I know that I should be updating Coincide, but I really wanted to write another chap for this story. I just love it with the fire of a thousand burning suns. That's not that much, right? Lol… I know, I'm playing favorites… sorry.

My Secret

Chapter 3: Aiding and Abetting a Liar

A week passed with me continuing my lovely routine of barfing every morning thanks to the lovely thing called, morning sickness. I swear, sometimes I just wanted to walk over to Fang and smack him upside his head. Being pregnant sucked and he it is half his fault that I have to deal with all this crap.

My fists clenched at my sides as I did my best not to reach out and strangle my boyfriend. Deep breaths. In and out. Ugh, I was dying to tell someone, anyone. I really needed someone to give me reasons why I didn't want Fang hurt at the moment.

Seriously… my nausea and hot flashes were telling me to just give him one good punch in the gut.

Ok, reasons I don't want Fang to be harmed: 1. He is my boyfriend. 2. He is the father of my unborn child. (It was really weird saying that…) I chanced a look at Angel to make sure her mind reading ability wasn't out on the prowl, which it didn't seem to be. She was jabbering with Total, whom she was carrying. I could have swore I heard her say something about Celeste, her old bear. I still felt terrible that she had to leave the dumb thing behind.

Back to reasons not to injure Fang… 3. It would slow down the flock if he got hurt.

Ok, my pregnancy hormones lose, he gets to remain unharmed.

"What's wrong?" Fang asked from beside me. "You still feel sick… or are you nervous about seeing your Mom again?"

About that… Fang had been so worried about my continuous throwing up over the week that he decided I would go see my Mom and get checked out or go to a hospital. So Mom it was. I know I'm supposed to be leader and Fang bossing me around wasn't my style, but if you had a unanimous flock vote against you, you would go to.

So now we were walking up to the house of my mother and half sister. And when we got inside, Fang would tell her that I am sick and I will have to inform her that her 15 year old daughter was going to have a baby. Please note my sarcasm when I say: oh joy.

"A little bit of both." I muttered to him, keeping my eyes straight ahead. I dreaded this and I was a bit peeved with Fang for making me go through this crap. Part of me wanted to just tell him, so he would get off my back.

Basically, what this came down to was, who would I rather tell? Mom or Fang? They would both have to know eventually, but I didn't want to have to say the words to them. Ugh. Mom would definitely be easier to tell. Yeah, she'd probably be disappointed and might want to tell Fang, but I think she'd respect my decision not to tell him for now. I hoped.

Telling Fang would be huge. I wasn't ready for that in the slightest. When I told him, he'd probably be shocked and confused and angry… just like I had been. And would he want to stay together? I knew he loved me, but I hear kids but quite a strain on relationships. Heck, we've already got four of them, five if Total counts (which I argue that he does, he definitely whines like one). I know Iggy is Fang and mine's age, but I'm counting him anyway, because I act like a Mom and shriek at him every time he tries to blow something up. Now a baby is added into this mix… a crying, diaper wetting, bottle drinking baby. We're gonna have to go shopping before it's born.

"Max!" Mom shouted as she slid the screen door open. "I didn't know you were coming."

I gave a half smile, trying to act casual. "Well, we're here…"

She frowned, looking me over. "What's wrong? You seem upset about something."

"She's sick." Fang spoke up, I turned and glared at him.

Mom's eyebrows drew together as she took in his words. I knew she would be worried, but she didn't need to be, I was fine. Stupid Fang and his stupid ideas.

She waved us into the house and we all followed obediently. She ushered the flock into the kitchen and supplied them with chocolate chip cookies to keep them busy while her, Fang and myself talked.

Fang sat down on the couch, waiting for me to plop down next to him. I eyed him and then decided to show my frustration with him (incase he hadn't caught on by now) and I sat in one of the two large red chairs on the other side of the table.

Mom came in with a small plate with cookies on it. When she offered me some, I declined and I saw the instant worry play on her features. "You never turn down cookies."

"She's been nauseas a little over a week now." Fang said before taking a bite of one. I watched with envy as he swallowed. If I thought my stomach could handle one, I'd so be shoveling them in my mouth right now. "She throws up every morning."

"Is that true?" Mom asked, turning her eyes to me. I nodded. "Have you had any other symptoms?"

"Not really." I answered guardedly. I needed to get her alone before she figured things out or before I blurted my news to her and Fang. I lifted my eyes to look at her. "Can I talk to you alone?"

Her eyebrows went up. I could feel Fang's stare on me, obviously wondering what I could possibly want to say to her that he couldn't hear. "Sure. Where do you want to go?"

"Bathroom." I replied, knowing perfectly well that the bathroom was the farthest room from the one we were in. She stood and walked with me following behind. I shot Fang a look that said, 'listen and die'. I thought that would get the point across well enough.

When we were in and I had the door shut and locked mom spoke up, "What's going on?"

"Fang can't know." I blurted out in a hurry.

"Know what?" I was silent, mentally kicking myself for having no filter between my brain and my mouth. I captured my bottom lip between my teeth, keeping quiet. "Max? What can't Fang know?"

I closed my eyes. "Don't get mad…"

"Uh oh, do I need to sit down for this?" She asked, lowering herself onto the side of the bathtub. I nodded, knowing she saw me, once I heard her suck in a deep breath. "What's going on?"

"I might be pregnant." I said reluctantly as my eyes opened just in time to see her face pale and her eyes widen to the size of golf balls.

"Might be?" Her tone was hopeful. Yeah, well not for long.

"Am pregnant." I corrected, finding the floor very interesting suddenly.

She sighed, shaking her head as if trying to clear it for the right response. I watched her, anxiously, hoping she wouldn't start screaming… because then Fang would definitely hear what was being said. "You and Fang…" She couldn't say it.

"We slept together." I supplied, so she wouldn't have to finish her question.

Her eyes closed and her fingers moved up to move circles on her temples. Generally when people did that they were uber stressed, which both of us were at the moment. "You're only sixteen."

"I know." I whispered, barely audible. "We were upset, because the flock was gone, and found comfort in each other. It was a mutual decision and I don't regret it. I do love him." My explanation came out hurried and I wasn't quite sure she had caught every word.

"Then why are you against telling him about his own child?" Her eyes were curious, trying to understand my feelings on this wacky situation. "If you love him, then you should tell him."

I took a deep breath. "When I found out, I wasn't thrilled. I was mad and upset and confused… I don't know what I would do if Fang got upset about the baby. He's my boyfriend and I love him and the flock does too, so what happens if the baby drives him off?"

"You honestly think Fang could leave you?" She inquired, resting her hand on mine where it laid on the sink.

"He has before."

"And you were both miserable."

I felt the familiar sting of tears hit me. "I can't lose him."

She shook her head. "You won't." Her statement was sure and comforting. Deep down I knew she was right, but that didn't stop me from worrying. There were so many 'what if' statements running through my head and they just kept gnawing at me.

"It's my worst fear… losing him." I told her, hastily wiping away tears. "I've been crying so much lately." A laugh escaped me.

"Pregnancy hormones." Mom laughed along with me, pulling me into her embrace. "I'm not thrilled about this, Max… but I'll be here for you, I promise."

"Thank you." I said into her shoulder, pulling her closer.

"You're my daughter and I love you." She responded, kissing my forehead. "And as much as I hate to agree to it… I won't tell Fang. But he is going to have to fine out sometime. You'll gain weight soon enough and that isn't exactly normal for human avian hybrids."

"I know… I just need more time." She nodded, helping me dry my cheeks of the tears that had escaped. I turned and looked in the mirror, my reflection was pitiful. My eyes were red and my cheeks were tearstained. "He's going to know I've been crying."

I could see Mom nodding behind my reflection in the mirror. "Yes, this isn't something he'll miss, is it?"

"He reads me like a book." I turned and looked at her again. "But don't ever let him know I said that."

She smiled. "My lips are sealed… about both your secrets."

My hand moved to my stomach, like it had a mind of its own. "There is something else I'd like to ask you…"

"Whatever you need, just name it." She said rubbing my shoulder. Her eyes had narrowed in on my hand resting on my stomach, I pulled it away quickly. I felt self conscious about actions like that. Part of me refused to believe there was a life inside me, it just seemed like a dream.

"I can't go to a hospital to deliver the baby. You're the only person I know that…"

"Max, I'm a vet." She said shaking her head. "I don't know much about delivering human babies."

A smirk lifted my lips. "Good thing I'm a mutant freak then huh?"

"Max." Her tone told her disapproval of my word choice.

"Just… please… will you do it?" I asked, begging her with my eyes. The indecision could be seen on her face. "It is you or try it on my own with the flock. I can't go to the hospital and risk being found. The School is obviously out of the question. I need you to be the one."

She shook her head, obviously hating my options as much as I did. "On one condition."

I looked at her skeptically. "Name it."

"I get to have someone here to help me with this. I can't do it alone." She said adamantly.

"Deal." I breathed out, knowing she was right. "Do I get to know who this person is?"

"Jeb." …WHAT?!

"Please tell me that name didn't just leave your mouth." My eyes were locked on hers, questioning her sanity. I don't trust Jeb, father or not.

"He knows how to deliver a baby and he can get supplies that I can't." She responded, arguing her point perfectly. She had logic on her side, and on mine I had loathing. Guess who wins…

"Ugh… fine." I growled out, definitely feeling a headache coming on. "But if he so much as looks at my flock wrong, I will give Fang permission to strangle him."

"Understood." She confirmed with a nod. "Speaking of Fang… what are we going to tell him about your 'sickness' and tearstained cheeks."

I shrugged, preoccupied with thoughts about Jeb at the moment. "I don't care. Tell him I have cancer or something."

"People with cancer only throw up when going through chemo." Her frown went deeper, not thrilled with my choice in cover story.

"Then I am fresh out of ideas…"

She clucked her tongue, lifting her eyes to search the ceiling for an answer. "Hm… I think our best bet is making something up. Your morning sickness should be gone in a month or so… we can tell him your immune system was weakened by the amount of stress your body has been through and now has caught some kind of virus, a harmless one though."

"Of course." I said with a smile as I rolled my eyes.

"You ready to face him?" She asked in a concerned mother tone. I gave a nod and she wrapped her arm around my shoulders. We stayed that way until we were back in front of a now pacing Fang. His worry was clear and I felt terrible for keeping my secret from him. He deserved to know, but I wasn't ready to tell him, not yet. And because of that he was worried I was sick or dying. I felt lower than low, lower than a whitecoat. That's saying something.

I walked over to him, wrapping my arms around his waist to pull him in my embrace. "Relax, I'm fine."

One of his hands found my hair while the other rubbed in between my wings. His touch was gentle, but firm enough to keep me close. I wouldn't be pulling away from him until he was ready for me to, that or I would use force.

"That true?" He asked looking over at Mom.

"Yes, it seems to be a normal human virus." She lied. I buried my face into his shoulder, wanting to disappear. I hated that I was making my Mom lie for me.

"How is that possible?" His brow furrowed, showing his confusion.

Mom looked like she was about to start giving him a fake explanation, but I cut her off, keeping the lies to a minimum. "It doesn't matter, way too complicated to understand."

He looked at me warily and I prayed he couldn't tell I was lying. He knew me better than anyone and if there was someone out there that could tell what I was thinking (besides Angel and her mind reading ability) it would be Fang.

He sighed, looked at me once more then turned his attention to Mom. "She's ok?" He was making sure that we weren't leaving out any details. Little did he know we were leaving out the truth entirely.

"She'll be fine." That was the first true thing she said to him. "Do me a favor and keep an eye on her, though. She needs to eat regularly, maybe more than she usually does. Make sure she gets plenty of rest. And I stress this last one very much… if she has any kind of pain near her stomach, get her here or to a hospital."

"No hospitals, just here." I corrected.

"It's a good thing we haven't seen erasers in awhile, huh?" Fang asked pulling me closer.

"A very good thing." Mom answered giving me a meaningful look. "Max is in no condition to fight, she needs to stay away from stress as much as possible."

"Ugh, you make me sound fragile." I loathed feeling weak. "I'm not a china doll."

Mom's motherly smile warmed her face. "I just want everything to work out. I'm being careful."

"Thank you for your help." I broke away from Fang to wrap my arms around her. "You're the best."

"You're staying aren't you? At least for a few more hours?" She asked with hope shining bright in her eyes. "Ella will be home from school soon. She's missed you."

I shook my head in disappointment. "We need to get going. Even being here for ten minutes is a risk when it comes to getting captured again. We'll be lucky to leave without alerting them as to where we are."

She nodded in understanding. "Bye Max."

"Bye." I whispered, giving her another quick hug.

"Flock, let's go." Fang called as his fingers found mine, squeezing gently. We left watching our backs. I hoped this wouldn't cost us our freedom, especially not now.

AN: Hope you enjoyed! Reviews get the chapters up quicker. Hence why I posted early.