Kel woke on the first day of Midwinter to a fire crackling in the grate. She sat up blearily and stared at the fire, wondering who would have lit it.

Lalasa padded into the room quietly. "Lady Kel! You're awake."

"Lalasa," Kel greeted her. "Why aren't you at your shop?"

"It's Midwinter," Lalasa smiled.

"As long as you're not just doing it for me," Kel warned her. "I don't want you losing business just because I'm back. And call me Kel."

'Lady Kel' reminded Kel far too much of Tobe, who'd elected to stay at New Hope when she'd left. He had found his own family there- Meech, Gydo and Loesia, some young refugee children.

Lalasa shook her head innocently. "No, Kel."

Kel had to smile at the maid's mournful expression. She dug under her bed for something and then held out a small package to Lalasa. "Here. It's for you."

Lalasa took it, surprised. "Thankyou, La- Kel. I have something for you." Her face took on a mischevious expression. "You'll be wearing it tomorrow."

Kel sighed, reminded of what torture was facing her for the next three days.

"Oh! Your friends dropped gifts by for you, too," Lalasa hurried back into the dressing room and came back with a small pile of gifts for Kel.

Neal had gotten her a small dagger with tiny sapphires on the handle. Kel read his note and gritted her teeth. He was going to get it later.

The note read:

'Dearest Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan, I thought you might appreciate a dagger with sapphires on the handle as they are the same colour as your favourite member of the King's Own's eyes. -Neal'

"Neal..." she muttered furiously. She crumpled the note quickly and tossed it into the fire, it wouldn't do for anyone else to read it.

Next she opened Yuki's. Much to her disgust, it was a small box containing various colours of lip paint, kohl and rice powder.

'For the next three days. -Yuki.'

Kel shuddered. Dresses and makeup. Yuki had better appreciate this wedding present.

Her other friends, Merric, Seaver, Esmond, Lord Raoul, Owen, Prince Roald, Princess Shinko and even Cleon had all sent Kel small odds and ends.

She opened Dom's present last, and burst out laughing. Lalasa stopped sewing up a seam and looked at her.

"What is it?"

"It's a flag, another Mindelan flag, like the one we had at Haven, the Third Company sewed it for me." Kel explained, still giggling. She unfolded it and held it in front of herself to show Lalasa. A small object fell out of it onto the bed and Kel scooped it up. It was a little, silver griffin brooch.

"He must be trying to cheer you up with jokes," Lalasa eyed the griffin brooch. Kel had told her all about her temporary pet.

"Probably," Kel agreed. "He's always joking around."

"She won't know," Neal informed Yuki. "She's already gone down to the party, anyway."

He hung a wreath of mistletoe above Kel's door with a wicked smile.

"Part two of plan achieved," he murmured, taking Yuki's hand and leading her down the staircase.

It was the first night of Midwinter party. Kel was sitting at a table with Dom, Neal, Yuki, Lord Raoul, Buri, Lady Alanna and her husband, Baron George.

Kel was in between Dom and Alanna. Alanna had firmly shoved Kel onto the bench before her and then innocently slid in next to Kel herself, much to Kel's annoyance.

Roald and Shinkokami were sitting at the head table with King Jonathan and Queen Thayet. Kel's other friends were at seperate tables.

Yuki must have had something to do with the table arrangements, Kel thought sourly. Alanna was in league with Yuki and Neal, and so was Lord Raoul. Buri and George probably knew something of Yuki's plans by now, too.

Dom nudged her in the ribs.

"You don't look very happy," he whispered to her.

"I'm not," Kel muttered crossly.

He shugged and poured her a glass of wine.

"Here, this'll make you feel better," Dom handed her the glass. Kel eyed it. She knew she shouldn't drink wine, she got drunk quite easily and it gave her headaches after she'd had too much. Oh well.

She picked up the glass and took a swig.

Four glasses later and an hour or two later, Kel was loose and giggly. Dom, also slightly drunk, although not anywhere near as much, was watching her anxiously.

Kel herself felt great, except that a major headache was coming on. She clutched her head and groaned.

Yuki watched her carefully. Maybe her and Neal's earlier plan wasn't so good, after all... Oh well. Too late now.

"Dom, I don't think Kel is feeling so great. Could you walk her to her room, do you think?"

The sergeant nodded.

"C'mon Kel," he took her elbow and led her in the direction of her room. Kel, tipsy, leant against him and giggled.

They reached her door and Kel leant heavily against it.

"Thanks Dom," she slurred. Something brushed her face and she looked up to see a wreath of mistletoe above her door, a stray strand touching her face.

"Oh," she giggled drunkenly.

Kel stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to Dom's.

Dom responded without thinking. His lips locked against Kel's and he wrapped his arms around her waist.

Then he remembered. This was Kel. And she was drunk.

He pulled away quickly. She seemed unhappy to let go, but did so.

"Midwinter luck, Dom," she giggled again and went to open her door. Dom realised his arms were still wrapped around her waist and he let go quickly, although reluctantly.

Kel fumbled with the key in the lock and finally got it open.

"See you tomorrow," she called, staggering into her room.

Dom stared after her for a minute, wishing he could call her back... But he knew, if she was sober, she would just push him away. She would be at his door tomorrow, apologising, for sure.

A/N- I know there's a lot of drunk Kel/Dom fics out there, but this is different, okay, so please don't run away!

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