So here it is, the treat that I promised. It's in Brandon's view. Lots of memories of his past with Wanda, Wanda's mother Britney and even Cloud Spinner or Melissa.

DISCLAIMER: The characters do not belong to me they belong to Stephanie Meyer's author of the wonderful book 'The Host'

Chapter 21: Memories

I took a drink of the liter bottle of Dr. Pepper. The night air came in through the small crack in the window while I heard a small moan.

I looked over and Wanda shifted her position in Ian's arms, waking him up. I turned back to the road chuckling.

"Where are we?" Ian asked.

"Not sure, I'm fallowing the map." I said pointing at the GPS on my dashboard.

I looked at him with the corner of my eyes and watched him rub his eyes and then make sure Wanda was asleep. He stroked her cheek with a look I'd worn many times looking at her.

I tried to let my mind focus on the road while I wanted to let my fatherly instincts tell him that was not ok. But my guess was that he'd be my son if they had the option of marriage. I tried not to let by fatherly instincts get the better of me.

"So…." I said awkwardly, "You and my daughter…."

Ian cleared his throat, "Yep."

We sat in silence for a few moments before I decided to speak up. "I knew you were hers before you even set foot in my house."

"Really? How?"

I smiled, "Well first I heard some noise and I knew exactly what those noises were. I let it slide but in the morning I almost caught you. She doesn't know it but I did see the boxers of yours that she kicked under the bed. And she's a terrible lire."

Ian chuckled, "That's what we keep telling her but she keeps trying to lie and get away with it."

"Then I saw the way she was happy that day, you were obviously close. And when you were walking back to the house I saw how you looked at her and how comfortable she was with your arms around her." I chuckled recalling the moment, "And then you were so scared of me when we met. I knew it had to be you."

I saw him nod out of the corner of my eye. He was quiet for a moment, "May I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

He took a deep breath, "When you said you were coming with us you said something about her age." I gulped, Oh no. "Exactly how old is she?"

I bit my lip, "What did she tell you?"

"She told me that her body was almost 18 when we put her in this body." Ian said.

"She told you then." I tried not to show that I was lying but I didn't want to cause her any trouble with him.

"Really? Is that true?" Ian asked.

I sighed, "Alright, if I talk to you about this you must promise that you won't be angry with her and that nothing will change between the two of you. I wouldn't want her to get angry at me for telling you."

"Is it bad?" Ian asked.

"That depends on how old you are." I said. I almost didn't want to know.

"Twenty Five. But I'll be Twenty Six in two in a half months…. I think."

I inhaled sharply. That's not bad. Not even ten years apart. I'd known people who'd been ten years apart or closer to eleven. "Not too bad."

"How old is she?"

"Just let me make sure you agree to my terms." I looked over at him to see him nodding. "Alright. Her real age is 17. I expect she told you she was going to be 18 when she was going to be 17."

I heard him inhaled through his teeth. But I continued, "Now look Ian. I'm guessing she gave herself an extra year to help you look at her as a woman and not a child. And she is. Normal human aging doesn't apply to her. She's defiantly older than you in many ways but in some ways she is her human age. But I'd say that if you bring both into account she'd be about 23 or 24."

"It just feels wrong somehow. Even though I know she's so much wiser than me in some ways."

I laughed, "I'm liking you more and more." I tried to level out my voice, "See I admire that in young men. In our society, as souls, a male wouldn't think twice about the body's age. They would be concerned about fulfilling the physical need for sex. And visa versa with the females. But I admire that about a young man who'd still think about age with the world the way it is."

He gave a small chuckle, "Call me old fashion."

I chuckled, "I will." I cleared my throat; I guess it'd be a good time as any…. "You know I wasn't so chivalrous when I was young." I took a deep breath. "Believe it or not I was 18 when I met her mother. And she was…. 15. At least when we first…. We only did it once but once she turned 16 she demanded that we do it more than once." I felt my lips form a smile, "I was probably less in love with Britney than you are with Wanda. Believe it or not, it's not so much about how old you are when you do it, it's about the feelings you have with that person."

I looked over at him for a moment; he was looking out the front window and had some sort of faraway look in his eyes. I let him think and let him wait to speak till he was ready.

"So you're not gonna kick my ass for sleeping with your daughter who is technically under age?" he sounded scared.

I laughed, a little too loud, it made Wanda stir. "Believe me, when she told me she had a partner I wondered if it'd reached that level but I guessed. And when I knew she had someone with her in her room I felt like I should open the door and kick your ass. But then I realized something…."

"What was that?"

I smiled, "She's a woman. Even though she's in my 17 year olds body it would be terrible of me to stop her from forming her own path in life." I turned to face him and put a very serious, and what I hoped was intimidating, look on my face "But mark my word Ian…."

"O'Shea." I added,

"Right. Mark my words Ian O'Shea; I will kick your ass so bad if you hurt her in any way."

He chuckled "Did she tell you how we met?" I shook my head, "Well she came into our community in Melanie's body and I tried to kill her."

I took a drink and almost choked on it, "You what?"

He nodded with a pained look, "I know. It was stupid. But I was blinded by the eyes that I'd always thought as evil." His voice got sadder, "But as I watched her or heard about her. She didn't seem dangerous and when she wasn't covered in dust and desert she was actually pretty." He paused, "But more than that as I watched her and saw how she reacted to us mean and viscous humans I became…. Well sentimental…. And curious. She was so…. Good. I admire her for that. And as days passed I fell in love with her. Not the body so much but the soul controlling the body."

I looked over briefly to see him gazing fondly down at Wanda. "Pretty soon I was in too deep to turn back. I love her more than my own life." He paused again. "Is this too cheesy? The more I say it out loud the cheesier it seems to sound."

I chuckled, "As long as it's the truth I don't really care how cheesy it sounds."

He continued. "Anyway. And when she decided to leave…. I couldn't take it. She'd become my reason for living. The reason I was surviving this, sort-of, apocalypse."

I nodded. Me and this boy had something in common. "You know that happened to me too." I paused; I was not going to cry. "When my wife Britney left I couldn't take it either. But I held onto my daughter and she was my reason for going forward."

He nodded. We were quiet for a few moments and I had my susposions that maybe he went back to sleep. I drank my Dr. Pepper and tried to focus on the road while my mind wandered back to magical times.

The sun had come up and I rolled over and felt an empty spot next to me. I opened my eyes and saw her blonde hair come up and down. I rolled my eyes, she was exercising.

"What are you doing?" I said.

She did one more sit up and then turned, "Good morning honey."

I tapped her spot in bed, "Come lay down with me. It's early."

She smiled, "I should go on a run…."

I groaned, "But we don't get much time to ourselves since Carmen was born and you decided to become the most fit woman in the world."

She laughed and slipped into bed, "I'm just trying to stay fit."

I slipped my arm around her waist and pulled her closer to me. I closed my eyes "You my perfect fit."

Of course as soon as we'd gotten comfortable the baby monitor on her bedside table alerted us to our baby daughter's existence.

I groaned and Britney got out of bed and left the room. I too got out of bed even though she didn't need my help. I walked down the hall and poked my head into Carmen's room.

"Ahhhh my baby. Did you wake up?" Bri said in a minor babyish tone. I smiled as she picked Carmen up and laid her against her chest, "Poor thing. It's ok. Your mommy's here." She walked over and changed her diaper then sat in the rocking chair. "It's ok. It's ok." She said rocking back and forth rubbing the babies back and humming softly.

I smiled. She was wonderful. I was just happy to have been able to have this. I remember when the doctors said it'd be a long shot to have children and if we did get pregnant they baby would probably not survive or Britney wouldn't survive.

"My little miracle baby." Britney cooed. "I'm going to help you grow strong and you'll be so beautiful. When you become a teenager the boys falling at your feet will drive your daddy crazy."

I tensed up. She wasn't even 6 months old and Bri was talking about her having a boyfriend.

"I'm going to treasure these moments." She said, "Because I know you'll grow up to fast and these moments will be over before we know it."

She was so right. I took a quick look over at Wanda sleeping next to Ian who had his mouth slack. She had grown up too fast. And Britney had missed most of it. I wonder if it tortured her as much as it made me angry.

I looked out into the darkness and saw a sign saying we were approaching a town that had several restaurants and a couple of motels. That was probably a good idea, I needed some sleep.

I pulled off the exit and went in to get a key. We could share a room for a night. When I came back I gently shook Ian awake.

"What?" he said confused.

"I stopped at a motel. You think you can carry her in or do you want me to do it?"

He nodded still a bit groggy, "I can do it."

"Ok. I'll get our bags and I'll show you which room it is." I did and he followed me to room A4. He set her on the bed farthest from the door and laid down next to her.

I smiled at them, they were a cute couple. I made sure to lock the truck, not like anyone would attempt to still it but I was use to it. Then I locked the door to our room and laid down on the other bed.

I heard some rustling. I opened the eye and I rolled over looking toward the sound.

Wanda was sitting up against the head board. She turned on her phone and hurried to turn down the brightness. I watched as she touched some of the buttons and I looked into her eyes and saw the reflection of the painting of Britney in her room.

"Can't sleep?" I whispered.

She jumped and looked over at me. "No. I just had a dream."

I scooted to the side and opened the blanket. Without hesitation she got off the bed and climbed under the blanket next to me. I kissed her forehead, "Wanna talk about it?"

She thought for a minute and then nodded, "I saw my mother; the one in the painting. She was dancing with you in the front room of our house. She was laughing and smiling."

That sounded vuegly familiar. "What happened next?"

"Well. I saw it from a low level. Like I was a child."

I smiled, "It's because you were."

"What?" She asked laying her head on my arm.

"Well, you were about four years old. It was your mom and I's anniversary. But you got sick so we spent the whole day taking care of you. Then when we put you to bed we went downstairs and I put a playlist on that your mom had made for our wedding. And we were dancing to a song called 'People Are Crazy' by Billy Currington we heard some noise." I smiled remembering her in her princess pajamas, "And it was you. You'd come downstairs because you had a bad dream. So we got all upset and your mom said she knew just the thing to cheer you up."

I chuckled and brushed her hair back and rubbed her cheek, "Your mom put you in my arms and then she turned on our song. It's called 'She's Got A Way' by Billy Joel." I smiled at her, "And I danced with you for the whole song. Mostly I just cradled you against my chest and you fell asleep to the beat of my heart and the soft piano of the song."

She smiled at me, "That's what I dreamt. Then after I closed my eyes I remembered calling "Mommy. Mommy." And she came. She came and held me in a rocking chair."

I nodded, "She loved to cuddle you. You were such a beautiful baby. She'd cuddle you and talk to you. I even woke up sometimes and sound her in your room rocking you. You were sound asleep but she'd sit there rocking you back and forth for hours. Until she was too tired and placed you in your crib and wondered back to bed."

She nodded. But got a frown on her face. "But then I dreampt that I was calling for her for a few minutes and she didn't come. Then I called for you and you came."

I frowned too. I remembered that day perfectly. That'd been the day she'd left. "I remember."

"What happened?" She asked. I heard the threat of tears.

I pulled my arms around her and cuddled she close to me. "That was the day she left. I woke up hearing you calling "Mommy. Mommy. Mommy. Mommy." Then I heard you start to cry and I rolled over to push her out of bed to go get you and she wasn't there. I got up and that's when you started to call for me. When I walked in you were calling "Daddy. Daddy. Daddy. Daddy" with tears rolling down your kissable cheeks. And I walked over and picked you up and tried to calm you down." I took a deep breath. "I was so mad at her. She was nowhere to be found. She was the one who know how to calm you down when you were hysterical. I walked down the stairs rocking you because that soothed you when you were a baby. But you were four, I didn't know how to sooth a toddler. I grabbed your box of princess dolls and dumped it on the floor and set you in front of them. You didn't stop crying but you started to play with them and I went looking for your mom."

I let her pull back and I saw that Ian was awake on the other bed just listening. I saw that she was crying and I wiped away a tear as I continued. "I saw a note on the counter next to some cheerio's that you loved to have for breakfast. It said that she loved us but that's why she had to leave. She said it would be forever. Or at least until she was ok to come back. I got so mad that I broke a vase that was holding a bouquet that I'd bought her. You came walking into the kitchen and I put you in your high chair and had you eat the cheerio's while I called her cell. She didn't answer. I called my mom and she came over to help with you. Every time she asked if you wanted to do something you said you wanted to look out of the window." I took a deep breath, "Every time we tried to tear you away from the window you started to yell and scream. I convinced you to come away from the window for snacks, lunch and dinner. You even fell asleep on the couch at your nap time. That night when I carried you up to your room you asked me "Is mommy coming home soon?" And I tried not to cry in front of you. I told you I didn't know. For the next four days you always called for your mommy first and then cried before calling for me. I came when you called for her. And every night you asked me the same thing. I told you I didn't know but on the fourth day I told you that she wasn't coming back. You cried for a long time. Cried yourself to sleep."

Ian sat up and sitting on the edge of the bed his face sad. Wanda was crying and just looked at me like she wanted me to continue.

"Anyway. She sent me divorce papers and I signed them. Two days later I met Melissa at a daycare I put you in because I had to go to work. She took good care of you and we started to date and got married just before you turned 6."

"And you didn't tell me about her?"

I shrugged, "Well you remembered and always said your mom left you when you were four, but you stopped talking about it after Melissa and I got married. Then you heard me and Cloud Spinner talking about her after we'd had souls implanted in us. You even said "Who's Britney?" It confused me because you knew that was her name. After that point Cloud Spinner thought it'd be best to keep it from you. The only time it ever came up was when you were turning 12."

"The wings." Wanda and Ian said together. She turned and smiled at Ian who smiled back.

I nodded, "Yea. You went to the mall and she bought you a dress. This was before everyone was implanted so we still used money. She bought you a dress and when you told her you were turning 12 she gave you a black dress bag and a big box. You read the note and then talked to me about it. You told me that Carmen had blocked out the memories because they'd been too painful and you told me that you wanted to forget her. We never spoke of her again. And Cloud Spinner pretended that you were hers and I faded into the background."

Wanda sat up, "Because of the cheating?"

I nodded. "Did I miss something?" Ian asked.

"Cloud Spinner cheated on Brandon." Wanda filled him in as I nodded.

"Yep. She'd cheated on several times. People would call it an affair. She was going to divorce me before the invasion. But after we had souls in us, I was still pretty emotional but she was very calm. WE came to an agreement that she'd stay until Pet turned 18. Then she would explain to her that she was going to fill out the paperwork and she would live with someone else. She didn't stop sleeping with the other man though. I wouldn't sleep with her because I was still hurt and I was more hurt that she didn't feel sorry for doing it."

Wanda hugged me again, "At least you're free of her."

I nodded. "Yea." I kissed her forehead again and she slipped back into bed with Ian. "Goodnight Sweetheart."

I saw her smile at me in the darkness, "Night Daddy."

"Goodnight Ian." I said, guess I should add him.

"Goodnight sir." He said. I closed my eyes and fell back to sleep.

Ok so that was pretty long but I hope you enjoyed it all the same. Leave a review, let me know what you think.