When I woke up, the sun was streaming down onto me, warming up my body. Ian was laying beside me, one of his arms was hanging over the side of the bed, while the other was stretched up above him, his bent elbow just narrowly missing my face. I stretched and yawned before I got myself out of bed, ready for a new day. I walked over towards our makeshift wardrobe to get some clothes before heading to the river to have a wash. On the way to the door, I picked up some temporary clothes to wear over, which was a bad idea as my hands were completely full. I eventually managed. I would wash Melanie's dress while I was there.
As I walked back, the feel of the whole place, though everything seeming to be back to normal, there was still a feeling of the magic from the wedding. Melanie and Jared would now probably be having breakfast in bed, all made by Maggie with probably some help from Sharon. It was the nearest they would get to a honeymoon - breakfast in bed.
I snuck back into my room quietly to make sure Ian was okay which he seemed to be as he was still fast asleep, I was glad I didn't wake him. I placed the dress over a spare bit of rock to dry before I walked back out and headed over to the dining area to get some food. I could see when I got there that Jeb was making something in a large vat, it looked like porridge, before taking some for himself and sat down at a table. Doc was there too, digging into his food, no one else seemed to be around however. I walked further into the room before taking a bowl myself, where I was greeted by the two men. "Hello Wanda." Doc said with a fleeting smile and a mouthful of food, his stomach gurgles audible from where I stood. Jeb instantly looked up when he realized I was in the room too. "Wanda, come and sit. How are you?" he asked as I walked on over and sat opposite him at the table. I shrugged softly with a smile before a spoke. "I'm okay. How about you? It was such a beautiful day yesterday, I'm so happy for them both." I told him, almost rambling, before digging into my porridge. Jeb started to speak in between his spoonfuls of food. "Same. Mel looked so much like her mother, her parents would have loved to be there. My son in law would be so proud to have walked Mel down the aisle. He would have been much better than me as well." Jeb laughed thickly but lightly as he finished his porridge in what seemed record time. I shook my head in disagreement before I spoke again after another mouthful. "I'm sure you would be as good as each other. Mel liked having you walk her down, you could tell." I smiled as I spoke, taking little spoonfuls between every couple of words. Jeb absorbed my words for a moment before he started to speak again, quickly changing the subject, his face drawing serious. "I've heard that there've been some sightings of them recently, near the abandoned house. It's nothin' but I thought you should know, what with us all wantin' to be careful 'n all." A brief, slightly reassuring smile flickered upon his face, but disappeared quickly. I certainly knew that 'them' meant the other ones like me. I was still touched that Jeb didn't think that I was one of them. I felt a little nervous at hearing this news, but things seemed to be going calmly, there didn't seem to be any need to worry about us being found out again, we were almost living in a bubble but not quite. "I'll be careful. I'm sure we're okay, but anyway, we've coped with worse, even if they did find us." I told Jeb, feeling I was telling myself more so than Jeb that we would be okay, I didn't want to go through any of that again. Jeb nodded with a light smile before he spoke. "I'm sure you will. I'm just rambling on I guess." He then finished off his food before getting up and placed it on top of a small pile perched on the counter. "I'm sorry to leave you Wanda, got some things to do. See you later." With that then, Jeb was gone, leaving me on my own, Doc had left sometime in the middle of my conversation with Jeb, he was most likely busy. I quickly finished my food before I headed out of the kitchen and headed outside. I needed some fresh air before I got started at jobs around here.
It was yet another warm and bright day when I walked over to the rock edge I had sat down on with Ian the night before. There did not seem to be anyone around, leaving me in tranquil quietness. I lay down onto the rock, my hand shielding my eyes from the glare of the sun. I closed my eyes for a minute, just basking in the sun. About ten minutes past before I realized I was not alone. I heard faint shuffling sounds, like feet dragging against the ground. The sound was coming from the direction of the entrance, so I quickly sat up and turned to look in that direction. I instantly smiled when I saw who it was as I stood up and walked on over towards Melanie. "Good morning. Sleep well?" I teased as Melanie gave me a hug before she replied to my question with a smile herself. "Oh yes, I did. Very well." she chuckled before adding with a glow. "I can't believe I'm married. Mrs. Melanie Howe. That sounds strange, I need to get used to it." She seemed to suddenly day dream, something I don't think I'd ever seen her do, she always seemed to be there in the present. I nodded with a smile. "You will. Don't worry, you've got many years to get used to it. Is Jared okay?" I asked, trying the best general questions I could think of without going too far. "Yes, Jared's fine. He's fast asleep in bed at the moment." Melanie replied with a bright smile. "Probably tired out." she added, muttering but I heard clearly. I ignored that last bit, not wanting to have any sort of images in my mind, instead I laughed lightly at her comment. "That makes two of them. Ian's asleep as well. I've left him in there for a little bit, I might check in on him in a minute." Melanie nodded, still with a contented smile on her lips. She laughed softly before making a joke. "Tired him out then?" she grinned, though I knew she was teasing. I laughed with her before replying. "Yes, I did." I had no idea where we were going to go with this as I was feeling a little awkward with any mention of sex. I was glad that someone had come outside, someone I couldn't recall their name and was asking for Melanie to go with them back inside. Melanie listened, hugged me goodbye before she disappeared into the darkness. I stayed in the sun for a little longer before getting down to doing some jobs around the cave.