Hey, guys! Here is the prologue of the sequel to Becoming You and Me, which ended the day before yesterday. I would recommend reading BYAM, but you can understand this story without it. So. Up to you! : )

Disclaimer: I own Gracie and Devin, but nothing else in this story.

I crossed my arms, surveying the living room, looking for anything we had missed. I'd already double- and triple-checked, but I wanted to be sure. I was, after all, the paranoid Maximum Ride. Even on moving day.

"Boo."

Strong arms snaked around my waist from behind at the exact moment a low voice spoke in my ear, and I shrieked and jumped three feet in the air. The voice-- which belonged to my stupid boyfriend-- chuckled.

"Fang," I grumbled, trying to wriggle out of his embrace but failing. "Cut it out."

"Nope." He pulled me back against him and kissed my cheek. "You're tense."

"No freaking duh," I snapped. "We're about to move back into civilization with our family of misfits and two kids who we're expected to provide for when we have no education or and therefore no way to make money!"

Okay. I think it's time to inform my dear readers what exactly is going on here, no? To put a long story short, I'd been in hiding with Fang, our flock and our two kids for the last three years. Fang and I were seventeen now, and the twins, Gracie and Devin, were six. No, we did not have children together when we were eleven. They are ours, though. The nut jobs at the evil science lab we grew up in took our DNA and created our children in test tubes. Isn't that special?

We could have come out of hiding three years ago, but it wasn't like we really had anywhere to go, so we stayed put. Now, in light of Gracie and Devin being kindergarten age, we decided to move to a town, let them start school, and attempt to live a normal life.

"It'll be fine," Fang told me, still holding me tight in his arms. I relaxed, leaning back into them. "We've always got your mom to fall back on. She's paying the first few months' rent for the house, anyway."

I sighed and closed my eyes. I wasn't exactly thrilled about her doing that much. "Maybe we should stay here."

"We agreed to give the kids the most normal life possible," Fang said patiently. "Education is part of that."

"I know," I said, and I did. He was right. Still, the closer this got, the more skeptical I was.

Footsteps pounded on the floor overhead, and I rolled my eyes. "Speak of the devils."

Sure enough, two seconds later, the feet were running down the stairs, voices calling out.

"Mommy! Devin hit me!"

"No I didn't!"

"Ugh," I groaned. "Not right now."

Fang released me and backed away, and I immediately missed his warmth. Gracie and Devin came wheeling around the banister, pushing and shoving each other out of the way.

Gracie ran up to me, holding out her arm. "Devin hit me right there!"

Devin hid behind one of Fang's legs but poked his head around to glare at Gracie. "Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Shut up!" I yelled, and silence fell, my voice echoing off the ceiling. As three faces turned toward me-- everyone knew who wore the pants in this family-- I inhaled deeply, then exhaled, trying to keep my patience.

"Guys, Mommy's sort of stressed right now," Fang said, taking each of their hands. "Let's not bother her, okay?"

"Oh," Gracie said, looking up at me with her eyes wide and innocent. "I'm sorry, Mommy."

I reached down and ruffled her head of bouncy black curls. "It's okay, sweetie."

"You two come with me," Fang said, starting to walk away, pulling the kids along with him. "We'll make sure you got all your stuff packed."

They followed him, beginning to chatter happily. Just before they stepped onto the stairs, he looked over his shoulder, grinned, and mouthed, Love you.

I smiled back, suddenly feeling very sappy. I love you too.

How about a review to kick off the story? : )