Christmas Blessings (Chp 2)

Her squeals and fits of laughter echoed through the woods as she dodged behind trees in an attempt to avoid the savage attack of snowballs by her husband.

"Isn't the Seeker supposed to be full of compassion and mercy instead of being bent on revenge?" she called out from behind the barricade of trees.

"Sorry, I left my sword and compassion at home," he quipped, his voice filled with amusement. It wasn't often they got to just fool around and be themselves and he planned on enjoying every moment of it.

It reminded him of the time Kahlan had jumped from a tree limb, pouncing on top of him and knocking him to the ground in order "to keep him on his toes" she had explained before attacking him with her daggers. That "fight" had been intensely erotic to say the least, feeding his dreams for many, many nights after that. If Zedd hadn't arrived when he did, there was no telling what it could have eventually led to.

Peering around a tree, Kahlan scanned the area for signs of her husband in the midst of the falling snow. She tightened her grip on her ammunition, prepared to defend herself at all cost. She couldn't remember the last time that she had been free to just enjoy her husband like this.

As much as they loved the passionate intimacy they shared that drove them to incredible heights of rapture, they also enjoyed moments like these where they could just let go of their responsibilities and have fun, making each other laugh.

Richard ducked behind a tree, doing his best to locate his wife, but her white fur cloak blended in with the snow now falling heavily, the wind creating small cyclones of flurries. It didn't help either that she had pulled her hood up to conceal her raven hair. He was finding her mischievousness very provocative. He was growing more and more anxious to be with her again, to feel her skin pressed passionately against his own in the warmth of their bed.

Wiping the remaining snow from his face and hair, Richard silently made his way in the direction he had last seen Kahlan go. He was brought to an immediate halt, however, when he was abruptly struck in the back of the head by a snowball. Whipping around, he rapidly scanned the blanketed landscape, amazed at how quickly Kahlan had been able to circle back around behind him without him knowing it. He decided that he had taught her all too well how to navigate a forest.

"Oh, you are in so much trouble now, Kahlan Amnell Rahl," he called out, his eyes darting about looking for signs of his wife.

He could feel the snow begin to slide down his neck and back, soaking his shirt and cloak. His lips curled into a grin at the sound of the muffled giggle that escaped her lips, giving her position away and warming him clear through to his core. He was ready for her this time.

Kahlan quickly turned, pressing her back against the tree that had become her shield, slapping a gloved hand over her mouth, but not before a giggle slipped out. She immediately bent down, gathering more ammunition. However, she wasn't quite quick enough as a big ball of snow connected with her shoulder sending clumps flying up into her face and hair.

Before she could recover, though, she was peppered with more snowballs that rapidly assaulted her from head to toe. She squealed as she tried to dodge the onslaught, her arms raised defensively in front of her while still gripping her own ball of snow.

Richard took advantage of her shock as he raced towards her. Within moments, he had her at his mercy as he grabbed hold of her arms. Kahlan immediately began struggling against his grasp on her, taking Richard completely by surprise. She wasn't about to go down without a struggle.

Richard hadn't anticipated that she would put up such a fight once he had finally caught her. He easily gained the upper hand, however, wrestling his wife to the ground and quickly pinning her in the snow as breathless laughter spilled from her lips, bringing a delighted grin to his face.

Pressing himself against her, Richard rolled his hips against hers before he leaned in close to her ear. "Revenge is so sweet," he whispered tauntingly, gasping for air.

His voice was rasping and husky from the effort of bringing her down, his breath warm and panting against her icy skin. Kahlan felt the heat of arousal surging through her veins, warming her body as well as preparing her for him. That, unfortunately, would have to wait until they got back to their suite.

Kahlan's chest was heaving against his as she tried to catch her breath. He had given her little time to retaliate, having taken her completely by surprise by the onslaught. Clumps of snow clung in her hair and on her cloak, her face wet with melting snow. Rivulets of water trickled down her pale face while snowflakes clung to her eyelashes. Her lips were parted as she attempted to draw in air, but his body was hovering so closely above hers and his mouth was so tantalizingly close that she decided that she'd rather have him than oxygen.

She crushed her lips to his in a searing kiss that removed what little air he'd had left in his lungs. He quickly lost the ability to hold himself above her, giving himself over to the desire seeping from his core as he pressed her body even deeper into the snow. As heated as things were becoming, Richard thought for certain the snow would begin melting about them.

Drawing back for air, Richard pressed his forehead to hers as she lovingly placed her gloves on his face. Her eyes roamed over his handsome face, unable to contain her excited news any longer, getting lost in the love that burned for her in his eyes.

"I have to tell you something…we're going to have a baby, my love," she tenderly revealed, a soft smile touching her lips as tears stung her eyes. She'd been waiting for the perfect moment and this was definitely it with him lying on top of her, the snow falling so magically about them.

Richard stared in shock, unsure if he had heard her correctly. A thousand thoughts and emotions suddenly assaulted him, making his head spin. He immediately buried his hands in her hair, kissing her with all the love he possessed for her. He soon left her mouth, his warm lips melting the snowflakes from her eyelashes as he kissed each eyelid and then her nose before once more returning to her beautiful lips. Kahlan had just proven once again that he was capable of loving her more than he already did.

They had both been disappointed when weeks had turned into months without her being with child, but they had decided to just accept it for the time being. There was much work to be done to put the Midlands and Aydindril back in order and it was probably not a good time for a baby while their attentions were demanded elsewhere. Then there was the whole other issue of D'Hara.

A terrifying thought suddenly struck him, causing him to immediately sit up, pulling Kahlan with him. Panic pierced his heart. "Are you alright? I didn't hurt you or the baby when we fell? Spirits, Kahlan, we shouldn't have been tussling like that." His eyes immediately began roaming over her form, desperately searching for injuries that he would likely never be able to see.

"I'm fine, Richard," she lightly laughed, taking his face in her hands once more as they sat huddled close together in the falling snow, forcing him to look her in the eye. "I'm fine."

"Kahlan, I could have hurt you," he gently scolded as he helped her up to her feet, swallowing back the fear that threatened his elation. He grasped her by the shoulders and studied her face, his brow creased with worry. "You're sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine; the baby's fine. You would never hurt me, Richard."

"No, not intentionally, but still…" he murmured, tears filling his eyes and blurring his vision. "Kahlan, I love you…with all my heart."

"I love you too, my Richard," she whispered before he kissed her again.

Richard suddenly pulled her tightly into a warm embrace, lifting her off her feet. The sheer joy that flooded his heart at that moment was too overwhelming to ignore. He wanted Kahlan to know, to feel the happiness that flowed through his heart that only she brought to his life. Placing her carefully back down on the ground, he pulled back to look into her face.

"How long have you known? When is the baby due?"

"I've only known for a couple of days so the baby will likely be here sometime around Christmas."

"A Christmas baby?" he softly repeated, more to himself than her, shock still permeating his mind. This couldn't have been any more perfect.

Walking back to the Confessor's Palace, Richard felt just like the snowflakes floating lazily to the earth; his feet had yet to touch the ground. He could hardly take his eyes off of his beautiful wife, the mother of his child. He could scarcely believe it was really happening. After waiting for so long, after trying so often, they were finally going to have a daughter, a baby that represented their infinite love for one another.

His mind was racing with thoughts and plans, announcements and names, what she would look like and whose personality she would have. He wanted her to be exactly like her mother in every way.

Even though he knew long ago he would give his life for Kahlan, Richard knew then and there he would die for his unborn child as well. There was nothing in this life or the next more important to him than Kahlan and the child they had created.

One Month Before Christmas…

"Why again are we out here?"

"Kahlan loves Christmas and I want to find the perfect tree for her," Richard absentmindedly replied as he studied the trees for exactly the right one.

"Why can't the Palace staff come out here and get it?" Cara muttered under her breath, rubbing her red gloved hands together in an attempt to create some sort of heat. Despite the warm cloak she wore, Cara was freezing.

"Because I want to be the one to pick it out for her, to make sure it's absolutely perfect," he told her, his gaze finally settling on the tree that would be theirs. "That's the one," he suddenly replied in wonder, his eyes following its perfect form, the graceful sweeping boughs, the deep evergreen limbs weighed heavily with snow.

Kahlan had been more than devastated when Richard had told her that she couldn't go along to cut down the tree, creating their most heated argument yet. She had broken down into angry tears, breaking his heart in the process. He could never deny her anything, but at the same time he could not let her go out into the frigid cold, through the falling snow and ice to help pick out a Christmas tree when she was eight months along. He loved her too much to risk her life or the life of their unborn child.

The pregnancy had been rough on her in the beginning, morning sickness and fatigue causing her to quickly lose weight that she couldn't spare to lose. He'd been worried sick about her, finally insisting that her schedule be severely reduced. The Council was so bent on them continuing the line of Confessors that he had decided that they would just have due without the Mother Confessor for a while or at least until the morning sickness came under control.

Much to Richard's extreme relief, though, Kahlan had begun to do better after the first couple of months, finally beginning to gain weight, regaining some of her healthy glow. He had loved watching her body transform right before his eyes as their child grew within her. She on the other hand hadn't been so thrilled with the changes. She found herself so emotional, crying for no reason at all sometimes.

Richard knew how much Kahlan detested the emotional swings, but he had enjoyed being there for her. He loved that she had let him help her through those difficult times. That was part of what their love was all about to him.

Lost in thought, Richard was pulled back to the moment by the stomping sounds of Cara's boots as she attempted to keep warm.

"Well, are we going to cut the dumb thing down or just stand here and stare at it until Christmas?"

Shaking his head in disbelief at the Mord'Sith, Richard set to work with his ax on the massive trunk of the tree. He couldn't wait to get it loaded into the wagon and hauled back to the Palace. He was sure Kahlan would be excited once she saw the tree. He still felt guilty for how badly things had ended when he had finally left with Cara to search for it, but he was certain that Kahlan would be better once she had some time to cool down.

He knew that Kahlan would never do anything to intentionally bring harm to herself or their unborn child. She was so feisty, so independent that she was having a hard time contending with being slowed down and having limitations placed on her just because she was with child. It was one of just many things that he adored about her. She never let anything slow her down or keep her from doing what she wanted to…that was until he stepped in and put a stop to it.

Loading up the tree, Richard and Cara began making their way back to the Palace. Richard could scarcely believe that in a month, their daughter would finally be here. The middle part of Kahlan's pregnancy had probably been his most favorite. She had been insatiable, wanting to make love at any given moment. While it had been exhausting, it had been pure ecstasy to say the least.

The closer it came to their daughter's arrival, though, the harder it was becoming for Kahlan. Fatigue was rapidly claiming her more and more the last several weeks, requiring her duties to be reduced even further. Her body ached and her back was sore, but she always put up such a brave front, never letting on how more uncomfortable she was becoming.

She could never hide anything from Richard, though. He could always read her, knowing every time that she was struggling. He was anxious to take care of his daughter as well as his wife. And soon, she would be here for him to do just that.

XXX

Coming down the steps, Kahlan was feeling anything but cheerful or festive. Her body ached, her back was killing her and she was as huge as a gar. On top of all that, she'd had a terrible fight with Richard over something as stupid as a Christmas tree.

Attempting to draw a deep breath, Kahlan swallowed back the emotions still swarming just beneath the surface. She hated all the emotional highs and lows that accompanied carrying a child, but she would gladly endure it because in the end, they would have a beautiful little girl all their own.

With a hand on her belly and one on her back, Kahlan made her way to the main sitting room to wait for Richard and Cara to return. It should be her with Richard picking out the Christmas tree and not Cara, but deep down she knew that Richard had been right.

She hated that they had fought; they rarely ever fought and when they had, it had never been as heated as it had been tonight. Kahlan didn't know what had gotten into her, why it had made her so angry. It had been so difficult to watch him leave without her, Cara in tow. Maybe it was because it was going to be their first Christmas with their new daughter. She had just wanted to make it perfect and now she wasn't even allowed to be a part of it.

Walking into the sitting room, Kahlan was stunned to see Richard standing beside the most magnificent tree she had ever seen. It was large, nearly reaching the ceiling, its limbs stretching out wide as if welcoming her. A hesitant smile touched his lips, regret touching his eyes.

Richard slowly walked to her, taking her into his arms. "Kahlan, I'm so sorry…" he softly said, stroking her hair as she pressed her forehead against his shoulder. "I just couldn't let you go out in that cold…"

"No, I'm sorry Richard…it's my fault. I shouldn't have gotten so upset," she choked out through returning tears, her words muffled against his shirt. Growling in frustration, she pulled back, wiping at her eyes. She hated all these tears. It was so unlike her.

"Hey, it's alright," he gently replied, his hand resting on either side of her neck, his thumbs caressing her jaw.

"No…no, it's not, Richard!" she cried, her head falling, no longer able to look her husband in the eye. "I just wanted to make our daughter's first Christmas special for her and I can't even be a part of it!"

"There is plenty to do before Christmas is here. Besides, you have the most important part of making our baby's Christmas special. It's you who will be the one bringing her into the world," he reminded her, his fingers tilting her chin up to look at him.

Richard lovingly began kissing away the tears that streaked her face, his fingers caressing her neck. He could feel her relax beneath his touch, her hands snaking up and around his back, a gasp floating from her lips.

"I'm so sorry…"

"Shh, Kahlan. You have nothing to be sorry for."

"I love you with all my heart, Richard."

"I love you too," he murmured against her lips. "Come; let's decorate the tree for our daughter."