Second Chances – Chapter 25

By MyNameIsCAL

-Fang's POV-

"I need to talk to you."

I looked up from my newspaper to see Nudge standing over me. She had only arrived here yesterday, late last night.

I put my newspaper down. "About what?"

"About Max," she said, as if I was supposed to know that. "I just, I hope you know what you're doing. How long since you last used?"

"Since I last saw you," I assured her.

"How long can you last without drugs, Fang?" she questioned. "How long until you need to drive a knife through your arm?"

"Why can't you trust me?" I growled.

"Because you're going to hurt yourself and hurt Max again. I don't think the two of you getting back together is a good idea," Nudge responded. "Because someday Alex will realize what really happened to Daddy and she's not going to like it. Maybe she'll feel betrayed or hurt. It'll be just like the way you found out your mom gave you up."

I resisted the urge to reach out and grab her. "Are you saying that I shouldn't marry Max again?"

She forced my eyes to meet hers. "Yes, Fang, that's exactly what I'm saying."

I tried to forget what Nudge had said to me, but it was so hard to see her around every day looking like she was out to kill me. Max seemed to sense there was something bothering me, but of course, I'd keep that from her. Although now that I thought about it, I should probably talk to her about Nudge. It was the one thing that still felt different. I felt like there were things we still weren't telling each other.

And Iggy, he seemed to be aware of that. His news about Ella and him expecting was the best news anyone had heard in a while. The last time big news came around was my suicide attempt and then Mom's diagnosis. For once, now that the flock was all here, we would get to celebrate something instead of worrying about one thing or another.

"Waiting," Iggy began as we sat, waiting for the others to come home. "Ella and I, we shouldn't have waited to have a kid because of money or…"

"Taking care of Max and Alex when I didn't come home and the whole year I spent in the hospital," I finished for him.

Iggy let out a sigh. "C'mon, Fang. Don't get down on yourself like that. I wasn't even thinking that."

I didn't say anything.

"You can't hold onto mistakes," Iggy continued after a while. "I mean, look at Max. she hasn't been this happy since Alex was born. Let go of what happened and, I don't know, Fang stop waiting and, damnit, go ask her to marry you again."

I shook my head. "No."

"What do you mean no?" Iggy exclaimed, exasperation in his voice.

I exhaled, closing my eyes. "Ig, I don't deserve any of this."

He suddenly grabbed me by the arm, his eyes almost seemed to be focusing on me. "I know you don't believe that. What has Nudge been telling you?"

"Nothing," I lied.

His grip tightened around my arm.

"Alright, I'll talk to Max."

He let go, a look of satisfaction on his face as he went back to the kitchen.

Dinner went smoothly for the most part. Angel didn't say much to me and Nudge was her usual self, glaring. When I got the chance, I slipped away to the bedroom and climbed into bed, staring at the ceiling hoping the cracks in it would give me answers to everything I've been wondering. Especially about who was right, Iggy or Nudge.

Max came in some hours later, curling up against me as soon as she got into bed, her head on my chest. I settled my arm around her, kissing her forehead.

"What's got you so preoccupied?" Max asked as she kissed me back.

I took in a deep breath. "Max, would you marry me again if I asked you?"

There was no hesitation as she answered. "Of course I would."

"Okay." I stated.

"Okay?" she remarked.

I let out a breath now. "Well, will you marry me?"

"Are you pr…"

"Yes, Max, I am proposing to you."

Even in the dark I could see her smile. "Then yes, I'll marry you, Fang."

There was silence for a while. Part of me was sort of in shock that I had just asked like that, unconventional. And then Max started to cry.

"Max, what's wrong?"

"I never thought you'd ask."

It was my turn to smile. "I was just thinking how unromantic this was."

She started to laugh through her tears. "Oh, Fang, I love you."

I pulled her closer. "I love you too Max."

I was hesitant to jump to tell everyone about my proposal to Max. After all, Nudge would probably freak out and murder me or something like that. Iggy said he was going to talk to her, tell her to cool down. I really hoped she would list to him. Besides, everyone was still all excited about Iggy and Ella. I wasn't going to steal their spotlight from them.

"Hey, Ig, you got a sec?" I stopped him in the hallway as he was heading into the kitchen.

He nodded, turning to face me. "Sure."

For a while, I just stood there, shifting my weight between my feet. "So I proposed to Max."

"Really?" I could have sworn Iggy jumped up. "That's great!"

I was relieved to see him excited. Iggy always had my back with this kind of stuff. "Thanks."

"I mean, I just sort of asked her when we were talking last night. It wasn't planned at all," I started to ramble anxiously.

Iggy grinned anyway. "That's still really great, Fang. Did you tell anyone else?"

"No. I don't think I could deal with Nudge's nagging," I admitted.

"You just tell everyone when you're ready, okay?" He seemed to understand though. "Although I personally think you should ask Max in front of everyone. You know, defy Nudge."

I gave him a small smile. "Okay, thanks."

Iggy started towards the kitchen again. "Hey, I'm just lookin' out for you!"

"But you can't see," I murmured, laughing to myself.

Things began to smooth out between Max and me. It really felt like things were finally falling back into place. It seemed like years since I had felt the urge to find a sharp edge and eons since I even thought about shooting up or getting a drink. I felt like a different person.

And then one day, Roland showed up.

"Roland, you can't be here," I heard Max say.

I moved towards the front door. It was only eight in the morning. Everyone else in the house was asleep.

"Max, please, we can work this out," he pleaded.

I appeared behind Max.

"Oh, this is just great!" Roland threw his hands up in the air. "He's living with you?"

"Please, leave." Max was trying to stay calm.

He reached out for her and that's when I grabbed him by his collar, pushing him up against the wall. I growled, "Stay away from us."

Roland spat in my face. "Look at you and all your scars. How can Max even stand to look at you?"

I threw him out the door and he landed on the ground squealing in pain.

"This isn't over," he snarled. "Max deserves better!"

"Roland, it's over," Max frowned. "Leave before I go out and get a restraining order."

He stood up and stared at us.

"Goodbye, Roland," I said, slamming the door.

We watched him through the window as he stumbled into the car, driving away. Max put her arms around me. "Promise me you'll just forget what he said."

"I promise," I whispered, wrapping my arms around her. But I would think about what Roland said to me for the next few days, along with Nudge's harsh words echoing in my mind.

And then I remembered what had told me. Well, to heck with them, I wasn't going to let them hold me back.

"Max, give me your engagement ring."

"What?"

"Just give it to me. And your wedding ring too."

"Okay."

She took it off and handed it to me.

I smiled and took her by the hand, dragging her to the kitchen where the flock, Ella, and Mom sat waiting for us.

"So, let's make this official now, shall we, Max?" I took her hand and got down on my knee. "Max, will you marry me?"

Amusement in her eyes, Max smiled. "Yes, Fang, I will."

I took the engagement ring and slipped it onto her finger.

They all looked shocked, except for Nudge who looked more horrified, Alex who was very confused, and Iggy who had this huge grin across his face. I stood and kissed Max, long and deep and slow.

Later that night, I lay in bed with Max again. She had her ear pressed against my chest, listening to my heart beat. Her hand ran up my chest, stopping over where my wedding ring rested, attached to the chain around my neck.

"Let's go to the courthouse tomorrow," she decided suddenly. "Iggy and Ella can come and be witnesses."

"You don't want something nicer?" I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Nah," she assured me. "I don't think I could stand to plan another wedding."

I laughed. "Good, because neither can I."

So I know this chapter seems all like, happy and OMG they're getting back together, finally! And you know, I've got lots of plans with this. So maybe as a warning, or a hint to the future, it ain't always gonna be this fairytale like.

I mean, Fang seems to be a changed man in this chapter. But will it last?

Well, tell me what you think! I hope that didn't seem to disconnected. And as always, thanks or reading!