Sorry for the delay, but unfortunately real life keeps getting in the way of my writing. Thank you for your patience. I'll update as fast as I can! Enjoy!

Chapter 9

Richard adjusted the load of firewood in his arms as he made his way back to their campsite, lost in his thoughts. He was thankful that he'd been able to find a safe spot to setup camp for the night as well as a nearby river so that they'd have a chance to get cleaned up.

He wanted Kahlan to get as much rest tonight as possible, knowing that they could have a hard day of travel come tomorrow depending on where the compass directed them to go and how far away the Stone of Tears actually was. Not to mention, he had no idea what would happen when those beasts from the Underworld finally caught up with them again and he knew they would.

He was afraid this was just a minor reprieve from the catastrophic storm that was about to hit them. He should have known that the Keeper would try something like this to keep him from reaching the stone.

Obstacles of every kind were constantly being thrown up in their faces right and left, everything be thrown at them in their attempt to right what he had made wrong. It continually tore at his heart.

He knew he'd never have made it as far as he had if not for Kahlan, Zedd, and Cara. He'd come too close to losing each of them one time or another over the last year, Kahlan having come the closest most recently with Demos's interference in their lives.

Richard felt his knees almost buckle with the reminder as he deposited the wood and began building a fire for Kahlan to return to after her bath. He wanted to get supper going before heading to the river to get cleaned up himself.

He quickly added the ingredients that he'd been able to gather to the pot before standing up and brushing his hands off on his pants. He grabbed his pack, slinging it over his shoulder as he made his way towards the river.

He couldn't help but begin to feel hopeful that Kahlan might be getting her memories back, the heaviness in his heart easing ever so subtly. It put a smile on his face to think he'd have his Kahlan back again as he brushed braches aside on his way to the river.

His smile almost immediately fell away the moment he finally broke through the thick barrier of trees and reached the river where Kahlan was, his pack sliding off his shoulder and landing in the grass with a soft thud of surprise.

Kahlan was standing near the river's grassy edge drying off, her dark wet hair clinging to the smooth expanse of skin on her back, her beautiful form enticing him and awakening his need all over again. He lovingly caressed her feminine curves with his eyes as he stared at her, wishing it was his hands…his mouth on her as it had been just days before in the Aku village.

Memories of that day so long ago began to flash through his mind, images of stumbling upon a similar scene just after a lesson with Zedd sprang to his mind. He had been standing there watching her, his skin covered in bits and pieces of fruit as his eyes greedily drank in every inch of her then just as now. He could feel hot arousal surging through his body, awakening every part of him and screaming for him to go to her and take her right there.

But it was far too soon, her memories of him and the love that they shared still missing. She didn't remember that sultry night when passion finally exploded between them in the Aku Spirit house, sweeping them both away in their heated desire for one another.

He was aching to recreate that magical night for her when fantasy and dreams and desire finally became a passionate reality, their bodies entwined, rubbing and stroking, kissing and driving each other's pleasure to unimaginable heights.

His throat went dry as she knelt to pick up her clothes, her movements so graceful and causing his breaths to grow labored. He knew that he should look away, but he was completely mesmerized by her. Besides, it was damn near impossible after having already been intimate with her several times already.

Unfortunately, Kahlan didn't know or remember that, had no memory of them being together, making passionate love, giving themselves so completely to each other.

Just then, Kahlan turned around to find Richard standing several feet behind her, his dark brown eyes ablaze and dark with lust. She immediately tried to cover herself, stunned to find him standing there staring so intently at her.

"Richard!" she gasped in shock as she tried to cover herself with her clothes. "What are you doing?"

Richard quickly turned around in embarrassment at having been caught, but not for opening gawking at the woman he loved. If she only remembered the things that they had already done together…what she had done to him by the springs that night…she wouldn't be trying to cover herself now. She'd understand why he was staring so openly at her, so hungrily.

"I'm sorry, Kahlan," he remorsefully replied, trying to keep the amusement out of his voice at the similarities between now and the first time he'd come across her after her bath. "I was just coming to check on you and to get cleaned up. I thought you'd be done by now."

"Just…give me a moment," she said in exasperation as she quickly dressed. "Ok, you can turn around now."

Richard finally turned around, doing his best to look chagrined instead of completely and utterly aroused beyond belief. It didn't help that Kahlan's face had a rosy glow of embarrassment making her look even more beautiful than ever.

They stared at one another for a long moment, the sexual tension buzzing loudly in their ears making the air even hotter around them. Richard's legs began to move on their own, drawing him to her as his pulse raced wildly in anticipation.

His heated gaze fell to the ties of her clothes that remained undone in her haste, revealing a generous view of her breasts. Steeling himself, he slowly raised his hands and began doing up the laces for her when every part of him wanted so desperately to remove the clothing that separated them, to take her right there in the grass by the river.

Kahlan studied his handsome face as he worked, certain that he could feel the intense drumming of her heart beneath his hands. Her eyes fell on his lips and her breath hitched, an overwhelming desire to kiss him welling up from deep within her.

She could hardly catch her breath as a tremble rolled through her. Just as she began to slowly inch closer to him to finally give in to her desire and kiss him, Richard abruptly finished, stepping away from her in awkward silence, not even realizing what she had just been about to do.

Kahlan quickly straightened up in embarrassment, averting her eyes as a strange memory suddenly resurfaced in her mind. Richard noticed the bewildered expression that abruptly flitted across her face, causing him to take a step closer to her again, his hand unconsciously finding hers.

"Kahlan, what is it?" he asked.

"I just thought I remembered something," she murmured, her brow knitted in confusion as she fought to put the images together into a solid memory she could actually grasp onto.

"What did you remember?"

She slowly shook her head, her blue eyes growing distant as if she was being pulled back in time to that reawakened memory. "I was bathing near a…a waterfall," she told him. "I turned around and found you staring at me much like this time. You had a similar look in your eyes as you did just a few moments ago."

Richard fought back the guilty rush of emotion that suddenly seeped inside of him, excitement over Kahlan regaining another memory taking its place. "Yes, I had been practicing with Zedd," he reminded her. "I was coming to get cleaned up and found you by the waterfall."

A small playful smirk suddenly danced on her lips. "So, Seeker, you have a history of peeking on naked unsuspecting women?"

Richard was caught off guard by her mischievousness, fearing she would be upset or worse yet thinking that he was morally disturbed. How would he ever explain it or hope to earn back her trust while waiting for her memories to return?

Both times had been nothing more than an accident. He just hadn't been as quick to look away as he should've been, but, Spirits, who could have possibly blamed him? The woman was breathtakingly stunning beyond words.

Richard gave her a lopsided grin in response, suddenly feeling very sheepish. "Only you, Kahlan," he admitted, hoping she could see how much he loved her, wanted her. "And it was purely an accident…both times…I swear on my life."

Kahlan nodded her head, but wasn't entirely convinced. She had no idea how long he'd been standing there watching her this time, but she was surprised to find that she wasn't even angry about it. In fact, she found she liked the idea of him staring at her, the thought of it further heating her blood and yet making her heart sink knowing that he didn't want to be with her.

She wanted to be with him so badly it hurt inside; stealing her breath and the smile that she had just given him. "I better head back to camp so you can get cleaned up," she said, her expression crestfallen.

Richard noticed the sudden change in her, but didn't understand what had happened to suddenly change her mood. "Ok…but no peeking," he smiled at her.

Kahlan bit back a smile at his response as she turned to leave. "I'm not promising anything, Seeker," she called back over her shoulder.

Richard's jaw nearly dropped with her flirty banter as he watched her disappear into the darkening shadows of the trees. He secretly hoped that she would stay to watch him as he undressed, joining him in the water. The erotic thought caused him to harden even further.

He just hoped the river was cold because he was definitely going to need it now more than ever.

XXX

He returned to camp some time later to find Kahlan sitting by the campfire deep in thought, her legs drawn up and her chin resting on her knees. Her sapphire gaze was locked on the flames of the fire, her expression brooding and sad and tugging at his heart.

He could feel her melancholy as he silently approached her, imagining how completely frustrating this must all be for her. He knew Kahlan better than he knew himself, understood how hard she was struggling with all of this, how out of control she must be feeling.

At least she had been able to regain a couple of her memories and hopefully in time she'd be able to recover all of them, especially the ones about them. They were the ones that meant the most to him and he would be the keeper of those precious memories until they returned.

She quickly sat up at the sound of his approach, her body stiffening. "It's only me," he cautioned her, raising a hand as he settled down near her but definitely not nearly as close as he'd like.

She smiled softly in response, noticing the distance that he put between them. After what had happened down by the river, he probably decided that he definitely didn't want anything to do with her now. He had been reminded of what she looked like without her clothes on.

"Dinner's ready," she softly said, scooting closer to the fire to ladle out the soup Richard had started earlier.

He took the offered bowl with a confused feeling, not certain why she suddenly seemed so distant, almost annoyed with him. Maybe she truly was upset about him for seeing her nude down by the river. "I'm really sorry about earlier," he apologized, casting a sidelong glance at her. "I realy wasn't spying on you."

Kahlan was pulled from her brooding thoughts by his words, forcing her to focus on him and what he was saying to her. "It's alright," she shook her head with a frown. "No harm done."

They ate in uncomfortable silence for several long moments, neither knowing what to say. It was eating Richard alive not being able to talk to her like he was accustomed to, not being able to kiss her. No matter what she was still his Kahlan and she wasn't even aware of it, didn't know what she truly meant to him.

Maybe he should just tell her…or maybe it would make things worse. Maybe revealing too much to her too soon would cause her to never regain her memories. Spirits, he hated magic.

"Kahlan…"

"Richard…"

They both spoke at the same time, both pausing to let the other finish. "Go ahead," Richard told her, taking a bite of his soup.

Kahlan's eyes fell to her untouched bowl in her lap, feeling somewhat uncomfortable about what she was about to ask him. "Never mind," she sighed, playing with her soup with her spoon.

"Kahlan, you can ask me anything," he told her, the sincerity in his voice causing her to meet his intense gaze.

"Are…are you married?" she finally asked, feeling warmth rising to her cheeks.

Richard was taken aback by her question, not the least bit expecting that. How would he answer her without affecting what magic had already done to her memories?

"No, I'm not married," he replied, his chestnut brown eyes sparkling with the warmth and love he felt for this woman beside him now, the innocence that she radiated.

Kahlan felt herself flush with the look in his eyes, not quite certain how to take it. She didn't remember him well enough to know what that expression meant or the heat in his eyes expressing. She knew what she hoped it meant, but feared hoping for something that never would happen, something that would never be.

She was silent for a beat longer as she struggled to ask the next question that had been weighing so heavily on her mind that she couldn't take it any longer. "Are you in love with someone?" she asked, amazed at her sudden boldness, but she had to know. She couldn't take this firestorm of emotions inside of her that threatened to burst free at any moment.

Richard drew a deep breathing, releasing it slowly as he thought through his answer. He had never lied to Kahlan and wasn't about to start now, but at the same time he couldn't risk making her memory loss permanent by revealing too much.

"Very much so," he softly admitted, his eyes never leaving hers as he silently willed her to remember. "More than she knows."

Kahlan felt her heart constrict with his words, wishing more than anything that it was her. "Oh," she murmured, returning her focus to the bowl in her hands as tears began to blur her vision. "I'm sure the two of you will be very happy when all of this is over."

"I'm planning on it," he told her, studying her. "I will do whatever it takes to make her happy. She's my whole world."

The sad expression on her face nearly broke his heart as he watched her. He wanted more than anything to tell her that it was her that lit up his heart, her smile that he loved, her bright blue eyes that he adored, her love that sustained him, her body that he hungered for.

But for right now, he'd have to settle with knowing they would eventually be together once this was all over, never giving up on her or a chance to be with her again.

"Someone does love you, Kahlan," he found himself saying before he could stop the words that unexpectedly sprung from his tongue. "He loves you more than his own life."

Kahlan turned to look at him again, tightly gripping her spoon as she intently studied him. "Really?" she asked, her cobalt eyes suddenly brightening but only slightly.

Richard could only nod his head as he stared at her, the flames of the fire creating a warm radiant glow about her that took his breath away. It felt as though there was no one else in the world but him and her and these fierce emotions that bound them together as one.

He suddenly found himself moving to sit closer to her, needing to be near her. "Yes, he…" his voice thick with emotion abruptly broke off, her scent filling his senses and warming his soul as he lost himself in her intense gaze. "He loves you very much, Kahlan. In fact, he wants to marry you when return to Aydindril, have a houseful of daughters with you."

Kahlan swallowed hard, her breath coming shallower as he loomed so close to her now, his thigh brushing against hers and sending tiny jolts of electricity through her. "Do I…love him?" she whispered.

Richard's iron-clad hold on his control was swiftly slipping through his fingers as if water, the ache that lived inside of him for her growing unbearable, undeniable. "Yes, you love him too," he softly told her, his hand reaching out to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear when everything inside of him wanted to just grab her by her hair and kiss her hard.

Kahlan felt her stomach flutter uncontrollably, wanting him to kiss her, to lay her down and make love to her, but they were in love with other people. "Can you tell me what he's like?" she asked. "Is…is he like you?"

Richard bit his bottom lip as he thought about it, trying to suppress the scream inside that wanted to tell her it was him, but he swallowed it down along with the thick knot that had suddenly constricted his throat. "Yes, he's actually a lot like me," he carefully said, forcing himself to sit back, putting a little more distance between them.

"Then I guess I did alright…falling in love with someone who is like you," she smiled her special smile and it took every ounce of control he had once again not to pin her to the ground and have his way with her. If this kept up much longer, he was going to need another dip in the cold river.

"I'm sure he'll be glad to hear that," he smiled tentatively in return, taking another spoonful of soup to keep his mouth occupied and from doing what he really wanted to do with his mouth at that rapidly heating moment.

Kahlan suddenly felt a little more at ease knowing that she loved someone like her Seeker and that he loved her in return, but it couldn't erase the ache inside her heart that it wasn't Richard. She wanted more than anything for it to be him, to be the one who held his heart.

Richard knew he needed to change the subject before she asked too many questions about the man that loved her. "Have you been able to remember anything else about your past?" he asked.

Kahlan shook her head in bitter disappointment. "No, everything is so confusing," she said, finally taking a bit of soup. "This is really good. You were right; I do like spice soup."

He smiled at her surprise as she took another spoonful, happy to see her finally eating something. She'd barely eaten in days and it was greatly worrying him especially after everything she'd been through. "I know it's hard, but your memories will come back, Kahlan," he reassured her. "We'll find the Stone of Tears, stop the Keeper and then we'll find Zedd and Cara. He'll be able to restore your memories for you and then all of this will make sense to you."

"I hope so," she murmured.

Richard hoped so too because he didn't know how much longer her could go on like this, trying to help her remember and yet at the same time trying to keep her from learning too much that would only cause permanent harm.

He wished Zedd were here to help her, to put back what Demos had stolen from them. He swore when this over and the Keeper had been defeated, he was going to make Demos pay for what he had done. He had taken down Darken Rahl a year ago and now he would stop his brother Demos as well.