Chapter Two: Of Flowers and Jackets

Note: Okay here's the DL I got a review that told me that Jeb/DG is cute. Originally this chappy was chockful of Glitch/DG. Like I said I was converted. As I typed it up I figured it was too early int he story to completely discard Jeb, he's a pretty chill guy I'm not gonna lie, therefore I made it a lot more Jeb-friendly. I hope you like it! Oh and btw I hope that no one is being turned off by any of the mushiness. This is afterall an adventure story too. I promise the adventure is coming!

Disclaimer: I do not own anyting... blah blah blah... yack yack yack... etc. etc. etc.

Before he knew it DG's arms were flung around him and she was so close that he could smell the fragrance of her hair. What was it about her that could make a person open up their heart to let her in? Jeb wrapped his arms around DG and turned his face into her hair. Silent tears slid down his face. Tears he hadn't shed in years for his mother and for the countless families who had suffered the same miserable fate that his had.

"So now you and Cain are leaving to find him?"

"Not only that," he said, his voice cracking, not sure if he should tell her this or not "He's been recruiting the missing Longcoats" he informed her "It's sure to lead to some kind of rebellion."

"But how's that possible?" DG asked pulling away a bit to look at him "I thought those tin suits were impossible to break out of"

"They are…" he said knowing that from experience "They think that one of his buddies found him and let him out." DG's face scrunched up.

"So you're going to try and squelch a revolt with only you and your father…"

"Well yea… we figured that if we get rid of Zero, who's bound to be the leader, the whole group will surrender" he said matter-of-factly

"I'm gonna love to see that" DG grinned pulling away from him entirely. Jeb wanted to keep on holding her but the princess had other plans. Whait… what?

"Huh?" he said dumb-founded

"I said…"

"I know what you said but you're not coming."

"Says you" DG said and smiling she turned on her heals and walked confidently back into the castle. Jeb followed her finding that an extremely determined DG was hard to keep up with.

DG's first destination was to Cain's room. She was sure that he was in there preparing guns and packing necessities and what not. Hopefully he wasn't done yet. Upon arrival she found that she was not the only of of his companions who was determined to join the former Tin Man's vendetta.

Cain ha dlocked them out but that didn't stop Raw and Glitch from tring. Raw was attempting soothing words while Glitch was positively banging on the door.

"Cain" DG breathed as she ran towards the pair "Glitch!" she exclaimed and before he had time to think DG was hugging him. Raw put a comforting hand on her shoulder as Glitch wrapped his arms around her

"This is bad" she said

"Very," was all Glitch could say. The trio stood like that for a moment or two but it was undeniable that a certain Tin Man was missing. DG slipped from Glitch's arms and went to the door.

"Cain like it or not I'm going with you!"

"It's no use DG" Glitch told her "He's not letting any of us come along, not even you…. Especially not you."

"Cain in anguish. Not want DG hurt. Want Zero stopped by all costs." Raw added

"Cain! It's not like I'm a porcelain doll!" DG said and with that she slipped a pin from her hair. A wry smile on her face, the princess started to pick the lock. Glitch looked over her shoulder curious to know how sticking a pin in a lock and wiggling it around would open a door.

Click the door was unlocked. DG swung it open and prepared to rush inside, every reason to bring her along on the tip of her tongue. She didn't even have to take a step however seeing that Cain was standing in the doorway. He didn't shed a tear but DG, along with Raw and even Glitch, could tell that he was hurting on the inside. After all Adora's killer was on the loose again and worst yet he was probably planning to come after Cain's new family and a certain princess he thought of as a daughter who had helped to thwart him a year ago. That very same princess was suddenly hugging him close.

"You're not going to loose me" she promised "Besides I'll have you to protect me."

"What about twinkle-toes and furry over there? They coming too kid?" he asked a bit hoarsely

"Yup, wouldn't be and adventure if we all didn't go, would it?" she pointed out and opened the hug up to the group. Jeb stayed back a bit. Oddly enough he didn't feel like he belonged with them at this moment.

After a few minutes the companions broke the hug. Glitch's arm was still around DG and Jeb glared at him for it. She was beaming as she looked at her friends. She wasn't happy that Zero was released and probably really really pissed but as she looked around at them she couldn't help but smile. DG wrapped her arms around Glitch and put her head on his chest. Jeb wished it were him at that moment, although it had been him on many occasions he was always insanely jealous when it was another man. Cain stood there solidly with his arms crossed and a bleak smile on his face as he looked at his surrogate daughter. Raw stood there impassively trying to sort out all the strong emotions that were wafting over him from them all. Suddenly Glitch's eyes went wide.

"What'll the Queen say?"

"Crap" they all looked at her

"D-"

"I know, princesses don't talk like that" she said with an eye roll. She pulled away from Glitch (Jeb sighed thankfully) "But I doubt she'll let me go"

"Maybe that's for the best kid" Cain said. Apparently he wasn't giving up the fight that easy. "You should just stay here and…"

"Let you handle it?" DG questioned and shook her head "I'd be too worried."

"No need to worry about us Doll, we can take care of ourselves" Glitch said puffing up his chest.

"Not you too!"

"DG stay, be safe…"

"Raw!" DG whined

Jeb came up to the group and put his hands on DG's shoulders.

"Please…" he pleaded turning her around to face him "Stay here, be safe. There are a lot of people out there who need you to stay safe. People in here…" and with that, despite the audience in attendance, Jeb leaned down and kissed DG full on the mouth, something he had wanted to do for almost a year now.

Behind them Cain's eyes widened and he wasn't sure whether to be fuming or happy or what. Glitch was flabbergasted, surely he was only glitching out and having a nightmare. Raw put a pawed hand on Glitch's shoulder. Knowing DG's heart better than she was trying sometimes but he wasn't going to reveal any secrets to anyone, not even her.

Jeb pulled away and looked sheepishly at his father. He gave a kind of 'if you want her come and get her' look to Glitch. Raw had an unreadable smile on his face and Jeb didn't know what to make of the fur-ball. He then looked down at DG to see her reaction. DG looked back at her friends as if asking them what to do.

"Jeb," his head shot back up to look at his father. Cain nodded his head towards the open door of his room, "Now" Jeb followed with his head bowed looking at the floor.

"Hi I'm… shit" Glitch started

DG stood there shocked. It wasn't like she'd never been kissed before. On the contrary… okay she so wasn't going there with Raw so close at hand. She was stunned and dazed. Wow she would have never expected that from Jeb. It wasn't like it was a completely bad thing. He was handsome, strong willed, and an overall good guy. But then again… oh she didn't know what to think or do.

"I… I have to go…" she told the pair standing in front of her and ran off to her room. Donning her familiar jean, powder blue tank, and jeans jacket DG grabbed her sketch book and some pastels and in only moments was outside running through the gardens.

It wasn't long until her feet carried her to her favorite part in the garden. As part of her last birthday present her father had helped to design a special spot in the gardens for her with a swing that was almost the exact replica of the one in Finaqua. DG went up the steps of the gazebo and sat in the swing. She laid out her art supplies on her lap and opened the sketch book to her unfinished picture of her friends.

DG ran a longing finger over their profiles and stopped momentarily on glitch's replica. He was the only one she hadn't finished. Taking up a muddy brown and a yellow to finish off his favorite ever tattered apparel DG smiled as she scratched and brushed at the paper. It had to be just right. As she worked DG swung herself a bit enjoying the relaxation and comfort it brought. Soon the shock and confusion melted away. Jeb wasn't bad at all, but was he her type? DG sometimes toyed with the idea of it all and knew that it would probably make everyone happy. But would it really? DG's thoughts were cut off as someone stopped the swing rather abruptly.

"Hey" was all she heart but she knew who it was.

Looking up DG found that what she had thought was a permanent smile was gone. Instead in its place was a look of confusion and was that hurt?

"Glitch I…" he held up a hand to silence her

"I'm happy for you, I really am"

Huh?

"Jeb's a great guy. Handsome, strong, a great suitor. I'm sure you're parents will be happy too"

"Glitch it's not li-" he cut her off again but this time in a more intimate fashion. Glitch smiled woefully at her and wiped a smudge of pastel from her cheek

"I don't know how you seem to get this stuff all over you" he teased her. DG didn't fall for it and although she wanted to smile under the current circumstances she found it best to keep a straight face.

"I don't know"

"Hmm? Don't know what?" he asked "How you get the pastels…"

"No!" I don't know what I'm going to do." She said standing up and therefore sending the pastels and her sketch book flying. "About Jeb… about any of this."

"Well Jeb's a nice…"

"No! Glitch you're not supposed to sell him to me!"

"What do you mean sell him to you? To be your slave? If that's the case then Cain…"

"Glitch it's just an expression back in my old world." DG said nearly cracking a smile, thankfully she held it back.

"There are so many choices to make. And what if I don't want Jeb as a suitor. What if I choose someone else?" Glitch approached DG and took her in his arms.

"Then choose whomever you want Doll" he whispered and quite unexpectantly he kissed her forehead then pulled away and left without so much as a good-bye. But one thing was fur sure, that same old smile was back on his face.

Later that night Glitch slipped into DG's suite. The lights wereout in the bedroom and if he pressed his ear hard enough to the door he could hear her breathing evenly. Silently Glitch opened the door just enough to be able to slip in. By the light of the moon Glitch could see her dark hair scattered over her pillows. Sitting down on the edge of her bed Glitch laid a hand over hers and simply watched her sleep for awhile. He could vaguely rmember other such times when he had been Ambrose and she just a wee princess with a huge heart. Not that he had been a pervert or anything. Ambrose and the Princess DG had been quite good friends. DG shifted in her sleep a bit and brought Glitch's whirling synapses back to why he was there.

"We're leaving Doll" Glitch whispered

"Where're we going?" she aksed through her sleep

"You're staying safe right here in the palace" DG's face scrunched up

"You're abandoning me?"

"No," he said lovingly pushing some stray strands of hair away from her forehead "I'm trying to keep you safe. We all are" the hand that he was holding turned over and grabbed onto his wrist

"Don't leave me"

"We'll be back safe and sound. I promise"

"But you're leaving me behind" she argued even in her sleep

Glitch sighed and a smile played across his otherwise serious face. Even in slumber the young princess was a force to be reckoned with. Removing his wrist from her grasp Glitch stood up. DG's brows furrowed but she didn't wake. Leaning down he kissed her forehead.

"Goodbye princess, stay safe" he whispered

"Be safe… love"

Uh oh there he wnet again. Synapses were sparking and flying around like crazy. Wow look at that Glitch was in DG's room. She was so cute when she slept. Those pictures were nice, oh look there was one of him. Wait a minute he was here for a reason. Concentrating he remembered the last couple of minutes. Love! She had called him "love"! But then again she wasn't awake. For all he knew she was dreaming of Jeb.

It wouldn't matter though because he was leaving for awhile. Stealing one more look at her Glitch slipped out of the room as quietly as he had entered. Closing the door he leaned on it and closed his eyes in order to gather himself. Opening his eyes he found that he was not the only man who had visited the suite that night. On the table was a bouquet of flowers and with them Jeb, for Glitch was sure it was that specific young man, had left a note. The urge to pry was all too strong but with his synapses firing all over the place. Glitch was sure it would only cause him to completely glitch out and he would wind up doing things he might regret but not even remember doing.

Sighing Glitch shrugged off his old coat to reveal a new one. He wasn't leaving her flowers or chocolates or anything a half wit (okay so he probably shouldn't be the one talking about half wits) could think of. Instead he was leaving her something meaningful. Something that would assure her that he, and the rest of the group, would indeed return safely. In the pocket was another little gift but DG would have to find it on her own. Glitch draped the coat over a chair and with a shot glance back at the door that DG slept behind he took his leave.

Opening the door Glitch found Cain standing, arms crossed and a scowl on his face, right outside.

"I just… and she wasn't… and it… um…" Glitch tried desperately to put words together to form at least one sentence while he jerkily pointed back at the door "Eeep" he squeaked and swallowed hard.

Cain clapped a hand on his shoulder, scaring Glitch half to death. It was only after he realized that Cain was smiling at him the Glitch became completely confused like the bumbling idiot he was. Pointless babble spewed from his mouth as he squirmed under the Tin Man's gaze. What was he thinking? If it came down to choosing sides then surely Cain would support his son.

"But DG… and Jeb… and I…"

"Glitch," Cain cut him off sternly, ":I want what's best for her, whether that's you, or Jeb, or even some guy she hasn't met yet I'll support whatever DG wants" Glitch breathed a sigh of relief "Of course if you wind up hurting her, and I've already had this talk with Jeb, I won't be responsible for what I do to you" Cain laughed at the unnerved look on his friend's face "Now are you ready for another journey down the old brick route?" Glitch nodded trying to look brave. "Good let's go." Cain said and was off.

Glitch followed his friend closely ready for their next adventure.