A/N: Well, here it is, the social!! Fun things are bound to happen! Thanks to flirtatious for the inspiration of a great way to add the children into this chapter! I hope you like it! (And don't worry- Kel and Yuki will NOT ruin their reputations at the social or anything like that…let's see what the guys will do though…)!

Chapter Four: Playing Hard-to-Get

Kel and Yuki were true to their word. They even dressed together in Yuki's room to avoid being hassled by their husbands- Those same husbands that were still baffled by their wives' reactions.

"I mean, they should've known we'd continue with the pranks!" Neal complained to Dom as they walked to the hall where the town social was being held. Practically the whole town was already in attendance, laughing, eating, and dancing. Both men were holding their baby boys in their arms, with Neal also holding the hand of his young daughter. They had come to the decision to take their children along so that their wives would truly see how serious and responsible they were.

"I know, Neal, but it doesn't matter, does it? They won't forgive us unless we take the blame for continuing with our pranks which, I hate to tell you Meathead, we did continue regardless of our agreement." Then Dom turned and glared at his younger cousin, "Or should I say you continued…"

"Me?" asked Neal indignantly, stopping in his tracks and ignoring his daughter's attempt to pull him toward the social.

"Yes, you," Dom accused, "You were the one to pull a trick on me this morning."

"But you pranked me in turn!"

"Yeah, after you pranked me first!"

"Alright, I see how it is, just blame me for every-"

"You boys having a problem?"

Both Neal and Dom turned their heads to see Yuki and Kel looking at them amusedly. From the look of it, they were just arriving also. Neal and Dom didn't respond however, both of them were too busy admiring their wives, who were looking extremely attractive in their nice dresses and modest face paint.

"Wow, Kel," said Dom, advancing toward her. Neal did the same with Yuki.

However, they both received the same reaction. Both women opened their arms to their advancing husbands, but instead of welcoming them into their embrace, Kel and Yuki both took hold of their children instead. Dom and Neal were disappointed, to say the least, as they watched their wives cuddling their children.

"I am jealous of my own children right now…" stated Neal glumly to Dom.

"I know what you mean," agreed Dom as Kel kissed their son's forehead, "I'm beginning to regret bringing them along…"

Hearing this, Kel said, "But it's such a nice gesture, Dom, looking after the children and all."

"Yes," Yuki concurred, "It shows Kel and me that you two are actually playing the role of parent instead of child."

"I resent that!" Neal cried out. "I always act like an adult!"

Yuki and Kel gave him an amused look as Dom cleared his throat loudly beside him, his eyebrows raised. His own daughter started to giggle, which caused both boys to do the same.

"Ok, ok," conceded Neal, "I admit that I don't always act my age…but neither does Dom!" He pointed his finger accusingly at his cousin.

Rolling his eyes, Dom said flatly, "Thanks, Meathead."

Kel laughed. "Anyway, it's really nice of you two to take care of the children. Yuki and I really appreciate it," she said, handing her son back to Dom as Yuki did the same with Neal.

Taking his son back, Dom grinned and said, "Does that mean we get to take the two loveliest ladies with us to the social?"

"Remember," Kel told him, "We didn't come here together. Yuki and I are here without escorts."

"Not looking like that you aren't," said Dom, grinning in approval as he shifted his son to his other arm.

Kel felt her heart racing, but kept her Mask in place. Wow, she thought, This is actually working. All the time it took Yuki to help me get ready is really paying off…And Dom looks so handsome holding our son in his arms, she thought while admiring her husband and child.

But she only allowed herself to grin lightheartedly. "Well then, I may allow you to have a dance or two this evening- depending on how you behave, that is."

He grinned back, "I'll be on my best behavior if it means I get to dance with you, milady…"

Kel arched an eyebrow. "Just because I'm in a dress, Captain Domitan, does not mean you can call me such ridiculous names…"

With that she and Yuki walked into the hall together, giving each other secretive winks while their husbands gave each other self-satisfied grins.

"This might actually be fun," commented Dom, glancing back at Kel's figure.

Neal, doing the same with Yuki, smiled, "We totally made connections with them. They were practically jumping into our arms! Ah, what simple compliments will do…"

Dom rolled his eyes and smiled, "We sound like we're courting again…"

"But it's better," said Neal, eyes twinkling as they walked into the hall, "because we're already married to them…"

Dom laughed, agreeing. "Though," he said, "technically they're still here without us, so we still have some work to do, my dear cousin."

"Ah," said Neal, waving it off with a huge smile on his face, "They've basically already taken us back. Did you see the way they looked and the way they were flirting with us? Yep, Dom, they want us."

Laughing, Dom couldn't help but believe what Neal was saying. "Just play it cool, Meathead," he warned, "You could blow the whole thing with one idiotic remark and then I would be forced to kill you. Believe me, I-"

Suddenly Dom tilted his head to the side, peering across the room.

Neal, noticing his older cousin's sudden silence, asked, "What're you looking at?"

Hearing no response, Neal followed his gaze and almost dropped the cup of cider he had just taken off a nearby tray. "Is that-?"

It was. Across the room stood Kel, talking with a young man a few years younger than she. She was smiling at something he had said. The young man was fair-haired, good-looking, and obviously attracted to the lady knight, of which Dom had taken acute notice.

"Who is that?" asked Neal, squinting at the person.

"I don't know," said Dom slowly, "But if he so much as touches her he's a dead man- or boy. He must be at least three years younger than her!"

Neal looked at Dom, and grinned, "So, my dear cousin is jealous…"

"You're damn right I'm jealous," said Dom sharply, "She's my wife. We're married. He must know that. We have a child for Mithros' sake! Our son is practically older than him!"

Neal snickered as he looked at the infant in Dom's arms. "You're just jealous because he's so much younger than you are, old man!"

Dom glared at him, "Shut up, Neal. And I'm not old. You're but two years younger than me, remember that. And I could run circles around him any day…"

"No doubt, Dom, though-"

"Da, Da!" said Neal's daughter, tugging on his arm and pointing to the other side of the room. "There's Ma!"

Dom turned when he heard Neal emit a strange strangled noise. "What's the matter with you?" he asked crossly.

"WHO IS HE?" Neal exclaimed loudly, causing many people to turn around and look at him.

"I already told you," said Dom impatiently, "I don't know, I've never seen him before-"

"No," said Neal, pointing to where his daughter had indicated. "Who is he?"

Dom looked to see Yuki talking with a man with his back to him and Neal. He was tall and thin, with short dark hair. Dom didn't recognize him as he turned to grab two drinks off a passing cart, but with the look Neal had on his face, he figured that Neal did.

"That's-That's my apprentice!"

"Who?" asked Dom, looking at the man. "He looks older than us…"

"He is," said Neal through ground teeth. "He was my apprentice before I left here. He took over as New Hope's head healer when I left...What is she doing talking to him?"

"Maybe she finally realized she needs a more mature man," suggested Dom, getting Neal back for the teasing he had given him about age.

Neal wasn't able to retort however, because they were both too shocked when they saw their wives move onto the dance floor with those same men. Dom and Neal soon handed their children over to the maid that cared for them when their parents were busy. Then, never taking his eyes off Yuki, Neal swiftly exchanged his glass of cider for one filled with ale instead, grabbing one for Dom as well. Both men bottomed their cups quickly.

Kel and Yuki were both fully aware of their husbands' reactions. They both kept glancing Dom and Neal's way so often that both of their dance partners commented on it. Of course, Yuki's partner knew Neal well and Yuki also. He had no idea, however, what was going on between them, and was simply talking to Yuki as a friend. It had been Yuki who had insisted on dancing.

Kel, on the other hand, did not have to insist on anything. The young man, the same young man who had escorted her to her rooms the day she had arrived at New Hope, was purely infatuated with her. He knew perfectly well that Dom was her husband, and that she also had a child, but without either of them nearby, he seemed to gain the courage to approach her soon after she arrived. In order to make Dom jealous, Kel forced herself to smile at his comments, though she didn't think any of them were worth smiling over. But seeing Dom's reaction made it all worth while- even the constant compliments the young man persisted on giving her. And when Kel noticed Dom walking toward them, she had the most difficult time hiding her relief, remembering that she had to play the part.

Dom cleared his throat deeply, and asked in a not-so-pleasant tone, "Excuse me, young man, but is it alright if I cut in to dance with my wife?"

"But sir, we're right in the middle-"

"And now you're at the end," said Dom meaningfully.

"Dom," Kel warned, "I told you I would dance with you if you behaved…"

"I am behaving," he informed her emphatically, narrowing his eyes at the young man who was still holding Kel.

Kel had never seen him so livid. As much as she hated to think it, it kind of thrilled her.

"How about you go get some cider," Dom suggested to the young man, "since you are obviously too young for ale."

The young man stood up straighter. "I would like you to know that I just turned twenty," he announced proudly.

Dom raised his eyebrows. Kel meanwhile was biting back a smile. "Well that makes you almost ten years younger than I," Dom informed him. Then with a jerk of his head, he told him, "Go on, now."

The young man left without another word. Then Dom turned to Kel and took her into his arms forcefully, and possessively. Kel couldn't hide her smile anymore.

Finally, Dom spoke, "Kel, what were you-" Then he stopped talking and dancing at the same time. He looked down at her and asked, "Are you laughing?"

Kel nodded, too amused to say anything. Then she looked up at him, and smiled, "I was never so relieved to have you cut in."

Dom raised his eyebrows and shook his head. The he grinned, and chuckled shortly, "Mithros, Kel, I thought you actually liked that kid."

It was Kel's turn to chuckle. "Please, Dom. All he talked about were his lifetime goals- you know, saving the kingdom, traveling the realm, marrying a lady knight like myself-"

"What?" Dom asked, on edge again.

Kel laughed, "I'm just kidding. You need to relax some more, captain," she said teasingly.

He gave her a sidelong glance. "Very funny, Kel."

"Ah, come on, Dom. Where's the fun-loving guy I married?"

"He's contemplating the slow death of a certain twenty year-old man…"

Kel laughed. Then she pressed her body closer to his, drawing his thoughts away from the young man immediately. "Well," she said for his ears alone, "I happen to be contemplating how long it will take us to get out of here…"

Seeing the look in her eye, Dom grinned. "Not long at all." And he practically towed her out of the hall.

However, Kel remembered Yuki's warning to not give in- no how matter how much she wanted to. Kel silently cursed her Yamani friend.

Then they ran into Neal and Yuki, also heading toward headquarters. Kel and Yuki exchanged looks. Then they silently communicated that they had gone too far to give up now…sadly. Sure, they had put both their husbands through a major fit of jealousy, but that was not where their operation was planned to end. They had more up their sleeves.

"Well, dear cousin of mine," announced Neal upon seeing Dom and Kel hurrying to headquarters, "I do believe we have left with the two most beautiful women in the whole gathering."

He turned and kissed Yuki's hand as Dom turned and squeezed Kel's. "I am forced to agree with you, Meathead," said Dom, winking at Kel.

"And I do believe that our husbands have never been so outwardly protective of us…" said Yuki to Kel, smiling as Neal kissed her palm.

"Protective is an understatement," joked Kel, smiling as well as Dom placed a few reserved kisses down her neck, "Jealous is the more correct term…"

Both of the men then looked at their wives. "Of course we were jealous," said Dom.

"What kind of husbands would we be if we weren't?" asked Neal.

"Dead husbands," teasedYuki.

Neal gulped visibly, before saying, "But we were jealous!"

"And we still are jealous…" Dom added, looking at Kel and grinning. "And lonely…"

Catching on, Neal smiled at Yuki and said, "Very lonely…"

Kel and Yuki glanced at one another. Then they both walked around their husbands and headed toward the nearby door of headquarters as Kel said, "We already thought of something that can help handle that…"

Dom and Neal followed their wives eagerly, broad smiles plain on their faces.

However, as Kel and Yuki reached the door, they turned around, looking like they did not know why their husbands were following them.

"Where're you going?" they both questioned the two men.

Neal grinned, "I thought you were going to help us out of our state of loneliness…"

"We are," confirmed Kel. "So why are you following us?"

Their husbands' smiles faded as they then looked slightly confused.

"Why wouldn't we be?" asked Dom.

Yuki smiled, and answered, "Because, instead of our wonderful company, the two of you will have each other's- out in the stables like we agreed."

Dom and Neal both looked puzzled.

"You don't remember the rest of our agreement, do you?" Kel asked looking between Neal and Dom.

They looked at each other and shook their heads.

Yuki sighed, "You chose to continue with your pranks and, since you agreed to our terms, that means you're going to be sleeping in the stables for the remainder of our stay."

"What?!" exclaimed Neal, "You're surely joking!"

"That was our agreement," said Kel, shrugging and looking to Yuki for affirmation.

Dom chuckled uncertainly, "That's almost two weeks…"

"Then I guess you'll be getting to know the horses very well," said Kel, smiling.

"You have to be kidding me!" said Neal. Then he tried to smile flirtatiously at Yuki and started to say, "Yuki…my Blossom-"

Yuki pulled away from Neal's reach. "Forget it Nealan," she warned.

Meanwhile, Dom moved closer to Kel, telling her wickedly, "But I thought we were just about to be getting to know each other again…"

Kel also pulled away from an advancing Dom, smiling innocently. "Sorry, Dom, but you agreed to the terms of our agreement…"

Dom grinned roguishly, "And I thought we just recently made an agreement of our own- that you were going to help cure my loneliness…"

Kel grinned, "And I still plan to do so, my captain- after the two weeks are up."

"That's right," agreed Yuki after hearing Kel's last comment. "You two rely too much on your charm and you need to realize that you can't charm your way out of everything." Then rounding on her heel, she said, "Have a nice night out in the stables, boys."

"Good night, Dom. I'll be looking forward to the end of the two weeks. But until then…" Kel then gave him an alluring grin before also turning on her heel and disappearing through the doors to headquarters.

Dom watched her walk away, slightly taken aback by her forward behavior. His eyebrows were still raised slightly as a slow grin started to spread across his face. I seriously doubt I'll be able to last two weeks…

His thoughts were interrupted when he saw light coming from his and Kel's bedroom. Seeing her shadow pass behind the window to close the shutters, Dom recalled the look she had given him moments ago.

Hell, he reconsidered, I'll be lucky to last the night…

A/N: Well, how'd you like it? I had a great time writing this chapter- which you might have guessed by the length :) . Tell me what you thought! I loved writing the interaction between Dom and the young man Kel was dancing with...And I bet it will be a long night for all of them indeed:D.