A/N: I want to apologize for the abnormally long time it took for me to get this done. Long story short, I busted my old computer and had to get a new one. It took longer than expected to get the new one up and running so I was basically without a computer for 4 days. It was horrible. While my computer was out I posted the prologue of a new story (from the library computer lab haha). It's called 'Unexpected Blessing' and the link is on my page if you would like to read it. Okay, this is a ridiculously long author's note. Here's the chapter that you've been waiting far too long for. My apologies again.

Thank you to sarah12345, onyxrush707, TopKat90, Sirius Leigh, xXxTwilightfan93xXx, morning-hues, Escape my reality, pff401, shimmershadow30, Someone aka Me, EdwardAlways, JmacKarla, xx. michelle. moran. xx, and mediate89 for the great reviews last chapter! Wanna give it another go this time?

Disclaimer: Not mine. Never was, never will be. :(

I stared at Sharon with my mouth gaping. Was I hallucinating? The prospect of Wanda leaving left me feeling more than a little empty. Perhaps I had gone insane. I would have thought so, but everyone else was staring at her as well.

"What?" I asked, hoping she would repeat something less bizarre. I didn't think it was possible for Sharon to have a shred of compassion in her body. Was I about to be proved wrong?

"Wanda and Ian should stay. So should Kyle and Sunny for that matter." Sharon looked smug as she suggested this. It was the first time all day I hadn't felt like slapping her. She was trying to help me keep Wanda here. Who would've thought the roles would reverse so completely and I would end up on the same side of this argument as Sharon?

Maggie looked absolutely horrified. Her face was contorted into an expression I hadn't known was physically possible. She looked as if Sharon has just punched her in the face. Which I guess she had, metaphorically speaking.

"No," Wanda insisted. "I won't stay here with you and I won't stay here if they shoot you either." She spoke directly to Sharon. I admired her confidence. She used to be so shy, now she was asserting herself and making sure her opinion was heard. For a brief moment I wished she was still the meek, hesitant soul she was in the beginning. I used to be able to bully her into almost anything. That would have made this situation much easier. I knew it wasn't right to wish I could bully her around but I was running out of options here. Something had to be done.

"Will you let me explain?" Sharon asked.

Wanda shrugged. "You can explain all you want but there's nothing that will change my mind."

Sharon frowned slightly before she started speaking to the whole group. "Wanda, Ian, Kyle, and Sunny should all stay. Wanda couldn't stay here with my mother and I, and I can respect that. She also wouldn't be able to live here if we are shot. I can't argue with that. I would prefer if I wasn't shot. So here is my proposal. What if my mother and I leave and never return? Would you allow us to live? Wanda, would you be willing to stay?"

Oh, she was good. She had this planned out brilliantly. We would not oppose this because we were getting what we wanted. And she would get what she wanted, her life. It seemed to be a win-win situation. It made me uneasy to know that they would be getting off much easier than even a punishment they would receive in the caves but I didn't have it in me to argue. This was best for everyone involved, Wanda especially. She couldn't argue this at all. Maggie and Sharon wouldn't be here and they would still be alive. Her only two conditions were met.

Maggie was looking less perturbed now. Apparently she was a supporter of any plan that left her with her life. She knew when to stay silent and let Sharon do her talking for her. Now was that time.

I nodded my head vigorously, and saw a few others doing the same. I looked over to Wanda and she was exchanging a relieved look with Ian. She didn't really want to leave. When it appeared that the majority was agreeing Jared stood up and started shaking his head.

"As good as this sounds in terms of Wanda's situation here I don't know if this is what's best for the rest of us." I narrowed my eyes at him. How dare he suggest that Wanda's best interests weren't the same as the rest of the group? I began mentally packing my belongings and planning to move in with Lily for a few days until I cooled off. He was going to get it later for this.

"What do you mean?" Ian questioned, speaking up for the first time.

Jared held his hands up like he meant no offense. "I'm treating Wanda like any other occupant here. Would we let anyone else hijack a tribunal so completely? What happened to her was horrible but she shouldn't get to set procedure." I was still angry. He thought Wanda didn't deserve special treatment? She was almost murdered. And this was the second time. She deserved a little bit of preferential treatment. "While I would be extremely sad to see her go, I think that the possibility of being discovered increases exponentially if Maggie and Sharon are allowed to leave."

I understood this but I didn't have to like it. I knew that Maggie and Sharon were a liability outside of the caves but that didn't mean that we should allow Wanda and Ian to leave.

"Why would Maggie and Sharon leaving be any more of a problem than Kyle and Sunny?" Trudy asked.

Jared didn't respond at first. After carefully picking his words he began. "Maggie and Sharon will undoubtedly hold a grudge. Do we really want them on the outside with all that bitterness? They view us as the enemy for associating with souls. What assurance do we have that they won't turn us in at their first opportunity?"

It was Maggie who spoke up now. "I would never do that. As much as I hate those parasite-lovers," she growled shooting a scathing glance to Kyle and Sunny. "There is nothing that would make me take away the life of a human, no matter how much I hated them. And they will never get me alive." She tapped the pocket of her pants that held the pill we keep for just such an occasion. She was the only one that carried her pill around in the caves. She never felt safe. Her paranoia helped to make her argument.

Trudy nodded, feeling confident that Maggie was telling the truth. I couldn't say I disagreed. Maggie may hate us but she wouldn't want to see us captured. The thought of any human being made a host was so repulsive to her that she wouldn't even consider it. I felt certain that they were no more of a liability outside of the caves than Kyle would be.

In fact, they were probably less of a liability since Kyle had just expressed his desire to have a soul inserted to make Sunny happy. Would he allow that to happen if he had no other escape? Would he become a host instead of facing his death? If he did have a soul inserted, would that soul come after us? Or would Sunny be able to convince him not too? I didn't want to take that chance.

I searched the group and everyone seemed to be convinced. Most were willing to do anything to get Wanda to stay, while the rest didn't want to lose Ian after they'd just lost Kyle. They were our 'muscle'. If we ever needed some intimidation, they were the ones that we called. I wouldn't argue with that reasoning. We didn't have to agree for the same reason, we just had to agree.

"Can we just take a vote?" Maggie prompted irritably. Apparently she was in a hurry to find out if she was going to die or not.

"Those for Maggie and Sharon leaving so Wanda and Ian will stay?" Jared asked. I raised my hand immediately, followed by most of the others. Jared nodded. "Those opposed?"

I saw more hands go up than I expected but not enough to make a majority. Mostly they were more concerned for their safety with Maggie and Sharon out there than Wanda and Ian.

Jared sighed loudly. "Okay, I guess Maggie and Sharon are going to be leaving and Wanda and Ian will be staying." He seemed less than enthused. I was still angry at him.

"Kyle and Sunny will also be staying, right?" Wanda asked, though it sounded more like a statement than a question.

Jared shook his head. "No, we've already decided on this. Kyle knew what the penalty was for attacking either of you and he allowed it to happen. He's out."

To my surprise Ian stood up and addressed the group. "I know that I shouldn't have any say right now, but I would like to speak for my brother." A few people stared at him, wondering why he was just now speaking, but I knew the answer. He'd wanted to speak for Kyle in the first place. He knew that Kyle wasn't going to harm anyone. And he understood what it was like to fall in love with someone you never expected. The brothers had a much stronger bond now and I knew that the only reason Ian would have agreed to go with Wanda so quickly was that he would stay with Kyle. As much as he hated to admit it, he loved his brother and wanted to protect him.

"You had your chance," Jared informed him. "You weren't here."

I couldn't believe how insensitive Jared was being. He was letting this power go to his head. Thankfully, Trudy was there to put him in his place. "I think we should at least hear what he has to say."

Jared glared but nodded once, signally that he was backing down. I was glad. He was being completely pig-headed.

Ian started speaking again. "Kyle is an ass. We all know that." Way to be blunt Ian. "However, he is also a man of honor. If he gives his word he won't go back on it. But I'll do you one better. I'll give you my word that Kyle will never again be a threat to anyone in the caves again. If he goes back on his word I will stand with him at his tribunal, willing to take any punishment you give him for myself as well. I would like to ask all of you to raise your hand and allow Kyle to stay and live among us."

I knew that Wanda had put him up to this. She knew that no one would be able to resist Ian arguing for Kyle. But I also knew that Ian spoke from the heart. And it was his sincerity that softened my heart. I now hoped that Kyle and Sunny would be staying. I hoped that Sunny and I would continue to build on the bond that we formed today. And I knew that I would miss Kyle's crazy antics, whether I was willing to admit it or not.

I raised my hand slowly and Jared looked at me incredulously. I gave him a sheepish smile but kept my hand high. I had every right to vote however I pleased, not just according to his views. His mouth pulled down into a frown as he saw more hands going up. It looked to be a close margin. Trudy started counting.

"It looks like it is dead even without Jared, Jamie, and I," she stated. Jared was opposed and Jamie was in favor. She was the deciding vote. She took a deep breath and weighed the pros and cons as thoroughly as possible.

Finally she looked up at us. "I think Kyle should be allowed to stay."

A/N: There it is. Everyone's fate is decided. Those are the final decisions. There will be no more dealing and haggling for someone's life.

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