A/N: Okay, I skipped the whole two chapters I have already written out but I was really inspired to write some type of Christmas thing. So, I hope you enjoy the holiday chapter. Oh and for you Jewish and kwanza celebrating people…happy holidays.
Chapter 7
My cold has gotten much worse since last week. I actually think it developed into the flu, but I had to stay strong. Maximum ride has no weaknesses…that anybody knows of, well maybe besides Fang, but that can't be helped. On the subject of Fang, I am actually quite proud of him. He's taken charge, as much as possible. I do have to admit though, he has to work on his parenting skills some more. When Gazzy (yes, I fixed it, Christmas miracle) asks to use the bathroom, he tells him to hold it, now your thinking that's not so bad, but what if you had to hold it for, oh I don't know six hours on end.
"Fang just let him use the bathroom, he's a boy it will take him a max of three minutes."
A shiver went up my spine, I wouldn't mind being on the ground and out of the strong winter wind which meant of course I still had a nasty fever. Fang nodded his head hesitantly and we darted toward the ground.
Once on the beautifully warm, yet white ground I was finally able to realize how crappy I felt. Without the wind rushing at me my nose had begun to run, my throat was sore from the same rushing wind, and my body was aching all over.
Just two minutes, I can last that long can't I?
I tried to warm myself with friction by rubbing my hands up and down my arms.
Now, so your not thinking "What do you expect your in a snow covered forest with a T-shirt on?" Well, that's not the case, in fact everyone in the flock had sweatshirts on, courteously of a small clothing shop a few miles west from here. So, with the sweatshirts on top our animal abilities everyone, besides me, were all nice and toasty.
"We can take a break you know?"
Fang smiled as he gently rubbed my shoulder making it slightly warmer which was making me quite happy for a moment, a very brief moment the cold swept over me just as fast as it left.
"No, I'm okay really. No cold is going to keep me down."
I put a fist out in front of me showing that I was raring to go. In all reality though that was about as much as I could do.
There was a little tug on the bottom of my black sweatshirt.
"Max, I'm cold I want to be inside somewhere."
Angel said with puppy dog eyes. Yes, my ticket out of this winter wonder hell.
"All right Angel, how 'bout we have vote," I signaled for the rest of the flock to gather round, "all in favor for finding somewhere to warm up say 'I'"
Without question everyone raised their hands, even Fang.
Within the next half hour we had found an abandoned log cabin in the middle of no where. It looked so cozy and no smoke nor car in sight. We swirled downward landing on freshly fallen snow.
"Now, this is what I call a retreat."
Nudge said happily more to herself than to anyone else. I used the rest of my reserved energy carefully taking the window apart then reassembling once everyone was inside.
The house was very homey. Nice tan leather coaches with red holey blankets draped over the top in front of a brick fire place that happened to have nicely stacked wood already to go. The kitchen was a more beautiful sight. The fridge was loaded with food that wouldn't expire for at least a month, the cabinets were just as full, and the nicest thing to see was plates. You would be in heaven too if you had to eat off of leaves from I don't know where for the past few days.
"Looks like we lucked out." I said while sniffling a few times, now my nose running more than ever.
"We sure did," Fang announced once I blew my nose.
He was starring at a calendar hanging up on a near by wall.
"These guys aren't going to be back for another week. They are on vacation to Arizona."
Wow, so ironic.
I toured the rest of the house. It amazed me how small it looked on the outside and how big it actually was on the inside. Down a long hallway where three rooms, one with a bunk bed, another with double beds, and the one at the end of the hallway with a queen sized bed.
Damn, one bed short
"All right guys I will get the couch, everyone else pick," I couldn't hold it in any longer I had to sneeze which followed by a chorus of "bless you" "thanks. "
" Anyways, like I was saying I get a coach and you guys all pick your rooms."
Iggy and Gazzy ran, well at least Gazzy ran to the blue wall, wood floor bunk bed room as I knew they would. Nudge and Angel skipped to the pink flower designed double room. And just as I predicted I was stuck with the couch while Fang got the master bedroom with a bathroom attached to it.
"Well, if you guys don't mind I want to get some shut eye and try to sleep this cold off."
I about faced and strode to the couch. Half way there a hand grabbed my shoulder jerking me to a halt.
"You honestly think I am going to stand by and watch while you try sleep on a couch while I get a nice big bed that I won't be using for a few hours. You get my bedroom, I'll take the couch."
"Fang I can't do that to you."
He grabbed my shoulders and starred into my eyes. His eyes wouldn't allow me to look away, like a magnetic force pulling me to him.
"Hey, it's not like I haven't slept in worse places, actually compared to those places this is the best bed in the world. Plus, I'll have the fire."
Without another word he turned me around and pushed me into the bedroom shutting the door on his way out.
I stripped down out of my damp, ice cold clothes.
stupid snow, stupid winter, stupid flu
lately, a lot of things had been stupid.
Great, my bra and underwear are even wet, now I have to dry these.
I completely removed all my clothing hanging them over the side of the door to the bathroom which I kept open while taking a hot steamy shower in attempt to get the room a little warmer. The water ran down my head, stinging when reaching my feet since they are extremely cold. I could stare at swirls the shampoo made on the floor of the shower forever as long as the hot water kept running down my back. I washed down my body and wings, which I might add felt as good as a cup of hot cocoa on a cold winter day while sitting in front of a blazing fire. A voice rang right outside the bedroom door which I could hardly make out over the roar of the shower head on top of the heater that had just kicked on,
"Max, I advice you to get out of the shower before Nudge and Angel take theirs."
I headed his warning and hopped out as quick as possible, I didn't want to waste the warmness bestowed upon me.
I noticed that my bra and underwear were now somewhat dry, but it would have to do, so I effortlessly slipped them on, trying to obtain balance and sniffle all the while. In the end I managed to get partially dressed and put my hair in two pig tails hanging off the side of my head. I knew if anyone was here they would have laughed at it, but the good thing was that nobody would be near me for the next few hours, complete solitude, finally. I dug through the wardrobe, probably belonging to a teen from the look of it and found that it was composed of pretty much all of Victoria Secret pajamas and underwear. Well, I had to chose something , so I ended up in purple low rise underwear, black night bra, and black flannels with the words 'love pink' in pink lettering on the butt. Not exactly my choice of sleepwear, but hey it was dry and that's all that mattered. I crawled under the maroon sheets, they warmed to my body fast.
I feel sorry for the person who sleeps in this bed next, they'll probably get the flu.
I dozed off quickly falling asleep at five thirty-two according to the alarm clock flashing next to my head.
I woke up at one forty-five once again according to the flashing clock. My throat was like a wildfire set loose. So, I decided to go see if the owners of the house had any medicine that would hopefully put me right back to sleep with a less throbbing throat. Wrapped in an off white holey blanket I sneaked my to the bathroom not trying to wake any of the sleepy children. My bathroom had nothing except extra strength sleep pills, which would probably come in handy later on. My next stop was the second bathroom two doors down fro my room. "nothing" My last stop was the kitchen which with luck had extra strength Tylenol PM. The PM part was a big plus. I filled a glass of water then drank it down, now the only problem was the fact that I have no patients what so ever. So, out of boredom I decided I wanted to sit in front of the fire, the nice warm fire. Every second I thought about it made me want it more. I creaked only a few boards in the floor by the time I reached the edge of the fire sniffling every now and again. I stretched my hands out warming them up. Before I had any time to react I was covered by another blanket, I noticed the edges were red, the same blanket that was on the couch.
"aren't you supposed to be sleeping?" I croaked at Fang that had his blanket around himself as well.
If you can't picture that then let me say it was a human sandwich it went; blanket, Fang, thin layer of blanket, Max, and then some more blanket.
"How can I sleep knowing your sick?" he chuckled while resting his forehead on my shoulder making the left side of his face rub against mine.
"You know being that close to me will get you sick as well."
"That's just a small price I have to pay I suppose."
We both laughed and talked for about a half hour, starting to feel the sore throat evaporate via the Tylenol. It was only a matter of time before I got knocked out, damn extra strength. We starred into the brilliant orange crackling fire after our conversation came to a halt. Yep, that was it I was going to pass out anytime now.
My eye lids slowly starting to seep shut, "Max, you know what?"
"What?" I responded in a very wary voice.
"According to that calendar today is Christmas eve"
"So, that's what's with the mistletoe over our head."
I glanced upward seeing that the owners had placed the plant right above the fire place.
Fang grimaced, "Actually, that was my doing."
I blushed starring at Fang. He started to lean forward toward my face,
"But you'll get-"
"Like I said a small price I would have to pay."
He leaned in closing the distance between my face and his. His lips were warm, yet cool, tough, but still soft. I never wanted to pull away, but good things always come to an end, only that instead of him pulling away it was me who stopped. I was at my limit, within in minutes I nearly passed out in Fang's arms in front of the warm fire.
"Merry Christmas Max."
He whispered in my ear which soothed me even closer to sleep.
"Merry Christmas Fang"
I quietly whispered while drifting off.
I awoke like I knew I would in Fang's strong arms, the fire now down to warm coals.
"Hey, love birds wake up."
Fang and I slowly started to unfold ourselves from the blankets. I figured out that our hands had actually been entwined all night long.
"What time is it?"
I said with a loud yawn.
"Like ten in the morning. We have already had breakfast."
Angel jumped into my lap
"it was really yummy."
"oh, was it?"
She nodded her head. I loved how Angel was such a cute little kid when it comes to doing little kid stuff and was a skillful fighter when it came to fighting. A spark went across her face as if she remembered something really important,
"Max, someone broke in."
"What?"
I was starting to freak out
"But Max the weird thing was that they didn't take anything, they actually left presents for us."
"Seriously they did"
Iggy added in
"look"
Iggy held out a brand new stainless steal frying pan with matching spatula.
"yeah, look what I got"
Gazzy jumped in front of Iggy holding out a small handheld device, I think it was called a game boy. The rest of the Flock showed their race cars, coloring books, baby dolls, and crayons in fang and my faces. I turned towards Fang,
"You don't suppose that?"
Fang looked as bewildered as me.
"I suppose it's possible, I mean we never exactly settled down anywhere for Christmas so their was never really a chance."
"What tell us! Tell us!"
Nudge called out. I decided to answer her plea.
"Well, you guys were all too little so you don't remember Christmas as well as me and Fang and Iggy even though he never exactly believed in Christmas to celebrate it"
Iggy nodded
"So the legend is that a man named Santa would bring you presents on Christmas day while your asleep."
"What if an eraser followed him or was an eraser"
Gazzy started to freak out along with Nudge.
it's so sad how deprived these little kids are, not even trusting Santa,
"Don't worry he's nobody to worry about."
They all started to calm down, beginning to play with their presents once again.
"Hey, you two both have gifts."
He passed off a large dark red package to me and a black wrapped package to Fang. I opened mine first trying to cherish the moment knowing that this may very well may be the last Christmas I spend in a nice house in front of a fire. In front of me was a single card laying at the bottom.
What a waste of a box
Inside the card was a picture of me and Fang sharing our first kiss in the cave about a month ago.
"When the hell?"
I didn't mean to speak out because having anyone else see that picture would surely start a commotion. Fang gave a quick glance, grinned and quickly pecked me on the cheek. Fang was finally done unwrapping his. Inside the box was a light brown picture frame with a crystal clear picture of Fang and me snuggling up to each other in front of the fire last night asleep. It almost brought a tear to my eye.
"What do you know someone is on our side for once" I said to Fang who was still starring at the picture in his hands.
"Yea, what do you know"
"Hey Max?" nothing could possibly ruin the moment that I was having now, "I'm all fine with starring at you in a bra, but I'm not that willing to share." except that.
A/N: Sorry for the late post, but technically it was on Christmas day, so hope you enjoyed. Merry Christmas-Your neko writer
