Author's Note:

Nicolai "Fang" and Maximum "Max" are guardian angels. Max is the guardian of a Roman Emperor and Fang ends up being the guardian of the emperor's second wife. Just so there's no confusion. Thank you and enjoy. Okay, I forgot to do this, but I do not own Maximum Ride, obviously. I only own the plot. R & R?

Fang

"17th District, Guardian Angel Nicholas?" one of the higher-up angels of my district calls.

"Yes, ma'am," I step into the office. A blonde haired angel sits at her desk. The whole room is white and marble.

She looks up at me, her perfect face speculating. "Your new guardian assignment will be Andrea Furnilla. She is soon to marry the Emperor Titus. Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Max

I look at him, his eyes are miserable, his stance is sad. He's my ward, my little human charge. What had brought him to this state? The death of his wife, of course. He was an emperor. And not just any emperor, but a Roman emperor. He ought to be a warrior, a general, without falter, without weakness. Humans are pitiable. But he was under my supervision, and though he was a human, I loved him in a motherly way. It is blind and pathetic that humans hurt so easy, and that they didn't see that nothing lasts forever. If only they knew.

He was getting re-married today, to an Andrea Furnilla. A girl really, and I was concerned for him. I've never heard of an Andrea Furnilla, though that didn't say much. I've been on earth and among humans 85% of my existence. I don't usually get contacted by the other angels, and humans can't see me except for the young ones.

Go on, Emperor Titus, I send the thought into his mind, trying to keep the mocking tone from it, Go on and marry the Furnilla scion, go on and be the hero your subjects and Disciples expect you to be.

He shifts and groans beneath his breath and moves from his bed. He opens the door and the servants outside are surprised. He's been in there for the first part of the day, moping as if dead. Come now, Emperor, show them what you're made of. He frowns as the thought sinks in.

"Servants!" he shouts, his usual vigor back, "Where is help around here? I do not employ people for decoration!" I smirk at that statement. Lying is a sin, emperor, and keep in mind that the Lord does not very well tolerate sins. He pales and then resumes shouting orders. There is a busy mood once again. I smile. All the human race needs is a little push. The maids and menservants bustle about, bringing the emperor his wine, and his ceremonial robes. A messenger is sent to the Holy Church, and to the House of Furnilla, to send for the bride and the priest and the guests. He's so miserable, I saw, even underneath that gilded armor, he's just a human.

Fang

"Andrea, hurry, the Emperor is ready!" a voice called.

Andrea walks in the room. She's young. She's still little and short, and she's just begun to grow her- er, assets.

"Yes, mother!" she calls, and she seems excited. Well, what girl her age wouldn't? Getting married to a fat, bald, mean emperor, every girls dream, right?

She seems well off, her house is made of a white stone very popular with humans. She dresses in drapes of jewels and gold. It is her wedding day after all.

A bustle of maids rush in, some even younger than Andrea herself. I'm surprised that they don't notice me. I stand in the corner, and I blend myself in with the background. They giggle and laugh as they ponder over perfumes and rouge and paints. The wedding dress is brought and wrapped around her like she's a princess. She's soon to be an empress so the description fits.

After what seemed like hours, we leave for the Ceremonial Hall.

Max

"We are ready," a group of priests bow for the emperor.

Titus starts into the room slowly, with ceremony. The guests are assembled, the tapestries hung with care. The High Priest stands with a presence at the head of the walkway. I'm surprised none of the priests can see me. Well, that just shows how corrupt the world is. Someone will have to fix that.

Titus looks like an emperor should, on the outside at least. On the inside, I can see his resolve shaking. Emperor, I send, mocking him with all my intent this time, are you scared of your bride? Already? He wavers just a little and I smirk at him. I hold my russet wings out and decide to walk behind him. A few of the younger guests wear wide eyes and gasp, because they can see me. One of the flower girls offers me a flower shyly and I smile graciously but turn away. Max of the Flower Maidens? Not likely.

We reach the altar finally. The doors open once more to admit the bride. She's pretty… for a human. But she's so young. Seeing that her eyes are only on my emperor, she's already grown up too much to see me. Her dress is spectacular… but again, only for a human. It's not until I see a flash of black wings that I drop my smile.

It's not possible. I haven't seen him in over a millennium.

It's Fang.

Fang

The doors open. A choir begins to sing, but nothing compared to back home. The flower girls are still for a moment, their eyes on the altar at something I can't yet see, but then they begin their walk. Andrea is ecstatic. Her excitement is barely contained as she glides across the floor.

I follow behind, flying a bit upwards so I can hover.

I almost forget to flap my wings when I see who the flower girls were staring at.

It's Max that stands behind the emperor, her russet wings spread.

And she stares back up at me with the same shock that I feel.