A/N: I'm sorry for the long wait, but I was busy with school work and my school's production of The Phantom of the Opera. Hopefully now, with the play being over I will have more time to write and update my stories for you all. Reviews will definately help me to review faster. I love reviews :D

So we continue our story with Cara. As per the title of this chapter, Richard has/had/will have a surprise for Cara. I hope you like it.


Cara moaned when Richard got out of bed and opened their curtains to let in the sunshine. She hadn't gotten very much sleep that night and it was entirely his fault. He had started of the night by telling her all about their first time together, shortly after Kahlan and Zedd had left for Aydindryl. Before Richard had even gotten remotely close to telling her about their child's conception, the moment had taken them. Cara couldn't get over how different making love to him really was. He was so gentle and passionate. She thought that she might die of pleasure.

Richard handed her a lavender dress and told her to meet him in the kitchen for a surprise. She pulled on the dress and fixed the lacing idly. She ran a brush through her unruly hair - which now ran over her shoulders and had retained the slight curl she had as a child - and looked in the mirror. Her face flushed as she saw the red mark on her collar bone. Then she smiled as she remembered exactly where the mark had come from in the first place. Shaking her head, she walked down the hall, and into the kitchen covering the mark with her hair. She smiled at Zedd politely and looked around for Richard, eager to find out what her surprise could possibly be. He had surprised her enough the night before.

"He told me to tell you to wait for him right there." Zedd said after swallowing another bite of his massive omelet.

Cara nodded and sat at the table, twirling her hair. Zedd chuckled all of a sudden, and Cara's face grew hot, realizing she had left the mark uncovered.

"I thought you looked tired." He commented. "He must have kept you up all night."

Cara blushed and looked at the ground, mumbling curses at the wizard for getting under her skin like this.

"What's the matter Cara? Not as easy to talk to me about being with the man you love, now is it?" He chided. "Now you know how I felt talking about Richard's mother."

Cara smiled slightly and mumbled incoherently as a flash of light appeared behind her. She gasped in shock as Richard appeared in front of her with her sister Grace. He smiled and disappeared again, leaving Grace in front of her. He has magic?

"Cara!" Grace exclaimed, pulling her into a loving embrace. "You're with child!"

Cara nodded, her sister's enthusiasm contagious. "Three and a half months." She said beaming. "We think it's a boy."

There was another flash and Richard appeared with her niece and nephew. Richard waved as he disappeared once more.

Ella and Owen looked at their aunt warily, unsure of what to do next. Owen looked at the floor. Ella debated whether to hug her aunt, or smile and nod.

Cara held out her arms. "Ella. Owen. It's great to see you." She said smiling warmly at her sister's children.

Ella smiled and hugged her aunt, as did Owen. "Are you going to have a baby?" She asked curiously.

Cara nodded. "In six months." She said, as Ella pressed her head next to Cara's swollen stomach.

Richard appeared again, this time with Grace's husband, Ciaran. "Surprise!" He said beaming. "Do you like it?"

Cara felt her eyes watering. "Yes." She said as she kissed him thankfully on the lips. "I love it."

"The seeker is the Father?" Ella blurted out awestruck by the kiss her aunt had given him.

Cara laughed. "Yes. Yes he is." She answered.

Zedd cleared his throat. "Not to be a spoilsport, but who are these people?" He asked.

Cara grabbed Zedd's arm and beamed up at him. "This is my sister Grace and her family." She explained, and then gestured to Richard. "And this is the best husband-to-be ever!"

"You aren't married?" Owen and Ella exclaimed together.

Richard and Cara exchanged a glance. He had asked her to marry him just last night. "We will be soon." He announced. "We wanted to wait for our friends and family."

Cara smiled as she looked around the room. "If you want," she said to Richard. "Zedd could marry us right now."

Richard shook his head firmly. "You need to plan something like this thoroughly. We aren't going to go about this on a whim. And you need a wedding dress. I insist." He said caressing her hands as he spoke.

Grace stepped forward. "I could help you to plan it, while I'm here." She offered excitedly. "You can marry in a week!"

Cara looked at Richard pleadingly. Finally, he nodded. "Alright. On the Thursday then."

Grace grabbed Cara's hand and pulled her down the hall. She spoke so fast that Cara didn't even know what she said. He said yes.

The days dragged by slowly, but Grace and Cara were almost done with the planning. The wedding was going to be in Hartland. They had sent invitations to Jennsen, Chase, Denna, Verna, Kahlan, and all of Hartland. Cara hoped that they would all come. Her dress was flowy and beautiful, in an ivory white color. It made her feel like a princess. She couldn't wait for Thursday to come. She was going to have her sister walk her down to Richard and 'give her away' as the tradition goes. Zedd was going to perform the ceremony. She had asked him for a traditional service.

Cara couldn't wait. Only two more days. She felt like she was walking on clouds. "I'm getting married." She breathed out happily. She couldn't wait.