What's gonna happen? How will Fang react?

Chapter 25: Hi, Dad!

FPOV

It felt like I had been hit by a train.

Max + Pregnancy = Does not compute.

Max was pregnant?

"And…" I stammered. "I-I'm the…?"

She nodded. "Um… yeah." She looked embarrassed, scared, and worried. But I could also see a little bit of happiness in her eyes.

Fang, the Voice whispered, remember what I said before.

What? I thought back.

I struggled to remember what the Voice had told me before.

Then it hit me.

Do not let your loved one go on any suicide missions.

Nudge had told her not to go.

It will also decide the fate of another.

She was pregnant with our child.

A new family member is on its way.

The pain… the worry… the moodiness…

It all clicked just then.

"How long have you known?" I asked, my voice more quiet than usual.

Max pushed my hand away. "I found out the day before you came back. That was part of the reason why I said we couldn't be together. And why I was so upset."

I nodded. It all made sense now. Why she had been almost emotionless when I had first appeared.

She looked up at me, and I swear I saw tears in her doe-brown eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. For everything. This is all my fault. If I hadn't… I'm so stupid!" She buried her face in her hands and cried.

I was shocked. If there was anyone to blame for this, it was me.

I pulled her to me. "Sh," I whispered. "It's going to be all right."

After several minutes, she pulled away.

She looked up at me with a determined expression on her beautiful, radiant face. "I know how to fix this."

I knew just by looking into her eyes what she meant.

Abortion, the Voice intoned unnecessarily.

No freaking duh! I thought back. But I'm not going to let her.

I held her bony shoulders, keeping her in place. "No, Max."

She stared hard at me. "What? Why? It's the only way you'll let me go on the mission!"

I sighed and looked at the floor. Then I looked back at her. "You're no killer, Max. You know that."

Max's eyes widened again.

For a long time, she seemed to be battling with herself. And her Voice.

After many conflicted minutes, she murmured, "All right. I see your point.

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. I let go of her shoulders. "Good."

We stood in silence for a few moments.

"We'll figure this out when we get back," I told her. "After the mission, we'll decide on what to do."

Max looked into my eyes, and I swear I started to drown her expression was so intense. "All right."

Suddenly, there was the sound of a car outside.

"Max!" Angel yelled. "Jeb's here. And your mom and Ella!"

Max sighed and left the room. I followed close behind.

When we were downstairs, everyone, and I mean everyone, was meeting Dr. M, Ella, and Jeb. The three looked kind of taken aback by the amount of people you could fit in this house.

"Max!" Ella shouted. "MaxMaxMaxMaxMaxMax!"

Max smiled at her half-sister and ran over to hug her.

Ella smiled and pulled away. "Iggy told me everything! I can't believe that you're—"

"Sh!" Max said.

Ella grinned mischievously. "Have it your way then. But you're gonna have to tell Mom. And Jeb."

Max groaned. "Oh God!"

I felt myself go pale. Oh. Crap.

Max looked at Jeb and smiled embarrassedly. "Hi, Dad!" she said with a sort of faux cheeriness.

Jeb wasn't smiling. "Maximum Ride," he said in that no-nonsense tone he reserved for the worst situations. (An example would be the time that we (meaning the whole flock) had stuck frogs in the toilet.) "We need to talk."

Uh-oh! She forgot about what her parents would think! What will Jeb say? Will he be angry?

R&R! Sorry if Fang was too OOC for ya! *cowers under desk* Don't kill me!

Peace, love, happiness, and Maximum Ride.

-A$h