A/N: I can't belive I've finially finished this story. It's taken me forever. Oh well, hope you like it and I will be getting the sequel up soon... Hopefully
A shrill scream startled Richard, turning over; he tried to rub the sleep from his eyes. He looked towards the source of the noise and saw Kahlan bending over Aya's cot. As Kahlan picked Aya up and rocked her, Richard decided he wasn't needed and rolled over to go back to sleep.
Kahlan sat on the side of the bed holding Aya to her chest. When her little eyes refused to close, Kahlan rolled onto her back and began whispering to Aya. "Come on Aya, mummy's tired, go back to sleep now."An idea came to Kahlan's mind; she just hoped Richard was not awake to hear it. "shh, go to sleep now, my little angle, my perfect little piece of Richard..." As she cooed Aya to sleep, she watched Richard's sleeping form with a smile on her face.
She carefully placed Aya back into her cot and rolled over, only to collide with Richard. Hoping she hadn't woken him, she tried to move, only to find Richard's arm tight around her waist. "Going somewhere?" He pressed his body against hers and smiled when she rolled over to meet his waiting lips.
"Nowhere without you."Kahlan snaked her hands up his chiselled chest, stroking over the plains and dips. "mmm, I missed this..."
"I missed you" Richard replied, trailing kisses down her neck. Kahlan moaned and pulled his lips up to hers.
Reconnecting themselves with their lover, they felt home once again.
XXX
Dennee laughed at Zedd and Cara's constant bickering as she led the way up the dirt path to Kahlan's house. They'd been having the same argument for hours now and Dennee couldn't wait for Kahlan to come and listen to it.
"Hey Zedd, can you explain something to me?" Listening to the context of the argument, Dennee was beginning to wonder if Kahlan's nickname for Zedd was more than just a nickname.
Zedd broke his conversation with Cara and turned to her, "I'll try my dear, but no promises"
Dennee laughed, "Oh you will be able to answer this one, why does Kahlan call you gramps"
Zedd grinned, he didn't realise Kahlan still called him that. "It came from when Richard found out I was his grandfather. He asked me if he could call me gramps, but I said no, obviously. I don't exactly know who came up with the idea but Kahlan and Richard decided that there was safety in numbers and both started calling me gramps. It lasted about two weeks before I got so annoyed with it that I put a spell on them to always feel like they had just jumped into a plunge pool in winter. Let's just say that they never called me that again, well to my face anyway. I can't believe Kahlan still remembers that though, it was a long time ago."
Dennee stopped walking and rounded on Zedd "Richard is your grandson?" Zedd just nodded and asked how much further it was "not far, but how could Kahlan not tell me this?"
Zedd laughed again, Kahlan had told him about Dennee's tendency to overreact sometimes "I have no idea why she didn't tell you, but there are more pressing issues at hand." Zedd sighed as he felt his stomach rumble.
Cara caught Zedd's train of thought and laughed "Yes Zedd Kahlan will have food in her house." Zedd nodded happily and picked up the pace again. Dennee rushed after him, giving him a funny look as he went. Didn't he just have a cooked breakfast?
Zedd and Cara went back to their bickering, and Dennee was relieved to see Kahlan's house up ahead.
Cara stopped so suddenly in front of her that Dennee nearly walked into her "The Mother Confessor lives there" She stared dumbstruck at the shack before her, wondering why the most powerful woman in the Midlands would want to live there.
Dennee laughed "Of course she does. Didn't you think that all that time in the woods would rub off on her?" Dennee strode up to the door and knocked "Sister it's me, can I come in?"
XXX
Kahlan woke to the feel of Richard's warm body pressed against her. Turning to look at him, she wondered how he could still be asleep. She watched as he breathed in and out, fascinated by him. He looked so vulnerable in his sleep, almost like a child. Although he looked peaceful, she could still see the pain she had put him through in his face. She felt gut wrenching guilt for what she had done to him, and knew she would never be able to forgive herself for it, even if he did.
Knowing he hadn't eaten in awhile, she decided to make some breakfast. Leaving the warm cocoon of Richard's arms, she shivered in the early morning air as she checked on Aya and found her clothes. Pulling them on, she made her way into the other room, humming as she went.
As she lit the fire and prepared the food, she hummed a familiar tune. She threw the food in the pot and left it to cook while she picked up her dress and dusted it off. Picking up Richard's shirt, she noticed that it seemed heavier than normal.
As she shook it out, she saw a small bottle roll out onto the floor. Picking it up, she stared at the label. She didn't know how long she stood there staring, but a loud pop from the fire made her look away. She placed the little bottle on the table and began dishing out the food. As she filled some mugs with tea, her eyes glanced back to the little bottle.
Cara's words from the day before floated to the top of her mind you know that if you take your own life it is not in my line of duty to bring you back. Placing the kettle down, Kahlan walked to the bottle and picked it up, "oh Richard" she muttered, staring at the deadly curse in her hand. Resisting the temptation to throw the cursed thing in the fire, Kahlan placed everything else on a tray and made her way back to the bedroom.
As she walked in, she saw that Richard was still asleep. Placing the tray on a bed side table, she brushed a few strands of hair off of Richard's forehead. As she ran her fingers through his hair, she wondered when he'd cut it. Although she had always loved to play with his long hair, she found that he looked much more handsome with his hair shorter.
Feeling him stir under her touch, she bent down and kissed him on the lips. Richard lazily responded, barely awake. When he opened his eyes, he was met by vivid blue eyes staring down at him. "If this is heaven I think I'll stay", he muttered sleepily.
Kahlan laughed, "You're not in heaven Richard, you're with me in the land of the living and right now the land of the living has breakfast."
"Breakfast", he sat bolt upright, nearly sending the tray flying, "You have breakfast." Kahlan gave him a quizzical look as she placed the tray on his lap, he had defiantly been hanging around Zedd far too long.
As he devoured his food, Kahlan picked at hers, watching him. "Slow down there Richard, you're turning into Zedd" Kahlan mocked as he set down his empty bowl.
Looking up, he grinned, "How do you know that I'm not just trying to imitate Zedd?"
Even though she thought Richard was joking, she could never be sure with him. "I don't believe you are. I believe your just acting like him because you're hungry."
Richard grinned, he was hungry, but not enough to act the way he was. "I'm not."
"Are too" The response fell from her mouth before she realised what she said. She knew he was imitating Zedd; no one could lie to a Confessor.
"Kahlan, Kahlan, Kahlan..." Richard joked "I rather fear you've lost your touch. You know as well as I do that Confessor's can tell when someone tells a truth or a lie. You just missed an obvious truth.
Kahlan sighed, she was always bad at these play banters, "I knew you were telling the truth, it just sort of slipped out."
Richard just patted her knee and replied "Whatever makes you feel better Kahlan." Kahlan huffed and began to pull away from him. "Hey, wait Kahlan, I didn't mean to upset you." Richard pleaded with his eyes as he watched her hurt face slip away.
Suddenly that face turned into a brilliant smile, "I know, and I didn't mean to upset you when I did this." Picking up the pillow beside her, she whacked him with it.
Richard felt the pillow hit him and laughed, she didn't realise the impact of what she just did. Moving the breakfast tray out of harms way, he grabbed a pillow and hit her square on. Kahlan squealed, "This means war Cypher" she declared, before thumping him with her chosen weapon.
The laughs and screams only ended, when Richard gave up on his pillow and began mercilessly tickling Kahlan. Kahlan squirmed in his arms and begged him to stop. "Say the magic word and I will."
Kahlan whispered "please" and he let go, Straightening out her now messed up dress, she said "You do not play fair Cypher"
Richard laughed, "Didn't you meet my brother? I grew up with Michael cheating at every chance he got; of course it's rubbed off on me."
Kahlan was about to retaliate with some witty reply, when Aya started to cry. Climbing to the crib, she pulled Aya into her arms and began bouncing her. "Smells like her nappy needs changing, want to help?"
Richard scrambled to help her as she put Aya down on the changing table and began to change her. Hearing a knock on the door Kahlan sighed, that was Dennee talking. Richard's warm hands slid over hers, taking control of the change "You go, I can handle this."
Kahlan walked to the door, but hovered, obviously nervous. "Seriously Kahlan, I've got this, go talk to your sister." With one last look over her shoulder to check that he was doing it right, Kahlan walked through the main room to the door.
Opening it, she stared into the calm face of her sister. Dennee grinned and pointed over her shoulder to a nervous looking Zedd and Cara "These two wanted to see you."
Kahlan turned and smiled at the two of them, "Sure come in" Cara strode through the door with a brief nod to Kahlan whilst Zedd pulled her into one of his bone crushing hugs. "I missed you Zedd."
"I missed you too Kahlan, glad to know you didn't jump off a cliff or whatever you did. So where's the family?" Zedd pulled himself back far enough to notice then pot of warming stew over the fire.
Kahlan grinned, "I saved some just for you Zedd. Richard's in the other room changing Aya."
Zedd laughed and began spooning some stew into a bowl, "Glad you got that boy working. Let's go see how he's doing, shall we."
Kahlan joined in with his laughter and crossed to the bedroom, where she knew Richard would be. Opening the door, she saw a scene that could melt her heart. Richard sat on the bed with Aya in his lap and her teddy bear in his hand. She watched as he played with the bear and nuzzled it against Aya's face.
Walking into the room, she tried not to laugh as Aya grabbed her bear from a surprised looking Richard. Seeing her mum, Aya dropped her bear and held out her arms for Kahlan "mamma". Richard grinned at Kahlan and bought Aya over to her. He gave her to Kahlan and laughed when she refused to let go of his finger.
Walking back to the main room, they made themselves comfortable, ready to talk the day away.
They sat for hours, telling stories of the past year and things they had never heard before. Kahlan spent the whole time wrapped up in Richard's comforting embrace, happy in the knowledge that he would never let go.
As night descended, they moved out to the porch, watching the sun set, knowing the next time it rose, the world would be a little brighter.
... and I just have to say The End