A/N:I don't own anyting but the oak tree and the three servings of vegetables-not that anyone would want them. All belongs to Tamora.

"Gods, I'm hungry!" Kel said as she and Neal walked towards the mess hall. "Well you should be after that work out I put you through, today at the practice courts." Neal said as he ducked to miss Kel's punch.

"You did no such thing Nealan." Kel replied calmly.

"Hphmrmmm... well that's because it's your birthday, and I let you off easy that's all." Neal replied angrily because Kel had used his full name. Before they sat down with their food Kel made sure he had three full servings of vegetables.

Kel slid into the spot across from Dom and Neal was right beside her. Dom had just mysteriously returned to Courus, for a reason he would relay to no one, not even Neal. But really all that mattered to Kel was that he was here for her birthday.

"Say Kel, how about we go riding after lunch, because you can't spend your birthday with a person like Nealan." Dom said with a slight smirk in Neal's direction.

Neal just gave Dom a loathing look before replying "That's the second time in the last ten minutes that some one has called me that!"

"What," Dom asked innocently "a person?"

"Boys! STOP IT!" Kel replied with a straight face before Neal could reply "And yes Dom I would be pleased to go riding with you"

Kel and Dom had been riding for about an hour, and neither had been talking, because they had the kind of relationship where no conversation was needed and they were both content. That is why Kel was always so happy in Dom's presence, because Kel never felt as though she was pressured into talking.

Dom suddenly came to a halt in front of a pound sheltered by a big oak tree.

"What do you say we stop here to let the horses rest for a while?" Dom asked.

"Oh that's fine." Kel replied wondering why they were stopping, because they had only been riding for an hour and they had kept the horses at a steady pace.

Dom dismounted first and tethered his horse to a tree just close enough to reach the pond. As Kel dismounted her foot slipped on a rock and she tumbled to the ground. Dom was by her side in an instant with worry filling his eye, but Kel was too busy laughing at her own clumsiness to notice.

"Are you alright?" Dom asked worried.

"Yes, I'm fine; could I just have a hand up?" And with that Dom extended his hand and gently pulled Kel to her feet. He then proceeded to place his other arm around her waist, as they walked towards the oak tree.

"Did you sprain your ankle?" Dom asked concerned for his Lady Knight.

"No I'm fine, the only thing that hurts is my pride." Kel said a little breathless from all the attention Dom was giving her.

As soon as they sat down Dom took one of her hands and placed in his two larger ones. "Kel I have a birthday present for you and I hope you like it," Dom said seeming to have forgotten about Kel's fall.

"Well, I'm sure I'll love it..." Kel said, her voice trembling for no apparent reason. Dom slowly leaned in and pressed his mouth against hers. Kel was shocked but responded almost immediately to his kiss by bracing herself against his chest. Dom taking this as a good sign slid his hand around and cradled her neck, deepening the kiss.

When they finally broke apart, both Kel and Dom were breathless; and when Dom looked into her wide eyes he saw something that made what he was just about to say a lot easier…

A/N: Okay. So, I had always been unhappy with this ending; so (rather logically) I changed it. I hope that all of my readers do find this ending more satisfactory.

As for my other story, Love's Ride, I am in the middle of the next chapter. I realize that it has been just a little over a year since I have done anything to it- but I hope to get the next chapter published soon.

Also, I am in dire need of a second beta- anyone interested can email me or just review…