It was the next day when Dom made it known to everyone else in the camp, that the Protector of the Small was in their midst.

The camp had been eating for about ten minutes and the whole time, Dom and Kel had been communicating just by tiny head movements. Kel kept on protesting no, and Dom was saying yes. He had a plan for everyone to know who Kel was, and he was determined to use it today.

Once everyone (or pretty close to) had finished their lunch, Dom stood up to get their attention. He started off his speech with commenting on the normal news. He congratulated the families who had a new member and on how well the recent harvest had gone on. But he said it all with a smirk playing across his face, to the amazement of some members of the Own.

Then he got onto the topic.

'As you will all be pleased to hear, there is someone actually sitting alone,' he started and all heads turned to Kel, who blushed and kept her head down. 'And you know what? I think that I will have to drag her to her normal spot.'

He paused for dramatic effect.

'Kel,' he called. 'Come on.' Once it was clear that Kel wasn't going up the front on her own, Dom lept over the table (putting his feet in Neal's face at the same time) and walked over to her.
Kel jumped as a hand suddenly entered her vision. She looked up into Dom's eyes and smiled at him. She took his hand and grabbed Neal (2)'s and together for the first time, the family walked up to the front.

There was shock that went through the citizens of New Hope before they all stated cheering for their protector. Whispers went through the crowd as to who she was, filling all those who didn't know her, in on all of the blanks.

With a players knowing smirk, Dom leaned over and caught Kel in a deep kiss. She broke off and blushed at the wolf-whistles that went through the group, then, throwing all into the winds leaned in for more.

I AM A STORY BREAK

Later that night, a huge feast was held to welcome Kel back. Only those cooks who hadn't known Kel before she had disappeared were grumbling and that even didn't last long. If they didn't shut up about it once told, they were thrown out of the kitchen and new hands recruited to help, ones who they knew, weren't going to complain bout the extra work.

Some of the others decorated the mess hall with what they could find. In fact it was done up, some of the younger children were asking if it was midwinter again.

Later that night all of the people in town crowded into the mess hall with excited faces, children were lifted up of their parents shoulders so that they could see better and the other children ran up to the front. Dom marched Kel in proudly. He spun her around once and then bowed. The people clapped and cheered and then fell silent for Kel's speech.

'You are all wanting a speech aren't you?' she asked all the people there. There was an enthusiastic cheer and then Dom held up his hand for silence.

'Over to you, love,' he said, still with that grin on his face.

'Right, um.. I missed you all when I was there. It was the thought of finally wining this war against Scanria and getting you all safe that kept me going. I went through tough times but I made it through to be here with you all today and, um ...' Kel stopped trying to think of something to say, so Dom took over.

'I like to present to you all my son, Neal!' he yelled and put his own son on his shoulders. Neal (2) laughed and everyone clapped for him. Kel, with the biggest smile on her face she had ever had, kissed Dom on the cheek.

'Thank you,' she whispered to him. Dom looked at her with a smile.

'Can you both just declare this open so I can eat?' Neal yelled out from his position in the back, closest to the food tables. Kel laughed and ten laughed even harder as Yuki hit her husband over the head with her fan. At least some things don't change, Kel thought happily.

'I declare this open!' Dom yelled and then took Neal (2) from around his shoulders. Other children of the camp came up and started to play with Neal at once. Never having someone his own age to play with before, Neal (2) was delighted.

Dom led Kel down to the food, grabbed some and started feeding her. Kel laughed and swatted his hand away.

After a little while, a line started to form to welcome Kel back. Naturally, Franche was first in that line.
'Why didn't you tell us that it was you?' she demanded of Kel, who was now tucked firmly in the crook of Dom's arms. Kel hurried up to eat the grape Dom had shoved in her mouth only a second earlier and answered.

'I didn't want to admit to some of the things that happened to me when I was captured,' Kel muttered back and Franche in a unique moment quickly hugged the younger woman and then left to let others say hello.

Eventually everyone managed to welcome Kel back and the dancing started.

In her time away, Kel had forgotten most of the dance steps and so kept on standing on Dom's feet until he lifted her up slightly and placed both of her feet on top of his, from there he led in the dances.

'Love you,' he whispered to her as he slowly spun her around, their foreheads touching.

'Love you more,' she replied.