A/N: Hello again. my lovelies! So, The last chapter finished in a way that seemed necessary to the furthering of my plot, but that didn't satisfy me. And while I'm certain you all have ideas of what's going to happen based on my last chapter, I doubt any of you guessed what I actually wrote. And if you did, Brava! You know me better than I know myself!

Anyway, enjoy chapter 14!

Fang's grip tightens around my wrist, and he pushes on my arm until I fall backwards against the bench. He vaults over my head and past me, landing with a thud. Gasping, I flip onto my stomach, turning in time to see Fang tackle Iggy to the ground.

"Oh my God!"

Fang is sitting on Iggy's chest, holding him motionless. Slowly, as I watch, Fang pulls his arm back.

"No!" I launch myself over the arm of the bench, trying to get there in time to stop Fang. But my foot catches, then snaps, and I tumble to the ground. It's broken, or at least fractured. "Damn! Damndamndamndamn!" Come on Ro, focus. Can I still stop Fang?

There is a loud moan of pain from behind me. I snap my head around to see Iggy's nose gushing blood, and Fang pulling back for another blow. That would be a no. Before he can swing, Iggy heaves, flipping the pair of them over so he's on top. He wraps his hands around Fang's throat and lifts, simultaneously throttling and smashing his old best friend's head into the ground.

"Iggy, stop! Stop!" I shout, holding my ankle close to where I broke it. When Iggy looks at me, there is pure, unaltered fury staring out at me.

"I'm not going to stop, Aurora! He tried to hurt you!"

What? Has Iggy gone crazy? Fang rips Iggy's hands off his neck. "What do you mean I tried to hurt her?!" he shouts as he rolls out from underneath Iggy. Fang tries to scramble away, but Iggy leaps onto his back and drives a knee into Fang's spine.

"I saw everything, Fang," he hisses, bending Fang's arm behind his back.

"And what did you see again?"

"Iggy, what are you talking about?" I try to stand up, but my breath whooshes out and I collapse again.

"Ro, don't worry. I won't let him near you again."

I have a light bulb moment. "Thank you Iggy. He was just so quick, I didn't know what to do." I channel every ounce of girlish charm and fear into my voice. I spare a quick glance at Fang, who is looking back over his shoulder at me. I can see the pain and betrayal in his eyes.

"Rory, what are you—uuughhh…." He finishes the sentence with a groan as Iggy digs deeper into his back.

"Shut up, Fang. Ro is finally realizing that I was always right about you."

Okay, the self-righteousness in Iggy's voice pisses me off just a little bit. But it makes my plan go smoother, so hey, I'll put up with it. "Iggy, why don't you describe to Fang what you saw, and how awful it was." I let out a little whimper, and let my voice tremor slightly. "Besides, I can barely remember. It all happened so fast, I….I…. what did he do to me?" I let out some very fake cries. Iggy softens, then looks down at Fang and gets even more pissed.

"I followed the two of you out of the restaurant, because I thought Fang was going to harass you. I was right. Since you were heading to the park, I flew so I could beat Fang there. I saw you crying, Ro, and was about to land when Fang ran up. He sat down next to you, but I couldn't hear what he said. Then I saw you draw back, and him smirk. He said something coarse, didn't he?" Iggy looks to me for an answer.

"Oh, um, I don't remember." Really, Ro? Is that the best you can do?

"It doesn't matter. I'm sure it was offensive. After that, you tried to move away from him, but he just got closer. He said something, and I could see you reply. Then you started crying again. You kept trying to keep him away, but Fang grabbed you and held you tightly. He wouldn't let you go."

Now he turns to Fang. "I wanted to kill you right then, asshole, but Ro broke free. You went to grab her again, but stopped and tried to act remorseful. It was disgusting, the way you pretended to be upset. She started yelling at you, and you dropped the charade, screaming right back in her face. When she drew back, you tried to be pitiful again, and it worked. Ro has such a big heart. She sat next to you, to make you feel better."

Iggy's telling the story in a way that would make sense if you couldn't hear what we said, but something is itching in the back of my mind. What's off about this?

"At that point, a bunch of kids in the park were watching me through the rain. I had to duck away, or get caught. So I dropped into the trees and ran back out behind the bench. By the time I got there, Fang, you were holding Ro's hand to your face. It's funny for me to see that you have to use force to get Ro to touch you. You went to lean closer, but saw me. And now, here we are." Ignoring me, Iggy leans forward to say something right in Fang's ear, so I can't listen. However, I do hear Fang's response.

"I was not going to kiss her!" he shouts, twisting violently and freeing himself from Iggy's grip. "I've learned my lesson on that front."

I freeze, Fang freezes, and Iggy's spine straightens. "What?" Iggy growls, his voice low and menacing. "Have you tried to kiss Aurora before?!" Fang's mouth snaps open and shut, but nothing comes out. The lock of shock and worry on his face must be identical to my own.

"Fang, so help me, if you tried to kiss my girlfriend, tell me now. Maybe I won't kill you too violently then." Fang gulps visibly.

"I—I mean—I didn't mean to!" he finally gets out. I think this is the first time I've ever seen Fang look even remotely nervous. It is terrifying. Even when he was facing down the Erasers, his only expression was one of confidence.

"What do you mean by that?" Iggy asks slowly. He sounds deadly, powerful, and, well, like Fang. "You've attempted to kiss Ro before?" Fang doesn't move. "You have. Damn you, Fang!" And with that he turns to me. Iggy grabs me by the waist and leaps into the air, landing on a tree branch clearly in Fang's sight. Softly, but still loud enough for Fang to hear, Iggy murmurs, "I could teach you how to kiss." My heart falls into my stomach. He wouldn't.

He does. Iggy slips his hands into my hair and pushes me against the trunk of the tree, kissing me passionately. His lips are hard and demanding on mine, pushing against my mouth with a force that has never been there before. It scares me, this new found strength, leaving me feeling totally helpless. I am bent to Iggy's will, and both he and Fang know it.

If I pull away now, Iggy will take his anger out on Fang. I don't want that to happen. So I do the only thing I can think of—I slip my hands around Iggy's neck and kiss him back. Iggy smiles victoriously against my lips, dropping his hands from my face to my hips and tugging me closer. I press my eyes closed tightly.

There is a rush of air, and I'm swept off my feet, with a muscular arm underneath my knees and my shoulders. I feel my ankle jolt, but there's no pain. We really do heal fast. My eyes snap open, and I look up into the angry face of Fang. Only his rage isn't directed at me. Instead, Iggy, still balanced on the limb of the tree, receives the full force of his glare. And that's when it hits me.

"Iggy," I say, feeling prone and useless in Fang's hold. "How could you see me and Fang interacting?"

Fang swoops closer to Iggy, surprising me and making me grab onto his shoulders for balance. "Iggy?"

Iggy shuffles his feet on the branch. "Well, see…." He pauses, trying to regain the control of the situation he had until a few moments ago. "I'll tell you both if Fang let's go of Ro. And brings her back over to me."

Fang looks down at me, and I nod. The look he shoots me is one part okay, it's your choice, and two parts why the hell am I letting you go to him? Slowly and carefully, Fang deposits me next to Iggy. Then he slips between us. "Okay Iggy, talk."

Iggy turns from Fang to me, and I notice something I didn't before. The slight far off look, the cloudiness that was always present in his eyes, is gone. "Oh my God. How long?"

He winces slightly. "A week."

"And you didn't tell me?!" I smack his shoulder, trying to decide if I'm genuinely pissed or happy.

"Hey, we weren't speaking until this afternoon, remember."

"Touché."

Fang raises his hand. "Umm, what the hell are you guys talking about?"

"You want to take this one, Iggy?"

Nodding, he turns to Fang. "I got my sight back."

"What?!"

"Well, partially," he says, glancing at me.

"Partially meaning how much?"

"It's only when I'm talking to, interacting with, or watching over Ro. If I was to only be here with Max, for instance, I would be blind again."

"So, what does that mean? I'm a key to healing blindness?"

Iggy shakes his head. "I've been thinking about it a lot, and what I came up with is a little bit out there." I make a go on motion. "I've been trying to connect it to other bird kid couples. Which are essentially Max and Dylan. When Dylan joined the Flock, things about Max changed. She was less sarcastic, better with the kids, and apparently, from what Nudge told me, her fighting skills jumped up a couple notches." I nod again. "And you know how, in the books, Max has the super speed crap going on? Well, it only showed up when Dylan arrived, not when we were living with Anne."

"So, what? Dylan and Max are going to go and have the perfect little relationship?" I glance at Fang, waiting for his jaw to tighten while he says that, but nothing happens.

"Kind of, yeah. Essentially, Dylan and Max were created for each other, and no one else. I think that each and every one of us bird kids had a created "mate". When we meet, or engage in a relationship with that person, we are improved. Like Dylan and Max."

"So what you're saying," Fang says slowly, "is that Rory was created specifically for you?" Iggy nods.

"Think about it. Since Ro met me, she has met her true family, and gained her wings. Since I met her, I've regained my eyesight. It's miraculous."

I stare at Iggy, trying to make sense of this whole thing. I was made specifically for him? Only him? If I ever leave, will I lose my wings again? Of course the first guy I ever date ends up being my supposed "perfect match". I couldn't just be a normal girl.

"Look, Iggy, I highly doubt Rory wants to be your picture-perfect partner."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean, Fang? And why on earth do you call her Rory?"

Fang ignores the first question, instead jumping to the second. "It's my nickname for her. She loves it." He flashes me a smile and I glare.

"Yeah? My nickname for Ro is girlfriend. Get it?"

"And what exactly am I supposed to "get"?"

"The fact that you need to stay the hell away from her!"

"You think you can tell me what to do?"

"Hell yes I do!"

"Hell no you can't!"

"Back off, Fang."

"And what if I don't?"

"You want me to show you?"

"Please, do you worst."

"If that's an invitation, I accept."

"Guys…."

"Shut up, Aurora!" They chorus simultaneously, barely glancing at me before turning back to each other.

"Do you want me to take you out?"

"Please, Iggy, you couldn't hurt me if you tried."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, really."

"How about you put your fists where your mouth is."

"Is that your attempt at clever wordplay? It didn't come out so good."

"Shut up."

"Ohh, did I hurwt the wittle bawby's fweelings?"

"I am warning you. Shut. Up."

Fang steps forward, bumping his chest slightly against Iggy's. "Make me."

Iggy goes to shove Fang, but I beat him to it, pushing Fang off the tree branch and into thin air over the park. Within a second, Fang's wings are out, and he grinds to a halt, looking back up at me. "Why?"

I point. Looking down, Iggy and Fang finally notice what I've known about for a while now. Max, Dylan, and the rest of the group are staring up at us through the still pouring rain. Max raises her hand, beckoning us down to the ground again.

When we reach them, the first thing that comes out of my mouth is; "How much did you see?"

"How much was there?"

Fang, Iggy, and I exchange glances. "Not much," replies Iggy, and Fang nods.

"Really? Angel?" Max cocks her head slightly to the side, still watching us like we're going to make a break for it. Or, I don't know, start doing the can-can. Who knows what goes on in that girl's mind.

Angel studies the three of us, before turning to me and raising an eyebrow. She honestly looks like a twenty-something in that moment. I just shake my head and give her a pained look. She shrugs.

"Max, tell them what we saw. They're mostly telling the truth." Immediately after she finishes, I hear Angel's voice in my head, sounding excited. I want to hear EVERYTHING!

A/N: Yay! More fist-fighting between Iggy and Fang! I seriously wish that I had Fang getting beaten up a little more, but hey. I gots to gos with the flows.

Thank you to my lovely viewers, visitors, favoriters, followers, and of course, reviewers! All of your love and attention means so much to me, and makes me want to keep up with the story! Loves and cookies to you all!

Maybe two reviews again this chapter? Pwease? I'll update anyway, but it will lift my spirits!

Thanks y'all!

Quote of the Chapter:

"Be a Froot Loop in a world of Cheerios!"

~Unknown

Little story about that quote-n my six year old brother now believes "fruit" is spelled "froot" because of the cereal. Thanks, General Mills!