Hi! I'm back. I'm really sorry about how long it's taken me to update! Life's been a little hectic lately. You might not believe me but this chapter has been the hardest to write so far. I don't know why! It just was. The title is a little silly but I kinda like it. Enjoy!

Sweet Revenge

By Tatiana

Chapter 12: Dude Looks Like A Lady

A fire crackled in the fireplace of the cozy little room. Jocelyn and William sat at a small round wooden table eating dinner. The silence between them was comfortable and pleasant. Occasionally they would glance up and catch each other's eyes and smile. After finishing his meal William leaned back in his chair with a stretch and a sigh. He watched Jocelyn affectionately as she sipped at her wine. Aware of his scrutiny she turned her eyes to him.

" What is it?" she asked. " Is there something on my face?" She ran her hand over her mouth and cheeks.

William leaned forward across the table and kissed her on the corner of her mouth. He sat back down in his chair. Jocelyn looked at him expectantly. " No." he grinned slyly.

Jocelyn smiled at him. " You, Sir Knight, are quite the pretender." she accused.

" Am I?" William asked with mock surprise. " What makes you say that?"

Jocelyn stood. " Hmmmm…" She slowly stepped over to him. " You pretend to remove food from my face but only seek a kiss. You pretended to be a poet and a writer of which you are neither once again only to receive a kiss."

" Ah, but I didn't receive a kiss for that!" William protested. Jocelyn raised an eyebrow. " Okay," William admitted. " I got a kiss on that letter's account but it was given by Wat! I don't think that should count."

" You pretended to be a knight when you most certainly were not," Jocelyn declared.

" I am a knight now," William rectified. " Doesn't that deserve a kiss?" He pulled Jocelyn to sit on his lap.

" I suppose," she sighed and kissed him softly on the lips.

William grinned and folded his arms about her. Jocelyn leaned her head against his. They both stared into the fire.

" This moment is perfect," William sighed contentedly after a few minutes of silence. Jocelyn murmured her agreement, closing her eyes and leaning into him. " Except for one thing."

" What is that?" she asked softly, her voice heavy with relaxation.

" My leg is asleep," William admitted.

Jocelyn stood up from where she sat on his slumbering limb. William smiled ruefully at her as he rubbed at his thigh in an attempt to get the blood circulating again. She ruffled his blond curls.

" Other than that I mean it. This night is perfect. Spending time alone with one another is something we haven't had much of lately. It's nice." William said. "Just think, once we're married, we'll spend all sorts of time together."

Jocelyn attempted a smile. Her expression had become thoughtful as he spoke. Her forehead was creased with worry. William frowned with concern. She glanced at him and attempted a cheerful smile again.

" What's the matter?" William asked, searching her face for the cause of her sudden despondency.

Jocelyn stared beyond his face, into the fireplace. The crackle and snap of the fire was the only sound for a few moments. She took a deep breath before she began. " William, I should warn you about my father." She shifted her eyes to his. " He can be very…" her voice trailed off.

" Grumpy?" William suggested jokingly. " Homely? Course? Vulgar?"

" William!" Jocelyn laughed. Her laughter faded. "No, very difficult."

" How so?" William asked, his tone becoming serious.

" He only wants the best for me, William, but by wanting only the best he can be very judgmental." she explained.

" What are you trying to say Jocelyn? Don't sugar coat it. I can take the truth." William insisted.

Jocelyn nodded and took a deep breath. " I am afraid that he will not like you William, at least not at first. He will see you as a poor, country knight who has no land, no wealth, no prospects, and no sophistication or nobility."

William's eyebrows arched in surprise. His expression switched from one of understanding to one of confused amusement to one of utter astonishment. " He'll think all that will he?"

" Pit is very likely," Jocelyn replied sympathetically. She reached out and cupped the side of his face with her comforting hand. " He will until he gets to know you. He judges much by appearances. I only wanted to warn you. He won't like you at first. He will compare you to Count Adhemar. The only things he knows of Adhemar are his titles, his military prestige, and his wealth. He knows nothing of your goodness compared to Adhemar's evilness. Just remember that."

William mirrored her gesture and cupped her cheek with his hand. " You are so thoughtful and caring. That is one of the things I love most about you."

" What are the others?" Jocelyn asked, gladly going along with the shift in subject.

William pulled her back onto his lap. Jocelyn wrapped her arms around his waist and her head against his chest. William rested his chin atop her head. He thought for a few moments. " I love your smile." he began. " I love your stubborn disposition. I adore your demanding nature and the loud way you make your demands known."

Jocelyn pulled back to look at him in the face. " Are you trying to be cute?" she demanded. " You have named every unattractive characteristic! You mock me!"

" Never!" William shook his head. " I love everything about you Jocelyn. Even the things that you think to be foul traits." He vowed, staring deep into her eyes.

Jocelyn's gazed softened. " Everything?' she asked skeptically.

" Well…" William drawled. Jocelyn hit him on the chest. " Yes, yes!" he chuckled. "I adore every minute detail about you. I love you through and through."

" I wish I could say the same," Jocelyn sighed wistfully. William's mouth fell open. His expression turned ornery and he suddenly began tickling her sides. Jocelyn shouted in laughter. " All right! All right! I love you too!" she gave in, giggling madly.

William's hands stilled. " What do you love about me?" he prompted.

Jocelyn pressed her lips together. " That's a tough question." William began poking at her sides again. " Okay! Okay!" she hooted. " Everything! Everything!"

William laughed and swept her up into a bear hug. He growled as her squeezed her tightly to him. After a few moments he pulled his face back so hat their noses were inches away. "Everything?" he asked softly.

" Every minute detail," Jocelyn swore with a tender smile.

" That's what I thought," he declared with an arrogant grin.

Jocelyn, grinning impishly put her hand on the back of his head to pull him close for a kiss.

* * * * *

The common room of the Dragon's Lair was empty except for Roland, Wat, Chaucer, Gunther, and Christina. Few travelers had stopped at the inn that evening and those that were staying there had already retired for the night. Roland and Christina sat under the window at the far wall to the right of the large fireplace. In Roland's hands was a new embroidery project. Christina sat close watching and handing him thread and scissors, as he needed them. Wat sat alone at one of the half dozen tables in the room nursing a mug of ale and a platter of several of his favorite foods. Chaucer and Gunther sat at another table close to the fire talking. Gunther's laughter echoed throughout the halls off the inn.

" Naked?" he huffed. " You were naked?"

Chaucer nodded, grinning from ear to ear. " Bare as the day I was born."

" It's a wonder they kept you along!" Gunther chuckled shaking his head.

" They needed me," Chaucer shrugged and became thoughtful for a moment. " I suppose I needed them too."

" And the blacksmith?" Gunther began.

" Kate," Chaucer interjected.

" Kate," Gunther corrected himself. " Don't tell me she was naked when you met her?"

" No," Geoff laughed at the memory. " She was pissed off."

" Why?" Gunther asked.

" She had repaired Will's old breastplate for him. She offered to make him new armor if we would let her tag along as far as Paris. William told her no. She took what we owed her for the repair and chucked the rest back at William." Geoff shook his head at the memory.

" Yeah," Gunther said. " That girl has got an arm on her!"

" What makes you say that?" Chaucer asked.

" She threw a horseshoe at Adhemar," the new squire replied.

" She did?" Geoff demanded, leaning forward in his chair.

" She surely did," Gunther nodded.

" Did it hit him?"

" Yep."

" Atta girl! That's our Kate!" Chaucer exclaimed proudly. He turned around to call over his shoulder. " Did you hear that Roland?"

" I heard." Roland answered, looking up from his embroidery. He looked to Christina who sat beside him watching him work. They shared a smile. " Good for her." Roland declared.

" She is a well rounded girl that Kate. She can do everything from making armor to giving dance lessons." Chaucer declared loudly.

" Dance lessons?" Gunther repeated with surprise.

" That is how she finally got William to let her tag along. She taught him how to dance." Geoff explained. " After his first tournament a banquet was held. He did not wish to attend because he could not dance. I tried to teach him but he and Wat did not catch on." Geoff shook his head. " Kate came along and took over, but not before she had William nearly begging. Will danced up a storm that night and Kate left with us the next morning."

" Fascinating," Gunther shook his head in disbelief. " Wat? Dancing?" Gunther raised an eyebrow in the redhead's direction.

" Yeah, he follows like a girl," Chaucer said earning a glare from Wat. " Wat does a lot of things like a girl," Chaucer agreed. " Isn't that right Wat?" The redhead's mouth fell open and he rose slowly from his seat at a nearby table.

" No, that is not what I meant," Gunther protested.

Geoff waved his hand at him, delighting in the chance to bait his easily aggravated friend. " He looks like a girl with his lovely red hair, does he not? He even kisses men!" he told Gunther. Gunther's eyes were wide as he looked Wat up and down. " He has kissed William." Geoff continued as Wat started towards him. The redhead's scowl was menacing.

" I did not!" Wat protested between clenched teeth.

" Don't lie Wat!" Geoff laughed.

" I was only delivering Lady Jocelyn's message!" Wat cried defensively.

" And I was merely stating the fact that you kissed him!" Geoff replied.

" You don't have to tell him everything!" Wat growled.

" Of course I do! He is one of us now." Geoff replied.

Wat turned his eyes to Gunther. He glared at the man. " He is not one of us. He never will be."

" Lighten up Wat," Chaucer shook his head, grinning with delight.

" Shut up Geoff!" Wat snapped. He turned away from the herald and the new squire and began to walk back to his seat.

Chaucer brought his hand to his face and spoke out of the side of his mouth to Gunther. " He's so damn sensitive."

" Ahhhhhh!!!" Wat bellowed as he spun around and tackled Chaucer to the ground. He punched the herald across the face with his right fist; his left was clutching the top of Geoff's tunic.

Roland rolled his eyes as he set his embroidery aside and stepped forward to intervene. He grasped Wat's shoulder and pulled him off of Chaucer. Christina rushed to Geoff's side to see if he was all right. The herald had an eye that was already beginning to swell and a busted lip. Wat shrugged off Roland's grip on his shoulder and took a deep and calming breath. Gunther still sat in his chair too stunned to move.

" He punches like a girl too." Geoff muttered moodily.

" Ahhhhhhhh!!!!" Wat roared lunging at Chaucer again. Roland caught his shirt and Gunther, his shock having worn off, rose from his seat to block the redhead's path.

Chaucer grinned from ear to ear as he watched Wat struggle to get at him. Christina shook her head in silent disapproval, but a small smile played upon her lips.

" What's going on?" William demanded from entrance of the common room. Everyone stopped and turned to look at him. " What did I miss?" he asked eagerly.

" Just the usual," Roland answered dryly.

" Wat," William said in a low, disapproving tone.

Wat's mouth fell open. He pointed to Chaucer. " He started it!"

Geoff sent Wat a look of feigned surprise at the accusation. " I did not!"

" You did too!" Wat cried.

" Did not!" Chaucer exclaimed.

" Did too!" Wat stamped his foot on the wooden planked floor.

" Enough children!" Christina shouted. Everyone glanced to her in astonishment. Wat and Geoff looked to Will in question.

" You heard the lady," William answered their incredulous glances.

With one last glare at Chaucer, Wat stomped over to his seat at his table. Geoff stood, picked up his overturned chair and seated himself in it once again. William walked over to where Roland and Christina stood.

" Well done Christina," he complimented Jocelyn's companion.

Christina smiled shyly at him. Roland took her hand and gave it a squeeze. Together they went back over by the window. William went over to Wat's table and clapping him on the shoulder, pulled up a chair beside him.

" There, there Wat," William comforted his friend, his voice laced with amusement at the redhead's sulking.

" I'll fong him." Wat vowed, staring down into his mug of ale. " I will."

" Have another ale," William suggested in consolation.

" Okay."

* * * * *

Well, that's Chapter 12. I thought I should throw in some interaction between the members of Will's crew to mix things up a bit. I'll start writing the next chapter immediately! Thanks for not giving up on me! Love the reviews! Keep 'em coming! Catch you next chapter!