New Beginning 2/2

[confessorlove]

Title:  New Beginning
Author: confessorlove
Pairing: Richard and Kahlan
Rating: PG - 13
Word Count: 6,448 total
Summary: Now that the Rift is sealed and they can be together, Richard and Kahlan are at the beginning of a something new, their life together.
Author's Notes: Written for my legendland Mini Big Bang Alt with the theme of "Family" and prompt of "Dawn" (as in new beginning not time of day) as well as other various other minor prompts used. One long fic which was originally going to be 10 ficlets.  Oh well.  This is unbeta'd because yeah the deadline is in like a few hours and I NEED MY POINTS . OKAY?
Disclaimer: I don't own them. I just like to make them do my bidding.

Nothing but peace had passed in the time since their wedding.  Richard had assumed the throne but continued to rule D’Hara from Aydindril claiming that the Mother Confessor needed to be with her people and he would not leave her side.  She loved that he wanted them to rule from Aydindril.  He knew how much the history of Confessors meant to her and how this really was her home.  Part of her knew that he didn’t want to more to D’Hara and live in the same palace his brother had once occupied and she understood that, she just liked to think it was because of her that they stayed in the Midlands.

Kahlan couldn’t wait for her husband to finish his meeting with General Meriffet.  She had something she wanted to tell him, something she had dreamed of for such a long time.  Six months ago had been the happiest day of her life, until today.  Now she was even happier and she knew Richard would be thrilled once he knew; if only he could sneak away from his duties long enough for her to let him know that their lives were going to be forever changed.

She was waiting for him in the dining room when he finally showed up.  He was late but that didn’t surprise her.  Lately he had been late for most meals, his work seeming to consume more and more of his time.  He smiled when he saw her sitting there looking as radiant as ever.  He dropped a kiss to her forehead before sitting next to her.  “I’m sorry I’m late, Kahlan.”

She smiled softly at him, not caring that he was late for dinner.  She was just glad he was there.  Beneath the table she twined her fingers in his, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze and letting him know that she didn’t care he was late.  It was that he was there that mattered to her.  “It’s okay.  Work is important and that has to come first sometimes.  I understand.”

Richard smiled at her, amazed that he had such a kind and understanding wife.  It made his life complete.  “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”  He said as he picked up his fork, taking a bite of the chicken and potatoes as soon as the words left his mouth. 

Kahlan just smiled, unable to hold in her excitement any longer.  She pushed the food around on her plate with her fork, her eyes darting from her plate to him and back again before finally speaking.  “I have something to tell you, Richard.”

“What is it?”

Biting her lower lip she leaned in close, her warm breath on his neck sending a rush of desire through his system.  “I’m with child.”  She finally whispered, not wanting any of the serving staff to hear her news before she and Richard chose to share it with the people.

Her words left him speechless.  He had dreamed of having a child with Kahlan for so long and now they were.  Cupping her face in his hands he turned to face her, his nose brushing against hers.  “You’re sure?”  He whispered not wanting to get his hopes up only to have it all come crashing down around him.

Smiling the brightest smile he had ever seen on her face she answered him, nodding slightly as the reality of it all started to sink in.  “Yes Richard,” she whispered against his lips, “I’m sure; I’m pregnant.”

The smile that lit up his face warmed her heart.  She had no doubt in her mind that he was going to be the best father a child could ask for.   “We are having a baby.”  He said quietly as his hand came to rest on her belly, right above where their child was growing.

“Yes we are, Richard.  I love you.”  She kissed him softly then, her hands on the back of his neck letting her have some control.  Breaking the kiss a few moments later she rested her forehead against his, smiling happily as she basked in this moment.  “We are going to have a baby.  We are finally starting our family.”  She spoke as if she almost didn’t believe that this was truly happening.  It was her dream come true.

“Yes we are, Kahlan.”  His smile lit up the room and they finished their meal quietly, casting loving glances at each other all through the meal.  They were both so excited that their dreams were coming true.  Their excitement was infectious. 

Together they walked hand and hand back to their chambers after dinner, whispering sweet nothings in each other’s ears, murmuring their hopes and dreams for their daughter’s future.  Richard snaked his arm around her waist, holding her close and resting the palm of his hand against her still flat belly.  “I love you.”

“I love you too, Richard.  I just can’t believe we are finally getting everything we ever dreamed of.”  She spoke quietly, a smile on her lips and the beginnings of happy tears forming in her eyes.

Placing a soft kiss to her temple as he led her to their room, he let his mind fill with all the dreams he had dared not to even imagine.  They were getting their future, their family, their happily ever after.  “I love you too Kahlan,” his hand dropping to her belly slowly caressing their unborn child in a light circle as he whispers in her ear, “and our daughter.  I love her too.”

Kahlan smiled as she opened the door to their bedroom, her excitement making her almost seem to glow with joy.  “She will love her Daddy.”  Kahlan pulled him into the darkened bedroom, slamming the door shut behind them.  Twining her fingers with his she pulled him into her arms, nuzzling her head in the crook of his neck while pressing their intertwined fingers against her belly.  “I still can’t believe it.”

“You have months to work on believing it.  Until then just remind yourself there is someone else depending on you now.”  He kisses her nose, his fingers finding the laces of her dress, tugging them free in an eager rush to feel her skin on his, to celebrate the miraculous gift they had be given in the best way they knew how.

Together in the solitude of their rooms they reminded each other what they mean to each other, letting their excitement over their child spill from every move they made.  It was the first night of the beginning of their lives, now they had their family. 

The months passed slowly.  Neither Richard nor Kahlan could wait until their daughter would finally arrive in the world.  In the beginning Kahlan had been sick but it passed after a time, much to Richard’s relief.  He hated seeing his wife miserable.  They were lucky though.  Besides the morning sickness her pregnancy went without any problems. 

Richard spent a lot of his time up at the Keep with Zedd because even though his Han was gone, there was still a chance of his children inheriting that magic.  The thought terrified him.  He needed to know how to teach them.  That was why when he wasn’t attending to matters of state of fussing over Kahlan, he was pouring over books, making sure he knew everything he needed to know.

Kahlan’s screams echoed down the hall as Richard ran to his chambers and his wife.  He had been at the Keep with Zedd when the messenger arrived to tell him Kahlan had gone into labor.  Richard couldn’t miss the birth of their first child.  She needed him and he was going to be there.  It took longer than he would have liked to run from the Keep down to the palace but he was finally there.  Throwing open the doors to the room he shared with his wife he saw her in the bed, sweat covered and screaming.  It broke his heart to see her in so much pain, especially knowing he was partly the cause.  Nodding to the midwife he sat on the bed next to his wife, taking her hand in his and immediately getting it crushed by Kahlan’s iron grip.

“Where were you?” Kahlan yelled at him.

Richard grimaced as she crushed the life out of his hand but didn’t complain.  He knew this was the most painful thing she had ever been through and didn’t want to provoke her.  “I was at the Keep.  I got here as soon as I could.”

Kahlan opened her mouth to yell at him only to cry out in pain as another contraction wracked her body.  After the pain subsided she panted, glaring at the man who had gotten her in this condition.  He was seemed genuinely concerned as he let her crush his hand and carefully wiped at her brow with a cloth.    It almost hurt her to yell at him, but she couldn’t help it.  He was the reason she was in such pain.  “This is your fault!”

Richard just nodded as the midwife motioned that it was time.  Kahlan could start pushing.  “I’m sorry, Kahlan.”  He murmured as his wife screamed and struggled to bring their child into the world.  Richard whispered words of encouragement as the midwife told Kahlan what to do.  He was worried about her, she seemed so exhausted but she was struggling through it

Vaguely in the back of her mind she could hear Richard attempting to comfort her as the midwife urged her to keep pushing but she was blocking it all out.  There was nothing but the pain until suddenly she heard the shrill cry of a newborn filling the room.  She collapsed back against the pillows in complete exhaustion as Richard placed a light kiss to her hairline.  “You did it.”  He whispered against her forehead as the midwife cleaned their screaming daughter and helped with the afterbirth.

“We made her.”  She mumbled as she watched the midwife wrap their daughter in a soft pink blanket before bringing her over and carefully placing her in Kahlan’s arms.  “You’re daughter, Mother Confessor.  I’ll leave you alone.”  She left without another word, taking the soiled linens with her, leaving the family to bond with the new arrival.

Kahlan held her daughter close, careful not to squish her as Richard peered down at that child who was the perfect mix of both of them.  “She has your mouth, Kahlan.”

Her lips twitched up into a small smile as she realized what he said was true, their daughter’s tiny little rosebud lips, puckered as she absentmindedly moved her lips in a lazy suckling motion.  “She’s hungry.”  Kahlan whispered to herself as she unbuttoned her nightdress and helped the tiny baby latch onto her breast to feed.

Richard was in awe as he watched his wife with their newborn daughter.  She seemed to be radiating happiness and it made his heart swell with joy.  “She needs a name.”  He said softly while his finger lightly brushed against the dark patch of fuzzy hair on her tiny head.

“Mary.”  Kahlan said without hesitation.  She knew what Richard’s adoptive mother meant to him and wanted nothing more for their daughter to grow up to be just as wonderful a woman as Mary Cypher. 

Richard just smiled at her, slightly surprised she suggested the name of his mother.  “It’s perfect.”  He finally said, smiling down at his daughter from over Kahlan’s shoulder.  “Welcome to the world, Mary Amnell Rahl.”

As if in response to hearing her name for the first time, little Mary’s eyes opened slightly, slits of chocolate brown peeking out from behind her long eyelashes.  Kahlan beamed when she saw it, leaning back against him more.  “Look Richard! She has your eyes.”

He smiled, pressing a kiss to Kahlan’s temple, the excitement of seeing their features melded into one tiny human being almost too much to handle.  “I see.  She is perfect.  That perfect mix of you and me.  Our love solidified into something tangible.  Now the whole world can see.”

His words brought tears to her eyes and she blinked them back, not wanting her emotions to ruin this moment.  “She is the future.  D’Hara and the Midlands forever bound by her.”  Her finger trailed lightly over Mary’s cheek as she spoke, her mind wandering to what this tiny baby would be like when she grows up.

“She will be beautiful and strong, just like her mother.”  Richard said almost as if he knew Kahlan’s thoughts.  “She will be a leader the people will be proud of.”

Kahlan turned to him, her smile never fading as she rocked their daughter, having had her fill she was slowly drifting into a peaceful sleep.  “That is a lot of responsibility for a newborn, don’t you think?”

“It is.”  He said with a nod.  “For now she is nothing but our child.  That is what she should be.  Someday, when she is older she will handle that responsibility with the same grace as her mother before her.”

Kahlan nestled herself in Richard’s embrace as Mary drifted off.  She knew their daughter had a great destiny and only hoped it wouldn’t be too much for her.

The years passed all too quickly as they watched Mary grow up.  She was the light of their lives and their whole world revolved around her.  Kahlan saw so much of Richard in her daughter, it always made her smile.  She just hoped now that time had passed and Mary was no longer going to be their only child and the center of their attention she wouldn’t feel left out.  She never wanted her daughter not to feel included.

Kahlan shifted uncomfortably in bed, her pregnancy making it hard for her to stay in one position for very long.  Just as her eyes were beginning to drift closed for the third time that night and her mind finally ceasing to spin, she heard something moving in the dark.  For a split second she thought she saw a sliver of light spilling in from a crack in the door but in the blink of an eye it was gone.  “Richard…” she whispered into the darkness, clinging to the knowledge that whatever it was her husband could handle it. 

“Mommy?”

Kahlan let out a sigh of relief when she heard her daughter calling to her.  Before she knew it the three year old was crawling onto the bed and settling herself between her mother and father.  “Is something wrong, Mary?”

Mary snuggled herself between her parents, slightly wrapping herself around her mother’s expanded stomach.  “Bad dream.”

Placing a light kiss to the top of her daughter’s head she wrapped her arms around her, holding her as best she could with her belly in the way.  “You had a nightmare.”

Mary nodded, her eyes filled with tears glistening in the sliver of moonlight as she looked at her mother. “Uh huh… bad dream.”

“What was your dream, Baby Girl?  Why was it so bad?”  Kahlan caressed her daughter’s hair as she spoke.

“No Momma.” Mary pulled the blankets over her head in an attempt to hide from whatever fears her nightmare had brought her.  “No telling.”

Kahlan sighed.  She wanted to help her daughter understand that she had nothing to be afraid of but when she wouldn’t tell her what was wrong she couldn’t help her.  “It’s okay Mary.  You can tell me.”  Again she watched the three year old shake her head.  “Will you tell Daddy?”  She hoped that Mary would.  Ever since their daughter was born, Mary had favored Richard.  She was nothing more than the perfect example of a daddy’s girl, something Richard absolutely loved about her.

“Maybe…”

Nodding now that she had her daughter possibly willing to talk to her father, Kahlan began lightly shaking Richard awake.  “Richard… Richard wake up.”

He shifted in his sleep, her voice slowly drawing him out of his restful slumber.  “What is it Kahlan?  Is it the baby?”  He mumbled as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. 

Kahlan shook her head as Richard tried to roll over only to start squashing their daughter between them.  “Daddy! You squish me.”

“Oh! What are you doing here, Princess?”  He said as he pulled Mary into his arms, holding his daughter close and kissing her forehead.

“Bad dream Daddy.”

“She wouldn’t tell me what it was so I was hoping maybe she would tell you.”  Kahlan said as she held her daughter’s little foot in her hand.  “We can’t help her move past her fears if we don’t know what they are.”

Richard just nodded before returning his attention to the little girl who was slowly snuggling against him more.  “Mary?”

She looked up at him with her dark eyes so like his clouded over with her desire to drift back into her dreams.  “What Daddy?”

Gently he brushed his daughter’s hair back behind her ear, smiling down at her softly.  “Tell me about your dream.”

Mary nuzzled into Richard’s arms and yawned, her slight fear over whatever it was starting to be replaced by her exhaustion.  “Gampa Zedd.”

“What about Grandpa Zedd, Princess?” Richard prompted, hoping to get a response.

“Gampa Zedd ate my cookies.”  Mary said with a completely straight face.  It was obvious she wasn’t joking, that this was a completely serious situation to her.

Kahlan glanced at Richard and couldn’t even keep a straight face.  She was trying so hard to keep from laughing she thought for sure she would fail miserably.  “Kahlan…”  Richard spoke her name in a warning tone with a hint of amusement evident in his voice before turning to his daughter.  “He ate your cookies?”

“Uh huh Daddy.”

“That was your bad dream?”  He watched as she sleepily nodded her head before continuing.  “I promise I will keep Grandpa Zedd away from your cookies, okay?”

He didn’t get an answer; the next time he looked she was sound asleep in his arms.  Turning to Kahlan his face split into a huge smile.  “I guess we need to keep Zedd away from her cookies.”

Kahlan just laughed and shook her head.  She couldn’t believe that was what had been upsetting Mary.  It would be so wonderful to be innocent and have simple worries like that again.  To not have to worry about peace treaties and keeping villages fed after famine.  It never ceased to amaze her how so much could be going on but the innocence of childhood was still kept intact. 

“What are you thinking?”  Richard asked her as he brushed a stray lock of hair off her face.

She smiled at him, shifting to make herself comfortable once more.  “How no matter what is happening in the world, children are always so innocent.  There is nothing beyond their little world.”

Setting back, shifting accommodate both Mary and Kahlan’s belly he sighed happily.  “That’s the beauty of childhood.  It’s too bad we all can’t stay like that forever but someone has to handle the problems of the world and for now, that’s us.  Someday they will have to carry that burden but for now we can give them the best childhood anyone could ask for.”

“They are just children and deserve to be that for now.”

Richard’s hand found her belly, feeling their daughter kick as he placed a light kiss to Kahlan’s lips.  “I couldn’t agree more.”  With that, they drifted off to sleep, the whole family together as they should be.