A/N: I'm sorry it has taken longer than I wanted to write this, but I've been very busy. But here it is now… Enjoy!
Epilogue: 'A Couple' of Years Later
Keladry of Mindelan rode through the gates of New Hope, pleased to be back. She was returning from another visit to Fort Mastiff, where she and Neal had once again given Lord Wyldon their monthly reports on the proceedings at New Hope. Since the Scanran War had ended earlier that year, the refugee camp and it's inhabitants had remained, along with Kel and Neal. Merric, however, had been reassigned to border patrol soon after the peace treaty had been signed. Kel knew that after the war had ended, the three knights, including herself, would soon be relocated either to border patrol or wherever else the Crown might need them.
Neal, being a healer, would most likely soon be sent to a border fort also for his abilities, in case of any rogue attacks from Scanra occurred.
Kel also knew, in the back of her mind, that one day she would also be reassigned, once New Hope received a permanent commander or Lord, who was not in service to the Crown as she was. In one way, she would be welcome to a change, but in many other ways she wanted stay where she was, hoping that she would never be reassigned. Kel realized that was a foolish wish, but was relieved that she did not appear to be moving any time soon.
Neal, on the other hand, was itching to return to Queenscove, where Yuki, his wife, was awaiting the birth of their first child. They had finally married during the last Midwinter, not long before the war had ended. If Kel thought he was exasperating before they were married, she now thought him unbearable. He had been even more sarcastic and edgy ever since he had returned from Queenscove the last time, almost two months ago. Neal needed a break as much as Kel and New Hope's residents needed a break from their agitated head healer. Kel just hoped that he would be allowed leave when the baby finally came. She didn't think there would be anything left of New Hope if it wasn't granted.
Kel was overjoyed to see Fanche and Tobe, who had finally decided that it was alright to let Kel out of his sight every once in a while. He beamed up at her, taking her reins and reaching for Neal's. Riding back from Fort Mastiff with only a ranting Neal had not been so enjoyable. He and Lord Wyldon never got along, and their previous visit had again shown this, with their usual stiff greetings and conversations.
After Tobe had taken the reins to Neal's horse, Neal headed for his rooms in the infirmary, grumbling the whole way about 'the Stump' and his annoying ways. Kel suspected that Wyldon did the same, using Neal's name instead.
At times like these, more than ever, Kel wished that Dom was here with her. He could always get her to laugh, especially when Neal was being particularly difficult. Neal's moods seemed to fuel the fire of his cousin's humor. Plus, she hadn't seen Dom in about two months, just about the same amount of time since Neal had last seen Yuki. Though Kel did not pout around the camp like her best friend, she couldn't help but miss her sergeant. They had been together now for almost two years, and they both valued their visits with each other. And now that the war was over, they had a few more opportunities to see each other, but Dom and Third Company were traveling various places often, and Kel was stationed at New Hope. True to his words, Raoul had sent Dom and his squad to New Hope a few times throughout the war, and Kel hoped that her former knight commander would send him again soon.
Tired, Kel headed toward headquarters and her own rooms. Tobe told her that he would meet her there with a plate full of leftover food from the evening meal. Gratefully, Kel walked to her rooms, unaware of the few men in the familiar tunics of the King's Own who were mingling with her own people.
Kel had barely finished the meal Tobe had brought to her, when a knock at the door made her get up from where she had just lay down. Opening her door, she was surprised to find Tobe standing there, along with a collection of other youngsters from the camp.
"What is this?" Kel asked, smiling slightly at the sight of all their smiling faces. She always missed seeing them when she was away, even if it was for just a day or two.
"You're supposed to follow us," said Tobe professionally, already turning and heading down the hall. The others took his lead and followed, leaving Kel to catch up to her unexpected visitors.
"Where are we going?" she asked as they exited headquarters. Kel emerged to find the sky dark and the torches lit around the camp. Despite the darkness, the people of New Hope were bustling about; it was too hot to all stay inside their housing quarters.
Kel asked the same question again as they passed by the refugee housing, where she figured they had been taking her. She was apparently incorrect. And the only answer she received was a "You'll see," from Loey. Kel disliked being left in the dark.
They led her to the far back of the camp, where only the latrine structure stood.
"What are we doing back-" She was cut off when something small hit her back. She turned around quickly and was struck again by the small thing, this time on her chest. Curious, she squat down and picked up the two little objects that had hit her. Because of the darkness, she held one of them up in her fingers to try and see what is was. It was a small, round berry. Where did this come from? She wondered. Then realization struck her and she smiled.
As if her reaction had triggered it, Kel then heard a deep chuckle come out of the shadows. Standing back up, she saw Dom emerge from the darkness around the small building. He then leaned casually against the edifice, tucking his hands comfortably into his breeches pockets, smiling all the while.
"Sorry, no matter how much I promised to pay Meathead, he just wouldn't get off his lazy bum and come down here to be pelted by berries. I thought he would have jumped at the offer," Dom said, voice filled with sarcasm.
"Where'd you get these?" Kel asked, holding up the one berry.
"The kitchens, of course, the unofficial supplier of all pranks," he replied, grinning.
"You know, you are giving these children bad ideas, sergeant," said Kel, mock-sternly.
Taking offense, one of the youngest of the group of children spoke up, "But Lady Kel, don't blame Sergeant Dom, we were the ones that suggested it!"
"You were, were you?" she said, smiling at the young boy. Then she looked back at Dom, "You have them thinking like you now, too?"
"What can I say?" he replied, pushing off the wall and sauntering over to her. "They're smart children, Kel."
Standing face to face, Kel fought the urge to throw her arms around him. She didn't want to do that in front of such an audience. Dom understood that plainly, also not making his usual move to wrap his arms around her immediately. But they were both content just being near to each other again.
"Sergeant Dom," whispered the little boy, "Are you gonna ask her, yet?"
This broke both Kel and Dom out of their trance, as they turned to look at the boy.
Kel looked at him questioningly, as Dom smiled at the small boy, and answered kindly, "Not yet. But since you have now reminded me, would you please give Kel and me some privacy?"
Many of the kids smiled and immediately turned to leave, and only the little boy seemed puzzled by the request. "But why do you need to be alone?"
"You'll understand when you're older," said Irnai, taking hold of the boy's hand and leading him away. However, he kept looking back and Kel and Dom, who were now standing there smiling, though Kel also looked slightly confused.
Turning her attention back to Dom, she asked, brows furrowed, "What was he talking about? What do you want to ask me?"
"Now, Kel, you don't want to ruin the surprise, do you?" He asked as he slung one arm around her shoulders.
She continued to look at him suspiciously, but it did not seem to faze the sergeant, who steered her to the shadowed side of the latrine building where he had been hiding before. Stopping, he took his arm from around her shoulders, and dug one hand into his pockets.
He pulled out a handful of berries, and Kel was surprised that she had been holding her breath, foolishly thinking that something very different might be in his hand when it emerged. She released her breath slowly, finding herself slightly let-down.
"Don't want to stain my breeches," said Dom, smirking as he dropped the berries to the ground.
Kel watched as they fell to the ground, and then asked what had already occurred to her earlier, "Dom, were you trying to recreate our first kiss?"
He grinned attractively at her, "Were?" he asked incredulously. "I still am. And that now being known, I believe that this is just about the time that you kissed me." He grinned at her mischievously.
She smiled back at him, "I guess I wouldn't want to ruin your plans…"
With that, she leaned up the few inches that separated them from each other, and wrapping her arms around his neck, she gladly placed her lips on his. Every time, kissing Dom was better than the time before it, but after being parted for any length of time, it felt all the more better.
When their lips eventually separated, Dom smiled, teasing, "Lady Knight, I believe you held that much longer than was required, but I don't mind the least in the change. As a matter of fact, let's forget about recreating our first kiss, and let me ask what I've wanted to ask you for a long time…"
He started again to dig in his pocket, and finding what he wanted, he pulled it out. This time, it was a small gold band, which was specked with tiny red marks.
Seeing the red, Dom held it up and chuckled timidly, and said, while wiping it off on his shirt, "Apparently some of the berries got smashed…"
Kel was speechless as he cleaned it. When he seemed satisfied, he looked at Kel, and smiling lovingly, said, "I remember that night at Raoul's wedding, when you said that in a couple of years you wished to get married, and then I told you that I thought the same, but what I didn't tell you is that you are the only one that I ever want to marry, Kel. And, well, it has been a couple of years now, Kel, so…will you marry me?"
Kel felt her chest swell with exhilaration, her heart thumping wildly. Then smiling brightly, she answered, "Yes, Dom."
Without any delay, he swept her up in his strong arms, and twirled her around a few times before he set her back down. Then he held her tight and kissed her eagerly. Kel knew she was back on her own feet, but her spinning head almost convinced her otherwise.
When they parted, smiling, Kel said, "You know, Dom, I also didn't tell you something that night. The man that I was referring to that night was you, and only you."
Kel deduced that Dom liked her answer, for in the next moment, she was once again taking pleasure in the feeling of his lips on her own. As their kissing deepened, she found that she was incapable of any clear thought.
Unaware of anything happening around them, they did not notice the children peering around for the now occupied couple.
Loey, who was the first to come across them, commented softly, "I think Sergeant Dom asked, and I have a good guess at Lady Kel's answer."
This attracted the rest of the group who came over to where the young girl was standing.
"So that's why they wanted privacy," the same small boy from earlier remarked loudly, realization clear in his voice.
This last comment is what caused Dom and Kel to first become aware of their small audience.
"Did you ask?" asked the boy, once again.
Dom nodded his head, "Yes, I did."
"And what did you say?" Tobe asked Kel.
"I said yes," she replied, beaming.
All the children shouted in delight, then ran to encircle the newly betrothed couple.
"You're getting married, Lady Kel!" exclaimed a few voices.
Suddenly Kel's thoughts caught up to her and she said, "Dom, we can't get married, you're in the Own!"
"Don't worry about it, Kel," he assured her, smiling.
"You can't quit! I won't let you," she added, considerately.
"I'm not going to quit, believe me," Dom replied.
"Then how-"
Dom held out his hand and Tobe placed a piece of parchment in his hand. Taking that same paper, Dom held it out to Kel. "King Jonathan just issued this a week or so ago, it states that men from the Own can now marry, to keep our numbers up."
Not bothering to read the paper, Kel threw her arms around Dom, much to his amusement.
Laughing, he said, "I was going to ask you soon anyway, new law or no, but this makes things much easier."
Kel also laughed softly into his ear, happy beyond all imagination.
Suddenly a new voice remarked from behind her, "I guess this means I have to welcome you into the family, now."
Kel leaned back to see Neal now standing among the children. He was smiling. "I just fear for my own children, having the two of you as relatives. Mithros knows I've suffered from having the two of you in my life. I can only imagine the distress your children will place on my own."
Both Kel and Dom laughed.
Irnai, standing between the couple and Neal, said, "You will have very interesting family gatherings in the future, you can count on that. But all of your children will benefit from the close family ties."
Hearing the young girl's words, Kel asked, somewhat hesitantly, "Will I have a child, Irnai?"
"No," replied the girl. Seeing Kel's disheartened face, Irnai then smiled widely, "No, you'll have at least four."
Kel's eyes widened in disbelief as Dom's eyebrows rose.
Then Dom, placing his arm around her waist, said playfully, "Four children, huh? There's no time to waste, then." And he started to steer her away from the small crowd.
Kel could not stop the red from creeping up on her face as she pushed him away lightly. "We're not married yet, Dom."
He smiled broadly and chuckled deeply at seeing her embarrassment. "And 'yet' is the key word in that sentence. Hopefully, we will be soon. Doesn't that just sound wonderful, Kel? That we'll soon be married?"
"It does indeed," she answered truthfully. They were continually congratulated by the children and an even more excited Neal when Dom informed him that he would soon be given leave to be back at Queenscove for his child's birth. Then Kel glanced over at Dom's smiling face as he glanced back, and smiling warmly at each other, she thought, I have dreamed about this for years.
A/N: Well, that's it! I really hope you enjoyed it. As for the Own being allowed to marry, I took the excuse from my other fic… ;) And yes, in case you want to know for sure, they will get married and have those four kids…Irnai is never wrong, lol. And Neal's kids and theirs will have many fun times ahead, not to mention their parents, too! And since this fic is now finished, you can click on my newly updated profile for what fics I have planned for the future. Hopefully, a new one will be up soon! Thank you all for reading my story and reviewing! You know how much it is appreciated!