Richard pushed past the guards, knocking them to the ground as he rushed past them. He traveled for three days and he was terrified that he wouldn't get to her in time. He had traveled without sleep for days and yet he didn't feel tired at all. The only thing he could feel was his body's ache for her. It had been nearly a year since he had seen her, but nothing and everything had changed. His heart pounded as he rounded the corner and saw the small child sitting outside her mother's door.

"Piper?"

The five year old looked up from the floor, tears in her brown eyes. "They told me to wait out here." Shaking her head, she reached out for him, taking hold of his hand once he was close enough. "He said you were coming to see mommy."

Pushing his back against the wall, he slid down beside her, wrapping his arm around her as she leaned into him. "How are you doing?"

"I'm scared for mommy. They keep talking about- Is she going to die?" She looked up at him, pushing her long dark hair out of her eyes so that she could see him more clearly.

"I don't know," he answered softly. "but I hope not."

Meeting his eyes, she wiped her small hand across her cheek, wiping away the tears. "Because you care about her?"

"You know that I do."

She frowned, pushing herself closer to him. "But you married Anna."

He sighed softly, still hating himself for marrying Anna more than four years ago, but he couldn't live alone any longer, not when Kahlan had another and he had believed that it would ease her mind and he hoped that he would grow to care for his friend. "I did, but it didn't change the way I feel about your mother."

"I don't understand."

He gave a slight laugh, hugging her tightly. "Neither do I."

They both jumped as the door next to them opened and Zedd stepped out. "Richard, I wasn't sure you would make it."

"How is she?"

The wizard shook his head in sorrow. "She doesn't have much longer. Come child; let's give them a few minutes alone."

Giving Richard a quick hug, Piper jumped up and took hold of the old man's hand and followed him down the hall. Once they were out of sight, he stood up and stepped to the door. The last time he had entered her room was almost six years ago and before he had married. It was before she had taken a mate and before they had pushed aside their feelings. It took almost all of his strength to push it open and step inside.

The room had been rearranged since he had been in there. The bed was now across from the door and under the window. Taking a quick look around the rest of the room, he avoided her, hoping that somehow she would get better within the added moments. His heart sank as he allowed his eyes to fall upon her. She lay, motionless on the left side of the bed with a look of sharp pain written upon her face. Her eyes were closed, but he was sure that she knew he was there.

"Kahlan?" he whispered her name as he stepped to the side of the bed, falling to his knees as he took hold of her hand.

Her head turned slowly, but he watched her push back her pain. "Hi," she spoke breathlessly, showing that she hadn't spoken very much. "I wasn't sure that you would come."

"I'll always come to you."

A small smile crossed her lips as she tightened her told on his hand. "How's Anna?"

"She's fine. Kahlan, we don't have to talk about her."

"She's your wife. She's probably in the dining hall with Piper and Zedd. We can't not talk about her."

He frowned, creasing the lines on his face even more. "She's not here. She's no longer my wife."

"What?"

"Kahlan we both know that I didn't love her. The truth is, I only married her because it killed me to see you with someone else. I- I never cared about her the way that I care about you."

Tears filled her eyes as she stared at him. The thought of him marrying someone else had always broken her heart, but doing it because of her was even worse. "I'm so sorry."

He smiled, surprising her. "Don't be. You have Piper and she's wonderful."

A smile grew on her lips as she nodded. "She is."

"Do you need anything? Water? Something to eat?"

"I'm fine." Pulling gently at his hand, Kahlan closes her eyes. "Can you just lay here with me for a few moments?"

Without words, he crawled into the bed and pulled her into his arms. From the way she looked, he wasn't sure that she would make it through the night; he didn't want to spend a single moment away from her.

******

The feel of her hand moving across his chest woke him. Turning his head, he watched her as she continued running her fingers over the small amount of exposed skin from the hole in his shirt. She watched her fingers dance along his skin, marveling at the softness of it, so focused that she didn't notice that he was awake.

"I didn't mean to wake you," she whispered as he grabbed her hand.

"I didn't mean to fall asleep." He gave her a sad smile. "I can't ignore the comfort of being close to you."

"You're exhausted," she whispered, ignoring the last of his words. She feared the subject would lead back a memory, one that held a secret from him. A secret that would change everything.

Turning onto his side, he laid his hand against her cheek, looking at her carefully. "So are you."

She nodded slowly, giving him a weak smile. "Yes, but I'm afraid to fall asleep." He knew instantly why she was afraid. If she fell asleep, she would probably never wake up. "I have to ask you to do something for me."

"Anything."

She grabbed his shirt, balling it up in her fists as she struggled to find her breath. "Don't say that- you don't know what it is."

"Kahlan, I would do anything that you asked me to."

"I want you to take Piper." His breath caught in his throat, his eyes opening a little bit wider as she attempted to push herself up onto her forearms. "Take her away from here."

Moving quickly, he pushed her over, not wanting her to waist her energy by holding herself up. Leaning over her, Richard grabbed her face. "Kahlan, I can't- I'm not the one you want to do that. I don't know anything about raising a Confessor."

"You're the only one who can do this. I don't want her to be raised here by the council. Not the way that I was. She loves you and you're the only person that I trust."

"I don't know anything about raising a child."

She smiled, "Neither do I. You're going to do great. Please?"

"All right."

She pulled his face to hers, kissing him with every amount of energy that she had left. His hands began to move over her, remembering the last time he had been in her bed.

He had followed her through the door, closing it as he tried to convince her not to take a mate. Before either of them realized what was happening, they were pressed against each other as their lips collided. Their hands roamed over their lover as he laid her down upon her bed. Lifting her dress, he ran his hand over her thigh, moving higher and higher until she broke their kiss with a loud moan. He refused to leave her body. His lips kissed over her neck and chest, his tongue sliding out and pushing beneath the fabric of her dress.

Rolling them over, Kahlan sat up above him, gasping for air as he ripped apart her dress. The moment she became exposed, he knew there was nothing that could stop him. He devoured her body. Kissing, sucking and licking her until she was unable to find her breath.

Most of that night had been a blur. He couldn't be sure that what he remembered had actually happened, or if it was another night his mind had made up. They awoke in each other's arms, their chests pressed against each other, providing the only warmth they received with the blankets kicked off of the bed. Her dress was bunched up at her waist; her right leg was hooked over him, holding him close. His pants were loosely upon his hips, providing him with the knowledge that they hadn't been worn throughout the night. His body felt relaxed in a way it had never felt before. The feel of her against him, her breasts pressed firmly against his chest, he prayed that she wouldn't pull away. He didn't want it to end.

Once she woke, she refused to talk about what had happened. Ignoring his requests and shutting herself out from him. At first he had been afraid that he had hurt her, but the look in her eyes when he asked her told him that he had not. From what he remembered, the things that they did together were not something that would cause her to shut him out, but he couldn't help but feel like he had done something wrong.

Pulling back, Richard took her face in his hands and pressed his forehead against hers, sharing her ragged breath. "You should rest."

Nodding, she forced a smile to push through her pain. She remained still as he lay down beside her and gently began to move her into his arms. The moment her head landed against his chest, he felt her grab hold of his shirt and then felt her body relax. "I love you, Richard."

His heart paused for a moment, knowing what was happening. "Don't do it, Kahlan. Don't you dare die like this. Not like this." She gave a soft mumble and released his shirt. "I love you too." Tears filled his eyes as he hugged her against him, waiting for her breath to warm him. Waiting for a breath he knew would never come. "Do you remember the last time I was in here? I never wanted to leave..."

He waited a few minutes, talking to her like he had wanted to for years. When he could stand it no longer, he screamed for his grandfather. Screamed for the only person who may be able to bring her back to him. As the wizard rushed through the door, he froze in place at the sight before him. He couldn't help but feel that it was the way she wanted and that she had held on just long enough to see him. With the Mother Confessor dead, everything changed.

Richard yelled for him to heal her, to bring her back to him. It broke his grandfather's heart to see him like this. He was sitting up in the bed; clinging to the woman he loved in tears as he rocked her gently.

"I'm sorry Richard. There is nothing that I can do."

"You can try!" he shouted angrily. "You can try to save her instead of standing there!"

Shaking his head, the older man sighed. "I've been trying to heal her for weeks. There was nothing left."

"Weeks?" The word left his lips in a whisper of disbelief. "Why did you wait so long to send for me? I may never have gotten a chance to say goodbye! How could you do that? How could you have not save her? How could you allow the only woman I've ever loved die?" He was screaming, his face red as tears poured down his cheeks, his arms still wrapped tightly around her lifeless body. "How could you stand by and do nothing?"

"It's what she asked me to." Zedd spoke calmly, knowing the grief his grandson was in. "I sent for you when she asked me to. I believe she thought that she would get better. When it became apparent that there wasn't going to be a turn around, she asked for you." He sighed and sank down in the chair across from the bed. "You were her last request."

"We- we should get Piper. She should have the chance to say goodbye before we leave."

"What?"

"Kahlan wants me- she wanted me to take Piper away from here. She wanted me to raise her." Zedd stared at him, unsure on what to say and what he was told. "I have no idea what to do."

"She wouldn't have asked you if she wasn't sure that you could do it."

A small smile came to his lips as he looked down at her. "You always thought that I could do anything." Brushing his fingers through her hair, he pressed his lips against her forehead and slowly laid her down on the bed. He fixed her hair, framing it around her face the way she used to wear it. He wanted it to be easier for Piper to see her; if she looked the way she always did it might comfort her. "This is going to be so hard without you."

Slowly, he kissed her, letting his lips linger against hers for a moment before pulling back. Taking a long look at her face, he suddenly noticed the subtle smile on her face. The tears once again filled his eyes as he moved away from her, covering her carefully to make it appear that she was only sleeping. Moving carefully, he inched off of the bed and stepped beside Zedd. "I'll get Piper."

"No, you stay here. I'll get her. You should stay and say your own goodbyes." He left instantly, leaving his grandson alone with the woman he loved.

"I need you to come back, Kahlan. Piper needs you, she doesn't need me." For a moment, he could hear her voice. She told him that he was the only one who was able to do it. "I need you, Kahlan."

"Mommy?" Richard turned toward the door, his heart breaking for the small child standing in tears in the opening. She stared at the bed, afraid to move any closer. "Is she sleeping?"

Grabbing her small hand, Richard pulled her gently to him. "No. She's not sleeping."

Piper nodded and blinked loose her tears, tightening the hold of their hands. "What happens to me?"

With a sigh, he gave her a smile. "She asked me to take you with me, so if you want... We can find us a new home."

"Can we take her with us?"

"No. As the Mother Confessor, she has a special place to be buried in. She has to stay here, but we can come back. We can visit her any time that you want."

Turning away, she faced him completely. Her tears were streaming down her face, but like her mother, she stood tall, with her head held high as she looked at him. "What about you? Do you want me?"

"More than I can say."

"All right."

"Do you want to see her?"

Nodding she looked through the corner of her eyes toward the bed. "Only if you go with me." Standing up, he brought her over to the bed, turning her around once they were close enough. "I'm sorry, mommy," she whispered as she grabbed her hand. Leaning down, she began to whisper in her ear, saying something that Richard couldn't be sure that he heard correctly.

After a moment, she could no longer contain her tears and she rushed from the room, once again leaving him alone with her. She was still warm, making it harder for him to touch her as he moved to his knees. He cried into the covers, pulling her closer as he lost himself in sadness. Before he knew it, he had her in his arms again, the need to hold her taking over him. As he cried a realization came to his mind and suddenly everything began to make sense. Pulling back to look at her, he nearly laughed. "She's my child isn't she? That's why you pushed me away so hard." Pressing his head against hers, she began rocking slowly. "You could have told me. I would have stayed; I would have- That's why you didn't tell me."

He sighed, knowing that she would put him first. She wanted him to move on, to have a family of his own and if she had told him, nothing would have kept him away. Kahlan would never want him to feel obligated to stay. In moments he began begging the spirits to send her back, once again, offering his life for hers. He told them that they had made a mistake and that she should never be taken from the world. The anger began to build up as he spoke, making him curse them for taking her and destroying the beauty in the world.