This is my Shuffle Challenge Submission

All right, here are the rules:

Pick a character, pairing, or fandom you like.

Turn your iPod on and set it to shuffle.

Write a ficlet inspired by each song that plays. You MUST stop when the song ends!!!

Do ten of these, then post them.

1. Hope for Tomorrow - Lost N Found

Max shook her head, staring up at the stained glass window in front of her. She had never been much of a religious person, but here, hunted, hurting, and lost, she was starting to look for something more. She needed a reason to wake in the morning, a reason to keep going. The flock could do without her – Fang could take care of them.

She started praying.

"God, I don't know whether you're there or not, but I really need something to believe in, so if you could help me, I'd be thankful. Amen." Her eyes closed, she didn't notice the shadow sit down next to her.

"Max, c'mon we need to go. We need you." Fang. Max sighed and got up. Maybe that was her sign… she was needed and loved here on earth and in heaven.

2. Down on the Farm – Tim McGraw

"C'mon Max!!!" Ella whined, tugging her sister's arm, "it'll be fun!"

Max groaned. She did not want to go to the bonfire, but Ella was making her, Fang, and Iggy come. Fang and Iggy would rather have gone to the dentist, but here they were in the backseat of the car too.

When they got there, Ella and Iggy ran off, leaving the couple alone.

Fang groaned and looked around. "I hate this. Do we have to stay?" Max grinned.

"No, you wanna fly?"

"Sure" Fang agreed. As the music blared underneath them they soared in the sky, having their own party. No food, or drink, but it was heaven on earth.

3. American Dream – Casting Crowns

Max stood at the grave site, staring at the headstone.

Jebediah Batchelder

July 1st, 1968 – November 16th, 2017

Father, Husband, Brother, Son, Granddaddy


Max blinked away the tears. Jeb had made many mistakes in his life, mistakes she'd had to pay for. He'd let his job become most important, and it cost him everything. Max had suffered for the first 16 years of her life for his mistake. Even now, she still had the wings that were part of the price, but somehow she'd learned to forgive him for what he'd done.

She heard the sounds of laughter from behind her. Fang was a great father, always playing with his son. He'd learned from the mistakes of the man who'd raised him. The American dream for Fang was to keep his family safe and happy. He had his priorities straight.

4. Missing Person - Michael W Smith – continuation of #4 American Dream

Max turned around walked over to the flock, wiping away her tears. Onyx ran over, laughing.

"Mommy! Mommy ! Save me from Daddy!" he giggled, hiding behind Max's legs. Fang laughed softly.

"Coward!" he teased. Onyx stuck his tongue out.

Max laughed along with the rest of the flock, but she wasn't really amused. She was worried. She had a great life, but something wasn't right. She couldn't remember the last time she flew. Something felt wrong. It was like she wasn't herself any more. The whole way home she was quiet. Finally, that night after Onyx was asleep, Fang cornered here.

"What's wrong?"

"I just haven't flown in so long. None of us have. It's like we aren't us anymore." Fang looked at her.

"Is that what was bothering you all day?" Max nodded. "Well, let's fix that. C'MON GUYS!"

"We can't leave Onyx alone, " Max protested.

"Who said we were?"

Fang grabbed his son, who was still in his PJ's

"C'mon buddy, we're going for a fly.

"Fly?"

"Yeah, with those wings on your back. We're gonna teach you"

"Cool!"

Max smiled. They were themselves again, like finding a missing person…

5. There But For the Grace of God Go I – Paul Overstreet

"Ok guys, we're gonna try this again." Max snapped

"Try what?" Gazzy asked

"We're going to try to list 3 good things each."

"Aw, that again? Do we have to?" Iggy complained

"YES!" max snarled. "Who wants to go first?"

Nudge raised her hand.

"Ok, Nudge, three things."

"Well, for one, we're all together."

"That's one."

"And we ate tonight."

"That another good one. Just one more."

"Well, I don't wanna sound mean, but we're not the unluckiest people in the world. In the city today, we saw all those people on the street, just trying to get food, all alone. We have each other. Most nights we eat. If we're cold, we can snuggle together. We are so blessed."

There was dead silence. Max swallowed the lump in her throat.

"That's another good thing, sweetie. Thanks. Everyone else ahs to do this tomorrow."

After everyone was asleep, Max sat on watch. Fang came up behind her.

"You know, everything Nudge said was true, but the last perk is my favorite."

"Really?"

"Yeah, and you're my favorite person to snuggle with."

"Same here."

6. Blessed – Martina McBride

Max sat on watch, bored out of her mind. A song she'd heard once on a kiddy bible TV show ran through her head and she began humming to herself.

"Count you many blessing, name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God has done. What the crap, might as well…

1, we're all together

2, we're all safe right now

3, I have the awesomest mom ever

4, it's almost summer, so it'll be getting warmer

5, the kids went to bed without griping

6, fang kissed my forehead last night when he thought I was aslee – whoa, I did NOT just think that."

A low chuckle came form behind her. Max whipped around.

"Er, uh… see, funny story really-"

She was interrupted by Fangs lips on hers. After a moment, he pulled back, looked her in the eye and whispered softly.

"Don't worry Max. I think you're a blessing too."

And leaned in to kiss her again.

7. Wanted – Alan Jackson

"Hey max, look!" Nudge came running over, waving a newspaper.

"What is it, sweetie?"

"Well, Fang thought we should get a newspaper, to see what's going on, you know, make sure we aren't in it somewhere. Anyways, I was going through the personal ads and there's this one that I thought was really sweet. Look…

WANTED: One good hearted women to forgive imperfections in the man that she loves. Wanted, just one chance to tell her how much he stills loves her. He can't be sorry enough.

8. Riding With Private Malone – Thom Shepherd

Max was uncomfortable in the car. She was sure Fang was pushing the speed limit on the back country road. All she wanted was to spread her wings and fly off, but she resisted the urge to do so.

It started to rain hard, and she was even more uncomfortable. Fang had slowed down to the speed of light, but the rain was making the road slick. Suddenly, there was an ominous squeal and the car spun out of control, the two avian-human teens hanging on for dear life. We're gonna die, were gonna die chanted in Max's head. Suddenly, a hairy hand grabbed her and yanked her from the car. She looked around and saw Fang 10 feet away. Standing over him was Ari, who looked up and met Max's gaze.

"What sort of a brother would I be if I didn't protect you?"

Max blinked and he was gone.

"Thanks… brother."

9. Butterfly Kisses – Bob Carlisle

"Aw, Jeb, don't cry." Max begged. Jeb blinked hard.

"I'm sorry baby, but it seems like just yesterday you were learning to fly, then I blink and you're saving the world, and here you are, getting married."

"It wasn't just yesterday. I'm 20 years old."

"I know honey, but it feels like yesterday. Listen, before we go, I just want to tell you something."

"I'm listening."

"I know you are still learning to trust me, and that inviting me to your wedding is a huge step. I want you to know how sorry I am for everything. For the wings, for giving you up, for the voice in your head, for the tortures you grew up with, for making you save the world. You didn't deserve any of that, but you dealt with it better than anyone else ever could. I know I'll probably never make it up to you, but I'm gonna try. I love you, baby girl."

"Let's go." Max felt like sobbing, but hid it.

They walked down the aisle, but as Jeb turned to go, Max kissed him on the cheek and whispered.

"I love you too… daddy."

10. Awkward – Brad Montague

Max felt butterflies in her stomach as Fang glanced at her. Quit it! She scolded herself. He's your brother!

"Max?" Fang asked.

"Oh, sorry, what?"

Jeesh, why do I feel so awkward around him? Where's sarcastic-comebacks, kick-your-butt Max?

"I don't know where she is, but she's allowed to take a break every now and then, right?" Fang commented

"Wha- oh crap, did I say that out loud?"

Fang nodded and wrapped his arms around her. "Don't worry he murmured. You make me feel awkward too."

"Together, we make quite a pair," Max laughed

Fang laughed too. "Yeah, we're crazy, but we're crazy together, so we're good."

Yay! It's my first fan fiction! I'm happy! And apparently high on Christmas sugar… I'm usually random, but not perky. Only sarcastic-perky. Like I said, I'm random!

Sorry for any mistakes I made. This was pretty hard, but a lot of fun! #7 was going to have a better ending, but I ran out of time.

I'm working on another one-shot, but it'll probably take a while to get up on this website, 'cuz I'm not done with it yet. To be fair, it'll be very long.

If you're thinking about flaming me, you sit down and do this challenge, and then see if you still want to flame me. Deal? Plus, all flames will either be ignored or responded to with vicious sarcasm.

Brad Montague is sort of a small, local Church of Christ comedian/singer, but he is downright hilarious!!! Check him out!!! The Lawnmower Safety Song is my personal favorite!!! Lost'N'Found is a small, local thing too.

--DCNCMF