Diego couldn't believe he had pulled a stunt like that in front of Tia. She probably thought he was a flirt, and that she didn't mean anything to him. Him and Tamera were flying back on Taquis. She was still not sure about Diego and Tia, and what he told her was the truth.

Her thoughts surprisingly changed to Dallas Ferra. She certainly nailed him in the balls. She laughed to herself. It was odd she'd never noticed him before, after all he was Julius's best friend. Poor little Julius, he was kidnapped by Blaire Rye.

They came to the hanger and Tamera landed Taquis at his perch.

"Bye, baby," Tamera waved to her peregrine falcon. Taquis chirped in farewell. Diego swiftly dismounted the bird and went into the palace.

"Diego, wait up!" Tamera shouted and ran after him.

He stopped impatiently, and turned around.

"What's the rush?" she asked with worry.

"Nothing," he shrugged. Nothing? Tamera had always had men running after her. She had so wanted to find the right one, actually one where she could remember his name. She remembered how she told Shylie 'If I could have just one man who cared enough about me...I'd give anything'. Diego didn't care enough about her. He liked that Chaiha performer, Tia. Diego was too beautiful to let go, almost as beautiful as her, only a guy.

"Where ya going?" she asked quieter.

"Eat," he answered and kept going.

Tamera nodded numbly. She had been dismissed, by an UNDERCLASS. How did allow herself to go so low? Well she wasn't going to stand for it any longer.

She marched into the upper throne room where the king and queen were a bit joyful after their sorrowful loss.

"Your son's bird has returned, he may still be out there alive," a ground sprite announced.

"Do you know which direction it flew from?" she asked anxiously.

"From Alklair your majesty," he bowed, "but I'm afraid that's all I can tell you."

The king was worried more about other things than his son, "I can't believe Blaire Rye is loose! I wonder if she has started gathering more followers?" he mumbled to himself.

The queen noticed her daughter's best friend standing in the entryway "Tamera dear! Have you seen Shylie? I haven't spotted her all day. We have a surprise for her tonight at dinner."

Tamera did a quick curtsy, "Yes your highness, I expect she'll be here by then, though I'm not sure where she is now." Dallas hadn't killed her. She did mention something about the guy who fell on her and how she was trying to find him.

-----------------------

Diego had finally shaken Tamera off. Sakes, that woman was vain! Beautiful but conceited, must have been from growing up with everything she could want. But not him; she wasn't going to get him. Tia had possession of his heart long before Tamera was on the scene. He walked into the kitchen where every serving being looked at him with shock.

"Diego Mantchua?" cried the lead serving maid in utter surprise.

"Yeah, hey can I get something to eat?" he said, ignoring their stares.

"Absolutely, here sit down. What happened to you?" she said and went to a cupboard.

"Ah, Tamera Almengod freed me," he shrugged.

"So the priss found you?" she turned around with angry eyes.

"Yup," he said and took the loaf of bread the fairiette had slung to him. He took a bite and loved the taste.

"After you disappeared to the prisons below we hired a fairiette in your place. On her first day a Royal started to hit on her, really hit on her and she tried flying away and her wings broke. So if you want to come back, we have a spot open," the waitress said absently playing with his wispy strands of hair. "Besides, we're gonna be busy. Rumor is that their going to have a dinner for the princess. She's supposed become ruler tonight.

That was interesting and people liked his hair for some reason. It wasn't strange that she would mess with it since they had went together for a short period of time.

"No thanks, I have to find a long lost friend," he said and stood to leave.

"Who might that be?" she asked with puzzlement.

"Your cousin," he smiled and left.

-----------------------

Dallas had fallen asleep after Tia and him...played around. He was feeling up beat and in a great mood. Tia couldn't stop thinking of Diego. He was such a player, how could she have let him charm her so much. Even if he was a great friend, that would be all he could ever be to her. When Dallas fell asleep, she snuck out of his chambers and ventured into the palace. No one would question her because she was the Chaiha performer. It was a good thing she was still on her day off. Only this morning were her and Dallas flying from the Aquatic punks.

The nightly rain must have started because a sudden chill swelled up out of nowhere, through the walls.

Then strong, tan-golden arms wrapped around her.

"You look cold," came a familiar, deep voice that she knew all too well. She looked above to see Diego smiling down at her. She did not smile back.

"Where's Tamera?" she asked mockingly, while giving a meaningful glare.

"Sorry about that," he sighed, knowing why she was cross. "I kissed her to shut her up. Didn't you think she was annoying?" he tried explaining but it didn't sound right.

"So your leading her on?" Tia asked appalled that her best friend would do such a thing.

"Tia, she rescued me! Am I supposed to just say 'hey thanks!' and leave her?" he said not understanding why it was a big deal.

"She rescued you because you look like a god, not out of niceness. Fairiettes like Tamera Almengod only want one thing from a male..." Tia trailed off and looked at him suspiciously, hoping he hadn't given in to her charms.

Diego looked away from her multi-colored stare and whispered "I'm sorry Tia."

Tia tried struggling out of Diego's grip while tears formed in her eyes. She always believed he was stronger than that, but now he had admitted to everything.

"Tia! Yes, I slept with her, yes I laid her, but...but I never loved her. We fairies are natural lovers but I only love you. Do you know how many nights I stayed awake wondering if you were alive. I kept thinking if I had said something wrong to make you leave, if that was the reason you were gone. So now you're back, and I thank sakes that you are, with all my heart but please, if you don't return my love please tell me now. I cannot bear to have my heart break again." He said looking at her in a most pathetic way.

"I do love you, Diego, but you lied to her, no matter if she's a Royal or not she thinks you love her and that's one thing I don't believe in," Tia explained tearfully.

"What? Lying? Tia, you cannot chide me for something like that when you have been lying to the whole kingdom just to better your life," he said.

A hand smacked him across his handsome features and he winced. Tia was standing very angrily away from him with clenched fists. He stared at her in dismay.

"Your right," she whispered looking at him and then she grabbed him and kissed him for the third time in that day.

-----------------------

Dallas awoke sleepily from his dreams and fantasies. Tia was there and so was Tamera...in his dreams. Tamera had frequently been in his dreams. The strange thing was though that, even if she did kick him in a forbidden and sensitive place, she had taken over his head again. He had liked her for the longest time and now that he had Tia, she was distracting his senses again. Once in her trap; no escape.

He groaned, and sat up. Tia was gone.

"Tia?" he asked rubbing one of his fawn colored eyes. No she wasn't in his chamber, that was odd.

He slowly stood since his junk was still in a lot of pain. He noticed it was almost time for dinner. He traveled to the main halls where Royals were gathering, awaiting their food.

He saw Tamera, the seductress in his head, wandering around with out the 'Marquee' guy that she was always clinging to.

"Dallas!" she saw him and he almost fainted in shock that she remembered his name.

"Hey," he sort of frowned and covered his stuff in protection.

She looked down and then smiled, "I won't kick you in your balls again. I promise. Anyway, are you better?"

"First off, I can't believe you remembered my name since I've known you since forever, and second of all the pain is a little less so yeah," he said with a raised eyebrow.

Tamera stared at him, she did remember his name. He wasn't anywhere near as beautiful as Diego but still...she. remembered. his. name. It floored her.

"I did remember your name, didn't I?" she stated.

"Yeah, where is 'Heath?'" Dallas asked, not wanting to get beat up...again.

"Where's Tia?" she shot back, not liking that it was the first thing he could think of saying.

"I don't know, she disappeared," he said looking around.

"So did 'Heath'," Tamera lied. She knew that he was running from her, but Dallas wasn't and she had kicked him in the nuts.

"Let's go find them?" Dallas suggested and held out one of his hands (the other protecting his junk...just in case) for her to take.

"Okay," she smiled.