A/N: so I'm seeing this guy tonight who lives 700 miles away and I haven't seen him for a year and I'm super nervous about it … ergo, fanfiction. Woohoo!
DG sat with one leg on either side of her balcony railing, looking at the sun as it sank below the trees. Any minute now. Any minute she would be seeing seven figures on horseback galloping toward the palace. And Cain – fedora in place, duster trailing behind him, would be leading them.
It had been exactly one year – well, here it was one annual – since DG had last seen Wyatt Cain. There had only been time for a hurried goodbye between them before Cain was sent off with a small group of men to aid in the reformation of Central City. For one annual DG had gone to lessons daily, attempting to re-learn even the simplest rules of royal life that she had forgotten. In that time she'd learned what she was good at – horseback riding, diplomacy, history – and what she wasn't so good at (a much longer list). Her mother had insisted she grow her hair and wear appropriate clothing, and DG had insisted that her hair never be done up in curls and that her dresses should never be elaborate. It was a trade-off, and sometimes DG still snuck her jeans and old motorcycle jacket out of the back of her closet, but really it was nothing to complain about – despite the fact that she'd sometimes done just that in her letters to Cain.
"Your Highness," the voice of one of the maids dragged DG out of her thoughts.
"Yes Doreen?" she replied, hoisting herself off the railing before she could be reprimanded for it.
"Your mother asked that I come help you dress for the ball."
"Oh, right. Of course," DG gave her a polite smile and came inside. There was a grand ball planned tonight for the Central City Seven, something that had been the talk of the palace for the past two weeks. DG had lost track of how many gown-fittings she'd been forced to stand through.
"Would you like to wear your corset tonight Princess?" Doreen asked, holding up the torture device.
"You know, I'm thinking not."
Doreen smiled, "I thought that may be your answer, but I always have to try."
She slid the gown she'd carried in out of its silk bag and held it up for inspection. DG couldn't help but smile at the sight of it. Dressing up had never been something she enjoyed, but with a dress like this – strapless, made with yards upon yards of dark lavender satin – it was hard not to feel like Cinderella.
"It's absolutely beautiful," she said happily.
And, added the voice in her head, Cain won't be able to take his eyes off you.
--
Cain shifted uncomfortably in his tuxedo. He felt awkward enough as it was, sitting in one of the seven seats of honor at a ball that had been planned entirely for he and his men, but to add these damn clothes to the whole ordeal was just too much. All he had really wanted to do when he got back was take a long hot shower, sleep in a real bed, and see DG. Unfortunately the long hot shower had been a short cold one, bed was at least three hours away, and he would be seeing DG in a setting where doing what he wanted to do – picking her up and swinging her around while greeting her with his usual nicknames – would be entirely inappropriate.
In the annual since he'd been gone Cain had found himself writing to DG almost every week. He missed her far more than he thought he would, and getting one of her letters always brought a smile to his face. He knew that she was being forced into a world that she wasn't used to, that the responsibility on her shoulder could be a lot to handle. He tried to offer advice where he could, but found himself desperately wishing that he could just see her in person. They could go for a long walk and talk about things. He could hold her against him again for just a little longer than he should. Feel the softness of her hair …
"Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the royal family of The OZ," came the loud voice of the courtier standing at the top of the staircase.
Cain stood along with the rest of the room, shaking the remnants of his thoughts away. The longer he'd been gone, the more he had found himself thinking about DG in a way that was anything but friendly or fatherly. He had convinced himself that it was simply because he was loney. But now … well, now he was about to find out for sure.
--
"Here darling, let me help you with that."
"No really Mother, I've got it. They're about to announce you."
"Her Royal Highness Queen Lurline of The Outer Zone."
"See, I told you. Really, it's fine. Please don't worry."
"All right sweetheart. See you out there."
DG watched as her mother swept elegantly through the opened door and, with a gracious wave, descended the grand staircase. The diamond and pearl tiara that she had been helping DG fix still sat slightly askew on the head of its owner, and DG was trying to straighten it as quickly as she could, wishing desperately there was a mirror somewhere in the vicinity so she could actually see the top of her own head.
"His Most Gracious Highness, Ahamo, Prince Consort of The Outer Zone."
"You look wonderful sweet pea," her father said, giving an approving nod and gently squeezing his daughter's arm.
"Thanks," she replied, "So the tiara is straight?"
"Perfectly."
When her father had disappeared through the doors, DG found herself alone in the hall wishing her sister were there. Az had been gone for the past few months staying with relatives in a small villa by the sea. After the constant state of exhaustion the witch had left her in the doctor said the fresh air would do her good. Through the magic the sisters shared, DG could feel that Az was indeed growing stronger, and it made her happy to think that she would soon have her sister back.
"Her Glorious Highness, Princess Dorthigale of The Outer Zone."
DG cringed at the use of her full name. Was it honestly necessary? Taking a deep breath, she ran her fingers through the hair that draped across her shoulder and reminded herself of the number of stairs on the grand staircase (seventeen) before giving a nod to the courier, who swung the high oak door open.
Stepping out into the light of the glittering ballroom, DG put what she hoped was a charming smile on her face. Waving to the guests, she scanned the seven chairs next to the thrones of her parents. There he was. His icy blue eyes locked on hers, and for a moment she couldn't move. He hadn't changed, not one bit. It felt as if a year had never gone by.
DG fought the urge to run down the staircase and throw herself at him. It would be horribly undignified, but she was sorely tempted. She wondered if he smelled the same, if his arms would feel the same way when they folded around her …
Somewhere in the back of her mind, DG realized that she needed to start moving. Taking a deep breath, she began her way down the stairs, all the while keeping her eyes fixed on his and recognizing in them something that was far from fatherly pride.
--
Cain couldn't believe what he was seeing. The woman walking down the grand staircase in a beautiful gown was so far from the confused other side girl he'd left behind. She was every inch a princess, and if it weren't for the honestly of her letters, he would've thought every movement came naturally to her.
"Wow," he heard one of the men whisper next to him. Cain looked at him out of the corner of his eye, suddenly feeling the urge to smack him. Who gave that man a right to look at DG?
Woah there, reminded the sensible part of his brain, no one gave you the right to look at her either. At least, not in the way you are …
Cain shook the voice away. If he kept on listening to it, tonight was going to be insufferable.
--
Two hours later, DG managed to extricate herself from a growing line of dance partners and suck quietly out the door. Leaning against the wall, she took a deep breath. There was something about waltzing with a large number of men you didn't care about – and not waltzing with the one you did care about – that made things ridiculously tiring.
"Mind if I join you?"
A smile spread across her face as she turned to the voice.
"Commander Cain," she said, dipping into a curtsy, "How long has it been?"
"Oh I don't know Your Highness," he replied, playing along, "At least one annual. But who's counting?"
"Me," DG replied simply, and with that she threw her arms around him, hardly surprised when her feet left the ground.
"God I missed you kid," Cain said, putting her down.
"I missed you too. Writing isn't the same as seeing someone in person."
"I know, I wish I could have come visit."
DG shook her head, "It's all right, you had work to do. Just … maybe don't leave again for that long okay?"
Cain laughed lightly, "I wouldn't dream of it."
DG smiled and put her hand on his arm, "Really though," she said softly, "I don't want want to go that long again without seeing you. I missed you too much."
Cain slid his hand on top of hers, "Trust me kid, if you missed me even half as much as I missed you, I won't be going anywhere for awhile."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." Cain paused, looking as though he was fighting some sort of inner battle before continuing. "DG, I thought about you a lot while I was gone, and I thought maybe it was just because I was lonely – I was so used to being with you and Raw and Headcase. But after seeing you tonight …" he took a deep breath, "I know that's not all it was. The way your letters made me feel every time I got one …" He drifted off, as surprised as she was by his sudden openness.
"Cain, I – "
"I don't expect you to feel the same way," he said hurriedly, "I just wanted you to know. I wanted you to know that every time I look at you I don't just see some kid."
DG nodded, meeting his gaze with her own and stepping closer to him, breathing in the mix of forest and leather and something uniquely his own. She had missed that smell more than she realized.
"And every time I look at you," she whispered, sliding her arms around his neck, "I don't just see an ex- tin man."
Pressing her lips against his, DG realized that there were some things worth waiting for.
A/N: Tada! Reviews are great.
