Title:

Better or Worse

Disclaimer:

Not mine…

General Info:

Rated T

Angst/Romance

Author's Note:

PLEASE read and review. I love to hear your opinions. As always, thank you for taking time to read my story.

To those who have reviewed:

You have been wonderful. I know a few of you read it all in one sitting and I'm truly impressed. I hope you are enjoying the way this story is going – because while I know what I want to happen, I'm still not sure how I'll get there. I'm having fun making the journey though.

Chapter 9

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller


Their departure was anything but comfortable. It was awkward and dismal for nearly everyone involved, Del probably the only one who was immune to the sadness.

DG and Del had their wounds checked, cleaned and bandaged again by Patty who gave them extra stores to keep their injuries from getting infected. It was still painful, though not nearly as bad as the previous day. She also supplied them with some mild painkillers, which DG took gratefully hoping it would alleviate some of her hip throbbing and forced Del to do the same.

As they distributed the gear into five identical piles -- for DG and Fran insisted on carrying their equal share, none of this chivalry nonsense -- they had to sit and watch Jeb say goodbye to Patty. Apparently they were far more than friends if their lip-lock was any indication.

Fran paled considerably at the sight, knowing her crush would never come to fruition after witnessing that display. She tried to give DG a smile, but it was a halfhearted attempt to put up a front, and DG didn't buy it for one second. The lone comfort was at least Fran found out early and not after she decided to make the OZ her permanent residence.

The only other thought going through DG's usually overcrowded brain was now both of them would be miserable. And as much as misery loves company she hoped Fran would get over the hurt better than she.

Damn the Cain men to hell!

And miserable wouldn't even begin to describe her feelings as they headed out of town, Wyatt Cain nowhere to be seen. Her heart was so low it was in her toes. He never insisted on joining the journey, never even came to see them off and his son was among the small troupe. She could only assume they said their goodbyes privately, but who knew anymore.

As they ambled on their way, the town disappearing behind them, DG decided she had enough of moping around. It would not do for her to make the others uncomfortable and she could at least pretend to be at ease for their benefit. Without a look back she plastered a phony smile on her face – one she thought they would buy – and began to quiz Jeb on the past annual and a half.

"So, Jeb," she broke the complex stillness, "how long have you been living in that town?"

He slowed his stride so he was walking next to her, her hip emanating a sickening popping sound every couple steps though he took no notice. Perhaps only she heard it.

"We moved there right after leaving the palace," he replied, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. "We found a handful of families, or what was left of them," he shuddered a little, leaving a pregnant pause as he remembered the missing kin of each group. "They were building the town and we decided to help."

Shrugging his shoulders, he turned his head to look her straight on. "We had to live somewhere, right? Thought putting down roots with the others would make it more comfortable for us as we got to know one another again." Jeb went back to facing forward. "Having buffers."

Ok, time for lighter conversation.

"How long have you and Patty been together?"

There was no stopping the smile gracing his face at the mention of his girl. It was as if the suns were shining out of his eyes instead of into them. He had it bad for her, that much was obvious.

"A few months."

"Mmmhmm…" she purred, watching him closely. "And how serious is it?"

A blush began to creep up the neck and cheeks of her walking companion, his ears turning a delectable shade of pink at her question.

Fran walked up along her other side. DG was surprised to see her smiling and she had to give her friend credit. Only Fran would be able to either mask her feelings so well or shove them into a dark corner for later retrospection. Maybe she would get through this easier than expected.

"That goodbye kiss was pretty darn impressive," Fran teased, her smile still fixed across her lips, and it was genuine.

The girls were just noticing his face going even fierier as Del's healthy arm wrapped around Jeb's neck. Squeezing and mussing his hair in the same motion Del let out a guttural laugh.

"Nothing wrong with that m'boy," Del said lowly in his best imitation of his former football coach. "She's quite the catch. Would've gone for her m'self." Releasing his hold quickly, he shoved the young man sideways causing Jeb to bounce off DG's shoulder and – thankfully – her good hip. Both girls were reduced to giggles at the incredulous look on the former resistance fighter's face.

"Yeah, well…" he began only to falter. "You'll keep you're hands off my future wife if you know what's good for you."

DG stopped walking, frozen in place in her shock. With little contemplation her face lit up in excitement as she pounced on their self-appointed guard. Hugging him fiercely she squealed like a schoolgirl.

"Oh, that's so wonderful!" DG exclaimed as she clung to Jeb's shoulders. "Where's the wedding? Have you set a date? What're Ozian ceremonies like? Will there be a reception? Where'll you go on your honeymoon? Do you have honeymoons? How did you…"

"DG, geez!" Robbie interrupted. "Give him a break. One question at a time." He pulled DG off her prey and gave the other man an apologetic look at her outburst.

Jeb chuckled lightly at the spectacle – DG eyeing up Robbie like he'd formally insulted her and Robbie shaking his head and trying to contain his laughter at the insatiable girl.

"We want to get married as the weather begins to cool," he responded to one of her questions. "No set date or location for either the ceremony or the honeymoon, and yes, we have honeymoons though I'm not sure how similar they are to what your used to." Jeb gave a small shrug of his shoulders as a physical interpretation of his words.

"The ceremony is short and small, usually attended by just the family and closest friends," he sighed at this and looked at DG again. "We don't have much family. Both her parents were killed during the Sorceress's coup so all she has left is a brother, and then there is my father. Wouldn't make for much of a celebration." His face fell at the thought and she could see the sadness behind his eyes.

Reaching out DG grasped his hand tightly in hers, squeezing it reassuringly.

"Why don't you have the ceremony in the gardens at Finaqua? It'll be beautiful at the change of the season." She saw Jeb's face brighten at her offer.

"Are you sure?" he asked hesitantly.

"Of course," she answered. "I know my family would love such a wonderful reason to party down," she added with a raised eyebrow and a muffled giggle.

Jeb thought for a moment as they started walking again. "Only one condition," he said as he watched her intently.

Her brow furrowed having no idea what kind of condition there could be.

"The four of you have to come back to attend the wedding. It would do us a great honor to have you there."

DG gulped knowing it would be excruciatingly uncomfortable to go to such a happy event and have to see Cain in the process. But this was for Jeb and he deserved all the happiness he could get after everything he sacrificed.

Looking at the faces of her Kansas friends they all silently agreed.

"We would be honored."


Upon emerging from the maze into Finaqua's luscious green gardens and blue lakes two days later she was struck with the realization their journey had been rather uneventful. The toughest portion was their original departure, which was merely emotional discomfort, and the start of their conversations with Jeb which eased to a friendly banter within the first few hours.

Both DG and Jeb were shocked they didn't run into any trouble, hell, they didn't run into another living soul. While it should have been reassuring to arrive unhindered and unharmed it left her feeling anxious, to say the least. Something was amiss, and by the way Jeb held himself -- straight and tall, hand clutching the hilt of his gun, eyes scanning the surrounding area -- it was obvious he felt it, too.

There were no guards waiting, no one in sight as they cautiously traversed the ground between the maze and the palace. Even her friends from Kansas were feeling the pressure as the silence deafened them all.

It was DG who finally broke the heady peace with a shrill cry causing everyone's blood to run cold. In a flash her sneakers were pounding against the dirt path as she made for the front entrance, screaming and crying all the while. Her words were incoherent but that didn't matter, they knew she was in pain and all of them rushed to follow.

When their eyes finally fell on the reason for her outburst, Fran, too, screamed, Robbie and Del gasping in surprise, and Jeb yelling for her to stop to no avail.

Throwing herself on the marble stairs she clutched the shoulders of the prone body sprawled across the cold stone. Turning the man into her arms she cradled his neck in the crook of her elbow as she brushed some of the wavy blonde hair off his pale face. Trembling she leaned down so her ear was level with his mouth, her fingers working over his neck for a pulse.

She cried and cried, his face damp with her tears as she rocked him back and forth oblivious to the four people now standing in front of them.

"He's alive," she whispered. "He's alive, he's alive, he's alive," became her mantra. While she was still clearly upset there was a part of her face that visibly relaxed the more she said those words.

Del reached out a hand placing it on her shoulder. "DG?" he prodded, not knowing what to say.

"He's my father," she said, her voice watery and faint. For the first time the title didn't feel alien on her tongue. He was her father. She had so many of his traits, his mannerisms and passions and in that instant she was finally longing to get to know the man better only to realize she was almost too late.

Looking up at them imploringly, she motioned to Fran to come forward, her friend not hesitating in the slightest. When she sat down on the other side of the rocking duo DG carefully transferred her father to Fran's awaiting arms.

"I have to find the rest of my family." It was soft but brooked no argument. Wiping the tears from her face she wasted no time bounding up the stairs and into the palace, Robbie and Jeb following in her wake.


AN: Bwahahahaha!! I'm evil, I know. Press that little button and tell me yourself!