JP is the owner…not me smiles anyway

Chapter 1: Smoke on the Water

I was the first on watch. Fang wanted to watch first but after a grueling argument and a 'best two out of three' game of rock-paper-scissors, I merged victorious. I liked our most recent hide out. It was on a beach somewhere around the Bahamas. The water was blue and warm, and although we were all tired as hell from running, we all seemed to relax a little here. Nudge found our new haven after following a crab right to the entrance. She was so proud to find our hide away, as we were to have it. Iggy liked where we were simply because it was quiet and, if Nudge wasn't blabbing, the only noise you could hear was the light peaceful crashes as the waves fell on themselves.

I decided to take this time to recap on today's events. Angel and Gazzy spent about two hours searching for shells along the beach. After that Iggy and Gazzy talked about explosives and which was a better detonator as Nudge and Angel made small necklaces out of the shells that Angel and Gazzy found earlier. Fang searched the Island we were on and found a surplus of pineapple and coconuts for us to eat. When we were all really hungry we talked Angel into tricking some fish into killing themselves for our dinner. It was a great meal, although we never really let our guards down. We made a small fire in the middle of the cave, which was extremely large. We pulled in some logs to use as chairs as we sat around the fire eating dinner. After dinner Angel, Nudge and Gazzy went to sleep at the far side of the cave. Iggy was still eating and Fang was watching the flames of the fire dance over the logs while I sat at the mouth of the cave looking at the ocean, stars, and sand. It was so tranquil. So now I was still at the mouth of the cave. Fang was asleep a few feet away and Iggy had literally fallen backwards when he fell asleep and his legs were still elevated by the log. I was snapped out of my thoughts by hearing footsteps.

"Hey." Fang whispered sitting next to me and looking out at the water like I was.

"What's up?" I asked turning to look at him.

"Want to switch?" he asked.

"No, I'm not really tired right now actually. This place is so peaceful, don't ya' think?"

"Yeah, it is. The flock really likes it here." He whispered

"I know. I like it here too."

"When do we have to leave again, Max?" I turned to look at him and his eyes were pleading. I was surprised by his forwardness, though I should expect surprises from Fang these days." I know that it isn't normal for us to stay in one place but we all really want to stay here."

"I don't know, Fang. It depends on how long we can be hidden here."

"Are you going to change shifts or not?" he sounded agitated.

"Did I make you mad?" I asked sarcastically.

"Why do we keep folding for the white coats, huh? Maybe if we stayed in one place and ignore them when they come then they will stop. I don't want to leave here. No one wants to leave here. Just maybe if we didn't keep running then they won't be so eager to get us back." Fang whispered.

"Fang, isn't that wishful thinking? It is a good idea, but it isn't real, Fang. I mean, I would love it to be real, but its not."

"Damn it Max! What is real? How do you know that if we stayed here things won't be any better, huh? News flash Max! They would be!"

"Why are you so hell bent on us staying here?" I narrowed my eyes and stood up. Sure enough he did the same and followed as I walked to the waters edge.

"Why are you so hell bent on us leaving?"

"I'm not; it's just that-Hey! You answer my question first, Fang!"

"The flock deserves more than being on the run forever, Max! You know that as much as I do. And, I want to settle down and I want- Damn it Max! I want to start a life. Preferably with you." He looked at the sand under his feet then at my awe struck face.

"Max, what are you thinking?"

"I, well Fang, I don't know." I looked at him and waited for his face to show the answer, which it didn't, it stayed blank.

"Max, I want to-never mind." He looked at me for a moment and I stared into his eyes.

Did this mean that he likes me? I wonder if he likes me. Maybe he likes me? Oh, well that's wishful thinking for ya, Max. I thought to myself. I wonder if he actually likes me!

Maybe he does! No, he was with Lisa and he would never love me the way I love him. Wait! Did I just say I loved Fang? No, I didn't…it's a brain typo. You all heard wrong. I DO NOT LOVE FAN-.

I was cut off from my rambling thoughts as Fang lifted up my chin. My breath caught in my throat as he slowly leaned in. And when our lips were almost touching he whispered "I want to have a family." Then as if on cue he leaned in and brushed his lips along mine. I wasn't him get off that easy. I wrapped my hands in his hair and he put one hand on the eve of my back pulling me closer to him, which didn't bother me at all. I was absorbed in the kiss but then for some reason I pulled away.

"Don't you consider the flock your family?" I whispered into his ear. He looked confused and then amused (not intentional rhyming people!)

"I mean a different kind of family, when we are older." He had an evil grin.

Did he just say when WE were older? Holy Crap! He means that WE will have a family!

Yes Max, he means that you two will have your own family in the future. The Voice said.

SHUT UP VOICE! I yelled in my head.

"The voice?" Fang asked

"What? Oh, yeah. It's back."

"So, where were we?" Fang asked leaning in again.

"Aw, freaks in love. Sounds like a twisted Shakespearian play." We both turned to look at where the voice came from. We couldn't see anyone.

"Who is that?" I yelled

"Max, don't you and lover bird remember me?" the voice said again, this time at a closer distance.

"Fuck you!" Fang yelled.

Then we saw him. Ari. He appeared out of thin air! We looked at him and there were a thousand pairs of glowing red eyes behind him.

Crap! Crap! Crap crap crap!!!! Hello? Voice? HELP ME! I yelled at my voice.

Max, get back to the Cave and wake the others. Pull a U & A and shag ass out of there! This is bad, you need to leave! Said the Voice.

Did it really just tell me to shag ass? I'll think about that later. I pulled on Fang's sleeve and we pulled our wings out. As we were flying to the cave we were screaming "Up and Away!"

The flock didn't even take a running start. They threw open their wings and were in the air before they had opened their eyes. We tore out of there within eleven seconds.

"What was that?" Angel asked flying up next to me.

"Erasers, I think."

Angel pulled to fly next to Gazzy and Fang flew next to me.

"Max." Fang whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Those…things. They weren't erasers were they." The way he said it sounded more like a statement than a question.

"Not at all." I said, and then pulled in a deep breath.

Max, go to Canada. Said the Voice.

Did you tell me to shag ass before? I asked the Voice. As usual, the Voice didn't respond.

"Where to next, Max?" Fang asked

"Oh Canada. Land of the maple and hockey." I whispered.

PLEASE R&R!!!