Okay, I LOVE making you suffer with cliffhangers, but I also don't like to make you suffer too much. And because I'm in a good mood today, you get a new chapter!

Thank you to my reviewers, daughterofathena7, Anonymous, Don't Shoot The Puppy, and Flowerchild22.

Song of the chapter: Secrets by One Republic OR Year Without Rain by Selena Gomez and the Scene

Singing in the Rain (well, not exactly singing…)

Fang POV

I heard a crack that wasn't the fire. I whipped my head around, doing a 360 of my surroundings. Nothing. I looked back at the fire, twirling my hotdog-on-a-stick. Suddenly another crackle came again, along with the sound of crunching leaves. I shot up from my seat, did another 360 and called out, "Who's there?" I walked toward the sound, looking closely with my raptor vision.

The cracking leaves got more rapid. The person was running. Well, they had another thing coming. I pushed harder, running faster. It took some time, but I finally caught up to him. Or rather, her. I grabbed her wrist and tugged it back hard. I was about to snarl, "Who are you?" When I saw. She'd been turned completely around by my pull, like we'd been dancing or something.

I made out long brown hair, dark brown eyes, fair skin, tall and winged. No question about it. It was Max.

"Max," I said, "What are you doing here? I told you not to follow me."

"You never told me anything." Came her sharp reply.

"But I wrote it. Jeez, Max."

"I don't have to do anything you write or tell me. Besides, this is America, and it's a free country."

"Does that mean that there are no rules in the free country?" I asked.

Max opened her mouth to reply, but didn't say anything.

I smirked and turned around so I wouldn't meet her eyes. "Max, just- just leave. Please." My voice threatened to break, and I really didn't want that.

"No, I don't think I will."

"Yes, you will."

"No, I won't."

"Yes, you will."

"No, I won't."

This continued for about ten minutes while we walked. I stopped a little ways off the camp and said to Max, "Why did you follow me?"

She shrugged. "Because I wanted to."

"But why?"

She glared twin daggers at me, then said softly, "Because I didn't want you to leave me again. Remember after Ari died, you said we wouldn't split up again." She shook her head sadly.

I looked down at the ground. "We broke that promise many times, Max. One more won't make a difference."

This made her a bit more annoyed. "Yes, it does, Fang! It does… to me."

I looked away. "It was better for the flock that I leave." I whispered gently. But not better for us. I thought. "Don't you know how hard this is for me, Max? Every time I do this it gets harder. And my heart breaks more."

Then it started raining. Not hard, a light shower, really, but getting harder by the minute.

Now she really got angry. Her fists were clenched, and her face was red. "And mine doesn't? I suppose you think it's rainbows and gumdrops for me. No! My heart breaks each time you leave, too."

I was silent. She was really hurt. I tried to hug her but she backed away.

"Listen, Fang. All my life it was, take care of the flock, be safe, find food for them.' Everything was for them. Everything. I figure now it's time for me to be at least a little selfish. Just a little." Her voice started cracking and she blinked not only the rain but her tears from her eyes before continuing. "And you're… you're the only one I could be selfish with."

Max was never one to cry. She was the toughest person I knew. But now she started bawling so hard the rain felt like it was coming from her. I stepped forward and hugged her, and this time she didn't move away. I rocked her gently, rubbing her backside in between her wings they way she liked while she sobbed on my shoulder. I nuzzled her head, smelling her hair. It smelled so good, like citrus fruit.

"Shhh," I said, "Shhh. Look, Max, it's okay. I'm here now."

She looked up, her eyes red from crying. "But you're going to leave."

I shook my head. "No, Max. I promise I won't. I figure I can be a little selfish too." I grinned one of my rare grins, and leaned in and kissed her. She kissed back.

By now, the rain was pounding really hard. I didn't care. I was lost in the kiss.

Have you ever kissed in the rain? I have now. When we broke apart, we were soaked to the skin, but impossibly happy. And we kissed again.

Kissing in the rain is the best thing in the world, especially if it's with the one person you truly love, like me with Max.

So we all agree that I SUCK at writing fluff, right? Sigh. What is wrong with me? I love, love, love writing fluff, but I suck, suck, suck at it. Yes, I have self-esteem issues. (Not really) Sometimes I'm really modest, saying I suck, but sometimes I keep saying I'm awesome and all that. But doesn't everyone? Don't worry, I'm not THAT sensitive, though... after all, I keep saying I'm awesome, right? So review if you want the next chapter, and yes, there will be one. Maybe just two more though. I don't want this to be really long. Don't sigh, it might be a little longer!

daughterofathena7- I KNOW, right? Insane peoplez are awesome!

Flowerchild22- they are twenty-five years old in this.

Don't Shoot The Puppy- don't worry about me. Nobody else does. And by the way, I checked out your profile. Dude (are you a dude?), you shouldn't say that you're worried about ME. Because I'm more worried about YOU. AND I'm not a dude. I'm a girl.

Anonymous- Thank you! Hoped you liked this too!

~Coqui's Song