Title: A Different Cain
Characters: DG/Cain, and....Cain
Timeline: Post eclipse
Rated PG
Genre: Romance, Drama/Humor (jealous fluff, lol)
Summary: Cain returns to Finaqua to find DG has replaced him, name and all....

TMTMTMTMTMTM

Wyatt Cain would never admit to it, but he had butterflies in his stomach. It had been weeks since he'd seen DG. Months since the eclipse. And a long time since he's been through this god forsaken maze.

Where the hell am I?

He normally had a pretty good sense of direction but this maze did quite a number on him. He probably could have been paying a little more attention to where he was going, but he couldn't help his racing thoughts that centered around his dearly missed friends.

He had heard Glitch finally gained Ambrose's knowledge back, Raw was sticking with the royal family and DG had been adjusting quite well to the life of a Princess.

He laughed inwardly at that last thought. He had heard of her rebellious acts and more than one noble being turned away by the full-of-life-slipper. His stomach seemed to flip at the thought of her, and he berated himself for being so nervous. He was just coming back for a visit. The four of them had been through quite the ordeal, and he felt they should try and keep in touch, or that's what he kept telling himself whenever he felt the urge to see her.

This maze was getting on his nerves though. The tall walls seemed to mock him at every turn, and he scolded himself for refusing an escort by one of the guards at the beginning. Just as he was about to turn around and retrace his steps (for the third time), he came into some kind of clearing.

There was a gentle sloping hill leading down to a small pond with a beautiful weeping willow resting at its edge. It was terrifically peaceful and he found himself no longer worried about making it out of the maze. I must be on the outskirts of the maze. He was about to sit down and rest for a moment when he noticed a brilliant white and gray husky burst out of the maze after him.

He stood wide eyed as the dog bounded up to him, sniffed his hand and continued to run in circles around him. It was only then that he heard a faint giggle behind him.

He'd know that laugh anywhere. An unbidden smile came to his face as he pictured the four of them crowded around a fire with Glitch entertaining them with one of his stories. Raw would be dozing, he would be smirking, and DG would be attentive as ever, trying to absorb every word, laughing at Glitch's antics.

"Hey! Hey, Cain?" she called sounding confused from within the maze.

He suddenly tensed. He didn't know if he should call out, run towards her or away from her. He realized that he wasn't quite ready to see her yet. His feet made his mind up for him and he took off across the clearing to another opening in the surrounding maze, completely forgetting the dog as it sprinted back towards the voice. He turned back just as he was about to disappear around the corner when the dog barked at the voice coming out from the section of maze he had earlier.

"Cain come back here this instant!" she yelled again, sounding annoyed now.

Why does she sound so angry? How could she possibly know he was here? Nobody knew he was coming back today. And how in the world did she know I was walking away? She's still out of sight! He quickly darted just inside the other entrance to the maze as she broke into the clearing.

"There you are!" she called out, sounding relieved. He could almost picture her waving her arms in relief. He was about to come back out, thinking he'd been caught when she continued, "Look here. That was no way to treat a suitor, Cain, no matter how pompous or obnoxious they are…"

What the hell? He peeked around the corner to see her scowling, at the dog, of all things.

She looked even more beautiful than the last time he saw her. She came flowing out of the maze, her pale blue dress billowing out behind her from where she had gathered the train in her hands. She had her hair pulled into a low ponytail to the side with a few stray pieces falling around her face. She was breathtaking, despite the furrowed eyebrows and pouting lip.

The dog just barked and proceeded to make a circle in front of her and shake its tail excitedly. She huffed and sat down, with arms crossed, and blew some hair out of her face as her dress settled around her. She seemed to be pouting, and the dog put a tentative paw on her knee and leaned in to nudge her cheek with its nose.

He saw her stern façade begin to crumble but she ignored the dog. It let out a gentle woof and she finally looked at it again.

"You're just like him, you know?" she began, still scowling at the animal. "Ridiculously protective and practically growling at any man that comes within twenty feet of me!" she exclaimed. She paused for a moment, and then shrugging she added, "Well. You both actually growl at them."

Cain felt his ears go red, but couldn't help the slight smirk that appeared as he remembered dealing with some of her earlier suitors. She's comparing me? To a dog? He shrugged; he hadn't been entirely pleasant to them as he recalled.

The dog sat back and lowered its head as a sort of apology, she laughed, scratching the dog fondly behind the ears, "Well that's just not fair! You know I can't resist those blue eyes!" She tilted her head as dog Cain stepped closer, "They're a lot like his…" she mumbled.

The husky proceeded to lick her face and she laughingly said, "And there, my furry friend, is the difference between you two! You are unafraid of affection." She playfully shoved him away.

Cain nearly toppled out of the maze. I what!? I am not! She wants me to lick her face? He shook his head, trying desperately to clear that colorful image from his mind. Probably not literally….

"Lord Ackelman was pretty arrogant, wasn't he?" she murmured conspiratorially, and the dog barked in response. "Alright, Cain!" she said, picking up a nearby stick, "Gooooo fetch!" She hurled the stick across the clearing towards the pond, and the dog took off after it.

The dog's name is Cain!? She named a dog after me? He didn't know whether to feel pleased or insulted. He decided to go with pleased as he watched her face light up when the dog came back.

The real Cain began to feel like a fool for hiding from her. He figured it was time to make his presence known. Dog Cain was off by the pond, so he quietly slipped out of the maze and made his way up behind her.

Dog Cain suddenly tensed, and began sprinting back towards DG, letting out one loud bark in warning. Cain slowed and DG spun around. She let out a surprised whoop when she saw him not far from her. Dog Cain leapt in front of her and growled at Cain.

"Oh, would you cut it out!" she yelled at dog Cain and pointed a finger at the dog. A silvery chain of light poured out of her finger and went to the dog's neck. She tugged back as she stood up and dog Cain began to calm down. She had made a leash. She's gotten better with her magic.

"Hey there, Princess," he finally managed, a weak smile gracing his lips.

"Mister Cain…" she sounded absolutely floored. The dog cocked its head at the name.

"I uh-" he began, shifting uncomfortably.

"What are you doing here?" she cut him off. "I mean, when - wha- what!?" her shoulders slumped and she shook her head, trying to process what was happening.

"I was just on my way back," he trailed off. Trying to shrug it off, he continued, "Then I got lost…" then, glaring at his surroundings, he added bitterly, "in this confounded maze."

Her face had softened when he looked back to her. He looked the same to her. The same hat, same coat, same eyes. She had missed him.

"It's been awhile since, uh…" he swallowed and his excuse for getting lost trailed off, when he got locked onto her bright blue eyes.

"Yes. Yes it has," she said solemnly.

He bowed his head, looking guilty and regretting his words, but a soft smile spread across her face.

"It's good to see you," she said quietly, closing the distance between them and pulling him into a hug.

Even though he was a little surprised, he still found himself smiling slightly, closing his eyes as he pulled her tightly against him. He had missed this.

Dog Cain must have nudged her, feeling left out, because when she pulled back, she laughed and scratched his head.

"I see you've replaced me, name and all," he said smirking, as dog Cain jumped up putting both front paws on his chest, smelling his face.

Her eyes flashed up to his, the slightest pink gracing her cheeks, making her glow.

"How much did you hear?" she asked weakly.

He ducked his head, laughing, "Enough." The dog dropped back down and went in circles around the two of them, obviously approving of her friend.

She grinned embarrassedly. She realized how much she missed his smile. How much she missed him in general. He was having similar thoughts about her.

"You named him after me?" he asked in mild surprise.

She laughed, "Actually no," she said turning with him towards the maze. "The dog was a gift, and he already had the name." She shrugged and playfully bumped his shoulder, "I thought it was fitting."

"Uh huh…" he bumped her back slightly. "You just missed me…"

Her eyes flashed back up to him. "Can you blame me?" she asked him sweetly.

He ignored her question. "Nice dress," he said it dryly, knowing how she wasn't fond of them, but he sounded half sincere.

"I kind of like this one," she spun around for him, but he still caught her cheeks going red again.

"Come on then, Tin Man," she said, taking his hand in hers, pulling him back through the clearing. "Let's go tell everyone you're here! I'll even let you kick Lord Ackelman out for old times' sake….if he hasn't left already. Cain here did quite the number on him. Sent him sprawling into the biggest mud puddle I've ever seen."

Cain chuckled and commended dog Cain for a job well done. He glanced briefly down at their hands and then laced his fingers with hers.

He looked up to see her staring at him with a soft smile on her face.

"Are you done leaving for awhile?"

He stopped walking and his face softened as he looked her. "Yeah," he answered quietly.

She wrapped her other arm around his neck, pulling him close again. She kissed his cheek and whispered into his ear, "Thanks for coming back to me."

His free arm wrapped lightly around her waist, and he bowed his head next to hers, nuzzling her neck.

"Always."