The day was hot outside, so different from the caves. The sun had been beaming bright and the jeep felt crowded more than usual. Maybe it was the heat. Maybe it was Jared's thoughts crowding his head.

He still couldn't believe he left that note. He should have woke Melanie up and said good-bye in person. It was stupid of him to think just because they had a fight, she wouldn't want to see him before he left. She would want to, especially after everything they'd been through.

Jared pulled away from Melanie. Her scream was terrified and he knew it was his fault. He had warned her not to kick him again but forgot about the scar for a second. Melanie pulled her hand off the back of his neck and crawled backwards, breathing hard. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine," she mumbled. He could feel the fear. "I just wasn't expecting it to feel like that."

Jared chuckled, trying to lighten the moment. "The kiss or the scar?"

Melanie gave him a 'Not funny' look. "The scar."

"I told you it was bad," he said. He reached behind him as if to feel the scar for himself. He had never seen it before so he wondered how bad it really was.

"Can I see it?"

Jared hesistated. "Are you going to scream again?"

"No," she shook her head. "I promise. No more screaming."

"All right."

He scooted closer to her but turned his back to Melanie. She put her flashlight on his neck and let out a small gasp. The cut was badly torn, the skin growing back in place but pink. You could tell by looking at it that it was a homemade cut from a knife, not one of the alien's.

Melanie reached out, contemplating touching it again. She decided that it might be worth a shot and put her hand over it. She felt Jared tense up, it was obvious no one looked at or touched his scar before tonight. She realized she loved that scar. If it was the thing keeping Jared alive, then it was beautiful. Melanie knew it in that instinct that Jared would be important to her and Jamie's safely and she was glad to have met him.

Slowly they walked to his Jeep after Jared went back in to get his backpack. It wasn't that far in the woods, just enough that he could make it in time and that the souls wouldn't find it, either.

Jared drove carefully, not too fast or too slow. Melanie knew of the alien's driving laws and how they followed every law exactly. It was good he was driving like that. She felt the urge to touch him, make sure this was real, that he was real. She needed proof she wasn't just dreaming.

He looked over at her and smiled. Jared was surprised to find someone tonight, someone still human. It had been a long time since he'd seen another human. He hadn't been lying to Melanie when he said it had been two years since his last contact. Since then, he'd been staying in his jeep or breaking into the supermarket late at night for food. But mostly, he wanted company. It got pretty lonely by yourself and he was glad that at least, for the night, he had company.

Melanie's hand twitched a lot, he noticed. Like she was reaching for something. He thought at first she wanted to touch him but he wasn't sure. His mind started to rethink kissing her. It had been a stupid move, he thought to himself. He didn't mean to do it but he was so relieved to find someone who hadn't been inhabited yet. Plus, it had a been a long while since he saw a girl and he knew he had the wrong reaction. She did hit him, after all.

But the second kiss - she had kissed him back.

Of course, she screamed too but he focused more on that she kissed him back. She must have felt something then. But he couldn't think about that. It was enough he met someone, he couldn't be thinking of a relationship and especially not since they're possibly the only man and woman left. That wouldn't be enough of a reason to go after her. He wasn't even sure she would stay with him or if her younger brother would even like him.

If Melanie's brother didn't like him, then this was going to be a short meeting.

Time passed fast it seemed and before he knew it, Melanie was telling him to make a left and go further in that way. What had taken her eight hours had only taken two in the jeep. He killed the headlights so Jamie wouldn't be too scared and pulled beside this small cave area. Jared instinctly felt sick. This was where they had been staying?

Melanie was out of the car first and Jared followed behind her. She stopped short and turned around to face him. "I can really trust you?"

"Yes," Jared answered. He wasn't sure why she was asking now, when they were here. "I came this far. You can trust me."

Melanie just nodded. "Okay. Come on."

She led the way, bending a little to walk into the entrance. Jared followed behind, giving her enough room in case Jamie didn't react well.

"Jamie?" she called, her hands held onto the wall as she went forward. Movement sounded through the cave but no answer. "Jamie? It's me. Really me."

"Mel?" A small voice sounded then a flashlight turned on and he looked at her. "It really is you!" He cried happily and ran for us then stopped short. "Who's this? Mel?"

She took a deep breath. "This is Jared, Jamie. I met him raiding a house. He's human, too."

"Hi, Jamie," Jared smilied, trying to look extra friendly to the small child. "I'm not going to hurt you, promise."

"Hi," Jamie nodded. It was obvious he felt weird now that there was someone new with them. "Did you get any food?"

Melanie laughed. "Well, you're really hungry. Yes, I did get us food." She pulled out some chicken and a small salad, covered with clear wrap in a bowl. There were a few more things too and Jared felt his mouth water.

He started to look through his bag for his own food and to get ready to leave. The kid didn't seem to like him much and that meant he had to be going soon. But then, a small hand reached toward him, handing him a dish filled with some of the chicken and salad. Jared looked up to see the face and met Jamie's eyes. The kid smiled at him and he knew in right there was his answer.

He could stay with them for as long as they wanted him.

Jared looked out the window of the car, grateful he wasn't the one driving to the market. His thoughts had been on Melanie since their fight and they never changed from her. He wasn't exactly in driving condition.

Kyle made a turn to the big market and everyone put their sunglasses on. He turned to the backset. "You're up, Sunny."

xxxxxxxxxxx

I hate the way we left it. I'm sorry about that, too. I love you. See you soon. Melanie reread the words over and over again. Jared had hated how they left it, too but he left anyways. No words spoken or a kiss good-bye. Just a note on the pillow was all she had left of him for the next few weeks, if things went all right. All she could feel was anger and worry.

Melanie walked around the caves and did her chored like she would on a normal day but her thoughts often traveled to Jared on the raid. Was he okay? Where were they right now? How was Sunny doing? She couldn't think of much else.

Her thoughts traveled to that trip to Chicago, when she was caught. She remembered her note to Jared telling him to not go back home and that she loved him and Jamie. Was that what his note would be like? Would he get taken? It was the first raid he was doing that Mel had her own body back and that happened before it, the fight. She felt sick.

She wished she'd dropped it, let Jared talk to her about telling Jamie he could go. But other thoughts of a bad raid occured, how Jamie cut his leg and almost died. She knew Jared wouldn't let anything happen to him. She trusted him. But she couldn't shake the fear, no matter how much she told herself they were a family.

The day passed slowly, so unlike other days here. Wanda curled up in her hole after seeing the dead souls on the ground passed faster.

Melanie walked around, pushing the note and the fight out of her mind. She didn't need to tend to the field too much and there were others here in case it needed it. She needed a few minutes to herself. She told Paige she was going to take a walk around and left the room.

It only took a few minutes for her to forget which way was which. Once again, she was lost. Mel cursed at herself, wondering how dumb she must be to do this again. But she turned and like before, she crashed right into someone. Ian.

"I'm sorry," he apologized to her.

"It's my fault," she answered. "I keep getting lost and not looking where I'm going thanks to worrying I'm lost."

Ian nodded and half smiled. "Do you want me walk you around?"

Melanie considered this. "It won't be weird? Because of Wanda?"

"No," he replied but she could tell he wasn't sure. He wanted to be sure, though. She could hear that, too. "Let's go."

They walked in silence at first, Melanie staring at each wall, trying to memorize them so she won't get lost again. Ian took a deep breath. "Do you miss her?"

"Every day," Melanie answered without thinking about it. She didn't need to think about it. "I want to get her a body, Ian."

"Me, too," he agreed. Could they pick the right body? She hoped Ian would want to come. "Do you think they're gonna bring anyone back?"

She understood. "I don't think so. Not yet." Ian nodded. "I want to find her the perfect body but they also have to be...not there."

"Because of what happened to you?" he asked.

"Not exactly," she answered. "More because of Wanda. She didn't want to take anyone else away. I think she'd want us to make sure. It's not easy to figure out what body is right and who will there or not."

"Oh," he nodded again. "I keep thinking I should come with you guys when you go. But...I don't know. I can't leave Wanda."

Melanie nodded this time. She just noticed Ian was holding Wanda's tank again. "Do you bring her everywhere with you?"

"Yeah. Is that crazy?"

"No," she smiled. She was happy Wanda had someone who truly loved her. "I think it's really sweet. I'm glad Wanda has you, Ian."

She bit her lip to fight back tears. Thinking of how much they loved each other was getting her emotions out all over again and it was making her think of missing Jared all over again, too.

Ian smiled at Melanie. "Do you want to see what there is to eat?"

She nodded. "Sure."

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