Recap:

He let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding, and laughed in relief hugging her tightly. He pulled back from the embrace excitedly and grabbed her hand so he could put the ring on her. When he was done with that, he looked into her face and saw such love. He kissed her passionately. He realized suddenly that this kiss was different from their previous ones - it was better... much better.

He pushed her back on the bed and thought with a grin, We're not going to be leaving this room for a while.


Not quite a while later...

Dom woke up from his nap to see Kel finishing a pattern dance with her glaive. It never ceased to amaze him when he watched her dances. They always seemed to add a little more grace to her movements. That's what sets her apart from the Lioness, Besides the height, of course, he thought with a smile. Alanna has strength and speed, but Kel has grace, even off the battlefield.

She just finished her dance with a last thrust and looked over at him.

"The ring didn't get in the way, did it?" Dom asked.

She lifted her hand to look at the new addition to it and smiled. "Actually, that's why I decided to practice. I wanted to see if I'd still be able to fight with it on."

"And?"

"The ring is perfect. It didn't affect my movements at all," she told him as she put her glaive back on the weapons rack.

She moved over to sit on the edge of the bed closest to Dom and gave him a quick, yet highly affectionate, kiss on his waiting lips.

"Thank you for bringing the breakfast. Would you like to have some now since we didn't get to it earlier?" she asked, grinning at the memory of why they didn't have any breakfast.

"Let's. Sorry, your tea is going to be too cold to drink by now." At her puzzled expression, he said, "I accidentally woke Tobe up when I went to find breakfast and he informed me that he was going to get his own room when you got back to New Hope and that I had to learn how to make your tea for you. That's why I wasn't here when you woke up."

She laughed thinking about Tobe talking to Dom like that. "Well I'm sure you did an excellent job. You'll just have to show me tomorrow morning instead."

Dom began to get dressed and Kel moved to get the tray with their breakfast. She set it on her desk and they both sat down to begin enjoying their morning together.

Around lunchtime, there was a knock on her door. She and Dom were in the middle of an intense chess game so Kel just called, "Come in!"

Tobe entered carrying a tray with a lunch for two. He looked at them both and smiled, then set the tray next to the chessboard on Kel's desk. Without a word, he handed a note to Kel and let himself out.

They both lifted their eyebrows slightly and said at the same time, "That was odd."

Laughing, Kel unfolded the note and read out loud:

My best friend and my cousin... Who would have thought? Okay, we all did!

It took you long enough!

They both rolled their eyes at this.

We are all very happy for you but, Dom, if you hurt her we'll kill you.

Now, we sent Tobe with lunch because we figured you'd be making up for lost time seeing as how you've both been in love with each other for six years but never bothered to say anything until yesterday. But we fully expect to see you at supper. We'll miss you too much to go without seeing you for at least one meal!

Oh, and we'll be stopping by to pick you up so you don't skip out on us.

With love,

Neal, Yuki, Raoul, Buri, Tobe, Wolset, Owen, Wyldon, and I'm sure several others once they find out about you two.

Kel's face turned a brighter shade of red than Dom thought possible at reading Wyldon's name.

"Well, that was interesting," Dom said, trying to distract Kel from thinking about Wyldon knowing what they've been doing. He took the note from her grip and examined it. "Each of them actually signed this. I can't believe that Meathead!"

They put aside their chess game - Dom told her he was tired of playing, but Kel knew he only wanted to quit because she was winning - and ate their lunch while discussing how best to shock their friends with the news of their betrothal.

Kel heard the dinner bell ring at the same time as there was a knock on the door. She allowed a small smile to grace her face. "Come in!"

Neal yelled through the door, "Are you sure? I don't want to see anything I'm not supposed to!"

"Meathead!"

"Alright alright!"

Neal and company entered the room to find Kel hunched over at her desk working on something they couldn't see. As curious as always, Neal queried, "Hey Kel, what are you doing? You're supposed to be coming to dinner."

"I just finished," she said as she held something up in the light to look closely at it. "I was just polishing some jewelry."

She looked at Neal out of the corner of her eye glad that her mask was hiding the smirk she knew Dom was wearing in the privy where he was getting ready. She could see that a few people in the group behind Neal were starting to catch on, so she looked away quickly.

"Since when do you polish jewelry?" Neal asked. "For that matter, since when do you have jewelry?"

She shrugged nonchalantly, "Since Dom gave me some." With that, she held up her hand where she had just placed the ring. Dom had chosen this moment to come out of the privy drying his hands on a small cloth. He was studying Neal's reaction with dancing eyes.

Suddenly, Neal's eyes dawned with comprehension. "Hey I know that ring! It was grandmother's engagement r-" He paused thoughtfully, "Oh... my cousin..." He looked at Dom, "... my best friend ..." He looked at Kel, "I think I need to sit down."

As the group watched, Neal lowered himself onto Kel's bed, put his head in his hands and began muttering, "My cousin and my best friend, my best friend and my cousin, my best friend is going to be my cousin. Oh..." Suddenly, he stopped moving and looked down at the bed. He jumped up with surprising speed glaring at the bed and squealed, "Eww!" Then he glared at Dom and Kel as his face turned bright red.

The group couldn't keep it in any longer and laughed hysterically at Neal's reaction. He harrumphed and stormed out of the room muttering to himself. The group, still laughing, followed Neal to the mess hall while congratulating Dom and Kel on their betrothal.


2 blissful weeks later...

"Raoul, thank you for sending more soldiers back to New Hope with me," Kel said with a small smile, though her eyes were dancing merrily.

The Knight Commander just clapped his hand on her back and said, "Well, it's the least I can do for my favorite ex-squire. Just make sure you return them in as good of condition as you borrowed them. And don't tire out my sergeant too much." He winked at her and walked off to join his wife as they carried on with their day.

Kel just shook her head and continued her last check before she, Neal, and Tobe - along with three squads of Third Company - prepared to set out for New Hope.

By the time the group stopped for lunch, Kel wasn't looking so good. She began the day enjoying Dom's company and teasing the sleepy Neal mercilessly, but her body progressively felt more and more uneasy and achey. Nobody really noticed anything except Dom, of course. He was the only person besides Yuki who could see through her mask.

After she dismounted and handed her reins to Tobe, Kel announced that she was going to get some water from a nearby stream while the soldiers prepared the food. She wondered what was wrong with her stomach. She was fine when they left this morning. Then again, now that she thought about it, she'd forgotten to eat breakfast. Maybe that was it.

She found the stream and drank a few handfuls of water. As she was doing this, she reflected on her relationship with Dom. She couldn't be happier. Not only had she achieved her goal of getting her shield, but she had done what most people thought impossible - found a husband. And Dom's not just any old husband, she thought with a smile. He's the most sought after bachelor in court now that Raoul is married. I think I'll wait to tell my sisters-in-law in person. I want to see their faces when I tell them the cow is getting married!

When she stood up and turned around to go back to camp, her stomach protested violently. She found herself back on her knees retching into the nearest bush.

Dom was worried about Kel. She started to look a little green by the time she dismounted. He was going to ask her if he could get her some water when she announced she was going to the stream, so he followed suit and handed his reins to Tobe.

Even thought the war was winding down, there could still be plenty of rogue Scanran raiders just waiting to pick off a lone knight. So he did the only sensible thing... he followed her.

As he arrived at the stream, he saw her collapse onto her knees and begin vomiting. He rushed to her side to help her.

"Kel, what's going on?" he asked softly.

"I'm not sure. I was feeling better after the water, but I guess I just got up too quickly." She was still in the same position trying to control her breathing, and concentrating on not vomiting again. Without warning, it started again.

When she was done with that round and Dom was handing her his water skin he hesitantly asked, "Um Kel, you don't think..." She glanced at him sharply. He continued, "... maybe your charm didn't work..."

He could tell she was thinking about his statement while she rinsed out her mouth.

He came to a decision. "Stay here. I'll go get Neal." He trotted off before she could protest.

Neal was sitting by the campfire when Dom arrived. "Hey, Neal. Kel found some interesting plants. She was wondering if you could use them for herbs in your infirmary. You want to come look at them?"

Neal put on a thoughtful expression as though trying to recall something, "I don't remember the last time you actually called me by my name."

"Meathead..." Dom said warningly.

"Herbs... right. Lead on!"

When they were in the woods and far enough away from camp, Dom said, "Neal, that's not the real reason I came for you."

"I figured that out when you didn't call me Meathead," Neal drawled. "What's wrong?"

"Kel's sick," Dom said after a brief pause. "I think maybe she's with child."

Dom could see Neal nod out of the corner of his eye. He was grateful his cousin wasn't making a big deal out of this. He really had grown up. Though it was only evident when he was working.

Kel lifted her head when she heard them arrive. Neal immediately put his green-glowing hands to her temples to help relieve the headache and nausea. She sighed gratefully and let him work his magic. He then moved a hand down to her abdomen to check their theory.

She didn't want to open her eyes to see the results of the exam but she knew that would be less of a shock than hearing him say it.

His eyes confirmed their suspicions.

"Well, at least you're young and healthy. You should have an easy pregnancy once we take care of your morning sickness." He looked back and forth between the two of them while he said this. "I'll give you some herbs when we get back to New Hope, but in the meantime... can I see your charm? I'm just confused about why it didn't work."

"Well, it's not like I'm going to need it now anyway," Kel grumbled as she took it off and handed it to him.

She watched his green magic flow over the charm as he examined it.

"That's interesting," he said while staring pensively at the charm in his hand. "All the magic's gone out of it. Kel, when did you purchase this?"

She blushed at his question and said, barely above a whisper, "On Progress." She blushed because they all knew that was when she was with Cleon. Their kissing sessions had been getting progressively further each time and she purchased the charm 'just in case.' But they ended up never needing it after she broached the subject and he had to remind her that he was betrothed to someone else. He didn't want to bed her because that would be dishonorable.

He blushed just as much while he asked his next question, "And how long until you used it?" Obviously, he didn't know that she and Cleon never bedded together.

"I didn't use it until a few days ago," she answered while looking at Dom.

Neal thought for a few seconds. "I've heard," he started, "though I never thought this would be a tested theory, I mean, why would anyone purchase an anti-pregnancy charm and then not even use it for years..."

"Meathead!" they both growled.

"Sorry," Neal looked incredibly uncomfortable now, "um, well, I've heard that if you don't use your charm within the first couple years after its purchase, the magic will leak out until it is, well, just a pretty necklace. And by pretty, I mean pretty useless."

"Why don't they tell anyone this?" Kel asked incredulously.

"Well, Kel, like I was getting at earlier, people usually buy these things for a reas-" he stopped when he saw the murderous look on her face.

The ride to New Hope started to become unbearable for Kel. It seemed every time the group got started on their journey, she'd start to get nauseous again. Then she'd have to stop and run into the bushes. She knew the men were beginning to get suspicious and she thought she heard a few of them talking about some bets.

A few hours after midday, Dom rode up next to his cousin and, in a low voice, said, "This is ridiculous. Maybe she could ride with me and you could put her to sleep for the rest of the journey."

Neal nodded and moved towards Kel while Dom made the hand signal to stop.

While Neal explained the plan to Kel, who looked incredibly relieved, Dom prepared his mount to take on another passenger. He explained things to his horse while he pulled out an extra blanket from his saddlebag and rolled it up for Kel to use as a pillow.

When Kel and Dom were mounted again, she laid forward on her makeshift pillow with her head towards Neal and sent him a grateful smile while he let his magic flow over her sending her into a peaceful sleep for the rest of the journey.

The next morning found Dom with his arms wrapped protectively around his beloved. From his position he could watch her profile while she continued to sleep.

When they arrived at New Hope the evening previous, night had already fallen and Fanche was waiting anxiously for them at the gate. She told them Merric was about to send a squad to find them, and sure enough, ten men were just inside the gate with their mounts' reigns in their hands. Fanche and Merric had all but demanded explanations as to why Lady Kel was sprawled out on the sergeant's horse fast asleep. Neal explained while Dom carried her to bed. However, nobody bothered to ask why it was Dom's horse she was riding. They figured it out easy enough when they saw how gently was handling her.

For now, Dom was just content to watch her sleep off Neal's spell. He wondered how she would take this when reality hit her. He understood that she didn't feel she was ready, but he knew better. She was brilliant with New Hope's children - always had been - and they all loved her, especially Tobe. She would be a great mother.

Now he just had to figure out how to convince her she would make a great wife, too. He was going to have to try to persuade her to marry him now instead of waiting like they said they would. He knew she would feel marriage would be too much of a trap, but the Lioness had married at her age. There's no reason why she can't continue her duties as a knight while having a family. And he, personally, would be glad to give up the Own if it meant being with his family all the time.

Family, he thought. I have my own family now.

This thought was staggering. In the space of three weeks, he had gone from reasonably content bachelor to ecstatic family man.

He moved his hand to Kel's abdomen and let it rest there. This is what life should be.

Kel finally started to wake up. It took her a moment to remember what had been happening. When it came to her at last she slowly opened her eyes and felt Dom's hand resting possessively on her belly.

"When did we get here?"

"Last night after dinner. Fanche and Merric were worried sick. They were about to send a search party out when we arrived."

She gently turned over onto her other side so she was facing Dom. She asked, "Where's Tobe?"

"He's sleeping in the next room."

She paused while trying to form her words. She wasn't sure what he would think of her request. They hadn't discussed this yet, but she'd been thinking about it for a long while. "Dom, what do you think about adopting Tobe? I've always loved him like son. I was going to wait until his indenture was up but now that we've got our own family in the works I don't want him to feel left out." She held her breath while waiting for his answer.

Dom chuckled softly, "I was just thinking the same thing. I know how much you love him, and, honestly, I can't imagine our life without him. After breakfast we can go see the clerks and have them draw up some papers."

"Ugh, breakfast," Kel groaned with disgust even though she knew she'd have to eat.

Neal later brought Kel some tea that would alleviate her morning sickness, and the three of them went to breakfast once Kel felt fresh enough. Once at breakfast it became apparent that the news of their betrothal and recent addition to their ever-expanding family was spreading quickly. They both blamed it on Neal and wasted no time pelting him with leftover bread, though they accepted congratulations from passersby with bright smiles. How could they not?

After they got the adoption papers finished they found Tobe in the stables and told him everything. They told him how much they loved him and wanted him to be part of their family. He was beyond happy when they showed him the papers. He ran through New Hope telling everyone he could find that he wasn't an orphan anymore.

A couple of weeks later found Dom striding through the camp with a spring in his step and his resignation letter in hand. He finally spotted Kel on the ramparts watching the horizon in the direction of Steadfast, so he hastened to join her.

"Kel, is there a messenger going out today? I've got a letter for my Lord."

"No need," she replied without looking at him. When she didn't hear a response from him she turned to see a puzzled expression on his face. So she turned back to the horizon and pointed. "That's him, there. It looks like he has Alanna with him, too." She laughed softly, "Neal will be ecstatic."

"Kel," he started, while wrapping his arms around her waist. "I'm going to resign. We need to get married now instead of waiting. I don't want Tobe and our baby to grow up in the middle of a scandal. I can stay here at New Hope with you and we'll have our family together."

She couldn't meet his eyes. She knew he was speaking the truth, but marriage? Now? Well it's no more frightening than having child. They're both forever.

Suddenly, an idea occurred to her. "Dom," she pointed towards the approaching riders, "when he gets here, ask him for a month leave for the both of us." Then she turned and began descending to the ground below.

"What? Why?" Dom asked, perplexed, as he hastened to follow her.

She turned and grinned impishly at him while continuing to walk backwards, "We're going to cash in on a favor." The she turned on the spot and ran to find Tobe and start packing. "And whatever you do, don't hand him that letter!"