Disclaimer: I still don't own Maximum Ride.

Chapter 3

Max's pov

Six months later

As it turns out, mutant human-avid hybrid children, even ones who are naturally born and not grown in a test-tube, progress faster than normal children.

Ari and Star were only six months old, but you'd think they were older. They started walking a few weeks ago. They still fell down a lot, but they walked more often than crawled. They could say several simple words. They got into all sorts of trouble.

I finished washing the dishes after lunch. Fang and the rest of the Flock, including Ella, were outside, playing with the twins. I looked out the window at them. Fang saw me and waved.

"Are you going to come join us?" he called.

"In a minute." I called back. I wanted to talk to Jeb first. I had something to ask him.

I found Jeb in the living room, reading a newspaper. "Hey, Jeb?" I said. He looked up.

"Yes, Max?"

"Um, how old do you think Ari and Star will be when they're ready to learn how to fly?" I asked. I figured he would know, seeing as he helped create us.

He thought about it. "I'd say…probably around now. I mean, their wings are a good size and everything. They'll have to be taught, of course."

"Of course." I nodded and ran out the door. "Thanks Jeb!" I yelled behind me.

I met up with the others outside.

"Mama!" Ari cried when he saw me. I picked him up and hugged him.

"Hey Ari. Are you having fun? Is daddy playing nice?" I said, glancing teasingly at Fang. He just rolled his eyes at me.

"Yeah!" Ari said.

"Good." I put him down. "I need to talk to you for a minute." I said to Fang. He nodded. We walked off to the side, where we could talk. I told him about what Jeb had said. "What do you think?" I asked. "Should we try to teach them?"

Fang nodded. "Definitely. We can start now, they still have plenty of energy, and the rest of the Flock can help."

"Agreed." We went back to the others.

Five minutes later, I was trying to explain the process of flapping your wings to Ari and Star.

"See? Back and forth…back and forth…good." I approved.

Star giggled happily as she flapped her wings slowly. She loved watching us fly, they both did, and I could tell they loved the idea of flying, just like us.

"Now, we're going to hold on to you, and I want you to try to flap while in the air. I promise we won't let go." I said.

I held onto Star, Fang held on to Ari, Ella stood down on the sidelines to cheer them on, and Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel were flying around us to help. I took off with Star. "Now, try to flap, sweetie. Good!" I cried as she started to flap her wings. I kissed the top of her head. I looked over at Ari and Fang. Ari was doing a good job, too.

I'm not sure how long we flew like that, but it was for quite a while. I glanced at Fang. He nodded. Slowly, I let go of Star, hovering right underneath her to catch her if she fell. Fang did the same for Ari.

They both continued to fly, without our help. "Star!" I cried. "You're flying! You too, Ari!"

Star giggled happily. After a minute, she did fall, but I was right underneath her and caught her. I held her in my arms and landed. I heard clapping and cheering. I looked over and saw that my mom and Jeb had come out and joined Ella, and now they were cheering for the twins.

"Way to go!" Jeb called.

"Good job!" my mom said.

"You were amazing, Star!" Ella cried.

I kissed Star again. "Aunt Ella is right, Star, you were amazing. I think that's enough practice for today, though." I put her down, and looked up in the sky, where Fang and Ari were still flying. About a minute later, they came down too.

"Great job, Ari." Fang said as he set Ari on the ground.

The Flock landed next to us. "They're naturals!" Nudge said excitedly.

"You should be proud." Angel said quietly.

I looked at my babies, playing and laughing on the ground. "We are." I said.

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Later that day

I was walking home from the store. I had to get some emergency groceries for dinner. I just wanted to get to where no one would see me take off, and then I would fly the rest of the way home.

I slipped behind a building, and headed toward some trees where I could take off.

I shifted the bags in my arms and was about to fly when I heard a voice say, "Max."

I whirled around. I didn't see anyone. "I must have imagined it." I muttered. I was always jumpy like that.

But then someone said, "Hello, Max." I turned around again, and this time I saw someone. I dropped the bags, and food spilled all over the ground, but I didn't care. I was too focused on who I was staring at, because there was no way this could be happening to me.

"Dylan?"

*dramatic music* Dylan is back. More of that in the next chapter. I did my research, by the way: most children start walking and talking at one year old, so Ari and Star, who grow fast, do it at six months. Please review!