A/N: so I'm not going to bore you with my excuses of not updating in ages. Basically there is this thing called life that got in the way. I'm so so sorry. I guess the least I could do is shut up now and let you read what you've been waiting for. REMEMBER to REVIEW, even if it's just to yell at me.

Chapter 17

WPOV

"Lily, may I come in?" I said to the flower printed bed sheet shielding the entrance of Lily's bedroom.

"Yes, come on in." Lily replied.

I pushed aside the sheet and walked into the dimly lit room. Lily was sitting on the ground surrounded by scraps of multicolored paper.

"Hey Wanda. I hope I'm not taking up any of your time but I really wanted you to be the first to see this. After all it was you who made it possible." She said, standing up with a big square book in her hands.

It looked similar to the photo albums Uncle Jeb had showed us earlier except it was less bulky.

She grabbed my hand and led me to her mattress. Once we were seated she handed the white book to me.

"It's a scrapbook." She explained.

When I looked at her in puzzlement, she continued. "A scrapbook is kind of like a photo album but you decorate the pages not only with pictures but other things that capture the special moments in your life."

Then she gestured toward the book sitting in my lap. "I made this one for Jared and Mel as a wedding gift."

She looked at me expectantly and I took that as permission to open it.

To say it was amazing would be an understatement. Each page was filled with vivid colors and candid pictures of Jared and Mel's life for the past few months. It was like I was reliving all the moments and was completely entranced until I reached the last page.

When I closed the book, I looked up to see a very nervous Lily. She was biting the inside of her cheek and her hands were shakily playing with the trim of her skirt.

"So, what did you think?" She asked timidly.

"Honestly, you left me speechless. It's beautiful." I complimented.

She blushed slightly. "Do you think they'll like it?"

I smiled brightly. "I think they will love it…"

She noticed my hesitation and supplied, "But..."

"But, I was wondering how I made this possible." I continued.

She let out a breath I didn't know she was holding, and answered. "Well, for starters I wouldn't have been able to take any of those pictures without the camera you got me a few months ago. Also..."

I knew she was about to thank me for being there for her after Wes's death, so I cut her off. "Lily, you don't need to thank me. I only reciprocated the favor. You supported me when not that many people did in the beginning and I owed you."

"Oh, Wanda…" she cried.

I wiped away her tears and pulled her in for a hug.

After she calmed down, I changed the subject and inquired. "So how did you print the pictures?"

I was curious, because when I had given her the antique film camera after one of the raids she had made a list of items she said she needed before she could take pictures. At the time I had no idea why she would need funnels, plastic tanks, gloves, and photo sheets. Later she explained that she needed them for the darkroom where the pictures are developed.

Her eyes lit up at my question, she stepped out of our embrace and extended a hand towards me. "Come on I'll show you."

"Wow, that's incredible." I exclaimed, completely fascinated by the image appearing on the photo paper after I dipped it in the tank which contained some yellowish liquid that Lily called the developer.

"I know! I've been doing this even before the world was invaded, and it still never ceases to amaze me." Lily agreed her passion for photography so evident in her voice.

I rinsed the now fully developed picture in the tank of water. The first picture I have ever taken and developed.

It was a picture I took of Ian, Jeb, Jared, and Jamie playing a game of poker in the kitchen when we passed it on our way to the darkroom.

"I think the next time I go on a raid I'm going to get a frame for this." I voiced my thoughts.

Lily nodded as she covered the tanks and disposed of her latex gloves. I handed the picture to her and took off my own gloves.

When we stepped out, I suddenly thought of something that would make both Lily and Mel happy.

"Lily, I think you shouldn't give the scrapbook to Mel and Jared until after their wedding." I said, an idea forming in my head.

"Why?" She questioned.

"Because maybe you should take pictures of them during the wedding and then add those pictures to the scrapbook." I explained.

That way Mel's wedding will be documented and we'll have a photographer for the wedding. I thought silently.

"That's a wonderful idea." Lily beamed.

We turned the corner, and I could no longer hear the guys bickering over their card game. I guess they found something more productive to do.

When we reached Lily's room, Jared was pacing back and forth in front of the entrance.

"Jared?" I said getting his attention.

"Where have you been?" He asked anxiously.

"With Lily, she was showing me the darkroom. Why? What's wrong?" I responded, alarmed by his anxiousness.

"Hi, Lily." He greeted and stepped away from the entrance so she could go in.

"Hi, Jared." She replied, as she walked past him and into her room.

"Thanks for everything Wanda. I'll see you later." She added before disappearing behind the bed sheet.

I smiled and waved in response.

Jared started walking down the hall without another word and I took that as my cue to follow him.

I assumed he was walking toward his bedroom, but instead he stopped in front of mine. He pushed the wooden door aside and walked in. I went in after him and closed the door behind me.

He was sitting on my bed burning a hole in the ground.

I silently walked to the bed and sat down next to him

"Jared, you're freaking me out. What's wrong?" I asked again, beginning to worry.

"It's Mel." He responded his voice shaking slightly.

I held my breath waiting for him to continue, my eyes wide with concern.

"She won't come out of her room, she won't eat anything, she just stares at the picture of her and Maudy." He explained his voice full of frustration and worry.

"She refuses to let me kiss her, much less comfort her. Then when I brought her lunch she only nodded her head in acknowledgement, and pushed it aside refusing to eat it. She hasn't spoken all day. I feel like, like she's starting to hate me or something. "He whispered the last part.

I let out the breath I had been holding.

"Jared, she doesn't hate you. Trust me. You can't think like that." I exclaimed truthfully.

"I-I don't know what to do." He stuttered vulnerably.

I sighed. "Jared it's not your fault. She just found out that the only parental figure she has left is still alive. And she's willing to do anything and everything not to lose her."

"And I won't let her. So it is my fault." He continued.

I shook my head.

"Jared, you and Mel are both hardheaded. You know that once Mel has her mind set on something no one can stop her from getting what she wants, except you. She knows it's not safe and she doesn't want to hurt you. But that isn't going to stop her from grieving a little bit. Just give her time." I consoled.

We sat there while he silently thought over my words. After a couple of minutes, he nodded his head.

"Thanks Wanda, if time and space is what she needs I'm willing to give it to her." He said.

Then he gave me a brief hug and left.

A/N: So? Okay I suck I know…first I don't update in months and then I give you a pathetic chapter that barely passes the 2,000 word mark.

But please bare with me; I will make this up to you with the next chapter which I've already started to write so it shouldn't take me more than a week to update.

Was lily's surprise lame? I hope not…it's there for a reason. I mean think about it. What is a wedding without a photographer? Plus I needed to give lily's character some closure… Stephenie had left her torn and broken after Wes's death, so I healed her in some sense.

So…I've decided that if you review…I'll send you a teaser for the next chapter :)

AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU THINK I SHOULD GET A TWITTER SO YOU GUYS CAN YELL AT ME WHEN I START TO FAIL AT THE UPDATING. AND SO I CAN GIVE YOU GUYS AN UPDATE ON WHEN I WILL BE UPDATING