"Explain to me again why you don't use Mother's seamstresses to make you a gown." Azkadellia asked. She sat on a settee surrounded by discarded dresses of all shapes and sizes. They'd been at Bluebird's Wedding Décor Shoppe for hours and DG was no closer to finding her perfect dress than Glitch was to finding his brain.
"I told you before. I don't want some over the top, extravagant wedding dress." DG's voice was muffled through both the door of the fitting room and the ruffle of the dress as it went over her head.
"Yes, that would be tragic." Azkadellia muttered.
"Not to mention, I want the chance to go out and shop for my dress. It's a tradition all brides have back in Kansas and I don't want to miss out just because I'm a princess." She yanked the fabric over her head and stood in awe at what she saw.
"Oh my," She said loudly. Azkadellia's magazine went flying and she hopped out of her seat.
"Well, now you have to come out and show me." She laughed and jumped up and down.
"Please, don't make me." DG sighed. Azkadellia looked around; the shop was pretty empty except for a few stragglers.
"If you don't come out, I'm yanking you out." Azkadellia whispered harshly. DG let out a deep sigh and pushed open the fitting room door. At first sight Azkadellia let out a howling laugh and pointed at her sister. "You look like a cream puff." Dg frowned and stepped forward, looking for the three way mirror. She stepped up on the platform and shook her head. It was even worse out here in the light.
The white monster had layers and layers of white tulle, puffing the dress up to an abnormal size. DG's tiny head poked out from the neck line and she strained it just to see over the ruffles and bows. Why in the world had she allowed Azkadellia to talk her into trying this on?
"Get this off of me," DG grasped for air. The large dress was suffocating as it tightly grasped her neck and ribs. She still was laughing, along with Azkadellia, as she reached around back for the zipper. With one arm around her sore stomach, Azkadellia used the other to yank at the zipper until it slid down DG's back with a satisfying slip. DG pulled the heavy gown down and stepped out of it, letting the white cloud float away. Now standing on her pedestal, wearing nothing but an expensive set of lingerie, DG suddenly felt relieved.
She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, happy to get getting fresh air. She stood, placing her hands on her hips, looking down at her sister. Months ago she would have been slightly embarrassed to be standing half naked in front of her sister, but now it was normal.
"Wait, aren't you supposed to be in Queen lessons all day?" DG asked. Azkadellia looked her sister up and down.
"That bra if fabulous Deeg. It gives you support everywhere." Azkadellia moved to touch a strap and DG slapped her hand away. "Ow!" She squealed. DG gave her sister a close look and Azkadellia took a step back. "Ok fine. They are awful DG. I'd rather be trapped again with the evil witch inside me than be trapped in a room with Toto." The few customers milling around the shop looked over at her suspiciously. She backtracked and shook her hands in the air.
"Figure of speech, I swear." Her eyes grew large as she looked back to her sister. "It's awful." She frowned at her sister. DG rolled her bright blue eyes and stood firm.
"I can't imagine it's that bad Az."
"Ok, Fine! It's just boring. I figure, because I have to learn the ways of the people, I should be out among them." She gestured to the small shop. "If Toto asks, I'm learning about traditional Outer Zone wedding customs. Which you are totally butchering with your own Kansas wedding traditions. . ." Azkadellia trailed off. DG smiled.
"I'm proud of you." DG said. Azkadellia looked up at her sister. It was odd to think she was the oldest. DG just seemed like the down to earth, older guidance one. Azkadellia lost out on her childhood and only seemed to now be making up for the loss. "Really, I am. It takes a strong person to go through what you are going through. I mean you get to deal with the people and they get to look up to you. What am I doing?" She turned to the mirror and looked at herself in her lingerie. "I'm planning a wedding. What good will that do for my people?" She asked her sister. As Azkadellia contemplated this question a voice called from behind.
"OH dear giddy, she's in her under garments!" Glitch covered his eyes and turned around to walk away, only to run into Cain's stern form. "Cain walk away! You can't see her in this before her wedding day." He whispered harshly, his hands still covering his eyes. Cain rolled his own eyes.
"Is that true?" He called across the store. Azkadellia called over her shoulder.
"That's just for the dress. You can't see the dress before." She turned back to her sister and nodded, glad something was seeping in. DG's face was bright red and she tried to cover up with the fallen gown.
"Woo hoo. DG look nice," Raw said from Cain's side. Cain's eyes grew wide and he turned to face his friend. Raw cleared his throat. "Raw wait outside." He pointed over his shoulder and quietly walked out. Cain turned back to DG, up on her pedestal. He'd seen her with less than what she was wearing now, but it still made something inside of him tick. If he didn't get out now, he couldn't be responsible for his actions in this public place.
"We're going to be outside. When you're ready, let us know." Cain called. DG looked at him from across the shop and smiled for support. She nodded and winked at her future husband and Cain knew his heart skipped a beat. He backed slowly out of the shop, never leaving his glance with DG and reluctantly let the door shut behind him. The three men stood on the cobblestone sidewalk looking out onto the busy street. Cain spotted a jewelry store a few shop windows down and decided to go in. He didn't have wedding bands yet and DG still didn't have an engagement ring. As he entered the bright store, Cain immediately thought it was a bad idea.
Cain looked at the various jewels in the cases. Some were extravagantly put together, others looked somewhat dull. What do you buy a princess? He couldn't afford what he thought a princess would want, but what he could afford he knew a princess would never even acknowledge. He groaned and let his eyes roll over the contents of the shelf one last time.
"You know, it doesn't matter what you get her." Glitch said softly. Cain turned to Glitch. Glitch nodded his head slowly. "DG loves you no matter what. She's not one for shiny things or outlandish displays of affection." He watched as Cain turned back to the display case, his eyes catching a deep blue sapphire. "Think smaller." Glitch whispered in Cain's ear. Cain swatted away Glitch, like a person swats away a fly. Cain looked at the price tag and knew he would have to work everyday, 24 hours a day, for many annuals to afford something that beautiful. He removed his hands from the glass and took a couple steps away from the counter and towards the door. He'd think of something, and soon he hoped.
Later that night DG sat on the counter, her legs crossed at the knees. She tapped her foot in the air, her bunny slipper bounced happily to a beat. DG smiled as she raised a spoonful of ice cream to her lips and sighed as the wonderful concoction filled her mouth. She was always a fan of ice cream. She watched as Cain washed and dried the dishes, a spare dishtowel slung over his naked shoulder. She looked down the front of herself, wearing only Cain's linen shirt, carefully buttoned one button. Her parents were off at a dinner with a dignitary and Azkadellia was off on her first date. She'd have to listen to that story all night. However, for now, all she cared about was the man standing a few paces away from her.
After a wonderful dinner, Cain whisked DG away, leaving all the traces of a romantic dinner behind. After an exhausting post dinner romp in DG's bedroom, she suddenly felt the need for some ice cream. She slipped on Cain's shirt and Cain slipped on his pants and the two traveled down the corridors towards the kitchen, hands and lips still finding each other. As DG scoured the freezer for anything, Cain started to clear off the dishes and clean up their mess. He fixed DG a bowl of chocolate ice cream and watched as she happily lifted herself up on to the counter, her ice cream clutched between her small hands.
DG slipped another spoonful of ice cream between her lips. "You know," she said, swallowing the mouthful, "if you keep this up and cook for me the way you do, I may never have a use for the palace chef." She watched as Cain turned around, laying the dishtowel on the edge of the sink. He walked over and parted DG's leg, standing in between dangerous charted territory. DG wrapped her legs around him as he reached for her ice cream.
"Keep it up and I'll be too tired to do anything." DG pulled the bowl out of his grasp. She could feel his hands, cool from the dishwater; slowly travel up her legs, from her knees northward. As they reached her thigh she let out a soft, almost undistinguishable sigh. It was soft enough that only Cain could hear. High pitched sounds were to dogs like DG's soft moans where to Cain. As his hands slipped beneath the soft linen hem line, he could feel her goose bumps as he placed them on her hips, pulling her just a little closer to him. DG closed her eyes and let go of everything, including the ice cream bowl. Cain reached over and picked up the discarded bowl and took a step back. DG's eyes flew open and she watched as Cain slurped down her dessert.
"Well, if that's what it takes for you to get ice cream, I'm in trouble." She crossed her arms with a huff and watched as Cain devourered her ice cream. She looked the man up and down. His muscular frame was that of someone built for a fight. After years of training at the Academy and then years as a Tin Man, Cain's muscular form did not look like that of a man his age. He was sculpted and toned, but she could see some parts of him giving into age. Cain was used to a rigorous work out schedule. Sometimes, as she walked past his room early in the morning or late at night, she could hear his grunt as he did endless pushups or sit ups.
She could make out various cuts and marks from fight's he'd gotten into, whether they were intentional or mistaken. She knew several of the various scars where from their own journey to save the O.Z, but the other's were a mystery. They were from a part of his past she may never know. She watched him finish the rest her ice cream and then set the bowel in the water filled sink. He turned back to her and frowned at her stern look.
"Rude, very rude." She shook her head. "I wasn't done with that." She pouted her lip and shook her head as Cain stepped closer to her. She put both of her outstretched palms on his chest, pushing him away. He reached up and bent her arms at the elbows, giving him extra space to move forward. Her arms slacked and she felt them slide down his chest as Cain advanced forward. His hands slid through DG's shirt, held only together with a single button. She gasped as his cold hands touched her bare stomach and then rest on her sides.
"I don't know what you want now," She said coyly. Cain leaned forward and placed his lips on her collar bone, kissing it slowly. He moved up her neck slowly. "You ate the rest of the ice cream," She struggled to get the words out, her mind suddenly cloudy as Cain's hands ventured to places she was powerless to protect when he was around.
"Oh my goodness!" A voice groaned. DG heard something slap the island and she opened her eyes, seeing her sister standing a few feet away. Azkadellia put her clutch back under her arm and she glared at her sister and her future brother in law. "The food we eat is prepared right there." She pointed to where her sister sat underwear less. Cain groaned as he pushed up off of DG. He cleared his throat and helped DG get presentable.
"So back from your date early?" DG asked, wiping her lips.
"Yeah we ended up in the infirmary," She muttered. DG's eyes grew twice their normal size. Azkadellia nodded. "Could we talk about it somewhere else? Like away from where we eat." She watched as her sister smiled and then she hopped off the counter, with Cain helping her. A towel filled the place where DG sat. Azkadellia looked from it to her sister.
"You don't think I would sit on the counter without some form or protection?" DG asked. Azkadellia huffed and left the room. DG turned back to Cain. "I'm going to deal with this." She stepped forward and gave Cain a kiss. He put his arm around her and pulled her close, deepening the kiss. When DG pulled away her lips were starting to swell again. She smiled up at a Cain and reluctantly back away, feeling his arms unwrap. She gave him a wink as she sauntered out of the kitchen, in search of her sister. Cain turned back to the sink, his hands gripping the edge. He let out a frustrated growl and reached for a dish to clean.
"So emergency room, start now." DG said as she slammed her door shut with a hurried thud. Azkadellia's head popped up from the bed and she groaned. DG found some lost pieces from her outfit earlier and slipped on the underwear and jeans. She walked over and sat at the head of her bed, looking down on her sister.
"It was awful. We were in the car, on the way to the restaurant. We were talking and laughing and I really thought that this guy was great. Then we arrived. And that's when it happened."
"When what happened?" DG asked carefully. Azkadellia sat up slowly, keeping her eyes on her sister. She looked like a child who had done something wrong but didn't want to share. "Come on, let it out."
"So how was I supposed to know he'd come around to open my door? And how was I supposed to know he'd loose a cufflink and have to bend to pick it up?" DG closed her eyes tightly.
"You didn't?" She muttered. Azkadellia nodded.
"The door hit him square in the face, breaking his nose. The force caused him to fall back and hit his head on the curb, causing him to black out." DG's hands flew to cover her mouth as she tried not to laugh. A giggle escaped her lips and Azkadellia glared at her sister.
"I was so excited about the dinner that I was a little overzealous with the door." She hit her sister on the arm. "It isn't funny." DG looked up and nodded.
"Yes it is," DG laughed. Azkadellia wanted to hit her again, but she ended up laughing along with her. Tears streamed down DG's face, and Azadellia had to clutch her stomach for the second time that day.
"Who needs exercise when we have each other?" She laughed, laying back on the bed. DG shrugged and leaned back.
"It's ok, we'll find you another guy. Hopefully someone with hazard pay." DG laughed as she dodged Azkadellia's clutch. She let her laughs trickle down to soft giggles as she thought about her own love life.
"What's wrong DG?" Her sister asked somberly. DG looked over at here sister.
"Am I doing the right thing?"
"Please don't ask me for sex advice; I don't know anything about it." Azkadellia flopped back down on the bed. DG laughed and threw a pillow in her general direction.
"I mean about the wedding." She said softly. Azkadellia pushed herself up, resting her weight on her two elbows. She looked at her sister and knew, all jokes aside, that here sister really needed her. She sighed and sat up, giving her full attention. "Is this really what people in their 20's do? Plan weddings?" She asked.
"Well they certainly shouldn't become queens, but look how that's going for me." She looked carefully at her sister. "Oh Deeg. You're making a big decision, it's only right that you get a little nervous. What, with the wedding brigade and the plans, it's enough for anyone to get a little antsy. My advice, elope. You two go off, get married someplace small and live your lives away from this." She gestured to the palace walls. DG frowned and shook her head.
"I can't do that to mom and dad. I already ran off once, and it hurt them. I can't do it again." She sighed and looked down into her lap. She buttoned another button, suddenly very embarrassed around here sister. Azkadellia reached over and put her hand on her sisters.
"I know we've said it before, but you're marrying a great guy. A great guy that loves you, protects you, I imagine has great sex with you," She watched DG's face turn to alarm. "You can deny it all you want to little sis, but I know what he does to you. You run away from this, you back away in any way, shape or form and you'll regret it. I'll make sure of that." She let go of her sister's hands. DG looked up, knowing this wasn't the end of the discussion, but happy that she had some perspective.
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