Author's note: Thanks to inu-midoriko for all of her help with this chapter and I'm sorry that the wait was so long!

A day and a half later, making it Monday, Terry McGinnis drove straight from school to Arianna's house. Nelson Nash was spreading rumors about how Arianna was a monster and it didn't help that Dana was going along with it, making everyone believe them and have the hate on for his cousin. For crying aloud, she saved them all. How could they not see it?

Neither Chaos nor Arianna had been to school lately and for now, it was best if they didn't return. Terry came to the door and knocked three times.

Arianna looked out the window before answering, her face looked pinched as though she was in pain, but she stepped aside to let him in without a word. When she turned to see on her school, Terry could see the thick pads of bandage on her shoulder blades over her wing slits. "What is it?" Arianna sounded tired.

"I don't think it's wise to go back to school yet. Nelson and Dana are getting a rise out of the students. I know sometimes you like to appear once in a while but I don't recommend even Chaos going since he was with you."

She nodded. "What about the adults?" The queen swirled her orange juice in her glass. "I can handle the students if need be, the adults are another matter, and I would really hate to have to break into the school if I didn't have to."

At this, Terry looked taken aback. "Why would you have to break into the school?"

"The sewing machines and pattern paper, among other materials. I make clothing for some of the people I visit."

"I see..." he said and stayed silent for a moment. "The adults don't want to believe it. A lot of them are in denial but there are the few that claim to have had their 'suspicions' from the start."

Her eyes flashed in temper and she pointed to the side table next to him. "There's a notebook and pencil in the drawer. Make a list of allies and enemies." Her voice had sharpened, this was not his former cousin talking; the person addressing him now was the Nephilim Queen.

Terry took the pencil and not really knowing why he was helping her, since she was technically his enemy, he wrote down the names of definite enemies for her, potential allies and the students who were undecided or couldn't care less for gossip. "Here."

Arianna movement was jerky as she took the notebook. "I'll figure out what to do later." She sighed. 'Can you give batman a message for me?"

"Of course." he said and tried not to perk up at that. After all, he was Batman so it wasn't as if he had to try to remember the message and relate it back to him.

"Tell batman to please stay out of our way... Damnit! I hate being rushed..." The last part was muttered under her breath.

"Your way for?"

"We are in the midst of scouting for a new part of the city to make our permanent home." She shrugged her shoulders and flinched in pain. "It will take a lot of work, and I don't want him underfoot."

"And if he offered his assistance?" he asked, a flash of temper in his eyes that he knew he had to hide before she caught onto it.

The queen shook her head. "We have to do this ourselves and prove that we will make our own way, otherwise we won't be taken seriously by the humans who want us clipped."

"There's a difference between relying on someone, and asking someone for assistance. Even as little as being bait. Keep that in mind. You never know what the future will bring."

Arianna looked sad. "The sooner we learn to do things ourselves, the better off we will be. We have to remain as separate from them as possible, lest they get hurt."

"There's nothing wrong with putting trust in people. I know it's hard. Especially when you've been down that path so many times and end up hurt, but there will always be someone that you can rely on, there will always be someone that will go against the odds and prove you wrong. Making your own race...that's fine..." he finally grit out and came to terms with. "but cutting everyone off isn't."

Now the queen sat up. "Terry. I would have killed you at the mall that day. I would have killed anyone who stopped me from going after my prey."

"Anger has a tendency to do that, Arianna." he used her human name. "You're not human anymore, I get that, okay? It's different, and I'm still learning since your Rage was a wake up call but everyone has the ability to kill someone else to get that they need or out of just pure anger. Could you have killed me? Yes. But you didn't."

"That's only the females, I don't know what the males will do."

"I'm sure it will be made known soon enough." he said, his thoughts going straight to Chaos. "Where is Max and Chaos?"

"In the basement doing combat training." Arianna flinched again and hobbled to the refrigerator to refill her glass.

"I see. It will be good for her." he said with an almost sad expression. He hated the way they parted and everyday he wished be could take it back but Max was headstrong and knew how to keep a grudge. "How is she?"

"She's doing very well. We are waiting for me to heal to resume her flight lessons." She poured the rest of the juice in her glass.

Terry nodded and sighed. "My boss wasn't very nice to her." he commented and grinned. "He can be a grouch sometimes but he's really not all that bad."

"He was very rude." She sniffed.

Amused, Terry chuckled. "Don't take it personally; he's like that with everyone. Especially the ones he find interesting. It's a test of sorts. Don't let it get to you." he winked and turned to the door. "Anyway, I'll get out of your hair. I was on my way to see Mr. Wayne and thought I'd drop by. No doubt he's having a stroke wondering why I'm not on time." he grinned and opened the door.

"Goodbye Terry." She threw back her head and drained her glass.

"See you around Arianna." was the last thing he said before he stepped out to his car and drove to Wayne Manor.

A few days later, Chaos moved swiftly into Max's room. He had a hard stick in his hand and as he approached her sleeping form, he raised it over his head and swung down. Max's eyes shot open last moment and her hand came up and parried it so it moved off to the side of her pillow.

"Good job. Time to get up and train." he said and left the stick with her as he left to let her wash up and change.

Looking over at the clock, it read five-thirty AM. She groaned and rubbed her face before swinging her legs over the bed to stand. When she was washed up and she had on a pair of sweat pants and a low-backed tank, she met Chaos in the basement. They had bought mats two days before to cover the entirety of the floor so when one of them were flipped, they wouldn't get hurt and have to stop.

In the corner lay the equipment the two had bought. Chaos wore a pair of black sparring gloves while he tossed white ones to Max.

"I thought we weren't sparring until you said I was ready."

"Exactly. You're ready. Put them on. We're just working with our hands for now. We'll get to adding kicks later on today."

Max nodded as she put them and took a fighting stance that Chaos taught her would work well. "Remember don't cross your feet when you move. And always keep moving."

Nodding, Max started moving. "Use your lead hand to punch at my face. I'm going to block it, then I'm going to do the same to you."

Getting her footing, Max led the direction they moved and after a moment, her hand shot out for his face but true to his word, he blocked the strike. After a few more turns they switched, giving Max the chance to have to react to being punched at. Once Max got the hang of one jab, Chaos told her they were switching again but he was having her add in a reverse punch.

She punched for his head, he blocked and she used her other hand to punch his exposed ribs. He nodded at her in approval and after a while, they switched.

"Good, now we're going to move into competitive. Do everything you can to avoid getting hit, if you do get hit, make some sort of contact with my strike before or as I retract. We're only using the two moves I showed you."

"Okay." she said and as soon as she did, he was on her, distracting her by using a punch to her face and quickly shifting to get her ribs.

"Point for me." he said and grinned when she glared at him and made her move but because she was new at it, she was a little too slow, a little too hesitant, causing her first strike to be dodged and her counter attack to be blocked. Immediately he struck back, getting her head but she managed to use one hand to block the punch to her ribs.

"Good. Keep your hands out more, don't have them so close to your body. It's easier to stop an attack that way." She put her hands out so they weren't so close to her body and true to his word, it was easier and faster to stop an incoming attack.

They kept this up for hours with Chaos adding combinations and taking ten minute breaks every forty-five minutes. It wasn't long after two in the afternoon when they were both drenched with sweat and slow from exhaustion. "I think, we're good for the day. Rest up for tonight, SwanQueen might be alright to take you out tonight." he said and when Max gave him a thumbs up and took off her gloves, he took off his and laid down on the mats to regain some strength.

The brunette was still dressed in her pajamas with her braid mussed from sleep, leaning against the wall for support. She was still healing and got dizzy every so often. Neither of them had heard her coming down the stairs. "Very well done." Arianna praised with a faint smile.

Max was just about to reach the stairs when Arianna made herself known. The sweaty, exhausted teen smiled at Arianna and uttered her thanks.

"She's learning fast." said Chaos, not yet having the energy to stand. "How are you feeling?" he asked and the question made Max pause on her third step up the stairs to the showers.

"A little light-headed. We are out of juice, and I think something's wrong with my back. When you have a minute, could one of you please take a look?" Arianna asked.

"Max, you go shower, I'll have a look." said Chaos and stood up. "Would sitting down make you feel better?"

"Can you help me to the chair?" She asked. "I don't want to fall."

Chaos nodded and guided her to a chair not five feet away and situated her so she was on the side of the chair, her shoulder resting against the backrest while he lifted her shirt to check the damage done to her back. He whistled. "Still looks raw. Some spots are still bleeding." he commented.

"I need to let my wings out, but I'm afraid if I do that..." She shuddered in unspoken horror.

"That's not a good idea. Give it one more day." he said. "You should be healed enough by tomorrow." he pulled her shirt back down. "I'll ask Max to get more juice while I'm in the shower." he said as he heard the water stop.

"Can she do that? I know she doesn't like going out now even though she can hide her wings..." Arianna sighed. "I'm tired, but I know I'm sleeping too much..."

"She won't mind. Trust me." he said and picked her up bridal style. "If you're tired it means you need the sleep. Don't fight it. The more you sleep the faster you'll heal."

"I think I'm loosing too much blood..." She said against his shoulder. "My med kit is gone too."

"It's almost healed. Just one more day." he repeated though it sounded more like he was trying to convince himself. "You'll be back to normal in no time. Then we'll work on controlling your Rage."

"The Rage is hunger. A good fish is worth three or four rabbits. At least in my case." She murmured sleepily.

"Now look at what it's done to you." he muttered as he set her back on the couch where she made herself comfortable since she first laid on it.

Max came down, freshly showered and dressed.

"Can you get the juice while I shower?" he asked, still sweating from his body heat.

"Sure." she said and extended her hand for his keys. When he raised an eyebrow at her, she huffed. "You're parked behind me."

Sighing he reached into his pocket and retrieved his keys for her. "Don't break it."

When she grinned at him, he almost regretted giving her his keys but he was powerless to stop because she already had her shoes on and grabbed the credits off the counter for the juice.

When she closed the door behind herself, he turned back to Arianna. "Will you be alright for about fifteen minutes?"

Arianna raised her head off the pillow. "Did she withdraw her wings?"

"Yes. She had them withdrawn when she got down."

"Okay... wake me when you get out or she gets back." On her stomach, Arianna stretched out on the couch and closed her eyes; her head pillowed on her arms as she listened to Chaos leave the room.

Once showered with fresh clothes, Chaos came back down to see Max just getting in the door with a jug of orange juice. "No scratches." she said cheerfully.

"Good. I think she'd still sleeping." he commented and took the juice from her to put it in the fridge to keep cool.

The brunette hadn't budged from her place, not even a twitch, which was not normal for their queen.

Max frowned. "Maybe we should get a doctor."

"Are you nuts? One look at her and they'll have the police on our asses. Besides, she just needs one more day."

"How can you be so certain?"

"I'm not. Just trust me, okay? We'll see improvement tomorrow."

Max sighed and nodded. "Fine. I'm going to go do more research."

"You mean more hacking?" Chaos grinned. Max grinned back as she headed up the stairs but said nothing in return, leaving Chaos to do what he wished in peace.

Not long after that, Terry and Bruce stopped by. When nobody answered the knock, Bruce used his key to open the door. The elderly man took one look at the pale unmoving nephilim queen and nudged Terry as his eyes narrowed. "Get the medical kit we brought with us, now!" He ordered as he removed his suit jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt fast. "Then wake up the young man sleeping on the table."

Terry did as instructed and returned with the medic kit was soon as possible. When he got in, Bruce was over by Arianna. Terry gave him the kit, went into the kitchen, and elbowed Chaos in the shoulder. "Hey, wake up." he demanded.

Chaos' eyes flew open and it was obvious he was still sleep deprived. Alarmed, he shoved past Terry to see if Arianna was all right and when he only saw Bruce over her, he relaxed. "What are you doing here?" he said with narrowed eyes.

"Your queen is about to die, she's lost too much blood." Quickly donning gloves, the elderly man commenced taking the scissors from the kit and he swiftly cut off her shirt, revealing the damage done to her. "Boil some water; get Max down here to hold her head."

"Max!" Chaos called, ready to do as the old man said since he didn't know what to do. "Get down here!" seconds later she came flying down the steps.

"What?-" when she saw Bruce over Arianna's bleeding back and Terry and Chaos getting a bowl of water and towels, she immediately knew something was wrong. "What can I do?"

"Hold her head." said Terry and brought the towels to Bruce.

Arianna yelped in agony and tried to get away. Her wings were moving under her skin, but not emerging; while her nails started shredding the couch.

"Terry, do you know her blood type? Is it the same as yours?" Bruce asked as he washed the torn tissue, indifferent to her pain.

"Yes." he said, already tying a rubber glove around his arm.

"Shh, shh, SwanQueen." cooed Max, pulling the queen's braid aside as she reassuringly took the other girl's head in her hands. "Hold still. You're dying, they're here to help."

"... Can't let... them... take my... blood..." Arianna panted. "Transfusion... might not..."

"Your blood won't be used for experimentations. Right now, your life is on the line and we need to secure it. I promise, Arianna." Terry said soothingly.

"Let your wings out slowly, I need to know how long the slits are. Young man, you'll need to wash your hands, you'll be needed to hold each wing out of the way. We can't risk moving her or she'll panic."

Chaos quickly did as instructed and washed his hands. He stood next to Arianna and as her wings came out, he held onto them while Max held her Queen's head gently and whispered encouragements and soothing words to her to help ease her pain.

Arianna ground her teeth and her wings felt tense under Chaos' hands. She kept trying to turn her head enough to keep an eye on what Bruce was doing.

"You've really torn yourself up this time. I'll need to do some stitching..." Bruce said.

At the word 'stitching' the queen snarled weakly as fear began to grow in her mismatched eyes.

Max and Chaos held her more firmly. "No SwanQueen, it's okay." she whispered.

"Max is right, Arianna," Terry put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It will be fine. I promise." he urged her to calm by rubbing his thumb soothingly over her shoulder

"Hate needles." She managed, resting her head in her sister's embrace again. "Small veins, many pokes."

Bruce finished cleaning her back and took up a needle and thread. "As soon as I'm done, I'll connect you to her Terry. She tore a lot of muscle and will be out of action for a while..."

"And here I just thought she needed one more day to recover." muttered Chaos.

"Which is exactly why you're not a doctor." snapped Terry.

"Neither is he-"

"Obviously he knows more than you."

"Enough! Arianna doesn't need you two arguing right now!" hissed Max, forgetting to use her Nephilim name in her distress.

Even in her pain, Arianna managed to tap Max's arm lightly with a talon-like nail in reproof before passing out in pain.

"She's okay." Bruce snapped before anyone could panic. "It's better this way. Your queen is a stubborn one even if she's not related to you Terry. Max, I'll need more clean water."

Max nodded and put her head down gently before grabbing the wash bin and dumping the bloody water in exchange for new clean water. She set it aside for him, and then asked if he needed anything else done.

"See if you can warm up a blanket for later and then see if you can't get her to drink something, it looks like she's dehydrated. You really need a doctor for your people..."

"We're working on it." she muttered and sighed as she went to go warm up a blanket by putting it in the dryer. She got a huge glass of water, filled it to the top with ice-cold water, brought it into the room, and set it on the side table. When the dryer stopped, she retrieved it and brought it up.

By that time, Bruce had already dealt with the worst of it and was working on her other side. "She might not be able to hide her wings anymore. The flap of skin that pockets them when they are folded under them can be sewn, but she tears the skin a little more each time..." He said, as though to himself as he worked.

"So... she can't ever go out again without being seen as a Nephilim?" asked Max.

Terry nodded. "That's right. If you look at this angle, you can see what Mr. Wayne is talking about. If say, she were to take her wings out another ten times, the slits would be big holes and they wouldn't be small enough to close over. Not saying that it will be like that for you too but her Rage really messed her up." he said and motioned for Max to take a look.

She moved in front of Terry with him practically pressed up against her back, his hands on her shoulders. She saw what Terry and Bruce were talking about and sighed with a mental curse until she shifted and realized how close she was to Terry. She looked at him and it was a mistake because he looked at her at the same time and their lips were inches from touching. Max gasped, her eyes widening and she flushed. She took a hurried, clumsy step to the side to put distance between them but couldn't deny the blush or the pounding of her heart and she was glad Chaos wasn't a Nephilim yet, otherwise he'd be able to hear her heart thump in her chest.

Bruce ignored all of this as he finished his sewing work and bandaged them. "Terry do you want to lay on the table now?" He asked. "I've done the best I could, now all we can do is hope the transfusion works..."

Terry laid down on the table and took a deep breath. "Okay, just be fast." he muttered and closed his eyes.

Quickly, Bruce swabbed and inserted the first needle and tube connected to the blood bag into Terry's arm, then connected the second one in Arianna's. "For the sake of you two, I hope this works; otherwise her race will end with her..." The elderly man almost sounded sad.

Terry took a deep breath and exhaled; his eyes still closed and muttered "Yeah..."

"Why are you helping us?" asked Max, a frown on her face. Chaos was kneeling beside Arianna, stroking her hair and frowning at the opposite wall, seeming to be lost in thought.

"I think she is doing something good. Most of the people who were spliced didn't. She could have taken the easy path, but she's not. It hasn't escaped my notice how many people rely on her and care about her. You could say I admire her for that and I want to see what else she intends to do." Bruce shrugged as he took off his gloves and started to clean up the bloody mess. "You can cover her up just make sure she doesn't move."

Max covered her and told Chaos not to let her move. "We'll take shifts." she stated. "Are you going to stay long?" she asked, having a new respect for the man.

"I'm going to monitor her until I'm sure the transfusion is working. Just so you know, she is right, there is a chance that it won't."

"It will." she said, determined. "It has to." without Arianna, she had nowhere to go and she had no plans. She wouldn't be able to exist.

"Do you have any regrets Max?" Bruce asked. "Is she really that strong?"

"My only regret is not urging her to find a doctor for us." she sighed. "She's strong. She's small, but she wouldn't have made it this far if she wasn't strong willed."

"You really care about her don't you?" He said as he washed his hands.

"Yeah, it's like you not caring for Terry and Terry not caring for you. You just grow on one another." she shrugged. "Do you want anything? Drink, food?"

"I'm fine." He said. "Are you still going to school?"

Max shook her head. "No, not since I got my wings. I'm doing online courses right now. It's safer to do it online since I barely ever retract my wings, except in cases like this." she says. "Besides, Terry said it's not safe now."

After a half an hour of tense waiting, Bruce disconnected Terry from the queen and gave him some juice. "That's enough Terry, drink this. It's up to her now."

Terry sat up and gratefully took the juice. He finished it in two swigs and looked over at Arianna. "How is she?" he asked.

"It's too soon to tell." His mentor admitted.

He sighed and got off the table. He walked into the kitchen and refilled his glass with water this time instead of juice.

"Max went upstairs." Bruce said, checking her pulse. "It seems stronger."

The teen who was his student gave him a raised eyebrow. "I didn't say I wanted to talk to her."

Bruce just looked at him, ignoring Chaos' glares.

Terry glared at him but grumbled under his breath about old men being able to read sign language and telepathic thoughts as he made his way up the stairs after setting his glass down on the table.

He didn't have to go very far because Max's door was open so he was able to see her inside the room. He knocked twice, getting her attention.

Max turned around and smiled slightly. She had been starring at her screen, lost in thought when she heard the knocks. She half expected to see him and she couldn't deny the thump in her chest from seeing him each and every time... but she also couldn't allow it to go on. They were just too different and Arianna`s number one rule was to never mix the two species. `Hey Ter. Come in."

Terry looked around. "She's really hooked you up hasn't she?" He asked.

"Yeah, it comes in handy." she grinned and looked away for a second. "What's up?"

His eyes narrowed. "You still have feelings for me don't you? I saw it in your eyes."

Max's own narrowed. "Even if I did, what would be the point in bringing it up? It wouldn't go anywhere."

"Why not?" Terry demanded. "Would she actually forbid it? Or are you just scared and using her as an excuse?"

"That's none of your business Terry." she said, her temper rising. "All you need to know is this- something- between us has to stop. Do you honestly think you could be happy with me? Look at me and look at you. I have wings. I'm not human anymore."

"So were the others who got spliced, they weren't exactly human either." Terry pointed out. "Think about your own safety! What will happen if she dies?" The teen started to pace. "Do you even know where Arianna hid the other vials? Could you take her place?"

"I'll think about it when the time comes! Just back off about this okay?" she gave him a pleading look. "For everyone's sake, we can't be together if you're human."

"Why? What would the punishment be!" Terry said, slamming his hand down in her desk in fury. "We both know that even if I asked her she wouldn't give me wings! Would she really be that selfish to deny our happiness just because...?"

"Are you so selfish as you to not understand why we can't be together?! You have a duty as Batman and becoming a Nephilim will change that. You don't understand any of this. You think this is disgusting. You won't change for me, why should I for you?" She poked him in the chest hard. "It takes courage and loyalty to her to be one of us. You've proved twice you wouldn't be able to handle it. You don't take orders from anyone but Bruce- and that's because he's your mentor. Just stop with the bullshit Terry. We can't and deep down, you know it."

Terry narrowed his eyes at Max. "What do you mean 'loyalty to her'?" He said, ignoring Max's poke. "What has she given up for you?"

"Everything. If I were so inclined- I could twist everything she has planned because she needs me for my skills. I could have everything turned for the worst but I won't. We're family now Terry. I want to be left alone now."

"I won't give up." He promised in a low voice. "Neither of you will get rid of me that easily."

Max glared at him. "Out." when she was able to slam her door shut, she leaned against the wood frame and slid down until she was seated. If it came to it, she would protect her Queen- either from the human, or from their feelings.

Downstairs, the queen was starting to come around a bit, her color was looking better but Chaos was keeping her calm and helping her drink the water Max had left there.

"Hey, how do you feel?" Chaos asked softly.

"Hurts." She managed. "SwiftSpy?"

"Upstairs. She was speaking with Terry." he said once he noticed Terry was back down with a scowl on his face.

Arianna snarled weakly. "Check on her."

Bruce raised his eyebrow. "We should go Terry; we'll have to come back later."

"We need that signature." he insisted, his mood less than sympathetic as he watched Chaos go up the stairs to check on Max.

The queen took a deep breath, feeling for a tiny crumb of strength. Turning her head slightly, she swallowed carefully while waiting for the others.

Chaos rushed up the stairs and knocked on Max's door "SwiftSpy? She's awake and asking for you. Are you all right?"

Max sighed and got up from the floor. "I'm coming." she said and opened the door, barely looking at him as she ignored his question on whether or not she was ok.

The queen was listening for them. "I think I'll live..." Her voice was quiet and she laid still on the couch. "Give the contract to Max, she will read it to me."

Obedient to her queen's wishes took the contract and, without even glancing Terry's way, read the terms. "'I, Arianna Fairchild, also known as the leader of the Nephilim race, agree to never murder any innocent people, or break any laws of Gotham City. By signing this wavier, I also acknowledge and accept that this applies to the entirety of my race.'" Max and Chaos looked to one another with raised eyebrows. "I guess this is acceptable. But what if something happens where it's inevitable?" asked Max.

The Queen sniffed quietly. "You do realize that your agreement will become void if I die, correct? This agreement will not be binding to the Queen after me."

"Well then, I guess you and your people better make sure you don't die. A new one will be made up in the future to fit the circumstances." Bruce replied without any trace of humor on his face.

"We will not break the laws of the city needlessly, but in return, the humans must stay out of our laws as well." Arianna said, trying to put firmness in her voice.

"We'll work on that once you actually get accepted in Gotham. This is just a start and as far as I'm concerned, a good pact has to start somewhere."

"No!" Her voice was a weak whip. "It is not negotiable. Humans will not poke in our affairs. We will aid this city and protect the humans under us, but among ourselves the humans will not apply."

Not wanting his queen to injure herself in her weakened state, Chaos put a hand on her shoulder. "We're too weak to deal with all the humans right now. If we sign this now, it will give the humans something to trust because right now they have nothing to go by. When there's more of us we'll find a way to deal with the people who don't want us."

The queen sighed. "True. Will you help me sign it Chaos? When I am well, you will be reborn as well,"

Chaos smiled at her, incredibly happy that she made up her mind, and took her hand in his. "Of course," he put a pen in her hand and held her hand steady as she signed her name.

"How fitting, a human name for a human affair." She murmured as she signed her human name. "Show them out, same as before."

Her future mate nodded and did as he was ordered. "Have a good day gentlemen." he said politely and handed them back their wavier, all signed to be recorded as evidence of their co-operation.

Behind him. Arianna weakly managed to sit up, ignoring her half naked state. "SwiftSpy help me to the bathroom please? I can't stand using that nasty pan again..."

"You shouldn't move." Snapped Bruce.

"We'll take care of her from here. Have a nice day." said Max and shut the door, her eyes locking with Terry for a moment before the door slammed shut. Chaos gave her an inquisitive look but said nothing as he locked the door and they walked back over. Max lifted Arianna from the couch easily since she was so light and carried her to the bathroom.

"This is the last time I will make concessions with them..." Her Queen vowed.

"There will be more." muttered Max. "Trust me."

"They will pay dearly for them, I promise you that…" She kept her eyes closed as she did her business. "Still, I won't know how much we'll have to jump forward for until I see the situation at the school for myself, though that will need to wait a bit…"

A week later, about an hour after all the students had left; Dana was just getting out of her class for extra help in the science class. She tried calling Terry to hang out with him but every time he picked up his phone, he would always say he was busy with Mr. Wayne. She was angry that after all this time he was choosing now to break things off with her. She passed by the sewing class and stopped when she noticed the machine's noises were on. Opening the door, she stopped Arianna and gasped. She came in and quickly closed the door. "What the hell do you think you're doing here?"

Arianna didn't look up from her work and kept her wings close to her body. "I'm working on some clothes that I've made." She paused and adjusted the small pink baby shirt before starting it up again.

"You're... making clothes?! Are you insane?! The whole school knows about you, you know. You don't want to know what would happen to you if you got caught."

"Things need to be done, I'm not letting the people down who depend on me." The queen replied. "I'm used to being hated, I was hated as a human, but at least now people don't pretend to be nice anymore." She shrugged. "Not that it matters either way, but at least in this form I'm free to be useful."

"Don't you have a sewing machine of your own?" she huffed. "Look, I'm not one for violence so can you please just leave before someone sees you."

"I don't. When my creator and mother died, they took everything I couldn't save when I fled." She didn't look up. "Have you ever watched your home being ransacked and destroyed Dana? It's not a fate I would wish on anyone, but it does make you stronger." Arianna turned then to fix on Dana with her blue eye. "If you didn't want violence, then you should have kept your mouth shut in gratitude for your life."

"What are you talking about?" Dana snarled with a roll of her eyes. "Just get out of here. You and your freaky friends."

She laughed softly, shaking her head in some private amusement. "Once again I am reminded how funny hypocritical humans are. I saved your life at the mall, and you and Nelson saw fit to call me a monster and stir a pot that was already stirring to begin with." She finished the shirt and held it up, her lips curving with satisfaction. "Don't worry Dana; I wouldn't give you wings even if it meant you had to die."

"I wouldn't want your wings anyways. It's terrible. You took Max away; don't even think you're going to take away anyone else. No one wants you or your filth! You have five seconds before I scream."

Arianna said nothing at she packed up and left, keeping her wings folding tightly around her as she left the room regally, heading towards the stairs. Freeing one hand, she put a hand to her ear. "SwiftSpy, I am finished here and coming up. You heard everything?" She asked calmly.

Not yet... wait... Batman's around the corner. He's chasing thugs dressed up as Joker. Are you sure you wanna take flight now?" she asked, keeping her binoculars focused on Batman's figure.

"You take the basket, I'll handle the joker." Ignoring the human shadow following her, she opened the door, walked over to Max and gave her the basket, giving Max the recorder she kept in her shirt. "You had odd taste in friends." The queen commented as she leapt off, already whirling the slingshot in her hand.

Max raised an eyebrow in question until she spotted Dana. Neither of them spoke. Dana gave her a look that asked her what in the hell she was doing with Arianna while Max stared at her blankly then turned her back on the girl. "Get out of here Dana, before you get hurt." Dana said nothing, just turned and left as she was told to do. Satisfied that the human she once considered a friend was gone, she turned on the radio and listened in.

It wasn't a radio, the recording was the whole conversation between Arianna and Dana, revealing just how shallow Dana really was.

With a savage snarl, Arianna let loose the shot. When the joker dropped like a stone, she slowed and landed next to him to retrieve her rock. "My aim is getting better. This one's only stunned."

"Batman's around the corner. Get out of there before he sees you."

"Coming." Arianna climbed on top of the nearest tall object and jumped. She took it easy and she rejoined her fledgling. "Humans should be called walking sheep... they really should," She greeted Max.

"Indeed they are. You don't know them until you're on the other side." said Max and gathered her equipment and put them in her small bag. "I'm grateful you gave me this chance."

"Are you upset? I know you used to be friends sister." Arianna looked concerned and held out her arms. "Would you like a hug?"

Max took the embrace, grateful to have it. "It doesn't hurt like I thought it would. I'm just glad to know I've chosen the better race."

"I would go back down there just to piss off the sheep, but I can come back another time." She enfolded Max with her wings for comfort before letting go. "Let's go report back to KnightHawk."

Her fledgling nodded and at the same time; they jumped off the roof and flapped in perfect sync. "KnightHawk, this is SwiftSpy, we're on our way home."

"Fly safe." came the response to both girls.

Flying high to avoid sight from humans, they reached home in a few minutes. Arianna looked serious even as she greeted her mate with a hug. "It's worse than I thought."

Chaos returned the hug with a raise brow. "Is it? I know Terry probably wasn't exaggerating, but are they really out for our blood?"

"More than you know. Swiftspy, would you like to share the tape I gave you?" Her queen asked politely.

Max pulled out the tape and turned it on so Chaos could hear and interaction between Dana and Arianna. When it finished, Chaos frowned. "I'm surprised you kept your cool, love. I would have flipped."

"She's just a sheep beloved, not under our protection. Let her be batman's problem, not ours." Arianna sighed and sat down. "Still, stupidity is catching, so let's make emergency kits in case we have to let the city rot."

`Good idea. We can't be too careful." replied Max and set off for her room. "I'm going to make another set of back up files."

After Max left, the Queen let her head fall into her hands in despair. "KnightHawk beloved..."

KnightHawk took her into a firm embrace and kissed her forehead. "Don't stress over such trivial matters. Leave that to me. You have bigger, more important things to deal with."

"We'll need to start tonight on tracking the viper's nest... Can you handle the first round? SwiftSpy finished the books. I need to alert the others under our protection that we all might have to run for it."

"I can take the first round. We'll need some sort of explosion or trap to take on the second round."

"Right now we'll need just to watch and figure out who is in there. We'll figure out the next step later." She sighed and hugged him tight. "Soon darling soon..."