Scenario 12- ''...I Want You Back.''

She couldn't believe she let one stupid fight get in the middle of everything they had. Their fight consumed her mind and heart. She would replay it night and day, and all she could think about was him.

She tried to get on with her tasks. She tried not to think about him. This, however, was an impossible task. His face filled her mind, and she couldn't shut it out.

Her friends noticed her. They noticed him, too. They didn't know what to do, or what to say, because most of her friends were his friends, too. And her friends just wanted them to be happy again, since they so obviously weren't at the moment. They were only truly, completely happy it seemed, and now that they weren't together anymore.

''If he makes you happy, Kel, then why aren't you still with him?'' one of their friends, Owen, asked.

Of course he would say this. While Owen's heart was one of the purest she knew, he wasn't exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer. Also, he could only see things in black and white, so the complexity of Kel and Neal's relationship was lost on him.

Really, though, Kel found that Owen was right. It was as simple as he thought it was. It was only her pride that was keeping her back. With love though, there was no pride; you lost your pride when you fell in love with someone.

As she was about to tell him that she still loved him, she saw him with another girl.

She was a beautiful blonde court lady. Fair, blue-eyed, buxom and everything the opposite of what Kel ever was or ever could be. She giggled as Neal told her something. Probably one of his sarcasms, Kel thought, and with an aching heart she realized that they used to make her laugh too.

Kel ran before he could see her, and that night she cried herself to sleep.

Then, one day, Faleron came up to her and admitted that he had had feelings for her for a long time. He told her that the only reason that he hadn't told her sooner was because of Neal, but that maybe she was over him and into Faleron?

Kel figured that she at least ought to give him a chance, if she couldn't have Neal so she lied and said she loved him back.

That night she couldn't sleep, her mind was racked with guilt. She didn't know what she was thinking then- it was so out-of-character to try a motive so selfish, and to decide on it without thinking about it first. She decided that she'd tell him that she changed her mind, and that she wasn't over Neal yet.

The next day, though, he brought flowers to her and told her how much he loved her. It wrung her heart so much that she didn't know how to deny him.

She tried to make herself love him, with no avail. When he tried to kiss her, she finally broke. ''Maybe I'm not ready yet, Faleron,'' she admitted, ''not after Neal....'' The expression on her friend's face broke her heart, but she ran out on him anyway.

It was then that she decided to talk to Neal. If they weren't going to be lovers, they at least had to be lovers. Their separation was killing her.

So, with her heart thrumming crazily in her, she knocked on his door.

It took three knocks for him to answer the door. With each one, her stomach dropped a little.

Finally, he answered.

Keeping a Yamani mask was never so hard. Just to see his face made her throb and yearn all over again.

''We need to talk,'' she said.

''Yes,'' he said, some emotion she couldn't identify shining in his eyes.

Was it hurt? Scorn? Confusion? Heartbreak? Yearning? Kel was horrified to find that she didn't know anymore; she used to be able to read his emotions instantly.

For a moment, she couldn't speak. All she could do was stare into his eyes. Finally she recognized the expression on his face and her Yamani mask slid off.

''Kel,'' he asked her, the look vanishing to be replaced by concern, ''are you all right? You look a little sick.''

She forced a smile. ''I'm fine,'' she said.

Another moment was spent in crushing silence.

''Neal,'' she began, her insides shaking with nervousness, ''I miss you. I miss you so much. And I... I want you back.''

She mistook Neal's gaping jaw as a sign that he didn't feel the same, so she went on.

''I still love you as...'' she couldn't bring herself to say the word so she went on, ''but I know you've found someone else, but... If we can't be lovers, then I still want to be friends. When we told each other that we both loved each other, we said that if it didn't work out...''

''I know,'' Neal said, his face grim.

''I...''

It was then that Neal reached out and kissed her. He kissed her as hard and vigorously as he could, and she kissed him back. At that moment they couldn't get enough of each other. Eventually they had to pull apart for air, but even that was unwilling.

''I missed you, too,'' Neal said, panting, ''I missed you so damn much.''

''What about that court lady?'' Kel asked.

Neal shook his head. ''It was only for a night,'' he said, ''She wanted a longer relationship with me but I... I couldn't do it. All I could think of was you, but I didn't know how to approach you. Wait... what about you and Faleron?''

Kel hung her head. ''He told me he loved me, and I gave him a try but when he kissed me, I only saw you. I told him I couldn't do it.''

Neal nodded. ''Okay.''

''I'm sorry,'' she said.

''For what?''

''For fighting with you, for calling off our relationship....''

He silenced her with another kiss. ''The fight was my fault,'' he said, ''I was being stupid…''

''No I was, I broke up with just because…''

''I let you go, and I let us go all of these months….''

''I did, too.''

''But you came back here now.''

''Yes, thank the gods.''

''Thank the gods.''

This time it was she who reached out and kissed him. He kissed back, and began to unbutton her shirt. Smiling she began to unbutton his.

''A charm?'' Kel asked.

For a moment, Neal was at a loss but after swimming around the house, he found one.

''Haven't had to use one in such a long time,'' he explained, his green eyes twinkling as he put it over her head.

She nodded, and her smile increased.

Soon enough, they landed on his bed, their bodies creeping under the covers.

''We're never letting another fight get between us again,'' Kel whispered afterward, her voice breathless.

''No,'' Neal said, his breath hot against her neck, ''definitely not.''

Then she nestled against him, and lay her head on his chest. As she did, she breathed in the scent of him, never wanting to forget it. That was the last thing she remembered before she fell asleep.

The next day, they openly expressed their relationship, holding hands and smiling at each other.

There were some whistles and some eyebrows and the following was generally said:

''Hmm… I wondered what they were doing last night.''

''Look! Meathead and Mindelan!''

''Didn't Neal hit lucky? Kel, of all people!''

''It's so sweet to see them together again.''

Kel and Neal didn't care, though. It was such a relief for them to be together again. And, for the most part, most people didn't care either- they thought Kel and Neal made a good pair and they were happy to see them together again.

However, there was some redhead lost in the crowd. He didn't say a word; he just watched them through hurt and jealous eyes. He felt like Kel had not too long ago, and more. As Kel and Neal came nearer to him, he walked out of the building.

Sooo… I finished this ahead of schedule surprisingly. That almost never happens. However, I guess being subjected to the Superbowl does this to a person. This isn't my best by far; plus, the beginning was extremely boring, I know. I'm sorry, I hope the next one will be better. As usual, I will try to update as soon as possible. In Her Darkest Hour is coming along well; the upcoming chapter containing a twist… Same applies for that. I should probably finish this with how awesome my fans are- you guys are the reason I keep writing!