Flashback:

Somehow and I will never forgive myself for it, they had managed to take him. My right hand man had been on watch but when I woke in the morning, realising I hadn't been woken for my watch I noticed he was gone. I shot up.

"Up now!" I screamed and everyone shot bolt upright wide awake. "Fang's gone."

Realisation crossed there faces and we tidied up and flew towards the on place I have always hated. After four hours of flying we landed just inside the boundaries of the school.

"Ig, Gaz." I looked at them and they nodded. In the next minute the wall had been blown out and we were all running into the building. So much for a subtle entrance. I ran down a hall the flock behind me. In front of us stood about ten Erasers, in front stood Ari with a smirk on his face.

"You've done it now Maxie, he's dead. You're too late. Oh and don't worry it was painful, we made sure of that."

I didn't believe him, we fought past them but in the end he was right, Fang was dead. He lay on an operating table, lifeless. He was covered in cuts and bruises. His eyes closed and his beautiful face was still, I looked for a pulse, a slight raise of his chest, to feel his breath on my face. I waited for him to jump up and say 'got ya!' but it never happened. I broke down tears streaming down my face. I was ruthless. I killed everyone and everything I could get my hands on. In the end no one survived. I flew out of there with my flock and blew the whole thing up. It wasn't enough though. Nothing was enough. Nothing filled the empty space inside me. My best friend, right hand man and… the boy I loved was dead. I tried to be strong for the flock I really did, but things changed, we changed. Iggy tried to replace Fang, to help me when he could but no matter how hard he tried he wasn't Fang and never would be. Nudge hasn't talked in two years, only when she needs to and when spoken to, motor-mouth Nudge was gone and she was never coming back, just like my friend. The day Fang died he took something of each of us with him. He took Iggy's joyful mood, Gazzy's excitement, Nudge's talking, Angel's hope and… he took everything from me. I'm not the same person I was, more so than the others. I know I'm not the same, what hurts the most is that I'm not strong enough for my flock. I'm not as strong as I was; I can barely stand up for myself. I've caved. But I try I really do. I moved the flock into a permanent home, on the outskirts of town, the school is gone, Itex is gone and we made sure they can't come back. Everyone goes to school, except me, I can't handle it. Seeing something black or anything a little like Fang and I brake down. I stay at home where it's safe, where I'm sure nothing will remind me. I don't want to forget him though. I have pictures, all over my room. We all do. It's been Three years now. None of us are back to normal, but they're happy and that's all that matters. I've taken role of house mom while everyone goes to school. If you're wondering how we afford this stuff my Max Ride card still works so we live off that. Its afternoon now and everyone's just come home from school. Angel and I are having a fight, not something that happens a lot since she is nine and is really mature, this isn't one of those cases.

"Stop it!" I shouted throwing down the kitchen towel I was holding.

"Max, I'm not lying! It's him I know it is!" She shouted back standing tall.

My eyes filled with tears. "Enough! Stop it, it's not him, it's not! He's dead, can't you get that through your head, he's gone and he's not coming back! I saw him Angel! I saw him with my own two eyes! He-is-dead!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, towering over her small figure. Everyone was standing at the door way, looking at the two of us, Iggy showed no emotion, Nudge and Gazzy looked like they were about to cry. "Do you think I want to believe he's dead? I miss him just as much you, possibly more. But we have to get over it Ange, he's not coming back. He's not." I kept mumbling that as I sunk to the floor, brought my knees to my chest and began to sob. Everyone was in tears, except Iggy. He sat beside me and put his arms around me. He hushed me as I mumbled uselessly.

"He's not coming back. He's gone." I cried into Iggy's chest.

"Shh, it's ok Max, its ok. We'll be alright." Ig said soothingly, rubbing his hands up and down my arms softly.

"How can you think you miss him more than us." Angel said angrily, wiping away the tears. "How dare you say you miss him more than us." She growled.

"He was a father to me Max." Angel added.

"He was a father to you, but I loved him, more than a brother! And because I was so stupid he'll never know." I snapped and sunk back.

"Max." Angel sobbed as tears streamed down her small face. She ran to me and I engulfed her in a tight hug. We were all on the floor now, holding each other, crying together. A few hours later I took the younger ones to bed. I tucked them in and kissed them all on the head.

"I'm sorry Max." Angel whispered as I was about to leave the room.

"There's nothing to be sorry for sweetie." I sat back down on her bed and played with her shoulder length hair.

"I just really think it was him. I know you don't believe me, I can hear it in your thoughts, but I really need you to trust me Max, can you come and fetch me from school tomorrow?" She sat up and looked me in the eye.

"Alright sweetie." I hugged her.

"Thanks Max. You'll see, he's ok. I promise." I hugged her tighter. She fell asleep a few minutes later with me lying on the bed with her. I smoothed her hair, gave her a light kiss on the forehead and untangled myself from her. I shut the door as quietly as I could after staring at my baby for a minute.

"You ok Max?" Iggy asked from behind me. I turned to see him leaning against the wall.

"Yeah, I'm good." I nodded.

"Do you think she's telling the truth?" He asked stepping forward.

"I don't know Ig, I just don't know." I stepped forward and hugged him.

"Thanks Ig." I mumbled.

"For what?" He asked pulling back to look at me.

"For putting up with all my crap." I smiled and so did he. It wasn't a huge smile, one that was barely visible. I haven't smiled properly in four years.

"What crap? Max you need someone and I understand that. I just wish I could help you more, I know I'll never replace him." Iggy looked truly sorry.

"Oh Iggy." I hugged him again. Iggy really grew up that day.

I opened my eyes in the morning to see a picture of Fang on my bedside table. He was smiling, on one of those rare days. It was my favourite. I cradled it to my chest for a moment before getting out of bed, placing it back where it belonged and getting changed. I wore a white shirt with some skinny jeans. Simple, that was my motto. Keep it simple. Nudge and Angel were a different story though, They had all these designer clothes and make-up .I allowed them to have it because I couldn't bring myself to say no. it made them happy, unlike most things, so I let them without a word. Today Nudge was wearing all pink, pink skirt, pink top, pink shoes, pink make-up, everything. Angel was wearing gold and red. She had a gold piece of ribbon in her hair, tied neatly into a bow that was tucked under her golden locks. She had a red strap top on and a ruffled gold skirt, her red flats had a small red bow on the side. Her legs were swinging; I looked up to see a cheerful look on her face, something I haven't seen in three years. I smiled slightly. We all flew to the school, Iggy beside me on my right, Nudge on the left and Gazzy and Angel brought up the rear.

We landed in the woods behind the school. I knelt beside Angel.

"Have a good day sweetie." I touched her face and she smiled.

"You'll see Max, You'll be happy when you see, everything will be like it used to be." When she said this I almost cried again but held back the tears.

"I love you Max." She hugged me tight.

"Love you too Angel." I let her go and she ran off towards the school. I went to Gazzy next.

"Hey Gaz?" I asked.

"Yeah Max?"

"Have fun today ok? I mean it, you are going to have a good day and when you get back from school we can go paintballing." I said sternly but nicely.

"Ok Max." he grinned. I ruffled his hair and he ran off.

"Nudge," I turned to her. "Try not to get in trouble and I don't care how bad the teacher looks drop it before you get detention again."

"Sure thing Max." She smiled hugged me quickly and ran off.

"You seem happier." Iggy commented.

I shrugged. "They've had to put up with me being a grouch for the past three years, I'm putting them down, that's gonna change now." I informed him.

"Max everyone knows why you were like that, stop blaming yourself, I know I'm probably gonna regret saying this but Fang wouldn't want you to waist your life because of him, he'd want you to move on. I know it's hard and he wouldn't be able to if it was you but, we have to try."

I smiled slightly. "Thanks Ig."

I decided to pay a visit to someone I haven't seen in three years. I flew for about two hours before landing in the familiar garden. I took a deep breath, walked up to the door and knocked.

"Coming." A woman called. She opened the door with a smile on her face but that quickly melted away when she saw me. It was replaced by shock, sorrow and worry.

"M-Max?" She stuttered. The tears fell.

"Hi mom." I choked out. She grabbed me into a tight hug as we both cried. For the next two hours I talked to my mom and tried to explain that I couldn't handle coming to see her after what happened.

"Fang's dead?" she asked worriedly.

I nodded.

"Oh baby, I'm so sorry." She patted my back and hugged me while I sobbed.

"I'm fine, sort of. Angel thinks otherwise. She says he's alive, but I saw him mom, I saw him dead and cold."

"Sweetie, we all know Angel is rebellious but I have to admit, why would she lie about something as big as this?"

"She say's he goes to school with them."

"Maybe she's right but Max, why aren't you at school?"

"I don't go, I couldn't handle it mom; I couldn't."

"I understand Baby, its ok."

"She said she'd prove it to me when I picked her up today."

"Well then what are you still doing here? Go on, but you are visiting again missy, Ella's going to be upset enough to find out she missed you. You know you're all she talks about, still. You are and always will be her idol."

I smiled. "I don't think that will be the case when she sees what a mess I am now."

"Baby, people don't get over this kind of stuff quickly, she'll understand."

"Yeah. Bye mom." I gave her one last hug.

"Oh wait I've got something for you." She rushed into the house and brought out five boxes full of cookies. "These are for you and the flock, I packed you extra." She pointed to a box and I grinned. I kissed her cheek.

"How could I stay away now that I get cookies?" I joked and took off. I heard her chuckle. I can't believe it took me three years to visit my own mother again. For the next hour I went shopping, cleaned the house and made sure everything was in its place. I checked my watch. 2.25. Time to fetch Angel and the flock. I locked the door of our house and took off. It took me a total of two minutes to reach the school using my speed. I waited outside the school, leaning casually against the wall next to the doors. The bell rang and kids started to come out of the double doors, high school and junior. I looked at all the kids, looking for anyone in the flock. Someone caught my eyes. A teenage boy, about sixteen, he had black hair and was dressed completely in black. He turned to look at me for a second and I noticed the dark brown eyes that you could easily get lost in. I noticed his olive toned skin and expressionless face. It was him. My knees buckled and I collapsed, my vision blurred and I put a hand over my mouth to muffle the sobs. My whole body was shaking.

"Max!" An alarmed voice came from in front of me. I was suddenly being pulled up by the shoulders.

"Max is you ok?" Nudge asked sounding worried.

"It's him… he's alive." I cried. I heard her begin to cry too.

"Did you see him Max? Do you believe me?" Angel asked excitedly but suddenly stopped.

"I-I-I believe you Angel." I sobbed.

"He doesn't remember us Max, he can't remember anything. As far as he knows he got amnesia three years ago and can't remember anything before that. His name now is Nick Mc Cormack."

I laughed at his name. Of all the names he's Nick. Ironic no?

"He's been going to this school for two years but I didn't want to upset you and I wasn't sure because I'd only seen him from a distance." I nodded.

"He doesn't recognise me or Nudge and the only thing we can think of to make him remember is you Max, if he can remember anyone it'll be you. It's time for you to go to school Max." Iggy sat beside me.

"You knew about this?" I questioned.

"Yeah."

"How long?"

"Two years. Since Angel got suspicious."