Max POV.

Argh, my head. I lay on the ground after one of the worst nights sleeps I have EVER had. It wasn't even a dream. Every sense I had and every sense I wasn't aware I had went haywire. It was a nightmare-no pun intended. I listened carefully to the flock around me. From the deep breathing I was the only one up except for……Fang. He was on watch. I hated it when he was on watch. I felt safe and all but I never felt he was safe. Which is stupid really but, hello, I was abducted and replaced in the middle of the night in a hotel room. I have the right to be paranoid.

And because you love him. that's why your worried.

Excuuuuse me. I didn't ask for your opinion and if your waiting for me to do so, I wouldn't hold your breath. Actually, please do.

You are so kind to me. And you will ask for it one day. don't worry about that Maximum.

Oh yeah? How about a day after never. Not in this lifetime bud. And would it kill you to call me Max??

No it wouldn't. But I'm calling you by your proper name because that's what you are you are the best and the last hope to saving the world. The Maximum Ride.

Yawn. I've heard it all before. What else do you want?? Maybe it will go with its usual 'don't answer a direct question' rule and leave me alone.

Well, I actually wanted to talk to you about Fang. And certain aspects of the flock.

My mental mouth fell open. What!! The voice did NOT just say that. What about Fang? I mean we were best friends, ARE best friends. What the hell was the past tense for?

Because you are something more now. You guys are not just best friends and that has been brought to the attention of the school. Do you remember what Blaze told you about? The mate for life instinct you guys were accidentally programmed with?

Of course I remember. Why would I not remember a huge bombshell like that. And here I was, thinking you knew me inside out. I was being sarcastic with the voice in my head. Great. Thirty-fourth sign of madness.

Well, the school suspects that Fang and you have fallen into that instinct, mostly on Ari recounting Fang's little…….episode when they were fighting. Just from listening I could her the protective tone of voice he was using. I thought that I better warn you. The school wants to test this instinct. They are going to try capture you guys again and they will probably make Fang watch you getting hurt or something similar or visa versa.

Great. that's flipping fabulous. Anything else you want to drop on me?

You really need to calm down.

Thanks for the tip. Now how do you propose I do that voice. The sarcasm was layered on so thick I'm surprised I even managed a sincere thought at all. Fang shuffled slightly and I tensed straining to hear what was going on.

Well, what makes you feel better?

Hmmm. Not having an annoying voice in my head is one of them. I could hear the reprimand coming so I quickly sifted through all the max-being-calmed-down situations. Keyword being: Successful. What made me happy when I was sad? Or at least less sad. The answer came simply. Fang, whenever I was upset, Fang always knew exactly what to say or do. He understood me as much as anyone other than me and the voice could.

Very good. That is what you need.

Who the heck do you think you are?! I have been locked in a dog crate for the early years of my life, had my DNA forcibly split and bird genes put in, been on the run basically all my life with people trying to kill me and my family and your telling me that I need someone?

Personally, I did need Fang. More than anyone was ever going to find out. This lie hurt because, even though I said it with as much venom as I could produce, it still was feeble and sounded false in my ears. A world without Fang was too painful to contemplate.

See. Yes, you do need Fang. And he needs you. More than you will ever know so stop ignoring him and your feelings.

Look, voice. I know you can see in my head but you cant see in his. You don't know what he wants or needs. Now hurry up and finish what you want to say and let me sleep. I was defeated. And I wanted it to be as short and as painless as possible.

Well. We are getting our temper under control. Very well. I want to let you know that while this instinct is a vulnerability in one way, it is strength stronger than most in an other. Also, very soon, you are all going to develop a new ability. The scientists didn't program what they were going to be but it is scheduled that soon you will all get a fever and then the bird DNA will independently mutate, giving you another power. Just a warning.

Gee, thanks. I'll think on it. And thank you. I really mean it. But can I sleep now?

Sure Maximum. But remember, talk to Fang. And go to hotel for a night or two. You need to relax. You will find it easier to think then.

Yeah, yeah. I get it. Bye for now because I know you will be back. Unfortunately sometimes, you always are. But the voice was gone. I shook my head slightly and sat up. The sun wasn't up yet so my eyes didn't burn as bad as before. Fang glanced up at me and I saw the mask fall into place quickly. He needs you more than you know? What did the voice mean? I mean, Fang didn't like help and he didn't show need for anything. Apart from food. Damn voice, far too cryptic if you ask me.

I'm not that bad…

I thought you had left!

I'm never gone. I just keep quiet. I'm here always, listening

Stalker much. Never mind. What did you mean 'he needs me'? it's a ridiculous concept. He doesn't need anyone and if he needed me in particular he wouldn't flirt with everything that's female! And human.

He thinks your cute when your jealous but he doesn't like it when you punch walls because of jealousy. He hates it when your hurt. If you heard him when he was trying to find you in the school. After you screamed. I didn't like hearing that.

What? Can you hear others thoughts?? that's not very good. Its bad enough that Angel does. Its an invasion of privacy. And your lying, he doesn't love me in that way. We are like brother and sister.

I can only hear the flocks thoughts sometimes and he was thinking pretty loudly. He does love you, more than a brother and sister would but you have to accept that yourself. I can't make you believe it.

What ever. Go away and try block out my thoughts…please

I stumbled over and sat next to the log by Fang. He was gazing out over the land around us, scanning for movement that might be an enemy. "I'll take watch, go get some sleep Fang" of course he looked at me as if was mad. He shook his head and I ground my teeth in frustration. I bit it back an calmed myself some what. If he was going to be difficult I was going to use the soft approach. I gently ran my finger over the circles under his eyes. "you look tired Fang, get some sleep. Please. I feel fine." I said this softly. He tensed at the contact but his eyes drifted a little. I smiled. He was defeated.

"fine. But if you black out or anything, I will never let you go on watch again" he threatened lightly and I raised an eyebrow.

"under who's orders." I countered. Over my dead body was he banning me from watch. He grinned suddenly and shook his head. The whole area lit up when he grinned and I smiled back. Just a automatic reaction I guess. He got up and lay down next to the fire. I could feel his eyes on me and my conversation with the voice came back to me.

"Hey, Fang. Are you o.k.?" I asked him and I heard his breath come a little faster when I spoke. What was up with that? Was he hurt? I turned to look at him and inspected him. He was thinking. I could see that much.

"I'm fine" he was lying. I could see that. I rolled my eyes.

"Go to sleep Fang." he turned over and his breathing slowed. He might be asleep or he might be faking it. I don't know with him. Did I love him? As a brother, yes. But as more? Maybe, I mean, when I'm in trouble, I think of him. I'm not meaning Damsel in Distress. I can do the BEST distress but no Damseling, hell no. like when we were in Germany. And when he left it felt like half of me went with him. But how was that a strength? It made me feel weak. But when we were together. that's when the school should be afraid. We were the invincible duo. To the flock too I guess. I remembered all the times we had been fighting, back to back. The time he had lifted me up and spun me while I kicked at the robots surrounding us, that was when we were at our best. When we were together. Gee, I didn't know I could do so much thinking. We were vulnerable when we were apart because we needed the other to think straight. When I had gone on the rescue mission by myself, I kept thinking 'when Fang causes a diversion….or, Fang will keep watch while I…' it was always thinking about the two of us, we were always together in my mind. It was stupid, since when had I become so….so dependent on someone? The voice was right, I did need him. Voice?

Yes Maximum.

I'm in love with him aren't I?

Only your heart can tell you that I don't know for sure, I can only guess.

Damn. This is so tiring. Bad thing about thinking on watch. You sort of drift off into your own little world, hence the reason for zen mode. Damn it. "I do love him." I mumbled. Out loud for some strange reason. No one was awake anyway. A twig snapping brought me back to reality faster than Nudge can say 'I'm hungry'. I just heard the faint sound of Eraser foot steps before I was standing "FLOCK, U AND A PRONTO!" Fang leapt up before my words had even left my mouth and the rest got up as if they had been hit by a bolt of lightening. Grabbing our backpacks they leapt into the air, I waited until Blaze had struggled up before jumping. Just as I drove my wings down, a clawed hand grabbed my ankle and pulled me back to the ground. Slamming into the dirt, I rolled to the side and faced about twenty erasers. Four had wings. Not too bad considering there was two of us. Wait, Fang was up in the air with the flock. He better be anyway. I glanced up while watching the Erasers in my peripheral vision. A certain dark haired, dark clothed, black winged member was coming down.

"Fang! don't you dare! You are going to stay up there, OUT of harms way and watch the flock. I don't care what you think!" I yelled at him. Fang hovered above the trees. Indecisive. The words left my mouth before I thought about what the hell I was saying "Fang, go back. I care about you too much to have you getting hurt now." I swear I turned red faster than my brain spinning. What the hell did I just say! The Erasers chuckled in the way that made my skin crawl. I looked at them quickly, they were starting to creep forward, hoping to catch me off guard because I was talking. didn't they know girls can multi-task?? A smooth voice came out of the darkness and made the hair on the back of my neck rise.

"Shall we make you watch us kill the little one first? Or the blind one?" I snarled and threw myself forward at them. There was no way in hell they were going to touch ANY of my flock.

Maximum, behind you. Roll to the left.

I did as I was told and a heavy blow swung where my head had just been. I did a roundhouse kick to the culprits head and my foot connected with their head. It crunched in a sickening way. I dodged a punch to my nose and launched one of my own, then clapped my hands on a pair of furry ears. The eraser screamed as his ear drums popped. I felt my speed coming and even though I wasn't in flight it came. I was moving faster than I ever had before. Maybe I had this all along, just never tried. I darted behind one and yanked on its wing, it popped out of its joint and then carried on. Once I was free to take off, I leapt up, still going freaky fast, rocketing upwards. When I was high enough, I slowed and angled myself towards the flock. They were waiting and looked at me expectantly.

"who wants to go to a hotel?" I volunteered. I was very aware of everyone staring at me as if was a complete nut case. And not because of the hotel..

Crap.

Fangs POV.

I heard Max wake up but her silence meant that the voice and her were having a little chat. Or a long chat. I wonder what it's saying. I listened harder and heard her inhale quickly. She was angry with it. She sighed in a defeated way and I glanced at her curiously. She had the strangest expression on her face. Strange but still breathtakingly beautiful. She shook her head and opened her eyes cautiously. She looked at me and I quickly put on my trademark, expressionless face. Her eyes unfocused again and she talked to the voice for a little while longer. It was chatty tonight. While she was out of it I could look at her all I want. She always seemed to sense my gaze other times. Really embarrassing, not that she knew that. She staggered over to where I was sitting and I instantly scanned our surroundings, making sure nothing was coming. I was never going to let anyone hurt Max again, if they tried, they would have to go through me first.

"I'll take watch, go get some sleep Fang" she murmured, watching me in that way that had become usual for her. She was worried. About what I didn't know. I looked at her and raised my eyebrow slightly. She looked as tired as I felt. There was no way she was going to take watch. I shook my head slightly and watched as the eyes I loved brightened with anger and her teeth audibly came together. She took a deep breath and I could see her calming herself down. Her eyes softened and she looked at me again. I knew she was just trying to get me to go, but what I wouldn't give to get her to look at me like that always. She softly traced the circles under my eyes with the tip of her finger, the warmth seemed to seep into my skin.

"you look tired Fang, get some sleep. Please. I feel fine" she basically whispered this. I tensed slightly, making my arms stay stationary and not move to wrap her in hug as they burned to do. To keep my head still and not bury it in her hair as I longed to do. My eyes drifted halfway shut and I resisted the urge to lean into her hand. I saw her smile slightly and I knew I was done for.

"Fine. But if you black out or anything, I will never let you go on watch again" I teased and watched as her eyebrow shot up.

"under who's orders." she shot back. Her smug face was so cute it was funny. I grinned suddenly and shook my head, she was impossible. Her answering smile was brilliant, it lit up her whole face making it even more beautiful than it already was. Her smile was really something. I got up and went to the fire where it was warmer. I stared at her back, watching where her wings joined to her back. The muscles on her back were not overly apparent but were finely defined, betraying her strength.

"Hey, Fang. Are you o.k.?" she interrupted my staring. Her question seemed almost…uncertain. I inhaled sharply and thought about earlier. I wasn't o.k., Max didn't love me the way I love her and she never will. how can I be o.k. when my heart hurts at every beat? She turned to me and scrutinized me. All she would see was my thinking face.

"I'm fine". she rolled her eyes, not fooled I take it. She always could read me. Better than Angel could. But I didn't mind, I loved it that I could read her and she could read me better than anyone else. It was our….connection I guess. Sappy me huh.

"Go to sleep Fang." she mumbled.. I turned over, I didn't want to be caught staring again. But I couldn't sleep. What if they came back or she had another brain attack. I made my breathing slow so she wouldn't be suspicious. Even with my eyes closed, I could still see her face. Under my eyes tingled where she touched me and I wanted that contact again. She was quiet and after a while I could hear some strange noises. I listened harder and the noise separated itself from the innocent night sounds. Erasers. I didn't want to get caught not sleeping so I waited for her to notice. Why wasn't she moving yet. She hadn't fallen sleep. Damn it, she was thinking.

"I do love him." what!! What the heck! Did she just whisper what I think she whispered?? She gasped and I heard her leap to her feet.

"FLOCK, U AND A PRONTO!" she yelled. Her voice was calm and steady, what would we do without her. I leapt up before she had even finished and everyone else shot up a few seconds behind her words. They grabbed their bags as they had been taught but because of the small opening in the trees, we had to take off one at a time. I went first and watched as everyone else rose up. Blaze was before Max and slowly managed to get up. Max was almost out of reach but just as she was ascending, an Eraser grabbed her by the ankle. I turned instantly and was starting to streak down. She rolled to the side and looked around once before snapping her head up. There was twenty Erasers, too many for her alone. I heard her growl faintly. As if that would stop me.

"Fang! don't you dare! You are going to stay up there, OUT of harms way and watch the flock. I don't care what you think!" she yelled, using that commanding voice that was so endearing. I hovered a little. I couldn't stand the thought of her being hurt. There wasn't much she could say to change my mind.

"Fang, go back. I care about you too much to have you getting hurt now." her face turned so red I thought steam might come out of her ears. I almost forgot to flap. that just made me want to help her more!!! But she didn't want me hurt! Oh this is too confusing! The Erasers started creeping toward her and she turned to them. Her face turned to stone and I knew this was the Max that no one should mess with. They chuckled in a sinister way and I knew they were in for it.

"Shall we make you watch us kill the little one first? Or the blind one?" one of them offered in a well oiled voice, a new eraser. She growled and flew at them. I was about to warn her as one leapt at her from behind, but she swung down and to the left before she could've even heard it and round-housed him in the head, dodging a punch she broke ones nose and then blew another's eardrums. Then she suddenly was a blur, her super speed had kicked in as she was running. She was behind one with its wings popped out of their sockets before they saw her. There was an opening and she took it, leaping into the air as she stepped, the speed carried her up until her wings snapped up and she poured on the speed more. Streaking past me and the flock. She slowed and came back to us and I made my way back up. We all looked at her in awe. Well except for me. I'm still trying to process what she said before.

"who wants to go to a hotel?" she asked brightly. They kept on staring. The speed must of astounded them, or what she said beforehand. Um, the latter I think. It astounded me too. She had her uh oh expression on. Well, if I was her I would have pure disbelief. But this is Max we are talking about. my Max. well not really but I would like to think she was. We headed towards the town and quickly spotted a hotel. We needed to get out of the air fast before the remaining Erasers caught up to us. We put on our windbreakers after a running landing. The windbreakers were new, thanks to the Max Ride card and we didn't look as grubby as we did in our old ones.

After making sure no ones wings showed, Max led the way into the bright warm lobby.

The guy at the desk looked about seventeen and grinned as he checked Max out. I gritted my teeth and watched Max as she noticed this. Her jaw tightened but her face relaxed into a convincing polite smile. She was such a good liar. Even this slight smile lightened her face and made her even more breathtaking, grubby as she was. He stood up taller and winked lazily at her.

"How many beds do your rooms have?" Max queried in a polite and cheery voice. He grinned wider, and here I was thinking his cheeks couldn't stretch any more.

"well, we have rooms 49,50 and 51 available. 49 has two single beds, 50 has a queen and a single, 51 has a queen. All have their own bathroom sets. But if you were looking for a more comfortable arrangement miss, I could always fix you something up…" he trailed off suggestively and I clenched my fists in my pockets. What a sleaze. Max seemed to have a similar assessment of him in her own mind but I bet it was a lot more colorful than mine.

"those rooms will be just fine, thanks." she coolly stated. He seemed a little disappointed but typed away on the computer happily enough. She swiped her card and I saw her resist the urge to punch his head in when he 'accidentally' brushed his hand against hers. He scribbled a number down on the receipt when she wasn't looking and gave it to her along with the keys. I nudged her inconspicuously and her eyes widened as she saw the number scrawled along the bottom. In plain sight she scrunched the receipt up and along with some other rubbish, threw it in the bin. He seemed unperturbed and called her back over.

"Uh, miss, I think you are forgetting something" he drawled confidently. I. was. Going. To. Kill. him. He handed her his number again and she lay it on the desk in front of him

"no, I don't think I did." her voice was annoyed now and I could see her fingers twitch slightly. She wanted to kill him too, hopefully.

"yup, you did, you forgot my number, your going to need a little fun once you've ditched this lot" that hit a nerve. Her eyes flashed again and I was at her side in an instant. We didn't need a scene here I chanted to myself over and over. I shook my hair out my eyes and gave him the death look.

"I think she's made it pretty clear she's not interested." I snapped at him. He drew back and glared right back at me.

"and who are you?" please, please, please, Max, go along with this.

"I'm her boyfriend. What's it to you?" I spat back. I felt her freeze in surprise while the rest of the flock looked up at me in shock. To my relief, she played along. She put a hand on my chest and faced me, pushing me back slightly, leaning her full length against me, pushing me back more. I brought my arms around her and continued glowering at him. We should be actors.

"come on Nick, lets just go to the rooms now." she soothed, grabbing my hand and pulling me away, her eyes flashed dangerously and I knew I would have hell to pay later. I gave the death glare again and followed her, putting an arm around her waist protectively.

"there is no way that you are going out with him." he snarled. I was about to turn around and really punch his lights out but Max held the hand on her side firmly.

"leave it." she growled. The rest of the flock warily followed us, knowing that they might need to disappear when we were alone. I removed my arm as soon as we were out of sight, when Max is angry, you don't leave any openings. that's when she rounded on me. She pushed me up against the wall and held me there with her forearm, making me look at her. If only she knew how cute she was when she was angry. Man, I wanted to kiss her so bad. I should be the one pressing her up against the wall.

"what are you on!? The last thing we need while on the run is you getting into a fight with some random who is not getting the message!" notice how she didn't yell at me for saying I was her boyfriend? I did.

"you didn't like him hitting on you" I mumbled, knowing it was a pathetic excuse.

" I don't like a lot of things Fang." she stated and then she released me. I stayed where she left me and watched her as she tried to sort out sleeping arrangements. She was so graceful, even when she wasn't moving. Elegant. I don't know. It's hard to explain.

"ok, who wants to share with who?" she asked, glancing around. "we need two pairs and a group of three." Ig and Gazzy instantly paired up and Nudge and Angel did the same. Which left me, Max and Blaze. Great. Max sent the kids to their rooms to get cleaned up for dinner and the three of us inspected our own. It was a fair size, a single bed on one side and the queen on the other. Oh. Shit. Two beds, three people. Little bit of an issue.

Blaze volunteered for the single seeing as she had a much higher temperature than us and was likely to set the bed on fire if touched. Not needed at the present moment. Which left me and Max to share the queen, it started to look a lot smaller than it really is.

Max dibsed the shower first.

After my shower I inspected my tiny array of clothes for some that were cleaner than the rest. It was all black but mud really does show on some things. My only options was my black muscle singlet and black shorts. I would have to wear my shorts to sleep in seeing as it was a bed, not the forest floor, jeans were definitely out for. The shower was excellent but Max was thumping on the door soon enough

"Fang, get out now. Blaze needs a shower too!!" she hollered through the door. I opened it as she was knocking and she turned red as she hit me.

'sorry" she mumbled to the floor. Strange. Was she feeling ok?

She sat back on the bed, stretching her wings out to dry and pointed to a menu on the table. She grinned.

"Room service!"

I chuckled and picked it up. Looking through my options.

After we ate, the flock tapped and stacked fists, everyone leaving to their respective rooms. Nudge and Angel were sharing a double bed too. Ig and Gazzy had a single bed each.

Blaze volunteered to watch for the first time and we nodded. Me, Max and Ig did sort of need a break.

"I'm going to sit on the roof for awhile." I informed Max, she always needed to know where we were. On the roof I looked up at the stars. They twinkled back at me. What was Max talking about before? 'I do love him'. was she talking about me? To the voice? Argh. Why was everything so confusing?! Well, one thing wasn't confusing, how I felt about Max. I love her. I don't just love her but I'm in love with her. And she possibly loved me? I don't know. I went back in through the window and found Max fast asleep on the chair next to it. She had been watching for me? I picked her up carefully and put her in the bed. She was so cold. Blaze was staring out the window. I slipped into the bed next to her and lay on my back, staring up at the ceiling. 'I do love him' what did she mean? I fell asleep quickly and found myself in a strange dream.

Me and Max were in a snowy place and she was unconscious and we were in a dark cave. She was so cold her lips and fingers were blue. I picked her up and held her to my chest, wrapping my wings around us both. Whispers sounded the approach of Erasers. I tightened my hold and covered us both with my wings more securely, becoming completely still. My invisibility came and it covered her as my wings did… the whispering got louder…

Iggy POV

In the morning we went into Max's room only to find her and Fang weren't up yet. Fang was on his side with his arms around Max and her pressed into his chest. Both lying on one of his wings with the other over her, like a shield. She was facing him and his head was resting on top of hers. Well that's a cozy couple. I doubt Max knows her position actually. Since Blaze gave me my eyesight back, I can see what I heard before. Fang was in love with Max.

Ha! I knew it!

"Awwww that's so cute!! Are they like together now or what?!?! It would be cool if they were, then Fang would be like our dad! That would be awesome!" nudge started but one look silenced her. Fang wanted this. He deserved it. Nudges beautiful brown eyes glinted mischievously back at me. Wait. Beautiful? Where did that come from?

A/N

Well? Should I continue? I have a few ideas. I need some reviews before I add more. Please, I will face the flames but keep in mind this is my first Fanfic. Sorry it took so long but I was really busy but we are back on track.

Tia