Well, today I decided on my theme songs for the flock (and others). I couldn't decide for Angel...haha well I figured 15 reviews was a bit ridiculous (thanks magaferd, chrysanth, aishay, , yreva13, .stomp, and anyone else I forgot. You rock!)

Golden: Careful-Paramore

Iggy: This is how we do-All Time Low

Max: Let the Flames Begin-Paramore

Fang: This City is Contagious-The Cab

Nudge: Girls do what they Want-The Maine

Jeb: A Little Faster-There for Tomorrow

Angel:

Gazzy: Weightless-All Time Low

Anyway...Max POV

Maximum? Ah, crap; the voice was back. I sucked in a breath quickly. It was late one night, and Gazzy, Nudge and Angel had gone to bed. Golden and Iggy were talking, Golden explaining the colors of the stars that were beginning to emerge in the clear night sky.

Fang was blogging on his computer and I was reading over his shoulder. At my sudden inhalation, he turned around with a fierce, protective look on his perfect face. "Voice?" he asked. I nodded.

Iggy heard too, and I saw his back stiffen. Golden looked up, alarmed. He set his long hand on her shoulder, implying that it wasn't anything serious.

Max, you need to go to Washington Dc. The government is having troubles, and they need your help. Leave tomorrow morning and you will receive further instructions then.

"Well, we're going to DC again tomorrow."

The next morning we all woke up, had some eggs prepared by Iggy, and started off. It was a picturesque trip, spanning everything from evergreen forests to harsh deserts to suburban towns. It felt incredible to see everything that normal people consider to be their whole life flashing by below you in seconds.

We'd just been flying for a few hours, not talking or anything. We were in a defensive position (Fang and Iggy on either side of me, Golden and Gazzy below, and Nudge and Angel above) in case any attackers chose to attack us, but it was unnecessary. It was a lazy afternoon in late August, and the sun even made me a bit drowsy. Fang smiled his heart-stopping smile at me, and I grinned back, swooping cockily in the air.

"Max? I'm getting hungry. Can we get some food soon?" Gazzy's voice floated up toward me.

"Sure, Gaz,"

"You know, we're right over Arizona, near your Mom's. I could go for some cookies," Iggy said.

I looked down, and sure enough, there was the spot where I had saved Ella that day. It seemed like so long ago. But how did the blind kid know?

"Um, yeah. I doubt she'll mind if we just barge in at three PM on a random day, begging her for cookies. It's worth a shot," I shrugged, swooping downward. "And Iggy? How did you know where we were?"

"Dunno," he replied. Crap, not another mutation on my hands. I forced it out of my mind.

We landed, and I did a quick head count to make sure everyone was fine. We were a motley bunch; our clothes practically died a rusty red from blood. We walked through the suburban town, full of quaint little ranch houses and little kids on bikes. It made me feel nostalgic; made me remember that I had never had a normal childhood. Golden was lost in her thoughts, probably remembering her 'normal' youth. She had come clean completely about her past, and I empathized. I understood how betrayal felt. Ari and Jeb had taught me that fair and square.

"Here we are," I said, and knocked tentatively on the door. It was a nice house, and I could only imagine how we looked, a group of kids in crappy, bloodstained clothes standing outside of a nice suburban home.

My mom answered the door. I opened my mouth to explain, but before I could, she enveloped me in a huge, motherly hug. I'm no softie, but I'll admit that I may have leaked a few tears.

"Max! You're here! Hi Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Angel, Gazzy, and you must be Golden. I've read about you on Fang's blog. Oh, please come in!"

Oh, it felt so good to be here. It was the only place I'd ever felt normal. We all walked into the vaguely southwestern-themed house. The walls were painted a pale gold and the décor was sparse, mostly old, worn down wood or leather.

"How're you?" Mom asked. "I just fished baking some cookies, so I'll get those out of the oven. Oh, God, you need new clothes. I'll see what I can find,"

"Sounds great, Mom." She pulled some cookies (hell yes) out of the oven and set them on the coffee table in their living room. We all crowded around and grabbed some, stuffing our faces with the rich, sugary goodness as she ran upstairs to try to find some clothes.

"Well, I have clothes enough for Max and Golden, and Ella could spare some for Nudge, but I don't know about the boys and Angel." She looked at her watch, and continued. "Well, Ella should be home from school any minute, and I'll take you shopping," {A/N: Sorry, couldn't help inflicting a little cliché Max-torture. I know, I'm facepalming too}

Seriously? That hardly seemed fair. I hated malls. They reeked like designer perfume and preppy girls who only cared about their fingernails.

"OMG yes! I totally need new shoes and stuff! Thanks, Dr. Martinez!" Go Nudge, you just lowered my chances of escaping from 1 to zero. Huzzah...