{"id":993,"date":"2022-03-10T11:38:21","date_gmt":"2022-03-10T16:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/?page_id=993"},"modified":"2024-03-20T06:22:00","modified_gmt":"2024-03-20T10:22:00","slug":"lost-boy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/read-online\/lost-boy\/","title":{"rendered":"Lost Boy"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {\r\n  .su-tabs-nav {\r\n    display: flex;\r\n  }\r\n  .su-tabs-nav span {\r\n    flex-basis: 100%;\r\n    text-align: center;\r\n  }\r\n  .su-tabs-nav span:last-child {\r\n    margin-right: 0;\r\n  }\r\n}\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div align=\"center\" class=\"button\" style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\">\r\n<a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/fan-fiction\/lost-boy\/\">Return to the Title Page<\/a>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"su-tabs su-tabs-style-default su-tabs-mobile-scroll\" data-active=\"1\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"yes\"><div class=\"su-tabs-nav\"><span class=\" tabmoji-cover\" data-anchor=\"cover\" data-url=\"\" data-target=\"blank\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">&nbsp;&nbsp;Cover<\/span><span class=\" tabmoji-pubdata\" data-anchor=\"pubdata\" data-url=\"\" data-target=\"blank\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">&nbsp;&nbsp;Publication Data<\/span><span class=\" tabmoji-story\" data-anchor=\"the-story\" data-url=\"\" data-target=\"blank\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">&nbsp;&nbsp;The Story<\/span><\/div><div class=\"su-tabs-panes\"><div class=\"su-tabs-pane su-u-clearfix su-u-trim tabmoji-cover\" data-title=\"&nbsp;&nbsp;Cover\">\r\n<div style=\"margin-bottom:20px;\">\r\n<div class='content-column one_half'><span data-post-id=\"4127\" class=\"insert-page insert-page-4127 \"><p style=\"text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0;\">&nbsp;<\/p><\/span><\/div>\r\n<div class='content-column one_half last_column'><span data-post-id=\"4059\" class=\"insert-page insert-page-4059 \"><p style=\"text-align: right; margin-bottom: 0;\"><a href=\"#pubdata\">Publication Data \u00bb<\/a><\/p><\/span><\/div><div class='clear_column'><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Lost-Boy.png\" alt=\"Cover art for \u201cLost Boy\u201d by Ardath Rekha\" align=\"center\" style=\"width:100%\" customlink=\"false\" \/>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 20px;\">\r\n<div class='content-column one_half'><span data-post-id=\"4127\" class=\"insert-page insert-page-4127 \"><p style=\"text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0;\">&nbsp;<\/p><\/span><\/div>\r\n<div class='content-column one_half last_column'><span data-post-id=\"4059\" class=\"insert-page insert-page-4059 \"><p style=\"text-align: right; margin-bottom: 0;\"><a href=\"#pubdata\">Publication Data \u00bb<\/a><\/p><\/span><\/div><div class='clear_column'><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"su-tabs-pane su-u-clearfix su-u-trim tabmoji-pubdata\" data-title=\"&nbsp;&nbsp;Publication Data\">\r\n<div style=\"margin-bottom:20px;\">\r\n<div class='content-column one_half'><span data-post-id=\"3995\" class=\"insert-page insert-page-3995 \"><p style=\"text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0;\"><a href=\"#cover\">\u00ab Cover&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><\/span><\/div>\r\n<div class='content-column one_half last_column'><span data-post-id=\"4062\" class=\"insert-page insert-page-4062 \"><p style=\"text-align: right; margin-bottom: 0;\"><a href=\"#the-story\">The Story \u00bb<\/a><\/p><\/span><\/div><div class='clear_column'><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<span data-post-id=\"1244\" class=\"insert-page insert-page-1244 \">  <h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b><u>Lost Boy<\/u><\/b><\/h2>\r\n\r\n  <h4 style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 30px;\">By Ardath Rekha<\/h4>\r\n\r\n<span data-post-id=\"4495\" class=\"insert-page insert-page-4495 \"><p><b>Synopsis:<\/b> Jack needs to give Riddick a special present for his Big 3-0.<\/p><\/span>\r\n\r\n<div class='content-column one_half'><p><b>Category:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/browse-by-genre\/#fiction\">Fan Fiction<\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class='content-column one_half last_column'><p><b>Fandom:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/browse-by-fandom\/#pitch-black\"><i>Pitch Black<\/i> (2000)<\/a><\/div><div class='clear_column'><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class='content-column one_half'><p><b>Series:<\/b> None<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class='content-column one_half last_column'><p><b>Challenges:<\/b> None<\/div><div class='clear_column'><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class='content-column one_half'><p><b>Rating:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/browse-by-rating\/#rated-t\">T<\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class='content-column one_half last_column'><p><b>Orientation:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/browse-by-orientation\/#gen\">Gen<\/a><\/div><div class='clear_column'><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class='content-column one_half'><p><b>Pairings:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/browse-by-pairing\/#no-pairings\">None<\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class='content-column one_half last_column'><p><b>Warnings:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/the-content-warning-system\/#innuendo\">Innuendo<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/the-content-warning-system\/#mild-language\">Mild Language<\/a><\/div><div class='clear_column'><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class='content-column one_half'><p><b>Number of Chapters:<\/b> 1 \r\n\r\n<p><b>Net Word Count:<\/b><span id=\"su_tooltip_6a8e869d84e35_button\" class=\"su-tooltip-button su-tooltip-button-outline-yes\" aria-describedby=\"su_tooltip_6a8e869d84e35\" data-settings='{\"position\":\"top\",\"behavior\":\"hover\",\"hideDelay\":0}' tabindex=\"0\"><sup><i class=\"fas fa-question-circle\" style=\"color:#243a68;\"><\/i><\/sup><\/span><span style=\"display:none;z-index:100\" id=\"su_tooltip_6a8e869d84e35\" class=\"su-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"su-tooltip-inner su-tooltip-shadow-yes\" style=\"z-index:100;background:linear-gradient(to bottom, #4474BE 0%, #243a68 100%);color:#D9ECFB;font-size:16px;border-radius:5px;text-align:left;max-width:300px;line-height:1.25\"><span class=\"su-tooltip-title\"><\/span><span class=\"su-tooltip-content su-u-trim\">In the Read Online section, net word counts exclude cover pages, publication data pages, tables of contents, chapter titles, page links, original post date medatata, and \u2014 in the case of Lyric Wheel stories \u2014 song information and lyrics. In the case of articles, contextual notations are also omitted. Afterwords and chapter notes are treated as part of a text\u2019s overall body.<\/span><\/span><span id=\"su_tooltip_6a8e869d84e35_arrow\" class=\"su-tooltip-arrow\" style=\"z-index:100;background:linear-gradient(to bottom, #4474BE 0%, #243a68 100%)\" data-popper-arrow><\/span><\/span> 1,869\r\n\r\n<p><b>Total Word Count:<\/b><span id=\"su_tooltip_6a8e869d853f5_button\" class=\"su-tooltip-button su-tooltip-button-outline-yes\" aria-describedby=\"su_tooltip_6a8e869d853f5\" data-settings='{\"position\":\"top\",\"behavior\":\"hover\",\"hideDelay\":0}' tabindex=\"0\"><sup><i class=\"fas fa-question-circle\" style=\"color:#243a68;\"><\/i><\/sup><\/span><span style=\"display:none;z-index:100\" id=\"su_tooltip_6a8e869d853f5\" class=\"su-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"su-tooltip-inner su-tooltip-shadow-yes\" style=\"z-index:100;background:linear-gradient(to bottom, #4474BE 0%, #243a68 100%);color:#D9ECFB;font-size:16px;border-radius:5px;text-align:left;max-width:300px;line-height:1.25\"><span class=\"su-tooltip-title\"><\/span><span class=\"su-tooltip-content su-u-trim\">In the Read Online section, total word counts include all text present in the story tabs, excluding forward\/back page links and tooltips. This count tends to be slightly different from the eBook Total Word Count reported on the title page.<\/span><\/span><span id=\"su_tooltip_6a8e869d853f5_arrow\" class=\"su-tooltip-arrow\" style=\"z-index:100;background:linear-gradient(to bottom, #4474BE 0%, #243a68 100%)\" data-popper-arrow><\/span><\/span> 2,123\r\n\r\n<p><b>Story Length:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/browse-by-story-length\/#short-story\">Short Story<\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class='content-column one_half last_column'><p><b>First Posted:<\/b> May 2, 2004\r\n\r\n<p><b>Last Updated:<\/b> May 2, 2004\r\n\r\n<p><b>Status:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/browse-by-status\/#complete\">Complete<\/a><\/div><div class='clear_column'><\/div>\r\n\r\n<span data-post-id=\"4447\" class=\"insert-page insert-page-4447 \"><p><small>The characters and events of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0134847\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Pitch Black<\/i><\/a> are &copy; 2000 USA Films, Gramercy Pictures, and Interscope Communications; Directed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/name\/nm0878638\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">David Twohy<\/a>; Screenplay by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/name\/nm0003117\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ken and<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/name\/nm0923646\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jim Wheat<\/a> and David Twohy; Story by Ken and Jim Wheat; Produced by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/name\/nm0257259\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tom Engelman<\/a>. This work of fan fiction is a transformative work for entertainment purposes only, with no claims on, nor intent to infringe upon, the rights of the parties listed above. All additional characters and situations are the creation of, and remain the property of, Ardath Rekha. eBook design and cover art by <a href=\"https:\/\/laraklaber.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LaraRebooted<\/a>, using a landscape photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/@rpnickson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Roberto Nickson<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pexels<\/a> and a photo of the Pleiades by <a href=\"https:\/\/esahubble.org\/projects\/fits_liberator\/fitsimages\/davidedemartin_5\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Davide DeMartin<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/fontmeme.com\/fonts\/christmas-sparkle-font\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Christmas Sparkle<\/a> font from <a href=\"https:\/\/fontmeme.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Font Meme<\/a>, and background graphics &copy; 1998 Noel Mollon, adapted and licensed via Teri Williams Carnright from the now-retired Fantasyland Graphics site (c. 2003). This eBook may not be sold or advertised for sale. If you are a copyright holder of any of the referenced works, and believe that part or all of this eBook exceeds fair use practices under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/contact-me\/\">please contact Ardath Rekha<\/a>.<\/small><\/p><p style=\"text-align: right; margin-bottom: 0;\"><small><i>Rev. 2022.10.09<\/i><\/small><\/p><\/span><\/span>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 20px;\">\r\n<div class='content-column one_half'><span data-post-id=\"3995\" class=\"insert-page insert-page-3995 \"><p style=\"text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0;\"><a href=\"#cover\">\u00ab Cover&nbsp;<\/a><\/p><\/span><\/div>\r\n<div class='content-column one_half last_column'><span data-post-id=\"4062\" class=\"insert-page insert-page-4062 \"><p style=\"text-align: right; margin-bottom: 0;\"><a href=\"#the-story\">The Story \u00bb<\/a><\/p><\/span><\/div><div class='clear_column'><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"su-tabs-pane su-u-clearfix su-u-trim tabmoji-story\" data-title=\"&nbsp;&nbsp;The Story\">\r\n<div style=\"margin-bottom:20px;\">\r\n<div class='content-column one_half'><span data-post-id=\"3996\" class=\"insert-page insert-page-3996 \"><p style=\"text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0;\"><a href=\"#pubdata\">\u00ab Publication Data<\/a><\/p><\/span><\/div>\r\n<div class='content-column one_half last_column'><span data-post-id=\"4127\" class=\"insert-page insert-page-4127 \"><p style=\"text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0;\">&nbsp;<\/p><\/span><\/div><div class='clear_column'><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<span data-post-id=\"1423\" class=\"insert-page insert-page-1423 \">  <h2 style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"><u><b>Lost Boy<\/b><\/u><\/h2>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">Jack found Riddick sitting in the garden, gazing up at the starless sky.  Clouds obscured everything from horizon to horizon, leaving the world below in darkness only slightly alleviated by distant street lights.  Only her complete familiarity with Imam\u2019s garden let her see him at all.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">He looked up at her approach, mercury eyes fixing unerringly upon her, but didn\u2019t say a word as she sat down next to him on the bench.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cWe missed you at dinner,\u201d she told him, unable to think of any other way to start.  She wanted to ask him about the last week.  He\u2019d become strangely moody, impossibly more taciturn than ever.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cHmm.\u201d  He turned his head a little, gazing out into the night again.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">Jack took a deep breath and pressed forward with her questions.  Two years of Riddick in her life had taught her to be direct, both in what she asked and what she answered.  \u201cIs everything okay?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cYeah\u2026\u201d  He certainly didn\u2019t <i>sound<\/i> okay.  \u201cEverything\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">Jack found herself taking another deep breath, this time in annoyance.  Okay, yes, she was still only fifteen, but she understood the world pretty well, and she was perceptive enough to know when \u201cit\u2019s okay\u201d meant things were anything <i>but.<\/i>  To her knowledge, this was the first time Riddick had lied to her since she\u2019d first met him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">So what would <i>he<\/i> do if their roles were reversed?  He\u2019d force the question.  You didn\u2019t get away with dodging around him, after all.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cNo it isn\u2019t.  C\u2019mon, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">He looked over at her, his expression suddenly wary.  For a long moment he seemed to consider her, as though weighing a heavy option.  Then he let out a long, deep breath.  \u201cBeen thinking about my life.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">That was more introspective than she was used to from Riddick.  \u201cWhat about it?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">He shrugged, eyes sweeping over the garden.  She wondered, as she often did, how it looked to his strange eyes.  She imagined it looked fey and magical, lit with colors ordinary human eyes couldn\u2019t even <nobr>see\u2014<\/nobr><\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cWhere it\u2019s going.  Where it\u2019s been.  I\u2019m thirty, <nobr>and\u2026<\/nobr> the thing I\u2019m proudest of, in all that time, is that I didn\u2019t run out on you.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">Jack was stunned, both by his sudden open frankness about his feelings, <nobr>and\u2026<\/nobr><\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cWhen did you turn thirty?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">A hint of a sad grin ghosted Riddick\u2019s lips.  \u201cToday.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">Jack stared at him in astonishment.  \u201cYou asshole, it\u2019s your birthday and you didn\u2019t tell me?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cWasn\u2019t much point.  Birthdays don\u2019t mean anything.\u201d  He seemed morose now.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cBullshit they don\u2019t.  If they don\u2019t mean anything, how come you buy me five presents on mine?  You know, I\u2019d have returned the favor if I\u2019d <nobr>known\u2026\u201d<\/nobr>  She glared at him, mostly to hide her profound embarrassment at not having known, or realized, or <i>asked<\/i> before now.  <i>Why didn\u2019t I ever ask?<\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cOkay,\u201d he said, his voice taking on a hint of irritation.  \u201cLet me rephrase that.  <i>My<\/i> birthday doesn\u2019t mean anything.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cIt does to <i>me!\u201d<\/i> Jack protested.  \u201cShit, now I need to get you a present!  And for the last two years, too!  So come <i>on,<\/i> it means something, and if it didn\u2019t you wouldn\u2019t be out here <i>moping.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">She had her hand on his shoulder.  He reached up and took it into his hand, his thumb skimming her palm.  \u201cMoping?  Thinking.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cSame difference.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">He looked both touched and annoyed.  \u201cYou think it\u2019s easy to just start your life over at this age?  I look back at who I used to be and it makes me sick.  Makes me wonder if my mother had the right idea, trying to dump me and move on.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cLike hell.\u201d  A sudden intuitive flash hit Jack, making things clear to her.  \u201cIs that what this is about?  Her?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">Riddick shrugged but she could feel his unease.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cLook, just because she didn\u2019t love you for some reason, doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019re not loveable.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">Riddick\u2019s answer was a humorless snort of laughter.  \u201cWho\u2019d ever love me?  A convicted murderer.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cAre you stupid?  <i>I<\/i> love you, dummy!\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">The startled look on his face, supplanting his usual ironic deadpan, was something she would treasure forever.  She\u2019d never managed to provoke a completely unpoised response from him before.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">He took a breath as if he was about to speak, paused, and then released it.  Again.  Finally he managed to answer her.  \u201cYou don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cWhat, you think I don\u2019t know what love is?  Because I\u2019m a kid?  Kids know how to love.  My family gave me lots of practice, you know, before the accident.  <i>I<\/i> probably know more about love than <i>you<\/i> do.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">She watched as he thought about that one, considering the truth in it. The sad smile reappeared.  \u201cYou\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\"><i>Holy shit, he thinks I\u2019m right!<\/i>  She was amazed by the lift it gave her.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">After a moment, he continued.  \u201cBut you <nobr>know\u2026<\/nobr> that wasn\u2019t actually the kind of love I meant.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">Jack chuckled. \u201cOh, you mean the kind of love a girl half your age can\u2019t give you.  You\u2019re probably right.  Can\u2019t help you there.  But hey, you\u2019ll find someone.  A guy as hot as you?  No question.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">Another startled look appeared on his face.  \u201cThat wasn\u2019t what I meant either.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\"><i>Okay, now I\u2019m confused.<\/i>  \u201cWhat kind of love were you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">He still seemed a bit astounded by her last words.  Why was that?  Suddenly it came to her that she\u2019d told him he was <i>sexy.<\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\"><i>Oh shit.  Well, he hasn\u2019t run off screaming or anything.<\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">Riddick took another deep breath.  \u201cJack, sometimes I envy you so much I have to remind myself that you\u2019re my <i>friend.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cThe way Imam\u2026 dotes all over you.  Nobody\u2019s ever felt that way about me.  I never got to have that.  Sometimes when I watch him, like when you bring your report card home and he gets all excited about your <nobr>grades\u2026<\/nobr> I want your life.  I want to steal it.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">The sudden sorrow that filled Jack\u2019s chest almost overwhelmed her.  \u201cYou\u2019ve never had that, have you?  Not even now.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">Imam <i>liked<\/i> Riddick, and wanted to help him become a better man, <nobr>but\u2026<\/nobr> there was no love or affection involved.  How strange to realize that Riddick coveted Imam\u2019s fatherly behavior, wanting it for himself.  He\u2019d never had real parents.  He\u2019d never had the experience of being the foremost person in another person\u2019s heart.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\"><i>Oh Riddick\u2026<\/i>  She climbed into his lap and wrapped her arms around him before either one of them realized she was moving.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">He stiffened for a moment and then his arms came around her.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">She couldn\u2019t think of a thing to say now.  Neither, apparently, could he.  She didn\u2019t know what to tell him.  He\u2019d never had parental love, and that was something he would probably never find.  But <nobr>maybe\u2026<\/nobr> maybe she could at least show him what some of that love was like.  Funny to think of taking on a motherly role towards a man twice her age. <i>A nurturing role,<\/i> she told herself.  You didn\u2019t have to be someone\u2019s mother to be the one who helped them grow.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">Finally, after a long while, he spoke at last, in a soft whisper unlike anything she\u2019d ever heard from him.  \u201cThank you, Jack.  Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">It suddenly reminded her of a tale in which an ageless rogue, with the body of a child and the determination to stay that way, sought out a girl to become mother to him and to his family.  Only in Riddick\u2019s case, it was more the reverse.  The body of a man, but in some ways he was younger than she was.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cGuess we should go inside, huh?\u201d  He sounded almost embarrassed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cI put your food in the warmer.  It\u2019ll keep, if you want to stay out for a while.\u201d  She gave him an inviting smile.  \u201cWe can watch the stars.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">He barked with laughter.  \u201cThe sky\u2019s <i>completely<\/i> clouded up, kid.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">Jack laughed and grabbed his hand.  Standing up, she pulled until he rose to his feet.  \u201cCome with me.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">She dragged him out of  the formal garden and out into the field behind the house.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cWhat are you up to?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cThis is a good spot.  Lie down.\u201d  She smiled at him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cLie <i>down?<\/i>\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cYeah.  You\u2019ve done that before, right?  On your back.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">He gave her a dubious look, but obeyed.  \u201cNo kinky shit, kid.  You\u2019re only half my age.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cEww!  As if.  Do you know how many bugs are in this grass?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cAnd you want me to lie <i>down<\/i> in it?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cWhat are you worried about?  They can\u2019t crawl into your hair or anything.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">He laughed, and that lightened her heart.  She\u2019d broken through his despondency at last.  \u201cOkay, <nobr>kid\u2026<\/nobr> you lying down too?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cBut of course.\u201d  She sat down beside him and waited until he was reclined before putting her head on his chest.  \u201cNow, close your eyes.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cThis is getting <nobr>weird\u2026\u201d<\/nobr><\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cTrust me.  You got your eyes closed?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cOkay.  Now\u2026 right up above you is a big one.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cBig one what?  I have my eyes closed.\u201d  He sounded annoyed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cJeez, you need to use your imagination for once, Riddick.  See it inside you, okay?  A big star.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cOhkaaay\u2026 a big star.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cIt\u2019s white, and bright.  Now, on its <nobr>left\u2026<\/nobr> there\u2019s a little blue one.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">Riddick chuckled.  \u201cHow many degrees away?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cThere you go\u2026 I was hoping you\u2019d catch on.\u201d  Jack snuggled closer to him.  \u201cNow, <i>you<\/i> tell <i>me<\/i> what else there is.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">She felt him chuckle again.  \u201cOkay, <nobr>Jack\u2026<\/nobr> we\u2019re gonna tour the Pleiades.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">She smiled and listened as he began to describe the stars in one of the parts of the galaxy he\u2019d traveled through.  She knew he was seeing them, and, slowly, she began to see them too.  His voice was hypnotic, <nobr>riveting\u2026<\/nobr><\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cJacqueline.  Wake up, child.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">She opened her eyes to see Imam smiling above her.  \u201cWha?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cIt\u2019s time for you two to come in.  It\u2019s almost midnight.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">She sat up, rubbing her eyes and wondering when she had fallen asleep.  She\u2019d dreamt of flying through the stars with Riddick beside her.  He groaned a little behind her, sitting up too.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cCome, both of you.  It is late.\u201d  Imam turned and headed for the house.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">Jack looked back at Riddick, catching his wry grin.  \u201cSorry I fell asleep.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cNo, that\u2019s okay.  It was nice.\u201d  Riddick stood and offered her his hand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">She climbed to her feet, glancing at her watch.  \u201cIt\u2019s five to midnight.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">He raises his eyebrow at her. \u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cMeans I have time to give you one more birthday present.\u201d  She grinned at him, feeling impish.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cClose your eyes.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\"><i>\u201cAgain?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u201cTrust me, Riddick.  Close your eyes.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">He chuckled and closed them. \u201cOkay?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">Jack rose on her tip-toes, putting her hands on Riddick\u2019s shoulders.  She pressed her lips to his cheek and felt his breath catch.  \u201cHappy Birthday, Richard B. Riddick,\u201d she whispered into his ear.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"text-indent:.25in; margin-bottom: 0;\">When their eyes met, he looked deeply touched.  She smiled, taking his hand and leading him back towards the house.  Somehow, she was going to make sure that it felt like a home to him, too, from now on.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <hr style=\"align: center; width: 50%; background: linear-gradient(to right, #4474BE 0%, #243a68 100%); height: 3px; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;\">\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"margin-bottom: 0;\"><b>Note:<\/b> This is for a very special, beloved friend, who didn\u2019t have the birthday she ought to have had.  Love you!  <\/p><\/span>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 20px;\">\r\n<div class='content-column one_half'><span data-post-id=\"3996\" class=\"insert-page insert-page-3996 \"><p style=\"text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0;\"><a href=\"#pubdata\">\u00ab Publication Data<\/a><\/p><\/span><\/div>\r\n<div class='content-column one_half last_column'><span data-post-id=\"4127\" class=\"insert-page insert-page-4127 \"><p style=\"text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0;\">&nbsp;<\/p><\/span><\/div><div class='clear_column'><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div align=\"center\" class=\"button\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0;\">\r\n<a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/fan-fiction\/lost-boy\/#comments\">Leave a review<\/a>\r\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Return to the Title Page Leave a review","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":308,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"bgseo_title":"Read Online: \u201cLost Boy\u201d by Ardath Rekha","bgseo_description":"Jack needs to give Riddick a special present for his Big 3-0.","bgseo_robots_index":"index","bgseo_robots_follow":"follow","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-993","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","no-wpautop"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/993","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=993"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/993\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4912,"href":"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/993\/revisions\/4912"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ardath-rekha.com\/fanworks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}