dropping his head back, "I didn't want to hear that."

Smiling triumphantly, "You get what you deserve. Leaving me like that."

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