Author's Note

I have to apologize! This one took me some time to re-do. I hope I haven't lost my small band of readers for my tardiness! Just because I appreciate you so much, I threw in a little smut at the end... you're welcome. Tin Man is still not mine, and I'm still not happy about that, but I think I'll survive.

Drop me a note and let me know how you think this is flowing so far... I promise to be a good little bunny and not go totally vorpal on you if you issue any constructive criticism. I myself am finding a few things to fix, and I'm certain that I've missed a few things in my effort not to leave you hanging. So please feel free to let me know.

I hope you'll enjoy it all the same! - WR

Chapter Five

DG was bored. Bored and irritated, and with nowhere to go. Wyatt, having turned down what she had thought was an enticing offer, had left her with few choices in diversion until she would have to resume her duties for Eclipse Day, so instead of returning to their quarters, she ambled. Ambling was something that DG did poorly though, especially when she had plots developing in her mind, so what had started as a casual stroll through the grand halls of the palace slowly morphed into a determined march. Her guard, who was a giant shaped more like a building than man, followed her warily, being more than a little accustomed to the Princess's ways. DG wasn't entirely sure why Gates was so cautious around her, since she'd been nothing but compliant for almost an annual, with the one minor of exception of running off to Kansas the last time he'd taken over for Jeb. Alright, fine. I guess I'd be a little careful of me too, seeing that I could have cost him his job, DG thought to herself as she huffed loudly, and she stopped in her tracks suddenly, closing her eyes while she considered how to talk to her occasional guard.

"Gates," DG began sweetly, turning on her heel to face the burly man slowly approaching behind her.

Gates raised an eyebrow skeptically and stopped, sighing before answering, "Yes, your Highness?"

DG stifled a smirk at the towering man, who seemed more than a little afraid of what DG might say next. Given that he was two times her size and had hands the size of her face, she was certain it wasn't truly her he was afraid of. She was positive that the one man who might have fired him the last time he'd failed in his job – and instead chose to continually assign him to her detail instead – was who he was more troubled by at the moment. The fact that she was also troubled by that same man only increased her fondness for the gentle giant before her, and she relaxed her shoulders while she let out a long, labored sigh.

Her eyes drifted to the high ceiling above while she breathed, and she finally looked back at him when she replied apologetically, "I'm sorry Gates. I know I probably got you in trouble the last time, but I solemnly swear that I'm not up to anything this time. Honestly." DG raised her right hand as she spoke, and she screwed her face into a serious expression, while behind her back, she crossed her fingers hopefully.

Gates didn't seem to buy her promise, and as he crossed his arms in front of his chest he peered down on her and replied, "Now Princess, I really appreciate your apology, and I know you're not pullin' my leg there, but crossing your fingers means the same thing here that it probably does on the other side. What'er ya' tryin' to pull?"

DG's eyes narrowed and she exhaled through her nose before she threw her hands up and grunted, "Ugh. Why doesn't anyone trust me anymore?" Gates' expression softened, and DG continued quietly, "I just want to know how long Wyatt and Jeb are going to be gone on this mission they're planning. That's all. I know Wyatt wouldn't put you on my detail unless he and Jeb were both going, and I'm worried. Okay?"

DG stared at her slippers shuffling on the carpet for a moment and only looked up when Gates finally cleared his throat and answered kindly, "I'm sorry your Highness, but the General didn't tell me anything beyond that I should stay close to you and keep you safe until he and Jeb get back."

DG chewed on her lip thoughtfully with this information, and she asked hopefully, "Do you know anything about this meeting that he's got this afternoon?"

Gates shook his bearded face and fixed her with a serious expression as he responded in a chastising tone, "There's no way that you're getting anythin' else out of me, Highness. General Cain might be your husband, but he's my boss, and I'm more afraid of what he'll do if I tell you than what you'll do if I don't." When DG's face fell, he added compassionately, "besides, I couldn't tell you if I wanted to anyway, seein' as I don't know anythin'. Higher ups only, I'm told."

DG's expression darkened, and she internally fumed. I can't stand this paternalistic crap. How the hell did I end up married to a cop, anyway? This train of thoughts only served to increase DG's already building irritation, and she swung around and resumed her march, grumbling, "That's it, Tin Man. I'm so tired of being treated like I'm made of glass. You never did this before we got married. You and I need to talk right now."

Gates followed along behind the suddenly driven princess while she stormed the corridors, his face looking somewhat alarmed by the change in her demeanor. DG, on the other hand, appeared as if ready to fight another witch. Her eyes were narrowed in anger, and her hands clenched at her sides while she piloted quickly to where she thought she might find Wyatt Cain hiding. When she finally reached his office on one of the lower levels of the palace, she gave a cursory knock before peaking inside. What she found only frustrated her more, and she pushed the door open and huffed in exasperation while she folded her arms and surveyed the room. Wyatt was not at his desk and appeared to have finished the majority of his packing. Boxes were stacked by the door, ready to be moved to their quarters, and the only article out of place was the uniform that Wyatt had been wearing that morning, which had been draped neatly over the back of one of the leather chairs near the cold fireplace, instead of being worn by its owner. Each article was laid out in the order he would eventually put it back on in, as if he intended to come back for it, and DG scowled, knowing that he had probably left the tower – on some secret errand that he probably wouldn't want to tell her about.

DG huffed and swung around to leave. As she slammed the door to Wyatt's office, her mind quickly turned to her usual support network, and she marched back the way she had come to find Azkadellia. Strength in numbers, she fumed silently, making quick time back to the royal family's living quarters. When she finally reached her destination, the Princess rapped on the double doors more urgently than she truly intended, causing Glitch to answer the door with an alarmed expression plastered on his face, which melted into a pleasant grin when he saw DG on the other side of the door.

"Hey Dollface!" Ambrose greeted DG with a dimpled smile, causing the determined set in DG's shoulders to collapse, and her angry expression to fall.

From the other side of the door came Azkadellia's voice, and she asked her husband pleasantly, "who is it Ambrose?"

Glitch motioned to DG with his head, indicating that she should come in, and DG followed him inside, giving Gates an apologetic wave before she shut the door. As she closed it, she turned and muttered sheepishly, "Sorry, didn't mean to beat your door down. I guess I'm still a little mad."

Azkadellia was finishing her own look for the parade, pinning a neat straw hat to her head, and smoothing out the white lace sheath dress that fell to mid-calf. When she was done, she glanced away from the mirror to smirk at her sister, still primping her short hair while she correctly gaged what was troubling her. "Deeg, Wyatt isn't trying to make you mad. He's trying to protect you. Can he help it if he has to sometimes protect you from yourself?" Azkadellia gently asked her sister.

DG shrugged with a huff and replied, "I know. I know. But now he's run off right before the parade, and he didn't even tell me about it before he disappeared. This thing just isn't going to work if he just doesn't talk to me at all, and I refuse to be left behind to be some dopey trophy wife while he goes off and plays the hero all the time."

Azkadellia eyed her sister with an appraising eye, and as she stepped before DG, she flicked her wrist and opened her hand, where an attractive, wide brimmed blue felt hat appeared. Azkadellia placed it gently on her sister's head and pinned it carefully while a sympathetic smile spread on her face, and she nodded at DG kindly when she was done affixing the hat. "Deeg, I have no idea why you think you're nothing but a trophy to Wyatt, but I seriously doubt that he'll leave you in the dark for too long. Look, he may have been married before, but it's been a while for him, and it's all completely new for you. Give it some time. Talk to him."

DG nodded in agreement and gave her sister a grateful smile. "Ok Az, I'll try."

DG and Azkadellia smiled warmly at each other, and Azkadellia pulled her into a tight hug. When they separated, Azkadellia rubbed her sister's arms and smiled, suggesting kindly, "Come on little sister, let's not let the parade pass us by. They always cheered you up when we were little."

DG rolled her eyes and scoffed, replying sarcastically as they moved towards the doors, "I've heard of music soothing the soul, but I'm not really sure they meant for booming drums and shrieking horns to do the job."

"I'll have you know," Ambrose retorted defensively as he followed behind the sisters, rambling on, "that horns are anything but shrieking. If you want a soul soothing horn solo, look no further than yours truly. As a matter of fact, this one time, at band camp – "

"Why does this not surprise me?" DG interrupted with a snort, which was followed with a bark of laughter, for which Ambrose and Azkadellia fixed her with a set of confused expressions. "Never mind," DG grumbled, adding apologetically, "I'm sure you're a great jazz musician, Glitch. I'm sorry. Maybe you could play for us sometime."

"Oh sure, Dollface, you name the place, I'll bring the horn!" Ambrose exclaimed enthusiastically, pausing momentarily in their stroll down the wide hall to gesture forward dramatically.

Azkadellia and DG paused to turn and face Ambrose, and both laughed lightly before continuing forward, allowing the man to step in between them, taking an arm from both in effort to act as their gallant escort. A warm smile spread on DG's face as they walked, and under Glitch's care, she momentarily forgot her previous ire. By the time they reached the Grand Staircase, she'd almost completely set aside her troubles, and followed along behind her family in silent complacency. Before the doors of the palace opened before them, the royal family rearranged themselves into their established processional order, with the Queen and her Consort in the lead, followed shortly behind by her heir apparent and former advisor, and DG bringing up the rear sans one Tin Man. Although she'd momentarily set aside her anger, a sense of disappointment and loneliness purveyed at the back of DG's mind while she scanned the top of the stairs behind her, where she hoped Wyatt would appear before the doors opened, forcing her outside without him. Although she was certain he wouldn't have left so abruptly unless it was important, DG could not help but feel so suddenly separate from the man, who until recently, had never kept her so wholly out of the loop. Certain that some of his abrupt secrecy was due in large part to her pregnancy, DG had difficulty maintaining her anger. Instead, the Princess looked down on her ever-growing abdomen and rubbed the space protectively, suddenly feeling a wave of panic overtake her for the unknown dangers he had to be trying to protect her from.

While these thoughts tumbled through DG's mind, the massive double doors swung open, and the Queen led the group out into the suns. The blinding brightness of the twin suns caused DG to wince, and she struggled to scan the surrounding area in her growing uncertainty. The sound of the crowd could be heard before they were seen, and as DG's eyes adjusted to the sunlight, she searched the crowd for the dangers she suddenly feared in Wyatt's absence. The wave of panic subsided when all she witnessed was throngs of happy faces cheering with excitement, and she allowed herself a steadying breath as she followed her family to a raised platform at the head of the square. Here, the Royal Family would stand and greet the parade as it marched by, marking the end of the procession. DG stood with her family, feeling frozen and uncertain, and the roar of the crowd was like a massive white noise that inhibited her ability to concentrate on anything other than the sea of faces before her. She took solace in the happy faces beaming up to her and her family, realizing that they saw the Gales as theirs. DG felt a swell of emotion overtake her, and she felt instantly grateful for the special kinship she felt with her people on this day, the anniversary of her successful rescue of the OZ, and her smile broadened while she waved happily at a group of little girls near to the stand.

DG's sudden unease had made her extraordinarily jumpy, and the approach of the parade, with the booming of the drums and screams of excited citizens, startled DG out of her process of greeting her people. Her head darted up to see the head of the parade appearing in the square. The impressive display of the guilds entering the square in full regalia eased DG's nerves, and she grinned at the sight approaching. Next, the Royal Army Marching Band swept past, impressing all with their drill routines and final salute as they passed the stand. By the time a few more groups came past, DG's nerves had settled, and she was grinning and laughing just as much as anyone else. The worries caused by Wyatt's absence had all but faded to the background in her mind, so when she felt a warm hand slide around her waist, she jumped suddenly, and her heart fluttered excitedly.

"Hey there Princess," Wyatt whispered in her ear, his breath tickling the back of her neck as he apologized quietly, "sorry I'm late."

DG tried to feign annoyance, but when she looked back at his flushed face, she forgot. The Tin Man had clearly run to get to her and had somehow managed to get back into the uniform. His blue peaked cap shaded his eyes, but she could see a happy glint there, and he dazzled her with his smile. So with a kiss on his cheek, she whispered back, "Glad you were able to get back into that in time, I just love a guy in uniform."

Wyatt raised an eyebrow suggestively and smirked, but a glint of worry in DG's eyes melted it away quickly and he responded quietly, "I'm sorry that I took off on you, Princess. I should have told you I was leaving, but I had to make it quick. Can I tell you about it tonight?"

With those few words, Wyatt had managed to calm the majority of DG's anger, and with a hint of a smile, DG managed a small nod before the din of the parade drew her attention away once more. The end of the parade was quickly approaching, and the boisterous music shifted into a subdued tone as a large contingent of viewers, led by Raw, approached the stands. As they drew near, the entire clan of viewers turned to the stand and bowed low, causing the royal family to bow in turn. The solemn turn of the event held the attendants enrapt, and the roar of the crowd softened to this sight, so full of mutual respect and reverence. Once Raw straightened from his bow and moved to join his friends in the stand, it was almost as if there was a collective sigh, and the crowd once again surged with excited energy as the rest of the viewers moved off to join the exiting procession. Now among his friends, Raw chuckled happily, and allowed DG to throw her arms around him exuberantly. Wyatt stood by and waited his turn to greet the man, beaming warmly as DG clung to him, and once DG finally released Raw, he took his turn embracing him tightly. Ambrose had been standing nearby, waiting impatiently as he bounced on the balls of his feet, so Wyatt reluctantly released Raw so he could greet Glitch, knowing that most of their reunion was best saved for indoors anyway. This reunion of the heroes of the eclipse had not gone unnoticed, and the crowd went wild with applause when DG and Wyatt had first embraced Raw. By the time Glitch and Raw had clasped hands in greeting, the city around them seemed to vibrate with happy energy, and the four heroes of the eclipse turned to the crowd, all beaming, and waved before departing the stands to return to the confines of the palace.

Once inside, Wyatt felt that he could properly greet his friend, and he laughed as he pulled the furry man into another hug, "It's great to see you Furball!"

Raw laughed, returning the surprisingly warm embrace of the Tin Man, and when they parted, he stepped back to look at them both, nodding in approval. "Raw happy to see you both. At peace now."

DG giggled happily and hugged Raw again, answering, "Yes Raw, we're at peace now."

When the Princess and Raw separated, the viewer's gaze rested on the Tin Man for a moment, and the two shared a cryptic look. Raw had felt –upon touching the Tin Man – a surge of unsettled emotions. On top of the Tin Man's overwhelming joy at being newlywed, the viewer could feel a growing sense of uneasiness and confusion. This was so much more than ordinary fear of failure or any trepidation over being a father once more. Something loomed over the man, casting a shadow over the light that had purveyed in his spirit since the last time they'd seen each other. Raw knew about Vizor, of course, but he doubted that the Sorceress's former advisor was truly the cause of the Tin Man's worry. There was something older and darker at work in the OZ, Raw had felt, and he suspected that Cain had sensed the same in his own unique way. Raw could also sense that the Tin Man wanted to speak with him about it – although he had no need of his special talents to know this – all he really needed was to look in the eye of the man before him. Wyatt Cain was an expressive man, despite having the reputation for being generally stoic, and Raw could see the questions without him ever uttering a word.

So, when Raw turned back to Wyatt, he preempted what he knew Wyatt was about to say, and murmured quietly to the man, "Tin Man will see Raw before he leaves. You go now. We talk later."

Wyatt sighed with a grateful, knowing smile, and nodded to Raw. After shaking Raw's hand, he turned to DG and tilted her chin up so that she was looking up at him, and he placed a chaste kiss on DG's lips before whispering, "I'll see you tonight, Dorothy."

DG smiled warmly and replied with an equal amount of quiet affection, "Don't you forget it Tin Man."

The Princess reached up on her toes and offered the Tin Man a parting kiss. Their meeting was so slow and sweet, and conveyed such intimacy that their remaining company could only avert their eyes, out of respect for such a private moment between the two. When she separated from her husband, DG winked at him before turning to walk off to lunch, arm in arm with their viewer friend, leaving Wyatt to sigh as he watched her disappear from view, noting the lilt in her voice and the laugh that carried on the air as she turned the corner. He realized, with a smile, that DG still had him completely wrapped around her finger, and he couldn't be happier, or more shaken.

Wyatt continued to stand at the base of the grand staircase mulling over this, when he was shaken from his daze by Jeb, who stood nearby waiting for him. "She'll be okay dad, don't worry," Jeb tried to comfort his father, stepping up behind him and placing a hand on his shoulder.

Wyatt took a deep breath and replied, "I hope so kid, I hope so." He then turned to face his son and offered him a smirk, and with a jerk of his head, he motioned for Jeb to follow him. "Come on son; let's get this thing over with."

Jeb offered his father a tight nod and followed shortly behind his father as he bounded up the stairs, making a b-line for Wyatt's vacant office on the second floor. When they entered Wyatt's office, they were somewhat surprised to find the Consort, Ambrose, and an army general already seated in front of the fireplace, chatting like old friends over lunch. A plate of sandwiches sat on the table between them, and a pitcher of tea sat on the desk behind them, with spare cups and plates waiting for Jeb and Wyatt. Ahamo rose from his chair when Wyatt and Jeb entered in an apparent attempt to make introductions, but found they were not so needed, as the two generals met each other in a tight hug, laughing heartily as they clapped each other on the back. The Consort, Jeb, and Ambrose all stepped back to witness the apparent reunion of the old friends, who had momentarily forgotten all else besides the other. They looked on with amazement at the apparently well-established familiarity of the two larger-than-life men before them, and all waited patiently while the reunited with a long, warm hug.

As the two men finally pulled apart and straightened their faces, Cain's face split into the second largest smile he had had that day, and he exclaimed, "Pete! I didn't know you'd be joining us today. Good to see you, old buddy."

Wyatt studied his friend with a wistful eye and a certain amount of gratitude for his friend's unexpected appearance. General Peter Andrus, much like his counterpart, struck an imposing figure. He was in many ways Cain's opposite, being heavily built, with thick curly black hair and beard. Annuals on the run were written on the permanent creases in his forehead, wrinkles around the edges of his glimmering green eyes and grey peppering his beard. This gave him the distinguished appearance of a man of fifty annuals, although he was only forty, and he spoke with a booming voice and had just as quick a laugh as he did a temper. Despite this, Andrus was generally considered to be a good man, and was respected by many of the good people of the OZ.

Before the reign of the Sorceress, Andrus excelled at his military career, being a Colonel in the 3rd Royal Battalion, Woodsman Division, while his childhood friends had gone off to the Tin Man Academy. He had risen quickly in the ranks, and by the time the Witch had captured Queen Lavender and her advisors, Andrus had been promoted to Lieutenant General, and was put in charge of evacuating the Counsel to the Lands of Ev. When the acting 1st General of the Royal Army in Exile had been captured and executed in a show of the Witch's force, Andrus was quickly pushed into the top leadership role of the Resistance, and he had spent the last twelve annuals on the run between Ev and the various ends of the OZ, directing the resistance and keeping contact with certain persons of interest that were sympathetic to the House of Gale and its resistance force. Had Wyatt not been captured by the Witch's Longcoats, he and Andrus would have worked together, but Wyatt's capture had forced the man and the rest of the resistance in fact, deeper into hiding, leaving Wyatt to wait for his eventual release at the hands of the Princess instead of his childhood friend.

Andrus laughed, answering jokingly, "Glad to see that tin can didn't rust shut!" Peter kept his hands on Cain's shoulders and sighed as he said this, and his eyes, which smiled on their own when he was happy, were suddenly wistful. "Wyatt, it's been too long. I almost didn't think I'd see you along the Old Road again. I'm sorry I couldn't get you out of the suit myself."

Cain eyes bored into the other man's and he relaxed a little, answering sagely, "Well Pete, if you had gotten me out, who knows where we'd be. As it was, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for DG. I don't know what I did to deserve her, but I'm a lucky bastard, that's for sure."

Andrus nodded – He'd known Wyatt Cain since they were boys, and he knew by Cain's manner that there was more to that statement– but he wouldn't broach the subject while they had company. He decided, instead, to turn on the subject of the suit that had held his friend captive. "Well you're right about that, brother. You don't look a day older than the last time I saw you!'

There was no smile returned from Cain, and he winced slightly in response, "Side effect of wearing the suit so long I'd wager. I'm sure there were a fair few enchantments on it to make sure I'd be good and pliable just in case the Sorceress or her goons needed to interrogate me at any point."

Andrus nodded. He knew the stories, and what was more he knew that look that Cain had fixed him with. Back to business as usual, he thought, and with a sudden look of appraisal Andrus straightened his back and stated loudly, "Well, about that. The Consort thought you might want to hear a thing or two that I've learned about Vizor, which is why I put in an appearance today."

With that, Ahamo cut in, answering while he refilled his own goblet with tea, "That would be true, Pete." Then, with a beckoning wave to Wyatt and Jeb, he continued, "Come on guys, get some grub. This might be a long conversation."

Wyatt obliged the Consort and swiped a sandwich before sitting down at his old desk, which was now vacant of any sign that it had once been his favorite spot. His pictures of Jeb and DG had all been moved to his and DG's temporary living quarters, and his mother's quilt now sat in sentry in the chair by their bed. He looked around almost forlorn but shook it off with the realization that his next task would have required him to vacate this position anyway and turned instead to the men sitting on the other side of the desk. Ahamo and Peter, meanwhile, turned their chairs around to face the rest of the room, and once they were all settled and tucking into lunch, Wyatt strode to the door and poked his head out before closing it again and locking it. When he turned back around to face the room, he looked directly to Peter and spoke with a nod, "Okay Pete, shoot."

Peter took a swig of his drink and waited for Wyatt to settle back into his seat. Then, after taking a deep breath, he began, "Well, as you all may know, the Resistance kept a quiet presence in the Realm of the Unwanted during the time of the Sorceress. Partially to keep an ear to the ground and to keep tabs on the Seeker. Only a few of us ever knew that the Seeker and the Consort were one in the same. Myself and the Queen included." Peter leaned forward and spoke in hushed tones as he continued, "Well, turns out that our Seeker here gained a reputation as being the man to find special things. Our spies that stayed around the Realm told us recently that Vizor has been poking around looking for the Seeker, says he wants his assistance with finding something."

Ahamo cut in, a look of concern in his eyes, "Any idea what's he's after?"

Peter shook his head, equally concerned, but before anyone could say anything further, Wyatt spoke up. "I think I know what he's after, but I don't know what it means yet." Peter and Ahamo's eyes darted to Wyatt's, quiet interest settling in. Wyatt pulled the note out of his pocket and handed it to Ahamo, who examined it and passed it to Peter. As they each in turn examined the envelope and note, Wyatt continued to speak, "I had a special delivery from the Hall of Justice today. That note came from an Ozmanian Priestess." He paused briefly to determine if his cohorts understood the importance of where the message originated, and he felt he had gotten his intent across, as even the fire seemed to grow quiet in anticipation. At long last, Wyatt continued, "DeMilo had a visit from our friend this morning. Seems that he's looking for an old belt encrusted with jewels for his employer. Tried to pay DeMilo off with some pretty impressive gems."

Ahamo blew out a puff of air and asked after a moment, "Did DeMilo have what Vizor was looking for?"

Wyatt shook his head, his mouth drawn into a pensive frown. "No, but he sent Vizor back to the Realm to DeMilo's contact," Wyatt paused to wash his dry throat with tea and continued thoughtfully, "I don't think this contact is going to have what Vizor wants either, but that doesn't mean we can't use it to our advantage."

Jeb handed the note back to his father and asked what everyone was thinking, "What do you have in mind, dad?"

Wyatt stood and paced behind the desk, thinking hard before he spoke. Almost as if he were thinking out loud, he said, "Whatever this belt is, it's pretty important to this boss of his. Probably not something we want either of them to get their hands on. Maybe if we could find out more about this thing-"

Ahamo cleared his throat, drawing Wyatt out of his thoughts, "I might know someone who can help with that."

Wyatt turned to look over at Ahamo and sat back down quietly as Ahamo explained. "There's a reason why I got the reputation I had. During the time of the Sorceress, I spent a lot of time hunting down various magical artifacts. Mostly to keep out of the Sorceress' hands. Once or twice I sold off the more harmless items to certain individuals to keep up my cover. The more interesting or dangerous I passed off to the Curator for safe-keeping."

Ambrose coughed in earnest, choking on a piece of sandwich at the mention of the Curator. When he recovered enough to speak, he rasped, "The Curator? I thought he was just a legend!"

Ahamo chuckled, "Ah no, but since he's fairly reclusive and houses most of the history and relics of the Royal Family, he's not easy to find for a reason."

Wyatt cut in, feeling somewhat out of the loop. "Would you two mind sharing with the class? Who is this Curator, and how can he help?"

Ahamo stood this time and walked around to the back of his chair. As he leaned over the back of the chair, he spoke plainly, "His name is Artemis Saul, and he was one of my contacts in the Realm. I never saw him, but we exchanged messages at the tavern at the edge of the Realm. He knows everything there is to know about magical artifacts, and a great deal about the history behind them. If this belt is dangerous in any way, he'll know about it."

Jeb scratched his head and asked, "So let's just assume that we're able to meet this Curator, and he can tell us about the belt. Then what?" He turned to his father, "Dad?"

Wyatt tapped the envelope on the desk and stared out into space. As the chess pieces moved into place in his head, he spoke slowly, "This contact of DeMilo's could be of use. Maybe we could use her as a decoy to draw Vizor and his employer out."

Peter growled in annoyance, "I hate all of this cloak and dagger crap. What's the problem with just staking out his contacts to see where he's hiding?"

Wyatt's eyes darted to Jeb, and before he could answer, Ambrose replied with a laugh, "Well I guess if you don't mind being turned into a sea monkey, or forgetting who you are, you could always go give his front door a knock, but I could think of better ways to skin a cat personally."

Jeb cut it in a slightly less condescending tone, "Plus, if we do need to find out where's he's been hiding, we might know of someone who can help with that." Wyatt shot Jeb a look of warning, but Jeb continued, "Dad, I know you don't want to deal with him, but we might have to if your idea doesn't work."

Wyatt grunted in response, "That lowlife will only use it as an opportunity. I don't think we can trust anything he tells us."

"Dad," Jeb exclaimed, only to be cut off by Wyatt, who raised a hand in warning.

The tension was growing between the Cain men, and both Peter and Ahamo could tell that someone would need to break it before fists started to fly. "Wyatt," Peter gently prodded at his old friend, "Jeb's right. We need to put all of the options on the table, even the ill-advised ones."

Wyatt nodded in defeat and replied, "Jeb is talking about Damon, Pete. According to Azkadellia, he was the one who recruited him. He was apparently one of the only longcoats who knew of Vizor's lab. Son of bitch probably supplied him with plenty of test subjects over the annuals too." Wyatt stopped to take a gulp of his drink, slamming the cup back on the desk as he spoke in a low growl while his friend visibly bristled at the mention of their former friend, "Let's just hope we don't have to play that card. This is already turning out to be a dangerous game as it is. I don't want to risk myself, Jeb, or anyone else on that man's word. Not ever again. Not after what he did to our family." Wyatt gave Jeb a long, pained look before he turned back to Ahamo. "So, let's talk about Artemis, because it seems like whatever else we do, we're going to have to start with him."

Ahamo nodded. From here the plans to find and draw out Vizor moved along with much more ease. Wyatt had been right about one major item – that before any other plans could be made, they would need to first find the Curator and determine just what kind of trouble this belt was. It was quickly decided that Ahamo, Wyatt, and Jeb would leave for the Realm before the end of the week, where they would try to get word to Artemis Saul. Without knowing how long it would take to bring Vizor out of hiding, it was also determined that although Jeb would not be needed as a decoy, Wyatt and Ahamo would need all the backup they could get. While Ambrose's hologram would serve as a sufficient decoy in Central City, Jeb would at least be his father's second set of eyes in case trouble reared its head. His own contacts within the Resistance would prove useful, and he could move about the Realm relatively unencumbered due to his less visible status. With these details settled, Peter filled them in on his former Resistance contacts that had led him to the intel on Vizor, all feeling that, with any luck, these contacts could shed more light on Vizor and any contacts he had made while stirring things up in the Realm.

When the men finally parted ways, Peter shook hands with the other men in turn and sighed heavily, "I wish I was going with you, Wyatt. Seems like an age ago that I was out there getting dirty like the rest of you. Now I'm just an old war hero stuck behind a desk collecting dust."

Wyatt embraced Peter and chuckled, "You never know, if you collect enough dust, maybe the Curator will mistake you for an artifact and put you on a shelf somewhere."

Peter laughed lightly in return, but when he pulled away to look Wyatt in the eyes, there was concern. In a low voice, he replied, "Wyatt, I don't have to tell you what I'm worried about. There's something coming, and I hope you'll get it figured out before I have to come back you up."

Wyatt sighed heavily and nodded. "Just keep a light on for us, Pete."

Peter nodded back and turned to go, while Ahamo and Ambrose nodded to Wyatt and Jeb, exiting after the General so as to escort him out. Jeb had stood with Wyatt quietly until Ahamo and Peter were gone, and then turned to him with a smirk. "So, Your Highness, should I escort you to your chambers before I go back on duty?"

Wyatt smirked back at Jeb and clapped him on the shoulder, leading them both out of the door and into the hallway as he replied with a sigh, "Kid, I can still take you on, you know."

Jeb laughed as they walked leisurely, "Naw, I can hear your bones creaking. You're liable to break at any minute."

Wyatt laughed, not taking Jeb's bait. Instead the two continued to banter as they walked upstairs to the royal living quarters, and once outside Wyatt's doors, Wyatt took his son in a tight bear hug. "I love you son," He whispered into Jeb's shoulder.

"Love you too Dad," Jeb muttered.

The men parted, and with a final clap on Jeb's shoulder, Wyatt smiled at him before he closed himself in his and DG's rooms. He looked around their temporary quarters, feeling suddenly tired and frustrated. While he tossed his cap on the sofa, he mulled over the day. While there had been a good deal of questions answered, the message from a dead queen had created so many more, and in Wyatt's fatigue, he had difficulty sorting it all out. How is the business with Vizor linked to Ozma, he silently pondered while unbuttoning his coat.

"And why DG? Why not Az?" He thought out loud, having determined that DG was nowhere to be found.

Wyatt groaned in frustration when the answers continued to elude him, and he continued to undress almost as if on autopilot, peeling the close fitting uniform off while he considered. Now only in briefs and an undershirt, Wyatt crossed to the bedroom, intent on taking a long, soothing bath to help silence the questions churning in his mind. By the time the bathtub was filled, and the rest of his clothing removed, his thoughts were almost giving the Tin Man a headache, and as Wyatt eased himself into the tub, he inhaled sharply through his teeth in response to the heat of the water. Once submerged up to his mid-chest, his muscles relaxed, and he leaned back. A sigh escaped the man, and his eyes shut involuntarily as the steaming water forced him to finally relax. Unfortunately for him, his fatigue had gotten the better of him, and rather than sorting the thoughts in his mind, the jets of the tub lulled him further, and he drifted off to dreamless sleep.

While Wyatt and his cohorts had been conspiring to catch the rogue mage, the Gale women had been sitting down to what was supposed to be a quiet lunch. While it had indeed been quiet at the table where the three women sat, it had been more due to their own separate thoughts than a shared urge for peace. It seemed that they were all struggling with thoughts within their own minds, and their plates were barely touched. DG was so distracted that she could not eat for once and pushed her food around her plate so that it appeared eaten. Periodically, she would glance up at the clock on the wall, silently counting down the minutes until she could escape, while her mind drifted to the sparse and somewhat frustrating interactions she'd been having with Wyatt all day. She was eager to find relief the waning hours of the day when the demands on both of their schedules would cease, and she could finally have that talk with him that he had promised. Judging by Wyatt's distance in the past few days, DG surmised that it would not be very long before he would leave to parts unknown, and between that and his sudden disappearance, she was having difficulty hiding her discomfiture. She was also troubled by the look in his eyes when he thought she wasn't watching – she knew he was worried, and a worried Tin Man meant that there was trouble on the horizon. His spidey senses are tingling, DG thought nervously, so mine are too. DG's distraction had reached such a pitch that she finally dropped her utensils on the plate, seemingly forgetting she had been holding them at all. The heavy metal clattered against the china, startling the Queen.

The Queen gasped in surprise, "DG!" The Queen's eyes rested on her youngest daughter, and the look of stern disapproval quickly melted at the expression on her daughter's face.

DG was deeply embarrassed, and a flush rose on her cheeks as she stared down at her plate. With a voice almost as small as a whisper, DG replied, "I'm sorry mother, I didn't mean to startle you, I just have a lot on my mind."

The Queen set her own utensils down silently and reached out to grasp her daughter's hand. With a sympathetic frown, she comforted her daughter, "Darling, don't be sorry. I was just surprised." DG sighed and offered her mother a small smile. The Queen smiled too and released her daughter's hand as she sat back, and while gazing at her own barely eaten meal, she scoffed, "Honestly, I'm somewhat distracted myself."

DG laughed weakly and joked, waving her fork in a small circle, "birds of a feather flock together!"

The Queen smiled warmly at her daughters, and the tension in the room suddenly broke. With a small laugh, she placed her napkin next to her plate and replied, "This is getting a bit silly, isn't it?" She paused to sigh and continued, "It's been a long day for us all, and I'm certain you're both just as tired as I am."

Azkadellia sighed in apparent relief and dropped her napkin on the table, replying, "Well, I can barely hold my head up, let alone eat. Could we just call it a day, mother?"

The sisters eyed their mother hopefully, and after a pause, the monarch finally nodded her head and answered, "Yes my angels, I think we should." When her daughters both began to rise, she added, "Please give your husbands my love."

DG grinned and popped up from her chair, bounding over to her mother and kissing her on the cheek before doing the same to Azkadellia. Then, as she skipped towards the door, she called back cheerfully, "Good night you guys, I love you both!"

DG was so consumed with her thoughts that she did not stop to wait for a reply from either her mother or sister and dashed out with renewed energy. She did not even check to see if Gates was following behind her as she bounded towards her quarters, and she dived through the doors with full abandon, eager to reunite with Wyatt and resolve the burgeoning questions in her mind. When the doors shut behind her, and she stood at the head of their sitting room, she peered around, smiling when she found his uniform laid out on the couch – he was back, probably in the bathtub, she wagered silently, and she slid her slippers off, pushing them against the wall with her toes before she tip toed towards their bedroom door. As she neared the threshold, she silently removed one article of clothing after the next; first her dress, which dropped to the floor and pooled around her feet, then while stepping forward, now only in her slip and underwear, she pried the bedroom door open. A quick scan revealed that he wasn't here either, and she smiled again, satisfied with her initial guess. Next, she removed her slip, and shimmied out of her underwear, all while her smile was now becoming somewhat devilish, and she shut and locked their bedroom door behind her. After removing the pins from her hair and shaking her curls loose, she gave the room another scan; the room was somewhat dark and the only light was that of the fading sunlight creeping through the windows off to her left. Ahead of her was their bed, and to the right, the bathroom door, which was cracked open, allowing a small sliver of light to escape onto the floor of the bedroom. DG though she heard the jets of the bathtub, now certain that Wyatt was indeed there. She'd discovered that this was his favorite place to unwind, and she had quickly taken to joining him once her initial amusement had worn off.

DG smiled when she recalled discovering this fact about him. It had been after their ride to Finaqua, and they were both road weary and dusty. DG had looked everywhere for him, and when she finally discovered him, he was already stretched out in the tub, with his eyes shut in deep relaxation.

"What?" Wyatt asked as he opened his eyes, peering at the smirk on his wife's face, "Can't a guy enjoy a bath?"

DG raised her eyebrows and shook her head. "No, that's not it, I just didn't expect you to be the pampering type. I thought most guys were more into games, girls, guns and booze to relax."

DG peeled her clothes off and tossed them to the side, smiling down at Wyatt, who was watching her with great enjoyment. When she was done undressing and stood in front of him completely bare and irresistible, Wyatt grinned and replied, "Oh, those things are fun too, but there's nothing like a good bath."

DG stepped in between his legs and sat down, laying the back of her head against his chest. Wyatt's hands wrapped around her waist as she settled and he leaned his face close to her so he could growl in her ear as one hand roamed to her breast and the other between her legs, "Plus, I can still get the girl in the bath, you know." As Wyatt's fingers pressed against DG's core, he began to rub her in slow, tight circles. His other hand, still grasping her breast, shifted, and his fingers made similar passes around her areola, until it puckered under his attention, causing DG's breath to become shallow and shaky. His own breath was hot on her neck, and in between leaving openmouthed kisses on her skin, he whispered to her seductively, quietly commanding her to give in to him. "Come for me DG. Come now."

As he muttered against her skin, DG's breathing quickened, and she began to whimper from the pressure building up inside of her, until finally she whimpered. "Oh, Wyatt," she panted, "Please fuck me now."

Wyatt laughed quietly, and replied in a low purr, "No DG, not until you come." DG whimpered again and writhed against his hands, which had been making increasingly faster movements across her clitoris. They suddenly sped up, and he pressed his fingers more firmly against her as he commanded, "Now DG."

This seemed to unhinge DG, and she almost came out of the tub as she reached her climax. With a bright cry, she shuddered, and becoming limp against his chest, she panted heavily.

DG's eyes shut involuntarily as the memory filled her mind. She inhaled deeply as her arousal overtook her, making her feel giddy and excited. So, with a small push, she entered the bathroom, now intent on reenacting their first bath together. To her delight, she found Wyatt sitting stretched out in the bubbling water just ahead of her, in the massive bathtub that sat in the center of the marble clad room. DG had thought it superfluous before, but now that she was married, she swore by its charms, as it could always calm the Tin Man when she could not. Now, he was clearly relaxed, and his arms were splayed out across the rim of the tub, while his head leaned back; his eyes closed and a deep breath escaping his lips. DG watched intently to determine if he would acknowledge her arrival, and her smile split into a wide grin when he exhaled quietly as he slept. Now certain that he would not rouse too soon, DG crept forward a slowly tipped her foot into the water. She stifled a surprised gasp as she removed her toe from the cold water, and her mouth hung open in near horror.

Geesh Wyatt, how do you sleep in that, it's ice cold!

Wyatt still hadn't moved, so DG decided to test some magic she had been practicing in order to warm the water. DG closed her eyes, focusing her energy to her hands as Tutor had been teaching her. The small fireball had been easy, and once she had mastered that ability and could safely control the ball in her hand, making the flame larger or smaller at will, he had taught her something much more difficult. Instead of pushing the energy outward, he had been training her to focus it inwards in her hands, which he'd explained she might not be able to do at all.

"DG, you have to focus, and be wary of your mood. In a state of calm, the warmth from your hands will be warm and pleasant. In a dark state, your energy can be dangerous and volatile."

"How does it work? Do I have to touch something to warm it?" DG inquired, staring down at her hands.

Tutor shook his head and replied thoughtfully, "Not necessarily. Once you practice enough, tactile contact should not be necessary. You should be able to reach out with your light to affect whatever you choose."

DG looked up at Tutor, worry bubbling up from her gut, "But Tutor, how do I make sure I don't hurt anyone accidentally?"

Tutor placed a warm hand on her shoulder and smiled, "You won't, but just to be safe, why don't we focus on inanimate objects first."

Tutor placed a glass of water on the table, and DG spent the rest of the afternoon heating the water to varying temperatures, never quite reaching a boiling point.

DG looked down at her hands and grinned happily – her hands were glowing from within, and Wyatt had still not awakened. Then DG stepped back into the water and kneeled down in front of Wyatt, resting her hands in the water. The temperature climbed to a comfortable level, and DG turned the warmth of her hands to the man in front of her. DG grasped a bar of soap in one hand and began to slowly lather Wyatt's chest and arms, and soon Wyatt hummed in response and his eyes opened slightly. He smiled lazily at DG, wrapping his arms around her while his blue eyes widened to full alertness. DG dropped the soap and smiled back before floating into his lap. Her arms and legs wrapped around him like a climbing vine, and she kissed him heatedly as her chest rubbed against his.

Wyatt broke the kiss to look up into DG's darkened eyes, and with a lazy smile, he muttered, "Hey there Princess. Sorry, must have passed out. What time is it?"

DG smirked as she ran her fingers through his blonde hair, realizing that there was more hair now for her to play with, as Wyatt seemed to have let it grow out somewhat, and she answered, "Just got done with lunch, if that tells you anything. So how long have you been stewing in here?"

Wyatt raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Bout an hour I'd guess, but I don't get it, the water is still warm."

DG snickered and waved a still-warm hand at him. Wyatt looked somewhat perplexed and then shrugged, "I'm impressed. No singed eyebrows or being boiled to death."

DG slapped him on the chest as she pushed herself back, and with an annoyed grimace, she retorted, "Hey, that's not fair. It was one time, and it was ages ago anyway."

Wyatt splashed himself with water to rinse the remaining soap off of his body and laughed, "Yeah well, forgive me if I'm still a little sore about having to regrow my right eyebrow." Wyatt and DG exchanged a quiet laugh, their mock annoyance with each other melting away as they gazed at each other. Wyatt reached for DG, and pulled her back into his lap, and just before pulling her lips to his, he whispered, "I missed you today Dorothy."

DG sighed and nodded, allowing herself to be kissed gently by her husband. After a moment, Wyatt broke away and gazed up it her eyes again. That troubled look was back, and DG frowned because this time, he wasn't trying to hide it from her, and while DG placed her hands on his chest, she firmly asked, "Wyatt, what's wrong? What was so important that you had to disappear without talking to me?"

Wyatt's eyes sparkled first before the smile appeared. It was comforting that after such a short amount of time together, DG seemed to be able to read him better than anyone else, but it also meant that he couldn't hide from her, and while it was comforting most times, it also meant that he had to trust that she wouldn't do anything impulsive with the information he gave her. To hell with it, I'm all in, Wyatt thought before answering, "I have something to give you." Wyatt murmured against her lips, placing a small kiss on them before making them both stand.

Wyatt climbed out of the tub first and helped her out next, and he handed her a towel and watched her dry off while he did the same.

"What is it?" DG asked with quiet excitement, barely managing to pat herself adequately dry and standing before him, completely uncaring as to her state of undress.

Wyatt smirked and turned her around, wiping away the rest of the water from her back before he smacked her butt cheek playfully. He stepped away from her before she could swat him in defense, and hung their towels up while he answered, "You'll see, Your Impatience." He then kissed her on the cheek and pushed her out of the bathroom, finishing with, "Go on, get in bed. I'll be right there. I just have to go get it."

DG huffed, frowning at Wyatt, but she did as she was asked. As she slid into the bed, she watched intently as Wyatt walked around to their dressing room. After a moment, he emerged with a small object in his hand, and he smiled a sad sort of smile as he approached, still looking down on it. DG soon found that it was a small enameled box, and image on the front was of a beautiful woman with blonde hair. Her long locks waved around her, and her bright blue eyes seemed to gaze directly into whomever happened to be holding the box. DG watched Wyatt's expression as he looked down at the box. It was a bittersweet sort of expression – the type that one might have when looking at an old photograph of a loved one. As Wyatt sat before her, he closed his eyes for a moment, seemingly lost in a memory, before he opened his eyes again, and deposited the small box in her hands carefully.

"It's beautiful, Wyatt," DG spoke in a hushed tone, "Where did it come from?"

Wyatt watched quietly as DG traced the line of Ozma's face with the tip of her finger, and he remembered admiring the small trinket often in a similar manner as a boy.

"Nana, is that a picture of you on that box?" Young Wyatt had asked his grandmother.

Wyatt was only four at the time and had looked up to Elizabeth Cain with deep love and admiration. This woman had all but raised him when his father had died, and he and his mother had come to live with her. Wyatt shared Elizabeth's striking blue eyes and golden hair, and she was still beautiful at sixty annuals.

Elizabeth took the box down from the mantle and turned it in her hand, she smiled kindly at her grandson and handed the box to him, "No Darlin', that is Ozma the Great. She was a great Queen who had many adventures with Dorothy Gale, and she even made her Queen of the OZ when she finally grew weak and tired."

Wyatt's fingers ran over the brightly colored enamel in awe, and he opened the box expecting light music to erupt from it, but it remained silent.

Elizabeth had sighed sadly when she saw his face and explained, "I don't think that's played in a very long time, but I'll sing you the song if you'd like."

Wyatt grinned happily up at his grandmother and opened his arms to her, and Elizabeth had gathered the boy up in her arms and sat down in the rocking chair, depositing him in her lap. After a moment of trying to recollect the words, she began to sing a wistful, lilting melody about a beautiful land beyond the rainbow, which sent Wyatt to sleep in her arms, feeling the warmth of her body and the hum of her chest as she sang quietly.

A smile crept up on Cain's face with this recollection. He'd always thought his grandmother was the most beautiful woman in the world, until he met Dorothy, and after a brief moment of imagining himself as a boy, he finally spoke, "It was my grandmother's once upon a time. I used to spend a lot of time looking at it when I was a boy. I rescued it from the house when I went back to sell it."

DG studied the outside of the box, turning it over to see the winding mechanism underneath, and she turned the dial a few times before turning it back over, and opened the lid. When no music emanated from the moving parts moving inside the lid, DG and Wyatt both frowned in disappointment.

"Huh," Wyatt muttered thoughtfully.

DG looked up, somewhat perplexed, "What is it?"

Wyatt took the box back from her for a moment and placed it to his ear before he gave it back to her, and he shook his head with disappointment before he answered, "I really thought something might happen when I gave it to you." DG's confused frown deepened, but she didn't speak, so Wyatt continued his explanation. "I had always meant to give it to you, as some kind of peace offering, maybe see if you could fix it, but it kept slipping my mind." Wyatt laid back on the bed and leaned on his side, and he rested his head in his hand while he continued to mull over his thoughts verbally, "Then today, I got a message from an Ozmanian priestess that I should give it to you, and I just assumed that –"

"Something earth-shattering would happen?" DG asked with an uncertain wince. Wyatt huffed through his nose and frowned in return while he handed the box back to her, seeming more puzzled than irritated.

DG leaned back on the headboard and turned the information over slowly, muttering, "I feel like I'm missing something important. What's an Ozmanian Priestess, and what does she have to do with this?" DG waved the box in her hand.

Wyatt groaned as he gazed up at the ceiling. Sometimes he forgot that DG had spent most of her childhood on the Otherside. The details were important though, so he detoured briefly from his story, "The Ozmanians are from the Temple of Ozma, whose face, incidentally, is on the front of that box," he motioned to the music box with his index finger as he moved back to looked at her. "Their primary purpose has been to prepare for the rebirth of Ozma, who they believe will return to rule the OZ again."

DG tapped her lip as she considered, and replied thoughtfully to herself, "Like the Dali Lama, I guess."

Wyatt didn't understand DG's reference, so he continued, "They are good people, Deeg, but more importantly, they have been known to receive visions from Ozma. Visions that have come true."

"Like what?" DG scoffed.

"Like the prophecy about you and Azkadellia, for one," Wyatt responded pointedly. DG's mouth snapped shut and she looked to him to continue, "Anyway, this priestess made a pretty big stink about being sure that you would receive that box before I leave for the Realm. Said that the future of the House of Gale depended on you getting that." DG turned the box over again and frowned, when she looked back into his eyes, she saw a mirrored look of confusion in his and he sat back up with a sigh. "I guess I'm not meant to find out why it's so important, but I wish I understood why you should get it and not your sister."

DG watched as Wyatt stared down at his hands in frustration, and she quietly placed the box on her nightstand before crawling up behind him. She slid her legs on either side of Wyatt and began to rub his shoulders in slow, deep circles, and Wyatt groaned as she worked out the knots in his neck with her thumbs. "Wyatt," DG gently prodded as she continued to rub him, "what's really bothering you?"

Wyatt spoke through a grunt as DG hit a particularly tight muscle, "I just don't like where this is heading. Vizor by himself is a walk in the park. Then you add the fact that he's apparently got some shady boss who's paying him with rubies and looking for magical artifacts, and now an Ozmanian Priestess sputtering warnings about the future of the Gales, and – ugh!" Wyatt interrupted himself with a frustrated grunt.

DG frowned to herself as she swallowed everything he said, in a small voice she asked, "And you're worried that someone is gunning for me and my sister before the babies can be delivered, aren't you?"

Wyatt stilled DG's hands and turned around, kneeling in front of her on the floor, "That's exactly what I'm worried about." He grasped her hands in his, toying with her wedding band before he finally choked out, "I'm also afraid of leaving another wife and child behind. What if something should happen to me while I'm in the Realm? DG, I hate that we can't have the life you wanted right now, and I know you hate not being able to do much, but I just don't know what else to do here. I'm sorry."

Wyatt looked up at DG, whose eyes were silently filling with tears. Her hands left his so that she could place them on either side of his face, and she softly answered, "Wyatt, I was so ready to be angry with you leaving me out of the loop, but I understand now. I promise you; I won't take one step outside the palace while you're gone."

Wyatt sighed, and the trouble in his eyes eased somewhat. As he breathed out through his nose in relief, he took her hands back into his and kissed each palm. At this tender attention, DG slid down into Wyatt's lap, and kissed him deeply. Wyatt, meanwhile, wrapped his arms around her so he could revel in the feel of her smooth skin against his, and his hands roamed her backside as they continued to plunder the other's bodies. The relief that Wyatt felt when he touched her made his chest swell, and he hugged her close to him, inhaling deeply of her as his lips moved to press lightly against her collarbone. DG's breasts pressed against his chest, and she exhaled deeply. Her head swam, and she had the dizzying sensation of floating, and her only anchor was Wyatt's strong arms holding her to him. Wyatt growled into her as her essence wrapped itself around his senses, making him feel intoxicated by her, and he rose with her still anchored to him, and carried her back up the bed, depositing her in the center gently. His body laid over hers as his mouth continued its exploration of DG's, soon breaking their feverish kiss to let his lips travel down her chest.

As Wyatt moved down the center of her body, leaving a trail of kisses, he grasped her waist to hold her in place. He sat up on his knees for a moment, gazing heatedly down on her, smiling at the beautiful woman before him. Her dark hair was splayed out on the bed, and her chest heaved in anticipation; her eyes were almost closed, and her lips were parted in a heavy pant. DG was getting impatient for him and grunted at him, poking his leg with her toe. This caused Wyatt to grin evilly, enjoying his exquisite torture of his wife. To draw it out further, he grasped her knees before slowing sliding his hands down the inside of her thighs, pushing her open as he slid further down. DG took a sharp breath and arched up as he nestled down between her legs, taking her into his mouth. His tongue danced a slow dance with her clitoris, making DG groan. Wyatt watched as DG's eyes closed completely – she was helpless and writhing at his ministrations, but he stopped, and ran his tongue around the rim of her opening, drawing a ragged breath from her in response. He repeated this a few times before adding his fingers to the game, teasing her opening with them before sliding them inside. DG moaned, babbling incoherently, before her inner walls contracted around his fingers and she shuddered with a low cry.

She was still recovering when Wyatt sat up, holding her hips steady so he could plunge into her. DG cried again, climbing quickly to another climax. Wyatt dove into her repeatedly, quickly losing control of his senses and grunting deeply with every thrust. She was deep and hot, and he relished the feeling of how tightly her muscles squeezed him as he moved leisurely. Then he leaned over her, kissing her still panting neck, and she moved his face to hers, kissing him ferociously, surprising Wyatt when she somehow managed to roll them both over while still kissing him hotly. Now over him, DG rode Wyatt, her hips gyrating frantically. Wyatt watched her, admiring her body as it moved over his. Her breasts glistened with perspiration and bounced as she rode him home. Wyatt's heels dug into the bed and he thrust up into her, feeling his body clench as he called her name. DG cried out as well when he thrust upward, surprised at the climax coming to her once again. When Wyatt's own climax drew near, he rolled her back over, moving with a quickening pace as he released into her body.

DG's body shuddered as she recovered from the rigors that she had put it through, and she panted heavily. Wyatt too was utterly spent and collapsed next to her, where they both nestled under the blanket, easing the shaking of their breathless bodies. Wyatt then turned towards DG and watched her quietly as she recovered her senses: He marveled at her, feeling that it would never cease to amaze him that this beautiful creature could actually want a rusted old soldier like him, and he was overwhelmed with the intense passion that she always managed to draw out of him when they made love. Wyatt smiled at the thought and traced the line of her breast down to her naval as she breathed deeply. Her eyes fluttered open, and she gave Wyatt a sleepy smile. He smiled back, leaning down to place an ardent kiss on her lips. DG hummed back as he kissed her, allowing her fingers to toy with his damp chest hairs.

Wyatt pulled back to whisper just inches from her lips, his eyes searching hers longingly "I love you more than anything Dorothy, and you have my heart and my soul."

DG reached a small hand up to his face and kissed him lightly before answering, "I love you too Wyatt."

Wyatt smiled warmly down on her before he laid back down, opening his arm so she could curl up next to him. After a few steady deep breaths, they quickly fell into a deep sleep, having temporarily eased the trouble on their minds.