Julia approached the courtyard, and spotted a stone bench. It was under a beautiful cherry blossom tree. She sighed, before slowly approaching the bench. The bottom of her white dress was getting dirty from all the loose mud. She slowly sat down on the bench, crying slightly. She folded her hands and placed them on her lap. Now she had definitely ruined everything…
Wyatt Cain had caught wind that the wedding had been interrupted. He couldn't help but feel relieved. He didn't know what had caused the interruption, but he knew wit didn't matter anyway. She was going to get married no matter what he did. He didn't even want to watch the wedding. Instead he told Rodney that he would volunteer to be on security detail on the outside of the castle, wearing his tin man uniform.
A few soft cries surprised him. He looked up to see Julia sitting on a stone bench, underneath a cherry blossom tree branch. He smiled slightly. "There you are…" he muttered. He approached the tree, and rested his right arm against it. He tilted his head. "I take it those aren't tears of joy," Cain stated.
Julia turned around, and blinked in surprise. "Cain…"
Cain showed her a small smile. "Sorry I'm…I was just…" she paused to sigh, before turning away from him. Cain titled his head, before walking over and sitting next to her on the bench. "Want to talk about it?" he asked, somewhat reluctantly.
"I just couldn't do it…" she said, shaking her head. Cain's head turned back towards her, in surprise. "Wait, you…left the wedding?" he asked, completely surprised.
Julia nodded. "Ran, actually…" she said, with a small smirk. She took the veil of her head and tossed it to the ground. She reached back and ripped her hair out of the low sectioned bun, so her loose blonde waves framed her face.
"I couldn't live with someone like that, but…I've let my mother down," Julia said, with a disappointed sigh. Cain shook his head. "No…no you didn't…" he said. Julia turned to look at him.
"I never knew your mother, but trust me, I think she would be proud of you for saving your family from this…problem. Your mom would want you to be with someone who takes care of you, not hurts you…" Cain said, smiling warmly.
Julia looked down for a second, before her eyes met his. "You have blue eyes, Cain…" she said. Cain's forehead creased in confusion. "What?" he asked. Julia shifted slightly, so she was fully facing him. "When you are happy, or doing what you love…your eyes have a light in them. When you are watching Jeb, Aiden or talking to Rodney and Glitch, your laugh and your smile show in your eyes. Then when you are looking at me…I see comfort, love, care…and when you look at me…I'm home…" Julia said, tears clouding her vision.
Cain's expression softened, at the sight of the tears that slowly began to slide down her face. "You said to me that…after this wedding you'd have to go back to Lavender Eyes Kingdom…but I can't do this…because then I have to watch you go, and I don't want you to," Julia said, shaking her head. Cain smiled and slid closer to her. "Well, looks like I'm not going anywhere…" he said, with a teasing expression.
Julia smiled slightly. "Were you and Glitch really going to leave?"
Cain smiled. "Glitch leave Rodney? Come on, you see how they are together…nothing is going to keep them apart…" he said. Julia laughed for a few seconds. "Seriously…" she said.
Cain shook his head. "No,"
Julia hesitated for a second, before looking at him. "I lied to you…" she said. Cain tilted his head. "About what?" he asked.
Julia slid closer to Cain, so she was almost right up against him. She brought her hand to the side of his face, and titled her head up and kissed him softly for a few seconds. She pulled away, but her lips were still inches from his own. "I do love you," she stated.
She saw a smile on Cain's lips, as he leaned in to kiss her again.
"Julia!" came the yell of Paxton. Cain sighed. "He always does that,"
Julia leaned to the side to look behind Cain, and her eyes widened slightly. "Oh my god," she said, standing up. Cain turned to see Paxton walking towards them, looking disheveled and breathing heavily. He had two swords in his hands, and he threw one on the ground at Cain's feet. "Pick up the sword, Tin Man. I want to make it look like I killed a wannabe hero," he said, breathing heavily.
"Paxton, you're insane…" Julia said. "Maybe so, my dear. But he is the one stopping this marriage from happening and it needs to happen…" he said, breathing heavily. He kept his sword pointed at Cain. Cain sighed, before standing up infront of Julia.
"No, I'm not going to fight you…its childish…" Cain said, shaking his head. Paxton exhaled heavily. "Fool…then I shall behead you like the stag I caught four nights ago…" he hissed. Cain continued to stand still, his eyes boring into Paxton's, Paxton's eyes boring into his. "Cain…" Julia said, worried.
Cain raised his arm. "Just wait…" he said, patiently. Paxton raised his sword, and took a step towards Cain. It was then that there was the sound of a gunshot. Paxton froze for a second, before screaming out in pain. He bent over, clutching his arm. The sword clattered as it hit the ground. Julia looked up to see Rodney standing with Glitch, holding a small black handgun. She titled her head in confusion.
Cain stepped forward and grabbed Paxton by his shoulder, before punching him across the face. Paxton grunted slightly, as Cain brought him back and punched him across the face again. Julia stepped forward and grabbed Cain's arm, before he could hit him a third time. "Cain, don't. Don't be like him…" she said, shaking her head. Cain looked at Paxton, before dropping his arm to his side.
Paxton took the opportunity to stand up, clutching his arm as he did so. "Paxton, my boy!" came the voice of King Ronald. They turned to see him running towards them. "Who did this to you?" he asked, overlooking his son. "That would be me," Rodney said, with a proud grin. "And me," Cain spoke up.
"You both should be hung for treason!" the King roared. "For what? In case you haven't noticed…your on Ligark soil," Julia said.
King Ronald turned to face her. "You! Get back in there and get on that altar!"
Julia shook her head. "Um…no,"
King Ronald began to walk towards her. "Then I will drag you back there," he growled. Cain stepped infront of Julia again, with a glowering look. The King backed away slightly, and it was then they both heard the sound of another gun cocking. Cain turned around to see Julia standing there with a small silver handgun. Cain moved his trench coat to the side, to see that his gun was still there. He looked back at her.
"Where did you get that?" he asked. "My dress," Julia said, with a shrug. "Where…did you put it?" he asked, tilting his head. Julia smiled. "Not important…"
Cain's eyes overlooked her. "Um…how did it fit?" he asked. Rodney rolled her eyes. "You would hide a handgun in your dress," she said.
King Ronald smirked. "So what are you going to do now…shoot us?" he asked.
"No. Why don't you start by telling them out the truth?" came Ahamo's voice. The small group looked over to see Ahamo approaching with Lavender Eyes, DG, Azkadellia, and about five other tin men. They saw that they had Paxton's mother in custody.
"What have you done with my wife?" King Ronald asked, enraged. Lavender Eyes turned to face him. "She told us everything, Ronald…" she snapped. Julia lowered her gun, and looked at Rodney. "What are you talking about?" she asked, looking back the approaching group. "Everything? What does that mean?" Rodney questioned.
Ahamo sighed. "They aren't the real royal family. They are fakes,"
Rodney began to breathe heavily. "What!?"
Ahamo turned to her. "That's not all. They were the ones who planned the siege on your kingdom. They teamed up with Zero and the Bauns,"
Lavender Eyes looked at Julia, before continuing. "They took your mother. Held her hostage, for all of these years. They were convinced that you weren't dead since your bodies were nowhere to be found. Then when they found out that you really were alive…they freed the longcoats and summoned the Baguns. When they heard you escaped…" Lavender Eyes paused and averted her eyes to the ground.
Julia stepped around Cain and approached her. "What happened?" she asked. "Whatever you say, it can't make the situation worse…" Rodney said, shaking her head. Lavender Eyes continued to stare down at the ground. Ahamo put a comforting hand on her shoulder, before looking at them.
"They forced your mother to write the note, then…they killed her," Ahamo finished. Rodney began to shake slightly. "So, our mother was alive all this time until a few months ago?" she asked. The Queen began to cry.
King Ronald turned to face her. "How could you let it spill!? Everything was fine until now!" he roared, his face turning red. "I couldn't do it anymore…" the Queen sobbed. Paxton stepped towards her. "You wait until we get out of here. I don't care that you are my mother. You are dead!" he growled.
"You think you are just going to get out of this?! You sabotaged our kingdom! You killed all those we loved! You killed our mother!" Rodney cried out, getting slightly hysterical. Glitch turned to look at her. "Rodney…" he said, in a soft voice.
"You heartless monsters! What is wrong with you?!" Rodney continued. Glitch stepped forward and embraced her tightly. Rodney buried her face in his shoulder, her sobs loud. Azkadellia turned to look at Julia, who was staring at the ground. "Julia?" she asked. DG turned to look at Azkadellia, worried.
"Get…them…out of here," Julia trailed. Jeb looked at the Queen. "What about her?" he asked.
"All of them…" she said, clenching her fist as she continued to stare at the ground. Ahamo nodded to the tin man, and they arrested both Paxton and his father. Paxton began to struggle as they dragged him away. "This isn't over Julia! You are so going to get it!" he yelled. Rodney pulled away from Glitch, and wiped her eyes.
"Put the Queen in a separate chamber," she ordered. DG turned to look at Jeb. He smiled and extended his hand to her, and they walked away together. The rest of the group soon followed suite, leaving the two pairs still standing there. Julia continued to stare at the ground.
"I can't believe it…we let those murderers into our home…" she said, shaking her head. Glitch put a hand on her shoulder. "Well you are free from them now…they aren't going to bother you anymore. I can promise you that…" Glitch said, smiling at her. Rodney smiled at him, before turning to look at her sister.
"He's right. We are free now. We won't have to rule separately, we can live here…" she paused to smile at Glitch. "We can choose our own men,"
Julia looked up at the three of them. "You're right…we are free now, but I can't help but be mad at myself. I let that cold hearted, abusive, jackass overpower me…" she said, shaking her head in disappointment.
"Wait a minute…" Cain said, before stepping closer to her. "This guy hit you?" he asked.
"Many times…but I wasn't the only victim…" she said, before looking over at Rodney. Rodney looked down at the ground.
"He hit you? Where did he go? Where did they take him? How dare he hit you…" Glitch said, starting to pace. Rodney smiled slightly. "It's okay Glitch…" she said. Glitch stopped infront of her. "No, its not. It's not right…" he said, shaking his head.
Cain turned to look at Julia. "Why didn't you tell us?" he asked. "Because whenever he did hit either one of us, he said that if we told…he would kill both of you…" Julia replied. Glitch turned to look at Rodney. "Rodney, don't worry about me. If someone is hurting you, I want you to come to me. Don't worry about what will happen to me," he said. Rodney stared into his eyes. "I didn't want to see you hurt," she whispered. Glitch reached up and stroked her hair softly.
Cain looked at Julia again. "All those times you avoided me, you were trying to protect me?" Cain asked. Julia nodded in reply. "But why would you let him treat you that way? Why would you keep doing what he wants you to do…against your will, and doing what makes you uncomfortable…to save us?" he asked.
Julia shrugged. "Because…people say…people do crazy things for the ones they love. I didn't want to see you, Rodney, Glitch or even Aiden hurt…." She paused to look down at the ground. "And I failed…he still hurt all of you…"
Cain stepped forward and pressed his forehead against hers, even with his hat still on. "It was a beat worth taking…because it brought me closer to you," he said, with a smile. Julia tilted her head up, slightly. She saw Cain smiling at her, inches away. Julia smiled, before throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him passionately. Cain slid his hands around her back and pulled her body against his, returning the kiss.
Glitch raised his eyebrows. "Wow…" he said. Rodney folded her arms. "Yea…wow…" she stated.
They watched as Julia parted her mouth slightly, before Cain began to deepen the kiss.
Glitch laughed nervously. "They are still going at it…and he is still wearing that hat…" he said.
Rodney's face cringed up in slight disgust. It was one of those things that it was so cute, it was almost sick to look at.
"Yea…um…yea…okay…" she said, before clearing her throat. Both Julia and Cain stopped and turned to face her, but their arms were still around each other.
"It's great that you finally got that out of your system but…please…we have all those guests to send home. They kinda gotta go," she said, laughing nervously. Julia slid her arms out from around Cain. "Just because you and Glitch can't kiss that good?" she asked.
Glitch curled his face up in slight disgust. "At least we don't try to eat each other…" he said, pointedly. Rodney nodded in agreement. "Yea, ours are cute…yours are…well…yours…" she said, with a shrug. Cain looked at Julia, before looking back at Rodney and Glitch. "Alright, take two then…" he said, gently pulling Julia back into him. He tilted her head up, before kissing her softly.
Julia pulled away, and smiled at him before turning to Rodney. "Better, but still…. 'I want you now'…" Rodney said, rolling her eyes. "What are we going to have to do this all day?" Cain asked. Julia looked up at him. "I wouldn't mind that," she said, smiling at him. Cain blushed slightly, and looked at the ground.
Rodney shook her head. "No…no. That's okay. Come on…let's go!" she said, taking Glitch's hand. Glitch leaned down to whisper in her ear. "We are definitely cuter," he muttered.
Cain looked down at Julia, before taking the gray fedora off his head and placing it on hers. Julia smiled up at him, as Cain took her hand in his.
Glitch turned around to look at them as he heard their footsteps approach. "Hey! How come she gets to wear your hat, when I've been asking you almost every day since we met?" he whined. Cain looked at him. "Because I said so," he said, with a shrug.
There was a thunderclap heard, and the group looked up to see the sky darkening. They all looked at one another, before rushing to cover. They made it to the overpass just in time as the rain started to pour.
Rodney looked out at the rain, before looking at Glitch with a smile. He looked at her, and smiled as well. "You thinking what I'm thinking?" she asked. Glitch looked her over. "Do you care if the dress gets wet?" he asked. Rodney shook her head. "Nope," she said. Glitch and her continued to look at each other, before they both ran out into the rain laughing.
They began to jump into the various puddles, and kicked the rain at each other. Glitch then stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Rodney from behind. Rodney laughed, before she turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. They both leaned forward, their lips meeting in a sweet kiss. Julia smiled at the sight, before looking up at the sky.
"The rain is so calming. It's like all the bad things about the world are getting washed away. I wish it could be that easy for our lives. To get a chance to get a clean slate and start all over again," Julia said, looking up at the dark sky. Cain titled his head and looked at her. "You can…" he said. Julia looked up at him, confused. Cain turned so he was standing directly infront of her. He took both of her hands in his. "Let all the bad thoughts wash away…" he said, with a small smile.
Julia nodded. "Okay," she agreed. Cain moved to step back, but Julia squeezed his hands. "Wait," she said. Cain looked down at her, raising his eyebrows. Julia reached up and took Cain's hat off her head, and placed it back on his. She took his hands in hers again. "Can't let my thoughts wash away with a hat on my head…" she said. Cain smiled at her, before stepping back and gently pulling her into the rain.
Julia felt the rain pour down on her, and she closed her eyes as she and Cain stopped moving. She could heard Rodney and Glitch laughing, the rain hitting the ground, and Cain breathing. Not only could she hear it, but she could feel it. She opened her eyes and smiled up at Cain. She saw the rain dripping from the brim of his hat. It was time for a new start.
Julia stepped forward and hugged Cain, burying her face in his chest. She felt Cain hug her tightly, as he rested his chin ontop of her head. She realized that this was where she wanted to be. In the arms of Wyatt Cain, Tin Man…