Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce owns the characters.

I wrote this a long time ago. It's the first story I've written that's not a oneshot, so bear with me. Also, if I don't get enough reviews, I will think that my work is utter crap, and will not continue the story. So if you like it, say so (review...). Anyway, it's Dom/Kel from the Protector of the Small series. VOILA.

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Sergeant Domitan of Masbolle wasn't usually one to beg. In fact, he detested it. He had no trouble asking for help, but he could not stand to grovel.

So when he was forced to do the one thing he hated, needless to say, he was not a happy camper. However, he was also forced to change his mind about begging, as it seemed to be very effective. He had convinced Lady Kel to accompany him to a family gathering, something she would never normally agree to.

Dom smiled to himself as he thought about the day's events. They certainly had been interesting...

FLASHBACK

Dom clenched his teeth as he read a letter sent to him by his mother for the second time. A family gathering, Dom thought. Ha! It's an excuse to pick apart every little detail about me.

Dom's many aunts had gotten into the habit of lecturing him about the many things that were wrong with him, and comparing him to the meathead.

"Why couldn't you be more like dear cousin Nealan?"

"Nealan used his healing magic to cure the children in the fief of the flu. He's so talented and kindhearted. It's a shame you don't have the gift too."

"So you must have heard that Nealan is betrothed to that lovely Yamani girl. Isn't that just wonderful? You should start to think about courting someone, Domitan."

That was their favorite topic: Dom's love life. His aunts had been bugging him about marriage even before he was promoted to Commander of the King's Own (after Buri finally made an honest man out of Raoul) and was actually allowed to marry.

The last time he had seen them, he had finally reached the last straw. He told them that he was courting someone and that the chances were good that she would be "the one", not stopping to think that telling this lie could come back to bite him.

And now, here it was, jaws wide open and ready to strike at any moment. It was in the form of an invitation from his parents to a reunion, telling him how excited they (and his aunts) were to meet this special lady he had talked about. This was bad. He couldn't tell them that he had lied. It was out of the question. What am I going to do?

Dom's thoughts were interrupted by his cousin Neal (also known as Meathead) entering his quarters.

"So Dom, did you hear about the family gathering? You must be so excited for them to meet that special girl," he said, smirking.

Dom scowled. "Stop that, Meathead."

"That's Sir Meathead to you. Anyway, I'm here to help you."

"What? Did I hear that correctly?"

Neal sat down at Dom's desk. "I have an idea."

Dom raised his eyebrows. "Uh oh."

Neal ignored him. "Do you remember the time when Raoul brought Buri to ward off the mothers of his fief?" he asked.

"Yes," Dom said slowly.

"Well, I was thinking you could do something along those lines. Bring a lady who will pretend to be your consort." Neal looked at Dom to see his reaction.

Dom considered the idea. "It might work, but who would agree to that?"

"I was thinking, maybe...Kel?"

"Kel? She's a good friend, but I don't think this is a favor she'd be willing to do."

Neal raised his eyebrows. "You'd be surprised at what Kel would do for you."

"What?"

Neal shook his head, as if it was obvious. "Nothing, Dom. Just think about it, alright?"

"Yeah I will. Thanks, Meathead."

Neal nodded to his cousin and left.

Dom sat down. Would Kel really agree to lie for a whole night? She had helped him out a lot in the past, but this was very different. He didn't know if she would be comfortable with it.

He supposed it was worth a try, though. He would ask her and if she said no...well, she said no.

As he got up to go look for the Lady Knight, he thought about Neal's comment earlier, about what Kel would do for him. What did he mean? It couldn't be that Kel had more-than-friendly feelings for him, could it?

Dom found himself almost wishing that it was true. Realizing this, he quickly squashed the emotion. Kel didn't think about him that way and he didn't think about her that way either. They were friends, nothing more.

He brought his head back to reality and discovered that he'd been wandering around the palace instead of looking for Kel. He changed his direction and headed towards the practice area, where he knew Kel would be training.

Sure enough, he found the knight doing fast, complicated pattern dances with her glaive. Everytime he witnessed her doing this, he was awed. He movements were razor-quick, but amazingly graceful. He watched her in silence, taking in her face, which was set with concentration and the way her muscles moved in her arms and legs. She finally lowered her weapon and looked at Dom. He wondered how her face could remain so pretty when she was tired out and sweaty from training. His eyes wandered down to her chest, which was heaving up and down. Then he shook his head quickly. Where did that come from?

He cleared his throat hastily. "Hi, Kel. Listen, uh, I've got a favor to – to ask of you," he stammered out. Mithros, he thought, what's wrong with me today? I've never found it hard to talk to her before.

Kel, frowning a little, said, "What's up, Dom?"

"Well, I don't know if Neal's told you about the family gathering we have to go to..." He trailed off, not really knowing how to ask her to do this.

"He did mention something earlier."

"The thing is, the last time I saw my family, they were constantly telling me that I should court a lady before it's too late. I got tired of it, so I told them that I had met a woman. Now, they all can't wait to meet her, and she...well, she doesn't exist."

He saw the corners of Kel's mouth turn up into a small smile before she slid her face into that Yamani mask of hers. "And what do you need me for?" she asked.

Dom took a deep breath. "I was hoping, maybe you would pretend to be the woman I'm courting? A favor from one friend to another?" He looked at her, trying to read her face, but it was impossible.

"Don't you have any other lady friends who would do this for you?"

Dom shook his head. "You're the only one I trust enough. Sure, there are a few who might do it, but they're not friends with me like you are."

Kel looked skeptical. She fidgeted with he glaive while she said, "I don't know, Dom. It's awfully complicated."

Dom took a step forward and grasped Kel's shoulders gently. "Come on, it's just one night. Who knows? It might even turn out to be fun!"

Kel laughed at this. "An evening with your aunts interrogating and badgering me? That's not really my idea of fun."

"But Neal and Yuki will be there. You can talk to them! And my aunts surely won't spend the whole night talking to me and you. Look, Kel. I'll clean your weapons for 2 months if you do this for me."

"Dom–"

"I'll polish your armor until you can see you own reflection in it! I'll buy the most expensive kind of birdseed for your sparrows! I'll...I'll–"

Kel swiftly covered his mouth with her hand. "Enough! Fine! I'll do it. I'll help you with your stupid lies," she said exasperatedly.

Dom threw his arms around her, causing her to laugh. "Yes! Oh, thank you, Kel! This is great." He squeezed her tightly, loving the feeling of her in his arms. Then, he realized that they had just been standing there huggingfor more than 5 minutes, and let go quickly, his cheeks turning red. He couldn't help but notice that Kel looked a little flushed herself.

"Well, then–"

"Right, um–"

Dom cleared his throat.

"I suppose I'll get back to my training," Kel said. "Just let me know about the details later. I suppose I'll have to get a dress from Lalasa." She scowled.

Dom laughed, relieved that they had passed the awkward moment. "You have no idea how much this means to me, Kel. Thanks for agreeing to do this."

Kel smiled. "Well, what are friends for?"

Dom felt a pang in his stomach when she said this, but he quickly pushed it out of his mind.

She turned to go to the stables but then she said, "Oh, and by the way, you don't have to get the most expensive birdseed. The regular kind will do just fine." She laughed and jogged off to get Peachblossom read for tilting practice.

Dom chuckled and made his was back through the palace, wondering why he had had so many strange thoughts about Kel today.

This year's family reunion was certainly going to be interesting...

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So that was the first chapter. How do you like it so far? Remember, I'm not continuing the story if no one's reading it. So if you want more, REVIEW!