It was odd the pattern Cain had fallen into since the eclipse and the fall of the witch. The day-to-day was spent with a handful of other Tin Men who had survived the years since the last stand, they were working to rebuild the force and clean up Central City; rough, dirty, hard work. But once a month Cain would visit the barber, pick up his good suit from the cleaners, shower well, and go off to the royal palace for another ball.

The Queen had set up these monthly balls as a way for the people of the O.Z. to get to know the royal family again. To see first hand the once-possessed Azkadellia, who would much rather be called Dellia, and the Other Side raised Dorothy, DG to only her closest friends.

As he entered the ballroom Cain scanned the crowd, "Looking for me?"

Cain turned to find DG wearing a green sleeveless dress and holding out a drink for him, all part of the pattern they had fallen into over the last three years. Cain took a large sip of the drink, next would be a short conversation on what each had been up to since the ball, and then they would dance for a few hours before Cain would head back to his apartment.

"So, Raw was here for three days." DG was smiling, "Mother was having some talks with the King of E.V. and wanted to be sure what he was offering was sincere."

"Glad to hear the furball is being useful some how." Cain replied, then smirked as DG punched him lightly.

Then the orchestra was starting a new song and Cain held out his hand to lead DG to the floor.

The whole pattern had started four months after the eclipse, Raw had gone back to his home and Glitch was Ambrose again and had wanted to work more then dance, so DG was the only one at the ball that he knew. They had only danced together once that time, Cain had a bit to much of the drinking portion, but the next month DG had found him before he could get to the booze. After that it had just become what they did. Sure they both had widened their social circle over the past years, but at every ball they would only dance with each other. Cain had over heard stories about how he and DG were a perfect pair, but dancing was as far it went.

The set ended and Cain escorted DG off the floor where a waiter with a tray of drinks was standing.

DG murmured a thank you to the waiter then walked over to one of the windows. Cain followed a few steps behind and just watched her look at the stars for minute before he spoke up, "There's a different feel about you tonight." DG glanced at him over her shoulder, "And what's that suppose to mean?" Cain shook his head, "I don't know. Maybe this wines just got me thinkin' a lot of crazy things."

DG stepped forward and took the glass from his hand and put it down on the window sill, "Then maybe we should work all that crazy out of your system." DG said with a nod to the dance floor.

They made it through a set and a half without a mis-step when the orchestra started a slow rumba, one of DG's favorites. But instead of the patterned wink and half smile DG gave before they did one of 'those types' of dances, she just tucked her head into his shoulder.

"I think you were right." Cain could feel her breath on his neck and it was like something shot right through him. "I do feel different tonight." DG continued.

Cain ignored the way his heart skipped a beat in time and manged to ask, "Different how?"

He could swear he felt electricity as DG raised her head and answered, "Different in my arms and my chest. Different sultry."

There was a flash of light when her lips touched his, and for a second Cain felt something move inside of him that had never moved before. But then DG pulled back, and there was the "let's cause trouble" wink.

Cain got a funny feeling in the space over his stomach, it had just been an act.

"You shouldn't kiss me like this." DG stiffened in his arms. Cain nodded his head towards the crowd, "They're always watching you, ready to pick apart your every move, to say things, true or not, to anyone who will listen. If they see you kiss me like this, they'll never believe we're just friends..."

"When did you start caring so much about what other people think!" DG stepped away and started to make her way through the crowd of dancing couples.

Cain managed to catch her just after she exited the ballroom, "DG, why are you so upset? You're the one who told me about the way palace life is." Cain could see tears slowly rolling down DG's cheeks, "It's nothing." DG wiped her cheek "I just thought maybe..." DG 's voice hitched and she let out a soft gasping sob and Cain felt his heart crunch. "Thought what darlin'?"

"Nothing." DG shook her head "It's getting late. You should probably be leaving." then she flashed him a smile, a false smile. Cain felt like he had been slapped.

"Well then..." Cain took a step back "I'll see you around." He turned and started to walk towards the door. He put his hand on the knob, but couldn't find the strength to turn it. "Unless..." He turned back to look at DG. "Unless you mean it like that."

"What?"

"You see, there are times when we're dancing that I can close my eyes and I don't know where I'm at with you." Cain started walking slowly back towards DG. "I get so lost out on that dance floor, just havin' you spin 'round and 'round in my arms." Cain reached a hand out and cupped DG's cheek, "So when you kiss me like this," Cain leaned in and pressed his lips to DG's for a moment, "I think you mean it like that."

Cain kept his eyes closed until he heard DG breath out, "Wyatt"

He opened his eyes as he said, "Yeah."

"Kiss me again."