"Kahlan, he's only been gone two months." Zedd said laying a hand on the Confessor's shoulder. She smiled warmly up at him. "Three." Zedd moved his gaze to where hers was moments ago. "Starring out over the distance isn't going to bring him back sooner." "I know." she sighed, looking back up the road. "I miss him." Giving her shoulder a light squeeze, he watched her for a moment. Her eyes were gazing off into the distance, almost straining themselves to see further. "We all miss him, dear." He turned his head to the sound of Cara kicking a few pots over. She and Leo had been tending to their dinner as Zedd talked to Kahlan. "That one should never be allowed to cook." He said softly before turning to make his way over to her. "No! If you do that you'll ruin it!" Kahlan couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Zedd trying to pull something from Cara's hands.

"You are speeding through your lessons Richard." Sister Verna said as Richard made his way over to her. "I need to get to my friends." He said as he came to a stop before her. "You need to get back to Kahlan, you mean." A smile came to his lips "Yes." She nodded, allowing a small smile to come to her lips as well. "How were you able to consummate your love?" she asked studding his face "I am already consumed by my love for her. Her powers could take nothing from me." He smiled wider as he thought of that first night they were together. Sister Verna watched him for a moment. Allowing him to remember. "Richard." She said softly as his smile began to fade. "Richard, I think you're ready to go." His eyes snapped quickly to hers. "What?" She smiled "Well, I figure I've taught you what you need to know. I also think that she is missing you just as much." Richard starred at her for a few seconds "Is this some kind of trick?" A soft laugh escaped her mouth "No trick. Go." He pulled her into a quick hug "Thank you." she said as he pulled away.

Kahlan sat next to Cara as she slowly ran her fingers of the Sword of Truth. "You need to stop caressing his sword." Cara said as she watched Kahlan. She smiled and looked towards her. "I miss him." Cara smirked "You miss part of him. You waste your emotions. Men are of one use." Cara turned her head towards Leo, who laid on his bedroll, starring up at the sky, while tapping his fingers together. Kahlan laughed, "Not when you love them." Cara starred at her. "You should sleep. I'll take watch." She said looking over to Zedd, who had already fallen asleep. Laying back, Kahlan laid the sword next to her. Turning her head to look at it one last time, before closing her eyes to sleep. "Cara." Zedd said as he made his way quietly to her. "I'll take the next watch. Kahlan's going to be asleep for a good while." Nodding, Cara laid back and closed her eyes, immediately taken by sleep. Zedd sat beside the fire, facing Kahlan. She appeared to be sleeping soundly. A familiar smile was appearing on her face as her dreams brought her to the man she loved. He continued to watch her for a few moments. Her smile widening as her body began to relax. If Richard didn't return soon, he thought, she was going to go mad.

His eyes jumped at the sound of footsteps hurrying towards them. Cara sat forward, crouched between Zedd and Kahlan, her agiels in hand. Kahlan didn't move. Leo stood quietly, made his way over to the others and picked up his sword. He had allowed her to hold on to it when they were setting up camp. He didn't understand why it was as more important to her than it was to the others. He stood before them all, sword ready to attack whoever came from the darkness.

"It's me." A familiar voice came from the trees a few seconds before he stepped into view. Rolling her eyes, Cara put her agiels back in their place and laid back down. "Richard, my boy!" Zedd said loudly as he stepped forward and hugged his grandson. Richard returned the hug for a moment before pulling away to look around. Leo stood, sword still in hand starring at him. Richard was back, he was no longer needed. Richard studied him for a moment. He stood directly in front of her. Protecting her. A smile came to his face as he stepped forward and stretched out his hand to him. Leo took it, gripping his forearm firmly as they starred at each other. "I'm Richard." he said softly. "Leo." he replied as they released each other from their grasps. "Thank you." "For what?" Leo seemed surprised and confused. The man had returned to find he had been replaced. How could he thank him? "For protecting them." His eyes moving from Leo's to the woman who lay behind him. Leaving Leo settling down beside Zedd. As Richard stepped forward a smile came to his lips before fading quickly. "What's wrong with her?" He looked to Zedd for a moment before making his way to her. "Oh!" Zedd said remembering that she was still sleeping. "She hasn't had a good night's sleep since you left, so I gave her some herbs to help her." Richard knelt down beside her, slowly running his fingers through her hair, lightly brushing some strands from her face.

Laying himself down behind her, he moved his arm under hers around her waist and pulled her back against his chest. Her hair tickled his nose as he breathed in her scent. Her eyes flew open, grabbing his arm, she rolled herself over him, one hand on his throat. He starred up at her a smile creeping slowly onto his lips. "Richard?" she said quietly as she stared down at him. She blinked her eyes shut for a second before leaning closer and pressing her lips to his. Running one of her hands over his chest, she moved the other through his hair. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her closer to her, trying to mold himself to her. Rolling himself over her, his broke their kiss to breathe while he moved his lips over her jaw to her neck. "Do you two mind? Your moans are making it hard to sleep." Cara's voice was slightly annoyed. Kahlan laughed, pushed Richard off of her and stood, pulling Richard up too she quickly started towards the trees, pulling Richard by his hand.

"Were they always like that?" Leo asked as he watched them disappear through the trees. "Yes." Cara said in a huff as she rolled over, facing away from them. "They never were able to keep their hands off each other." Leo stood and took three steps towards the trees. "How can you let them be alone? It's dangerous." "They can take care of themselves." Zedd said as he laid back on his bedroll. "If they make love, he'll be destroyed." Cara laughed "Hasn't happened before." He turned towards her "I thought a Confessor couldn't without-" "Richard can't be harmed by her power." Zedd said with a smile. He was happy that his grandson had found a way to be with her. Found a way to be happy. He was proud that it was someone as wonderful as Kahlan. He loved her as his daughter. "He can't be confessed?" Leo knelt down before Zedd confused "No, but if it were any other Confessor, he would be lost." "Why Kahlan?" "He loves her." Leo's eyes flew to Cara, that was the first time he heard no snark or sarcasm from her when talking about Richard and Kahlan. It gave him hope. He waited for a moment, watching Cara sleep, before turning to Zedd. "I'll take first watch. You can sleep."

They hadn't gone very far when Kahlan pushed him against a tree, pushed herself against him and pulled at his shirt, trying to pull it off. Suddenly she stopped and pulled back. "What's wrong?" He asked as her eyes studied his face. A small smiled came to her lips, brightening her dark, passionate eyes. "I can hardly believe that you're back." His fingers lightly grazed her face, pushing some strands of hair behind her ear. "You don't know how happy I am to see you." His voice was soft, filling the air with a heavy calm. She leaned into his hand as he gently cupped her face. "Richard..." she said breathlessly as he pulled her face back to his, reconnecting their lips in a fiercely passionate kiss.

Pulling his shirt over his head, Kahlan ran her fingers across his chest slowing as they moved down to his pants. She gripped the top of his pants, pulling him closer. A moan escaping both of their lips. He reached for the laces of her clothing, taking hold, he pulled frantically, exposing more flesh as his lips journeyed over her jaw to her shoulder, pushing the cloth from her shoulders with his nose. Falling from her shoulders, the cloth pooled downward, stopped by his hands holding her waist to him. His hands couldn't bring themselves to move, unwilling to release the connection to her. Her hands moved back up his chest to the back of his neck, one grabbing a fistful of hair as she held his face to her shoulder.

The feel of his lips, tongue and warm breath on her skin was intoxicating. Sending small spasms though her body. His hands moved quickly, making a single tug downwards on her clothing. It fell to the ground with ease, revealing her corset. Running his hands up her sides, to her breasts he moved over them, being sure to slow his hands. Kissing his way over her chest, his fingers made work with the laces of her corset, slowly pulling the strings free. His lips touched every piece of exposed flesh, her moans making it harder to move slowly, he pulled the last lace free and pulled back to watch it fall to the ground.

She was more beautiful than before. She stood before him, naked, his eyes taking in every inch of her, his eyes filled with a passion that thrilled her. Reaching back to his pants she pulled his laces free and pushed his pants from his waist. He stepped out of them quickly, kicking them to the side by her corset. They stood before each other, eyes never wavering the others. Moving as one, they reached for the other, closing the small distance between them. He held her as close as he could. Even with her body flush against his, she wasn't close enough.

She was laying in his arms, her head on his chest as he ran his hand over her back, moving occasionally to her side to graze her breasts. He can feel her smile against his chest before a soft laugh. "What?" he said lifting his head up to look at her. She turned her head to his, a wide smile on her face. Slowly she moved herself over him, bringing her lips back to his. A husky growl came from his throat as she ran her tongue over his lips to his chin. He tightened his hold on her as she continued her journey down. Her lips kissed his neck passionately, lightly allowing her teeth to take hold of his flesh.

"Kahlan..." she looked up from his chest. "I love you." A smile came to her lips as she moved back up to his face. "I love you, too." He pulled her face to his and kissed her before she returned to laying on his chest, her fingers tracing over the muscles as they flexed against her touch. "The sun's going to be up soon. You should get some sleep." She smiled as she pulled herself closer to him "I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep." Her heart was still pounding against her chest. She had just gotten him back; part of her was afraid if she was to fall asleep she would wake up and see it had all been a dream. Almost as though sensing her fear, he hugged her tighter to him, running his fingers through her hair.

"Wake up you two!" A voice called from a short distance. "We should get moving!" Richard opened his eyes slowly, looking down at Kahlan as she slept. "Kahlan." "Mmm?" he smiled as he saw her pull herself closer, trying to get warm. Reaching around her he grabbed his shirt and pulled it over her. A smile came to her face as he wrapped it around her. "We should get back to them." He said softly as she lifted her head from his chest. "How long do you think we have?" He laughed "Not long. I'm sure Cara will be coming through those trees any time now." Kahlan sat forward, taking his shirt with her, using it to cover herself as she looked around for Cara.

When she turned back to him, he was handing her her corset. She dropped his shirt from her chest, waiting a moment before she reached out and took it from him. She watched him watch her as she laced it back up. His eyes were wide as she came to a finish, his mouth was open, allowing him to somewhat remember to breathe. Blinking as his shirt came into contact with face. Her laugh was enticing, causing every muscle in his body to tense as he pulled the shirt from his head. Tilting her head she motioned his turn to dress.

"There you two are." Zedd said as he tossed some bread at Richard. "Eat. We have to get going." Sitting down next to the fire, Richard handed Kahlan the bread and grabbed another piece for himself. "What?" he said as he managed to look away from Kahlan to look around at the others. Leo appeared to be avoiding looking at them and Zedd was packing up quickly. Cara starred at them. A smirk on her face. "Enjoy yourself Lord Rahl?" Tilting his head confused, Richard looked around at everyone again. Zedd stopped packing and starred up at Cara, who was smiling widely. "We all know she The Mother Confessor was very pleased." Leo couldn't help the snort that came out as he turned his back to hide his smile. Richard turned to Kahlan, who was, to his surprise, smiling. "What's going on?" he asked looking back to Cara. "You must have known we'd hear and feel it." Leo said turning to face them. Kahlan closed her eyes as her smile widened. "We should have gone further into the trees." Richard said as a smile came to his lips as well. "Wouldn't have helped. That was one powerful release. I do believe the whole of the midlands heard it." Cara said tossing Richard her pack. "You're carrying that. You two kept us up all night."