So sad to say this is the last chapter. I'm always so depressed when I finish a fic. Oh well…off to start a new one! Thanks for all the support everyone! I so appreciate it!! It keeps me writing knowing there are people reading and commenting on it.

Reunion (Chapter 12)

After Cara had left, Kahlan had drifted off to sleep again. Waking up now, she found the room dark and that she was still by herself. She was feeling much better, finally thinking more clearly. The fever from the infection had caused her to be so disoriented, unsure of where reality, memories, and nightmares each began and ended.

The last week had been a nightmare she wished that she could forget but she knew that she was going to have to deal with it. Hearing her father apologize for what he had done and then telling her that he loved her had meant more to her that she ever thought possible.

Kahlan had seen him in a whole new light, had gained a new understanding of what he had endured. While it didn't excuse his actions by any means, it did help in healing some of the wounds he had caused. Watching him die had been devastating especially with his recent change of heart.

And now she was an orphan. Even though she'd long ago been cut off from him when the Sisters came to their rescue, their relationship long since dead because of his actions, he was still her father. He was still somewhere out there even though she had no idea where he was or cared to know. There was just something comforting about knowing there was still another Amnell out there besides her.

Now she was all alone; there was only her. Tears began to blur her vision, her sorrow weighing heavily on her heart. Her grief, though, turned into longing as her thoughts began to drift towards Richard.

She missed him so much it hurt; she swallowed hard against the ache in her heart. She hadn't seen him in a week and then he somehow magically appeared, standing before her. Like being awakened from a terrible nightmare, Richard had unexpectedly appeared in the middle of the danger that surrounded her, pulling her from the fog that had possessed her. Being suddenly wrapped in his embrace, it was like Richard had reached through the mysterious radiance that had engulfed her, pulling her out of its enchanting hold on her.

Then his warm lips found hers and her soul had at last found the nourishment it had been craving. He had come after her, had fought to reach her and it soothed her heart and made her whole again. This was the man she loved with her whole heart, her whole being. She never wanted to be apart from him again.

Then the cavern had started to collapse and the bridge had given way, separating her from her father. He had even tried to escape, had told Richard to get her out of there. Richard had grabbed her and dragged her away from her father, letting him fall to his death. She quickly squeezed her eyes shut against the haunting memory as she rolled over on her side, bringing her knees up to her chest.

XXX

Slowly, her door softly opened, Richard quietly making his way into her room. He hadn't been able to sleep, desperately needing to check on Kahlan. He couldn't stand being separated from her any longer. When he had gotten up, he found Cara still sitting outside of Kahlan's room.

"You can go to bed, Cara," Richard had told her. "I'm going to sit with her for awhile."

"If you say so," Cara replied with a smirk, knowing he wouldn't be sitting for long. Not even this could break those two apart.

Richard had quietly turned the door handle, not wanting to wake her. He just wanted to be near her, he had to be near her. He needed her like his lungs needed air. He was so fearful that she wouldn't forgive him; that she would wake up, find him sitting by her bed, and send him away. He couldn't bear it if she told him to leave.

Slipping through the open door, he quietly latched the door behind him. Turning around, Richard stopped abruptly in his steps at the site of Kahlan sitting up in bed, her bright blue eyes staring at him. His breath caught in his chest, his heart began to beat wildly, his blood pumping through his body as a rush of desire flooded his system. He swallowed down the lump in his throat as their eyes locked on each other's.

"Kahlan…" Richard began, not knowing for sure where to start as he made his way over to her bed. "I'm so sorry…are you alright?"

"Richard," Kahlan at last choked out. It was all she was able to say as the flood of tears washed over her cheeks at finally seeing her lover again, relieved to share her pain with the one she treasured above all else.

Seeing the love in her eyes, relief swept through him like a warm breeze. He pulled back the covers and climbed into bed next to her. Lying down beside her, he held her to his chest as she cried, so relieved to have her in his arms again. He wished he could just hold her forever.

With the final tears being spent, Kahlan began to relax into his comforting embrace. His touch had never felt so reassuring as it did at this moment when she had needed him the most. Inhaling deeply, she took in his musky scent that was arousing to her system. When her world crumbled down around her, Richard always managed put it back together for her. She needed him to do that for her now again, to reconnect with his heart, his soul, and his body.

"Kahlan, I'm sorry about your father," Richard finally ventured, pressing his lips to the top of her head as he inhaled the sweet scent that was his Kahlan.

After getting her settled in a room at the Winslow Tavern, Richard had tenderly cared for her, washing her hair and cleaning her up before finally dressing her in that enticing creamy nightdress he had first seen her in well over a week ago. He loved taking care of her; he hoped she would let him take care of her forever. It had also helped momentarily ease the worry that had possessed his heart as he waited for her to open those beautiful eyes.

"It's alright, Richard," Kahlan whispered into his chest, her warm breath on his chest sending tingles through his body. Everything about her was arousing to him.

"Kahlan, I know you're upset that I didn't try to rescue your father, but there was no time. The cavern was coming down around us. If I had to choose between saving you and saving your father, I would chose you every time," Richard confessed as he pulled back to look into her face, wanting her to know his love for her.

"I'm not angry with you; I love you more than you'll ever realize. Richard, you're my life. No one can ever take your place in my heart or as my family. I'm sad about what happened to my father, but there wasn't anything either of us could have done to save him," she softly replied, placing her hands on either side of his face, losing herself in the depths of his warm brown eyes. "I'm just so thankful that you came to rescue me, that you never gave up on me."

"I would go to the Underworld and back to find you, Kahlan. Nothing would ever keep me from getting to you," Richard declared, his need for her rapidly escalating to new heights, needing to feel her warm flesh against his, to be inside of her again.

His breathing was becoming heavy now as her gaze wandered from his eyes and down to his mouth. Reaching up, Kahlan slowly ran a finger gently across his lips, tracing every curve and dip. It sent shivers down his spine when she replaced her finger with her tongue.

She enticingly brushed her lips repeatedly against his, teasing his lips with hers, coming close to fully capturing his only to pull back slightly. She was slowly driving him mad with desire; he felt like he was going to explore if he didn't take her soon.

Unable to restrain himself any longer, Richard buried his hands in her luxurious mane and crushed his lips to hers. He was not about to let her pull back this time; he was hers tonight, to have and to do with as he pleased. He was determined to show her again how much he missed her, how badly he needed her, how desperately he loved her. The demand to reconnect with her was driving him insane with desire.

The desperate urgency of his kiss only served to warm her heart and flood her entire body with passion for him. She needed to be sheltered in the warmth and security of his love. Returning his kisses with the same fierce passion he was showing her, Kahlan gave herself over to him willingly as he drank in her kisses, willingly taking her hurt and anguish into himself.

Richard began to slowly torture her with hot wet kisses as he worked away from her mouth, along her jaw line and down her neck before attacking her shoulder, using his nose to nudge the strap of her nightdress down her arm. Reaching down, he gently brought her bruised wrist up to his lips and tenderly kissed the marks and the pain that the ropes had caused.

Richard knew deep down that no matter how badly he wanted to shield Kahlan from hurt and anguish, it was beyond the control of even the Seeker himself. Instead, Richard was determined more than ever to bring her pleasure and joy beyond her wildest imagination. He vowed to make her feel his undying love for her for the rest of her life, wanting her to never regret allowing her heart to fall in love with him.

Her breath was coming out in short pants now as Richard worked his lips over her collarbone, licking the soft dip in the crook of her neck and then blazing a trail down to her breasts. She twisted his hair around her fingers, clutching him to her chest as she arched back in an attempt to increase the contact.

After succeeding in removing her gown, Richard allowed Kahlan to free him from his shirt and pants as their bodies begged to be united once more. Richard's touch was soothing to her soul, allowing her the comfort and reassurance she so desperately needed from her soul-mate. Each kiss was a solace to her wounded heart, knitting it back together with his love.

As their bodies moved in perfect rhythm, the anguish and the fears of the last several days was swiftly swept away in the tidal wave of their passion for one another. Whispers of their love to each other came in their hot panting breaths, reconnecting the Seeker to his beloved Confessor.

Holding her tightly in his arms that night after making passionate love to her, Richard's heart was finally at peace again as was the Mother Confessor's. Their reunion had been as sweet as their first time together so many nights ago…

THE END (?)

*May do a sequel to this one...we'll see how it goes!