So raise your hand if you absolutely hate me for disappearing for almost two years!

Words cannot express how sorry I am that I have left this for so long. I know nothing I say will make up for it.


The cave was alive with movement in the fields as everyone worked quickly to harvest the wheat and get out of the heat. A little head bobbed up and down as it weaved in and out of the field's coursing path. Small giggles bubbled up into the air while someone shouted after them.

"Trev! Trev! Come back here!"

His little form bumped through the people, elbowing them as he passed through without much notice from the workers who were going for a water break.

"Trev!" Another shout rang out but this time from a different direction. Almost like it was right in front of him. "Gotcha!"

The toddler was launched up into the air and brought back down into someone's chest, cradled by small but firm arms. He laughed some more and squirmed in the grasp of his captor.

"How you can go that far on such short, chubby legs is beyond me."

"Jamie! What are you doing?"

Jamie turned to face his sister who was walking towards him with the death glare that usually graces her features whenever someone else is holding her child. Standing face to face with him, she immediately reached out for the still squirming toddler in his arms. Trev eagerly reached back for her with his huge grin plastered on his face.

"Hi baby," Melanie cooed and kissed his cheek.

"He is getting sneakier every day, you know," Jamie said and poked the child in the side playfully.

"Yes, so you should be paying extra attention to him. Especially when you're around the field."

Melanie's anger slowly subsided into a tender tone that Jamie recognizes as her protective one. He heard it way back before coming to the cave whenever he did something stupid that could have gotten them caught. She was too stubborn to openly admit how terrified she was when they were all alone, before they met Jared. She still is that stubborn but now she is terrified of losing Trev or him getting hurt.

"Sorry, Mel—" Jamie started into his arranged apology.

"Aw, come on, Mel, Trev isn't going to get hurt here. The whole family is looking out for him."

Jared came from behind Melanie and wrapped his arms around her and Trev, planting a kiss on her temple. Jamie hadn't seen him so happy in all the time that he had known Jared then when he was with his little family.

"Speaking of family," Jamie started, "how's Wanda?"

Melanie glanced up at Jared tentatively, not knowing what exactly to say. "She's nervous. Obviously," she started. "And she does her best not to show it but we know that she's scared too."

Jared kissed her temple again and grabbed Trev from her arms and they all walked to the kitchen where dinner was being prepared. Ian was talking with Lily who was placing some rolls in a towel and passing them off to him.

"Thank you, Lily, Wanda is going to be so happy." Ian smiled at her with that weary smile that became the normal for him and Wanda.

"Hey, Ian," Jared patted his shoulder lightly. "How's she doing?"

"Right now? She's very hungry," Ian gestured toward the towel of rolls.

"How are you doing?" Melanie rested her hand on his arm lightly and looked into his tired eyes.

Ian looked back down at her but then sighed in defeat. "I'm tired. And nervous," he admitted, "but I'm trying to stay strong for Wanda. She keeps saying that she's fine but I know how scared she is. Hell, I'm terrified."

There was a silence that fell over the group, a silence that always fell over the group for the last two years. Nobody knew what to say when it came to this matter so nobody said anything. Wanda never said anything but Melanie knew how much it hurt her to be around Trev. But who could blame her?

"Everything will be fine." Melanie gave a small reassuring smile and squeezed his arm. "Let me know if anything happens or if she needs anything. Or you for that matter."

"Thanks, Mel," Ian nodded and stalked off down the cave tunnels toward the infirmary.

Wanda was asleep when Ian returned with the rolls from Lily so he sat down next to her and waited as he had done for the last five nights. Doc was sitting at his desk furiously writing something in his journal that he had started shortly after reinserting Wanda into Pet's host body. He spent most of his nights in that corner writing what Ian guessed was a book of instructions or research that he's gathered from everything that has happened.

"Doc," Ian said and Doc's head popped up to look at him. "Hungry?"

He tossed a roll at Doc who caught it and took a bite before returning to his journal. Ian grabbed another and brought it to his own lips. They were warm and soft, just the way Wanda liked them.

"Mmm, Ian?"

He looked down to see her eyes squint open slightly and the crease form between her eyebrows.

"You smelled the rolls didn't you?" He laughed lightly trying to make her smile.

A small blush creeped up into her cheeks at his comment as she nodded. Her tiny hand reached for the roll that he grabbed from the towel and he watched her eyes light up slightly when she took a bite.

"They taste so good."

"Lily made them special for you," he smiled.

Wanda finished the roll and tried to turn to her side on the cot. Ian's hand went to her side to help her reposition and get comfortable.

"How are you feeling?" The concern was written clearly on his face but she was used to it now. He was always worried whenever she moved or made a sound.

"I'm ready," she said quietly and looked away.

Ian let out a breath, "I know you are, love, I know."

Wanda squeezed her eyes shut tightly, her nose crinkling up in pain, and latched onto Ian's hand forcefully. Ian's head shot up from its uncomfortable position on Wanda's cot as he looked around with wide eyes, trying to grasp what was going on. His attention flashed to Wanda almost immediately when he realized where he was. His grip tightening around her small hand that was flushed white from the tension.

"Wanda, are you okay? What is it?" His eyes frantically scanned her face and then around the room, landing on Doc, who was bustling around in a small cabinet.

After he found what he was searching for, Doc ran to the other side of the cot with the No Pain in hand. Wanda eagerly accepted the medicine and her face relaxed once it took effect. Her grip loosened on Ian's but he still held her hand just as tightly as before.

"Okay, Wanda," Doc looked up at her as he got towels and water ready, "are you ready?"

Wanda nodded and even managed a small smile, which made Ian's nerves ease just slightly. He had spent the last two years convincing himself that he was ready for this. But now that the time has come, he is extremely nervous and unsure of himself.

"Yes, we're ready," Wanda stated, looking up at Ian. She must have seen the panic that washed over him and knew what he was thinking.

"Then when I tell you, you're going to have to push." Doc seemed a little uneasy telling her this, probably because of the last time they were in this situation. "This is going pretty quickly now."

Ian locked eyes with Wanda and mouthed a simple 'I love you' that only she could read on his lips. The moment was silent and intimate between them.

"You might feel the urge to push so just go with it." The energy of the situation was starting to settle in Ian's veins. His hands were shaking with anticipation and anxiety at the nearness of their dreams becoming their reality. "Okay, push now."

Wanda's grip tightened again and Ian's free hand went behind her head for support and also to stroke her hair. The sweat that formed along her forehead glistened in the dim lighting of the infirmary. Ian couldn't take his eyes off of her. His mind filled with thoughts of how brave and strong Wanda was, pushed aside the worries and anxieties that were previously occupying it.

"Wanda!" Melanie ran in with Jared close behind her, not even phased by the exertion. "Wanda, I'm here. You're doing great!" She quickly grabbed for Wanda's other hand and squeezed it reassuringly.

"Push, Wanda!"

"You're doing so great!"

"You can do it!"

"Come on, almost there!"

"Come on, Wanda!"

Wanda gave a final push and slumped down against the cot, gasping for a steady and full breath. Melanie's eyes filled with tears and she looked to Doc who was reaching for a towel. Everything in the room seemed to move in slow motion.

Her hands were clenched into fists and Ian immediately grasped them and kissed them gently. Her button nose scrunched up on her round face. Ian waited impatiently for her to open her eyes. He wanted so badly to see her and for her to see him.

Finally, her eyelashes fluttered quickly and her eyes opened wide. Those eyes that were encircled by a silver ring that glinted in the dim light. In that moment, the one that would forever be burned into his memory, time stood still as she was looking right at him.

He smiled and whispered so tenderly, "Hi, Alese."


Yes, this is the final chapter of this story. I hope you enjoyed it and that maybe it was what you wanted for the final chapter.

Thank you so much for all of the love that you have shown this story. I cannot even adequately express my gratitude. That you all would take time out of your day to read something that I wrote and that you liked it so much to keep reading even when I took years to update! Your support means the world to me so I tried to repay that with this chapter!

I would love to know what you thought of it. Whether it was what you wanted, or expected, or if it was completely surprising.