Chapter Thirty One: Home on the Edge of the Water

It was the light that woke her fully. It was bright, golden and unyielding the type of light that comes at mid-day. The morning had fled quickly. They had used it up in a blur of kissing and love making. DG felt a flush spread across her face as she recalled the hours just gone. Then she smiled to herself at the flush. Why should she be embarrassed at having spent the morning in bed with her husband?

Her husband. Wyatt Cain was her husband. The thought rolled around in her mind like a marble, shiny, cold and beautiful. It did not seem to fit anywhere. There was, DG thought, an element of unreality to it. The man in question was still sleeping. If she turned her head just a little she could see him without moving enough to risk waking him. Cain was lying on his back, head turned towards her. In sleep he was smiling, looking far younger than he had in months. The tangle of blankets covered his body to mid-way up his torso. She could see the bandages still covering the gunshot wound. It had all happened so quickly DG thought. So fast. So so fast.

It was scant days since she had been dragged back to Central City by the man sleeping next to her. They had been friends then. Silently mulling over their own confused feelings. DG felt a pang of apprehension. Had they rushed things? Had she forced the Tin-Man into committing to her simply so she wouldn't be heartbroken? If he had turned her down that would have ended whatever relationship they had DG knew. They would have gotten through this mess with her mother… then she would have let Lavender send him off into the Inner Zone. Just because the pain and shame of it would be far more than she could bear. In his stubborn pig-headed determination to keep her safe… would Wyatt Cain have married her to stop them being separated? But then why lift her out of the boat after their wedding? Why carry her in his arms? Why tell her over and over again that he loved her? DG felt the memories from the morning come pouring into her filling her with warmth and quelling most of the icy apprehension.

Moving as carefully as she could DG stood. She was completely naked. It felt very strange, so she pulled one of the blankets that had fallen to the floor up and around her. Killian-Illiaria was another of the small low ceilinged buildings the whole city was made up of. The inside was barely bigger than a standard bedroom, or the size DG thought was standard. Standard for the other-side that is. There was a huge wood framed bed with a feather mattress on it. The bed was the same silvery wood as the hut. A few paces away was a table and two chairs. A low dressing table with a bowl and jug on it sat in the farthest corner from the bed. It was simple. Plain and simple. The phrase felt new to DG to see something that fitted it so neatly. Near to where DG stood now was the window. It was low and wide. She had to duck to see out and to push the silk curtain a little to see properly. More golden light spilled into the room, behind her Cain mumbled.

'Sorry.' DG whispered.

'For what?' Cain asked sitting up. He shielded his eyes with one hand and smiled at her.

'For waking you up. You need rest.' DG said. She pushed her hair, now a wild tangle of dark curls out of her eyes and walked back to the bed kneeling next to him.

'I feel rested.' Cain told her running a gentle hand along her shoulder. DG watched as he touched her and marvelled at the thrill that coursed through her.

'You were shot. You walked miles through freezing water…' DG said turning serious blue eyes onto him.

'You were kidnapped. Trapped in a box. Walked miles through freezing water and bargained a new political treaty.' Wyatt Cain replied. She was a picture. This princess of his. Her eyes were full of questions and concerns, her cheeks flushed from lack of sleep and their earlier exertions; she was also studying him. The gaze was so sharp the Tin-Man thought he could feel it.

'I'm fine.' She replied.

'Darlin' what is it?' He asked her. His voice was filled with concern.

'Nothing.'

'It's not nothing. Sweetling- talk to me.' He pulled her closer, so she was forced to sit curling her legs beneath her. For the longest moment she didn't say a word. She just looked at him. Her eyes full in the way she had the days before they had defeated the witch. How she had when they had embraced for the first time. Then slowly she turned her head to look at the light on the floor of the hut.

'Why did you say yes?'

'Yes to what?' usually so on the ball and sparing with words Cain spoke without thinking.

'To marrying me.'

'You regretting it already?' he asked. There was a playfulness in his voice that only partially hid a panicking undertone.

'No! But we… we haven't had a relationship… not really. I just thought you would have argued more.' There was a note of worry in her voice and it almost broke the older man's heart.

'Fair bad time to change your mind you know… after the wedding.' Still the playfully terrified tone of voice.

'I haven't.' DG said firmly. There was silence then. It filled up the room and Cain studied her as she studied the floor. Then he reached out and tilted her chin towards him.

'I said yes because you are right: this is our only chance. I love you. I need you in my life. Without you…' he trailed off. 'This is going to be hard work DG. You're right we've not courted. We haven't dealt with the idea of each for long but we know each other. That counts for a lot. And a marriage is work anyway no matter how long you courted first. It's a choice and you have to fight to make it the right one. It does not just happen. It requires effort. I said yes because everything is effort Kid. But it's my choice. I told you before I died saving you that would make me happy. Well this is still my choice. And I cannot believe you choose me too… that want me… I choose you. Regardless of the consequences. The cost. I choose you.'

'You know…' DG said turning tearful eyes on her husband. 'I think that's the most I've ever heard you said in one go.'

The Tin-Man laughed. It came deep from his belly and made her laugh too. They embraced and the kiss left them a little breathless.

'Are you done worrying?' Cain asked her.

'No.' DG admitted. 'But I choose you too. That's why I asked you I guess. Eventually this is where'd we be if we had the chance… but I choose you now.' Cain hummed an accorded and kissed her again.

'So we're married.' He told her.

'We are.'

'You're a wife.' He teased.

'You're married to a Princess.' DG retorted and saw him wince. The words brought back some of the reality they had been ignoring too. DG sighed and said in tones so dry they could have been her husbands:

'My mother is going to be thrilled.'