Chapter Nine

If Wyatt hadn't been quite so...agitated, he might not have stormed into his father in laws office without knocking. And, upon entering said office and finding the very object of his ire-well, mostly-he might not have hauled the man out of the chair he was sitting in and held him in a vice grip as he growled threats at him. Maybe.

Ahamo had let Cain grouse and growl for a full thirty seconds, putting the fear of the witch into the man better than he could have in that moment. Then, with a practiced ease of a man used to dealing with violent men-he had been in the realm of the unwanted for fifteen annuals-he managed to get Cain to let the other man go with some persuasion.

Now, Wyatt was sitting in the other chair in Ahamo's office, lightly rubbing his chin and glaring at the Head of the Guard. The other man was trying to push the chair further away from Cain while trying not to look like that's what he was doing. Ahamo was sitting behind his desk, looking less than pleased with both men.

"Gentlemen, need I remind you in these dangerous times, that in-fighting such as this won't accomplish anything? Wyatt, I appreciate your anger over what happened this afternoon. My children's safety is the utmost importance to me. And when that safety is compromised, I find myself very put out." His tone was mild, the words much more civilized than the eyes looking out at them. Wyatt didn't squirm. Ahamo didn't expect him too. But the other man, Jackson, looked decidedly nervous indeed. "Now, I expect that the problems with the security in the castle will get solved, today, before anymore boys get drunk and try to take potshots at us all." This was leveled at Jackson, who nodded, his face expressing his annoyance at Ahamo for allowing Wyatt to manhandle him.

He expected there to be rumors of special favors for his son in law as soon as Jackson left the room. "I certainly hope so. Otherwise, you may find yourself replaced." The fact that Ahamo had dealt with situation without once raising his voice or his fist-well, for the most part-impressed Wyatt to no end. Not that he'd let the Prince Consort know that, of course.

"Wyatt, you resigned your commission when you married DG. You felt that you couldn't do a proper job as head of security while settling into your new life with her and I agreed. Please remember that when you feel something isn't done up to your standards."

A terse nod was all the answer Wyatt gave. Ahamo stared at them both for a few more seconds before leaning forward to look at some paperwork on his desk. "Leave us, Jackson. You have a lot of work to do."

Wyatt's eyes narrowed. Why did Ahamo want to speak to him alone? Worry pushed aside the darker emotions he'd been feeling and he waited patiently for the other man to leave.

"If there were one place in the whole OZ that you would take a person to be safe, where would that be?"

"The Emerald Island." Wyatt said without hesitation. The rumored birthplace of Glinda the Good, The Emerald Island was situated along the coast in the southern country. The name itself was strange, since it wasn't an island. It had managed to stay out of the sights of the witch, and a small, solid community still inhabited the area. Ahamo considered this for a few moments, leaving Wyatt to wonder silently at what the hell this was getting at.

"As you know, the OZ is unstable. People have lost faith in the House of Gale and they want to see Az's head on a platter, so to speak. Of course, this can't happen and just short of sending her to the Other Side, I don't see an easy out. With DG being pregnant, that makes her as vulnerable as her sister. She could very well be the next ruler if we manage to avoid another coup, since the people of the OZ will not tolerate Azkadelia."

"If you beg my pardon, sir. DG won't want that." Wyatt said this with a finality that would have made any other man drop the subject.

"Again, as you know, we don't always get what we want."

"And sometimes we do." Wyatt threw back, making it clear without saying it that he wouldn't allow someone, not even her parents, force her to do something she didn't want. If she hadn't agreed to their marriage, even, he wouldn't have gone through with it. And he would have stood by her side to rebuff each and every suitor her parents threw at her. With his gun cleaned and loaded.

"Wyatt, she is a descendent of the Gray Gale, her rightful place, if Az can't take it, is the thrown."

"And if the people of this country have their way, there won't be a royal house anymore. Do you really want her sitting on that thrown when it all comes to a head?"

"No. That's why I want you, as well a small group of men, to take the two princesses to the Emerald Island. You will stay there until the birth of the baby and then…we will see where things stand at that time."

Wyatt's jaw clenched tight with the declaration from his father in law. He didn't abide by anyone telling him what to do with his wife, his family. In fact, the only reason he wouldn't fight Ahamo was because he wanted to remove DG from the center of conflict anyway. And the Emerald Island was as good of a place as any.

"Me and DG, Az, and my son. That's it. I'd say Glitch as well, but he'd bring more notice of us than he'd want."

"You and Jeb? That's not enough of a detail."

"Excuse me, sir." He noticed that Ahamo didn't be him to call him by his first name. "But if we have more, anyone that wants to know will know exactly where we are. Blending in, I think, is the best idea."

"And you get everyone out of harms way, including your son." Wyatt shrugged at this. There was no shame in wanting his son safe, or wanting an opportunity to get to know him.

Ahamo sighed and just barely resisted rubbing his eyes to ease the ache that had settled behind them sometime after he'd found out about the shooting.

"All right. Their mother won't like it, but I'll settle it with her. We will keep in contact once a week by currier. As you know, the phone lines do not extend outside the city and I would like to keep any magic using to the minimum. When do you want to leave?"

Excitement cut through the foul mood Wyatt had been nursing since his last fight with DG. He'd been tossing around the idea of trying to get her out of Central City before the situation deteriorated completely and here his chance was being handed to him.

"As soon as possible. I'd like her settled before she really starts to get uncomfortable." Wyatt rose without waiting to be dismissed. His mind was already jumping ahead, making plans and practicing what he would tell DG. Then, a thought dawned on him. "Sir, me, DG and Jeb won't have a problem blending in with the people. Even with the pictures floating around, they're bad enough that we can pass."

"You're worried about Azkadelia?" Wyatt could see that this was a concern of the other man's as well. "She'll learn."

"I'm more worried about her face." Everybody knew Azkadelia. Everybody.

"You'd be surprised just how different my girl can look with a little effort. Don't worry about that. If all else fails, her birthright will protect her there, if no where else."

Wyatt thought about that, and then nodded. It would have to do.

"Thank you, Wyatt. I leave it to you to protect my daughters and my unborn grandchild."

"I'll take care of my wife, child and sister-in-law." Wyatt shot back, reminding Ahamo that he wasn't the only one with a lot at stake and that he didn't consider his marriage as a lifetime bodyguard position. This was his family too.

"All right." That seemed to put an end to their conversation. Cain touched the brim of his hat then turned smartly on his heel. He had some work to do.

Dusk was falling when DG finally mustered what was left of her dignity to leave the bedroom. She knew Cain was gone. Knew he'd been gone for hours. She figured sooner or later he'd show back up again and then she didn't know what she was going to do.

A horrible realization had come to her when she was in the bedroom wallowing the shame of being crazy-hormone-girl. His rejection of her had stung. A lot. More than she really thought it should have. His reasons were valid, maybe, and they'd only been married a week. Was that really long enough for their relationship to change so drastically that they wouldn't have the awkward oh my god I can't believe we just did that morning after? She wasn't sure and she didn't think she could handle one of those. Especially with way her emotions were swinging all over the place.

The realization that she came to made her heart speed up and her stomach do twists that had nothing to do with nausea. As she was telling herself he was right and trying to convince herself that she really didn't want to cut out his heart with his tin star that maybe her feelings were base on more than just hormones.

Maybe, and this was a big, horrible, 'let it not be maybe' maybe. Let it be no, a whole wide world of no. She was starting to have feelings for Wyatt Cain.

Shit.

DG crossed the suite and moved into the kitchen to put on some tea. She wasn't a huge fan of the OZ's version of the drink, but she did find it soothed her nerves. She would have preferred coffee, but she didn't think that was such a good idea right now.

The movements of making the tea soothed her. She put the water on to boil and pulled out a mug. Then the tea was measured into the tea filter-she didn't know the proper name for it. She didn't like tealeaves floating in her cup. It grossed her out. With that done, DG leaned against the counter to wait and her mind looped back to the subject that had been driving her crazy.

Normally, having feelings for one's husband would be considered a good thing. Natural and essential in fact. But that was only if your husband wasn't still in love with and grieving his dead wife.

Gotten yourself into a good one, this time Deeg. It had snuck up on her of course. And she wasn't quite ready to think, much less say the 'L' word. She wasn't that far gone, yet, she was sure. She wondered if there were a way she could stop it, think it gone. She knew better, but wondering about it was fun.

How did she let her life get this nuts? Suddenly, being a semi-college student with nothing more to look forward to than fixing the turbine, again and working in a crappy diner didn't seem like such a bad thing.

The water boiled and DG finished making her tea. She walked back out into the sitting area and yanked a couple of curtains open to watch the rest of the day fade away. She sat on the sofa and pulled her sketchpad into her lap. She didn't do anything with it for a few minutes as she sipped her tea and watched the dual suns leave the sky.

What the hell was she going to do? Things were suddenly getting very complicated. Absently, she laid a hand against her still flat stomach. Everything had gotten so topsy-turvy so quickly.

Idly, her mind thought ahead. In six months when her body was very round, the baby kicking and moving in her stomach to it's own internal beat. She smiled without realizing it. She thought further ahead still, to after the baby was born. She imagined a sweet little boy with dark curls and her eyes. She didn't really think to add any of Josh's characteristics in to the mix.

DG tried to imagine being a mother. Feeding and diapering, hugging nightmares away and kissing boo-boos. It was surreal to think that that was going to be her life soon enough. The enormity settled on her right then, and surprisingly, the weight wasn't uncomfortable.

She imagined Cain, teaching their son throw a ball-did they play catch in the OZ? -holding him as he learned to walk on his own, chubby legs. It wasn't hard to imagine the pride and love in Cain's eyes she knew would be there. She saw it whenever he looked at Jeb.

Then, that deep, secret unwelcome part of her imagined him looking at her with that level of love and devotion.

When did she jump over the cliff into pathetic?

She sipped her tea, balancing her cup with one hand then picked up her pencil with the other. With a few strokes she had the outline of a pair of eyes. There was little doubt whose eyes they would wind up being. After all, they were the first thing she'd noticed about him. Clear, silvery blue, just crinkling at the edges with lines. They could burn you with their intensity one minute, then freeze you cold the next. They could make a grown man squirm.

DG sighed again, filling in the area around the eyes. She erased, redid and fussed until they were just perfect. When she was done, it was kind of disconcerting to have just his eyes staring back at her in black and white on the page. The look she drew in them had her sighing once more. She was starting to get to be an expert in that. If she couldn't have him looking at her like she was the only woman in the world in real life, she'd draw it.

She tossed the book away guiltily when the door opened behind her. She turned a little to watch him come in, her heart tripping just a bit with her new found knowledge fresh in her mind.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong." He walked around the couch and sat next to her. She shifted nervously, suddenly afraid of even brushing knees with him. Thankfully, he seemed too distracted to notice.

Get a grip, DG. This is still Cain, don't freak out just because you've lost your mind.

"Then why do you look like you found Glitch streaking thought the castle?" She took a sip of her tea and settled against the cushions. "Again."

Wyatt grinned, a quick slice of teeth across his face that almost seemed like a grimace.

"No. Nothing like that. I saw you're father."

"Oh? And neither of you have bruises?" It seemed a little weird that her father and husband seemed at odds with each other, even when they didn't say a word to each other. She supposed it had something to do with that whole…alpha male thing.

"We don't get along that bad." Wyatt countered, scowling.

"Yet." His scowl darkened and DG found she wanted to laugh. Probably not the best idea right then. "Ok, ok. Sorry. What's up with the father unit?"

Wyatt sat silent for a moment, as if trying to get up the nerve to say something. DG waited, wondering if she should duck for cover. The rate they were going today, any more revelations might have a disastrous effect.

"I'm sorry, DG. For what happened earlier. And for the record, I don't think of Adora when I'm kissing you."

Oh, that was so not what she needed to hear right then. Her already jumbled emotions shifted to make room for even more confusion. Oh joy. Her breath hitched and it took all her will not to throw herself at him like some kind of silly romance heroine. That hadn't worked out for her so well earlier.

"That's good to know. And don't apologize. That was just as much my fault. More. Because I'm crazy, you see." She wanted this subject dropped. Now.

He grinned at that, a much more at ease smile than the one he'd produced earlier. "You're not crazy."

"Yeah, I am." She put her tea aside since it had grown cool and leveled him with a look. "Now, what happened with Ahamo?"

"I went to talk to him about the lack of security this afternoon." DG arched a brow, making her look a lot like Azkadelia. He didn't elaborate. "He's concerned, too. So," This was where it might get dodgy. He didn't know how DG would react to essentially being exiled. "He asked me where I would take someone if I were trying to make sure they were safe. I told him the Emerald Island."

"I take it we're going there?" He shot a glance over at her, wondering idly if he should duck.

"Yes. Azkadelia too."

DG went silent for a few seconds, pondering. "I think I read about the Emerald Island. That's where Glinda was from?"

"Rumored."

"It's a fishing village or something."

"Yes. It's small, remote and there's no palace there. No cushy rooms like this or a fully serviced kitchen."

"Oh hell, when can we go?" That sounded like heaven to her. There would be nobody chasing her around trying to fit her for ball gowns, or telling her that her posture was bad, or looking at her with a mix of pity and fascination.

"You sure?"

"God yes, I'm sure. It'll be almost like being back in Kansas. Ahamo wasn't worried about security? I mean, if we have a full detail of guards hovering around us won't that be kind of obvious?"

"It'll just be us, Azkadelia and Jeb."

"Really? He agreed to that? You agreed to that?"

"It was my idea." He told her, with a smirk.

"You've come a long way, Tin Man." DG was impressed. He was going to let two princesses that were from a family that was in questionable standing with the people of the country go gallivanting off across said country to hole up in a small village on the beach.

Cool.

"Don't go getting that gleam in your eye, DG. This is for your safety. So you can have the baby in peace and not have to worry about getting shot at."

"Or you." She said almost without thought.

"Yeah. Or me."

"Ok. This sounds interesting. When do we leave?" She couldn't imagine how Az was going to take to a life without luxury. Did it make her a bad sister that she thought that could be funny? Probably.

"As soon as possible."

"What about Glitch's surgery? I kind of wanted to be here for that." DG chewed on her lip.

"DG, I know. But we just can't. The further along you get the less you should be traveling. In case you haven't noticed, the roads around here aren't that great."

"Yeah." She couldn't help feeling disappointed that she wouldn't be there. But she supposed Wyatt was right. "All right. I'm sure he'll understand."

"Of course he will. Then he'll forget about it five minutes later."

"Wyatt!" DG punched him in the shoulder when he started to chuckle. "That's not nice." So why was she snickering a little too?

"No. But it's true." Wyatt was downright laughing now. His shoulders shook as he tried to repress the worst but he couldn't. Apparently, the combined stresses of the day were catching up with him. Both of them. Because damn if DG wasn't pressing her hand against her mouth to keep her own laughter from bubbling out. Within seconds the battle was lost, and they both dissolved into fits of giggles, leaning against each other to steady themselves against the onslaught.

When it was over, DG was somehow tucked against his side, his arm around her shoulder. They didn't say another word, almost as if they were afraid to. So they sat next to each other on the couch, watching the night pass in silence.

AN-Yay. Screw you writer's block. Or something. Anyway, I hope you all like this much better than you liked the last chappy of Gentle Not the Heart. Enjoy. Oh, and forgive any serious flubs, I'm tired and didn't get really picky with myself. Sorry in advance.