I do not own The Host or any characters from the novel. They belong to Stephenie Meyer. I don't know how well this is going to turn out, but hopefully it'll be worth your time. This takes place after the end of The Host, but I'm not writing about the other group that they encountered at the end. They went off somewhere…that's my excuse, anyways.

Jared, Ian, Kyle, Melanie, and Wanda had all been gone for five days on a raid, so when they returned Jeb had allowed everyone to take a break from their chores to greet the group. Right now, everyone was in the kitchen as the raiders were putting up the stock of items they had grabbed.

Kyle walked in first, shaking his head as he sat down next to Sunny, kissing her on the cheek. Ian walked in next with Wanda, and then Melanie and Jared walked in…along with another person. Standing somewhat behind Melanie was a small, 11 year old boy. Jeb raised an eyebrow, unable to recall ever asking them to bring back a kid.

Wanda looked around the room and noticed everyone's reaction, "No, he isn't a soul. We found him hiding behind a large Dumpster. He hasn't talked to us at all, so that's all we know."

The room began to fill with murmuring after Wanda explained what little she could about the mystery guest. Jared let out a sigh, "Hey! Guys, he's not a soul…that much we do know. Wanda heard him crying when she walked out of the store. What were we going to do, leave him there? Even Kyle said we couldn't do that."

"Hey!" Kyle spoke up, "I'm not heartless," he noticed everyone staring at him, "Okay, so the thing with Wanda was pretty heartless but, come on. Her kind had invaded our planet, it's not like any of you weren't thinking the same thing."

Everyone's faces became filled with guilt as they nodded in agreement. Jeb stood up, "Now, this isn't a question of anyone's guilt. I'm sure that we can squeeze him in someplace."

"Jeb, no offense. I mean, you know that I would have probably taken the kid in too if it was a normal situation, but we sure as hell didn't accept Wanda so quickly…"

Wanda let out a sigh, unable to identify the voice. It was probably Aaron, "The difference is very clear, though. He isn't a soul. He's as human as all of you."

"Then why is he being so quiet?"

"What is this, a trial?" Jamie asked suddenly. Nobody had noticed that he was standing in the back corner of the room, his arms crossed. He looked at the kid, who actually gave him a small smile. He returned it before becoming serious again, "Why is he being quiet? Gee, he was hiding behind a Dumpster, alone, then got picked up by a bunch of strangers and taken to a cave where the rest of the strange people start bickering about him. Wouldn't you be scared, too?"

Jeb nodded, "Exactly. Kid, why don't you take…the kid, and help get him cleaned up, huh? I'm sure that he'd enjoy feeling clean again."

Everyone gasped and Melanie rolled her eyes, "We got real soap, people."

Jamie snickered as he walked up to his sister and Jared and nodded to them. He then knelt down to the kid's level and smiled, "You wanna get away from these silly old people and get cleaned up?"

The kid's eyes grew, and Jamie stepped back to give him space. Then, the kid shyly nodded and held out his hand. Jamie, still smiling, took it and slung the kid over onto his back and piggybacked him to the bathing cave.

Kyle sighed, "Guys, the kid isn't in question, here. He's safe, he's good. We can fit him in, just like Jeb said. Wanda even went back inside and got some clothes for him."

Jeb spoke up again as the room filled with raised voices, "My decision is the final word. It's my house, my rules. The kid stays until he's proven a danger to us all."

Jared nodded in agreement, "Thank you."

Jeb shook his head, "I'm not finished. Since you al brought him here, he's your responsibility."

"Jeb," Kyle said, "How could we possibly do that if he won't even talk to us?"

Ian shrugged, "Well, he was less hesitant to go with Jamie than he was to go with us. Maybe we let Jamie break down his walls."

"You make it sound like it's a war," Melanie said.

Jared wrapped his arm around her waist, "It is. It's a child's war…"

~~~~~~~*-----------*~~~~~~~~~~~~~---------

"Okay, here's the soap. Your clean clothes are right here. I'm gonna leave the lantern so you can see. I'll just go wait for you outside, k? Give you some privacy," Jamie said as he gently ruffled the kid's hair before starting to walk away.

"Please don't…you can stay. I don't mind."

Jamie stopped dead in his tracks and turned around, "What?" he asked, surprised.

The kid looked down shyly, "I said, it's alright if you stay. You won't hurt me, right?"

Jamie laughed softly and nodded, "Of course I'm not going to hurt you. Nobody here is."

The kid shrugged shyly as he lowered himself into the river. Jamie sat by the edge, "Be careful, the floor fell in a little ways away."

The boy nodded as he began to soap himself up. Jamie felt a little awkward, considering he didn't know the kid and he never really sat in there while another person was bathing. But, the kid was finally opening up to someone, so he decided to just deal with it, "So…you must have been pretty scared when Wanda found you, huh/"

The boy stopped, seeming to think about the question. He then nodded, "Yeah…I guess. My parents went to the hospital and when they came back they were…different. So I ran away and just hid behind that Dumpster."

"How long were you hiding?"

The boy shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe four…five days, tops. I was really thirsty when Wanda found me." His stomach growled as if to add emphasis.

Jamie nodded, hearing his stomach, "Well, after you're done we'll see if they've cleared out of the kitchen. Even if they're there, I'll grab you something to eat, k?"

The boy nodded, "Thank you."

Jamie shrugged, "No need to thank me. About time someone around here was younger than me."

The boy laughed, "You're funny."

Jamie smirked at that, glad he was getting the boy to talk, "That's what they call me. Actually, they call me Jamie. What's your name?"

The boy let out a sigh as he sat in the water for a bit, "Ethan."

Jamie smiled and held out his hand, "Nice to meet you, Ethan."

Ethan smiled and shook his hand, but then tugged on it. Jamie, who wasn't expecting it, was suddenly pulled into the river. He came up and laughed, "You little brat!" He started to splash him.

Ethan laughed, "Got you!"

"Oh, yeah?" Jamie asked confidently, "That shows how much you know about me." He laughed and dunked the kid in the water. Ethan laughed until he went underwater, then he came back up for air and continued his laughter.

"Jamie, you in here?" Jared asked.

Jamie calmed down a bit, "Yeah!"

Jared walked in and stopped, "Wow…"

Jamie started laughing, "What? He pulled me in. It's all out war now," he said, innocently.

Jared laughed and shook his head, "Jamie, I talked with Jeb and Melanie…and we've all agreed on two things. One, the kid seems to have taken a liking to you and two, you are always talking about wanting responsibility. Well, here's your chance. We'll help you, but until he's comfortable with all of us, we thought it'd be better if you watched out for him more. Kind of like that big brother program you had at your school that one year."

Jamie nodded, "Sure, I have no problem with that. How about you, Ethan?" Jamie knew how much he hated it when other people would make decisions for him just because he was younger. Ethan had a mind of his own.

Ethan shrugged, "I don't know. If it's the right thing."

Jamie ruffled his hair, "Alright, it's settled, then. You hungy?"

Ethan nodded.

"Good. You get dressed and I'll wait for you outside, alright?"

Jared walked out and Ethan looked at Jamie, "Can't you just…turn around?"

Jamie furrowed his eyebrows, "Why? What's the matter?"

Ethan blushed, "I'm kind of…sort of…afraid of the dark."

Jamie cocked an eyebrow and nodded, "Oh. Right. Yeah, that would explain it. Sure, I can do that."

Jared walked back in with some clothes, "Here, Jamie. Figured you might need them."

The teen nodded, "Thanks."

Jared patted his shoulder and then walked back out. Jamie got out of the river and over towards the darkness, where the lantern's light couldn't reach him. He got dressed, while Ethan got out and did the same by the river. When he was done, he walked over and tugged on Jamie's shirt. Jamie looked down and smiled, piggybacking Ethan to the kitchen.

Everyone except for Kyle, Wanda, and Sunny were gone. Jamie thought Jeb had probably put everyone back to work. Jamie nodded at the two of them, "Okay, Ethan. What are you in the mood for? Bread, soup or…whatever this gooey gunk is?"

Wanda gasped, "It's mashed potatoes!"

Kyle laughed, "I think it's more mash than potatoes."

Jamie smirked and got Ethan some bread. Ethan hopped down from Jamie's back and sat down at the table. Sunny smiled, "Hello, I'm Sunny."

Ethan saw Sunny and leaned back in his seat. Jamie, noticing the sudden tension, put his hand on Ethan's shoulder, "It's okay. Sunny and Wanda are friends. They aren't going to hurt you. Everyone else is normal, ok?"

Sunny seemed hurt at Jamie referring to her as not normal, and Jamie looked apologetically at her. She smiled and whispered something to Kyle, then got up and left the room. Wanda fumbled nervously, "Okay, well, I'm going to give you all some space and go see if Ian needs help with anything."

Kyle laughed, "Wanda, you're not in Mel's body anymore. You can't do much lifting."

She scoffed, "Well, I would if people would start to let me do some lifting every once in a while." After spending time with the humans, she learned that it was okay to have an attitude sometimes. They were rubbing off on her, but not completely. She looked at him apologetically and excused herself.

Ethan stared at the table as he silently ate. Kyle looked at him, "You like soccer?"

Ethan raised an eyebrow, "You play soccer?"

Kyle laughed, "We're an athletic bunch."

Jamie laughed, "Yeah, that's true. Is that where everyone's at?"

Kyle nodded. Jamie smiled as he looked at Ethan, who was finished eating, "Wanna go watch some soccer?"

Ethan shook his head quickly. He figured out that most of the place was filled with caves. Caves meant darkness, which meant he wasn't going anywhere near them if he could help it. Jamie understood and nodded, "Alright. Kyle, get some lanterns."

"We got plenty in there."

Jamie shot him a look, "Kyle…"

Kyle shuddered. He knew the wrath of Jared and Melanie. He was afraid to ever see Jamie's…if he even had any. Being around those two, he figured the kid was bound to pick up something. He stood up and left.

Jamie smiled at Ethan, "Trust me, it won't be dark, ok? If all the lanterns don't help then we'll just sit by the entrance and watch, k?"

Ethan nodded again, "Okay."

~~~~~~~~~*-------------*~~~~~~~~~~~----------

The sun had gone down a few hours earlier, and Jamie, Ethan, Jared, Melanie, Wanda, and Ian were all sitting in the kitchen. Ethan was sitting on Jamie's lap, his head resting on the older boy's shoulder. Wanda knew Jamie was enjoying being the older brother figure to Ethan. He was no longer the young, innocent boy. He was the role model, Ethan's own Jared.

Jamie yawned, "Ugh, I'm wiped. We gotta find you somewhere to sleep, kiddo?"

Melanie shrugged, "Well, you could share your bed with him like we used to. Or get him a mattress and stick it on the ground. Unless if there's someone else he trusts?"

Jamie shrugged, "I'll see if I can find a mattress tomorrow. Come on, kiddo." He stood up and carefully carried Ethan to the room, trying not to wake him.

As he walked away, Melanie looked at the others, "Are you sure we should be leaving it all up to Jamie? Isn't he a bit young to have so much responsibility?"

Jared looked at her, "Mel, he had a lot more when we'd run before you were taken. Besides, we're still going to help him. We aren't pawning the kid off on him, we're just letting him help Ethan to get used to us before we start taking up more of the responsibility."

Wanda nodded, "Jamie isn't complaining. He always wanted to have a big chore like everyone else besides school. Why not allow him to feel like an older brother?"

Okay, I'm going to end the first chapter here. Please review and tell me what you think. It'll be less boring later, promise.