Chapter Ten

To say that DG was uncomfortable was an understatement.

Maybe it was because she was pregnant, but the truck Cain was currently driving rode worse than DeMilo's. And that had had a bed in it.

"How much longer?" Az huffed, sounding incredibly like a child. DG tried to settle herself more comfortably on the ridiculous bench seat and tried not to breathe too deeply. The back of this ancient vehicle had a strange smell.

"I don't know. You're the one that grew up here, don't you know how long it takes to get places?"

Six hours and counting inside the back of the truck as it bumped and grinded its way across the countryside wasn't doing much to keep DG and Az at their best.

"The witch could just 'poof'," Az snapped her fingers and waved them in the air. "And be someplace. She only rode horses to keep her damn guards with her."

"I'd never thought I'd say I miss the witch." God, she was getting testy. She remembered taking car trips back in Kansas. Those were fun. This was not.

"You and me both." Az huffed and brushed her hair out of her face. Even in the plain cotton dress she looked fabulous. This made DG even crankier. She had been even more irritated than Az that they'd had to put on the dresses that they were wearing. She'd had to give up her beloved pants simply because women in this OZ didn't wear them regularly. And since it was common knowledge that DG did, she'd have been recognized, thoroughly defeating the purpose of this getaway.

She consoled herself with the fact that if her ever blossoming tummy was any indication, there was no way she'd be able to get her jean fastened soon anyway.

For a few more minutes, silence stretched between them as the truck bumped and plodded along the ridiculous roads. DG was starting to get a little impatient with the lack of industrialization in the OZ. Glitch and people like him could figure out a way to harness the suns energy to extend the growing season, but they couldn't figure out how to pave a freaking road?

"Ugh." She shifted again to try to get her numb butt to wake up. Az's eyes flicked to hers then back out the dingy window. To add another level of discomfort to their journey, it was hot. DG could feel the sweat making her back itch and stick to the cheap vinyl bench she was sitting on. Her hair felt damp with it and if she'd had a pair of scissors handy, she might have committed Harry carry on the poor, unsuspecting black tresses.

"WYATT!" Her screech, brought out by her crazy hormones she was sure, made Azkadelia jump about a mile out of her seat. The normally unflustered looking princess scowled hotly at her younger sister and crossed her arms over her bosom in what DG was sure was a reprimand. Too bad DG couldn't have cared less.

"What DG?" The little window that separated the cab from the awfulness of their prison slid open like the slit for meals in jail cells.

"Can we please stop? I'm melting back here and Az's perfection is getting on my nerves." She was sure she heard Cain growl. And was that a chuckle she heard from her stepson? DG decided she might have to ground him later.

"Oh, if I was as flustered and miserable as you I wouldn't get on your nerves?"

"Of course not. But maybe if you'd sweat a little. What are your sweat glands blocked or something?"

"That's disgusting."

"So's not sweating." DG shot back, knowing what she said didn't make sense, but she couldn't come up with anything better at the moment.

"Knock it off." Wyatt's voice whipped through the window, the tone telling the princesses he'd had just about enough.

DG resisted saying 'yes dad,' because he was her husband and old enough-if he'd been really, really young when he started to get busy-to be her father. And that was just gross.

"Wyatt, I want to stop." DG tried in her best imitation of her mother. It fell sadly short of the gentle, yet commanding tone the Queen could do so effortlessly. To DG, it sounded more like a whine.

"Yes, I do too." Az chimed in.

"Oh, now you jump on my bandwagon."

"What does a bandwagon have to do with getting out of this traveling hovel?" Az asked with a puzzled brow raised. DG sighed and blew her bangs out of her face.

"Never mind."

"Look, we're almost there. Can't you wait?" That didn't sound too much like a question to her, but she decided to take it like one.

"No." The two princesses said precisely at the same time. Wyatt didn't even try to hide his huff of irritation. In fact, to DG, it seemed he'd exaggerated it just a wee bit.

"Fine." A few seconds later the truck lurched to a stop. The sisters looked at each other for about a second before scrambling to get out the door. The younger princess got there first. In her haste, DG's shoe caught in the hem of her dress, sending her forward quicker than she wanted to go. The door opened in time for her to spiral out and land rather ungracefully in her husband's arms.

"Hi honey." The smell of the fresh air, not to mention Cain, who somehow always smelled good, cheered her almost immediately.

Too bad he didn't look even a tiny bit cheerful.

"Thank you, Jeb." Az emerged from the truck looking as poised as ever. She'd accepted Jeb's proffered hand and stepped gracefully down to the ground, delicately taking a deep breath as she moved away from him. Jeb merely nodded then moved away as well. DG wondered if he was nervous of if there was just way too much estrogen floating around in the air for him. After all she was pregnant, that at least tripled the amount.

"DG, we don't have time to keep stopping every time you two get uncomfortable. We'll never get there at this rate." With a gentleness DG was still getting used to, Wyatt set her right on her feet, his hand lingering on her back before he walked over to check the tires. The road they were on was rough and the tires were taking a lot of abuse. And it didn't seem to her that there were too many gas stations along the way. God, she hoped they didn't get a flat.

Irritation came back in full force when she moved to lean against a tree to commune with the nature surrounding them for their few moments of freedom. She tripped on a root that got caught on her dress. Somehow managing not to land on her face, she yanked up fabric and stalked, quite unladylike, to the tree.

When she situated herself, she looked up at Az. The older Princess was standing at the rear of the truck, staring down the road they'd just traveled. She didn't have any expression on her face and her dark eyes looked empty. It was a look DG had seen every now and then and she wondered just what Az was thinking about. She'd never had the nerve to ask her.

"Are you feeling better?" Wyatt came to stand next to her, concern replacing any ire he'd felt before. A few buttons were undone on his shirt and his duster and vest were both absent, telling her that he must have been hot as well. His gun was strapped on, of course. She wondered if he made love with it on.

"Yeah, I'm fine." If she sounded a little squeaky because of the images now playing crazily through her brain of !Naked Cain! then it just couldn't be helped. Cain arched a brow at her in a way that made her wonder if he could hear her thoughts. It wasn't the first time that had happened and she was more than a little unsettled by it.

It had only been a few days since that humiliating encounter in their suites. She'd thrown herself at him with a reckless abandon that must have left little wonder as to how she got pregnant. God, he must think she's some kind of slut, to be so ready to sleep with someone else. After all, it hadn't been that long since Josh. And even though she was married to Wyatt, it wasn't like they were madly in love. No matter what her skittering emotions had been trying to tell her.

She wasn't ready to say the "L" word. No matter what her heart thought.

"Az seems incredibly at ease with this whole situation." Cain observed, leaning next to DG on the tree. She felt his hand touch hers and she curled her fingers around his without thinking about it.

"I know. I figured she'd freak out completely. She just listened, then nodded and went off like she'd been told we were going on an extended holiday in Tahiti. It's a tropical island on the other side. A lot of tourists go there for vacations. Really sweet surfing." She could tell he understood until she mentioned surfing. Oh well. DG really did get tired of explaining herself all the time. Anyway, they were going to the coast. The people there probably surfed all the time.

Jeb stepped in front of Az, jerking her out of her silent reverie. DG smiled at the way the younger Cain spoke softly to her sister, inclining his head to catch her response. They looked so cozy it was easy to forget that he had once been her mortal enemy.

"What's going on there?" she asked Wyatt, hoping maybe his son had revealed something to him.

"I don't know. He says they're just friends." He responded with a shrug. DG frowned. That's all she'd gotten from Az as well. "Glitch got pretty upset when he found out we were leaving."

"Yeah. I guess he was pretty mad we were going to miss his surgery." She narrowed her eyes as she remembered just how upset Glitch had been. He stuttered so much that DG hadn't been sure of half of what he was saying. He tugged at his hair, his jacket, anything. He hadn't calmed much when it was time for them to leave. His mouth was still going with random things falling out of it as he hugged her goodbye. He was so flustered he grabbed Az and damn near crushed her. DG was even surprised to see his dark eyes awash with tears.

What was even stranger was seeing Az visibly shaken at his antics. She looked almost…anguished.

"You about ready to get going? I want to make it by nightfall." Cain asked, carefully unlinking their fingers and stepping away.

DG scowled and nodded reluctantly. She really had no desire to get back into the tin can on wheels, but she didn't have a lot of choice.

"I guess." Wyatt chuckled and leaned over to press a kiss to her temple. She leaned into it, letting her eyes drift closed and savoring the closeness.

"It's ok, sweetheart. It's not much longer." She knew he was lying, but smiled anyway. The roads, or the unpaved dirt they were traveling on, made it impossible to hurry. But, if they wanted to get there, they'd have to be in the truck. So, with a sigh, she pushed away from the tree.

"You know, I used to love road trips." She said before letting Wyatt help her back into the camper. When she was settled with Az back across from her, Cain handed her a canteen. She smiled gratefully and started to unscrew the cap.

"Get comfy ladies. We aren't stopping again unless it's an emergency." He leveled his blue eyes on them, the look in the crystalline orbs letting them know he wasn't kidding.

"Yes dear." DG said with as much sugary sweetness she could muster. Az just rolled her eyes and went back to looking out the window.

Cain hoisted himself up into the cab, ignoring the creaking of his joints. He wouldn't say it out loud, especially to DG, but he'd needed the break as much as she did. A person might think, that after a damn near decade in a tin suit would make him immune to discomfort. A couple of months in a soft bed had ruined that.

"How far do you think we'll get this time?" Jeb asked, sliding in next to him.

Wyatt grunted a noncommittal response and turned the engine over. It came to life with a rusty growl and the whole thing lurched when he put it into gear. He'd wanted a vehicle that wouldn't call attention to them. Not one so old they might not get to the Emerald Isle at all.

Maybe he'd been a bit too pushy with Ahamo.

"Can I ask you something?" Jeb asked after about a mile of bumping along. They hadn't said much to each other since Cain had told his son he was going with them. He'd been relatively good-natured on the trip, finding amusement in the Princesses antics and helping Cain drive when he got weary. But neither had really felt the need to try to talk. Now it seemed Jeb was ready.

"Sure."

"Why did you want me to come along?" The question was asked calmly enough, but Cain could sense a tension under the words that gave them an edge.

"Because, besides Glitch and Raw, you're the only one in that palace I trust." That was only part of the answer, but it was the only part he was willing to say out loud.

"Trust for what? I'm kinda feeling manipulated here. Or worse. Protected." There it was. The temper that Adora had hidden behind her sweet smile was alive and kicking in her son. The younger man didn't raise his voice; he didn't even change his tone. But Cain could hear it just as sure as if he'd shouted.

"Can't say that the idea of you being out of the way while any possible coup might break out was appealin'." Wyatt answered. "And you could have said no, so don't accuse me of manipulating you."

"Oh really? I heard an order from your father-in-law."

"What really burns you? That he ordered you? Or that he is my father-in-law?" Close confines were not a good environment for a heated discussion. It usually led to further heat that led to bruised egos and feelings.

"I don't know." Jeb answered through clenched teeth. The two sat in silence for a few minutes, the air practically crackling between them.

"Look," Wyatt said after he took a deep breath. He glanced quickly at his son then back at the road. "I know this whole thing has been…sudden." An understatement to be sure. Especially since he wasn't talking just about the trip. "But I need you on this."

He heard Jeb shift, and then shift again. He knew that everything was happening way too fast for his son. Hell, things were moving way too fast for him, and he'd been the one with all the ideas here lately.

"I don't want you to think that I'm dragging you out here to keep you from fighting. When the time comes, if that's what you want, I won't try to stop you." It took a lot to say that. To acknowledge the independence his son had earned while he was imprisoned. Part of him still wanted to protect the boy he remembered, to keep him safe from the monsters under the bed.

"All right." Jeb said quietly, nodding as if that sealed the agreement.

"All right." Wyatt repeated, letting a smile drift across his lips before turning his full attention back onto the road.

A/N-Goodness. A thousand apologies for how long it took me to get this out. I won't bore you with the details. Just life and stuff. Then there was a brief bout with writers block. On EVERYTHING. Sigh. Anyway, I apologize again. Please review if you're not too mad. :D