As Kahlan expected, Richard was furious when he learned what his grandfather had done. Moving between him and the door to her bedroom, she stopped him from rushing out to find the old man. If he left now, he would regret everything he was about to do and she couldn't let it happen. Locking their eyes, she began unlacing her dress, a seductive smile slowly coming to her lips. He acted instantly, realizing that this was their first real chance to create a child.

Removing the space between them, he pulled her hands from the long, white laces and replaced them with his own. She leaned forward, connecting their lips as he pushed the dress from her shoulders. He pulled back and looked at her, his eyes feasting on her as she hurried to remove her corset.

Moving past him, she rubbed her shoulder against his and purred. "Better hurry Seeker, we don't know how long we have alone."

Tearing the shirt over his head, he turned around after her, grateful she hadn't called him Lord Rahl. Her skirt had just fallen onto the floor when he enveloped her in his arms. Pushing her hair over with his nose, he began kissing her neck, slowly moving down the back of her shoulder while his hands roamed her chest and stomach. Her hands laid over his, trying to get them to focus on a single area, her body aching for his. With a low moan, her head fell back and tilted away, giving his lips better access to her neck.

She could feel him pressed against her, restrained in his pants, another reminder that he cared more for her pleasure than his own. Turning slightly, she pulled out of his arms and pushed him down onto the bed. He watched as she unlaced his pants, her eyes never leaving his while she pulled the fabric from his waist. His eyes fell closed, his lips parting as she lowered her hands and lips to his chest. She moved slowly, paying close attention to breathing as his breath caught in his throat.

Bringing his fingers to her head, he began to massage in an attempt to give her a small portion of pleasure. The feel of her lips on his chest was beyond words, a feeling he had not experienced in months. He was always trying to discover her, find what stopped her heart, what made her gasp and pant his name, she, on the other hand, always seemed to know exactly what he needed, what he wanted more than anything. With a quiet whisper of her name, she looked up, her lips remaining against his stomach until their eyes met. Pulling her forward, Richard rolled them onto their sides, wrapping his arms tightly around her.

Their bodies ached for more, but neither moved. The simple touch from the other was always a comfort neither could describe. Her eyes closed and she tried to focus on the beat of his heart, wanting a distraction from her own thoughts.

He pulled back just enough to look at her, almost sensing her struggle and met teary eyes. "What's wrong?" Turning her head, she tried hold back, but the look in his eyes made it difficult. "Did I do something wrong, Kahlan?"

Grabbing his face she kissed him briefly, shaking her head. "No. Spirits, no. I was-" Giving a heavy sigh, she stroked her thumb across his cheek. "I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to give you a child. When Zedd told me what he had done, I was so angry, but more than that, I was relieved. I was so afraid that there was something wrong with me."

Confused, Richard rolled forward, moving her onto her back so that he could see her more clearly. "I don't understand. You didn't seem worried. Why didn't you say anything?"

"I already asked you to give up the thought of having a son and I thought that if I couldn't- How could I ask you to stay with me if I could give you no children?"

"You don't have to ask me, Kahlan. I am yours."

She smiled at his words, her hand finding his cheek once again. "And I am yours."

Nudging his nose against hers, he grinned. "You and I are going to fill this palace with our daughters." He kissed her quickly and pulled back once again. "They are going to be beautiful. They're going to look just like you."

She kissed him again. "But they'll have your heart."

"And your bravery."

With another kiss, Kahlan beamed. "With our luck, they'll all be like Zedd."

With a heart filled chuckle, Richard nodded. "We're going to need to build a bigger kitchen."

***

They were entangled beneath the blankets, clinging to each other as though they feared it would be their last chance. The door to their bedroom opened, but neither moved, assuming it was Cara, who was the one who always seemed to interrupt.

"This is far greater than I anticipated."

The couple paused at the sound of Darken Rahl's voice, Richard instantly filling with anger. Grabbing his face, Kahlan held him to her, locking eyes as she shook her head.

"Mother Confessor, the council had demanded you lay with him tonight." It was the voice of a young woman, one the other woman knew very well.

Sitting up, the Confessor held her blanket to her chest and looked at the two people in front of her. Darken Rahl was chained, but his eyes roamed over her, wishing he could see more. Richard sat up and stared at his brother, fighting the urge to jump from the bed and remove his head. Laying her free hand over his beneath the blankets, Kahlan met her handmaiden's gaze. "I will not take this man into my bed. Have the guards outside the door take him back to the dungeons and inform the High Council that the Seeker will give me a child. Then, when they began to speak, you tell them that if they ever demand me to do anything again, I fill replace every one of them after their bodies are buried."

The younger woman smiled and gave a quick nod. "Yes, Mother Confessor."

The other man refused to move for a moment, his eyes still on the naked woman before him. "I do indeed see why you didn't want to share this one, little brother. I would enjoy her lying beneath me very much." Looking to his huffing brother, he beamed. "How does she feel wrapped around you?"

Kahlan removed her hand from his, knowing what he needed to do. Without hesitation, the Seeker jumped from their bed and rushed forward, taking hold of the older man's neck and shoving him toward the door. "Get out!"

"That good? Mmm, I will await the-" His words were cut short when Richard's fist slammed into his mouth, knocking out two of his teeth.

"You will never have her." Closing their bedroom door, he took in a deep breath and turned back to be greeted with her before him. "It's fine."

Taking his hand in hers, she touched her fingers around the wound. "You're bleeding. Come here, we can clean it over here."

He followed her to the wash station, his mind spinning. "Kahlan, what if I can't give you a child?"

Looking over her shoulder, she smiled. "We'll fill the palace halls with something else."

"I'm not joking, Kahlan. You should have children and if I-"

"I won't lay with another man," she said instantly. "I'm sorry the council felt they needed to send him to me, but you know me. You know that there is nothing possible to make me take another man into my bed. I am yours, remember? Yours."

"I do not doubt you, Kahlan, but I want you to be a mother. I want you to have the life you imagined and if I can't give that to you, if I can't help you continue your race- Kahlan, there are only two of you left."

"And there is only one you."

"I'm sorry," he hummed, wrapping her in his arms. "I'm not sure my mind has wrapped around what Zedd did."

"I understand." She pulled back quicker than he liked, but was comforted when she didn't move away. Laying a damp cloth over his hand, she smiled. "Better?"

Stepping forward, he touches his hand between her breasts. "Yes, but I know something that will make it feel even better."

"We should wrap your hand first."

Moving forward, he pulled her against him. "Or we could make ourselves a warm bath."

"But what will we do while the water heats?" she questioned innocently, dropping the cloth to the floor.

******

Richard woke early the next four mornings, anticipating the moment she opened her eyes. He dreamt of their family, six daughters running around them, while a very pregnant Kahlan laughed as he attempted to catch them. It was the life he had always wanted and now it seemed to be within his grasp. She had moved around all night, finding it difficult to find a comfortable position until he rolled her onto her side and pressed his chest against her back. His arm was held firmly between her breasts, her hands griping it tightly as she slept. Each time she shifted in his arms, he felt his heart race, hoping she was waking.

Turning in his arms, she snuggled closer, sliding her hand down his chest until his quiet moan pulled her from her dreams. Opening her eyes, she blinked the world into focus and met his eyes.

"I'm afraid to ask again," he admitted through a whisper.

Grinning, she pushed her fingers into his hair. "I think you should ask once more."

"What?" He beamed, his eyes searching her face. "We- We did it? You're pregnant?"

She nodded, moving back just enough for her own hands to slide between them and touch her stomach. They were pushed away almost instantly, his body moving down until his lips were pressed against her firm stomach. He held her hips, keeping her in place as kissed and nudged his nose against her skin. Raising his eyes, he watched her, her eyes were filled with tears, but she had a peaceful look that swept through him at the sight and he suddenly knew that it wasn't just him who had been affected by the disappointment of the past mornings.

Crawling back up her body, he leaned down onto her, needing to be closer. "What does it feel like?"

"I'm not sure I can explain it," she replied truthfully. "I can just feel her."

With a passionate kiss, he moved off of her sat forward in excitement. "We have to tell-"

Grabbing his arm, she kept him from leaving the bed. "No, not yet."

"Why?"

"We haven't celebrated properly yet."

******

It was midday when the couple left the privacy of their bedroom and after they announced her pregnancy to the High Council, Kahlan told them of his proposal. They seemed surprised at first, the head of the group asking more questions than they thought possible. It quickly became apparent that they did not want her to conceive a child with him and when they spoke the words aloud, Richard had to calm her down.

"You would not hesitate to do what was necessary had you given birth to Darken Rahl's son. If you give the Seeker a son, your feelings for him will blind you from what is right. A Rahl always has a son. When you give birth, if it is a boy, we will kill him."

Richard pushed past her on their way toward the High Council, reaching the head before her. Lifting the older woman out of her chair, he shook her shoulders. "You will not threaten the Mother Confessor!"

Coming to his side, Kahlan reached over his arms and took hold of the woman's throat. "If you threaten our children again, I will confess you and have you spend the rest of your life as my personal servant." Stepping back, she glared at the other members of the council, being sure to meet each of their eyes. "And if any of you try to interfere with any part of the life we are trying to create, I will do the same to you. If I give birth to a son, Richard and I will discuss our options, but I assure you, killing the child will not be one of them. There are two Confessors left alive, our children are needed. You will never threaten their lives again, do you understand?"

"Yes, Mother Confessor."

Releasing the woman, Richard moved back and followed Kahlan back to the doors, knowing that it would be best if they left the room before he could no longer control his anger. When they were in the hallway, he punched his right fist into wall, damaging his hand once more.

"I will kill every one of them before I allow them to harm our child!" he half shouted, half growled.

"I know." Looking at his bloody hand, she sighed. "Let me see. Please don't say that it's fine, I can almost feel it throbbing."

"I didn't mean to hit the wall so hard."

"I know, but you were angry. You don't always-" she paused, taking his hand in hers. "You can't keep hurting yourself."

Jerking his hand back, he turned away and groaned. "I can't stop myself. Spirits Kahlan, don't you understand?!"

"How can I?" she asked earnestly. "You won't- No, you can't talk to me about it. I can't understand if you won't talk to me." Taking his hand off of his sword, she met his eyes and waited for the anger to fade, for her fear of him to diminish. "I know that it's difficult and that you don't want me to know this side of you, but I- Richard, you scare me when you're like this and I don't want our children to-" Shaking her head, she took a step back and looked past him, the look in his eyes burning through her. "Have Zedd look at your hand. You may have broken one of your fingers."

He watched as she walked away, part of him screaming to rush after her. When she was out of his sight, he realized his grandfather was standing behind him. "Kahlan's with child," he said quietly, wishing to change his own mood with the words. "We're going to have a baby." Turning around, he lifted his hand and for the first time, he felt the true pain of it. "I need your help."

******

Taking the tray of food from the kitchen, Richard hurried out of the door and down the halls. He hadn't seen her in almost two days and until this moment, he believed it was the right thing to do. He couldn't control his anger and knowing that he scared her made it almost an easy decision. She was right before, their children shouldn't see him that way. He slowed as he reached the stairs, his mind returning to his thoughts of how upset she would be to see him. He had been avoiding her for two days, it would be stupid to think that she would be alright with his actions.

When he reached the door to her bedroom, he froze and let his mind travel to their first night together. He had been eager to be with her, but there couldn't have been anything to prepare him for the moment. As he held her in his arms, he swore to himself that he would always protect her, that he would spend his every breath trying to make her happy and give her everything she needed. He had failed her.

Stepping through the door, he motioned for the Mord'Sith to leave the room. Keeping quiet as he brought his eyes to the Confessor in the bathtub. Setting the tray of food down on the table across from the bed, he moved over to her. Her eyes were closed, but he could still see that she had been crying. She had only been honest with him and he let her down.

Kneeling beside the tub, he rested his right arm on the edge. "I'm sorry."

Her body stiffened before she opened her eyes and turned her head toward him. "Please hand me a towel." He did as she requested without hesitation, waiting for her to say anything else. "Thank you." Standing she wrapped the warm, fluffy towel around herself and stepped out of the water. She took a few steps away from him when she stopped and turned back to him. "You didn't have to come back."

"Kahlan-"

"You have no obligation to be here, Richard. You can walk through the palace gates any time you want to and never look back."

"I'm not going to leave you, Kahlan."

"Why not?" she questioned as she tightened her hold on the towel.

"You know why." Taking a step closer to her, Richard pushed back his hair with his fingers. "Kahlan, I'm sorry. I never wanted to hurt you and I promise that I will do everything I can to keep from doing it again." She was so close to him, he could feel her warmth and the shivers that the cool air around her created. He wanted to wrap her in his arms, but he wasn't sure she would want him too.

His thoughts were interrupted when she closed the distance between them and took comfort in his embrace. Her arms were hooked around the back of his shoulders, with her nose pushed into the front of his chest. After a moment, Kahlan pulled back and brushed some of his hair out of his face with the tip of her fingers. "Your hair's longer."

"Too long?"

She smiled, warming his blood. "No, it looks nice on you. But the beard," she added quietly. "I think that will take some getting used to." She kissed him unexpectedly, testing the whiskers of his face as his lips trailed over her chin and neck. It was rough, pleasantly bruising her porcelain skin.

She pulled at his shirt trying to get him closer, trying to mold their bodies. Running her hands down his back, she inched back and took a look at him.

"Where's the sword?"

"With Zedd," he replied shamefully. "I didn't think it was safe for me to be near it until I had a better handle on myself. I don't want to lose you."

"You won't lose me." Kahlan turned and walked to the bed, glancing over her shoulder to make sure he was following. "How's your hand?"

"It's fine. You were right, I broke one of my fingers."

Kahlan took hold of his hand, noticing the small scar above the middle finger. "I'm sorry."

"Me too." He sighed and sat down on the bed, keeping his eyes on her. "I don't know why this is so hard for me."

Sitting down beside him, she took his hand. "Everything you've ever known is different. I don't think it would be easy for me either."

"I don't think it would be hard for you. I've seen you do such incredible things."

"That faith you have in me, I have the same for you."

"You're a better person than I am."

Grinning, she moved off of the bed and over to her wardrobe. He watched as she abandoned her towel and reached inside for something to wear. The view of her before him made it difficult to remain sitting on the bed, but it also took his ability to move. She pulled on one of his shirts and he would admit to anyone who asked, that she looked better in it than he did. The color helped the bright blue of her eyes stand out, capturing his attention with his mouth agape.

When she turned toward him, she noticed his expression at once. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," he answered breathlessly. "Sometimes it still amazes me how beautiful you are." She made her way over to him, a smile coming to her lips as he let his eyes roam over her. "My shirt looks nice on you."

"Almost as good as it looks on you."

"No, I don't think there is a comparison."

Removing the distance between them, she tilted her head the way that drove him insane. "I think it may look better somewhere else."

Touching his hands to her legs, he slowly pushed them upward. "Where?"

"The floor."