Julia and Paxton walked through the halls, in an awkward silence. "You know, Julia…once we are married…we are going to have to pick a palace to stay at. That, or we could rule from two separate places but for image reasons we should live together…" Paxton spoke up. "I understand…." Julia said, but seemed distant. "Our castle has a spectacular view of the ocean, especially at sunset. We have waterfalls, vineyards, and spacious grounds…very much like yours but its tradition that the king invites the queen into his kingdom…your sister can rule here…" he said, with a tight smile.
"That's an issue we will discuss as we get closer to the wedding…" Julia said, looking at the floor. "You always see so tense my dear, am I making you nervous or something? I hope…" she said, his smile widening. She turned to face him. "Do I really seem tense? No, I'm not at all. I'm just…exhausted from everything…" Julia said, faking a smile.
"Ah, I see. The Tin Man and the Zipperhead keeping you and your sister up all hours?" he asked. "No, why would you think that?" Julia asked. "So how did you meet them? How'd you get the boy? Is he your son?" Paxton questioned. "We met Cain, Glitch, Cain's son, DG and Azkadellia on one of their travels. Aiden is a boy we rescued from a village attack…" Julia said with a sigh.
"You and your sister are extremely kind and generous," Paxton said, sounding bored. Before Julia could reply, Aiden ran over to her.
Rodney peered her head out from around the corner, Glitch's head looked above hers, and Cain's above his. Rodney watched as Aiden walked over towards Julia and Paxton. "This feels wrong…" Cain spoke up. "Yet strangely addicting…" Rodney said, with a small mischievous smile. Aiden tugged on Julia's pant leg and she looked down at him. "Hi Aiden…where is Rodney?" she asked. Aiden turned and stared up at Paxton.
"What's Aiden doing?" Glitch questioned. Aiden continued to stare blankly at Paxton. "Hello…" he paused to look at Julia. "Aiden," Julia replied to his blank look. "Aiden…right. You seem like a nice little boy. You like to run around the woods? Maybe you could come hunting with me," Paxton said with a smile.
"Um, no he can't…" Rodney muttered. "Shhh!" Cain hushed. Rodney narrowed her eyes, still staring forward. She now owed Cain a punch in the arm. Aiden continued to look at Paxton. "What you say, Aid? Can I call you Aid?" Paxton asked. "No," Aiden finally spoke up. Paxton raised an eyebrow. "Oh. Okay…." He said. "Denied…." Rodney said with a wicked smile.
Cain smiled. He loved how Paxton's ego was already getting destroyed by a five year old boy. "So, Aiden….do you like to-"
"I don't like you," Aiden, cut Paxton off. Paxton's raised his eyebrows and his expression changed to a shocked one. Cain looked down to see Rodney shaking, and holding her stomach. Tears were squeezing out from her eyes that were squeezed shut. He looked down at Glitch, who was also snickering lightly. "It's not that funny…" Cain said, trying to hold in his laughs himself.
"Aiden…" Julia said, her eyes widening slightly. Aiden scrunched his face up. "That's no way to talk to your future father…" Julia said. She paused. The words sounded completely different than she thought they would. It sounded too weird and too unnatural to say. Aiden raised up his foot and stomped on Paxton's toes.
"Oh Geez…" Cain said, turning away to hide his chuckles. Rodney began to laugh so hard, that she fell over and out into the opening. Cain quickly suppressed his laughter, and yanked Rodney up and behind the wall again. She turned and buried her face in Glitch's shoulder and began laughing again. "Oh, I love that boy…" Rodney said.
Aiden stuck his tongue out at Paxton, who was holding his foot, his other hand on Julia's shoulder for support. Aiden turned and hurried down the hallway. "I'm really sorry, Paxton. He's never been like that…" Julia said, apologetically and laughing on the inside. "Aw, it's no problem. He's just a small boy. He must not be used to having a new man in his life after all these years. I assume he acted the same around the Tin Man and the Zipperhead?" Paxton asked, setting his foot down.
"You mean Cain and Glitch?" Julia spoke up. Paxton gave her a look that she could of swore resembled a glare. As if he didn't like to be interrupted. "Something like that…." Julia lied. "Here, I'll go…scold him…you sit here…." Julia said, walking down the hall. She walked past one hallway and heard some snickering. She stepped back to see Cain, Glitch, and Rodney all trying to hide their laughs.
She stepped infront of them. "Which one of you did it?" she asked. "What? No one made him do it…" Cain spoke up. Julia stepped directly infront of him. "You expect me to believe that? It was you wasn't it?" Julia questioned, narrowing her eyes. "What? No it wasn't me…" Cain said, shaking his head. They both stared at each other for a second, before Cain started laughing again.
Julia couldn't help but smile now. "See? Even you think its funny…." Cain said, pointing at her. Julia looked over at Rodney, who was turning red. "Well if you see Aiden, tell him to come see me…" Julia said. "Don't yell at him. That kid is a hero now…" Rodney said. Julia stopped to look at her. "I'm not. I'm gonna give him a treat…" Julia said, disappearing around the corner.
"Does she know she went the wrong way to go find Aiden?" Glitch asked.
The next day Julia and Rodney walked through the halls. "So, what did you and Paxton talk about yesterday?" she asked. "How he wants me to go live with him at his kingdom with him when we are married, and about how you could rule the kingdom here…" Julia said, still looking forward. Rodney turned to look at her sister. "I don't want to do this without you," she whined slightly. Julia shrugged. "You'll be fine…" she said, looking down at the ground.
"Hold it…" Rodney said. She stepped infront of Julia. "You don't want this, do you?" Rodney asked. "What are you talking about? Of course I'm okay with this. If I weren't why would I have said 'yes'?" Julia asked, with a smile. "Okay, you may have Paxton and his weird father fooled…but I'm your sister. I can tell when your faking a smile or when you seriously mean it," Rodney said, with a motherly tone.
Julia stared at Rodney for a second. "Look Rodney, don't…I made a choice and if I keep listening to your speeches I'm going to end up changing my mind," Julia said, attempting to walk past her sister. Rodney simply sidestepped and blocked Julia's way. "Well I don't want to hear you complaining about it once you're married, and go on about how you don't love Paxton…" Rodney said.
Julia rolled her eyes. "Please, like were still gonna talk after I get married?" Julia asked. Rodney's face fell slightly. "Won't we?" she asked. Julia let a playful smile cross her face. Rodney shoved her slightly. "Don't do that!" she said, trying not to laugh. "I got you good…" Julia said, still smiling. There were the sound of footsteps as Cain and Glitch approached.
"What are you two girls up to?" Glitch asked happily. Julia and Rodney exchanged a look, before looking back at the boys again. Rodney shrugged. "Just talking…" she said. "Thinking about walking outside…" Julia said. "Really, where do you want to walk to?" Rodney asked. "No. Alone…" Julia said, and Rodney frowned slightly. "But…but…" Rodney started.
"No buts….maybe I'll go for a horseback ride…" Julia said, with a shrug. Glitch put his arm around Rodney's shoulders. "What do you say we go for a walk together?" Glitch asked. "Sure," Rodney agreed, her tone pleasant again. "Cain, want to come?" Glitch asked. "No thanks. I've got some things on my mind…" he said, shaking his head. "Things? What kind of things? How you plan to catch your next convict?" Julia asked, walking past him.
"Doesn't hurt to plan…" Cain said with a smile, watching her walk by. He heard her chuckle slightly before she disappeared around the corner. Cain turned to look at Rodney and Glitch again. "Well, I guess we will see you later then?" Glitch asked. "Probably," Cain replied. "Alright. See ya…" Glitch said, taking Rodney's hand in his before showing her a small smile and walking out of the room.
Cain sighed, and began to walk down the hallway. He had some new feelings on his mind that he needed to think about…