Summary: Nudge harbors hope of finding her parents, but when she gets her mom's adress, she has doubts. Iggy doesn't want her to go; everytime he thinks of losing her, there's a sharp pressure in his chest. But he doesn't stop her. What happens when Nudge leaves?-Twoshot.

A/N: I really like this story. I can't quite get the end right, but I like the beginning and the middle nice enough. It's not so much a story about Nudge finding her mother; if it was, then I would spend more time with Nudge and the Flock action. As it is, it's just a NudgexIggy story using Nudge finding her mom as a trigger. If you don't like it, then I'm sorry, but the next chapter's not gonna get much better for you.

One Regret-- Chapter 1

They never stopped looking. They might have hidden the papers from Max, or not let on to her about their secret searches, but secretly they never stopped trying to find their parents. Especially Nudge.

It wasn't that she was unhappy with her Flock, or that she perceived life with her biological family greater than life with her mutant family. She just wanted to know where she came from. It was hard to describe why she was so adamant about finding them. In their brief sliver of school life she had this project about her heritage. She knew that she was black, but her ancestors could've been from anywhere. Africa, the Caribbean, she could've been Native American for all she knew. That was the point: She didn't know. But she never stopped trying to find out.

Dr. Martinez encouraged her. Just the fact that Max had a person who was there for her someone who loved her just because made Nudge wish she had someone like that too. So when Jeb strolled in the Martinez household on one of the Flock's visits and declared "I've found something", Nudge's stomach lurched in anticipation and she immediately rushed to the scientist.

"What? What have you found? Who is it? Whose parents? Where are they? Have you found—" Max stopped Nudge's stream of noise with a glare. But that didn't keep Nudge from bouncing up and down on her heels and crossing her fingers, silently wishing that the "something" Jeb found was about her.

The Flock was assembled plus Dr. Martinez, Jeb and Ella to the living room where Jeb announced his findings. "When Itex dismantled they ordered the destruction of every slice of evidence that would point any controversial fingers their way. I managed to get a hold of one of the team that destroyed it, and it turns out he made back up files in the event that anyone wanted to make a case against Itex. So far no one had approached him about this, for the same reasons why he'd never came out with the information himself: they were all guilty of something. But he gave me a copy of the remaining files, and—" It couldn't have just been Nudge's imagination that Jeb's gaze flickered to her. It must mean more than that—right? "And I've found the address and information of Nudge's parents."

Nudge let out a shriek, and instinctively the Flock covered their ears. The grin that threatened to explode on her face could be ignored no longer. She hugged Jeb and screamed over and over again "thank you thank you thank you". Jeb patted her awkwardly on the back, and then said needlessly, "Would you like this information?"

Nudge didn't answer, but then she didn't have to. Jeb handed the files he'd printed out to a dazed Max, and then took his leave. The remaining gazes were set either on a bubbly, excited Nudge or on her opposite a shocked, stunned Max.

"You were still looking?" Max asked, confused.

Nudge toned her animation down a little when she answered. "Yes, don't be mad, Max!" she added when she saw Max's face.

"I'm not mad, Nudge," she said, although Nudge saw the way Max looked at the papers, and avoided Nudge's eyes.

"It's just!" Nudge struggled to explain herself, "You have Dr. Martinez. And a sister related to you by blood and not just by situation. And your mom's amazing. She bakes. She lets you stay here with five other genetic recombinants. And she loves you despite the fact that you've got wings." Max sneaked a look at Dr. Martinez and Ella as if admitting that, yes this was all true. "I just wanted that for me."

"You deserve that," Max said softly, but reluctantly. Nudge smiled, happy that Max got it. She then looked to the rest of her Flock, and their expressions hit her hard. They weren't ones of encouragement, but the lack of support wasn't what made her face fall. It was the disappointed and dejected air surrounding her winged family that made Nudge suddenly realize that if she left to go find her biological family, she would have to leave her winged family. Forever.

"Do you think I should do it?" Nudge drew her knees into her chest and traced circles on her bare feet. Iggy was her usual confidant, and now that she was faced with a huge decision, she had naturally come to him. But he seemed… unattached. Disinterested. She sneaked a look at him now as he was reading his book, his eyes staring straight forward, his fingers tracing the raised bumps on the page.

"Why does it matter what I think? This doesn't involve me." Iggy answered a bit harshly in Nudge's opinion. But she tried not to let it show.

"Yeah, I just... do you have regrets about meeting your parents?" Because Iggy was a veteran in this. He'd done the awkward situation before, the same situation that Nudge might find herself in. If she decided to go that is.

"Well considering the fact that they tried to sell me as a product when I got there, yes, I have a few regrets."

Nudge blinked, noticing his aggravated tone. She tried to censor her words… as much as Nudge could censor her words.

"Sorry," she apologized, "I mean-- do you ever wish that you hadn't met them? That you hadn't gone with them? Or are you glad that—"

"I met them," he interrupted callously, "They were jerks." Iggy was conflicted. If he told Nudge the truth --that he didn't regret it-- then she would leave. And he didn't want her to leave. His chest constricted at the thought; and he didn't think it was because his "little sister" was leaving. Or at least, that wasn't all. But he couldn't tell her a lie. He hated lying to Nudge. Maybe if she weren't so trusting, so gullible, it would make it easier. But she was, and so he couldn't lie. He took in breath and confessed. "But no, I don't regret it."

"Oh. Good," Nudge said, sounding relieved.

"Good? Iggy asked tentatively, reluctant to hear her answer.

"Yeah, I'm going to go."

After an agonizingly long silence in which invisible hands grabbed hold of Iggy's chest and squeezed tightly, Iggy muttered the only word he could make out.

"Oh,"

It certainly wasn't the only thing running through his mind. He had loads to say to Nudge. But the invisible hands seemed not to be on his side, and wouldn't let him speak his mind. They wouldn't let him stop her.

She tried to tell herself that as soon as she sat down and had a nice chat with her parents (Oh, Gosh, her parents) she was flying straight back to her Flock. But it was hard to convince herself of that when she was packing everything she owned.

She possessed more than the average bird kid what with her many phases. There had been that time when she was insanely into shoujo manga, and that time when she couldn't get enough of the band Relient K. And... ew... Nudge very faintly remembered the time when she was a Miley Cyrus fanatic and sang "Best of Both Worlds" at the top of her lungs, much to Iggy's annoyance...

Iggy.

She'd been thinking a lot about him lately. Of course her mind traveled in and out of Flock memories, but the most prominent of them were of Iggy. Especially her talk with him last night. What he'd said, about no regrets from seeing his parents, somehow it hadn't been the answer she was looking for.

But that was stupid. She had honestly wanted to know of Iggy's feelings on meeting his biological family. How could she want a specific answer, when all she wanted to know was how did Iggy feel? But lying to herself was also stupid. She didn't give a flying peanut butter cup about Iggy's feelings. All she wanted was an incentive to stay.

Nudge tugged on the drawstring on her backpack, closing it as far as it would go. It wasn't that far. After all, this was her entire life she was trying to carry in small backpack. She examined the worn out denim, blue bag, and though it was stuffed to the brim, she couldn't help feeling like something was missing. Someone. Five someone's. But as much as she would love to stuff each Flock member into the bag, not only would it just not carry anything else, it was just a stupid thought.

"Nudge!" Max called from downstairs.

She'd held this off for too long. Time to go.

Was it wrong that Iggy didn't want to hug her good-bye? He had a sinking thought that this would be the last time he'd get to touch her-- ever, and that he should make the most of it. But he was still in denial, so when Nudge wrapped her arms around Iggy's skinny body and squeezed, the most he could bring himself to do was pat her awkwardly on the shoulder.

She seemed surprised at this. This "hug" lasted a lot shorter than Max's or Angel's. Nudge pulled away hesitantly, and then, realizing that this wasn't going any farther than a light pat, she completely freed herself from him.

It was only when she wasn't in close proximity anymore that Iggy realized he wanted to hug her. But he'd lost his chance. And now she was leaving.

Iggy focused on not breaking down while Max explained her and Nudge's flight plan.

"We're going to stay at a hotel tomorrow, and then wake up early and finish the rest of the flight. I should be back in three days, four tops."

"I" should be back, Max said, not "we". Because Nudge wasn't coming back.

A/N. Criticism would be lovely, thank you. So would a peek at my other stories, Battle of the Pairings and a Midnight Chat (if I'm allowed to advertise shamelessly like this).

-SomeKindofAuthor