Author's Note: Final chappie! YEAH! I suck at endings(it's a bit short, and the ending was a bit botched…but the sequel is in progress!)

Prey to a Hunter:

Chapter 17:

Tour's End

(Jack)

Ann was…enthusiastic, to say the least. Maybe it was because the baby was due in seven months, but emotions for her over the past week had been in extremes. My ribs smarted from her powerful bear hug.

Mary told me about Ann's outburst in the Library. I was genuinely touched by her display. I never knew Ann cared that deeply about me before. Ann was staring at me, with a mixture of concern and relief in her beautiful blue eyes.

Zack was also in the Clinic. His head was bandaged, but he managed to smile back at me when I looked in his direction. Karen was nowhere to be seen.

"Let's go home" I whispered in Ann's ear, sliding off the cot and onto the floor. Big mistake. My weak legs quickly gave out under me, and I fell to the ground.

"Jack! Stay in bed!" Elli scolded, helping Ann lift me back onto the bed. I grinned sheepishly and let them lay me on the bed.

"You can stay here, tonight" Elli said, gesturing towards the rest of the wounded people littering the Clinic.

"We'll be here, Jack" Ann said, pulling up a chair and sitting next to me. I smiled and Ann squeezed my hand. We were truly safe. The Predator had been defeated, and his kinsman had left Earth…but for good? At this moment, it didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was…

"Ann?"

"Yes, Jack?"

"Could you get me something to eat? I'm STARVING…"

Ann rolled her eyes and giggled.

(two weeks later)

"Hahahaha! You can't fool me! Just try it! I dare you!" Rick babbled incoherently as Zack and Gotz wrestled him onto the helicopter that would take him to the mainland.

Private Stacker, who was one of the escorts onboard the chopper, fully healed, laid his hand on Karen's shoulder.

"He'll be alright. Gateway has some of the best shell-shock rehab stations available"

Karen nodded sullenly, and watched as Private Larsen helped Rick into a straight jacket for the ride to Gateway. The chopper's pilot was napping in his seat, as the sergeant was talking with the Mayor about potential Marine recruits coming from the surrounding towns. Mineral Town and Forget-Me-Not Valley were some of the most influential farming towns around, and through us, the message of Marine recruits could spread faster.

Cliff, decked out in full combat armor and wielding the massive squad machine gun, smiled at us as he stepped off of the chopper. He was followed by Mira, who was also in armor.

Mira walked over to us. She had been promoted to Corporal about three days after the incident due to the sheer amount of injuries she had sustained, and was now the second in command of the squad of Marines, the same squad that had aided us in the defense of our town.

"Hey, everyone!" Cliff called. I walked over to Cliff and looked him up and down.

"Well, look who's back" I smirked. Cliff punched my shoulder as Ann rushed up to hug him.

"I've missed you guys" Cliff said, standing back up. Mira smiled at us and looked at Ann's slightly larger stomach.

"Getting larger, aren't we? When are you due?"

Ann beamed.

"Seven months!"

Mira smiled as well.

(five months later)

"Jack! Dinner's ready!"

"I'm coming, dear!"

Prespiration dripped down my face as I stood up, slipping the turnip into my pack. It had been about two entire seasons since the intergalactic hunter had graced Mineral Town with it's presence. Everything was as normal as could be expected; a new bunch of animals, fields full of crops, and Ann's excellent cooking every night for dinner.

Manna was running the Winery all by herself now. The loss of Duke was a crippling blow to the efforts of the place, but wine from Mineral Town was exported to several surrounding towns, namely Forget Me Not Valley and Sugar Ville, so Manna was determined to keep the place running. Despite their constant fights, Duke and Manna were the oldest couple in Mineral Town, and I could tell Manna missed Duke dearly.

Ann was sitting in a chair, looking exhausted. Her stomach bulged, and I remembered that the baby was due in two short months, after the start of summer.

A large pizza slowly wafted steam into the air. It smelled wonderful, and I smiled at Ann.

"You didn't have to go to this much trouble. I'll cook dinner if you want" Ann shook her head.

"You're so sweet, Jack. I think that's why I married you"

I grinned wolfishly.

"So, it isn't for my dashingly good looks, then?" I challenged. Ann stared at me for a second, before laughing and swatting at my head with her hand.

"You arrogant scoundrel!" she giggled. I caught her hand and smirked at her, poking her in the side. Ann squirmed and almost fell off of her seat trying to escape my finger.

Dinner that night was excellent.

(seven months later)

I fingered my cap nervously in my fingers. Tim, who stood next to me, smiled at me while he watched Elli work. Our baby was finally due, and Ann had just gone into labor. Charlie was sitting next to me, quietly listening to the anguished cries from the next room. It tore my heart to shreds knowing Ann was in pain, but the pain was a necessary part of the wonderful process which was occurring for the second time in my house.

"Oh, god, Elli, it hurts…!"

"Be strong, Ann. You're over halfway done!" Elli consoled. Ann groaned.

"It hurts!"

"Hold on, Ann!"

My cap fell out of my lap as I stood up. Malak trotted up to me and whined. Revan gazed balefully at me from across the room, and Tim held up his hand, peeking into the next room.

"Argh!"

The sound of a baby crying assailed my ears. Charlie gazed into the next room in wonder, and Revan stood, sniffing towards the door.

"Oww…wait, Elli!" Ann yelled from the next room.

There was a pause, before Elli took charge again.

"Ok, umm, Ann…push harder! You can do it!"

Ann screamed again. I cringed, and suddenly, two babies were crying. Twins!

Elli poked her head around the corner, grinning at me.

"Congratulations, Jack! You're the proud father of a pair of twins! Both girls, I might add!" she smiled at me. I practically teleported into the room.

Ann was holding both babies, who were wrapped in fresh linen towels. She looked happy as both babies screamed their respective heads off, their open mouths gaping wide for all the world to hear.

"Well, don't just stand there, Jack! Come over and hold them!" Ann exclaimed, a tired look in her eyes.

I took the first baby in my arms. To my absolute surprise, a pair of brown eyes looked back into mine for a second, before my new daughter promptly began to scream again. I smiled at her.

"Did you name them yet?" I asked. Ann shook her head negative.

"You can name that one. I'll name her…Rebecca" she told me, holding the baby in her arms.

"Then I'll name this one…Ellen" I thought. Ellen had been the name of my childhood mentor and next door neighbor, who taught me, among things, how to stand up for myself when I was bullied by the larger kids at my old school. Such times seemed so long ago…

"Rebecca and Ellen" we repeated, smiling. At the same time, my new rooster, Dutch, crowed, signaling the new day. The sun rose, and Ann and I looked out the window and watched it rise together.