A/N: Thank you too everyone who reviewed my story, it really means a lot. Thank you too mia cullen, We Sparkle, loopylinzee and crazyvampgirl. And I am also glad that you found the last chapter funny, I really wasn't sure if it was going to be or not but I liked the response so I guess my attempt at humour had some success.

Next, I would like to say that this story will come to an end, this chapter will be the last chapter.

On a whole different topic, who saw the Twilight trailer? Didn't you find it amazing! The whole apple catching thing was just…WOW! Oh Robert Pattinson!

This had been the longest author's note I have ever written so on with the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Host or its characters. This is only for entertainment purposes.

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Chapter 4: Loved

I ate the stale bread slowly, bit by bit, drank my bread drop by drop, as if I could stop the inevitable – in my opinion – so it could never occur. The dreaded surprise birthday party that my adopted family had so lovingly arranged and planned for me.

I couldn't help but feel guilty with the way I had reacted when Jamie had told me what they were up to. They loved me so much, cared about my well being that I couldn't help but feel gratitude for them. They accepted me for who I was and they certainly didn't need to have a surprise party to show it. Their gesture of letting me become a part of their family was enough.

But I guess, all that was about to change when I ate my last bit of stale bread roll and drank the last drop of my water.

"Finally," Ian muttered. "What took you so long to finish. You never take this long to eat breakfast. What's going in that mind of yours?" Ian asked. He was really curious at this point.

It was true, I was always the first one to finish any meal, considering my tiny frame, and I didn't eat much. Yet, I was the last one to finish – my act of stalling the party – even though Ian and Jamie had two servings. I was always shocked of how much they could eat without getting sick.

I turned away, so Ian couldn't see my face. It didn't help that I blushed at the drop of a hat and that I situated in his lap and his arms around me were like a vice around my tiny waist.

"Just thinking," I told Ian. It wasn't exactly a lie. I was thinking, it wasn't important to tell him of what I was thinking.

"About," Ian probed further. I groaned internally. Why did he have to ask? He would know if I lied and I couldn't possibly tell him how terrified I was at the prospect of having a surprise birthday party – that wasn't really a surprise anymore thanks to my annoying curiosity – for me.

"Nothing much, just about what's going to happen today." It took a while for Ian to catch the meaning of what I was trying to say but as soon as realization hit, Ian's eyes grew wide and he immediately turned to look at Jamie who had moved a couple of feet away from him. It looked like Jamie was afraid of Ian's reaction of him telling me about the party.

"Wanda, what did you mean about when you said 'what's going to happen today'?" Ian asked.

"Well…" I began, unsure of how I was going to phrase it, "I was just wondering about the umm…" my voice barely audible when I said my next words, "the surprise party you guys planned for me."

"Ah kid! You told her! Why –" I cut Ian off right there with placing my tiny hand on his mouth before he could go on and blame Jamie when it was entirely my fault.

"No Ian! Don't yell at Jamie. It's my fault that Jamie told me. I was just so worried because I had no idea of what was going on and none of you guys would tell me and I just felt so useless and…" I hadn't realized that tears were flowing down my cheeks until Ian wiped them away with his finger leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

Uhh! Why did this body have to be so emotional! Now Ian was going to begin to blame himself for making me feel this way.

As I predicted, I was correct, Ian began to apologize for making me feel this way even though it wasn't his fault at all.

"I'm so sorry Wanda. I just wanted to keep this a surprise from you but I didn't know that you would be so intuitive and I assure you that I did not mean for you to feel that way at all. You are absolutely NOT useless." Ian continued to ramble as the blush in my cheeks began to darken.

After a long, awkward silence, Ian spoke up and said, "I guess we should head out to the party then."

Those words rooted me to Ian's lap; I did not want to see what they had planned for me at all. But Ian didn't pay attention to my reaction at all; he was watching Jamie jump with excitement.

"Should I go and tell the others that you guys are coming?" Jamie asked all excited and hyper.

"Yeah, sure kid. We'll be right there." Ian replied, pulling me up from his lap and placing us in a standing position.

Jamie quickly sprinted off from the games room to wherever the birthday party was held, obviously not waiting for us to come after him.

"Ian," I said timidly.

"Yes Wanda," Ian replied.

"I already asked this question to Jamie, but I just wanted to know, why are you throwing me this birthday party?" By the time I finished my question, I was staring at my feet, trying to find something interesting to look at but failing miserably.

"Oh Wanda," Ian said, putting one finger under my chin and pulling it up so he could see it. "It's just a way of ours of showing you about how much we care about you."

"That's really sweet Ian but it really isn't necessary for you to throw a birthday party for me. Letting me become a part of your family is enough. And I don't think some people will like the idea of throwing a party for an invader," I said, sighing.

"Wanda come on! Why do you feel like an invader? Ok don't answer that," Ian said quickly when he saw I was about to answer. "You know this whole invasion thing wasn't your fault." Ian finished, taking both of my hands in his, squeezing it gently.

"I know Ian, but I don't think celebrating a birthday of an alien will help ease the situation any less."

"Please Wanda. I know you must be scared of how some people," Ian said emphasizing some, "may react, but there are more people that care about you, that love you as one of their own and want to spend this special day with you. Can't you do that for us? Besides, we worked really hard to plan this all out."

Now the guilt trip began. How could I be so selfish? Here I was terrified of this party, not wanting to go when I didn't even pay attention that other people worked really hard to make this a really special day for me.

I could do that much, go to the party for my family, anything to make them happy.

"Ok, Ian. I'll go. But please tell me you didn't do anything drastic?" I asked.

"That's great Wanda! Let's go!" Ian said, not answering my question and already running what seemed to me towards the mess hall.

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When I entered the mess hall, it was hardly recognizable. There were streamers of every colour imaginable everywhere. A table that had chocolate cake placed on it which I guessed was for me; that just looked mouthwatering, and a couple of presents. It was unbelievable, and all of this was for me.

I suddenly had tears forming in my eyes. I was so touched with the care and love my adoptive human family had for a soul – for me.

I looked up at Ian to see that he was looking at me, analyzing my expression. I smiled up at him and mouthed 'thank you'.

The smile that broke upon Ian's face made my heart soar! It was breathtakingly gorgeous! Sapphire eyes shining, teeth glistening and face glowing. And the best part was that I was the reason that the smile was there. I felt my answering smile spread on my face.

Ian pulled me in for a tight hug and everything felt right in the world, well until everyone noticed that we were there and then yelled HAPPY BIRTHDAY WANDA! I jumped, their sudden outburst scaring me. I felt Ian shake of laughter.

Ian pulled me towards the table with the cake and presents so that my birthday party could begin.

Jamie pulled me to the table quickly, not waiting for Ian to follow. He placed me in front of the table with the chocolate cake on it that said Happy Birthday Wanda.

Before I knew it, the tears began to flow down my cheeks once again. I couldn't help it, it was so sweet. However, Jamie thought the opposite and began to worry that I didn't like it. I just watched Jamie as he rambled on until I couldn't take it anymore and said, "Jamie I love it. It's perfect!"

"Then why are you crying?" Jamie asked, worriedly.

"Oh Jamie, I'm crying because I'm happy. This was so much more than I asked for. Thank you." I said.

The smile that broke out on Jamie's face was radiant and pulled me in for a quick hug. As he let me go, I heard him mutter, "Woman, always so emotional".

Apparently everyone heard and laughed. I laughed along with them while Jamie just blushed a deep pink on his tan skin.

"OK, Ok, enough with the laughing. Now I'm a hungry man and that cake over there isn't helping my hunger, so Wanda would you be so kind and blow out the candles. A man can stay hungry for so long!" Kyla said.

That statement earned him a 'Kyle!' from everyone but smiled nonetheless. Kyle could be such a kid sometimes.

I turned away from Kyle to find that Ian was the other end of the table, watching my reaction with a smiling face. I blushed under his gaze but I held out my hand for him to take. I wanted him here with me, nit just now, but forever.

Ian understood the gesture and came to my side and intertwined his hand with mine. He bent down to my level so he could whisper in my ear – that sends shivers down my spine – "Happy Birthday my Wanderer. I love you. Now and always."

With that, I blew the candles on my birthday cake that signified the beginning of my life.

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The party was amazing! It was something that I had never asked for, but gotten and was eternally grateful for. I had never felt this happy in all my lives then I was here, in these caves, with my family, my sister my Ian.

I smiled at the thought. I looked down on my left wrist, stroking the bracelet that Ian had made just for me. It was something that he had been working on for a while; he told me it was a promise bracelet. It was intricately braided with wonderful care and precision. I could tell the amount of work that it took Ian to make this. It was beautiful.

But that wasn't the reason why I liked it, it was because the bracelet was a symbol of Ian's undying love for me that I could never understand but always cherish. Because I felt the same way about him.

As I looked up into his eyes, I knew that this was where I was meant to be. I was meant to be here, with the people that I cared about, I loved, I adored. I belonged here with my family, with my Ian.

A/N: Thank you for reading my story. Please review, they make me happy!