Disclaimer" I do not own The Host or its characters, they be long to Stephenie Meyer!
Summary: Life in the caves hasn't changed much, but they're about to! Wanda gets pregnant! What will everyone think? More importantly, what will Ian think?
Change
Something was definitely wrong with my body, but I didn't know what exactly. Ian said I probably had the flu, but why would I have the flu in the morning and evenings and not during the rest of the day? Plus I was always tired and dizzy. Something was definitely wrong. So after about a week of the same thing I went to Doc.
When I reached the south tunnel Doc was standing over the most recent body Jared and the others had brought back from a raid. It was a teenager this time. He was probably Jamie's age and I think Jared was hoping he would become a friend for Jamie. Through the last year there had been an increase in humans in the caves by five humans. It didn't sound like much, especially compared to the amount of losses, but it was still a big deal.
"Doc, can I speak with you?" I ask. Doc turns and looks at me with a smile on his face.
"Are you still feeling unwell?" asks Doc.
"Yeah, I was hoping you could tell me what's wrong," I say as I sit down on a cot. Doc walks over to me with a stethoscope and checks my heart and breathing. Checking my eyes was pointless so he moves on to my throat, ears, and nose.
"Everything seems normal. Why don't you lie down and I'll feel your stomach," says Doc gently. I nod and lie down and wait as he feels my stomach. Suddenly he stops and looks down at the area where his hands are. "Your uterus feels a bit…enlarged. Maybe you should go see a healer."
"My uterus? Why would that be enlarged?" I ask.
"Well…assuming that you and Ian have been…sexually active…it wouldn't be far out of the range of possibilities that you're pregnant," says Doc. My eyes widen at Doc's words. Me pregnant? Then another thought crosses my mind. It was one of Melanie's memories. Jared had told her that when he started living in the cabin that birth control wasn't on his mind. Melanie hadn't liked the idea of bringing a defenseless human baby into the world anymore than Jared had. Now I would be bringing a baby into this world.
Then I thought of Freedom and Isaiah, and their mother. Freedom was born in the caves and seemed to be doing very well, so was Isaiah who was old enough to realize what was going on around him. He understood aliens had taken over the world, but he seemed to be a relatively happy child. This could work out, but what would Ian think?
Just as I had the thought Ian walks in carrying a tray in his hands. It was obviously for Doc. "Hey Doc, I brought you lunch," says Ian with a grin. Then he notices me and sobers up pretty quickly.
"Thank you Ian, sit it on my desk please," says Doc as he continues to feel my stomach. I gently push his hands away and sit up before pulling my shirt down.
"What's wrong with Wanda?" asks Ian as he walks over to us empty handed.
"She's going to be fine; she just wanted to see if she really had the flu. I suggested she go to a healer," says Doc.
"Why can't you help her?" asks Ian. He was taking this situation way out of proportion.
"Because I'm not completely sure what's wrong. I have an idea, but I have nothing to test that theory," says Doc.
"It's nothing terrible, Ian. I'll be fine, even if Doc is right," I say reassuringly. Ian couldn't call me on a lie, because I wasn't lying. If I was pregnant, everything would be fine.
"I'll talk to Jared about getting you to a healer," says Ian before running out.
"Thank you for not telling him what you think is wrong. I don't want him to get worked up and that not be the problem," I say.
"I understand," says Doc. Suddenly my stomach growls and I blush.
"I'm going to go get some lunch," I say before getting up and going to the cafeteria. There was where I found Jamie, Melanie, Jared, and Ian talking at our usual area. They all look at me when I walk in and suddenly Melanie gets up and walks towards me. I start walking towards the meal counter and Melanie catches up to me.
"Ian says you're sick," says Melanie.
"No, not sick…I'm fine, Doc just wants me to get a second opinion," I say as I'm given a meal. We were having butter bread and tomato soup as well as an apple or orange depending on what you wanted. I got an orange.
"What does Doc think?" asks Melanie.
"Promise not to tell anyone, not even Jared. I don't want anyone freaking out about something that might not be true," I say. But deep down I knew Doc was right. Somehow, I think I knew all week. When Ian kept insisting it was the flu I knew it wasn't that, it was something wonderful.
"I promise," says Melanie without hesitation.
"Well, Doc was feeling my stomach and he said my uterus is enlarged," I murmur as we walk slowly towards the table. Melanie's eyes widen as she listens to my words. She immediately knew what that meant.
"You're pregnant?" whispers Melanie. I could just hear her barely contained excitement. I nod and Melanie's face lights up and she hugs me.
"I get to be an aunt!" whispers Melanie excitedly.
"It's not official," I whisper, but I was grinning too. When we finally reach the table everyone was looking at us like we'd somehow become Siamese twins.
"What's with the excitement?" asks Jared.
"Wanda definitely needs to see a healer," says Melanie with a grin. I probably shouldn't have told her, but I couldn't help it.
"We'll go tonight," says Jared at once. "We can just go to Tucson."
That night it was Melanie, Jared, Jamie, Ian, and I. We were going to Tucson because Jared thought whatever illness I had was terminal and needed immediate attention. That wasn't the case, but I wasn't going to correct him.
When we reach the hospital Jared drops me off at the emergency entrance and drives away to park. They would be waiting for me. When I go inside things were quiet. There weren't many souls in need of medical attention. I walk to the front desk and the receptionist looks up at me with a smile on her face.
"Welcome how may I help you?" she asks pleasantly.
"My name is Journey, and I think I might be pregnant," I admit. Might as well tell the truth, well…part of the truth.
"My name is Rainbows in the Ice. Please have a seat and I'll call for a healer." Rainbows in the Ice was an older woman with graying hair and bright brown eyes as well as a kind face and smile. I nod and take a seat next to a soul who was reading a magazine.
"Hello," I say with a smile. I hoped the others weren't getting worried. I told them it might take a while. Melanie seemed to understand. She told them it could take hours before I was seen, especially in the emergency waiting room. I didn't think it would take hours though. Souls were usually very good at promptly seeing a patient.
"Hello," says the soul next to me with a smile. "My name is Sings in the Darkness."
"My name is Journey." At least it as today.
"You may call me Sings if you like." I smile and nod. I noticed her stomach and had to smile again. She was also pregnant.
"I was a bat once too, the music was nice, but I like having a sense of sight," I say. Sings nods enthusiastically.
"Yes, I agree. I like being human much more," says Sings cheerfully. I watch her hand rub her stomach with a fond smile. "I think I'm going to enjoy being a mother as well. This body has given birth twice, this will be its third time, but it will be my first. My maternal instincts are definitely showing up."
"I think I'm expecting as well. This will be this body's first as well as mine."
"Congratulations then," says Sings happily just as a woman in blue scrubs walks out.
"Sings in the Darkness?" asks the woman. Sings gets up and smiles down at me.
"It was nice meeting you Journey," says Sings before walking away. Then another woman walks out in green scrubs.
"Journey?" she asks. I stand up and walk over to her. She smiles, "Right this way." I nod and follow her to a room with a strange machine and a bed. She motions for me to sit down so I do.
"Your healer will be Fords Deep Waters," says the woman as she writes something on a chart. My heart begins to beat wildly in my chest. I had forgotten about my original healer. Then I realized that I had a different body now and he wouldn't recognize me. I felt a little better about that. Then she walks out and I sigh heavily.
Soon the door opens and Fords Deep Waters walks in carrying the same chart the woman from before had been holding. "Hello Journey. My name is Fords Deep Waters and I will be your healer," he says cheerfully.
"Hello," I say with a smile.
"So you feel that you might be pregnant?" asks Fords. I nod and he walks over to me.
"Yes. I haven't been feeling well in the mornings and evenings, but most of the day I feel fine, but I'm also very tired most of the day and sometimes I get a little dizzy. My friend suggested I might be pregnant," I say. Fords was nodding and writing as he listened to me speak.
"I take it you have a partner then."
"Of course. I think we might have been a bit careless. Our bodies make their needs known quite strongly sometimes." Fords smiles and seemed to understand what I meant.
"Let's see if you are," says Fords. I nod as Fords motions for me to lie down. Soon Fords was rubbing a clear gel on my stomach and had something in his hand. "This is an ultrasound. Humans use them to see what's going on, on the inside of their bodies, especially if they're pregnant. It doesn't hurt though." I nod and soon Fords was running the ultrasound over my stomach. Soon he stops and you could hear heartbeats.
"Hm…it looks as though you are pregnant, with twins!" says Fords happily.
Twins?! An image of two children that look exactly the same enters my mind. I was going to have not one baby, but two! What would Ian say to that?
End Chapter
A/N: I know, I know, I usually do Twilight fanfics, but I was getting bored with that. Plus I was reading The Host (for the third time) and had an idea so I ran with it! I'll probably do what I did with Consequences and have nine or so chapters and then a sequel. Depends on how well this goes. The Host isn't as popular as Twilight so I'm not expecting a lot of reviews, but I still want a few! So please enjoy and I'll keep writing. Don't worry though, I'm not giving up on Insanity or Taboo. Sayonara! =]