Some Nights I'm Afraid You'll Forget Me Again

Chapter 27

Carolyn took Destiny from Chloe a while later sitting in a rocking chair that Varro had pulled up next to the fire for her as the other women gathered round. Nicky and Isabelle played a game of cards while Chloe and Rachel sat either mending or sewing. Carolyn sat between the two groups listening to the men who were across the fire. They had circled round and had finally pressured Riddick into talking about the time he was gone. He tried not to appear bothered when they approached him as he had been quite content watching Carolyn care for the child. The expressions on her face fascinated him. He let his attention drift as he talked about what he had seen and using a stick to draw in the dirt showed where he had traveled. At some point Carolyn had fallen asleep with Destiny in her arms while Nicky and Rachel had wondered off to their beds. The wind had picked up a bit and Carlos wondered out loud if they weren't in for a storm. They didn't happen very often but when they did they were just as bad as the one Carolyn and Royce had been caught in. It was late when Chloe carefully took Destiny from a sleeping Carolyn. Varro excused himself stating that he needed to put his family to bed. Isabelle yawned and stood intending to wake Carolyn.

"I'll take care of Carolyn," Carlos stated squeezing Isabelle's arm, who thanked him and smiled at Royce before seeking out their bed. "I'll say goodnight as well," Carlos said before walking over and gently shaking Carolyn. She came awake with a sleepy smile and Riddick watched as Carlos ran a hand over her cheek before helping her up and walking her home. He placed a kiss on her cheek and waited till she was inside with the door closed before heading to his own home where Rachel was waiting for him.

Riddick turned to Royce. "What's that all about?"

"That scene would have played out the same if it had been me, Varro or Jason. We've all become very protective of her. And while Isabelle and I may have been here first, it's almost like she's become the Matriarch here."

Riddick nodded having made that conclusion on his own and waited patiently for Royce to continue with his explanation.

Royce sighed. "Carolyn's always been different. You know that. My Grandmother would say that she has an old soul. I don't know what made her realize that you were gone. A comment Varro made that morning I think. But when she did, she locked herself in her house for the rest of that day and most of the next. I've never seen Isabelle so pissed. We were all worried about her and the baby. I was the one she finally let in and when I laid eyes on her I promised myself that I would kick your ass the first time I saw you again."

Riddick chuckled, his hand reaching for his jaw.

"So, I gave her the job of learning to communicate with the damn thing. It was something for her to focus on besides you and the baby. And I'll be damned if it didn't work," he smirked. "After a month the damn thing was her lap dog. You saw how well they've learned to communicate with each other."

Riddick stared into the fire nodding, "Yeah, and how protective it is of her."

"Look man, it's late and it's been a long day. We can talk about this more tomorrow; Isabelle said they made up the single hut for you."

Royce took a step and then stopped. "I was serious about what I said earlier. I consider both of you my friends but she doesn't need this or deserve it. No one here does. Not after all we've been through."

It wasn't much later before Riddick put out the fire heading to bed himself. There was indeed a storm brewing. Listening to the thunder rumble off in the distance, he stopped before his door. He was the one person who knew how to open the latch from the outside but dropped his hand to his side clenching it and unclenching it. He would give her tonight. Entering the one room hut he had been given he looked around and lay on the bed propping his head on an arm. It was a long time before sleep claimed him.

Two huts away Carolyn had fallen into a restless sleep. Riddick's return had brought emotions to the surface that she had battled to keep tamped down for the last few months. She was unaware of the storm that had begun outside, the noises becoming a backdrop for her latest nightmare.

A loud boom of thunder followed by the ground shaking and a crash, jolted Riddick awake. Breathing heavily he lay still for a moment listening, before hitting the floor at a run. Carolyn's screams could be heard over the rain.

Not stopping for the door, he aimed his shoulder for it and kept going, not coming to a stop till he reached their bedroom. She was in the middle of their bed screaming his name. He leaned onto the bed with his knee pulling her to him "I'm here, Carolyn, right here."

She trembled in his arms her gasping for breath. "I couldn't find you," She choked out her arms going around his neck.

"Couldn't find me where?"

"On the planet. It was dark and raining and I didn't have enough light and I couldn't find you."

He rubbed her back and found himself whispering soft words in her ear until she calmed down. He set her on the side of the bed as he went to shut the door to keep the rain out. He would fix it tomorrow or when ever the storm broke. Moving back to their room he pulled back the covers and guided her in. Her skin felt like ice. Going into the other room he grabbed the fur blanket she had been working and threw it over her. He quickly undressed climbing into bed behind her, pulling her flush to his body while tucking the blanket in around her. She twisted to face him burying her face in the crook of his neck while twining her legs through and around his. He pulled her as close as her growing belly would let him, running his hands up and down her body.

"Don't leave me," she pleaded her breath soft against his neck.

His felt his heart ache as he tightened his hold on her. "I'm not going anywhere," he promised her, his voice rough with emotion. Feeling his child kicking him, as she lay pressed against him he knew that nothing would take him away from her again. He'd gone through hell with her. He'd fought off death for her. He wasn't going anywhere without her again. He was where he belonged now, with her and their child.

The End