A/N: As much as I wish I were, I am not Stephenie Meyer and none of these characters belong to me.
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We found a surprise in the kitchen. Jared, Mel, Jeb, and a few of the new human survivors were standing around, talking to one another. They didn't really notice us. Mel smiled at me and said with a wave "Hi, Wanda."
I waved back at her and walked to the oven, trying to go unnoticeable. If Ian hardly left my side when we were with our family of humans, he was almost annoying when we walked around these alien humans. They didn't hate me, but what could I know? They could be plotting to kill me right now.
It wasn't lunchtime, so the only thing I found was warm, soft bread. I popped one out for me.
"Are you hungry?" I whispered quietly to Ian.
He just shook his head, then his eyes returned to clearing the room.
I sighed. Ian was probably going to hate me for this.
I took the large flat pan closer to where everyone was seated. I cleared my throat.
"Um…I was just wondering…if anyone would like some bread." I said as loud as my squeaky voice could get.
Everyone went silent.
Jeb, kind Jeb, was the first to step up. " 'A course I would, Wanda! But you don't need to stand there like a maid, just set the bread on the table."
I was forever grateful. The alien humans were too shy to approach me or even thank me. They just wandered over to the table and took a small piece of bread. But of course, they thanked all the others for the food. Not me.
Well, there's no use staying here. I was about to leave, but then I noticed there was someone who was not human in this kitchen. Burns Living Flowers was staring right at me with his bread in hand. He walked up to me. Unlike the others, he wasn't shy or nervous or possibly wanting to kill me.
"Hey, Wanda. Thanks for the bread," he said, raising his bread like a token.
"You're welcome," I said shortly. It felt like I was always surrounded by humans so it took me a while to remember he was actually a soul. "Hey Burns, just out of curiosity, but how many planets have you been on?"
"How many planets?" he mused. "Just three: Singing world, Fire world, and here. How much have you been to?"
I smiled in pride. "Eight."
He looked as if I'd just grown a tentacle on my forehead. I'd always loved their expressions when they found out. "Eight!? Why so many?"
I shrugged. "I guess I never really belonged in those worlds. They were nice but…" I looked around. Ian was sitting with Jeb, keeping his eyes on me. I smiled faintly and finished my words, "…this is where I want to be. This is my home."
It was as if Ian had hear me from across the kitchen. Then again, he probably did. The kitchen wasn't so large. He smiled but kept his distance. I could feel Burns staring at me, but I stared only at Ian.
It was then that I noticed someone else staring at me. Glaring was actually the right word. That red-haired woman was staring at me with such a horrid expression.
Why did she hate me so? What had I done wrong?
I walked out of that room with the fact that I needed to get used to all these strange people. If they were staying as long as they said they would, then they'd be invited to my "birthday party."
My first birthday party.