Hey you guys!! Thank you to everyone who reviewed and I am SO sorry that it's been such a long time since I last updated. I will be updating at least once a week from now on, because I have babysitting, homework, chores, and a lot of stuff to do. So, I apologize. Oh, and thank you to Chaos Mirror of Hearts for being my beta!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride in any way shape or form. So get off my back about it!

Happy Reading!

Chapter Nine: Now or Never

Later on that night, I was sitting between Fang and Angel on the couch at our house, watching a movie with the rest of the flock. Nudge had wanted to watch The Spider wick Chronicles and, after some complaining from Iggy, he finally agreed to it. So here we were, watching Mallory and one of her brothers—I forgot his name halfway into the movie—fighting off those little fairy-looking creatures with a vengeance. It was actually a pretty good movie, I had to admit.

Max? Angel's voice filled my head and I instantly glanced over at her, her eyes locked on mine. When are you going to tell Nudge and Gazzy about the baby, since Iggy and I already know?

I pursed my lips, thinking. She was right; I had been pregnant for about a month, and had known for several agonizingly long days, and I had yet to tell the other two about it. I guess I was kind of weary about it, since Nudge totally doted on Fang. I mean, who wouldn't? He's gorgeous.

"Right now." I whispered back. I wanted to get this over with before I had the chance to loose my nerve.

I cleared my throat and Iggy looked over at me, eyebrows raised. "Guys? I need to talk to you about something." I said, wanting to act like I was addressing everyone else except fang.

Nudge and Gazzy turned their attention from the television screen, to me, their eyes curious. "What is it Max?" Nudge asked me. "Is it about that lamp that got broken last week? Cause I swear, it was totally not my fault! Gazzy was running down the hallway too and he pushed me aside and I—"

"Nudge!" I cut her off and she shut her mouth quickly. Bless her little heart.

"This has nothing to do with that vase—by the way you know you're not supposed to be running in the house—but it's about something else. Something more serious than stupid inanimate objects." I said, and no one said anything. I took that as a sign to continue talking.

"I know that this is going to seem confusing to you as to how this happened, but I know that things will turn out perfectly fine." I continued, but added mentally, Or I hope so, at least. "But…I'm…having….a baby." I said, hesitating throughout the whole sentence, dragging out the last moment of peace as long as I could.

"But…how?" Gazzy asked, looking more than a little confused and Nudge's mouth was hanging open. She was actually speechless for once. That was a surprise.

"Who's the dad?" Nudge asked at last, her face seemingly paler.

Fang, beside me with his arm around my shoulders, cleared his throat. And I swear, Nudge's eyes looked just about ready to pop out of her head.

"But why?" Nudge suddenly said, her brow furrowed and there was something in her voice…anger? Confusion?

"Because I love Max." Fang said calmly. "I didn't mean to make Max pregnant, though. That was completely unintentional."

Nudge shook her head slightly, while Gazzy just looked plain confused. "How do you get someone pregnant, though?" He asked.

I answered quickly, before one of the boys could butt in… "Um, well, it happens when two people love each other very much. It happens when they….kiss."

Gazzy nodded, a disgusted look on his face. "I'm never kissing a girl."

Fang laughed suddenly, and we all looked at him. "What?" He asked with a shrug of his shoulders. "He's gonna want to at some point or another."

I just rolled my eyes at him.

"I know this is going to change a lot of things around here, but we're still family. We're still the flock. A baby isn't going to change that. I'm sorry, you guys. I really am." My voice broke, and suddenly tears filled my eyes. Damn hormones.

"Aw, Max, don't be sorry. It's okay. Really." Angel said and wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug, and I hugged her back, burying my face in her blond curls.

Iggy also joined in the hug, followed by Gazzy, and finally, Nudge hugged us all. Iggy popped his head up and looked at Fang and said, "C'mon, Fang. You know you want to."

Fang just rolled his eyes. Typical response. "Oh, fine.." he sighed and then wrapped his arms around me with the others.

After several long minutes, Fang was the first one to break the group hug, and the others shortly followed. I finally wiped my eyes and smiled at them. "You guys are the best, you know that?" I said, and Iggy smirked.

"I know I am." He said.

Then, there was silence for several agonizingly long moments until Angel piped up. "Where's the baby going to sleep? Ooh can she—"

"—Or he." Fang interjected.

"—Sleep in my room?" Angel finished, ignoring Fang.

"Well, Fang and I were talking yesterday, and we decided that it would be best if we just used Fang's room for the nursery. Fang will stay with me in my room." I said, and then, the chiding started.

"Ooh slumber party for Max and F-Nick." Iggy said, grinning like mad, and the girls both giggled while Gazzy said a loud, "Ew!"

I just shook my head, smiling. "Iggy, none of that. I mean, how do you think I got this way in the first place." I said the last part quietly so that the others wouldn't get the idea of it. Then they would be scarred for life. Couldn't have that. No sir.

"Well, can I help make Fang's room into a nursery?" Nudge asked, her eyes wide with possible ideas forming in her head.

"Me too!" Angel said, clapping her hands together excitedly.

"Sure. But we have plenty of time. We still have a good eight months until the baby gets here anyway." I told them.

"But it's sooo long to wait!" Nudge said, wrinkling her nose.

"Why is it in there so long?" Gazzy asked, and this time, to my surprise, Fang answered him.

"Because it has to grow inside Max's stomach. Whatever she eats, the baby will eat too. So that makes the baby get bigger until it's time to come out," he said, and I just looked at him.

"What?" He asked me, furrowing his brow.

"Nothing. That was just….wow. Didn't know you knew about babies and the womb and all that." I said with a grin and he rolled his eyes.

"Duh." He said, as if everyone in the world, no matter what age, knew that. Well, newsflash for Fang. Gazzy didn't know. And thank God for that.

Chapter 10 will be up before next Monday (September 22.)

So, you know the drill! I want LOTS of reviews. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas, then let me know! I'm open to anything.

Love,

M.F