SMILING

Several Months Later

The galaxy in front of them was asleep and dreaming. It was very black with stars splattered everywhere and moons passing them every few lightyears. It felt like they'd been travelling for years. In reality it was only a few months.

"Shit Riddick when are we getting to this galaxy?"

Riddick was sat in the pilot seat, checking some readings. He held a hand out behind him to signal for the voice to wait til he finished. Tapping some buttons, he set the ship to auto-pilot so he didn't have to worry too much about what was going on as they flew.

Jack stood behind him, arms crossed furiously in front of her. Her appearance had changed hardly at all in the months that had followed her flight to Pixel. Her hair was still short and blood red, falling above her shoulders and she still wore tight liquidy black. Riddick hadn't changed outwardly either and raised an eyebrow at her

"What?"

"Answer my question! When are we getting to this galaxy you told me about?"

"When the ship gets there" after Jack glared at him harder, he flashed a smile "estimate time a few days"

"Why the hell are we going here anyway?"

"The small matter of Mercs, it's a small galaxy hardly anyone visits so we'll be able to be there together without looking over our shoulders too much and if they do end up visiting us, then we'll just kill them"

Not much had changed in the past few months. They'd visited Iman and talked to him about staying together, whether it was a viable option. He had said that if they had that bond between them then it would be safety in numbers. Now that Riddick had got out of such a huge security prison, it was rumoured he wasn't human but a ghost, a demon, the devil himself. Riddick had laughed at that.

The devil had nothing on him

He and Jack had settled into that comfortable level of being together. They fitted together well. Iman had smiled at them and said he gave them his blessing. Jack had discovered that Riddick had set the ship on a course for New Mecca once she was awake and that was where they were for several weeks. They needed to spend some time with Iman after so many years apart from him. Survivors share a bond

She's heard news reports about the finding of Farrell's body. Apparently it was barely recognisable. Her blood didn't even run cold at the thought. Riddick told her he'd done as much damage as he could without causing anyone to know they were there. She rubbed a wrist absently. Riddick had seen the marks but hadn't asked. She knew one day he would and she'd have the true answers ready for him. Now they were still hunted. They were wanted for one more murder. She'd forgotten how many were on their combined list now. They were a Holy Grail to Mercs and Blues, plenty of whom had attempted to capture them alive since Farrell's murder. No one had succeeded, not even come close.

Now Riddick was taking her somewhere far away so they could relax for a while. God knew for how long. They both loved the hunt so much that it would probably be a matter of weeks. She scowled at Riddick and sat down to begin to sharpen her shiv. She couldn't complain about life. She and Riddick had decided to stay together after that night on the ship. They couldn't be apart, no matter how safe it was. Lando helped them as much as he could, cloaking their ship and causing chaos. He said he enjoyed it, knowing he was causing problems for the Blues. Jack grinned. Yeah life was ok.

"What the hell you smiling at?" Riddick asked curiously

"Nothing for you to get your tiny brain tied up in"

"You're as good as dead if you continue along that line"

"Ah you'd miss the sex too much"

"I can get that on tap on any planet we stop on"

"Do that and I'll kill the bitches"

Riddick grinned and sat back. He had no complaints either. Jack was his, the way it should have been. They travelled together to avoid the detection, capture or torture the Mercs were willing to dish out. Iman had taken him aside, warning him that Jack was so fiercely independent that it could jeopardise their partnership together since she was so used to working as a separate entity. Riddick has reassured him that there was enough fire and love between them to keep them together. Love. He couldn't remember if he'd told Jack he loved her. He hadn't at first. It had just been sex, the thing he'd yearned from her after such separation and that kiss. Then after spending time together he'd been forced to confront the fact that he'd been falling for his partner-in-crime.

He didn't have to tell her. She knew by just looking at him.

"Now what are you smiling at Richard B Riddick?" Jack asked teasingly as she sat down beside him

"Same thing as you"

And he was

...

So that's where I'm gonna leave em folks. I think they deserve it after all they've been through don't u? It's been a hell of a journey to write this story and I couldn't have made it without a lot of people so here we go with the thank yous:

My Reviewers: you guys rock on every level. Just knowing people read it and enjoy it enough to review is enough to inspire me to write. So big thanks to anyone who gave it a passing glance. Special thanks to those loyal peeps Blaze, abraxis, Your Worshipfulness, Rogue Angel 715, CandyCoatedWaterDrops and Digital Tempest (love chatting to u my love!)

Vin Diesel and Rhiana Griffith who in 'Pitch Black' created such monsters of characters in Riddick and Jack that I just had to write them. U two are incredible and I cannot wait for 'The Chronicles of Riddick' which I know will satisfy my hunger for these characters. Big thanks. Also thanks to Keith David who played Iman, a wonderful character to write who I adore including!

Ardath for her fic 'Apprentice' one of the first Pitch Black fanfics I ever read and one I keep coming back to to reread. Ur story is a total inspiration for this author, the best PB fic I have ever read so thanks very much for giving me the spark to start his long journey with Riddick and Jack though mine is not as wonderfully complex as urs is!

The Vin Diesel Estrogen Brigade and WooHooVin (with all its WooHoo Angels) for reading and reviewing me, making me feel I have something worth writing. Special thanks to Rachel and Kimblebits for always leaving me some comments and making me feel confident in my ability. I did it girls! ;- )