Hello all! This is my sequel to After the Deed, a story that I wrote last spring... you really can't understand this story without reading that one, but hey, if you want to read this one, you should like that one! Basically, Kel got mistakenly pregnant, and had a daughter... and (spoiler, read the first story before you highlight and read this!) got married to Dom.

Well, I decided that I really wanted to write a story about what happened to Kel after she had this child, because I think it could be really interesting, so here I am, writing about it!

Please review, because I will be eternally grateful, and bear with me. This is not my most major story (I do have five other stories that people expect me to update regularly, and I have more homework than I ever have in my entire life) and it, I believe, will be a difficult one. It's going to take a lot of thought to write, because it is about Kel's life after having a child, but it should be really interesting!

Hope you all enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing of my lowly story- 'cept Mia. She is mine!

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Marriage was not at all as Kel expected. She loved to wake up in the morning and feel Dom's warm breath on her neck; his heavy hand resting across her waist; without wondering what had happened the night before.

Kel was proud of her family. She lived at Mindelan for a time, with Dom at her side, and Mia in her arms. Mia was still very young, and Kel did not wish to move her. Dom understood. He had lived at Mindelan for a long while now, and was willing to wait for his wife and surrogate daughter.

Kel had not even minded being at home, but after a few months of just tending to her daughter, Kel could take no more. She loved raising Mia, and she loved being with Dom, but enough was enough.

She had to get out. She had not done more than a pattern dance with her glaive since she was in Corus, ignoring a few practices she had with her mother. She had barely brandished a sword since everyone had been at Mindelan, and she had not tilted in almost five years.

She was itching for combat.

She had promised herself she wouldn't give it all up. She had promised herself that she would still be a knight, and a damn good one at that. but how was she to be a knight if she had not fought in years? She had always said that a child would not end her career. But it was different now. She could not just run off on quests and throw caution to the wind. She could still fight, but what would happen to Mia if her mother died? Would she be able to live? What about her father? Whether biological or not, Dom was more of a father to Mia than Cleon ever could be. She needed him.

When Domia turned two, Kel made a decision. She was going back to Corus – as long as Dom would agree.

"Why on earth would you want to?" Dom asked when she told him.

Kel sighed. "For one, I need to go back, I can't stay cooped up here. For another reason, though;" she added quickly, "I think the palace would be a good place to grow up. There are many children, and many things to learn."

Dom sighed. "Well, Kel, she is your daughter. It is up to you."

Kel frowned. "That's not right at all!" She cried. "She is your daughter as well, and you are my husband! We will decide together."

She stood up straight. She was not going to budge until Dom made his own decision. How could he expect her to raise her daughter with out his help? If he said this was her decision, what else could he say it about? In amidst her thoughts, Kel felt Dom's hand on hers. She looked at him. "I love Corus, Kel," he said. "And at some point I would like to take you back to my home; whether it is expected of me or not. But you know I would follow you anywhere."

"Is that a yes?"

Dom grinned. "Corus it is," he said. "Besides, I would like to think we would be needed there."

Kel leapt on him. "Thank you!" She cried.

Dom smiled. "Just one thing: I won't have to protect you. You want to go back to all of this, and I am happy to stand beside you, but I won't stand in front of you. Alright?"

Kel nodded quickly. "Of course!" She kissed him. "Thank you, Dom!"

The sun shone brightly on the day of their departure, a sign from the gods. Kel lifted Domia up onto Peachblossom in front of her, and they set off. The road was long and slow, but the weather was fair and warm. Mia enjoyed herself, playing with Jump when they stopped riding. The old dog seemed to understand that Mia was playing, and did not seem to notice when the young girl pulled his tail or hugged him too tightly.

They arrived in Corus in the early evening. Mia was already asleep in Kel's arms. She was glad when they got to Corus. She liked having a room for her and Dom without having Mia sleep in between them because she was scared of the noises in the forest. Kel put Mia to bed in the small room attached to hers that was usually used for squires, and then climbed back into her own bed.

Lying there, staring at the stars out the window, Kel had to wonder what her next adventure would be.

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Okay, I know it's not a very good start, but I plan on making it better – especially when Mia ages a little bit. Who knows, maybe I'll go into her teenagehood and possibly her being a page... like I said, who knows?

Well, please review, and I hope you all enjoyed it. I am excited!

-unolimbo