(A/N: Thanks everybody for the great reviews and support 3. This is my first fanfiction, and it's really encouraging to get that kind of support right from the get go! I'm sorry it took so long to get this second bit up; I've been NaNo-ing, and just haven't had the time with that and school. I promise to try and get things up more quickly from now on =). There was no note or anything at the start of the last chapter cause I wasn't sure how to do it... haha, figured it out now! )
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Stephenie Meyer.
Wanda, Ian and Jamie got up, Jamie practically leaping out of his seat in excitement. They deposited their dirty dishes by the kitchen, and proceeded to look for Melanie and Jared.
"I think they're working on the corn field," Ian suggested, his hand on the small of Wanda's back as he walked towards the hall leading to the field. Wanda nodded, as Jamie impatiently walked beside them. Actually, scratch that – he was practically bouncing. Within a minute or so, they reached the corn field. A few people were harvesting the corn. Jamie caught a glimpse of Mel's brown hair on the opposite side of the field from where they were standing. He pointed.
"I see them, over there on the opposite side," Jamie said. Wanda and Ian looked to where the boy pointed, and sure enough they could see the couple picking corn and chatting. The three walked through the field over to them, and Wanda waved at Trudy, who was also harvesting, on the way by. Trudy waved back. They approached Mel and Jared, Jamie going ahead.
"Hey Mel, hi Jared," he said casually, though Wanda could tell he was really excited to ask them. It wasn't often something this big happened in the caves. Mel looked up and smiled at him, and Jared gave him a light punch in the arm.
"Hey, kid," he greeted in a friendly manner.
"Morning," Mel said, greeting Wanda and Ian as well. She enveloped Jamie into a tight hug, and he rolled his eyes at her. Even after over a year of being back with Jamie, Melanie still never took him for granted. Being ripped away from her brother had taken its toll on her emotionally, but now left their relationship even stronger than it was before. She released him reluctantly from the hug.
"Morning Mel, Jared," Wanda replied with a warm smile. Ian wrapped his arm around Wanda's waist and nodded at Jared.
"Hey Mel," he said. Formalities over, Jamie looked at Wanda wildly.
"Can I tell them now?" he asked. Mel exchanged a questioning look with Jared, and glanced at Wanda, who was smiling now.
"You mean ask them... yes, go ahead," she said with a laugh.
"Remember when I was little and I always wanted to get a dog?" Jamie asked Mel.
"Yes..." she said slowly.
"Well, Wanda and Ian said that if it's okay with you, we can get one! The souls still have pets, you know," Jamie exclaimed. He looked at Mel with a pleading look. Her mouth stretched into a wide smile, and Jared was laughing.
"That sounds awesome! I'd love a dog around here... but you'd have to take care of it and everything..." Melanie said. Jamie cut her off.
"I know, I know! I already talked about that with Wanda and Ian. I've got a plan and everything," he said. "I'll feed it and we can walk it around the caves and stuff, and Wanda can pick up a dog training book and I'll teach it tricks and stuff." Melanie shook her head, but there was a certain sadness in her eyes.
"I'm so glad that you can finally do this... but really, it's not up to me," she explained. Wanda, Ian, Jamie and Jared all looked at her in confusion.
"Ask Jeb," she said. Wanda's eyes lit up in understanding.
"Of course! I can't believe I didn't think of asking him... it is his house, after all," Wanda said. Jamie grabbed her wrist and tugged.
"Let's go, then," Jamie said. Ian rolled his eyes but followed the two as they headed down back down the aisle made of corn, leaving Melanie and Jared behind. Melanie grabbed Jared's hand.
"This could be really good for him. Well, as long as it doesn't dig holes in the crops or something... but I hope Jeb says yes," Melanie told him.
"Yeah, I think so too. Let's hope it works out for the best." Jared replied, kissing Melanie lightly on the lips. Contentedly, they resumed their corn harvesting.
Jamie, Wanda and Ian made their way down yet another hall to the fruit tree section of the caves. In the past 9 months, everybody had been working hard on making the new field and planting fruit trees that Wanda had picked up on a raid. Now, the trees were growing wonderfully. Jeb had been spending a lot of time there working on it. They entered the large room to find him inspecting the trees. He looked up as he saw them come in, and grinned.
"Wanda, Ian, Jamie! What brings you here? Looking for more work, I hope?" he asked teasingly. Wanda laughed as they walked over to him.
"Naw, Jamie just wanted to ask you something," Ian exclaimed. Jamie had the same serious look on his face that he had when he asked Wanda and Ian. He took a deep breath and pleaded his case. Jeb nodded every now and then, and fell into silence for a bit after Jamie had finished. The three visitors waited with bated breath for Jeb's answer.
"Well, seems fine to me. You seem well motivated and I know you're responsible. It's gonna take a lot of work on your part, but if you're willing... I love dogs," Jeb said. Jamie flew forward and hugged his uncle tightly.
"Thanks Uncle Jeb! Can't wait to tell Mel..." he said, trailing off as he glanced towards the hall. "I'm thinking nobody has any allergies that I know of, cause I do like to ask when people come to live in my house. Now, how are you thinking of getting it, Wanda?" Jeb asked.
"Actually, it should be relatively simple. Obviously souls have high standards for all animals, so you're buying the animals from kennels that have been distributed evenly around areas that generally keep pets. From what I understand, they actually have a huge staff that take them for walks and everything and they're really well taken care of. They've even managed to preserve most of the breeds. I think you can just go in there and choose one... after all, there's no question of whether or not a soul would take care of the animal properly. You can get all the supplies and such while you're there, as well," Wanda explained. Jeb nodded understandingly.
"Of course they would regulate it like that... sounds good to me. I've seen some disgusting stories in my time of people mistreatin' animals. Now me, on the other hand, I had a few good ol' dogs in my time..." Jeb said, a faraway look in his eyes. Wanda smiled sadly and patted his arm.
"I truly am sorry for what I have robbed you of, Jeb," Wanda said. Jeb shook his head.
"Now Wanda, none of that nonsense," Jeb replied. It was then that they both noticed that Jamie was just heading around the corner, back into the hallway.
"I'd better go with him, Jeb. See you later, and thank you," Wanda said with a wave as she took off after Jamie.