Max POV:

"You ready?" I asked Fang.

"Of course," he mouthed and gave me a thumbs up. Boy was I getting good at reading lips.

Fang was still shocked at what I had done. So was I. Maybe it would be something I would regret as I grew older, but for now, I was glad she didn't have to suffer any more. The more I thought about it, the more I saw how much we had in common. Fang wasn't mad, but still…

I don't think we would ever tell anyone what had happened. Even Angel. We would be careful to forget that event and not think about it, or block our minds.

I for one was selfish enough to be glad to not have someone trying to kill my precious flock and me. On the other hand I was horrified at myself to think that I had actually ended a life in cold blood.

I think Fang was thinking somewhat on the same lines as I was.

We flew down into the Martinez's front yard and I took a deep breath. Not that I didn't want to see my flock or anything, I was just preparing myself for the worst. Fang took my hand a squeezed it. We walked up to the door together and before I could even knock, Angel came flying out and tackled me into a hug.

I could see Angel was yelling pretty loudly because Fang flinched, but I couldn't hear a word. My smile fell a little and I nodded like I understood her. Fang tried to catch my eye, but I looked away.

Soon the whole flock was thundering down stairs. Nudge flew right at me and tackled me so hard that I fell onto the ground. Her face turned panicky, and then she pulled me up. Then she hugged me tightly and started rambling about something I couldn't hear. I thought I'd never say this, but I miss the Nudge Channel already. Then Nudge went to squeeze the life out of Fang and I laughed at his face.

Then Iggy came up to me and hugged me. Then he looked me straight in the eye and mouthed something I could read. He said, "Max, I'm really sorry that you can't hear. You better tell them you're deaf."

I stared at him and stammered, "H-How, do you… You kn-know?"

Iggy smiled at me and mouthed slowly, "I'm blind. I think I can tell if someone's missing a sense."

I laughed in shock. Typical Iggy, surprising us all the time even if he was blind. Then I pulled him in for another tight hug.

Then Mrs. Martinez came out. She said something and then pulled me in for a hug. I sighed softly, wishing I could hear again. Then she said something, and Fang pulled me upstairs and into a room.

He started opening drawers and closets.

"What are you doing," I whispered furiously.

When he turned, he had a paper that read, how are you going to tell them?

I shrugged and said, "When we eat breakfast. It shouldn't be too hard. Iggy already knows"

Fang made a face, and before he could say anything I said, "He figured it out on his own." Fang was shocked. Well… as shocked as Fang could be anyways. Then Fang nodded and walked out of the room.

I flopped onto the bed to think for a while. How hard could it be to tell them? What if they decided I wasn't a good enough leader? I wondered if Mrs. Martinez could fix my hearing. I turned over onto my side and closed my eyes. I just needed a good long sleep on a soft comfy bed. I'll wake up la…

Fang POV:

"Hey Iggs," I said. "What's up?"

"Eh… nothing much." He shrugged and turned back to the bomb that he was working on. Didn't they ever get bored of that?

"Nope," said Angel in answer to the question I asked Iggy. I growled out loud at her being in my head and Iggy turned.

"Feisty Fang," he said and smirked.

I shook my head and said, "Angel" and pointed to my head.

Mrs. Martinez walked into the living room and called us for breakfast. "Oh, and Fang, I'd like to talk with you after we eat." I was confused, but nodded my head.

"So Iggy, what's for breakfast today?"

"The usual: Eggs, toast, jam." The stuff he was cooking smell delicious. I hadn't had a decent meal in two days. My stomach growled loudly and everyone laughed at me.

"You better feed that monster," said Total. I scowled at him. Then Max came to the table, all groggy and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She yawned then laid her head on the table.

Then Iggy, placed a plate of toast on her head and said, "This'll make a good place mat." Nudge giggled and grabbed the plate and heaped toast onto her plate. Man could she eat!

Max coughed into her hand and I caught sight of red on her palm. "What's that?" I asked sharply and grabbed her hand.

She looked up in alarm. "Nothing," she said and wiped her hands on her pajamas.

"Blood, Max. Why didn't you tell me!" I asked.

She stared at me blankly. Oh, shit, she can't hear me.

"Honey, that is really serious. I'm going to have to take a look at that. Right now, come with me," said Mrs. Martinez worriedly. She stood and walked out and Max followed. I guess she understood what she meant.

I got up and followed them too.

"She said Max, not Max and Fang," said Iggy. I ignored him and jogged to catch up with them.

I slid into her office, and Mrs. Martinez gave me a look, but let me stay.

"Please, you have to let me explain," pleaded Max.

"I've got to tell you something, Max," she said.

"No wait," Max said.

And then she dropped the bomb. The one Max couldn't even hear. "Max, I'm your mom."

"I'm deaf Mrs. Martinez," Max said at the same time. I stared at the woman who claimed to be Max's mom. Was this pure luck that lead us to Max's mom?

"Wait, what? Your deaf?" asked Max's mom in confusion. I stared at Max for any sign that she knew that Mrs. Martinez was her mom.

"Yea, and I was wondering if you could, ya know, fix it?" Max ended it in a hopeful question.

"Oh my, honey. Of course." Max's mom responded immediately. Then she paused uncomfortably, unable to communicate to Max.

I tapped Max to get her attention, and then gave her a thumbs up and nodded yes.

"Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Max reached up and hugged her mom tightly. Then she turned and kissed me lightly on the cheek. Maxes mom frowned lightly behind me, and I shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.

"We can go down to the clinic tomorrow, actually," Miss Martinez told me.

"Tomorrow," I mouthed slowly to Max. Her grin grew wider and I hugged her. We had a chance.

"Let's go back to breakfast," Max said and grabbed me hand.

Her mom stopped me. "I want to talk to you for a sec. Fang." I gulped unnoticeably, and motioned Max to go on. Max closed the door behind me and soon, Miss Martinez and I was alone in the study.

"Fang. What's going on with Max and you?" Her eyes pieced at me, and I now knew where Max got her scary deep eyes.

I shrugged. 'We're together."

"I can see that. But will you hurt her."

My face hardened. "I will never leave her."

She raised her hands in a peace making gesture. "I know, I know. But remember. She's still my daughter." And with that she walked out. Ouch. "And, you two will have separate rooms," she said as she stuck her head in once more.

I walked back to the table where everyone was goofing off. Nudge kept glancing sadly towards Max, so I guess she told them. I wish she had waited for me. I guess she felt it would be easier or something.

We sat around the table just having fun and talking. Well the others did, I just sat and watched. I found Maxes hand and held it under the table. Her back stiffened and she blushed, but soon she relaxed. Her mom gave me the evil eye and I cringed.

"Who's doing the dishes?" Iggy asked.

"Not me!"

" Not me!"

"Ewww!"

"Noo way," cried another.

"Iggy clapped his hands together and announced, "Nudge, Gazzy and Fang."

Nudge and Gazzy protested loudly, while I sat quietly glaring at Iggy. Screw him.

Suddenly Max's voice whined, "But I want Fang to be near me!" I looked at her in shock, but she didn't seem to have noticed anything. Then realization dawned on me and I turned to Gazzy, murder in my eyes.

"Gazzy!" I roared and lunged across the table to strangle him. Max sat with the cutest expression of confusion.

"Runnn!" yelled Angel and Gazzy tore out of the room leaving a poisonous fart behind him. Max could definitely smell that, and we all jumped up closing our noses.

"Disgusting Gazzy," yelled Nudge. We all staggered towards the nearest exit and shoved our way to the living room.

I collapsed on the couch near Max. A content sight escaped me. This was how our lives should be.

"You stink Fang," Max said and scrambled away from me.

Except for that. Maybe I should go take a shower. I grabbed her and she kicked and squirmed around.

"Urgh Fang! Geroff me!" I started attacking her with tickles and the rest of the flock joined in. We were a rolling ball of disaster and fun.

Life couldn't get better.