I'm still unable to see my traffic on the story so I can only assume that everyone has read the last chapter and is hopefully clamoring for more. I've posted a new picture of Nate on my profile. I think I'll leave him up for a bit.

I'd like to thank some new readers: Mahi, Toalli, icecreamsodapop, and First Generation Scot. Thank you for your kind words. As for the rest of you, I love you all.-NL

BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

I TOOK MY TIME GETTING BACK TO THE CAVERNS. I had no humans with me to worry about. I decided to pamper myself so I stopped at one of the larger cities on the way for the night and stayed in an upscale hotel. I went to the mall to shop, which I discovered was my favorite pastime and I purchased a rather adult dress. Although it was short it was a departure from the baby doll dresses I was known for wearing. This dress was more elegant. It was form fitting and solid in color, a plum with a contrasting geometric shape in the front breast area. It was sleeveless but it scooped in towards the neck at the shoulders. I managed to find a set of purple pumps that matched the dress perfectly. That evening I wore the dress to dinner at the restaurant in the hotel.

I was minding my own business when I spotted of all people the healer who had placed me in Mel's body. He is the one who seemed uncomfortable with placing me in the body of a rogue. He saw me staring at him and smiled at me. I blushed at being spotted and turned away. Of course he would not recognize me in this body. I guess he thought I was flirting. The waiter came over to me.

"The gentleman at the next table would like to know if you would like to join him."

My curiosity was peaked so I accepted the invitation.

"Welcome, my dear. You are most lovely. My name is…"

I finished his sentence. "Fords Deep Water. I know who you are."

"You know me? I'm sorry I don't recognize you."

"You wouldn't. My name is Shadow Dancer."

"So, how do you know me?"

"A friend of mine spoke of you often. She was grateful for your compassion when she was placed in a rogue body. Her Seeker had no compassion at all."

"Well, I have had to place a number of souls into rogues. It is quite distressing considering the inner conflict within the body. Rogue humans fight passionately to remain viable. Who is your friend?"

"Her name is Wanderer."

"Ah! The soul who has visited so many of our planets. Was it eight?"

"Nine, including this one."

"She must have told you some wondrous stories."

"Yes, she's actually a hero on the Mists Planet."

"Fascinating. I would love to get in touch with her. Do you know where she is?"

"No. Unfortunately, we lost touch. I moved. She moved. You know how it is."

"And how did you meet her?"

"She lectured at the college I attend."

"So, you are a college student."

"Yes, but I also plan weddings during my hiatus."

"Very interesting. May I ask you a question?"

"Certainly."

"I still don't quite understand how you recognized me."

He was shrewd. I had to think fast on my feet. I was summoning Nate's wisdom.

"I was thinking of having surgery. Breast enhancements. I appear so young I thought a bigger breast might help. She mentioned you and we looked you up on line. She printed your picture. I have a good memory for faces."

"Ah, I don't want to sound out of line here but your breasts are quite perfect just the way they are."

I could feel the blood rise up into my face. The waiter came over and took our order.

"Would you like something to drink my dear? Perhaps a glass of wine?"

"No, thank you. I am not yet twenty one." I was able to give a true answer without revealing my real age.

I wanted to stay on the subject of Wanderer. "So, if it distresses you to place a soul in a rogue body then why do you do it?"

"Well, if I didn't the host would be destroyed."

"So, you prefer to send out a host with the possibility of two inhabiting one body?"

"There are souls out there who manage to endure sharing the host."

"Isn't that cruel?"

"What would you have me do?"

"Well this is a topic we have had in school. Doesn't it make sense to allow the human to live? After all, it is their host body."

"Then the soul would skip. Where would the human go?"

"Well, obviously it wouldn't be the only human."

"We couldn't just let them circulate among the population. They are killers."

"I suppose." I paused as if thinking of an answer that I already had in my head. "This is a large planet. I cannot see why the humans couldn't be given a place to call their own."

"You are a true sympathizer."

"And you're not?"

The food was served and Fords and I began to eat but still managed to carry on the conversation.

He answered the question asked before the food was served. "I sympathize with their plight but I cannot say I would condone keeping them alive without the implant of the soul."

"Are they really so different from us?"

"They are violent creatures."

"Are they not capable of love?" I pressed.

"I suppose they are," he remarked.

I continued to eat letting Fords see that I was deep in thought over the matter. I wanted him to assume that I was searching for more questions to ask.

I spoke while I was chewing as if I was speaking my thoughts as they came to me. "Do you think…?" I swallowed my food before continuing. "Do you think it would be possible for a soul to fall in love with a human?"

"Impossible."

"Why? I have seen soul couples with human babies that have not been implanted. They seem to love them as much as an implanted baby."

"The child is an innocent," Fords Deep Water said sternly.

"So, according to your theory, only an innocent human could possibly have feelings for a soul."

"Yes according to my theory from the observations I have witnessed," he said as a matter of fact.

"I find that very sad."

"It is, my dear."

We finished our dinner and he asked if I might like to order dessert. I obliged.

"What if?" I continued after our desert order was taken.

"What if your theory was proven wrong and a human and a soul were found to be in love?" I asked innocently.

"I find your ideas intriguing. However, the only way that would be possible would be for a soul to be in hiding with the human. What reason would a soul have to hide from all this?"

He made a good point. How could he know that Burns was a sympathizer; that I was led there by Melanie, and Ice and Sunny were both kidnapped?

"You make a good point," I waved my fork at him to make my point. "But if it ever comes to light that I was right. I want you to admit to me that it's possible."

"You have a deal," he replied. I smiled coyly at him.

When we finished our meal Fords asked. "Are you staying at the hotel?"

"Yes, only for the night. And you?"

"I'm passing through as well on my way to a convention in Phoenix."

"Why didn't you take the shuttle?"

"I like to drive. I enjoy the scenery. It's peaceful and it helps me to think."

"To create theories?"

He laughed. "Yes. We are much alike, you and I." He paused to wipe his lips. "May I walk you to your room?"

"You may." I was being quite the lady. I only hoped he wouldn't think I would invite him in.

"Thank you for sharing your meal with me," I spoke politely.

"Thank you for your lovely conversation. You have given me something to think about for the rest of my trip and the memory of your beauty shall stay with me." He took my hand and kissed it like Nate had done many times. He was a gentleman.

"Thank you. I hope to meet you again one day."

"I hope I will be so lucky," he said kindly.

I turned and entered my room. He did not walk away until I was inside.

As soon as I got into the room, I grabbed my phone. I flipped it open and dialed Nate.

"Hello, Beautiful."

"Nate! Is Ian with you? I need to talk to him right away!" My breath was labored due to my excitement.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes I'm fine. I just had dinner with a soul from my past."

"You have a past?"

"Nate!" I whined. "I don't want to tell this story twice. Let me tell Ian and he can tell you."

"Okay, but you can at least tell me who this guy is while I look for Ian."

"He was the healer who placed me in Melanie's host body."

"Did you tell him who you were?" He sounded concerned.

"I'm not insane."

"Well that's debatable," he said with relief in his voice.

"Nate!"

"Okay, okay. Hold on. I think he's in the shower with Holly."

"Nate!" I shrieked.

"Okay, I'm kidding. He's not with Holly but he is in the shower. Do you want me to interrupt him?"

"Only if he's not alone." I didn't like being played with.

I could hear him banging on the door and him yelling "Wanderer's on the phone!"

There were lots of weird sounds on the other end before I finally heard Ian's voice.

"Wanderer, what's wrong? Nate said you were with a healer?"

"I had dinner with my healer."

"The one who healed you after the accident?"

"No, the one who placed me in Melanie's body when I first arrived on this planet."

"How did you manage that? You're not in Melanie's body anymore."

"I recognized him and he caught me staring. He had the waiter come over and ask me to join him for dinner."

"Great. So he tried to pick you up," Ian grumbled. He was obviously annoyed.

"He was a perfect gentleman. The thing is we had the most fascinating conversation about humans and souls. I told him that I knew Wanderer and that I recognized him from the things she told me about him. I told him that she was grateful for his compassion when she was placed in the rogue host." I continued to gush. "We had such a great conversation. We talked about humans and souls and love. I asked him questions and he had these theories. They are all wrong! I want so much to tell him who I am and that it is possible for a human and a soul to love each other."

"You can't tell him. They would take you from me. You would be in danger. We would all be in danger," he said emphatically.

"What if I wrote a letter and left it with the concierge?"

"Concierge? Where the hell are you?"

"I pampered myself. I'm at the Hilton," I said coyly.

"You are so high maintenance." He grumbled.

"Would you rather I was slovenly? I don't hear you complain when my hair is done and my makeup is perfect and I'm wearing heels…"

"Okay, okay. I admit I like the things you do to make yourself beautiful."

"You like the things I do?" My voice raised sharply by the end of the sentence.

"I'm sorry. I love the things you do to please me. Can we get back to this healer guy?"

"I want to tell him the truth. At least part of it. I want him to know who I really am and that it is possible for a human and a soul to be in love. I won't mention the where or the who. I'll even tell him that I would die before I would betray my people. I'll tell him if they tried to catch me I would shred this brain. Please let me do this. I'll leave the letter with the concierge when I leave if he's still checked in."

"Let me talk to Nate about this and I'll call you back. One question though."

"What?"

"Will you obey my wishes?"

"I respect your wishes Ian, I will obey them. But please let me do this! Please, please, please?" I begged.

"I'll call you back."

I was impatient. I turned on the TV but I wasn't really paying attention. The longer I had to wait I knew they obviously were not in agreement over the decision. Finally the phone rang. "Ian?"

"It's me, Nate."

"Where's Ian?"

"Pouting. He doesn't think you should do this but I think if someone on the outside knew that humans and souls can live together, never mind love each other then we are moving in the right direction. I want you to write your letter. When you're done call us back and read it to each of us and we will make our decision then. Keep in mind, Ian loves you and wants nothing more than to protect us all but no one more than you."

"Okay."

As usual Nate's eloquence impressed me. When he was acting the part of the leader he was always so level headed and his words defending Ian resonated in my head.

After much deliberation and a lot of scratching out and rewrites I finally came up with a letter I felt expressed what I wanted to say and yet protected us all.

Fords Deep Water,

I wish to thank you for a lovely dinner and the interesting conversation. I also wish to apologize to you for deceiving you. I told you that I was a friend of Wanderer's. That was incorrect. I am Wanderer. That is how I recognized you. You may be confused because I am no longer in the original host, Melanie Stryder. I don't think of myself as a skipper. I gave Melanie back her body. She is living happily with the man she loves and is about to give birth. As for me, the humans removed me from Melanie's body at my request. I asked that they allow me to die. I went willingly under the knife expecting my life to end. Instead, I woke in the body you saw last night. The humans, one in particular refused to let me go. This man, my love, loved the soul so much that he was willing to love me in whatever form I was placed in. He did not choose the host. He stayed with my soul while others did the choosing. I was lucky to get this body or maybe he was. I can only tell you that very soon I will be his wife. I love him more deeply than anyone or anything I have ever loved in the nine planets I have been on. I hope to bear his children. So, you see, you were wrong. I wish you could see the happiness between us. Humans are violent but they are loving too. It is their passion for life that makes them fight so hard. It makes me fight for them too. If I were to be captured or found out I would die rather than take the chance of exposing them. I have seen a soul shred a brain out of fear and I would do it if it meant saving them, if it meant saving him. When I said that I hope we will meet again, I meant it. I hope that one day we can meet face to face without the fear of retribution. I am not a sympathizer. I am one of them. I hope you will respect this letter and my wishes to keep my secret as I respect you as a compassionate healer and great thinker.

With great sincerity,

Wanderer

I called Nate back and read the letter to each of them. There was no need to deliberate. They gave me their approval without hesitation.

After reading the letter to Ian, he replied. "I'm sorry I doubted you. That was a beautiful letter. You make me sound so…"

I found the word he couldn't come up with. "Perfect. You are perfect. Perfect for me. I love you."

"I miss you so much already."

I could hear yelling in the background. "What's that shouting?"

"It's Nate. He says he misses you too."

I laughed. "Kiss him on the lips for me."

"Nuh-uh."

"I obeyed you!" I teased.

"Hello?"

"Nate?"

"Hey Beautiful."

"I miss you too and I'm sending you a kiss."

"Be safe and don't worry about this guy. I'm in control now. OW! He punched me."

"Are you two drunk?"

"No. then it would be worse!"

I heard strange noises and then another voice.

"Babydoll, I love you."

"Ian?"

"I'm going to let you get some sleep. I love you."

"I love you too. Bye."

I was happy to hear they were getting along. I was happy to write my letter. I decided to get right to sleep so I could get up and out early before Fords Deep Water checked out.

In the morning at the front desk I asked if Fords had checked out. He hadn't so I left the letter at the front desk to be given to him. I wished I could be a fly on the wall when he read the letter. I was truly satisfied though.

I arrived at the caverns late. Jeb greeted me at the entrance with Travis.

"Hello, good to have my girl back where she belongs."

"Thank you, Jeb."

"We've got a little problem though."

"What?"

"I don't know where you're going to sleep."

"Ice can stay where he is. I'll take the game room. Tom and Maggie won't mind."

"Well, that's just it. Kyle's in there."

"Why?"

"He and Sunny have gotten into a scrap and for the last two days, they haven't talked to each other unless they are screaming at each other."

"Why?"

"I don't know; something about babies. I try to stay out of it."

"Is she pregnant?"

"Don't know." He spun around and turned back towards the lookout post. "You might try rooming with Sunny. She could use a calming influence."

I went directly to Sunny's room and knocked on the door.

"Sunny? It's me, Wanderer."

She opened the door and pulled me in. "Oh, Wanderer. Thank goodness, you're here. Kyle is such an ass."

"What's wrong?"

"It all started with Mel's baby shower. We got to talking about Melanie and you and the wedding and our future. He wants babies. Lots of them!"

"Okay, so does Ian."

"I don't want babies," she lamented.

"You don't?" I assumed that every woman would want to mother a child.

"No! Do you know what pregnancy does to your body?"

"Um, I guess."

"I'm serious. You get fat and then there are the stretch marks. They never go away! Your breasts get big and then they sag. It's a nightmare. I don't want to lose this body!" She was nearly hysterical.

"So, you don't ever want to have children?"

"No!" She was adamant.

"Oh." I knew from prior conversations with

Sunny that Jodie was a former dancer and she had always been surrounded by women with enhanced bodies so she was very body conscious. Poor Kyle just wanted a family.

"So, Kyle won't marry you?"

"No, He wants a pre-nup that I will bear a child. I don't want to marry someone who can't see my side of things." She started to cry.

"I'm sorry Sunny." I had to admit that I never thought about what I'd look like after having a baby. "Sunny, actresses and models get back in shape after having a baby. I know I'll do my best to get back into shape."

"When? When you're exhausted after staying up all night with a crying baby? Actresses have nannies to watch their babies and personal trainers who push them and dieticians to make sure they eat right."

Boy, she really thought this out. I needed to think fast before she talked me out of having a baby. "Well, we have one big family here and as for the training, you know who I'm marrying right? Ian's a tough coach, I'm sure he'd be tougher on me than I could ever be on myself."

Now came the truth. "I don't really like babies," she blurted out.

"Have you ever been around a baby?"

"No and I don't care to."

I thought it was best to let this lie for awhile. "Okay, do you mind if I stay with you?"

"No, I'm happy to have you here. I don't like to be alone."

I settled in for the night with Sunny. I wondered how Kyle was doing. He and Sunny were perfect for each other. I was stunned that Sunny didn't want to have children. I had a hard time sleeping. Maybe it was not having Ian by my side or maybe it was my worry over Kyle and Sunny's situation. I woke early at about seven thirty. I was used to getting up early because Ian always started his day at seven. I dressed quietly and went to the bathing room to wash up and put on some makeup. I had gotten used to wearing makeup every day on the mountain. Something about the competition I felt from the long legged Victoria kept me always trying to look my best. Ian had noticed and passed a comment about it. He said I was trying to impress Nate. I wouldn't admit it. I told him I was wearing it for me.

Once I was looking fresh faced, I went to the game room to see if Kyle was awake. He wasn't. He was all sprawled out face down in his boxers. I thought it was humorous that Ian did the same thing only he preferred face up. I covered Kyle with a blanket before waking him. I didn't need any surprises.

"Kyle, wake up." He didn't move. I rubbed his bare back. "Kyle, wake up. I want to talk to you."

He rolled over. "Sunny?" he said still disoriented.

"No, it's me, Wanderer."

"Wanda, how are you Baby?"

"I'm good."

"You look good. Is Ian with you?"

"No."

"You're not split up again are you?"

"No. We're fine. I came back for Melanie's shower and to get the gowns and other essentials for the wedding. I'm just worried about you. I spoke to Sunny."

"Can you believe her? She doesn't want to have my babies. Is there something wrong with me?"

"No, I don't think this has anything to do with you. She's afraid," I explained.

"Well, aren't you afraid?"

"Yes. I have to admit that pregnancy frightens me."

"But you're still willing to have Ian's babies."

"Well, truthfully, I had promised to go off the pill the day we got married, but I have since told him that I want to wait until my next birthday."

"What did he say to that?"

"We had just gotten back together after the 'incident'. He was so happy to have me, he didn't care. He did say and I quote, 'the cut off is twenty five.' If I wait till then he'll be nearly thirty five." I thought about it for a second. "Wow, he'll be old."

"You see? Ian just turned twenty six and I just turned twenty eight. I want children by the time I'm thirty. Is that so wrong?"

"Well, I don't think so, but I'm not Sunny. You know my birthday could come and I could push the date back again. I don't know."

"But you'll have children by the time you're twenty five?"

I thought of me and Ian with a baby, enjoying his first bath, first words, first steps and then later with older children playing baseball with coach and dancing with mom. A smile came over my face. "Yes, I'm sure by the time I am twenty one, I'll be a mom. My biggest reason for waiting is because I want Ian to myself right now."

"I love Sunny but I can't spend the rest of my life fighting with her over children. Maybe I should move on."

"To who?"

"Aren't there single girls on the mountain?"

I immediately thought of Holly. She had a thing for Ian and Kyle was physically his equal. Then there was Victoria who admitted that Ian was a fine specimen of a man. Kyle was just as fine. I pushed the idea of taking Victoria out of the Nate equation out of my mind. My jealousy concerning Nate had surfaced yet again. Kyle brought me back to the present.

"Wanda?"

"Huh? Oh…no, you belong with Sunny and you know it. How long have you been sleeping in here?"

He sighed. "This was my third night. I've tried to approach her several times but as soon as I even try to talk about children, she kicks me out."

"I'm sorry, Kyle. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make it better. I guess for now maybe you should give her some room to breathe. Maybe she'll come around once she starts to miss you. I know separation worked for me and Ian."

"Yeah and I heard the makeup sex is the bomb."

"He told you that?"

"He didn't have to. I saw it in his face."

"I've been gone two days and I miss him so much already. I just keep telling myself that every morning I wake up here is one morning closer to me being with him again."

"What do you miss?"

"I miss everything. I miss his smell, the way he holds me in his arms, his touch, the way he breathes when he is close to me, the way he nibbles my lips when he kisses me." I closed my eyes because I felt a lump in my throat that always was the precursor to tears.

"Come here," he said. I scooted over to where he was sitting on the mattress. He put his arms around me and held me tight. "Ian is a lucky guy."

After a minute of enjoying my Ian fix I responded. "Thank you. You know you should call Ian. He might be able to help. After all, he's been dealing with me all of these months with the whole Nate thing."

"Yeah, but you always come back."

"Well, you haven't given her a chance to come back. Why don't you get cleaned up and I'll meet you in the kitchen for breakfast."

I went back to Sunny's room. She was gone. I strode casually back to the kitchen. I still couldn't get used to the lighted tunnels. Every time I left and came back, another set of tunnels had light. Sunny wasn't in the kitchen. Ice was there.

When he saw me, he opened his arms and said, "Hey Beautiful!"

He did it just the way Nate always did. "Are you mocking me?"

"Never! I didn't know that Nate had the market cornered on the word 'beautiful'. I don't suppose you'd want me to call you Babydoll."

"You know I miss them both enough as it is."

"I'm sorry." He gave me a pouty face and hugged me. All of a sudden there was a commotion in the tunnel.

At first it was just yelling and then I heard Sunny's voice.

"You want a baby so bad, why don't you carry it yourself?"

Kyle countered with "If I could do that, I wouldn't need you!"

I won't repeat what Sunny said next because I don't say that word but I can tell you, it wasn't conducive to make up sex.

Sunny marched up to me. "I'm going on a road trip tonight. Are you coming?"

"I guess so," I stammered. I wanted to go on a road trip to pick up my wedding dress or at least have one last fitting. I also wanted to get things for Melanie's baby shower. I glared at Kyle because I had just finished telling him to give her the chance to miss him and here he was picking a fight. I pulled Sunny by the arm to follow me to the food and we filled our plates. Then we found ourselves a cubby and we sat down to eat.

"I'm glad you want to go on a road trip. I think time apart might be good for you and Kyle. I want to pick up the gowns so I can take them back with me when I go back to the mountain. We also need to get the supplies for Mel's shower."

"That's fine but my purpose for this trip is to go out. I need to party with someone who doesn't have babies on his mind."

"Sure, we can go to the club if you want." I was trying to appease her. "If you don't mind, I want to talk to Kyle. You are one of my closest friends but Kyle is going to be my brother-in-law. I just want to hear from him."

"Whatever, as long as we leave tonight," she said bitterly.

Kyle grabbed his food and didn't stick around. He left the kitchen. I finished eating and as we were getting ready to leave Melanie and Jared came in. She had grown so much since I had last seen her. It was her last trimester and she was blossoming.

"Oh my god, look at you!" I hugged Melanie. Jared was beaming. Sunny excused herself and left. At least she was polite about it. "You better not have that baby on my wedding day!"

"When is the wedding?"

"December twelfth. Ian promised everything would be ready by then."

"How is Ian?"

"He's been wonderful. He's done a complete turnaround. He and Nate have even become friends again." I paused. "Wait till you come to the mountain. You'll love it! Victoria is painting everything that doesn't move. It's beautiful. Oh, and I have coats and mittens for everyone! It's getting cold up there. Nate says they often get snow before Christmas."

"Do they celebrate Christmas?"

"Well, they celebrate the joy of being together. They have a big meal and they put up a Christmas tree. Of course, it won't be till after the wedding because they are going to put it in the building that will be used for the reception. Some of them exchange gifts…nothing too fancy. A lot of them are handmade and come from the heart."

"That sounds really nice," Melanie said sweetly.

"Are you ready for your Christmas gift?" I patted her belly that was the center of attention.

Jared answered. "I am so ready."

"I can't believe a few months ago you were so dead set against this. I wish you could make Sunny a believer."

"Yeah, what's with her?"

"She doesn't want children and Kyle does. I told him to give her some space for now. I can't see either of them with anyone else."

When I finished spending some time with Jared and Mel, I went to find Kyle. He was working alone on the back field.

"You need some help?"

"If only you could help me," he said sadly.

"I'm sorry. Why did you start that fight with her? I told you to give her space."

"I didn't mean to. We ran into each other at the bathing room."

"You know she wants to go on a road trip and she wants to leave tonight."

"I hope you told her no."

"Kyle, I can't stop her from going. She's a grown woman."

"Jeb can," he pointed out.

"She's pretty determined. He may have to shoot her to stop her. Is that what you want? You want to hold her here against will?"

"No." He stared at the ground.

"I'll go with her. I need to get some stuff done for both the baby shower and the wedding."

"Okay. Try to talk some sense into her."

I spent the rest of the afternoon helping Kyle in the garden. He was quiet. It was so unlike him.