Moments had passed and after dressing Wyatt found himself frozen in place, lost in stunned silence and wondering what he could say in response to DG's actions.

He was drawing a blank.

Thankfully the throng at his neck was the perfect length to keep the pendent hidden beneath his shirt, even past the usual opened buttons. He didn't want to attract any unnecessary attention to the gift…despite the gravity of the honor she had just bestowed upon him.

There was certainly royal blood flowing through the girl's veins; she had given him his naming in the seclusion of the forest as if standing before the thrown she would eventually ascend to…and had done so without so much as batting an eyelash. She had spoken the words in the appropriate manner as if it was innate knowledge passed to her with her magic, the act as natural to her as breathing.

He pulled the pendent free again, tracing his thumb along the surface as he stared at it. The weight of it was impossible for such a seemingly delicate piece of metal, he wondered as he noted how aged it was whether it had been cast out of that morytanium the witch had been mining…

His mind was far too busy at the moment to put much thought into the implications of that possibility. A hand wandered to the cheek she'd kissed so sweetly, the act had been even more heartfelt this time than the day of their first walk. His eyes became veiled as he recalled the sensation.

It hadn't been unpleasant, that was for damned sure.

With a sigh he let the pendent slip back beneath his shirt, his fingers idly checking that it was secure through the material as he put Wrath's saddle back on with the blanket beneath it once more.

DG was waiting for him down by the water, humming to herself contentedly and looked up from her reverie when she heard him approach.

"Well, well…look who decided to put on some clothes." She said with a grin and he rolled his eyes.

He was still in shock over what she'd just done, but couldn't help but laugh as she shook her head, wearing an adorable little mock scowl as she continued.

"Leave it to me to get paired with a nudist Tin Man, I tell ya…it'll be the talk of the palace. I can just hear them now: 'did you see that Wyatt Cain today strutting the halls in all his glory?', 'And still sporting that gun holster and fedora, no less.' But hey, if that's your thing I'm fine with it, more power to you." She held up her hands and struggled to maintain a serious expression. "At least it'll drastically cut down on the amount of time those suitors want to hang around…well, most of them, anyway. A few of them might become more eager to get me to marry them thinking you'll be a part of the package. I'm gonna have to ask that you at least keep the saddle blanket on during formal events, though; I don't think my mother will be able to handle your sudden decision to forego clothing."

"You are terrible." He said with a laugh as she stood.

"Yeah, but that's why you love me so much." She responded with a grin and he arched a brow.

He gave her one of those, 'Indeed' looks before shaking his head and deciding it was better to leave that statement alone. "Come get something to eat. You've got another riding lesson before we head back."

DG bounced over to him and promptly latched herself onto his arm, a small part of her nearly passed out when she realized she was touching him but for some reason she was surprisingly relaxed despite her addiction to him.

Something was different…

She couldn't put her finger on it, but there was a warm comfort in her beyond the simple pleasure of contact with him. It was…new.

Maybe it was love, but it didn't feel like it was that alone.

Wyatt was trying to ignore her little head resting on his shoulder as they walked, and definitely avoiding acknowledging to himself how pleasant he found it to be.

Something was nagging him as they made their way to the clearing where Seraph and Wrath were standing, he wracked his brain trying to figure out what it could be and finally realized he had the perfect opportunity here…

DG had just brought up the subject of A) her suitors and B) homosexuality.

"So, speaking of suitors…that reminds me. What did you think of that one you were stuck with yesterday?" He asked nonchalantly, though DG detected a hint of amusement in his voice.

"That little troll? Ugh!If I ever see him coming into the palace again I'm going to 'accidentally' turn him into a mobat so he'll be more attractive." She said in disgust, and finally had to laugh imagining the pompous windbag fluttering around her pleading to be changed back.

"Well maybe you could tell your mother what you're looking for in a suitor, that way she will bring ones that are more appropriate for your tastes." He said casually, baiting her to give him something to go on.

Such as: 'Well Wyatt, I like them curvy with long hair. I've always had a weakness for blondes and redheads and full, pouty lips are a must…'

"Pfft…first requirement? They can't be a suitor." She said with a laugh and he held his breath.

Maybe a suit-ress, perhaps?

She was unpacking the food, not noticing that her silence was causing Wyatt to eye her up like an uncooperative suspect in an interrogation.

He spread the blanket out across the grass and sat down as she scooted onto the other side, handing over a container of food and licking something off her finger before looking up at him. When she saw the inquisitive look on his face she paused with her finger still in her mouth.

"What?" She asked around it.

"Hmm?" Wyatt responded as if he didn't know what she meant, then feigned disinterest. "Oh, nothing. Just curious…"

"So anxious to see me married off, Wyatt?" She teased.

Both of them flinched at that sentence.

"I'm just…" Ouch that had stung for some reason, "taking an interest in the monotonous routine of your daily life, that's all." He said with a smile.

But DG was like a dog on a bone now, narrowing her gaze on him in a fashion he was unaccustomed to being on the receiving end of.

"What?" It was his turn to ask.

"You're up to something…" She said, holding up a finger and shaking it at him. "What are you fishing for, Tin Man?"

Wyatt laughed. "Really, nothing…it's nothing…"

"Well since I already have this gut feeling you're asking these questions with an ulterior motive, I have to wonder what reason would you have for…"

DG's eyebrow shot up and she smiled at him.

Wyatt's mind exploded in denial.

Shit! Mayday! Mayday!

She thought he was asking…for himself…

So that he could…

"The staff thinks you're gay." He blurted out and her jaw fell open. It was an adorable sight to behold.

Smooth, he chided himself, really smooth.

DG burst out laughing and he eyed her wondering if she'd flipped her lid, if not she was taking this extremely well…unless…

Crap, she really was the lesbian Princess of the OZ…

She was still giggling her ass off, starting to calm until she noted the curiosity burning in his eyes and lost it again. When she finally regained control of herself she had to struggle to keep a straight face.

"Well, what do you think, Wyatt?" She asked, biting her bottom lip and already seeing that this was something he'd spent a great deal of time wondering about in silence.

He cleared his throat and averted his eyes. Way to kick that one right back to him…

"It doesn't make a difference to me…though I will say this much, you're trouble enough as it is. At least if you were gay I wouldn't have to worry about the men quite as much…and the only girl I would worry about stealing your 'innocence'is already doing that with Jeb." He said, laughing with her as she launched into another fit of giggles.

"Oh God. Not that mouthy little blonde one?" She said and Wyatt had to hold his stomach he was laughing so hard.

"That'd be the one." He said.

"Is she the one saying I'm gay?" She asked, and Wyatt studied her face for a second.

Was she asking as in, 'who's ass am I going to kick' or 'do you think she's interested?'

The suspense was killing him and DG had yet to answer the damned question.

"She's the ringleader, yes. She seems to think it would be wonderful for the OZ to have two Queens and that your homosexuality would be a brilliant political move."

He was struggling not to say, 'come on, out with it already!' when she finally answered his silent plea.

"Well, the answer is no, despite the fact that I agree having two Queens would benefit the OZ." She said with a smile as she shoved his shoulder playfully.

And for some unknown reason all seemed right with the world again for Wyatt.