(A/N This takes place after fang. Some spoilers. kind of sad but it gets better. tell me if you cried 'cause I cried writing it but it could just be me. :D)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the maximum ride characters.


ALWAYS: CHAPTER 1

Author POV:

They were separated. Blocked by the fire and parts of the house. Everyone was trapped.

"Fang, get the others out!" Max shouted. The back door was blocked and there was no way to get to the stairs to jump off the balcony.

"NO! we're not leaving without you!" Fang yelled in response.

"Don't worry, I'm going to find a soft area in the wall to break through, but the house might collapse so I want you and the others to get out!" Fang was going to protest until Iggy pulled his shoulder.

"C'mon. She'll be fine." Fang was reluctant but eventually went with him.

' Good. That settles one issue. Now where to break...' she looked around and found a soft spot in about 3 seconds near the living area. She took a few steps back to hit the soft spot.

'I've only got one...' *CRACK* the ceiling above her broke and a heavy wooden plank fell on her foot and in front of the door and stairs. It was like it was purposely doing this. Which honestly wouldn't be surprising considering what they've been through.

"Fang!" she called pausing to cough.

"Max, where are you! Why haven't you come out yet!?" Fang wanted so badly to burst in there but she said to stay.

"My foot's stuck! There's a plank on it and it's to heavy to lift!" Max yelled, coughs becoming more frequent. Fang stiffened at the news but quickly snapped out of it and went to the door. He twisted the knob. It wouldn't open. He hit it with his shoulder repeatedly, trying to get in.

"Max, can you still here me!?" He screamed trying desperately to get in.

"Yeah *cough,cough* I can!" Max looked at the seen before her. 'There's no way out...' she thought. "Fang, there's no way out..." her voice scared but strong.

"NO! Your going to make it." Fang interrupted, still banging on the door. She smiled weakly and started to cry. 'He never gives up till' it's over..'

"Fang, I want you to tell mom and Ella that I love them sooo much and."

"Stop! Your going to make it out! There's always a plan! Remember?" Fang said trying his best. She gave a small laugh through tears.

"I remember." She coughed then said "But this plan doesn't include me making it out"

"Then make a new one!" She laughed a little harder through more tears.

" I want you all to stay strong and remember how much I love you all"

" Nudge *cough* I want you to stay your talkative self, reading magazines, watching movies and just being* cough, cough* an awesome teenage girl, i just want you to know even though Ella is blood related I always thought of you more as my sister." nudge started to cry silently after she replied saying "me too. I've always thought that way too."

"Iggy, I want you to know *cough, cough, cough* I always and still think of the best and funniest chef around, when I'm gone I want you to help the flock cheer them up, and just be yourself. Even though your blind your still *cough* one of the best fighters I've ever known." Iggy said " ok, I will." quietly but still loudly enough for max to hear. He was frozen to his spot. He couldn't believe this was happening.

"Iggy, Gazzy, anybody, help me!" Fang said looking at the flock momentarily then looking back to try to find a way in. Nobody could move, they were paralyzed.

"Angel, your sweet, cute, and adorable, but you can still pack a punch. You were always like a daughter to me. *cough, cough* I want you to know that even though we had our differences *cough*I've always *cough, cough*thought of you as the innocent little child I love." Angel smiled sadly said " I already knew." Max laughed at the comment knowing she read her mind.

"Gazzy, my little bomb-making trooper." Max laughed weakly and so did Gazzy " You were and still are, strong and tough, even when you didn't need to be. Even though you*cough, cough, cough* are*cough* the coolest kid on the planet, it's okay to cry sometimes. Alright?" Gazzy gave a soft yes holding back tears despite what she said.

"Fang, my one and only love. *cough, cough, cough, cough* Through even the toughest times you've been there for me. You and the flock were the best things that happened to me and *cough* I * cough, cough* want you to know that I love you and everyone else from the bottom of my heart." Max said. ' So this is it. This is what it feels like to die. I feel so peaceful, like falling asleep...'

"We love you too." Nudge said choking on tears, snapping max out of her thoughts.

"Fang *cough, cough* I *cough* love *cough, cough, cough* y..." Angel, who was being held by Nudge, burst into tears.

"STOP CRYING! Max is fine, she'll be ok.." his voice trailed off looking for some kind of entrance. Angel looked at Fang.

"Fang sh-she's dead. Fang she's dead." She said through tears. Iggy fell to his knees silent tears of his own slowly running down his face.

"NO! She's fine, she's fine." Fang continued to bang on the door. "MAX!" A voice in his head knew she was ... but he refused to listen to it. He couldn't listen to it. He looked back at everyone and saw that Iggy was now huddled with everyone else. he turned back and slowly dropped to his knees, head against the door with eyes clamped shut, angry tears streaming down his cheeks.

They had to leave as the fire slowly consumed the house. When it was out, a fresh new batch of tears were shed when they came across her body. Fang called Dr. Martinez and Ella and though she hated him, he called Jeb as well, figuring he had the right to know. They flew to Arizona with her body back to her mom's house. No one could sleep. Fang lay awake on his bed thinking about Max. The way she looked not wanting to ever forget her dirty blond hair, her beautiful laugh and smile. He just didn't want to forget.

"Fang?" a quiet voice came from the door along with two soft knocks. He looked up and saw angel standing in the doorway. "Hm" was all she got. He couldn't talk. This kind of pain was too hard to mouth. 'Can I come in?' She thought to him. 'I can't sleep.'

'I'd be surprised if you could.' He moved slightly so he was in an upright position. She saw this as a "yes" and went to sit in his lap. He remembered how Max used to do this with her when angel couldn't sleep. Max used to stroke her blonde curls and say comforting things to her but this was Fang and Angel figured it was too much to ask so when he started petting her hair it surprised her.

He put an arm around her holding her in place as he continued. It was comforting. Like something a brother would do. She leaned closer to him and went into his mind. All she could find was sadness, not a single coherent thought except 'what now?' she closed her eyes and continued to search. She slowly started to fall asleep but snapped her eyes open when she felt her dress getting wet. She could feel his short breaths as more tears soaked her outfit. She turned around so she was facing him and wrapped her scrawny arm around him lightly. Normally, Fang is the strongest, in fact Angel hasn't ever seen Fang cry. This was also the first time she'd hugged him so it surprised her to find his arms around her pulling her closer. It was awkward but she new she couldn't leave. When he was done they shifted back so she was sitting on his lap, her back facing him.

'Hey Fang?' She thought after a moment of silence. 'I've been thinking...what if... what if this was a trap?'

She could feel him stiffen but continued. 'It seemed kind of odd.' he turned her around and gave her a questioning look.

She continued saying 'We arrive late to a supposed CSM meeting and no one is there? Not to mention the lack of windows and the house suddenly catching fire? It seems a little too thought out.' Fang thought for a moment. 'And, don't you find it a little odd that her body wasn't scorched at all? there was only ash.' Fang's eyes widened and he nearly sent Angel flying when he jumped up. He ran down to where they where keeping Max's body. The flock had figured that Max would have liked something low profile so, they were going to bury her by the E-house. They had even dug the hole themselves and made a coffin big enough so they could bury her with her wings open. When he reached the office and went to the body bag they were holding her in. By this time the flock was behind him, having heard the rushed footsteps.

"Fang?! What're you doing!" Nudge screamed as fang started to unzip the bag and stopped half way down the body. He let go of the bag and walked away towards the wall and stopped about a foot away, then proceeding to punch a hole in it.

"FANG!" Angel screamed.

"What's going on?!" Iggy asked.

"She's alive!" Gazzy said holding Max's hand.

"What?! That's not possible!" Nudge nearly screamed.

"Yes it is! She's got a pulse!"

"It's not Max." Fang stated making everyone freeze in there tracks.

"What?"

"Her hair." Angel went over to the body and looked. He was right she had a single purple streak.

"Oh my gosh. It's maya."


(A/N: PLEEEAAASSSSEEE REVIEW! I know this first chapter was pretty sad but it get's better I promise! I've already got chaps 2 and 3 done and I'm halfway done with four so I'll post in about a week but if sombody reviews(hint hint) I might update sooner. :) see ya soon!)