dearest awesome readers,

I know this is a shortish chapter but I hope you enjoy it all the same! Keep letting me know what you think.

lots of love

izzy

Chapter 12

Namesake

It had been a little over a month since Baird had told Kel that Raoul was retiring and since then more and more of Kel's time had been spent with Dom training and working with the Own. Ever since the announcement, Dom had begun to bury himself in his work, which Kel often insisted on helping him with. When she wasn't with Dom, Kel was meeting her friends, both men and women, or visiting and helping Raoul adjust to life as a father. This also meant that whenever Buri, who was often exhausted, needed a break, Kel became a sort of babysitter, frequently taking little Ryn on walks around the castle. The infant bore an uncanny resemblance to his father.

Besides this, Shinko had grown quite large in the past month since her illness and was being looked after every second of the day in case she went into labour. Thus Kel got very little time with the princess, instead enjoying time spent with Yuki, Arina and Ilane having green tea. Occasionally Margarry would join the ladies and they would discuss both Arina's and Margarry's up-coming weddings. Arina and Merric's was about a month before Owen and Margarry's since the two couples wanted to avoid overlapping.

It was one of these such days when Margarry stated rather pointedly, 'Kel, you've been spending a great deal of time with that Captain.' Kel tried not to blush but was not entirely successful, but Margarry carried on, 'Owen said that he struggles to imagine you ever getting married though he knows you eventually will. He just thinks of you as one of the boys.' Kel's blush deepened slightly.

Ilane turned to the younger lady, saying, 'Margarry, my daughter has said that she wishes to wait to marry. That does not mean that it will never happen.'

'That was what I said to Owen though he didn't really know how to react.'

Kel took the opportunity to turn the conversation elsewhere, 'I didn't think anyone could stump Owen when it comes to his reactions.'

The women giggled and Margarry grinned, 'it just takes the right person. Though I think my father is at a loss to how I do it.' The group continued to laugh but when they had calmed down, the young woman continued, 'so, Kel, do you think you will ever marry him?'

There was initially silence as Kel's cheeks returned to the deep red they had reached before. Finally the lady knight managed to reply quietly, 'Who?'

'The captain, of course,' Margarry responded with a slight giggle.

Kel hesitated before replying, 'Dom and I are both still young. He's only just been promoted to captain and Mithros knows that I am not ready to marry. So, in answer to your question, maybe one day.'

There was a brief moment of silence before the women returned to their conversation.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

A few days after this, Kel woke to the news that the previous night, Shinko had gone into labor and had given birth to twins, Jonathan and Kellida. Kel practically shot out of her family's townhouse as soon as she heard the news and ran to the royal infirmary.

Yuki and a very groggy Neal were already there congratulations the prince and princess. Upon noticing that Kel had arrived, Roald rose and hugged the lady knight. Kel looked shocked for a moment until her friend spoke 'I know that wasn't very royal of me but I'm glad you came so quickly.'

Kel stared for a moment before asking if everything was alright.

Roald nodded before saying, 'look Kel, Shinko and I have talked at great length about this and now that the time has come I know we chose well.' Kel stared blankly, 'we have concluded that there is no one here we both trust as much as you so we would like you to be godsmother.'

Kel was silent for a moment, weariness slowing down her reaction, before replying that it would be an honor.

Shinko added after this reply that they had even chosen their daughter's name based on Kel's, at which point the young knight blushed.

Roald went back to where his wife lay, gently lifting one of the babies from her arms and saying, 'come her Kelly, meet your new family.'