On the subject of Nate:
Nate's not a bad guy, he's just in love. It sucks being the guy on the outside. I think Nate and Ian are both the types of guys that did not expect to find love now that the human race has dwindled so. Ian is doing the best he can in a situation that he feels he can't always control. Nate on the other hand just wants an equal chance to prove to her that he could be the one. Wanderer in my opinion feels love for everyone. She just doesn't know how to separate 'love' from 'in love'. Maybe it's because she is a soul.
I personally love Nate. I love Ian too. I guess that's why the part of Wanderer is written in first person.-NL
ENGAGING SITUATON
The door opened and he stepped out into the late afternoon sunlight. I was blinded by it. I pushed my face into Ian's chest and blocked the sunlight with my arms. Ian carried me into the house to the bedroom and put me down gently on the bed. It was our bed. It least, it used to be.
"What's wrong with her?" Kyle asked.
"I'm pretty sure it's a migraine."
"Hold on, I have the 'No Pain' right here." He handed it to Ian.
"Come on, Babydoll, open your mouth." I did as he said and he put the 'No Pain' on my tongue. Within a minute, all of my symptoms had vanished. I was still tired but the pounding and the nausea and the sensitivity to light were all gone.
"Thank you."
Ian sat at on the edge of the bed. "You scared the crap out of me. I thought you were trying to shred your brain."
"No. That would only be a last resort and I would want Nate to suffer too." I couldn't believe that I had wished ill will on Nate. What was wrong with me?
Burns pressed forward. "Will you please let me finish healing you?"
"Sure." He held his hands out to Burns. Ian looked at me. His eyes were suddenly filled with excitement. "I have a better idea for Nate. It's even better than death."
"What?" I was afraid of what he might be thinking.
"Torture." He smiled.
"You can't torture him"
"Oh, but I can and you are going to love this." He turned to Kyle and Sunny. "Would you please go and find Nate and bring him back here. Make sure he knows that I am not going to hurt him."
"There…I'm all done." Burns announced.
"Thanks."
Ian went to the closet and pulled out one my baby doll dresses. He put it on the bed. "Put this on."
"Why?"
"Perfect girlfriends don't ask questions. Just trust me." He went to the dresser and picked out clean clothes.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
He seemed like he was on a mission.
"Shower, I'll be back. Don't go anywhere!" He leaned over me and kissed me on the lips. "Burns come with me." Ian exited the room with Burns close behind.
I was left alone in the room and I was totally confused. Just when I had altogether given up any shred of hope that Ian and I would reconcile, he's calling me Babydoll and ordering everyone around with a gleam in his eyes over torturing Nate. And to top it all off, he says I will love it? I'm not a big fan of torture. Maybe, he's snapped. That's it! He's Looney tunes. I decided it might be best to put on my dress as instructed. After about fifteen minutes, Ian returned looking very handsome. He was wearing black jeans that fit him just right and the form fitting shirt that I had recently bought him.
His smile was brilliant. "Go make yourself pretty."
"I'm not pretty?" I was insulted.
"Of course you are. You know what I mean."
"Kiss me first." I was bargaining now.
"Perfect girlfriend, remember?"
"Perfect girlfriends kiss their boyfriends."
"Okay, one kiss."
"And not a peck, either."
Ian put his arm around my waist and pulled me until my body slapped up against his iron chest. He slid his fingers through my hair and grabbed a handful in the back of my head. He kissed me quickly and then quick again and then he let his warm lips caress mine. Then he kissed my neck and then my collarbone. "Go get ready….please?"
I turned to go and he slapped my butt. He was playful. I would say he was giddy. What kind of drugs did they give him? I decided that since I was in the bathroom anyway, I might as well shower so I could wash my hair. I had vomited. Who knows what could be stuck in this mop? I took my time. If Ian wanted the 'perfect girlfriend'; he would get it. I could hear the back door slamming again and again. It sounded like the crowd was rolling in. When I finally looked 'perfect', I came out of the bathroom. There were about twenty people in the living room. All my friends were there. Kyle and Sunny, Burns, Jeb, Ice, Jamie and Megan, Rachel and Rob, Tom, Evan, Maria, Carlos, Miranda and Maxim, Kim, and even Holly and Kara were there. Nate was there too.
"Here she is." Ian came to me and took me by the hand and led me to the front of the crowd. Maybe he was sending me back to the caverns and he figured I wouldn't argue in front of a crowd. I was scared. Ian spoke to me. "As you know, I went on a special road trip with Burns. I wanted to tell you why."
He addressed the crowd. "Please bear with me. This will be the third time I am doing this, so with luck I'll do this right."
Ian turned back to me. He put his hand on my cheek and looked at me lovingly.
"Wanderer, I have marveled at your resilience when fighting for your life and Melanie's. I have personally taken your beautiful soul from Melanie's body and placed it in this gorgeous body. I have been a part of the ups and downs of a new relationship and through it all I have never stopped loving you. Today, I nearly walked away from you for the second time but thankfully the fear of losing you snapped me back to reality. I love you Wanderer, every piece of you. I know I don't want to live on this earth without you and you have expressed the same commitment to me time and time again. I know that your kind soul feels love for many in many different ways but I also know that our love is greater than all the others combined. For this reason I ask you." He pulled a little red box from his pocket and got down on one knee. "Wanderer, will you marry me?"
I started to shake my hands because they were numb. I took the box from his hand. I was nervous.
"Go ahead, open it. I picked it out myself."
"How?" It was all that would come out of my mouth.
"We went at night when the place was closed. I chose from the displays in the window. In the morning, Burns went in and purchased it. Open it."
I slowly opened the box. I pulled my hand to my mouth to muffle the gasp. It was exquisite. It was a one carat perfectly square cut diamond with two triangular sapphires connecting the band.
"You see? The sapphires are blue like my eyes. They protect the beautiful sparkling diamond in the middle. That's you."
"Oh, Ian! I don't know what to say!"
He chuckled. "Yes would be nice."
I pulled my hand away from my mouth and spoke loudly. "Yes!" I lunged at him.
"Wait! Let me put it on your finger." My hand trembled as he placed it on my finger. "It looks good there." He kissed my hand. Then he rose off of his knee and placed his hands on my face and kissed me. A roar went up from the crowd followed by clapping. It was surreal. We kissed for what seemed like a long time. Sunny told me later that it was only a few seconds.
The announcement turned into an engagement party. Burns took off to town as soon as I said the word 'yes' to get Champagne, Beer, and other party essentials. The beer that was in the refrigerator was pulled out and offered to the guests. Both Kyle and Ian declined the beer. I stayed glued to Ian's side. We worked the room thanking each of the well wishers. Jamie played DJ at the stereo.
After a while, Ian and I were able to steal a few minutes alone in the kitchen. I immediately threw my arms around Ian's neck and he picked me up off the ground. I was beaming. "Thank you."
Ian looked puzzled. "For what?"
"For forgiving me."
He looked very serious. "I never said I forgive you." He couldn't hold his serious face. It gave way to a huge grin.
"Ian!" I smacked him on his shoulder.
He had his arms wrapped tightly around my thighs so I could look him in his sparking eyes. "I really love you, you know that?" he cooed.
"Yes I do and I will be the perfect girlfriend."
"Fiancée." He corrected me.
"Fiancée." I giggled.
"Are you tired?"
"No."
"Good, because you won't be sleeping tonight!" he assured me.
"Promise?"
"Oh, yeah. I am feeling no pain Babe." I raised my eyebrow at him. "I mean Babydoll."
I smiled again. I looked at my beautiful ring. "It fits perfectly. How?"
"I did it while you slept. I took a strip of paper and I wrapped it around your finger and I taped it to the right size. You actually woke up and I kissed you and told you to go back to sleep. Do you like the ring?"
"I love it." I looked at Ian. "I love you."
He walked to the kitchen counter and eased me onto it. He pushed my legs open and stepped in between them. "You make me crazy. You know that?"
"Is that bad?" I was teasing him.
He bypassed my lips and went straight for my neck. He used the tip of his tongue and ran it slowly from the base of my neck to my jaw line and then he gently kissed my jaw. "I could eat you right now." He whispered in my ear. I closed my eyes and shivered in excitement. I felt his lips on mine. His hands were in my hair and I in turn ran my hands through his. It was so good to feel his luscious lips on mine. He nibbled on my lips. I began to breathe heavily as I wished he would take me right here in the kitchen.
"Whoa! Get a room!" Jamie had entered the kitchen. We stopped immediately and I rubbed my lips together to savor the moment.
"I couldn't help myself." Ian pulled me off the counter and set me on my feet. He looked at Jamie. "What can I get for you?"
"I just came to get a soda."
"Yeah, so did we."
The kitchen door opened again. "Excuse me, coming through!" It was Burns and he was carrying a pile of pizza boxes.
"Wow!" Jamie cried. "You went all out."
Burns saw us. "Hey! I didn't get a chance to congratulate you. Sunny had me out the door right when you said 'yes'. I hope I didn't miss anything."
Burns plunked down the boxes onto the table. He rushed over to me and scooped me up in his usual bear hug. "I'm so happy for you, Sis. When's the special day?"
No one had asked me this question. I guess everyone was just relieved we were getting married. I looked at Ian because I honestly didn't know.
Ian answered. "In the Fall?"
I smiled at Burns. "In the Fall."
"Here? Or in the caverns?"
Again I looked at Ian for the answer.
Again it was Ian who answered. "I don't know. I guess we will have to discuss that."
"Well no matter where we have it, I know you will be there because you have to give me away." I gushed.
"Really?" Burns' eyes lit up.
"Really." He hugged me again. "It would be an honor." Burns walked over to Ian and gave him a big hug as well.
The door opened and several people came in carrying cases of beer and champagne as well as bags filled with party essentials and two coolers filled with ice. Kim grabbed the bag of plastic champagne glasses and shouted. "Would someone carry the champagne to the living room and help me?"
"I got it." Burns replied and picked up a case of champagne and followed her.
We exited the kitchen. There was too much going on in there. Our quiet retreat was over. Ice, who was not tethered to anyone, walked up to Ian and handed him a bottle of beer. Ian handed it back to Ice. "No can do. I'm on probation."
Ice immediately looked at me. "He can have one. Right?"
I didn't want to be a prude. "Of course he can." I smiled at Ian. I hoped he would remain true to his word and not get drunk. The memory of his drunken behavior made me shudder.
Ian raised the bottle to his lips and drank. "Ahhhh. That's good." He announced.
Ice offered me a beer as well. "Would you like one?"
"She's seventeen man." Ian blurted out. Great, everyone here thought I was at least eighteen. I hadn't even told Ian the truth until only a few days ago after we made love in the Jacuzzi. Ice had never asked how old I was. He assumed I was older.
"Get out." He staggered back. "Rob the cradle much?"
I leaned in to Ice. "Keep it under your hat. Everyone here thinks I'm eighteen."
I leered at Ian.
He smiled that goofy smile he made when he knew he screwed up. He held his arms out. "What? Does one year really matter?"
"It does in dog years." I sneered.
People started heading towards the kitchen and returning with pizza. Sunny brought bowls filled with chips and trail mix and placed them on different tables in the room. Kim was nearly finished filling the champagne glasses she had assembled on the coffee table.
Kyle approached us. He nodded towards the beer in Ian's hand. "Drinking huh?"
"Just one"
"Yeah, Sunny threatened me so I guess I'm being good."
I laughed at him.
"What's so funny?" he snapped.
"You are so whipped," I teased him.
"Oh and he's not?" He pointed to Ian.
"Well, I might whip him later but only if he begs," I smirked.
"Oooo, kinky!" Kyle shot back. We all laughed.
Just then the back door slammed. It was Nate. I hadn't even noticed that he was missing. He wasn't smiling. He looked a little like a deer in headlights. He crossed the room and disappeared into the kitchen.
Kim was busy dispensing the champagne. She even gave some to the teens, which was funny because I was a teen as well even if I didn't feel like one. Maybe that's why she did it. A bunch of people came out of the kitchen. Nate was the last one out. Ian looked directly at Nate, raised his beer to him, and chugged most of it down. Nate glanced over at me while Ian drank. Our eyes met briefly and then he turned away. I was annoyed that Ian was taking such great pleasure in flaunting our engagement in his face. 'Torture' was what he called it. Ian said I would enjoy it but he was wrong. Although I was thrilled to have Ian as my fiancé, I didn't enjoy hurting anyone.
Sunny gave me and Ian a glass of champagne. Kyle came over to us and so did Burns. Jamie cut the music. Burns spoke first. He spoke slowly in a casual tone.
"Hey everyone." He paused and looked down at the floor for a moment, and then looked back up at the crowd. "When I first met all of you, I felt like a square peg forced into a round hole. Then a few months ago, I ran into Jeb's clan out there in the desert and I found out that I wasn't the only soul who had chosen life with the humans. I spotted her immediately trying to hide among them." He smiled at me. "Imagine my surprise to finally meet someone like me. Of Course, I thought we would be the perfect match. Little did I know that she had already found her perfect match. Ian has shown love for her that I could only dream of. They are two people who challenge each other every day but in the end their hearts never waiver. I salute you and congratulate you, Ian and Wanderer. I hope you share a long and happy life."
"Here, here!" Everyone cried as they raised their glasses.
Ian had slipped his arm around me midway through Burns' speech. Now he leaned down and kissed my lips and I pulled his face to me with my free hand.
Kyle stepped up to where Burns had been standing. Kyle hugged Ian before he began his speech.
"Hi guys. In case you don't know, I am Ian's brother." Everyone laughed because it was obvious that they were. "Okay, I get it. We look a little alike." Everyone laughed again. When the laughter died down, Kyle continued. "When I first met Wanda…excuse me, Wanderer, I hated her and everything she stood for. So did Ian." Ian pulled me close to him. I lay my head on his chest. "Our mission in life was to destroy her and we very nearly did. But Ian here, he saw something in her. He looked beneath the surface and saw her soul. Pardon my pun." He paused. "Every moment he spent with her, he fell more and more in love with her. He's seen her for what she truly is and even that did not deter his love for her. These two have been to hell and back more than once but they always hang on. You've got to admire that." Kyle turned to me and continued to speak. "Wanderer, you've made me a believer. I love you and I will be very proud to call you my sister. Congratulations, both of you." Kyle pulled me away from Ian and hugged me tenderly and kissed my face.
Again the crowd shouted, "Here, here." And everyone drank. I was teary eyed at this point. Ian couldn't stop smiling.
Ian spoke. "Thank you. My beautiful fiancée and I would like to invite all of you to our wedding. We are shooting for a Fall fiesta. We are not sure whether it will be held here or the caverns but regardless I hope to see each and every one of you there. Enjoy the rest of the party!"
The music came back up and everyone started to mill about. At about eleven o'clock people started to leave. Ian was true to his word. He never picked up another bottle of beer. I did see Kyle with one as the evening progressed so I guessed that Sunny must have given him the 'go ahead'. Ian was lounging on the couch and I was standing with Sunny and Megan talking about the wedding plans. Nate approached me for the first time all night. He asked me if he could talk to me alone for a second. I could see Ian out of the corner of my eye. He was watching me. I stepped away from the girls and walked slowly towards the bedroom door. I turned so Nate's back was to Ian and I was facing him. I wanted to keep a close eye on Ian, just in case.
"I would like to say that you look especially beautiful tonight."
"Thank you."
"You're glowing." He refrained from touching me but I could see the sincerity in his eyes.
"I'm happy."
"I wanted to apologize to you for what I said or rather for what I didn't say this afternoon. I was stupid. I was hoping Ian would dump you and you would run to me."
"I'm sorry he disappointed you." I glanced over at Ian and he looked very agitated.
"He loves you. I see that now. I just wanted to say congratulations."
Nate leaned in towards me. I froze. He kissed me on the cheek and stepped away just as I saw Ian spring off the couch.
"Thank you." I spoke in a low voice.
Nate crossed to the door to leave as Ian crossed the room to me.
Ian was clearly irritated. "What was that all about?"
"He apologized and said congratulations."
"Is that all?" He demanded.
Now I was irritated. "Did you want there to be more?"
"No, I…."
I put my arms around his waist and put my chin on his chest as I looked up at him. "Superman, I love you." He put his hand in my hair and stroked the back of my neck. "I'm ready to turn in. It's been a long day," I said softly.
"I know. If we sneak off, do you think they will notice?"
"Probably."
"I guess you're right. We should say good night to our guests."
Ian and I circled the room saying good night to each of our guests. Then we came to Kyle and Sunny. "Wait! Where are we sleeping? You two were supposed to leave tonight."
Sunny answered the question. "Kyle is staying with Ice in the root cellar and I will be sleeping on the couch. You take the bedroom. This is your night."
"Oh, yeah. Make up sex!" Kyle howled.
Then I remembered the root cellar. "Oh no! I never cleaned up the mess I made on the floor of the root cellar!"
"I did it Babydoll while you were in the shower. Everything is taken care of."
We called out one last 'good night' and made our escape.
I lay on my back on the bed and admired my ring. "It's so beautiful!"
Ian took off his shirt. He plopped down on the bed next to me. "It's still not as beautiful as you are."
"Why are you so good to me?"
"I don't know. Why?"
I spoke in a baby voice. "Because you love me?"
"No. That's not it." He scooped his arm around my waist so I couldn't get away as he laughed.
I folded my arms across my chest and pouted.
He rolled so his face was over mine. "Did I tell you how absolutely breathtaking you are tonight?"
"No. I don't think you did. Nate did though."
Ian rolled over onto his back and growled in disgust. I rolled onto my side and up on my elbow. I didn't look at his face but rather I concentrated on his tanned six pack. I ran my finger tips over the rippled muscles of his torso.
"Do you want to know what else he said?"
"Not really."
"Okay, never mind." I knew it would be only a matter of time before his curiosity won out over his belligerence. I continued gliding my fingers across his abs to his flat stomach in silence.
He grabbed my hand to stop me. "What did he say?"
I smiled. "He said I was glowing." I rolled over so my chin was resting on his chest. "And I said I was happy."
"Are you?"
"Extremely." I scooted onto my knees and straddled over him. I pulled my baby doll dress up over my head. The only thing I had on underneath was my panties. "Now what can I do to make you happy?" I struck a seductive pose and pulled his hand to my mouth. I put his finger in my mouth and I licked it and sucked on it. Beneath me, I could feel Ian's arousal. I placed both of my hands over his and slowly pulled his hand from my mouth to my neck, down my throat, across to my breast. I let his hand rest there while I gyrated my hips on top of him. Suddenly he grabbed me with both hands and flipped me onto my back and he held my wrists over my head. He looked angry.
"Ian, what's wrong?"
He hissed. "I thought you said you didn't sleep with him."
"I didn't."
"Then, would you care to explain where you learned that little trick?"
I smiled. "Did you know that Jodie used to be a dancer? Kyle met her in a bar, but not the kind you think."
His hard expression softened. "You're kidding."
"I'm not. That's why Sunny all of a sudden has so much power over Kyle. Once she slept with him. He was toast. She has all of Jodie's experience in her memories."
"So, when did you learn…this?"
"The night you and Kyle were pounding down beers in the root cellar, I was in the Jacuzzi with Sunny."
"Damn. I missed that?"
"Did you like what I did?"
"You couldn't tell?"
"Yes, but I like to hear it."
"I liked it very much." He held both of my wrists with one hand and proceeded to kiss my neck and breasts. Then he released my wrists and slid his body down to my waist and pulled off my panties. He put his hands under my armpits and lifted me back to a sitting position. He rubbed his thumb along my jaw line as he gazed into my eyes. He leaned in to kiss me and didn't take his eyes off mine until we were too close to focus on each other. It was a hungry kiss. The passion of his lips accelerated quickly until he whispered to me "Get on."
He lay on his back and I did his bidding. He let me have all the control. Instead of taking me, this time I took him. When we finished I was laying on top of him.
"Remind me to thank Sunny." He muttered.
"She's right outside on the couch."
"THANK YOU, SUNNY!"
"Ian! She's probably asleep."
He laughed.
I folded my hands on Ian's chest and put my chin on them. "Ian?"
"Why do I not want to answer you right now?"
"I don't know. I was just going to ask you where we should have this wedding."
"Yep, that's why I don't want to answer you right now."
"I don't understand."
"Babydoll, I don't want to ruin this perfect evening with a fight."
"Why do you think we will fight?"
He sighed. "Okay, where do you want the wedding?"
"At the caverns, of course."
"Right, and I think we should have the wedding here."
"Why would you say that? We live at the caverns."
"Do we?"
"I do!"
"I need to go to the bathroom." Ian moved me off of him and got off the bed.
"Wait I bought new robes." I went to the drawer and pulled them out. "Here you go. Yours is the blue one."
He slipped it on and left the room. I lay there trying to figure out why on earth he would want to have the wedding here. I don't think he ever wants to go back to the caverns.
Ian came back to the bedroom after a few minutes.
"Okay, we can have this conversation if you promise to hear my side of this and if things start to get out of control you will shut up and kiss me till you're sane again."
"That sounds like you already plan to win this argument and what do you mean till I'm sane?" I demanded.
"You get a little emotional sometimes," Ian responded.
"I get a little emotional? Who's the one who goes bananas if Nate even enters the room."
"And with good reason!"
"Nothing happened!"
"Except that you kissed him!" he ranted.
Ian was right. He knew this would escalate into a fight. Maybe his kissing solution would work. Ian was still standing by the edge of the bed. I got up on my knees. "Come here." He stepped towards the bed and I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. I tried really hard to get his mind off the fight. After a minute we were both calm.
"Okay, How about I present my pros and cons about where I want us to get married and you present yours." I proposed.
"I'm agreeable to that. You first." He sat on the edge of the bed. I slipped into my robe and sat with my arms wrapped around my knees.
"I just think that the caverns are where we met and fell in love and all of our friends are there and that is where we are going to live, isn't it?" I threw that last part in there on purpose because I needed to know what his intentions were for our residence.
"Do you want to talk about where we are going to get married or do you want to talk about where we are going to live because right now you are playing with a double edged sword."
"I want to know both," I said adamantly.
"Although I agree that both matters need to be discussed, I think we need to resolve one at a time."
"Well let's get to the point here. The truth is you have no intentions of ever going back to the caverns, do you?"
"I never said that."
"But that's what you want, isn't it?" I pressed.
He took my hands in his. "Babydoll, I like it here. There's so much to do. I love teaching the kids baseball and it's the best place to raise our children."
"Children? When did we start talking about children?"
Ian leaned in to kiss me. I pulled away.
"Damn it, Wanderer. You make me insane!" He got up and stormed out the door.
I sat on the bed waiting for him to come back. There was a knock at the door. "Wanderer? Can I come in?" It was Sunny.
"I'm sorry we woke you."
"It's okay. I couldn't help hearing the argument. Can I make a suggestion?" she said calmly.
"Sure I'm open for anything."
"You two need a mediator."
"Sure, I'll just take him into town and we'll get one." I was gruff because I was aggravated.
"I would be willing to mediate. Besides, I've been thinking about this myself. I mean I was hoping Kyle and I will get married and we will run into many of the same problems that you two are facing. Let's get Ian and talk about this together."
"Okay."
We found Ian sitting on the back steps.
"Come inside, please? Sunny wants to be mediator and she says she might have some answers."
He rose from the steps and returned to the living room. Sunny turned on the light and we sat in a triangle around the coffee table.
Sunny spoke first. "Let me get this straight. Ian, you want to live here and have the wedding here. Wanderer, you want to live at the caverns and have the wedding there. Is that correct?"
"That's correct." Ian replied.
"Okay, putting all personal feelings aside, let's talk about this logically. First issue is the fact that there are at least twenty people here and another twenty people at the caverns who would want to attend this wedding. Correct?"
This time I answered. "Correct."
"So, if we have it at the caverns we need not only to be able to transport twenty people from here to there plus add extra vehicles to our already crammed garage in the desert and we need to find a place for them to stay and use our largest room available for the ceremony and party afterwards."
I retaliated. "But we would have those same exact issues if we had it here."
"Okay what is the one thing either location has over the other?"
Ian looked at the floor. "Space."
"Good, that's good. Ian, explain your reasoning."
He sighed. "The caverns are unsuitable because they are already full. There is no place to put more people and we cannot expand. There is no where to go except outside and the desert is unacceptable. The mountain on the other hand has lots of open space. All we would have to do …is…..build..."
I understood. "That's it. We could build what we need to accommodate the people and for the reception."
Sunny continued. "There is plenty of space for all of the vehicles. Ian, how much time would it take to build a couple of buildings?"
Ian was deep in thought. "Well…..I guess it depends on how many rooms you are talking."
I could see it now. "The buildings could be almost identical. You would just need the outer walls and electricity. One building could be like a giant reception hall and the other could be like a bunkhouse."
Ian spoke "What about heat? We aren't getting married until late October or early November."
"Well couldn't we just get married earlier?" I suggested.
"We couldn't get the buildings completed in time."
Sunny offered a solution. "What about fireplaces?"
"That's a lot of work." It might be easier to run a heating unit.
The door to Burns' room opened and he came out rubbing his eyes. "What are you all doing out here? It's one o'clock in the morning!"
Ian approached him. "We're talking about the wedding. We need your input."
A half hour later, the four of us were huddled at the kitchen table eating pizza and drinking caffeine. The boys were busy drawing schematics for the buildings. Sunny and I were keeping the shopping list for the supplies needed for each leg of the process. After a while, Sunny and I decided to clean up after the earlier party and we got to talking about 'other' things.
This did not go unnoticed by Ian. "Sunny?"
"Yes?"
"I need to thank you."
"I actually heard you yell it from the bedroom and Wanderer filled me in on the events in the boudoir. I hope you don't mind. Girl talk, you know?" She smiled.
"Well, yeah there is that, but I also need to thank you for playing the mediator tonight. If it weren't for you, I hate to say it, there was a possibility that this wedding would have been put off indefinitely, and that is not something I want to do. You have really become like family to us. Thank you."
Sunny's eyes sparkled as she smiled sincerely. I reached out and hugged her.
Ian continued. "Oh and by the way, any time you want to teach Wanderer anything at all; you have my blessing." Then he winked at her.
Sunny laughed.
It was three in the morning before the boys reached a point in the plans to feel comfortable to go to sleep. Burns, Kyle, and Sunny would be leaving tomorrow to go back to the caverns. Ian's plan was to do as much of the work as possible in the coming weeks before Burns was to return to the mountain. Before we left the table, Burns left us with one condition on the wedding plans.
"I know this is my land but beyond this house, the land really belongs to those who live on it. For that reason, you will need to go and get the go ahead from Nate, since he is the leader."
Ian's face fell. "Great. The one guy who would do anything to prevent this wedding."
"I could just sleep with him." I joked.
Ian glared at me. "Is that supposed to be funny?"
"I'm sorry. That was inappropriate. Forgive me."
"I can only forgive once a day. You used up your quota already." I was hoping he was just cranky because he was tired.
"Even if that was true, it's a new day, remember?" I kissed him on the cheek. "Have faith Superman."
Burns hung a note on the back door informing all that each of us was up until three in the morning cleaning up and planning the upcoming nuptials. It basically said 'Do Not Disturb'
As I curled up in Ian's arms I was incredibly happy. Ian kissed the top of my head and stroked my hair. "Tomorrow, I'll tell Nate about our plans. I only hope that he will be receptive." I could hear the despair in his voice. Yesterday, Ian had nearly killed him and tomorrow he was going to ask him for a favor.
"I could talk to him if you want." I knew if anyone could talk Nate into this, it would be me, but at what price?
Ian hissed. "No. I don't want you near him."
"I-a-n!" I groaned.
"This is not up for discussion. Do I make myself clear?"
I didn't say anything. I was trying to remind myself not to rock the boat. I had just gotten Ian back and I had promised him I would be the 'perfect' girlfriend.
He lifted his head off the pillow. "Wanderer, do I make myself clear?"
"Yes." I whispered.
He pulled me tight to him. He spoke in a soft voice "Please, understand that I don't want to lose you."
"You won't," I assured him.
A minute later Ian was asleep. I couldn't sleep yet. There were too many thoughts still racing through my head. If Nate says yes then that will be one huge issue solved. There are still the issues of children as well as our permanent residence. I love the people in the caverns and I can't fathom not being with them. As for the children, Ian is almost twenty six years old. He's ready to have children. I've seen how good he is with the kids he coaches, but I'm only seventeen! I wanted a few years with Ian first. Nothing was going to be resolved tonight besides; Ian will hopefully get his way on the wedding. It will be his turn to compromise. As I drifted off to sleep, I pictured myself at age twenty five with five children.