Disclaimer: No, I don't OWN them. Gods, how dense ARE you people? 

A/N: Warning: I am listening to Marylin Manson's "Tainted Love" while writing this. Be warned.

I'm too sexy for my love, too sexy for my love
Love's going to leave me
I'm too sexy for my shirt too sexy for my shirt
So sexy it hurts
And I'm too sexy for Milan too sexy for Milan
New York and Japan
And I'm too sexy for your party
Too sexy for your party
No way I'm disco dancing
            -Right Said Fred – I'm Too Sexy

Underneath the Surface – Chapter 11 – Strictly Nealan

Kel's hands shook as she clenched the doorknob firmly, her fingers turning a pale white color from the pressure being exerted on them. She stared at the closed door, with its sad stories of opportunities averted; love shoved the other way. She couldn't do anything but stand there, staring at the hard, wooden surface and wonder what would have happened if she had let Neal continue touching her.

Kel swayed, the hands that rested on the doorknob not enough to stop her knees from weakening and buckling as she slid her back up against the wall before swooning to the floor. She couldn't help it. Things were spinning out of control at too rapid a pace for her to keep track of, and she didn't like it one bit.

She hit the floor with a distinct 'thud,' her body colliding with the cold, hard surface of her rooms. She didn't realize that she was crying until wells of water poured onto her palms, dripping cold and wet, mercilessly, onto her hands. The hands that Neal had kissed before he had left her to get some air before the ball. The hands that he had held multiple times during the past week. The hands that were calloused, and worn, and tattered into the shape a warrior's hands were accustomed.

For once, Kel wished she had the hands of some fine courier. Or maybe Yuki's.

She didn't want to. She truthfully didn't. She wanted to be able to throw her feelings to hell and back, maybe jump on top of them a couple of times, crush them to the size of a pulp until they were so small they would gradually deteriorate on their own.

But that would be too simple. Her feelings liked to make things complicated. They were just like that.

Kel took deep breaths, inhaling slowly and deliberately, exhaling with the grim purpose of getting herself under control. Her breathing slowly returned to its normal pace with every purposeful ministration, as her shallow gasps became firmer inhalations. Kel rubbed her face once with her hands before remembering she was wearing face paint.

Realizing she didn't care, she rubbed her face again.

'This isn't me,' she thought as she got down on her hands and knees. 'It just... isn't.' She crawled to her bathroom, gripping the sink to steady herself and bring herself to her feet.

'I can't do this.'

Looking to the side, she saw the water basin that she was looking for. Taking a large quantity of water into her palms, she looked upward into the mirror. The face paint hadn't been rubbed away. Not yet, anyway. It was still there, albeit there were small streaks of black running down her cheeks from the eye paint Yuki had applied. The streaks could be washed away and treated as if nothing had happened...

'No,' Kel thought firmly. 'This just isn't... me. I can't be someone I'm not. I'm not some court lady fishing for a man. I have a perfectly good suitor who I'm sure will be able to make me very happy.'

Even thinking it, Kel knew it was a lie.

By then, the water had drained from her hands back into the basin, rippling through the washbasin effortlessly, making gradual circles in the pool of liquid. Kel stared at the water in a state of mild indifference, then turned back to look at herself in the mirror.

'I shouldn't have to change myself for him to notice me,' she told herself. Even in her thoughts, she sounded bitter. 'I shouldn't have to wear pretty face paint, or put on pretty dresses, or have Yuki dress me up like a porcelain doll. It isn't fair that he would perceive the fact that I actually do exist as a member of the opposite sex only when I actually look like one. Oh... this just sucks.'

Kel looked at her wet, slicked, hands. They were trembling, even though she had calmed herself before she had crawled over to the bathroom. She turned back to the mirror. She looked, quite frankly, like a washed out court lady. The ones that you heard about in theatricals that bawled and cried like idiots. Kel had thought it was just an exaggeration. Guess she was wrong.

Kel glared at her reflection defiantly. She would not conform to weakness. She wouldn't let a man's opinion – and behavior, for that matter – control her life. 'I shouldn't let Neal's actions dominate what I do. If he's going to notice me because I had some face paint put on, then that just proves that we're not right for each other. Besides, I didn't have Yuki put it on for him. It was for Dom. Wiping off the face paint would prove that he got to me. I can't let him see that.'

Kel wondered how it was possible for even your thoughts to sound hollow and fake when you're trying to lie to yourself.

Her features softened a bit as she dipped slim, calloused fingers into the water. Running them over her face, she washed away the lines of face paint her tears had caused. Once the black streaks were gone, she actually looked decent. You could barely tell she had been crying, if you didn't see her eyes. They would still be red and puffy for a while. Hopefully, they would return to their normal state before Dom decided to come and "escort" her to the ball. He would just have to ask questions.

And Kel would just have to lie.

She didn't like lying to him, but if it kept him from unnecessary hurt, then... what was the harm? What was she supposed to tell him? 'Oh, your cousin is sending me into a state of emotional turmoil, because I just might be in love with him, while we're both seeing different people'? That would have turned out well. Kel was sure that Dom would just welcome her with open arms after that.

Yet she found herself not caring much what Dom would do.

Maybe it was the fact that she had never really connected to Dom on the level of a lover like Neal had with Yuki. Maybe that was why it was so easy for her to look at Neal like something to be conquered, and for Neal to walk away. Then again, Neal had needed some pushing that last time. Kel was scared to think of what would have happened if she hadn't pushed him away that last time. The consequences might have been terrible, horrendous, and severe... and just possibly, extremely pleasurable.

Kel snorted as she rubbed under her eyes. Things were getting too confusing for her liking. Besides... it wasn't like she and Neal would ever undergo in those types of activities. So it was ridiculous to even bother to think of what the consequences might be.

When Kel realized that even in her mind, she sounded contradictory, she stopped thinking about it so hard and decided to fix herself back up for the ball.

Fixing the face paint wasn't as hard as she had thought. She supposed that applying it was the hardest part of it, and once it was on, you could improvise with it. Her dress had been crinkled from crawling on the floor, but it wasn't too obvious. She could get away with it, and only those who got up close enough to her would be able to see it. The only ones that would be happening to would be her friends: Dom, Yuki (most likely, to make sure she was still wearing this damnable corset), Cleon, Owen, and quite possibly Neal. Whoever asked her to dance might see it, but she highly doubted that anyone other than her friends would want to dance with her. That was ridiculous.

Checking herself over one last time, she walked over to a chair and sat down on it. Now the only thing left to do was to wait.

And wait.

And wait.

If Kel thought that the time Yuki spent doing her face paint was horrible, it was nothing compared to sitting here, awaiting Dom's arrival. She shouldn't have cared so much. It made her feel very cliché and court lady-ish, but she couldn't help it. Maybe it was a suppressed desire to get this whole ordeal over and done with, but she wanted to see how he reacted to her in a dress and make up.

Hopefully, it wouldn't be the same way that Neal had reacted.

She didn't know what she would do if Dom acted like he wanted to – love her. Not the kind of love he had been showing up until now, but the kind of love that involved candles and sheets and moonlit nights. She didn't want to bed him. And if she did – that was a big "if", mind you – it certainly wouldn't be any time soon. She would at least wait until after Neal was gone and married, and she could confidently say that not even the tiniest part of her loved him in a romantic way.

Kel rested her elbows on her knees, her hand in her hands. Things were too complicated for one green knight to handle, sometimes.

Kel spent the rest of the time she had to herself in silence. Her mind was at rest. She had decided it wasn't worth thinking about things until they finally came to pass. She sat there, on that same chair, for the entire time, until Dom finally knocked on her door.

Joints creaking from sitting in the same position for so long, she went over to the door and opened it without hesitation. Dom was standing in front of her, clutching what looked like a jar of something in his hands. He was dressed appropriately, with dress breeches and a shirt and tunic. Kel looked at him skeptically as Dom's eyes roamed over her body without discretion. She scowled when he didn't stop after the first ten seconds.

"You would usually say 'hello,' when someone opens the door for you," Kel told him, a frown spreading across her features. Dom blinked, then smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry. You just look-" he swallowed "-different, I suppose." He blushed, handing the jar out to her. "Meathead told me that you wanted bruise balm. So... I got it for you." Kel took the jar, raising curved eyebrows, and walked into her suite, placing it on a table at the far end of the room. Dom walked in behind her, closing the door after him.  Kel turned around, ready to walk out the door and to the ball, when Dom grabbed her around the waist.

He looked at her strangely before lowering his lips to brush hers. Kel tensed, her shoulders stiffening under the influence of his touch. Dom failed to notice.

Kel couldn't help but think that Neal would have, and would have stopped and asked her what was wrong.

"Dom, stop," she said, pulling away before things could go further. "You'll – you'll mess up my face paint." She said, grasping for a reason for him to stop other than her sheer unwillingness to kiss him.

"Do you really want to go to the ball?" he murmured huskily in her ear, placing a strategically hand right below the small of her back and pulling her up against him. "We could just – stay here, if you want." He grazed his teeth against the bone of her ear. Kel shuddered, but not from want of him.

"Of course I want to go to the ball," she told him austerely. "Yuki would kill me if I never showed up after all her work," she said. Anything to keep him from touching her.

"I'm sure Yuki wouldn't mind," Dom whispered, his mouth brushing across the skin at the hollow of her ear. Kel planted two strong hands on his chest and pushed him away.

"No," Kel reprimanded him forcefully. Dom looked at her in a moment of uncertainty, then shrugged.

"Fine. You look beautiful, by the way," he told her dejectedly. Kel scowled, but couldn't hold her expression for long. It wasn't his fault. She was essentially leading him on, she supposed. It made her feel dirty and mean, but she couldn't do anything else. She certainly couldn't tell him the truth. He might kill her.

Or worse, he might kill Neal.

It scared her to think that she was more fearful for Neal's safety than her own, but she didn't have time to dwell on it now. Dom might have thought she was trying to be virtuous, but in reality, she just didn't want him touching her. For the time being, she would have to play along in hopes of not hurting Dom.

Or at least, not hurting him too much.

This couldn't go on forever. She knew that. Dom would end up getting hurt. Maybe she could chase him away before he got too attached. She didn't really believe she could, but it was worth a try.

"Let's just go, Dom," she said, trying to make her voice sound cold. Dom winced at her distant tone. He wanted to become closer to her, not drive her away. He hadn't thought that kissing her would make her so – detached. He would have to keep the innuendos to a minimum, he supposed.

 "Fine. Milady," he said, holding out his arm to her.

Kel blinked.

Slowly, Dom lowered his arm and rested it at his side. He looked distantly at her, trying to fathom what was so wrong that he had done tonight. He walked forward to the door and opened it for her. Bowing, he said, "milady," as he waved his hand in an exaggerated gesture.

Kel looked at him blankly, slipping her Yamani mask on as he made his theatrical movements. She didn't want to do this to him. She loved him too much to put him through this kind of hurt. But the fact that that love – albeit a strong love – was only the kind she reserved for close friends, held her back from acting like a normal lover would do. 

Stepping through the door, she nodded to Dom, telling him, "thank you," and slipping into the hallway. He followed her, closing the door behind him. Kel locked her door and slid her key in between her breasts. Dom raised an eyebrow. "What?" Kel asked him. "Dresses don't have pockets, you know. Where else do you want me to put it?"

"No where I want to know," Dom told her as he took the liberty of taking her hand in his own. "I'm supposed to escort you to the ball, Kel. Let me do my job, please?"

Kel would have said no, but Dom had said 'please.' She was notorious for having a soft spot for men who said 'please.' It made her want to be so agreeable it was sickening.

"Fine," she said, her calm voice forced. Someone who hadn't been Kel's friend for years would never had noticed it. The change in tone was almost indiscernible. Dom, however, had known Kel for more years than he could remember, and heard the difference.

"Is something wrong?" he asked as they started walking down the hallway.

Kel swallowed, her throat moving visibly in the soft light the candles gave off in the hallway at night. "No," she said quickly. "I'm just – I'm just not feeling myself tonight. I have on this dress, and all this face paint... it's like I'm not me anymore. That's all. I'm sorry for snapping at you," she told him quietly.

Dom nodded and sighed. "I understand. Yuki shouldn't have made you wear all that. You look beautiful, sure, but it's – different. Like I told you."

"You don't like it?" Kel asked, continuing the walk to the ball.

"No, it's not that. I just – I love you for who you are, not something you're not."

Kel blinked and stopped abruptly. Did he just...?

"Love?" she managed to squeak out. A steady blush spread over Dom's cheeks.

"Well... yeah," he said, shuffling his feet nervously. Kel looked at him in mild wonder.

"Love," she squawked. "Oh – Okay." Her voice cracked. Dom looked at his feet.

"You don't – I mean, you – you don't–"

"It's early yet, Dom. I mean... we've only been... courting each other for a couple of days."

"But we've known each other for years, Kel," Dom said, trying to sound reasonable. "Love like that can – can grow over time." He looked at her hopefully. It almost made her want to tell him that she loved him. It would be a lie, but it would make him feel better. She hated when people made her feel so guilty you felt like you would do anything for them at that moment to satisfy their needs.

"I'm sorry, Dom. I mean... I love you. You've been a good friend to me for years. A great friend. But... I just don't love you that way. Not yet, anyway," she said softly. 'Good going, Kel. Go and lead him on, why don't you? Now you're going to make him think there's hope for you and him. You could have just stopped at 'I just don't love you that way'. But no. You had to add the 'not yet.' That's what's going to make him keep loving you. He's going to think that he has a chance and I'm going to end up being the bad guy.'

"Can we just go to the ball?" Kel asked him, looking up at him, trying to make her voice sound consoling.

"Sure," Dom said, his voice cracking like a fifteen-year-old boy.

"Good," Kel replied. She noticed sadly that Dom didn't offer her his arm as they walked to the ballroom.

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

"Why, if it isn't our resident lady knight. In a dress, no less. Looking like an angel."

"Stop, my lord. You're making me blush."

"As I should. If I have to come to this damnable thing because we need to make a good impression on some diplomat I don't even know, I better be able to make someone blush."

"Shouldn't you being dancing with Buri or something?"

"Not necessarily." Knight Commander Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak smiled at Kel, his dashing black eyes shining with amusement. Kel sighed. As she had thought repeatedly throughout the course of the day, this was going to be a long night.

"Isn't Buri due soon?" Kel asked, leaning against the wall she was standing next to.

"Any day now. Wouldn't it be ironic if her water broke during the ball? I'm sure that diplomat would get a kick out of it."

"I'm sure he would," Kel replied dryly. She snorted lightly as thoughts of Buri having to deliver in the middle of a promenade came to mind.

"So, shouldn't you be dancing with a certain subordinate of mine?" Raoul asked innocently.

"Oh, Lerant's here? I didn't see him." Kel cocked her head to the side, pretending to look for the standard bearer for the King's Own. Raoul snickered.

"You know who I mean, Kel," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm sure Dom's off somewhere looking for you."

"No," Kel replied. "He's off talking with Neal and Yuki. I left him there when I saw you. I wanted to come over here and see how much my Lord's torture scale had gone up since the beginning of the ball." The corners of Kel's mouth twitched up in a smile.

"Torture scale? What you young people come up with these days..." he shook his head and grinned. "You make me feel old."

"My Lord, I don't believe you could ever feel old. You're much too good with a lance to ever feel old." Kel gave a teasing smirk. 

"Would you like to test that theory, Kel? I think I need to put you in your place," Raoul said, noting with ample pleasure the look of fear that crossed Kel's face.

"You are a bad man."

"So you've told me."

Kel simply glared at him.

"Hey, look, it's your suitor," Raoul told her as Dom approached them from where he had been standing with Neal and Yuki.

"My lord," Dom said with a mock bow, lowering his voice to a respectable murmur.

"Stop acting like a page with his loins in a knot. You might give your lady a bad impression," Raoul told him. Dom snorted and stood upright.

"I was wondering if I could steal your beautiful partner for a dance or two," Dom asked Raoul, his eyes darting to Kel with a bit too much contained passion for her liking.

"Well, of course, my young page. Take her away from me. Take her all night, if you really want." Raoul smirked when he saw Kel's cheeks turn a wonderful crimson.

"Will do, my lord," Dom said, a sly smile on his face. "Milady?" he said, turning to Kel and bowing. "If you would have this dance with a lowly, bumbling page with his loins in a knot, such as myself, I would be eternally grateful." He held out his hand to her.

Kel blushed. It was times like this that made her hate herself for leading him on.

"Of course, my good page," she answered, taking his hand as he led her over to the dance floor.

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

She shared four dances before feigning tiredness and asking him to sit down. He agreed to get her something to drink, in accordance with proper male etiquette. Kel sat down next to a foreign woman that she realized was a member of the party that the Tyran diplomat had brought with him. She turned to the woman and held out a hand.

"Keladry of Mindelan," she said as the woman shook her hand.

"Kate of Portland," the woman replied.

Even sitting down, Kel could tell she was slight of height, somewhere between 5'3 and 5'5. She had deep brown eyes and chocolate colored hair. Her red dress seemed to bring out red highlights that shone under the right light. It was quite unfathomable, but true.

"You're with the Tyrans?" Kel asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

"My father is the one up there with your king," she said, nodding toward a pedestal where King Jonathan, Queen Thayet, and another man, undoubtedly the foreign diplomat, sat.

"Hm. Why are you here, then?"

"Aren't you the blunt one?" the woman asked curtly.

"It's just a question," Kel said. "No need to be offended. I've been spending too much time with a certain tactless friend of mine. He's getting to me."

Kate nodded and let a small smile grace her lips. "I know what you mean."

Kel raised an eyebrow, encouraging her to continue. "I'm studying to be a empath. In Genov - the place where we're studying – I have a-" she coughed "-friend who is the rudest, most indiscreet person I know with a blatant disrespect for authority." A grin played at her lips. "I find him amusing."

Kel snorted. "Sir Meathead, over there-" she nodded in Neal's direction "-is the same way."

Kate looked in his direction. Neal was off to the side of the room, talking with Yuki and the Lioness, who was currently not in a dress, unlike the other lady knight present.

"Meathead?" Kate asked curiously.

"Pet name," Kel explained. "It sort of escalated to the point where we forget people don't usually call him that other than his good friends."

"Hm." Kate looked over at Neal. "A bit of a dashing fellow, isn't he?"

"Oh, he is," Kel agreed. "He has green eyes that you would die for."

Kate looked over at her while Kel mentally screamed at herself. Why did she feel the need to confide in this abnormally small woman?

"I told you, I'm training to be an empath," Kate said, as if she was reading her thought. Which she incidentally was. "I can effect other people's feelings, and if I'm not careful, I'll accidentally-" she winced "-read their thoughts." She grimaced. "Sorry. I didn't mean to pry." Kel blinked. This was a bit odd... and yet strangely intriguing.

"So because you're an empath, you can make me more comfortable with talking to you?" Kel asked, beginning to become genuinely interested.

"Something like that. The fact that I'm relaxed makes you relaxed and more willing to open up." Kate shrugged. "It's a burden sometimes, though. Helping people's good and well. But the pain some of them suffer-" she shook her head "-it's maddening."

Kel nodded. She had seen what pain could do.

"So what about this Meathead fellow of yours?" Kate asked her. "What's his real name, anyway?"

"Neal. Nealan of Queenscove, really, but everyone calls him Neal." Kate nodded.

"You have warm, fuzzy feelings for your resident Meathead?"

Kel blushed. "No..."

Kate snorted. "Fine. Whatever you say, milady."

"I'm not a lady," Kel objected.

"You certainly look like one," Kate told her, eyeing her over. "Low cut red dress and everything."

"You're one to talk," Kel muttered under her breath.

"Excuse you, I was forced into this by my father. He thought it wouldn't be proper in Tortallan court if I wore my mage wear."

"Wow. Who would have thought it?" Kel asked dryly.

"Thought what?" Kate asked, feeling a bit perturbed.

"See that woman over there? The one Meathead is talking to?" Kel nodded in Yuki's direction.

"Sure. What about her?"

"She made me wear this thing – corset included – because she thought I would want to impress man (a) over there." Kel pointed to Dom, who was currently waiting in line to get Kel a drink.

"The handsome one?" Kate asked.

"The very same. Domitan of Masbolle. My resident 'suitor' as my friends have decided on calling him." Kel shook her head. "It's ridiculous."

"But you love man (b), the Meathead," Kate stated.

"Don't you catch on quick?"

Kate snorted as she leaned back in her chair. "You certainly have a bit of a predicament on your hands."

"I would never have guessed," Kel said sardonically. Kate shook her head and turned to Kel.

"Just remember, if you let him go, you're going to hate yourself for it later." It was at that moment that Dom came over to them, bearing two drinks, not giving Kel the opportunity to ask whom exactly Kate thought she would regret letting go.

"Milady. Mission accomplished." He saluted her after giving her the glass of wine he had been carrying. Kel was silently displeased at his choice of drink. Spending so much time with Lord Raoul had given her a bit of a resentment to alcoholic beverages.

"There wasn't anything else," Dom explained, seeing through her calm façade. Kel nodded and took the wine, sipping it slowly. She winced at the taste. She had never particularly liked wine to begin with.

Dom sat down next to her and leaned over so that he was looking at Kate. "And would you care to introduce me to your beautiful lady companion, my dear?"

Kel blinked. "Oh. Dom, this is Kate of Portland. Domitan of Masbolle." She nodded at Dom. Dom reached out a hand to her.

"Pleasure to meet you," he murmured softly as he took her hand and kissed it, as was called for in the face of proper male protocol. Kate nodded and allowed the slightest of blushes creep up her face. She wasn't used to being kissed on the hand by devilishly handsome men.

Kel supposed she should probably have looked jealous, but she didn't really care. Maybe if Dom and Kate got close enough, Dom would leave her for Kate. How convenient.

"Listen, I'm going to go look for Neal. Amuse yourselves while I'm gone, would you?" Kel asked, some of the agitation she had been trying to hold back during the night leaking out.

"Sure, Kel," Dom said. He looked like he wanted to go with her, but refrained from doing so. He didn't want her to think he was becoming clingy.

"Good. Again, good to meet you, Lady Kate." Kel bowed to Kate, as was traditional for a Yamani bred young woman. Kate nodded to her.

"And you, Lady Keladry."

With that, Kel left, feeling quite drained. If she could, she would have sneaked out of the ball right now and fled to the safety of her rooms to have a moment to herself. It was exasperating that she couldn't go anywhere without meeting up with someone she knew and having to make forced conversation with them. The only one she didn't need to do that with was Neal, because after nine years, conversation wasn't even necessary between them to convey what they thought.

'How ironic it is, then, that I can't tell him how I feel,' Kel thought half bitterly. 'I sound like some cliché character in a theatrical. Stop it, Kel. You're being ridiculous.'

Searching the room for Neal, she found him in the middle of a clump of women, talking animatedly with them and making strange gestures with his hands.

Kel shook her head. 'Always a ladies man at heart...'

Making her way past a group of conservatives, all who looked at Kel like she had the plague, she walked up to Neal and touched his arm. Neal turned around and looked at her without seeming to acknowledge her at first. Sudden recognition sparked across his face, as he broke into a wide smile.

"Kel," he said, taking her into his arms and bringing her into a quick hug, amid the glances of many envious looking court ladies. Kel didn't know why they bothered. It wasn't her Neal was getting married to, it was Yuki.

"I see you're entertaining the ladies, Neal," Kel murmured, a smile coming to her lips.

"You do know me so well," he said, shaking his head down at her, a grin still spread across his face. "My ladies," he announced, turning to them. "May I introduce to you, Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan, Protector of the Small, and currently, my best friend." He gave a mock bow as Kel kicked him in the shins.

"You really shouldn't do that, Meathead," she whispered to him as a blush crept over her face, putting emphasis on the last section of her phrase. Neal's eyes widened, as he suddenly realized perfectly what she could do to his reputation if she was allowed to go unchecked.

"I'm sorry, my ladies, but my friend and I have some current pressing... business to attend to. If you would excuse us," he said as he took Kel's hand and led her away from the group, amid a common exchange of sighs that rippled through the throng of admirers.

He led her over to a secluded corner of the ballroom, where he was sure no one would come bounding over, therefore disabling Kel from telling them of the pet name everyone had taken such a distinct liking to. She sat down on a chair with a free view of the ballroom could be seen. Neal seated himself next to her, straddling the chair so that his arms leaned against the back of it.

Neal turned to Kel and watched her for a moment. She was staring out at the dancers. Dom had asked Kate to dance and, apparently, she had agreed. They were gliding across the dance floor, Kate's dress billowing out underneath her as Dom led in perfect step. A strange look crossed her face as Neal watched her in silence. He couldn't place the expression that swept across her, but his worry was dismissed when Kel turned to him and smiled.

"Enjoying the ball?" she asked, looking over at him and giving a small grin.

"Not particularly," Neal admitted. "There are flocks and flocks of women everywhere," he said, keeping a straight face. "It's a bit maddening. I didn't mind when I wasn't betrothed, but now it's just... odd. I can't flirt as much as I used to, even though everyone expects me to. Very frustrating business." The corners of his mouth twitched suspiciously upward as he snorted.

Kel shook her head. "I'm surprised. You always seemed more the ladies man type."

"Knowing you'll be married in less than a week changes things sometimes," Neal said softly. Kel bit her lip and turned away. She was being stupid... he would never feel the same way she did, no matter what she might think. He was so head over heels for Yuki that he wouldn't even bother with even thinking about her in a way that might be romantic...

Neal bent over and kissed her cheek.

Or maybe not...

Kel blinked as she turned to him. He was watching her intently, his forehead creased in a frown. Kel let out a ragged breath. She had no idea whatsoever what thoughts were running through his head right now... And it was a slight given she probably wouldn't like them. She swallowed loudly under Neal's scrutiny and cleared her throat. Things were getting too uncomfortable for her liking.

"What?" she asked, her voice wavering as she gripped the sides of her chair, her fingertips turning white.

Neal turned away from her. "Does it bother you to see him dancing with another woman?" he asked candidly. Kel blinked. This was not the type of question she had expected to hear from him. "I'm serious," he said quietly, studying the pair dance across the floor.

Kel thought about it. Truthfully, it didn't. She didn't care that Dom was dancing with someone else because, frankly, she didn't care enough about Dom in a romantic way to be jealous. Dom was good and well, but at the end of the day, it wasn't him that haunted her thoughts. But should she tell Neal? He might pry – in fact, he was better at it than most people. She didn't want to tell him – but what choice did she have?

"No," she said finally. "It doesn't."

Neal nodded and continued to refuse to meet her eye. The dancers had dispersed by now, the dance over. Neal watched Dom clench hands with Kate before walking over to Yuki and asking her for a dance. Yuki readily agreed, walking over with Dom to the dance floor and beginning a waltz that had originated around Lake Naxen. 'Womanizer,' Kel thought as she watched Dom from a distance.

"You know what's scary?" Neal asked her, finally turning and looking at her. Kel swallowed and raised her eyebrows, her eyes locking with his.

"What?" she asked.

"That right now, I couldn't care less that my fiancé is dancing with my cousin," Neal told her gravely. Kel blinked. What was he talking about?

Kel swallowed as she looked away. "Well. That's... different."

Neal looked at her for a moment more before letting out a soft snort. Kel turned to him and frowned decidedly.

"What?" she asked, her voice rising.

"It's impossible. It really is," Neal told her, a smile growing at the corner of his lips.

"What is? You're confusing."

"That you can make me feel better by doing no apparent thing. You just... sit there, and say the right thing once or twice, and I feel like I can go and take on the entire Scanran army. How do you do that?"

Kel blinked. "I... er... sit here? And... speak?" She shrugged as Neal snorted. He looked out across the ballroom and watched the intricate patterns of movement that spread across the floor as Kel continued to look at him oddly.

Finally, he spoke. "Do you want to dance?" he asked, turning to her, a steady smile crossing his face.

Kel studied him long and hard before giving him her answer.

"Yes."

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

"They make it so obvious," Ermelian said to her husband, Cleon of Kennan as they stood near a wall on the far side of the ballroom. Cleon blinked. Now, what was she talking about now? She had been blabbering on about something... how inexpensive she had gotten her dress or something to that effect. Or perhaps it was how she had picked those daisies for him the other day. He hoped she wouldn't ask him anything about what she was talking about.

"What are they making obvious?" Cleon asked, following Ermelian's gaze onto the dance floor. She was watching… a couple dancing on the floor. One with a strikingly bright red dress, the other with a well-fitting brown tunic...

Cleon nearly gagged. That was Kel. Kel wearing a dress. A red, low-cut, seductress dress.

These were the times he wished he had bedded her before he found out he was to be married.

"Think, dearest," was Ermelian's response.

Cleon blinked. What was she talking about...?

Ermelian sighed. For all she loved him, her husband could be quite clueless at times.

"You see the way they look at each other? They way they hold each other close? The way they always sickeningly finish each other's sentences? They are quite obviously, in love."

Cleon's eyes widened. "That's – that's ridiculous," he said as he turned to watch Kel and Neal dance.

"Is it? Have you been noticing how they've been acting around each other lately? Like they're in a great deal of denial, perhaps? Maybe because they're in love?" she drawled.

Cleon looked at his wife before shaking his head once. "No," he stated before turning back to look at them. They were holding each other closely; in fact, it was closer than protocol required. But they were best friends. They could hold each other like that and have no one ask questions.

It wasn't like they really were – in love.

'Then why is it,' Cleon thought absently as he scrutinized Kel and Neal move so fluidly across the dance floor, 'that even my thoughts sound hollow?'

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

Kel and Neal had shared a few more dances before exchanging partners and dancing, respectively, with Dom and Yuki. The night passed without little hesitation, and Kel could feel herself begin to tire. She sat down while Dom left to talk to a distant relative of his. She could feel her limbs aching with every movement. She sighed as she stretched out and slumped against the chair.

'Acting like a court lady is harder than I thought,' she thought absently.

"Hiya," Neal said as he came bounding over cheerily, jumping buoyantly into a chair next to her. Kel glared at him.

"Why are you so... perky?" Kel asked.

"I have danced with the two most beautiful women here tonight. Why wouldn't I be perky, as you so fondly call it?"

Kel blushed and sighed. "You're such a tease, Neal."

"In more ways than one," he responded, lowering his voice to a seductive murmur.

"Stop, Neal. You'll scare the children."

"I didn't see any children here! Oh, children! Children! Uncle Neal is here!" He looked around mockingly, pretending to look for Kel's imaginary children.

Kel sighed.

"Oh... bugger off, Neal. You're strange."

"I learned from the best." He grinned inexorably as she glared at him. Exhaling loudly, Kel looked out at the dance floor. She supposed that she was the only one tired from this whole affair. The ball was still in full swing, and somehow, everyone seemed alive and cheery as ever.

Suddenly, Neal spoke up. "This is getting ridiculous," he said shaking his head.

Kel blinked. "What?" Kel asked, looking up at him.

"That girl. She's been staring at me all night." Kel followed her gaze to see whom he was talking about. Her glance was met with the daughter of a certain Tyran ambassador, a Lady Kate from Portland. Kel snorted.

"She is not."

"Yes, she is!" Neal objected. "You just haven't been looking at the right times."

Kel eyed him skeptically. "She's not. She was dancing with Dom a couple of times. I don't think she would exactly stare at you while she had Dom right in front of her."

Neal gave her a look. "Oh, I think she would." He stuck his tongue out at her.

Kel snorted. "Oh, I really don't think she so."

Neal turned and gave Kel an odd look before speaking. "You willing to bet on it?" he asked, sculptured eyebrows arching.

Kel blinked. "You have to be kidding."

"Why? Scared you'll lose?"

Kel snorted. "No... I just don't bet. I'm too good and self righteous for that."

Neal snorted. "You're just afraid that you'll lose."

Kel pursed her lips together in an expression of disbelief. "I am not."

"Really? Then why won't you take the bet?"

Kel looked at him for a moment before raising her eyebrows. "What's the wager?"

Neal grinned broadly. "If she is checking me out, you come to my rooms and give me a strip tease."

Kel's eyes widened. "You have to be kidding," she said incredulously. "There's no way in hell."

"You forget my side of the wager," Neal pointed out, cocking his head to the side.

"Really? What do you do if you lose, then?" Kel asked dryly.

Neal thought for a moment. "I'll strip in front of everyone here."

Kel raised her eyebrows. There was no way in hell. No matter how much she might have wanted Neal to embarrass himself in front of possibly the entire Tortallan court, she couldn't take the chance that she would lose. Imagine stripping for him in his rooms with no parental supervision! The thought was disturbing...

Still... Kate was an empath. She would be able to sense his intent before he even approached her. She would know to say no to whatever Neal asked her. And then Kel would have the pleasure of laughing heartily as Neal was forced to strip in front of the entire court...

Kel bit back a laugh. The idea of Neal acting the male prostitute was too amusing to pass up.

She held out a hand to him. "Deal."

Neal grinned. Kel felt like she had just made a deal with the devil.

"Good. Now, I'll just go over there and ask milady for a dance..." Kel grabbed Neal's arm as he stood up.

"There's no way you're going alone over there. I'm going with you." Neal looked at her for a moment, then shrugged.

"Whatever."

Together, they walked toward Kate, Kel trying to think as hard as she could "say no!" as Neal walked quickly up to the young Tyran woman. Kate turned and saw them before they got within ten feet of them. Kel shook her head at Kate behind Neal's back as he walked up to her.

"Milady," he murmured, greeting her with a kiss on the hand. She curtsied appropriately, her dress draping around her in graceful ripples.

"Milord," Kate echoed, straightening at the same time he did.

"I was watching you from across the room and couldn't help but admire your rather stunning beauty," Neal muttered huskily. Kel could see that Kate blushed and didn't like it one bit.

"I was wondering," Neal continued smoothly, "if you would like to dance with me."

Kate found herself flustered for a moment. This man was being so – dashing and utterly - romantic. Sometimes she wished that Christov was like that. But then she remembered she didn't need dashingly romantic men to satisfy her.

That, and the fact that she had picked up on his thoughts from when they were still on the other side of the room.

"I'm sorry, milord, but I'm afraid I'm simply not graceful enough to dance with you. I would trip over my feet, I fear!" Kate laughed. "But maybe you can dance for us. With your clothes off, that is."

From behind Neal, Kel snorted.

Neal turned white.

"But surely, milady, you would rather dance with me than watch me-"

"No, I think would rather like to see you naked."

Neal made incoherent noises from the back of his throat.

Kel's smile had reached an all time high.

"Thank you, Kate," she said as she led Neal away.

"Anything for a friend, lady," Kate called after them.

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

Neal walked with Kel up to the middle of the ballroom. "I am not doing this," he growled dangerously at her.

"Yes, you are. You lost the bet. Besides, I want some entertainment."

"No!" Neal cried as Kel dragged him to the front of the room, near where the King, Queen, and Tyran diplomat sat. "I will not lower myself to this!"

"And you would rather have me strip for you?" Kel asked feverishly. "Were you so confident of your ability as a womanizer that you thought that any woman would just fall at your feet?"

"They usually do!" he hissed hurriedly.

"Oh well. You can start your show here," Kel said, thrusting him into a stop right before the king. The monarchs looked at him strangely, as he blushed visibly. Kel turned to the crowd and smiled.

"My lords!" she cried over the sound of the music, raising up her hands and signaling for the bards to stop their playing. The music almost instantly stopped, as all that was left of the feverish talking of the past was replaced with a hushed murmuring. "My ladies," she continued, her voice softer now that there was no background noise to drown her out.

"Today, I have a special treat for all of you," she said, sweeping her hand out to point to Neal. "For my very good friend here, Sir Nealan of Queenscove, is going to do something that has – most likely – never been seen in a Tortallan ball. For today," she continued, smiling appreciatively at Neal. "Neal, here, is going to put on a show that you will never forget." She smiled slightly sadistically at Neal, who simply growled at her.

The monarchs looked at the pair in a mix of confusion and interest. They didn't know what they had planned, but whatever it was promised to be interesting.

How very right they were.

Kel stepped aside. "Neal, you have the floor." She grinned at him one last time before retreating off to the side, and whispering something to one of the minstrels. The musician instantly gave out a snort and smirked at Neal before raising his horn to his lips. Blowing into it, a sweet, seductive song spilled out of it.

Neal's cheeks turned a crimson red.

Smiling apologetically to the king and queen, he started touching his chest and abdomen suggestively, causing a raised eyebrow from many a courier. Slowly, he began to slip his fingers under his tunic, causing many hushed murmurs from a couple of the nobles. The king and queen looked on in mild horror, and the Tyran diplomat looked a bit amused.

Neal slowly fingered his tunic, rolling it up over his head as he did so. Low, sweet music came from the corner where the bards were playing. After a moment of hesitation, Neal pulled his tunic up over his head.

A collective hush of gasps and murmurs spread across the ballroom. Women were either whispering excitedly to each other or staring at Neal in a combination of shock and sheer attraction.

Yuki looked like she was about to faint.

Dom was staring at Neal, the corners of his mouth twitching up in a faint smile.

Cleon was snorting softly while his wife was hiding her face in his tunic to hide her amusement.

Lady Alanna was laughing hysterically.

 Lord Raoul had come out of hiding behind a curtain to clutch a chair for support for the sole reason of not being able to stand up without falling on the floor in mad laugher.

Kel was laughing like a maniac, as people started to stare at her like she needed some of those soothing drinks Lord Raoul was so fond of.

Neal, meanwhile, was slowly working at the buttons of his shirtfront, slowly edging his fingers down every inch of newly exposed skin that they came into contact with.

'For someone so reluctant in doing this,' Kel thought as Neal torturously removed his shirt, 'he sure is good at it.'

His shirt successfully removed, Neal threw it into a clump of admiring fan girls. Lady Stacia shrieked as she caught the shirt and continued to cradle it against herself. Lady Minerva, a notoriously jealous woman, grabbed the shirt out of Lady Stacia's hands and had a game of tug of war with her, ultimately causing Neal's shirt to rip in two and for Lady Stacia to have the bigger half.

Neal shook his head from his spot in the center of the room. 'Fan girls,' he sighed.

He now turned his attentions to caressing his body with his hands, as any good stripper would do. As he dropped one torturous touch after another, the king's eyes grew wider and wider, as Yuki promptly walked up to the nearest courier and neatly fainted in his arms.  Not knowing what to do with the exquisite Yamani woman, the man carried her over to a chair and sat her down there, then returned to watch the show.

Neal had now come to the crucial point of his show: his breeches. Removing them without looking like a fool would be difficult, but Neal knew that he could do it without falling halfway down his legs and tripping over his own clothes. Taking a deep breath, he fingered the laces of his breeches lightly, enough to make the fan girls sigh. Most of the men in the crowd looked positively livid at the fact that their wives and daughters were staring so lustfully at the young man with the emerald green eyes, but too much in a state of shock to do anything about it.

Neal clutched the laces of his breeches and slowly began to untie them. At this point, Kel was rolling on the floor in hysterics, admittedly a very un-Kel like thing to do, but nevertheless, a very appropriate thing at that moment, considering no one was watching her anyway.

Neal ran slender finders over his lower body sensuously as he slipped fingers down the side of his breeches. King Jonathan was rising to his feet, but the Tyran diplomat held him down.

"He lost a bet. Let him finish it."

Jon looked at him. "I have empathy, like my daughter. It runs in the family."

Jon nodded, wide eyed, as he turned back to Neal.

Steadily, Neal slipped his fingers lower and lower, causing his breeches to fall lower down his hips. Kel was positively livid with laughter, and would be so for another minute or so.

Neal slowly pushed his breeches down to his knees, showing him in his loins. Numerous shrieks came from the direction of fan girl (c), a certain Lady Sarina. Suddenly, Lady Judith came out of nowhere and pounced on top of Lady Sarina, knocking her down so that she could have a better view of Neal. Lady Sarina pulled her down with her as Lady Judith landed with a distinct 'crash' on the floor.

Neal sighed again. 'They have an unnatural obsession for me. And Kel wonders why I have the ego I do.'

Finally slipping his breeches off, Neal turned to Kel with a smile on his face. Picking up his breeches off the floor, he threw them into the pile of fan girls. They shrieked.

Again.

Neal put a finger to his lips, causing everyone to quiet down instantly. He swaggered over to Kel, swinging his hips sensuously. "So Kel," he said, walking up to her.

"It's your choice." Kel looked up at him from her spot on the floor. Blushing, she stood up quickly when she realized almost everyone's eyes were on her.

Kel swallowed. "What is, my dear Nealan?"

"Whether I go all the way, dear Keladry." He grinned wickedly.

Kel blinked. The silence seemed to stretch across the entire room. She swallowed as Neal continued to smirk at her. He was bloody well enjoying this...

A sudden disturbance snapped Kel out of her reverie. "Fuck!" echoed through the ballroom as Kel's head snapped to the side. What the hell...?

A crowd parted in front of Buriram of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak, who was currently clutching her lower abdomen. Kel blinked. What was going on…?

Raoul fled to her side, seeming to magically appear from the other end of the room. "What's wrong, Buri?" he asked uncertainly as everyone watched them.

"I think-" she began "-that my water broke."

Raoul's eyes widened.

Neal's eyes widened.

Kel couldn't help but snort softly.

"Would someone get a healer?" Buri croaked as small, incoherent noises emitted from the back of her throat. "Please?" she said, turning to Neal and glaring at him.

"Oh. Right. I'm a healer. Hey. Who woulda thunk it?" Neal nodded.

"So would you get your worthless ass over here and deliver my goddamned baby?" Buri shouted, her voice rising to fill the room.

Neal blinked. "But... I'm in my underwear."

Buri looked at him blankly.

Raoul, however, was not so reserved.

"My wife's having a fucking baby and all you can think about is your goddamned underwear?" he asked, stalking over to Neal. "You get over here and deliver this baby right now, Queenscove, or I will personally make sure that you won't have a means of reproduction in the morning!" Raoul shouted, his nostrils flaring.

Kel gulped. She didn't want to think of Neal without his... equipment. It would just ruin her opinion of him.

"Ah... My Lord, perhaps we should move Buri to some place more... suitable to delivering a baby?" she asked, coming up to him and touching his arm. He looked at her wordlessly for a moment, his anger slowly dissipating. Finally, he sighed.

"You're right. As always. Buri, let's get you to the healer's wing. And you," he started, turning to Neal. "You can deliver the baby in your loins for all I care; you are not climbing into that pile of fan girls over there to find your clothes. Come on," he said, walking over to Neal and grabbing him by the arm.

Neal waved frantically at the crowd. "Hope you enjoyed the show, everyone! Goodbye, ladies!"

The ladies sighed in unison.

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

"It looks like she's going to have complications," Duke Baird said as he removed his hand from Buri's stomach. Raoul looked up at him.

"What? Complications? What kind of complications?"

"Nothing too serious," the duke assured him. "The baby and her will probably be fine-"

"Probably?" Raoul said, his voice cracking. "Probably," he said, a shaky laugh coming from the back of his throat. Turning, he grabbed Neal by the neck and hoisted him up against a wall, choking him. "She'll probably be all right. I don't do probablies!"

Neal let out a choking noise from the back of his throat.

Raoul blinked. "Oh. Sorry. I lose myself from time to time."

Neal gave a shaky laugh as he slid down the wall, rubbing his neck. "No problem, old chap," he said as his voice cracked.

Kel rolled her eyes and sighed before speaking. "So what kind of complications are there?" she asked, walking over to Buri and taking her hand reassuringly.

The duke sighed. "Long labor. We might need to work at her. I'll need you, Neal. Someone should get Alanna too."

"I'll do it," Neal volunteered. 

"No," Baird interceded. "You stay here, just in case. Kel, you get her." Kel nodded and turned to the door.

This was going to be a long night.

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

Kel sat on a chair, her eyes drooping. She had been sitting here for four hours now, in the same ill-fitting, corseted dress.

It was not a good night.

Her eyes closed before she could stop them. Shaking her head, she opened them back up. She couldn't fall asleep. Buri needed her...

'Well, not really, if you think about it,' Kel admitted. 'It's more of a moral support thing. But... she does have Neal... and Alanna, and Raoul, and Baird... she doesn't really need me...'

Kel's eyes drooped once more.

'Stop, Kel. You can't fall asleep now... Buri could have the baby any minute now...'

Neal watched Kel's eyes close for the final time that night. Clearing his throat, he looked at Raoul from across Buri.

"Would you bring her to her rooms, please? I don't want her sleeping like that."

Raoul looked at him for a moment, then down to his wife. She nodded and closed her eyes as if she was in pain. Raoul eyed her with concern, but the pain eased a moment later.

"Go, love."

With a disgruntled moan, Raoul nodded and looked at Neal. "If she has the baby while I'm gone, I swear, I'll break you apart."

Neal smiled cheerily. "Love you too, milord."

Sighing, Raoul went over to Kel and put an arm under her shoulder, lifting her to her feet. "Come on, Kel. Let's go to bed."

"But I dun wanna," she protested, her eyes still closed as Raoul walked her to the door.

It was at that precise instant that Kel collapsed in sleep.

Raoul shook his head as he lifted her legs up to carry her. She cradled herself against his chest like a baby would do a father, nestling her head against his chest.

Raoul sighed and brought her to her rooms.

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

A distinct pounding jolted Kel out of sleep. She moaned groggily as she looked outside her bedside window. It was just before dawn. Faint rays of light were visible on the horizon.

'Wait. Bedside window?'

The knocking persisted, as Kel realized with a dim perception, that she was in her rooms.

'How did I get here...?'

Dragging herself out of bed, she winced as she became entwined with the sheets she had apparently been under and fell onto the floor. Years of training caused her to slap the floor at just the right time, but it was still painful to her disorientated mind.

Getting herself up off the floor, she looked at herself. She was still in that same uncomfortable, ridiculously tight, red dress. She was beginning to think fate had a certain sense of humor.

Ambling over to the door, she hesitated for a moment before opening it.

Neal was standing in front of her, dried blood on his hands, bags under his bloodshot eyes, just slightly slouching in the doorway.

"Neal... what happened?" Kel asked, covering a yawn with her hand.

Neal gave her a once over, looking at her from head to toe, lingering on areas that made even Kel's sleep deprived mind uncomfortable. "You're still wearing that damn dress."

"Yeah. I guess I didn't get a chance to take it off at night. Listen, how did I get here?"

"Raoul carried you," Neal replied simply before stepping into her rooms and closing the door behind him.

"Raoul... wait, what about Buri? Is the baby okay?" Kel's eyes danced with worry.

"Buri and the baby are fine. She had a bit of a lengthy labor, is all. We had to use a lot of our magic to set her and the baby right." Neal leaned up against the wall adjoining the door.

"Oh," Kel replied quietly. She swallowed. There was something he wasn't telling her...

"Hey, Kel?" Neal asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Yeah?"

"Why did you wear that dress, anyway?"

Kel looked at him for a minute. His face was carefully blank, devoid of any hint that might show his feelings. She gulped slowly. Things were not looking up...

"I didn't want to. Yuki made me."

"Hm." Neal unfolded his arms and took a step towards Kel. Kel took a half step back.

"Ah... Neal? Is everything all right?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, everything's fine," he said as he moved towards her. Kel continued to back up.

"Because..." she started. "You've been acting a bit – strange, is all." Kel felt her back hit the wall.

Neal shrugged. "I'll be normal in the morning."

Kel raised her eyebrows as Neal put his arms on either side of the portion of the wall she was leaning up against, trapping her.

"Normal?" Her voice cracked.

Neal leaned in, taking a deep breath of her hair before pulling away. "Why do you have to look so damn fuckable?"

Kel's eyes widened as Neal kissed her quickly once. She managed to plant her hands on his chest and push him away, but not enough to manage to get away.

"Uh... Neal? Are you drunk?"

Neal grinned sheepishly. "No..." he said as he giggled.

Kel blinked. Did he just... giggle?

"But using as much energy as I did in delivering the baby produces almost the same effect."

He grinned as he leaned in and kissed her again.

Kel tried to will herself to pull away. She really did. She knew if they were going to kiss, it wouldn't be when he was in a state of half-drunkness. It would not be a little before dawn, when there was still blood on his hands. It would be on some moonlit night with stars, and gardens, and cheesy romantic music playing in the background. She knew how terribly cliché it was, but she didn't care. She had the right to be cliché if she wanted. So what if she wanted to act like a court lady for just this once?

Her body, however, had different ideas.

Her mouth responded to him in its own sensual way, caressing his with a fiery, bruising kiss. His tongue sloppily hit her teeth, then hit home as it joined hers. She felt her one arm wrapping up around his neck, while the other moved to encircle his waist. Neal pushed her up against the wall and pressed his body against hers.

Neal broke away, smiled, and proceeded to trace a line of kisses down her chin. He ran soft lips over her throat, pressing lightly at one moment, then applying such pressure that it made Kel gasp. Neal smirked at her reaction, and, encouraged at her soft moans, hoisted her up against the wall, wrapping her legs around his hips.

Kel pulled back for a moment, taken by surprise, as Neal melded himself up against her. She could feel every muscle tighten against hers. Her body coursing with need, she took the hand that hade been wrapped around his waist and trailed it lower, just below the small of his back, and pushed him into her.

Both moaned as their hips moved against each other. Kel couldn't help but curse at the damn red dress for keeping her from him.

Running fingers down the sides of his breeches, she was pleased as he shivered agreeably. Slipping her fingers down his hips, she edged them downward...

And abruptly fell to the ground as Neal collapsed.

"Ow..." she said, rubbing the spot where she had fallen. Crawling over to Neal, she saw that he was, indeed, out cold.

"The gods must hate me," Kel murmured to herself as she looked at Neal. 'Guess delivering the baby was too much for him. '

Sighing, Kel stood up. She grabbed Neal under his shoulder and dragged him across the room and into her bed. It was still warm.

Placing him in gently, she removed his boots and got in herself. Rolling the covers up over both of them, she couldn't help but put a protective arm around him as she drifted off into sleep.

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

Teehee. It is finally done. It's 29 freaking pages. This is not good. I'm going to have to keep writing longer and longer chapters and it will take forever. Alas. Sorry for getting this chapter out so late. I've been really busy this week, what with finals and such. Ah...with Neal being tipsy, I figure, when you heal people, it makes you tired. So, technically, Neal was just so overtired that he acted like he was drunk. Does that make sense? I think it does. I mean, think about it. After Alanna had healed all those people in the river Drell, she did something she wouldn't normally do and went and snuggled up to Jonathan... so just go with me here, people. Thanks to all the reviewers. You're the best. Rock my box, you do. Hope those who got cameos liked them. Muah. Lady Stacia. What is this world coming to? *shakes head* Oh well. Gotta go post this. Bye everyone.

Love,

Stacey

P.S. The title of this chapter, "Strictly Nealan", comes from the Baz movie "Strictly Ballroom." I don't know why, but the chapter reminds me of it. Whatever.

P.P.S. Btw, JEAN-CLAUDE IS A FREAKING HOT PANTS DELUXE! Lol.