On the morning of the third day, Ambrose felt the fingers in his grasp twitch. He looked up in time to see Cain struggling to rouse himself. Ambrose gently sat on the bed and stroked the man's cheek.

Cain felt pain all over. He almost wanted to dive back into that darkness that didn't hurt. But then he felt the gentle fingers caress his face, and he knew he had to try to open his eyes. Adjusting to the bright lights, he could see Ambrose looking down on him with such worry in his eyes, that he couldn't help himself. He smiled weakly and reached up to grasp the hand near his face, leaning into the touch, "…Good morning sweetheart." His scratchy voice muttered.

Ambrose couldn't help the tears that fell down his face at those words.

"Why are you crying?" Cain rasped.

Ambrose choked out, "I almost lost you."

Cain intertwined his fingers with Ambrose's and brought them to his lips. "Can't get rid of me that easily. I still haven't paid the price for what I've done to you. Before or after your surgery. I never meant to hurt you. And I will do anything to show you how sorry I am." Cain looked up at Ambrose who was still crying.

Ambrose couldn't help but smile, "Just get better. Then I'll kick your ass myself."

Cain smirked at that. "I know you could. And I know you could do it with style and grace. … I look forward to it." With that, he closed his eyes, and fell back to sleep.

Ambrose knew that if Cain was aware and lucid, then he was going to be fine. He decided to leave and tell the rest of the royal family that he was going to be fine. Before leaving, he too left a kiss to the hand that was intertwined with his.


Since there was nothing he could do at the moment for Cain, he decided to try to figure out just what went wrong with the generator. He was in the middle of narrowing down the possibilities when he heard a tentative knock on the door. "Come in." He didn't feel like having visitors, but after the explosion, it seemed like the steam fueling his anger left as well.

It was DG who came in. She looked like a lost puppy herself with those big blue eyes. "Hi, um… do you have a few minutes to talk?"

Ambrose couldn't very well refuse the princess, so he indicated for her to sit down in a chair next to him. "What may I do for you, Princess?"

She ignored the Princess's remark. "I'm partially to blame for how everyone was acting towards you after your surgery. It was Glitch's wish that we welcome you home as though Glitch never existed. But I knew it wasn't going to be that simple. When I came back to the O.Z., Glitch was one of my first friends. He helped me save Cain. He helped me remember myself. He helped me save my sister, my mother, my father, and the O.Z.. But he wasn't happy with how he was, and there were rumors constantly thrown his direction. I never knew this until it was too late. I learned it from Cain afterwards, and I feel so ashamed that I never knew that my friend suffered so much." DG started to tear up while Ambrose just let her talk. "I wasn't there for my sister. I wasn't there for the people I thought were my parents. I wasn't there for my actual parents. And now I wasn't there for Glitch. When he left, I swore that I was going to be there for you, Ambrose. But you were so shielded, I didn't know how to approach you. That's when Cain started to come up with ways to get you to open up to us. He somehow knew things about you, and I went along with it, because we wanted to show you that you do have friends. We wanted to get to know the real you. I'm just so sorry things turned out this way. If there's anything I can do for you, please tell me."

Ambrose regarded her with wonderment. She was no longer the little presumptuous squirt he tried to teach biology. This was a young woman who is trying to make up for her past mistakes, just like everyone here. He handed her a handkerchief, and reached over to take her other hand. "Things have been confusing, on every front. The effects of war are still healing those most affected by it. Much of this, I still need to discuss with Cain. I need to know where I stand with him. But for now… let's take things one step at a time. My overconfidence led to the disaster of the generator. But machines are the only things I understand. Before that, no one showed any desire to be my friend, so I never tried being one. But now, that's obviously changed. I don't know what to do at this moment. But I know I can't go back to how things were. I'll have to reestablish myself, and everything around me. So allow me some time to reevaluate some things, and I promise I'll try not to be the non-sociable individual I was in the past. Perhaps soon, we could all enjoy another High Tea with chocolate covered strawberries." He smiled at her.

DG smiled and gripped his hand tighter. "I would love that!"

DG left soon after that, and Ambrose mulled over what he might say to Cain. Thinking about the man, he couldn't quell the urge to check on him, so he simply went to the infirmary to sit with him awhile. Upon reaching his room, he saw Cain being transferred over to a wheelchair.

The doctor looked up at Ambrose, "Ah, perfect timing Sir. Mr. Cain is ready to be transferred to his chambers, and I was about to inform the royal family."

Ambrose was pleased that Cain already looked so much better, even though he was covered in bandages. "Mind if I accompany him to his chambers." Ambrose asked. "I could help him get settled."

The doctor looked pleased. "Well, if you would like to make sure he gets there safely and help him into bed, that would be wonderful. It would give me the time I need to get his medication in order, and I won't have to make another trip."

Ambrose smiled and agreed. The trip to Cain's room was silent, but once they were inside the familiar walls, and Ambrose needed to help Cain into bed, did they break the silence. "Let me know if I hurt you." Ambrose said as he gently maneuvered the man into bed.

"Believe me, you're entitled to hurt me." Cain joked. He wanted to keep the mood light.

Ambrose winced and looked at him after he was safely tucked into bed. "I'm sorry for how I acted the last time I was in here."

Cain shook his head. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I invaded your privacy after I took you for granted. I've hurt your feelings a number of times, and I'm the one who should make it up to you."

Just then, the doctor came in, and explained the regimen of medications Cain was supposed to take. He soon left them alone again, taking the wheeled chair with him.

Ambrose couldn't help but be nervous. "Um… back when… the accident happened. Did you mean what you said?"

Cain thankfully could remember what he was talking about. Taking Ambrose's hand with his uninjured one, he led him to the edge of the bed near Cain's torso. Then he looked directly into his eyes. "I meant it all. I don't care who you are, or who you claim to be. You're the one who makes me feel. You make me feel like I do have a heart. And you're the one I want to give it to… if you'll take it." Cain looked uncertainly at him.

Ambrose felt his heart swell and his vision go all misty. He took Cain's hand and held it to his lips. "I honestly don't know what to say. I'm still so confused by everything. But all I know is that I want us to go back to the way we were. When we talked together, and laughed together. I want you in my life."

Cain caressed Ambrose's cheek, wiping away a tear that was just starting to trickle down. The both of them looked at each other, and as though they were two poles of a magnet, they connected in a gentle but heated kiss.

No sooner did Ambrose get a head rush from the wonderful sensation, then it began to turn into a searing pain like someone was trying to burn out his brain from the inside out. He gripped his head in both hands, and collapsed onto Cain's chest. Cain didn't know what happened and he didn't know what to say or do. His current position left him mostly immobile. So he just held Ambrose, waiting for something to go on.

When Ambrose's head began to clear, it was as though he was struck by a bolt of lightning. He could recall things. Events, memories, feelings, everything. He looked over at Cain, and was flooded by warmth and protectiveness. He leaned in to capture another kiss that Cain willingly gave but was still unsure and worried about what just happened. The sensation building between them was filled with desire and longing, but above all else, happiness. Ambrose backed up to look at the confused man. "The final connection has been established." Ambrose said as though he was stating a known fact.

Cain was at a loss for words. He saw multiple emotions spread across the man's face within the past few minutes, ranging from pain to surprise to elation. "I beg your pardon?"

"I'm me. I'm… I'm whole again. I… I understand everything now." Ambrose still had that goofy grin on his face that looked all too familiar.

"Could you fill me in please, because I think I'm lost."

Ambrose laughed with the relief of it all. "It's me! I mean I'm him! I'm… Glitch! But I'm still Ambrose! This whole time it was as though I had to pick one or the other, because that's what everyone was saying. But before my mind was separated, the part that was Glitch was very small. He had simple joys and pleasures. He was the part of me I suppressed because I wanted to protect myself from getting disappointed or hurt by other people. I thought I didn't need those feelings. But when he was free, so to speak, he was able to expand himself and grow. That's why I felt so incomplete after the surgery. I was jealous of myself the whole time. You were right. Inventing doesn't have to be all there is to life. And now that I realize that, I can live my life to its fullest wonders thanks to you!" With that, he kissed the helpless man again.

Cain struggled to sit up, "I still don't understand." He grunted.

Ambrose gently took his face in both his hands, and leaned in close. "Then let me put it this way. I was lost… broken… and thrown away." He punctuated each pause with a gentle kiss over the man's face. "You found me in the darkest of recesses, and you stayed with me until I was found."

Cain thought for a moment. "… The dreams?"

Ambrose nodded. "I told you to kiss me that first time, after you asked me whether or not I wanted you to find me. What I had done is create a connection on a subconscious level that could be established on a conscious level. Like the completion of an electrical current. In other words, your kiss has just released me from that dreamland. Now the two have become one. Mainly because there was never two of us to begin with!"

Cain still couldn't process what was being said. In a way, he had his Glitch back. But he was still Ambrose. Rather than worry about it, he just smiled. "So what happens now?"

Ambrose thought for a moment. "Right now, I'm going to watch over you as you get some rest. Then I will tell the others what's just happened."

Cain settled back down, but he never let go of Ambrose's hand. "And what am I to call you now?"

"I assume DG will still want to call me Glitch for old time's sake, but you can pick."

Cain couldn't help but joke, "Well, I can't call you zipper head or head case anymore, can I? How about I just stick with 'sweetheart'?"

Ambrose blushed. "A little sappy for you, isn't it? Not that I'm complaining."

"I just feel like it fits. You're my sweet-heart. You taught me to feel happiness again. And without you, I'm empty and hollow."

Ambrose looked like he was going to cry again. "I've waited so long to hear something like that."

Cain remembered his guilt, "I don't think I'll ever stop apologizing to you. After the way I treated you. And I'm sorry I took your journal…"

Ambrose placed his fingers on Cain's lips, quieting the man down. "Shh. It's alright Love. I'm glad, if not a little embarrassed that you've read it. I'm even more glad that you've found your answers. I'm so proud of you!"

Cain felt himself blush. But then the pain killers he was on were starting to kick in, forcing his body to crave sleep, and he couldn't stop the huge yawn that escaped his mouth.

Ambrose giggled and leaned in. "Rest now, Love." He gave him a kiss on the lips and started carding his fingers through Cain's hair.

Cain moaned. "That feels so nice…" It didn't take him long to nod off.

Ambrose gently extricated himself from the bed, and quietly left the room.


Ambrose couldn't help but put a little spring in his step. It was though a veil had been lifted, and he could see clearly for the first time. He was in unity with himself. A perfect balance. And as such, he knew there were people who loved him, and he knew that he returned that love. Especially with Cain. He was on a natural high finally knowing that the man felt the same about him. There was plenty of time to talk later, but that was what was important.

He knocked on the door to the terrace where DG and Azkadelia were seated, having a chat. DG rose from her seat when she saw who it was at the door, and waited patiently to hear what he had to say. Ambrose strode up in front of her, and smiled. "You never once let me down, DG. Don't ever think that."

DG looked confused for just a moment, because it's been so long since he's called her anything but princess. But the sparkle in his eyes is a tall tale sign that something had changed. It took her two seconds before her eyes grew wide. "…Glitch?"

Ambrose smiled wider. "Glitch, the way he should have been. Thank Cain for that." He just barely finished that sentence before he found himself tackled by a strong DG style hug. He hugged her back as tight as he was receiving. He couldn't help it, he was so happy, that he spun the girl around and around. The two of them laughing like two little kids.

TBC