Firstly I have to say sorry for not realising that the anonymous reviews were off – talk about shooting yourself in the foot! So rest assure, it wasn't because I didn't want negative comments (I'm cool with criticism) or wanted you not to be lazy and log in (I'm a lazy person by nature too), but because I didn't see the 'disabled' part. So that's a 'whoops!' from my side.

Ok, I know this chapter is a little short, but I wanted to see if you guys like the direction I'm heading. Give me a heads up and I'll try the next chapter as soon as I can. Since I'm on a two month holiday I finally have time!

And to round it off, thanks to everyone who added Mission: Undercover as a story alert or favourite and especially to everyone who reviewed; TheWackedOne, spazzysassyangel, CrimsonDahlia, Aria657, Tbonechick2011, somebody's sister and alykat23. You guys are the best!

Oh, and I noticed a sentence in the previous chapter that was accidentally unfinished and came out sounding super awkward. Sorry bout that, I have already changed it!

Chapter 6

Dinner in Darkwood

By the time they finally made it to the mess hall dinner had already been served and they were officially late. No one really seemed to care though as they tried – and failed – to slip into the room undetected. As Kel reached for her plate she heard someone wolf whistle from across the room and she felt her cheeks turn crimson in response. She heaped food onto her plate with as much speed as she could muster so that she could rush to a spot a little less visible to the entire village. Dom, quickly catching onto her hurry, followed suit. Kel knew he wasn't as embarrassed as she was. She saw him smile as the men sent him knowing winks.

Unfortunately there were no free tables out of view, but the minute Kel sat down everyone's attention turned back to their food.

Kel let out a sigh of relief as Dom took his seat next to her. Dom however let out a soft groan. Eyes wide she followed the direction of his gaze and could have gladly echoed his opinion. Grace was rushing their way, practically pushing chairs – with people in them – out of her way to get to them, her hand clasped firmly around the wrist of a man, who Kel presumed was her husband, to drag him along. Her face was filled with determination and Kel knew they had an hour of complaint about their neighbours waiting ahead of them.

Dom scooted as close to Kel as he could. "Where's the Protector of the Small when you need her?" he whispered into her ear.

Kel raised one eyebrow before softly stating, "What makes you think she'll protect you Robert?"

"Oh, she'll protect me. We're close you know, practically married."

Kel had to smile at his answer and had to force herself to keep that smile in place as Grace helped herself to a seat opposite from Kel. Grace's husband, who Kel noticed wasn't even trying to smile, didn't ask for a seat either but to Kel's surprise slid in beside her and Dom. The table and the benches alongside it wasn't really that big which meant Kel had to virtually sit on Dom's lap so that all three of them could fit. Kel couldn't really blame the man. She wouldn't really want to sit next to Grace either.

Grace didn't even blink at the seating arrangements; she simply shot into her first tale. Kel tried to listen, she caught on that the story was about their neighbour to the right's cousin's sister-in-law's father and that it had something to do with him stealing from the temples using well trained monkeys but she was lost after that. As Grace chatted on Kel view wandered the space of the building. It was a large room, much larger that the mess hall in New Hope, with seating arrangements for the entire village plus another one half its size. The tables were made of thick wood and had been polished until they shone. The floors and walls were clean and durable and the food, Kel took another bite of chicken, was delicious. It felt like they were in a castle, not a village filled with peasants! What was going on?

Dom fiddled besides her. Kel sat so close to him that she had to crane her head to the side to see his face. Instead of looking bored like Kel had expected he looked amused at Grace's unusual tale. He winked at Kel when he saw her looking at him and playfully pulled her closer so that he could tuck her head between his shoulder and head. Kel didn't even try to squirm. Mush as she hated admitting it to herself, she was enjoying being a married woman. Why not enjoy it while it lasted?

"Can you imagine? A filthy wild hairy monkey leaping on top of you! It's horrible! I would have screamed too!" Grace seemed oblivious to the fact that no one was listening. Even her husband had found the story a waste of his time and was happily snoring next to Kel.

"I know what I'm getting you for your birthday, dear," Dom whispered.

"Just as long as it cooks and cleans too," Kel retorted.

"I'm not sure Neal can cook and clean," Dom's tone was sad.

Kel had to bite off her laugh. A laugh might have set Grace off. Grace was already banging on the table as it was. "And then she had the audacity to deny the rumour and call me a liar and a gossip! As if I would ever gossip!" She slammed her hands against the table once more, the loud bang finally waking up her husband. He let out a loud snort as he came awake and stared at the three at them in confusion. At the look of horror in Kel and Dom's eyes he must have realised it was time his wife left the mess hall before she was chased out of the village by people wielding torches and pitchforks.

"Come on Grace," stretching, he slowly got up, "It's time for bed. Say goodnight to your new friends."

Dom glanced over his shoulder in search of these friends and Kel elbowed him in the ribs as a reward.

"Goodnight Grace," Kel kept her tone light and friendly, smiling the whole way as Grace once more left their company with reluctance. Dom didn't even have to say goodbye, he simply scowled back as Grace gave him her usual 'bow to me worthless cur' look.

"I think she's growing on me." Dom stated innocently as she exited the door.

"Of course, I knew I saw a connection there." Kel finally realised the rest of the bench was free and that it was longer necessary to sit as if stuck to Dom. She tried to squirm out but Dom wrapped a strong arm around her waist to keep her in place.

"What's the rush dear?" His tone was playful once more. Kel was struggling to get use to this Dom, the Dom that used his charming smile and playful tone to get the court ladies to follow him like lovesick puppies. She had seen him use that tone countless times before but now that it was aimed in her direction she wasn't sure how to deal with it. And he wasn't going to give her time to figure it out either. He leaned closer, his nose inches from Kel's as he cheekily grinned at her. "Don't tell me I make you uncomfortable?" He was playing with her, Kel knew that, yet she couldn't stop herself from wishing that he meant it, that this were real and not simply for the sake of their country.

"What gives you that idea?" Kel was uncomfortable and her inability to keep that out of her voice was making it extremely easy for Dom to see it too. His blue eyes were shining with their usual mischief and his arm tightened around her waist as he leaned even closer.

"I don't know, maybe this." Kel had thought he would behave himself in a room full of people, that Dom knew the charade had been stretched a little far that day already, but Dom seemed to have an agenda of his own and for the third time that day he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips. The two previous times had been complete unexpected and had been meant to show people that she and Dom were as in love as two people could be, but this time was different. This time his lips were soft, searching, like a man showing the woman he loved of the feelings he had for her. Kel couldn't stop herself from responding. It was becoming a bad habit that was going to have to be broken as soon as possible. Dom tipped her head backwards so that he could deepen the kiss and Kel's resolve broke once more. Suddenly she didn't care that she was in a crowded room or that things with Dom would never be the way she hoped for. She threw her cares into the air and lived for the moment, if only this once. She felt him smile before he came up for air, an emotion in his eyes Kel had never seen before.

"Kel, there's something I need to t…" Whatever he was planning on saying was cut off as an unusually large man plucked him up by the collar.

"Ah, here you are," his voice vibrated trough the room, booming loudly. "I've been looking everywhere for you Robert. Collin's sick and the captain wants you to take his shift for tonight. He'll give you your own shift when Collin doesn't look like he's dying." He waited patiently as Dom scrambled out of his seat, but made no move to exit the room when Dom stood next to him. He frowned at Dom. "Well, aren't you going to say goodbye to your wife? Night shift lasts till early tomorrow morning, you know."

Dom grinned. "Of course, how silly of me to forget." He leaned down and placed another quick kiss on a surprised Kel's lips. "Don't wait up for me hon, you had a long day." With a wink he turned and followed the large man out the room.

Kel sat there for a while, her mind flashing over the events of the day. How had a day that had started so simply ended up taking such a turn? That morning she had been determined to overcome the challenge given to her and now she had to force her mind to even consider going that way. All she could think about was Dom and the fact that they had better set some rules before she ended this mission with a broken heart. Before all of this she had wished that he would notice her a little more, now that she was getting attacked left and right every time she least expected it she was wishing he would notice her a little less. Not that she wasn't secretly enjoying it. That was just the problem; she was enjoying it too much! Dom probably saw her as just another lady he had to seduce and the second the mission was over he would be hot on the court ladies' heels once more. She would always be the squire that had served his Knight Commander and an old friend.

Unless…

Kel smiled as an idea suddenly hit her. Who said that Dom could be the only one who that got to have any fun on this mission? As the plan slowly formed in her mind Kel got up and put away her and Dom's plates before making her way back to her new home. She knew the night watch would only finish in the early hours of the morning so she took Dom's advice and went to bed. Her last thoughts before sleep claimed her was that she was glad Dom wasn't there so see her evil smile. He had absolutely no idea of what was about to hit him.

So, you know what to do. Click down there and let me know!