Disclaimer: I own half of everything Neal owns. But that's it.
Through this world I've stumbled
so many times betrayed,
Trying to find an honest word,
to find the truth enslaved,
Oh you speak to me in riddles and
you speak to me in rhymes
My body aches to breathe your breath,
your words keep me alive
-Sarah McLachlan - Possession
A/N: Dom's back for the wedding. That's why he's there. Oh, and this is dedicated to... er... Kate and Min. I hope this gives you courage through your trying times. Ha. Ha. Ha. You SO know I'm loving this.
Underneath the Surface - Chapter 6 - The Spy Who Loved Me
Darkness. She was safe here. Safe in the darkness.
Kel had always thought that sleep was one of the best ways to delude yourself into thinking you were safe. When you slept, you didn't have to worry about Scanrans, or war, or duty. It was just emptiness. A vast, illimitable emptiness that could tend to swallow you whole.
When Kel woke up that morning, she wished she could have stayed in that emptiness for the rest of her life. She kept her eyes closed. No sense in letting in the light. She was warm. It was always warm when she woke up. She snuggled closer to the warmth, dimly noting that the warmth was solid.
"Hm," she murmured, gathering her arms and legs together into a ball. Hot air was blowing against her neck. It was comforting. She let the heat envelop her.
Kel noted a heaviness on her waist. What was she doing sleeping with practice weights on? It wasn't like her to forget to take them off...
"Kel?" a soft voice murmured close to her. What was that? She couldn't remember...
"You up?"
Kel's eyes opened grudgingly, more out of curiosity than need. Her vision came out blurry, a myriad of brightness and colors swirling harshly around her. A pale visage of emerald green appeared before her eyes before her sight returned.
Neal looked down at her intensely, breath warm on her cheek. His arm had gripped her around the waist somewhere during the course of the night. It tightened involuntarily as Kel returned his gaze.
She swallowed.
Neal smiled at her suddenly. It was a boyish smile, full of charm and laughter. He blushed and tilted his head upward to kiss her forehead. Kel felt herself turn red all over. She wondered if he noticed.
"Mornin', love," he said as he unconsciously tightened his grip on her waist while trying to stretch. Kel found herself up against his chest. She blushed.
"Neal, your - arm," Kel found herself saying as Neal yawned.
He raised an eyebrow. "You mean to tell me that after all these years I can't hold you? I'm hurt, lover." He let out a teasing smile.
All the blood in Kel's cheeks seemed to drain. She turned pale.
Neal snorted. "Oh, get off it. If I make you this uncomfortable, maybe you should leave."
Kel recovered enough to retort to him, "This is my bed, Queenscove. You get out."
Neal smiled at her. "No."
He picked her up, despite her energetic protests, and dropped her neatly onto the floor opposite to the side where he had been sleeping. Kel swung at him, grabbing a clump of sheet in her hands on her way down. She held the sheet and pulled.
Neal came down with a muffled yelp as he became entangled with the sheet. One of the sides had wrapped around his legs, yanking him downward and straight on top of Kel.
Neal glared at her. "Now why did you do that?"
Kel raised an eyebrow. "You kicked me out of bed."
"So?"
"So?" Kel replied incredulously. "It is my bed, whether you recall that correctly or not."
Neal growled at her. At last, he broke out into a smile. "Ah, well. At least now I have you right where I want you."
"And where would that be?" Kel said, not quite realizing what he meant.
He grinned. "This is the second time in two days that I've straddled you."
"Been keeping track, have we Queenscove?" Kel said, trying to keep her voice from cracking and the color away from her face.
"You know I have. I need to keep tabs on my women, you know." He shrugged from on top of her.
"Fuck you, Neal."
"I'm working on it." He grinned when Kel's face turned bright red. She glowered at him before pushing him off her and getting up.
"Hm. You deserved that. Now get out, I need to get dressed," she told him as she walked toward her dressing area.
"But that thin nightgown does suit you ever so well," he remarked impudently.
Kel turned around. "Do you try to be pig headed?"
"Only when it's convenient." He snorted and stood up. Kel gave a frustrated sighed and walked over to the door. She opened it.
"Out with you. I'll meet you at breakfast."
Neal grinned and bowed. "Thank you for a wonderful time, Lady Keladry."
"Oh, can it Neal. Now go away."
"As my lady wishes," he said, turning to walk out the door.
"And stop calling me that!" Kel retorted as he started to walk down the hallway.
"Sure, milady. Anything you say, milady." She heard him laugh as she closed the door on his retreating back. Sighing, she leaned up against the door and closed her eyes. What was he doing to her?
Kel swallowed and forced herself to go get dressed. She had told Neal to have breakfast with him, and she wouldn't dream of breaking her promise.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
Kel entered the mess, feeling out of place. She had always found her home here, from the time she was a child. Now, it seemed desolate and unfamiliar. Pages stopped to gawk at the second lady knight in hundreds of years. Squires whispered at her from their tables. Kel felt quite uncomfortable.
"Kel! Over here!" a familiar voice called to her. Kel turned in the direction of the voice and was met with a pleasant surprise.
She smiled broadly at Owen of Jesslaw, newly knighted and as green as ever. Kel walked over to her younger friend, barely able to contain her excitement.
"Owen! Back from the border?"
He grinned as she got in line for breakfast next to him. "For the wedding. I'm under orders from My Lord Wyldon, and since he was coming down to Corus, he decided that I could get off a bit early. I got in a couple of days ago."
"Oh. I didn't see you when I arrived yesterday. How have you been?"
Owen cocked his head to the side and blushed. "I've been well. Things have been - well, jolly." He grinned.
Kel snorted. "Anyone in particular that you're blushing over?"
Owen looked down and smiled. "I asked her."
"Asked who what?" Kel asked in confusion. Owen blushed again. Kel stared at him in perplexity.
Abruptly, Kel's confusion disappeared. "Owen! What did she say?" she asked, happiness bubbling in her voice.
He smiled stupidly. "Yes?" he said, making it sound more like a question than an answer.
"Owen!" Kel voiced, jumping up to wrap her arms around her younger friend. "You're getting married!"
"I know! Jolly, isn't it?" he said as they danced in line.
A throat was cleared nearby. Kel turned around. A squire, about 15, was looking down at his feet, looking quite uncomfortable.
"Yes?" Kel asked, barely able to hide her smile.
"Milady, the line. It's moving."
"Ah," Kel said, feeling the edges of her mouth twitch upwards. "Well, thank you squire."
She saw the squire blush before she turned back to Owen. "So, when did you ask her?" she asked in a much more subdued, quieter voice.
"Last night," was his reply. "I just can't believe it. It's all so - overwhelming. First Cleon, then Neal, now me! All we need to do is get you married off and we'll be all set!" he said, poking a finger at her chest.
Kel laughed. "I don't think that will be happening any time soon, Owen. I don't have time for romance, you know that."
"Come now, Kel. Don't tell me that you're going to be a spinster for the rest of your life. It would be like the female version of My Lord Raoul!"
Kel scowled at him. "Oh, be quiet. I don't need a husband. Not now, at least."
Suddenly, Kel felt arms wrap around her neck from behind her. Reacting without thinking, she gripped the owner's arm and flipped him over onto his back.
"Ouch."
Kel blushed. "Sorry, Neal."
"No you're not."
Kel pretended to think about it for a minute. Then, she replied. "No, I'm not."
"Payback?"
"Payback."
"We're even?"
Kel sighed as she held out her hand for Neal to take. "We're even." Neal grabbed her hand and pulled himself up.
"Thanks a lot, Kel," Neal drawled sarcastically.
"You're very welcome." She smiled sweetly at him.
Neal, noticing Owen for the first time since Kel had flipped him over, turned to his younger friend. "Hey, Owen. How are you?" Owen smiled.
"I'm jolly, Neal." He grinned stupidly again.
"Owen's getting married," Kel explained as Neal looked at Owen in confusion. Neal looked at her in shock for a second before turning back to Owen.
"Married? To that Amatan girl? When did you ask her?" he asked, thrilled for the green knight. His lips curved up in a broad smile. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well, I was going to," Owen started. "But I just asked her last night! What do you expect of me, Queenscove? It was - er - late," he said, blushing.
"Late? So, what?" Neal's eyes clouded with confusion.
Neal suddenly overcame his bewilderment. "Oh. Late. I get it, man.
Kel smacked her best friend on the arm. "Is that all you think about?"
Neal grinned. "Basically."
Kel sighed in exasperation. He was quite hopeless.
Kel, Neal, and Owen grabbed their food and sat down at an unoccupied table. Cleon joined them just as they were starting to eat their food. "Well, if it isn't the three court jesters?"
"I think you need to sit down, Kennan," Neal said cheerily. "Then it can be the four court jesters. Like it should be," he smiled sweetly at Kel.
Kel snorted indignantly. "I will have you know, that I do not belong to that group."
"Sure you do!" Neal said as he put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to him. "Ya gotta have friends, after all!"
Kel shrugged Neal off. "I never said I didn't have friends; I just don't want to belong to a clique of - buffoons, is all."
Neal clutched his heart. "Kel! I'm hurt! I'm a clown, not a buffoon! How could you mistake me for that kind of - creature?"
Kel snorted as Cleon observed what had just passed. Neal had hugged Kel around the shoulders and Kel had pushed him away. Why? They were best friends. She shouldn't feel uncomfortable around him, should she?
"All right, all right," Owen interceded. "That's enough from the two of you. Neal, eat your vegetables."
Kel and Neal stared at him. He blushed. "I thought I would save Kel the trouble."
Kel snickered while Neal shook his head. "I'm doomed..." he murmured softly. "I will never escape them. Alas."
Cleon raised an eyebrow. "Right. Well, I'm off to get breakfast. I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Bye, Cleon!" Owen said as the red head walked toward the breakfast line. Kel laughed as she returned her attention to her plate. The pancakes here were good...
"My, my," a voice droned from behind Kel and Neal. "What do we have here? Two resident green knights. And I thought I had gotten rid of you back at New Hope. Darn."
Kel and Neal turned around to a familiar blue eyed sergeant. "Dom!" Kel cried as she jumped out of her seat and embraced him.
Neal looked on at them with a strange sort of feeling. It ate at him, devouring him from the inside. A surge of possessiveness overcame him as he stood up.
"Domitan," Neal drawled. "So very good to see you, cousin."
"And you, Sir Meathead," Dom answered, as he released Kel, still holding an arm around her waist. Neal felt a low rumble come from the back of his throat. He shouldn't be holding Kel like that! He hadn't even - even - announced his intentions yet! It wasn't proper to hold a lady such as Kel when he hadn't proclaimed to court her!
'Hypocrite.'
Neal shook the feeling off. He still had to put on a good show for his closest cousin. "I'm surprised they let you out of that mud pit you call home, Dom. I didn't think they thought you would be ready for civilized society just yet," he uttered stuffily.
"Speak for yourself, Meathead. I really can't be bothered with your childish bickering with the beautiful Lady Keladry in my arms." He flashed a dazzling smile to her and she blushed.
Neal felt a surge of anger well inside of him. How could he just - just - do that? They weren't even - courting for Mithros' Sake! At least show some decency in public!
"Yes, well I'm not the one still calling people childish nicknames. You really need to grow up, Domitan."
Neal turned away from him and crossed his arms over his chest, gazing haughtily over the mess. He heard a snort coming from Dom's direction. The snort repeated itself, this time coming in faster succession. Finally, it became an all out laugh.
"Oh, come here, you Meathead. Give your cousin a hug," Dom said as he laughed and drew Neal into his arms. Neal felt himself hug him back, albeit a bit reluctantly.
When Dom released him, Neal sat back down in his chair, beckoning both Dom and Kel to do the same. He turned to Owen. "Oh, Owen. By the way, have you met my cousin, Domitan of Masbolle? He's a sergeant in the King's Own."
Owen smiled and extended his hand to Dom. "I've seen you around, but never actually introduced myself. Sir Owen of Jesslaw."
Dom held out his hand and shook Owen's. "Pleasure to meet you, Jesslaw. I think I've seen you too. Wyldon's squire, right?" Owen nodded. "I'll tell you, it was a surprise to hear that that old crone had taken a squire. Always so stiff..." Dom laughed. "I had him once in a training simulation. He was hanging around the Own's barracks and My Lord asked him to run an exercise." He grinned. "I always knew you were insane for wanting to be a knight, Meathead. That just proved it." Dom affectionately ruffled Neal's hair.
Neal looked at him indignantly. "Please. Not the hair."
Dom snorted. "You're worse than a woman, Queenscove."
"I happen to take pride in my appearance," Neal retorted, pursing his lips together. "I care what I look like, unlike you, swine. Rolling around in the mud like a commoner."
Kel frowned and opened her mouth to speak. "Neal, I know you like to play the insensitive noble, but it doesn't really suit you."
Neal shot her a glance. He was about to say something, but changed his mind. "Sorry, Kel. I know you care about them." Kel tightened her lips, but relaxed them a moment later. He was making an effort, at least.
"It's all right," she murmured softly, looking down at her food. Dom looked at the two of them. They were being ridiculous. So - formal. They were never like this before...
"Oh, come now, you two. Lighten up," Owen said from his place on the other side of the table.
"Yeah," Dom chimed in. "No need for conflict. Especially not this early in the morning." He yawned, as if to prove his point.
Kel looked up at Neal. His green eyes looked on at her softly. He placed his hand over hers and smiled tightly.
"There we are," Dom said, satisfied at the job he had done.
Kel leaned and rested her head on Neal's shoulder. She felt him stiffen a bit, then relax. Kel sighed and picked at her pancakes while Dom and Cleon talked about - something. She thought it might have been Scanra, but she could have been wrong. She couldn't pay attention when she was resting so comfortably on Neal's shoulder, eating breakfast like it was an ordinary day.
'It could always be like this,' Kel thought absently. 'If you and him were - well, together. We could be happy. I could be happy.'
Kel swallowed and stabbed at a stray sausage. It would never happen. Neal was getting married in two weeks. It wasn't going to change because she thought that she might - fancy - him.
"Hello all!" Cleon said, coming up from behind Kel. She jumped. Cleon laughed at her restlessness. "All right there, Kel?"
She nodded to him, slightly perturbed. "Of course, Cleon. Just gave me a scare, is all."
"Hm," he said, pulling up a seat next to Neal. He noticed Dom sitting on the other side of the table. "Who're you?" he said, stuffing a hash brown into his mouth.
"Domitan of Masbolle. Friends call me Dom," he answered, holding out his hand to Cleon. The red head shook it and returned his attention to this breakfast.
"He's Cleon," Kel told Dom. "He has absolutely no manners or tact, so don't expect him to be polite. He's a rude ungrateful clown who wouldn't know a delicate situation if it hit him in the head with one of Lord Raoul's lances."
Cleon waved a hand at Dom while still eating a sausage. "Thash me," he said in between bites.
"A pleasure, I'm sure," Dom replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Hm," Cleon grunted as he started on his pancakes. Dom returned to his conversation with Owen on - whatever they were talking about, and Kel and Neal finished their breakfast in comfortable silence.
Kel finally stood up when she was finished. All of the others looked at her. "I think I'll be heading back to my rooms now," she announced. Dom stood up quickly.
"Well, I'll just have to - er - accompany you," he stuttered. Blushing, he continued. "I was hoping we could talk. I haven't seen you in a while, Kel, and - er - I would like to be updated on all the important things happening in your life."
Kel blanched. What was Dom doing? Why was he suddenly nervous?
"Uh... sure Dom. If you want to," Kel replied uneasily. Cleon snickered. "What's wrong with you, Cling-on?" Kel snapped at him.
Cleon snorted. "Nothing's wrong, Lady Kel. Nothing," he said, turning to Owen, who was also grinning.
Kel turned to Neal, who was looking, surprisingly, indifferent. "And what of you, Neal? Do you find this funny as well?"
Neal looked up at her and raised an eyebrow. "Not at all," he answered seriously. Kel pulled back and swallowed. That was - strange...
"Well, good. Now, if no one else has any particular qualms about me walking Kel to her rooms, I suggest that we leave. Milady?" Dom asked Kel, holding out his arm to her and grinning. Kel swallowed and gripped her arm reluctantly. She didn't want to seem rude, but she also didn't want to be teased relentlessly by her friends later either.
They departed, leaving a tittering Cleon and a cackling Owen in their wakes. "Are they always like this?" Dom asked as they walked through the mess' exit.
"Most of the time," Kel admitted. "Although, I think they're just happy that they have something to finally tease me about."
Dom smiled perfectly. "You mean they don't tease you already, mother?"
Kel glared at him. "Very funny, Dom."
Dom grinned.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
"You do know that we have to spy on them?" Cleon told his two friends at the mess table. Neal's head shot up.
"Well, of course. It's our duties, as Kel's friends," Owen chimed in. "We need to make sure this Dom fellow is all right for her. I'm not going to hold the fact that he's related to Neal against him, mind you. He seemed perfectly nice."
"But we can't be sure," Cleon uttered. He stood up. "Come, followers! Onward!"
Owen stood up as well and got behind Cleon, ready to go and spy on Kel.
Neal raised an eyebrow. 'This is ridiculous.'
Cleon, noticing that Neal didn't share their particular enthusiasm, turned to him. "Aren't you coming, Neal?"
He glared at the two other knights. "I don't have to spy on my own cousin for Mithros' Sake. Besides, he's with Kel. Kel wouldn't do something stupid like rush in to a relationship. Give her some credit."
Owen looked down at him, a bit disappointed. "Oh, come on, Neal. It'll be fun! Trust me!"
Neal sighed. How did he know that this would end up painfully?
"Oh, fine. But I'm blaming this all on you two," he grumbled as he got up off his seat and joined his friends.
"I'm going to regret this."
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
"So, Kel. How has life been treating you?" Dom asked as he and Kel rounded a corner. Kel sighed.
"Well, for the most part. I've been on border duty for a long time now. The war gets tiring after a while." Dom nodded understandingly.
"I know what you mean. The worst part sometimes is just waiting around for the Scanrans to strike. It kills you to not know what they're plotting over there."
"Doesn't it?" Kel replied. "Sometimes it seems like I'm the only one fretting over this war. Everyone else seems so - calm. I wonder how they do it, sometimes."
Dom looked at her skeptically. "Kel, do you ever show any emotion in war?"
Kel pursed her lips and looked to her feet. "Well, no. But that doesn't mean I don't feel anything."
"It's the same with them," Dom replied. "With all of us. We all have our fears about this war. Whether we chose to voice them is preference. Where you were posted, I suppose, most like to keep quiet."
Kel swallowed and didn't respond. Dom looked at her fretfully. "Kel?"
"I don't know, Dom," she started. "It's been hard. I've been up there for months, not seeing a familiar face-" she snorted "-except for Cleon of course." She paused. "But here, everything's so much more - relaxed. It's different. It's almost like coming home to find yourself in a foreign land. I can't explain it well," she said softly. They had stopped walking.
"Look, Kel," he started, gripping her shoulders tightly. "We all feel like that sometimes. But the palace will always be a home to you. You'll always be welcome. You do know that, don't you?"
Kel sighed and looked down at the floor. Sullenly, she nodded. "I do," she started quietly. "Things are just changing so quickly though. It's - hard."
He moved to cup her cheek with his hand. "Don't worry, princess. You'll get through it. You always do."
Kel swallowed and looked up at Dom. What was he doing? Why was he acting so - Neal-like?
Dom simpered and removed his hand from Kel's face. She let out the breath she didn't know she had been holding. "Would you like to take a walk with me, Lady Knight? In the gardens, perhaps?"
Kel weighed her options. Dom wanted to take her to the garden. She had heard how men had taken women there over the years to court then. Seduce them, even. Sure, he was nice enough, but he was Dom. Neal's cousin. He was handsome, sweet, kind... but Kel just wasn't attracted to him.
Then again, she didn't want to seem rude.
"Sure, Dom. I'd like that."
He smiled at her. "Well then milady. We should be walking in the opposite direction then," he said as they turned around and started walking towards the gardens.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Hey! Where are they going? They're turning around!" Cleon hissed. "Crap, get back, guys! Or they'll see us!" Cleon, Owen, and Neal scampered down the hallway in an attempt to avoid Kel and Dom. They had been spying vigilantly for a while now, watching Kel and Dom with the utmost attention.
Well, more correctly, Neal had been watching with the utmost attention. Owen was off in dreamland fantasizing about his betrothed and Cleon was thinking how good the toast had been in breakfast.
Now that they were in danger of being caught, however, the two other knights had snapped to attention. They hurried quietly to the other side of the hallway, praying to the gods that Kel and Dom wouldn't see them. That would take the fun out of their most enjoyable outing.
They had rounded a hallway just before Kel and Dom turned into the corridor they had been standing in moments before. Owen breathed a sigh of relief. From there, they continued their spying more carefully and attentively, making sure that they weren't caught by surprise again.
The trio watched Kel and Dom walk into the gardens. "Why do you think they went there, instead of her rooms?" Cleon asked absently.
Neal elbowed him. "Shush. Don't speak so loud. It's probably better that they went to the gardens instead of her rooms, when you think about it."
Cleon gazed at Neal. "Honestly, Nealan. Can you revert your mind away from sex for one single blessed minute?"
Neal shot Cleon a dirty glance, then turned back to spying at Kel and Dom from inside. "I can't hear what they're saying. We need to get closer," he voiced.
Owen nodded. "We can hide in those bushes over there." He pointed to a cluster of shrubbery a bit off from where Kel and Dom were walking.
Cleon nodded. "Yeah, I think that's a good idea. Come on, let's sneak over there," he said quietly while getting down on his hands and knees.
Neal eyed him skeptically. "You have to be kidding me. I am not crawling over there."
Cleon looked up at him. "It's the only way to get there without being caught. Unless you want Kel to know that you've been spying on her." Neal scowled at his younger friend.
"Fine. But no one will hear of this. Ever. Do you understand, Kennan? That means you too, Jesslaw."
Cleon snorted. "Fine. Let's go."
"Owen?" Neal asked impatiently.
Owen nodded. "Of course not, Neal. That wouldn't be very jolly."
Neal rolled his eyes. Him and that jolly...
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
"So how are things with My Lord?" Kel asked Dom attentively, strolling through the grand garden of the Royal Palace. It was a mildly cool day, for the middle of September. The leaves were already starting to fall. The flowers, however, were still as beautiful as they had been during the first buds.
"Raoul? He's as comical as ever. A bit busier with Buri's pregnancy, but still comical. He'll make a good father," Dom replied.
"Well, I already knew that," Kel told him. "He hasn't been playing any practical jokes on Lord Wyldon lately, has he?"
Dom snickered. "Well, I do remember an incident with a certain pie..." He laughed. "But other than that, none. He hasn't had time to torture us with his jokes with Buri snapping at him every five seconds. You would think the woman was going through her changes."
Kel scowled at him. "Well, she has been carrying around a baby in her stomach for almost nine months now. I don't think you would be very happy about it either, Domitan of Masbolle," she retorted.
"Touchy," Dom answered. "Don't worry, Kel. I'm only joking with you." He laughed, and eventually, Kel joined in. She ended up looking up into his clear sapphire eyes. Abruptly, Dom's laughter stopped. He looked at her with such an intense look, she was afraid he might-
A figure appeared in the corner of Kel's eye, scurrying across the gardens on hands and knees. 'What the?' Kel thought as she turned her face away from Dom's just as his mouth was about to reach hers. Dom was left standing there staring, as Kel watched the nearby bushes.
"Did you see something in those bushes? Kel asked him, looking over his shoulder and into brush. Dom turned around.
"No," he started. "No, I don't see anything. Now, Kel-"
"I could have sworn I saw something in there," she told him, craning her neck to get a better look. Dom sighed.
"Kel, I need to tell you something!" Dom announced loudly.
"What?" Kel asked, walking away from Dom and toward the bushes.
"Kel, would you come back here? There's nothing there!" Dom called to her as she walked closer to the shrub. "Kel!"
Kel heard a curse come from behind the bush. "Shit." Suddenly, she saw a familiar patch of red hair pop up from near the back of the bush.
"Heh... heh... Kel. Hello. Fancy seeing you here. Lovely day, isn't it?" Cleon said nervously. Kel narrowed her eyes.
"You were spying on me," she stated dully.
"Um... no?"
"Really, Kel! We weren't!" Owen said as he jumped up. A yelp was heard as a frazzled Neal tripped and fell forward due to Owen's energetic announcement. The green-eyed man fell on top of the bush and right onto Kel, knocking her down.
Kel looked up at Neal, the breath knocked out of her. They were lying on the ground of the palace gardens, faces close, Neal on top of her. Lovely.
"Eh... hi Kel," Neal breathed as he propped himself up on two elbows. He remained on top of her.
"Neal," Kel replied. "What are you doing?"
He laughed apprehensively. "Well, whatever we were doing, it wasn't spying on you and my cousin," he said.
Kel gave him a skeptical look. "Really? Then what were you doing in a bush?"
He blushed from on top of her. "Er... I was looking for a sample of a certain plant for a medicine for my father, and Cleon and Owen decided to join me?"
"Is that a question or an answer?" Kel asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Uhm... my, this position is getting very familiar, don't you think, Kel?" Neal asked, causing Kel to blush.
She smacked him on the head lightly. He yelped. "Don't change the subject," she told him authoritatively.
"Hey! Neal, get off her!" Dom called from behind them, snapping out of the stupor that he had been in since Kel had discovered his cousin and their two friends spying on them. He grabbed Neal roughly by the scruff of his tunic and pulled him off the Lady Knight.
"Ow!" Neal cried as he got to his feet. "Did you have to do it that - brutally? That hurt!"
"Good," Dom told him as he reached out a hand for Kel. She stood up. "You deserved it. Spying on us... the nerve. I really should tell Uncle of your behavior, Neal."
Neal blanched. "Father? No... I don't think his poor heart could take it! Don't put him through that!" he told his cousin.
Cleon and Owen snorted. Neal turned to them. "Do you have something to say, you uncivilized savages? I told you this was a bad idea!" He turned to Kel and Dom. "They made me do it! I swear!"
Cleon and Owen shook their heads while hiding barely contained grins. "No, no," Owen started. "Neal even thought of this jolly idea!"
"Yeah," Cleon joined in. "It was all his scheming. He didn't think that we could trust his cousin with our lovely lady knight," he said, flashing a smile to Kel. She scowled at him, then turned to Neal.
"Neal?"
His eyes bulged. "It wasn't me! I swear!" He backed away from Kel. "It wasn't!" He swallowed.
Kel shot him a doubtful glance, but dismissed it. "Let's just go back inside," she started, sighing. Neal let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding. Cleon and Owen laughed quietly while Dom shot Neal a dirty glance.
Together, they all went inside, Kel slightly redder than she had been before.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
A/N: So... you liked? Yay... I did. I thought it was... interesting, to be sure. I mean, I'm not one to say that my fics are good; usually I'm all... "They suck, I hate this chapter, yadda, yadda, yadda," but I like this for some reason. Maybe it's that I have actual plot development. Hm. Could be. Wow. Plot development. Me. Wow. Oh, and be happy. 15 pages. Full. Heh... anyway, love you guys. You're all so sweet... reviewing my story and such. If you email me, please put ff.net, UtS or Rebound as the subject. Or pink bunnies. They're fun... love you all. You "rock my box," as Min would say.
Much love,
Stacey
P.S. The part with the pie... that was semi inspired by Valencia22's Apple, Cherry or Blueberry? Go read it. It's funny. Now knave. But review first. Heh. Heh. Heh.
P.P.S. Sorry, Judie. You told me that you weren't going to be checking your mail for a while so I sorta figured that you wouldn't get this for a while. Love ya though.