Alive

Wanda's POV

I woke up on a bed. A real bed. I rolled over and tried to find him. I knew he'd be sprawled out in all direction. I loved that about him. I couldn't find him though. My hand, searching for Ian, found a wall instead. A wall, firm and unfamiliar. The wall should have been jagged at least. The walls in our cave were that way.

Then it came back. The three days with Burns in the small cave. The rescue by seekers. The soul shinning threw the brilliant blue that held me here. This time tears came, I must have had some water. I remembered the car they'd put me in but I'd fallen asleep. They must have carried me into the room.

I opened my eyes and found that I was in a nice big room. Like a hotel room but a fancy hotel. I looked around. There was a bag on the other side of the bed. I teared up even more when I realized it was big enough for two.

I grabbed the bag and emptied the contents. There were very famine things inside. A brush, a small bottle of shampoo and conditioner, two pairs of underwear, two decorative bra's, two frilly shirts, a skirt and two pairs of jeans.

I grabbed the shampoo and conditioner, a pair of underwear, a random bra, the less frilly of the two shirts and the most durable looking of the two pairs of jeans. And carried all of these items to the bathroom. I tested the knobs and learned how to start the water in the shower.

I hadn't had a proper shower since my last raid. Raids made me think of home, Jeb's caves. I thought that they were probably in a very large state of panic at the moment. Ian had been…. Taken and Burns and I were now with the souls as well.

I wondered for a moment if Burns would tell. He knew how to get into the caves just as much and Ian and I did. I knew that I wouldn't tell, they'd have to torcher it out of me, not that they would. Ian though was a different story. I'm sure Ian would try to protect the location from the soul just as Mel had hid Jamie, Jared and the lines from me in the beginning.

I cleaned my hair and my body and stood there trying to think of nothing while the water hit my body in a soothing and consistent beat. I stood there till the water ran cold. I had been a little disappointed when the soap in the shower hadn't stung. I wrapped myself in a while fluffy towel and dried off my hair and body before putting on the clothes.

As I dressed I decided to go see Ian and the soul inside him. I had to face him sometime and I wanted to do it before I got food in me so it wouldn't come back up during our discussion. I decided that a pair of jeans just wouldn't do so I wrapped the damp towel around my waist and went to grab the skirt.

I'd never been into skirts, I'd never been around any really. When I was in Mel's body she hadn't liked the idea, it wasn't good for running in. When I was in the caves there hadn't been any opportunities to wear one since they weren't good for working in. And on raids I'd simply wanted to wear jeans of some sort of pants, because that's what I felt comfortable in.

The skirt was kind of short but that only mattered because I thought it was too revealing. Although I was sure that Ian would love it.

I walked out of the room and found a seeker standing at the door almost like a body guard. I missed my old body guard.

"Good morning." He said, "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes thank you." He looked me up and down and I cleared my through, "If it is no trouble I'd like to see…." I stopped, I wasn't sure what the souls name was and I could say Ian he'd have no idea what I was talking about.

"Your capture?" he guessed. I nodded, "I'll take you too him." He made a gesture for me to go first. I wasn't too happy about this but I started to walk. He gave me small directions and I fallowed them trying to memorize them so I'd know where to find him next time without help.

We finally stopped as a plain white door four floors below, just two floors below the main floor. He obviously was not trusted to be unguarded. My guard, I guessed, was for protection, his for restraint. Rogue humans these days were very resistant.

The seeker stopped at the fourth door on the left and smiled at me, "Would you like me to come in with you?"

I shook my head, I didn't trust the no that wanted to come out, "I will knock twice when I am done."

The seeker frowned but nodded, "If I hear a scream I will not wait for the knocks."

"Understood" And I opened the door.

The room was all white. That was the the first thing that registered in my brain. Ian was sitting on the small bed against the wall holding his head in his hands with his eyes closed, muttering to himself.

When I opened the door he opened his eyes and looked at me. I wasn't sure if the look he was giving me was excitement or fear, It might have been a bit of both.

I closed the door behind me, "Hello" I said in the most Wandaish voice I could muster, "Do you know who I am?"

It was a moment before he answered, "Wanderer"

I nodded, "May I ask your name?"

"Sings The Love Song." He didn't have to hesitate.

"That's a nice name. I lived on the singing world too."

"I know." He said.

I walked over and sat on the opposite end of the bed with my legs dangaling off it. Sings The Love Song mirrored me without letting go of his head.

He must have been doing that to keep Ian back, "That doesn't work you know…." He looked at me, "holding your head I mean, it won't keep Ian back. You have to do that yourself."

He let go of his head and took a deep breath, "What do you want?"

The voice was trying to be casual but I couldn't help but hear the accusatory tone in his voice. I swallowed back tears, "I wanted to meet you. And maybe talk to Ian. If that's ok."

I looked at his face as he thought for a moment then nodded, "I will let you talk to him if you will answer some questions for me."

Now it was my turn to hesitate, "Sure."

There was a pause…. "Ladies first." Sings The Love Song said.

I waited…. First things first, "Sings The Love Song is a bit long…. Do you have a nickname?"

He deliberated for a moment, "How about, Luvon."

I smiled, "Short for Love Song?" He nodded. "I like it. Alright Luvon." I pause…. Now I needed a question.

"Can I ask a question?" Luvon asked, "We could take turns."

I nodded, "That seems fair."

"Why?" A flashback. A soul dropping to a cot in Doc's hospital. "Why did you…. Give them that information?"

I nodded understanding his curiosity. "Love" I said plainly, "I showed them for love. So that I could give Melanie back to herself. I know you might not understand now. But if you spend enough time with your host with an open mind you might just come to love them."

He shook his head, "I don't know about loving him."

"He's a good man." I muttered.

I looked over and saw him nod. "That much I can tell." He looked over at me, "His love for you is so pure. There isn't anything to equal it in all the universe."

I smiled, "If he tells you our story, you'll see. It takes time to truly come to love someone."

"You've been through so much together." He muttered, "His only regret is not being more careful. On his way to you I mean. He wishes he hadn't been caught."

A tear fell down my cheek. I turned towards Luvon and he looked at me. "I never thought I'd be doing this…. But, may I kiss you?"

The movement of his head was half way between a nod and a shake. Obviously Ian wanted it but Luvon did not. Or something similar.

I took the movement that I wanted to see, the nod. I put my hands on either side of his face and with great care pressed my lips to his.

Fire exploded as it usually did. Like with Mel and Jared, this body was puddy in Ian's hands. I kissed him softly and when I felt him respond I moaned. He moved his hands to my shoulder and then down to my waist. I wanted so badly for this to never end. I wanted Ian to hold me. I wanted him to lay me against the bed and to love me like in the caves.

Suddenly I felt the hands on my waist push me away. I knew it was like when Jared kissed me while thinking of Mel. At least Ian hadn't done anything more than push me way.

Tears were still rolling down my cheeks, "I love you Ian."

The look on Ian's/ Luvon's face was one of anger and surprise. Ian had obviously pushed me away from him, and Luvon had not meant to let him do it.

I wiped the tears off on the back of my hand and wiped my hand on my skirt. It hurt. I'd have to hug Jared when I got back. I never imagined it was this painful.

"I'm sorry." Luvon whispered.

"No. I get it. Believe me I do." I said my voice clouded with emotion. I stood.

"Your leaving?" he asked. His voice was almost disappointed.

I nodded and tried to calm my voice, "I just have one question." I turned to look at the soul in Ian's body. "Why?" I echoed, "Why didn't you turn the rest of them in?"

He didn't answer. I waited for at least 5 minutes then I hung my head and turned and knocked on the door twice. The guard opened the door and as I stepped out I heard him answer my question.

"Love"