Where the Heart Is: Sequel to Returning Home 7/12, 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 7
Richard was out helping his father in the yard when he saw him walking up the drive. He automatically glanced back at the house, looking for signs of his wife. She wasn’t outside with him so he breathed a sigh of relief and set down the tools he’d been using to mend fences and animal troughs.
“You don’t listen well.” Richard shouted at him. “It hasn’t been a day.” He wasn’t happy to see her father again so soon. They were packing to head back to Aydindril and this would make the journey much less pleasant.
“I don’t have the luxury of time, son.” Frederick spoke with a concerned voice. “These banelings need to be stopped. The Mother Confessor should resume her rule in Aydindril.”
“Kahlan will be returning to her seat soon. We just wanted some time first.” Richard looked at his dad, who smiled at him. It gave him strength to continue. “I want her to myself, to spend time with my family while she’s my wife. We won’t get that in Aydindril, we don’t get to be normal people. We’re taking our time now.”
“Your time is up.” Frederick shrugged and spoke as he finally reached where the two men were standing. “You don’t get to be everyday people.” He pointed to the house for emphasis. “That woman is the Mother Confessor, she runs the Midlands-”
“He knows who I am.” Kahlan stepped out of the doorway, letting it slam behind her. “He knows, better than anyone, exactly what I am and where I belong.” She made her way to his side, and took his hand in hers. She shot him the special smile and mouthed the words ‘I love you’ before turning back to her father. “He certainly knows better than someone who hasn’t cared to be part of my life in any way that hasn’t been hurtful or selfish.”
“That’s not fair Kahlan...” Frederick let out a grunt of frustration, “After your mother died and I wasn’t confessed anymore, I was so angry at what had been done to me-”
“Don’t make excuses. You could have been a father to us, you weren’t. You...” Kahlan choked on the words. She was then surrounded by Richard’s arms and pulled against his chest.
“You don’t have any right to be telling my wife how to do her job.” He rubbed softly along her back. “You’re just upsetting her. Not that it’s any of your business, but we’re heading back to Aydindril tomorrow morning. We were going to come speak to you before we left. It seems you’ve saved us the trip.”
“I think you two should leave tonight.” He moved to touch Kahlan’s shoulder and Richard pulled her around to keep him from making contact. He shot Richard a scowl and dropped his hand. “Kahlan.”
She turned around in Richard’s arms, holding him to her, placing both of their hands protectively on her stomach.
“What do you want from me? Haven’t you done enough? You’ve had years to fix this, and try to be a family, why now?”
“The truth?”
“I can tell if you’re lying, so you may as well begin with the truth.”
“I need your help.”
“What makes you think that I’ll help you?” She felt Richard tighten his embrace, and she pulled in a steadying breath and her thumbs played over the back of his hands. She was using the strength of his hold on her to stay calm as her father explained what he wanted.
“You’re the Mother Confessor, it’s what you do...” He smiled at her, the corners of his mouth making his cheeks wrinkle. “And you’re my daughter. You did everything I asked when you were under my care.”
“Do not make it sound like you ever asked anything. It was always a demand or a threat.” Kahlan walked towards him, untangling herself from her husband. “You bound my hands. You made me confess people so you could... so you could rape women.” She held back the tears and her voice started to rise, “You used me. I was a child and you used me. Your own daughter. You made Dennee cry every night. She was so afraid of you. I couldn’t help her when I could barely keep my own emotions in check. The ropes where biting into my skin, and I locked in a closet sized room, just listening to my sister sob until she was exhausted into sleep.”
Kahlan was shouting at him so loudly now that Mary came out of the house to see what her daughter-in-law was so upset about. She stepped between them, before Kahlan could escalate and lose control of her power. Mary could see the rage bubbling off her and she knew that Richard was planning to let Kahlan do as she wished, not realizing how much she would hate herself later for going too far. George was taking his cues from their son, not wanting to interfere, but she had no such qualms.
“You need to go. Now.” Mary pointed down the drive. “You’ve upset my daughter. I won’t allow that, not while she’s under my care.” She shot Frederick a dismissive look and turned to Kahlan. “Come on dear, let’s go back inside.” Mary gave Richard a warning look before leading Kahlan into the house. She didn’t want him to make the mistake of taking care of Kahlan’s business without discussing it with her first. She knew how her son thought and he would do anything for his wife. Mary had no desire for them to have a rift between them starting the day after they were wed.
Mary got her inside and sat her down at the table, grabbing a mug and making her a cup of tea. She saw the tears tracking down Kahlan’s face and felt horrible for all the things that she’d overheard her yelling to her father.
“I’m so sorry that you went through all that when you were a child. No one deserves to grow up in that kind of place.” Mary set the hot mug in front of her and watched as she sipped on it, stroking the hair on the top of her head. “I’m glad that you have Richard now. He loves you so much, and he’ll make up for all the years you had to spend where it felt like you were all alone and no one would ever love you.”
“How I had a duty and no room for anything else. It felt like no one cared, they spent time teaching me, feeding me and fearing me, but never loving me...”
“I’ll always love you.” Richard announced from the doorway before sitting beside her, straddling the bench and pulling her against his chest. “He’s gone. He’s not coming back, unless he wants to become good friends with my sword.” He rubbed her arm briskly. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m good, a little queasy, but nothing horrible yet.”
“Are you sick, dear one?” George asked as he sat down by the fire, having followed Richard inside. He saw Richard whisper something into her ear, he couldn’t see her face, but saw her nod in agreement.
“Not sick.” Kahlan’s voice was still a little shaky from the encounter with her father. “I’m pregnant.”
A stunned silence settled over the room, before it was overcome with joyous energy.
Mary could hardly contain her excitement. “Oh, Spirits! That is great news!” She clapped her hands, a huge smile spreading across her features and happiness literally pouring out of her every pore.
Rushing over to her daughter-in-law, she drew her towards herself in a warm embrace.
“Oh, my dear, you have no idea how happy that news makes me - makes us. Right, George?” the older woman looked over at her husband questioningly.
He grinned in answer at his family. “Indeed it does,” he replied simply, but his joy, although quieter, was just as palpable as his wife's.
His soft-spoken words were all that was needed to let Kahlan escape another tear, this time one of contentment, happiness and the feeling to belong. It was something she hadn't felt since her mother had passed on to the spirit world.
And then she’d met Richard.
She looked up into his familiar face, love washing over her. Kahlan thanked the Spirits every day for bringing him into her life. So far, he had been all that she had been living and fighting for - hope, kindness and the knowledge that the world could be a better place, if only it had more people like him in it.
And now, she also had another reason to live.
A hand gently resting over her stomach, a small smile settled onto her lips, as she felt her husband's hands taking their place over hers.
******
From the darkness, she watched with milky eyes, which had rarely seen the light of the sun. Her skin, as white and thin as any you had ever seen, was mostly hidden by a curtain of black hair and just as black robes.
In the darkness, she watched and learned and adjusted the happenings to her liking.
She smiled, a wicked hiss escaping her throat, instead of a laugh.
She was a patient woman, and soon, she would have what she needed.
Her toy would make sure of it.
******
In the darkness, Kahlan felt cold and alone, even though she wasn't. Richard's warm arm was securely wrapped around her waist and his warm chest was pressed against her back. His breathing was deep and even.
She wished she could follow him into the depth of sleep, but her mind wouldn't let her rest.
Staring into the shadows of their room with blank eyes, her thoughts were with her father. She had never let him tell her what he really wanted from her, her rage and frustrations at him preventing her from finding the truth she so held dear.
Whatever it was he had come for, she had a feeling she wouldn't like it very much.
The shiver that ran down her back agreed with her.
And suddenly she knew. Darkness was once again spreading on the horizon.
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 7
Richard was out helping his father in the yard when he saw him walking up the drive. He automatically glanced back at the house, looking for signs of his wife. She wasn’t outside with him so he breathed a sigh of relief and set down the tools he’d been using to mend fences and animal troughs.
“You don’t listen well.” Richard shouted at him. “It hasn’t been a day.” He wasn’t happy to see her father again so soon. They were packing to head back to Aydindril and this would make the journey much less pleasant.
“I don’t have the luxury of time, son.” Frederick spoke with a concerned voice. “These banelings need to be stopped. The Mother Confessor should resume her rule in Aydindril.”
“Kahlan will be returning to her seat soon. We just wanted some time first.” Richard looked at his dad, who smiled at him. It gave him strength to continue. “I want her to myself, to spend time with my family while she’s my wife. We won’t get that in Aydindril, we don’t get to be normal people. We’re taking our time now.”
“Your time is up.” Frederick shrugged and spoke as he finally reached where the two men were standing. “You don’t get to be everyday people.” He pointed to the house for emphasis. “That woman is the Mother Confessor, she runs the Midlands-”
“He knows who I am.” Kahlan stepped out of the doorway, letting it slam behind her. “He knows, better than anyone, exactly what I am and where I belong.” She made her way to his side, and took his hand in hers. She shot him the special smile and mouthed the words ‘I love you’ before turning back to her father. “He certainly knows better than someone who hasn’t cared to be part of my life in any way that hasn’t been hurtful or selfish.”
“That’s not fair Kahlan...” Frederick let out a grunt of frustration, “After your mother died and I wasn’t confessed anymore, I was so angry at what had been done to me-”
“Don’t make excuses. You could have been a father to us, you weren’t. You...” Kahlan choked on the words. She was then surrounded by Richard’s arms and pulled against his chest.
“You don’t have any right to be telling my wife how to do her job.” He rubbed softly along her back. “You’re just upsetting her. Not that it’s any of your business, but we’re heading back to Aydindril tomorrow morning. We were going to come speak to you before we left. It seems you’ve saved us the trip.”
“I think you two should leave tonight.” He moved to touch Kahlan’s shoulder and Richard pulled her around to keep him from making contact. He shot Richard a scowl and dropped his hand. “Kahlan.”
She turned around in Richard’s arms, holding him to her, placing both of their hands protectively on her stomach.
“What do you want from me? Haven’t you done enough? You’ve had years to fix this, and try to be a family, why now?”
“The truth?”
“I can tell if you’re lying, so you may as well begin with the truth.”
“I need your help.”
“What makes you think that I’ll help you?” She felt Richard tighten his embrace, and she pulled in a steadying breath and her thumbs played over the back of his hands. She was using the strength of his hold on her to stay calm as her father explained what he wanted.
“You’re the Mother Confessor, it’s what you do...” He smiled at her, the corners of his mouth making his cheeks wrinkle. “And you’re my daughter. You did everything I asked when you were under my care.”
“Do not make it sound like you ever asked anything. It was always a demand or a threat.” Kahlan walked towards him, untangling herself from her husband. “You bound my hands. You made me confess people so you could... so you could rape women.” She held back the tears and her voice started to rise, “You used me. I was a child and you used me. Your own daughter. You made Dennee cry every night. She was so afraid of you. I couldn’t help her when I could barely keep my own emotions in check. The ropes where biting into my skin, and I locked in a closet sized room, just listening to my sister sob until she was exhausted into sleep.”
Kahlan was shouting at him so loudly now that Mary came out of the house to see what her daughter-in-law was so upset about. She stepped between them, before Kahlan could escalate and lose control of her power. Mary could see the rage bubbling off her and she knew that Richard was planning to let Kahlan do as she wished, not realizing how much she would hate herself later for going too far. George was taking his cues from their son, not wanting to interfere, but she had no such qualms.
“You need to go. Now.” Mary pointed down the drive. “You’ve upset my daughter. I won’t allow that, not while she’s under my care.” She shot Frederick a dismissive look and turned to Kahlan. “Come on dear, let’s go back inside.” Mary gave Richard a warning look before leading Kahlan into the house. She didn’t want him to make the mistake of taking care of Kahlan’s business without discussing it with her first. She knew how her son thought and he would do anything for his wife. Mary had no desire for them to have a rift between them starting the day after they were wed.
Mary got her inside and sat her down at the table, grabbing a mug and making her a cup of tea. She saw the tears tracking down Kahlan’s face and felt horrible for all the things that she’d overheard her yelling to her father.
“I’m so sorry that you went through all that when you were a child. No one deserves to grow up in that kind of place.” Mary set the hot mug in front of her and watched as she sipped on it, stroking the hair on the top of her head. “I’m glad that you have Richard now. He loves you so much, and he’ll make up for all the years you had to spend where it felt like you were all alone and no one would ever love you.”
“How I had a duty and no room for anything else. It felt like no one cared, they spent time teaching me, feeding me and fearing me, but never loving me...”
“I’ll always love you.” Richard announced from the doorway before sitting beside her, straddling the bench and pulling her against his chest. “He’s gone. He’s not coming back, unless he wants to become good friends with my sword.” He rubbed her arm briskly. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m good, a little queasy, but nothing horrible yet.”
“Are you sick, dear one?” George asked as he sat down by the fire, having followed Richard inside. He saw Richard whisper something into her ear, he couldn’t see her face, but saw her nod in agreement.
“Not sick.” Kahlan’s voice was still a little shaky from the encounter with her father. “I’m pregnant.”
A stunned silence settled over the room, before it was overcome with joyous energy.
Mary could hardly contain her excitement. “Oh, Spirits! That is great news!” She clapped her hands, a huge smile spreading across her features and happiness literally pouring out of her every pore.
Rushing over to her daughter-in-law, she drew her towards herself in a warm embrace.
“Oh, my dear, you have no idea how happy that news makes me - makes us. Right, George?” the older woman looked over at her husband questioningly.
He grinned in answer at his family. “Indeed it does,” he replied simply, but his joy, although quieter, was just as palpable as his wife's.
His soft-spoken words were all that was needed to let Kahlan escape another tear, this time one of contentment, happiness and the feeling to belong. It was something she hadn't felt since her mother had passed on to the spirit world.
And then she’d met Richard.
She looked up into his familiar face, love washing over her. Kahlan thanked the Spirits every day for bringing him into her life. So far, he had been all that she had been living and fighting for - hope, kindness and the knowledge that the world could be a better place, if only it had more people like him in it.
And now, she also had another reason to live.
A hand gently resting over her stomach, a small smile settled onto her lips, as she felt her husband's hands taking their place over hers.
******
From the darkness, she watched with milky eyes, which had rarely seen the light of the sun. Her skin, as white and thin as any you had ever seen, was mostly hidden by a curtain of black hair and just as black robes.
In the darkness, she watched and learned and adjusted the happenings to her liking.
She smiled, a wicked hiss escaping her throat, instead of a laugh.
She was a patient woman, and soon, she would have what she needed.
Her toy would make sure of it.
******
In the darkness, Kahlan felt cold and alone, even though she wasn't. Richard's warm arm was securely wrapped around her waist and his warm chest was pressed against her back. His breathing was deep and even.
She wished she could follow him into the depth of sleep, but her mind wouldn't let her rest.
Staring into the shadows of their room with blank eyes, her thoughts were with her father. She had never let him tell her what he really wanted from her, her rage and frustrations at him preventing her from finding the truth she so held dear.
Whatever it was he had come for, she had a feeling she wouldn't like it very much.
The shiver that ran down her back agreed with her.
And suddenly she knew. Darkness was once again spreading on the horizon.