I would like to thank everyone who has read my stories. I'm in process of cross-posting each of my fan-fics here from VX. There are times when I look at my early stuff and really want to go back and rework them because they seem so corny and almost child-like in the way they were written. I chose to leave them as is so I can go back and see just how much I have grown as a writer. Once more thank you for reading and reviewing.

The next two years passed easy for them, hunting, sparing, and wrestling with Radu. By this time he was nearly full grown, his shoulders almost even with Areil's. They were out on their bi-weekly hunt when a ship screamed over head, coming in at a doomed angle. It was the first one that Riddick had seen since he had arrived.

"Cargo frigate. They always have good stuff," she informed him.

They raced to the crash site, wanting to beat the hell hounds to it. When they got there, Riddick stopped her before she could enter.

"Something smells funny, I smell merc. We need to be on our toes."

"I hate mercs," she replied. Radu snuck in first followed by the couple.

"They're all dead."

Riddick heard the soft hiss of a cryo chamber. "Not all girl."

"Riddick, you merc killing asshole. I know a no-light slam that'll pay a pretty penny for for ass."

He turned to face the man holding a gun on him. Areil put her hand on his arm, and spoke up. "Riddick's dead."

"How do you know girl? Who the hell are you?"

"The transport ship he was on crashed here two years ago. The hell hounds ate him, never made it outta the cryo chamber. This is MY planet merc, who the HELL are YOU?"

"Charles Dicks. He's been huntin' me for the last five years."

"I knew it was you. Time to collect my bounty you sonof..."

Radu jumped the man before he could finish his sentence. Riddick watched in fascination as he bit the merc's head off, and crushed it in one bite. The animal then went for the "sweet spot".

"Fascinating."

"Yeah, I just hope he don't give 'em indigestion."

"Now I see why you don't want to hunt with them", he said laughing.

It didn't take long for them to strip out ninety pounds of supplies. The hounds had been very close by when the frigate went down, they could hear them crashing through the timber as they fled the ship.

"Gonna have to step it up girl! They know what a downed ship means now!"

"Yeah! Fresh meat!"

They had run all the way back to the outpost, with one hound following them part of the way.

"Ever have them do that before?" He asked her when they got back.

"No, they're always interested in the meat. Donno why he followed us."

"She. I think I do," he looked over at Radu.

"Hum...Could be why he's been slippin' off for a couple of days ata time."

They sat on the porch, and began sorting through their packs. "Oh great! I ain't had this since the last cargo ship crashed," her voice had a slight ring of excitement to it.

"What is it?"

"It's like the wild hunny we get, but better. Taste."

Taking the container from her, he opened it and dipped a finger in. Tasting it, he smiled and nodded. After they had stowed the supplies, he hugged her tight.

"Umm. That hurt."

"Where?"

She showed him and he put his hands on her breasts, and she pulled back. "OOOOWWWW!" He stood very close to her and inhaled deeply along her neck; very conscious now of every molecule that he breathed in.

"Interesting. Your scent's changing." He went to one knee and placed his head on her stomach, standing again he kept one hand on her stomach and looked down at her. She now hated the goggles that he wore, she couldn't see what he was thinking.

"There's a baby comin'."

"I'm gonna have a baby?"

"WE are. You know, I've been thinkin', maybe it's time I stopped runnin' and stayed in one place. No one knows where I'm at. Nice enough place, get to kill a few mercs." He looked down at her and smiled.

During the coming months, he was very careful with her. He took on the responsibality of most of the hunting. It always amazed him that convicted killer Richard B. Riddick, the baddest of the bad, was so totally wrapped up in this growing child. He felt it kicking and still couldn't belive that he was responsiable for this. He had shortened his hunting radius to be close to her. He was out on one when he heard her screaming for him. Seeing her standing under the over-roof, he knew she was in trouble.

"It's comin'."

"I know." Taking her inside, he sat with her on their bed. He removed his goggles and tucked them into the back of his pants. Looking into her eyes, he had her stand on her knees, with her hands on his shoulders. She screamed as the pains hit. Riddick helped her lay down when he saw the child's head. The cord was wrapped twice around his neck, and quickly he cut it off. The child's lifesigns were weak, and Areil was bleeding badly. He grabbed a smaller blanket and wrapped his son in it.

"Look Areil, our son." He put his arm around her shoulders, and raised her up. The boy opened his eyes.

"He has eyes like yours." She smiled. He could feel her heartbeat slow and her breathing stopped.

"Areil," he whispered. He hugged her close to him and tears came from his eyes. He lay her back down, sat back and looked at his son. "If you survive, it will be worth it," he thought. A tiny hand held his little finger. The boy opened his eyes once more, and silver eyes met silver eyes, then he closed his eyes and stopped breathing. Riddick held his son, then covered him in the blanket. Placing him in his mother's arms he whispered, "I'm sorry," and wrapped her up as well. With a final kiss on both heads, he began pouring lamp oil on the two bodies, and the rest of what he had called home. He replaced his goggles, and on his way out grabbed a flare. Standing out front he struck it and tossed it in. He watched as it became an infurno. Turning his back he walked away.

"Riddick..."

He spun around to see her standing there with a boy about ten years old. He had a shaved head and silver eyes. "Areil," he whispered as he stepped forward. She held up her hand, palm spread. "Always remember that we'll be with you." He touched her hand one more time. The two then turned and walked to the edge of the over-roof, and disappeared. Radu howled a sick, grief strickened howl. Riddick went over and sat down next to him, and for the first time in his adult life cried hard. He sat there until the trading post was nothing but a smoldering ruin. The female hell hound walked out of the forset and stopped. Radu licked his face and huffed.

"Go on boy. One of us deserves to be happy." He patted the hound one last time before he turned and walked to the female. He stopped, and looked at the man one more time. He turned and slipped into the forest.

Riddick climbed the mountain behind the trading post and stepped into the hanger. Just as she had said, there was a small ship ready for him. He climbed and prepaired for launch. He hovered over the ruined outpost and whispered, "Never again." He then streached out his hand and again whispered, "Farewell."

He was off into the darkness of space. After setting up the coordnates, he began to hook himself to the remote cryo system. Riddick never imagined that in eight years his and Radu's paths would cross again. In a tripple max no-light slam, on a planet called Crematoria.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FIN~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~