Lovely piece!

I thought that this was a realistic take on how things could have gone when the movie ended. Thanks so much for sharing!

Wonderful! I only wish it was longer. I love these perspective stories where things do not shine brightly under the sun. Instead the world is gritty and we all must rise to meet challenges with results we do not always want. Great work!

Terrific writing -- so full of honest and true emotion and feeling! This is such a believable concept -- that they would struggle and have such conflict in the months and even years after the witch was killed and Az was released. Very good job at getting into their heads and revealing their story to us!! Loved it!!

God, I'd forgotten how much I loved this story, and I just had to review it again. What a tearjerker, but not in a cheap way. The bookend quotes were perfect: One at the beginning, implying that Cain will be gone forever and DG will learn how to live without him--that scared me. Then the one at the end, underscoring that though she *can* live without him, they are meant to be together. What a lovely, heart-achy conclusion!

This is a deftly written story of love and forgiveness. Beautiful! Thank you!

Em

Oh man.. this was a brilliant job of writing this! You tackled something that has bugged me (though sadly, I admit I'm doing it a bit myself) that Cain would automatically be DG's bodyguard out of nowhere. Now I can picture him possibly leading a group of guards.. but even now- no one has just one bodyguard if they're that important...it's just not logical lol

Anyway.. great great job..I'm gonna scamper over to the rest of your stuff now!

I like this. DG, a strong person in her own right in the beginning, becoming stronger not just for herself but for the family she has. Very awesome to make her stronger instead of always depending on Cain. Love it!

I don't know if I've ever gotten so much out of a oneshot before. It was amazing and done so well... I can't put into words what I'm trying to say hahaha... But it was damn GOOD. That works!

Seriously.. seriously?! That was amazing... I am so extremely happy that you shared it with me! :)

I absolutely LOVED this. You flipped around what is quickly becoming a pretty cliche in this fandom, and--gasp!--the characters actually... grew? Wow. I'm impressed. They grew and changed but they were still the characters we know and love, just in different circumstances. And it was real, and it was gut-wrenching, and it was very, very good.

This was a tearjerker! Three tissues, I tell you. I'd throw one away when I thought the tears were over, but the little buggers would return with another of your remarks about DG's brokenness or her remembering Cain. Their conversation at the end was tissue number three.

This was a beautiful, memorable, original story, and I utterly loved it.

Thank you so much!

Em

I cannot write to save my life, but if I was to write a Tin Man fic this is EXACTLY how it would start out.. I just don't see Cain hanging around a plush palace when there is a war going on and he's just been reunited with his son.

Personally I think you were dead-on with the characters and I love your style of writing. Thanks so much for sharing this with us! :)

Wow. That was simply incredible. I loved that you took the story in a completely different direction. It was great to see DG working so hard and doing so well, but it broke my heart to see Cain leave and her turning into the hardened woman that she became. I really liked that she learned how to shoot and protect herself. I loved that her new skills came in handy, not once, but twice. I can't imagine how cold and lonely it must have been for DG to play the role of strong, competent leader in public but in private, she was broken and alone. I loved the DG that Cain saw at the summit. His shock at her new personality was fitting and I couldn't help but feel smug at the guilt that he felt. Hopefully, if things work out at the summit and Cain can return to the palace, maybe at least a small part of DG's old optimism can return. I'd love to see a sequel to this story, but at the same time, I love where you ended it.

Such an amazing, beautifully crafted story. Thank you so much for writing it.


Jaime

Gorgeous. I loved that she stepped up to the role that was needed, not flinching or whining.

Oh My goodness, that was great! You are an amazing writer. It ripped at my heart, made me cry and brought a smile to my lips. Wonderful job.

Absolutely incredible! I loved the whole thing. Don't change a single bit of it.