Author's Note: Pretty happy with the reception this first got even though I was hoping for more. But I'm still happily writing away trying develop my Fudge obsession. Lot's to come particularly in this chapter. Special thanks to insideimasadrainbow and SmolFandomPopato for the reviews! And all those who viewed, favourited and followed. Love you all. I am glad you like the characters and the idea of a Fudge fic! Sorry this took so long to post but I'm leading a very busy life as a Law student so life gets in the way sometimes.

Chapter 2: The Ugly Red Hatchback

Nudge woke up at the crack of dawn for her usual early morning weekend jog. It had become a routine since her life had become "normal", originally joining Max on her jogs, and eventually Ella volunteered as a third party. However this morning Ella was dead asleep in the bed next to Nudge's and Max had spent the night with Dylan in his less than comfortable student accommodation. Luckily Nudge didn't mind this and often savoured the little alone time she could squeeze out of the day, even if it was only for an hour at 5:30 am on Saturdays. Grabbing her pink Nike sneakers and iPod, she quickly made her way out the room, being extra careful not to wake Ella up. She sped walked down the two flights of stairs to the front door, only stopping to put on her shoes and tie the lacings. Then she heard the faint sound of voices coming from outside the door. Fang and Gazzy, she thought. She had forgotten about their early morning training and felt herself getting nervous at the thought of seeing Fang shirtless so early in the morning.

Jeez get a grip of yourself weirdo. Angel practically screeched into her brain.

Since when were you up this early in the morning? Nudge replied, ignoring Angel's remarks about her little Fang musings.

You interrupted my sleep with your gross thoughts. Angel responded smugly. Nudge needn't have to see her to know what kind of face she was making.

Yeah well, leave me alone. Nudge thought back, giving a little groan as she opened the front door.

Can't do that now, can I? Might as well have fun if I'm gonna be awake at this ungodly hour.

Nudge ignored her as she stepped outside and embraced the warmth of the morning, gazing at the sunrise over the horizon as it changed the colours of the sky. Ah yes, this is what she lived to wake up to. Adjusting her iPod in her arm band, she went down the steps and straight to the side of the house where Fang and Gazzy were.

"Good morning guys," she said with a smile.

Fang was the first to look at her, though he was currently in the process of showing Gazzy how to properly punch the bag whilst causing minimal damage to the knuckles. "Morning beautiful," he said giving her a little smile that made her weak in the knees and her heart beat uncontrollably.

She duly noted every detail of his incredibly toned body, from the beads of sweat forming on his muscles to his blue mesh shorts just low enough to show his very defined v cut making her feel a bit moist…AHHH! What the hell is wrong with me? Nudge mentally scolded herself. Now she understood what Angel meant by her gross thoughts; they were plain nasty at this point. She needed to control herself and be more ladylike in her thoughts about Fang. But was that even possible? She couldn't help but be a little lustful over the man.

"Morning Nudge," said Gazzy immediately pulling Nudge and her gaze away from Fang. "Going on your morning run alone, huh?"

"Yeah," she said instinctively tugging on her ponytail as she felt Fang's intense stare on her. "Max and Ella decided to ditch me."

"Aw sorry 'bout that," replied Gazzy sympathetically.

"Well sorry for distracting you guys. Better be going now," said Nudge suddenly incredibly hot from nervousness.

"No worries. I never mind being distracted by you," said Fang his hard gaze still on Nudge. He flashed her another smile whilst taking in her beauty. Even in her jogging tights and sports bra she still made him internally growl with pleasure.

Nudge smiled again, wider and couldn't help but think to herself that she looked like a crazy person with all the smiling she was doing this early in the morning. Putting her earphones in, she gave the two young men before a small wave before jogging down the curb for her pre-run stretches.

Fang was now at a standstill. Leave it to Nudge to make him lose his mind, literally.

"Uh, so what now," questioned a significantly irritated Gazzy who brought Fang back to his regular frame of mind.

He quickly turned round to face the younger boy so that he was almost at eye level with him but still towering a few inches above him.

"Now?" he said aggressively throwing the punching bag on the floor. "Now I'm gonna need you to stop hitting on Nudge."

Gazzy stood still, his eyes wide with confusion. "What the hell…?" he began, but before he could even finish his sentence Fang had a hold of his t shirt and he was pinned to the garage door.

"Don't act dumb asshole!" Fang roared. Yep, his anger was flaring up without warning this morning. But he couldn't help it. He noticed how Gazzy looked at Nudge. Exactly the same way he looked at her.

"I literally don't know what you're talking about," Gazzy said smugly. If Fang was trying to scare him, he wasn't about to make it obvious he was terrified.

This only made Fang more furious. He tightened his grip on Gazzy's shirt putting more pressure into holding him up. "I know you like her! Don't even deny it!"

Gazzy swallowed but stayed silent. Okay that one hit a nerve. Fang knew and he may or may not kill him for it.

Fang continued, "So you can't even admit it, huh?"

Gazzy was silent still but he kept a steady gaze on Fang, who kept his angry one on him.

"I don't know," Gazzy finally replied.

Fang immediately let go of his grip from the front of his shirt and Gazzy in return let out a massive sigh of relief.

"But I do know that you love her," Gazzy continued and braced himself for whatever brutal thing Fang would unleash.

But instead Fang stayed quiet, his furious expression changed to a calmer almost sad one and his arms hung loosely at his side.

Gazzy didn't know what to do at this point. He wondered whether Fang was still mad at him or if he was just thinking about Nudge. Either way he was walking on eggshells with the man and he feebly attempted to change the subject. "Hey so how about those punches?"

"I do love her Gaz," was his only reply and Gazzy felt himself twitch a bit. "She's my everything."

This was met with more silence this time from Gazzy who felt himself get extremely frustrated. Not with the fact that Fang wouldn't let the subject drop, but with the fact that Angel was right. In that moment, staring up at Fang whose face bore the marks of someone so deeply in love that it hurt, he knew there was no way he could possibly destroy Fang and Nudge's destiny to be together. But then he remembered the shitty way in which Fang treated him; belittling him, hazing him, making him feel half of his worth, and suddenly those feelings of empathy left his body.

"Good," he found himself beginning to say. "I love her too."

Running. It was second best to flying in Nudge's opinion. With flying she felt like she could take on the world with whatever it threw at her. When she ran she could feel all her stress being pulled away from her body. Both were her immediate sources of escapism. She relished the way the wind rushed passed her as she ran round the neighbourhood, watching everyone go about their daily duties, all getting on with their individual lives. For reasons unbeknownst to her, she loved observing people living life, doing menial things like mowing the lawn or taking a nap on their porches. It just reminded her how simple life could be and it amazed her how they had little care in the world. Maybe it's because she spent a vast majority of her life always on the move, fighting for her life and safety that she found it so strange. Maybe it's because she never knew what it was like, until very recently, to have her very own piece of normalcy. It felt so blissful. Her steady pace, her music, her heartbeat; all synced up nicely allowing her to feel even more at one with herself…

A loud obnoxious wolf whistle brought Nudge out of her trance and she looked up to see the familiar source of the unsavoury sound.

"Well, well, if it isn't the ever so beautiful Monique Hernandez," said a tall Hispanic looking young man with shoulder length black hair almost as curly as hers and grey mischievous eyes.

Nudge sighed, letting a small smile escape on her face as she slowed down her pace to jogging on the spot. "Do you really have to let the whole neighbourhood know my name, Miguel?"

"You're already famous, beautiful," he said coming closer to her giving her a wide white toothed grin. "How are you?"

Nudge stopped momentarily. How was she really? Confused, definitely. Sad, maybe a little. Optimistic, she was trying. "I'm good," she decided to settle on.

"Only good? What's wrong? You know you can tell me anything since we're practically best friends," he said jokingly putting his arm around her shoulder.

"Oh ha ha, best friends my ass. You're only a guy I made out with once."

"5 times actually."

"Same difference."

"If you say so mami."

Nudge hoped that would be the last of it because last thing she wanted to do was delve into her past tongue dancing sessions with Miguel Mendoza of all people. Not that he was a bad guy. No, far from it. He had many nice, ahem, attributes, his mouth being one of them. But the thing is he was not Fang. And even though he adored in ways that fed her hungry ego, she never could see him as anything more than an acquaintance. An acquaintance that explored her mouth in ways she never imagined possible.

Not that he minded, that spark in his eyes told her so. He liked the little game they played.

"What about Fnick?" he smirked at her. Damn Iggy for making that nickname a thing.

"Um, what about him?" she replied her heart leaping out her chest. Speaking of Fnick, he could never know that she ever had relations with Miguel or any boy for that matter. Not just because they were both on the football team and it would make for an awkward exchange if he found out. No, because Fang was incredibly protective of his family, specifically Nudge and if he knew what they did in the library, the girl's locker room, and 3 other unspecified locations, it would be RIP Miguel.

"You know," and then he removed his arm from around her shoulders and proceeded to make some crude gestures with his body which included humping the air.

"Honestly, if that had happened, do you think I'd be talking to you right now?" she said rolling her eyes at his childish behaviour but attempting to stifle a laugh.

"Ah true," he said rubbing his chin. "Don't worry princesa it will all work nicely. In the meantime…" then he proceeded to kiss her on the forehead.

"Thanks," sometimes, just sometimes, Miguel had the makings to be a right gentleman.

"By the way," he continued. "Your ass looks amazing in that outfit. And don't get me started on your tits."

Never mind.

"Bye Miguel," Nudge instead replied, starting back her steady jog away from the teenager.

"Adios hermosa! See you soon, eh?"

It took everything in Fang's power not to attack Gazzy right then and there, pulverise him into nothing, detach his limbs from his body and hang them like ornaments. He mentally thanked the entrance of a battered looking red hatchback into the driveway for preventing him from possible 1st degree murder. He turned away from Gazzy now and regarded none other than the Maximum Ride exit the vehicle.

"Hey guys!" she beamed at the two young men gawking at her new ride. "You like? Dylan helped me pick it up today. Isn't she a beaut? She's a '95 Ford Fiesta in Colorado red. I've been looking for one for ages and I finally spotted it at a small garage off the interstate about week ago. I just had to have it, especially as mom won't let me drive her car anymore!"

Geez, Fang thought Max had most definitely replaced Nudge as the flock's resident motor mouth. He was too busy trying to take in all she had said and the fact there was a piece of bright red crap sitting in the driveway that was apparently what Max considered a "beaut".

"Uh Max?" Gazzy began. Thank God he was able to say something thought Fang. Even though he did hate his guts right now, he just saved Fang from having to speak first.

"Yes Gazzy?" said Max checking out her new purchase in awe.

"Why?" was his only response Fang couldn't help but let a little grin slip.

"What do you mean?" replied Max quizzically stepping closer to the two.

"I think he means why in God's name would you ever think that that thing would ever be considered anything less than trash," Fang suddenly blurted out finally gaining back his ability to talk.

The look of shock on Max's face was priceless but Fang did feel a little bad for insulting something than she obviously had an insane passion for.

But he didn't stop there. "I mean you actually spent money on this thing?" he could hear Gazzy gulp behind him but he didn't realise he had crossed the line until he felt Max's knee connect with his junk and he was winded by excruciating pain.

"Asshole…" mumbled Max as she turned on her heel to head inside leaving Fang clutching his crotch in pain and Gazzy snickering behind him.

I'd like to say you didn't deserve this but, hah, you've had that coming for a long time. Angel thought to him followed by a loud giggle inside his head which was mimicked in real life, coming from the open window above him.

"Fuck off," was all Fang could manage to mumble before he half limped, half walked back inside the house.

Lucky for Nudge, she had just go back in time for all the drama to unfold. She first noted the ugly red Ford Fiesta parked in the driveway next to Fang's black Dodge Charger. "I gotta know the story behind this," she said softly to herself. Stepping inside she was greeted by an even more shocking site. Fang was standing in the doorway of the living room holding a pack of frozen peas to his genitalia area, the look of pure rage written all over his face. Angel sat on the staircase laughing her head off while trying to sip down her hot chocolate with minimum spillage. Gazzy was in the kitchen trying to calm down and obviously furious Max who was spewing out a whole collage of swear words.

"What, the hell, is going on in here?" Nudge found herself saying, her voice unexpectedly loud but garnering the attention of them all. "Isn't it a bit too early for us to be completely falling apart?" she questioned folding her arms to her chest.

Max was the first to speak as she stepped forward to put each of her hands on Nudge's shoulders, "Tu novio es una cabeze de pene!"

This was met by more fits of giggles from Angel whose power of mind reading meant she was able to understand any phrase in any language whether or not she knew how to speak it or not. Spanish had become Nudge and Ella's secret way of conversing around the house without having the prying ears of the boys having any clue that they were talking about them. Max obviously decided she couldn't be left out of the loop being the true half-Latina she was and suddenly they found themselves code switching every sentence, much to the annoyance of the boys. Nudge mentally thanked her Cuban parentage for allowing her to pick up the language easily.

Nudge sighed and looked around at Fang's and Gazzy's quizzical faces, no doubt wondering what Max had told her. "I know he is Max," she replied no doubt confusing them even more. "But I hardly doubt that he deserved you kicking him in his…" her voice trailed off as she tried to find the right words.

"Cojones!" Angel excitedly inputted making Fang turn almost as red as Max's car.

Nudge rolled her eyes at her and turned her attention back to Max, "I'm gonna need you to tell me everything of what happened right now."

Which is how they all ended up sitting around the breakfast table with Max speaking a mile a minute about her "beautiful 1995 Ford Fiesta hatchback" and how it was "a dream come true that she was able to find one" and that "Fang should stop being a bourgeoisie fuck face and at least appreciate the fact she went out and bought her very own car."

"Wow," said Dr Martinez who had entered the room mid conversation and found herself being dragged into the fury that was her daughter Maximum. "Uh but don't you think you're overreacting a bit dear?"

Max almost choked on the coffee that her mom had just poured out for her. "Overreacting?" she practically screeched, glancing over at Fang who couldn't look any more fed up then he already did. "I think I'm reacting just fine."

Both Nudge and Dr M sighed simultaneously at this. Angel couldn't have been happier for the entertainment that was being provided for free this early in the morning.

"Listen Max. I said sorry. Like a million times. Can you just give it up already? It's just a car anyway," said Fang weakly, still icing his crotch with the peas.

Before Max could open her mouth to retaliate Nudge had already slammed her fist down on the table making everyone jump. "Okay I'm so done with this bullshit! It is far too early for us to be descending into madness, don't you think? Max, we get that you are in love with your car, probably more than you love Dylan but that doesn't give you the excuse to act like a spoiled child. You're the oldest goddammit and you're not setting a very good example for the rest of us!"

At this Fang snickered but Nudge turned her fury towards him now.

"And you," she said getting up now to tower over him. "Stop being a smart ass! You knew damn well she would've acted the way she did and you still did it. It serves you right that you're in pain. You're lucky she didn't damn well cut them off!"

Fang immediately shut his mouth and looked down at the peas in his lap. Angel let out a large snort at this, allowing tears to spurt out her eyes as she held her stomach to retain the laughs. "Oh my God this perfect!" she bellowed.

"Now! Will everyone just CALM DOWN and let us FOR ONCE have a NORMAL day?" Nudge finished.

Everyone slowly nodded with exception of Angel who was still convulsing with laughter.

"Good," she replied and she turned on her heel to head out the room, shaking her head at the crazy mess that was her 'family'.

"Iggy stop it! You know I'm ticklish!"

"Aw but you know I like to hear that cute little laugh of yours."

"It's not cute, it's practically manic!"

"Oh will you shut up and let me kiss you."

"WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS THIS?" Nudge said barging into hers' and Ella's room only to find her best friend and her adoptive brother entwined under the sheets of Ella's twin sized bed. Iggy jumped up so fast that Nudge could swear he had just been exorcised.

"Oh my gosh Nudge! You weren't supposed to see that," said Ella, her voice high with embarrassment.

"Well it's too late now," replied Nudge ignoring the lanky young man struggling to get up from the floor. She made her way to her wardrobe to pick out her clothes for the day. "Now I know why you ditched me today. So you can canoodle with your boy toy."

"Hey! I'd prefer not be referred to as an object. Feminism is a thing you know. I'm not a piece of meat," replied Iggy flicking his stringy hair out his eyes.

Nudge rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Just stop rubbing your love in us single people's faces."

There was silence.

"Uh Nudge, we didn't mean…" Ella began. "I get that you and Fang are in…" she paused again.

"Wait. Do you think I'm actually jealous of you two?"

Silence again. Both Ella and Iggy looked at each other and then at Nudge in an overly concerned manner.

"Not so much jealous as in feeling an intense feeling of loneliness that is further promoted by seeing two lovers in each other's arms," replied Ella matter-of-factly that made Nudge want to slap her.

Nudge blinked at her. "Excuse me Miss Isabella, I am not lonely for your information. I could easily get any guy I want but Fang is just…" a pause. "Different."

"Okay sorry Nudge I didn't mean it like that. I was just joking," Ella replied carefully, staring at her best friend intently. She'd always been jealous of Nudge's seemingly effortless natural beauty so if anyone was jealous it had to be her.

Nudge's scowl suddenly changed into a large smile at this. "Yeah I know Ells, I'm just a little bit cranky. Max got a new old car and Fang got kicked in the balls as a result."

"Wait what?" Iggy almost yelled making Ella jump. "I gotta see this!" And with that he raced out of the room. Nudge made sure to note the small purple-ish bruise that was strategically placed on his pale neck in clear view for anyone with eyes to see.

She raised an eyebrow at Ella who began to blush wildly.

Angel had a secret. Not like that was anything new for the Martinez household. At least 3 of its members had secrets. But for Angel, this was definitely new news. She had been infamously known for stating that secrets were "overrated". Obviously she was a hypocrite, not that she would ever admit it when confronted with this fact. No, that's not how she rolled.

As the youngest member of the flock she hated been treated like a baby who didn't know any better. If anything she knew everything, courtesy of the mind reading abilities she was blessed (or cursed) with by the infamous School (may they all rot in hell).

But even so, she still found herself getting nervous when she had gathered all her fellow flock members in the living room to give her big announcements. It seemed to be that they had to have at least 5 group meetings each day to keep functioning, but that's another story.

Her body was shaking uncontrollably, her palms sweaty. Knees weak, arms are heavy. Oh my God, was this really the time to be quoting Eminem lyrics. Mom's spaghetti. Okay seriously her mind had a mind of its own. She decided to focus on the anxious faces before. Of course they were all wondering why she had made them come downstairs. Nudge's curls were still damp from the shower she had just taken. Fang still looked pretty pissed from the events of the morning (thank you Maximum). Everyone was on the edge of their seats waiting for her big news because how often did they get to see inside the mind of the mind reader? Cough, never.

"I'm a lesbian." The words had escaped her mouth before her brain could completely register what she had done. She hadn't even waited for the crowd to grow silent before she spoke. Not that it mattered cos they all immediately grew silent at her statement. She felt like nervous laughing herself into a grave at that point.

"Lesbian as in, you like girls? Like Dr M? Cool," her brother said being the first to speak.

"No lesbian as in the star sign. Of course lesbian as in I like girls. What other kind is there?" she damn near shouted at him. Okay her nerves were making her lash out. This was by far the worse announcement ever.

"Gaz, mom is not a lesbian. She's bisexual, right mom?" said Ella turning to Dr Martinez who didn't seem to like taking the spotlight away from Angel.

"Uh yes. Sadly I haven't completely lost fate in men. But Angel, I'm really glad you were comfortable enough to tell us this."

"Yeah, honestly Angel, I'm proud. Guys would ruin your life," said Nudge smiling at her. "Besides, I already had a feeling you were."

"Same here," continued Ella. "Remember the time I caught you…."

Immediately Angel clasped her hand on Ella's big mouth. "Okay I don't think everyone needs to know that."

"I'm just glad I won't have to threaten any guys who want to go out with you," said Fang finally letting a smile slip.

"Same here. Besides, I doubt these twigs I call arms could pack a decent punch," said Iggy flexing his pale arms to the amusement of the whole flock.

Max, who until this moment had chosen to stay silent did the most unexpected thing ever. She hugged her.

"Oh my God Angel. You really have grown up!" Angel could practically hear the tears forming in her eyes at that moment.

"Yeah, yeah, ain't that a riot," she mumbled through the suffocating bear hug that Max was inflicting on her.

"No seriously," she said now releasing Angel and cupping her face in her hands. "I keep forgetting you're not a baby anymore. You're capable of making your own decisions."

"I mean this isn't exactly a decision. More like my biology's decision."

"You know what I mean." And as if Max hadn't been acting weird enough, she began crying. Real life tears. Big, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. Noises to fit too.

Maximum Ride was actually sobbing.

And the best thing was. She made Angel cry too.

Everyone grew silent trying to take in the moment which involved two of the most unlikely people to ever cry in public if at all.

Fang stared at his blaring phone screen for what seemed to be hours. Four words were clearly typed out on the screen waiting to be sent.

We need to talk.

It shouldn't be this hard for him to send such a simple message that had the potential to make him the happiest man alive?

Just send the damn text. An all too familiar pain in the ass hissed at him via telepathy.

"I'm trying!" he accidently yelled out. Luckily no one was around to see him look a fool.

Listen now that I'm an official lesbian, I feel more powerful. As such I think I should be more involved in the matters of my heterosexual counterparts.

Fang rubbed his temple, "What's your point?"

My point is…

And then the door to his room opened revealing the mind reader herself.

"…that you know this is the best thing for you. So why are you making this such a big deal?"

Fang pondered for a moment. She had a point. But he knew the answer and wasn't able to admit it to himself.

"You're addicted aren't you?" said Angel knowingly.

She didn't need to elaborate for him to know what she meant.

He sighed deeply and lifted his hands to cover his face. "It's kinda bad Angel. You're too young to understand…"

"To understand sex?" she let out a large snort. "I may be gay, and have no interest in p and v intercourse, but I sure as hell understand it."

"That's not the point," he replied hoarsely. "To be reliant on it. That's something even I don't understand."

Silence.

"Maybe you should speak to someone about it? A therapist…?"

It was now Fang's turn to snort. "A shrink? Like those useless ones they made us see when they rescued as from the School. Hell no."

"What about seeing our rabbi? You're closer to him..."

Fang paused and pondered this idea for a moment. His religion was something important to him and it hadn't crossed his mind to bring this issue to a higher power.

"I, I dont know," he responded plainly.

"Then what the hell else Fang?" Angel almost screamed. "You claim you love Nudge. But you obviously don't love her enough to make an effort to quit that redheaded she-devil!"

She almost bit her tongue as soon as she said it. Especially when Fang's demeanour darkened and he got up and stood towering over her. His fists clenched, his breathing low and heavy.

"You can say a lot of things about me, Angel," his voice was scarier than ever now and Angel couldn't help but squirm. "But saying that I don't love Nudge enough?" his voice caught in his throat and Angel could swear he was close to tears. "That couldn't be the furthest thing from the truth."

"Okay I get it Fang," she said softly, touching his arm gently to relax him. "I just want you to get your prioritises straight. Just send the text."

He didn't say anything. Just stared down at the small girl who was dwarfed in comparison to him. Yet she was probably the strongest, most confident girl he knew. Next to Nudge of course. He knew what she was saying was right. He knew he had to do it.

"Knock, knock," said a familiar voice coming from the doorway. Both Angel and Fang's gaze darted towards Nudge. "Just came to tell you guys that lunch is ready. Might wanna come before Iggy eats it all!" she let out a laugh.

Fang's heart melted.

Angel relaxed. "Alright we'll be down in a sec."

Nudge realising the mood of the room dropped her smile for a more concerned expression. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah it's fine. Angel just came to me for some advice," Fang managed to let out.

Nudge lifted an eyebrow as if not fully believing him because let's be real, no one went to Fang for advice. Especially not Angel, the resident advice-giver.

"Okay then," she said finally looking intently at both parties. "Hurry down." And then she turned on her heels and left. The patter of her delicate feet being heard going down the corridor.

"So?" said Angel now turning back to Fang. "Send it."

Fang stared down at his phone which had now gone black. He opened it using his fingerprint and let his finger hover over the same unsent message.

We need to talk.

This was for the best. He pressed send and watched the two ticks appear next the message under Lissa's name.

"It's done."

Author's Note: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Are you shocked? Lesbian mind reader? Bisexual Dr M? Fang's sex addiction? Max's bad taste in cars? Hope it was worth the wait and I promise I won't keep you waiting for the next chapter. Should be more thrilling than this one.