a.n. I'm so happy! So many people have subscribed or faved this! And this is only my first fic! I love the attention! Yeah I love it, I love it, I love it! …. Ahem. Anyways, thanks a lot for all the reviews. And sense most of them told me to update, I'll try to get this up soon. My school isn't flaming, yet, so I guess that's a good thing… (Read last a.n.)

Expiration chapter 9

Fang's POV

We sat there for hours, twiddling our thumbs, with just half an hour until midnight. Jeb eventually came out, very slowly. He looked at all of us, a grim expression on his face.

"How is she?" Nudge asked.

Jeb looked at her and said "She'll be fine. But she is going to be really tired."

I had to bite my cheek just to keep myself from exclaiming with joy. The rest of the flock jumped up and cheered, however. This was- what, the third time for the past few days I've seen the flock tear up? But this was different. They were so happy. I, however, though thrilled about the fact that Max was going to continue living, glared at Jeb, though it had much less intensity behind it then it had before.

"I suppose I should owe you a good deal of gratitude," I said, my voice steely. "But you owed Max her life at the very least."

Jeb nodded solemnly, and looked to Doctor Martinez. She smiled apologetically, and thankfully, at the same time.

"I really appreciate this," she said, her voice cracking. "But we'd really rather be alone with Max right now."

Jeb nodded again, and said "Good night, Valencia. Good night kids." He then walked out, without the slightest glimmer of a smile on his face.

With that, we piled into Max's room, staring at her eagerly. She was stil out cold, and the valium had probably worn out by now. "I wonder if he was telling the truth." Nudge said, and she opened her mouth to say more, but I lifted my hand to tell her to stop, and she shut her mouth quickly.

"Here's one way to find out," I said, reaching for her shirt collar. Just as my hand grasped the back of her bloodstained sweater, her hand suddenly darted and slapped mine away.

"Hold on," she said almost cheerfully. "I'm-still-sleep-ing!" I knew then that the valium hadn't run out.

We all looked at her funny, and I said "Max. We need to see-"

"But I'm still sleeping," she said, giggling.

"Then how come you're talking?" I asked her, patience running short. Silence.

"You're no fun," Max said, pouting like she did whenever I ignored her when we were little children.

I reached for the back of her shirt collar and pulled it down just a bit. The code wasn't there. We all breathed a sigh of relief. Max looked up at Iggy and said, "Can I have breakfast? Like, waffles? I'd like waffles right now."

We all looked at him and smirked. Iggy did so as well and said, "Sure Max. I'll be glad to make some waffles. About… maybe fifty for us to share?" Max nodded quickly, and Iggy left, Gazzy following to help him find his way back.

Suddenly Max shrieked "OWWW!" We all looked at her, stunned. She shook her head sheepishly and said, "I've been lying on my wings for hours." We sighed again, half from the slight stupidity, half from relief. Then Max looked at the clock- it was past midnight. "Wuh?" she said intelligibly. "What happened?" I looked down at her and said, "Well, uh we found a way to get the code out, so you, uh, should stay alive…"Max was frozen stiff.

"And when we brought you back from that hellhole they were experimenting on you in, you were going to die, so we patched you up and gave you some blood." I said, showing where a bandage ha been put on my arm.

Max looked up and whispered, "You saved me."

I shrugged, trying to sound casual, but tearing up. "Of course. We love you. We couldn't let you die."

Suddenly, Max was up out of the bed and hugging me, crying softly into my shoulder and saying "Thank you," over and over. This was the most good I'd ever done for Max. And I wasn't going the moment ruin it by taunting her. That could wait. Right then, I only felt like kneeling down and kissing her. Which I did.

Max's POV

I sat at the dining room table, not dead, eating some of Iggy's waffles that I'd apparently requested. They were awesome.

"These are awesome, Iggy," I said, after swallowing. Mom was really specific about swallowing before you talk. Iggy grinned and said, "Glad you like 'em, Max."

After teary talks with everybody, including Total, who apparently had been silent since two days ago (I guess the dog cares about me) we had all began eating a hefty supply of waffles. The whole time we were eating, Gazzy had a mischievous look on his face. "I eventually couldn't handle the suspense and said "What are you thinking, Gazzers?"

He grinned and tapped Iggy's hand, meaning I'll leave this to you. Iggy cleared his throat, and said sheepishly "Well, yesterday we had a big plan for your last day to be the best day of your life."

I smiled from ear to ear, and said, "I'm guessing me getting kidnapped didn't exactly fit in with your plans, eh?"

Iggy nodded, and said, "So maybe we should do today what we were going to do then…"

Third person

Max laughed with pure joy as she landed at the bottom of the huge water slide, a small wave going up at the bottom as she splashed down into the pool at the end. Doctor Martinez, Ella and the flock had brought her to an amusement park. Everything was, well, a little slower than flying, but still really fun. After all, they had only been to Disney once, but this place had much faster paced rides for thrills.

Everyone watched her get her clothes soaked (she didn't want to wear a bathing suit because of her, eh, extra appendages) and laughed. Fang watched Max, still relieved she'd continued to live, and knowing she was so happy made him happy too. After all, they were family. One, big awkward, but loving family. And a family will always love each other.

The (corny) End

So what did you think? OK for my first one? I'm not wasting any time starting my next- you'll have to read it to learn what it's about!