AN: I think some people might've been looking forward to this. Keep in mind that the story's far from over;-)

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Jack woke slowly to the alarm going off. She groaned, trying to reach over and smack it into silence. However, a certain two-hundred-plus pound blanket kept her from accomplishing the task.

She stretched slender fingers toward the noise box, wondering how her husband could possibly sleep through its racket. He hadn't been asleep for long, but still...

Just as she finally wiggled over another inch to accomplish her task, his hand met hers at the button. Once the alarm ceased he intertwined his fingers with hers, squeezing gently.

"Morning, Jack," he rumbled pleasantly, his low voice coming out dry and rusty.

A soft noise escaped her when his mouth found her jaw line, and he pressed kisses against the side of her face, moving up to her ear.

The pace he set with their lovemaking told her it was Saturday. His rhythm held no urgency because neither of them had anywhere to be that morning. Soft whispers passed her lips, and she pressed her face against his neck, biting his shoulder gently. It often surprised her how silent they could be.

She felt relaxed enough to fall back asleep when he held her later. The warmth at her back and his arm slung across her waist lulled her into a sense of complacency.

"So, what do you wanna do on your anniversary?"

"Crap, is that today? I completely forgot," she groaned, rubbing at her face with one hand. So maybe she wouldn't get to fall back to sleep after all.

He laughed, quietly, his fingertips gently stroking up and down her bare side. "Just be glad I'm not the woman in this relationship, Jack. Things would get ugly every time Valentines rolled around. I guess I wouldn't get to complain if you forgot my birthday, since usually you forget your own..."

She smiled, turning over to look at him. "When have I ever forgotten your birthday, Dick?" she whispered, teasing playfully.

Riddick grinned, looking sharkish. "Only every day. Every morning I wake up next to you must be my birthday. Can't think of any other reason for it," he teased, pulling her against his chest and kissing the top of her head. He released her a short moment later and slowly rose to use the bathroom.

Jack watched him go, still smiling to herself.

It often boggled her mind that she'd ended up right where she wanted. Since that night when they'd fled the city where Riddick and Shella had set up a life for themselves, the events that came to pass seemed like a rollercoaster flying out of control.

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First they'd returned to New Mecca and gone to see Imam. They'd taken him out to eat at his favorite restaurant where he'd smiled at the two of them knowingly and explained to them exactly what their plans should be.

Jack was seventeen, and on New Mecca that meant she was old enough to marry without permission from a legal guardian. She'd already become a member of the religious community, and a citizen of New Mecca. If she and Riddick became husband and wife, they would both belong to a planet declared independent of the Empire's rule for the purpose of being a place of untainted religious center. The community could serve as a sanctuary for Rick, if he presented himself and the local council decided he'd reformed enough to be accepted. If the Empire actually paid enough attention to realize he was alive, and tried to take him away, the entire populous would protest, insisting they be allowed to carry out their own justice where New Mecca's citizens were concerned.

At first Jack was skeptical of the plan. Surely the mighty Empire wouldn't care about the government and justice system of a single planet?

Imam had merely smiled and gone on to inform her that no man held enough worth in the eyes of the Empire to warrant the cutting off of the unrefined fuel cell material naturally abundant in New Mecca's mines.

After that it was a race to find the practicing holy man who could marry them fastest.

Jack expected marriage to change her life dramatically, but it didn't. She and Riddick lived together in peace after getting a small apartment in New Mecca's capital. It only had one bedroom, so Rick slept in the living room. He got a lower management position with another security consulting firm, similar to the one he'd worked for while living with Shella, except this one gave him the freedom to do most of his work from home—proofing overviews of security plans and blueprints, keeping in contact with fellow workers from all over the planet via video conferencing. When Jack teased him about 'Big Bad Riddick working for the man,' he'd reminded her it didn't matter if he had been granted sanctuary on New Mecca, it was better to keep a low profile than tempt fate. He'd needed work to pay their rent while Jack continued her efforts to go to college, and the flexibility to do most of his work alone suited him.

After graduating from high school, Jack moved out, living in the dorm like a regular kid. She didn't tell anyone she was married, knowing she'd get asked a hundred times if she was pregnant, or had been in the past. Besides the fact she didn't waste any time on boys, her first year of college went just like she'd always figured it would. Lots of stress, and lots of studying.

At first she didn't think she could cut it. She struggled with her classes and might've dropped out if Riddick hadn't been there for her. It surprised her how good he could be at helping her keep things in perspective. Every time her spirits got especially low, he found a way to cheer her up.

Through banter and support of each other, their relationship grew strong. It went beyond friendship to a feeling that they'd known each other forever. It didn't happen overnight, but over time as they grew to know each other well as adults, not as hero and worshiper. Thinking back, the first part of their marriage had really felt like a courtship. One that eventually led to the long thought upon decision to stay together instead of seeking an annulment once danger no longer seemed immanent.

"You're the only person I trust," he'd admitted to her one night when they sat on the roof of their building, watching the stars.

"I don't know if you should. I've lied to you. I don't regret it most days, but I did," Jack had responded, reluctantly.

He'd only grinned at her, his smile shark-like. "I know you did, Jack."

For a long time she felt the same as Riddick about trusting others. After surviving Hope, Dom and Shella, Jack felt they'd both learned a hard lesson about letting people into their lives. For the two of them, there could never be any assuming about the trustworthiness of others. They had to make sure before letting anyone in. So for the most part, they hadn't...

At least, not intentionally... Jack smiled at that thought.

She still remembered the discussions they'd had about children, even before they'd begun sharing a bedroom some time after she turned nineteen. They'd agreed the risk was too great. It was possible for Riddick to have the damage done to him in prison repaired. Some research hospitals claimed to have had success with a new procedure that could reverse the sterilization process. The problem remained that all those hospitals were located in areas within the Empire too dangerous for any freedom-loving criminal to visit. The subject dropped, their lives went on.

Their first kiss came during a social event at Jack's college, after their first night out as a couple nearly ended in disaster. Their first night together came just weeks after that.

Imam noticed the difference when he saw them a number of days later, and even he agreed it was about time they indulged in a honeymoon.

Less than a year before her college graduation, Jack got the flu. She threw up most of the morning and then lay in bed, missing class and feeling like crap until early evening when the nausea finally started to abate. The next morning started with her sitting in the bathroom, arms crossed over her stomach. She didn't get sick, but she'd felt bad enough to wish she would.

Riddick had walked in, ready to go to work—he had a presentation from a new client to attend at the main office downtown. He'd looked at her funny, cocking his head slightly. "You know, if I didn't know better, Jack, I'd almost think this flu had characteristics of morning sickness."

Her face had fallen, and she'd found herself truly hurt by him for the first time during their three years of marriage. "Are you kidding me? I'm sick all day yesterday and you accuse me of cheating? I haven't, okay? It's not as bad today, so maybe I'm getting better. I probably ate something last night that made it worse again..."

He'd taken a step or two closer, turned his back to the wall, and slid down to sit next to her. Taking her under one arm, he'd squeezed her tight against his side. "Never said I thought you cheated. You might want to consider getting a pregnancy test. The results could surprise you." The tone of his voice reluctantly indicated he knew something she didn't.

She'd turned to look at him, puzzled.

He sighed, looking at the floor. "A small part of the new treatment they're using involves a medication that helps repair the damage done by the chemicals they use on subspecies prisoners. A guy owed me—sent me some of those meds about a year before we started sleepin' together. I went to Imam's doctor for regular tests and it didn't seem to have done any good. It was beyond a long shot, but he did say that possibly, after that initial nudge, my body might find a way to heal itself in time."

"Why didn't you tell me?" she'd asked.

He'd shrugged. "Didn't believe him. Felt stupid for even trying. Never planned on having kids, but it wasn't easy wondering if you'd want them someday. Thinkin' about that made me feel—incomplete. You sacrificed a lot for me, Jack. It might be way sooner than either of us wanted, but at least you won't have to sacrifice this too."

Jack had smiled at his sentiment, but no matter how hard she tried not to allow panic to overshadow her thoughts, she couldn't help feeling a cold, gripping fear clutching at her heart.

"I would've stayed with you anyway, you know," she'd said. "I love you way more than the prospect of ever being a mother. I guess—I never really planned to have kids either."

He'd smiled morbidly, looking away. "I figured as much. I just had to keep telling myself it was for you, or else I never would've gone to the doc in the first place. Thinkin' back, the real reason I went probably had more to do with ego than anything. When I was younger I saw it as a free pass—sex without consequence. After a lot of years, I started to feel like I had a hole in me. An inadequacy..."

Jack's eyes had widened. "Oh shit. You were thinking about leaving me, weren't you?"

His face hadn't betrayed anything as he reached over to brush her hair behind her ear, cupping her cheek with his palm.

Tears had come to her eyes, even though she fought them back. "Why would it bother you so much if you didn't have to tell anyone ever again? I already knew, so who else would you have to tell? No one—except the next girl who wanted to know why you didn't bring protection. You never would've let me get pregnant if you'd known, not in a million years. Tell me I'm wrong, Riddick."

He'd kept his peace, eyes looking at her with something akin to sadness and pity. "It's gonna be okay, Jack," he'd finally said.

She'd turned away from him, bring up her knees and burying her face in her arms. "Oh shit," she'd sobbed. "Are you going to run now? If I am..." Jack's tears had cut her shot, her voice breaking pathetically.

He'd pulled her closer, holding her against his side while she cried, just listening to her sobs for several long minutes. "I really fucked up this time, didn't I?"

She'd nodded, having quieted some.

Riddick had sighed, finally disentangling himself from her grip. "I'm gonna be late," he'd said softly, getting to his feet and straightening his clothes while walking out of the bathroom.

Jack had bit her lip, a fresh wave of tears flooding her eyes. He'd never cared about arriving late for meetings or presentations before... Only when he needed an excuse to get away.

He'd looked back before leaving her line of sight, cocking his head a little to the side. "Don't order out for dinner tonight. If you're feeling better we'll head up town and eat with Imam at that place he likes. Sound good?"

She'd nodded.

Only after hours more of crying had it finally sank in that making dinner plans was Riddick's way of telling her not to worry. He might be afraid to admit he was ready to stick by her through anything, but he would—as long as she didn't force him to put his commitment into so many words.

The bounty on Dom's head grew to the point where the price offered for other criminals by the Empire reduced to mere pocket change. Never more than a few thousand dollars common. He did get reported captured and killed for a while, when Jack was eighteen.

When she'd casually asked Riddick if he thought their old acquaintance actually had gone to meet his maker, her husband merely brought up the Empire's watch list on the nearest view screen and pointed the enormous sum still listed next to Conte's name.

The point was clear. Dead men weren't worth a large fortune, no matter who had it out for them.

The next they heard from Conte was around the time Cameron Riddick reached six months of age, and celebrated it by getting a cold. His parents had walked with him for hours, finally getting him down for a night of sleep. The message came in at about three AM, just when they were about ready to collapse into bed.

The comm had beeped, and Riddick had gone to answer it, followed closely by Jack upon glimpsing a shirtless Dom on the screen.

"First of all, this is a recorded message on delayed send, so don't get any big ideas about finding me," he'd began by the time Jack reached Rick's side.

Almost instinctively Rick pulled her onto his lap, letting her sit sideways and watch with him, his arms wrapped around her waist.

Several years had passed, but she'd still recognized the Con-X on the screen. His black hair had grown longer, and his eyes appeared more green than blue, probably the result of a new set of contacts. The smirk remained the same, though his face appeared less boyish. He only wore a pair of loose sweatpants. She could see clearly his whole body had grown more massive with sleek muscle.

During the recording, Dom sat on the edge of a bed in a plain hotel room with zero identifying characteristics. He could've been anywhere in the universe, so she'd had no idea why he'd thought they might make the effort to locate him to report him for the bounty.

"I just wanted to make sure I let you both know that no one ever got me in the back. Lots of rumors are going around that I'm dead, but obviously I'm doing just fine."

A young female voice interrupted him from the background. "Dom! I am so going to get you for this! You finished off the ice cream!"

Briefly his attention turned off screen. "Look in the fridge; I put it in there to let it soften up. You shouldn't be eating ice cream for breakfast anyway!"

"Yeah, whatever. You're so not the boss of me, ya jerk!" the mysterious girl yelled back, sounding perfectly comfortable bantering with the most wanted felon in the universe.

"Thief!" he shouted back, his eyes glittering exactly the way Jack remembered them when he used to tease her.

"You so can't win that one, Con, so don't even go there! I so trump your ass with the mass murderer card!"

"Yeah, why don't you come over here and try that one, huh?" he said, grinning. He didn't even bother regaining his serious composure before looking back into the screen. He motioned with his head. "That's my girl. I found her a while ago and took her in. If I hadn't, she'd be dead now, because the Task Force was after the people she worked for. She's just a kid, really, but it's cool to have her. If I hadn't met Jack, I'm not sure I'd be living so high now. So I guess what I really wanted to say was, thanks..." After a second he reached forward and hit the end button, leaving Jack and Riddick in darkness.

"So," she'd said at last. "What do you think that was all about?"

He'd chuckled, squeezing her a little. "I think our Con-X is growing up. Probably his first time in love. He just had to tell someone about it."

"Well in that case she's a lucky girl, because he's even hotter than I remembered."

Riddick had growled at that suggestion, seeming to miss the teasing her voice. "You'd rather be running around the galaxy with that loser?"

She'd just smiled tiredly at him, and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Oh, come on, Riddick. Be serious. Do you honestly think I'd ever trade the life I've built with you for anything in the universe?"

He'd sighed. "No," he'd admitted, his better humor returning. "I know you wouldn't. Not for Conte, anyway. There's only one man I really got to worry about."

"Yeah, who's that?" she'd asked, curious.

Riddick had smirked, and his features took on a rare look of boyish mischief. "He's a little guy. Likes drinking milk. Goes by the name of ' Cam,'" he'd informed her.

Jack had half shrugged, barely suppressing a grin but pretending to be serious in her response, "Yeah. You've got me there. If I were you, I'd definitely be worried."

She'd gotten her nose tweaked for that one, and if both of them hadn't been exhausted Rick probably would've expected her to make it up to him.

Not that she would've minded that, of course.

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The door of Jack and Riddick's bedroom slowly creaked open. Jack smiled, her travels through seemingly distant memories fading. She sat up in bed, craning her neck to catch a glimpse of Cameron peeking in at her.

"I see you," she said, snickering.

Cam giggled, and the door swung open a little more. Soon he was crawling up on the foot of their bed, before launching himself into her arms. He'd brought his favorite story book.

Rick walked out of the bathroom wearing sweatpants, a towel draped across his broad shoulders. Cam immediately got up, running and jumping off the edge of the bed, never for a second fearing his father wouldn't catch him.

Riddick swooped the boy up, turning him upside down and making him scream with delight. The two crashed down beside Jack, their landing far more controlled than Cameron would ever believe.

"Story!" he insisted enthusiastically, reaching toward the book sitting in Jack's lap.

She smiled, scooting closer to them and opening the book.

Riddick held their three year old on his lap while Jack sat next to them and read one short story after another, Rick's arm snug around her shoulders.

They laughed when their son laughed, and sometimes would take breaks to tickle him until he begged them to stop. Their jobs kept them away from him during the week, so their weekends revolved around him. Jack couldn't remember the last time she and Rick had gone out alone on Saturday night, but that really didn't bother her.

They shared a late breakfast, watching cartoons on the kitchen's viewer until the news came on. After the table got cleared off, Jack and Cameron decorated the sugar cookies she'd baked the night before. Riddick sat across the table and watched, musing to himself.

"What should we put on this one?" she asked her son, taking a cookie off the pan so he could see it.

Cam grinned. "Frosting!" he said, giggling. It was the only thing he wanted to put on any of them since they never lasted long enough get decorated with anything else before they went in his mouth.

Jack smiled, ruffling his dark brown hair. "Oh, if it were up to you, you'd just eat the frosting without the cookie!" she teased, kissing him on one of the few clean spots still available on his cheek. Most of his face was dotted with different colors of icing.

He only giggled harder, recognizing his guilt even at such a young age. Riddick tossed her a towel when she looked up, seeming to know exactly what she was looking for before she asked. That started happening to them a lot after they'd settled in with their firstborn. Jack jokingly called it 'coordinated parenting.'

She wiped off Cam's face, then his hands. He never stopped laughing. Considering his parents had spent much of their lives in dire seriousness, it often amazed her that they'd managed to produce a child so prone to happiness. He'd almost been the perfect baby, never worrying them too much.

She only glanced at the viewer for a second, but that was all it took. The blood drained out of her face and her stare fixed on the screen.

Sensing her sudden mood change, Riddick turned to look himself. At first he didn't seem to realize what she'd seen, but then it hit him too.

On the news they were reporting the destruction of a Resistance base on a small, isolated planet. A few hundred had died. On the screen several military men surrounded a stretcher shrouded with a bloodstained sheet. In their hurry they'd failed to completely cover the left arm of the dead man, and on his shoulder was the mark of the Assassin's Guild, hardly visible in the midst of so much charred flesh.

Rick picked up the remote and flipped to his bookmark at the Empire's link on the network. His own worth remained unchanged at zero dollars common. A few button clicks and he'd found Conte's name.

Zero dollars common, updated just that morning.

Riddick and Jack shared a knowing look.

The Con-X had fallen from his throne.