A/N: hey guys! I know some of you have been wondering what happened before. I have been 'subtly' mentioning an explosion and the destruction of Itex… so here is what happened! Enjoy J and PLEASE review with ideas for the storyline and comments or concerns!! the more you review, the faster chapters will arrive!

THE MORNING BEFORE:

I sat up in bed. We were staying in a tiny little Motel 6 in Colorado, just outside boulder in a little town ironically named Loveland. The room that Angel, Nudge and I shared was stuffy and small, but we didn't care. Warm water and continental breakfast, along with room service, made up for the size.

There was a knock on the door. "Come in, Guys!" Angel yelled at the door, staring blankly at the TV, watching a cartoon sponge and his starfish friend. The door swung open and the Gasman ran into the room, his face covered in chocolate.

"Have you guys gone to the buffet down there?" he exclaimed. When the three of us shook our heads, Gazzy sighed loudly. "Oh. My. GOSH. It's ALL chocolate! Everything!! Ig and I went down there and-" Fang cleared his throat loudly, making us all turn to look at him. Gazzy revealed 3 candy bars and passed one to each of us. "We thought you might be hungry…" He said quietly, grabbing Iggy's hand and walking to sit by Angel on the bed. Nudge joined them.

Fang waltzed cool-ly over to where I was. "Have you told them?" He whispered.

"You mean have I told Nudge? No. Angel already knows." Angel flashed me a knowing smile. "You told the boys?" He shook his head. "Not Gazzy. But I told Ig a bit last night,"

"Sounds good." I exhaled. "Well, lets get it over with. Guys?" Four pairs of eyes flew my way. Angel turned the TV off. "Tomorrow's the day that we-"

"Destroy Itex?" Iggy asked.

"Yup," Fang said. "We have a fool-proof plan, but we need everyone's help."

"First. Iggy and Gasman. We need bombs. Big ones," Their eyes lit up. "But controllable big ones."

"That can be done." An evil smile slid across Iggy's face. "How big are we talking?"

"Big enough to destroy a building the size of 4 Super Wal-Mart's." Fang said. I looked at him. He shrugged. "I went by last night to check it out."

"Nudge," she sat up tall. "I need you to first be a distraction to the guards outside." Fang gave me a look. "You aren't the only one who flies at night," I answered. He showed off his smile, something only a rare few get to see. My heart pitter-pattered. "After we get inside, I need you to help with whatever electrical problems we run into."

"Got it." she said, suddenly serious. "Distract. Be technical."

"And me?" Angel smirked. She already knew her job, she just wanted everyone else to hear it.

"You are in charge of security. Making sure no one comes near. If anything seems out of place, it's your job to put it back. Kay?" I smiled at her. Oh, I would do almost anything for those big blue eyes and that cute grin. Of course, I'd do anything she wanted. She could make me.

"The plan starts in exactly," I looked at the clock by the beds. It was 6 o'clock pm. "Ten hours. I recommend some sleep." The rest of the flock agreed and began to stand up and say their goodnights. I made the girls say thank you for the chocolate, which Gazzy replied to with a grin and the mentioning that it was his idea.

"Take the kid to bed, Ig. I have to talk to Max."

"Figured." Ig rolled his blue, blind eyes around in their sockets and was pulled away by the exiting Gasman. Nudge ran into the bathroom to look in the mirror.

Please leave so I can get dressed.

Fang and I nodded. Apparently she had sent it to both of us. Fang opened the door and held it for me. "Ladies first," he mumbled.

I curtsied, holding up my invisible skirt, and left the room, Fang close behind. He put his hand on my lower back. "Let's go to the dining hall. Nobody is there." I shrugged my approval and we walked to the stairs, avoiding the elevator. We were all quite claustrophobes. We arrived to the big empty room that is usually full of guest. I turned to look at Fang and jumped when he was less than and inch away.

I swallowed and looked up at him, putting on my game face. "So I will take first watch-"

"Max."

"Oh, did you want first shift?"

"Max."

"I'll just take first shift till midnight. Then you can take over-"

Fang stepped closer and took my face in his hand. "Max," he leaned down and kissed my arguing mouth and I melted. Fireworks burst around my head like the fourth of July in NYC. My head was a record, spinning round and round and round and I couldn't stop. My heart was pounding like the drum line we had heard playing in Miami once. Arms tangled, his hands in holding my head, mine on his back beneath his wings. My fingers moved up an down his spine and I heard him moan happily and his left arm pulled me closer to him.

I flashed back to the beach when Fang was almost killed by Ari, my stupid, wolfy, baby brother. It was just what felt right, kissing Fang right then and there. That kiss had haunted my mind, but this one overpowered it times infinity.

I pulled away (not really wanting to, but hey, I'm Max.) and looked into Fang's eyes. He smiled and I was suddenly very happy that he was holding me.

"Hey," he whispered. "I'm not done yet"

"Who said I was?" I replied. Wow, Max. Cheesy? Check.

"Then come back here," He leaned in for more and my panic alarm went off. I hate that thing.

His face went blank, but I could see the hint of disappointment and sadness in his eyes. "Fang-"

"Don't say anything, Max." He said solemnly, releasing me as he started to walk off.

I grabbed his arm. "Come back here." His eyes raised to mine and I pulled him into a hug to avoid any awkward looks to be exchanged. I had to do it.

"Just in case I don't make it…" And with that, our lips locked and only opened when we heard people making breakfast for the guests in the kitchen.

The mission was simple. Get the bomb in. Get the hell out.

And with that we did. Nudge expertly distracted the guards with her motor mouth and a little help from Angel's gift of persuasion so that we could enter without being caught. Fang, Gaz and I destroyed anyone who crossed our path that wasn't being controlled by the seven-year-old. Nudge cracked the code to get into the center holding of the building, which also happened to hold more kids like us. Great. More mutant freaks.

"Max!" Angel said, running to a cage that contained another bird kid. The boy was about Angel's age. It looked like his mutation had gone wrong. He had bright yellow feathers growing on his head in a Mohawk fashion.

The boy saw us gawking and nodded. "'Name's Michael. Part cockatoo." We continued to Oooh and Aaahh as Nudge broke through the computerized lock. Michael thanked us and helped Nudge with the rest of the cages. About 50 children filled the room. There seemed to be a lot of bird kids.

Angel. Watch for any passersby. I thought.

Already on it, Max.

I called for silence in the room. "Alright. When I say go, Everyone fly up," I pointed to glass ceiling. Silly, Itex. "And get out of here. Run. Got it?" I saw a sea of nods. "Good." Iggy and Gasman walked up to me. My game face was on. "Got 'em?"

They smiled wickedly. Iggy's eyebrow raised as he pulled the sack of explosives off of his shoulders. "Big boy 2, Demon, and Hell boy, ready for action." I grinned.

"Fantastic. Set em' up." They ran off to the middle of the floor, Gazzy ushering everyone away while Iggy set them up. He pulled duct tape out of the bag and taped each one to the ground. He shifted my way and held a thumbs up into the air.

"We have about 50 seconds to get away, Max!" Gazzy yelled.

"GO!!!"

Wings snapped open everywhere and body's pushed through the glass, setting off an alarm. We flew outta there.

50 seconds later, I felt a shove in my back. I woke up in rubble.