A lot of time had passed since they found out there were other three communities. So many days, months and maybe a few years…two or so, how could she tell? Life in the caves has been great. They keep raiding and doing their stuff. She had finally adapted to Pet's body and could call it her own.

Two of the communities have visited them and Lacey –the ex seeker – have moved with one of them to the north, she said she like the cold best and not one of us really complained when she made the sad announcement. I would laugh a lot when Mel mimicked her demanding voice.

As a "bad habit" as Ian would call it both, Mel and I, walk really closed to each other by the arm whispering stuff, it was like having an internal conversation again.

Ians warm breath change against my neck that how I could tell he was awake so I rolled over and nuzzled his chest

"Hey" he said with his sexy sleepy voice. This could bring so many emotions buried within me. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah" I answered with a smile. "And you?"

"Very well, thanks" I found myself deep in thought while he kissed me. Last night have been wonderful but I didn't understand one thing why had it happened… they had shared weeks and weeks of sweet uninterrupted sex, or at least I thought it had been weeks and weeks. If the pills were working correctly as they should be she should have been on her period a few days ago "Wanda, what is it?"

"Nothing I just…how many days it has been since our last raid?"

"Mm I dunno, a month? Maybe a little more than a month. Eager to go out again?" He asked smiling. We got dress and start walking toward the bathroom where we brushed their teeth and greet others

"Yeah, I love when we go raiding" I didn't have to lie because I actually did love it. It was usually Mel, Jared, Ian and me but sometimes a few others. "I hate not knowing though…next time I'm getting a calendar" I bit my lip. I have to ask Mel about this period thing.

"Why do you wanna keep track of time?"

"I…I want to know when my birthday is. So you stop annoying me with your 'you're so young' kind of stuff" I said smiling

"But you're young" He stated and give me a playful nudge

"There you go again! I'm like a thousand years older that you" I had to rolled my eyes. How much I love this guy

"You're still like 18 here. That's young"

"20...20 something. We don't know" I argue. He laughed

"Okay grandma, let's go have some breakfast" but before going he pushed me toward a rock wall softly and pressed his body against mine. "So…I annoy you?" I giggled. That silly trait that Pet had now I had adopted as my own and stop caring about it.

"Most of the time-no, all the time" I corrected. He leaned in to kiss me

"Oh come on guys! We didn't even have breakfast yet" Jamie complained. Jared and Mel where just behind him holding hands, they both laughed. I probably had turned red. Ian pulled away after pecking me on the lips. Ian messed Jamie's hair

"This was a deserted corridor a few seconds ago"

"Not anymore. Find some other place to make out" I shook my head smiling. Jamie took my hand and started walking toward the kitchen but I stopped dead in my tracks. "Wanda, are you okay?"

"Yeah" I looked at Mel "Why don't you guys go. Mel I need you…to help me with find something" I grabbed her hand pulling her the other way. Mel shrugged at my pathetic excuse

"What did you lose?"

"We'll be right there in a sec" Ian eyed me curiously.

"Come on lets us be" Mel said pushing Jared toward the kitchen "save us food!" she yelled over her shoulder when they were almost gone. Ian walking backwards, I smile to reassure him that everything was okay

"Did your period stop?" I asked when they were gone

"A few days ago" She replied. Mel and I were set to have our periods one after the other. When mine ended hers started "We're having problems with that again?"

"I took the pills right this time" I said embarrassed. She smiled "but its been a while"

"Since when?"

"I don't really know…just before the raid was my last one, I think"

"That's a lot" I bit my lip.

"Do you think it's a hormonal thing again?"

"Your body its not as teenager-ish as it was. That shouldn't be it"

"Do you think…?" We looked at each other. We didn't even have to talk.

"That can't be it. The pills should be doing their thing. No, that can't be" She said again.

"But what if it is? Or maybe Pet's body it's still irregular"

"Your body Wanda" She corrected. She made a high ponytail. Her dark hair was pretty long and she liked to brag about it. I touched it, curling her locks in my fingers

"Right, mine" we stayed silent for a few minutes

"There's no way to be sure"

"What do I do?!" I panicked

"Don't freak. It's not like you have morning sickness or… You don't have morning sickness, do you?" I shocked my head

"I'm worried" her hand found mine.

"Its okay…now, when was the last time you and Ian…?"

"Mm yesterday…" I was totally red for sure. Mel laughed at my expression.

"Oh fun love making. I told you that's what you needed to ease your tension" She tugged at my shoulders letting them fall. "Now it seems that you can't live without it"

"Shut up" I pushed her away smiling but embarrassed. I squared my shoulders again

"You know I'm right"

"Yeah sure." I rolled my eyes when she nodded knowingly. "Now! What do I do?"

"Nothing. Let nature take in. Maybe you're a bit late"

"That is not helping. You said the pills should…Wait! Aren't a set of pills a month? Then it's clearly been two months. Or maybe a little less than two, I'm half way the second"

"There. We do keep track of time and we don't even know it. If that's not being stupid…" I shrugged. "The souls are supposed to be advanced why didn't you change the pills, this system sucks. Something like permanent birth control, maybe?"

"Yeah that would be extracting your organs. How should I know!?" Mel made a face and hugged her lower tummy. "Maybe they do have something else"

"Girls! Everyone is done with breakfast. Aren't you going to eat?" Ian was behind us. Mel and I looked at each other exchanging one phrase: How much had he heard? We both might have seemed angry because he raised his hands in defeat and shrugged. "We saved you some. Come when you're ready" He went away

"I swear that Ian materializes from thin air. He wasn't there a second ago" I smiled lovingly and Mel rolled her eyes. "I don't know, really I don't. And I don't think you can go to Doc about this. What could he do?"

"He's certainly not looking" Mel choke-laughed. I would be so embarrassed if that was to happen

"He needs technology for that Wanda" She put her arm around my shoulders and guided me toward the corridor. "Keep me inform"

"Yes captain" We went to eat laughing and joking. Jared and Ian were waiting. I tried to act natural but still the conversation with Mel didn't make me less nervous.

A few days passed with everything normal. My period was not here and I was really concerned.

Today my chore is cooking almost like every day. Sometimes I've got laundry or cleaning rooms. We started cleaning rooms everyday because too much dust was affecting everyone's breathing. Usually it was just mopping the floor.

Today I was peeling tons of sweet potato, the guys have pick up some that was ready to harvest yesterday so today we were having those with rice and our usual bread for lunch. My head was a little fuzzy, it hurt. Lilly was with me today and she asked what was wrong several times

"I'm okay" I would repeat. She was talking animatedly about the match they were going to play that afternoon. I wasn't in because I could hardly run with my body, so I preferred to watch.

I brushed my nose with the back of my hand. My stomach seemed to turned upside down and the eggs I had for breakfast where halfway up (We have got 4 chicks that deliver eggs daily now) I dropped the knife and the potato and grab the table edge, Lilly looked at me. I luckily manage to keep it all down.

"You are not okay Wanda" She said

"No, really I am. My stomach is kinda funny today"

"Do you wanna go lie down?"

"No, seriously I'm more than fine to peel some potatoes" I grabbed my stuff again. She eyed me for a while

"Okay. Just tell me if you're not feeling well" I nodded. I just concentrated on my task and breathe slowly. What if this was morning sickness?

I worried a lot everyday when I had to take the birth control pills…what if indeed I am pregnant and its harming the baby? Pregnant. The little big word Melanie and I keep quiet about. We both know when we're talking about it but never say it out loud. As if it is taboo. Maybe it is. I'm not sure. I'm having so many mixed feelings about this all. I don't know what to do. I still can believe Ian never realized about my missing period.

We cooked the meal in silence. My mouth felt really watery and I knew what this was all about. In any case of actual vomit I would leave before Lilly or anyone could see but I was still keeping my stomach at check.

"I need to go to the latrine" I told Lilly and walk away quickly when I thought vomit was coming. I did go but nothing happened so I went to the field where Mel, Jared and Ian were working.

"Hey beautiful" Ian said walking towards me. I hugged him "I am all sweaty, sorry" I couldn't care less. He kissed my head. "I'm going to have a bath. Maybe you want to join me" I hit his arm playfully.

"It's the middle of the day!"

"Oh I don't know what you were thinking but I was hoping to have a nice chat with you" he smirked. I shook my head "your idea was way better than mine though" I kissed him and tug at his lips, something I love doing "definitely better than mine" said when I pulled away. He went to have his bath. Mel and Jared joined me walking back to the kitchen.

"My stomach is acting kinda funny today" I looked at Mel.

"You don't feel well?" Jared asked. Mel grabbed my hand, she understood

"I kinda want to vomit but then I don't"

"Maybe you should ask doc for some…"

"Not wasting that stuff for nothing. That's for real things" Jared knew better not to argue.

After a while we were all settled to have launch, Ian was back smelling really good with wet hair. I served myself a very small portion of rice and sweet potatoes but just concentrate in the bread. Eating slowly. The smell of the room made me dizzy

"It's something wrong, Wanda?" Jamie was looking at me

"No, I'm okay" I lied. Everyone from miles away could hear that lie. That made Ian looked at me too and then at my untouched plate. "I'm not really hungry" I felt really bad for throwing away the valuable things we had so I grabbed my spoon and manage to swallow some rice. After a few spoonfuls of rice I went for the sweet potatoes. Not a good idea. Not a good idea at all. It was the smell that made my stomach turn. Before I swallow the spoon of potato everything was coming back up faster, I clasp a hand in my mouth. Luckily we were in the table closest to the door so I run toward the corridor. I knew half the people in the kitchen called my name. Ian and few others might be following me. I of course didn't make it to the latrine. I throw up right there in the middle of the corridor. I held to the stone wall for support.

"Wanda!" Ian and Mel were there behind me. I raise a dirty hand; it was coming again before I knew it. Both of them came to stand next to me. Mel grabbed my hair while Ian grabbed my waist.

"This is disgusting. We should get some water" I looked at the floor all cover in vomit. "I'm sorry"

"What are you sorry about?" Ian hugged me. "You are sick! You don't have to apologize."

"Ian why don't you go get her some water? She might want to clear her throat" I sat down away from the dirty floor and hugged my stomach. Ian looked at me "I'm staying with her. Don't worry"

"Maybe doc should check on you. Why don't you go to the hospital?"

"No. Doc is eating; I don't want to bother him now. Go get water to clean the floor. That's more important"

"You're more important than the floor Wanda"

"Can you go for two seconds Ian?" Mel asked annoyed. Ian frowned at her.

"Why?"

"Go get her some water. She's clearly not eating anymore. I'm going to take her to your room"

"But…" his arms were tight on my back

"Go, I'm going to be with Mel. Finish your food and then bring me some water"

"I don't know how you stand this guy" Mel and Ian have some kind of love-hate friendship. I giggled

"I love you" I said stepping away of his embrace

"I'll see you in a few minutes"

"Of course" Mel snorted. "Come on Wanda" She grabbed my hand. She checked Ian was really gone and started walking towards the rooms.

"We should clean the floor before going…"

"Forget the floor. Let someone else do it. You're sick" She emphasized sick.

"Do you think…?"

"I don't know. You felt this way all day?"

"Since I started preparing the food"

"I don't even know much about this. Just the basic…Why don't we ask Lucina? She's the only one with kids"

"No way"

"She could help" We got into the room. I lied down and Mel sat at the foot of the mat.

"No. I need to know. What if I am? Shouldn't I be doing something special?"

"Special? What do you mean?"

"I don't know. I mean be careful…don't take pills for example"

"Yeah, maybe you have a point"

"What am I going to do with a baby?!" I buried my face in the pillow.

"You don't even know if you're yet. Stop being drama queen"

"DRAMA QUEEN? Are you kidding me?! Do you know how I'm feeling? I may or may not have a human being inside me" I was yelling whispering to her. She laughed. "MEL!"

"Sorry, sorry. It's funny how you say it" her laughed was contagious because soon I was laughing too

"Don't make me laugh. This is a serious matter"

"I know. Sorry. Seeing you freak is weird, you're the calm one. I'm not sharing your thoughts anymore, so I don't know how you feel. Let it out"

"I don't even know how I'm feeling" Tears threatening to go out.

"I've been thinking…it's the only way. We're going tonight"

"Yeah, I know. I've been thinking about it too. Ian is never letting me go alone. We don't have any excuse. I'll have to tell him."

"No necessarily. Let's get out when they are asleep, go to a health facility first thing in the morning and come back. Once we are gone, we are gone"

"Do you think is a good idea?"

"It's the only way, unless you want the doubt forever. Test before took like 5 minutes, maybe the souls figured an easier way" I nodded

"Here's some water" Ian came in the room with a bottle

"Hey Wanda. What's wrong?" Doc was behind him with Health.

"Nothing, I'm okay, really" Ian frowned. I sat up, took some water and some of Health. It wouldn't be easy to win the argument.

"Tell me if you need anything then" Doc said and got out the room.

"You better rest" Melanie said.

"Yes, thanks Mel. For everything" I added.

"Don't thank me, silly" She smiled. She left me alone with Ian who sat beside me cross legged. I used his legs as a pillow and he touched my hair.

"I feel wonderful now, that's what Health does. I could get back to work" I said looking up to his face

"Not happening. You're not wandering off anywhere, you're staying here" I frowned

"You said that once before" just when I was really 'wandering off' to my death I added to myself.

"Yeah and I mean it this time" he's so going to freak out when I'm gone for half a day. I pouted. He laughed "making cute faces won't help you"

"Did someone clean the floor? That was really disgusting, we should…" I was about to sit up but he pushed me back down

"Someone already did it. Don't worry" I sighed and he did the same. "Always so selfless" he kissed my lips but when he was about to pulled away I grabbed his face.

Kissing Ian was really something. I didn't understand it at first when I was in Mel's body, but now I do, completely. When I was in Mel's body I could feel Jared touch as much more of what it was because it was changing Mel's body and mind and my mind was in the way so it changed me to the bone too. When Ian touched me in Mel's body it didn't change her body or her mind it just changed my soul. The insides of my soul could feel all his love. And it was so intimate I couldn't explain exactly how it felt. After I was put in pet's body this was double because it was changing the body too. Pet's body, my body responds so well to his touch and my soul still felt the way it used to. So it was pretty much like being on fire and blushing all the time.

"Stay with me" I asked him when he let go. After a while of talking I might have drifted off to sleep.

Even thought Ian said I shouldn't go to the kitchen for dinner if I didn't want to eat I went with him anyway. I was feeling really good so why not join everyone. Sometimes the questions after dinner returned but there was so much I've told already they all knew the worlds by memory. I had some soup because doc said I should. I didn't have anything in my stomach and that wasn't good. I hadn't realized how hungry I was.

"I'm going to have a bath. Mel's going to be with me, so nothing to worry about" and we're discussing our escape plan I added mentally and smiled

"Okay. You're feeling okay now, don't you?" Ian looked at me in the eyes to see if I was lying.

"Yeah, I feel good" I didn't have to lie, it was the truth. He was happy with the answer so he said he was going to wait for me in our room.

"Okay… rub all your dirtiness. You have to look like a cute little urban soul" Mel said and I laughed. We were alone in the bath. She jumped in a few second after I did "pass the shampoo" now I make sure we raid enough shampoo and soap. The cactus one was no one's favorite.

"Where are you?" I asked. The bath was so dark i couldn't make out where she was standing. She turned on a flashlight for a second and I walk-swim to her. "I'm nervous"

"Don't be. Everything's gonna be okay" I sighed.

"Apart from a really angry boyfriend when I get back…" I swear Mel was rolling her eyes

"He's going to be so mad"

"And may be or may be not a baby"

"Well, you will finally know. That's killing me as much as is killing you. And I'm sure it's another thing. Thousands of things could be blocking your period"

"Yeah, For example?"

"I don't know. Diet..?"

"I don't know if you're saying these things because you want to make me feel better or because you believe them" Mel didn't say anything and we finished our bath in silence.

"As soon as he's sound asleep join me in the east corridor" She whispered before going in her bedroom.

I manage to stay awake while he touched my hair softly and embrace me. This always worked to get me to sleep in no time. When he was finally asleep I turned softly in his arms, they were loose. This was my perfect time to escape. The doors were some problem I didn't even stop to think about. They were huge and the last time I moved them alone without help was when I was still in Mel's body, it was easy with that body though it was a challenge.