Hey, guys! I'm back with my second update this weekend! Sure, it's a different story, but don't you think every story needs some love? I do. Well, I'm not gonna waste your time right now, because the story's coming to an end! I think I've lost my touch with songfics... but I can't just end this one. So here we go, guys!

MAX

I looked around at the mess surrounding me. Scrap metal covered the yard, sparks flying everywhere from frayed wires coming out of their bloody, robotic heads. It still amazed me how these things could be part robot and still totally... human... Wait, I take that back. Not many people can wrap their heads around a part human, part bird girl, so... yea, expect anything and everything. My flock was panting, scrapes covering them, but nothing looked too brutal.

"Flock," I called out to them, "Nothing too broken?" I watched as they all carefully inspected themselves, shaking their heads after they were done. I sighed in relief and scanned the scene again. Panic arose in the pit of my stomach.

"Where's mom?" You could see how nervous they all became when I asked this question, so I ran inside, shouting for my mom.

"Mom? Mom! Mom, where are you?" The panicked feeling was growing increasingly worse as I said in a hushed whisper, "Mom... mom, where are you?"

Suddenly, the closet door flew open. My mom stood in front of me with a giant pot in her hand, ready to strike. She screamed, causing a shout from me. Upon seeing my shocked face, she dropped the weapon she held shakily in her hand and started laughing loudly. I moved over to stand with my mother and she held me, just laughing, happy that we were all okay.

Everyone gathered in to see what we were laughing about, and seeing the pot on the floor, they joined in, stepping over into the hug. Finally, we calmed our laughter. I felt so amazing and light weight and... free.

Do you remember when life was an ember waiting to burst into flames?
Are you so tired and so uninspired, slowly drifting to the end?

I went around kissing my flock's foreheads and giving them warm and welcome hugs.

Don't let your heart keep breaking.
Move on. Please don't look back.

"Come on, guys, wanna go on a walk?" My mom asked. We scoffed at our bloody and ripped attire, the scrapes across our faces and nodded, not really caring about our abnormal appearances.

We fall down.
We get up.
We try to hold our head up when life pulls us apart.
We fight and we bleed but all we ever need is
something to hope for, something to hope for.

We walked down our street and towards the town park, bruised and smiling. Fang's arm was around my waist, and mine around his. Ella and Iggy were holding hands and Gazzy and Nudge were having a poking war. Angel was walking next to my mom with Total in her arms. We were family, we were together. And most importantly, we were alive.

Whatever we can see, whoever we should be is well within our reach.
Though nothing is certain we pull back the curtain longing for purpose there.

"I'll race you to the swings!" Nudge yelled to Gazzy, getting a head start. I laughed at their simple joy. It was all I could do not to run after them and swing with them. Instead, I kept walking with Fang until we reached the swings walking.

Don't let your heart keep breaking.
Move on. Please don't look back.

"Come on, Max. Sit. I'll push you," Fang said, gesturing toward the last swing on the swingset. I giggled like a school girl and mentally slapped my forehead for it.

I pranced-yes, pranced, towards the swings and jumped into the seat. I felt light and gentle hands push me until I was in the air.

We fall down.
We get up. We try to hold our head up when life pulls us apart.
We fight and we bleed but all we ever need is
something to hope for, something to hope for.

Taking a deep breath in, I swallowed up the fresh air, grinning.

"Higher, Fang, higher!" I shouted. And then I had a brilliant idea. I was pushed even higher into the sky and suddenly, I jumped.

We bend, we may break, but we keep it together.
We give and we take but we keep trying.

I was airborne for a while and I heard my mom gasp when suddenly I extended my wings last minute. I didn't care who saw me, I was free, I was happy... I was flying. There were a few excited shouts and then Fang and Nudge were up next to me.

"Hi Max! This just looked SOOO fun, just had to come up here!" She suddenly stopped short and then saw Fang next to me. "Uh... well.. I'll leave you two to it then.." She awkwardly laughed and then landed below us, tapping Gazzy and yelling, "TAG, YOU'RE IT!"

"Hey, there, Fang," I said, kind of just hovering there in the air. He smiled at me but didn't say anything.

We fall down.
We get up.
We try to hold our head up when life pulls us apart.
We fight and we bleed but all we ever need is
something to hope for, something to hope for

Fang seemed to be getting closer to me and I felt slightly claustrophobic, but the look in his eyes calmed my nerves.

I realized something then. He didn't have to say anything. Anything he wanted to say was all in his eyes. Every emotion, every word; it was all there. And when he leaned in towards me, I didn't have to worry about what the Flock would say, I didn't have to be embarrassed that my mom was watching us. I just let it happen, because I knew it was right... I knew he loved me.

He kissed me with more passion than I had ever felt, and I had been passionate about many things. His smooth, slightly chapped lips pressed against mine and I had to remember to flap, otherwise I would have been a Max Pancake on the pavement beneath us. This is where I wanted to be. I pulled away and stared into his eyes, my forehead resting against his.

Something to hope for

"We should probably go back down there before things get awkward with them," Fang teased, and I shoved him lightly, before heading back down.

"Come on, kids, we should head back for dinner. Pizza sound good?" There were excited cheers and we all headed back, hand in hand, to our home.

Something to hope for.

Do you like it? The story's almost over, guys!

Zach: -sad face-
Abby: Aw, no pouting. There are my other stories!
Zach: -over exaggerated happy face-
Abby: You're slowly earning yourself a slap...
Zach: -scared, offended look-
Abby: -slaps Zach- Stop it, you!
Zach: -slouches and glares-
Abby: Okay, guys! Review, please! :D

Love and Emotions,
Abby