Chapter 5

Carolyn sat on a bench against the wall enjoying the sights and sounds as the settlement gathered to celebrate its second Christmas here, a few of the men and women stopping by to drop off gifts for Grayson.

Riddick who was involved in a conversation with Marty about some improvements to the machine shop watched as Carolyn moved to sit on the floor, showing the boy how to tear at the wrapping paper, which he did with shrieks of joy causing Carolyn to throw her head back in laughter. Once the paper was torn off, Riddick watched as the gift went straight into Grayson's mouth eliciting a chuckle from him.

It had been a challenge living with Carolyn to make sure nothing small was left out for the boy to shove in his mouth. Carolyn patiently got the toy away from him with a minimum of fuss, putting it on the floor and showing him how the wings on the little airplane flapped up and down when you pulled it. Grayson's eyes got as big as saucers before demanding to play with the toy.

"Cute kid, huh?" Marty asked turning to see what had captivated his best worker.

"He's a good boy," Riddick said still watching the mother and son.

"And she's a good woman." Marty said. "Didn't deserve any of what happened to her. Before or after."

Riddick looked at him sharply.

"No one would take care of her afterwards when the infection set in. I brought her into my home and cared for her. She told me the whole of it, just like you I'm guessing. I do what I can but these are simple folks who tend to deal in black and white just to survive. Carolyn has more than proved herself though. I happen to think the reason most of'em won't approach her is because they're ashamed. Their actions could have caused her to lose that baby and then they'd be just as guilty as her in their minds. The people here, they like you. And they're not so opposed to you being with her much anymore. I've noticed since your arrival that some of the folks are opening up to her just a bit more. Including her in conversations, things like that. It's not much but it's a start."

"Excuse me," Riddick said without a backwards glance making his way to her side, sitting on the bench where she had been before. Casually leaning against his leg, Carolyn chuckled as Grayson spotted him and nearly tripped in his haste to show him his new toy. Riddick picked him up placing him on his lap and made a production out of inspecting the toy and talking to the boy who was babbling happily with a few actual words making their way out. Reaching into his jacket Riddick pulled out a wrapped package waving it in front of the boys face. Squealing, now that he knew what the deal was, Grayson tossed his airplane aside right on Carolyn's head. Both laughing, they watched as he pulled the paper off, grasping the wood ring in his hand.

Carolyn smiled reaching up to feel its smooth surface. "Finally, Grayson. Something that's ok for you to put in your mouth. Thank you, Riddick." She said looking up at him with a smile.

"I hate telling him no all the time, especially now that those back teeth are coming in."

Carolyn nodded in understanding, watching as Riddick sat her son back on his feet. Standing up Carolyn reached for a package on the bench and sitting down, handed it him. "Merry Christmas, Riddick."

"What's this?" He asked with a small smile tearing at the paper. He couldn't remember being given a gift before. Ever. Pulling out a pair of leather work gloves he slipped them on. They fit perfectly. "You made these?"

Carolyn grinned. "Do you like them? Marty supplied the leather. Mentioned that they might come in handy even though I already knew that from taking care of you."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

The sound of Grayson crying reached their ears and Carolyn rushed to the sobbing boy picking him up from where he had fallen. Holding him to her, she soothed him as Riddick hovered. "I think someone's ready for bed." She said looking up at Riddick. Walking to their bench, he slipped his coat on helping Carolyn get Grayson into his before holding out his arms to take him.

"Daddy." The boy sniffed laying his head on Riddick's shoulders.

Carolyn paused for a moment before getting her outerwear on and gathering up their things. They were wished a Merry Christmas by many on their way out of the hall and as Carolyn shut the door behind them, the silence of the night was almost overwhelming. They walked quietly back to her home ,working in tandem to get Hunter into his pajamas and into bed.

"He'll just have to open the rest of his gifts tomorrow, I suppose." She said undressing, her back to him.

She smiled as she felt a hand run over her shoulder. "Merry Christmas, Caroline." He whispered in her ear as he slipped something on her.

"It's beautiful, Riddick!" she said fingering the material of the robe and looking at the detail work.

"Mrs. Hempstead?"

Riddick nodded. "I told her you needed something for those nights you got up with Grayson. What I didn't tell her was that I'm tired of freezing to death because you take the blanket with you.

Carolyn snorted and rolled her eyes with a smile. Turning serious again she pulled him down to her. "Thank you."

A few hours later she opened her eyes in the dark as she listened to him leave house.

When Riddick returned, Carolyn was already up chopping vegetables as a pot of hot cereal simmered on the stove. Dropping firewood into the wood box, Riddick shrugged out of his coat. "Going somewhere?"

"I know that you're meeting with Marty after breakfast so I thought Hunter and I might go outside for a while. I haven't been out back of the settlement in a while and I'm getting low on herbs."

Having put away his coat, Riddick cornered Carolyn in the kitchen spinning her around to face him, bending down to nuzzle her neck wrapping his hands around her waist. Leaning into him Carolyn sighed as she let her body relax just as Grayson began calling for her in a sing-song voice causing Carolyn to groan into Riddick's throat. Riddick nipped her ear before turning her loose.

Carolyn went after Grayson, changing his diaper and dressing him before reappearing at the breakfast table. "Daddy!" Grayson squealed seeing Riddick.

"Come'er little man." Riddick said taking the boy from Carolyn.

Slipping him into his high chair Riddick tied the bib that Carolyn handed him around the child's neck. "There you go," he told the boy as Carolyn, looking uncomfortable, sat a small bowl in front of him. Riddick reached around Carolyn taking a bowl off of the counter in front of her. "You worry too much." He said before taking his seat.

After breakfast he stopped before heading out the door. "Don't wonder to far off. If the wind picks up you could get stranded."

Carolyn smiled. "We'll be back by lunchtime."

It was dusk before Marty and Riddick called it quits for the day working straight through lunch. Worried about Carolyn and Grayson, he had one of the children run by and check on them with instructions to come back only if they weren't home.

"My God! Someone's landing." Riddick heard Marty say from up ahead.

"What?"

"There's a ship landing!"

Riddick stuck his head outside taking a look. A mile away he could see a spacecraft descending. He cursed under his breath grabbing Marty by the arm. "You get every weapon you can find and get these people armed!"

"Why? Who are they?"

"Very bad people, Marty." Riddick said grimly. "Send any children you run into over to Carolyn's. Now go!"

Marty took off in one direction and Riddick headed home to get Carolyn and Grayson, herding children with him along the way. Bursting into the house it was empty. Ordering the children to stay put he ran back out towards the main hall just as he heard the whining whistle of an inbound missile.