Chapter 4

It didn't take long, after leaving DG with the Queen, for him to make it to his office. Commander Cain it said on his door. After the battle the Queen and Consort had made him Commander of the Royal Tin Men and made him DG's personal bodyguard they also asked him to serve as Acting Tin Man Commissioner until he could find a suitable person for the position. He was going over the files of the new Tin Man recruits and looking through old files trying to find someone to take the Commissioners position when there was a knock on his door.

"Come in." His son, Jeb, poked his head through the slowly opening door.

"You wanted to see me, sir?"

"Jeb, if I had wanted to speak with Captain Cain, I would have asked for him. Now drop the 'sir' and get in here."

Jeb smiled at his father as he sat down in one of the chairs opposite his father's desk. "What did you want to talk about, Father?"

"You used to call me 'Dad', you know." He said shaking his head. "Anyway, I have something I wanted to give you." Cain tossed a small box toward Jeb which he caught easily.

"What is it?"

"Open it." Cain stated simply.

When Jeb opened the box and realized what was inside his jaw dropped and he looked up at his father. "Father, your wedding rings… yours and Mother's? Where did you find it and when did you take yours off and why are you giving them to me?"

"Well I found your mother's in the cabin that you and she had till… And I am giving them to you because you'll need something when you find a girl. I don't have much, but those I can pass to you."

"What about yours? When did you take it off? Why?"

"I took it off 3 days ago. It was time to let go. Besides every time I looked at it I could hear your mother yellin' at me to take the damn thing off and move on. So I finally listened." There was more to it than that Cain knew it and he suspected that Jeb knew as well. They would have that conversation another time though.

"Thank you, this really means a lot. So, how's the Princess?"

"She's fine. She's a little nervous about being named Crowned Princess but she seems to be taking it in stride. And you know that she hates being called that."

Jeb smirked at his father, "I know that's why it's fun."

Cain smiled, "Brat. Seriously though, I think she's going to be fine as long as they don't force her to marry one of these stuffed shirts that come waltzin' through here."

"She's the Crowned Princess, she has to marry and secure the royal line."

"She knows that, Jeb. But D… the Princess is different. She'll never be happy if forced into it."

Jeb's eyes narrow; DG, huh? His father was hiding something from him, he just knew it. Never mind. "There's something else we need to talk about, Father, and you know it." A glare from Cain. "Dad, then, you have been avoiding it for 3 weeks. You know we have to go get him so he can stand trial."

"I really don't want to talk about this, Jeb."

"I know. I don't either but it has to be done."

"Alright, I'll leave her with Glitch, I mean Ambrose and we'll go this afternoon." Cain looked up at the pounding on his door.

DG ran from her mother's study and nearly ran her sister over. Since the defeat of the witch during the double eclipse Azkadellia had been having two weekly sessions with Raw to help her recover from the possession by the old witch. "Whoa, Deeg, where is the fire you're running from?"

"I'm sorry, Az." DG tried to collect herself. But she couldn't stop the tears from falling.

"Deeg, why are you crying?" Az gathered her sister in her arms, "What's wrong, sweetie?"

"Oh, Az, it's mother, she's going to force me to marry some noble that only wants me because I am going to be Queen. She won't listen! I love him and she won't listen."

Az smiled, "Your Tin Man, perhaps?"

DG nodded. She didn't know how Azkadellia knew but she didn't care at least someone was on her side. She and Az stood there far a few moments in the middle of the corridor, DG clinging to her sister for comfort.

"I think you should go talk to Cain, DG, maybe the two of you can figure something out."

"I'm headed there now. Thanks, Az." DG gave her sister one last hug and continued to Cain's office. Facing the door she gathered herself and knocked.

At the knock on his door Cain looked up. "Come in," he called. The door opened and DG slowly crept in. Uh oh. Cain saw the tear tracks on her face and had to restrain himself from rushing to gather her safe in his arms. He turned to his son. "Jeb, could you give us a minute?"

"Of course." Jeb bowed to DG, "Princess." She glared at him. "Dad, I'll see you later." With that Jeb left his father's office closing the door behind him.

Cain jumped to his feet and rushed to his Princess' side and gathered her in his strong arms. "DG, what happened, why are you crying?"

"She wouldn't listen to me, Cain. She said I couldn't be with you because you were my guard and a Tin Man. And you weren't 'of Noble birth'!! I didn't think she would be so hypocritical!! My father isn't a Noble!" DG buried her face in Cain's chest as he held her close to him trying his best to soothe her.

"Oh, Darlin', we'll think of something. Don't worry. Just go on with your day and tonight we'll figure something out."

"What? Why not now? Why can't we talk about it now?"

"Because you have a dancing lesson with Gl… Ambrose, and Jeb and I have some business to finish that I have been putting off for the past 3 weeks."

"Business?" She pushed away from him a bit to look at his face then it hit her, Zero; they were going to go get Zero. "OH!! Please be careful, Cain."

"Cain? What happened to 'Wyatt'?"

"I'm still getting used to it. Besides I still have to call you Cain in front of other people until we are able to be together freely."

"I know. I was just teasing." He said as he leaned down to place a sweet kiss on her lips. "And I know that Zero is dangerous that's why I am taking Jeb with me and you are staying here with Glitch, I mean Ambrose. Come on, we need to get you to your dancing lesson."

"But, what about the lunch meeting with that Lord Airhead?"

"Ambrose will be with you so just tell him you are not interested and have him escorted out." His pulled her close to him again. Looking into her eyes, her cupped her cheek with his hand and kissed her. "I love you, DG." He whispered. Offering her his arm they exited his office in search of Glitch.