Just in case no-one got it, the songs in the chapter titles are ones that really inspired the chapter or were playing when it was being written.

Also for more on the Ambrose/Azkadellia relationship check out the story Only You ( at my profile page.

"Queen?" she demanded, "ha! I can barely take care of myself much less anyone else, even less a kingdom of subjects that hates me!" she turned on her heel and stormed across the room to her balcony before turning on her heel and beginning to pace, "you're the first person to be alone with me in a room aside from my mother whose got nothing to loose now that she's got her 'angel' back and my sister who can't do anything to me anyway! The rest of the world is pretty much unanimous in that they want me dead and only divided between how that should best be accomplished!"

"I know what's bothering you," he said with a shrug.

"Oh do you now? Well why don't you enlighten me then?" she said hotly.

"You're scared," he said rather boldly.

"I'm what?" she demanded walking over to him, her eyes burning through him.

Well it was better than her being the ice queen sorceress that she had been for the longest time. He had only seen her mad a handful of times before the whole debacle with the witch but she had been a spitfire when she had been furious and this was no different. Her dark eyes were blazing, even though they were set in a china doll face and surrounded by far too many frills thanks to the dress she was wearing. Ambrose had promised himself that he would be her bodyguard and the rest of the confusing feelings would be shoved down deep inside. It was his heart that had gotten him into the situation he was in in the first place, after all. It was best if he did not use it to think. That was a lot harder than he imagined, especially when she was angry. There was color in her cheeks and fire in her eyes and had to physically step back to avoid grabbing her and kissing her senseless.

Azkadellia sighed and looked away. It seemed that they were destined to have the very conversation she did not want to have. She stopped and looked down at her bare feet before looking back up at him. She did not want to go down that road, not now. From the looks of it he did not want to either but it seemed that fate had other plans for the both of them. Neither was really sure where to start though. Azkadellia fought the urge to smile again. She felt awkward and young, like the teenager she had missed out on being. It was not something she had wanted to experience but at the moment it was the most wonderful feeling she had felt in a very long time.

"Stop it!" Ambrose all but cried.

"Stop what?" she demanded looking up at him and trying to summon anger.

"Smiling, stop smiling," he said.

"I can't help it," she said, "I feel alive again, for the firs time in such a long time and I can't stop smiling" she tried to smother the look on her face, "but that doesn't mean I'm not really angry because I am."

"This is ridiculous, we're going to have to deal with this sometime," he said with a sigh.

"There is nothing to deal with," she said, "I was evil, remember? We were childhood whatever you want to call its. Now we're adults and we barley know each other except for the fact that you were tortured for the past however many annuls but a Witch wearing my face, using my power and memories. There is nothing else to deal with," she finished crossing her arms. Ambrose raised his eyebrows but said nothing, "stop looking at me like that!" she cried, "like you can see right through me"

"I've always been able to see right through you," he said. She shook her head, unable to really deny that. He had always been able to see right through her and the Witch had known that, "I can see that you're scared," she rolled her eyes and tried to look angry, "that's normal--"

"Do not," she broke in, "do not tell me what is and is not normal. I am a monster and no-one seems to realize is that I am not perfect and light like DG, I'm not my mother's angel and I never was! I never will be either, I'm the daughter drawn to darkness,, remember?! Even when I was a little girl DG was always the perfect child and I was always the one charged with protecting her. But the worst part of it is that I proved everyone right when I got myself possessed. They all knew I'd do something terrible, that was why mother always made sure DG was protected, she didn't want me getting more power. Well she failed, obviously because like you said, I had the stupid emerald when the Eclipse went. Oh it'll be a while before she realizes what's going to happen and a hell of a lot longer before she says anything about it but it'll be there, eating away at everyone like a disease."

"I think its a good thing you had the Emerald," he said finally after a minuet.

"You what?!" she cried, shock on her face.

"You've always been the stronger one," he said with a shrug, "that's why the Witch chose you, not DG. If you were strong enough to conquer the OZ then you're strong enough to set things right," she opened her mouth to point out something but he barreled on, the recently acquired courage fueling him, "You've got all of OZ in your hand and it's not just because of your power, you were a good ruler even when you were a little girl--better than your sister. DG is sweet and nice and an angel but angels do not rule kingdoms."

"I know that!" she burst out, "but everyone thinks I'm a monster and even when we convince them that I was possessed I'm still not the nicest one, I'm not perfect like my mother and sister."

"No," he agreed, "you're not. But you are beautiful and smart and you've proven yourself a thousand times over. I watched you die, all those years ago. I saw the light in your eyes go out, I saw that Witch take everything you were and warp it. I really thought you were dead and now you aren't. You came back, Az, after everything you came back."

"DG brought me back," she said.

"DG gave you her hand, you took it and both your power brought you back," he said. She looked down, not realizing how close he was. He reached down and touched her chin, slowly bringing her eyes up to his, "I know you're scared but I'm not going anywhere."

"When did you get so brave?" she asked, her eyes bright.

"You've got that effect on me," he said.

"We can't do this," she said pulling back, "we can't, Ambrose, its too soon and its too fast and I--"

He pressed his lips against hers anyway. Her certainly would not have done that, not since he was a little boy anyway. She froze, her eyes widening in surprise before they slowly closed. She wrapped her arms around him, deepening the kiss. His own arms came around her frame, pulling her even closer to his frame. It was the first time she had been kissed, really kissed, in more annuls than she could remember. What was more, it was with him, the only person she really ever wanted to kiss. For Ambrose, it felt like whatever bits of him were missing were being returned. She had taken his memories of her and even when they were back there was a difference between knowing that you had kissed someone and actually doing it. He decided he liked kissing her, a lot.

"Oh my God."

The two of them broke apart to see DG, still in the ridiculous dress loaned to her by their mother, in the doorway, a look of total and complete shock on her face. Behind her even Cain had a look of complete surprise on his face. Azkadellia blushed but made no move to pull away from Ambrose. DG tried to smoother the grin on her face but failed miserably. She bit her lip and looked at Cain who still had a look of total and complete shock on his face. DG looked back at them and sighed.

"Its your turn to be tortured," she said to Azkadellia.

"Well that sounds like fun, sorry I'll be missing it," Ambrose said with a shrug turning to walk out.

"Missing it? In your dreams," she said grabbing his wrist, "you're coming with me."

"I can think of worse things," he said allowing himself to be led down the hallway.

"He is a deep well," Cain muttered letting out a low whistle.

DG could only nod. Cain shot her a concerned glance. She hadn't said anything to him since the seamstress's meeting with the two of them. For the life of him he couldn't figure out why. What he didn't know was that they had only been separated by a thin curtain. DG had gotten dressed first and went around to the other side to see him. She had been going quiet out of habit, not meaning to sneak up on him. But he hadn't heard her and since he hadn't known she was there he didn't know that she had seen him in nothing but his underwear.

She had been frozen to the spot. He had been standing there with his back to her. She had hugged him before and she knew, somewhere in the back of her mind, that he was attractive but she had no idea that was what he looked like undressed. She had been absolutely rooted to the spot and only when he turned around did she move, just far enough out of the way so that he couldn't see her. The thing that bothered her the most was the small scar on his shoulder, where the bullet had slammed through. He hadn't confronted her about her silence yet and she was trying to think what the hell she was going to say to him when he asked

"You ever gonna tell me what's wrong Princess?" he asked finally.

"Nothing," she said quickly, too quickly. He caught her eyes with his own blue-grey eyes and she found it impossible to look away, "nothing," she repeated, her voice a bit higher than she meant it to be, "it's really nothing."

"That's the third time you've said 'nothing' and I gotta tell you, I don't really believe it anymore than I did the first time."

"Well," she began and stopped, unable to figure out a good retort, "I saw you in the seamstress," she said finally. He nodded, not sure what she was going to say, "you got shot," she said finally. He still said nothing, "you got shot for me. Glitch lost half his brain for me, all those people--" she stopped, "I just don't think I'm worth it."

"You don't think you're what?" he demanded, incredulous, "listen to me Princess, if anyone's worth it its you. You saved so many people," she looked down, "you saved me," he said, "you know, I had to watch my wife and Jeb get tortured for years and the first time that device stopped it was because of you. You were the first thing I saw that wasn't a nightmare in more Annuls than I care to remember. You also saved all of the OZ, I don't want to think about where we'd be if you hadn't come and got Azkadellia out of that. So don't you ever go thinking that you're not worth it, because you are."

She nodded and looked up at him, giving him a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. He felt something clench inside him. He did not like the way her eyes were emotionless. He had seen that look when he led men into battle, that look where they were smiling so that they didn't break down. Frankly he would have liked it better if she was angry or sad or anything but cold. He walked over and put his hands on her shoulders, reaching over with one of them and pushing her chin up so that her eyes had to meet his.

"What's really bothering you?"

"These people, they aren't my parents. I miss them," she bit her lip and looked away, "I'm not a good person, Mr. Cain, not like they all think I am. Its my fault that all this happened in the first place. And now everything is changing so fast I don't know what I'm doing anymore. I mean I never felt like I belonged back in Kansas but now its the only place I want to be. Back with my mom and dad who I knew, who knew that I-I failed my third grade math test and that I like my toast really dark," she stopped, "its silly, I finally found my parents, I should just be happy."

"It's not silly," he said, "not at all. I got out of that tin suite and suddenly the whole world had changed. I know how you feel kiddo, its not the best feeling in the world but just take it one step at a time and I promise you're going to find your way."

"You'll be there with me, right?" she said, her bright eyes looking up at him.

"Every step of the way," he said wrapping his arms around her.

"Good," she said hugging him back before stepping back, "but would you stop calling me Kiddo? I'm not a kid."

"No," he agreed, "you most definitely are not."

On the other side of the door Raw sighed and dropped his hand, knowing that he shouldn't be spying. But it was so hard, sometimes people's emotions seemed to call to him and he couldn't help himself. Cain and DG were happy but they seemed to be happiest in each other's arms. Raw knew that Cain would fight as hard as he could not to fall in love with DG. He knew that Cain was still mourning his wife but not as much as he was leading everyone to believe. Raw knew that he was playing with the idea of taking off his wedding ring, he just didn't know how to yet. Raw also knew that the thing that was going to keep Cain from being with DG more than anything else was fear.

It was the fear that DG would wind up like Adora or that he would die and hurt her a lot. What he didn't seem to realize is that if he left her without telling her how he felt, he was going to hurt her a lot anyway. Raw wanted to tell him that DG was not as young as he wanted her to be just as he was not as old as he thought he was. But he did not want Cain to pull his gun out and shoot him or anything like that. So he kept his mouth shut but he thought if the Queen asked him he was not going to be able to say no to her.

"Raw!" DG ran out of the room and hugged him, "where have you been hiding?"

"Raw not hiding," he said, "Raw making sure other Viewers are okay," he explained, "and then Raw get haircut," he said motioning to his locks, "Queen wants Raw to get groomed for ball in two nights."

"Ball?" DG squeaked.

"Yes Ball, Ball to celebrate Princesses and Ahamo's return," he said, "Queen wants to do Ball soon so it no look like Royals are hiding anything," he dropped his voice, "Ball also to make sure that no-one thinks Azkadellia is evil anymore."

"But what about dresses and dancing and everything? I can't go to a Ball, I haven't danced since prom."

"Ambrose teach DG," he said, "Ambrose teach everyone."

"Ambrose is a little busy," DG hissed in return.

"With Azkadellia," Raw nodded rather enthusiastically, "Raw feel happiness all the way down the hallway. Love is very powerful, love makes Raw feel very good. Raw love love," DG laughed brightly and Cain had no choice but to join in, albeit on a much softer volume.

"We should go see the Queen, make sure we know what we're up against," Cain said finally.

"It's a Ball Cain, its not a battle."

"DG has never been to Ball has she?" Raw asked, "Ball is a battle, especially this one."

"So are Azkadellia and Ambrose going to announce their engagement?" DG asked after a minuet.

"Raw not that good of a Viewer," Raw said.

"You're the best Viewer," DG said hugging him, "come on, lets go."

Unseen by them in the darkness of the shadows, a man turned and ran down the hallway as fast as he could without making any sound. There was a lot of commotion in the palace and he was able make it out of the palace virtually undetected. Virtually because Jeb Cain saw him run and wasted absolutely no time in following the man. What, exactly, Jeb Cain was doing running after someone who was probably a spy for the group of resistance fighters that he had probably helped sometime was a rather interesting story.

During the fight to save the OZ, he had been injured. Nothing sever but he had been wounded enough to warrant a trip to the healers who had patched him up. It was night time and for the first time, the infirmary was frighteningly quiet. there was no sound, no screaming for loved ones or just the screams of terror, it was just quiet. Someone had touched his shoulder and led him up to a room in the palace where he had come face to face with Azkadellia. The room was even quieter than the infirmary and the first thing he noticed was that they were completely alone, no guards no nothing.

"You must be Jeb Cain," she said, her voice soft, no authority or anger in it, "I hear you're one of the best resistance fighters out there."

"I hear it there's nothing to resist anymore," he said shifting his weight rather nervously. She gave him a puzzled glance, "my father came to see me."

"He told me not to tell anyone this alone," she said, "but I wanted to see you," she stopped, "to apologize for what happened. I'm sure he's told you that it was the witch, that I was possessed but I wanted to tell you that if I could have stopped it I would have."

"I know," he said, "I hate Zero. He's the one I saw do those terrible things and even if it was on someone's orders, he's still the one who did them. My mother's dead because of him and nothing's going to bring her back."

"I'm so sorry," Azkadellia said, "what did you do with Zero?" she asked after a moment.

"My father locked him in a tin suite," he said with a shrug. Azkadellia nodded, "I wanted to kill him but my mother would not have liked it, this I think works with what she would have wanted."

"I'm glad," she said, "if there is anything you need, please let me know."

"My father," he said toying with the edge of his shirt.

"Your father?" she prodded.

"He needs to be here," he said looking up at her, "he loved my mom but she's dead and gone and I don't think he's dealt with it. The only time I see him really smile is when he's with your sister," Azkadellia smiled and nodded, "and I just want to see him happy, he deserves that much."

"I agree, we've already made plans for him to stay here, by my sister's side," he nodded, "and you? Is there nothing you want?"

"I've been living for other people for a long time," he said, "I think I'd like to find out what I'm good at, what I want to do for the rest of my life," he looked at her, "what that is, I do not know."

"How about school?" Jeb opened his mouth and then closed it. School? He had never really thought about that, "We don't have many yet and the new term will not start for a while yet but if you wish to, you can try that to start," she looked down and then back at him, "if you would like to try."

"I would," he said, his eyes lighting up.

"Excellent, you shall stay at the palace, with your people of course, while we rebuild."

He nodded and looked at her.

"I will tell them of this, Your Highne--"

"Azkadellia," she said, "No title. Not now."

"Very well, Azkadellia," he said, "I will tell them of this, they will listen to me," he smiled, "you truly must have been possessed all that time. I know what its like to be a prisoner, I would not wish that on anyone except Zero," she nodded, "goodnight."

And so he had been standing there talking to a few of his men when he saw the odd looking man take off for the woods. He signaled two of his men to alert one of the Longcoats which they did and he took off running after the man. He had not really believed that Azkadellia was possessed and five minuets in her company did not make her completely innocent in his eyes but she had been very different from the one time he had met her previously when she had been possessed. He was willing to make sure she was alive to see if she was really good now. He figured that was what his mother would have wanted, what they all would have wanted in the end. He was coming up on the man and managed to tackle him to the ground.

"Who are you working for?!" he shouted.

"Not all of us can be bought so easily," the man spat grabbing a knife and raising it high, "death to the Sorceress!" he shouted.

"She is dead!" Jeb cried, "can't you see? She was possessed, evil was wearing her face. She was fighting just as hard if not harder than us."

"SHe's gotten to you," he looked behind him in fear, "she won't get to me," he said and brought the knife squarely into his heard. Jeb looked away in disgust and fear. People could be very foolish sometimes.

"What's going on?" one of the Longcoats demanded coming up to him, "damn it," he said looking down in disgust, "he failed."

"He what?" Jeb turned around in shock.

"You weren't supposed to hear that," the Longcoat sniffed, "well no matter," he raised a fist. Jeb ducked the blow and brought his foot up in the Longcoat's stomach forcing him to double over. He slammed his elbow into the Longcoat's exposed neck and brought his foot up, shoving his heel into the space behind the Longcoat's neck.

"Sir!" his men ran up, "sir?"

"Get everyone," he said, "we need to talk about where our loyalties lie."