Women made us lose paradise, but how frequently we find it again in their arms.

Chapter 21

Putting their plans into place they decided to wait until the next day. Riddick wanted to give Collin one more day with his mother in case the worst should happen and he wanted one more night with her in his arms. He was very careful not to think about it or in anyway give Collin any indication of what was going to happen, but the boy was his son and called him on it later that evening.

"Is everything ok, Dad?"

Riddick looked up from where he stood in front of the windows looking out into the night. "Everything's fine. Why do you ask?"

"You just don't seem yourself tonight."

"Just a little tired, I think."

Unconvinced but unwilling to anger his father Collin shrugged it off and went back to reading Carolyn a chapter out of the book he was reading for school. When he was finished he lay down beside her, his head beside her stomach running his fingers along her belly hoping to get a kick out of his unborn sibling. Not one to disappoint the child in his mother's womb kicked against his hand. A recent trick it had learned. Collin grinned and kissed her belly before moving up the bed to her head. "I love you, Mama. I'll see you in the morning. Night, Dad." He said walking to his father's side throwing his arms around him.

Hugging the boy and kissing the top of his head Riddick wished him goodnight, collapsing against the bed as soon as he and the hellhound had left. Finding Carolyn's hand with his closed eyes he brought he brought it to his mouth. "Whatever you do Carolyn, just don't die on me."

The next morning dawned gray and bleary. Snow had fallen during the night casting everything in its white cloak. Riddick had breakfast with Collin, waiting patiently by the door as the boy said his morning good-byes to his mother.

"Bye, Dad!" Collin called already half way out the door to where Toal waited on him.

Riddick paced the room with Aereon, Vaako and Shirah as they waited patiently for Toal's report that Collin was safely tucked away at school. Once he returned Shirah ordered everyone out of the room.

"Ok, so now what?" Riddick asked as Shirah led him to Carolyn's bedside.

"It's not called the Wraith of the Furyans for nothing, Riddick. You need to summon that anger from within you. The anger that's always just below the surface. You'll know what to do when the times right," She said her voice growing soft as she closed her eyes and her chest began to glow.

Not one for closing his eyes leaving himself unprotected, Riddick opted for bowing his head as he evened out his breathing his eyes skimming Carolyn's body, letting the anger of her condition sweep through him. That anger was followed by the anger he still felt at her for dragging his ass back to humanity, kicking and screaming and then leaving him alone with it for all those years and that anger co-mingled with the anger over Imam and Kyra's deaths. "Now, Riddick!" He heard Shirah whisper in his mind.

Placing a hand to his chest where he knew his mark was at he slowly leaned over and pressed it in the same spot on Carolyn's chest. Riddick could feel Carolyn's body bucking beneath his hand but was helpless to do anything as the energy flowed through him passing into her.

As it passed Riddick snatched his hand back dropping to his knees just as Carolyn sat up in bed screaming his name causing Riddick to shoot back up grabbing her shoulders, pulling her to him even as she struggled against him before collapsing once more.

"Get the doctor up here now!" he ground out his breathing now ragged as he laid Carolyn back on the bed even as he backed away from her.

Fingers threaded, elbows on knees, Riddick waited with the rest for the doctors verdict. Standing as the doctor entered the room Riddick held his breath.

"It worked." He told the room with a smile as Riddick exhaled. "She's simply sleeping but I imagine she'll be awake soon."

As the others smiled and chattered amongst themselves, Riddick made a bee line to her side. Stroking her face he breathed her name causing her to smile. "I didn't think the old fart was ever going to leave," she said with her eyes still closed.

Riddick dropped his hand like it had been burned, his emotions getting the best of him. "You're awake?"

Carolyn held out her arms in silent invitation.

Lying down beside her Riddick lay his head on her breast, listening to her heartbeat as her arms encircled him.

Aereon smiled as she silently shut the door.

Carolyn kissed the top of Riddick's head as her hand rubbed the back of his neck holding him close with the other enjoying the weight of his body against hers. "You were dead when we found you." She said with another kiss to his bald head. "I missed you so much."

Lifting his head when he felt her tears on his skin he put a hand on her cheek guiding her mouth to his, his tongue licking at her lips briefly demanding entrance before pulling away his thumb stroking her cheek. Carolyn's forehead came to rest on his chin, her hands covering his. "Why do you have all the lights turned on?" she asked. "I can't even open my eyes."

Riddick frowned at this, as the lights in the house were always dim in deference to the Furyans that lived here and dark and gloomy were Vaako and Toal's middle names. He wasn't even wearing his goggles right now. "Light's out." He said loudly, "Is that better?" he asked tilting her face towards his.

"I think so," she answered her eyelids fluttering as she grasped at his hands. "Riddick? What's wrong with my eyes?"

"Well, hell," was his only response as he placed a kiss on each of them.

"Riddick? What's going on?"

"You'll get used to it, I promise."

"Riddick!"

"It's a long story Carolyn, but right now we need to get that doctor back in here."

He felt her warm breath against his cheek as she sighed. "I don't want the doctor. I just want you and Collin. I want to see my son, Riddick."

"He's at school and right now we need to worry about this child," he said laying a hand on her belly.

"Promise you won't leave me?"

"I promise, Carolyn, never again."

The End