When Riddick and Jack entered the restricted section of the spaceport, Jack sighed. Dinner, a bit of dancing and Riddick's tactile attention made her smile, but there was a sadness in that reaction to the ship.

"What's the matter Jack?" Riddick asked hitting the keypad that would deactivate the security shield.

"Nothing." She muttered walking up the gang plank.

"That sigh ain't nothing kid. Talk to me." he said with his hand at the small of her back.

"Tired. Don't worry about me." she lied walking passed the mess.

"Wrong answer Jack. Try again." he smirked as they hung their coats in the closet. He watched her sit down on the bed and actually saw a tear grace her cheek.

"I'm tired." she said again.

"Maybe you are." He decided kneeling between her legs and playing with the edges of her blouse. "But that's not why your face sprung a leak."

Her body language, the way her skin feels when I touch it tells me something's wrong. "I'm scared."

So that was it. Well kid, you'd be an idiot not to be. We got a whole helluva lot to lose. "I'll protect you and little guy."

"That's not the point. Will it ever be over?" she asks me.

Now, as much as I want to say yes, I can't really answer that with any certainty.

"You know I can't answer that Jack."

Then her eyes, the ones that bore into my soul tell me, "I love you Riddick. What can you tell me?"

Now there's a question I can and want to answer.

You're beautiful.

You're so god damn smart it's scary.

You love me.

I love you.

And yes Jack, you make pretty babies. I want a couple more, with you, I want the whole fucking thing.

"Come here." I say pulling her towards me.

One hand on her waist the other holding the side of her tender throat, Riddick pulled her against him. "That I love you. For years in the slam, when I'd never thought I'd get out, I used to dream of hearing someone say those words to me. I promised myself that if I ever got lucky, I'd say that, often."

He kissed her softly, purposefully, letting her know she mattered. "The animal in me wants to throw you on this bed and rip your clothes off, but another part of me wants you," he said kissing her throat, "just like this."

Her whimper at his touch, his tongue, his cheek against her skin, made her weak inside. "How big a part?" she chuckled as his hands moved up to rest just underneath her breasts.

"Depends," He said leaning his rigid pelvis against her, "on your point of view."

The next morning came quickly and Jack didn't want to leave the comforts of their bed. Anne and Kalifa had made it plain that they were going to take Layne and that she should enjoy what freedom she could find. She wasn't going to pass that up.

Riddick was in the shower as she laid his clothes out. She carefully placed onto the bed, black slacks, boots, a white shirt, under garments (socks and such) and a black blazer (big enough to hold the shoulder holster for his pulse pistol.)

On the dresser were a watch, a pair of sunglasses and his contact lens case. She stood dressed in a turquoise suit, wearing her hair back and leaving it curl on its own, her medallion on the inside of the shelf dress, and putting her earrings in while she carefully put makeup on. When he emerged in a towel, he looked up.

"You look classy Jack." He said in his low growl. "Very classy."

"Why thank you, but you're gonna need to be the strong silent type today. Can't talk to the help." She smirked. She leaned down, picked up a shoe and held it in her hand waiting for him to give her shit about her comment.

I had to fuck with ya a little. She smiled looking at him while she put a pair of high heeled matching pumps.

"Is that so princess?" he said walking purposefully towards her.

"Don't you're still dripping wet." She shrieked putting her hands up.

"I'll get you later for that baby." He warned drying his chest and watching her gawk. "Look much?"

I love making you squirm. Damn Jack, you keep looking kid.

He turned giving her a great view of the back of him while he looked at what he was needing to wear. "Get going Jack. I'll be done in a minute."

"Nope, enjoying the show." She told him putting a scarf around her shoulders. She tied it carefully putting a pin to keep it in place.

She would wear the scarf on her head once she walked outside. Jack and Anne had opted for something that wouldn't be so strict, like the head scarves that they were forced to wear on Hellion Prime.

"Suit yourself." He said continuing to dress. His face was one of triumph.

"When we get to the bank, you just look menacing. The back story is you're guarding me while I'm in the system. Anne is the translator who'll translate everything I say. Just look like you'd kill anything."

"And princess how is that different than any other day?" he smirked laughing.

"Okay, I see your point. How do I look?" she asked securing the head scarf to lightly cover her head; it framed her face so beautifully he couldn't keep that fact to himself.

"You look really nice. That color really does it for you. But I told you that last night, twice." He quipped as she came to button his shirt. She smelled good, like last night, but different. "You smell different."

"It's a different fragrance. Last night's was for you. Today, I wear rose oil, something subtle. Something to say, polished, refined, classy. Last night, was the animal, the one that wanted action. You know what I mean?"

Bank on it princess. I get it.

"Yeah. But I like this too, it's soft. Last night was definitely, more primal. Loved that, I still got the scratch marks you cat." He said in mock anger.

"You are going to make it hard to speak in Arabic. All I'll be thinking about is you and that animal you decided to let out. I still have your marks on me." she told him lifting the knee length skirt to show his love bites on the inner part of her thigh, very close to his favorite place to play.

"Marking what's mine is only the beginning." He said putting the holster on. "Keep showing me that leg Jack and we ain't going anywhere." He said looking back at the bed.

"You did that four and a half years ago Riddick, keep that in mind. Granted you didn't know what that medallion represented but I knew deep in here what it meant. And don't tell me you didn't think about it. I've got Toombs to confirm it."

He couldn't deny it and with a smug smile, he answered her. "Jack, when I left that platform I knew that I had to do whatever I could to make myself the man I could return to you as. So yeah, I admit that. But had I known what they were doing to you, I'd of took you off with me, skinny, bald, and flat chested."

He was looking at her breasts when he said that and she rolled her eyes. "But then I wouldn't have that long list of skills you seem to love."

"I'd have given you a long list." He said turning around and tucking his shirt in.

"Damn Riddick. I'm quivering already, but honey, your list is not only long but thick, don't forget that. Wider is always better." She said sarcastically which got her a swat on her perfect ass. "Do that again and we're definitely not going anywhere."

"Do I look menacing enough to you?" he asked looking at her. He stood, black on black with a white shirt and no tie, when she walked over and handed him a nicely made gold watch. "Nice Jack, nice."

"You're looking like a high class bad ass baby. The watch, that's just something to tell time. Now, for the specs. All good bodyguards have specs. Makes them look good."

He laughed, a loud booming laugh which made him smile. "Come on Jack, let's get this over with, I need to get you back here. Anne and Kalifa want to get married today and since we're dressed we might as do it for them and let them finally get laid."

"As you wish my lord." she said smiling and giving him a wink.

When Jack and Riddick came towards the mess, Baba Salim was giving his surrogate grandson a bottle. "Hey little guy," his mother said running her knuckle against his cheek. The baby's eyes opened and he looked at her. "Mommy and Daddy have to go with Auntie Anne for a little while, you be good for Baba Salim now."

"Thanks Salim. This shouldn't take long. I think that we're gonna be in for some kissing ass and it would be nice to have someone else cater to us for a change."

"May Allah bring you swiftly back Jack. Riddick be aware." Salim told him as Riddick touched his son's hand.

"I will. Be ready for us in about two hours. Our appointment is for 11." He told them charging the pulse pistol and putting it in his holster. He took three blades and placed them in his boots. "Come on Ladies."

Anne who had come in wearing a simple white blouse, dark blue skirt, boots and a deep blue long coat and deep blue head scarf smiled. "As you wish Riddick."

When they walked down the gang plank, Riddick stood with the ladies closer to the wall, Jack carrying her matching purse and smiling. "You clean up VERY nice Kasim. I am very impressed. Isn't he very impressive Anne?"

That comment was in perfect Arabic and Riddick looked like he understood her. His face was a mask of calm but Jack knew she shocked him. The only visible indication of his distress was a twitch in his jaw. She knew that twitch very well.

How the hell did that happen?

"Jack what the hell just happened? You were speaking in Arabic and I heard it in English. I knew you were talking to her in Arabic, I watched your lips move." He said incredulously.

"Technology baby. There's a chip in your shades. I fine tuned it to translate sending impulses through the auditory nerve in your ears telling your brain that you're hearing English and not Arabic. It's so you can keep up with the conversation."

"You keep surprising me Jack. I knew you were smart but DAMN." He said impressed. "I wonder if Imam knew you were this smart?"

"Yes, he surrounded me with tutors who made it their personal mission to pester my ass until I knew more than they did."

Anne turned to Riddick and met his eyes. "She saved three dozen girls over a year's period of time Riddick. She saved them from death or worse." She said looking at the ground.

"But I didn't save you." Jack told her ashamed.

"Jack." Riddick said calling her back. She shouldn't feel like she failed Anne. "Don't you dare."

"He is right Jack. Berating yourself because I was married to Mohammed was not your fault. You came back, and in the process saved me." she said placing a hand on her arm. "You saved so many."

She said that in Arabic and smiled. Riddick's shit eating grin returned still impressed with Jack's little toys. They walked into a public place and spoke in Arabic. Riddick, silent but ever present showed anyone in the crowd that these women were his to protect and anyone coming near them would find trouble.