Alright get your box of tissues at the ready because this one is probably worse than all the other chapters. I know I have mine out and ready.

DISCLAIMER: The characters do not belong to me they belong to Stephanie Meyer's author of the wonderful book 'The Host' and the story was strongly influenced by the song 'If You See Him, If You See Her' by Reba and Brooks & Dunn

Chapter 8: Love Lasts

A tear rolled down my cheek looking at the two coffins in front of me. I can't believe that my parents are dead. I swear I'll never forgive the soul of that drunken truck driver. At least he doesn't get to live while my parents are dead.

Danny squeezed my hand. It had been a really tuff past four days for us. I thanked god that I had a twin brother, we'd been close our entire lives and now we were the only family that each other had.

My fiancé, Kevin, on my other side squeezed my other hand, he'd been so great to help me though this. I smiled to myself remembering how mom had gotten so happy when I'd told them. Dad had sat there for a moment before saying that he was happy too. Kevin hadn't asked my father's permission but I'd told him that he didn't have to. Now I kind of wished I'd had him ask.

I didn't close my eyes for the prayer. I listened to the sad but uplifting song Danny had chosen.

I remembered when I'd seen him and dad singing it in the garage. They'd been working on Danny's car; Dad had bought it for him for our 15th birthday and said that they'd work on fixing it up. Mom had bought me some clothes and a new computer. Of course I wanted to have a car too but little did I know mom and dad were saving to get me one that worked for my 16th birthday.

Having a twin is weird like that; parents always try to separate things so you each have your special moments.

I'd peaked into the garage, so jealous of the time Danny was spending with dad. He made time for me but I knew from movies that rebuilding a car was the best bonding experience that a father and son could have.

They each had a took in their hands and were singing into it like a microphone. I stepped inside and watched them for a moment before mom came up behind me and watched them too. When the song was over they laughed.

"Why weren't we invited to the party?" My mom said chuckling.

My dad looked up at us and smiled, "Oh. Sorry love. We were just caught up in the song."

My mom laughed and moved past me into the garage and turned it to a different song. It was a slow song and she curtsied to Danny, "May I have this dance?"

He bowed like a gentleman and started to dance with her. Dad fallowed her example and offered his hand to me. I just stared at him for a moment.

"What do you say sweetheart?" he asked smiling at me his eyes sparkling, "Will you dance with your daddy?"

I like my mom had never been able to refuse his smiled and eyes, except when I was mad, and right. I smiled back and curtseyed like mom and took his hand.

He helped me to jump the few steps to the floor and put his arm around me.

We all both danced to the song, I laid my head on my dad's chest. He was my rock. He was always there for me, even when he was obviously a bit more attached to Danny he always made me feel like the luckiest most special girl in the world.

I brought myself back to the graveside service. It was Uncle Jamie's turn to make a speech that he'd insisted be given here. We'd made time for him at the funeral but he insisted that he wanted to do it at the graveside service. And since he was the only remaining sibling of the Stryder's, and a very special person to my mother, we couldn't deny him this one thing.

"I watched Wanda and Ian. They loved each other so much. And they loved their two kids. They were their world. I remember my Mel telling me a story about a tuff spot they had. I was in basic at that time so I wasn't there to see it and Wanda never wanted to burden me with it. I remember she said 'Jamie, you'll never believe this but Wanda and Ian actually separated for two months.' She told me about how she'd meet Ian in an old bar and as he drank he became more honest about how he really felt. And how she would go meet Wanda in their home and the longer she sat there with her the more she'd open up. She told me how they both loved each other more than life it's self and after a nudge from Mel and Jared they got back together. And were stronger than ever."

He took a deep breath and continued, "I guess we all wonder the universe looking for a love like Wanda and Ian's. And most of us will never even find it." He paused to clear his throat of the emotion creeping out, "But what I thank god for is that they went together. Because I would have hated to think that they could ever be separated again. But they aren't. They went together. Just like they did everything."

"They always called themselves partners. I didn't really get why. But I think I know now. When you are husband and wife you are separate. Two different titles, two different people. But I think I speak for everyone here when I say that two was not the number that they were. They were one. They were so good together that you'd think they read each other's minds. But when they did things they did them as partners, as one. And when it was time they died together. That shows their true commitment to being one. And that, my friends is why they called themselves partners."

I watched as he took a moment to wipe the tears from his eyes and to clear his throat. "I was always younger than my siblings. I was usually excluded from things when it came to my sisters. But I was always special to them. I remember once when Wanda and Ian were going to the movies Ian offered to take me too. Of course I had no interest in seeing a sappy romance movie to Ian paid for me to go to one of the Saw movies." He chuckled, "Then when I had nightmare that night Wanda and Ian stayed up with me. Of course I know that they'd rather be doing other things by themselves." He said chuckling again, "I came to realize later that they were almost as bad a Mel and Jared."

Everyone laughed with him at that. I laughed too, Uncle Jared and Aunt Mel had always been very…. Intimate. It was clear by the 12 children that they had and the many pregnancy scared even after we expected Aunt Mel to not have any more children.

"But even while they were dating, before they even mentioned marriage to anyone they were doing things together. I'm just glad that I got to be part of the life they made together." He looked over and Danny and I, "I'm glad I get to see the product of their love grow and spread the love they gave them around to whoever they meet. Because even though their physically gone, they'll never really be gone. I see my sister in the blonde curls and gray eyes of my niece Lily."

I grabbed a lock of my hair and twirled it in my fingers, he was right. I had had the fortunate luck to inherit my mother's beauty and generous spirit.

"I see Ian in the broad stature and the blazing blue eyes of my nephew Danny."

I looked at my brother who looked back at me. He was right about that too. Danny had inherited my father's looks and most importantly his brilliant sapphire blue eyes.

"But most importantly I feel the love that they inspired in me. They inspired me to find my partner and when I did they showed me how she should be treated." He looked over at his wife. "So I know that as I pass the love they inspired in me onto my children and them onto their children. Ian and Wanda O'Shea will never truly die."

He took a deep breath and walked back over to sit behind Danny and I in the chairs.

I waited in the chairs long after everyone had stopped visiting and driven to the luncheon. I'd told everyone to go on ahead of me and I'd be there after a while, there was one person who hadn't listened to me.

Danny continued to hold my hand while we stared at our parents in their coffins.

"What do we do now?" I asked him.

"I guess we do what Uncle Jamie said." He said, his voice so like our father's, "We spread the love they taught us to everyone we meet. Then," he said letting go of my hand and wrapping his arm around my shoulder, "They'll never truly be gone."

I nodded, I wasn't sure how to do that though. I loved my brother. I loved my fiancé. I loved my nieces and nephews, cousins, uncles and aunts, friends and acquaintances. Mom had taught me that no matter how much it hurt, it was usually worth it to love everyone with all your heart.

I nodded again. "And If I can't do that I'll just look into your eyes and the eyes of most of your kids and be reminded of dad."

He smiled, "And I'll come over and watch you brush your hair and be reminded of mom."

I hugged him and we walked to his car together.

The years fallowing Danny and I always brought our families to our parents grave and told the children the story of the love of their grandparents. We did this every year and kept pictures of them up in our houses to keep their spirits alive.

And sometimes, I think I can feel them with me. Because like Uncle Jamie said at their service; I have the light of their love inside me.

Well that's the end. Or the beginning of another story. (That I don't think I'll write.)

And at least it ended on a happy note. (I guess….)

Thanks so much for all of the reviews and favorites. Thank you so much. I loved writing this. Even though it broke my heart to break them up for two months I give this to you as a humble apology and I hope that this satisfies some of your hunger for O'Wanda fluff.

Feel free to check out some of my other 'The Host' fanfiction's, there's plenty. And for more kir-girl24 writing check out my other fanfiction's.