Disclaimer: I'm not Tammy. If I was I wouldn't be posting on FanFictin waiting to go ride. I'd be riding my own horses, or maybe not as I don't think she has horses… Anyway I'm not Tamora Pierce.

'"Kel!" shouted Neal. "Are you going to dream all day? She's waiting for me!"

Lovers, Kel thought, rolling her eyes. At least there was one headache she didn't have. She was about to tell her friend he could wait, when she remembered that she'd get to see Dom while at Steadfast. It would be nice to be able to sit and chat for a while without kidnapping, flight and war to distract them.

She nudged Hoshi into a trot.'

She was just finished dressing after her bath in her room at Fort Steadfast when Kel heard a knock on her door. Walking to the door, she ran a brush through her hair. She would have to have it cut properly before Buri and Raoul's wedding, perhaps she could ask Yuki to do it. Opening the door, Kel was greeted by a large grin and a pair of dazzling blue eyes.

"I heard you were back. Well, I heard Neal and Yuki giggling in her room and figured you must be here too. Well, they couldn't let Meathead out on his own could they? So, how are you?"

"Hi, Dom." Kel moved from the doorway to sit in one of two chairs near the window. "I'm fine thanks. Please, sit down." She indicated the other chair and Dom joined her, closing the main door.

"I would have come to see you sooner but I was out on patrol and I've only just got back in."

"Don't worry about it," Kel replied. "If you had come any earlier you would have caught me bathing."

"I knew I should have got the clerk to change the rota the other night when he'd drunk too much." Dom joked. Kel glanced down at her lap and Dom was sure he saw her face colour slightly.

His suspicions were confirmed when Kel stood, turning her back to look out of her window. The sergeant could see that her neck was also a faint red.

Sensing his gaze upon her, Kel turned around, her Yamani mask firmly in place. She was finding it more and more difficult to hide her feelings now that she was no longer around people like Vinson, Joren and other conservatives. It also seemed particularly difficult when she was with Dom; she had always felt so comfortable around him.

"You miss the pretty noble ladies who like to flirt with you in Corus." She remarked. "I'm certainly not some delicate lady who spends her time embroidering and flirting with men at balls."

"I know you're not like that-" Dom began.

"Good. Then don't forget it. I wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea about me." It was a good job that her mask was already in place or she may not have been able to say it to him – either without crying or even at all. It had needed saying though; she didn't want Dom to flirt with her, possibly even romance her, just because she was the only eligible female there and he missed female company.

"But Kel-" This time he was interrupted by a knock at the door which promptly flew open to reveal Neal and Yuki, the latter of whom flew past him to hug Kel fiercely. Dom turned to Neal who was now stood next to him, "Meathead, you have the worst timing. I'll see you on the practice courts later." He growled.

"What have I done?" yelped Neal. His question was not answered however as Dom stalked past him and exited the room.

Turning, Neal looked at his fiancée and best friend who was gazing at the doorway through which his cousin had just left. Yuki glanced at Kel and said, "Nealan, out."

Neal left, his betrothed had called him 'Nealan' and he knew better than to disobey anyone who used his full name. Closing the door to Kel's room he thought, What have they done now? They like each other but they're also both useless. She's believes no-one could ever really like her and he's just… well… useless. Honestly, warriors.

So what do you think? It's my first fanfic and I'd appreciate reviews whether you liked it or not. Constructive criticism welcome.

Thanks.

Oh and the top bit's from the end of Lady Knight.