"What kind of proposition?" asked DG, sitting on the edge of her bed to face her mother.

"I know this is all so sudden, my angel. I was thinking perhaps we could…extend it a couple of days. That is, the guests will be arriving today, but it isn't unheard of for a royal wedding celebration to last a couple of days before the wedding has taken place. So, if you and Jeb need more time to sort things out I would be happy to make the arrangements."

"Oh, is that all," DG said, sighing. "We talked it out, Mother. I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow, though I'll be happy when the ceremony is over. I hate big, fancy events. But Jeb said that he loves me and he proposed properly so I don't have a problem with going ahead with the ceremony tomorrow."

"Are you sure, DG?" she asked incredulously. "I'm very happy to know that he loves you but what of your feelings?"

"I love him too, Mother," she said blushing. "I just didn't want him to be forced to marry me, that's all. Knowing he loves me changes everything."

"I'm happy to hear that," said the queen, smiling. "I'll let you get some sleep now, Darling. Goodnight, DG."

"Goodnight, Mother," she said, hugging the queen before heading to bed. It had been a long day.

As Jeb headed to his room he heard a noise and turned, seeing Cain come out of his room. The two locked eyes for a second before Cain asked him if he wanted to come in and talk. Jeb nodded.

"How did it go?" he asked, settling into a comfortable chair.

"Really well, actually," said Jeb, grinning. "Well, not so great at first. It turns out she thought I was being forced into this and she blamed herself for me missing out on my chance to find my 'one true love.' Once I told her she was it she was thrilled with the idea. I can't believe I never noticed she had feelings for me," he said, shaking his head.

"So the kid's been in love with you this whole time?"

"I guess. She said she wouldn't have used that line with anybody else, even to get away from the 'lawn gnomes' as she likes to call them."

Cain smiled at this, remembering the first time she had done that and happy to know his son was marrying someone he loved who loved him back.

By the time the queen made it back to her room Ahamo was waiting for her.

"Good, you're still awake. It looks like we won't be having to extend the wedding any longer than originally planned," she said, smiling.

"Oh? And why is that? Not that I'm not thrilled, mind you."

"It seems that Jeb truly loves her and having proposed properly tonight after telling her such, she has accepted it and is happy to go through with the wedding tomorrow. She says she loves him too," she added as an afterthought.

"I gathered as much from my conversation with Jeb a few minutes ago. He was in great spirits when I talked to him, although a bit confused. DG sent him to me to explain an Other Side tradition," he laughed.

The queen smiled, hugging her husband. "I'm glad they're happy. I was worried that we were making a mistake in insisting they go through with it. Under normal circumstances I would never have allowed it, but with the turmoil of the last 16 annuals…"

"Sshh, Darling, they understood. Even when they weren't happy about it they understood. But they're in love now, and I daresay looking forward to tomorrow, even if it's going to be a long day as I was telling Jeb just moments ago."

"You told Jeb it was going to be a long day?" she asked curiously.

"Isn't every wedding day a long day?" he asked, concerned by her reaction.

"Yes, especially royal wedding days, but…what exactly did you say to him? If I recall you avoided the planning of the wedding quite skillfully…"

"I merely told him it would be best to get some sleep as he was going to have a big day tomorrow and undoubtedly a long night as well."

"You didn't!" she said, looking stricken.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, Love, but a royal ball hardly ends early, especially when serving as a wedding reception and balls most definitely equal long nights."

"Yes, but are you sure he understood what you meant by that?"

"No, he probably didn't. Granted, when your father told me something similar I thought he meant something else, too."

"My father said no such thing to you!"

"Oh, but he did. I was scarred by it for a night before realizing that the ball seemed like it would never end. Then it clicked what he meant. I'll never forget the look on his face when he said it too. He knew he was leading me on and he loved every second of it. Long balls as wedding receptions indeed Whose brilliant idea was that?"

"Ahamo!"

"What? Consider it tradition. He can scare the living daylights out of whoever marries his daughter someday too."

"He no doubt will. Here I thought you were her father and not his, yet here you are acting as his best friend instead of his future father-in-law."

"After tomorrow I'll be both their fathers, but I really don't mind the idea of having children running around this palace again."

"You are going to go and apologize to that boy right now and explain what you meant! That was a rotten thing to do. I don't care where you learned it."

"He's probably asleep by now, Dear. Let's just get some sleep and he'll figure it out tomorrow night like I did. He's an intelligent man."

"I thought the same of you until a minute ago. If you intend to sleep I suggest you do it somewhere else until you have apologized to that boy and I would prefer it to be before the wedding. As for being asleep right now, did you get any sleep the night before our wedding? Cause I certainly didn't."

"Good point. I'll go check on him, shall I?" he asked, excusing himself from the room quickly.

"She certainly has a knack for getting into trouble," Cain mused.

"That she does," came a voice from the door with an accompanying knock. "Mind if I come in?"

The Cain men looked up at Ahamo in the entryway and nodded, motioning for him to sit down.

"My wife seems to think I may have been a bit…cruel earlier with something I said." Jeb blushed, making an educated guess while Cain looked on in confusion.

"By 'late night'," he continued, "I meant the reception. Royal weddings are notorious for running through most of the day and the ball afterwards is sure to last until at least this time tomorrow night as the entire O.Z. will be wanting to congratulate you both."

"I see," said Jeb slowly.

"In all fairness, her father did that to me as well, though in my case I had to wait until the ball about did me in before I realized what he meant. Apparently my wife didn't think following that particular tradition was a good idea, nor did she like my forthrightness with approval for the relationship in such a manner. I, however, couldn't think of a better man for my daughter and I'm rather looking forward to grandchildren," he mused.

"You're really not overprotective, are you?" asked Cain, shaking his head.

"No, Mr. Cain. My definition of being protective means making sure my daughters are alive and happy. My wife on the other hand…"

"Well, like you said, Sir. They're pistols but they're worth it," said Jeb.

"That they are. Well, gentlemen, it's been fun, but I should go tell my wife I've apologized for any awkwardness I may have caused and get to bed before all the fuss starts in the morning."

Standing, he shook their hands and left the room. The Cain men looked at each other and shook their heads. "Remind me never to put him in charge of driving suitors away from my daughters, should I have any," Jeb said before leaving the room. Cain nodded in agreement.

The next day started with Az walking down the hall to help DG get ready for her big day. As she was about to knock on the door she heard DG scream.

Author's Note: Next update will hopefully not take too long. Unfortunately I do have some papers for school that need attention as well, but I'll update ASAP. Don't forget to review!