A/N: okay guys...this is a new kind of fanfic. Please R&R and tell me if you liked it! :D

Title: Newborn Wings

Description: "And I could feel my baby's heart fluttering like a newborn bird's wings…taking off and flying for the very first time. That was the very last thing I saw: her eyes, Fang's eyes, gazing back at me. Then everything faded into darkness." Fax, character death, rated T

Max's POV

The pain was unbearable. Please, I kept thought to myself, let me die….nothing can be worth this pain…please, just let me die…Every push I forced myself to give sent waves of throbbing pain through my already weak body. I had been in labor for ten hours already; when would it end?

The only things I was aware of was Fang, grasping my hand firmly and murmuring words of praise and encouragement, and the occasional "I love you", in to my ear.

"You can do this Max, you're doing great…keep pushing Max..." he whispered over and over again. I screamed and pushed as hard as I could, feeling the hot drips of sweat cascading down my forehead and into my open mouth: their salty taste almost comforting.

At long last, I heard a baby's feeble cry. And I gasped, because it was all over.

Dr. Martinez, Mom, wrapped the new-born in a warm blanket that she had next to me and looked at Fang and I with tired but happy eyes.

"Congratulations. You two are the parents of a brand new baby girl." She smiled, "you guys are making me a grandma early, y'know…" I gave out a weak laugh. Fang looked at me with concern.

"Are you alright?" he asked, searching my face.

"Yes, I'm fine…just a little tired, that's all…" but I knew that something wasn't right. I didn't want to worry him though. This was one of the happiest days of our lives.

"May I see my baby?" I asked my mom. She smiled and handed the child snuggled in her arms.

The second I laid eyes of my brand new baby, all the pain was worth it: Completely and totally worth it.

And as I looked into my daughter's confused face, I could tell that she had gotten her Fathers's eyes: dark, brilliant, wondering and curious, warm, trusting… They were perhaps even more brilliant than her fathers. Hers contrasted against her beautiful, pale skin. I reached out to gently stroke her little arm, and she reached up to touch my cheek. Her touch was warm and soft, and my big hand cupped her little one.

"Hello there, little stranger." I smiled. It felt like my heart would burst with all the feelings at this moment…happiness, warmth, and an almost overwhelming feeling of love for the wonder in my arms and the man by my side. It was almost like my life hadn't been complete until I held that baby in my arms. I glanced up at my Fang. His cheeks looked moist, and his eyes were suspiciously shiny. We were a family now.

As my Mom took my baby out of my arms and handed it to a delighted Fang, I felt tired. Too tired. The temptation to close my eyes and take a long, long nap was getting harder and harder to resist. Something was wrong…..

Fang POV

Dr. Martinez put the baby into my shaking arms.

"Be careful, and watch her head." She said warmly before ushering back to Max.

I looked down to the small fragment of life in my arms, and found myself looking at a mirror image of me. I realized with amazement and joy that my daughter's eyes were my own: dark and mysterious. But the emanating light shining within them was all Max. I smiled, knowing that our baby would have just as much spunk as its mother. Little tufts of Max's famous light-colored hair were matted against the baby's small head and were already starting to dry. The baby, strangely enough, did not cry. She kept staring at me with an almost unearthly curiosity. I couldn't help but stare back. It was hard grasping the concept that I was a father now.

"It's me, your daddy," I whispered to my daughter, "Welcome to the world, little one." Dr. Martinez's worried tap on my shoulder brought me out of my thoughts.

"Fang…" she said, "something's wrong. It's Max. Well, she's lost a lot of blood…I…I don't think she's going to make it. I'm sorry…there's just…nothing I can do." Her chocolate eyes brimmed with unshed tears.

I didn't say anything.

Sensing my impending denial, Nudge spoke up from behind me. "I'll take the baby…" not looking at her, I handed to my sister the newest member of our flock.

In the other room, Max lay, exhausted, on the large bed: her light locks of hair dampened and matted against her pale face. She looked deathly in the soft glow of the bedside table. Seeing her like this, I knew Dr. Martinez was right. I knew it was only a matter of time.

You will not cry…you will not cry…I chanted to myself as I walked over to Max. She reached out her frail hand and I took it in my own and kneeled by her side.

"How are you feeling?" I asked restlessly. She thought for a moment.

"Tired."

"I thought so…" I continued my struggle for holding back the tears that were fighting to escape my eyes. I wanted to throw myself at her, I wanted to yell and kick and scream "don't leave me alone, Max! Don't leave me alone!" I wanted to punch the wall and curse God for taking her so soon. It wasn't even fair. Did Max even know she was dying?

"I know I'm dying, Fang."

I guess for the first time in my life my expression was readable. She continued to talk.

"but I'm not suffering Fang…I got to hold my daughter, I got to look her in my eyes and tell her that I loved her. When I'm gone, tell her that I loved her very, very much." I whimpered.

"No…don't talk like that. maybe you'll live. Miracles can happen, right? You've got to hold on, Max…for me, for the baby…"

"I can feel me getting more and more tired. We can't do anything."

"But I love you!" I practically yelled, my anger at the world showing. She smiled.

"And I love you, more than anything, Fang." We were quiet for a moment, silently looking at each other and knowing that this was probably the last conversation we'd ever have.

Max reached up at stroked my cheek.

"She has your eyes…" she said. I stroked her hand lightly, adoringly, and leaned into her touch.

Everything in my body was screaming.

Don't leave me! I love you too much!

But I felt her hand slip from my cheek, and her eyelids flickered and a smile started to form on her face. My Max, my beautiful, kind, sweet, protective, loving Max then closed her eyes and never opened them again.

I let the tears flow.