Hey everyone!

Thanks for all the reviews; I could not be happier!

And last night I stayed up till like 4 in the morning, just for you guys, writing this. I hope it comes out good, cuz this is the chapter.

And sorry if some of the characters are not themselves. And from here on out I will not be skipping years like my previous chapters.

Those first 10 chapters were like how this all happened, but know it's High School time!

And during Fang's flashback, it's starts from when I ended his chapter, when the phone rings. It's in Fang's POV.

So again I hope I am doing a good job so far.

Ok I am talking way too much, so, enjoy! :)

(The chapter starts in Max's POV by the way)

Chapter 11 – Reunited

I stood there in shock. Just staring at his impassive face.

Was I dreaming? I must be, there is no way this is real.

I felt my heart skip a few beats, and my eyes went as big as baseballs.

I was so tempted to slam the door right in his face, to see if I would wake up.

It felt like I just stared at his face for hours, but I t was really only seconds.

Then I heard my name being said by a familiar voice, and then two kids threw me back.

Angel and Gazzy.

Angel threw her skinny arms around my neck and squeezed. I felt Gazzy wrap his arms around my stomach. I still was in shock when Angel pulled back and smiled at me.

God she was even more beautiful than I remember. Her blond curls her pulled back in two pigtails, and she smiled at me with perfect teeth. I just looked at her, "Angel?" I breathed softly.

"Max, I've missed you so much." She said, with tears starting to form at her eyes. Then Gazzy also came up to me and squeezed me around my neck. Finally I guess I came back to reality, and I hugged them back, my hands cradling both of them into me. "Gazzy, oh, my God, it really is you guys!" I too also started getting tears. They both got off of me and I stood up. Again I looked at Fang.

He had gotten taller, way taller, almost 5'10". Then the tears went rushing down my face and I ran to him. I cried into his black leather jacket, and I wrapped my arms around his neck.

I heard him whisper my name and then he wrapped him arms around me. I could feel his muscles flex as he put his arms around my back. God, I missed him, and then I started crying even more.

"Sh, there Max, it's all right." he whispered again and I pulled back. I looked into his eyes, and saw the gold flecks, and then my own reflection. I wiped my face and smiled.

"I can't believe you guys are actually here." then I saw Jeb standing behind Fang, I also hugged him, and started crying again.

"Oh, Max, it's so good to see you, we all missed you guys so much!" then I widened my eyes, and turned toward the stairs, "Mom, dad, come down here, hurry, look, who's here!"

I then looked back at Fang's family, and all the memories that I had kept in the back of my mind came flooding to me. Daytona Fun Park, making the Hot Chocolate, the snowball fight, Fang's good-bye letter…

I felt more tears come, but I looked behind me, seeing my parents come running down the stairs. My parents both had old clothes on, and they were full of paint.

I smiled as my mom stopped at the bottom of the stairs and stared, her eyes widening, also in shock. My dad came up behind her, and he too stopped short.

Then Angel shot past me and hugged my mom's leg. "Mrs. Ride!" she said beaming up at her. "Oh, my…" then my mom bent down and hugged her. My dad stepped over them and came and hugged Jeb.

"Are you guys really here?" I heard him ask Jeb. "Yeah, we really are, and I am so happy we are back." Jeb smiled and then he went to hug my mom.

I stepped to the side and saw my mom crying on Jebs' shoulder. Suddenly I noticed someone was missing.

Lori.

But where was she? I looked around, maybe I missed her. But I didn't see her. After Fang had hugged my parents he came next to me. I smiled at him, and looked him up and down.

Not much has changed, except for the fact that he was like 3 inches tall than me. Instead of his usual spiky hair, it was longer and he had a fringe that was slightly covering his eyes. His eyes were still exactly the same.

A midnight background with little gold flecks scattered in them.

Just like Lori's.

He gave me a warm smile that melted my heart, and then he pulled me into him. I put my head on his chest and could feel his warmth. He smelled like woodsy, but in a clean way. I loved it.

I looked up at him and smiled really big. He looked down at me and smirked, "What?" he asked. I just shook my head and put it back on his chest.

Then I felt Angel touch my leg, Fang let me go and I picked her up. "Oh, Angel." Was all I could say as I hugged her close to me. I heard her sniffle and then I looked at her face, "What's wrong sweetie? It's alright, everything is fine."

She had gotten so big and tall. I remembered their birthday had passed, on January 31st, and they were both 10. She looked at me with her bright blue eyes, but they were sad.

"It's mommy…" she started telling me, but was cut off when my mom asked, "Where's Lori?" I felt Fang stiffen next to me and I looked up at him, his eyes were full of pain and hurt.

Jeb cleared his throat and said that we should sit down. I still had Angel in my arms and I sat next to Fang on the sofa with two seats. Angel started crying softly and then she buried her head in the nape of my neck.

I knew this wasn't going to be good. "Well, um, there is no other way to say it," Jeb started, and my heart fell to my feet.

His eyes glazed over and he looked at us. I held Angel tighter, and Fang took my hand and squeezed it. Oh, God please don't tell me she is… "Dead."

Jeb finished and then he covered his face with his hands. I shut my mouth in a tight line and closed my eyes.

I felt Fang hold my hand tight, and his body shake. I tightened my grip and a tear slipped from the corner of my eye.

I opened my eyes and saw my mom crying, my dad holding her tightly. I looked at Fang who was staring at me, his cheeks streaked with tears.

This couldn't be, how? I asked my self. How could God take someone who was so full of life and had a beautiful family?

I saw Gazzy crawl into Jeb's lap and cry.

When Jeb was able to speak he continued, "Last spring, she had gotten into a really bad car accident. Fang and I saw it on the news. Our van was completely smashed in. Seconds later the hospital called and said to come right away."

(Flashback) in Fang's POV

I looked up from the TV and saw the blood from my dad's face drain. He mumbled something into the phone and hung up. "Dad, what's wrong?" I asked getting up.

"Your mother was in the accident, she is at the hospital, we need to go now!"

I threw the bag of chips onto the sofa and ran to my room to get some shoes. "What about Angel and Gaz?" they were still at the party. He stopped and looked at me, worry and fear in his eyes.

"You are going to have to call the Smith's. Maybe they can sleep over or something. But we need to go Fang."

We both rushed out to the car, and started to drive away. I called the Smith's and asked if the twins could sleep over. Mrs. Smith said it was fine, and then I hung up.

I closed my eyes and prayed that my mom was going to be fine. 10 minutes later we ran into the hospital. To my left the local news crew is filming something and then I walk over with my dad to the front desk.

"Please, where can I find Lori Harding?" my dad asked, the nurse (Jackie) looked on the computer screen. "She is on the right hand side in room C15."

We then ran down the hall, we were running so fast, we past her room. As we turned around, the doctor came out of her room, writing something on a clipboard.

My dad went up to him, "Excuse me, but that's my wife in there. Is she alright?" the doctor looked at me, and then motioned for my dad to follow him.

They went down the hall, and then I looked into my mom's room. She was lying on the bed, and she was hooked up to 2 machines. I walked in quietly and stood by her.

She was really pale, and was having a hard time breathing. Tears formed in my eyes, and I placed my hand on top of hers. She stirred slightly, and opened her eyes.

She smiled weakly at me and I closed my hand around hers. "Fang," she croaked, God, she sounded awful.

I leaned in, "My baby boy," and she caressed my cheek. "Mom you're going to be ok, the doctor said you are going to be fine." I lied, and a tear fell on her sheets.

She smiled and shook her head, "You are a bad liar, just like your father. I'm so sorry you have to see me like this, but I'm not going to fine." She looked right into my eyes, and I shook my head roughly,

"No, mom, I'm not lying, the doctor is talking to dad right outside." I let go of her hand and looked out into the hall, my dad was walking back with his head down.

When he looked at me he wiped his eyes, "Fang, I need you to stay out here for a second," he said walking by me, "But I wan…" he looked back at me, "Stay here." He said firmly, and then he walked in.

I sat against the wall and listened. I heard a muffled cry, and then a chair being moved. "Oh, Jeb," my mom said and then I heard more crying. I covered my mouth with my hand to keep from crying out loud.

"Listen, sweetheart, I talked to the doctor. He said that the force of the impact was so great; it broke 5 of your ribs. And also…" another muffled choke, "that you broke your back, and you are paralyzed from the waist down."

This time I didn't have time to cover my mouth. I cried and threw my head into my hands. Now I heard crying inside and I looked in.

My dad was leaning into my mom, shaking and she was stroking his hair, also crying.

"I'm so sorry honey, I wish there was something I can do." My dad said, sitting back up. My mom smiled and tilted her head, "I know honey, but it's my time to go. Maybe God planned this so I can watch over you guys."

I will never understand how she can be so calm in a situation like this. I turned back around and leaned my head against the wall.

"No, it is not your time to go, come one Lori, you can make it through this." My dad sounded angry now, "And let the kids see me in pain and in a wheel chair for the rest of my life? I can't put them through that."

My mom replied back. I couldn't take it any more, I went back in and stood next to her, "Mom please, listen to dad, make it through. I still need you in my life, I can't live without you." I said sobbing.

She started crying again, "Please Fang, listen to me, I need you to be strong, for me, your dad, especially the twins. If I know that you are strong for them, then that's all that matters."

She smiled again and touched my cheek. "Please." She whispered, I closed my eyes and held her hand to my face. I opened them again, "I love you," I told her, with a small smile. She smiled back, "I love you too."

She whispered. Then she let go of my hand, and one of the machines started making a loud noise. I heard yelling and running outside the room, and then I looked at my mom.

She was writhing in pain, and turning even whiter. My dad grabbed my hand as the doctor came in. "Check her pulse, Esther." The doctor instructed the nurse. "Dad what's happening?" I asked my dad.

Then the doctor opened my mom's eyes, and they were red. The doctor swore under his breath, "Esther, go get the OR room ready, she might have a blood clot in her brain."

The nurse went running out and the doctor started wheeling my mom out. "No, mom! Please be fine, I need you. Please, please God! Mom!" I screamed right before she was wheeled out the room.

I looked at my dad with tears falling down my face. "Dad, she's gonna be fine right?" I asked, then looked down the hall where my mom had disappeared. Then another nurse came and led us to the waiting area.

I sat on my dad's lap while we waited. After almost 3 hours of waiting, the doctor came out. We both got up, but my dad said to wait in the chair.

I watched as my dad walked to the doctor. They said some words quietly, and then the doctor shook his head. I saw my father start crying, and right away I knew.

She was gone.

(End of Flashback)

Max's POV

I had my eyes closed the whole time, wishing I was there with Fang. When I opened my eyes, Jeb was rubbing Gazzy's back, and Angel was still crying on my shoulder.

I looked over at my parents, my mom was totally white. She blinked, looked at me, and then got up. My dad wiped his eyes, and followed her out.

Lastly I turned to Fang.

He had been crying silently the whole time. I could only imagine the pain he was going through right now. He still held my hand, and I squeezed it again, he looked at me, his last tear falling, and smiled.

I tried to return it, but could not find the will to make a smile for him. "I am so sorry," I said looking at Fang and Jeb, "That you guys had to go through that. I could only imagine how it must have felt. I wish I was there."

Jeb shook his head and looked at me, "Thank you Max, but I am glad you weren't there. I am glad you remember Lori when she was healthy, alive, and beautiful. You shouldn't have seen her during her last moments."

I smiled sympathetically. "I understand. I just wish I was there to support you guys."

Then it was quiet for a couple of minutes. Angel has stopped crying and was sitting next to me, but I still held her protectively. Fang cleared his throat, "So, where's Iggy? I haven't seen him."

I smiled, "Well um, he has a girlfriend now, and they went to the movies." Jeb and Fang nodded at the same time. All of a sudden Akila came running in, and jumped onto Fang.

I jumped and grabbed her by the collar, "Bad girl, Akila. Get down!" I told her and heaved her on the floor. "She is so cute!" I heard Angel and Gazzy say, then they were on the floor petting her.

"Spoiled brat." I whispered under my breath. "When did you guys get a dog?" asked Jeb, also petting her. I watched as she licked Angel's face, "Um, well she's actually mine. My parents gave her to me about two Christmas's ago."

"She's so fluffy." Gazzy said, stroking her back. Then my parents walked back in and sat down.

My mom's eyes were swollen, "Sorry about that, it's just I can't believe she's gone." She said, looking down at the twins and Akila. Jeb nodded his head, "Yeah, me too."

So after the devastating news, we all decided to order take-out. We order Chinese food from this really good place down the street, Panda Inn.

As we set the table and had the food ready, the door opened and in walked Iggy. He was whistling as he came down the hall and into the dining room.

He stopped when he saw Gazzy sitting at the table. Then he looked from Angel, to Jeb and then Fang. "What the…?" was all he said before Gazzy jumped into his arms.

"Iggy!" they both fell to the floor, and we all laughed. They got up and Iggy still looked confused. "Um, what is going on?" he asked my dad.

I rolled my eyes, "Well isn't it obvious Ig? They're back!" so we had to explain the whole story over to him. He got teary-eyed when we told him about Lori.

But after, we all ate together. Well technically together. Since our table was too small, Fang and I ate on the couch. It was quiet for some time before I spoke, "So, um, how was Arizona?" I asked, biting into my orange chicken.

He looked at me, "It definitely isn't New Hampshire, that's for sure." We both laughed, "No, really, how was it?" he shrugged his shoulders.

"Well when my mom died, it was hell. I didn't eat for like 2 weeks. And then when we had to tell the twins that their mom was never coming back," we both looked at Angel and Gazzy, who were getting lessons from Iggy on how to use chop-sticks.

I looked at him, "It must have been hard. How did they take it?" he was still looking at them, "At first they didn't understand, we didn't tell them what really happened." He looked at me, his eyes full of emotion.

"Since they were only 9, my dad couldn't tell them that their mother had died." I nodded.

"But before that, Arizona was…ok. There was definitely more sun, it felt so weird not waking up to snow in November. I met this guy though, Asher. He was pretty cool, but he wasn't like you."

I looked down, blushing, and I saw him smile form the corner of my eye. "And, the house was pretty neat, oh, I got this new guitar. It's really cool."

He smiled, his eyes sparkling. "Since when do you play?" I asked, curious.

He looked down at his plate, "Well my parents got it for me, and I just started messing with the cords. Then when I started getting serious, I looked up videos, and then just went from there."

I raised my eyebrows and ate a spoonful of rice. "And you?" he asked. "Me what?" he gave me the (duh) look, "What have you been up to?"

I looked at him and thought, "Um, nothing much, just you know, doin things here and there. It's actually been kinda boring without you."

I mumbled the last part. "It's been kinda boring without who?" he asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

Damn Fang!

"Without you." I said flatly, and looked up to see a satisfied smile on his annoying face.

It's so weird how he's been gone all these years, and yet it felt so natural do be around him. I thought when he got back, it would be…awkward? Weird?

But it was totally opposite, I really missed him.

"Yeah, I've missed you too." He said looking at me. "Aww, Fangy missed me!" I said in a little girl's voice.

This time he attacked me and we both fell to the floor. And our food went flying. I fell flat on my back, and he just caught himself before I was a Max sandwich.

I piece of rice landed on my nose and Fang got it, flicking it onto this plate. But as he picked it up, his hand brushed my cheek making a chill run through me.

We were really close together. I hadn't been this close to him in a long time, but yet it felt natural.

"What happened in there, are you guys okay?" I heard my mom ask and then heard the chair scraping against the floor. Fang got up and helped me up too.

"Um, nothing mom, it's fine. My, um, plate fell." I looked at Fang who slapped his forehead.

"Ok, well we are going to the ice cream parlor for dessert. Do you guys wanna come?" she asked. Fang and I both looked at each other. For some reason I could understand him with just a look. And this look meant that we both wanted ice cream.

"Yeah, be right there." I responded back. Just then my phone buzzed from the floor, it must have fallen out of my pocket when we fell. There was a picture of Logan on my screen; it was a text from him.

Fang looked down and saw it before I could pick it up. I quickly reached down and snatched it, shoving it into my back pocket.

I looked back at him, and he had a questioning look and a raised eyebrow. "Who's that?" he asked, picking up the food from the floor.

Shoot. Perfect timing Logan, I thought.

"Um, he's just a friend. From school." I said quickly, also picking up rice grains from the floor. He didn't say anything else, but I knew it was going to come back up again.

When the floor was clean again, we all walked out, the ice cream parlor was in walking distance. Angel came in between Fang and I and held each of our hand.

I looked down and then looked at Fang. He smiled at her and then at me. My heart fluttered, and then he winked at me.

My heart into into freakin heart-attack mode.

God why was he so cute? Whoa, I did not just say that! You heard nothing come out of my mouth!

But I just smiled back. I was so happy Fang was back.

Ok, hope you guys liked it!

this is my longest chapter yet, so yeah for me!

and also to jamy, in the next chapter, i will do all the explaining of their years apart. And no, Fang will not be a jerk. And i hope you enjoyed the long chapter!

and remember, REVIEW!