I sighed as my feet touched the ground.

Phew.

Ella wasn't heavy, but I wasn't used to flying with someone attached to me. It was better than having to carry Akila all the time, though.

"Thanks Iggy," Ella said, planting a kiss on my already reddening cheek. Having Dr. Martinez around sometimes made me nervous, so I didn't kiss her, kiss her.

(Bahahaha! Who would've guessed? Iggy, or favorite Flock clown, is respectuos. Haha. That's not even a word, you know? I just made it up. It means "respectful". There totally should be a world like that though. Okay, no more interruptions. Well, it depends. Okay, shutting up now.)

"Well, I'll say," said a voice behind me. "I'm gone for two months and suddenly we have a new pair."

All of us turned around and stared at the newcomer. (Besides me. I just stared at nothingness.)

"Total!" Angel squealed, running up to him.

I heard the poor dog choke as Angel squeezed the breath out of him.

"Wow," Max muttered. "Guess who decides to join us now?"

"Did you really need two months for a honeymoon?" The Gasman asked disgustedly.

"We dogs have different honeymoons from you humans," Totally said haughtily.

"Do dogs even have honeymoons?" Nudge asked, genuinely interested.

"Um, sir?" said a voice behind me. "Where do I, uh, leave the bags?"

"Leave them where they are. I already gave you your tip, so off with you now," Total shooed the man away.

"Who was that?" I asked.

"Just our bellboy."

"You do realize that you scared the crap out of him by talking, don't you?" Max inquired.

"The world should get used to my powers," Total said, and I could almost see him shrugging.

"So, did you guys have a good honeymoon? What did you do? Where'd you go? Whom did you see?" Nudge asked excitedly.

"Uh, I would answer, but a black limo is pulling up, and I think it would be fair if you told me what was going on first."

"Uh, yeah," Max said slowly. "Iggy's gotta go find Fang."

"Don't be ridiculous! How is he supposed to find Fang?"

"The answer's in the car, Total. Just wait and see."

I couldn't help but laugh. It was good to have Total and his atrocious self back.

The car door opened and two people stepped out.

"Are you ready, Iggy?" Mr. Ryan asked.

"And who might you be?" Total asked, trotting up to him.

"Don't even bother, Total. He's just my Voice."

"Ah, so you're the infamous Voice."

"Yes, that I am, but as much as I would've liked to sit and chat with you, I really need to take Iggy now."

"Are you ready to leave, Iggy?" This time it was Jeb asking. Dang, these people were impatient.

"Uh, yeah. Just gimme a minute to say good-bye, all right?"

"Okay."

I turned to Max. She hugged me tightly. "Please find him. Please."

"I'll try my best," I murmured. Next up was Angel. She wrapped her skinny little arms around my waist. "Be careful."

Yeah. The mind-controlling seven-year-old tells me to be careful.

Nudge leaped up and stood on tip-toe so she could whisper in my ear. "Don't forget the CD. You promised." She patted my back.

Dr. Martinez stepped up and embraced me. Her hugs were one of those hugs where you never wanted to let go. Dr. M was the closest thing I would ever have to a mother, and I ate up every moment of the hug. She handed me a small bag. "I made you some cookies in the Baking Center. I hope you like them."

Reason number one why this mission was already looking good: I had a batch of delicious, homemade chocolate chip cookies. That was good enough as a reason to go.

"Hey Gazzy, I don't get a hug, man?" I asked teasingly.

"I'm shrugging."

"Why?" I bent down next to him, worried. Was he sick or something?

"Yeah, whatever. Go and come back. Don't break any bones."

I pulled Gazzy to one side so we could talk privately.

"All right, tell me what's up."

"Nothing."

"Which is why you're ignoring me? 'Cause there's 'nothing' going on?"

"Look, it's just that… You're not the old Iggy. I mean, I don't think you are, but I'm not sure. You changed a lot. All you care about is Ella now. Are you gonna wind up like Fang and leave us?"

So that was it. He was…jealous. Somehow the thought made me wanna laugh out loud, but I didn't so Gazzy wouldn't think I was mocking him or something.

"No," I said, making a face at that thought. "I'm not a dirtbag. I don't abandon my Flock."

"Look," I continued, placing my hands on his shoulders. "No matter who I'm with, or where I am, you'll always be my number one man. The Master of Disaster would be nothing without his gassy sidekick. And to prove it to you, I'm going to let you in on a little secret."

I leaned in closer to Gazzy in case any particular curly haired, blue eyed, blonde mutant was listening in on our conversation.

"Nudge keeps her makeup kit under her bed."

"And…?"

"They're going to do a makeover on Ella tonight."

"So?"

"So… Why don't you mix the avocado facial cream thingy with one of your explosive concoctions?"

"But Ella's your girlfriend."

"So?" I shrugged. "She's just another girl. And that means that we have to annoy her and play evil tricks on her."

"I knew I had to be wrong! You haven't changed! Thanks man!" Gazzy exclaimed. We high-fived, low-fived, did our special handshake (that would take you hours to learn, so I'm not even going to bother going into detail), and gave each other a quick hug. (Real men don't do long hugs.)

(*rolls eyes* JERK!)

We both headed back to where everyone else was standing. Someone tapped me on the shoulder.

"Ahem. I think you're forgetting someone."

I turned around and smiled at Ella.

"You're kinda hard to forget, you know that?"

"Okay," Max said, turning on her heel. "Why don't we leave you two alone?"

Everybody scuttled inside, and I couldn't help myself, I laughed.

"They're so weird."

"Mhmm," she mumbled absentmindedly.

"What? Is something wrong?"

"No. I was just thinking of what I was going to do without you."

"Aw, come on. It's not that bad. I'll find Fang, drag him back here by his emo hair, we'll remodel the house, and everyone will live happily ever after."

Okay, so that was probably the biggest (or one of the biggest) lies I'd ever told, but I needed to comfort Ella in some way.

"And what about your kisses? I'm really gonna miss those."

"Well, save this one 'till I get back," I said, firmly planting a kiss on her lips. The seconds that passed by were like hours as my skin grew hot, I felt this burning sensation inside of me, and suddenly I didn't want to do anything. I just wanted to be with Ella forever in a happy little island far away from DumbBots or Flyboys or crazy scientists. Ella always made me feel that way when she kissed me. I finally pulled back. "Don't miss me too much, 'kay?"

"I'll try not to."

I ran back inside, knowing she would probably burst into tears if we stayed together longer. She was getting a little bit emotional these days. I hoped the facial cream experience would do her some good….

"All set?" Mr. Ryan asked me.

"Yeah."

"Okay, get in the car. We've got to take you back to the lab first."

Lab?

Lab?

No one said anything about a lab!

Long-ish chapter. To make up for the short one that came before it. So. I've decided that I will do a… no wait, I haven't decided yet, 'cause only one person answered, so I will ask again.

WHAT KIND OF ROMANCE SHOULD I DO NEXT?

Eggy, Niggy, Fudge, Fax, Mylan, Miggy, etc.?

This is important to me, so I'd really appreciate it if you answered.

SHOUT-OUT: Okay, so this girl named Battle-Royale-Hiroki did this awesome story about iCarly and The Flock meeting and Carly being her usual snobby self and wanting Fang (going by the name of "[F]Nick") for herself. It's pretty rockin'. It's called Fang and the iCarly crew. Check it out.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: What MR character are you most like?

Um, I took a quiz just because you asked that, and the results were:

You're just like Fang. Quiet, and dark, you'd rather stay hidden than fight but when your needed you rise to the occasion! (& your crushen on Max harddddd)

IDK about the "crushing on Max hard thing". I'm pretty sure I'm straight. Is there something the quiz knows about me that *I* don't? o.O

Ask me questions on formspring and I'll answer you!

I love talking to my readers on fanfic!

Well, send me your advice/criticism/whatever, and please don't forget to R&R!

~N~