A/N- The characters still aren't mine! I own nothing but the plot and the title! And the rule about members of the King's Own not being able to marry doesn't exist in this story.I don't know why, it just doesn't. Many, many thanks to BrittyWeasley and Shelly (a.k.a. Alyanorne) for all their help on this story. And I don't have Dom's parents in this because I don't know their names (or if they're even living) and I didn't want to create any characters in this. Now on with the story (which, by the way, is still being told from Neal's point-of-view)!

Loving My Best Friend

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Previously:

'"Now," said Kel, pushing a strand of her mouse-brown hair out of her dancing hazel eyes, "We've got a wedding to plan!"'

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Chapter 4:

Battle of the Best Men

So, there you have it. That's how Kel and Dom got engaged. And now, as you know, it isthe night before their wedding. But there is still much more to the story that needs explainingbefore I can tell you what's happening now. As you can see, I have entitled this portion of my(or rather, Kel and Dom's) tale, "Battle of the Best Men", so if you paid attention before, you most likely know who this segment is about. Here's what happened.

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To celebrate the good news of our dear friends, Raoul, Buri, Yuki, and I decided to takethe husband- and wife-to-be, as well as the Baron and Baroness of Mindelan and my father(who all new nothing of the engagement, as it had just been announced) out to dinner at the Jugged Hare.

The dinner was wonderful, once Father, Baron Piers, and Baroness Illane got over theshock that Kel and Dom were going to be joined together in wedded bliss in a very short time. Everything went smoothly, until, that is, it was time to pay for the meal.

"Let your Best Man pay, Domitan," Raoul said, reaching for his belt pouch.

I intercepted his hand before he could hand the serving girl the money, and while reaching
for my own belt pouch, said, "So right. How much was the bill again?"

"I said, let your Best Man pay."

I smiled. "I know, that's why I am."

The poor serving girl just stood there waiting patiently for someone to pay her.

Raoul narrowed his eyes. "I am going to be his Best Man!"

"No. You aren't."

"And why not?"

Now I narrowed my eyes. "Because I am!"

Dom groaned and put his face in his hands, while Kel patted his back, saying in a soothing,
yet amused voice, "I know honey, it's alright. I know exactly how you feel. Remember, I have todeal with them too. They are crazy men."

"I'm going to be Dom's Best Man!" Raoul continued, standing up.

"Oh yeah?" I threatened, standing up.

Raoul cracked his knuckles. "Baird? Would you mind terribly if I was to, say, teach young
Nealan here a lesson?"

My eyes grew wide and I turned to look at my father. He was in turn looking thoughtfully
at me. Then he said, "Go right ahead, Raoul. Just don't hurt him too badly. I have grown slightly
fond of him over the years."

I glared at him. "Oh, thank you Father."

Raoul grabbed my shoulder and pulled me towards him. It was at this moment that I
realized how much of a bad idea it was to threaten Raoul of Goldenlake and Malory's Peak,also know as 'The Giantkiller', because if he is able kill a giant, he would most definitely make very fast work of me. I smiled nervously up at the rather large face that was right in front ofmine, and said with a nervous smile, "You can pay the bill, Lord Raoul."

He grinned broadly as he released me and laughed. "Thank you, Nealan." He paid theserving girl, who took the money and curtsied hastily, then hurried away nervously.

I looked over at Raoul. "You weren't really going to, you know, teach me a lesson, wereyou?"

He laughed again. "Of course not, Neal." He winked. "But I got what I wanted, didn't I?"

I scowled. "That doesn't mean you're going to be his Best Man," I said, turning to face mycousin, "Does it Dom?"

Dom gave another groan, looked at us, and put his head in his arms on the table.

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I tossed and turned in bed all night, thinking. I sighed and rolled over to face Yuki, who had somehow managed to get to sleep despite my upsetting the bed. "Yuki!" I whispered, "Yuki, wake up!"

She groaned and opened her eyes to look at me. Stretching, she asked, "What's wrong, Neal?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"What is it, dear?"

"Do you think Dom will pick me as his Best Man?"

Her groan filled the room.

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The next morning, while I was eating in the King's Own mess hall with Dom, I spotted Raoul sitting at one of the tables across the hall. I looked at the porridge on my tray, blocking out Dom's voice, then back at Raoul. I picked up the bowl, and after much careful consideration of the consequences, hurled the bowl across the room, where it connected perfectly with the side of Raoul's head, covering him with the mush and almost knocking him out.

Everyone went quiet. Then suddenly, one of the members of Third Company stood up, launched a cherry tart through the air, and yelled, "FOOD FIGHT!!!" And the air in the mess became thick with food as it was flung from every corner of the room.

I tore out of the hall as the bigger knight leapt from the table and chased after me, throwing pieces of fruit at me as hard as he could. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see my dear cousin gently banging his head against the table as food flew around him.

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I ran as fast as I could, but, unfortunately for me, Raoul was gaining on me with every step. Finally, with a last lunge, he hit me and pinned me to the ground. "That's it!" He exclaimed, porridge dripping out of his hair onto my face, "We are going to find Dom, and ask him who his Best Man is going to be before we accidentally kill one another!" With that he pulled me to my feet and dragged me back to the mess hall, where Dom still sat eating, apparently unaware of the food flying around him. He looked up as we walked over to him, and only sighed as we each seized one of his arms and dragged him out of the current war zone.

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We burst into my rooms to find Kel, Buri, and Yuki throwing a shukusen around. Buri dropped the fan as we slammed the door shut, and it buried itself into our floor.

"Sorry," Buri said as she pulled the fan out of the floor, leaving a large cut in the wood. "What are you three doing here?"

Ignoring her, Raoul and I shoved Dom, who looked surprisingly calm despite all our doings, down onto a chair.

"We are tired of battling each other," I exclaimed, gesturing at Raoul, who was nodding vigorously in agreement, and myself, "So will you please tell us who your Best Man is going to be?!"

Dom sighed and looked at Kel. "Should we tell them what their, er, jobs will be in the wedding before they kill each other and drive me even closer to insanity?" Kel nodded. "Alright then," Dom said, "Do you want to know who my Best Man is going to be?"

"Yes!" Raoul and I yelled in unison.

"Do you really want to know?" This time I could sense a note of amusement in Dom's voice.

Raoul and I nodded furiously.

"Are you sure you want to know?"

"TELL ME!!!" I yelled, lunging at Dom.

"Alright, alright," Dom laughed, "Neal, you're going to be my Best Man." He glanced apologetically at Raoul. "Sorry, Raoul."

Raoul sighed. "It's alright, Dom."

"But don't worry," Kel said, "We have places for all of you in the wedding."

"You do!" Raoul cried, putting his hands on his Kel's shoulders. "What do I get to do?!"

"Oh, you'll see," she replied, her hazel eyes dancing wickedly, "You'll see soon. We just need to get the others."

Buri, Raoul, Yuki, and I exchanged wary glances. "Others?"

"Yes," said Dom, grinning, "Others."