Disclaimer: All recognizable character and places belong to Tamora Pierce.

AN: I should be studying for an exam tomorrow, but I wanted to get this up...I have far too much on my plate, and I already have another chapter that I think is mostly complete :) Enjoy!

Earlier in the day, Dom had found a nice little eating house that he planned on taking Kel to. Upon entering, they found the place to be busy with tourists and locals alike. While having small tables for couples, there were also large tables for families and groups. They were quickly seated and helped.

"That barmaid wouldn't take her eyes off of you." Kel remarked, staring across the table at Dom.

Dom shrugged, "I thought my lovely bouquet of flowers explained it all my dear lady, only you hold my heart, I know that I can't promise anything more than that pledge of devotion. I know you understand my love for the Own. I can't leave them, but I also wanted to reassure you, Kel, that you have had my heart for years, and you will continue to hold it for many more years to come."

Before Dom could say anymore, Kel had leaned over the table and caught his lips in a deep kiss. "You have my heart Dom, nothing can change that."

It was towards the end of their dinner when Dom froze. He had just seen his worst nightmare walk in.

"Well, I'd say we came to the right place."

A group of men from Third Company, mostly from Dom's squad, had walked into a small dinning house that the locals had suggested.

They could see that there were plenty of tables for couples, and a few for large groups such as themselves. But what quickly caught most of the men's eyes were the pretty barmaids moving around the tables.

"I think that large table in the back is cleared, if you fine warriors would just follow me." One of the busty barmaids had wondered over to lead the men to the table.

"I'd say, this place seems to be quite popular." Riley observed.

"Yep, we get the locals on dates, tourists with families." Here she looked sidelong at the men, "And groups of handsome soldiers."

Having reached the table the men quickly sat and ordered ale.

"Seems a shame Sergeant Domitan couldn't join us, I'm sure he would enjoy some of this attention." Fred said. "I have never seen the famous heartbreaker in action."

"Well, you might actually get a chance," Qasim had been looking around and spotted the man in question, "it seems that young Dom found himself a date and beat us here."

He pointed to a table a few feet away, the men indeed saw Dom with a beautiful lady.

"Do you think we should go over and interrupt?" Riley asked.

At that moment, the Lady and Dom scooted closer, loosing themselves into a deep passionate kiss. It didn't take very long for the lady to end up practically in his lap. Riley and Fred whistled. They had never seen Dom at work and were quite impressed with what they saw.

"I think we'd best leave them alone, it looks as though the Sergeant is gonna get lucky tonight." Wolset wiggled his eyebrows. "I just wonder how he managed to hook a lady friend so quickly." He was pulled out of thought when a gasp went up around him.

"Dom? Are you alright?" Kel looked at Dom with concern.

"The men, they just came in. What are we going to do Kel? They will kill me if they find out we're more than friendly." Dom seemed to be slightly panicked.

Kel took his hand. "Shhhh Dom, it'll be ok." She smiled when he looked at her. "I think they all realize I am a fully grown woman now, able to make my own choices."

Dom was about to speak when she cut him off.

"No Domitan, it is my love life. I get to choose who I court, who I share my bed with, and if we ever take that step, who I marry. I know you and your men have been fighting to protect my virtue, to protect me from those who would try to stop me with such foolish accusations. But you needn't worry my love, if they are unhappy with my choice, they can always voice their concerns to me."

"Kel. I love you. And the men just spotted me, but I don't think they recognize you." He smiled. "We could always give them a little shock." Kel shivered at the evil glint in his eye.

"What did you have in mind?"

Without thinking they both scooted towards each other, quickly losing all thought as they shared a passionate kiss. Pulling away, Kel looked into Dom's eyes.

"Do you want to go and join them sweets? Get the worst of it over with?"

Kel nodded. She stood up and allowed Dom to wrap an arm around her waist as he led her to the table of shocked men.

"Evening men, do you mind if my lady love and I join you?"

Kel held back a giggle as the men just continued to stare at the couple with open moths.

"Dom, I think we put them into shock." She quickly gave him a kiss on the cheek as if to prove her words.

Wolset made a strangled sound.

"What was that?" Dom couldn't help but force some of the men over as he pulled Kel onto his lap.

"How? When?" Was all he was able to get out.

Kel smiled, "Well, the how is long and complicated, spanning several years and many recent…problems."

"And the when? Well, let's just say we owe you men a great favor for destroying Kel's tent." Dom finished with a wink, causing Kel to blush slightly.

Qasim seemed to be the first to get over his initial shock. "Does my lord know?"

Upon their nod, many of the men seemed to finally shake off the last of their shock.

"Well, I do have to say I'm surprised that ye two have finally came to see reason, it has been as plain as the nose on me face that ye two were drawn to each other. But my Lady Kel, you could do so much better than this heartbreaker Domitan." Wolset chimed up.

Kel laughed. "Wolset, Dom has been the man who has held my heart since I was a squire, even my fling with Cleon couldn't drive him out." Kel smiled at Dom and received a light kiss.

The matter was quickly settled after that and none of the men gave the couple anymore grief over the relationship, although once or twice they ignored those around them and engaged in several long kisses, the men, who had been heavily drinking, started to protest.

"Dom, please, Lady Keladry is like a sister o' somefing like that, please can ye take that elsewhere?" Wolset finally told them.

Looking up, Dom gave the slightly older man a wolfish smile. "Sure Wolset, no problem."

Standing, Dom held out his arm to a giggling Kel. "If my lady wouldn't mind, I think it is about time we leave these fine men and continue in private."

Blushing slightly, Kel took his arm, "But of course good sir, I am sure I could use some help getting this dress off." Kel winked at Dom, making a collective groan raise from the table.

"That's not what we meant Lady Kel." Qasim spoke up.

Kel smiled even wider. "I know, and I don't think any of you men seem to understand my meaning. This corset is cursed tight and I doubt Lalasa is still up to help loosen the laces. I doubt I would be able to loosen them enough to get it off by myself." Kel laughed as understanding dawned on the men's faces.

Dom steered Kel out of the eating house laughing.

They didn't head back right away. Instead, they decided to walk around and discover some of the night life of Pearlmouth. On one corner, they found a small group of players.

Dom paused and pulled Kel closer to him. "Why don't we stop and see the life I could have joined." Kel shivered at the feel of his breath on her neck and nodded.

It didn't take very long for the story line to become apparent to them. It was, in a way, their story. One of the Players wore cheap replications of armor. The others ranged from peasants to a rich mage and one giant with an ax.

"This is about the trip across the border! The fight against Steinman and Blayce! I don't know if I can stay and watch this Dom." Kel looked up with pleading eyes.

He quickly pulled her away and started to lead the way back to the barracks.

"I'm sorry Dom. I just don't know if I would have been able to watch the play version of what I did. It would be so…"

Dom stopped her by putting his fingers against her lips.

"Shhh, love it's ok. I understand. Besides, they wouldn't even have the best part of that story." Dom smiled down at Kel and waited as she raised her brows in question when he didn't continue. "Me!"

Kel laughed. "Yes, that would be a shame; I think you were the best part of that whole ordeal."

They continued walking in silence. It wasn't until they had reached Kel's door that they spoke again.

"Dom will you…" and "Kel, I was wondering…" had broken out at the same time. Kel waved for Dom to continue, but he just insisted that she continue, his wasn't that important.

"Dom, I was just wondering…would you like to spend the night? It's just that I have become so…accustomed to sleeping next to you every night, I don't think I could sleep without you." By the end of her little speech, Kel was blushing and looking down at her feet.

Dom gently lifted her chin, "Kel, I feel the same. I love waking up in the morning to see you either next to me, or getting ready, or well, just knowing you were next to me makes me the happiest man in Third Company, besides Lord Raoul of course." He ended with a quick kiss that Kel quickly deepened.

While still in the kiss, Dom let them into Kel's room and closed the door. Once the door was closed, they finally broke apart and looked around.

"It seems as if I will need to help you out of that dress after all my lady." Dom couldn't help but run his hands up Kel's sides and then to the laces in the back.

Kel's breath hitched as he loosened the corset and started to help undo the full back.

Dom stepped closer to Kel, gently sliding the dress off of her shoulders, gently kissing along her neck and bare shoulders.

Kel just stood in a daze, loving the new feelings that coursed through her body. She came back to her surroundings when she felt Dom gently nip her neck, drawing a sudden gasp from her.

"Dom…"

"Hmmm?"

Kel shivered as she felt the vibrations rolling down her skin and making her heart rate run wild.

Kel swallowed hard, trying to calm herself down. "I…I have never…and…I will need…a new charm before…I left my old one in Corus…I didn't think…"

Dom finally cut off her rambles. "Shhh Kel, it's fine, I would rather we take our time with this. I want this to be right for you."

He made her look up at him. "I love you Keladry, I can wait forever to make love with you." He kissed her deeply before stepping away and letting her find her night clothes.

"I'll be back soon sweets. I'll just go fetch my night things."

Before Dom could even put his hand on the door however, he felt Kel's hand on his shoulder.

"Dom, just stay please."

He turned back to see Kel standing with the dress over her arm, wearing so very little that he had to swallow hard to keep himself from saying anything. "We might not be able to take the next step, but I'm sure we could still begin our discoveries."

Dom's eyes looked bright. "Kel…I want to, but I think we should still wait until you have your charm. It's just too easy to get carried away." He took a step closer, all he needed to do before he was able to sweep her up into a kiss.

It didn't last long as he quickly realized that Kel was standing within his arms almost fully naked.

"I need to get my things love, just get ready for bed." He kissed her once more before quietly leaving for his room next door.

Kel sighed, "I really need that blasted charm. Why did I have to leave it at Corus in the first place?"

But she knew the answer, she was not expecting to start a romance on a mission, and it had actually been several years since things had ended with Cleon.

Kel had just finished pulling on her night shirt when Dom reentered the room. He was in his night clothes and had a bundle under his arms.

"For tomorrow, Raoul told us sergeants that we would have tomorrow off so we could prepare better for the mission. We start official business day after tomorrow."

Kel nodded before slipping into her bed, Dom followed shortly after her.

"What do you have in mind for tomorrow?" Kel asked as she cuddled deeper into Dom's chest.

"Well, I was thinking that, since I no longer need clothes, and I only have a few items to have repaired, I would find a lady friend to accompany me around town?"

Kel began the kiss, "I'll meet you around noon?" she asked after moving away. Dom answered with a kiss of his own.

Wolset had been returning from the stables when he saw Dom slipping from Kel's room. He was about to tease his sergeant when he saw him slip into his own room.

He then decided, with his fun all gone, that he would do best to grab something from the kitchen area.

This time he nearly yelped when he saw Dom slip back into the Lady Knight's room, wearing his night clothes and having a bundle under his arm. There was no doubt in his mind as to where the younger man was sleeping tonight.

"I'll be havin' a word with that young man." He muttered to himself. "He had better not be breakin' my lady's heart. And he had better not be takin' advantage neither, after all, he t'was the one who started the whole 'protect Kel's virtue' campaign. " Wolset shook his head. There was no denying now that Kel had grown up. She was a full knight able to make her own choices, but to Wolset, and many others of the Own, she was still the youngster who Raoul took under his wing.

Shaking his head at his own folly, Wolset went into the room he shared with Riley.

Riley looked up when he entered. "What took you so long? I was beginning to think that maybe your horse kicked you in the head."

Wolset shook his head, "I t'was just thinking about her ladyship and Sergeant Domitan."

"Ah, I see. Do you think this will end badly?" Riley couldn't help but ask, he had heard of Domitan of Masbolle the court flirt and all around heartbreaker, and he had even heard of "The Yamani Lump and her giant oaf" a few years ago but he didn't know the history between the two together.

Wolset shrugged as he thought. "Tis hard to tell. Dom has been through a dry spell with all o' the ladies, I'd have to say it started about the time Kel had her first sweetheart. And as far as my lady? Well, I have never heard o' anyone who could make her smile an' laugh like Dom, even her best friend Sir Nealan. Hell, I even saw her blushing a time o' two around him; she never did that with that sweetheart o' hers." Here he looked up at Riley. "Truth to tell, I wouldn't be surprised if in a year o' so Sergeant Domitan left us poor men to marry that lass. They both had it hard for the 'ther from the get go."

The men sat in silence contemplating the future of the couple not that far away.

Both knew one thing for sure, life was about to get very interesting for Third Company with a romance this big going on.

AN: I will try to get another chapter up at the end of the week, I have been finding time to write chapters in my busy schedule...only problem is that that is during my Evolution class...