The day of Dom and Chelsea's wedding was here. Dom's family was arriving and flooding into Corus. Chelsea's relatives had already arrived and were mingling with Nobles through the palace. Servants were busy adding finishing touches to the chapel and the reception hall. The palace was in a total buzz. As far as anyone could see there were no problems. Except the bride and groom didn't love each other and the groom's former lover was in the Healer's Quarter with twins. What could be better?

"What scheme have you cooked up George Cooper?" Alanna demanded walking into her chambers.

George looked up and tried to look innocent. With years for practice it should've been easy to fool his wife but the problem with fooling his wife was she was his wife.

"Don't try that with me George Cooper,"

He sighed.

"What are you talking about Lass?"

"I know you went to the Dancing Dove last night and I know you talked to a young boy; Chelsea's old fling. So tell me now what are you planning?"

"Lass, I just gave the boy a word of advice,"

Alanna frowned.

"You want Keladry and Domitan to get together, don't you?"

This time George frowned.

"Come on admit it," Alanna teased walking over to him. "Keladry reminds you of me just with the temper and Domitan reminds you of when you were young trying to win me over, right?"

"Just one problem with your theory,"

"And what's that?"

"Keladry is twice as tall as you and Domitan is nothing like me. He's a solider where I was a thief,"

"The point is still the same. And what did you say to that stablehand?"

George pulled Alanna into him.

"That is for me and him to know and you never to find out,"

Alanna swatted him but didn't press. She just hoped that whatever George said, that it worked…

KELDOMKELDOM

Kel gently walked around the room, rocking Alessandrea. Rylan was sleeping after his feed and Kel was trying to put Alessandrea to sleep. But Alessandrea didn't want to go to sleep. She wanted to glance around and try to make spit bubbles.

"I guess you already know who the father is,"

Kel turned to the voice. She should have been used to that voice seeing as he was her doctor. Baird smiled at her.

"But I did a test anyway,"

"Dom's the father,"

"So why isn't he here?"

Kel didn't say anything.

"Though being his wedding day, I can understand if he has other things on his mind. But usually you get your affairs in order and work out your business. Then again, Dom has never been one to follow the usually procedure,"

Kel felt tears prick at her eyes so she turned away before Baird could see her emotional. But Baird saw. He came up beside her and rubbed her back.

"He'll come around," Baird told her.

"Why does he always choose her?" Kel asked, in a very quiet voice. "Why am I second best?"

Baird sighed.

"I don't know Kel. If you like I could talk to him for you? Make him see some sense,"

"No, I can't have him coming for out of duty or something," she sniffled. "No, he's made his bed and now he has to sleep in it,"

Baird sighed.

"Okay, if that's what you want,"

Kel's pride and honour was everything to her. Baird understood to have Dom come back to her whether he loved her or not went against everything her mind was telling her. Baird bet that she didn't even know that he loved her.

"He loves you," Baird told her before moving away. "And he's only marrying Chelsea because he thinks you don't care,"

Kel's Yamani mask came up and she turned away from Baird. Baird sighed and walked away from Kel.

"I still love him," Kel murmured as Baird reached the door. "I will always love him. But he has to marry Chelsea,"

"Why?"

"Because he always chooses her. And she, she will always be in his life. She is the Court Lady that his parents approve of and that the Court respect. She's everything that I'm not,"

"Keladry–"

"Your Grace, please,"

Baird understood what she was trying to say. He left her and Kel moved to the bed. She brought Alessandrea to her chest, ducked her head and let the tears flow. Her words hurt. And she was tired of hurting and pretending to be okay. She was tired of being strong and she was tired of being Keladry, Lady Knight and Protector of the Small.

Baird listened to her quiet sobs. All he wanted to do was bop his stupid nephew. He was causing one of the strongest women he knew to cry. Leaving his second in command in charge, he walked out of the Healer's Quarters. That girl needed Dom but Dom wasn't available. So Baird went to the next best thing, her best friends, his son and daughter in law…

KELDOMKELDOM

"I don't understand!" Neal exclaimed. "We're tried everything and Dom still wants to marry Chelsea,"

Baird and Ilane looked to each other.

"Then you're done everything you could," Ilane spoke. "But now I want you both to do a favour for me,"

"Anything Baroness," Yuki answered for both her and her husband.

"I want you both to go and find all your friends and Kel's friends. You will convince them to go to the wedding and the reception. You will wish Dom and Chelsea good luck on their honeymoon and on their new baby,"

"But what will Kel say?"

"She'll be glad for you to do this. Then tomorrow, you will start looking after Kel in any and every way possible. And you won't tell her that I asked you to do this,"

"Baroness," Neal started.

"I know this won't be an easy task and you don't have too, it's just that she'll need someone there,"

"We'll organise everything,"

"Good because in a couple of weeks I'll be leaving,"

Neal and Yuki understood. When you'd been with a person for so long, had children with them and now their gone, it was easy to stay away from the places that reminded you of them. Neal clutched Yuki's hand.

"Now I'm going to go see Kel and spoil those grandchildren of mine,"

Ilane stood up and left the room.

"You should go see Keladry before the wedding," Baird told them as he stood up. "I believe she would like that. She really enjoyed having you two there,"

Neal and Yuki said goodbyes to Baird as Kagomae wandered out to them. She had her own big girl bed now, so she came back and forth constantly. Yuki had put her down for a morning nap so she wouldn't be too tired this afternoon. The nap hadn't lasted very long.

"Mummy, can I see aunty Kelly peas?"

Kagomae rubbed her eyes sleepily and went over Yuki. Neal picked her up and Kagomae curled up on his lap.

"Of course we can but why don't you go pick out a dress for Uncle Dom's wedding?"

"I can pick my dress?"

Yuki smiled and nodded. Kagomae squealed with excitement and clambered off Neal's lap. She raced backed into her room. Yuki and Neal laughed but it was cut short by a loud crash sound coming from her room. Yuki quickly went into help out. Neal listened to his wife and daughter discus dresses and he shook his head.

"I'm going to check on the G.R.O.O.M," Neal called out.

"Okay," Yuki acknowledged.

Neal didn't know what he was going to say to Dom but he knew he had to be pleasant. He knocked on the door and when it opened he was surprised to find Dom half asleep and only half dressed.

"Morning Dom,"

He looked up at him and looked at him strangely.

"Come in,"

Dom moved out of the way and back into the room with Neal following.

"What are you doing here?"

"In case you're forgotten, I'm your best man and here to make sure you make it to the chapel on time,"

"I'm not you Meathead, I can get dressed on time,"

"You do realise it is after brunch? Almost lunch actually," Neal told him sitting down on a nearby chair. "You're big appointment is in less then four hours away,"

"I'll be there on time,"

"Can you just get dressed so I can go back to Yuki?"

"Fine,"

Dom got the tunic and breeches out of the cupboard and went to the bathroom. Ten minutes later he was back.

"Look, you can go now,"

"Dom–"

"Meathead, please can I just be alone this morning? You can come back at lunch and we'll get a bite before the wedding. I just need to be alone,"

Neal moved to the door and (just like Baird had done earlier) turned back to Dom.

"You should go see Kel. I mean before you get married,"

Dom looked at him.

"For old times sake. Because once your married, your married. Death til you part,"

"Neal…"

"If you don't visit her now, don't visit her till well after your child is born,"

Neal closed the door and Dom collapsed on the bed. He groaned and slapped his hands over his eyes. Today was not looking good…