Okay so here is chapter 2. I have to admit that I have not started off with a bang but I need to get a few things in place to get this story where I want it to go. I have Chapters ready for the future but just need to get a couple more done in between. Bare with me I will update quickly and I hope you review to give me opinions and feedback.

And once again: I am not Stephenie Meyer and I do not own any of these characters.

CH 2.

It was not a comfortable ride back to the caves. With all of the acquired supplies, plus an additional 3 bodies we made for very confined quarters. The truck consisted of Aaron, Brandt, Nate and Rob crammed into the front seat, none of which were a small man by any standards. Our van as usual was leading the convoy driven by Jared with Mel in shotgun. The back was originally packed to fit only Ian and myself was extra cramped with the inclusion of Burns, who seemed insistent on sticking by my side. This forced me to curl up in Ian lap – a position I could honestly say I wouldn't mind under the normal circumstances.

But this was not a normal circumstance. As I learned from early on when I assumed this body, people cannot resist it, Ian being no exception. He was absently while watching the rain drops run down the window, wrapping a strand of my hair around his fingers while the other arm held me against him like a seatbelt, protecting me from the bumps in the road. Those actions were completely normal, it was the constant glare from the reflective eyes that was not.

I pretended not to notice his eyes watching us closely, afraid to upset Ian or Burns again. These human emotions were so complicated.

The van suddenly came to a stop. I looked towards Ian confused. I have done this ride enough times to know that this was too soon. We couldn't be there already.

Ian showed no sense of surprise. He brushed a hand across my face, and softly whispered that I had nothing to worry about.

That only made me feel more anxious. There were only a few times before that Ian had hidden anything from me. One was when Jamie was sick. The other was when Doc had-

My eyes widened at that last memory. The familiar smell. The silver – everywhere!

I gasped and looked straight at Burns.

The look of horror on my face startled Burns and he backed up into the boxes trying to get as far away from us as possible. He searched our faces for an answer and then to the moving truck that had now come to a stop beside us.

Jared leaned over his seat to look back at us. "Sorry I thought you would remember Wanda," he started to explain. "You know we can only go so far without the blindfold." He pulled out the cloth from under his seat turning his attention to Burns.

I turned to look at the truck beside us and saw that Nate and Rob had their eyes covered by cloths. I relaxed my shoulders and let out a sigh of relief.

"I assume Nate explained this to you already," he said to Burns.

Looking more relieved Burns returned to his previous position. "Oh, yes of course. Please go ahead," he said, leaning his head closer to Jared. I noticed how much trust he had in a group of human strangers. I was impressed by this and wondered how he got to be in this position.

Ian squeezed my shoulders as Jared placed the blindfold over Burns' eyes. He whispered in my ear, "Wanderer, do you think we could ever hurt a soul? After seeing how beautiful you are," he lightly kissed my ear lobe, pulling it slightly with his mouth. "And I would never let them do anything to upset you, my love." At this moment I couldn't wait for the rains to end and for Ian and I to finally have our own private space for just the two of us.

Melanie reached back and placed a hand on my leg giving it a little squeeze. We shared a look that said what we both were thinking...At least it is no longer us in the blindfold.

The rest of the drive went quickly. Jared pulled the van to a stop and jumped out pulling the back door open for us.

I slid off Ian's lap and out of the van for a long stretch. For once I was glad to be in Pet's petite body instead of Mel's athletic build – I couldn't imagine cramming into that small space with any other body. Ian was a step behind me stretching his arms far out above him, looking like he could actually reach the stars. I pictured that. Him reaching up into the stars and plucking me down from them – to be here with him.

My attention was drawn away by the sound of my name.

"Um...Wanderer?" Burns called out as he was trying to get himself out of the van.

"Oh! I am so sorry!" I rushed over to offer my assistance. "I should have thought to help you. Please forgive me." I pleaded for him to forgive my inconsiderate behaviour.

Burns rested his hand on my shoulder to steady himself, not used to being without his sight in a body that often feels foreign to souls like us. "Thank you for the assistance Wanderer."

I was facing back towards Ian now whos eye was drawn to the hand on my shoulder. I reached my hand out to him as an invitation for him to join me. He took it into his large hand and came to stand at my side. I noticed that we were short one person in our group.

"Where did Mel go?" I wondered aloud.

"I thought she should get Jeb to come out and meet us before we bring our guests in." Jared explained. "I don't want to give the old guy a heart attack." He joked.

I still couldn't understand how the human sense of humour worked sometimes, being able to make light of such serious things.

We didn't have to wait long for Mel to return with Jeb and luckily the rains had stopped, leaving only the smell of it lingered in the air. She must have run the entire way to the cave entrance. I remembered the joy her body felt when being able to run at its full force.

"Well Jared I see you brought back a few extra things this time," His voice boomed causing Burns to grip my shoulder a little bit tighter. "And I see one of them seems to be quite attached to our little Wanda here."

"Yes, about that Jeb," Jared started. "He has a lot more in common with Wanda than you would believe right now."

Jeb's eyes widened with surprise. "Well then, I guess even after all of these years this old man can still be surprised. And if he is anything like our lovely Wanda here, we should get along just fine." He paused for a moment to think about who we were going to introduce Burns too. A group that included Sharon and Maggie. "Plus. It is my house so they all have to follow my rules anyways!"

Our group shared a quick chuckle at Jeb's catch phrase as it seemed to be.

"Well folks. Let's get this party inside so we can have a proper introduction." Jeb turned on his heels and started walking towards the caves.

Aaron and Brandt lead the way for Nate and Rob, while Burns continued to hold tight to my shoulder. Ian had a good grip on my hand and I knew he would not be letting go anytime soon, so the three of us walked in together. The narrow hallways were hard to manoeuvre with a blindfolded soul on one side and a very large man glued to the other. The rest of the group was quickly out of our sight, although we still knew when they had made it to the main plaza but the multitude of voices calling out.

We slowly made our way through the entrance and down the corridors to the main room. By the time our trio made it to the rest of the group Jeb had calmed our cave dwellers down and was already starting the introductions. Ian paused just behind where Nate and Rob stood, partially blocking Burns and me from our friends.

I reached over and removed Burns' blindfold. Without me having to explain anything he automatically shifted his eyes to the floor – making a quick stop at my eyes – to shield his face from the unknown crowd that had gathered. It was clear that he had experiences meeting new humans often. I thought back to Nate's previous comments and wondered how many times people had actually tried to kill this peaceful soul. I shuttered at the thought...and the memories of the times it had happened to me.

Feeling Ian squeeze my hand when he noticed my shutter brought me back from my thoughts. I realized that Nate was now talking to our tribe about the other humans they have run into. There is an excited buzz going around the crowded room now. Nate pauses before he continues.

"...Um. Well there is one more thing I need to explain," Nate started to say. "But after seeing Wanda here, and your other friend over there," he points through the crowd to where Sunny is clutched to Kyle's side.

Kyle protectively shifts Sunny behind him and stiffens his stance. Ian knows his brother's thoughts as well as his own and glances around Nate giving Kyle a slow nod of reassurance.

Nate motions for Burns to step forward at this point. "This here is my best friend Burns. Without him I doubt I would be standing here in front of you today."

Burns looks up from the ground he was still staring at. As auditable gasp coming from the crowd as his eyes catch the light.

I pull slightly closer to Ian, fearful for the reaction Burns may receive. Recalling the no so warm welcome I once received. I could barely see past the figures in front of me, but I managed to catch a quick glimpse of pink as it left the room.

"Now I welcome these guests into MY house," Jeb bellows over the crowd. "And that means you all do too. Or you know where you can go."

In unison the group answers back. "Yes Jeb."

I am filled with relief for my new friend. Burns looks back at me with a smile and I return one back feeling good to welcome another soul into my life.

Thanks for reading!