Chapter 5: First Steps toward Trouble
A/N: I realize that it has been way too long since I've updated this story. My schooling is absolutely sucking up all my time right now. Thank God there's only one semester left. Then comes the real world…oh man! Sorry for the short detour. Now on with the story:

"I'm telling you that it's just not normal."

"Deeg, you need to calm down." Wyatt ran his hands up and down her arms.

"Wyatt, she's almost sixteen months old and she hasn't walked yet. She hasn't even tried! There has to be something wrong."

Wyatt sighed. "Just because she's a little behind doesn't mean that there is something wrong. Maybe she just doesn't want to walk yet."

DG stopped to consider this for a minute before shaking her head. "My mother said that Az and I were both walking by our first birthdays."

"And Jeb didn't walk until he was almost two," Cain countered.

DG turned in mid-pace. "Well then it's your genes. Stupid Cain genes, you're so damn stubborn. She inherited it from you."

Wyatt just stared at her. Was she really blaming him and his genes for their daughter's inability to walk? "Maybe it's your genes," he said before really thinking about it.

"My genes?"

"Yes. I'm not the only stubborn one around here you know." He couldn't believe he was losing his temper over such a stupid argument. But by gods she was insulting him out right and he would be damned if he was going to stand for it.

"Are you saying I'm stubborn?" DG asked. Wyatt looked at her with raised eyebrows as if wondering how she could even ask such a question. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with MY genes!"

"Royal or not, you've got your flaws sweetheart," Cain snapped. He saw the look in DG's eyes and immediately regretted his words. He knew she didn't like the constant reminders of her hereditary title, she hated being reminded that running a country that she barely remembered was in her near future. "Look—"

A loud rapping at the door interrupted the apology. "Come in," DG called staring sternly at her husband.

A palace guard entered and bowed at the waist. "Sorry to interrupt Your Majesties. Princess, the Queen requests your presence in her office immediately."

"Tell her I will be right there." Even as she spoke to the guard, DG's eyes never left the steely blue of Cain's own. She saw the guard bow and exit in her peripheral vision.

"I'm sorry."

"We'll talk later," she cut him off. Grabbing her necklace off the bedside table, DG fastened it around her neck and charged out of the room, two of the guards outside the door falling quickly into step behind her.

Cain dropped his head in defeat. He knew he was in trouble; in the "dog house" as DG would say. He would now have to orchestrate some elaborate way of apologizing to her. Maybe he could convince the palace chefs to whip up some of the more exotic Otherside foods she always talked about. A candlelit dinner with her favorite foods and a night all to themselves sounded like a good idea. Of course he'd have to talk someone into taking Dani for the night.

A loud cry erupted from the room attached to the other end of the living room. "Speaking of," he grumbled. Crossing the distance in a few short strides, Cain opened the door to the nursery and peered in. Dani greeted him from her crib with a yawn and a mumbled "daddy."

"Good morning sweetheart," Cain smiled, scooping her out of the bed and tossing her into the air. Dani immediately grabbed for him letting out a shrill cry. Cain brought her back down and hugged her close to his body. "Okay I guess it's a bit too early for that game?" As if to answer his question Dani laid her head against his shoulder and sighed. Cain walked back into the living room, taking a seat on the couch and balancing Dani on his lap. She leaned back against his chest, her head resting just beneath his chin. They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, Cain running his hand absent mindedly up and down Dani's back while she rested against his chest, her head rising and falling with each breath.

"Mommy?" Dani asked breaking the silence.

"Mommy's with grammy today," Wyatt answered. He wondered vaguely how long DG would be meeting with her mother. Judging from the guard's message, it sounded as though whatever drew her away was unexpected and probably very important. "It's just going to be you and me today, kiddo. You okay with that?"

She nodded her head emphatically, messy curls bouncing around.

"Why don't we go get some breakfast and then maybe a walk through the gardens?" Again Dani shook her head in affirmation. "All right well let's get you dressed and we'll head out." After a few struggles, Wyatt had managed to get Dani into a yellow sundress that happened to be one of DG's favorites. Hoisting her onto his shoulders, Cain started for the door only to have someone barge in before he could get to it. "Don't you ever knock?"

Jeb looked up at his father and sister sheepishly. "Sorry dad. Hey kiddo!" He held out his hand palm up and waited for Dani to slap it in greeting.

"Debby!" she squealed, laying a loud slap to his hand.

Wyatt reached up and steadied the small body atop his shoulders. "Would you care to join us for breakfast?"

"Wish I could but something's come up," Jeb answered. "We've been requested to come to a special security meeting with Colonel Lydecker."

"Now what?"

"He's having a conniption about the security for the ball. Says there's too many holes in the perimeter and it needs to be redone."

Wyatt groaned and dropped his head in defeat for the second time that day. "You go ahead. I'll have to find someone to watch this little rascal and then I'll catch up with you."

"All right. I'll tell them you're on your way." He slapped hands with Dani once again before disappearing down the hall.

Cain search through his mind for any possible babysitters. DG and the Queen were out. Az and Glitch were still on their diplomatic tour of the northern realms. Sarah would be down in the infirmary. "Well I guess that leaves Ahamo." Ducking through the doorway, Cain turned down the hallway in the direction of the Consort's private study.

OZOZOZ

Ahamo touched the brush to the canvas softly and pulled the paint in a diagonal line to the edge. It was such a rarity for him to get a day to catch up on his art that he intended to use every hour to its fullest. He heard the knock on the door but didn't bother looking up from his work. "Come in."

"Mo!" Dani called excitedly.

Hearing his newly christened nickname, Ahamo set his paintbrush down and turned toward the doorway where his son-in-law and granddaughter stood.

"Hey there, Angel." He greeted her, reaching up to remove her from her father's shoulders. Cain bent down and allowed her to be swung from her perch. "To what do I owe this wonderful surprise?"

"I was actually wondering if I could ask you for a favor," Cain said sheepishly.

"Wyatt, you never have to ask me to watch this little one," Ahamo said laughing at Cain's shocked expression. "I heard about the security problems and figured you'd be headed over here."

"Thank you, sir." Wyatt said. Noticing the look he was receiving he quickly amended, "Ahamo."

The Consort merely shook his head and laughed. "You'll get it some day, I'm sure. Now hurry up before they send some guards looking for you."

Wyatt smiled, leaned over and kissed Dani and left. Ahamo took a seat back in front of his canvass with Dani perched on his knee.

"Well what do you think?" he asked in reference to the painting before them.

Dani stared at the colors before her, eyes sparkling. She reached toward the canvas, crying out when Ahamo's hand grabbed hers.

"No, no. You can't touch that," he said. Dani stuck her bottom lip out in a pout but Ahamo only laughed. "That doesn't work with me. Your mother and aunt tried it too." They locked gazes for a while, blue eyes meeting bluer, before Dani whined to be put down. Ahamo placed her on the plush carpet a few feet from his workspace. "I'll go see what toys I can scrounge up for you," he said making his way to a large closet across the room. "Don't get into any trouble." Then he disappeared behind the ornately carved door.

Dani watch him leave before turning her attention back to the canvas. The bright colors still glistened at her, calling her name. Giving into temptation she leaned forward, falling to her hands and knees. Rocking back and forth she gained the momentum she needed to start moving, crawling her way over to the chair her grandfather had recently vacated. She reached up, grabbing the seat of the chair, and gathered her strength to pull herself to her feet. It was an exhilarating new view of the world; no longer having to look up at everything, but finally getting a bird's eye view. Glancing around she saw nothing of particular interest until her eyes fell upon the paint palette sitting rather precariously on the table nearby. If only she could get her arms to reach that far.

Ahamo stepped out of the closet, armful of toys, and noticed that his granddaughter was not where he had left her. It took him only a moment to spot her, standing next to his chair one arm reaching toward his art supplies. His initial reaction was to stop her, knowing how much of a mess the paints would make on the light-colored carpet. He knew he should have stopped her, but something told him to just stand there and watch.

Dani reached for the paint, her frustration growing when it continued to elude her. Letting her desires take over she focused on the paint and commanded her feet to move. Step by step she closed the distance to the palette, grabbing it with both hands. The paint squished under her fingers, changing her skin to the colors of the rainbow. Losing her balance, but determined not to let her prize escape her, Dani tightened her grip as she toppled to the ground. The art supplies came down on top of her, smearing her hair and face with an array of colors.

Coming out of the closet, Ahamo tossed a few toys to the ground and made his way over to his granddaughter. Crouching in front of her, he couldn't help but laugh. "Well green always was a favorite color of you Gale women."

So I know this seems like a long way to go for the ending but the plot just kind of got away from me. Review it anyway!