Wanda POV

"Tonight?" I asked, looking nervously up at Jared. He had just told me about the meet-up we're having with another group of survivors. Ever since meeting Nate's group, we've been searching for more resistances throughout the country. We've found 5 others in the past year, and this would be our sixth.

"Yes. That's the only time they can get here," Jared sighed. Melanie stood next to him, his arm wrapped snugly around her waist. She looked just as shocked by the news. We had just raided a week ago, and were not ready to risk our lives again. Well, I didn't mind so much-I would do anything for them-but it was unnerving to most.

"Oh, okay," I nodded. Ian rolled his eyes from beside me.

"Wanda, you don't have to go if you don't want to," he said. He was always trying to protect me, make sure that I thought of myself first. I had improved a lot since I first got here, but I still couldn't grasp the concept of selfishness. "They don't need you there. It's just if you want to."

"No, I want to go," I insisted. I did, really. I loved meeting the others humans and hearing their stories, helping them out, giving them tips on raiding. It made me feel like one of them, somebody who was on the good side. Not like a filthy parasite who destroyed their planet. "I just didn't expect them to come this quickly. We only heard from them a few days ago." One of the other human resistances we had met had figured out a system of communication for us to share. They have a few people working on the inside of society, passing word along for us. We only got word from this new group at the start of the week, and I hadn't expected them to want to meet so soon. They usually gave us at least a week or two to prepare.

"I know, but by the time they received our message, they were already out on a long term raid. They thought it'd be easier if they just stopped here on the way," Jared explained. I nodded, understanding. Ian still looked unhappy with my compliance, his mouth in a tight line, but he didn't say anything about it. "Anyways, we're meeting up a little west of here, closer to the city. It should only be an hour drive or so. And since we just raided, we won't need to stop anywhere else. We'll be back tomorrow afternoon."

"Fine. Who's coming?" Ian wondered.

"Just the usual: Jeb, Kyle, Aaron and all of us. Maybe Jamie, if you'll let him," he directed at Melanie.

"No way. He went on the last one, and that was a close call. This time, he stays home," she stated. Nobody argued with her on that. I never liked the idea of Jamie leaving the caves, but Mel was the one technically in charge of him, so she had the final say. His first raid with me was horrifying; I kept holding onto him and covering him up, keeping him as safe as possible.

"Okay then. We'll meet you guys later tonight?" Jared said, closing the little meeting.

"Yes," I smiled. The two walked off, hands twisted together, and Ian turned to me. He furrowed his brow, studying my face carefully and I rolled my eyes-very unlike me. "What?"

"Nothing," he lied. "I just want to make sure you're doing this because you want to. Not because Jared says so. Jared's a jerk."

"No he isn't," I defended. Ever since being inside of Mel's body, there was no way I could ever be mad at Jared. I still felt the slightest love for him, though more like a brother. Then again, I was never really mad at anybody. Part of being a Soul, I suppose. "And I want to go, Ian. I really do."

He studied me again before cracking a smile and lifting me up into his arms. "Fine. But we need some alone time, then, to prepare."

And then I had a selfish thought: I liked the sound of that.

Just minutes later, I was sitting up on my knees in our bedroom, my hands lightly gripping his shoulders. His rough, warm hands grazed over my back, his sea blue eyes staring at me with hunger, love. I leaned in slowly, not wanting to rush it, and then stopped myself. I should let him do it. I can't be selfish like this. If he wants to kiss me, then he'll kiss me. I will not make that choice for myself.

"Wanda," he half-laughed, pulling away slightly. I sat back on my knees, the mood ruined by my mistake. I shied away, pushing my hair in front of my face to hide from his disappointed expression. He was always disappointed with me when I did things like this; and it wasn't the first time.

It had been about a year since I was put into Pet's body, but Ian and I hadn't gotten that far yet in our relationship. It took some time to adjust to this body, get settled in. Ian tried to take us to the next level a few times, but I always ruined it, the Soul in me coming out. I hated the way he looked when I always stopped him. I knew that he would wait for me, wait until I'm ready, but I could see the desire in his eyes. He loved me more than himself, and would do what I wanted. "I'm sorry. I just . . . I don't like making these kind of decisions. They don't feel right," I admit, sadly. What if I never learn to control this purely kind Soul that I am? What if I will never truly be considered human?

"Don't apologize, honey," Ian whispered, stroking my cheek gently. "It's who you are. We can take it slow if you like."

"No," I said firmly. "I don't want to take it slow. We've been taking it slow for a year, Ian. It's . . . it's time that we pick up the pace." The words surprised both of us. Just a second ago I had been contemplating how terrible it makes me feel to even think about indulging in such a pleasure as loving Ian. But now, the words just popped right out of my mouth, my human intentions overpowering my Soul-like manner.

"Wanda . . . I don't want to do anything you don't want to. Don't worry about pleasing me."

"I know. I want to do this. I really, really want to do this," I said, my voice sounding lower than usually. I leaned in close and kissed him, gently at first. He was stunned by the confident gesture-a rare occurrence coming from me-but immediately responded to my touch, wrapping his arms around my waist again. My fingers anxiously gripped his hair as his tongue skirted across my lips and into my mouth, making me moan in pleasure. The Soul told me to hold it back, but the human let it out. I could feel Ian smiling against me.

He gently eased me down until I was flat on my back against the mattress. He straddled me, his lips still sealed with mine, and began to work my shirt off. I helped him, despite feeling exposed in front of him like this. It was weird. Very, very weird. But it felt amazing, having the person I love most in the world look down at me and smile. The cool air tickled my skin, but Ian's love, obvious in his deep eyes, filled me with warmth. He leaned down and kissed my chest, trailing quick pecks down to my stomach. As he did so, I let my hands work his shirt over his head, all the while keeping my eyes closed in delight. I've never felt this good before. "Wanda," Ian murmured against the hollow of my neck. I arched my back in response. "You're so, so beautiful." He grazed his hands over my exposed top and smoothly unzipped my jeans, his hands linger on my hips.

I wanted to tell him that I'm not beautiful, that Pet is, but I knew it would only wreck this moment. This was the farthest we've gotten and I didn't want a repeat; I wanted to go all the way this time. Ian sensed my brief hesitation as he removed my pants. "You are, Wanda. In every sense of the word. As a Soul, as a human. You are always beautiful to me," he said. I nodded, not sure how to respond without self-deprecating. Instead, I helped ease him out of his own pants, leaving us both only in our undergarments.

He laughed as I stared at his body, perfectly shaped, muscled and bronzed. His blue eyes glowed in the afternoon light, his sandy hair tousled from my constant pulling. He was beautiful. As a human. There was no Soul in him, and that made him all the more better. He was purely human; one body, one mind. A beautiful thing.

"You know what's great about this body?" Ian whispered in my ear, breaking my train of thought. I didn't mind at all, though. His hot breath against me made me shiver in delight. "There's," he kissed my stomache. "No one." Then my chest. "Else." My neck. "But." My cheeks. "Us," he breathed, his lips pressing against mine in one perfect moment of bliss. My heart hammered as his passion seemed to pour into me, his body fitting against mine in the most exact way. His bare skin touching mine was incredible.

"Just us," I whispered back as he broke away for air. "Till tonight."

Ian smiled and tilted his head back, brushing a piece of golden hair away from my face. "Let's make the most of it."

Okay, so this is not going to be a cliché OTP fanfic. It's just that I really love O'wanda and had to write at least some fluff for them. The next chapter is going to be pretty intense, as it will get into the actual plot of the story, so please check it out! Reviews are always welcome :)