A/N: Ugh. I hate this chapter. HATE THIS CHAPTER. I don't even know why… I just… do. Then again, I hate almost everything I write. So whatever. This is chapter… eleven? Yeah. Chapter eleven. Last chapter. Aren't you guys excited? Well, I won't hold you up any longer. Let's blow this taco stand. Oh, and if anyone says Fang sounds kind of OOC in this chapter, I know. But really, how romantic would any scene be if Fang stayed totally in character? Sheesh.

Disclaimer: I've been doing a really bad job remembering these, haven't I? Oh well. I don't own Max Ride.

Chapter Eleven:

"I want to stay."

My heart stopped. For me, time stood still, condensed into one horrible, nightmare-ish moment. Oh God. Voice, please tell me this is just a bad dream… or some sick test, or that this is a clone Fang! Anything but this.

The Voice sounded stern when it answered me. "Max, no, you are dreaming. This is not a test, it's life. And I assure, none of the whitecoats are interested in making another Fang."

No, no, no! I'd lost Fang. He was gone. I felt like someone had chopped off my wings, leaving a gaping, bloody, wound exposed to the wind. Not Fang…

Harsh, bitter tears sprang from my eyes and I looked away from him, just barely hearing what Fang was saying.

"It's not like I can't visit… and I just feel like it's where I belong," he said slowly. "And… I really think it's best for everybody. Including you." Fang turned to look at me and instantly noticed my silent weeping. "Max, what's wrong?"

I couldn't talk, just shook my head and pulled my hand away to wipe my tears. On any other day, I would've tried to stop crying. Not tonight. Let Fang see how much he was making me hurt. It didn't matter anymore.

"…Max…" Fang hugged me against him, led my face to his shoulder with a gentle hand. He rubbed my back between my wings just the way he knew I liked. God. Why did he have to be so soothing? "If this is about you not having parents, I promise-"

"Me?" I jerked away from him, my tears mixed with a little anger. "God, Fang, this is about you!"

Fang stared at me with total incomprehension, which only infuriated me more. All the raging thoughts and feelings I'd been storing up the past few days came gushing out in a great tsunami of ranting.

"I want you to be happy, I do! I wish the entire flock could be happy! But I need to be happy sometimes too! I need someone to listen to me vent, to comfort me, to make sure I don't fall! I can't do this all by myself!"

"Max-"

"I know this sounds really selfish, and it is, but I can't let you go! I depend on you, Fang! I have no idea what I'd do without you! You're the only person I can trust with what matters most!"

"Max-"

"Without you, I'm missing a huge piece of me. You complete me. Do you know how much I'll miss you? How much I'll hurt? Fang, you're my best friend in the entire world. God, I love you!"

"Maximum!"

I blinked. Fang never called me Maximum. No one did. In fact, the last time Fang had used my full name was when we were three and he'd said, "Maximum? That's too long. How about just Max?" Hearing all seven letters come out of his mouth was enough to make me shut up.

"Max…" He reached up and grabbed my wrist to pull me back onto the couch, and only then did I realize I'd stood up. "Max," he said again. "When I said 'stay' I meant with the flock. With you. Not Allison."

I sat there and let that sink in. I felt a surge of happiness. I wasn't losing Fang. He didn't want to leave. Then I remembered what I'd said. Crap. I'd said that? The happiness deserted me as quickly as it'd came, and all it left behind was the feeling of absolute stupidity.

"Oh."

Fang's expression was an odd one. He seemed to be fighting back laughter. But there was something else there, something I couldn't quite put my finger one. Astonishment? Delight?

But then it was gone. Fang wrapped his arms round me and rested his chin lightly atop my head. He gave me a feel moment to feel like an idiot, then whispered, "Did you mean it?"

Had I?

"Don't kid yourself."

"Yeah," I murmured to his shirt.

Fang moved his chin so I could look him in the eyes. Those gorgeous eyes. Fang swept my hair away from my face and tucked it behind my ears. He then leaned his forehead against mine before saying I never thought I'd hear him say. To anyone.

"I love you too, Max. I love you a lot."

"I know." I automatically, mentally kicked myself. Stop saying every little thing that crosses your mind!

Fang sat back a little. "You know?"

"Angel told me," I mumbled. I tried to look away, but couldn't. Fang's gaze was… captivating somehow. "…I didn't believe her at first. But… the Voice made me think about it and I decided it was… kind of obvious."

"Obvious?" Fang laughed. "Gee, thanks. I only spent six years trying to hide it."

Huh? "Six years?"

Fang shook his head in an almost bemused way. "Max, I've had a crush on you since I was eight."

I almost said "Oh" again, but managed to catch myself. But that minor victory didn't prevent me from feeling incredibly blind, naïve, and just plain foolish. Six years? How could I not have noticed? I wanted to say something, but couldn't think of anything. All I could do was just feel like a total ditz.

Fang picked up on how I felt automatically. "Max," he sighed. "I work hard to hide things. It consumes almost my entire day. Our lives are difficult enough without having to deal with other stuff getting in the way. And bottling up is just so much easier." Fang moved forward till his face was just inches from mine. "But Max," he said, enveloping my hands with his. "I don't want to hide this anymore."

Then he kissed me.

Very gently at first. He paused to see if I'd stop him, (yeah, like that's going to happen), and then went deeper and firmer, pulling me closer to his body. I kissed him back, moving my arms up onto his and toying with his hair. It was so tender and warm and… perfect? Heavenly? I don't even have the vocabulary to describe it. Maybe no one does. Oh God, kissing.

It was probably the best ten seconds of my life.

"Can you guys keep it down?"

We jumped back instantly, turning to look at the speaker. A tall, pale frame stood in hallway, one hand on the wall. Iggy. Stupid, horrible, intrusive… wonderful, blind Iggy! I couldn't help but sigh in relief. I was rarely so glad that Iggy was sightless. This was one of those times.

"Sorry Ig. I didn't realize we were being loud," I apologized.

"Whatever. Use your inside-same-house-as-guy-with-sensitive-ears voices. I'm trying to sleep."

"Sorry," I said again. "We will." Now please go!

Iggy's grumpy expression transformed into a smirk. "And don't think you're off the hook. I know exactly what you to are up to out here."

My face heated with mortification. Why did this kid have to have such good hearing? Glancing over at Fang, I saw he was blushing faintly too.

Ig wasn't done with us yet. "All I can say is, Fang? Good job man. Max…" He shook his head disapprovingly. "I thought you had higher standards…"

Fang chucked one of the overstuffed couch pillows at Iggy, but he just ducked and laughed. Still shaking his head, he made his way back down the hallway where the boys were sleeping. He was almost to the door before I remembered something.

"Iggy," I called out as quietly as I could. "You won't tell anyone, will you?"

Iggy cackled evilly and opened the bedroom door without answering. He closed it, but not before I heard him mutter something that sounded a lot like, "About time."

I sighed and turned back to Fang, who, despite being busted, was stilling grinning. "Do you think he'll tell?

Fang shook his head. "Iggy can keep secrets. He knows when to keep his mouth shut." He ran his hand slowly through my hair. "But we'll have to tell the flock eventually, Max." His hand stopped at my cheek and he leaned in close.

"Eventually," I agreed, before our lips met again and a current of pleasure pulled me under. The absolute bliss washed away all the worries and pleas that had ravaged my spirit before. And although I knew that tomorrow we'd bring bad news to Dr. Allison Raines, that we'd have to move on from here and save the world someday, and that my life would never be anywhere close to easy, I forgot about all that. Right now, there was only one prayer on my mind:

Please God, let this one last longer than the first.

THE END

…or is it?

A/N again: I just realized that I used "God" a whole lot this chapter. Too bad. Well, this is it. Ta ta. For my parting words, thank you section, and news about upcoming stuff, go to the next "chapter". If you don't care, go anyway. It took me a while to write. But before you click that arrow button, click the lovely blue/purple/whatever button and SEND ME A REVIEW!