Unless you haven't read the notice on my profile page, My Favorite Mistake is coming to an end! I have prewritten through chapter 12 and I'll write a couple more chapters, then I'm D-O-N-E done! There will be a sequel solely about Natalie after I'm done, and I'm even gonna add a preview to my newest story on the last chapter!

My Favorite Mistake

Chapter 10

Home Sweet Home

I didn't sleep much that night, but oddly enough, didn't feel tired when I woke up the next morning. I was in a quiet mood, and let Fang get the flock up and fed, leaving me free to laze around as I pleased.

"Hey," Fang said after rousing Gazzy from a deep sleep and urging Iggy to fix breakfast, "What's up?"

"Nothing," I said, even though it wasn't true. I glanced at Nudge who was playing Peek-a-Boo with Natalie. Inside my head I smiled. Outside I stared blankly at the floor.

"Max, you've got to tell me," Fang said.

I glanced at him only long enough to see his eyes. They were dark and trusting. I wondered how many people in the world he trusted. "Just got a lot on my mind, that's all," I said.

"Is it the Voice?" Fang asked.

"No," I told him, "I haven't heard from the Voice in a long time." Wait a minute…did I just lie to Fang? Because unless yesterday counts as a long time, it hasn't been that long.

Fang nodded, examining my face.

"Nudge," I said. Nudge looked up. "Could I hold onto Natalie for a while?"

"Sure," Nudge said, passing my baby to me.

"Thanks," I said. I worked up a fake smile to mask my solemn face.

I held Natalie for the longest time, but then a crazy idea entered my mind. I stood up, walking to the cave entrance. Unfurling my wings slowly, I was becoming more and more convinced to do the unthinkable.

I needed to leave the flock. Not for good. Not even for a day. Just for a few hours. I needed to be by myself. To think. I also needed to see my mom and show off my new baby girl.

Impulsively I jumped off the edge and began to flap furiously. The flock was shouting at me to come back. I may have even seen Fang take flight and start to chase me. But once I poured on the speed, clutching Natalie tight to my chest, they were all long gone.

In less than ten minutes I was in Arizona. I walked up to the door and pounded hard. I was smiling (genuinely this time) as Mom came to the door and saw her granddaughter.

"Max!" she cried, eyes darting from me to Natalie.

"Meet your granddaughter," I said, "Natalie Ride."

"Oh, my God!" Mom cried. I beamed. "Ella! Ella, honey, come out here!" This time I was unafraid to see my sister. This time I was not a mess. This time I had a baby to show off. This time I was confident and energetic. Except this time, I felt the slightest bit of guilt as I saw my biological family before me.

Ella appeared at the door and cried out, "Max!" She fell into a hug with me, but I quickly pushed her off for fear she would suffocate my baby.

Mom led me inside and we sat on the couches. "So," Mom said, "How're things?"

"Things are…weird…" I said, "I mean, with the baby and…it's just hard."

There was a knock on the door, and Ella raced to get it. She came back in looking confused. "Mom? There's a man here for you. He says he knows you," she said.

Mom stood and went to the door. I followed, prepared for Erasers or scientists. Instead I saw my father, Jeb Batchelder.

"What the f…heck are you doing here?" I asked.

"I came to see your baby," Jeb said, putting on an artificial smile.

"Jeb, I'm sure Max would love for you to see her child, but at the moment we're having a little family time," Mom said.

"Yeah, so go away!" I snapped. I know, great comeback, right?

"Oh, I can't," Jeb said, his smile vanishing.

I heard Ella's scream radiate from the living room. I ran to see Rik clutching Ella, a knife to her neck. My mind was racing. Where was Natalie? What happened to Natalie? Where the hell was my baby?!

"Give me the baby, Maxie," he said, a sinister smirk covering his lips.

Great. I had no idea where my baby was, I didn't have my flock by my side and, worst of all, I couldn't escape this nightmare. I gulped and stood very still. Rik nodded his head and cloaked Erasers filed out of the kitchen. They tied Ella's hands up and held her still.

Rik walked over to me. I stood as straight as I could get myself. No fear, I thought to myself, Show no fear. You're not going to lose this fight. You were meant to survive.

"She's weak," Rik said, bringing his face close to mine, "and so are you. And you're alone."

"I'm not alone," I told him. I almost spit the words out, "My mom and Ella are here."

"And they're going to fight?" he laughed, "Face it: you have no one to fight with you. Only humans." He shot a nasty look at my mom.

Angrily, I swung a punch and caught him up the side of his chin. His neck made a stomach-turning popping sound, but otherwise there was little damage. Rik swung his leg under mine and I fell to the ground, but was up before he even had his fists up.

The battle began. I evaded his attacks and kept moving backward. I wanted to lead it outside so we didn't destroy Mom's house. At the stairs, I jumped down and raced outside, swinging the door open so everyone came out, even Mom and the Erasers who were holding Ella.

Rik landed a blow to my shoulder and it popped backward, making it hurt like hell, but I kept moving. I aimed a kick to Rik's stomach, but he jumped and I hit his 'manliness.' His right eye twitched a little as he fell silent. Rik crumpled to the floor, whimpering. I fought the urge to laugh.

I lifted Rik by his shirt and began to punch him like a punching bag. I punched the side of his head and he flew to the side. His neck cracked, and I was sure he was dead.

And now to kick the guys' asses who kidnapped Ella. I ran at the cloaked men. I knocked two out at one time, freeing Ella. The third Eraser punched my head just as I tripped him. His cloak fell off and I realized he was not a he, but a she.

She stood and threw at punch at my head. I cocked my head to the side and grabbed her arm as she brought it back. I tugged it hard and she flew backward. She stood up immediately and tried again to punch at me. She was strong, but her moves were sloppy and off-balance.

I ducked at she swung her leg over my head. Then I stood and did a front flip over her. I kicked her back and she fell forward, most likely getting a mouthful of dirt.

"You'll never beat me!" she shouted, standing and throwing a punch at me.

"Of course I will!" I told her, "I'm Maximum Ride! I've been told enough times that I'm meant to survive to figure out that it's my friggin' destiny!"

"I will not rest until you are six feet under, cold and alone!" the Eraser shouted, "I'm Is! I'm meant to survive!"

"Thanks for the introduction," I said, "now, buh-bye." I kicked her chest and she toppled.

I saw a helicopter land and the girl stood and ran, lifting Rik as she climbed aboard it. The other two Erasers followed, leaving me to stand there, confused.

I turned to look at my mom, but noticed something – or someone – coming from the sky. Five someones.

I beamed at ran at Fang. He caught me in a hug and whispered in my ear, "Where's Natalie?" I shook my head into his neck and felt his shoulders drop. I whispered back, "I think Ella hid her before the fight."

"Then we better find her," Fang said.

"But that would require moving," I said, "and I don't think I can."

Fang chuckled into my hair. I loved his chuckle. He whispered back into my hair, "You like running away, don't you?"

"I guess so," I said, "It's a habit."

"Can you possibly break that habit?" he asked.

"I'll try," I told him. He let me go, and I stood for the longest time just staring into his dark eyes.

I turned to face the rest of the flock. I smiled a true smile at them. It had been just this morning that I'd seen them, but it felt like a lifetime.

"Sorry for leaving," I said.

"That's OK," Gazzy said.

"It's not like you went far," Nudge said. I noticed her smile was brighter than usual, even for her. I looked closer to see that she was holding the hand of a certain strawberry-blond blind boy who was also smiling wide enough to stretch from here to New York City.

All six of us began to walk toward the house. I realized it was the first time all of us were together at Mom's house at the same time. We met Ella and Mom outside the house and went inside. Ella walked to living room and opened the shelf below the TV holding DVDs. She pulled out Natalie and handed the baby to me.

"Hey, baby!" I said, kissing her forehead. Fang stroked Natalie's head lovingly. We're going to do OK, I thought, my family is going to do OK. I expected the Voice to chime in here, but my head was silent. Ah, how I cherish those times.

Dododododododoooooooo!!!!! Chapter 10!!!!!!!!!