The next week passed by in almost a blur, all leading up to us leaving for a raid. The last raid we were on, we ran into seekers two different times. And even though nothing had happened, it had set everyone on edge to the point that we decided at least for this next raid we would head north, getting as far as Washington state. As excited as was to finally be in a comfortable climate, the last thing I wanted was to have to go that far when Jamie was coming along. The risks were limitless in my mind, and maybe I was just being overly concerned because of the unexplainable maternal feelings I had for this alien child, but it sure as hell felt real enough that I couldn't get it off my mind. Ian could tell it was bothering me, as he always could, but he also knew that besides leaving Jamie behind, there was nothing that would end my anxiety. Mel was worrying right along with me. Yes, she did have more faith in Jared to keep Jamie safe, but she still didn't like the idea of Jamie being so far from the caves. None of us liked being that far away in unfamiliar territory. We had no cards up our sleeves if we needed a place to hide. It was simply pure luck and quick thinking. Not that those two things are completely unreliable, but it would have soothed my fears if I at least had some sense of control over this whole scenario. But as usual, I was left alone to my worrying.
Aside from my worrying, everyone in the caves was very excited about Mel's newly announced pregnancy. Even Sharon and Maggie were not untouched by this. They, too, would come and touch her belly, telling her how excited they were to finally have a new little Stryder on the way and how it had only been a matter of time. It didn't matter that the second I saw this, they pointedly walked out of the room, I was just glad they were finally starting to come around to Mel. They were family, and I had absolutely no place to get in the way of that. Of course I say that to Mel, and she reacts the exact same way Ian did when Kyle had almost tried to kill me.
"Yeah they may be family," Mel said, rolling her eyes, "But I promise you that you are much more important to me and much closer to me then they have ever been. The fact that they can't learn to accept you is them choosing not to accept me either. We're a package deal Wanda. Get over it." I laughed at her reference to us as a "package deal". Even though we weren't physically sharing the same body anymore, sometimes it felt like it.
Ian and I had decided to have the "wedding" when we got back from the raid. However I was more then positive that the ceremony that would take place in the caves was very different from anything that had ever occurred in normal human wedding ceremonies. Jeb was to be the official and we were to read each other vows or something like that. The ring Ian had given me had apparently belonged to his mother. When he told me this I immediately insisted that he take it back. I was terrified that I would lose it or something and then that this would make Ian sad. However, Ian insisted that I keep it and wear it. Reluctantly I agreed because I wanted to make him happy, but as a result I constantly was checking my neck for that small silver chain, and then tracing my finger down the small links it to make sure the ring was still intact. This became a habit for me to the point that I didn't even notice anymore.
It was finally the day we were leaving for the raid. I saw Jared take Jamie aside with a very serious look on his face.
"Now Jamie, "Jared began, pulling out a small pill from his pocket, "Do you know what this is?" Jamie eyed it carefully before answering.
"A pill..?" He answered uncertainly, knowing that was not the answer that Jared was looking for.
"Yes, it's a pill," Jared replied bluntly," But do you know what it does?"
Jamie shook his head.
"This is a pill that you need to be ready to swallow the second I tell you to, understand? If things get too close with seekers and I don't think Wanda can get us out of it, then you need to bite down on this pill. Yes, it will kill you very quickly. It's a poison. But if we get captured, it's better for them to have us dead then alive. They get us alive and everyone in the caves could die. There is way too much risk involved. We can't know how long we're able to hold out information like Mel was. Do you understand Jamie? If you don't you're not going anywhere." Jared finished solemnly.
"I understand," Jamie nodded fervently.
"Good," Jared replied, exhaling as if glad to be done with that. I could see why. That was the only thing that ever scared me when we were on raids. The small white pill at the bottom of my pocket. The fact that Jamie now had the capability to end his life in a matter of mere seconds sent a shiver down my spine. My baby. My Jamie.
Ian came up from behind me and grabbed my hand.
"Why are you so cold, love?" Ian asked with concern.
"I'm just worried about Jamie," I said quietly.
"Oh Wanda," He sighed, "Please don't be too distraught. I promise I will help look after him. And you trust Jared, don't you? He knows just what he's doing." I nodded reluctantly.
"Mel shouldn't be coming either. With the baby and all…" I muttered. This had also been a point of argument between Mel and I. Jared hadn't been happy either when Mel had insisted she was coming even with being pregnant.
"Well yes, but if I had it my way, you wouldn't go on a single raid. And I'm sure Mel wouldn't have Jared go on any raids, and Jared wouldn't have Mel go either. We all want to keep each other safe, but with the way the world is, that's not always possible." Ian argued gently. I knew he could see where I was coming from too, and I guess that's what mattered. I decided to leave that argument there for now.
The first few days of the raid were mostly spent sitting in the back of the van, only stopping every once and a while for either gas or food. We weren't planning on getting any food for people back in the caves until we got farther north. When Ian or I were not driving, we spent a lot of time in the back, myself snuggled in his lap, as he told me about his life before the invasion. How he was almost valedictorian in high school. How he got a full paid scholarship to a really great college. How Kyle had always teased him because Ian never really dated a girl seriously. I was actually quite interested in that subject.
"So wait a second, besides me you've never had a 'serious girlfriend'. What defines a girlfriend as serious?" I inquired, not necessarily sure what that meant. Mel laughed quietly since it was nighttime, Jamie's head cradled on her lap as he slept.
"A serious girlfriend means a girl who you've dated for an extended period of time and someone you are actually considering having a real future with." Mel explained.
"Oh… so how many not serious girlfriends did you have?" I asked. From the front seat Jared let out a hearty laugh. Mel was laughing as well. I was out of the loop again. I looked up at Ian, expecting an answer, and his face was tinted red as a blush spread across his cheeks.
"I don't remember…" he mumbled, "A lot to be honest. But they weren't important enough that I remember any of them that well."
"Actually, Wanda," Jared interjected, "I've met a few of them myself when we have been out raiding. Ian and I will be sitting in the back of the truck waiting for you to get back and a random girl walks by, and Ian knows exactly who she was when she was human. I was really surprised because a few of them were actually like good looking and all," Jared teased.
"Okay Howe, we get it," Ian said quietly, looking down to gauge my reaction. I was smiling. I knew all of that meant nothing now; I wasn't going to get upset simply because Ian had had girls in his life before me. What else could I have expected?
"Hey O'Shea, do you remember that one really crazy girl we saw?" Jared asked, laughing at the memory. Even Ian laughed too.
"Yes, Crazy Daisy, how could I forget?"
"You dated a girl called Crazy Daisy?" Mel asked unbelieving.
"Well Daisy, yes. But she was crazy and had a well earned nick name." Ian trailed off.
"The weirdest part was that even as a soul, she was still kind of kooky," Jared remarked, "Like she was walking backwards around the parking lot and talking to no one in particular as she went about her business."
"That's her alright..." Ian laughed.
The conversation slowly died down as I pondered the thought of the effect of a soul's host on the actual soul. I knew that it was more then possible for a soul's entire existence to be altered by their host body. Or else how would I have ended up where I am now? In the back of a truck, slowly working to undermine my species by supporting a handful of rebel humans. I guess there were some things that would never quite make sense to me.
A/N Sorry this chapter is shorter than I planned and got up way later then I thought it would. I promise the next chapter will be much more exciting, I'm just trying to do a lot of build up before the action really starts, so hang in there everyone :)
I can't say this enough, thank you so much to those who review! You really are the best.
Do you think Mel and Jared's baby is a girl or a boy? And if you could name it, what would its name be? Tell me your answer in a review on this chapter.
Thanks for reading :)