"How long do you want to keep this from him?"

"I don't want to tell him and then have to go through that pain again." she whispered, stepping closer to him so that the people walking around them wouldn't hear. "I don't want to do that to you."

"Would you be able to handle the loss alone? You shouldn't do this alone."

"I'm not. You're here." she whispered as they entered the dining hall. "Please don't tell him- anyone."

Laying his hand gently on her shoulder, he gave her a small smile. "You should tell him. He deserves to know. He needs the joy."

"I know, but- If this doesn't work out, I don't want to disappoint him again."

"You could never disappoint him, child. He loves you. He cares more about you than the air in his lungs." She felt her eyes tear as she turned around to look at him. "You should tell him."

"I'm so afraid that it's going to destroy us." she confessed quietly. "Zedd, if we lose this child, I don't think I'll survive. I can't do that to him. Not again."

With his smile fading, the wizard pulled the Confessor into his arms, hugging her tightly. "Everything will be fine, dear one. Trust me. I've checked for any and all signs of distress and I have found nothing." Kahlan pulled back, looking into his eyes. "You've healed better than I thought, the child should have no trouble growing within you. Though the child is not yet old enough for me to find some of the other possibilities, at this point, there is nothing wrong."

"I'll tell him when he returns. After he spends some time with Sister Verna. She arrives in two days."

"He's not going to go near her unless he has been with you first."

She felt her cheeks redden as she imagined his return and the feel of his lips against hers and her skin. "It will only distract him."

"Or it could push him on. Make him focus on his lessons so that he can be here for you. For you both. Tell him." Looking past her, his eyes landed on the table filled with food. "They're serving my favorite today. Let's eat. You both will need the strength."

"It was not my intention do cause you harm."

"You blew up the dungeon." Cara smirked as she pushed Nicci forward. "Yes, you didn't mean to kill them."

Turning her head towards Richard, she frowned. "I did not know it would bring down the walls. I only wanted to be free."

"Why didn't you ask?"

"You wouldn't have let me go. The Mother Confessor wanted answers and she would have done anything to get them."

"You're wrong." Richard whispered, keeping his eyes on the ground as he tried to calm his anger. "You nearly killed her." he growled, tightening his hands into fists. He could feel his anger towards her rebuilding up within him, threatening everything as he remembered the site of his wife laying before him, dying.

"It was not my intention-"

"To harm her." Richard finished her sentence, "Then why would you do it? Why would you not wait until we were-"

"Because I wanted you to know I had left. I wanted you to know that you were no match to me. I wanted it to be made clear that I wouldn't answer her questions. If I had, she would wish that I hadn't."

"Why?" he asked softly, realizing that Kahlan may have been right and one day if she remembered, it could be worse than they imagined.

"If she truly does not remember, then she should be grateful." Both Richard and Cara were surprised by the sadness in woman's voice she spoke. "She is better off not knowing what he did to her."

He fought the urge to ask her what it was that was done to his wife, but he knew if she told him, somehow Kahlan would figure it out, she would know that he held a secret and it would kill him to keep something so terrible from her. The silence in the air was deafening, making Nicci uncomfortable. "Do you intend to keep my magic as well as yours?"

"I do." he said in a whisper, finding it difficult to speak any louder with his mind only on the possibilities of what his wife must have endured. "I must. I will not allow you to hurt anyone again."

"It is too much for you. The training will take much longer now. Can you stay away from your wife long enough to learn to use it?"

"No, but I will not have to."

"You have sent for one of the Sisters. To train you in your home? The pain will drive you to madness before you will be able to master your gift."

"But if he gives you back your magic, it will be easier for him?" Cara asked as she pushed on her shoulder, urging her faster.

"I could be useful to you- to your wife."

"You're not going to get near her." he said as he pulled her to a stop, turning her around to face him. "You will be allowed nowhere near the palace, near Kahlan!"

"Does she know that? Does your wife know that you refuse me to be near her? To keep the answers she so seeks."

"She doesn't want your answers."

Nicci smiled, taking a step closer to him. "That is what she told her worrying husband, but I can assure you that no woman would want what happened to her to be withheld. The things he did to her, what they all did to her- When she remembers, it will be more than either of you will expect, the memory alone will make her beg for death."

"What did he do to her?"

"What was only a few days for you, was months, maybe years for her. Everyday, growing worse in ways you wouldn't be able to imagine. The pain and torment he inflicted upon us was more than anyone should survive."

The pain in her eyes was almost the same as what he had seen in Kahlan's each day. "What happened?"

"I'm allowing you to bring me back because you have my magic, not because I want to share what was done to your wife."

"What happened to her? To you?" He rushed after her as she turned, trying to get away from him, but keeping on the trail that would lead her back to the Confessor's Palace. "Nicci!" he shouted as he grabbed her arm, turing her around. "What happened to you two?"

"I will not tell you anything." she said coldly, looking him in the eyes. "We should keep moving. You don't want to be away from your wife any longer than you have to be."

Richard knew then that the woman had no intention of telling him anything. "Let's go."

After walking through the garden for nearly an hour, Richard found her, kneeling in the grass. Stepping closer, he saw the small smile on her lips as she pulled at the roses. Turning her head, her smile grew as she caught a glimpse of him standing a few feet away from her.

"Zedd was supposed to be watching you."

"He is." She said softly, turning around to face him. "He's just not here with me."

Stepping closer, he knelt down beside her, taking one of the flowers from her hand. "Want to go inside?"

"Not yet. It feels nice out here and I was starting to go mad inside the palace. It's never seemed so small to me before." She whispered as she rubbed the back of her hand against her forehead. "Zedd seemed to think that the kitchen was the safest place."

Laughing, Richard sat down, keeping his eyes on her. "I'm sure he did. Is that why you told him you were going to sleep?" She looked over to him, surprised that he knew that she had lied to his grandfather. "I was worried when I got to our room and you weren't there."

"I'm sorry. I- I didn't want to worry you, I went to the room and I couldn't stop thinking about everything and then I remembered that I haven't been out here in a while and before I knew it, you were standing behind me."

"What's wrong?"

"What?"

"You said that you couldn't stop thinking. What's wrong?"

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, trying to think of something else to tell him. "What did you do with Nicci?"

"I left her with a few of your guards in the prison. It's the only place I could think of to leave her. It's far enough away that if she escapes, I'll have enough time to protect you, but that's not what you were thinking about."

"I- I have to tell you something, but I'm not sure that I should."

He was concerned, but the small smile on his lips gave him some comfort, calming his sudden fears. "What is it?"

"I'm pregnant." As soon as the words left her lips, it seemed the world had gone silent. Staring at his wife, he was sure she could hear his heart pounding. Smiling widely, he pulled her into his arms in joy.

Pulling back, he pressed his lips to hers, kissing her quickly. "Kahlan, this- this is wonderful!" he said loudly, his voice filled with happiness.

"Richard, I don't- I'm scared." she whispered softly, the smile on her face fading. "I don't want to lose her too."

"Everything is going to be fine, Kahlan. I'm not going to let anything happen. It's going to be alright, I promise." Cupping her cheeks, he wiped the tears that had fallen. "You're going to be a great mother."

As the months passed, Richard came closer to finishing his wizard's training, giving him more time with his wife as the child grew within her. When he wasn't training, he was at her side, being sure that she was safe. To his surprise, he was enjoying his life with magic. The feeling that he was able to protect Kahlan better, kept a smile on his face.

After a few months, she tried to distance herself from him as the memories of her capture began returning. Her soft cries and whimpers would wake him in the night, driving her husband insane that there was nothing that he could do. He offered to take away the memories, to ensure their loss forever, but she refused to lose them. She told him that they helped her remember how lucky she was to have him. After several days, he insisted that she go see Nicci and at last, she did.

Watching her dress, Richard smiled widely, taking in the sight of her before him. She couldn't understand why he still found her so attractive, but in times like this, when he couldn't take his eyes off of her, she didn't question him. Giving him a smile, Kahlan turned towards him, tying the strings of her dress.

"How are you feeling?" He asked with a wide smile.

"Tired." She whispered as she came closer to him. "You kept us up most of the night."

If it was possible, he smile grew wider as he moved to the edge of the bed, meeting her. "I didn't think that you would mind."

"I didn't." she grinned as her cheeks flushed. "You should get dressed. Sister Verna will come in here and drag you out of the bed."

"Not if you're in here with me." he said as he pulled her onto him, sending him backwards onto his back.

"Especially if I am in here with you." She laughed, "I have a meeting with the council today. I'm going to request that they let Nicci go."

"What?" Pulling away from her, he sat up, confused. "Why?"

"Because she's not a threat to us. Richard, you have all her magic and you're almost finished with your training. She can't harm us anymore."

"And? Kahlan, I know you. You're doing this for another reason."

"When I went to see her- About what happened to me, I- She-" she let out a soft sigh, her smile fading. "Please, just trust me?"

"Of course. It's her that I don't trust." he whispered, leaning towards her. "I don't trust her. Not after- She nearly killed you."

"I know, but she didn't mean to. Richard, I've spent time with her and- She's not a threat."

"Alright." He said softly, pulling her to him for a quick kiss. "Go. It's going to take you some time to convince the council that Nicci should be free."

"Not as long as it will take to convince you."

Nodding, Richard sat up, looking around, trying to find where his pants had flown after being kicked off the night before. "We have the rest of our lives."

"I hope it doesn't take that long." she whispered, unable to speak louder as he stood and pulled on his pants, her entire body fighting the urge to push him back onto the bed. Turning away, she walked slowly towards the door, forcing her mind to concentrate on the tasks of the day.

"I love you." he said softly, just as she reached the door, making her turn around with a smile.

Taking a few steps towards him, her smile grew. "And I love you."

Kneeling down before her, he laid his hands gently onto her stomach, pressing his lips above her bellybutton. "Be careful."

"I'm going down the hall." she laughed. "What could possibly happen?"

Looking up, he smiled widely. "I'll walk with you."

"It's time." Richard jumped from the floor, almost knocking Sister Verna to the floor. "She's in your room."

Rushing through the halls, Richard smiled widely as he made his way to their bedroom. Time slowed as he pushed opened the door, meeting her eyes the moment he entered. The room was filled with people, each looking upon Kahlan as she came closer to the birth of her first child. Coming to her side, he grabbed her hand, holding it tightly as she let out a cry of pain. After some time, he could barely feel his fingers as her hold on his hand tightened.

Hours past and Richard found himself once again wondering how his wife could be so strong. Moving behind her, he wrapped his arms around her, trying to give her some of his strength. Her nails dung into his arms as she held him to her, her body screaming in pain. The sound of his voice in her ear calmed her as he whispered for her to breathe.

"The child is almost ready." The older woman said as she pushed aside The Mother Confessor's dress. "It will be any moment now." Biting down on her lip, Kahlan nodded, silently praying to the spirits for the strength to get through whatever came next. "Here we go."

Leaning forward, Richard tried to see what was happening, stretching his neck to get a look as their child took a breath of air. The cry of life rang through the room, bringing a smile onto Kahlan's lips as she fell back exhausted. "It's a girl." The midwife said softly as she gently wrapped the small child.

He stared down in awe as Kahlan took their child into her arms, pulling her close. The smile on her face matched his own as he moved around, positioning himself beside her for a better look. "She's beautiful."

"She is." She replied as she looked over to him. "She's ours."

Walking into the room, his heart stopped at the site of his wife laying in bed with their daughter laying on her chest, wrapped snuggly in her arms. Tip-toeing closer, he couldn't take his eyes off of them. In his entire life, he had never expected to feel this happy. The moonlight was just reaching through the window, lighting the room with a soft glow.

Carefully, Richard sat down on the side of the bed, trying not to wake their daughter. She seemed to always know when someone was around. Always looking around to be sure she was still safe. Her tiny hands gripped Kahlan's nightgown tightly, feeling safe in her mother's arms. Reaching over, he he pulled up the blankets, covering them all as he settled into the bed beside them. The moment his head hit the pillow, her head turned towards towards him, eyes wide.

Smiling widely, he leaned forward, letting his daughter grab hold of his finger. "She missed you."

"I didn't mean to wake you." he whispered as she turned her head towards him, smiling.

Handing him their daughter, Kahlan rolled onto her side. "It's alright. We don't mind." Leaning over, she pressed her lips against his, kissing him passionately.

"What was that for?" He asked breathlessly.

Smiling, she laid back down. "She's not the only one who missed you." Just as he leaned towards her, their daughter began pulling at his shirt, trying to regain his attention.

"Hi Emma!" He said cheerfully, lifting her up into the air and smiling widely as she laughed. "How did it go?"

Moving closer to him, Kahlan grinned up at their daughter. "She was great. She cried each time a member of the council held her."

"She's a good judge of character." he said softly, glancing over to his wife.

"They want me to bring her back tomorrow. They want to test her."

"What? Why?"

Releasing a sigh, she stared up at the ceiling. "Because of what she is. She's more than a Confessor, Richard. They're afraid of her."

"They should be. They should be afraid of her and her sisters."

"Sisters?" She whispered with a smile as she glanced over to him.

"Yeah, sisters. We can't have just one. She's going to be lonely and spoiled. We have to give her a sister. Then we're going to have to give them a sister so that they get used to having another around and then she will need someone-"

"I get it." She laughed. "But we'll never have time alone."

Looking over to her, he grinned. "We will. Tomorrow, before you go back to the council."

"Richard, Emma-"

"She's fine. I left her with Cara and Zedd." He replied knowing what she was going to ask. He had woken her as the sun rose and taken her out into the woods as soon as she was dressed. "Zedd keeps saying that he never spends anytime with his great granddaughter, so I left Emma with him." Looking over his shoulder, he smiled. "She will be fine."

Giving him a wide smile, she moved faster to keep up with him. "I know, but Richard it's going to rain."

"Not in here." He said over his shoulder as she tightened her hold on his hand.

The small opening within the trees welcomed them back, keeping them dry as the rain began to fall. Stepping closely behind him, Kahlan turned him around, pressing her lips against his the moment she was able. Instantly, her fingers wound into his hair, hold him close to her as his arms encircled her. A soft moan escaped her as his lips left hers and made their way over her jaw to her neck. Slowly lowering her to the ground, Richard pulled at her dress.

Wrapping her legs around his waist, she held him close to her as their clothes were thrown off into the bushes. The rain drizzled over them, cooling their burning bodies as the clung to each other. His name escaped her lips, as his tongue slid over her skin, tasting her flesh. Arching her back from the ground, Kahlan let him wrap his arms around her, to hold her tightly to him as they connected. She held his head to her chest, her head leaning back in pleasure as his hands began to move over her, making her breathing quicken and her heart pound.

Before they realized, the sun burned down upon them, reminding them of the time. Rolling off of her, Richard smiled widely as she rolled onto her side, trying to keep herself in his arms. His heart pounding against his chest. "You're going to miss the meeting with the council."

"They can't have the meeting without me." she laughed softly. "They need me to get near Emma, or they're going to have an upset, untrained Confessor on their hands."

The sound of his laughter ran through the trees, "And if she's anything like you, she'll have them quivering before her."

"I don't make them-"

"Yes you do. They're all terrified of you."

Moving to her elbows, Kahlan rested her chin in the palm of her hand, looking down at him. "I haven't noticed."

Smiling widely, he shook his head. "Yes, you have, but you're used to them looking at you, or reacting that way."

"And how do they look at you?" She asked softly, a small smile crossing her lips.

"Annoyed."

Without warning a burst of laughter escaped her, reaching up, she covered her mouth as she tried to drown it out. "They're not used to someone who doesn't follow orders blindly. You do what you want, not what they want you to."

He stared at her, enjoying the view and the sound of her laugh. The smile that crossed her face, spread to his as he pulled her back into his arms, feeling incomplete without her. "Do you think Emma will pass the tests that the council has planned?"

"I don't know. There's never been a Confessor like her before. I don't think that they can make a proper decision, but they're going to try."

"Kahlan, what if they think that she's- What if they make the wrong one?" He whispered softly, hating himself for asking.

Shaking her head against him, she sighed. "I'm not sure. I'm afraid that they will. She's more dangerous than all other Confessors and I'm afraid that's all they will see."

"The same way they see male Confessors?"

"Richard, if that's how they see her, we're going to have two choices."

"No we won't. We're going to protect her, that leaves us with one."

She could hear the anger growing in his voice, making it clear that if the council deemed their daughter a threat, he would kill them. "We should head back. I don't want them to get near her without me and Sister Verna will be looking for you."

"I think that we should wait a few more minutes." He said as she sat up and looked around for her dress.

Glancing over to him, she smiled widely. "If we wait, we're going to end up spending the day here."

"We can." He smiled, playfully taking her dress from her hands. "They won't notice we're gone until after-"

Pressing her lips to his, she cut him off, moving back into his arms as she abandoned her dress. If they could spend a little more time together, she wasn't going to deny herself the pleasure.

***END***