A/N: it feels like I haven't updated this in forever. And I haven't. Sorry 'bout that. But, I'm updating now, so, y'know, go ahead and read, and perhaps review.

Finaqua was just as beautiful as always. The breeze off the while kept the temperature down, and it was quiet. Especially considering Wes and Wren were friends once more.

Immediately after being shown their rooms, Wes, Wren, Victoria, and Kalm had changed into their swim suits and sprinted down to swim and lounge around by the water. Meanwhile, the adults, and the term is used loosely, took their time getting ready.

"Wyatt, are you coming?" Glitch demanded. "I'll be done in a minute. Relax sweetheart," Wyatt answered from the bathroom.

DG poked her head in. "Coming?" "As soon as Wyatt's ready," Glitch sighed. He waited a few more minutes before grumbling and knocking on the door. "Wyatt? I'll meet you outside alright?" "Alright then Glitch," Wyatt said. Glitch pulled on a shirt and grabbed a towel and raced outside.

DG, Blake, and Raw were watching Kalm, 'Toria, Wes, and Wren swimming out in the deep lake. "Where's Tin Man," DG asked. "Taking his sweet time," Glitch muttered. He plopped himself down on the sand, leaning back in the shade.

Blake glanced around, shielding his eyes. "Here he comes now," he said. "Oh…well now," Glitch was struck temporarily dumb.

It was like a slow motion scene. Or something from Bay watch…if they had that in the O.Z.

Wyatt strolled down toward them, shirtless, his towel thrown carelessly around his shoulders. The sun, to Glitch's eyes, seemed to light Wyatt from behind, turning him to gold. Him in his swimsuit was a sight to behold.

True he couldn't count how many times he'd seen the man naked, but sometimes even a little clothing was more provocative than none. Which definitely held true for the navy blue shorts clinging to his waist, hips, and thighs, seeming to frame that round perfect ass and the rippling golden muscles…

"Glitch, put your eyes back in your head and pick your tongue up off the ground. And stop drooling," DG teased him.

"Huh?" glitch shook his head, coming out of his daze. Wyatt looked down at his befuddled head case. "Seeing anything you like then Glitch?"

"Very much see something I like Wyatt," Glitch answered, smirking.

"Glitch, I don't think that sentence was even close to grammatically correct," DG snickered. "I've been known to have that effect on him," Cain said in a mock-melodramatic voice. He flopped inelegantly to the sand, lying back with arms folded behind his head.

"How're Wes and Wren? Are they still friends?" Cain asked. "Looks like it. They're…well, I'm not sure what they're doing." "Playing chicken," DG answered, observing how 'Toria was on Kalm's shoulders and Wren on Wes's. "Which sounds like fun. You want to join them hun?" she looked at Blake, who nodded and followed her down. Raw went after them after a moment's hesitation.

"Wyatt?"

"No Glitch."

"Please?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Quit whining."

"That's not an answer!"

"Ambrose," Cain warned. Glitch knew he should stop whenever Wyatt called him Ambrose. He preferred Glitch, as it was what he was used to, and only the Queen called him Ambrose, since she'd always known him as that. But it was a warning coming from Wyatt, much like a parent calling a child's middle name, a warning to stop arguing and listen to him.

But, as Wyatt knew, Glitch was stubborn and wouldn't just listen to him when he wanted something. And right then, Glitch wanted to play.

Glitch kept up poking Wyatt in the arm repeatedly. If his calculations were correct, and they usually were, Wyatt could only stand it for a few more minutes.

And, his calculations were correct. Wyatt opened his eyes and glanced lazily at Glitch.

"C'mon Wyatt, we're on vacation. Let's have some fun!" "You want to have fun?" Cain asked, his voice a little husky. Glitch gasped, "Wyatt! The kids are down there!" "Not like that, you gutter minded head case. Later perhaps. No, I mean, you say you want to have fun like in the lake?" "Yes!" Glitch nodded excitedly.

Cain smirked, and stood up. Glitch stood as well, about to bound down to the water. Before he could, Cain grabbed him and tossed him over his shoulder. "Wyatt!" Glitch put up a fuss at being carried so unceremoniously. Cain ignored his protestations and tossed him into the water, laughing at Glitch's yelp as he splashed.

Glitch floundered in the lake, bobbing up and down, spitting out water. Cain dove into the water, swimming laps easily around Glitch.

"That's nice Wyatt," DG said, pushing her hair back. "He was whining about coming to play. What was I supposed to do?" Glitch glared at him, curls either sticking up or plastered to his head, water trickling down his face. He splashed water at Cain, who easily ducked the miniature wave.

"My parents are being somewhat embarrassing again," Wes sighed, where he and the others were treading water. "They're not so bad," Wren said happily. She thought they were rather cute, all things considered. "Well, they're not bad. I mean, I love'em and all. But, c'mon, I'm right here and look at them," he gestured to them.

Glitch was climbing onto Cain's shoulders, DG on Blake's. Raw was serving as referee between them.

"What? Would you rather them be all cold toward each other?" "No…but, it's like, get a room. At least I've never…y'know, walked in on them," Wes shuddered. "Oohh. Ditto. I mean, with my parents," Wren made a face.

"Walked in on us though," Kalm said dryly. He would never let them forget when they were six and accidentally ran into the linen closet where Kalm and 'Toria were…occupied.

"On accident!" Wes and Wren said in unison. Kalm and 'Toria shared a secretive look. Silence fell among the four until a painful wet slap.

"I win!" DG cheered. "You dropped me!" Glitch coughed and sputtered. "You were pushed off, I didn't drop you. There's no shame in losing to DG," Cain chuckled at Glitch. "Did so drop me," Glitch struggled to stay above water, and failed, sinking up to his eyes.

"Can't you swim?" Cain asked. "Only a little," Glitch croaked, trying to tread water. Cain sighed and offered Glitch his arm to hang onto. Glitch relaxed, leaning against Cain's back, his chin on his shoulder.

"How come you can't swim?" Blake asked. "I was brainy, so I was always in classes, learning to become someone important. I never had time to learn how to swim," Glitch answered. "Well, that sucks. Come to think of it though, did we ever teach the kids?" DG said thoughtfully.

"They must've picked it up themselves," Cain shrugged. "Wes at least got my athletic ability, clearly." "Got my brains though," Glitch retorted.

"Do you want me to push you in the water again?"

"No," Glitch hung on tight to Cain. "Alright then. Anyone else hungry?" "A bit. Back to shore then?" Blake started swimming back, DG close behind.

"Will you bring me back?" Glitch asked sweetly. "Hang on," Cain answered, and pulled Glitch along. Minutes later, he hauled his zipper head up to lie on the grass by Raw, DG, and Blake. Far off they could see the kids going off to explore the woods.

While DG passed out sandwiches, Glitch glanced at the summer palace. "I hope they were careful setting up my lab," he murmured worriedly. "You did enough of a job packing, it's probably all ok," Cain answered lazily.

It was true; Glitch had spent hours making sure the 'bare minimum' of his equipment was packed securely.

"But what if something broke, or spilled?" Glitch continued a bit fretfully. "You could fix it I bet. We're on vacation anyway. I shouldn't have let you bring it either," Cain finished his sandwich.

"I'm really onto something though Wyatt. If I'm right…" "Which you probably are," Cain grinned, knowing Glitch would say that. "Yes, which I probably am," Glitch returned, beaming. "Then from what DG's told me, and what I've found out, the O.Z. and the Other Side are inversely related."

"Meaning what?" Raw asked. "Meaning, if life here is good, no freak natural disasters or anything like that, it's good on the Other Side. And vice versa." "Is that what you've been yammering on about for weeks?" Cain glanced over at his lover curiously.

"Yes Wyatt, that's what I've been 'yammering' about. Haven't you been listening?" Glitch asked, exasperatedly. "Not really. I don't understand much of the scientific stuff. I tune it out or shut you up in some manner." A smirk spread over Cain's lips, making Glitch flush. "Yes, well," he spluttered. "I think I'm right and I want to find out exactly. A few more experiments should do it."

Off in the woods, Wes, Wren, Kalm, and 'Toria lounged in the wide branches of a tree, watching the sun sparkle on the water. Wes had barely made it up into the branches, panting and struggling.

"Maybe if you weren't such a weakling," Wren teased. "I…am…not!" Wes gasped, clutching a stitch in his side.

"You are too Wessie. Look at what Hugh did to you," she retorted. "He's twice my size!" "So? Both your dads are excellent fighters. Not you. You're all gangling and brainy." "Oh yeah? Well, I'll just have my dad teach me how to fight," Wes snapped.

He dropped out of the tree, miscalculating the distance and landing in the bushes. "I'm…ow…ok!"

"We should go with him, to make sure he makes it back alive. Besides, I gotta see this," Wren followed, landing more gracefully, and taking in the sight of Wes fuming as he stomped back. He was, she thought suddenly, very cute when he was angry. And then shook that thought away.

"Dad!" Glitch and Cain looked up. Wes looked at Glitch. "Could you teach me how to fight? The princess," he shot a glare at Wren, "thinks I'm a weakling who can't fight."

Glitch smiled indulgently at his son. "Hang on a sec," he held up his hand. He leaned over to Cain. "What d'you think? Should I?" "Yes. He's trying to impress Wren I think. It's…cute I guess. Do it," Cain whispered back. "Alright son. C'mon."

Everyone watched, amused, as Glitch tried to teach his son, who was even more uncoordinated than himself.

"You think that's hot, don't you?" DG muttered to Cain. "Huh?" "Hot. Attractive. Sexy. The thought of him out there half naked, play fighting." "Oh. Yea," Cain answered unashamedly.

"Wyatt!"

"What?"

"Could you help me please?"

"Fine sweetheart."

Wes stepped back, observing how Glitch had Wyatt stand, stopping now and then to correct him.

"Ready?" Glitch asked. Cain took in the fierce look in Glitch's eyes and the ease with which he held himself in a fighting stance. He nodded.

"Try and hit me then." Cain didn't really want to hit Glitch, so he feinted to the right. "Like you mean it Wyatt. You won't hurt me," Glitch sighed. Wyatt threw a real punch. And it was easily dodged. Glitch looked at him, smirking a naughty smirk that was taunting, heated, and full of mischief. Cain made it his mission to wipe that smirk off Glitch's face and heal his wounded pride.

Cain put everything he had into his punches and kicks, trying as hard as he could to have one land. Which is most likely how he ended up on his back with an aching jaw.

"Oh! Oh I'm sorry Wyatt!" Glitch rushed over, kneeling down and cradling Cain's head on his lap. "I didn't mean to hit you that hard," he murmured, pressing dozens of kisses to Cain's forehead.

Not far off, DG, Blake, and Raw were positively rolling on the ground laughing, as were the kids.

Wren threw her arm around Wes's shoulders. "So, learn anything Wessie?" "Only that my dad can beat up my dad," Wes giggled. "Yeah Uncle Glitch, you kicked Uncle Wyatt's butt," Wren added.

Glitch helped Cain up, pressing yet another gentle kiss to the forming bruise on Cain's chin. "I'm sorry," he said again, looking utterly crest fallen. "Don't worry about it head case. It's not like it's the first time you knocked me on my ass," Cain reassured him. "It doesn't even hurt that bad."

"Do you think you could help out kid?" Cain asked DG as he sat down. "Mom, can I try?" Wren bounded over. "Could she Wyatt? She needs the practice," DG chewed her lower lip nervously. "She can try," he answered.

Wren rubbed her hands together, a look of concentration on her face. Carefully, she reached out and touched the bruise on Cain's jaw line. Her fingertips glowed and tingled. When she pulled them away, the bruise was gone.

"I did it!" Wren cried joyously.

"Good job princess," Cain rubbed his jaw carefully. "Very good sweetie," Blake pat her head.

Wes looked on, a little jealous. He could've come up with something to replicate that healing effect.

But he had little time to be jealous, as dusk was gathering, and the family trooped back up to the castle to change for dinner.

A/N: well, it was kinda short, but it'll get better soon, I promise. Oh, and what Glitch said about the inverse relationship between the two worlds, remember that. I'm not gonna give away all the details, but just remember that for future chapters.