Chapter 10

We all went into town, Fang and I had to carry Mela and A.J. because they couldn't fly. They were scared to try for some reason. We landed down on the ground just near the pier where people couldn't really see us. Then, we all tucked in our wings to hide them. "Where are we going?" Mela asked. "Is it safe to do this?" I nodded my head.

"Don't worry Mela, we're all going out to dinner. Then, we're going to try to have some fun." Nudge ran a hand through Mela's pixie cut hair. "Do you guys know when your birthday is?" Mela shrugged. I suppose as a young girl she really wouldn't know. She was only four after all.

"I say we just worry about eating," I told Nudge. "We'll worry about fun after words." Mela had been walking beside me while I held A.J. but now Mela was tugging on my shirt. I lifted her up as well to hold her.

Iggy stared at us for the longest time, "They sure do look like you two." We had told the flock yesterday that Mela and A.J. were our children from the future yesterday. I studied my flock. Angel was running through objects testing out her new gift. Gazzy seemed to be contemplating over the full course bird-kid meal he would be getting. Nudge and Iggy were now in a full conversation while Fang and I walked side by side. Both Mela and A.J. were now in my arms. Total was walking behind.

At the restaurant we all sat down, except Total who was forced to stay outside. We all ordered our large dishes. The waiter tried flirting with me only to get a overly cozy Fang trying to claim his territory. We sat about laughing when all of a sudden, when I reached for my drink, it moved away from me. I narrowed my eyes and looked around to see if anyone else had seen it. They hadn't.

I reached again for the soda only to watched as it skirted across the table and did a little twirl. "What?" I asked and then, I heard a loud laugh coming across from me. I stared up to find Gazzy trying to control himself. "Gazzy? Are you making my glass move?" Silence went through the table as everyone stared at the guilt looking Gasman.

"Maybe," he replied and he tilted his head. My glass moved all over again. Everyone though had seen it at our cramped little booth and gasped. "Cool, huh?" Iggy offered up a hand for Gazzy to high-five him for. "I've been able to do it for the past couple days and it's getting stronger."

Great, now I would have to watch where I'm sitting because the chair may move on a whim due to Gazzy's new found ability. Iggy was admiring as Gazzy moved some lady's fork to fall on the ground without her noticing until it clanked on the ground. "So awesome," Iggy whispered. "I am looking forward to some of the marvelous pranks we can plot." They laughed before digging into their food.

"Nudge, how are the visions?" I asked her as she took a bit of a meatball. We were trying not to bump into each other with all the food stuffed onto the small table. Even Mela and A.J. were eating more than the normal people. We were getting a few odd stairs but enough years has taught me to ignore it.

"Actually, they aren't that bad. Nothing too big or scary that I can't handle it. Normally, it's about when Iggy's going to tell me when dinner's ready a few minutes before it happens or when Gazzy's going to let one loose." She gave me a small smile before turning back to her food.

"Mommy, I'm still hungry." Mela whispered. She had finished off the two kid sized meals I had ordered for her. I motioned for her to come sit on my lap and I let her pick off of my plate. I hadn't gotten much and was planning on some late night snacking anyways. She picked at the French fries. I noticed Fang was letting A.J. do the same. We caught eyes and I gave him a smile. He responded with his own.

After dinner, we all walked along the pier. Fang and I held hands. A.J. was holding my hand and Mela was holding Fang's. Nudge, Iggy, Gazzy, Angel, and Total were farther up ahead. Just before we reached the destination to take off, I heard Iggy scream, "Nudge!" Just then, she collapsed on the ground from another sight.

We all ran and crowded around her. A few people were staring but kept walking. I was glad that no one was about to call the ambulance. I went to see Nudge in Iggy's arms while he kneeled on the ground. He smoothed her hair away from her face. She flinched a few times as in pain. Her hand had grabbed Iggy's shirt and had clutched it in her hand.

I took her free hand and wrapped it in mine. Slowly, she opened her eyes, "Max? Ugh, it wasn't good. Brigid, at night, here at the pier, she had an army with her." Nudge went to sit up but Iggy made her lay back down. She glared up at him, "I can fly. I'm not a baby, Iggy." His lips pressed into a firm line as she went to stand up.

"I can fly too," A.J. had somehow made his way next to me and he whispered in my ear. I stared at him. So he knew how to fly?

"You said we weren't allowed to fly after the strangers found us to keep us safe. Can we fly now?" Mela asked by Fang's side still holding his hand. Fang was observing the young girl, there was already a father's love in his eyes. I wondered if that mother's love was in my eyes. Fang turned his attention to me. I nodded my head. Mela smiled, "Yay!" Then, she went off running towards our take off point sending out her wings. A.J. was after her as well.

"Mela! A.J.!" I stood up and ran after them. "The rest of you stay with the flock. I'll watch them." But I wasn't the only one who was running. My entire flock was coming, even Nudge, to run after them. We took off into the night.

Surprisingly the younger two were faster than us at our normal speed. It was probably because they were so young or they had just inherited it from me. "Mela! A.J.! Come back here!" But my voice was lost in the wind. Just then, before I even had time to react, Mela and A.J. were falling.

I was close enough to see that they had been captured in nets. Someone had seen them as they fell. Two figures suddenly appeared and swept in to catch Mela and A.J. who were both crying out for me. Tears stung at my eyes, a heart breaking tear worse than when Angel was falling down. As I put on my full speed, I saw close enough to realize they were robots with wings. M-Geeks…no way, with wings. They were clearly the updated models and they were faster than me.

"No!" I called flying after them trying to follow. It was only then that something hit the side of my wing. I screamed in pain and couldn't stay airborne anymore. I dropped and fell into strong, warm arms. It was Fang. "How did you keep up?"

"They're my kids too Max," he whispered. "You're hurt. We have to go back." I heard the pain in his voice. The fact that I was shot and the other fact that our kids were just captured, he was hurt because of that. I stared at him through the tears that were thickening.

I let out a terrible scream.

"Our babies, Fang, she has our babies!"