He walked slowly, his eyes staring at the woman walking before him. She moved with such grace. It took his breath away. His mind replayed the last day over and over again, repeating their kiss. He thought he would never see her again. Being trapped in the underworld had him longing more than ever to hear her voice. To see her smile. Hear her laugh. He had filled his mind with thoughts of touching her, holding her, comforting her. She's the reason for his life. She is his life.

The trees crackled with the wind, blowing several leaves down to them, a few landing in her hair. He couldn't help but smile as he watched her pick them out. His heart yearned for her. As he watched her, he was becoming even more aware of how beautiful she was. She was smiling more often, now that her sister was back. He loved her smile. She turned back to look at him, her blue eyes sending his heart into a parade of excitement. "You coming?" He suddenly realized he had stopped walking. She was giving him her special smile. The one she gave no one other than him. "Yes, I was just . . . Enjoying the view." Her smile widened as she waited for him. "Enjoying the view?" He grinned "You are breathtaking." "I told you I was dangerous."

"How's your head?" He could hear the concern in her voice, through her smile. "It's fine." She stopped walking and pulled his arm, causing him to come to a stop as well. "Richard," She held a firm grasp on his arm "I can see the pain in your eyes." "Kahlan, I'm fine. It's just a headache. It'll pass." Stepping closer, she placed her other hand lightly on the side of his face. "You've had it for some time. I'm concerned." He reached up, took her hand in his, placed it to his lips and kissed it.

"Move along you two." Zedd called from up the path. "It will be getting dark soon." Richard gave a small chuckle as he turned toward his grandfather's voice. "He must be getting hungry." Kahlan laughed, but it was clear she was still concerned about him. He turned back to her, "Really, it's getting better." She looked at him, realizing she was not going to win, she sighed. "Let's go feed the wizard."

"There you two are - What's wrong?" Zedd asked as Kahlan and Richard came closer. "It's nothing." Richard said as he started to pass Zedd "I'll go get you something to eat." "There's no need for that. Cara is taking care of it. Besides, you look exhausted." "I'm fine, Zedd." He said angerly as he walked off through the trees. Zedd turned to Kahlan, who was starring in the direction he had just gone. "Kahlan?" Her head snapped up to his, suddenly pulled from her thoughts at his voice. "His headache is persistent." The sadness in her voice didn't go unnoticed, but Zedd didn't push. He could see it bothered her and wanted to give her some time.

When Cara returned, alone, Kahlan stood "Where's Richard?" "What are you talking about? He was with you." Cara looked from Kahlan to Zedd and back again when Kahlan started through the trees after Richard. "That's all you've brought?" Zedd asked as she handed him two rabbits. "Yes. If you'd like more, go and hunt them yourself."

A few minutes into her search, Kahlan began to worry more and more. If anything were to happen to him, again, she'd be devastated. He had just been killed by Denna, His body used as a host for another spirit, and then it was she who killed him. She didn't know how much more she could take. Her heart was barely hanging on as it was. Images of fighting him, stabbing him, played through her head as she followed Richard's trail.

His head laid back against a large tree. His eyes closed as he tried to forget the pain. His eyes flew open to the sound of twigs breaking. "It's just me." She said softly as she made her way over to him. He watched her as she moved toward him, his heart started beating faster the closer she came.

She sat down, facing him. The pain in his eyes was intense as they starred at each other. Moving closer, she pulled him to her. Laying him down. With his head on her lap, she started running her fingers through his hair, slowly, lightly grasping a few strands as she pulled her hand back. Their eyes locked as she ran her hand over his chest, to his neck and coming to a rest on the side of his face. It was no longer just pain that she saw in his eyes, but a longing. A desire for her. He reached up, grabbed her hand, to keep her from removing it.

A touch from her was intoxicating, erasing almost all pain. He pulled her hand back to his chest, still holding it tightly. His fingers traced along her hand, intertwining their fingers as he tightened his grip. He placed his other hand over theirs, lightly cupping hers. She moved her other hand to his hair and began to run her fingers through his hair. His eyes drifted closed allowing him to concentrate on the sensations of her touch. "I could get used to this." He said softly. "Me too." She leaned back against the tree, closing her eyes as well.

"We should head back." His eyes opened slowly as he looked up at her. She was leaning forward over him. Her hair flowing down around him. "What?" she asked a smile crossed his face. "Can you wake me like this every time?" she grinned down at him. "You don't like waking up to Zedd?" His smile widened "Compared to this? No." He starred up at her, his eyes piercing hers. Starring down at him was becoming difficult. "We should get moving." She was being invaded by her awakening desire to have him. Her eyes slowly moving from his eyes to his lips. "You're right." He said slowly, realizing where her gaze was. Licking his lips, as he watched her mouth open to breathe. She leaned back, closing her eyes for a moment to control herself.

Sitting up with a smile, Richard looked around them, "How long have we been here?" "I don't know. Couldn't have been too long. They would have come for us." Standing up, he turned to her, reaching his hand toward her. She starred at it for a second before taking it. "Thank you." He nodded and bent down to pick up his sword, turning to find her a few steps away from him. "Coming?" She asked with a smile.

"I told you if you want more, go and get it!" Cara told Zedd as Richard and Kahlan came into their view. "I will not." He argued back. "I am a wizard of the first order!" Cara's arms were crossed as she rolled her eyes at the wizard. "Glad to see you getting along." Richard said as he walked past Cara to the fire. "I don't see why I have to get the old man food." She said as she turned and headed into the forest.

"You two shouldn't have taken so long if you wanted any food." Zedd said as Richard looked into the pot by the fire. "You ate it all?" he asked looking up to him. "It was delicious" he said with a smile as he looked back at Richard. "You're looking better." Richard nodded and looked to Kahlan "You hungry?" She smiled and shook her head. Her smile made his heart leap, there was something in her smile, her eyes, that stole his breath from his lungs.

"Here!" Cara said, throwing a single rabbit at Zedd's feet. "Enjoy." She said as she walked to Richard. She dropped one next to him as she continued walking past him, over to her bedroll. "Thank you, Cara." Richard said with a smile. She turned to face him and rolled her eyes. "Anything for you, Lord Rahl."

After Zedd and Richard finished eating, Kahlan and Cara were already laying on their bedrolls. Kahlan's was close to Richard's as Cara's was furthest away from the others. Zedd was close to the fire. He liked to sleep close to whatever was left of the food.

"It's freezing" Richard said to Kahlan as she pulled her blanket over her shoulders. She turned toward him. He was smiling widely. She couldn't stop the laugh that escaped her lips. Knowing what he was thinking, she moved closer to him, allowing him to wrap his arms around her. She pulled herself to his chest, and looked up at him. She could see the sweat that covered his skin. "Better?" "Much." He closed his eyes and snuggled closer to her, running his hands over her back, to her sides.

She wondered how long she was going to let him continue, her mind screamed stop, but body cried for more. He ran his hand up her side, grazing the side of her breast. She pulled him closer, begging him not to stop. With his eyes still closed, he ran his hand back down as she slid her hand under his shirt. His eyes opened at the sudden feel of her hand against his flesh. He stopped moving as her lips touched the exposed area of his chest. She held her lips in place, tasting him, until she realized what she was doing.

She could feel the burning desire within her. Calling her forward to continue. She pulled her lips back, slowly running her tongue across them. It fueled her fire. Sliding her hand further up his back, to his shoulders. She looked up at him just as his eyes slid closed. Her hands moved slowly over his side to his chest. She took in the feel of his muscles flexing against her hands. She was breathing in a light pant as she ran her hands down his stomach to the top of his pants. With one finger hooked onto the laces, he pushed her over, laying himself over her.

He moved his hands over her stomach, her breast and grabbed the strings of her dress, pulling quickly. He pressed his lips against hers and was met with a desire as strong as his. Sliding her dress off her shoulders, his lips planted warm kisses over the newly exposed skin. Leaving her dress at her waist, his lips made their way back to her neck, down her chest. Any exposed flesh was greeted by his lips.

Running her leg up his, she hooked hers over his, keeping him in place. She arched forward into his kisses as he covered the top of her breasts. She moved her finders through is hair as he kissed his way to her jaw and back to her lips. Her chest heaved against his as his hands roamed over her body. Her mouth opened to his eager tongue, allowing it to take domain of her mouth.

She held him close to her as she arched into him, letting his arms circle her. Braking their kiss, she rolled them, laying over him, her hands sliding over his chest. Starring down at him in a heated frenzy, she grabbed the end of his shirt and pulled it off him. She starred at his chest as her hands slowly ran over it, before she lowered herself against him. He was breathing heavily as her lips reconnected with his chest.

He moaned softly as she slid her tongue over part of his jaw. She pressed her lips to his once more as he grabbed a fist full of her hair. Her hands made their way back to the laces of his pants. She pulled them loose before rolling them back over. He sat above her, a knee on both sides of her hips. He starred down at her, trying to imprint the image before him onto his mind.

Slowly, he ran his hand over the top over her corset, over her breasts, to remove it. She didn't move. His eyes stayed focused on hers. The burning flame of desire, want and need was pouring from her eyes and being met with his. He ran his hands slowly over her, now fully exposed, chest. His eyes moving over her at the same speed of his hands.

Leaning forward, he pressed his chest against hers as he kissed her. His hands continued to explore her body, as she used her legs to push his pants down. Reaching down he pulled up the bottom of her dress, revealing her thighs. His hands ran over them as he pulled her legs upward. Reality floated to her as Zedd let out a loud cough.

Pushing him backwards away from her, she looked around them, realizing they weren't alone."Richard, stop." She said softly as his lips left a trail of kisses over her chest to her stomach. "Richard." She gasped as his tongue slid across her stomach. He brought his lips back to hers, running one of his hands over her side. She grasped his hair, holding his head to hers. His touch was making her lose her mind. All thoughts leaving her head, she rolled herself over him. Pulling the rest of his pants from his legs, she tossed them to the side. Sitting over him, he pulled her dress from her waist, until she moved out of it and he rolled them back over.

He ran one of his hands from her shoulder to her thigh, taking in the feel of her soft flesh. The glow from the fire reflected in their eyes, as he starred down at her. He couldn't believe what they were doing. He kept thinking it was a dream, but this was much better than the others he had. She moved her hands over his chest to his back. Pulling him to her as she pushed herself towards him.

Another cough came from Zedd, but was drowned out by the sound of their breathing. Their lips moved over each other's in a flow of desire. He couldn't get enough. Every one of his senses were heightened to her touch. Her hands roamed over his body, memorizing every detail. Her body began to power up as she pulled him against her. Her eyes flying open as she realized what she was about to do.

"Richard!" She cried out softly. He jerked his head up from her neck, concerned. She tried to push him away from her, as she tried to breathe. Her mind started picturing his eyes going black, his soul being taken from him. "Kahlan." He rubbed his thumb over her cheek, catching her tears. "I don't want to hurt you." He let out a short sigh of relief that he hadn't hurt her, before taking her face in his hands and kissing her.

"Kahlan, you couldn't hurt me." She shook her head "Not on purpose, but Richard, I-"He pressed his lips to hers, kissing her deeply. "I know we can do this. Our love Kahlan, that's all it takes." She starred up into his eyes, trying to understand how he could be so sure. "Trust me." He smiled down at her. "Always." She breathed out as his lips reconnected with hers.

They laid there, the wind blowing a soothing song through the air. She knew he loved her, that she loved him. In the end, he was right. That was all that mattered. She held him to her as her power flowed from her body. As her body found its way back to the ground, he lifted his lips from her neck and kissed her. His eyes revealed him to be the same man she made love to. "I love you." She said looking into his eyes. "I'd like to show you how much I love you." He smiled widely. "Again."

She took in a breath, before pulling his face to hers. His lips left hers, moving over her jaw, down her neck, over her chest to her stomach. "Richard." She said in a half laugh. He lifted his head and looked in the direction she was looking in. "At least we didn't wake them." He said leaning down and placing one more kiss on her stomach. She closed her eyes and smiled.

She didn't move. She could still feel his body against hers. Her heart was still racing with the need to have him. She sat forward, grabbing him she pulled him down beside her. Pulling herself into his arms, he grabbed her blanket and pulled it over them. He held her close to him, his fingers slowly tracing circles over her back. She looked up at him as she lifted herself off the ground onto her elbow. "I should get dressed." She said with a smile.

She pressed her lips to his, her hands cupping his face. He moaned when she pulled back. Fixing her corset, she looked around at Cara and Zedd, then she turned to him. He looked at her as she smiled widely. "You're laying on my clothes." "Am I? I guess this means you have to keep them off." She laughed softly. He waited a moment before he sat forward and pulled her clothes from under him.

He watched her closely as she dressed. "Still enjoying the view?" She said turning to him. "Always." He smiled widely as he reached out, took hold of the laces of her dress and began to fasten them. "I think I liked taking this off better." She smiled as she handed him his pants. "I think I do to." She said as she watched him put his pants back on.

The sun rose as they laid in each other's arms. A small smile on their faces as they slept. "They should be up by now." Zedd said to Cara as he pulled out a clean pot. "They were quite...Busy last night." she said looking over to them. "What?" Cara looked at him "You didn't hear them?" Cara asked starring at him in disbelief. Zedd looked over at them, Richard's shirt was laying over one of the bushes behind them. "Dear spirits! Wake up!" He shouted, coming to his feet.

Kahlan and Richard jumped awake, turning to face the angry wizard. "What's wrong Zedd?" Richard asked looking around the campsite for an enemy attack. "You two!" Zedd said starring at them. Kahlan blushed as Cara handed Richard his shirt from the bushes. "Oh." Richard said looking at Kahlan, who was slightly blushing. "You could have been destroyed!" Zedd said as he took a few steps closer. "If she had released her power on you. If you had gone through with it!" "They did." Cara said as she looked over to Zedd.

"What?!" "She didn't hurt me Zedd." Zedd walked over to his grandson, pulled him up by the arms and looked him in the eyes. "Zedd, I wouldn't-"Kahlan started before he interrupted. "Cara, clearly they didn't. This boy is not her slave." Cara crossed her arms. "They did. I heard it." They all turned to her "Next time, keep it down." She said as she picked up her pack. "No one wants to hear you two devour each other."

Richard smiled widely looking at Kahlan while her cheeks grew even redder. "Well then, I suggest you leave us for a while." he said turning Kahlan to him thn kissing her passionately. "I think I saw some breakfast through there. Let's go see if we can catch it." Zedd said walking through the trees. "Have fun." Cara said with a smirk as she walked after Zedd.