forward dated to august 19

[mother_confessor]

Having a baby, it seemed, was long and thankless work. Kahlan hadn't exactly been prepared for the pain of labor but having endured other pain in her life, she endured that with as much grace as she could manage. Besides, in the end, she was rewarded with a beautiful daughter with dark hair and what looked to be big, dark eyes.

Richard had been there the entire time, even though Kahlan was certain she'd said some unspeakable things during the worst part of it, and she was finally feeling well enough to have visitors come in to see both her and the newborn.

"Well, little Cara, are you ready to receive an audience? Everyone's been waiting to see you."

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[mother_confessor]

"Ecstatic. Richard's probably not going to sleep for a year and that's not just because Cara is crying," Kahlan said, laughing at the mental image.

"He just wants to look at her all the time. She is very beautiful, I can't blame him."

[loveofmasters]

"How are you feeling, really?" Taking a seat nearby, Florence set her package on the floor. It would keep until Kahlan had use of it, and honestly, Florence was glad to be off her feet. She wasn't getting so big yet that it was a bother, but she didn't like trying to push herself.

[mother_confessor]

"Exhausted and sore," Kahlan said, deciding to be completely honest on that front. "I have endured great pain before and survived it but it will take me a little while to recover from this I think."

She paused and smiled. "Not that I mean to frighten you on that front."

[loveofmasters]

"Don't worry, you can't possibly frighten me more than all the books I've been reading. They're all well-meaning, but I really don't like pain." Florence tried to laugh, but it came out a little more frightened than anything else. She knew she'd be fine, but it was all daunting at this point.

[mother_confessor]

"I think it makes it easier when you know this is the result," Kahlan said, smiling softly.

"She's definitely worth anything I had to endure to have her."

[loveofmasters]

"I'm sure I'll feel the same. Is there anything else I can bring you?" Florence looked at the little girl with a smile, knowing that come January she'd have someone she felt the same about. She just had to get there without having a breakdown. Bless Jack for keeping her steady, she didn't think she'd be able to do this without him. For more than the obvious reasons.

[mother_confessor]

"Just your company. I hate being cooped up in a sickbed," Kahlan said, laughing lightly. "I have never been very good at being injured even if it was for a good cause. I get bored far too easily."

[loveofmasters]

"I can imagine. Granted, I could probably spend time plying chess, but that usually requires company, too." Which reminded her to let Jack know she'd want her chess board and books for her clinic stay. She'd need something and didn't want to rely on infrequent visitors.

[mother_confessor]

"You could play against yourself, I guess, but that isn't nearly as entertaining," Kahlan said, laughing a bit.

"I am glad for the company as much as I get it. Has your pregnancy gone well so far?"

[loveofmasters]

"I'm past the nausea and well into the ravenous hunger. I'm hoping to feel the baby move soon." It would certainly be a strange sensation. A movement in her body that she couldn't control or anticipate. If there was one thing her pregnancy was teaching her, it was to just let go and let things happen.

[mother_confessor]

"Oh, that was my favorite part," Kahlan said, smiling at the memory. "It's wonderful to feel them move but even more wonderful when he can feel the baby move."

Those had been some of the most special moments she shared with Richard.

[loveofmasters]

"I can't wait, honestly. Jack's like a little school-boy, I fully expect him to graft his hand to me if given the chance." And she'd almost be willing to agree. The look on his face, when he finally felt the baby would be wonderful.

"We really need to start thinking about names. How did you and Richard settle on Cara?"

[mother_confessor]

"Cara was a friend of Richard's back home. Mine as well, but I came from before I met her, from what he explained to me," Kahlan said. She was proud of the choice in name for their daughter and thought it fitting that the name was for two people who meant a lot to them.

[loveofmasters]

"That's lovely. I'm sure she'd be honored if she were here. I wonder if Jack has anyone like that in his life back home?" It would be nice, perhaps his mother? Florence knew she'd been the biggest impact on his life, and it would be nice to honor her if the baby was a girl.

"Sooner or later, we're going to be out of time."