Finally, they were only a few weeks away from Furya. Carolyn had bounced back quickly from the attack and Riddick prayed to Imam's God that the remaining time would remain stress and drama free. The trip had taken longer than they expected and he wanted to at least be planet side when she gave birth.

And then there was Aereon. Riddick wasn't quiet sure what was going on with the woman. She had come to him last week and told him to be ready to pick up three passengers tomorrow when they stopped at the last planet they would encounter before reaching Furya. Evidently three more Elementals would be joining them. She informed him that they were some of her sister Elementals that agreed to join her on Furya, as Aereon had no plans in returning home. Riddick looked at her like a man who had just been told that his mother-in-law was moving in with him. "Close your mouth, Richard," Carolyn had told him from her spot on the sofa. Finally with an indignant look upon his face, he turned on his heel and left the room. Carolyn simply rolled her eyes.

She wasn't allowed to go to the surface with Aereon the next day to collect the three women and made her displeasure about it known. In order to appease her Riddick offered to stay behind spending time with her and the girls while Vaako and the others went to the surface.

They had a picnic lunch packed and took the girls to the conservatory to play. Butcher went with them to help with the children, as Carolyn was moving at about the speed of a turtle these days. After spreading a few blankets out Riddick helped Carolyn lower herself to the ground and then took a seat behind her cradling her between his legs so that she could recline back against him.

"How do you feel?"

"Like a whale," she sighed in disgust. "I don't remember ever being this big with Rory," she complained while rubbing her belly trying to soothe the active babe within.

He replaced her hands with his stroking lovingly over her stomach. "I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you then."

Carolyn bumped her head against his chin. "What's done is done. What's important is that you're here now." She smiled as they heard Butcher counting loudly as their daughters ran by giggling. "All that matters is that they're happy and safe."

"What's going on with Aereon?"

"Why? What have you heard?"

"It's not so much what I've heard as what've I've seen."

"Really? Like what?"

"The way the two of you quiet down when I enter the same room or how she suddenly announces that she'll be staying on Furya with us and needs the companionship of her own kind."

"She expressed a desire to stay and I'd like for her to. I hope that's ok. The children and I have become very attached to her."

"I know," he answered huskily against her neck. "That's the only reason I let her stay. I can't promise how well other Furyans will take their presence though. Because of her Zhylaw carried out mass infanticide."

Carolyn twisted as much as she could in his arms so that she could see his face. "Don't you think I know that? Because of her I almost didn't have you." She caressed his face with her hand. "I can't even begin to imagine what your mother went through having her child taken from her womb and strangled in front of her. Thinking you were dead." Tears sprung from her eyes thinking about something so horrible happening to either of her children. "Damn hormones," she muttered brushing at the tears.

Riddick caught her by the wrists and bent down kissing the tears off her face. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For making me see it through the eyes of my mother. I've always hated her because I thought she didn't love me enough to want me."

"Oh Riddick."

After having lunch Carolyn settled the girls down next to her to read them a story. Before long all three were asleep. Riddick stood to stretch and spotted Butcher over talking to a few guards. During the course of the trip things with the surviving Necromongers had relaxed greatly. Most no longer wore their armor on board and the majority had taken to wearing civilian type clothing. He had gotten to know all of the Furyans. While he may not know their names, he knew them on sight. He knew all the command staff and those that were loyal to Vaako but had simply been too busy to meet the rest. He depended on Carolyn and Vaako for much of the daily interpersonal dealings. As Carolyn's pregnancy had progressed more and more of those duties had fallen on Vaako and now that he thought about it Aereon. The woman was constantly at Carolyn's side or with the children, which meant that she knew just as much going on around the ship as Carolyn did. His eyes narrowed in thought.

A tug at the bottom of his shirt drew him out of his thoughts. He looked down to find a brown head of curly hair standing next to him with two arms out stretched. He reached down and easily scooped Ziza up with one arm. "I thought you we're taking a nap little one."

She sleepily rubbed her eyes, "I woke up."

"I can see that. Mama Carrie and Rory are still asleep. Wanna go look at the fish in the pond?"

"Can we?" She asked suddenly alert.

Riddick found himself standing in the pond with his boots off and pants rolled up along side two little girls chasing fish. Carolyn sat on the edge with her dress pulled up and her feet dangling in the cool water laughing at their antics. Riddick would occasionally catch one of the fish and hold it out while the girls squealed loud enough to rupture eardrums.

Butcher interrupted them. "My Lord, Mistress, it appears as though Lady Aereon has returned with our guests."

Carolyn who was still laughing over the girls and almost as wet as they from all their splashing sat forward and reached her hand out to Riddick. "Help me up?" He smiled and waded over to her taking her hand. Climbing out of the pool he helped her to her feet while Butcher rounded the girls up.

She put her hand around his waist as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and they made their way through the foliage to meet Aereon. She and Carolyn embraced while Riddick stood back looking over the three extra females under his care. Vaako moved to his side and they conferred in low tones as Aereon introduced Carolyn to her brethren.

She introduced the women from oldest to youngest. "Elyta, is an Aether elemental, Diondra represents the Water and last but not least is Maurella who represents fire."

Carolyn caught the girl's glance over her shoulder and realized that Vaako was staring back. Well, how about that. She and Aereon had been going over possible matches for Vaako for months but just couldn't find anyone that was just right. They were all missing that little something. That "fire" for lack of a better word. Carolyn smirked and looked at Aereon who returned the look. After greeting their Uncle Vaako the girls came running to see Aereon.

"This is the child?" Elyta asked.

"These are my daughters Aurora and Ziza and my husband Riddick;" Carolyn introduced holding her hand out to him.

"Richard, this is Maurella, Diondra and Elyta."

"Ladies," Riddick drawled. "It's a pleasure. Welcome to our home."

"Temporary home," Carolyn interjected. "Why don't we go get you settled? I hope you don't mind sharing a room in our family quarters."

Riddick moved his hand to her shoulder gently squeezing it to get her attention. "I have some things to attend to while you get our guests settled. I'll see you at dinner."

"Alright then, can someone walk back with us?" she asked looking over at their guests. Kilo volunteered. She patted his arm. "Thank you, as of today I officially cannot sit, stand, bend over or put my shoes on by myself. I need all the help I can get with these two." He smiled back at her and called the girls over. Holding their hands he listened to their chatter, occasionally asking a question while Diondra joined them. Carolyn took Aereon's arm and followed them, chatting with Elyta while Maurella brought up the rear.