Shoutouts: Fang3forever, Maximum Ride is awesome, Antha32, iggsplosives, carly, AnikaandAj, lillypad22, Noah Stark Dawnson, girlreadsalot, and No namer44!

Chapter 11 Awkward

I couldn't believe my eyes at first. Didn't want, to believe them. But after blinking several times I couldn't deny the two people who stood before us, arms wrapped around each other, lips pressed together and eyes closed as they kissed.

Behind me I heard someone gag. Ten bucks said it was Nudge.

"Um, guys, what's going on? Are we going to fight or flight?" I forced my gaze away from the two love birds in the field and focused on the confused bird standing behind me. Iggy's blue eyes were wide as his head turned, face directed towards all of us, waiting for an explanation. But none of us could speak.

From the corner's of my eyes I saw Nudge still looking out at the field. Her face was full of horror and her cheeks were red. The engagement ring on her left hand seemed to sparkle even more prominently than ever before, as if it sensed the disruption.

I could only imagine if Holden, or Ella for that fact, had been with us.

I swallowed hard, turning to Iggy again as he asked what was going on, his voice slightly worried. He turned towards me, his hands reaching out and I saw Nudge, who stood on my other side, flinch as his hand came near her. "Max please." Iggy begged, his face seriously freaked. "Tell me what's going on. If we're about to die I at least deserve to know. Don't try to hide it from me like you might have used to. I'm a man now. I wanna face my end head on. Max please." Iggy squeezed my shoulders with his fingers and his arms shook slightly.

I closed my eyes hard then opened them and sucked in a breath. "Iggy, you're here. The you from the other side." Iggy's eyes widened and he frowned. "Well let's go kick his ass and knock some sense into him. What are we waiting on?"

I half expected for Gazzy, one of them, to start laughing, and as it was one of them did. "Dude, they are way out of line!" other Gazzy whisper-shouted. If I had been thinking straight at the moment, I would have smacked my forehead.

Max, did, then she grabbed Gazzy and pulled him a few yards away where she started talking low and fast to him while Gazzy looked at her in surprise, mouth open slightly.

Looking back at Iggy I saw that he looked even more confused. "Guys?"

"Iggy," I started but wasn't sure where to go with that. I looked around at the rest of my Flock but saw no help there. Fang was emotionless, looking at me. Gazzy was staring open mouthed at the other Nudge and Iggy who were still kissing. Angel was pale and her blue eyes were wide, she kept blinking. Nudge, was completely dead to the world, her eyes locked on the couple, face ashen, eyes wide, and mouth hanging open.

And all the while Iggy remained clueless.

"Okay I am seriously about to freak out here if someone doesn't tell me what is going on! What was Gazzy talking about? Who's they? Who's with the other me?"

Iggy's face was hard and his eye brows were creased in anger. But it wasn't like I was yanking his blind chain on purpose. I was just shocked.

Come on Max. You're the leader. Get ahold of yourself!

I shook my head and reached out, taking Iggy's hand and he looked down at my fingers though he couldn't see them. "Iggy," I paused again then pushed on. "Iggy you're in the field with Nudge. And you guys are making out."

Iggy just looked at me, then he started laughing. My eyes widened and I let go of his hand as he bent double and held his stomach as gut busting laughter erupted from him. "Iggy, hey Iggy keep it down!" I warned but luckily we were far enough away (and they were too busy making out) to notice us.

"Oh. My. God. That. Is. Hilarious! Max I'd forgotten how funny you could be sometimes! Holy crap you've got me so worked up I can't even-." Iggy broke off as his breath came in short gasps. He continued to laugh, until eventually he just fell back on his butt, his body shaking in uncontrollable bursts.

I stood there, looking down at him, completely shocked.

"Iggy I'm not kidding." I said, glancing over my shoulder, my eyes widening further when I saw that they'd finally broken apart and had turned towards us, walking hand in hand as they talked. It was only a matter of seconds before they came into hearing range. I had to shut Iggy up somehow.

Looking around desperately I saw a ball of moss on the ground. Bending down I snatched it up and shoved it into Iggy's mouth.

Iggy's eyes widened and the little tears of laughter dried up instantly as he stopped laughing and began to cough, leaning forward so that he was on his hands and knees, one hand grabbing at his throat as he choked, spitting out the moss ball and then patting at his tongue as he looked up at me, eyes furious.

"What in the hell was that for?"

"Iggy shut up, now." Iggy's eyes widened fractionally, and he stopped choking and spitting. By the serious, dark edge of my voice, he knew I was being completely serious. And when I was being serious, you'd better stop whatever you were doing and get in line. Or accept the consequences.

I knelt down beside Iggy, glancing over my shoulder to make sure they weren't to us yet before looking at him and saying, "Iggy, I'm being serious."

"But…, huh?" Iggy looked over my shoulder, as if visualizing what I was saying. And as I watched his face transformed from one of surprised outrage, to confusion, then understanding, and finally, too weirded out for words.

"Uh, oh no!" Iggy stumbled backwards and then looked towards Nudge who just happened to be looking at him. Both of them turned cherry red.

"We need to move." Fang said, and I turned to him feeling the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as the other Nudge and Iggy drew closer. We needed to move. We had to get out of here.

But can you pass up this opportunity…?

"Everyone get back! Go deeper into the woods and wait for my call. Go now!" Gazzy snapped out of it and glanced at me in surprise before grabbing his sister's hand and running. Dylan dotted forward and snatched up Nudge who was too shell shocked to move, while Ratchet basically hauled Iggy up and drug him into the woods.

Max pushed her Gazzy after the Flock then looked back at me, our eyes locking. Then she turned and ran, with Total and Kovu on her heels.

I watched as they disappeared then turned to Fang, my brown eyes meeting his black, not a word being spoken though Fang nodded after a long moment and ran backwards taking cover behind a large, burnt oak. I ducked sideways and slid behind a cracked and ash caked birch, my eyes narrowing as I peered around the black mess towards where Iggy and Nudge had stopped at the edge of the woods and were talking softly.

I looked across at Fang and with a slight tilt of my head we began to creep forward, using the dead bushes and blackened trees for cover as we stole closer. In less than a minute we were even with them at the edge of the woods. I couldn't even see Fang for the shadows but I knew he was there. I could feel it.

I waited, my body tensed, blood pumping, roaring in my ears as small slivers of adrenaline stole into my veins. My eyes flickered, taking in every detail. Watching as Nudge turned to face Iggy, putting her back towards me, and forcing him to turn, his back to Fang. I waited, seeing their eyes look at each other, blind to the rest of the world. I waited, seeing their hands come together at their sides. I waited, seeing their faces lean forward.

I waited…, until I saw their eyes close.

The bushes around me exploded as I raced forward, my hands slamming into Nudge's shoulder blades, pressing down with such force that her knees buckled and her arms fell to her sides as she let out a gasp which nearly turned scream before I was able to clamp my hand over her mouth, wrap my legs around her legs, and roll her to the ground with my free hand going under her arm and up around her opposite shoulder blade.

Across from me, the bushes had erupted at the same exact moment and I caught a glimpse of Fang struggling with Iggy. But I was distracted a second later as Nudge's hands began clawing at my arms, opening up the glass cuts I'd received days before and making me wince as she ripped and pinched at the skin.

With a growl I rolled over and over, struggling to get on top as Nudge managed to kick free of my legs and tried to stand. My foot swung around though and in an instant we were on the ground again, me struggling to hold her down and she struggling just to break free.

Owwwwww.

I forced back a scream as Nudge bit the hand I'd had clamped over her mouth. Wincing I drew back and had a split second to think 'oh crap' before her elbow slammed into my nose.

Did you know, that in a fight, if you hit your opponent in the nose, it is almost guaranteed to not only make them let go of you, but actually stop the fight right then and there? Did you?

Me either.

Blood squirted from my nose going across my face and down onto my relatively clean clothes. Nudge's eyes widened at all the blood, and for a moment she let her guard down, expecting me to stop. I guess she'd forgotten after all these years just what Maximum Ride was capable of.

Swinging my body forward I grabbed Nudge's arms and pulled her up, my legs pressing against her hips as I tossed her over my head, sending her skidding across the dried and crackled leaves. I heard a huff of air leave her body as she hit the ground but in an instant I was straddled over her, holding her legs down while struggling with her hands as she fidgeted and tried to buck me off.

"Nudge dammit stop this! Stop!" Nudge continued to struggle and I could feel her feet gathering beneath me. In one last stitch effort I yelled right in her face, "Nudge it's Max!"

Almost instantly Nudge stopped struggling, her eyes going wide as she took a moment to look at me. "Max?" I nodded, sending dots of blood flying, taking a deep breath and tightening my grip. Nudge winced, glancing at my hands, and I said around my bloodied nose which made my voice sound soggy, "Nudge, it's me. Now I'd like to let you up. But if you're gonna try and fight me again…." I trailed off and Nudge wiggled her fingers which I had pinned above her. "No, no! I'm sorry Max you just scared me is all. You can let me up, I promise I won't try anything. Promise." Nudge stuck out her pinkie and I rolled my eyes before locking it with mine.

"Thanks," she said, sitting up as I stood, dusting my pants off and dabbing at my swollen, aching nose. I looked around and saw Iggy and Fang sitting a few feet away from each other, both guys panting as they stared at each other. "Nudge," Fang said, nodding at the other Nudge who's eyes widened as she looked at Fang then at me. "Fang?"

"Max?"

I looked down at Iggy who was staring up at me from his spot on the ground. My eyes widened as I realized that he was actually seeing me. The filmy, blue eyes I was so used to returned to their lush, forest green. The same green Iggy's eyes had been before he'd been experimented on.

"Iggy, your eyes…." I said, unable to help myself. Iggy wiped at his eyes and then looked back at me. "I sent you an email…didn't you get it?" he asked, eyes narrowing slightly. I was about to say yes, to lie, when suddenly, from out of the trees, Gazzy and Angel ran up.

Other Iggy and Nudge looked as if their eyes would pop out. They struggled to speak but it was Nudge who finally managed. "Gazzy? Angel? What are you doing here? What are all of you doing here? What's going on?" Nudge's eyes darted between us and Gazzy dug his foot into the ground while Angel looked at me. Iggy looked at Fang then Gazzy and Angel while Fang looked at me also.

"H'm!" Nudge stressed, not getting an answer. Then she turned along with the rest of us as leaves crackled and two people walked up.

Nudge gasped, Iggy paled, and I shook my head. "Iggy, Nudge, long time, no see." Max said, smirking, her hand on Gazzy's shoulder. "We've got a lot of catching up to do."

Personally this is one of my favorite chapters, ever. Not sure why, just is.

Questions:

Unknown Writer O.o: Do you think Iggy and Nudge should be a couple?

Me: Personally, no. They're too close, too brother sister. Ella and Iggy, Holden and Nudge, that's the way I would do it. That's the way I've done it. And I'm betting that's why JP introduced a new character so much younger than the other's he had introduced (Ratchet, Star and Kate) but still older by a few months than Nudge. They'd be perfect. He's quiet, shy. She's outgoing and a motor mouth.

girlreadsalot: Will someone die in this story?

Me: Yes, every good story, needs a death. And I know who I am going to kill. And you will not believe it.

AnikaandAj: Wow that is really, really similar!

carly: What is your favorite movie?

Me: H'm, that's touch, I don't really have a favorite. Though I'll tell you I hate musicals, sappy love stories, and most chickflicks. Now, I love action movies! Por exempla: Van Helsing, Sherlock Holmes (new one), Knight and Day, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Avatar, Last of the Mohicans, Law Abiding Citizen, The Bounty Hunter, 50 First Dates (it's kinda a chick flick but not really) You get my drift lol. Oh and Harry Potter and Twilight of course.

iggsplosives: Wouldn't Dylan not exist in the side the Flock is now on because he was supposed to be Max's perfect match but she never met him because she stayed at the School?

Also, when do you start school?

Me: Good point, but I believe I already explained that. You're right, only the Dylan on this side isn't a clone. He is the original Dylan. The one Doctor Gunther Hagan said died in a car crash and that's where they took his DNA and made clone Dylan, our, Dylan. So yes, clone Dylan (our Dylan) on that side, does not exist. But that's because I made it to where their Dylan (the original on that side) never had that car accident and so there was no need for a clone. Okay?

As for your other question, where I live we go back extremely early. The 4th of August. It's crazy, and we don't get out until like the 27 of May! Meanwhile up North kids don't go back until after Labor Day. It drives me crazy! lol

Good luck in South Africa!

Antha32: If you could name yourself anything other than what your name is, what would you name yourself?

Me: Good question, h'm, well my name is (whispers it too low for you to hear) but I'll give you the initials. ATN

Still, I'd call myself Alex (I just love that name) that or Sierra. My dad and I love the name Sierra and some day I will name my kid (girl) Sierra Alex or Alex Sierra. We'll see!

(btw it's cool and thanks girl!)

Fang3forever: Are you team Edward or Jacob? Dax or Fax?

Me: Switzerland, they are both necessary to her life and both love her. But I will admit I am team Taylor Lautner lol. And Fax. Dylan, sorry buddy, but if I'm being honest what I did (putting Maya and Dylan together) is probably the same way JP will go. I mean, why else bring back Max's clone? Adds drama sure but you've got a clone who was designed to be in love with Max. And there's a perfectly good Max clone right there? Bingo. They've got more than DNA already in common! lol

So good night guys! TTYl!

Sincerely,

Avenging Angels