A/n: Messing with the timeline a little. No regrets.

-3rd Person POV-

The commotion was far too near where Izzy was for her curiosity not to kick into highest gear, pulling her forward and after it. With all the arguing and anger and over concentration, no one even noticed Izzy slip into and through the crowd. Someone was being nasty but the second Izzy pulled up behind Jared, following everyone's hateful gazes to the girl on the floor, nothing else mattered.

At first, Izzy was shocked. Her mind rejected the familiar face and body as Jeb helped the girl stand to her feet. Why had she been on the ground? Izzy didn't know. All she knew, finally, was that Melanie was back. Nothing else mattered. Nothing else mattered. That was Melanie's face. That was Melanie's body. All sense and thought slipped it of Izzy's mind as the almost-thirteen-year-old girl launched forward, screaming, "MEL!"

Everyone jumped and Jared tried to catch Izzy's art, seething, "No Izzy that's not-" But his hands weren't fast enough and Jeb wasn't going to stop her and no one else wanted to get any closer to "the thing" they all so hated than they were.

Izzy's eyes ran over the Soul glow that otherwise would have given Izzy a heart attack and she jumped at the girl she still believed to be one hundred percent Melanie. Mel, from inside Wanderer, was only too quick to gush out, "IZZY!" and wrap her arms around the young girl in a long yearned for embrace. But Wanderer was in control again fast, her shock fading and her excitement growing. Izzy had called her Mel. Izzy didn't know. But who cares? One of the people who had been haunting her for months was finally giving her the affection and love and care Wanderer had so painfully craved. This wasn't a memory. This was REAL.

Unfortunately, Wanderer wasn't Melanie. Izzy pushed away from the girl as reality kicked in and her sense returned. "You're not Melanie," Izzy mumbled, freeZing as she recoiled from Wanderer's touch. Wanderer stepped back, shocked at the sudden coldness. "You don't hug like Melanie." Wanderer looked at her feet. Izzy stepped forward, grabbing her face and jerking the girl's eyes to hers. The glow. "A soul," Izzy whispered, more saddened than angered. "...No."

Jared's voice was soft as he weakly ordered, "Get back here, Izzy. Now."

Her mind racing too fast, Izzy turned to face the crowd, her shoulders squared. "How long has she been here?" Izzy demanded, glaring at Jared.

Getting defensive, Jared's face hardened. "She just got here. I just found out."

"And you haven't told Jamie yet?" Izzy demanded. Wanderer jerked in excitement from behind Izzy. They were all here. They were all safe...

Jared's head jerked back and he scoffed. "You want to tell him that It's here, in Mel's body?"

Quiet fell at that. "He deserves to know," Izzy determined finally. "Just as much as you do. More even than I do. Maybe even more than you do, Jared. Eventually, he has to know. And eventually he will know, too." Izzy's body went rigid, her eyes slowly moving to Doc. "Unless you mean to-"

Stepping forward, Jared got more angry. "Get back here, Izzy."

Horror filled Izzy as she thought of Melanie's face, pale and blank, here eyes glassed over with death. She though of Mel's blood scattered everywhere as Doc sawed into her. "No," Izzy croaked, stepping back and shooting her hands out to block Wanderer from everyone else. Jeb forced down a proud smile. Izzy was torn between the hate for the Thing that kept her from being with the only mother figure Izzy had left and the absolute adoration for Mel that Izzy held onto tighter than she held onto anything. Izzy would die before she let this body go to Doc. Before Doc killed the body for sure. Right now, there was some kind of hope. Izzy refused to let anyone touch her.

Shocked by Izzy's care and passion, Wanderer reached out to touch Izzy, but then retracted her hand. Wanderer reminded herself that Izzy was protecting MELANIE, not HER. It hurt, but it was better than nothing.

Kyle stepped forward, scoffing. "Give it over to Doc or let me kill it. That's not her anymore, Izzy."

Body tensing, Izzy snarled anomalistically. Kyle stepped forward, exciting the challenge. Jared shot forward. "Really, Kyle? She's twelve. You going to take on a twelve year old and call yourself brave or some bull? Grow a pair."

Brandishing his machete, Kyle took on Jared as the new challenge. "I'll cut through both of you-"

"You most certainly will not," Jeb grunted angrily.

There was a gasp and a thump and Izzy spun around to see that Mel - the Soul - whatever - had collapsed and fainted. "Jeb," Izzy called. "Jeb!"

Jeb cocked his gun and absolute silence fell. Izzy fell to Wanderer's side, making sure se was alive and okay. "If anyone comes any closer, I will shoot you." His voice was rough and anger and solid. The decision was final. Jeb looked at Jared. "Help Izzy move... It," Jeb said, seeming to be struggling with the title. Izzy shot him a sharp look, but held herself back from correcting the term to 'her'. Izzy wasn't ready to accept this thing yet. Not killing her was different than actively accepting her. "Or hold Izzy down and we'll move it to Doc's place."

A hard expression took over Jared's face. One of horror and discomfort and rejection, like the idea made him repulsed and sick and angry. Good. Jared looked at Izzy, who shot him a look of desperate pleading. Jared looked back at Jeb, only giving as nod before he kneeled next to Izzy, scooping Wanderer up into his arms, his face screwing up as he tried not to think about what he was holding. Izzy touched his arm in gratification and Jeb gave a solid nod.

Making sure the gun was seen, Jeb nodded to Jared, guiding him through the tunnels and away from the crowd. Izzy met each of their eyes before she turned and ran after Jeb and Jared. Her anger and withering look didn't have much of an effect except that no one followed them.

For now that was enough.

-

Izzy had insisted on being outside the cell with Jared, despite the older man's heavy protests. Jeb had allowed it. Izzy had as much of a right to Melanie as Jared did in Jeb's mind. So did Jamie, but if they could keep out of this a little bit longer, Jeb would be plenty okay with that.

When Wanderer woke up, Izzy slipped into the room. She sat peacefully as Wanderer woke up properly, watching the girl the looked like Melanie but wasn't. Wanderer looked at Izzy and she froze. Izzy was still undecided, but she wanted to talk to her. Just talk. "Hi," Izzy whispered. in the corner of Izzy's eye, she saw Jared turn a deadly glare at her but she ignored it.

Unsure if Izzy was hateful towards her or not, Wanderer stayed stiff and moved slow. "Hello."

Pursing her lips, Izzy shifted. "What's your name?" Izzy asked quietly.

There was a little tilt of the head before Wanderer answered. "They call me Wanderer. I quite like it. So I guess that's my name."

Curiosity won out and Izzy found herself relax around the older girl, caring less about Wanderer than she thought she would. Izzy wanted to hate her. She did. But Melanie's face was too Melanie still. Wanderer had definitely made it her own, her face calmer and more blank than Melanie's ever would have been. But it was the emotion that swirled in Wanderer's eyes that pulled Izzy in and calmed her down. The emotion in Wanderer's eyes, behind the Soul glow, that was all Melanie. "Why do they call you that?" Izzy asked.

The surprised Wanderer. Izzy didn't seem angry. She seemed calculating and debating and suspicious and pushy and curious. Burt not angry. Not hateful. "I've lived many lives, on many other planets. I wander." Wanderer's lips twitched and Izzy couldn't help but properly smile like Wanderer was to scared to.

Jared was beyond irritated. "Izzy go eat," he snapped. Izzy, knowing she'd pushed far past where she probably should have, simply offered a farewell nod to Wanderer before standing and slipping out of the prison cell. She walked past Jared, who glared after her, and went to eat. She'd be back later though.

After she ate and returned, Jeb was there instead of Jared. Jeb told her about Kyle and his stupid lackies coming to try ad kill Wanda. He called her Wanda now. Hm.

Concerned about Wanda and angry about Kyle's moronic life choices, Izzy slipped into the cave without even asking Jeb. Jeb called her a her and had given her a nickname. There was no way he'd be opposed to Izzy talking to the girl.

When Wanderer saw Izzy, she instantly relaxed. "Are you okay?" Izzy asked, her eyes searching and worried. Wanderer was taken aback again.

There's no way she knows I'm still in here, right? Melanie echoed to Wanda in her head.

No way, Wanda mental agreed.

In response, Wanda nodded. "I am, thank you." There was a second before Melanie's curiosity and nagging got the best of Wanda. "Why are you being so kind to me? Like... genuinely?"

Covering er face to hide the smile, Izzy took a second to compose herself. When she was ready, Izzy met Wanda's gaze. "You hugged me." This seemed to confused Wanda more. "I mean, if you were banking on Melanie's memory or personality and trying to hug me just to pretend and get yourself. level higher, it would have been more put together. It would have been a better attempt, because Mel knew that I marked her for her good hugs. But you had a minor concussion and you ere weakened messed up. Jeb's told me all the weird things about you that don't add up, and Jared told me about the confrontation. He slapped you." Izzy frowned. "But anyway. YOU hugged me, Wanderer. YOU. In genuine relief and joy, you hugged me because YOU, yourself, alone, individually care about me. Delusional and weak and messed up and in your very wn special way, you hugged me. You were happy to see me. I didn't know what it was. What made me so chill with you. Bu my mom always taught me to be open minded. I ask questions first. And Wanda, if you don't mind, I have a lot of questions to ask."

Wanda seemed stunned. "I would love to answer all of those that I can," she whispered. Melanie was touched by Izzy's never ending ability to stun with her ginormous heart and endless love and caring - even for a creature she had every right to hate. A creature everyone else rightly hated. Even surrounded by hate and negativity and pain and agony -

Izzy was kind.

I see why you took to her so fast, Wanda mused.

You haven't seen anything yet, Melanie bragged back. Wait until she actually likes you. For now she's just curious. Once you're family, you're stuck with her.

Wanda was shocked at that too. Once. As if Melanie was expecting it to happen.

This day had not gone at all like Wanda thought. She didn't know what tot think at all anymore. She pushed all of her thoughts and feelings and mixed up chaos out of her mind. One day at a time. One person after the other. This was going to be interesting.

-

Wanda watched as Izzy squealed and clung to Jamie as the younger by ran around with her on his back, jumping and stopping short and jerking around. He laughed as she begged him to stop and let her down. They were at the end of the day and the two kids somehow still had energy.

Jamie finally put Izzy down, both giggling and shoving one another and lashing out teasingly. As the two walked over, Melanie commented on how different they were. While Melanie was gone, something major had changed between the two.

Maybe it was that the little family unit had broken and shifted so much. Izzy didn't feel like Jamie's sister anymore, because Melanie wasn't around to remind Izzy that Jamie was just too much family to be anything else. And without Izzy holding back a bit, her subconscious flirting was coming through and it was affecting Jamie. The way Izzy had changed. Izzy's touches, looks, words, smile, looks. The way Izzy snuggled just enough differently that it didn't seem innocent and familial anymore. The way her snuggling felt like Jamie was holding a GIRL, not IZZY.

All the jokes that Mel and Jared had made what seemed an eternity ago seemed less improbable now. Jared didn't even seem to notice. The blush and the hyper energy and the slight, occasional awkwardness.

Honestly, it excited Wanda and Melanie both. Seeing how Izzy took to Wanda as Wanda and not as Melanie. How Izzy was the only one to really take to Wanda herself. Izzy had become quite attached to the Soul, following her around and being her 'witness', claiming that if Izzy was around to get in the way or witness any crimes, Kyle and his buddies would be far less enthusiastic to pull any plans. The tenderness and love Izzy had for Wanda, without even knowing if Melanie was around or not stunned bot of them. It warmed their heart, and both were plenty okay with such a caring, good person being with Jamie, who they both agreed deserved someone as perfect and dedicated and amazing to him as Jared and Melanie had been to each other once.

Wanda stood as the two approached and Izzy looked over. "I'm gong to bathe," Wanda explained softly. Izzy nodded, ready to go. Jamie slouched in a bit of disappointment, but he smiled and nodded, glad someone was taking care of Wanda. "You... don't have to come with me," Wanda assured. Izzy went to protest but Wanda rose a hand, a gentle smile on her face. "I need some quality alone time anyway."

Sighing, Izzy nodded. "Okay."

A soft chuckle escaped Wanda as she left the pair alone. As she walked away, she missed the look Ian shot her. The soft smile. The way his eyes took her in in the most innocent way. The look reminded Izzy, who DID notice it, of the cartoon heart eyes when the boy would see the girl and go all goo goo over her. Heart eyes fit the description of his facial expression perfectly.

Her mind wandering, Izzy looked over at Jamie. She felt her heart swell and thump as he spoke, his smile wide and his actions animated and energetic. He was beautiful, in a weird way. Handsome and human-like. Not a god-like beauty like Melanie had always whispered to Izzy about when she spoke about Jared. No. Jamie was am eternal kind of beautiful. The kind that spoke of personality, not looks. The kind that set a glow in his eyes and on his skin. The kind that showed through his smile and his kindness and his words and curiosity and consideration rather than his jaw or his eyebrows or his eyes or his lips. Not to say Jamie wasn't physically attractive. On the contrary, Izzy thought he was wonderfully handsome. But he was beautiful too.

She shook her head, clearing her thoughts. She wondered if she had those heart eyes she'd seen on Ian earlier. Looking around to find Ian, she found that he was looking at her as well. His smirk and teasing eyebrow wiggle as he looked between her and Jamie made Izzy blush.

Yes, she concluded. She did. Enough that Ian picked up on it, as she had picked up on it for him.

Wonderful.

-

Izzy was in the hospital wing so loudly ad so suddenly, she almost slipped past Jared like she always seemed to, too fast and small for him to register and stop in time. But this time, Ian was there to help, catching her shoulder before realizing that she was murderous toward Kyle and not Wanda. Ian saw Izzy's searing gaze level on Ian's brother and Ian simply let het go. He was all for Izzy tearing Kyle up into little shreds.

Unfortunately, since Ian had paused her, Jared had time to really Cath her, pulling her into his chest. Fuming, Izzy jerked against him. Uselessly, since Jared was still plenty more stronger than she was, but all the same. "Let me go," Izzy growled, her eyes still on Kyle, who actually looked kind of scared. Izzy was small and usually harmless, but Kyle had seen her go ballistic only once when someone had messed with Jamie a little too much and Izzy's protectiveness kicked in. She had grown up since the night that Melanie and Jared had met her. She got stronger and had learned how to hit and where to hit s lot better. She was a murder machine and a force not to ignored when it really came down to it. Kyle could take her, of course, but still...

Still holding her, Jared simply huffed, "No." As much as he also wanted to murder Kyle, Jeb had said no and murdering was wrong so he guessed she couldn't do it either.

Glaring at Kyle, Izzy seethed, "I've got my eyes on you." Ashamed and off guard, Kyle only looked away, not sure how to exactly feel about any of this. Izzy looked over to Wanda, her gaze already soft and warm and loving before it even settled on the girl. When Jared felt Izzy relax a bit, he let her go, knowing she had focused on Wanda now. At this point, everyone know about Melanie, but Izzy had loved Wanda before she knew about Mel. Now, she only loved hr more now that Wanda had explained how Mel and her were so close and how Wanda had come here for Mel as well as herself. Wanda had explained about all of her mind feelings and loneliness and stress and pain and how hard this world was for her. Wanda found it insanely easy to talk to Izzy, just as Melanie had found when words about how she felt about Jared would just spill from her. Through Wanda admitting truths no one but Melanie knew and not even Melanie had properly stopped to face, Wanda and Izzy had become genuine close.

Wanda was engulfed in a worried hug and Izzy went over how worried she was and how she'd never leave Wanda alone now and how Izzy was going to kill Kyle and how Izzy knew she never should have left Wanda alone and-

Laughing, Wanda pushed Izzy back an arm's length. "Hey," Wanda reminded. "I'm okay."

Izzy melted. "Good thing," the young girl whispered. "I can't lose you."

Genuinely touched, Wanda slouches. "I..."

Eyes watery with tears, Izzy hugs Wanda again. "I love you, Wanda. Please don't ever forget that."

Everyone else is shocked by this, but Wanda and Mel can no longer be shocked. Of course Izzy loves Wanda. Izzy has a huge heart and the best intentions. It only makes sense that it worked out that way that Izzy would be the only one to like WANDA right off the bat, instead of focusing on how she felt about Melanie or focusing on Wanda being alien and dangerous and 'the enemy' as she rightfully should have.

Mel and Wanda both know now that Izzy is a real one. Forever and always.

Wanda hugs Izzy back. "I love you too," she whispers. And she really, really means it.