When Jack woke up, Maya was by her side with a damp washcloth, pressing it to her forehead. She smiled kindly when she Jack's eyes flutter open.

"Good, you're awake, I was beginning to get worried"

Jack tried to sit up, but Maya eased her back in the soft bed.

"Richie wouldn't leave your side for hours, I finally dragged him away by telling him that Cleopatra was chewing up the couch and then locked the door on him"

Jack smiled at Riddick's pretty sister. Her hair was pulled away from her face, but a few stray tendrils insisted on becoming loose.

"Rich was really becoming a wreck without you"

Maya smoothed Jack's face with the washcloth and Jack's face suddenly became white and flushed as she got the chills.

"No. Come on Jackie, I told Richie you were a fighter, and I am NOT going to let you make a liar out of me"

As if she was fighting to come back to the surface of reality, Jack's eyes turned so bright it baffled Maya. She became normal as color returned to her face. Maya took a deep breath and took Jack's hand to check her pulse. It was a little fast, but nothing much to worry her.

"Where's Riddick?"

Jack asked rather meekly. Maya pulled her own hair into a messy bun.

"I think you shoulder sleep a little more"

Jack shook her head, but Maya made a tisking sound with her sound and was getting ready to leave.

"I WANT MY HUSBAND!"

Jack yelled as loud as she could in the state she was in her condition. Maya stopped in her tracks to the door, not once had she heard Jack yell, or even raise her voice. Maya raised a minnow of a chestnut eyebrow and stuck her tongue in her cheek as she sat down slowly in the chair next to the bed.

"I love my brother, and I love you, so I am going to speak honestly. As strong as Richie seems to be, he's really isn't. He lets things get to him a whole shit load more then he lets it show on the outside"

That statement tore at her heart and she propped herself onto her elbows

"I understand, believe me I understand Maya, but he is my husband, I'm in love with him, I want him, and I need him,"

Mentally Maya noted that Jack had said 'in love' not just 'love'. It meant a big thing in her family. Filled with compassion.

"Do you know what it's like to be so helplessly in love with the man of your dreams, and him being held just out of your reach Maya?"

Jack's eyes had filled with tears in an instant and they were now gracefully sliding down her cheeks.

"Why won't you just let me see him? Please Maya, I'm begging you, just let me see my love"

Jack had torn into her with her first plea; she didn't have the heart to deny her brother's wife anything.

"Okay"

Maya said. She reached into her soft leather purse and pulled out her phone and dialed Riddick's number. It rang 3 times and Maya was afraid that he wouldn't answer, but as the first rang, he answered.

"Yeah?"

He asked gruffly. Maya tried to smile, but her lips seemed frozen

"Is that how mother taught us to answer the phone Rich?"

"Well Maya, she didn't teach us anything at all"

Maya sighed deeply.

"Jack's awake, she wants to see you"

There was a long and almost awkward pause

"I'll be there"

The line went out and Maya rested a hand on her own forehead and took a watery sigh. The way he sounded broke down the very foundation she made her life on. She turned to Jack and kissed her slightly fevered cheek.

"He's coming"

Jack's face lit up with love and excitement and Maya wondered if she'd ever be in love with anyone the way Rich and Jackie were. Oh she had Justin, she liked talking with him, she enjoyed his company, but it was nowhere near the love that all but set the room on fire when either one walked into a room the other was in. She placed a hand on her still flat stomach and thought about the baby that was growing inside of her. In not more then 5 minutes, the bedroom door opened and the sparks began to fly.

Riddick went straight to Jack and kissed her so hotly it was a wonder why Maya didn't melt just from the smoke. When they pulled away, he didn't stop touching her face, her lips, her hair, the corners of her eyes, she doubted her parents even loved each other this way.

Feeling out of place, she blew a kiss to the both of them and stepped onto the sidewalk. Her phone rang and she reached to answer it. Seeing Justin's number, she smiled and answered.

"Hi baby"

She said happily.

"Hi, um, Maya we need to talk"

She stopped on the pavement at the tone of his voice

"What's wrong, what is it?"

"I don't think we can be together anymore Maya"

She felt something rip inside her.

"Why?"

"We are too different. People like you-"

"People like me, what do you mean people like me?"

"Who don't feel,"

"Hold on one damn second. Do you know how people like me feel? We feel small, and ugly, and useless, and dispensable when they're boyfriend's say something like this. So screw you"

Maya slapped her phone shut and turned to stalk away, but her legs gave way under her and would half landed face first into the hard cold ground, if she hadn't been caught by warm strong arms, she looked up at the man who had caught her and was greeted by a chiseled face with warm, dreamy blue eyes, rather shaggy aged chestnut colored hair and a sensuous smile.

"Wow there horsie"

Maya stood up and tried to maintain her dignity. With a flip of her hair, she turned to walk away to hide the tears in her eyes.

"Hey were are you off to so fast?"

She wanted to not look over her shoulder and see his impossibly handsome face, but she did.

"What's your name?"

He asked her. She sniffled a little

"Maya Riddick"

"Maya Riddick, beautiful name. I'm Shawn Gallagher. Listen, I know it might sound fast. But if you'd give me a chance, I would never make you feel small or dispensable. You're the most beautiful woman I've seen in my life"

Maya smiled softly and rubbed under her eyes to make sure her make-up wasn't running. She gave a little scoff

"Beautiful"

He nodded.

"You are, and so, I was wondering if you'd like to come out for drinks and dancing"

"I can't drink"

"Why?"

"Because I'm pregnant"

Shawn tilted his head to the side and examined Maya closely "Is that supposed to push me away?"

Maya shrugged a delicate shoulder.

"Well, will you come dancing with me anyway?"

Maya looked a little shocked.

"You still want to go out?"

"Sure,"

Shawn gave her a charming smile and hooked her arm with his.

"I'm probably about as stubborn as you are"

Maya laughed softly. She began to wonder if she was about to discover what Jack and Riddick were all about