As Dom went to see the King's Own, - who Piers had invited against their warnings of mischief- Kel walked along side him, watching as her sisters and childhood friends along with many people she didn't know danced. Even those women who weren't court ladies still looked graceful as they did elaborate dances. Her father was dancing with Jamey, twirling her around seemingly effortlessly, though she noticed the signs of his pain hidden deep beneath the smile. She glanced around looking for Emily, finding her asleep in Ander's arms as he rocked her to the music. Beside him was his wife, Neal was sitting close by watching for signs of exhaustion. She had probably argued in till Neal was afraid that the stress of not going would outweigh the benefits of bed rest.

"I think I would like to go say hello to Vorinna. Would you like to come, Dom?" He broke off his talk with some of his men and nodded.

"Keladry! I have missed you, especially lately. I remember when you were young and when we could get you to sit down for more than a few moments how you loved to read. I miss those days of reading with you, so smart for one so young. "Kel blushed, overwhelmed, she was not use to Vorinna, and how she could talk for hours about nothing. Not that she wasn't very intelligent and didn't have things to say, she just loved to talk.

"Lady Vorinna, I must remind you that it is getting late and you must go back to bed rest soon. Alanna would have my head if she knew how lenient I have been." He started to mutter to himself, leaving Kel and the others to talk. However when Vorinna started to yawn, everyone glanced at her nervously. They were all afraid for her health, including Dom. He knew what it would do to Kel to lose a niece, and what it would do to Anders to lose another son, and maybe even his wife.

"Anders if you would like to escort this beautiful lady here back to her rooms I would be glad to take the little princess." Anders nodded gratefully, handing a slightly fussy Emily over to Dom.

"Now just because I am a woman doesn't mean I can't choose when to go to my own rooms." She glanced at both men accusingly. "And I would like a dance first." At this she looked to her husband who simply bowed, offering her his arm.

"Are you sure you should be dancing..." He glanced around to them, "you know... in your condition." He flinched when Kel hit him in the stomach; she still had just as hard of a hit.

"She is pregnant, not lame, Dom you dolt." She shook her head. "Just because she is pregnant doesn't mean she can't dance. Pregnant women would like to dance sometimes too." He glanced at her questioningly, wondering about her slight overreaction.

As Vorinna and Anders began to walk away suddenly Anders turned around once again, fixing a slight glare at Dom. "I think my sister would like to dance Domitian." He smiled and turned to lead his wife into a slow dance. Dom glanced to Kel, trying to mask his surprise.

"Would you? You know like to dance." He had his head tilted to the side and she wanted to kiss him so bad, as she watching him chew on his lip.

"Dom just because I look like an ungraceful horse on the dance floor doesn't mean I don't like to dance sometimes." She looked shocked at herself and fought the urge to duck her head down.

"Gods Kel! I didn't mean it like that. I just thought you might be tired and I have never seen you dance all that much at all the court functions. I didn't mean to offend you. I just want to make you happy and please stop that pout cause I really want to kiss you and make it go away but I think that might be a little inappropriate with Em in my arms." Her smile instantly widened at the new nickname and the way he was rocking softly, even as he talked and his eyes changed color to his I'm truly sorry blue.

"Neal would you do me a favor? Hold Emily while Dom and I dance? We will be right back I promise." She softly grabbed Emily from Dom's arms and deposited her in Neal's lap as he stuttered. She turned as she was walking away. "Oh yea! Don't drop her. Thank you!"

Dom laughed as Kel pulled him away from Neal quickly. As she stopped to get her breath he bowed in front of her. "Would my lady like to have this dance?" She giggled a little as she placed her hand on his arm softly. He pulled her into his arms as soon as they reached the dance floor. He placed one arm around her lower back, his hand resting on her hip. In his other hand he held hers. She had placed one hand around his neck and her hand was threaded through some of his hair. They both smiled at the intimacy.

Kel found that dancing with Dom, dancing this close together made it all more enjoyable. Dom was the most graceful man she had ever seen, well besides the players of course, though he could rival even some of them. When he moved she also had to move due to their closeness, and as he danced a step forward she was forced to move in time with him a step back. Their legs were so close they were nearly one and Kel found she didn't have to focus on her steps as much.

Most of the couples around them looked in jealousy or happiness as Kel's joyful laugh to Dom's stories rang out. He was pointing out as they talked how the King's Own were dancing with many of the maids and women of the town. He laughed, a deep and handsome laugh, as she told him stories of the sergeant-at-arms' daughter, Melissa, who Wolset was currently dancing with. She was a beautiful girl, but Kel's father paid well and she would not need to marry for money, so she was old for not being married. Kel remembered that after a raid that killed the sergeant's wife, Melissa was never allowed to play for long because her father always wanted to spend as much time as he was able with his little girl. He said that besides protecting Mindelan, she was all that was important to him. Looking upon her childhood friend, she didn't know how she felt. As Melissa laughed to something Wolset had said, and Melissa's father glared from across the room, Kel felt happiness. She would be content to dance with Dom, in this room full of friends and family, forever if it was possible.

Authors Note: Ok I tried to make this one a little longer to make up to my previous hiatus. This isn't how I wanted this chapter to turn out but I kept having to rewrite it because the characters just didn't seem like themselves and they didn't seem happy in the roles I placed them. I'm not sure how I feel about this version but I think it stays with the characters' character (if that didn't confuse you) and should continue the story nicely. Ok I know this is possibly going to be the longest ball ever cause I think I'm going to write another chapter to it or maybe just the ending of it or something. But I think I'm going to move right along and I may skip a small period of time here and there to keep the story.

My teachers always got mad at my writing because I wouldn't write a story line till after I had completed the story. I know some things I would think I would like to happen, but I'm not always sure how or why or when or any of that, sometimes I'm not even sure how, so I just write and add some of these mini-plots as I would like to call them where they fit. I already know what I want to do with the story that will follow this one but I'm not yet sure how this one will end so I am just kinda going with the flow. Ok so I'm going to stop rambling so you can click that review button for me and let me know what you think. Tell me if there is anything you would like to see added. (I actually write this stuff down! Like TheWackedOnesuggested I bring Cleon into the story and include the squad, so I have already written a little short story that should fit in some where nicely with the squad and I plan to add Cleon in a lot in the beginning of the next story.) Ok now seriously ill stop rambling. I think I need someone standing on my shoulder that screams in my ear every time I start talking/typing too much. Just one more word… well and a cute little smiley face.

REVIEW!

OOOhhh and maybe a ducky ..:-