dg_cain | Spring Challenge entry: Chaotic Happiness, G (Reply)

Author;

He shifted nervously in the garden, his hat brim twisted ever so slightly in his tense grip. He hadn’t been here for three annuals. He’d accepted a posting to the outer colonies a couple days after the eclipse had occurred. He still remembered how she looked; her face had fallen with the news, then anger began bubbling behind her eyes. Until he told her that Jeb was going with him; she’d settled then, realising that he was trying to mend broken fences. He’d promised her he’d be back; and here he was. It was her 24^th birthday, and she was still scandalously single. A Princess of the Realm should be married by now; but she wasn’t. Word got to him sometimes last year that she’d become half the woman she used to be, Jeb had broken the news gently to him. It was then that Jeb told him that he needed to return, the sooner the better. He left a month later.

A creak behind him had him turning fast, gun nearly drawn when he spotted her. She had shrunk, her shoulders were slumped and her face was even paler than he remembered. He took a sharp breath when he took in how small she’d really gotten. The dress was hanging from her skeletal form; dragging unceremoniously along the grassed court. Her head was bowed as she scuttled across the garden.

‘Princess, please wait!’ A guard came rushing out after her. ‘Princess DG!’

He watched her turn to face him, her shoulders uncurling, and her body straightening. ‘I will go where I please soldier, if I see fit to walk the grounds then you shall follow at a respectable distance and not speak to me. Do you understand soldier?’

‘Yes Your Highness,’ he bowed.

Her voice had taken a steely, regal edge to it. So much had changed about her in the three years that he’d been gone; from what he could see, her enthusiasm for life was all but extinguished. He realised that she obviously couldn’t see him yet, or she didn’t want to.

‘DG!’ A familiar voice shouted from somewhere to the right of him.

‘Glitch,’ her face warmed with a small smile. ‘So good of you to come.’

‘Raw here too,’ Came a long lost friend.

‘So he is,’ she embraced the two.’

‘DG still sad,’ Raw stated.

‘No, DG given up.’ Her face dropped the momentary smile that had graced it.

‘DG no give up, he come. Raw swears he come,’ he caught the Viewers eyes on him.

‘It’s been three years Raw, he isn’t coming back.’

It was time to bite the bullet. ‘Happy Birthday kiddo,’ he stepped out from behind the bush he was hiding behind.

‘Wyatt?’ She faced him; his first name threw him slightly.

‘It’s me DG,’ he gave her a small smile.

The hand against his cheek he would admit he was expecting, he’d been gone for three years; her arms around his waist and her trembling body was not something he’d expected. His arms tightened around her as her body shook. ‘You’re here,’ she was muttering over and over. He pulled back and looked down into her tear stained face.

‘What are you crying for?’ He whispered, wiping away her tears.

‘You came back,’ she choked.

‘I had a rough kick up the ass,’ he chuckled pulling her back into his arms. ‘I heard about how bad you’d gotten eight months ago, I left for Finaqua seven months ago.’

‘It took you so long to get here,’ she mumbled, her head burrowing into his shoulder.

‘I had some business to take care of before I got back,’ he whispered into her hair. ‘God, I’ve missed you.’

‘How long are you staying?’ She pulled back, fear etched across her delicate features.

‘That’s up to your mother,’ he sighed.

She accepted his answer it seemed, her arm linked through his they walked the gardens with their friends. He was filled in with the news he’d missed while being away, he spoke of Jeb and his men; pride filling his voice. It wasn’t long though, before the Queen sent for him. Reluctantly he let her go and went to the Queen.

‘Mr Cain,’ the Queen greeted him with a warm smile. ‘I heard you’d come home.’

‘Yes Your Majesty,’ he bowed.

‘I have another assignment for you if you want it,’ she had a half smile on her face.

‘I am honoured that you would choose me for another assignment Your Majesty, but I’ve just come back and DG needs me,’ he rejected her offer.

‘DG will understand, Mr Cain.’

‘That’s just it though, I don’t understand. I return and on the same day you’re offering me another assignment,’ He stood, anger stiffening his posture.

‘You haven’t even heard my offer,’ she laughed softly.

‘With all due respect Your Majesty, I refuse. I’m here because DG needs me here, I will stay for as long as she needs me. I refuse to leave her again,’ he bowed ready to leave.

‘You love my daughter don’t you Mr Cain?’ she asked his retreating form.

Without turning he answered her. ‘With everything I have left.’

‘Then accept my offer.’

He spun to face her. ‘I REFUSE TO LEAVE HER!’ he growled.

The Queen simply laughed. ‘Mr Cain, I was offering you her hand in marriage as a reward for your services to the Crown. I’m not blind; I’ve noticed her decline since you’ve been gone. Now will you accept my offer?’

‘How fast can you organise a wedding?’ he asked.

‘The flowers bloom in a month. The wedding can take place the first week of blooms.’

‘You make sure that can happen Your Majesty, and I will marry your daughter; but it will not be on your terms. I marry your daughter because I want to,’ he stated, bowing and leaving. Barely hearing the Queen’s last words.

‘Finally, someone worthy.’

He ran the corridors, he had no idea where she liked to hang out these days; his chest was burning when he heard the familiar tones of her voice. Bursting through the door he stopped dead.

‘Forgive me Your Highness,’ he bowed to Azkedelia.

‘Nonsense Mr Cain,’ Az smiled. ‘We were just talking about you.’

He glanced at DG; her cheeks were already a couple shades brighter. ‘I need to speak with you DG.’

‘Surely you can say it in front of Az?’ she was smiling and his heart skipped a few important beats.

Ignoring their questioning looks, he knelt in front of her. ‘DG, I’m not good with words, I’m sorry for that but this has to be said. You came kicking and screaming into my life, a whirlwind of emotion and life and you took me along with you. I’ve never been the same since meeting you the day you rescued me. I know I’ve been gone for three annuals, but I beg your forgiveness. I will never leave you again if you answer me this one question.’ He stopped, taking in the way her eyes were tearing up.

‘What is it Wyatt?’ She whispered.

‘I’m an old worn out Tin Man; every year without you drew more from me than I thought possible. The only way I see that it will never happen again would be for me to take you as my wife. So my question is simple; will you marry me?’

OZ*OZ*OZ*OZ*OZ

Exactly one month passed and the garden’s flowers were beginning their first bloom of the season, at the far end of the fragrance, stood three people. A handful more were seated nearby in an uncharacteristic silence. A quiet mumbling could be heard from the three standing, the scene was perfect. The maid of the fourth floor nearly fell from craning her neck so far; the entire staff congregated on the balconies of the castle watching this precious moment. As the kiss descended onto the bride, an eruption of chaotic happiness exploded from around the grounds.

Summary: Cain returns after being gone for three annuals. DG has changed for the worse. Can Cain bring back the old DG?
Rating: G
Pairing/Characters: Cain/DG, The Queen, Azkedelia, Glitch, Raw.
Disclaimer: I do not own TIN MAN, or anything to do with the franchise. If I did, Cain would've made a move!
A/N: Be kind, I'm a little rusty.