Chapter 4: "It's Great to be Home"
"Getting rusty down here at court?" Dom teased, circling around in the middle of the practice courts with Kel. Kel smirked and swept her sword toward him, since Dom didn't let her use her "pig-sticker". He leapt back and stopped her sword with his own. They had been practicing for over an hour, but they were having a good time, sparring and taunting each other.
Many had gathered about, either practicing themselves or just passing by. None other that Sir Owen of Jesslaw, a good friend of Kel and Dom's, shouted out, "Good shot, Kel! And jolly good parry Dom!"
"You were lucky on that one, Dom," warned Wolset, one of Dom's corporals. "Mother can wield a mean sword."
"Thanks, Wolset," Dom replied sarcastically, stepping to take another shot at Kel, which, she also parried, "I haven't noticed."
"He will notice real soon," said Kel, taking her opportunity while Dom looked over at his corporal. Dom swung his head back to look at Kel, who was coming at him quickly, too quickly. Soon her sword was at his throat, with her smiling at the hilt.
Dropping his sword in surrender, Dom looked at Kel and grinned mischievously, causing her to look suspiciously at him. Instantaneously, Kel's sword was suddenly out of her hand, she was encircled by Dom's arms, and his mouth was on hers. Though completely taken off-guard at first, it didn't take her long to respond.
The cheers that had burst out when Kel had won the sparring grew even louder when the two parted. Kel was blushing immensely, embarrassed by all the attention they were getting. She didn't like public displays of affection, especially her own, and this was definitely public. But, she thought to herself, I sure did enjoy it.
Then, looking at Dom, she mock-glared and said softly, "You cheated."
Dom laughed deeply, and whispered, "So did you."
Then an idea seemed to strike him, because after looking around and seeing that people had returned to practicing or had walked on, he said casually, "Well, since our practice seems to have ended, I think I'll go take a bath." He walked away, to turn around after a few steps, which Kel had suspected. With an irresistible smile, he asked, "Would you like to join me?"
Kel rolled her eyes and walked passed him, then stopped and turned to face him. He looked at her in anticipation for her answer. She appeared to contemplate her response before saying, "Maybe...if you can catch me first, Sergeant." Kel grinned and spun around, racing toward the palace.
Dom stood there, eyebrows raised. Then, his face broke into a huge smile as he followed Kel's path to the palace.
Kel had already disappeared when he reached the doors, so Dom searched for her carefully. He was peering down a hallway when he heard Kel's teasing voice, "Having trouble?"
Dom smiled when he turned to see her leaning against the wall on the stairway. "Never. I'm just touring the palace," he said conversationally, waving his arm around the hallway.
Kel laughed, "You can have fun with that, Dom, while I take a bath."
She started up the stairs and soon he was following. She broke out into a run when she reached the next floor, and she heard Dom laugh as he did the same.
Rounding a corner, Kel almost ran into Raoul and Buri, his wife, who were both walking down the hall.
"Kel, what are-" started Raoul, only to be interrupted by Kel.
"Hello, sir. Buri," she said hurriedly, not stopping to explain.
Raoul turned to call after her, but was unable to when his own Sergeant merely ran into him from behind.
"Sorry Raoul. Bye, Raoul," Dom said, already skidding around the next corner after Kel.
Raoul stood there, scratching his head, and looked at Buri, who did the same. Then they shrugged their shoulders and smiled and turned back to their previous route.
They had barely continued walking, when from behind them they heard, "Excuse us, Sir."
Raoul and Buri parted and watched as a grinning Dom walked toward them, carrying a squirming Kel over his shoulder.
"Dom, put me down!" Kel demanded, obviously not enjoying being slung over his husband's shoulder, which anyone might see.
Hearing the familiar laugh of her old Knight Commander and realizing Dom was not going to let her down, Kel insisted, "Sir, tell your Sergeant to put me down!"
Raoul looked at Dom and said, laughing, "I see you caught yourself a lady knight there, Dom."
Dom smiled and replied, "Sure did, Raoul."
"Well then, good day to you both," Raoul said bowing, a broad smile on his very amused face.
Dom bowed his head in return, also smiling.
"Sir!" Kel called out, as Dom carried her further down the hall. She watched as Raoul roared with laughter behind her. Looking to Buri for help, she realized it was pointless. The K'miri woman was laughing just as hard as her husband.
When their laughter subsided they again proceeded to walk down the hall, the same way Dom and Kel had disappeared.
Raoul and Buri were talking casually again, but when they turned down another hallway, Raoul started to chuckle. Buri, being interrupted by his laughter, looked at her husband curiously. He pointed in front of them, and Buri also joined in his amusement.
Ahead of them, in a small niche in the wall, Dom and Kel could be seen kissing fervently, completely oblivious to their audience. Kel, quite apparently, had forgiven her husband.
Raoul laughed, and said, "My Sergeant has just given me a great idea." With that, he grabbed Buri around the waist and pulled her to him.
Neal, bringing a tray of food up to Yuki in their room (where he insisted, with great difficulty, she stay), froze when he almost walked right into Raoul and Buri, kissing in the middle of the corridor. Then with a disgusted face, he steered himself around them, only to almost drop his tray at the sight of the next couple.
Neal cleared his throat, but it proved not to work, so he did it again, but louder. Both couples slowly separated, becoming aware of another presence; and in Dom and Kel's case, three other presences. Raoul and Buri looked at Neal curiously, standing there with his tray of steaming food. Realizing it was Neal, Dom raised his eyebrows in question of why his cousin had chosen to interrupt, while Kel blushed profusely.
Neal, with his held high and a noble air about him, said, "Some people are trying to get things done around here, if you haven't noticed."
"So are we, Meathead," Dom retorted grinning, causing the rest of them to laugh.
"Warriors," Neal sighed, continuing toward his rooms. However, they did give him an idea for when he returned to Yuki...
The two couples had returned to their previous occupation, before Neal had even stalked off. Both Dom and Raoul, holding their wives closely, thought to themselves blissfully, It's great to be home.
A/N: That's the end! I hope you enjoyed it. A huge thanks to all my reviewers, I really appreciated your support. I have more stories in mind for the future...and hopefully that future is near. Thank you for reading!