DG sat on the ground, facing Cain in disbelief. He had kissed her and now was sitting there, looking at her. DG was by no means beyond flattered, but she was confused. How could he care so much about her? After the past week and who knows how many more weeks of torture…
"How could you Cain?" DG asked quietly, turning away from him.
She stood and walked a few feet from him, but stopped. Cain got the hint, though he felt like a dagger had been ripped through his heart. He walked silently besides DG, keeping a keen eye on her. DG appeared stoic from any emotions as they entered the palace. Cain carefully directed her back to the kitchen where everyone, including the Queen and Ahamo were eating.
"My dear DG, are you feeling better? Did you have a nice walk with Mr. Cain?" The Queen asked, obvious to the last twelve hours of hell.
"Yes, we did mother." DG smiled as best she could, "I'm not hungry, sorry. Maybe later, but I'm going to go lay down. See if I can sleep this off."
"Of course, one of us will check on you later at lunch." The Queen smiled back before turning back to Ahamo.
"I'll be back once I take DG to her room." Cain said to the others. The rest nodded and went back to their meals as Cain followed DG from the kitchen. As the two walked further from the eyes of the others, Cain noticed DG's how her body slumped. She made sure not to worry her mother, but her stoic was crumbling and Cain could see it all.
Walking closer, he kept his hands ghosting around her in case DG stumbled. Which only took to the top of the stairs when she missed a step as she turned. Cain was quick to grab and upright her before even she knew. She nodded her thanks before tackling the next set of stairs. By the forth step, Cain was helping DG walk.
"DG, you really should eat something. You'll feel better a lot sooner." Cain stated, still trying to hide the hurt from his voice.
DG's reply was to shake her head; she really didn't want to talk to Cain. She wanted to be left alone and when Cain brought her to her room. She was quick to thank him and shut the door on him. Though not hard, it still made the dagger sink further to Cain.
Turning, Cain collected himself as he walked back down to the others for breakfast. He walked into the room and took a seat next to his son and listened on the conversations. The Queen and Ahamo were asking how DG was and of course, everyone was lying. Not one person revealing about DG's fits, but instead told of having nightmares and just feeling ill. The reason for everyone outside was to get some air and think of a good breakfast.
The Queen seemed to buy it, but Ahamo gave his eldest a look. Azkadellia just nodded at him, indicating she would talk to him later. After that, the subject changed to a lighter tone. The Queen had diplomatic errands to run and that she and Ahamo would be gone for no less than a week. Her return would depend on how well and where the meeting went.
They would have to leave soon and hoped DG wouldn't be mad if they didn't say good-bye. Azkadellia assured her mother that DG would have nothing against her. Being better since DG was still recovering, insisted that her parents do so. The Queen nodded in agreement and she and Ahamo finished their breakfast before leaving. A silence filled the room as the rest waited for the Royal couple to leave.
"What happened to DG, dad?" Jeb finally asked, "How is she?"
"After you all left, she just said she wasn't feeling well and we took out time getting back. She thought breakfast would be good, but once we got close, she said she felt worse. I took her to her room and she curled on her bed and I left."
"You left her alone?" Glitch asked, "Are you sure that was a good idea?"
"She could barely go up the stairs alone. I think she is just drained with everything going on." Cain said, grabbed a few bites of food, "I'll check on her at lunch."
The rest of the morning was uneventful. As Jeb, Az, Raw and Glitch saw off the Queen and Ahamo, Cain kept his world and checked in on DG. He peeked in and didn't see her, but what he did see what a strange cloth around her bed.
Walking as quietly as he could in case she was sleeping, Cain checked out the fabric. He realized that she had created a canopy. Seeing an opening, Cain peered in and saw DG curled under her sheets. Cain pulled her comforter up to her shoulders before he left.
As the day wore on into evening, the gang was busying themselves with odd projects. Glitch and Azkadellia were in the library, studying on whatever they could find on Vapors, Raw was in the healers' wing, mediating with Kalm, and Jeb and Cain were out checking the grounds and keeping guards posted. Finally, around dinnertime, Cain reluctantly agreed to take something to DG.
Knocking a few times, he finally let himself in when no reply came from her. Looking around, DG wasn't on her bed; the bathroom door was open, but no sign of her. He found her sitting on her couch, facing the unlit fireplace, knees up against her chest with her arms hugging her legs.
Cain walked and called out to her, but she never moved. Her head was resting on her arms, facing into the couch, away from Cain. The pain from the morning resurfaced, but he tried to push it aside as he set the tray on the table nearby and shook her shoulder. She mumbled something and tried to shake him off, but he persisted. Finally she lifted her head and looked at him, blinking a few times.
He swore any other time he would be have laughed, but he just smiled, "Hey, you feel like eating?"
She shook her head, but kept her eyes on him and put her head back down.
Cain nodded, "Why don't you lay down in your bed?" She just shook her head again, "Okay, is there anything you need?"
Again, she shook her head and repositioned back as before, hugging her knees and facing away from the world. Cain sighed through his nose and decided to light a fire. Though the spring day was nice, DG's room was getting cool and he didn't want her any sicker than she was.
He worked in silence, letting his mind wander as he stacked the wood and got a fire going. Cain sat back on his heels, watching the fire as it roared to life. The fire soon calmed and he sat on a couch across from DG. Cain kept his eyes on the fire, still trying to figure out what he could say to help DG.
"How could you Cain?" DG asked again.
Cain was surprised by this and turned to her. Her head was resting on her arms, watching him. He looked into her eyes and saw how dull and lost they seemed as they stared him down. He shifted in his seat, feeling suddenly trapped.
"DG, you're not making any sense. How could I what?" Cain asked, "I have done a lot and nothing seems right."
"How could you… care so much for me? How could you kiss a disturbed, drugged out Princess?" DG asked, nearly choking with laughter, "I thought we just friends… nothing more than best friends."
"You seriously think that after the last few weeks that were are just best friends, DG?" Cain asked in disbelief, "After you were shot and clinging to life, I realized how much I did care. Then the ambush…" Cain stopped on seeing DG cling her eyes shut, "After the ambush, you ran away to deal with them."
"Much good it did me. I got caught and killed a few low ranking scum, lived in cave and endured a lovely hallucinogenic life." DG stated, rolling her eyes.
"But after Jeb and I rescued you, even before, when Zero was helping us. You kept saying that you were avenging me, even though you knew that Jeb and Ahamo were hurt as well. I know you were doing it overall for everyone, but it was me you missed."
"I thought you were dead. I hardly knew any of the other guards and I felt bad they died. But you, one of my closest friends had been killed to me. I knew you weeks before I knew Jeb and my father… give me a break. Hank is more a father to me and yes I want this family as well, but there is more to family than blood." DG retorted, "Mom and dad really aren't trying, but I'm an adult… a lot is missing."
"I can understand where you're coming from, but I think you and I are beyond friendship now. You and I endured thinking the other was dead." Cain ventured, leaving his seat and walking towards her, "Maybe it is just a deep friendship and this is all in kindness."
"What if it is? Where would we stand once things are back to normal?" DG questioned, turning to let her feet fall to the floor.
Cain took this as an invitation and took a seat next to her, "Define normal around us and us being the Royal Attire of group we all are. There is no back to normal, kid. There is too much that as gone on the last month to have a past. We need to take small steps forward and see where that goes. As far as 'how could I', you said yourself, we close best friends. Wouldn't be a good friend if I wasn't there. Trust me, you don't have just me. You have your sister, Jeb, Glitch, Raw and your parents." Cain said, rubbing her back, "Speaking of which, your parents left on a diplomatic errand and won't be back for a week or more."
"Left earlier today?" DG asked, seeing Cain nod, "That's fine and probably better that way. Especially when mother can be… over anxious in situation involving Azkadellia and myself."
"Come on, you need to eat." Cain prodded, leaning for the tray, but DG stopped him.
"I am really not hungry, maybe later." DG said, pulling his arm back and draping it over her lap.
She let her fingers dance over Cain's skin, almost testing his reaction. True Cain form, he never let on what he was feeling. Though for him, her fingers were treading fire along his veins. He decided it was fair game and did the same along her back.
Unfortunately for her, she wasn't able to conceal her pleasure and arched her back where his fingers moved. Cain smiled and the two finally locked eyes and the hands ceased moving. DG felt like a high school girl meeting her crush and smiled at Cain. The two slowly inched towards one another until their lips finally touched. The kiss was soft and gentle, but the urge for more was present.
Cain was the first to draw back and looked at DG as if seeing her for the first time. DG stood slowly, taking his hand with her and leading him to her bed. Though they were friends, this felt like the right thing, the right path to follow. She even walked slowly, making sure Cain could stop her if he felt uncomfortable, but he followed and kept at her pace.
DG drew him passed her canopy drape, closing the gap as he passed. The evening suns were casting a lovely golden red glow, barely seen in DG's little cove. Cain was sitting on her bed, watching her with gentle eyes as she made her way to him. The two started kissing again and before he knew it, both their shirts were discarded to the floor.
Neither said a word as Cain laid back allowing DG to cover his body with her's. She kissed him a few more times before standing and removing her bra and Cain swore she was going to kill him. He rolled his eyes and smiled and looked back to see DG removing her pants and going back for her panties. Cain reached out and stopped her, guiding her back to her bed to lay next to him.
"One step at a time, Princess." Cain laughed before collecting her lips again.
Okay, I hope this chapter will satify my readers. Please review so I know how many more chapters I need to do.