"Now boarding flight 182 to Boston. Flight 182 to Boston."

I heard it over the speakers, announcing the flight I so desperately wanted halted. Nudge and I ran past security toward the gate.

"MAX!" I screamed, leaping over a man's suitcase. She didn't turn as I advanced on her and that made me speed up. Nudge had run some other way, hoping to corner her before she could leave.

People shoved back at me, not understanding that I needed to get to her: that I needed her. They protested as I sped past, knocking them over. I didn't have time to apologize.

"MAX!" I yelled again, closing in on her.

Please, tell me this was all a dream and Max never tried to leave. Please, just tell me that I never had to track her down.

I finally caught up and snatched her arm up into my hand, making her spin around. I was panting, exhausted and furious.

"What the fuck… do you think you're doing?" I all but yelled, no strain in my voice, as though I hadn't run through the airport for her.

"Fang, let me go," Her voice was quiet but I heard the order. Like hell I would obey.

"No, no, I won't. You're not leaving. Ever," I was finally starting to calm my heart down from the race.

She sighed. "I'm sorry about this," Uh-oh… She kneed me in the groin and ran toward her gate as I let her go to clutch at my precious jewels.

A tear slid down my face from the pain in my crotch and from the pain of seeing her walking away forever and me being unable to stop her. All of a sudden, Nudge showed up, clutching Max around the stomach.

She was crying, almost sobbing, but holding it in as much as she could. "Why are you trying to leave us?" I could hear her whisper.

Max hugged her, squeezing her eyes shut tightly. "Nudge, I'm sorry but I have to do this." She gently pried her off and stepped through the gate.

I leapt forward only to be grabbed around each arm and around the waist. I struggled, keeping my eyes on Max's retreating figure. She stopped once she was past the gate door and turned to look behind her. She stared right at me as the gate shut. I saw one glistening drop of water drop as it did and I collapsed, letting my own tears fall, finally giving up.

There was nothing I could do, anymore.

1 Month Later

"Nick?" Mom knocked on my bedroom door before opening it. She looked between Iggy and I on my bed. We were playing cards. "A letter came for you,"

I got up and took it from her, opening it right there. Inside were two tickets to the music festival Max and I had planned to go to. I sighed. "I can't even use these," I pointed out.

Mom gave me a sad smile. "Well, Max may not be here but maybe you should try to go do things like this with other friends- with Iggy." She smiled at him.

I looked at her. "No, I mean, the festival was two days after she left. These are useless." I sighed, dropping them and the envelope on my nightstand next to her photo. "Thanks, though." I smiled at her as much as I could.

She nodded, smiled back, and closed my door, leaving.

Iggy leaned over me to look at the tickets. "Hey, Fang," He hit my chest with the back of his hand to get my attention. "These are still useful. This is for the music festival but in a different state. Who sent you these?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. Probably Max trying to compensate for not living up to her promise on going with me,"

"Let me see the envelope," I handed it to him and he scanned it. He shook his head. "From a guy named Jeremy… He opened the envelope and pulled out another thing of paper- I hadn't seen that… "This is a ticket- a plane ticket," He looked up at me. "To Boston,"

I stared at him before ripping it out of his hands faster than he could even realize I had moved. I scanned the envelope and saw that Jeremy finally decided to help me out. But the date for the flight was in three months.

I smiled happily for the first time in a month and looked at Iggy. "I can go to her," I murmured.

He smirked. "Well, good. 'Cause you'll need money to pay me back with- I just won," He motioned to our game of cards and I glared, realizing he had kept playing when I had gotten up.

He laughed but I just smiled again, happy that I could go get Max back- and soon.

Another Month Later

Mom walked into the kitchen where Iggy was cooking with Nudge, helping with dinner to feed all our friends during the bonfire. "Nick, you have another letter from Jeremy."

I grabbed it and tore it open, seeing it was just another letter. Only, this was like an essay about some saint: Saint Bernadette. Wait, wasn't that Max's middle name? Why would he send me this? Iggy and Nudge glanced at it over my shoulder.

Nudge chuckled. "Max always said that Bernadette would be her second choice for a name."

I looked at her. "She told you guys things and not me?" I felt a little hurt- we were best friends yet she hadn't told me this… What else hadn't she told me?

Iggy nodded. "She told us the day her ex-stepdad visited. You weren't there at first, remember?"

I nodded. "Yeah," I sighed, sitting down. "I seriously can't wait another two months for the flight- I'm going to die."

"Just keep thinking positive. Jeremy just wants to see how much you love her by you waiting," Mom advised. I raised my eyebrow at her skeptically. "Alright, fine, I talked to him- he's not allowed to tell you anything. This is the only way to get you to her."

I nodded. "Then, I'll wait," I put my hands to my chin, leaning on them. "Not patiently but I'll wait,"

2 Months Later

I was finally able to fly to her. I was finally able to see her again. I was sitting in a cab, in Boston, on the way to Max's apartment. I looked at the photo in my hand. It was one of a beautiful apartment building with a park behind it- gorgeous photo. Okay, it was a postcard but Jeremy wrote that I'd find her there. A woman was in the cab with me, her name was Chelsea, going to the same place as me. We decided to share a cab and split the fare.

I finally arrived at the building, paying the cabbie, and getting out. I hadn't packed anything so I didn't need to grab any luggage. Chelsea did, though.

"Go ahead and buzz up to the apartment, I'll grab my bag," She smiled at me.

I swallowed, suddenly nervous. What if she didn't want to see me? What if she ran from this hideaway too? Or worse… What if she forgot about me entirely?

I shook away the nerves and went up to the door, finding her alias name and buzzed the apartment.

"Who is it?" I heard a male voice ask.

My heart sank and I bit my lip before answering. "My name's Nick- I'm… I'm a friend of M- Bernadette. This is her apartment, right? I'm here with Chelsea."

There was a pause before I was buzzed in. I got to the door and it opened and I saw a man and woman at it, with another woman in the background.

"I'm Freddie. Nice to meet you, Nick. This is my wife Roberta and her sister Joyce," He pointed to the woman next to him and then the other. They let me in the door.

"Bernadette, Chelsea's here." Freddie called up the stairs as Chelsea placed her bag on the kitchen table.

"Send her up!" A female voice yelled. My brows furrowed. That sounded like Max but… something was different. I couldn't put my finger on it.

"She brought a friend- I think you might want to come down!" Freddie winked at me, letting me know he thought it would be a sweet surprise I was there for her. I prayed he was right…

After a minute or so, I saw a woman hop off the last step from upstairs and freeze, staring at me. I bit my lip and stared back, unable to tear my eyes away. She looked different- more mature, older I guess. She looked a little wider but don't tell her I said that- I'll die if that happens. Her eyes scanned up and down my body, obviously remembering me.

I stepped toward her, stopping right in front of her face. "Max…" I shook my head, unable to continue, to finish my thought on how ecstatic I was to find her.

"Bernie, why'd he call you Max?" Chelsea asked. I'm guessing that was one of Max's nicknames.

She licked her lips nervously. "My name… isn't Bernadette. It's Max. Maximum Ride."

Freddie's eyes widened and stumbled back a step in shock. "You mean the gang member?"

"Ex…" I corrected, not looking away from Max's face. "Max, why the hell did you leave us?" Why did you leave me?

"I don't want anyone to get hurt- how did you find me?" Ha, nice try. You're not changing the subject.

…Alright, fine, she so did.

"Talked to your little FBI friend."

"Why are you here?"

"Come back. Max, everyone wants you back home. And I mean everyone." It was true. Everyone that was at the party- so everyone in town- wanted Max to come back home. They all missed her.

She slid her fingers through her hair. "Go home, Fang," She wouldn't look in my eyes.

"No," I stated, keeping my feet grounded. "The only way I am leaving is if you come with me."

Max placed her hand on her stomach, avoiding my gaze. My eyebrows drew down, my eyes casting downward, staring at her stomach. She was wearing a baggy hoodie. I quickly placed my palm over her hand, praying I was wrong. I felt a small thump against our hands, coming from her belly. My eyes widened in complete and utter shock before I let my sadness and betrayal shine through.

I noticed we had been left alone in the apartment. I removed my hand, tucking my lip under my teeth in frustration and anger, stumbling back for the door.

"Fang," I heard her voice quaver.

"What, Max? What do you honestly have to say to me? I get it now- you moved on and you're fine without us," Without me. "I'll get out of your way." I opened the door when I heard the most shocking news ever.

"Fang, she's yours!" Tears were evident in her tone. I tilted my head over my shoulder to look over at her. It couldn't be… "The lake…" She explained it so simply, only in two words, one word really since the other wasn't that important.

I spun on my heel, facing her. "Really?" I seriously hoped she wasn't lying. But then again, it's Max- she wouldn't do that kind of thing to me. Is that why she finally decided to leave? Because she was afraid I wouldn't want it?

She nodded. "I left because I didn't want anyone to get hurt and I wanted Danielle to be safe."

"Danielle?"

She nodded hesitantly, blushing, most likely out of embarrassment. "That's what I was going to name her."

"What if it's a boy?" It was 50-50 chance so she should have had a name for each gender.

"It won't be."

"How do you know?" I took a step toward her.

"Because every woman in my family has had daughters," Seriously? If that was true, then she wouldn't be born. Her dad's family had guys. So she'll most likely have a boy since she didn't think of it.

"Yeah, but what if?"

She sighed seeming embarrassed again. Really, it was too cute. "Well, I was going to name him Nick…if you weren't going to be part of his life." Fuck that, I'm going to be there every step of the way.

"There's no way in hell that I wouldn't be in your life."

"Then I would name him David." I smiled, ecstatic she was naming him after my father.

I almost ran over to her, I was so happy and kissed her on the lips. Softer than I remember… I held her hand when I pulled away. I didn't want any space between us anymore. "You're coming back home."

And that was the final decision.

1 Plane Ride Later

"Max!" Nudge yelled happily, hugging her carefully. I called to tell her about Max being preggo eggo. She was extremely excited to be an aunt.

Angel and Ella hugged Max too, Iggy and Gazzy giving her one-armed ones. Dr. M and Jeb were standing behind everyone. Dr. M mouthed a thank you to me for bringing Max back home. I winked back, smiling.

"Max, we're glad you came back." Dr. M smiled at her.

Max nodded. "Glad to be back." Max looked worried about whether or not her mom knew about us or not. I was a little worried too- only because I had to tell them later. I really hope I don't die…

"And she's staying." I brought up. No way in hell was I letting her leave again.

She smiled up at me, content in my arms. "Yeah. I'm staying."

I swear, you're all lucky I love you all so much. I honestly think technology hates me. My computer that I've been using recently decided it had a new favorite color and wanted it forever: blue. Yeah, I have the blue screen of death. Currently, I'm on my mom's vista while she's asleep upstairs. OMG my eyes hurt so much, it's 10:45 PM and im exhausted, such a long day. Anyway, last chapter of this story, I really hope you liked it. I noticed that I wrote Fang as acting a little normal while Max was gone but that's because she taught him how to live and he had faith and confidence that he'd see and hold her again so there was no need in being depressed all the time. anyhoo, R&R! im gonna go work on Choir's Angel.