A/N: I'm alive again! Thanks to…my boring geometry teacher and his inability to discern between a student who is paying attention, a student who is finally writing a new story after a six month leave-of-absence, and a student who has fallen to the floor in a dead faint because of a chlorine gas leak. I thank Pheep profusely for beta-ing this long after she could have gone to sleep.
No creo que, Pheep. Sé que lo es verdad. (I don't believe it, Pheep, I know that it is true.)

Why is he staring at me?

Kel was growing uncomfortable; she had been talking to him - to Dom - and now, after a lull in conversation, he was staring at her. The full force of his blue eyes was doing odd things to her stomach - making it feel as though there were a mass of writhing snakes in it instead of just her lunch.

Neither had said a thing in the past few minutes now; the air between them wasn't tense, per say, just highly embarrassing. And she could definitely tell that he wasn't lost in thought by the way his eyes roved over her face as if he were studying her - memorizing her. She felt her face grow warm, then hot with a flush not even her Yamani mask could hold in - if she could use it around him anyway.

Now his eyes met hers; blue eyes meeting hazel, capturing, unrelinquishing; even if she had wanted to turn away - I don't want to - she would be unable to. His eyes calculated, measured, and saw through the titles, the stories (many of which he himself had started), the ambitions, through everything she was - not maliciously…not carelessly…but with…only a word was there - only one word to make up for the torrent of feelings and heat that tumbled about inside of her with each glance sent her way…the only word for that was one she rarely used…

…love.

Though first instinct screamed Impossible! in a loud, and rather annoying voice, curiosity made her wonder. But instead she pushed past all of that and tried to figure a 'how' to go with the 'if.' It wouldn't be entirely unheard of: they smiled, laughed, flirted. He seemed this nice with everyone though, his easy manner and deep concern for those around him attested to that…but would he go to Scanra for any one of his friends? As he continued to gaze Kel began her own inventory: tall forehead, crisp, dark hair pushed back from a widow's peak, cheeks rosy from the cold, lips - Don't even. - and his nose, with a wide tip so like Neal's. Speaking of him, Neal had cackled with glee when they came together for the last winter ball - even though they had only met out in the corridor and neither wanted to stand in the cold and wait to be announced.

Now, looking into his eyes once again, and she realized it wasn't horribly far-fetched at all. She wasn't hideous or anything, just sparrow-plain, and she tried to be fair with people… And they were good - the best of - friends. But should I ask him? She didn't know of any relationships he had been in…or was in. She had known him since she was fifteen, and his reputation for breaking hearts, and she didn't remember teasing him along with Wolset and Quasim about any girls - as was custom in the Own. And she didn't have to give him the advice some of her other friends had come to her for. She breathed in silently, steeling herself.

The word was small, but clearly said, and clearly heard:

"Me?"

Dom took a moment to blink then nodded affirmatively, still not releasing her eyes.

Uttered as she shuffled her feet, the next was small as well, but not as clear, or as confidently spoken. She could tell there was far too much pleading in her voice. Far, far too much.

"Does it really matter?" Kel dipped her head slowly, misconstruing his words, and he paused, needing to see her face. He placed a hand on her shoulder, and tipped her chin up again. "It's because you're you."

A/N: With love.