Story: This chapter is fluff/stuff i wanted to put in. It really has nothing to do with the main story. But it does. That didn't make sense. Well, the dark stuff should come back in the next few chapters. There are moments of it here and there in these, but it really comes back at Fang's parent's house. Which they arn't at yet. So keep reading!

Disclaimer: I do not claim

Fang POV

I don't get this. I really don't. I mean it's my parents we are going to meet. I should be the one that's all nervous, all panicked. But I'm not. I could care less if we even find them. As long as I have Max, I'm happy. Well, I won't be suicidal anyway.

But Max. She, well, she's way too fidgety for my liking. She's trying to be happy for me. She wants me to find my parents, to be happy, to have a normal life; yeah like I can ever achieve normalcy with my past; but she has doubt. She doubts I will stay with her. She doubts my love for her.

I know she does. No, she never actually said it, but since when did she ever have to say something for me to know exactly what it was she needed? I could always read her. I could always save her. It was Shadow I couldn't save. It was me that I couldn't save.

We have been together these past few days…or was it weeks? I'm not too sure. We have spent much of our time in the dark cave, night and day seemed to blend together these days. Well, anyway, as I was saying, we have been together, changing from secret love to open love. And I've got to say, I'm not very good at it. I don't show emotion. Never have. A thing like that doesn't just change over night. And it doesn't change for love either.

But I try. I sleep with her in my arms. I answer her questions in full sentences. I tell her I love her. I show her I love her. I keep one eye on her at all times. I don't go off on my own, well, unless it's that. But even that I try not to do as much. I try to be there for her as much as I can, and I can't do that with her there. I may want to hurt, but I don't want her to.

I sigh. This is way more difficult than it should be. I look over to my right at Max. She looks back at me and gives a shy smile. I smirk. No matter how many times I tell her she's perfect, she still gets self-conscious after we sleep together. She gets over it in a half hour usually, unless I say something that makes her blush first. Then it's more like a full hour. Which is what happened today.

It was just over an hour ago that we were back in that dark cave; blanket covering us, my hand in her hair, her skin touching mine. It was as close to heaven that I was ever going to get, me and my scars will never see the light at the end of the tunnel. We will just see the endless black. But Max, God. Max is pure. Max is innocent; well she was innocent until I took that from her. But Max is perfect. Max is an angel, my angel. But even my angel can't save me from that black fate.

My smile fades from my face. I fly on looking ahead. We were currently, as mentioned earlier, on our way to where my parents supposedly lived. Well, according to the paperwork from Itex anyway. It was somewhere in a small town just over the border in Canada. It will take us a few days to get there, since we were currently just flying over the border of Arizona.

It was a quiet flight. I never talk. And Max isn't one to talk to herself, unless it's that damn voice in her head. Plus, we don't really have much to talk about.

Yeah right.

We had everything to talk about. But after that night in the cave, we tend to keep conversation light. She doesn't want the pain to suffocate me like it did that night. But it does anyway. She knows it. She sees it in my eyes. It scares her. I scare her. I'm a killer. I'm a murderer. I'm scarred. I'm tired. I'm dead. I'm nothing. I'm just Fang.

And yet, she loves me. That one thing seems to be what is keeping me sane, keeping me where I am now, by her side, on the way to meet the parental units.

Sometimes it's just too much you know. I'm sure you all have had those days. You know. Those days where you wake up late, end up missing the bus to school and your backup ride making you have to walk the whole 5 miles to school in the pouring rain, where you are already failing every class because you forgot that 100 point project at home, and to top it all off, you just saw your significant other smacking lips with the one person they told you they were just friends with. You know those days. Well mine are nothing like that.

Mine are not fruitless feelings. Not scream worthy. No. Mine are always kill worthy. Mine are pain filled. Mine are guilt ridden. Mine are where death comes as a true Godly blessing.

But you couldn't possibly understand that.

I don't want to be this way. I don't want to be pitied, weak, in pain. I don't want to be a killer. I don't want to have the guilt. I don't want to be responsible for anything. I need a break from my life. I need to pass out without the nightmares that follow. I need…something…I need life. I'm not living, I'm being. I'm dead.

But Max's love for me, started to bring me back from the depths of my self dug grave. Max is bringing me back to life. But it still isn't enough.

I slide my glance to my right, where she is flying; her long pale wings brushing the tips of my dark ones with every down stroke. Her eyes are closed, faced turned up toward the sky, trying to soak as much sun as she can now. Her long locks of hair being swiped back from the wind.

She looked so at peace. It was times like these when she would remind me of Shadow. Shadow had that confident air to her that I've only seen in one other person, and she happens to be by my side at this very moment. Shadow had those long, dark locks of hair as well. Her eyes were a stunning brown that seemed to grow darker with her mood. And the trust she put in me, was unparallel. How anyone could trust me with so much certainty was astounding.

The moment we met, she latched on for dear life, buried her head in my chest and cried, as if she knew me her whole life. She was so small and warm. She was 3, I think. Yes she was 3, for I was 6 when they put our whole team in the same room. I remember the Erasers running in and ripping her from my grasp. I didn't understand why I couldn't be with her but I could be with anyone else. Then they told me, she was blood. She had to be my sister.

I remember them changing her wings. That first time, I remember, she had feathers as black as night and as light as day down her wings. But the next time, I saw the skin stretched over bone. They weren't even bird anymore. They told me I was mistaken before, that she always had the bat wings. I was positive she didn't.

And I know. That wasn't the first thing they lied to me about.

Max caught me looking at her. She just blushed and faced away from me to try to hide it. I wanted nothing more than to hold her at this moment.

So I did.

I moved so I was flying inches above her, my wings flapping in unison with hers so we do not bump them in mid flight. She gasped slightly in surprise as I wrap my arms around her waist and bring her against my body, leaving just enough room for her to move her wings. "Fang! What are you doing?! We are going to fall!"

I lean down and kiss the back of her neck. "I'll catch you." I mumble against her skin.

"Not if you are falling too." She wasn't yelling. Her voice wasn't even at a normal volume. It was soft and quivering. Her breath came out more ragged as I kissed up her neck.

"I will catch you." I promised. "I will never let you go."

I heard her whisper, "I know," very quietly. We weren't talking about falling out of the sky anymore.

"Do you trust me?" I whispered by her ear.

"Depends on what you are planning to do." She smirked.

The corners of my mouth twitched. "Do you trust me?" I repeated.

"Yes." She said with certainty. "Always."

"Fold in your wings." I requested.

"What?" she asked confused.

"Fold in your wings." I repeated. "Let me hold you."

She turned her head to the side so she could see my face. "I don't need to be carried."

"I know. But I want to. I want you in my arms right now." I smiled down at her. "I love you."

She smiled back up at me. But it didn't reach her eyes like it usually did. But nonetheless she folded in her wings. I tightened my grip around her waist, and brought her closer. We fell a few feet before I got used to the extra weight. We wrapped our legs together. I rested my chin on her right shoulder. She placed her arms over mine. I felt her take a deep breath.

"I told you I wouldn't drop you."

"I will never doubt your awesome carrying skizels again Fang." She sarcasticly stated.

"Glad to hear it." I laughed.

"You're in a good mood today." She observed.

"I'm over 1000 feet above the rest of the world, with my love in my arms. What more could I ask for in this moment?" I kissed her neck again. "Flying helps me relax…usually. I can just get away and be free. My problems are left on the ground. When I'm up here, nothing else matters. My past, my pain, my…anything, it's all gone when I'm up here. And you being here with me…just makes everything more…I don't know, just good."

We continued to fly like that for a while; silent. Max's position changed however. I was holding her bridal style, and she wrapped her arms around my neck. Her face pushed into my chest. Her eyes were closed, but she wasn't asleep. Every few moments she would press her lips against my chest, my neck, my lips, anywhere in reach.

I had a foreign feeling in me. It was warm and almost glowed. I felt content, loved, wanted, needed even. 'I felt happy.' I realized.

It was strange I didn't recognize this emotion. It had been such a long time since I was truly, without a doubt, fully happy. I was surprised I forgot how it felt.

I looked down a Max once again. I pressed my lips against her forehead. 'My perfect angel.' I thought.

She looked up at me in return and pressed her lips to mine. My eyes closed involuntarily. My lips parted and I breathed in her sweet scent. She kissed me harder. My wings missed a beat in return. Max noticed and pulled away quickly. She began to laugh softly at me. "Don't forget to flap there Romeo." She laughed again. "So no kissing while flying. I have to remember that." She lent over and kissed my cheek. "Hmmm… this is going to be harder than I thought."

I smirked down at her. "Did you really just call me Romeo?"

"Would you have rather of been called something different?"

"Yes, actually. There is no way in Hell you would ever catch me wearing those tights."

She started to laugh again. "Honey. Romeo is one of the most romantic characters in history…"

'Honey.' I thought. I liked that.

"It's a compliment. Really. Haven't you ever read the play, or at least seen one of the movies?"

"Of course I have Max. Remember you made me watch it one year on Valentines Day. You swore I would cry. I didn't but by the end you were bawling your eyes out."

"No I…Oh my God. How did you remember that?"

"It was the first time I saw you cry."

"No. It couldn't be. You saw me cry before that."

I shook my head. "No. That was the first. You would never cry in front of anyone, least of all me. You would always go off in the woods or cry in the shower."

"You knew about that?"

"I heard you every night after Jeb left. I wanted to go in there and tell you everything would be alright."

"Why didn't you?"

"It would have been a lie. I'm the first person to tell you life is hard. It's unbearable even. Things aren't going to be okay. You're going to be tested, and pushed. You're going to hurt. The only thing you can do is hope to find someone like you, and find a way to deal with it."

"Together."

I nod my head. "Yes. Together."

"But what about all the good times? You have to believe life's worth more than pain."

"They make the pain worse. It's the same physically. If someone is hurt everyday of their life, the pain seems less each day, but really it's the same, you're just used to it. You build up a defense for it. You know it's coming and you stop it from getting too deep."

"You can't feel it." She whispered under her breath.

I sighed. She was talking about me now. "You can't feel it." I agreed. "But it's different for a person who only feels pain every now and then is it not? They don't know when it's coming and they don't know how to stop it. So it digs deeper and hurts more. The pain is worse if you don't expect it."

"Either way, it's still pain."

"Yes. It still hurts."

"Fang…" She trailed off.

"What Max?" I whispered.

"Nothing." She said quickly, turning her face away from mine.

"No, not nothing." I replied moving her face so she was looking at me again. "What was it?" She just stared at me. "Max?"

She sighed and looked away. "I was just wondering…well. I know you said you can't feel it, the pain I mean. But then how much of the pain do you feel."

"Enough." I answered.

It was starting to rain. The drops of rain running down my skin only to be caught in the fabric of my clothing. Max's hair started sticking to her face. I sighed. "We should land." Max nodded. "Know any places to stay around here? A nice cave perhaps?"

She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Where are we exactly?"

"We passed the state boarder a while back. We're still near the Rockies. We were heading north. So I would guess we're somewhere in the middle Colorado."

Some flicker of recognition flitted across her features. "Are we on the same route we took to The School on our Angel rescue mission?"

"God I hope not. But, uh, we're close. Why? Plan on bunking in with some Erasers at the School?"

"Don't be a smart ass Fang."

"I'm sorry."

"Right well, I was thinking that….well. Do you remember when I left you and Nudge over that town to help that girl awhile back and I ended up having to stay for a few extra days…"

"Because you were stupid and got yourself shot at by a bunch of guys and you had to show your wings to a normal human you have never met before. Yeah I remember."

"What did I say about being a smart ass?"

"Hey, it was all true."

She sighed. "You know what, fine. I'm not taking you over there if you're going to be a jackass."

"Take me where?"

"To the place I stayed. They live around here. We could probably stay there for a few days. You know restock on food and clothes. And oh, shower maybe. I mean we are on our way to meet your parents. The least we could do is not smell."

"Or we could just not go."

"Fine we'll find a hotel then."

"No I mean, we don't have to find my parents."

"What?" She asked astonished.

"Look all I'm saying is it would be a lot easier than flying all the way there."

"But they're your parents Fang. Don't you want to find them?"

"What's the point? It's not like they are going to want me. I'm part bird for God's sake. I can fly. I'm already a messed up teenager. I mean they aren't going to be too happy to know I cut myself. And oh yeah, that I kill. I will have to explain why Shadow isn't with me. And on top of all that I have to tell them I'm not a virgin anymore, and that they either let you stay or I leave with you. And I don't even really care if I do find them. They mean nothing to me. They weren't there, I can't really blame them, but they still weren't there. They are never going to be able to relate to me or help me. And you know my temper. What if I slip and hit one of them? They're not geneticaly enhanced as we are. They will break. It's just not worth the trouble."

"Okay first of all, your temper has never slipped that much. You're not going to hurt them. And how do you know they can't help you? You never met them. And me? Don't worry about me. I can leave…"

"I'm not leaving you." I said sternly.

"But if it was between me and your family…"

"I'm not leaving you. You are my family. I only need you."

She stared at me for a second. "Thank you Fang," she whispered touched. "But we are going to meet your parents. So we can either go to Ella's house, or find some motel."

"A motel huh?" I smirked.

Max sighed. "Such a guy." I heard her mumble under her breath. "Fang…"

"I know. I was just kidding Max. How close are we to this Ella's home?"

"Uh,…" She looked down and around for a while. "I'd say 15 minutes. 20 tops. Can you fly in the rain for that long?"

"As long as I'm not struck by lightening, yeah I should be fine."

"Or as long as I don't kiss you again." She added.

I rolled my eyes. She hit my chest playfully. And just to prove my point, I leaned down and kissed her lips, making sure to keep my wings in a steady rhythm. I pulled back after a few moments.

"Show off." Max muttered.

"Only for you, babe."

"Don't call me that."

"Okay." I laughed.

"Stop laughing!"

"Can't…sorry." I laughed out again.

She kissed me. I stopped laughing. "Found a way to shut you up. Interesting."

"When do I ever need to shut up? You can never get me to start talking." She frowned. I kissed her forehead. "You know I'm right."

She mumbled something under her breath. I think I caught the phrase 'Arrogant Jerk' a few times.

I smiled. "So, are you sure we can trust these people?"

"Who?" I stared at her like she was missing something very obvious. "Oh, right. Well they accepted me."

"But will they accept me?"

"Why wouldn't they?"

"Well, first off, I'm a guy, and according to you I'm a jerk around other people. And, oh yeah, I'm the guy that stole your innocence."

"Stole my innocence? What is that Fang? We aren't in a Victorian movie."

"Fine, I'm the guy that Fuc…"

"Whoa. We're not in that kind of movie either. Watch the language."

"Watch the language. Ha. Yeah, right."

"And you wonder why I need a way to shut you up."

"I'm sorry. Now, there is a town coming up. Is this it?"

She looked down again, her eyes narrowed. "Yeah." She nodded. "This is it. It's by the woods in the back of town. That little white house there." She pointed to the house in question.

"Charming." I mumbled.

"Fang. These are great people. They like me. They know about us, well me anyway. So be nice. Got it?"

"Yes. Wait…they don't know about me?"

"Well, I never expected to be going back there. I didn't see the reason to warn them there are other mutant freaks out there."

"Great, just great."

"And oh yeah. I should tell you. Ella's mom, yeah, she's a doctor. A vet actually."

"She's a white coat!" And we were supposed to stay there happily? Was she insane?

"NO! I said doctor. There is a difference."

"Does she wear a white coat?"

"Yes."

"Then she is a white coat Max."

"But not all the time. It's the uniform. We can't measure every person that wears a white coat to be an evil genetic scientist that wants to test on us. In fact I remember the doctors that kindly saved your stupid ass wore those coats."

"And did you see me letting any of them near me when I woke up? No, you didn't."

Max sighed in frustration. "Fang. These are good people. Stop being a paranoid ass and trust me."

"I do trust you." I told her.

"Then do this for me."

I didn't want to. It was bad enough these people were normal, but the mother was…she wore…it just brought back some memories I would rather not relive anytime soon. And things were just starting to look up for me. I was right. Happiness blinds you to the pain.

I sighed. "Fine." I could do this. For Max. I trusted her. Really I do. I just can't help feeling, I don't know, I guess paranoid is the right word for me.

I landed in the forest just out on the edge of town. I gently put Max on her feet. She wobbled a bit, but I held her until she steadied herself. "Whoa. Major sea legs."

I looked at her questionably. "Sea legs? But we were flying."

"I know that. It's an expression. Jeeze where did you grow up? Under a rock?"

"More like in a cave."

She looked up at me and smiled. Then she grabbed a fistful of my shirt and dragged me down to her, pulling my lips onto hers. I smiled into the kiss. We parted breathless. I looked at her smiling as I straightened my now wrinkly shirt. "What was that?"

"I'm not sure how they will take the whole, we slept together thing. So let's just keep it on the down low."

"You want me to lie to them? I'm sure that's a great way to start off knowing me."

"No, not lie. I don't lie…"

"That's right. You fib in big portions."

She shoved me. "Shut up. Anyway. We won't lie to them if they ask. Let's just not right away state that we are living in sin."

"Ah, we'd be living in sin even if we weren't sleeping together."

"Let's just go." She started walking toward the house. I grabbed her arm and pulled her back to me. "Fang what…?"

I looked down at her. "I love you."

She smiled. "I love you." She intertwined our fingers and we walked up to the door.

It was dark out, night. Rain lightly poured down. We were already soaked through. How will they react to a couple of wet bird kids standing on their doorstep? I was suddenly very nervous. I suddenly felt as if I had to impress these people, which was ridiculous, for I never had the inkling to impress anyone before. But then again, Max never had human friends before this.

Before I knew it we were at the, what did Max call them, oh, the Martinez' back door. Max moved in front of me and slowly lifted her fist to the door, knocking twice. We heard shuffling from behind the door, before it opened.

A girl around our age opened the door. I figured this must have been the girl max went down to save all those years ago, Ella. Her eyes widened as she saw Max. I don't think she noticed me yet. She flung herself at Max in a big hug. "Max! Oh my God Max! You came back! Mom! MOM! Come here quick!"

I heard heavy, quick footsteps come running into the room. "What? What's wrong?"

"It's Max!"

An older lady came into the doorway and stared at her. "Why, yes it is. How's the wing doing?" I thanked God she didn't ask why we were here.

"Perfect thank you." Max replied. A smile was plastered to her face.

"Well don't stand out in the rain all night. Come in." Dr. Martinez waved us, well her in. They haven't noticed me yet.

Well, until I stepped inside behind Max. All eyes were glued to me. "Hi." I mumbled after Max elbowed me in the ribs.

"I see you have brought a friend Max." Dr. Martinez said. Then she stepped forward offering her hand, smiling. "Hi. I'm Dr. Martinez. And this is my daughter Ella."

I stared blankly at her hand. Her smile faded and she dropped her hand to her side. Max frowned. "I'm sorry." She said. "Don't mind him. He likes his space."

"Who is he?" Ella asked.

"Fang." I mumbled. The eyes were back on me. "My name is Fang."

"He's part of my family. My flock."

"Is he…like you?" Dr. M asked a little wary, as if afraid she would offend us.

"You mean the wings? Yeah. Show them Fang." I raised my eyebrows at her. "Go ahead."

I shrugged and slowly opened my dark wings to their full 15 foot wingspan. They gasped. Their eyes wide in shock.

"They're black." Ella so obviously pointed out.

"No kidding." I said back.

Max smacked the back of my head. I pulled my wings in. "Ow. What was that for?"

"Stop being an ass."

"Sorry." I muttered under my breath.

When we looked back, they were smiling at us. "So do you plan on staying?" Dr. M asked.

"Oh please stay. It would be so cool! Just like last time Max! We could make cookies and everything! How long can you stay? Where are you going? Where did you come from? Oh! Are you two related? How long have you known each other? Wait, are you dating!?"

Great another Nudge. Max must have known that was what I was thinking because she looked over at me and frowned. 'Stop' She mouthed.

'Sorry' I whispered back. Then I lent down and gave her a kiss. I pulled away after hearing a high feminine, 'awwww' come from the direction of Ella. I looked up and saw her smiling at us. I'm sure I was smiling too. Max has that effect on me.

I glance over at Dr Martinez, she looked torn between being happy for Max and coming over and giving us the talk, which was, you know, completely useless at this point.

Her parental side won. "Hey Ella, could you give us a second please."

"Yeah, sure. I'll go make those cookies for Max." and she ran off into, what I'm assuming was, the kitchen.

I frowned. She wouldn't really… "I think we need to talk guys. Why don't you sit down?"

And apparently she would.

I always liked stories that they went back to Ella's. Ella and her mom were cool characters. Well, I tried to put some aww moments and some not so depressingness in my so angsty story. But it won't always be like this. Dark chapters so come!

Oh and am I the only one that pictures Fang with dark short hair? Like the main guy in The Covenant.

Next Chapter: A little time spent at the Martinez' place. A journey continued. A stop along the way. Fang's past catching up to him.

Review! Please! even if it's to tell me it was crap, i will appriaciate the honesty so review!