Where the Heart Is: Sequel to Returning Home 1/12, PG-13, R/K
Title: Where The Heart Is: Sequel to Returning Home
Author: phoenix_cry & virkatjol
Rating/s | Content: NC-17, mostly PG-13
Pairing/s | Character/s: Richard/Kahlan, George/Mary Cypher
Word Count: 20,800
Summary: Takes place right after Returning Home. Kahlan and Ricahrd head back to Aydindril.
Warnings: Sex, angst, Babbies.
Author's Notes:
virkatjol A/N: I <3 Writing with Phoenix_cry she’s the reason I write Smut! IDK if everyone should curse her or thank her! hahah I owe her for getting me to write. Being brave enough to begin this journey which has completely spiraled out of control for me hahaha. *GLOMPS*
phoenix-cry A/N: I must admit that there were some rough patches for me, while trying to write this (stupid, stupid writer's block *glares*), but despite those, I had a great time working with virkatjol again. I just love writing fic with her. I don't have to tell you that she's awesome, right? Anyways, I hope you enjoy the ride, just as much as K enjoys riding R...Eh, what?
Yeah, well, have fun, guys. ;-)
Chapter 1
The wind whipped another strand of her long hair into her face, making her groan in annoyance. She pushed it back, yet again.
A rosy hue colored her frozen cheeks and nose, her breath swirling visibly away from her whenever she breathed out. It had gotten cold really fast, but not unexpectedly so.
As quickly as possible, loading more firewood into the basket so that she could get out of this wretched wind, she ignored the pain in her ice-cold fingers. Once she got back inside, she was sure Mary had a warm tea waiting for her.
Richard and his father were off cutting down a tree to decorate, and Michael was off to take care of his duties as First Councilor in the town, so that left her to take care of the oven. Not that she minded; the Cypher's were always so good to her that it was the least she could do.
Putting one last piece of wood onto the others, she grabbed the basket and hurried back to the house, just as more snow began to fall from the gray sky.
Keeping her warm winter mantle closed against another gust of wind, she soon hurriedly opened the door only to quickly close it behind her to keep the cold out.
“Oh, dear. You look frozen through. Come on over and warm yourself with a hot cup of tea.” Mary urged her, already pouring her a cup.
Kahlan set the basked down beside the oven, then hung her mantle up beside the door.
Walking over to the table and taking her seat across from her future mother-in-law, she gratefully accepted the steaming liquid. The warmth of the mug felt good against her icy hands and she sighed in relief.
“Thank you,” she smiled, relishing the first sip. They sat in companionable silence for a while, until Mary spoke again.
“You will be leaving again soon, won't you?”
Kahlan looked up in surprise. “What makes you say that?”
Mary smiled a knowing smile. “You have been on edge for a while now, being cooped up in here, always looking out the window, pacing when you think no one is watching.”
The younger woman sighed heavily and rubbed her forehead in a sign of frustration. “You're right. I've been on edge, but not because I don't want to be here. I love it here. You are all so kind and loving, accepting me without question. I would like nothing more than to stay here forever. But I can't.”
Mary's brow furrowed in question. “Why not?”
“I am the Mother Confessor, the highest authority in the Midlands. I am also the last of the Confessors. I have a duty to my people and I have already been selfish enough, coming here, after Richard. The Council expects me to take a mate to continue my line, to bear daughters. If I don't, then the line of Confessors will die with me and the Midlands would be left without a source for justice.”
The other woman grasped her still cold hand in her own, warmer one. “But you have Richard now. And I would love to have some granddaughters running around here.”
Kahlan smiled sadly. “I am afraid they wouldn't get to be here very often. They would need to be trained in the duties of a Confessor from a very young age. As was I.”
“Oh. Well, as long as they turn out like you did, I could not be any prouder.”
That simple statement drove and onslaught of tears into Kahlan's eyes. Blinking furiously, she tried to clear her vision. Swallowing heavily, she managed to speak passed the lump in her throat.
“Thank you, mother. That means a lot to me to hear that from you.”
Mary's other hand, the one not still holding onto Kahlan's hand, traveled to the young woman's cheek, wiping away a tear that had escaped one treacherous eye.
“Where will you have the wedding? Have you two spoken about it yet?”
“Not yet, but I am sure he would prefer to be married here, in his homeland instead of in Aydindril. I would, too, to be honest. I have really grown to love it here. I am not sure everyone back in the Midlands would look too kindly upon that decision. I am the Mother Confessor after all, and he is the Seeker.”
Richard's mother smiled reassuringly. “I am sure you will figure it out.”
The Seeker took that moment to open the door, carrying one end of a large evergreen over his shoulder. Snow followed him inside, the wind howling loudly, announcing his presence.
As quickly as possible squeezing his way inside, his father soon followed, half vanished under the other end of the tree.
Kahlan got up and quickly shut the door as soon as they were inside. The chaos outside was pushed away once more.
Carefully depositing the tree in a corner of the room, both men heaved a sigh of relief once the heavy object was off their shoulders.
Making his way over to Kahlan next, Richard wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against his body, capturing her lips in a hot kiss.
“That's what I needed. Now I feel much warmer,” he stated, sounding very self-satisfied with his genius.
Kahlan laughed. “Glad I could be of service. Now get away - all the cold on you is seeping into me,” she said, playfully shoving him away from her.
Richard chuckled at her antics and then went to hang his coat by the door right next to hers. When he turned around, Kahlan was there with a nice, hot cup of tea for him. Smiling at her, he accepted the offering, taking the mug from her grasp, his finger grazing hers. Their eyes locked and he leaned over the beverage and placed a thank you kiss on her lips.
“So what were you woman folk talking about before we so rudely interrupted you?” Richard loved to hear about the conversations that Kahlan had with his mother. He was so happy that they got along so well. The two women in his life seemed to love each other, and this made him feel boundless joy.
Mary jumped in to answer, “Why, the wedding of course, Richard. What else would a mother talk about with her future daughter-in-law?” She let out a little giggle and continued, “That and babies. Those are a favorite subject of mine. I can’t wait to have little girls with dark hair and blue eyes bouncing on my knee.”
“I agree.” George tossed his opinion in the fray. “I’ve been waiting for a grandchild for far too long.”
Richard chuckled heartily. "Of course, why was I even asking? I think that is all you’ve been able to think about ever since Michael and I were old enough to look at a girl twice." Leading Kahlan back to her chair, he took a seat beside her. "So, what have you decided about the wedding? Am I allowed to get a word in?"
“I don’t know what we should do.” She let out a frustrated sigh. “I wish it was easier, but I am the Mother Confessor. My getting married is a big deal, especially because it’s not just me taking a mate. The people of the Midlands will be expecting something.”
“I love you.” Richard pulled her mouth to his, kissing her lips, slipping his tongue in to tease her a little before breaking the contact. “Whatever makes you happiest, that is what I want for our wedding. If that means traveling to D’Hara and getting married by a goat, we’ll do that.”
Throwing her arms around him, she enveloped him in a hug. She didn’t know how she became the luckiest woman on the earth, but she wasn’t going to complain. He could always make her feel better about anything. “Thank you, Richard.”
“Why are you thanking me?” His arms had encircled her waist and he pulled her into his lap, loving the feel of her body against his.
Her head burrowed its way into his neck; she loved it there, his warmth surrounded her and she could breath him in, her ear could make out the beat of his heart, faintly. “You always make me feel that no matter what I decide, it’s right for both of us. I love you.”
Mary made her way over to the couple, placed her hand on Kahlan’s shoulder and said, “I am going to have to protest anything that might involve a goat.”
Everyone in the room laughed heartily.
“I agree with my son though, whatever you want to do, it will be fine with us. Just so long as you invite us.” Mary hugged her shoulders and then went back to preparing dinner.
Richard planted a quick peck on Kahlan’s lips and then moved her off his lap. “I better help dad set up the tree. Then we can all decorate it.”
She watched him go over to help, loving to observe his interaction with his father. She always longed to have a relationship with her dad, but he just used her when she knew him. He took advantage of her power and forced her to do things that a parent should never do to their child.
“Kahlan? What’s wrong?” Richard called to her from across the room.
Whenever she was worried her brow would furl and her lips would tense. He must have glanced at her and noticed her expression. “Nothing, I’m alright.” She saw him nod, but knew that he wasn’t going to drop it completely. She’d have to tell him later.
Getting up she went to gather the supplies for making decorations, she brought the thread and bowl of popped corn back to her place at the table and began assembling the garland. The repetitive motion was soothing; her thoughts wandered on her, and they usually landed on Richard, making him her husband, how she couldn’t wait to belong to him. When she looked up, she saw him looking at her, the candlelight dancing off his eyes, the smile across his face just for her. However, she stopped paying attention to what she was doing and poked her finger with the needle. Kahlan hissed at the prick and stuck the injured digit in her mouth.
Richard was by her in a second, pulling her finger from her mouth to inspect the damage. He brought it to his mouth and kissed the spot that she’d damaged the skin, then rubbed the ache away with his thumb.
“Are you sure you can handle this task? I don’t want you marring your lovely hands.” Richard teased.
“I’m sure that I can, I can handle you after all, and that is sometimes harder then ruling all of the Midlands. Keeping you out of trouble is a full time job.” Kahlan nabbed a couple pieces of popcorn and tossed them at his face.
“Hey, no throwing the decorations about!”
“What are you going to do about it?” Kahlan tossed a couple more popped kernels at him, then giggled.
“I’ll see to your punishment later. Wouldn’t want to take care of the problem with an audience about.” He leaned down and kissed her nose. “The tree is ready if you are.”
Finishing the garland, she carefully scooped it up and brought it over to the tree, setting to work. Shortly after she had started, Mary came over to lend her a hand and together, with lots of laughter accompanying them, they decorated the tree.