Ok, sorry I know it's been a long time but I had Christmas exams. I haven't read any e-mails since my exams started because otherwise I would have been too tempted to write more! So that's why I haven't responded to anyone either! Hope you enjoy this one. It should give you a rough idea of what I'll be doing for the next few chapters!
I stood in front of my family and smiled. Angel looked curious and I knew she was confused by the general tumult and indecision in my mind, Nudge was unusually silent but she looked content and it allowed me to hope that she hadn't been irrevocably effected by today's little incident, the Gasman was grinning, his hair ruffled from tumbling around on the floor with his brother, Iggy had a hand on Gazzy's shoulder and an arm around Alice's waist, I smiled at this addition to my family, glad that at least one of them was settled and happy, finally I glanced at Fang, his arms were crossed and he was leaning against the wall, he looked curious but content to allow me to tell all in my own time. He nodded to me and I felt my lips twitch into a smile.
"Ok, I'm sure you're all wondering why I called you here." I started.
"Actually, technically, we were here first." Iggy put in helpfully.
"Thanks." I said sarcastically, "I'm so glad we got that minor detail sorted out in all of our minds. God knows what we'd do if we didn't have you oh blind one to crack a funny every ten minutes."
"Thank you," He bowed mockingly, "I thought it was one of my better moments."
"Anyway!" I interjected before anyone else could try their hand at the role of comedian. "I needed to talk to you guys about our plans for the next week or so."
They stared at me for a few seconds and then I saw the recognition dawn in their eyes.
"Max I-" Gazzy started at the same time as Nudge called out, "But Max-" and Iggy swore. I interrupted them all as I watched Alice look around her in confusion. Only Angel and Fang had stayed quiet, both aware that I had more to say.
"Alright, Alice I'm sorry this could get confusing from here on in depending on how much Ig has told you about us. I already know you know our real names and I assume you know about the . . . well . . . the wings." She nodded and I continued. "Well part of our uniqueness is that we get a 2 week warning before we're about to . . . well . . . kick the bucket." I heard Fang growl at my use of such a glib cliché but I couldn't bring myself to say the 'D word' right now.
"You mean-?" Alice gasped. "You're dying?"
I nodded and she stepped forward grabbing my hand.
"I'm sorry." She whispered softly.
I nodded tightly and she stepped back to Iggy, who pulled her into a sheltered hug.
"Ok, so I thought we should probably do something worthwhile for my last week yeah?" I tried to sound cheerful but I think my voice might have cracked just a bit too much.
The kids looked curious and Iggy was nodding, but Fang just stood there watching me, withholding both his approval and his reactions. I bit my lip and tried to ignore his silence.
"So I thought we could fly up to Mom's for Christmas this year and . . ." and suddenly it clicked, I knew how I could start to make it up to the kids, it would never fix everything but it would be something at least. "But first I thought we might go to a place we tried to go before, but which the School kind of screwed up for us. It's on our way, sort of, so what do you say we drop in and see your favourite mouse?"
"DISNEYLAND?!?!" Angel screamed. I watched this sink in on the faces of my family, pointedly ignoring Fang. Suddenly there were three sets of arms thrown around me and I was smothered in Flock. "Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!"
I looked up and caught Fang's eye. He was staring at me, his eyes slightly wider than usual; I could see the shock in his face that other people would miss. He raised an eyebrow and I shrugged, then he looked at me sternly and I mouthed, 'you gave them a stupid dog'. He grinned boyishly and nodded his head in acquiescence.
Iggy was still standing with his arms tight around Alice. He looked upset so I disengaged myself from our siblings and tapped him lightly to show my concern.
"Fly Max?" He asked nodding his head towards his wingless girlfriend.
"I 'm sorry Alice for taking him away, but if we don't fly we'll never make Mom's in time and I . . . I want to say goodbye." I felt my voice crack again and I tried to ignore it.
"Honestly Max." She said sadly "I understand. Can I talk to you alone for a second?"
I nodded and Iggy reluctantly let her go.
"Max," She said softly. "I . . . I know this will sound terribly callous and I know it's probably the last thing on your mind but . . . how long do I have?"
I frowned, "How long do you . . . ?
"With him." She murmured. "How long do I have with Iggy? Because I'm not stupid Max. If you're dying and I know you're not that much older than him, than it follows that either he or Fang is next, so how long do I have before I lose him?"
I closed my eyes so as not to see the fear in hers.
"F-fang has t-two months; Ig . . . Ig has s-six." I stuttered.
She gasped and I wished I hadn't had to say, that I hadn't had to tell her, that I could have said that Iggy had years to live instead of months.
I watched her trying to blink back her tears and I felt the punch in my gut at the thought of my family hobbling along in 6 months, full of grief and with only three of them left, knowing that at eighteen their lives would be over forever. I suddenly realised in horror that at sixteen my baby was going to be completely alone in the world. I stopped breathing, I just felt the air kick out of my lungs. I hadn't even thought about that yet. It had just never occured to me. My world was crumbling around me and I could feel myself slipping away into unconsciousness. Suddenly Alice's hand was gripping my arm. My eyes focused on her and I saw the tears in her eyes.
"Tell me it's more than 6 months please, even if it's only two extra months, he has to live for another 8 months please tell me there's a possibility you could have counted wrong, please! I don't want to lose him but if I have to I want him to see first. I want him to be there. I NEED him to be there!" She was starting to get hysterical and I felt myself reach for her shoulders.
"What?" I managed to ask, "What does he need to see? What does he need to be there for? Alice, what's wrong?"
"He needs to see our son." She whispered.
I shook my head and frowned.
"Max, I'm pregnant!"
I stared at her and suddenly I felt the world shift underneath me and I was hit by a wave of nausea. My head exploded in pain and I tried to scream but I was falling and my voice was long gone. I could feel my heart trying to beat but it was so hard. It was cold, so cold. I tired to shiver but I couldn't move and my mind was slowing. I felt his hands on my arms and then my face. Fang. I tried to force my heart to beat but it was slowing. I tried to scream. I tried to speak. I tried to move. I tried anything, but to no avail. I could feel myself slipping deeper into the darkness. Where was the light? Where was the light at then end of the dark tunnel? Did that mean I wasn't dying? I felt his lips on mine and I tried to respond but nothing was happening. Then there was a small girl standing in front of me.
Her face was grubby and her dress torn, her feet were bare and she looked harrowed and worried as if the world were on her tiny shoulders. But what really caught the eye and the thing that left me in awe was her hair. It flowed around her as if it were made of water and fire at the same time and the lightest blonde as if made from strands of the lightest silk. It gave her an ethereal quality that made her more fairy than street urchin. She smiled sadly at me and suddenly her voice was filling the air around me, chasing away the cold.
"I apologise Max, I wouldn't have tried to connect with you from so far away if it weren't so important."
I stared at her as her image flickered and wavered. Her voice was so sweet and lilting that I felt I could listen to it forever.
"I have to be fast, but know this-"she was cut off abruptly mid sentence and I was thrown back into the darkness, falling away from the world.
NO! I was not ready to leave.
I forced my heart to beat faster. I pushed my limbs to move and I felt air begin to suck back into my lungs. I heard Fang's voice close to my ear.
"I knew you could do it." He whispered softly. "I knew you wouldn't let go."
I smiled shakily. "Not when I know who was waiting for me here."
He stood up and lifted me from the floor.
"I think perhaps it's time we all went to bed." He said loudly and put out his hand clenched in a fist. I stacked mine on top and leaned against him. The others stacked their hands on top of ours and I was about to start tapping when I saw Alice standing next to Fang looking lost. I reached out my hand and put hers on top of our pile. Then I tapped them all, silently telling her that she was one of us. She nodded, smiling sadly despite the tears rolling quietly down her face. I closed my eyes, satisfied that I had done the right thing for once. I leaned heavily against Fang and he stroked my cheek carefully.
"I think I need to go to bed." I said softly and he nodded, dropping a kiss lightly on my head and leading me out to my room.
AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION IN ARIZONA
"You caught the girl?"
"Yes Sir."
"And where is she now?"
"The light room as you requested Sir."
"Good. You are dismissed."
"Thank you Sir."
The guard left the room and Dr. Washburn allowed himself a slight smile. He had succeeded where the others had failed. It was time to collect his reward. He dialled the number on his office phone and waited patiently to the dial tone. He smiled cruelly when the phone was picked up and a familiar voice gave a harsh greeting.
"Hello Director."
Ok, so there you are. Surprised? I'm not but I suppose I wrote it. All shall be explained in due course, but for now I think I shall leave you in a sort of delicious suspense. BTW, I hadn't originally planned for Alice to be pregnant but she was talking and I realised that I wanted her to be, not only would it add to the story but I think someone in this story deserves some sort of child. So there you are hope you enjoyed it. I plan to update soon, so do not fret! Thanks for the support! Cat