Chapter Sixteen
"DG," Wyatt grumbled in mild irritation, the string of Christmas lights before him hopelessly tangled, "What are we doing, exactly?"
DG didn't look up from her own strand, which she was winding foot by foot to the outer rail of the porch, answering with singular focus still on her chore, "Decorating."
Wyatt sighed in exasperation at his strand of lights, and was just about to toss them back in the box at his feet when DG finished arranging her strand and flicked a finger in his direction, untangling the strand instantly and sending it flying into place on the rail, effectively finishing their outdoor decorations. Wyatt stared at her as if she'd grown another head, and he roared, "You mean you could have done that this whole time and you chose to make it more difficult?"
DG shrugged sheepishly and replied in a somewhat defensive tone, "It's no fun if I use magic, besides, I'm not really even supposed to do magic here, remember?"
Wyatt grimaced at DG and shook his head, feeling irritated since he had spent half the day in the crawl space in the attic digging these so called "decorations" out, only to spend the rest of it climbing up and down the ladder so they could affix lights to the outside of the house. Wyatt could not understand the significance of adorning the outside of a house in the middle of nowhere with lights, but he deferred to DG, nonetheless. Judging by the labels on the boxes that read "Christmas" all over, he surmised that this activity somehow had something to do with another one of her holidays, and getting in her way would land him on the wrong side of her for what was left of their day, and possibly the next. When DG pulled Wyatt into the snow to survey the house in its finished state, he had to admit that it was definitely worth looking at, and was certainly "festive," as DG had termed it. DG had picked the color scheme of blue and green lights, and had convinced Wyatt to affix the large green bulbs to the lines of the roof, while she had lined the lower end of the awning circling the house, finishing with blue lights wrapped around the porch railing. With this, Wyatt smirked; someone from the OZ would have no trouble finding them should they arrive during this season, for the entire ludicrous activity screamed of DG, and brought a smile even to his stoic demeanor.
Wyatt almost laughed out loud when he glanced at DG, who was jumping up and down next to him in the snow with a manic grin on her face. DG ignored Wyatt's reaction to her, which she spied as she performed her happy dance, knowing that his grinchly exterior hid a child-like enjoyment of the brightly lit house in front of them. This happy survey of their work came to a crashing halt when Wyatt spied DG's teeth chattering amid her celebration.
"Deeg, let's get you inside. I don't care how much you say you can handle it, you're clearly cold now." Wyatt advised firmly, rubbing her shoulders to try and infuse them with warmth.
DG allowed Wyatt to coddle her and buried her face in his coat for a moment, enjoying any excuse for intimacy. It couldn't last though, she sighed, because he was right. It seemed that pregnancy had temporarily removed her resistance to cold and her tolerance for the chill hadn't been quite as high as of late. DG reasoned that all of the blood in her body must have been pooling around her little growth, as she had lovingly nicknamed their unborn child, resulting in her wearing sweaters and thick wool socks all over the house. So, without too much fight, DG gave in, letting Wyatt lead her by placing a hand on the small of her back and walking beside her back into the warmth of the farmhouse.
Once back inside, DG stood at the window in the living room, looking out on the darkening landscape. A northern wind had picked up during the day, bringing with it clouds heavily laden with winter precipitation. DG chewed her bottom lip and her brow furrowed as she worried over the darkening skies outside. Wyatt could tell from his standpoint on the other side of the room, where he was pretending to read an old copy of the farmer's almanac, that DG was concerned about something. Wyatt suspected that if he couldn't find a way to get DG to talk about her concerns, then she'd spend another night awake, until she became so overtired that she would become listless and impossibly irrational. Finally giving up on the almanac, Wyatt rose from his seat and crept up behind DG, allowing his hand to rest softly on her abdomen. DG sighed when Wyatt's hands warmed her, while he rested his chin on her shoulder and gazed out the window with her, patiently waiting for her speak her mind.
The presence of Wyatt, so quiet and calming at her backside, soothed DG, and she finally wondered out loud, "It'll be Christmas in another week. Do you think Dad's forgotten?"
Wyatt kissed DG's shoulder, finding her homesickness for the OZ a relief since he too was missing home, and longing to hear what had become of his son in the past six cycles. Although he hadn't said anything to DG, not once, (out of a combination of truly immersing himself in their fledgling romance and of not wanting to force her into leaving sooner than she was ready) Wyatt missed the OZ, and had grown weary of telling people he was from Omaha. Wyatt mused on these thoughts briefly before coming back to DG's question. As a father himself, he had a difficult time believing that Ahamo could forget any promise he'd made to his daughter, and replied quietly, "Not a chance Deeg. I'm willing to bet he's just biding his time so he can lay the groundwork for you. He won't want to break his word about something that's so important to you. Just give it time."
DG leaned back into Wyatt's embrace and sighed while her hands fell on top of his, "I know you're right. I just want to go home before I start to show. I want to marry you in FInaqua, and I want our daughter to be born surrounded by her family."
Wyatt started to move them away from the window, and he continued to speak softly to her as they moved to face the room, "I know you hate waiting Deeg, but you're going to have to. Come on, let's decorate some more, it'll get your mind off of things."
Wyatt kissed DG's cheek sweetly before turning his gaze intentionally on the boxes strewn all over the floor. DG also turned her gaze at Wyatt's gentle persuasion, smirking at her mess. With a nod, she walked out of his arms, and directly to the largest box, which was labeled "tree." As DG pushed the flaps of the box open, Wyatt stepped forward, expecting DG to issue orders for their next project. He was right, of course, and DG set him to clearing a space in front of the window where they had previously been standing. Next, DG pulled one curious green bush after the next out of the box, and Wyatt sat on the couch watching her arrange these false topiaries with a baffled expression. There was no such thing as a "fake tree" in the OZ, so watching DG create one out of the several separate pieces like they were some bizarre jigsaw puzzle entertained him immensely. Once the strange tree was assembled in sitting in its intended location by the window, Wyatt removed the box from the room, placing it by the stairs so he could take it up when they were done.
When Wyatt reentered the room, he groaned at what his eyes observed. DG was standing in front of another box, dragging out another string of the dastardly Christmas lights. Wyatt was incensed and exclaimed in a somewhat irritated voice, "Is that absolutely necessary?"
DG burst out laughing and stepped forward to place a sweet kiss on Wyatt's lips, humming in affirmation, for which a rumbling purr emitted from Wyatt. "Come on Tin Man," DG teased, still placing kisses on his mouth and face, "this won't take any time."
"Alright, Princess." Wyatt kissed DG, "but we're using magic to clean all this up when it's time to go, deal?"
DG grinned, replying, "Deal."
Now that Wyatt was satisfied he wouldn't be doing all of that work only to have to take it all down again in a few more days, he kissed DG once more before they got down to work. DG hadn't been completely honest about the next stage taking no time, and they spent the next hour untangling and checking lights, while chasing Tiger away from the strands that snaked around the floor temptingly. When finally they had successfully adorned the tree in soft twinkling lights, it was completely dark outside, and the wind had grown louder as the storm barred down.
DG was about to give in to her urge to look out the window again when Wyatt distracted her, sighing loudly as he pulled a box in front of him while he sat on the edge of the couch. DG grinned down on her Tin Man, finding it endearing that he would subject himself to a task he clearly didn't like just to keep her occupied, and she sat down with him to examine the contents inside. When dainty pieces of colored glass began to emerge, Wyatt's stony demeanor melted, changing into child-like curiosity at the glittering ornaments. DG was just wondering how his reactions would translate when the ornaments were on the tree, when a loud knock resounded from the front door, nearly making DG jump out of her skin.
In a fraction of a second, Wyatt's expression turned from delighted interest to one of fierce paternalism, and he laid a hand on her knee to keep DG from rising while he stood himself. It was growing late, he thought, and no one from town would try to call in the middle of a storm. So, as he considered this, he slid off the couch and reached for his gun. While removing his sidearm from the holster that hung from the back of the rocking chair nearby, he checked the safety and walked silently to the door.
"Who is it?" Wyatt barked from the other side of the door.
There was a shuffling on the other side and a voice finally rang out, shrill and urgent, "Come on, Tin Man, it's cold out here!"
DG was already behind him and unlocking the door when that voice, so familiar and missed, sounded. When the door swung open, and their visitors were revealed, DG and Wyatt could not hide their excitement and grinned wide in greeting. Shivering on the doorstep were two figures dusted with snow. One, closer to the door and taller than the other, wore a heavy woolen frock coat the color of emeralds. The man's dark fur cap juxtaposed with his thick curls made him appear somewhat comical, and this was even further increased by his jumping up and down to stay warm. The smaller figure was cloaked in a similarly deep green outer garment, made of rich velvet which hid most of her form and face from the world, with the exception of her telling green eyes that glittered from the opening she made so she could see where she was going.
"Glitch!" Wyatt exclaimed, pulling the shivering man inside.
Behind him, the distinctly female form shivered audibly, and DG squealed as she pulled her inside as well, "Az!"
As the door shut, and their visitors removed their outerwear, Ambrose grumbled with a grin, "You know, Tin Man, the only people that call me that nowadays, apart from you, are DG and Raw. Most people just call me Ambrose now."
Wyatt chuckled merrily and pulled Ambrose into tight hug, exclaiming in a muffled voice against his shoulder, "I'm just glad to see you."
DG and Az were standing on either side of the men, waiting impatiently for them to part, at which point they nearly tackled each other with happy giggles. DG cried out as she parted from her sister, "We had no idea that Daddy would send you two! What took so long?"
Azkadellia straightened her mussed hair, smoothing the rich dark tresses and straightening her traveling clothes thoughtfully before replying with a glance at Ambrose, "Well, I think Daddy won the fight pretty early on actually. He might have whispered something to mother about whether or not she wanted to see her grandchildren. Then I threw a fit because you and Wyatt are supposed to be in our wedding in two weeks, so she finally gave it up and let us come get you."
DG and Wyatt were herding their family into the living room as they spoke, and once they were all rested in seats, Ambrose chimed in, "Oh, come on Dee. You can't really blame your mother for wanting her family under one roof. I think she's just a little skittish." He then turned to DG and revealed with a sly smile, "Besides, I think at the end of the day she might have been trying a little meddling of her own. Your mother has always loved a good romantic story."
DG and Az's mouths dropped, and DG burst out laughing, "Are you trying to tell me that my parents have been trying to play matchmakers?"
Wyatt's fingers laced themselves through DG's and he kissed DG on the temple while murmuring lovingly, "It worked, didn't it?"
DG turned at Wyatt's remark and blushed under his warm gaze, sighing happily when he leaned down to capture her lips with his. Knowing that they had an audience, they parted after a moment, smiling when Az commented, "It sure seems so, but you're still going to have to wait until after our wedding so you can have your own, alright little sister?"
DG nodded in agreement. It occurred to DG in that moment that she wouldn't be able to hide the truth long, so while looking down at hers and Wyatt's hands, which were interlaced over her abdomen, DG smiled and replied softly, "Well we just can't wait too long. I'll probably be showing in another month or so."
DG ventured a glance up from her abdomen and into the faces of her dearest friends, beaming so much that her cheeks were sure to hurt. Ambrose and Azkadellia were both so flummoxed that they couldn't speak for a moment, and Ambrose looked as if he might fall out of his chair. DG might have become worried over their reactions except that Azkadellia melted out of her chair just then to kneel in front of her sister, her face bright as if she were a child at Christmas, "Little sister," she spoke in an amazed whisper, laying a hand gently on her sister's knee, "are you really pregnant?"
Tears were forming in DG's eyes when she nodded blissfully, causing her sister to emit a happy squeak as she tackled DG with an exuberant hung, "Oh Deeg, I'm so excited! Another little princess! This is the best news!"
When Az took DG into her arms, Wyatt slid out of the way, motioning to Ambrose to follow him into the kitchen so the women could have a few moments alone. Once the door to the kitchen shut on that scene, Ambrose surprised Wyatt with a bear hug of his own, "Congratulations Wyatt, and here six cycles ago, you were mopping about thinking you'd lost DG. I don't think there's much chance of that now, brother."
Wyatt was doing a fair amount of beaming himself as he returned his soon-to-be brother's embrace, having marveled at the same thing frequently in the past few cycles. As the two separated, Ambrose surveyed his usually stoic companion, who now looked somewhat ruffled and happy.
"Being in love suits you, Cain, but honestly I can't wait to see how you look when there's a mini-DG running around your feet." Ambrose joked as he smoothed out his chestnut brown vest and flipped an errant curl out of his face.
Wyatt smirked, folding his arms in front of him. "Well I've been through this before, but this is your first time. We'll see how smug you are when you're asking me how to change diapers."
Ambrose's mouth dropped open and he demanded in shock, "How did you know?"
Wyatt smirked while he put a kettle on the stove, intending to make tea for the ladies in the next room, replying in his best police-officer-tone, "Your bride just told us, Ambrose." Then, once he was finished setting up the kettle, he flashed Ambrose his smile and laughed, "Congratulations, Ambrose. Seems like you and I are back in the trenches again."
"You're not kidding," Ambrose scoffed with a sideways smile, "but at least we have the Princesses for it. I couldn't be happier."
"Does anyone know yet?" Wyatt asked carefully, pausing from his self-appointed chore to meet Ambrose's eye.
"Well I certainly haven't told anyone," Ambrose laughed, "but we really just found out, so we probably won't tell anyone until after the wedding. Although I'm certain the Queen suspects. She doesn't miss much."
Wyatt shook his head, finding amusement in the little facts about the Queen that made her less a stately monarch and more DG and Az's mother. Annuals ago, he would never have guessed that one so regal could also still be so fallible, so human, but the more he learned of the monarch, the more he discovered just how many of DG's quirks may have actually originated from Lavender Gale. Wyatt's heart felt like it had swelled in the past annual and a half while living among the royal family, finding that beyond the glittering façade, lay a very close knit, very normal family, and he had been fortunate to be inducted into it even before his feelings for DG became evident. Before he could dwell on this fact any further, the tea kettle whistled, followed by a high-pitched squeal in the next room.
Ambrose and Wyatt both raised their eyebrows, and Wyatt asked sarcastically, "Why do I think the secret is out?"
Ambrose laughed and held the door open for Wyatt, who walked out to the living room with a tray laden with accoutrements for tea and a somewhat unsure smile on his face. Wyatt need not have worried, for the two women were otherwise occupied, standing in the center of the room embracing tightly and laughing with giddy excitement.
"So, I guess you told her, then?" Ambrose eyed Azkadellia with a falsely serious expression that quickly melted into a warm glow as he took up DG's place in holding the elder princess.
DG took that opportunity to sit down, her head reeling from the surprise. When Wyatt offered her a cup of tea, she flashed him a smile and a murmured "thank you," before she took a sip of the warm, minted liquid. When Wyatt only offered Az her own cup of tea and a whispered congratulations followed by a peck on the cheek, DG's brow furrowed and she spoke in a skeptical voice, "Wyatt, how did you already know?"
Wyatt was now stretching out on the couch next to her and grinned before answering, "I wouldn't be a very good cop, or general, if I couldn't read between the lines, would I?"
Az blushed into her cup and muttered with a smirk, "I'm going to have to be more careful about the things I say around you, aren't I?"
The two couples laughed at Azkadellia's light-hearted jab, knowing that however funny it was, it was also true. None of that mattered, however, because the two couples had between them a deep bond of trust, friendship, and soon family, making all worries of keeping secrets moot. For a few moments, while all were sipping on their tea and calming their minds from the swirl of news, Az admired the tree glittering near the window, finally speaking excitedly to DG when she recalled a memory. "DG," Az grinned wide as she set her mug on the side table, "Is it Christmas?"
DG nodded happily and replied, "We were just decorating for it when you showed up."
The childlike exuberance that had been evident in DG before was now spreading to her sister and Az proclaimed very suddenly, "Well, I did tell Mother and Father that it might take us a few days to bring you back. We didn't exactly give you any warning so you could be ready to go. Do you think we could do some of the things that Daddy used to do with us when we were little before we leave?"
DG grinned wide and prompted Az, "You mean like Castle Siege followed by hot chocolate and acting out Scrooge?"
Az pulled her breech clad legs under her and gasped, "and you haven't finished the tree yet, can I help you?"
While the two sisters were plotting the next few days, Wyatt performed a scan of the room, planning an escape for him and Ambrose, who was unfortunately sitting between the sisters and the Christmas tree. When DG nodded excitedly about decorating, a voice in the back of his head screamed in relief and thanks for the arrival of Az. Hiding his relief as best he could, Wyatt rose from his seat while pulling Ambrose up as well, moving him out of the line of fire. Ambrose had no idea what was happening and stood in the doorway watching with surprise as the women bustled to and from boxes to the tree, adorning it with sparkling ornaments and forgetting their male counterparts all the while. Wyatt sighed at the sight when he realized that this scene would probably be played out for annuals to come now that the sisters were together again. As content as he was watching DG and her sister flit about like excited little girls, transforming the room into a sparkling, magical wonderland, he also couldn't deny the very sight was somewhat overwhelming, and he pulled Ambrose back into the kitchen, deciding that their skills would be best served elsewhere until the excitement died down. Wyatt and Ambrose busied themselves with preparing a meal for everyone, both deciding that if the Princesses could have their winter tradition, then they would start theirs, with a hot cup of muglug stew for everyone. Unfortunately, being that they were in a strange country, the men were forced to substitute some ingredients, and the final product now more closely resembled beef stew.
This did not seem to trouble either of the Gale women, who were ravenous by the time their counterparts reappeared in the living room, trays of stew and crusty bread in hand. So while their little party stretched out in various locations in the living room, DG and Wyatt on the floor near the fireplace, and Azkadellia and Ambrose on the couch, they sat and enjoyed their humble meal. Wyatt admired the work done by the women quietly while he ate, deciding that much like Thanksgiving, he was rather enjoying this Christmas and the feeling of togetherness that permeated everything. While he let these warm feelings wash over him, a small smile crept up on his face. DG had been covertly watching Wyatt the entire time, and smiled, pecking him on the cheek when she was finally overcome by his infectious smile.
"What was that for?" Wyatt muttered, still centimeters from DG's lips.
DG grinned and replied softly, "For liking this."
Wyatt shrugged and replied, "So you caught me. I'm just a big ole softie."
DG laughed and kissed him again, whispering before sitting back, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
Wyatt let out a deep, rumbling laugh, and drew DG to sit in front of him, where she rested her back against his chest. The two looked out on the room, meeting the somewhat sleepy smiles of Azkadellia and Ambrose, who sat nestled in the couch, with Azkadellia resting her head on Ambrose's lap.
When Azkadellia emitted a long, leisurely yawn, DG announced through her own yawn, "Well, I think that settles it. We're done for the night. Let's get you two a place to sleep."
With that signal, the entire group stood, each beginning to bustle about slowly, rearranging the room so that Az and Ambrose could use it for the night. While Wyatt transported the storage boxes up to DG's art room, Ambrose dispatched the dishes. Without an audience, DG and Az needed only a few moments in front of a deflated air mattress and a stack of sheets and pillows to turn the floor of the room into a comfortable campsite. Az was not quite as insistent as DG about not using magic and took care of everything including making a bag of clothing appear out of thin air, and she extracted her nightgown with a sheepish shrug. DG shook her head at her sister, feeling that magic was a copout when surrounded by others that could not do the same, but she loved her sister despite of it and hugged her and Ambrose goodnight before stumbling off to her own bed, Wyatt and Tiger following close behind.
The next days were very much a holiday to the couples, where they spent more time planning and acting out snow battles than discussing anything remotely serious or life affirming. To all, it seemed like this would be their last opportunity for some time to completely revel in each other, free of the cares that would find them once they arrived back in the OZ. For Azkadellia and Ambrose, their days ahead would be filled with learning how to fill the shoes of their royal predecessors, which they would most certainly be doing within a short stretch of annuals. Although the future for DG and Wyatt was not as firm as their counterparts, both assumed that Wyatt would resume his role as a General in Her Majesty's Army, being essential to the continued efforts to rid the land of Longcoats and restore the Order of the Tin Men. In addition to this, DG was prepared step into some sort of diplomatic post, where her special abilities in peacekeeping would best be put to use. Apart from all of this, both couples knew that their primary focus in the coming annual and beyond would be to the lives growing before them. For, although they were just coming into their golden age of influence in important matters of their world, they would soon be responsible for guiding the next generation as well.
Christmas morning came faster than any had anticipated, and DG awoke earlier than the rest, feeling that this morning would probably be the last she would spend in Kansas for a long time. So, before anyone else was even aware that the dawn had come, and all were still peacefully tucked into their pillows, DG tip toed out the back door, wishing to say goodbye to the prairie alone. The sun was half-way into its rise on the horizon when DG stepped out, and the air was still and brittle with cold. DG was almost afraid that if she moved to quickly or made even a slight noise, that the spell cast over the slumbering landscape would be broken, so she kept still and gazed pensively over the sight of the snow-covered grassland. DG allowed herself such stillness in that moment that the cares that usually buzzed in her mind had quieted to a low hum, and she nearly jumped out of her skin when a set of warm, calloused hands wrapped around her torso and landed softly on her slightly rounded belly. DG smiled – only Cain could sneak up on her so soundlessly, and she couldn't help but be slightly turned on by it.
"Good morning, Princess," Wyatt drawled in a quiet purr near enough to DG's ear that she could feel his breath, warm and soft, on her skin.
DG turned in his arms, snaking her own arms around his neck so she could reach up to kiss him soundly before answering softly, "Merry Christmas, Wyatt."
Wyatt offered DG the slightest of smiles before releasing her from his arms and reaching down to grasp a package that had been leaning on the wooden slats of the outer wall closest to the kitchen door. Wyatt handed it to DG while replying, "Merry Christmas, Dorothy."
DG felt that she might have to pick her jaw up off the floor from the shock of receiving a Christmas present from Wyatt Cain. Although romantic and thoughtful, she had no idea that he had any idea of the customs of the holiday and wasn't prepared for it so soon in the morning before she'd even had a chance to caffeinate. DG was speechless and sat down in the rocking chair to unwrap her gift. Although clearly a frame, DG was baffled by what it could be in it, and she ripped at the paper, the sound tearing through the quiet morning that she had previously been so careful not to pierce. When DG finally revealed the subject, she felt a lump form in the back of her throat and tears sting her eyes – it was the piece DG had painted of her and Wyatt at their parting before the tower siege, which she thought she had thrown away in a fit of unhappy tears ages ago. Wyatt appeared to have taken great care to repair the damage she had created by crumpling it, and it was free of creases and beautifully framed in reclaimed wood.
When DG cleared her eyes of the happy tears that had begun to cloud her vision, she looked up from the canvas to see Wyatt's startling blue eyes on her level, watching her for a reaction. Although DG still couldn't speak, her thousand-watt smile and sparkling blue eyes said everything he needed to hear, and he laughed happily when she jumped into his arms.
"Oh Wyatt," DG cried happily against his chest, "How did you know?"
Wyatt laughed again and kissed DG's forehead while asking in a humored, sardonic tone, "About Christmas, or about the picture?" When DG nodded, Wyatt grinned and answered, "In that order, Ruby and accidental discovery. I found it the day I was working on the roof. You threw it further than the others, and it was the only one that had you in it. I figured it was because it was the only place you really felt at home, and at the time, you'd felt you'd lost that." DG sniffled while she stared at Wyatt's Adam's apple, suddenly unable to look him in the eye. Even though she trusted Wyatt, and loved him more than anything, he had stumbled upon something intensely personal, and she couldn't help but feel exposed. Then, Wyatt reminded DG just how beautiful and loved she really was, especially when her most tender parts were on display for him, and she sighed audibly when he gently lifted her eyes to his and softly continued, "I knew I was in love you in that moment on the hill, Dorothy, I've told you that before. What I didn't tell you was that you had already become a part of me, even then. I've never felt that way with anyone else, ever."
While Wyatt explained, his fingers traced the curve of DG's face, gently wiping away the errant tears that had escaped her before. DG might have stayed there all morning, basking in Wyatt's attentions. As it was, she was growing cold, and offered him one sweet kiss before allowing him to help her up from the rocking chair. Before turning to go inside, DG embraced him once more, whispering against his lips, "I love you Wyatt. You are my home, and for the record, I knew it then too."
Wyatt smiled fondly at DG and followed her back into the kitchen. The festivities seemed to be on already, as Az and Ambrose had already cleaned up the living room and were remaking the fire in the fireplace. With the addition of Wyatt and DG, Christmas began in earnest. DG seemed to have a plan similar to Wyatt's, and disappeared up the stairs, emerging with three separate packages, handing one to each member of her little family as she came to sit next to Wyatt on the couch.
Wyatt opened the top of his package, a simple cardboard cylinder decorated in blue ribbon, to find a roll of canvas. With a quizzical expression in DG's direction, he unrolled it to find the study she had done of him.
"I wanted to paint you the way I see you," DG spoke in a demure tone, uncertain of Wyatt's reaction.
Wyatt studied the painting silently, feeling grateful that DG seemed to have captured something in him that he was certain few ever saw. He felt his face grow warm, and he pulled DG to him as he put the painting to the side, bringing her lips to his in a soft kiss. "Thank you, Dorothy," Wyatt whispered, his eyes bright as he looked down on her.
DG blushed in response to Wyatt's reaction, being interrupted in her response only by the exclamations of Azkadellia and Ambrose as they examined their own gifts. DG, in an effort to include her sister and friend in the holiday, had gifted them with the paintings she had done of them cycles previous. Their reactions were similar to Wyatt's, and both felt a certain gratitude for DG's special ability to seemingly capture their inner selves on the canvas.
As the day worn down, DG and her companions knew that the time had come to leave at last. DG stood in the center of the entry way, staring into the expanse of her haven, silently wishing it a fond farewell. Then, remembering her promise to Wyatt, she sent the decorations into their boxes with a flick of her wrist, sending them up the stairs to their storage space in a whoosh of air. Next, DG turned off the power, letting her eyes fall closed when the hum of electricity stopped, and the house grew dark. Wyatt's hand slipped into hers, and her eyes crept open as she turned to face him.
"Are you ready to go home, Princess?" Wyatt asked quietly.
DG took one final look around and turned to Wyatt with a bright smile when she came to the realization that her home wasn't behind her, inside the farmhouse, but holding her hand, as Wyatt had rightly guessed earlier. "Yes, Wyatt," DG smiled, "I'm ready."
DG followed Wyatt outside, and turned one last time to seal the home with another motion of hands. DG smiled at her once home before turning around, quietly thanking it for offering her a place to rest her mind and steady her heart for the next adventure she was set to have. Turning again to Wyatt, she jumped into his arms with a happy laugh.
"Let's go Tin Man," DG murmured against his lips, drawing a contented sigh from the man when she took him into a sweet kiss.
Before they could leave the porch to join Ambrose and Azkadellia, who were walking out into the snow, Tiger approached, winding his way through their legs and meowing loudly. Wyatt leaned down to scratch Tiger's head, muttering to the feline, "Do you want to come along for the ride, Tiger?"
DG's eyes widened and she asked in surprise, "Can he?"
Wyatt picked the feline up and handed him to DG, replying with a shrug, "We have cats in the OZ, Deeg. As long as you can keep a hold of him in the storm, I don't see why not."
DG hugged the cat close, feeling suddenly insanely grateful and overwhelmed, accepting the cat's loving head butt while whispering, "What do you think, boy? Want to take a little ride?"
Tiger trilled in reply, and then purred loudly as DG petted him, sending him into a blissful, enchanted sleep for the trip. Wyatt smiled warmly before pulling his fedora down over his head, finishing by wrapping an arm around DG as they followed after Azkadellia and Ambrose.
Azkadellia finally came to a stop in the center of a field of snow and turned to DG with a wide smile, breathlessly exclaiming, "I'm so glad you're coming home, little sister. It wasn't the same without you."
DG grinned wordlessly and watched as her sister stepped forward, bracing herself for calling the storm. The twister appeared as called and twisted before them as if an obedient pet, harmlessly picking up snow and swirling it in the air. With a final smile in the direction of Wyatt and DG, Ambrose and Azkadellia clasped hands and jumped into the twister. As they disappeared, DG thought she heard Ambrose call, "See you on the Other Side guys!"
When the royal couple disappeared into the storm, Wyatt turned to DG and Tiger, surveying them with eyes sparkling happily. His hand rested on DG's shoulders and he leaned down, letting his lips caress DG's, deepening the kiss for only a moment before stepping back to breathe, calling over the wind, "Ready for another adventure, Princess?"
DG grinned and nodded, letting Wyatt wrap her up in his arms as they let the twister swallow them up, leaving the Kansas prairie silent once more and the world a little less magical for their absence. Unlike many travelers that passed through those parts, the grasslands of Kansas had left a mark on the wayward Princess and her Tin Man, and they would forever hold the place in their hearts as a beloved rest stop on their long journey together down the old road.
Fin
Author's Closing
Welp guys, there you have it... in my mind, though the adventure is hardly over. Please be on the lookout for The Tin Appendices, which I will be posting episodically over the next few weeks. I originally only wrote four stories as a companion to Pitstop at the Hilltop Café, and I'm feeling now like we could all use a little extra indulgence, so I'm doing a little more writing. Most of these stories happen before Pitstop, and will dive further into how DG and Wyatt's relationship evolved after the eclipse, although there may be a few that happen after the close of this story to answer a few errant questions posed by the characters (not to mention the fact that I'm missing a few much-loved characters here and we could probably all use a little Raw-like zen during this yucky pandemic).
Also, just in case you're wondering, if I were to cast this story in the unlikely event that someone wanted to do a sequel to Tin Man (hint hint hint SyFy), I would have cast the following new characters as thusly:
Ezra Gultch – Sam Elliot
Ruby Holt – Ellen Burstyn
Owen Holt – Christopher Plummer
Agent Thomas – Ving Rhames (It might be fun to throw Agent Thomas into the OZ... but I digress)
I hope you've enjoyed this one. Drop me a note and let me know what you think! So long for now, thanks for reading!
-White Rabbit
