Disclaimer: I own nutin', JP and SM do.

Chapter Twenty: Family Reunion

"Max!" Angel exclaimed, running into my arms. "You're okay!"

At first I was shocked. Didn't they realize I was dangerous now? That I was faster, stronger, more indestructible than ever before? That I could kill any one of them at a moments notice? That a part of me, no matter how small, literally thirsted for their blood? The Gasman, Nudge, and even Iggy joined in on the hug, Apparently not. That was good, I thought. I was still the same old Maximum Ride to them, even if I was a vampire.

"Of course I'm okay," I told Angel.

Fang came over to me slowly. Was he the only one that knew what I was capable of now? Did he fear me? Would a relationship ever even work between us? Instead of grabbing the others like I thought, Fang came up to me and murmmered, "I'm glad you're okay." I felt like I would blush, but the blood never rose to my cheeks. Can vampires blush? I mean they don't exactly have blood.

"I'm fine," I told him softly. "I've actually never been better."

To my surprise, it was true. I was faster and stronger than ever before. My whole family was together and safe. And Fang and I were together now, even if I was a vampire.

Even though I was now a deadly predator, even more so than before, I had missed my family. It had seemed like ages since I had seen them. Besides, I would never hurt my family.

I slowly and gently kissed Fang, forgetting everybody else in the room. For a moment it seemed like it was just the two of us, completely alone. I felt a slight burning sensation in the back of my throat, like last time, but now I pulled back since I now knew what it was.

As I pulled back, I realized that there were others in the room. I faintly heard Angel, Nudge, and Alice "aw" and Iggy and Emmmett snigger. There was no way denying that I had kissed Fang anymore… not like it really was with those conspiring five girls, Angel, Nudge, Alice, Rosalie, and Bella. But now it was worse since Emmett had witnessed it. I had heard him make snarky comments on everyone else's "relationships". I once again felt like I was going to blush, but the blood never rose to my cheeks.

Fang realized something was wrong, though. "What's the matter, Max?" he asked me. I sighed, realizing there was no way to avoid the question.

"Don't you guys realize that I'm dangerous now?"I asked.

"To be fair, you were dangerous before," Fang replied.

"You know what I mean," I said with a scowl.

"Max, I know that you would never hurt anyone, nonetheless us," Fang sincerely said.

"You do realize I'm a vampire, right?" I asked semi-sarcastically.

"You're actually two percent bird too," Fang added.

"So you're not scared even though I literally thirst for your blood?" I boldly asked. The smell of Fang's blood, as the rest of the Flock's blood, was not too strong, but I wanted to make a point. Mission accomplished, I think.

"Max," Fang said, "nothing is going to change because you're a vampire. You are still just plain Max to me."

"And me," Angel quickly said, followed by Nudge, Gazzy, Iggy, and even Total. I smiled. It seems I was worried for nothing. My fear of rejection from the Flock, my family, had been a waste. I was still me to them, even if I was a freak even by mutant-freak standards.

"So, Max," Iggy said breaking the short silence, "on a scale of one to ten how good of a kisser is Fang?"

So I'm back! Sorry for the long hiatus but I've been in the hospital (yes, again). I actually still am. But I found my lost inspiration and decided to go for it. I'm sorry it's short but I wanted to post this now. Plus, found this chapter sort of challenging to write, but it was better when my muse was fed by therapy (physical and occupational, not the psyche-kind… okay that too. :D) Anyway, hopefully the next chapter will be easier. You'll learn Max's new powers. Anyone have any ideas? (I already know what they are but I'd love to see what you think.) Anyway I hoped you enjoyed this and I'll try to update as soon as I can!

Random Quotes/ Smiles of the Day :D

~I had a friend once. Then the rope broke and he got away.

~"CHILDHOOD: The rapidly shrinking interval between infancy and first arrest on a drug or weapons charge." ~Rick Bayan, The Cynic's Dictionary

~Did you hear about the paranoid with low self-esteem? He thought nobody important was out to get him.