1Author's Note: Oh, jeez, I'm so sorry I haven't updated in ages. Don't kill me! takes sister and uses her as shield Eh heh heh. Anyways, hope you enjoy the second chapter of Privacy Deprived! Please review!

Also, thank you so much to my reviewers for picking up my mistakes. It's greatly appreciated!

Disclaimer: No, no, and no, I do not own any of these characters! And stop reminding me that I can never have them! sob

Privacy Deprived – Chapter Two

"Congrats, milord," Kel beamed at Raoul, who stumbled out of the ring, horse's reins in one hand and sweaty helmet in the other.

He panted in return, "Thanks, Kel. Who knew the old man could put up such a fight? Now do me a favor and hang up my armor for me while I go speak with Lord Gentim, will you?"

Kel grinned. "He's still no match for you...as usual," she added. Raoul ruffled her hair again (Gods, if he keeps this up, I might have to carry a hairbrush around, Kel chuckled inwardly) as she continued, "And of course I will. I wouldn't be a good squire if I didn't." The giant lord smiled gratefully and peeled off his sweaty armor, carefully laying them onto Keladry's arms so that the reeking, soaked plush side was face up. She winced. "Pardon my saying, sir, but…you sweat a lot."

Ruefully he answered, "I know," and ambled over to his aged competitor. Kel could faintly hear him say genially, "Been working out lately, huh, milord Gentim?" gaining a laugh from both her and the old knight. Gingerly, her arms still piled high with armor, Kel headed to Raoul's tent.

"You do know that Lord Raoul's helmet is about to fall on your head, don't you?" a voice asked her, identity hidden by the stack of heavy armor.

Kel's eyes darted about, looking for the speaker. Finally she said with a wry smile on her face, "Why should I care if it falls and damages a few of my brain cells? I'm already insane enough as it is, imagining voices in my head."

A chuckle could be heard. "If you don't care, well, I do," the voice answered. Kel could feel her smelly burden lighten considerably, and could see the clear blue sky––not to mention two sparkling eyes staring mischievously at her.

"Dom!" All previously forgotten thoughts about his interruption earlier flooded back into her mind, making her blush deepen. "I don't need the help, thanks," she said harshly, memories making her reckless. She attempted to balance the armor on one hand and use the other to snatch the rest from Dom, who was standing there with a trace of a hurt look in his eyes. She ended up standing there with him, all the armor spilt on the dirt road.

"Oh...!" Kel cried, flustered beyond words. Here I am, standing here with a guy who I used to have a crush on and probably still do, who also happened to see me making out with Cleon! Not to mention the fact that I just told him to back off, so he's probably going to leave now and I don't want him to leave! I just want everything to go back to the way it was, all of those thoughts coursed through her mind, leaving as quickly as they had come. And I have to pick up all this disgusting armor, which is probably caked with dirt by now. She pursed her lips and got down on her knees, gathering up the numerous pieces of armor, willing herself not to cry.

Dom stood stock still for a moment, watching her. Why doesn't she want my help? he thought. Because, you idiot, he told himself, you caught her making out with her secret lover. Dolt. He immediately helped her pick up Raoul's armor too.

"I told you not to help me," Kel said softly, but didn't try to stop Dom again. Together they walked to Raoul's tent, silent in the midst of the loud, bustling crowd of lords, ladies and squires. Dom held the flimsy tent flap open for her and followed after her.

"Big on personalizing, huh?" he said sarcastically, grinning, earning a small giggle from Kel. Raoul's tent was almost exactly the same as it had been when they had moved in. The only sign that Tent #45 wasn't unoccupied were the rumpled sheets, the clothes in the dresser, and the little board above the dresser with hooks on it to hang up armor and weapons. "Here, follow me," she said, and dumped her share of the armor on top of Lord Raoul's dresser, with the exception of the helmet, which she began to hang up on one of the hooks. The sergeant followed suit.

A long silence ensued.

"So..." Dom said, as always, searching for a conversation. "Penny for your thoughts?"

Kel smiled, hanging up another piece of armor. "No."

It wasn't your usual response to that question. "Er...a gold noble?" Dom grinned, showing off his perfect white teeth.

"Hardly enough."

"Two gold nobles?"

"I'll think about it." Kel was suppressing a laugh now.

"Aw, come on!" Domitan cried, throwing his hands up in the air.

Kel let out the laugh now. Dom relished it, it tinkled in his ears like merry sleigh bells on a Midwinter night. I always liked Midwinter, he mused. Suddenly, the female squire's twinkling eyes became serious. "I was just thinking about why you...er, interrupted me and Cleon," she said. He instantly snapped out of his Midwinter based reverie, featuring Kel laughing in a sleigh with him, her giggle tinkling along with all the bells. Cleon, he thought, Cleon of Kennan. I might have to kill that boy. "You could have just saw us and left. You didn't have to make a fuss," she continued.

"I couldn't let it go," he explained futilely, "I don't like that boy. He's using you."

Kel's eyebrows rose up in annoyance. "He isn't using me. He never asked one thing of me."

"You know you two will never be together," Dom pointed out. "He's of noble background. He'll be whipped into an arranged marriage sooner or later. Why encourage your romantic fancies when they'll never end happily?" he asked. Keladry froze, lips pursed in thought. Dom bit his lip. Oh great, he groaned, you probably hurt her feelings, again. Way to go, idiot. As the squire continued to play statue, he apologized. "I'm sorry, Kel. Don't listen to me. Whatever you do with Cleon is none of my business. I just got...carried away, I guess. Maybe even jealous." Jealous. It wasn't a word Dom described himself as often. In fact, even when he was jealous, he never admitted it to himself, except on rare occasions.

"Jealous?" Kel unfroze and looked at him, a puzzled look on her face.

"Yes, jealous," he said, more to himself than to her. Dom suddenly twined his hands around her waist and pulled her close to him, then kissed her soft, slightly agape lips. He could hear her faint gasp as she dropped the armor and wound her arms around his neck. He kept one hand on her waist and used the other one to cradle her head, deepening the kiss more. I thought pranking Meathead was fun, he mused, but this is a much better pastime. Just as he was thinking how much he never wanted to break apart, Kel pulled away.

"I––I can't do this to Cleon," she babbled, hand on her lips and a confused look in her eyes. She fled the tent, hair flying out from behind her.

Dom groaned. "How can she do this to me? Just when I find out that I love her, she just has to run away, thinking about her dear Cleon. Oh, I really have to kill that boy now." He put his face in his hands. "And I also have to hang up the rest of Raoul's armor. Oh, joy."

Author's Note...yes, again: Hehe, yay, the kiss finally happened. So, what do you think? Please review! You know how I always love reviews. Except for flames. Flames are very bad. Tsk, tsk, no flaming, now. Eh heh. Okay, I'll let you go now.