AN: I don't own Tin Man. I'm just borrowing the characters for my own twisted ends. :D

Recommended Listening: Fasch: Concerto In E For Trumpet, Oboe D'Amore, Violin, Strings & Continuo, Affettuoso

Az and DG ran out over the grounds of Finaqua, their squeals and laughs floating through the air. Their sound was joyous and lighthearted, the epitome of playful youth. Their bare feet kicked up sprays of white sand that glittered like diamonds in the sunlight, bright against the jeweled satins of their skirts.

"You can't catch me!" Az called over her shoulder.

"You just wait! I ran track in high school!" DG bellowed, putting on an extra burst of speed, hitching her jade skirts higher. "Just not in skirts!"

Az's giggle floated back as she broke into a ground-eating lope. She made it halfway around the lake before she came to a stop, collapsing back onto the soft sand with a happy sigh.

"You run like a freaking gazelle," DG informed her as she caught up. She plopped into the sand, sprawling in a graceless heap. "Where did that come from?"

"The Vedu call it being horse-blooded," was the thoughtful reply. "As to the speed, I don't really know where it comes from. I only discovered it when I started running laps with the trainees."

DG's cornflower blue eyes narrowed accusingly. "You're not even breathing hard!"

"Neither are you," Az pointed out with a laugh. "If you want to make accusations of athletic ability, you should look at yourself first. You were always running and climbing all over things as a child. Did you continue any of that on the Other Side? What is this 'track'?"

DG spread her skirts around her and began plucking rushes for braiding. Perhaps Mother would appreciate a new bookmark. "I did some rock climbing. I was really good at that." Her tongue stuck out the side of her mouth as she began to braid. "Maybe I'll get Glitch to make some climbing equipment for me. I saw some really great boulders and cliff faces in the Great Kells. Track is a sport that includes running, jumping, and throwing events. I was good at sprinting and long jump."

"I would have loved to see that. Were you good, Deeg? I'm sure you were."

"Pretty decent." The corners of her lips curled upwards. "I won a few medals here and there, especially for the 200 meter. Mom and Popsicle – Hank and Emily – probably have some of my meets in their vid files."

Az felt a slight pang in her chest. There were so many things that she'd missed out on while DG grew up on the Other Side. "I'll ask them the next time I see them." She'd ask to see a few other things, too.

Motion on the other side of the lake drew the two sisters' attention.

"What on earth?" DG muttered, shading her eyes. In the distance, two figures dove off the docks and into the lake, their bodies cutting through the crystal blue waters with relative ease. Just before they hit the water, the sun glinted off hair as richly gold as Az's dress.

"Of course Jeb and Wyatt would be racing laps around the lake on a rest day," she grumbled. "I shouldn't be surprised, and yet I am."

Az sat up, squinting as she peered at the two. "Who's winning?"

DG tilted her head to the side, considering. "Well, Jeb's got a swimmer's body. Long and lean, powerful shoulders and arms, narrow hips. He's got speed and agility going for him, too. But Wyatt's got sheer brute strength and endurance. In that kind of match, the last lap is the real deciding factor."

Az chose to overlook DG's assessment. But something her sister had said something twice now that caught her attention. It could mean everything or it could mean nothing, and she knew what she hoped it could be. "Since when is Commander Cain 'Wyatt' to you, Deeg?" She had the distinct pleasure of watching her younger sibling's face suffuse with color.

"Since…since I thought it would be confusing to yell out 'Cain' when Jeb's around." That excuse was lame, even to her ears. She knew Az would call her out on it.

"DG." Sure enough, Az fixed her with a look that was eerily similar to their mother's. "You're a terrible liar, especially to me. Did something happen with you two during field exercises?"

There was a long, drawn-out silence. "Nothing happened during the exercises!" DG said eventually. She looked away. She'd tried so hard not to think about what happened, and worrying about Az in the forest had helped a great deal. But Az had returned in a matter of hours, radiantly whole. DG's mind had insisted on focusing on other things. Namely, the Kiss. "It was after the exercises."

Great job, mouth, DG thought sarcastically. Just go on flapping without input from the brain, why don't you?

"What happened after the exercises?" Az's voice was sharp with excitement. "And no takeaways, little sister."

"Take-backs, Az."

She fought the urge to smack her sister on the head. "Stop avoiding the subject, DG."

DG muttered her confession underneath her breath, but Az's keen ears caught it anyway. "Blessed Ozma, you two finally k-" Her loud exclamation was cut off as DG tackled her back into the sand, clapping a hand over her mouth.

"Az, do you want everyone in Finaqua proper to know what happened?" she hissed, the tips of her ears burning red. She didn't want the other guilty party to know that she'd spilled the beans, especially when he was swimming laps only a few yards away with his son. "And what do you mean, finally?"

"Do you really need to ask?" Az's voice was muffled. "Deeg, you can't be that oblivious."

DG wanted to point out that this was a serious case of the pot calling the kettle black. Az was worse than oblivious – she was willfully oblivious. For DG, everything leading up to and including the kiss had been a surprise. But Az? Her dear, brilliant, and woefully stubborn-as-a-donkey older sister simply refused to believe that Jeb Cain could love her that way. Even when all of the evidence pointed to the contrary. Hell, he'd been the one to find and wait for her at the cave, pacing for hours in the cold, damp hours of the night and early morning. If that wasn't love, DG would eat her leather jacket.

"I'm not oblivious, Az. Not anymore, at least. Thanks for asking." DG rolled onto her back and contemplated the sky. "It's just that I probably wouldn't have looked at Wyatt twice on the Other Side."

"Why ever not? Don't tell me that men are so handsome over there that you can afford to overlook a man like him!"

"No, it's definitely not that," DG laughed. There had been too many freckled farm boys and hick football players in her life on the Other Side. Just like he did here, Wyatt Cain would stand as a man apart on the Other Side. "It's just…over there, he wasn't my type. Still isn't, really. I usually don't go for the grumpy guys."

Az snorted. Grumpy was an understatement.

DG continued. "But…I like that he's so grumpy. I like being able to charm him out of it." Her voice grew soft. "When I get him to smile…really smile, it's like winning the lottery. It's as though he's bringing out this side of him that's been buried by all of the pain and anguish and loss. When that happens, things just fall into place." She shrugged helplessly.

Cool fingers slipped between hers. "You're the one that brings out that side of him, Deeg. You and you alone. That's something special." When her little sister shook her head mutely, she continued. "You've given him hope and a chance to have a new beginning. Why shouldn't you like seeing him happy?"

"I don't know, Az. This is all kind of new for me, you know? I had a few boyfriends on the Other Side, but it was never anything serious. This…scares me. Especially when I wonder how much of his heart died with her."

Adora Cain. Of course DG would be afraid of living in the shadow of Wyatt's wife. "I think you're underestimating his capacity for love," she said slowly. "Mother always says that a heart that knows love can only grow bigger."

DG sighed. "But you can't deny that there are people that love once and that's it. Like those little old ladies who still talk about their Johnny."

That was true. Sheikh Jaasir was one of those people. He had told her that there would never be another woman for him but Hala. "Still, Deeg, you're never going to know if you don't do anything about it." She grinned. "Although, I'd say something has already been done. How was it?" Her eyes sparkled.

"Too short," was the grumbled reply. "Although it sure as hell promised a lot." She glanced at her sister and laughed at her expression. "What's with the Cheshire grin?"

"I don't have nearly enough teeth for that kind of grin, Deeg," Az said flippantly. "Now, I need more details!"

DG frowned. "Hold on now, Cheshire is an Other Side thing. I'm pretty sure I've never mentioned him before, so how do you know him?"

Now it was Az's turn to give her sister a strange look. "Cheshire, on the Other Side? No, he's definitely from this side of the universe, little sister."

DG opened her mouth to argue when a new sound caught her attention. She turned her head and promptly lost every coherent thought in her head. Wyatt and Jeb were coming out of the water nearby, trading good-natured quips.

She'd thought that there was no better sight than Wyatt Cain, freshly shaved and sporting a particularly tight pair of trousers. It turned out that there was something a whole lot better. Her appreciative gaze took in every detail of his solidly built rugby player's body. There were football players on the Other Side who were positively skinny in comparison to him. She mentally drooled as she followed the path of the water droplets that made their way down his muscled chest, idly wishing that her fingertips could follow in their stead.

And holy saints above, those waterlogged trousers left nothing to the imagination. Her libido chose that moment to remind her that it was still active and boy did it want attention.

She nudged her sister. "Get a load of that," she said, jerking her head in their direction. "If there was a ladies' pin-up calendar in the O.Z., they'd definitely be the starring attractions. Wyatt would be Mr. July for sure. The hotties are always put in the summer months."

"What in Lurline's name are you…" Az trailed off as she followed her sister's gaze. She promptly turned scarlet and looked away, but not before Jeb's image burned itself in her mind. DG's earlier assessment had been right on the mark. He was simply one long line of sinewy, corded muscle. Sunlight caught the wetness that clung to every ridge and disappeared into every curve and dip, accentuating his build. The water forced his blond curls to hang into his eyes, giving him a distinctly rakish look.

Dear Ozma help me, Az prayed. Maybe they wouldn't even notice that she and DG were sitting over here. Yes, any moment they'd turn and make their way back to the castle and not even know they'd given their princesses an eyeful-

"Good morning DG, good morning Az." Jeb's cheerful voice filtered through her jumbled thoughts.

"Jeb!" DG sounded far too delighted for her own good. Az wondered when her sister had become such a wonderful actress. She'd been so close to maudlin only a few minutes ago, although the sight before them almost certainly guaranteed a complete change in mood. "Was that race really necessary? Field exercises were only a day ago!"

"No rest for the wicked." There was Wyatt, his voice as dry as the desert sands. "Good morning, princess." Oh, now that was an interesting tone of voice. Az cracked open an eye. Sure enough, there was a slight tinge to DG's cheeks. "Good morning, Azkadellia."

"Good morning Mr. Cain, Jeb." Az tried hard to stare at a point somewhere over Jeb's left shoulder without making it obvious that she wasn't making any sort of eye contact. "It's a fine morning, isn't it?"

"And getting better," Jeb murmured under his breath. He was unable to take his eyes off Az, as he had been since she'd stumbled out of the cave the morning before. Every time they were in the same room he could do nothing but stare. She was absolutely radiant right now, sitting in a pool of sunlight in a dress the color of daisies.

Wyatt aimed a sideways glance at his son. The look on his face was practically lovesick. It was almost amusing, until he wondered with dawning horror if he was sporting a similar look because of DG. While circumstances had certainly changed with that rather spectacular release of pent-up feelings two days earlier, there were things that he would never willingly stoop to – teenage displays of mooning being one of them. He'd never been like that with Adora, and he certainly wasn't going to start now.

Even if DG looked like a breath of fresh air, sitting there with a lapful of braided rushes.

He shifted on his heels, suddenly uncomfortably aware of his state of undress. He did not know whether he should be alarmed or gratified by the way DG was looking at him. Whatever the case, this was not an appropriate situation. "Uh-" he began.

Az scowled inwardly, not noticing the awkward silence that had fallen over the group. This was just ridiculous. She was an adult, so she had better well act like one. She looked up and fastened her gaze to Jeb's and almost faltered at the intensity reflected in those blue depths. The look in his eyes was the same as it had been when she stumbled out of the cave. Pushing her quivering nerves aside, she spoke up. "Shall we sit down with Jem and Glitch later on to discuss the field exercises? I think we should discuss what to do from here on out."

Her all-business attitude knocked Jeb right out of his reverie. "Oh," he said, blinking at the change in topic. "Yes, of course. If there's a room we can use-" A strong breeze off the lake reminded him that his breeches were quite waterlogged. "After we eat. And have a bath." Ozma save him, he was babbling like an idiot.

"Nah, just come as you are," DG drawled, recovering herself. Her eyes danced merrily. "We've enjoyed the show." She ignored Az's hissed "Deeg!"

Jeb turned scarlet. He was half-naked in front of the princesses. In front of Azkadellia. In an echo of his father's thoughts, he realized how out-of-place he and his father were. "Nope, that's quite all right. If you'll excuse me." He bowed shortly and left as quickly as he could without seeming rude. DG had to hide a smile at his all-too-apparent embarrassment. Az, of course, was unaware.

"We'll see you later," Wyatt said casually as he followed his son away. He shot DG a look that promised to return to their unfinished business. It was all she could do to keep from shivering – though if it was from fear or anticipation, she couldn't say.

"Is that the end of the list?" Jeb asked Gordy, ignoring the emptiness in his stomach. The cup of tea that sat in front of him had long since gone cold, having been poured at mid-afternoon. Now, he thought, looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows of Finaqua Castle's uppermost room, the sun was beginning to set. Fires were already going in the camps of the trainees and the men of Sixth. The servants had already been in to light the outdated gas lamps on the walls and to inform them when dinner would be served. Glitch had been particularly unnerving, constantly grumbling under his breath about the costs of utility upgrades.

"Yes, Commander Cain."

"Everyone's performance has been evaluated, then."

Jem frowned. "Not everyone's, Jeb. We still have not discussed the matter of Micah." He was reluctant to bring that to attention, but he knew his duty.

"And on that note, I'm off," Glitch announced, standing up from the table. "This really doesn't concern me, and there are some books in the library I've been dying to get my hands on."

"But what about dinner, Glitch?" DG asked.

The former headcase shrugged. "I'll sneak into the kitchens. Chef loves me…I think." With a jaunty bow, he exited the room. There was a long and uncomfortable pause in the wake of his exit before anyone spoke.

"Yes, Micah," Jeb muttered. He gritted his teeth, remembering how utterly unconcerned the woman had looked when confronted over Az's absence. "I have half a mind to expel her from the group. Riders leave no one behind." His voice was fierce, echoing off the rose-colored marble that covered almost every surface in the room. "Then there is the insubordination, which is no small matter as well."

Jem was watching his friend and commander closely and knew the implacable look in his eyes. And while his heart protested, his brain knew what was to be done. Micah would have been ejected from the Royal Army for either one of those infarctions, let alone both. "I understand, Jeb."

"You're not expelling her." Az's voice cut through the uncomfortable silence. Four pairs of eyes swung to her, astonished. Gordy's eyes darted between the adults seated at the table.

"Excuse me?" Jeb asked.

"You heard me, Jeb. Micah will not be suspended," she said calmly. "And she should be taken off probation while we're at it."

"Az, what are you thinking?" DG asked softly. "This woman has made your life a living hell for the past few months with the Riders, don't deny it. She's been nothing but a big bully and you're just going to let her get away with it? Jeb's right, she just left you in the forest-"

"For which I am grateful." Az pushed away from the table and walked over to the window just as the last rays of the sun vanished beyond the horizon. The flickering flames of the gas lights deepened the shadows on her face. "While many of my interactions with her have not been ideal-" She ignored DG's disbelieving snort. "I would not change the events that transpired in the forest. Any of them."

Wyatt leaned back in his chair. "What exactly happened with you two, Highness?"

"I'm afraid that's between Micah and myself, Mr. Cain," was the soft reply.

"Why are you standing up for her, Az?" Jeb was confused. There was no vengeance in Az, he knew that as clearly as he knew his own name. But he thought she would have been relieved to be rid of someone who had been a thorn in her side for so long.

The princess turned from the window. "Because she is a good woman and you know it, Jeb." But her gaze fell on Jem, whose lips were pressed together in a bleak line as he stared, unseeing, at the sheets of paper before him. At Az's words he looked up and a long look passed between them, full of thanks and understanding. "Just as you also know that in time, she will make a fine leader for the Riders."

DG glowered. There was a whole lot of subtext flying around her that she wasn't quite getting. "Well, that's all well and good," she mumbled. "But I still don't like her."

Az laughed quietly. "No one is asking you to, Deeg. She's a hard person to get to know. But I am asking that she be given another chance." Now she looked at Jeb, though from her tone of voice, it was nothing like a supplication, but a demand.

Jeb sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. Az's request was nothing short of surprising. Yes, he knew that Micah was a good woman, but he'd been more than frustrated with her inability to accept Az. The incident in the forest had been the last straw, even if he knew nothing of what happened. His imagination filled in the lines for him. Az had been too slow to hide the bruises on her neck from him when she'd come out of the witch's cave. It was only his preoccupation with her safety and state of mind that had kept Micah out of his mind for the past two days. "Mercy, Az?" he inquired softly.

"It's a start, isn't it?" she countered. "The witch had none." The fact that she did not flinch as she mentioned her was a testament as to how far she'd come.

The commander grinned in spite of himself. "I am rebuked. Fine. Micah stays. But I'm reserving the right to put her back on suspension with the option of expulsion if there's any funny business – and I mean it."

Az bowed her head in acquiescence, but not before Jeb caught the sparkle of triumph in her eyes. I'll let you have this battle, my – no, not my Az. Just Az, he thought. But only because it means so much to you. If it were up to me, she would be gone for everything she's done to you.

DG was distracted from her own misgivings by the look on Jeb's face. By golly, he's whipped, she thought gleefully. Things were just getting better and better.

"Is that everything, Gordy?" Jeb asked.

The page was still recovering from the surprising nature of the discussion he'd been privy to. "Y-yes, commander. I have both lists."

"So, we're all agreed." Despite the solemnity of the previous discussion topic, nothing could stop the twinkle in his eyes or the twitch of his mouth. "We've got two Rider groups."

Jem tossed his pencil down, not even bothering to keep the smile from spreading across his own face. Micah was staying. "Aye, we do. But we have to call them something other than First and Second."

"Why?"

"Because the Royal Army calls the companies by numerical names," Az said. "People are bound to get confused."

"And with their rivalry, they're not going to like having the same names," Wyatt added. Neither the Riders nor the Royal Army needed any excuse to escalate the Prank War.

"Point, Jeb admitted. "So, any ideas?"

His father tapped his own pencil against the table. "Why don't you let each group decide on their own once you've posted the assignments? It'll mean a lot for them to name themselves."

"That's a good idea." Jeb nodded decisively. "All right then. We'll post the lists in the morning and see where we go from there. They may be official, but they still need training with their groups."

"Mother will want a formal instatement ceremony," DG piped up. Both Jeb and Jem grimaced at the thought of the Riders' instatement being made into a public spectacle.

There was a soft knock on the door and a servant came in to announce that dinner was served. The group sprang up from the table, eager for food and the coming day when they could break the good news to the new Riders.

Please review!

*grovels* I am so, so sorry for the inexcusably long wait for this chapter. Unfortunately, when real life decides to step in, it really kind of just bowls you over. Grad school is tough, but I am loving every second of it. Yes, even the poster and three essays that are due by the second week of next month. At least there are no exams...and at least I'm in England! It's truly lovely here, which will provide for some ample inspiration once I can spare some time to actually jot things down. I'll be honest with you guys, we're starting to enter a crucial part of the story and I am loathe to post anything (or even write some of the bigger bits) without loads of input from my wonder-beta (MatsuMama, who is every bit as busy and burdened with the dreaded real life). What can I say, I'm a needy writer. So please be patient with me...I want to make sure that you guys are getting the best possible story that I can write.