Chapter Three

Bliss

"Wait, Wanda! I can help you with that."

Ian appeared out of nowhere, as usual. He pulled his hands out of his pockets, attempting to grab the pile of sheets and pillows I was carrying. It was enormous. Trudy and Candy had decided to wash all the laundry today, and I had volunteered to help them. Well, I hadn't exactly said anything. I had just smiled at them and picked up the pile of dry, clean sheets in order to return them to their rightful owners. They had shouted something after me - probably trying to protest - but I was already gone. The only good thing about this tiny body was that it was so quick in it movements.

"I can manage", I said and turned around so Ian couldn't get a hold of my load.

"They're too heavy for you."

"They're not heavy at all", I lied, though my arms ached already, and I wasn't anywhere near the bedroom-caves.

He gave me a dry smile. "Then why are you sweating?"

"It's very hot in here", I shrugged.

"Liar." His tone was amused, but his sapphire eyes were full of worry. That expression had become very familiar to me in these last few weeks.

"Please, Wanda. Let me help you with those." "There's no need", I sighed. "I'm fine, really."

"You would say that even if you were in severe pain."

I blushed. That was true.

"Shouldn't you be working at the fields?" I asked, trying to distract him.

"I was. I came to get some water."

"Well, go get your water", I encouraged him. "Jeb and the others are probably waiting for you." "I will. After I've carried those sheets."

"Why are you trying to help me all the time?"

"Because if I don't step in every once in a while, you'll keep on working until you pass out. Again", he emphasised victoriously.

I cringed. I had passed out three days ago while working on the fields. After that, Ian and Doc had told me I was not even allowed to think about going to the fields again. I had tried to protest, but this time no one had taken my side.

"I only passed out because it was hot and I hadn't drunk enough!"

Ian gave and exasperated sigh. "Wanderer, if you just - "

"Wanda, Mel was asking - oops, sorry! Didn't mean to interrupt your... conversation?"

I couldn't't help but smile, as Lily and Heidi stepped around the corner. They couldn't't have had better timing; if Ian had kept on going much longer, I would have lost for sure. He was so stubborn sometimes. Well, most of the time. He would have probably carried both the sheets and me, had I started to protest too much. The image brought a smile on my lips, though I did my best to be angry with him. I just... couldn't't.

"It's an argument", Ian corrected with a growl.

"Big surprise there", Heidi grinned. "It's not like we haven't heard it before."

"Did you know that Jared and Melanie have started to make bets about which one of you wins?" Lily asked with a smile.

"What?" I exclaimed, almost dropping my heavy load. "They are betting on us?"

"You must admit, Wanda, that your argument is getting pretty old", laughed Heidi.

"Well, I would gladly give it up", I said and looked at Ian pointedly. "But he won't."

"Oh, I will", Ian promised with a way too innocent smile. "The moment you stop exhausting yourself."

"I don't exhaust myself, I know my limits very well!" "I know you do, honey. You just ignore them."

I scowled at Ian. He scowled at me.

"Sorry, Wanda, but Ian's got a point there", Lily said carefully. "You are doing too much work. You're pregnant, for God's sake, you should take care of yourself!"

"I do take care of myself!"

"After you've taken care of everyone else. What I'm trying to say is, you don't have to try and make yourself useful. You are, already, and everyone knows it."

I wasn't so sure about that. At least Sharon and Maggie didn't seem to agree, along with a few others.

"Think about it like this", Heidi suggested with a smile. "You're already doing us a big favour by ensuring our species is not going to die out. Isn't that enough?"

"She's right", Ian agreed.

I shook my head, but didn't say anything. I hated arguing, and wasn't certainly going to do it while Heidi and Lily were watching. They would just take Ian's side, anyway.

"So, how've you been holding up, Wanda?" Lily asked. She seemed to be as eager to change subject as I.

"She's been doing just fine. She didn't throw up this morning", Ian added proudly and slipped his arm around my waist. Even though I did my best to be annoyed with him, I found myself leaning against him for support. My arms were aching so badly they would soon start to shake, but there was no way I could say that out loud. I tried to find an excuse that would let me continue my errand, but my mind was blank. The others didn't seem to be in any kind of hurry at all. They kept on chatting about this and that - I didn't really listen, but instead let my thoughts run free.

It had been three weeks since Mel and I had done the raid to pharmacy - three extremely long weeks. Most of the time I had been so sick I couldn't get up in the morning, and at one point I had been ready to dig my insides out just to stop the nausea. Those days hadn't been exactly easy. My body was so frail, it didn't react well to the loss of food. That's why I had passed out on the fields a couple of days ago. However, now it began to seem like the hardest part was over. This morning I had woken up without any kind of nausea at all. I wasn't the only one who was relieved. I was sure that my nausea had bothered Ian too, though of course he was too much of a gentleman to ever say anything. Still, he had began to look tired too, with dark circles around his beautiful eyes. I swayed on my spot, suddenly very tired.

"Hey, be careful there", Ian exclaimed and slipped another arm around me, supporting me. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, just fine", I said and swallowed. "I think I should go, though - I've got pillows to deliver."

"I'll help you with those", Ian said.

I opened my mouth.

"Don't say anything. We both know I'll do it anyway, so it's easier if you just deal with it. Sorry", he added with a frown. "That last part sounded just like Mel. What I mean is, we have to make a compromise here. You want me to go and work on the fields, right?"

I nodded.

"But I'm not going to go anywhere, until I've carried these for you. So, I'll go to the fields faster if you just let me help you. It's a compromise, you see?"

"I'd be happier without any kind of compromises", I hinted.

"So would I", Ian said pointedly. "But since we can't both be happy, this is the closest we can get. Now, let me take those sheets for you and come along. You can take them to their owners."

I sighed, defeated. There was no way I could win this argument, so I could just as well give up and go along with his plans. Pouting I put out my arms and let him grab the heavy pile from my arms. He balanced them easily on his right arm, and slung the other one around me shoulders. It really bothered me - not the arm, but the fact that he was able to carry the pile with one arm, whereas in my case even two weren't enough.

"See you later, girls", I sighed wearily as Ian began to lead me towards the bedrooms.

Heidi snickered behind me. "Try to get used to it! He's only looking after you, you know." "More like looking for some trouble", I muttered so quietly only Ian could hear.

He chuckled. "Sorry. Couldn't help it."

"If I were you, I'd watch out", I warned. "Someday I might be mad at you."

"Oh, I'm sure you will", Ian laughed. He shot an apologizing glance in my direction. "You know, I didn't do this just to steal your job. There's something I wanted to show you."

"What?"

He grinned. "You'll see in a minute. Let's get rid of these sheets first."

Annoyed as I was, I had to admit that his help made the whole process much quicker. Had I been carrying the pillows on my own, I would have had to set the pile down every time I wanted to take one sheet or pillow. Now it was much easier. Ian gave me the pillows one by one, and I took them to the right rooms. In ten minutes, everyone had got their pillow and sheets.

"You see, it wasn't that bad", Ian said in a teasing voice.

"No, it wasn't", I agreed. "But I would have still managed on my own."

"Stubborn girl", he muttered.

"I learned from the best", I said pointedly.

He sighed and gave up. "Let's go to our room for a while."

I followed at him, puzzled. What was there in our room that was worth showing? Unless Ian hadn't been on a raid today - which I knew for sure he hadn't - there was nothing new in there. Just the mattress, the books, the stonewalls...

Ian was smiling as he led me into our room.

"Stay here. Don't move", he commanded, stopping me at the entrance. Then he turned around and started rummaging through his backpack, where he kept all his (few) personal belongings.

I stared at him with a frown. What was this all about?

"Found it", he said triumphantly and straightened himself.

"Found what?"

I could see he was holding something in his hand, but he had squeezed his fingers around it so I couldn't figure out, what it was. Something small, anyway - otherwise it wouldn't have fitted inside his fist.

Ian came to me and took my hand in his own.

"I've been looking for this for weeks. Kyle just helped me locate it yesterday."

"Kyle?" I repeated, trying not to be worried. Usually when Kyle was involved in something, it meant trouble.

Ian laughed again. "No need to be anxious. This one's really innocent."

"What is?"

His eyes grew serious.

"Wanda, I know I asked this a few weeks ago... But I wanted to do it properly."

"Do what?"

He kneeled in front of me and opened his palm. In his hand was a beautiful golden ring, so small it looked like it had belonged to a child. It was decorated with small, shiny diamonds.

"This ring belonged to my grandmother", Ian said and smiled at me in a teasing way. "She was tiny, just like you. She wanted my mother to have this ring when she died. I - I took it, when the Seekers came to our house. I've been keeping it safe ever since."

I felt a twinge of guilt as I thought about Ian's family. It was not something I did often, because it hurt so much. Still, every once in a while it occurred to my mind, that Ian had had a family too - one that he had loved very much. My kind had taken that away from him. Because of us he didn't have parents, or a sister, or grandparents. Just him and Kyle. It felt so wrong.

Ian took a deep breath.

"Wanderer." His eyes searched for my own. "I love you, Wanderer. With all my heart. Will you please do the honour and wear this ring?"

For an ordinary soul his request would have held no meaning. But I have lived among the humans long enough to know that a question like that was a sign of true love. It meant that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.

My eyes watered.

"Yes, Ian. I would love to."He smiled in relief and slipped the small ring on my finger.

"So, it's official, then", Mel noted, as she surveyed the ring on my finger. It felt strange, having it there. It was one of the smallest objects I had ever seen, and yet it filled my heart with a warm, soft feeling every time I looked at it. Ian had given it to me. He had given it to me so everyone could see, that he really did love me. I liked it. It was almost like... He was claiming me as his own. Not that he needed to. Still, I liked it. I liked the fact that I belonged to him.

"Official", Jared grinned. "How can you make it official? Officially, we are all dead."

"Well, as official as it can be", Mel corrected and scowled at Jared. Then she smiled at me. "When are you getting married?"

I shrugged. We had had no time to discuss about it yet. Life at the caves was so busy nowadays. We - or those of us who were allowed to - worked all day, and we were rarely alone.

"Probably soon, I guess. There's really not much to discuss about."

"Who's going to perform the ceremony? We don't have a secret priest among us, do we?"

"I suppose it doesn't matter", I said and smiled at Jared. "You yourself said we can't make it official."

"It doesn't have to be official for the rest of the world", Mel pointed out. "It's enough if it's official for you and Ian."

I smiled and nodded. As for me, I didn't need any marriage to make my love for Ian official. I had been officially his the moment I had opened my eyes in Pet's body.

"Jeez, didn't know you were such a romantic at heart", Jared grinned at Mel. "Maybe I should propose to you, too."

"Maybe you should", Mel hinted.

"Don't happen to have a ring with me right now. Sorry, Mel."

"I'll get you one day", warned Mel.

"I know", Jared smiled and leaned in to kiss her. I turned politely away, only to see Jamie standing in the doorway.

"Gross, isn't it?" Jamie rolled his eyes and came to sit next to me. "They are like rabbits."

"Hey! My lips might be occupied, but my eyes certainly aren't", Mel said as she pulled away from Jared. "Watch it, little brother."

"Or what? You'll ground me?"

"I could."

"Except I never get to go out anyway. Thanks to you two." He pointed at me and Mel.

Mel grinned at me. "Looks like my brother's in the defiant stage. Again."

I had no idea, what the defiant stage was, so I didn't answer.

"So, Ian said you are getting married", Jamie said.

I smiled. "That's true."

"What's the point? You are having sex anyway."

"Jamie!" Mel exclaimed.

I blushed furiously. Jamie had really started to sound like the fourteen-year-old boy he now was.

"Watch it, Jamie", Ian's amused voice warned. He appeared in the doorway and smiled at me. "You don't want to embarrass my girl."

"What's she going to do?" Jamie laughed. "Scowl at me?"

"She can't hurt you. But I can", Ian grinned.

Jamie measured Ian with his eyes. Sure, he had grown taller in the past few months, but was still nowhere near Ian's impressive height. He seemed to realise that too and let me be.

"So, Jared", Ian started. He sat next to me on the mattress and put his arm casually around my shoulders. "We have something we'd like to ask you."

I glanced at him in surprise. What was he talking about?

"Fire away", Jared said, his expression wary.

"Well, you probably know we need someone to perform the wedding ceremony..." "Oh, no!" Jared said quickly. "Don't even think about it!"

Don't think about what, I was about to ask, but Ian silenced me with one look. Apparently he was enjoying this.

"Why not?" grinned Ian. "Everyone respects you."

"Ask Jeb", Jared growled. "He's the boss here."

"And he would probably make sarcastic remarks and spoil the whole thing."

"What makes you think I won't?"

Ian glanced at Melanie and laughed. "She would kill you."

"I would", agreed Mel.

"Thanks."

"Not because of you", Mel said quickly. "Because of Wanda."

"Believe me, I know that", Ian said with a wry smile.

I sighed. It seemed that Mel would never get over her negative feelings for Ian. Not that she was trying very hard, either. She almost seemed to like her dislike for Ian.

"So, what do you say, Jared? Will you help us out?"

"You're only doing this to pay me back for something", Jared guessed.

Ian shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe not. What difference does it make?"

"Nothing, I suppose", Ian said with a sigh.

"So...?"

"If you insist, then I'll do it - "

"I knew it!"

" - But I'll pay you back someday", Jared warned.

"I'll keep that in mind", Ian said and stoop up, pulling me to my feet. "Thanks, Howe. We'll let you know when we need your... Help."

Smirking, he walked out the door. I followed him.

"What was that about?" I asked as soon as we were on our own.

Ian shrugged. "Nothing special. Just some payback."

"For what?"

"Nothing special", he replied, a grin on his lips. Then his expression grew worried. "I hope you don't mind."

"Why would I?" I asked, a little frustrated. Everyone here seemed to think that a wedding was a big thing. They kept telling me I should have been more concerned about the event and I couldn't understand why. What did it matter, what kind of clothes I was wearing? Or what dishes we would eat? I wasn't getting married to pretty dresses or tasty food, I was getting married to Ian. To me, that was all that mattered. But these humans kept expecting something more.

I was so lost in thought I barely realised where we were going, until I recognized the dark cave better known as the washroom.

"What are we doing here?" I asked.

"Thought we'd take a bath", he said simply. He certainly looked like he needed one. I wasn't nearly as dusty as he was, but still the thought about cold water felt tempting, so I followed him into the black darkness of the washroom. He let my hand fall from his and peeled off his shirt with one swift movement. I could hear it falling onto the floor.

I took off my own shirt and let it fall on the ground. My stomach was still flat, and probably would be for some time. Doc had explained me some things about human pregnancies, but even though I tried to keep them all in my mind, I kept forgetting things. I tried to not worry too much about it.

I stripped my trousers off and stepped into the water. It felt cool and refreshing, and I sank to it, never wanting to get up again. I sighed, contented.

"Happy?" Ian asked, appearing behind me. He pulled me on his lap and slipped his hands against my bare stomach.

I nodded, leaning into him.

"Me too. And not just about the bath, bath about... everything. These past few weeks have been... Perfect." "They've been wonderful", I agreed.

"You sound worried." I could almost see him furrow his brow.

"I'm not", I lied.

"Wanda..."

It was strange. I'd gotten used to everybody else calling me Wanda, but when Ian did it, I always wished he'd use my real name. It sounded so beautiful on his lips. Wanderer. I had no idea why I liked it so much. Maybe it was because no one else called me Wanderer. Or maybe I liked it because he never used it, unless he was saying something important or telling me he loved me. It felt... special.

"I'm just... A little worried", I admitted, when Ian kept looking at me expectantly.

"About what?"

"This has all been so perfect", I whispered. "But how long can perfect last?"

"Why would it end?"

I was silent for a long time, thinking about what to say. I didn't want to tell him the real reason for my doubt: That I didn't feel like I had deserved any of this. I wanted it, yes - I wanted it badly - but it didn't feel like it belonged to me. That's why I was so afraid of losing it.

"You never know what might happen", I said finally. "We've lost a war, remember?"

At that, he smiled. At first I thought he was laughing at me, amused again, but then his smile broadened. It was a real, dazzling, genuinely happy smile.

"Why are you smiling?" I asked, confused. "I didn't think losing a war would make you happy."

"It's not it. It's just... You said we. We have lost a war."

"Oh." I hadn't even realised it. "I'm sorry... I wasn't thinking."

"Why are you sorry?"

"It's your war. Your losses. I'm not one of you, I shouldn't - "

"You are one of us. That's why it felt so good to hear you say it."

I opened my mouth to speak.

"Remember when Jamie said you won't belong here until you decide you do? Well, I think he was right", Ian interrupted in a voice that didn't accept any protests. "I think you should start thinking about it. I have already decided that you belong here."

He took my left hand in his and kissed my fingers, his lips dwelling on my third finger were the little ring was sparkling.

"So, when would you like to have our wedding?" He asked, changing his tone to a lighter one. "Next week?"

"Sounds good to me", I said and managed to smile at him. Secretly I was a little worried, though. I did want to marry him... But I had a feeling that certain people here wouldn't like it.

"I'll kick Sharon and Maggie out, if I have to", Ian promised, guessing once again what I was thinking about.

"No, you can't!"

"I know. I was just dreaming", he grinned and leaned in to press a light kiss on my jaw. "Maybe I'll just ask Jeb to command them to make some soap."

"But we don't need any soap", I reminded him. "Not when I can get in from a - "

"I know we don't need it", Ian smiled. "But still, it would be a nice uncomfortable job for them, don't you think?"

I shook my head. "You humans can be so full of vengeance sometimes."

"Only when someone deserves it." "How do you know, whether someone deserves it?"

Ian laughed and splashed some water against my face. "Don't you even try it. I won't start an argument about ethics with a soul!"

I smiled, too. "I don't want to argue with you, whether you're a human or not."

"Then let's not argue", he suggested and pulled me back on his lap, gently kissing the back of my neck. "Let's agree. Is next week fine to you?"

"Next week's perfect", I promised. I didn't want to show it to Ian, but I still felt a little uneasy. I had no idea, how a wedding was supposed to work. What if I didn't do it right? What if I did something embarrassing, and Ian decided he would want his beautiful ring back? Or... or what if Sharon and Maggie would start a fight? It would be all my fault.

I shook my head again, trying to assure myself that nothing would go wrong at our wedding. It just couldn't.

TBC

A/N: Thanks so much for your comments! Story there isn't really happening anything in this chapter... Things will start to develop in the next chapter, Found.