BOOK 2: ELLIE POV: Announcing to the World:

I stared at the Flock with a frown. We saved the world. Iggy was at my side. Fang and Angel were practically hopping in their seats though Fang would never admit it. I rolled my eyes at the pair.

It's been a week since I had my fight with Mel, Max's with Omega and the others with the other mutants. But I've been too nervous to tell the others about Iggy and me. I mean, the real us. Max was sitting in a chair. Her hair was pulled back to hide the small unnoticeable bald spot that she had from her fight with Omega and there was a large cut going from the end of her eyebrow down to her cheekbone. She was wearing a fairly new tank top and a pair of clean jeans. Dr. Martinez was waiting patiently and I guess she was the one that would most disapprove. Everyone else (Nudge, Jeb, Gasman and Andrew) were just huddled around, trying to figure out what our "big news" was. Fang was ready to burst out laughing from the tense air in here.

We were in a nearby town next to Halo while they reconstructed. What Mel and I had left really did look like a small bombing. We had the boxes of Mel mailed out and scattered. One was dumped in the ocean, never to be found. One was in China, buried next to the Great Wall. And I think we left a part of her all around the world next to landmarks. I don't know; it might've been to honor her or something. It was Andrew's idea.

Jeb had decided to stick around for a bit, try to act like a dad to Max. I was gonna go back to Halo once Andrew sent my parents back. My dad would mysteriously be relocated and I'd be waiting for the family just for an occasional visit. I wouldn't stay with them but I would visit from time to time. Iggy and I had already talked about it and we decided that we would keep up our aliases as adults to keep the marriage because we were just that serious.

I ducked behind Iggy, clutching onto him like a human shield. "What are you doing, Ellie?" Iggy asked in a bland voice. "I don't want to feel the wrath of Dr. Martinez," I whimpered to him. This perked up everyone's attention. Dr. Martinez was barely ever mad unless you kidnapped her (heard that story before), tried to kill her or Max or anyone in the Flock, etc. All chattering was over and done with. "So you're gonna sacrifice me?" Iggy cried out. I knew he wanted the wrath of Dr. Martinez just as little as me but, he was the guy! He had to do this! "Will you just come to my side? That way we can tell her together." Iggy said. "You tell her; I'll wait downstairs." I offered brightly. Iggy gave me a stern look. I groaned and looked at the floor. I was wearing a pair of jeans and a gray V-neck that was slightly baggy on me. But being nearly beaten to death by someone of the same strength as you take a lot out of you and I still had some nasty scars that I'd rather not show. "We've decided to keep our aliases as Ellie Monroe and Jeff Ride." I said.

Everyone seemed confused. "So, you're moving out? That's what you're so worried about?" Max scoffed and crossed her arms. I shook my head like a little child. I still had plenty of scars on my face from Mel's beating but they were just barely there and they actually kind of just added to a tough girl look. Iggy said he liked battle scars. "What else is there?" Dr. Martinez demanded. I frowned up at Iggy. "You tell her," I mumbled. Iggy rolled his eyes. "You are such a wuss," He muttered. "I am not!" I whined and stomped my foot. "Fine, you're a freaking four year old." He argued. I rolled my eyes at this and crossed my arms again. "What did you break?" Fang joked. I narrowed my eyes at him. "You're going down with us." I growled at him.

"I kept it a secret!" Fang cried out in his defense with his hands held high. "You knew about this? What the hell is going on?" Max cried out. I sighed. "Iggy and I…well, you remember that dud in Vegas?" I asked Max. She nodded slowly, suspiciously. "There was no dud." I muttered. Max's eyes grew wide. "We're allowed to do that." I mumbled. "Says who?" Max asked. "Well, says the priest and our aliases, Ellie Monroe and Jeff Ride." I muttered and hid into Iggy's arm. I lifted up my left hand. "YOU TWO GOT MARRIED?" Max screeched at the top of her lungs. I flinched as did Iggy. "Well, you know, it was a spur of the moment type thing and we were in Vegas with IDs and it just seemed like a good idea at the time." Iggy defended. I frowned at him. "So, you two want to have a marriage?" Dr. Martinez snapped. I frowned at her. "Have you even thought about the effect that will have?" She cried out.

I blinked at her. "We decided that we wanted to do this." I said. Fang and Angel were cracking up, Nudge was gushing and Gasman was just in shock. "What?" Gasman asked. We both turned to look at him, Iggy and I did. "Sorry, Gazzy but we got married. Sorry we didn't tell you." Iggy said and reached up, running a hand through his hair. Gasman seemed depressingly depressed. "Oh, come on, Gasman!" I cried out. I didn't want Gasman of all people to be like that. I mean, Iggy and I would be living together and we would be married but that didn't mean that too much would change. We would just all…I don't know!

"And besides, um, we'll be moving out only to have some little private moments and it won't be too long at all." I said. "It'll only be during the nights and during the days, you can have Iggy back all you like." I rambled on. "Hey!" Iggy cried out in offense. "Well, you will be coming back to build bombs with him and you can possibly even get a job doing that and you two can work together and…oh, my God! Nudge is infectious!" I cried out in panic. Iggy dropped his head to his hands. "Okay, this is getting too funny," Fang gasped out. Even Max had cracked a grin. Andrew was cracking up just as much and Angel was still trying to hold on for air from laughing so hard. Nudge pouted at my 'Nudge is infectious' comment. "Will you two have a real wedding at some point?" Nudge asked. I blinked at her. "Well, technically Iggy doesn't exist and I'm dead so…maybe with our aliases." I muttered.

"And what about children? Will you have those underage as well?" Dr. Martinez snapped. I turned to her and felt my eyes go wide. Was she gonna claw my eyes out? She looked like she would. But then I decided the best way to handle this; put on a front. I made my face blank. "I have no clue. We've already decided that Angel will name our first kid because she kept the secret first because she's a telepath." I said. "Is that why Angel kept on laughing?" Nudge asked. I nodded and shrugged. "I have a very comical mind." I stated. "And have you even thought about where you're going to live?" Dr. M asked us; well, mainly me. "I have a bank account that no one's swiped and I can use that money to buy us an apartment near wherever you guys are." I answered. Dr. M raised an eyebrow. "So, you really wanted to split up the Flock? I didn't." I said to her silent question.

Max was frowning. "We can move to a new town for a new start, mom. Unless you want to stay in the same town." Dr. M said. It was then that Ella entered from the bathroom with a flush of the toilet. "What'd I miss?" She asked. Fang and Angel burst out into hysterics again, this time with Gasman and Nudge. Iggy snorted and sat down in the nearest chair. "Ella, if I told you that Iggy and I were married how would you react?" I asked. Ella frowned. "At the age of freaking fifteen?" She cried out. I sighed in defeat and sat down next to Iggy. "Well, deal with it. Gasman and I can build bombs somewhere and Ellie can do what she wants and everyone can be happy." Iggy announced. I frowned at everyone's reactions. They were all shocked that Iggy had said something. Why? I thought that in this whole relationship, Iggy was definitely the guy even if I did have the say so. I was a wife, he was a husband. We were each other's partner when need be.

"I can contact CSM and they can contact the military if you'd like." Dr. Martinez offered with a sigh. Max sighed and looked up. Then she stood up, taking back her position as leader. "Mom, you can contact the CSM, like you said, we can move near some military base to keep the Flock together and Iggy and Ellie can keep their aliases until whenever they decide to get actual education." Max said. "We'll have Ellie announce this to her parents when she meets up with them and we can figure this all out when we come to it." She said. I smiled at her. "But you two are not off the hook just yet. What exactly do you plan to do? Are you two gonna just go off on your little fantasy trip?" Max accused. I frowned at her.

"I know all I need to know about explosives and that can be my expertise." Iggy said. "I have half my education and was actually kind of top in my class so I know more than the average person." I cut in. "And my brother works in Washington, D.C. with NCIS. We can probably get jobs from him if we want." I said. Max raised both her eyebrows at this. "What?" She asked. "He's been working at NCIS part time because of his credentials in criminology class." I announced. "We'll figure this out later." Max said. I frowned and nodded. "But there's a bigger issue." Andrew announced. "Do you want to stay dead?" He asked me.

=e=E=e=

I kept my eyes closed as I leaned my head against Iggy's chest. We were in the living room alone because everyone else took the bedrooms. Dr. M had said that if we wanted to be alone this was where we'd have to sleep. Iggy had agreed immediately but there was no way I was having sex on a couch. "Are you sure?" Iggy asked for like the fiftieth time that night. "I'm sure, Iggy. Just think about when we get our own place." I yawned to him. He nodded. "I mean, not about sex," He said after he realized what I'd said. "What about then?" I asked, furrowing my brow in confusion. "I mean about you staying dead." He said and rolled his eyes. His glasses weren't on him right now but instead on the table that the lamp was on. All lights were off but there was enough moonlight coming from the windows. "My parents and my brother will be the only ones to know I'm alive. NCIS might know after a while if I trust them enough but that's later." I answered.

Iggy sighed and frowned down at me. "I mean, what about that friend? What was it; Melinda or something?" He asked. "Morgan?" I asked. He nodded. "That's it." He said and tightened his arm around my waist. "I don't know; I don't think that'll be a very good idea." I said. "And if your parents don't approve of us?" He asked. I shook my head. "That won't matter." I said. "I'm technically dead; they can't do anything about it." I said. Things were getting so complicated with legal actions. Our marriage, my death, his never existing; it was all going to get to me after a while. "What if…" Iggy trailed off with a sigh. I frowned at him. "What if they do the same yours did to you?" I asked. Iggy's told me about how his parents wanted to turn him into a sideshow freak. "Then I'll leave and I won't go back." I said. Iggy frowned and kissed my forehead, lingering with his lips there. He wasn't wearing a shirt but instead had left his pale chest open to me under the blanket. I was wearing a black camisole and my black pajama pants while he wore a pair of Superman pajama bottoms that Dr. M had gotten him.

"I don't want you to go through that." Iggy whispered to me and placed his chin on top of my head. "If I know my parents then…they'll accept me and keep me a secret." I said with a shrug. In full truth I had no clue what they were gonna do. Then there was Josh. If he could get us a job then that'd be great. But Josh was a field agent and pretty much almost had no say unless he begged his boss. Josh would also say I was a zombie and shoot me if I walked up to him without any warning. So parents first!

"When did Andrew say that your parents would be in Halo again?" Iggy asked. "They'll be here by next month." I answered. "That's longer than I thought." He said and smirked to me. "We'll have to wait until then to get our apartment because I have to ask Josh and I want to ask him in person." I said. "Why?" Iggy asked. "Because he'll believe that someone's either playing a really sick joke on him or his phone is haunted if I call him." I answered. "And I can't ask him until he's warned or else he might shoot me." I said. "You're immortal." Iggy said. "That might tempt him to shoot himself." I answered. Iggy laughed slightly, his laughter vibrating through his chest. I closed my eyes against the feel.

"Get some sleep, Igs," I said and pulled myself closer to him, keeping my arms wrapped around his waist. Iggy nodded and kissed the top of my head. I fell asleep quickly.

Next DAY:

"Your dad will be informed of the transfer this evening by his boss. It is required of him so he'll have to go or be forced back." Andrew assured me. "Don't kidnap my dad." I said and rolled my eyes. "We have to get him to confront you so that he'll know you're alive and well." Andrew reminded me. "I know that but I don't want you to KIDNAP my DAD." I said. We were in the kitchen, eating lunch while the others were out, being happy. "I don't want to either so if he'll go willingly then we'll make sure not to kidnap him." Andrew said. I nodded. "Just don't do anything illegal," I said. "Harboring a corpse isn't illegal but it is creepy." Andrew chuckled. I rolled my eyes. "You're not harboring me and I do have a beating heart." I said and tapped the spot on my chest where my heart was.

"Anyways after a week or two you can go wait in the prepaid house and they won't suspect a thing. They'll be escorted by informed—," Andrew went on but I cut him off. "I said don't kidnap him!" I cried out. Andrew rolled his eyes. "They'll be escorted of their own free will." Andrew said. "My dad's part of the NRA; if he suspects a thing then he'll shoot your people on site." I said with a smug chuckled and picked up my glass of orange juice, lifting it to my lips. "How long do you want to spend there?" he asked. I swallowed my drink and set it down on its coaster again. "I want to spend a week or so there under the alias of a friend but I want them to know that I'm me." I said. Andrew nodded and pressed the information into his little PDA thingy. I think it was an i-Phone. I don't know; I've never seen one up close.

"If they leave early then we'll be alerted and we'll send you immediately." Andrew assured me and I nodded again. "The CSM are contacted and held in legal gags. If they breathe a word of your existence then they'll be sued so fast..." Andrew stopped when I held up a hand. "Take down those legal gags. I don't want to freaking scare them into that! Just tell them to not tell a word; I don't want to put anyone out of their money." I said. Andrew sighed and made a note in his i-Phone. "Okay; transportation. Do you want to go on train, plane, private car, or what?" Andrew asked. I raised an eyebrow at him. "I can go in a car. That might just be cheapest." I said. "And if Iggy will go with me then that's what I want." I added. Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Having your parents meet the husband on the same day that you tell them you're alive?" Andrew chuckled. I rolled my eyes.

"I won't introduce him as my husband at first. I'll ease them into that." I said and slid my hand across the air for emphasis. Andrew rolled his eyes and went back to making notes. "Okay but should we have the house guarded in case they try to get out…" He stopped again when he realized his own words. "Your father had a great influence on you." I joked in an Obi-wan Kenobi voice and with a bow. I stood up from my seat. "I'm gonna go and see where the Flock is so that Nudge, Angel and I can go shopping." I said. Andrew grimaced at the very thought of shopping and I snorted in response. "You are such a guy." I scoffed on my way out. "Do you remember where they said they were going?" I asked him from the doorway. "I think they said they wanted to fly around." Andrew said with a shrug. I nodded and exited, heading to the roof.

I patted my back pocket where my wallet was. Unlike most days I was dressed up in a blue plaid tank top and a black vest along with a pair of destructed gray jeans and my pair of high heeled boots with the leggings underneath. My hair was done up in slight curls with two locks pulled to the back with the same black barrette that I'd worn on my wedding night. I wore my ELLIE necklace around my neck and had several multicolored metal bangles on my wrists that jangled whenever I moved. I had my contacts in because we were so close to Halo and some of the people had evacuated here. People were automatically going back to Halo though instead of waiting around.

I made my way up the stairs to the roof where the Flock would be, no doubt. I had my credit card in my wallet along with my ID, just in case and had my wedding ring on my finger. I wore it as much as possible now that everyone knew and Iggy did too. We were both still in that happy couple stage. I opened up the door to the roof and shielded my eyes, looking up to the sky to see the six figures in the sky. I waved an arm in the air to call them down. Nudge, Iggy and Angel all came down along with Max at their tail. Gasman and Fang stayed in the air, obviously enjoying the air.

"I want them back before nine and I don't want anything that they will never wear. Mom will drive you to the mall but from there she's agreed to leave you guys." Max said the instant her feet touched the ground. I raised my hand to my brow in a salute. "Ma'am, yes, ma'am," I called jokingly. Max rolled her eyes. "Are ya sure you don't want to come with us, Max?" I asked and lowered my hand as Iggy came over to my side. "Not really," Max said as her eyes darted to my left hand. I rolled my eyes. Max was still a bit stubborn and was angry that Iggy and I'd gotten married before her and Fang. "I'm sure," She said. "Anyways, no clothes that you'll never wear, nothing ridiculous and not too much junk food," Max warned Angel and Nudge.

Iggy grinned down at me and I smiled. I was close enough to his height in the high heels but I was still shorter than him. I reached my hand up and grabbed the back of his neck at the same time that he grabbed me by the waist and we kissed. My acrylic nails were back and painted black again so I dug them slightly into his skin but not enough to actually break the skin. "Okay, okay, you two; get going," Max said at the same time that Fang wolf-whistled down at us. I rolled my eyes and pulled back reluctantly. Iggy's glasses were jostled for a second but he fixed them quickly. "I'll see ya later, Igs," I said to him and pulled back.

Iggy nodded reluctantly and let go of my waist. I pecked Iggy on the lips once more before pulling back again. "We'll be back soon enough, Max." I said and headed in the direction of the door. I waved up at the guys who seemed to pause midair and wave back before going back to chasing each other in circles. Nudge and Angel followed me down the stairs.

=e=E=e=

I dropped my bags near the couch where my duffel bag was at the foot of. Iggy, Gasman and Fang were each on the couch, watching an episode of How I Met Your Mother and laughing every time they did something hilarious. I unclipped the barrette from the back of my head and let my hair fall down in the fresh ringlets framing my face. I plopped down onto Iggy's lap where I wrapped an arm around the back of his neck. He grinned at me and leaned in for a kiss.

"Let me just get these dang shoes off." I said. I was trying to refrain from swearing around Gasman and Nudge. Angel was just pointless; she could read my mind! I reached down and unzipped the shoes before tossing them down beside my duffel bag. "Why do you even wear those torture-devices?" Gasman asked with his nose wrinkled. "I don't usually wear them unless it's a special occasion." I said with my chin held high. "Today was a special occasion?" Fang asked absently as he flipped through the channel. "Yeah, we went to get the outfit I'll wear when I see my parents." I said with a shrug. "By the way, Andrew wants to talk to you about that." Fang said. I frowned. "Not again; we went through it almost twenty times at lunch." I groaned and leaned my head against Iggy's shoulder. He reached his arm around my waist and began to rub my back. I closed my eyes to relish the feeling.

"Go find him so you can talk about it." Fang said. I opened my eyes to glare at him. "You just want me off this couch." I protested. "Yep," He said simply and flipped through the channels again. I stuck my tongue out at him but got up nonetheless. Iggy whined in protest as I got up. I leaned down and kissed him before I had to leave. "C'mon, Ellie; we need to talk about this." Andrew's voice cut through this. I groaned but stood up nonetheless and went over to him. Iggy groaned as I left.

Next DAY:

I groaned as the sunlight hit my face. I didn't want to get up. I turned over only to meet my face with a pillow. "What the hell?" I mumbled, my voice muffled through the pillow before I retracted my face. I searched around groggily and sat up. Iggy was back over behind the counter, cooking again. I groaned and let myself fall back. "Nope! Ya got to get up to get ready. We're leaving today." Iggy said. I frowned and peered over the couch. "What?" I asked. "Your parents left early this morning. They won't make it for another couple of hours but we still have to get going. Andrew just decided to let you have your sleep." Iggy said and shrugged. I noticed that Iggy was all spanked up too.

Iggy was wearing a white oxford shirt open to reveal a gray tank top and a pair of black cargo pants. The shirt's sleeves were rolled up to deflect the heat that seemed to be bursting at multiple levels. I groaned and shook my head. "Get up," Iggy ordered and left his food on the plate he'd set up. He stepped over to the couch where I was laying and leaned over the edge, crossing his arms to lean on it. I groaned and kicked off the blanket first before turning over onto my stomach. "C'mon; you were so hyped up to go yesterday." Iggy said. I inwardly rolled my eyes but still tried to get back to sleep. Too…early…

Iggy sighed and the next thing I knew I was up, up and away. Over Iggy's shoulder, that is. I groaned again and slapped Iggy's shoulder. "Put me back down." I muttered sleepily with a yawn. The yawn screwed over the order.

"You can sleep in the car." Iggy said. I nodded groggily as he settled me on the bed. "Where is everyone?" I yawned when I decided to wake up. "They all decided to go get some lunch." Iggy said. I frowned at this. "Lunch?" I mumbled. "No time; you can eat it on the way out." Iggy said. I nodded absently. I dragged myself into the new outfit I'd set up. I wanted to make an impression; a whole new me. So when I got the outfit, I had Nudge's advice in what would make me look as badass as I was. I dragged on the black skinny jeans with the small zippers at the knees and pockets and the hems. I forced my tight sweat-soaked black camisole over my head to show my bare chest. Iggy groaned as he saw me. "Shut up," I muttered as I headed over to my duffel bag in the corner (when did that get there?) and pulled out the black bag from inside.

"Did you pack my bags?" I asked. "Nah, Nudge did. She said that I couldn't handle the soft material or something." Iggy chuckled. I nodded as I pulled out the black and gray striped push-up bra and twisted my arm around to clasp the bra. "Iggy," I whined and Iggy laughed before getting behind me to buckle the damn clasp. "Alright, alright; just get finished so that we can head out." Iggy said. I nodded and pulled on the black and gray matching camisole. From there on I pulled on my black leather jacket and the same black boots that I'd worn yesterday along with the same leggings.

I yawned as I pulled my hair back into a messy ponytail; I was too lazy to do anything with it. I grabbed my duffel bag and zipped it back up on my way out. Iggy walked over to the couch to his now overly full backpack and led me out the door. I whined as Iggy dragged me to the elevator. "Ah, c'mon; think about the look on your parents' face when they see you." Iggy said. I nodded and yawned again. "I'm excited, Igs, I really am; I'm just too tired to be too excited." I said. Iggy rolled his eyes as I followed him. "Put in your contacts," Iggy said when we reached outside. "We'll call in later to Dr. M so that the others know we made it on time." Iggy said. I nodded again as I followed him into a car. It was a black Rolls Royce. "Wow, Andrew," I said as I climbed into the back. "It's as discreet as I could make it." Andrew apologized from across from me. I smiled at him and shrugged. Iggy settled down beside me and plopped his backpack beside my duffel bag on the spacey floor. I reached down and pulled out the contacts case from the side-pocket.

I tilted my head back to place the contacts in. "It's only for outside of the house," I explained to the two. "I don't want anyone from Halo recognizing me if I'm dead." I said with a shrug. "I doubt that new hair and a pair of contacts will keep them from recognizing you." Iggy said. I frowned at him. "Then give me my glasses back." I said. Iggy smirked and picked up his backpack. The next second I was placing on my glasses. "I can barely recognize you." Andrew said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes. "Shut up," I muttered as I leaned back. "And thanks, Andrew for doing all this." I said. Iggy leaned back next to me. "Sure thing, El; it's only payback for my dad." Andrew said and shrugged. I nodded my understanding. Iggy narrowed his eyes at Andrew and wrapped a protective arm around my waist. I laughed at the protective stance. And that was how we spent our ride. Until I fell asleep.

=e=E=e=

I groaned as I was shook awake. "What?" I groaned. "We're here; hurry before they can get the chance to get here." Iggy's voice said in my ear. I was instantly awake. I grabbed my duffel bag and shot out the door. Too bad it was closed. Iggy and Andrew both burst out laughing as I lay on the spacey floor. "Shut up," I growled at them as I kicked at the latch until the door sprung open. But it was opened by the driver. "Thank you," I said and stood up, dashing outside. I fixed my glasses from their crooked stance and headed inside the house.

The house was different from our other house, a bit more spacious but still homey. There were cardboard boxes dashed everywhere with markings in my mom's handwriting; I'd know it anywhere. It was kind of slanted and looked like it belonged on a computer. Andrew and Iggy were behind me a few moments after. I glanced around. But then I was confused. "What do I do now?" I asked. "You wait," Andrew said. I frowned at him. "Jeff and Christina should be here any moment." Andrew said with a shrug.

My dad worked with as a police officer so it was pretty alright to get transferred. My mom went to whatever job she could get. I sighed and looked around the house. There was an archway leading to a dining room and an archway leading to the living room. Here was the space where there was a large ivory staircase with a black iron staircase. "You can take your contacts out and the glasses too. Try to make yourself as recognizable so they can recognize you." Andrew said. I nodded and plucked the contacts from my eyes. Iggy offered the case and I plopped them in the liquid eye drops that they usually soak in.

I placed the glasses in the side pocket along with the contacts. I pulled my hair out of its ponytail and took off my jacket because it was HOT in here. I tucked my jacket in my duffel bag. I dropped onto one of the boxes. I hoped it wasn't fragile. Iggy took a seat on the staircase beside me and Andrew leaned up against a tall stack of boxes. "Well…this is awkward." Iggy chuckled. I rolled my eyes. "What are you gonna say if they don't believe it's you?" Andrew asked. "I'll just glare at them until they believe me," I said simply. Andrew and Iggy laughed uncomfortably, knowing that I wasn't joking. I sighed and looked down at the ground. "And what if they ask you to stay?" Iggy choked out. I blinked up at him. "That's a definite no. Even if I am underage, I'm still dead. I won't be living here and I won't be known to others as their daughter. I'll just be a family friend." I said. "Iggy and I will be living in D.C. if Josh gets us a job at NCIS." I said and shrugged.

"NCIS has some pretty good reps. I mean, I've heard about the troop of field agents." Andrew said with a shrug. I nodded. "Josh is a field agent. He's been working part-time so he isn't working as much as others." I said. "And if they want to know about you?" Andrew asked. This one was the one that Iggy answered. "Nudge is great with computers and so is Fang. They practically battled it out to make her fake reputation." Iggy answered. Andrew nodded. "My parents will be fine with it as long as Josh is around to watch over me." I said with a shrug. "And what about if NCIS finds out the truth about you?" Andrew asked. "Then I'll have to tell them the truth." I said and shrugged again. "There's no getting around it if they do." I said. "And my brother's boss is a good guy or so I've heard; Gibbs, I think his name is." I said.

Andrew nodded absently. Suddenly we heard the phone ring. Andrew dug in his pocket and pulled out his black i-Phone (I'm positive now) and lifted it to his ear. "Yes?" He said into the phone. "Thank you." He said a moment later and hung up. "They're coming up the driveway now. They'll be in here in a few seconds." Andrew said. Iggy stood up from his spot on the stairs and stepped over to me. He grabbed my hand seconds before I heard the creak of the door.

"I don't understand why they sent us here. They know what happened here." I heard my mom's voice say. I blinked into a sort of trance. I've gone too long without that voice. I thought to myself. I was about ready to cry from just the sound of her voice. I heard the echo of footsteps on the floor. Andrew headed in the direction of the footsteps, rounding the maze of boxes. "Hi there, my name is Andrew Gunderson." I heard Andrew say. But the boxes were in my way. I couldn't see them. They weren't going to believe him. My parents were going to—"Rachael?" I heard my dad's voice cry out in complete and utter shock and horror. I looked up and just gaped at my dad. He'd lost weight but he was still recognizable. He had a salt and pepper beard and a pair of glasses much like my fake ones. Dad had on his black police uniform and had his head shaved. His blue eyes blinked at me.

"Dad," I breathed and stood up straight, just smiling. My mom had joined my dad by now. She was covering her mouth in shock and what might be horror. She'd lost weight too. My mom was wearing a red t-shirt and a pair of jeans along with her famous tan sandals. Her hair was half blond half gray and her face was worn out. But her own blue eyes blinked at me in shock. I clutched onto Iggy's hand even more. I bit my lip in anticipation. They wouldn't believe it. They would kick me out.

But instead both my mom and my dad ran at me, ripping me into a huge hug. I had to struggle to breathe beneath both of them. "Are you all set, Ellie?" Andrew asked. "Yeah, thanks, Andrew." I said to him. He grinned and nodded. "Only payback for what my dad did, remember?" He said. I nodded again. "Still, thanks," I laughed. He nodded.

"Wait, how is this possible?" Dad asked. I frowned at him and Andrew did the same. "Ellie, um, Rachael will explain that to you." Andrew said and gave a respectable nod before heading out. "Wasn't that Monroe Gunderson's son?" Dad asked. I frowned at him. "Uh, yeah, that's him." I laughed nervously. "But he doesn't particularly like that." I said and shrugged. Dad turned back to me. "How is this…?" He trailed off with a really large question mark just out in the open. I rolled my eyes at him. "I'll explain that after a few moments, dad," I laughed and shook my head. Dad and mom's eyes darted to Iggy who was just whistling awkwardly. His backpack was down at his feet. I snorted at this. "Dad, mom, this is Iggy," I said and rolled my eyes as Iggy turned. He gave a salute to my dad and mom who just stared on in confusion.

"It's a really long story." I said. "Rachael, we thought you were dead. What happened? We found your body outside!" Mom cried out. Iggy raised his hand and I furrowed my brow at him. "It's possible that that could've been a clone." Iggy said with a shrug. I snorted. "Like Max II?" I asked. He nodded. "They didn't have a chance to get my DNA so how would that even be possible?" I asked. He shrugged. "Just explain what happened!" Mom cried out in annoyance. I frowned at her. "I went through that window but I was never shot. Not then, at least." I said, remembering back to my time in that cell. I shuddered at the thought and Iggy inched closer. I glanced down at my ring on my left hand. I must've slept in it. But I wanted to ease mom and dad into it.

"Anyways, that wasn't a robbery. That was a kidnapping for me." I said with a shrug. "You remember Itex?" I asked my parents. They both nodded. "They harbored illegal experimentations and mixed humans with animals." I said. Mom just gawked as dad was confused. "Why wasn't this ever reported?" Dad asked. "Because no one knew about it. None of the experiments escaped until there was…" I said and looked to Iggy. He just nodded. "The Flock; the Flock is a group of avian hybrid experiments. They escaped about six years ago and have been on the run up until about a week ago." I said. "And everyone else was scared out of their mind!" I cried out in exasperation. Iggy inched stepped over to my side. "Iggy is part of the Flock," I sighed. Mom frowned at this and dad rolled his eyes. Iggy laughed at their reactions. "Go ahead, Igs," I said. Iggy nodded and shrugged off his oxford shirt.

"What are…?" Dad trailed off as Iggy shrugged out his wings. I laughed as he knocked over a box or two with his wings. "Oops," He muttered with a slight chuckle before whipping his wings out the rest of the way. This time they didn't knock anything over. I smiled as I stared at all fifteen feet of the beautiful golden wings. "Some of the experiments are allowed extra limbs like Iggy and the Flock but some of us are allowed full transformations." I said as Iggy began to fold his wings back in, cringing with the cramped feeling he no doubt felt. "Sorry, Igs," I said and he just dismissed it with a wave. "I met Iggy when I escaped after a few days." I said. "What animal are you?" Dad asked. I frowned at him. "You have to keep all of this a secret or else people will always want to capture and sell us." I said to dad. He instantly nodded slowly deep in thought. "We won't breathe a word of this to anyone." Mom said and nudged my dad. It was just something they did. I would be suspicious if I didn't know that dad was wondering what animal I was instead of thinking of the money he could earn. Dad never had a price.

"I was infused with cheetah genes. I can commit to a full transformation." I explained. Mom and dad both blinked. "Cheetah," Dad repeated. I nodded. "Yeah but it's a full transformation so I'd have to change into a cheetah." I said. Mom narrowed her eyes. "Change," She demanded. "We can't believe you until we have absolute proof." Mom said. I frowned at her. "Well, I would have to change out of my clothes because I really don't want to have to buy this outfit all over again." I said. Mom raised an eyebrow at me. "Fine, I'll see you." She said with her chin held high. "Fine," I said and led her to behind a row of boxes that would cover us.

I quickly shed off my clothes and heard my mom's gasp. She'd seen the new scars. "What exactly happened?" She asked. I frowned at her. "It's a bit gruesome," I answered, feeling myself blush as I shed off the final of my clothes. Finally I let myself fall to all fours and waited for myself to shift into cheetah form. Soon enough I heard my mom's scream. I frowned in my cheetah form and sat down on my hind legs to show I was harmless. Iggy and my dad rounded around the wall of boxes and Iggy grinned.

"Been too long since I saw that," Iggy chuckled. I rolled my eyes at that. I really wanted to tell him to shut up. "She's harmless; she's still Ellie but she's just…well, she's a bit wild." Iggy joked. I wanted to stick my tongue out at him but that'd just be too funny for him. Iggy frowned at me. "Well…um…" Iggy muttered. Dad and mom both looked at him. "She was experimented on and this is the outcome. You see, Ellie has special blood." Iggy explained. I looked at him and nodded my head to the opposite end of the boxes. "She wants to turn back into a human." Iggy explained and headed around the edge of the box wall, stuffing his hands in his pockets until he wasn't seen. I looked down at my clothes, spotting my ring on top of my clothes.

I quickly changed back and got dressed before heading over around the box wall. I was pulling my hair out of my collar when I approached my parents. "So, you aren't human anymore?" Mom asked. "No, I'm still human; just only ninety five percent of the time." I said with a shrug. Mom blinked at me. "What…?" Mom asked. "I met Iggy once before when they thought that I was bleeding and the again after I was captured a second time." I said. "Thought you were bleeding?" Mom asked. "Yeah, that's what Iggy was saying. My blood is special. It means I was a hybrid even before I was experimented on." I said. Mom furrowed her brow. "We're here so that you know I'm alive," I laughed awkwardly. Mom and dad only looked at me like I was crazy. Hell, maybe I was.

"My blood allows me to be invincible; no other living person can hurt me." I said and shrugged. Mom frowned. "I'm not dangerous. I just…can't be killed." I muttered. "What are you going to do now if we're not supposed to tell anyone about you being alive?" Mom asked. I frowned at her. "I want you to call Josh and tell him that I'm alive. I need to ask if he could possibly get me a job under an alias." I said. "Me and Iggy," I said with a shrug. Mom instantly nodded and reached in her pocket, pulling out a beat-up red Motorola Razor. She pressed a single button before lifting it to her ear. I glanced worriedly at Iggy. If mom was afraid of me, she could be calling the cops right now. But I instantly heard a familiar "hello?" and I sighed in relief. It was Josh. "Joshua! Oh, my Gosh! You won't believe this until you see it!" Mom gasped into the phone. I looked up at Iggy with relief. My ring was back on my finger and I was twisting it anxiously around my finger.

I listened to my mom as she rambled on and on but I didn't stop her. Both Iggy and I were getting nervous. We were taking so many risks and telling my parents was one of them. But I was glad to be around my parents. "So, you'll be going to D.C. to work?" Dad asked, a bit of disappointment in his voice. I smiled at him. "I'll be living under the alias of Elizabeth Monroe. It'll be family friend which is why Josh will be getting me a job. I'll be visiting, I hope, every month or something." I said hopefully. I bit my lip in anticipation and my dad sighed in relief. "Yes, that'd be perfect at the very least. If I can see my daughter at least once a month then it's better than thinking she's dead!" Dad cried out. I smiled at him with relief and I saw Iggy shift uncomfortably from the background. I offered a reassuring smile to him and dad saw my line of sight. "So…are you two…?" Dad asked, glaring at Iggy. I laughed at this. Iggy frowned. "Yes, we're dating, dad." I said. I wanted to ease him in so we'd start at dating.

Iggy grinned at me. Dad instantly nodded slowly, thoughtfully. For once I was glad dad was gonna give him the third degree; it might make Iggy feel part of the family. Dad moved slowly over to Iggy. "What's your real name?" He asked. "James Griffith," Iggy answered on the spot. I bit my lip. "Who are your parents? I want to meet them." Dad said. Iggy instantly frowned. "Dad, that's not an appropriate question." I snapped at dad. "Nah, it's alright. My parents are the Griffiths. I don't know their first names because up until a few months ago I didn't know them. And even then they wanted to make profit off of my wings." Iggy said.

Dad frowned and gaped a bit, obviously stuck in an awkward position. "Sorry," He muttered and turned to head back to mom. Iggy chuckled at this and came to sit beside me. I rolled my eyes at Iggy and punched him in the arm. "Sorry about him; he's a parent. They do that." I said and nodded. Iggy nodded and reached over, randomly kissing the top of my head. I smiled up at him. "I'm glad it's going better for you." He said. I nodded absently. "Sorry again. I mean, I know this is hard for you." I said. Iggy shrugged and grabbed my left hand with his so the rings were touching each other. "It's alright," He said. I smiled and nodded.

"Max is still gonna kill you when we get back to them." Iggy chuckled. I rolled my eyes.

Josh's POV: Washington, D.C.:

I hung up the phone at my desk and frowned at the picture frame that sat next to the typical desk phone. It, of course, held Rachael's picture in it. I put it on my desk a month ago when she died. It was just her stupid school pictures. The only ones I had of her other than her school pics were candid shots that she never really liked; just stuff like her brushing her teeth when I was messing with the camera or her in the most embarrassing position because I wanted to blackmail her. But putting those up would disrespect her memory. Mom was either senile or someone was impersonating Rachael.

"What's up?" Tony asked through the mouthful of sandwich he was eating. I plucked up the picture frame and flipped it around. Back then was before she chopped up all her hair and before she had gotten so moody. So she had shoulder-length blond hair and of course her eyes were the weirdest blue you could find on a person. I always teased her about that. Then there was her paleness. She was snow white behind her blind hair and she seemed to always be blushing. That was before she got so smart-alecky. Tony stopped chewing and McGee stopped typing at the sudden tenseness in the air. They knew that Rachael had died. They covered for me when I went to her funeral. "Someone's impersonating my sister." I said and dropped my head into my hands on the desk in front of me.

"What do you mean, Proby?" Tony asked seriously and stood up, walking over to my desk. Ziva frowned from her own desk but didn't move from her spot in her chair in the desk beside mine. My desk was between Ziva's desk and Gibbs's desk. "I mean, my mom just called telling me to get a job for my sister who's been dead for a month. It's either my mom's gone insane or someone's impersonating my sister. I don't think my mom would go insane." I answered, admittedly a bit snippily. But can you blame me? Someone out there was pretending to be my sister. "Well, everyone's mind's got to go at some point." Tony snipped and shrugged. "Maybe your sister's death triggered it." Ziva suggested with her own shrug and tossed the hacky-sack in the air before catching it again.

I frowned at both of them. "I don't know. She said that she's sending 'Rachael' down here, that Rachael came to her and asked them to call me." I answered. "See? If she were truly alive then she would have called herself." Ziva pointed out and pointed at me. I sighed and dropped my head again. "I just don't know; mom's taken this whole thing really badly." I said. "But we'll tell you if we see anyone that looks even remotely like Rachael around here." Tony added and picked up the picture frame from my desk. "How old was she again?" Tony asked and took another bite of his sandwich. I rolled my eyes. Even with the dead he flirted. "She died on her fifteenth birthday after having fought robbers and getting shot." I snapped at him. Don't flirt with my dead sister.

AN: Next chapter will hopefully be in Josh's POV at least partly! Happy first day of school too, at least if you're in America. If you have some kind of MP3 site that you can look up and listen to songs on, then listen to "Follow Me Down" by 3Oh!3. I do not own the song, obviously. I don't own NCIS, either and nor do I own Maximum Ride. Ellie's all mine though. Mel was mine until she died and was dismembered then put into metallic boxes and buried at the bases of global landmarks all around the world. There will be DRAMA and there will be ACTION later. Hopefully someone will get shot or something. I don't know yet and if someone does, relax, I won't kill them. Happy to assist and serve. *bow*