Okay, before you guys go all what-took-you-do-long on me, I just want to say that I have a very good reason. Those who have alerted me as an author will know this: I finished my Gallagher Girl fanfic. I finished. My first story. I was busy and excited. I had that one planned out and I wanted to get it done. I'll be focusing on this story until it's done. I promise. I'm going to try to update every Friday. I know it's Thursday but I don't have school tomorrow so I have time. =D Thank you all so much for staying with me. Please show me you're still with me by reviewing. This has Fax in it as well as…Eggy. And they discuss what they are going to do when they find out where the main branch of Itex is. Speaking of, where do you guys think it should be? I was thinking California but I want everyone else's opinion.

Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride. JP does and I think he intends to keep it that way.

Oh! And speaking of, how many of you are SO extremely excited for FANG to come out? I know I am!

Chapter Nine: Advice

Fang POV

Max's mom stared at us. "Whoa, whoa, wait. You think all your parents are out to get you…for Itex?"

Max nodded. "Yeah. We do. With the exception of you. We showed you their business card. Fang's parents. Itex has tracked them down and recruited them. I'm not sure about the school. Would…Jeb know anything?" She tried not to show disdain toward Jeb.

Dr. M ignored the scathing tone Max used. "He might. We could ask him. I told him you guys were coming. I think he might stop by."

"Oh, joy," Max said under her breath. "Stop by?" she asked, louder. "Wasn't he in, like, California or something?" she asked skeptically.

Valencia sighed. "Yes. He was. But he was doing work for the CSM. Finding the Itex branch there."

I raised an eyebrow. "Exactly how many Itex branches are there?" I asked slowly.

Dr. Martinez looked at me, keeping her face impassive and expressionless. "We don't know," she answered calmly. "We think there might be at least twenty-five in the U.S.—one for every two states. And then there are more around the world. Maybe three or four per country or continent. That's just an estimate." Per continent? That's not a lot, I found myself thinking.

I stayed quiet as I thought about this. I felt Max tense up beside me. My eyebrows knitted together. How were we supposed to save the world and destroy that many Itex branches?

Max sighed. "Well, no point in dwelling on that. I guess we just wait for Jeb." She paused a moment. Hesitantly, she said, "Mom…did it ever occur to the CSM that Jeb might be a…triple agent type thing?"

Valencia scrutinized her daughter through narrowed eyes for a moment and then sighed. "Max. He's your father. He saved your life. He saved the flock's life. He's risking his own life and your asking if he's betraying us? Betraying you, the only family he's got left?" She took a deep breath and lowered her voice. (It had risen during that little spiel.) "I trust him, Max. And you trust me. That's all there is to it."

Max sighed but didn't press the issue. She stood and stretched, yawning. "I'm going to bed." She walked over to her mom and kissed her cheek. "Good night, Mom." She turned to me. "Coming?"

I stood and shook my head. "Nah. I've got to get a glass of water. I'll be up in a few though."

She smiled. "I'll wait."

I nodded as I walked toward the kitchen. She followed. Reaching for a glass of water, I asked, "So what do you think?"

"Of what we just told my mom or what she just told us?"

My lips twitched as I answered. "What your mom told us."

"Oh." She sounded unsure.

I filled my glass and turned to face her, leaning again the counter with raised eyebrows—and a little bit of concern. She looked scared, although it was almost imperceptible. Well, to anyone else, it would be. "'Oh'? What's that supposed to mean?"

A hand came up and ran across her eyes—a stressed hand. For a minute, she stood there, head in her hands. Then she shook her head. "Nothing. My 'oh' meant nothing." She turned toward the stairs. "I'm going to bed. Good night."

I quickly set my glass down and grabbed her wrist. Spinning her around, I looked down at her. She wouldn't meet my gaze. I placed a finger under her chin and lifted her head.

She still avoided my gaze.

I sighed. "Max. Look at me."

She reluctantly lifted her hand and what I saw there made me hate whoever started these stupid Itex branches and these experiments on all these kids (though, I realized, I wouldn't have met Max had they not done these experiments). If I ever found them, I would tear them to pieces one by one.

I pulled Max into my embrace. She let her tears fall, soaking my shirt. I didn't mind.

In the back of my mind, I heard Valencia walk up the stairs. I knew she was trying not to disturb us.

I smoothed Max's hair back. "Shhh…" I murmured. "You're going to be fine. We're going to be fine. I'm here for you." I kissed the top of her head. "I love you," I whispered so quietly I wasn't ever sure she heard me.

She finally looked up at me with red, puffy eyes. "It's not me I'm worried about," she whispered. She took a deep breath. "I need to do this alone. Destroy Itex, I mean. I can't risk—''

I shook my head before she could finish. "No," I interrupted. She glared at me. She hated when I told her no.

Sliding my arms from her shoulders to her waist, I said, "I won't let you. I refuse to. You'd die if you went alone. I'm not going to let that happen."

"And we won't either," a small voice came from the stairs. Angel.

Jumping, we both turned. Max hurriedly wiped at her eyes and smiled at Angel. "Ange, that's sweet," she began calmly, "but I don't want to risk the flock getting hurt. I can't."

I twined our fingers together, about to speak but Iggy beat me to it. "Yes, you can," he said. "You and I both know that Fang won't let you die. And if you go alone, you'll die. I'm not staying behind. If I don't stay and Fang doesn't stay, none of us will."

I smiled and then realized he wouldn't see it. Nodding vigorously at Max (which was so out of character for me), I added, "We aren't going to make your mom keep Gazzy, Ange, and Nudge. They're all coming." As much as I didn't like it, I added silently to myself.

"Max," Ella's voice suddenly rang out from the top of the stairs. "You can't make the flock stay behind while you go on a death chase. A-as much as Mom and I hate it, you can't go alone." She sniffed, walking to the bottom of the stairs. "And I just want you to be safe. I don't want you to go but I know you have to. I want you to come home. In one piece." Tears gathered in her eyes and suddenly spilled over. "We only got you back a few months ago, Max. I didn't even know I had a sister until then! Please don't go alone," she wailed.

Max stared at her half sister for a moment before pulling her into a hug. "Ella…" she groaned. Sighing, she pulled back, tears gathering in her own eyes. "Of course I'll come back, Ella." Turning to the flock, wiping her yes, she said, "If you come, you have to promise that you'll listen to me. If I tell you to leave me, you must—"

"Ah," Iggy interrupted. "You just promised Ella that you'd come back in one piece."

Ella shot Iggy a grateful look.

Max sighed. "Fine. But…how can I save all of you if you save me?"

I slipped an around her. "Everything will be okay, but we won't let you go alone."

"Besides, Max," Nudge piped up (she hadn't said anything which was out of character for her), "we can't really go until we know which branch will destroy them all. We have to know the main branch."

Max sighed again. "I know. That's why we wait until the CSM has information. I don't know how long we'll be here." She smiled apologetically at her sister. "You'll have to deal with us a little bit longer, El. Do you think you can handle that?"

Ella's only response was to give Max a hug. She proceeded around the circle. When she reached Iggy, I detected very imperceptible hesitation before she gave him a hug, perhaps longer than the rest.

When she'd given everyone her hug, she smiled and said, "Good night. I'll see you all in the morning." Iggy's dazed eyes followed her up the stairs with what would be surprising accuracy for a blind guy but for Iggy, it wasn't really surprising.

Max met my eyes and she smirked slightly, her eyes flickering toward Iggy who was still staring. Or maybe he was listening. It was hard to tell with his concentrated look. I guess he had to be listening though. Duh.

I cleared my throat. "The rest of you should get to bed too."

Max shook out of her stupor. I made a mental note to ask her what she'd been thinking about. "Yeah," she said. "Everyone to bed." She hesitated and I knew what she was thinking.

Apparently, Iggy did too. He held out his fist. One by one, the rest of the flock's fists were stacked together. We tapped the backs of our hands together.

Max smiled. "Good night, everyone."

The two of us watched the flock walk up the stairs. She sighed. "Well, no going back now."

I grinned slightly. "Yeah. No going back," I repeated.

She smacked me.

"What?"

"Stop repeating what I say!" she said.

"Fine, fine. I'll stop." Even though I only repeated her once. But it was hard to refuse Max anything.

Her expression grew somber and she looked down.

I lifted her chin. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head, blinking furiously to keep the tears that had filled her eyes it. "It…it's just…they are all so young. This is almost positively a suicide mission. How do you think I would handle it if they all died because of me?"

I shook my head. "Max, if you go, I go. If we both go, we all go. It's that simple."

She squeezed her eyes shut. It was very rare that you see Max emotional like this. I think she just had a long day.

"Max," I said, pulling her into my arms. "I love you. The flock loves you. Your mom and Ella love you. We aren't going go let you die. We can help if we come. And frankly, I am not going to back you up if you try to keep us from coming. Or at least me." My voice had risen slightly by the time my little speech (for me) was done.

Max stared at me and then wound her arms around my neck. "Thank you," she said softly as I instinctively lowered my head. Right before our lips touched, she murmured, "I love you."

My hand went up and cupped her cheek. My other hand went to her lower back and I pulled her closer. I felt her fingers in my hair.

She pulled away first, both of us breathless. My forehead rested against hers. "We should get to bed," she whispered.

I nodded, my hand still touching her beautiful face tenderly. "Yeah." I took a step toward the stairs and held out my hand. She took it.

When we reached her room, I kissed her one last time and watched her get into bed. After a minute, I walked to the room I was sharing with Iggy. I quietly snuck in but then realized he was still awake. He sat on the window seat, staring out. I found it odd considering he was blind.

I sat next to him. "Hey, Ig," I said after a minute of silence. "You're still up."

He snorted. "It has only been twenty minutes. I know Nudge and Ella are asleep."

He pointed to his ears. "So are Ange and Gazzy. I don't think Max is…yet."

I cocked my head, wondering how on earth he knew that. Guess I'll never understand his talents. "So…what's up?"

He was silent for a minute but I just sat there, knowing he'd answer me. (Hey, Max isn't the only one I'm close to. When you've known these kids all your life, you kinda get close.)

Finally, he sighed. "I was just thinking. Ya know. About…" He trailed off and his palce cheeks turned pink. I could tell that he was trying not to blush.

"Ella?" I guessed.

Naturally his cheeks flamed. "Yeah. And life."

I nodded silently. I knew he had more to say.

"Did you ever wonder if Max would see you as…more than a brother?" he asked suddenly.

"Of course I did," I answered.

"How long did it take you to realize that you were…in love with her?" he interrogated.

"I knew it was happening when we lived in Colorado. I just wouldn't admit it until she went on that date with Sam."

Iggy slowly nodded. "Why did you leave her when she saved Ari? Why did we leave her?"

A jab of pain struck my heart as I remembered that terrible time when the flock had split. "Honestly, Ig," I started, wording myself carefully, "I just felt like she was choosing Ari—someone who had been our enemy from the beginning—over me. I didn't realize until we were gone that he was her brother and she'd hadn't chosen him—she saved him because he saved us. As for why we left her, you chose to come with me."

Iggy nodded. "Yeah…I don't know why."

I shoved him. "Shut up." We sat in companionable silence for a while, both lost in our own thoughts.

"What would Max think about Ella and me?" Iggy asked after a few minutes.

I smirked. "Why don't you just ask her?"

"Because I want to know what her reaction will be first!" he exclaimed exasperated.

I sighed. "Iggy," I began, trying not to sound awkward. I was terrible at giving mushy advice to a guy—even my "brother". "I really think that all Max will care about is your happiness. And her sister's. I don't think she would care. In fact, I think she'd be…ecstatic."

Iggy's pale, sightless eyes scrutinized me, though how that is possible, I don't know. "What about Dr. Martinez?" he asked finally.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm rolling my eyes, Ig." He smiled faintly. "I really think Dr. M would be as excited as Max—possibly more."

For the first time since I walked in the room, a genuine smile came across his face, full-blown. "You really think so?"

I smiled. "I know so. Ya know what Valencia told me about Max once? She told me that from the moment she donated Max's egg to the cause, she wanted Max to have someone to take care of her. She said—and this crept me out a little—she said that the moment that Max was out and she saw me, she wanted the two of us to be together. To be in the same room. To be next to each other. That was her only request. And she is so glad she made that request."

Iggy looked surprised. "When did she tell you that?"

"When Max got her chip out. She told me to keep trying, not to let go or give up. Of course, not long after, we split, but I didn't let go or give up. And it paid off." I took a deep breath. "She also told me that we now 'needed a way to imcorporate Iggy into the family.' Direct quote. She said, 'I think he and Ella would make a good couple. Oh! That would make me so happy!' Another direct quote."

"Okay, okay, I get your point." Iggy punched me.

"Are you going to take a chance? Ask her—Ella—on a date," I suggested.

Iggy sighed. "I don't know….I'll try."

I smirked. "Good." I glanced at the clock. "We should get to bed."

He nodded. I closed the blinds and climbed into my bed. It was an odd feeling, having my own bed. it was nice.

"Night, Fang….Thanks."

"No problem," I said, trying not to smile in the darkness. "Good night." I slipped into unconsciousness for the night.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

The next morning, I quietly walked down the stairs to the kitchen after a much-needed sleep. I'd already checked on Max. She was still asleep.

I tried to be silent (which wasn't hard) as I ventured into the kitchen, opening the fridge for the carton of milk. I reached into a cupboard for cereal, thinking about Max. I didn't deserve her and yet, she'd chosen me over…the wiener Sam…over Iggy. Although Iggy really never was a choice. But still. I searched for a bowl as these thoughts went through my head.

"Ya know, I can make you something," Dr. Martinez's voice echoed in the silent kitchen.

I flinched—I'm not one to jump. Either she'd come in too quietly for me to hear or I didn't notice her when I came in, lost in my own thoughts.

Turning, I gave Max's mom a small smile. "Sorry. I didn't realize anyone would be up."

She smiled. "That's okay. I'm always up early. Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah. It was a change." I paused. "Did you?"

She laughed. "Yes. I did. Knowing that both my daughters and the rest of you were safe and sound in my house really eased some anxiety."

Briefly, I wondered why my parents weren't like her but dismissed the thought just as quickly; if anyone deserved Dr. M, it was Max. I sighed. "Yeah, it probably eased some of Max's too."

Valencia studied me. "You really do care about her, don't you?"

I smiled slightly. "Yeah. More than she realizes." My smile faded and I realized I was about to do the unthinkable: I was going to ask Max's mom for advice. I was beyond caring. I needed her opinion. My thoughts were disconcerting. "You're daughter is an amazing girl," I began. "She's so…amazing. You know how long we were in the wild. She took care of everyone so well."

Dr. M smiled. "She did, didn't she?" She got up and opened a cupboard. "Do you want something? Pancakes? Waffles? An omelet? Ya know what? I'll just make it all." She proceeded to pull things out of the cupboard. "It's so much for a fourteen year old to handle. She's so young and she's already experienced what being a mother is like." She shook her head. "But she has you." The last part was so quiet, I wasn't sure I heard it. But I had. And that one sentence made a world of difference.

I smiled slightly. "Yes, she does. But I feel like I haven't done much good. I mean, when we were in Virginia and all, I dated Lissa and that was when I realized…well, you know. Sometimes, I don't feel like I've helped. At all. I try really hard though." I sighed. "She's been doing it for two years. Probably longer. I think she feels like it's her job now."

Valencia put a pan on the stove and then pulled out a…grill. I think. "You've done more than you know. For her. For the flock. I know that you try and Max loves that about you." She turned, pulling out a waffle makes. "I've seen you with Angel. I know how amazing you are. You'll be a great dad someday." She gave me a mischievous look. She might as well have said I'd make a great dad for her grandchildren! Jeez.

"Uh…thanks," I said a little awkwardly. "I just…I don't know how to be the perfect guy for her, your daughter," I said, trying not to sound miserable.

"Fang," Dr M said. She set the mixing bowl down and came to the bar where I was sitting. "I can tell that you really love her….I just hope it lasts." A look of horror came to my face. She looked serious.

I opened my mouth to argue.

Then she laughed. "But it will last," she said. "I can see that. You guys have known each other since the School. And you've been through a lot together. There is a very, very small chance that it won't last, but I want you guys to be happy." She smiled, but I knew that there was a meaning to her words.

I hurried to reassure her. "I'm not going to hurt her, Dr. Martinez," I said hastily. "I just don't feel like I'm living up to her…expectations. She's so…perfect, though that's far too plain. I don't know how to live without her; I don't deserve her. How do I…? Oh! This is so confusing!" I was desperate. I'll admit it. I needed something here…anything.

She answered with a smile, "I know you'll figure it out. You are smart. And loyal. I can see that." She set down her mug of coffee and sat in the chair across from me. She sighed. "The only piece of advice I can offer you, Fang, is be yourself. That's who Max fell for and that's who you need to be."

She paused and I took advantage of the brief silence. "But that's who I'm being!" I cried. Out of character much? But then again, I've been out of character…for a while. "I don't deserve her!" My testosterone level was going down and I was getting more and more out of character. As stated above. I didn't care.

Dr. Martinez laughed. "Oh dear, you say that but I know for a fact that Max feels the same way."

My eyes widened but I tried to hide my smirk. The only reason Max would confide in her mom—even though this was her mother—was because she was so sure that I wouldn't. Who would have thought that I, Fang, Mr. Calm, Cool, and Collected, the emotionless rock, would ask Valencia Martinez, Max's mom, for advice? I could hear Max asking herself that exact question—if she could hear this conversation. Which she couldn't. Why would she wake up this ludicrously early? Suddenly I wasn't so sure.

All this processed in five seconds. During that time, Valencia had risen and was pouring pancake batter on the grill and waffle batter on the waffle maker.

"Really?" I tried to hide the euphoria in my voice and focused on the disbelief. The euphoria was still there.

She smiled again. "Yes. She wanted to know how she was to become the girl you deserved, the one you wanted. I told her she needed to be who she was now. That's who you fell for, isn't it?" Her expression and tone turned skeptical. She was being a mother.

I counted my lucky stars that Max wasn't your usual typical teenage girl. "Well, yes, of course, Dr. Martinez," I said, a little uncomfortable.

She placed some food in front of me. "Good," she said, relieved. She didn't want a reason to hate her daughter's boyfriend. "Now, I want you to practice…being polite. I mean, Max is Max and sometimes, being polite and…gentlemanly, for lack of better wording, will be hard. But also be you. Max didn't fall for someone else; she fell for you, Fang. I want you to always remember that. If some guy is giving her a look that suggests he wants something more than just looking, remember that Max chose you and don't think for a second that she'd cast that other person a second glance. She loves you and you love her and that's really all that matters." She stood. "I expect everyone to be up soon, so I'm going to get ready. You can come in now, Max," she added. My eyes widened and I didn't look at Max as she walked into the kitchen with a look of wonder on her face. I looked anywhere but there.

"I could see your feet," Valencia said, apparently answering an unspoken question. She proceeded to the kitchen door.

"Jeez, can moms read minds now or something?" she muttered.

Dr. Martinez smirked. "Yes, we can."

Max's expression was shocked. Despite the embarrassing situation, I smirked. She didn't realize she had said it out loud.

I still avoided her eyes. There was an awkward silence and I stared at my hands. She walked over to me, pulled me up, and wrapped her arms around me, resting her head against my chest.

I glared at the cupboard but I couldn't help but be hyperaware of her body pressed against mine. Stupid hormones.

"I love you," she murmured over and over.

I was frozen. I really didn't want to hear those words. That was my weak spot. I sighed, wrapping my arms around her. "I love you too," I whispered. Tilting her chin up, I leaned down and kissed her.

It was the best kiss in the world. Better than the sky. Much better.

"Oh, break it up," Iggy said, entering the kitchen with Nudge and Ella on his heal, both grinning from ear to ear. "We don't need Fang's manliness to go down anymore."

I glared at him, trying to think of a smart comeback. But it would embarrass Ella, too, so I didn't say anything.

I was distracted anyway, as Max tried to wiggle out of my embrace but I tightened my grip and she gave up, collapsing against me. I smirked and sat down, pulling her with me.

Iggy rolled his eyes. "Fine. I guess nudge and Ella will be scarred…for life." He threw a conspiratorial wink in their direction.

Nudge and Ella rolled their eyes. "Oh, yeah, sure, Ig. Of course we'll be scarred for life," Ella said with a laugh.

"Hey," he said, mocking offense. "You're supposed to go with the flow," he whispered.

She smiled and patted his chest. "Sure, Ig. Whatever you say." She sat next to us. "Mom said breakfast was ready," she said.

I pointed toward the bacon, waffles, and pancakes. "There," I said, reverting back to my one-word sentences. Max took my only-one-arm-around-her as an opportunity to extricate herself from me and get some breakfast.

I glared at her. She smirked. "Fine." I was trying to sound mad but it didn't work; the look she gave me crumbled my act and I smile down at her. I watched her with a dazed expression on my face as she walked toward the counter, pulling a plate down.

"She's really something, isn't she?" Ella's voice brought me out of my reverie.

I smiled, still watching her. "Yeah."

She glanced between Max and me. "Do you see the way you look at her?" she asked finally.

I looked over at her, startled. "What do you mean?" I said, forgetting I was supposed to be using one-word responses.

She sighed, patting the chair next to you. I snatched my plate off the bar and set it on the table, sitting down. She cocked her head to the side. "I've just barely met you and my sister not too long ago. However, a guy doesn't look at a girl the way you look at Max unless you are totally in love with her." The minute she said that, she laughed. Ella was only twelve but I could tell she knew a lot about this kinda thing. "But you are in love with her. I knew that when you guys came to get the chip out. You look at her like…like a blind man seeing the sun for the first time. Like John looks at my mom."

I gave her a confused look but at the moment, Iggy sat down next to Ella and her attention immediately turned to him. I smiled as I watched them. Ella sure did seem to know a lot about the way I saw Max but she didn't see the way Iggy looked at her—even if he couldn't see her.

Max dropped into the chair next to me. I would have preferred if she'd sat on me instead. I smiled as she dug in her breakfast, sitting back to watch her. The only other girl that I had ever watched eat was Lissa and Lissa didn't eat much, thinking guys didn't like that. But she didn't know guys. Max was something else. She had the biggest appetite a girl could have. She was ravenous yet she was beautiful as she did it.

She felt my gaze and she turned to meet my eyes. A faint pink danced across her cheeks and I knew she was trying to hold a blush back. Ella was right; I guess I did look at her in different ways than I thought I could. It didn't surprise me.

"What?" Max asked, a little insecurely. She touched her face. "Is something—?"

I shook my head quickly. "No. I just…I was just thinking how lucky I am." I smiled as the same pink grew darker on her cheeks. I took her left hand in mine and watched her turn back toward her food, a smile playing at her lips.

I unconsciously rubbed my thumb across the back side of her hand. I felt a small squeeze and saw her smile light her face as she delicately ate her food. I chuckled, a low sound coming from my throat. She rolled her eyes at me and kept eating. She turned to me after she was done and raised her eyebrows. "Are you going to eat?" she asked, her hand flicking toward my plate.

I glanced down and suddenly realized how hungry I was. I smiled ruefully (so not me, I know) at her and nodded. I turned toward my plate and shoveled food into my mouth. Max laughed, the noise sounding angelic.

"So what's on the agenda today?" Dr. Martinez asked as she walked into the kitchen, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. I guess she was taking the day off.

Ella answered before anyone else could. "I was thinking we should take them all shopping!" she squealed. "I mean, they need more clothes."

Her mother smiled. "Of course we should. Everyone get ready. I'll treat you to whatever you want. Jeb said he'd pitch in."

Max groaned. Everyone else was excited. Except me. I leaned close to Max, to whisper in her ear. "Don't worry. I'll keep you entertained."

Quick as lightening, her hand flicked up and she smacked me in the back of the head. I rubbed the spot. She smiled widely at me. "You're very subtle, ya know," she said sarcastically.

I shrugged. "But you like it."

She smiled. "Yeah, I do."

"Hey, would you two stop being all couple-y and go get dressed so we can leave?" Ella asked, amused.

I smirked, resting my forehead briefly on Max's before I stood. "Sorry, Ella." I looked back at Max and winked. She shook her head at me. "I was very serious," I said to her and her smile told me she knew what I was talking about.

She stood and patted my chest as Ella had done to Iggy earlier. "Go get ready, Romeo," she said, rolling her eyes.

"I'm your Romeo," I called after her as she followed Ella out the kitchen door.

I heard Ella snicker and I smiled. "I know!" Max called back to me.

I stood in the kitchen for a moment before running up to my room to change. It was going to be a long day.

I smiled. But I would have Max to…entertain both her and me. I couldn't wait for that part of it.

Okay, if you have read my story, Marriage Proposal, you would have recognized the scene with Dr. Martinez and Fang. I took it out of that. I hope this chapter did justice to the long wait. I really am sorry. It's been a month although that's not nearly as long as the last wait. I'm going to try to update at least every two weeks until this is finished but no promises. You passed my last amount of reviews I wanted. Can we try for 135 this time? Please? I really want to know if you guys are still with me because if you're not, I'll stop writing this altogether. (Seriously, writing is like my life. I know it's pathetic. But it's true.) I love you all and I thank you for sticking with me for almost a year now!

~XJamesBondX