Disclaimer: I own the rock you shall encounter, nothing else.

Best Friends?

"Doubles! Neal takes all!"

A cry went up from the table of thieves and drunks as Neal pulled a pile of coins towards him. The green-eyed squire grabbed a coin and held it in the air.

"Drinks all around!"

Another cry went up as Barmaids came bearing trays of sweet ale.

Kel laughed and took another drink from her own cup. Her and Neal sat at a far table, where the men where involved in an expensive game of dice. Kel claiming she had worse luck then the Beheaded Emporer had chosen to watch instead of play.

Neal sat with his arm around a pretty blonde flower seller by the name Seria. Kel studied the girl from over her cup. She was just the kind Neal had always been interested in, beautiful, delicate, with a lovely smile. She also had a bigger then usual chest, something Kel noted with something like jealousy.

Kel looked at the young thief known as Sly beside her. Sly had made his attraction to Kel very clear when they first met. Knowing that a man though her attractive gave Kel a sense of pride. She flicked her brown hair behind her shoulder (a motion she had observed from her sisters) and tried to pat attention to the game.

Across the table, Neal observed his friend with some interest. She had changed quite a bit since their last visit. Something Neal wasn't sure how to respond to.

Neal narrowed his eyes as the thief beside her. Placed an arm around the Lady Squire's shoulders. It was Sly wasn't it? Neal scowled, he was MUCH too old for her, and Neal hopped he wouldn't have to remind the man.

Being four years his senior, Sly was a well-muscled man with plenty of knowledge of the fighting arts. Neal studied the man carefully as he had his friend.

He was tall, well built with glossy black hair and warm brown eyes. He didn't seem good looking Neal supposed, although Neal had never been one to judge the looks of other boys. Neal took another large sip of ale and shook the dice cup, watching his friend with a careful eye.

Hours later, it was hour wasn't it. Both Kel and Neal's minds were both to clouded to tell. Kel laughed as Neal made a bad joke about 'The Stump'. Kel giggled, this was fun she decided, she ought to drink more often.

Kel grinned as Seria stroked his arm. Leaning forward she kissed his neck playfully. Neal laughed, until his gaze turned to his friend. Sly was whispering in her ear, the smile gone from her face.

Even through his cloud of drunkenness, Neal could see the shock on Kel's face at whatever the thief proposed. Sly smiled and stroked her cheek and slowly Kel nodded. The thief grinned and leaned forward, kissing her warmly on the mouth. Neal rose from his seat quickly and stumbled. Swearing he disentangled himself from the table as Sly pulled Kel towards the stairs. He half ran and grabbed Kel's other arm pulling her out of Sly's grasp.

"We're leaving," he announced. Kel's eyes widened in surprise but she didn't oppose him.

"Hold on a breath!"

Neal pulled Kel into his arms as Sly approached.

"Me and this beauty where about to have a chat upstairs. Weren't we sweetheart?"

Kel nodded, but did not move from Neal's embrace.

Neal scowled and moved toward the door, "I'm sorry but she's tired of your company!"

Neal walked out still holding Kel slamming the door in his wake.

Neal burst into Kel's room's Kel in tow.

Slamming the door after she was in he pushed her on to the bed and faced her, eyes angry.

"And what in the name of Mithros did you think you where doing?" he demanded.

Kel rubbed her head and wished Neal wouldn't yell so. "What was what?"

Neal's opened his mouth several times in disbelief. "That!" he hissed stabbing his finger towards the door, "In the Dove! Following a strange man you just met and letting him KISS you! For God's sake Kel where's your head?"

Kel moaned and rubbed sore temples, "Sore!" she complained.

"And why are you drunk?" hissed Neal, ignoring the fact that he was also drunk.

"I wanted a kiss." Complained Kel.

"What?" asked Neal confused by the switch of topic.

"I wanted to kiss someone." She said

"Why?" demanded Neal, forgetting his own desire for drunken kisses.

"Kel shrugged her shoulders clumsily "I don't know." She whined.

Neal swore and knelt in front of her, "God's Kel he was not the man to kiss. What if he hurt you?"

Kel's hazel eyes where wide in fear and something between shock and depression.

"Kel" Neal started anger subsiding. "You frightened me."

"I just wanted a kiss." Kel said in a small voice.

Neal sighed "Kel if you want a kiss, kiss some one you trust, someone how won't hurt you and-"

Her lips on his silenced him, her tongue gently probing at his mouth. He never hesitated. Breathing in he pushed her gently to the bed, as their kisses grew more desperate. They were tugging at each other's clothes, both annoyed at the alcohol that slowed them down.

Loosing all sense of reality, they lost themselves to each other's embrace.

To be continued...

A/N: Awwwww! I am soooooooo glad you guys stuck through another summer with me (at least I hope you did ) So anyway I'm home now, (as of yesterday) and have full access to my lovely, lovely, fanfiction (I tried writing in an internet café, but it didn't work). Now that I'm back I'll try and update more often. Check out my Kel/Neal fic, 'Love Dies, and Love is Born'. Oh and Yes, there was no rock.

One more thing...REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!!!!!