I really needed a break from my other story so I though of this. Guess it's easy to see who my favourite couple is. Please please please please read and review! I really want to know what you guys think!

p.s. Please warn me if the rating is incorrect!

Chapter One

With a Little Help from Neal

Kel sat alone at the small table, her eyes cast on the tabletop as gloom folded her in its strong grasp. The music that filled the air was crammed with happiness, but Kel felt none of it. The party was being held in honour of Third Company, who was set to leave the following morning. They had been stationed at New Hope for the past three weeks under the Knight Commander Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak's orders. Kel had a feeling that he had only done so to ensure that she stayed in place and not attempt any sort of mission by herself again, but had kept her opinion to herself. Truth be told, she had been glad for their help and their company. New Hope had needed the all the help it could get. Repairing all the damage that the Scanran raiders had caused was an extremely difficult task and wasn't even close to being finished, but Raoul had sent for his men and Kel had no choice but to let them go.

Kel sighed as her gaze scanned the crowded mess hall. It had been a good idea of Neal to have the tables pushed away so that they could celebrate the night away. Her people needed the break and they were enjoying it far more than Kel was. There was nothing wrong with the party, Kel had to admit. The musicians they had hired were great and the cooks had overdone themselves to provide a truly scrumptious meal. The party wasn't the problem at all. There was only one reason for her sulking and Kel was far too stubborn to admit what it was, even to herself.

"Kel!"

Kel forced a smile as she saw her friend Nealan of Queenscove making his way towards her. He waved energetically for her to join her, and reluctantly she obeyed.

"Still worried about the work that has to be done, eh?" He clucked his tongue disapprovingly. "Come on Kel! Relax for one night. Haven won't fall in disrepair if you fail to think about it for one night."

Kel loathed to agree with him, but he was right. She could do with a little bit of fun for one night. She let out a loud sigh. "Alright, but don't expect me to dance on the tables."

Neal grinned as he led Kel closer to the other dancers. "Sounds like a good idea to me," He avoided her glare by pulling her closer to dance with him. As they slowly crossed the large room Kel felt herself relax. With the ongoing war being waged there was little time for dancing, but the rare times that she was given the opportunity Kel had to admit she enjoyed it. She closed her eyes, happy that she could feel so relaxed in her friend's arm. There had been a time when she had though she liked Neal as more than a friend and was now extremely glad she had never let him know about those feelings. He and his fiancé Yukimi were made for each other and besides, her heart belonged to another.

She kept her eyes shut to hide the pain that suddenly filled them. If only he knew that.

She forced herself to relax once more and was fully at peace when she suddenly felt Neal stop. Her eyes flew open in time to see one of the midwives standing by the door. Her hands gestured a half circle over her belly and Neal's eyes widened.

"I have to go deliver a baby," he said rapidly before grabbing Kel by the arm to pull her along. For a second she feared he was going to force her to help with the birth, something Kel really didn't wish to do. Instead he stopped in the middle of the dance floor, tapped a male – who was already dancing with a beautiful woman – on the shoulder and pushed Kel into his arms as soon as he turned.

"Remember, your mission for tonight is to have fun!" He called over his shoulder as he rushed from the room.

Kel was completely lost for words as she gazed up into the clear blue eyes of Domitan of Masbolle, Neal's cousin and Sergeant in the King's Own. He was clearly as confused as she was, and it was that confusion that kept his hands wrapped firmly in place where he had caught her.

"Well," Dom's pretty dance partner said stiffly, "I can see that I'm no longer needed." With a huff she turned around and stalked off.

Kel and Dom looked at each other in astonishment for a second before the both burst out laughing.

When the situation seemed less funny Kel tried to pull away. "I apologise for you dear cousin's behaviour. You know what he's like."

Dom kept his hold on Kel firm. "No worries, Kel. I don't think Neal knows this but he's just saved me form the worst dance of my life." He pulled her closer until she was firmly pressed against him. "Besides," his voice was a mere whisper in her ear, "I definitely prefer dancing with you,"

Kel felt herself turn bright crimson as Dom slowly moved them in time with the music. It was difficult for her to relax at first, she was simply too aware of Dom's body constantly brushing against hers. It felt like every time she tried to get a little more distance between them he pulled her even closer. It was bliss and torture all mixed into one. She knew if she allowed herself to relax she would enjoy the dance but was too afraid that she would be feeling more than Dom if she did and that he would push her aside for another when the song ended. When she spotted Dom's previous dance partner sulking in the corner, her icy glare fixed on them, Kel finally allowed herself to relax in Dom's arms and rested her head on his firm shoulder before closing her eyes. She stopped thinking, stopped worrying, just relaxed and enjoyed the sensation of being held in his arms.

She was rewarded when the song ended and Dom just kept on dancing straight into the next one. Kel soaked herself in the complete delight she felt in that moment, sure that she would have to enjoy it now because soon it would be finished. Yet the end didn't come, they just kept on dancing, ten songs feeling like one, hours feeling like minutes. When the last song ultimately played, Dom rested his chin on top of Kel's head to tuck her into the crook of his neck. Kel had no complaints. She breathed in the clean soapy, completely male smell of him and felt her heart wrench at the thought of him having to leave the following day.

When the music ended Dom finally stopped and, to Kel surprise, dropped a cotton soft kiss on her forehead.

"Come on Kel, I'll walk you back to your room." He stepped back from Kel and she instantly yearned for the lost body heat. Nether the less she nodded and the two of them left the hall in silence, both lost on in their own thoughts. The long way from the mess hall to Kel's room seemed minuscule. In what felt like seconds they stood in front of her door.

"Well, I guess this is goodnight," she tried desperately to keep the sadness from her voice.

"Yeah, I guess so," Dom replied, his voice sounding strained.

Forcing a smile she unlocked the door and made to enter, ready to spend a restless night tossing and turning, when he suddenly caught her hand.

"Kel," his eyes burned with such intensity that Kel's heart jump, "I can't leave it like this. Not again." Before Kel could reply, or even think to reply for that matter, he pulled her to him and lowered his mouth to catch hers in a soul searing kiss. Kel's brain seemed to fog over and without even thinking about her actions she looped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with all the passion she had kept back for so long. This was what she had wanted for so long; this was what she had craved. She heard a door open nearby and without thinking pulled Dom backwards with her into the safety of the room. He went along willingly, as lost in the moment as she was, yet thinking clear enough to push the door close behind him. In one swift movement he spun them in a half circle so that he could press Kel against the door as he deepened their kiss. Kel held on to him, her hands raking through his soft dark hair before clinging to his shoulders. As him hands reached behind her to find the small button of her dress Kel knew there was no turning back. She needed to show him that she loved him, that he was more than just a friend or Neal's cousin. Her hands unsteadily reached for his shirt and almost cautiously pulled it over his head. Dom barely broke the kiss as the shirt went past before returning for more. By the time they stumbled onto Kel's bed clothing littered the floor. Kel mind cleared off everything except Dom and she knew this would be a night she would never forget.

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