Author's Note: Just want to thank all my reviewers. I love you guys! And I promise Riddick will appear in the next chapter. Sorry he hasn't been in the last couple but I needed my character to grow a little. He'll be back! lol

One, two, one, two, jab, punch, jab, punch… The bag took my beating swinging around almost as if it was challenging me. Sweat was pouring down my face in mini rivers making me keep losing my concentration. Hot and sweaty I called it a day getting washed up in the shower before I headed out. I visited the little gym on the corner everyday around 5 every morning. Sure it was early but I had it all to myself. Usually I got home just as the violet sun came up, well if you could call it a home. It was an abandoned building nestled in a once thriving city. Now it seemed to be all dried up, it still had little shops and stores but nothing like it use to be. That was fine with me.

Lurasus, was a tropical planet that stayed in the upper eighties all year. A vacation if you may and let me tell you how much I was enjoying myself. Work out in the morning, sleep, go for a walk, sleep, have lunch, sleep, dinner, couple drinks, sleep… did the same thing every day.

Can't tell you the last time I ever felt this good. Or the last time I ever made a decision or had a life of my own. Took some getting use to though. Sleep came easier now, Liz no longer haunted my dreams instead they were happy ones. Lewis was on my mind a lot and also our little boy. Though the one person who took up most of my thoughts wasn't who I'd thought it'd be. Riddick. That was another thing I did everyday was think about him. Probably because of what happened. Not two days after I got here did I hear the news. Riddick was captured and was being transported back to Slam when the damn ship crashed on some unknown planet. Poor bastard. He died with chains still on, still considered an animal. At least he didn't perish in Slam. Still my mind just couldn't stop thinking about him and I hated it. He left me there and didn't come back! Good maybe that ship did us all a favor.

Drinking had become a quick fix for everything. Every night I would drink myself into the black depths I knew so well but I didn't care made everything numb. I wouldn't call it out of control though it was getting there and fast. Could I stop, yea… Did I want to? No.

For the most part I thought I was doing pretty well. Soon after I got here I was thinking about going for a new look but decided against it. It was a vacation planet, no one would think to look for me there, I hoped. I was out in the sun a lot so my skin wasn't a deathly white color. My eyes finally had their flare back in them and my hair was lightened a little because of the sun. I decided to grow it out, something different. Working out every day was toning my body, making it stronger, able to handle a lot more. I wanted to be more than just capable. Still I hated the mirror, I was alright looking nothing special, but I have to admit it was the best I ever looked. I'll be honest, I've turned a few heads and got some stares, but it wasn't about that. Not at all. There was hell to pay.

Yet none of this was the important part. No, the important part was living on my own. First time where no one was around, where the only person I could rely on was myself. It was a scary thing to even think about let alone do. Tough wouldn't even come close to the real definition. Still I managed to overcome it and remained intact of what little was left. Though this could be considered the hard part because of what was to come.

The third night in a row…. He sat there tapping his foot impatiently, studying his watch. The waiter wasn't to happy either, kept coming back to take his order but all he got was a shake of the head. He sure was decked out with his fancy suit, long black tie, expensive platinum watch and polished shoes. A brief case added to the look making me think that he just came from work. Hmmm he seemed awfully disappointed when 8 o'clock rolled around.

Though as I observed him, still the same. There was something different in him though, I could sense it … something deadly, powerful. In a weird sort of a way it drew me to him like I never was before. Scared me.

When we were together, I had no clue on what I was doing. Still don't but I felt like I was more experienced with life, with myself. That's what I was lacking, what I was missing. Yet, he was only a few tables from me but I didn't dare move, didn't run up to him and throw my arms around him like I wanted to. Instead I stayed put listening for once to my instinct that told me he has become a no fly zone. Technically he was the enemy, worked for my father.

"Lewis…" flowed from my lips before I could stop it. Luckily for me it was only a soft whisper though it got his attention. Whirling around in about ten different directions, he never saw me. Cause by the time he got to where I was sitting I was out the back and around the corner.

Shit! What was I doing? Stalking him for Christ's sake? My control was steadily slipping as my feet carried me the same route every night, his house. A huge, overdone place with windows everywhere and little things decorating the mantles. I followed him home three days ago but that was all, I didn't stop. But tonight was different I had to see him, really see him. Had to tell him. The guilt was becoming overbearing and now that I saw him it was awful.

For all the glam that the place put off it sure didn't have a state of the art security system, nope only a flimsy lock easily opened by smashing through a window and turning it to the right. Took all of two minutes to gain access into the high profile house. His scent was everywhere for just a second I closed my eyes taking a deep breath, remembering. My thoughts were cut short when I heard faint but steady footsteps heading to the front door, luckily for me I came in the back. Making my way to what looked like the living room I plopped in a chair and waited.

Seemed like forever, waiting I mean. As I sat there I looked around it was a cozy place yet spacious as well. A part of me imagined what it would have been like to live there with him, to be happy the three of us. But it was only a fantasy that would never become a reality.

He walked right by me, a couple times in fact. Putting his briefcase down on the table is when he finally called for lights. Though his back was to me, loosing his tie, he was going for the phone when he noticed someone sitting barely four feet away.

"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" His voice had a certain edge to it, a dangerous one.

"Shhh, It's okay. I've missed you so much." Standing up I crossed the short distance between us but he stepped back slamming into the mantle of the massive stone fireplace.

"Nova? It can't be you, you're in Slam. You're not real!" He shouted shaking his head.

"Lewis…" I pressed myself against him. " I'm here, it's me. We can be together, I need you."

"NO! You killed her, you killed your own goddamn sister! Not to mention shot your own father and were whoring yourself for protection! Your nothing to me any more, nothing but trash that I was to blind to see in the beginning. Your father was right, you're just a slut nothing but an act. Just a heartless killer." He pushed me roughly away heading to what seemed to be a bar. Pouring himself a drink he just watched me unsure if this was real or just his mind playing tricks on him. Definitely wasn't the second. His words stung but they weren't what hurt the worst, I loved him with everything I had and here he was calling me a slut. Even my Lewis turned against me, my rock, my love.

"What has he done to you? I remember when you would fight hell or high water for me, guess things change. I've been through everything you could possibly imagine to get here, back to you. Ha! And now I find you don't want me, that I'm trash?"

"He's done nothing but provide for me and my family! Everything I have I owe to him, a good man. But you wouldn't understand."

"Understand? Understand… I understand just fine. He took everything away from me, including you! Don't you see it? He's using you you're just a pawn in his sick little game just like I was. Fuck! Open your eyes Lewis, get out now. While you still can."

"That's a lot coming from a criminal." Lewis met my eyes there was only hate filled in them, not love like mine.

"You want the truth? I've killed people, a lot. Had to it was me or them. Did I kill my own sister? No! I was at her fucking bed side for years damn you! I would never fucking hurt Liz, ever and you of all people should know that. And here I thought you were trying to get me out, to help me." Tears finally conquered my face and the mantle had to support my weight.

"I did, I tired. God baby I tried fought everyone I could find…" His whisper barely reached my ears. My hand bumped something on top of the mantle looking up I seen what it was. A frame, there were multiple each holding a picture. Examining them I realized what they were and who was in them.

"Trying to get me out huh? The fuck you were!" I threw one at his feet, the wedding one. There were several others with him and his wife. It was then did I notice the ring on his finger. Ah so it finally made sense, that's who he was waiting for.

"I love her. You were sentenced for life what was I suppose to do wait forever? I couldn't deal with it I needed…"

"What and you think I can? You know what the only thing that kept me going is? You, seeing you again! But how stupid am I to think you'd wait, still love me. Thought you knew the real truth. Guess you were to busy fucking around. Didn't take you long to replace me, looks like a real hell cat. She suck you off? Get you all…."

"Enough! If you aren't out of here and my life in 3 seconds I'm calling the cops. And that you can believe in Nova." I flopped on the couch utterly gone, how could he? After everything…

"Do it! Call them Lewis! Tell them I have a gun to your head it'll make them get here faster." The reasonable part of my mind shut off and it reminded me what I had to tell him.

"I was pregnant Lewis three months to be exact."

"What, said you could never have kids?"

"Your right, I couldn't ."

"Where is it?"

"Dead." I turned my head not letting him see the pain overwhelm me. That's when he walked over and pulled me into his arms, rocking me gently.

"What happened Nova?" He smoothed my hair and held me the whole time.

"I didn't know… I didn't know I was pregnant until I lost it. I didn't even fight Lewis, didn't even try! There were several, couldn't fend them off. I was raped and beaten so bad that I lost the baby. I lost our son." I broke down, totally broke. For an hour we stayed like that, that hour was the best time I've had since Liz was alive. His eyes bore into mine, the hatred was gone and only compassion stood out. They were soft, caring like they use to be like I remember. Never breaking eye contact I reached up with my hand bringing his mouth to meet mine. Seconds was all it took for him to open his mouth and let me in, his hands finding their usual place on my hips. Everything about it felt right, so fucking right.

"Tell me you don't love me." I whispered against his lips. His eyes were shut, when he kissed the tears away. They opened when he answered though.

"No," He paused looking away, "I love my wife." He didn't look at me when he said it, but the kiss was sure proof that he was lying. But it didn't matter he already made his decision. I jumped up, wiping away the wetness on my cheeks before adjusting my clothes. Lewis stared down at the floor probably wondering if I was going to kill him too.

The front door was being opened before either of us could say anything.

"Lewis babe, you home? I'm sorry I missed dinner but work was terrible and they kept everyone late for this stupid meeting about the new center…" She rambled on but I stopped listening it was time to go.

"Where are you…"

"Leaving, you chose your life and I'm not in it. Hope you're happy."

"Nova." He called but it was no use.

"You were my only hope Lewis." I whispered before slipping out the way I came in.

The wind played with my hair as I found the street and began to walk to where I wasn't sure. Though I paused in the middle, watching Lewis and his wife from the overbearing windows. Looked to be the perfect life, he had everything. But from watching from the street I could tell he was missing something. Love wasn't there. No, that's one thing he didn't have. Then again maybe he did, because after all this I still loved him, yes I still did.