It Beats For You

[confessorlove]

Title:  It Beats For You
Author: confessorlove
Pairing: Richard and Kahlan
Rating: PG
Summary: Richard and Kahlan comfort each other after the events of 2x10 Perdition
Author's Notes: Written for my legendland Love in the Midlands Challenge.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. I just like to make them do my bidding.

 

They normally didn’t allow themselves the indulgence of sleeping close together but after everything they had gone though; being apart for so long, thinking he had lost her to another man.  He needed to hold her.  Richard held her, fingers dancing lightly over her arm as she rested her head on his chest.  He lay there in silence for awhile, just soaking in the fact that she was there in his arms – that she still loved him.  It made him smile.

Kahlan wasn’t sleeping.  She knew she should after having gone so many nights with little sleep when Richard was gone but now that she had him back in her arms, she didn’t want to close her eyes.  She didn’t want to wake up and have this all been a dream.  She needed him and now that he was back from the Palace of the Prophets she would never let him go.

Seeming to sense Kahlan’s unease, Richard placed a light kiss to the top of her head, her raven hair tickling his nose.  “Is something wrong?”

She smiled to herself, he was so perfect.  She had no idea what she did to deserve this man.  Tilting her head up to look at him she kissed his jaw line before resuming her position.  “No, I… I’m just afraid I’ll lose you again.  Is this even real or am I dreaming?”  Her eyes started to fill with tears at her confession; she buried her head against his chest, the warmth of his body soothing her, reinforcing her idea that this is no dream.

He stroked her hair, attempting to sooth away her worry.  “I’m here Kahlan.  This is real.”  When she said nothing instead just burrowing herself more into his chest he smiled.  “Do you hear that?”

Her voice was thick with curiosity and worry.  “What?”

He took her hand in his, squeezing it gently and kissing the top of her head once more.  “My heart.”  She nodded against his chest and he continued a smile plastered on his face.  “I’m glad, since you’re the reason it beats.”

His declaration brought tears to her eyes as she sat up and turned to him, taking his hand and bringing it to her breast, right above her heart, letting him feel the love that pumps though her, that he is the reason her heart beats as well.  “Mine too.”

After a moment she nestled herself back in his arms, her head on his chest as she listened to his heartbeat.  It warmed her heart to know that the rhythmic beating that was lulling her to sleep was for her and her alone.  Their hearts beat for each other and no one else.  Even if nothing could ever come of their relationship, it was enough just to know that she held his heart.  “I love you.”

“I love you too, now sleep.” 

So she did, the lullaby of his heartbeat soothing her into dreams.