****Here it is!  But don't worry, it's not over yet.  However, I do need your thoughts on if you want me to keep going or end it the way I originally planned, which will be in about one or two chapters.  E-mail me or send a review (they're always welcome) and thanks to everyone who has commented on the story.  I love you all!!

Ellie had asked for Riddick to tell her if there were any changes in Jack but he couldn't leave her side.  He was propped up on his elbow, looking down on drowsy eyes that finally found his and focused, suddenly aware.

"Your eyes," she said weakly.  Riddick looked away in shame, closing his eyes.  It was obvious that he had gone through more than he wanted, reverting back to the Riddick she first met and he was ashamed, but Jack didn't think it should be that way.

She reached out to him, placing her hand on his cheek and turning his head back to face her.  "Riddick…look at me."  He opened his eyes but couldn't quite hold her gaze.  "I dreamed about you," she said and he swallowed hard, "and you know what?"  She put her other hand to his face and forced him to look at her.  "This is what I saw."  Riddick's brow furrowed slightly.  "Your eyes, just like this.  I wasn't afraid.  They made me feel safe."

Riddick bit down on his lower lip, searching her face for any sign of acceptance in everything he was, and that's all he saw.  It didn't matter to her what he was before, the animal, void of any feeling, because it was still a part of him.  It completed him.  Without that dark side, he would have no light side.  Everything had to balance and together they were balanced.

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Ellie couldn't sit still long enough and when she finally couldn't take it anymore she headed to Jack's room.  One of the doctors was emerging from the room and she stopped him before he could disappear.  He quickly explained that Jack was awake and making a startlingly fast recovery.  Ellie wanted so much to go in there and see her awake and alive but she knew how hard all this had been on Riddick and figured he'd want her to himself for awhile.

So, she kissed the tips of her fingers and placed them on the door, smiling, giving thanks to whoever was watching over those three, then turned away to go spread the good news.

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Jack was released the next morning, very early and even though it might be the farthest thing from anyone's mind, they had a pick-up scheduled in less than two days so Taylor was back at the ship, assuming the role of Riddick and Ellie was filling in for Jack.

Riddick was so careful with Jack on the way, gentle when he touched her, when he gave her support; he could have easily just carried her but she insisted on walking.  She held tightly to his hand at first but then slipped her arm around his waist, wanting to be closer to him.

Jack felt like she had been out for so long, that she had missed out on so much.  She was in some other place for awhile but she hadn't been alone, Riddick had been there, watching over her.  She could remember smelling him, the taste of him lingering on her lips, her body warming to his every touch, the flash of silver in his eyes that gave her a way out of the darkness that had surrounded her.  And now, walking beside him to their ship, all those feelings came back to her, more real and more vivid this time around.

The scent of him was the same, still warm and inviting, the heavy weight of his arm across her shoulders was almost painfully wonderful.  It made her realize how much she needed him, how much she craved everything about him.

It was the details that kept her eyes drawn to him.  The size of his hands, the heavy muscles in his shoulders and arms, his deep soulful eyes, his full expressive lips; the list went on and on, running rampant through her head.  Every time she looked up at him, she felt a stirring in the pit of her stomach and her legs would become weak.  Riddick seemed to know and he held onto her tighter, which only caused her hormones to fly out of whack.  It was a quiet reminder that she still hasn't told him about the baby.  Even though he said he loved her, a baby can change everything, and the silent fear settled heavy in her heart.

The crew was very respectful of Jack's fragile state.  They stayed out of the way as Riddick escorted her to their room, only nodding their acknowledgment of her, avoiding any kind of small talk, and Jack was grateful.  She was still feeling out of sorts, like she wasn't really there, just seeing this from afar.  Riddick's hands on her kept her grounded and she allowed herself to be pulled wearily along.

Once in the bedroom, Riddick gently removed her clothes and helped her into one of his tee-shirts at her request, then helped her into bed.  He sat down on the edge and put his hand on her face, his lips curling slightly into a smile.

"I need to talk to Taylor so just stay here and rest.  I'll hurry back," he said, leaning over to kiss her.  She could feel the hunger burning from his lips, knowing hers were tingling with the same desire; so she just closed her eyes and let the feeling fill her. 

The shock of cool air on her wet lips signaled his departure and Jack rolled over to her side, tired but now totally restless.  She was going to have to tell him and soon or sleep would never come to her.

Riddick found Taylor on the main deck, looking over a work order.  He glanced up when he felt someone close by and smiled, "Hey, how's Jack?" he asked, putting his hand on Riddick's shoulder.

"She's doin' pretty good.  A little tired but…you know," Riddick said, shrugging a shoulder.

"Anything I can do?"  Riddick met Taylor's eyes and became all business.

"Yea, actually there is something you can do.  I need you to be in charge of this pick-up, the whole deal.  I know I can trust you."

"Not a problem," he responded.

"I need to be with Jack for awhile, until she's better,"  Riddick said, his voice getting lower with each word, his eyes becoming stormy as his mind ran through the events of the past couple days. 

Someone from his dark past had come back to haunt him, hurt the one person he loved and he was amazed the guy was still alive.  The 'old' Riddick wouldn't have given a second thought about breaking his neck.  Shader needed to suffer but Riddick's hands were tied at the moment…there was an option though.

"Any idea what they plan for Shader?"  Riddick asked Taylor.

"Yea, we're going to let everyone think he was after the Senator, that way we get more support from those higher up," Taylor explained as he started toward security with Riddick by his side.

"When they put him away, see if you can get them to send him to the Slam he used to work at.  I know of a few guys there that wouldn't mind getting a piece of him."  Taylor laughed quietly and slapped Riddick on the back.

"That won't be a problem," he said, stopping at the door to security and turning back to face Riddick.  "I think the Senator will do anything for you and Jack, so I'll give him your request."

"Thanks," Riddick said as he turned to leave.  "I'll be around," he called out over his shoulder.

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When Riddick got back to his room, he stopped dead in his tracks when he stepped through the door.  Jack was standing in the living room still wearing his shirt, looking a little panicked.  Riddick's heart began pounding as he moved into the room, afraid something was wrong.

"You okay, Jack?" he asked, her name catching in his throat.

"I was going to tell you something before all this happened but…" she trailed off as she fought with her emotions, clasping her hands together.  Riddick knew exactly what she was going to tell him.  What he didn't understand was why it was so hard for her to just say it.

He stepped right up to her and put his hands on her hips, his black eyes watching her trying to find the right words, her lips trembling as she grew frustrated.  Riddick decided to say it for her without saying it.  He slid down to his knees, pressing his forehead to her stomach; one hand moved to the lower part of her belly and he heard her gasp as she understood what he was doing.

"You know?"  Her voice came out choked as the tears constricted her throat.  He nodded and looked up at her.  "It's okay?" she asked, quietly, almost fearfully.

"Why wouldn't it be okay?"  He felt Jack shift uncomfortably in his grasp.  "I love you, Jack.  I love what you are, what we are, and this," he looked to his hand on her stomach, "is what we are."  Jack's knees went weak as his heartfelt confession swept over her.  She collapsed onto his lap and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

"I love you so much," she whispered, crying onto his shoulder.  "I never should have doubted how you would feel."

"It's okay, Jack," he said as he ran his hands over her back, then pulling her even closer and holding her there.  "Everything is gonna be okay."

Riddick carried Jack back to bed and stayed with her when she took his hand and pulled him down.  He got comfortable on his side and they just watched each other.  Jack's eyes wandered over his face, taking in his eyes, down to his nose, lingering longer at his lips, then back to his eyes.  Riddick was doing the same, watching her, feeling her out with his senses, trying to find out what she wanted or needed.

Jack hooked her foot behind his knee and grabbed a handful of his shirt at the collar, pulling him closer.  It was all the invitation he needed.  He rolled onto her and settled between her legs, making sure to keep his full weight off her.  The look in her eyes was hungry desire, a need to be satisfied by him but also a need to go slow, make it last.

Jack pulled Riddick's shirt over his head and let him do the same with hers, now completely naked below him but in no way ashamed of the way she looked.  She shivered at the way Riddick's eyes traveled over her, the way he licked his lips and his attempt to keep his breathing slow and even.

Her breathing was fast and hard as she reached out and grabbed his shoulders, forcing him down on her.  When his warm skin met hers, she became inflamed; her lips were hot and swollen as blood rushed to her sensitive parts.

Riddick found her mouth and kissed her softly, dragging his lips across hers while he pressed the hardness of him to her.  His pants rubbed deliciously rough between her legs but the friction wasn't enough; she needed to feel the satin smooth of his skin against and inside her.

Jack reached between them just as he did, to free him of the last thing separating them and decided to let him handle it.  They both watched as he easily worked the buttons and zipper loose.  Jack hooked her fingers in his pants to pull them down while he reached inside his boxers but before she could get them anywhere near off, he slid easily inside her.

The sensation was almost too much for both of them and Riddick's pants were forgotten as he stilled inside her, burying his face in her neck and breathing hotly against her skin.  Jack put her hands on his cheeks and pulled him to her lips, kissing him deeply, sliding her tongue against his until he groaned into her mouth.  He was holding back but he wasn't complaining and he only started moving when she pressed her hips up to him and released his lips.

Their intense hunger was sated for the moment when their bodies came together, allowing Riddick to make love to her slow and easy.  He locked eyes with her and watched every expression on her face as he pushed into her and pulled out, feeling her tighten around him the more they moved together.

Their orgasms didn't crash over them, they just happened; settled over them like a blanket, warming their bodies until they tingled all over.  Jack cried and Riddick held her, rocking her against his hard body, making all the pain she had been going through disappear. 

Their love was so strong at this point that Jack felt like she was the most beautiful thing in the world and she and Riddick had managed to make it through their lives long enough to create the most perfect being, growing inside her.  It was a part of him and a part of her and this was the one thing she wanted more than anything, the chance at a family, the chance to love and be loved; to have Riddick in her life and now to have his baby in her life as well.

She held onto Riddick tight, not wanting to be away from him…ever, and he held her back, moving his hand down to rest on her belly.  He wanted this as much as she did and it almost hurt him to experience these kinds of feelings.  Jack's caring warmth, her unconditional love for him, the strength in her heart and soul that kept her alive, and because of that he can now have his own family…with her…the one he would always love.