Too Late
Kel tried to hold back tears as she watched Dom take his bride's hand and slip the wedding band onto her finger. He looked so handsome, so perfect with her - the small and dainty Court flower who had stolen his heart.
Kel remembered Yuki urging her to do something, say something, show Dom how she felt. And she remembered refusing, putting it off, saying she would do it - someday.
How foolish she had been - too afraid to be honest with her best friend.
And now it was too late.
"You may now kiss the bride." The priest announced, and Dom leaned forward and kissed the girl who was now his wife. Somehow, barely, Kel kept the tears from overflowing, kept a smile plastered on her face, made people think she was happy for her friend and not breaking apart inside.
Dom and his wife turned to walk back down the aisle, and Dom caught Kel's eye and smiled at her. Kel struggled to smile back, to mouth Congratulations! before he walked past her and she hastily excused herself.
Once she was outside, in a secluded and deserted hallway, the tears flowed freely. Once it had seemed to Kel that there was no one for her but Dom, and now he was gone. There was someone else for him, someone dainty and sweet, like he deserved.
Not Kel.
She dried her tears and put a smile on her face. She had to go to the reception – if she didn't she would be missed.
She slipped into her seat and solemnly watched Dom lead his wife onto the floor for their first dance.
He looked so happy.
So did his wife.
And Kel sent a silent prayer up to Mithros that someday there would be someone else for her.
Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce still owns all the characters. I'm just borrowing them.
A/N: This is a random idea I had when I was cleaning my room and found the print-out of Secret Affections. What if Kel and Dom never got over themselves and admitted their feelings for each other? And this popped into my head and I wrote it down. I have no idea what a Tortallan wedding ceremony is like, seeing as who Tammy had never written about it, but bear with me. R&R, por favor. -rowena