Okay so I finally updated again after nearly a month's break. I'm so sorry for the big gap but I was finishing college and was piled high with assignments that just had to be done so I apologise. I am making up for it though by updating now and starting a new story .net/s/6040621/1/Unexpected_Feelings which is a Vampire Acadmey fanfiction for anyone that reads that series too. A big thank you to the following reviewers for chapter 17 raffydr, xoxokiss210, LouiiOzera, xXMelanie-Crimson_StryderXx, Moxie Michelle Cullen, MrsCarlisleCullenXx, stardom, Rii Baptista, sharshar85, mayajane, jediahsokaroxx, sapphirenight12. LOVE YOU GUYS

Disclaimer – I do not own The Host Stephenie Meyer does and even after begging on my knees I did not get Ian O Shea or Jared Howe out of her...well at least I tried

Anyway here you go, hope you enjoy!

Chapter 18

Jared's POV

I can't believe that Wanda is finally mine after all these months of wanting...no...needing her. Her hand in mine felt so right and walking with her through the tunnels felt so right.

People didn't stare as the passed us hand in hand as they were already so used to the two of us hanging out together but once word spread through our small community the caves would be abuzz with gossip.

I felt Wanda tighten her grip on my hand as we walked past Kyle. Kyle eyed the two of us suspiciously but didn't comment as he stalked past us. If he had said anything to upset My Wanda oh how good it felt to say that, then I would have punched him then and there and so for the sake of Sunny and his face he made the right choice.

I didn't really know where Wanda and I were heading. The room I had was shared with Melanie who we had just left in there heavily pregnant and crying and Wanda's room was shared with Ian.

"Wanda" I started. "I don't know what you want to do about sleeping arrangements tonight but if you don't want to stay with Ian I don't know what you're going to do"

"I want to stay with you" she stated matter of factly.

I smiled and kissed her softly on the forehead.

"And I want to stay with you too, but we don't have a room to stay together in"

I watched as Wanda's brow furrowed and then straightened out again as she decided on a solution.

"Why don't we go and ask Jeb?"

Huh...why didn't I think of that? Well first off I didn't think Wanda wanted anyone to know about the two of us yet and two there wasn't really any spare rooms.

"Well I guess we can try if that's what you want Wanda" I told her and she smiled and nodded in response.

"Yes Jared, I just want to be with you!"

I couldn't keep the grin off my face as we set off the Jeb's room to see if we could find Jeb.

We reached the end of the tunnel in which all the rooms were lined along and found ourselves outside the very last door which was made of an old flowery linen bed sheet. I coughed loudly to try and catch Jeb's attention but when that didn't do any good I decided that shouting the old mans name was my best bet.

After a minute I saw the bed sheet twitch and then watched as Jeb stuck his head out dressed in only a vest and some shorts.

"What do you kids want?" he asked his eyes twitching to Wanda and my still entwined hands.

I was about to answer the man when Wanda spoke up for us.

"I was wondering if Walters's room was still up for grabs."

Jebs eyebrows knitted together and he spoke with hesitancy.

"What's wrong with the room you've already got Wanda, the one you share with Ian, is there something wrong with that cave that's gonna need some fixing?"

"Not exactly Uncle Jeb" Wanda exclaimed. "I need a room separate from Ian because the two of us aren't together anymore, I'm with Jared now"

Jeb glanced between the two of us and then surprised us both by just bursting into a bout of laughter.

"What's so funny?" I asked although I was secretly glad he hadn't gone back into his room for his shotgun.

"Nothing..." he stifled out between choking out laughter. "It's just I saw this coming before even the two of you did. All the days the two of you would spend together and how you began to distance yourselves from the other; I'm telling you I was counting down the days until you both realised you had feelings for each other and that Mel and Ian were going through the same thing"

"How long have you known Uncle Jeb?" Wanda asked

"For a while now honey, I was just waiting for the four of you to catch on" and I sighed in relief at the smile that rested upon his face.

"So how about this room" I asked thinking it best to keep this conversation on track knowing full well Jeb was easily distracted.

Jeb glanced back to me as if I had spoken a foreign language

"Oh right...the room! The room's yours guys if you want it, just know that it is only a few doors down from Kyle's and I'm guessing he doesn't know about the two of you yet"

"No he doesn't" I sighed.

"Hmm...well, I'm gonna let you two kids go now because I'm tired and am going to go and try and catch some winks before Maggie is on my back about slacking off"

We waited for Jeb to trudge back inside and waved him off before we made our way back down the tunnel until we reach the room that Walter used to occupy.

This door was covered by a tatty old shower curtain that looked like it belonged to a batty old lady with a load of old cats and I told myself that I would replace it the first chance I got by picking up a newer one on the very next raid but as I watched Wanda enter I saw her look lovingly at the curtain and decided to talk to her about it first.

The room was bare except for an old double mattress in the middle of the room covered with a thick pale blue duvet cover. All of Walter's belongings had been moved after he died with useful items being shared among the rest of us and his more personal items being buried alongside him.

I watched Wanda sit down on the edge of the mattress and look around the room sadly. Not liking seeing her upset I sat down next to her and wrapped my arms around her tiny shoulders.

"I miss him so much Jared" she whispered and I felt her silent tears seep through my T-Shirt where her head rested on my chest. "He was one of the first here to accept me for whom I was and stuck up for me when everyone else was against me."

"Walter was a good man Wanda, he'll be glad that he had the chance to get to know you before he died" I didn't like being reminded of the time when Walter had, had to step in, in defence of Wanda when it was me who was against her. For that I could never think higher of him.

"I saw you linger over the curtain on the door" I probed.

Wanda laughed sadly.

"Walter told me that it was a wedding gift from Gladys's sister. He always hated it but she assisted that they put it up and was very fond of it. When he came to the caves it was one of the few possessions he brought with him because he thought that it would make her happy that he didn't get rid of it."

"Then we'll keep it if you want" I told her. Her face lighting up told me that an old ratty curtain was definitely worth more than I'd thought before and I decided against getting rid of it.

Wanda wrapped her arms around me in return and after a few seconds we let each other go slightly enough so that I could lean down and press my lips to hers.

I felt Wanda respond to my kiss and I let the kiss progress from a soft loving one to one filled with raw passion and intensity.

I moved my hands up into her silky, blonde hair and ran my fingers through it while bringing her face closer to mine stopping kissing only to breathe.

I moved my lips from Wanda's and began trailing them down her face, her chin and too her neck which she tilted back so I could get to it and moaned as I ran my tongue back and forth sucking and kissing.

I didn't want to rush Wanda but as she ran her hands along the bottom of my back and moved her fingers up under my shirt and I knew where this was going and I know that she did too. I pulled back and looked her in the eye.

"Jared" she panted. "I want to do this"

Hearing her utter those words I crushed my lips back to hers and helped her to remove my shirt which ended up on the floor alongside her own which I quickly took care of.

I stroked her soft skin and moaned in pleasure as she explored the rest of my body.

Soon enough the rest of our clothes came off and we fell into a heap on the top of the duvet not breaking apart too caught up in the passion.

When we finally became one and came together I felt like I had reached the top of the world. I was with Wanda the woman I loved and she loved me back.

All too soon we broke apart and I kissed her softly once and then twice before we snuggled down under the covers with Wanda in my arms and her head on my chest.

So what did you guys think. A big ahhhhh to Wanda and Jared I think. Anyway I will try to update soon, less than a week I promise and hope you all please REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW.

Please Read and Review my other story that I showed at the top show it some love please and I'll update soon ASAP