I'm back - with the chapter you've all been waiting for....

Oh my gosh....I am so nervous about this.... Okay, you guys said to make it romantic so I tried, I really did. I appriciate some feed back, especailly for this one... keep in mind I'm not a guy so I'm just guessing what he's thinking. It's longer :D Okay enough of this, just read. :S

Chapter 14

I let Max share first because if I went first, it could be a very short night out.

"Then she said that she is a total freak and that she's staying here. After everything I came up with, after everything I could think of, she said she's staying here."

I wasn't quiet expecting this and it was a bit of a harder problem I was expecting. I knew it was going to be something bigger but not this. I rubbed my forehead and tried to think.

"She's confused. She's just a kid." I answered her unspoken question.

She turned her head and looked at me. Her skin was pale white from the moon.

"You know we have to go. What if she won't come with us?" She asked me softly.

She was searching my eyes for answers; I didn't know what she found but probably not what she was looking for, based on the slightly frustrated look on her face.

"How can we force her?"

She was soon going to realize that we could never force Nudge. And that will be the perfect time to get what I need off my chest.

"Even if we made her come," Max realized, slowly putting it together. "She'd just hold it against us. She'd be mad."

I was nodding, thinking about what I have to do and getting butterflies from it. I know, how lame is that?

"You have to want to be with someone, or it doesn't work out. You have to choose." This time I wasn't referring to Nudge, hoping she would catch on quickly.

She looked at me with confusion, and I stared right back willing her with my eyes to understand what I was talking about.

"Um, yeah. Um, and she…" She didn't finish her sentence and locked eyes with me. I leaned forward very slowly, as if I was not to scare her away. She didn't move, but she fully knew what was coming next.

"I choose you," I said quietly. "Max."

I took her chin as gently as I could, and I kissed her.

I was expecting her to run away, coming to her senses any second now, but she surprised me by wrapping her arms around my neck.

She was kissing me back, and I almost wanted to do a dance in victory.

I gently pulled her down with me, so we were lying down and kissing. It was amazing. Of course, kissing Max always amazed me, but this was crazy good. She tasted so sweet, almost innocent, giving herself to the kiss. I wanted to do this every night if I got this out of it.

She was clutching me close to her, and because I didn't want to hurt her wing, I just kissed her back with the same amount of force. I could feel her heart beating she was so close to me.

This was like a full out kiss. Not the peck she gave me on the beach, not those awkward ones in the cave and on the dock. Not when I kissed her forehead. This one topped them all, and big time. And it was so good.

Slowly the passion died down, but we still kissed each other, not knowing when we'll get another chance like this.

My breathing was slowing down, and Max's lungs weren't gasping for air like they were before.

We were just holding each other, still staring at each other. Max looked happy, confused and afraid. I traced her lips lightly with my finger and she smiled. Just a bit. I rolled over on my back, ignoring the discomfort from my wings. Nothing will be allowed to ruin this special night. Max snuggled closer and I wrapped my arm around her. She put a hand on my chest, the warmth from it searing right through my shirt. I felt her along the length of my body, like a giant hot water bottle. I could get used to this.

I looked up at the sky, reflecting on everything tonight.

Max more or less chose me. I'll wait until she says it or shows it her own way, instead of me making the first move, but this was fine for now. She's right here in my arms, gladly accepting that we just had a make out session. I couldn't believe it. I thanked my lucky stars over and over again.

Her index finger was making small, random patterns right in the middle of my chest. She sighed, a little one, but enough to catch my attention and make me look down, not moving my head too much.

She looked so un-Max like, lying there. Her brown hair was strangely shimmering every time she took a breath. I could have watched her for ages and never get bored. I don't think anyone ever had my full attention like she did. I swear a whole bunch of Black Things could have been surrounding us, I wouldn't have had a clue.

I looked back up at the sky and smiled. I didn't have to wait much longer. I could do this all the time, and Max wouldn't run away like she used to. I started stoking her hair with the hand that was wrapped around her. Her patterns became a bit more pronounced and I felt her heart pick up pace at tiny bit. I was never this happy since, well, never, I think.

"Do you think it's time to get back?" I asked softly, after a few hours of this.

Max looked confused for a second, as if she didn't know what I was talking about. Then she nodded her head. Sadly, as if she didn't want this to end either.

I detangled myself from her and got up. I held my hand out and she took it. I pulled her up and didn't let go of her hand right away. She didn't pull hers away either and she looked at me with suspicion. I smiled and grabbed a quick kiss, pulling back before she could hit me, like I knew she would. I laughed and she just scowled. She brushed the sand from her butt and back. She was unable to get a part on her back, and I helped her out. I could feel the heat from her blush. She turned around and did the same part on my back, I guess as paybacks. I smiled at her and then motioned for her to get in the air.

She was more than happy to, hardly taking a running start to get herself in the air. I just watched her get up a few hundred feet and followed. I was near her in a matter of seconds, close enough to see her wince every down stroke. I got a little closer in case her wing was not all better like she thought.

I looked ahead for the house, and almost forgot to keep flapping.

"Whoa."

Max gave a little gasp when she saw it too. It looked as if there was a 300 watt light bulb was on in every room in the house.

Crap.

Alrighty then... I'm prepared for anything. Starting school so the updates are going to be slower and slower. And for those who think the book is a tad bit long, oh well, you're reading the entire thing. :) Thank you so much for sticking with me. :D

Ella