Chapter six: What the Heck?

Fang POV

"Fang" Max said as she brushed the mess from her hair, "i don't feel like sleeping" she said blankly she put her brush in her bag and turned to head to the bathroom.

"Well you need the sleep Max we all do, I don't think you can afford a not good night sleep I mean look how comforting this room is," I commented. She held the door frame and gave me a look that said' are you serious?' I smiled and grabbed her wrist.

She pulled her hand out of mine and closed the door. I sighed and decided since she was using the bathroom to change it would be fine for me to just go ahead and change in the room. I had my shirt off and my jeans at my ankles when Max walked back in the room in shorts, and a T-shirt. She paused but then ignored the fact I was only in my boxers.

She sank to the floor next to the couch and watched me. Then she finally sighed, and closed her eyes. "Fang, you wanna listen to some music before we go to bed, I'm not really in the mood to do much else," she opened her eyes and they gleamed with worry, and intense need of comfort. She was worrying g about Nudge, and about Angel, and probably about the fact that we are in a house full of vampires! Or probably not, I know thats just what I'm thinking about – thinking, not worrying, thinking-- but also possibly the fact that Iggy could possibly be falling for a curtain loud mouth, though we know (or at least thought) him and Ella.

I pulled on a black beader, and grabbed Max's hands pulling her up to the couch. I laid partly, and she rested her head on my chest. I reached for the remote, "Wait," she said, she slipped from my grip grabbing the gold comforter off the bed. She resumed her place and lied still I almost thought she was asleep. I turned the music down to a hum, and closed my eyes.

"Fang, I was thinking," said Max.

"What?"

"Mostly worrying, over Nudge, and confused about what happened just an hour ago with Angel, it's funny with that Edward and her moment, what s so special about that Bella girl? And why do vampires want her so desperately?" I looked at her funny she lost me, but I was right about the worrying part, so it turned out she just wanted to talk, fine with me. "The voice was talking to me again." she whispered I waited for her to continue, she didn't she just reached for the remote and turned the music up from the humming to a soft whisper of the wind. The sweet jazz rang thru the room as beautiful as Max's voice, as comforting as her heartbeat, her heat mixing with mine, the way she always knew, she just knew. "This is nice I love it," she said her voice tired, "I love you Fang,"

"Fang? Max?" Edward, Alice, and a very tired looking Bella were standing at the door letting the light from the hall drift in. Bella ducked under Edward and walked to the couch in the dim light followed by Alice while Edward coolly, stayed by the cracked door. The strip of light not touching him but his eyes were shining liquid gold. "We were just checking on you, will you be alright?" Alice whispered, smiling at Max, her hand in mine. My other arm draped casually over the blanket, an extra layer of protection. I nodded and Bella walked over to the dresser grabbed something the resembled night clothes. Edward followed her with only his eyes, his head never moving. He looked at her the way I always look at Max. "Okay we'll see you in the morning Bella just came to get something. You are so lucky, and so is Iggy."

That got me thinking. I looked back at Max. "Thanks, I know." I said watching Max sigh in her sleep and face crumple with confusion. Edward was concentrating hard on Max his eyes locked with her closed eyelids. I was getting annoyed with him only I am aloud to look at Max like that!

He looked up then, eyes staring into mine. Then he looked thoughtfully at Bella. "Alice can you and Bella go to your room I'll be in there in a moment. Just make sure Jasper doesn't try an eat her okay? I need to talk man to man with Fang for a moment."

"Edward are you sure nows the time?"

Edward nodded and the girls walked out of the room.

I sat up some, careful not to bother Max. .Edward moved fast till he was standing inches in front of the couch the remote in his hand he shut off the stereo.

"Fang you know so little, Max loves you, you love her I love Bella, and Iggy and Nudge are in love." my eyes grew and shrunk, I melted into my mask. "Fang why is it every time you get even close to emotions, you hide, your thoughts are so quite your almost like Bella like right now." He said to me concentrating hard, I tried to move my eyes it was no use I felt like a deer caught in the headlights. My body felt numb until he released me, his eyes grazed over Max's tense features. "She is very perceptive, even asleep. The tight fight sequence, she is very imaginative, she could never be able to do any of this or could she?" he looked back at me a fraction of a second. "This could not have happened. It's horrible, how could she have survived that tank, for so long. Her recovery? Fang how much do you know, truly know about Max?"

I shrugged confused by the question. I was thinking, was she dreaming of all those life threatening fights, those erasers, Germany? The one time I had left her side for a second, I could have lost her forever. I shrank farther into my shell away from life. Edward was looking at me no more like scrutinizing me. He was listening to my every thought I had to remember that. But what did he mean by 'almost like Bella'?

"Good night Fang," he said abruptly easing himself from his knees. "Looks like you could use the sleep. Why does everyone in the house prefer that horrible couch over the bed!? Why else would I buy but for people to sleep in it. You know you could stretch out maybe one of you could be in the bed, thats why it's there. You sleep so tight as if you were in a cage."

That brought back memories and not the good kind, either. I flinched as the memory flooded my head, my mask broken the pain of more emotion then I have ever tried to hide in my life came full force like a ton of bricks, us all in the damn dog crates. I saw Edward flinch from the corner of my eye, he fled the room so fast. The door didn't even have a chance to close before he was back with the blond, Jasper, at his side, I saw Jasper flinch also. I wondered if they were both reading my mind, and then a calm breeze blow thru the room soft and graceful pulling my into a calm relaxation, until I faded into a dream of Max and I the flock, and Total just happy...

I woke next to Max she was on the couch with me, I picked her up gently moving her to the large bed. I sat just watching her chest move up and down with each breath. I remembrance all that happened the night before. I got up walked down the hall to Nudge and Iggy's room the door was cracked open slightly. I could see Iggy awake, he was holding Nudge's hand and talking to her, but from the silence I guessed she was still out. She looked pale, and he appeared to be telling her something, deep something he couldn't tell her when she was awake and would react to it as an average eleven year old big mouth would react to an older guy confessing his love for her.

I shook me head waiting till after I was a couple of feet away to sigh and wish I didn't just hear that. I made it done the hall almost to Angel and Gazzy's room when a door opened, and Alice, Rose and Bella walked out. "Good morning Fang do you want breakfast Bella was planning to make it?"

"Um, sure, do you mind if Iggy could help you? I think he is tired of being deprived of a kitchen." Alice smiled largely.

"Perfect!"

"Isn't he the blind one?"

"Can he really cook? This will, be fun, Alice what is that face for?"

"ALICE!"

"ALICE!"

I opened the door to the kids room, Angel was already awake, her head was stuck in her shirt. I walked over and unbutton the top buttons, "That might make it a little easier," I said she smiled up to me, the way she always did toward Max. I started re buttoning her top and looked over at Gazzy when he shot upright.

"Hi Fang, I thought you were Max."

"No I thought today she could sleep in,"

"Can I sleep in too?"

"You just woke up Gazzy" said Angel, as she jumped off the bed reaching for my hand. Total rolled over in his sleep and his snores grew louder.

"No it's fine he can keep Total company. Come on Angel, Bella and Iggy are making breakfast." I said but Gazzy was gone. I held on tight to Angel's hand towing her to the door. I opened the door and at that second, Gazzy let one rip. "Run!" I said and closed the door behind Angel and what started out as coughing escalated to laughter. We walked down the hall laughing when the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I looked at Angel a grin wider than Mt. Everest is tall, sat below her nose. Then out of nowhere she concentrated and went into hysterics. An extra set of laughter came from behind me.

I turned to see Edward quite content with himself happy to have made Angel so happy so early.

Angel turned on her toes like a ballerina, she squealed with excitement, "Edward!" and pulled her hand easily out from my grip, she jumped into his waiting arms.

"You thought that was funny huh," he said and she nodded enthusiastically. "Good it was supposed to be." And another fit erupted from them.

Her eyes got real big just then, "Edward I gotta go, I really gotta go!" he disappeared before I could say anything, he disappeared with – in his arms-- little Angel. I walked around a short corner to the nearest bathroom. He stood at the door.

I watched him flatly until I was inches away, and only inches shorter than him. "I'm going to go check on breakfast if you don't mind. Excuse me," he turned on a heel and disappeared down the hall.

I waited till Angel was out.

"Did Edward leave already!?"

"No, he went down stairs to check on breakfast."

"Good I'm hungry," Angel said with a grin. I couldn't help but smile ever so slightly back. Nothing like the smiles I would flash Max from time to time, but a sincere smile at that.

"Come on, I think we all know what your like when your hungry," and she skipped by my side until we reached the kitchen. There she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath letting it out thru her mouth. She opened her eyes and they moved directly to Bella, telling Iggy some of her techniques.

"Hi guys good morning, is Nudge up this morning?" Esme asked. Curiosity dressing on her face.

I was about to ask if she heard anything if not than Nudge wasn't awake but I decided that that would be to rude seeing how they are allowing us to live here. But I was saved from that when Carlisle waltzed down the stairs, he kissed Esme passionately intertwining their fingers before he turned to address us.

"She is still asleep she doesn't look as pale as she did yesterday. But I won't know how she is, until we get something down her throat, preferably as Angel and Edward have informed me with out waking her up?" it sounded more like a question and I heard a muffled laugh by cough come from the piano. On the seat was Edward naturally. What was he doing up there he couldn't possibly play, that thing was just for show, right?

"Edward," Angel said before asking him a million questions, then she paused and walked toward him. Each of them would giggle or laugh at the remarks told inside their heads.

"Okay guys breakfast is ready," Iggy said handing plates to Bella, who we passed down the line. We placed a plate in front of each high chair along the counter.

"Hey Fang, morning, guys, or just Iggy and Fang, I could have sworn the little one was down here too," Alice's hand was looped behind Jasper's back, her other was holding Jaspers, opposite hand in a half hug. Jasper was looking around after his formal entrance with his --?

"Honey, Angel is sitting with Edward at the piano," Alice said without even turning around.

"Oh great Edward going to show off some more for our guest, last time it won over Bella's heart." Emmett said from his seat in front of the counter. Rosalie who had walked in thru the kitchen door came up and slapped Emmett in the chest.

"Stop," she said and she looked pretty saying it. But I don't think I could compare her to Max. Nope. Not even close, Max one by a landslide.

Out of nowhere – wow nowhere sure pops up a lot in this story, or at least this chapter – music began to fill the vast room.

Esme clasped her hands resting her head on them swaying to the music with her eyes closed, " This is absolutely my favorite." Carlisle came and they got in to a waltz episode, just the to of them in the middle of the kitchen.

"Then dance with me."

Bella came over to the piano, "Dance, with me my dear?" she asked. "wait, may I have this dance, Angel?" Angel smiled and they went off dancing.

I heard Angel whisper, "But I thought you didn't like dancing?"

"How'd youounow that? Edward told you?" Angel shook her head. Edward stopped playing the music and then even Esme and Carlisle stopped dancing.

"You read her mind?" he asked holding her arms above her head. She was dangling in the air eyes leveled to Edwards. "What do you mean it wasn't easy?! How is it you can read her mind and I can't!?"

Angel screamed he did not look happy. I jumped off the stool, ran up to Edward jumping at just the right time to kick him in the nose. He let go of Angel, and looked at me. I had jumped straight over his head.

"What happened?" Iggy asked.

"Edward, you hurt her!" Comprehension spread across Edward's face hearing Bella's rough voice. Carlisle was leaning over Angel, Bella held her in her lap. Angel was crying silently the tears rolled from her eyes. He looked back and forth between me –still glaring at the son of a bitch – and his family, and then Bella and Carlisle and last Angel.

"What's going on what did he do! What's happening!! I thought y'all already knew she could read minds!? Somebody tell me what the hell! Is going on because at this very moment I am in the dark... LITERALLY!! hello is anyone listening to me!?" Iggy persisted.

"She should be okay, her head doesn't look to bad, her wrist are badly bruised but not broken luckily thanks to her well, she should be okay, the swelling is already starting to go down." Carlisle said, sadly.

He looked very disappointed at Edward and remarkably shocked. He made a sharp glance in Alice's direction, She winced and Jasper pulled her tightly into a stiff hug. And calm seemed to leek in thru my tensed muscles like oil.

Edward ran from the room, and Iggy walked over with ice to put on Angel's wrists. He skimmed his fingers like butterflies over every inch of her body. As if reading a book with his fingers, getting the story, from the main author.

Emmett carried her to the couch and offered to help feed her, since her hands were a bit worst for ware.

Jasper kept holding Alice even though Carlisle, and the rest of the room had cooled down. Max walked in fully dressed in an atmosphere of calm. And she sighed, coming around the corner she looked at tall of us, missing a few flock members, and a family member. She watched the empty chair beside me, and came to sit down.

"Morning, where is everybody?"

"Asleep," from the sound of his voice it seemed to me that Iggy was in an attempt to keep Max out of the loop over what had just occurred with her favorite-- or second favorite, I hope – and youngest member of the flock.

She didn't seem convinced, "really, even Angel?" he nodded stiffly. "She's usually up before I am."She shrugged and looked around the room of impossibly calm people. She dropped her fork against the plate, "Okay whats going on? Somebody tell me or I am going to have to find some other way to figure out," she was not happy. Jasper lowered the clam feeling, enough for me to noticed, but to still keep us all calm. Max looked around the room, and unlike the very dumb and very blind Iggy saw Angel almost instantly, on the couch with Emmett and Rosalie, she said earlier she always wanted kids so I guessed they thought Angel was a good temporary, substitute.

"What happened!" I felt the clam layer crumble, as did Jasper's face. HE closed his eyes and then it got calmer and calmer, but not enough, fast enough. Max was up and crossing the room. Bella watched her from the piano bench. "What did you do!?" she snarled at Emmett.

"It wasn't us it was an accident, it's just we found out she's stronger, then we thought," Esme, tried. Max's back was tense, I bet she was shotting the 'bird' at Emmett right, now because he flinched, a couple of times.

"Okay birdy, tha't gotta stop right there don't you ever come here to my family, and think you can just acted all high and mighty. That is my husband and I need you to stop what ever you are doing to him before I stop what your heart is doing for you, got it and i'll do it so slow. It will take three days of pain, then I'm going to lock you in the garage for three days after that and finally i'm going to start ripping limbs of piece by piece by--"

"Rosalie that's enough!" Carlisle shouted. Rosalie made a preety good deminstration though she was pulling the stuffing from a pillow, piece, by piece, by piece, by – well you get the idea.

"Max, i'm okay, and don't worry Bella he will be fine I know exactly where to find him, um, Carlisle can I go I promise i'll be back in one piece. Soon, too!" She gave him the Bambi eyes. And before he could finish his sigh she was out the door like a bullet.

Max turned back to the kitchen looking uncomfortable with her back unprotected. "Do I want, to know?" we all said no. "I need to go back to sleep."

Edward POV

How could I have done that to Angel! The only person who truly understands well as much as a six year old can. And Bella's face. I actually scared, I always thought of it as more of amusement, but she didn't seem that far from running away screaming. What if she is at home right now, scared to think of me. All of the things they've been thru and I'm here just making it worst, what if they decide to leave right now, with Nudge sick and now Angel hurt, it wouldn't be good. And they might just do it, and I thought Angel, she was so cute, I couldn't have hurt her like I did, she is just a child. She was just so innocent even though she watched the violent murder of to many to count, she is still young. I was hoping Bella and I would have fun raising her, claiming her-- and I guess her brother-- as our own adopt them, them both.

But now I doubt she'll even talk to me, if I ever see her again.

"Oh you can't get rid of me that easily! Think twice cause I'm yours! Hi Edward don't be sad, please, don't be mad at me it's not my fault I swear I was curious, honest."

Don't worry Angel I couldn't be mad at you only at myself.

"Thats bad too, you simply were, oh I don't know I'm tired of circling where are you?"

Down here you passed me a minute ago.

"Oh --

Hi Edward are you okay, if you don't want me to read Bella's mind anymore I won't, if it makes you happy." Angel landed a couple of feet from me and just stood there waiting for me to answer her question. I waved her over to me as reassurance that I was no longer, angry. She sat in my lap as I leaned my back against a tree, we watched the creek as the water flowed. I thought privately for a moment before answering.

No, I sighed. it's ok you just don't have any idea how much I wish I could be you right now, to be able to listen to every thought she's ever had since she met me last year, back when we were sophmores I was so confused. And you come along and read her mind. Huh. It was such a pain. I grimaced at remembering that young high pitched scream. We both did I forgot sometimes my mind was so prvate. I was like everyone else that has ever come in contact with me, privacy, as plain as if they said it in mere conversation.

Angel wrapped both arms around my waist, and closed her eyes, tight."But Edward didn't you see what happened to me afterwards? I was so exuasited." I nodded.

No Angel that was because Alice had a vision, it feels kinda like a headache, huh? I joked, she laughed a choked laugh from the memory, it must have hurt more than she was admitting even to herself this must be the reason they all survived. She looked at me confused for a moment before replacing her head.

"Yah it felt so weird, one minute I'm concentrating hard as soon as I see a sneak peek of her thoughts it goes blank and then I was sucked into a bad dream and it hurt, a lot!" A wind blew thru cold wind hitting my bare arms, at the exact moment Angel shivered violently it escalated when the wind hit her.

I stood up getting ready to carry her quickly back to the house. Whispering one final statement as I hit the thin wall of trees running.

I know.

Sorry guys i know it took me forever to get back to y'all but i promise i am like half way done with the next chapter. Chapter 7: Friends with in Friends, or Friends with in Family tell me which one you llike better soon!!

mae-mai