A/N: My goodness. You all have been so (im)patient! I wish I had a longer chapter for you, but instead you get multiple chapters! The rest to come later, or as I complete them. That is if I ever get a legitimate break. Work is exhausting.

TMTMTMTMTMTMTMTMTMTMTMTMTM

Cain was going to hit something.

He was stalking through the halls of the Central City Palace in the dead of night. He had dressed hastily, and was practically indecent in his sleep pants and a half buttoned shirt but he didn't care. There was some kind of commotion going on in the main hall that demanded his attention.

At 11:37pm.

It had officially been one of the longest days Cain had seen in months since the Eclipse. He had been going strong since before dawn and he had just FINALLY been able to relax. Barely. When the chime sounded a unique tune, indicating he was needed, again, he nearly growled in frustration.

He just wanted whatever the hell it was, dealt with, so he could get back to…

"Ah, there you are, Father," his son greeted him from the bottom of the grand staircase.

"Make it quick, Jeb." He earned a raised eyebrow for his brisk tone and he hesitated before elaborating on his impatience. Vaguely. "It's been a long day."

"Well it shouldn't take too long. Tonight that is."

Now it was Cain's turn to look expectant. He finally reached the bottom of the stairs and Jeb swept and arm to the side as if revealing something.

"This fellow," Jeb indicated the dark haired man near the entrance. "Just arrived via travel storm."

Cain fought not to let his shoulders slump in defeat.

Of all the stupid –

"…from the Other Side."

Oh.

Cain felt recognition dawn on his face. Jeb wanted him to tell DG. Because DG was…sympathetic…towards fellow Slippers. He worded that too delicately. DG tended to become quite involved when she heard of an Other Sider making it to the Outer Zone. It was down right –

"What the hell is going on?"

Cain almost rolled his eyes when he heard her voice from the top of the stairs. He glanced at Jeb before moving to turn towards her, but something in Jeb's face gave him pause. Jeb's eyes almost bulged out of his skull before he looked at his father, panicking.

Cain looked up the stairwell and felt himself do a double-take before letting his mouth fall open in shock.

The youngest Princess of the OZ stood at the top of the stairs, hands on her hips, with nothing but a towel wrapped around her.

Her hair was in a messy bun, with wet ringlets hanging down around her face and curly strands sticking to her neck where her skin was still wet. There was still a few bubbles clinging to her hair and sliding down her leg as she stood there, clearly having been interrupted during her nightly bubble bath.

Cain finally managed to find his voice.

"Your Highness. What are you - "

"Gulch!"

"DG?"

The twin incredulous, if not happy, exclamations interrupted him and Cain managed to blink at her before spinning around to glare at the newcomer. He was sizing the man up before he even realized it.

"How did you…" DG began, taking a few steps down, but pausing, as if suddenly very aware of her state of dress.

"You're…you're alive?" The man named Gulch said quietly, walking to the bottom of the steps. DG stopped and let her arms fall to her sides in defeat.

"I…well, yes, I'm alive. I'm right HERE aren't I?" She gestured to herself, with a look of annoyance. She shook her head and then looked at Jeb. "Can you get him a room, Jeb? I know him." She flapped a hand at the man in question dismissively. "We may not be on the best of terms, but I know he isn't going to try and assassinate me."

Cain felt the latter was more directed at him.

DG spun around and climbed the stairs, beginning to stomp back to her room. "I'll deal with him in the morning, but for now I just want to get back to my evening!" she yelled over her shoulder.

Cain could feel his son's eyes on him.

"Yes Father, I have everything covered here. You should get back to your evening as well."

He turned slowly to look at his son. A skeptical look came over his features. Jeb's tone was odd, and so he took his time answering.

"Alright, Son. I'll see you in the morning."

He turned and began to climb the stairs but Jeb's voice stopped him.

"Oh, and uh…" Cain turned back around when he trailed off. Jeb looked half embarrassed and pointed towards Cain and then motioned to his own ear. "You missed some bubbles…"

Cain brought a hand up to swipe behind his ear before he could even consider that his son could be baiting him.

When his fingers came away dry, he looked up at his son, who was now looking smug, and sighed.

"Cute…" he muttered under his breath. Caught red handed by his own son, in front of a stranger.

Longest. Day. Ever.