SqUiRe KeLaDrY; mOtHeR?

A/N: none of you could possibly have any idea how guilty i feel for the HUGE delay on the update, i could blame it on my insanity, my crazy schedule, no time, no energy or ambition... but do you really care? As long as it's up... okay, i hope everyone likes, I really am sorry... and don't let you're anger at me keep you from reviewing because without reviews i won't have a reason to update. Happy Friday to all!

DEDICATED TO: the infinately wise Yoda Layne! for putting up with me all the time, even when i'm acting all grouchy and pissy and hating the world. No matter what, she's there for me you have to love her for it! BTW! I AM SO GONNA KILL YOU!!! I can't believe you...now only a bazillion ppl know the bj thing. Where would i be without you to make me laugh? and to myself, cuz i'm proud i finally got this done, it was work, and because i feel like doing it, i need a good pick me up... without myself there wouldn't be a story so... yay GO ME!

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Childish Temptation

The scenery was the same as it had been all along. The sky was dull and cloudy, but the day was warm. There was just enough humidity in the air to make the riders uncomfortable. Other than that there wasn't much to note. A trail wound through a small grove and was travel worn. The small path was crowed with Tortallan riders and the men were plastered with dust. The calm serene hush was disturbed only by the simple clatter of horse hooves, and the casual banter and conversations of small groups of men. As in all groups, there is at least one person who simply cannot stand to let things rest and because of this, the calm was momentarily disrupted.

"Hey..." Neal whined and several people's heads and focus' turned his way. Content with the new attention he pressed on. "My butt hurts." He stated matter-of-factly. He whined again and his lower lip jutted outward in a childish act that added emphasis to his statement.

Kel scoffed lightly at her best friends "profound" remark and raised a questioning brow. She didn't even say anything before Neal felt the need to defend himself.

"What?" He pouted. "It does. We've been on the road all day. And my butt is seriously punishing me for it." He repeated.

Kel was in no mood to deal with a childish Neal at the moment and she shot him a bitter look. Still, she knew if she didn't say anything, no one else would, and Neal would just continue to whine and complain. "That's not all that's going to hurt when I get done with you." Kel muttered.

Neal's eyes widened and his focus was intent. Then that same old cocky smile sneaked across his warm lips. "Hmm..." He sounded. "That sounds kinky." Neal stated with a suggestive wink.

Kel was not impressed. "That's not quite what I meant Nealan." She finished tartly. "I was thinking more along the lines of bruises. Or possible broken bones."

Neal's jaw dropped in mock surprise. "Are you..." He stammered. "Are you threatening me?" He questioned in a broken voice.

Kel smiled despite her want to 'not' humor Neal. "Yes." She grinned. "Yes, I am." Kel stated proudly.

"Okay." Neal shrugged with a gleam in his eye. "I was just making sure. You know I could easily take you down Lady Keladry. So I'm not too worried about it." He finished with a self-assured nod of the head.

"Pssh." Kel scoffed, enjoying herself more than she thought she would by humoring (slightly) Neal's banter. "You should be worried about it. Besides," she added. "Think how shameful it would be to have to admit you were beaten by a girl." She smiled trying to mimic Neal's cockiness.

"What girl?" Neal asked sarcastically. "Oh," he mocked surprise. "I forgot you were still trying to play out that charade."

Kel scowled and shook her head in Neal's general direction, but his comment wasn't all that upsetting to her. She tilted her head at an angle but didn't say anything as she tried to look at least somewhat threatening.

Neal cocked one eyebrow as he puffed out his chest and smacked himself over the heart in a challenging manner. "Bring it." Neal dared.

Kel laughed softly under her breath and shook her head some more in amusement as she answered. "Queenscove, don't tempt me." Kel warned as Dom and the men around them looked on in obvious entertainment.

"Tempt you?" Neal questioned with a smirk. "How kinky."

"No." Kel shook her head. "It really isn't." She stated firmly.

"It kinda sounds that way..." Neal trailed.

Kel remained strong. "No Queenscove. That's just your overactive imagination."

Neal opened his mouth in continued argument, but it was Dom's melodic voice that came forth. "He's almost right, Kel, it does sound that way." Dom reasoned.

Neal's face broke into what could only be described as a triumphant grin. "Yea Kel, see that, I'm right." Neal boasted.

Dom gave a short and hearty laugh. "Not quite Meathead. If I remember correctly, I said 'almost right'. There's a difference."

"Still," Neal argued. "It's something."

Kel scowled directly at Dom and mouthed the words, "thanks a lot." Then she turned her head towards the sky. "Oy mens." She muttered. Then louder she spoke to Neal. "Okay, I give up. You win... this time."

Neal gave a crooked smile, and hearing those words seemed to satisfy him since he didn't say another word on the matter. It wasn't Dom's argument so he left things as the were too, and the somber silence again enveloped the group. Almost as soon as their voices dropped, a loud clap of booming thunder ripped through the gloom stricken gray sky.

As if the rumbling thunder was a cue, a small band of people appeared on the distant horizon. Dom and the crowd were tense and on the alarm in a matter of seconds, but the feeling of apprehension soon dissolved as the small bands' traveling banner came into view. They were a group of mobile performers. Players, actors, but most of all musicians made up the small crowd. Sargent Domitan settled back onto his mount now that the possibility of the approaching crowd being a threat was not longer in question.

Since both groups were traveling at opposite directions and their approach was smooth. (don't worry this won't turn into some sort of math problem) As the performers neared it became clear that nearly all of them carried some sort of instrument with them. It was this fact that gave Neal his newest form of oddball amusement.

His gaze was focused and intent upon the colorfully dressed minstrels Dom's crowd was soon to meet. No one said anything as travel continued and soon enough the two bands met and passed by one another without much more than a nod of the head and a kind greeting of hello. There was now quite a bit of distance between the two crowds when suddenly and without warning Neal burst forth.

"This one time, at band camp, with a tuba...or was it a flute?" Before he could get another word out, Kel abruptly cut him off.

"Neal," she spoke as one would to an annoying toddler. "You've never been to band camp." She plainly reasoned. She knew there was no way he would win this one because there was no real way Neal could argue something that was such a plain lie.

"Yea I have." Neal fought pointlessly. "Besides, how would 'you' know?" He demanded.

Kel wrinkled her brow as if her head was hurting her, or possibly as if she was planning to hurt someone nearby. Kel pressed on for the sake of an argument she was sure to be victorious in. Also she felt that Neal shouldn't be allowed to have too much fun on this trip. "Neal, I'm your best friend, am I not?" She didn't really need a response, so she didn't wait for one. "Then I think I would know." She concluded and set her case to rest.

"Yeah." Neal relented somewhat reluctantly, as if there was more. "But that's only been for the past seven years. I had a good life before you, ya know. It was a perfectly unimpaired ten years." Neal pressed.

Kel gave a tired sigh as if to signal that this conversation was taking entirely too much energy. Still, she offered no response. She didn't have to. She knew it was pointless. Also this was the point that Dom chose to involve himself in the banter that was going on around him. It was a bold move on his part, but anything that could be done to help Kel, he knew was worth doing... and if it annoyed Neal in the process, it was even better.

"I knew you those first ten years, Meathead. I remember quite plainly what a rambunctious heathen you were, and still sometimes are. Anyway, that's not the point. There was NO band camp. You'd have to have some form of musical abilities for that."

Neal's deep emerald gaze locked on the equally intent sapphire eyes of his cousin. He responded uncharacteristically by only using two words to reply. "Harsh." Neal stated. "Very harsh." Neal's mouth was poised to say more, but the approaching storm cut him off. Thunder bellowed through the sky and cut off conversations everywhere.

"See," Dom went on. "Even the people up there," he gestured vaguely towards the sky, "want you shut up."

"Well jee Dom, that's nice of you, first you dash all my hopes and dreams of being a musician and practically tell me I'm a lost cause and then you tell me to shut up. Can't you just feel the love in this family?" He questioned in his same mocking way.

Dom opened his mouth and was trying to chose his words carefully when more thunder shattered through the gray sky.

Neal grinned and gave a little smirk. "Now who's being told to shut up?" He asked happily. Dom didn't say anything, he just closed his mouth and turned his attention to the road, but he couldn't help but notice Kel's smile and her attempt to hide small giggles because of Dom's humiliation. This didn't upset him in any way. In fact it was the best part of his day to see that glorious smile Kel sometimes let's loose when she thinks no one is looking. It's a secret smile that Dom feels giddy to think he caused.

The rode on for some time until they reached a small clearing in the dense woods. Here the crowed paused to feed, water, and rest their mounts. Twenty or so weary soldiers gratefully got off of their horses and stretched their travel strained muscles. Dom hung around and anxiously kept what he told himself was a "fatherly watch" on Kel. He watched closely as she tied Peachblossom to a tree away from all other life forms, just to ensure the spunky horse didn't decide to take a small nip at anything invading his space. Once Peachblossom was secure Kel veered from the beaten path and made her way into the dense forest. Intrigued and some what concerned. Dom followed slowly behind.

Kel felt the need to take a break and relieve herself from the group for a time. She also felt more than a little compelled to relieve her bladder. So she started out into the forest to find a secluded tree. Kel figured a walk through the forest would be a peaceful excursion; she was wrong. The moment she started out, Kel was tense for some inexplicable reason. Kel continued to walk despite the uncomfortable feeling she was having. Was it just her imagination, or was there most leaves rustling than just her footsteps should make? Every muscle in Kel's body was taut, but she was unsure of what sort of action to take. She mentally checked for any weapons she might have on her, and only found a small hand dagger in her boot. This wasn't reassuring. She had to do something.

Kel spun sharply on her heel and took off on a brisk jog back in the direction of her group and the road. Blindly she ran, and she wasn't sure why, but relief filled her when she ran smack into the strong arms of Sargent Domitan.

Kel gave a surprised gasp as she collided with the strong muscles of Dom's chest. She looked up into his searing blue eyes and repressed a smile she was dying to share. Instead she scowled and demanded curtly asked. "Dom, were you following me?"

Dom eyes widened and he almost had the look of a trapped animal. "Yes. . ." He answered slowly. "But only because I was concerned." He defended.

"Well, Dom..." Kel began. "I hate to break it to you, but I'm not a child. I don't think I was going to get lost, and I do know how to defend myself." Kel didn't mean her words to come out sounding so harsh, but Dom had really given her a fright and that was just her natural reaction.

Dom dropped his head. "I know that." He breathed softly.

Kel's knees buckled. Dom looked so sweet and apologetic. She couldn't possibly continue to speak to him in such a manor.

"I didn't mean that the way it sounded." Kel defended. "It's just... you scared me."

Dom lifted his head and his eyes met Kel's. Right away she could feel her heart beat quicken, and she wasn't sure she liked it. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." Dom spoke gently.

"It's fine." Kel assured.

"Where were you headed?" Dom questioned.

"I was just going to relieve my bursting bladder and try to clear my head."

"Yea," Dom nodded. "I was just concerned for you."

"Well I'm fine, Dom. I don't need you to hold my hand, I think I can manage on my own, so you can go back to the group." Kel wasn't really trying to get rid of Dom, she just really needed some time to herself at the moment. "And I'd appreciate it if you'd warn me or something next time if you were going to follow me." Kel finished.

Dom was a little put off by Kel's words, but he wasn't going to let that get him down. He easily gathered a longing stare and gave a heavy sigh. "You know I'd follow you any where Kel."

Kel laughed softly. "Even to the privy?"

"Yea, I'd go anywhere with you or for you. Whatever you need."

Kel felt almost certain that Dom could have no idea how words like that affected her and melted her heart. She didn't quite know how to respond to that. "Thanks Dom, that's sweet. I don't think I'd mind too much having you with me all the time." That made Dom smile. "But not right now okay?"

He nodded. "Understandable." He stated.

"I promise to return."

"And I shall miss you every second you are gone." Dom said full of feeling.

Kel laughed. "Oh Sargent, you're such a tease."

So are you. Dom thought. You just don't know it. He watched longingly as Kel walked away from him and carefully made her way deeper and deeper into the forest. He resisted the urge to follow her yet again. Not until Kel was completely out of his sight did Dom turn around and make his way back to the road.

More thunder and the start of a few sparse sprinkles of rain followed. By this point it was a little more than obvious that there was something queer about this thunderstorm. The sky was dark with clouds and despite the start of rain, it was still hot and humid out. Only there seemed to be something more than a simple rain storm brewing.

The only bright thing Kel could see about this storm was at least it was a little refreshing and it did seem to be ridding most of the ridders of their fine layer of road dust. On the other hand the dust was starting to be replaced by mud. It was only a matter of minutes before heaven's flood gates were opened. Within one minute of the start of the downpour, all of the riders were drenched... and cranky. All this compiled to make many in the group unalert and unfocused. There was no stopping. While they were trapped in obscurity and dimness where the could barely see what was right before their face, the group trudged onward.

The riders distracted situation and the environment around them was why no one noticed when trouble came from the sky. No alert was given when a vicious band of stormwings emerged from the steel colored clouds and descended without warning on the unsuspecting group. And unfortunately this was a case where one word could have saved a lot of people a lot of forthcoming pain.

A/N: wipes tired brow 2,653 words... is that enough... cuz that was hard work. Luv Ya'll! A/N: you know the drill... REVIEW!

THANK YOU THANK YOU'S!!!

AJ 4EVA: well i still hope you're proud of how this is turning out, this chapter was more for amusment, but i'm working on 28 and will have it done asap... i hope, have faith!
Alcapacien: YES! why didn't anyone tell me interesting was good? lol... so glad you like keep up the good reviewin' work
Ana Morales: yea, i used to agree about Dom not being upset with kel but i'm not sure... we'll just have to see how things turn out because i haven't even decided yet, well i'm glad you like, keep reviewin'
Bella: uh... NOW! i'm actually going to update now... are you proud? being good doesn't work... i'm ALWAYS good for the most part... no... well there was that one time... oh! and when Jim came over... and OH NEVERMIND... review!
Clare: Dude, i'm glad you think it's worth the time to thank everyone, i agree, and i hope a few others do too... there really isn't much to the corruption/kenny story. kenny just happens to be the one and only guy i've ever proposed to... anywho read and review -k-?
Death Goddess Assassin: I'm glad you like, and i'll work on the paragraph spacing thing, it might just be laziness on my part -
Fate of Destiny: glad you like . that makes me just ever so happy and just wait until the arrive back in Corus, now that's gonna be fun t- hehehe
Lady Bee: yep, my bad... been REALLY lazy in the writing department, plz forgive me and review :) thanx for the patience!
Lara Roberts: well i kept writing, it just took me a very long time, don't use that as an example... go ahead and review now hinthint
lfk214: I fixed everything and now i'm updating... doesn't that deserve a review??
missi mia: it's getting to the point where i'm starting to believe it will never be over... oh well gotta love it doncha?
molly: dude! you're like my new best friend or something... i mean no one elses review made me get up out of my chair and dance around the room. THANK YOU so much. that means a lot to mean and i hope to hear more from you peace!
Mythical Knight: thanks i appreciate it a lot. i'm seriously thinking there's nothing i love more than reviews. sorry for the delay, i hope you like the chapter and i'll work on making them longer...
Paparazzi: I feel ashamed of how slow this update was, i really need to work on that, sorry but i hope this contents you for a time, and then of course you always have reviews to amuse yourself with O.o
PoisonMoon: yea i know my characters don't often act in their time period, but that's how i get my kicks is by messing things like that up. i'm glad you like... review!
PsychoLioness13: Look i updated I'm so proud... are you proud too? good then go ahead and review, i won't mind :D
rasberry-drops: whoops :blushes: sorry but i fixed it!
santapaws: i don't see an end anywhere soon so don't worry yet, it's just a slow process with everything else i have going on... muffins and cheese...? that's... distubing?
shadowfaxlover: don't worry... many people will someday know of kel's pregnancy, but like i said, someday... and sorry about my technical difficulties...
!SmAsH!: hello inspiration! don't worry, you'll be back in the story soon enough, if anything just to piss you off... ain't i sweet? i can't believe you even considered killing kenny! jim is another story... but we can't go there... i'm done with that... yea we do need a new song... and incase you missed the memo... Random Tuesdays are supposed to be back and better than ever... but what can i say? see ya l8er you punk gabacho... oh wait, thats me huh? oh well O.o YOU. GO. REVIEW. NOW. oh did you hear i was gothic? newayz
snakefeather: glad you like... sowwies for my etreme tardiness!
Ti-Ti: I'll continue i promise, glad you like and i'll consider a K/J romance for a writers block project or something... I know what the NBA is have no fear, but i watch the NHL more... more violence... plus...GO RED WINGS! (that should make derek happy)
treanz-alyce: i can't help my retardedness... i mean... strike that... am i above your mantle? t-hehe... do i get to go up there again? since i'm updateing now, you can go above mine for reviewing...otay?
Valese: yessum... glad you like... i have with my writing no matter what it is, but sometimes i have a little too much fun, can you tell? anyway i'll write as fast as i can and you review otay buckwheat? yea that was different, i know...

hmm we have a problem here... this is a shorter list than i'd like... i NEEd more reviews hint hint, if you loved me you'd do it oh yea no one loves me