Thanks are due of course: Thank you to Mara Jade Snape for adding this story to her favorite story list. Thank you to SerenityAlways and margaretdashwood for adding me to their favorite stories and story alert list. Also thanks to BellaJames, wonderwoman56, KLCtheBookWorm, angeloneous, leat79, flyingmonkey013, kayleecal, Kat097, Minute-Mist, bevfanK, gravelgerdie, Dragon Spirit Fighter, ssbailey, Angelo'sG-Ma, bkwrmDancer, and CharcoalFeathers. for adding me to their story alert list. All your support really means a lot to me and keeps me writing!
News about the story! I haven't decided how long I'm going to make this, until the plot bunny lets me go I guess, but this story will probably be longer than the original 3-4 chapters, although I'm not sure how much longer it will be. I kind of want to squeeze some Az/Glitch moments and some wedding planning humor.
And so I present Chapter Three!!
Gossip and Answers "DG." Cain breathed, any plans he'd had fleeing his mind in an instant. "I thought you were hiding." She blushed.
"I was." She mumbled, ducking her head. He took a step forward. "I'm not anymore." She said, lifting her head and meeting his gaze with determined blue eyes.
"Good to know, Princess." Cain said. "I guess my day off is over." He joked, tenderly brushing a dark tendril of soft hair out of her eyes, trailing a hand down to rest on her cheek, thumb stroking the soft skin. He fought the urge to pull her into his embrace and lose himself in her delicate scent. She reached up and covered his hand with her own before taking a step back, his hand floating in mid-air for an instant before he dropped it to his side.
"We need to talk about yesterday." Ozma, Cain thought. She's going to tell me that I'm an old man who needs to find a new job...
"DG.. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. I'll leave if you want me to." Cain said, each word ripping a bit of his heart out. DG spoke at that same moment.
"I want to marry you." She said, hiding a laugh as his eyes widened and his mouth dropped open.
"W-what?" He stammered, cursing himself for sounding like a fool. "Are you sure? I mean, I thought that you were coming her to tell me that I was far too old for you..." DG smiled up at him.
"First you propose to me and now you don't want me to be your wife?" DG didn't think it possible for Cain's eyes to widen any further, but they did as he stared at her in panic.
"No no no." He exclaimed, "That's not what I was saying..." DG leaned forward and brushed a soft kiss across his lips, effectively silencing him.
"Wyatt." She pulled his fedora off and held it in the hand that she draped over his shoulder, his hands coming up to rest on his waist. The sound of his name on her lips was heaven to his ears as she looked into his eyes.
"Yes, darlin'?"
"I love you and I want to marry you." All the thoughts running through his head stopped and those simple, heartfelt words. He gaped at the beautiful woman in his arms.
"I love you." Was all he could think to say in response. DG smiled brilliantly at him and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a patented DG-Hug.
"I know." She murmured into his neck as his arms wrapped around her as held her tightly as he lifted her off her feet and spun her around, both of them laughing happily.
"I have to tell Jeb." Cain murmured apologetically as he set her down. She smiled and stepped back, placing his hat back on his head gently.
"Might be a good idea to tell hi that his father is getting married... before he gets the royal invitation.." She remarked. He smirked at her as he settled his fedora more securely on his head.
"I suppose." He drawled as he headed out of the gardens. DG watched him go with a wide grin and sparkling eyes.
"Hey, Tin Man." She called, Cain turned with an expectant look. "We're gettin' married." She grinned and Cain returned her grin before tipping his hat and disappearing down the path.
--
Cain couldn't tell if Jeb's reaction was a good or bad one. So far the younger man had merely sat silent and still as though stunned, gaping at his father. Occasionally his mouth would drop open as though he was going to try to say something but then changed his mind.
"Jeb?" Cain asked softly. "Are you alright son?" The blond boy-man before him finally shook himself out of his stupor and blinked up at his father.
"What about mother?" Jeb asked bluntly. Cain sighed and sank into the chair beside his son. He knew this would be Jeb's first issue with his impending marriage.
"DG won't be replacing your mother, we all know that. But I'm a different man than the one that married your mother." He explained softly. "She's been dead to me for nearly ten annuals. I thought that both you and your mother were killed by Zero and were long dead when I was released from the Iron Maiden. I blamed myself, Jeb. Everyday that I was trapped in that suit, and some after DG freed me. I still blame myself for not protecting you better." He reached over and ruffled Jeb's hair, just as he had done with his son was a small boy.
"I figured that you'd move on eventually." Jeb sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Mother would have wanted you to. I supposed that I do too... to a certain degree." He looked at his father with a puzzled expression. "But why DG?" Cain smiled wryly at the expression on Jeb's face. It was one of a man who simultaneously did and did not understand something.
"What do you mean Jeb?" Cain asked, resting his elbows on his knees and leaning forward. "I thought you liked DG, you two have always seemed to get on well enough."
"I like her just fine, father. But she's hardly older than I am. She's a child compared to you!" Cain nodded, watching his son carefully.
"I know." He began, trying to figure out how best to explain the relationship he had with the youngest princess. "I never planned this. I was content to mourn the loss of my family for the rest of my life. Which, considering that I planned to hunt down Zero, probably wouldn't have been very long. She was just a roadblock on my plan for revenge. But I admired her courage." Cain smiled, laughing at a memory. He looked at his son, eyes smiling. "The first time I saw her she came charging into the video feed, dead set on saving us with a stick she'd picked up off the ground. She has so much strength and courage it's incredible." Jeb smiled, watching his father, unable to remember him as happy as he was now. Sometimes he was like this with Adora, but not constantly. Not like with DG.
"You really love her." Jeb said in wonder, a wistful look on his face. "I haven't seen you this happy since long before the Longcoats came." Cain smiled, resting a hand on his son's strong shoulder.
"Unconditionally." He admitted, stoic features in an uncustomary grin. Jeb clapped his father on the back and stood.
"I won't pretend that this isn't weird." Jeb started, "But if you're happy, I'm happy for you." He announced, much to his father's relief. Cain smiled and stood as well, pulling Jeb into a tight hug.
"Thank you, son." Cain's voice was thick with emotion as he clung to his son, and felt his hug returned with just as much fervor. Jeb pulled away with an impish grin.
"Just think, dad. You could be the next consort!" The Cain men laughed and slapped each other on the back in a show of masculinity, glad to know that whatever came next, they would be alright.
--
Azkadellia was perfectly happy as she sat on the chaise lounge in the warm sunshine that filtered through the library window. She wasn't reading so much as skimming through an old favorite that had been neglected for the years before the Eclipse. She heard the pounding of footsteps approaching the library and sighed, knowing that the peace and quiet of her sanctuary was soon to be disturbed.
"Az! Az! Az!" DG cried as she crashed through the doors, practically sprinting to her sister's side, where she bounced happily until her sister looked up at her.
"Yes, sister?" Az asked patiently as she watched her wide-eyed baby sister. "What seems to be the matter?" DG laughed and flopped down onto the lounge beside her sister.
"Nothing is wrong!" She exclaimed whole-heartedly. "Everything is so so right!" Az smiled, setting her book to the side, not bothering to mark her place.
"I take it you found Mr. Cain." She stated, knowing that he could be the only reason for this giddiness. DG smiled even bigger and got onto her knees on the lounge.
"Yes! I took your advice and told him straight up that I loved him and I wanted to marry him." She smiled and fell backwards, legs tangled in her skirts as she tumbled to the carpeted floor with a squeak and a thump. Az tried to swallow her laughter and ended up with an aching throat and wide grin.
"Must have gone well then..." Az managed to choke out. DG climbed to her knees and grinned.
"Az! I'm getting married!" Her eyes widened as her own words sunk in. "Oh my god.. Az, I'm getting married." She flopped back on the floor, staring at her older sister in wide-eyed shock.
"What's the matter Deej?" Azkadellia asked, "Do you not want to marry the tin man anymore."
"No!" DG exclaimed "That's not it at all! I love him, I want to marry him. I just can't believe that I'm getting married!" Az smiled and pulled DG back onto the couch.
"Everyone grows up eventually." Az said, running her fingers through her sister's curly hair. DG looked at her and leaned against the back of the lounge.
"What about you Az?" DG wanted to know. "Do you have someone hiding away from our parents?" Az smiled and ducked her head.
"Not exactly. No one really wants to be with me because of the witch." DG's eyes filled with tears and Azkadellia frowned at her. "Stop blaming yourself Deej! It's not your fault." DG shrugged and motioned for her sister to continue. "So, I don't really have any suitors. But I've gotten to know someone, and I think that given time it could go somewhere." DG smiled, happy for her sister.
"That's great Az!" She said. "Who is it?" Az ducked and mumbled something. DG frowned and leaned forward.
"I didn't hear you Az." She hinted, poking Azkadellia's knee gently. "C'Mon Az, we're sisters! We're supposed to talk about this stuff... and it's keeping my mind off wondering if Jeb is freaking out or not!" Azkadellia laughed and poked her sister back.
"Cain's gone to see his son then?" She asked, DG pulled a face at her sister but nodded.
"We thought Jeb should know before the invitations go out." She joked to cover her worry. "I just hope that he doesn't think that I'm trying to replace Adora." DG admitted, eyes betraying her fear. Az laughed.
"I can see how that's something you might want to do." She agreed. The sisters lapsed into a comfortable silence. DG's mind on the conversation that Cain was having with his son, while Azkadellia thought about her future, and what would happen when it came time for one of the sisters to succeed their mother as queen. She smoothed her skirt as she pondered what would happen, wondered if she would abdicate the throne and force DG and Cain to rule the O.Z., she sighed and looked at her hand.
"Deej..." She started hesitantly, looking at her sister. "Deej, what happens when it's time for Mother to step down?" Az asked, watching her sister carefully. DG looked at her, a surprising strength in her gaze.
"We worry about it then." She told her. "Mother has time yet, the people of the O.Z. may yet open up to you." Azkadellia doubted it, but nodded just the same. Neither of the sisters wanted to think about what would happen when that day came.
--
Glitch was greeted by an unusual sight as he made his way to the garden to meet the princesses, Cain was coming up the stairs from the garden, taking the steps two at a time and whistling a cheerful tune.
"Hey headcase!" Cain greeted cheerfully, using what would have been an insult, but what was now a friendly endearment.
"Cain." Glitch greeted, "You're in an awfully good mood, Cain." The tin man in question grinned and clapped the queen's advisor on the shoulder.
"That I am, Glitch." Cain said, with what could almost be described as a grin on his face. "I'm getting married." Glitch smiled and wrapped an arm around the older man's shoulders.
"Well Mr. Cain. It's about time you stopped being an idiot!" The blond stopped and gaped at the grinning former-headcase.
"Wha...?"
"Come on Tin Man," Glitch said, squeezing his friend's broad shoulders. "You've been crazy about her for ages..." The surprised look he received was ignored.
"Define ages..." Cain insisted dubiously. The other man gave him a predatory grin that gave Cain some cause for worry.
"Since we snuck into the tower to save DG the first time." Cain opened his mouth to argue, "Well... you may not have known it quite yet.." Glitch amended, his grin growing even wider.
"Well, then shouldn't you just offer me congratulations and not gloat so much?" Cain grumbled. Glitch just grinned and clapped his back.
"Why ruin the fun?" He cackled and ran off. Cain shook his head, Ambrose may be back but Glitch would always be Glitch.
--
The Gale sisters sat on a soft blanket on the lawn of the royal gardens basking in the warm sunlight. DG was still trying to get information out of her sister about the mystery man that was occupying her Az's thoughts.
"I'm not going to tell you Deej!" Azkadellia laughed. "You'll figure it out eventually I'm sure." DG laughed and was about to say something else persuasive when a wild shout caught their attention.
"Princesses! DG! Azkadellia!" The sisters turned to watch Glitch's manic flight towards them. His limbs jerked sporadically as he flapped his way down to them in a scarecrow-esque manner. DG grinned and waved, noticing Az's shy and blushing wave. Glitch? And Az? Nah... DG put the thought out of her mind and focused on the man bobbing his way towards them.
"My congratulations to you, Princess DG!" Glitch said as soon as he reached them and plopped down to the right of Azkadellia. DG beamed happily at him.
"Thanks Glitch." She said, letting her first companion in the O.Z. give her hug, his elbows sticking out everywhere as Az laughed at them.
"What brings you lovely ladies out to the gardens this beautiful day?" The advisor asked. DG smiled and leaned back on her elbows, watching the leaves blow in the wind.
"Az and I were just discussing what would happen when Az weds, and who she will marry." DG said suddenly, ignoring Az's warning look. She didn't miss Glitch stiffening and shooting a worried look at the elder princess.
"I was not aware you had made a choice of your suitors." Glitch said stiffly, leaning away from Az ever so slightly. Az glared at DG, who smiled innocently.
"I haven't yet, Ambro- I mean Glitch." Az said, trying to fall away from her habit of calling the former headcase 'Ambrose' instead of 'Glitch'. "I am still considering my options." She announced. DG watched with interest as Glitch and Azkadellia performed a dance of politeness and stiffness. She caught a glimpse of blond and quickly said her goodbyes, going to find her fiance and leaving her sister and friend alone.
"Hello sweetheart." Cain greeted her with a kiss as she ran up to him and wrapped her arms around him.
"Hello, Tin Man." DG said with a smile. "How's Jeb?" Cain smiled and wrapped an arm around her waist, walking her down a quiet path.
"Surprised... A little confused at the situation. But he's happy if we're happy. He also says hello." DG smiled in relief.
"Thank god...Ozma..whatever. I was worried he'd hate me." Cain smiled at her and shook his head. "Well I was! I'm barely older than him!" Her fiance laughed and led her to a secluded bench in the shade of a great oak tree.
"No one could hate you, you're too happy." DG smiled brilliantly, proving his point. "Besides, I explained why I was marrying you and not stuck in mourning. He understands."
"Good, I would hate for the wedding to cause problems between you two." DG curled against his side, closing her eyes and resting her head on his shoulder, fingers entwined in Cain's.
"Everything will be fine, sweetheart." Cain promised, "What could go wrong with your mother planning the wedding of the annual?" DG smiled.
"By the way, my mother wanted to see you... something about color-scheme for the wedding.." She tried not to laugh when Cain let out a distinctly anguished groan.
"And so it begins..."
TBC