AN: Hey guys! What's up? Good God, I'm so tired, but I love you guys too much. OVER 1000 VIEWS, WOOHOO! Let's see if I can get more reviews, too. :)

Super thanks to King9085, to whom I dedicate this chapter to, for a sweet message that warmed my heart! Another thanks goes to fangxfour for following the story, and Quintessa12 for reviewing! Overall, huge thanks to everyone!

King(can I call you that? I've always thought it would be a cool name. :D), I'm so super duper sorry, but your idea is going to be put on hold until the next chapter. I was going to write this chapter, then write the next chapter with your idea in it, and then post them both, but I'm afraid I bit off more than I can chew. I'm barely holding my eyes open right now. I can't write the chapter right now, but I'll try to have it up tomorrow. I already have a solid idea, I just gotta type it out. I hope you'll forgive me for post-poning it for a little bit longer.

Please leave a review, because to an author, a view without a review says "I looked at the story and hated it and immediately pressed the 'back' button". (P.S. I totally copied that from Pinky Brown's profile! Great Ron-fic author! :D)

Disclaimer: I don't own any part of the Max Ride franchise, all credit goes to James Patterson.


Max's POV

The atmosphere changed rapidly.

Suddenly Fang was right next to me, with a bruise on his head the size of an egg. I didn't remember running up to him. It felt like my ears were muffled, and at the time I didn't notice Nudge and Gazzy telling me to calm down, or Angel explaining to Iggy what happened, and then the look of pity and sympathy that came over his face. None of it mattered because the last time I had seen, or imagined Fang so still was when he was-I don't even want to say it. When he was dead. That was unimaginable now.

I shook him as hard as I possibly could, adrenaline fueling my arms, until I finally saw those beautiful black obsidian eyes look up at me. He shoved himself away from me.

"Calm down, you mad woman, I'm fine,". He sounded annoyed but I could see the smile in his eyes. I smacked him, before pulling him up to his feet, and then soundly kissed him for a good moment or two, ignoring the groans from the kids, and the smile growing on Angel's face. He responded tenderly, his lips gently calming me down. His hands came up to cup my face, and wiped away the tears I hadn't realized had fallen from my eyes. I pulled back for a moment, and looked around. the kids were nowhere in sight. They probably went to their rooms. Fang moved his head closer again, his nose touching mine.

"You okay?"

I was quiet for a second. "I dunno,".

"That's okay. I'm fine, got it? I'm not leaving you. Never again,".

I finally looked up at him again. "I love you, Fang,".

"I love you, too, Max,".

Then his lips were on mine again, and for the moment, my ache was gone.


Nudge's POV

Thank God Fang woke up after only a minute. Max has been really possessive over Fang ever since he...came back. It kills me to see her like that. Fang, too.

We just went back to my room after they started making out. I'm happy for them, but I don't think they realize how long they actually do it for, or how awkward it makes the rest of us feel. I mean, are the rest of us supposed to start making up? Um, ew. No way are the Gasman and Angel making out, and me and Ig? His heart belonged to Ella. It still does. Not to mention we're pretty much brother and sister.

We sat in the room for a moment, tension rolling over us. It was quiet. Until-Gazzy giggled. He laughed. The next second, he was rolling around on the floor, cackling like a maniac, the rest of us staring. I raised my eyebrow.

"Guys, I think the Gasman lost his mind,". That earned me a chuckle from Iggy. I smiled. It had been a long time since I've heard that.

Gas calmed down enough to come up and sit down on the bed.

"Will you tell us what you flipped out over?"

He grinned, and suddenly I wasn't sure whether I wanted to know.

"It's just...when you were flying around the War Room with the mallet, you looked like a girl-Thor!". He barely managed to get through that before collapsing in another fit of giggles.

I will never understand that kid.


Max's POV

I can't sleep. I got out of bed, and looked over at Fang. He looked so young when he slept. I found myself smiling fondly, before I remembered what kept me up. I walked-or, rather, waddled-out. This baby better be freaking cute, I grumbled.

After our, ahem, make out session, we headed back to my room, and fell right to sleep. Or rather, Fang did. Him passing out earlier today kept me up. Or rather, memories did. The last time I saw someone lay so still. So pale. So...dead.

I wasn't trying to go anywhere. Just for a walk. But my feet lead me to a room I had only been in once. It was the "garden". Basically, it was a room with lots of trees, and bushes, and flowers. It was very beautiful, really. It was even topped, or rather, grounded off with 10 feet of dirt underneath the grass we stood upon. It provided the place with a very Earthy atmosphere, by giving it that smell of dirt and musk that some people like.

I came here for a reason. I guess today was a bit of a wake up call. I waddled myself into the garden, sitting myself down next a dirt covered patch in the ground., where daisies grew nearby. A rock lay on top of the dirt, with messily scrawled words on it, but at this point, my eyes were too watery to make out the words. I took a deep breath, and calmed myself down.

"Hey Dylan,".