It's been a while and I know this isn't a lot, but hey, I tried. I might have more if I get on the ball with writing it first. Yous should push more! Lmao just kidding, I think. But I am working on so many stories now. If you're getting bored, why don't you go read some of my other stories? Asylum, Reality, Something with a d…erm, I can't remember that one. Just be happy with what you got and please, please leave a review. I hate getting like twenty million hits and just like twelve reviews. So thanks. BTW- if you want to use any of my ideas, pretty please ask, I won't be mean! I swear!! =] yeah this isn't a lot, so don't hate me. And I screwed up the last chapter. It was supposed to be the fifth month. August is the sixth month she's preg. Kay? Thanks and excuse the mess up. =]
"He'll be fine, Max. He was just a little surprised. By the time he actually needs to be worried, he'll be used to it." Tally gave her almost-sister-in-law a hug. "Don't worry about him. From what I've heard, Fang's pretty tough." Max nodded slightly. They walked back over to the boys and smiled; Fang wrapped an arm around Max's waist, looking a little more relaxed. She kissed under his jaw.
"Here guys, I figure since our ears are so sensitive…" Iggy blindly (ha-ha…) handed them all a pair of ear plugs. Max put hers in, then winced. It was scary without a good sense of hearing. "Okay, we gotta go. Bye guys." Iggy discretely kissed Tally's lips and walked off. He paused. "Gaz, come on." Gazzy, who was previously growling at some guys who were hitting on Angel, followed him. "I hope they're careful…" Max and Tally said at the same time. They laughed. "Fang, did you have a specific time you wanted to go home?" Max whispered in his ear, leaning on his shoulder. "When you get too tired, we'll go." He murmured to her. "Kay." … … … … … … …
They sat for another two hours, but left when A) someone offered Angel a drink, and B) Max started nodding off. Nudge was complaining, but she looked tired, too. She got four boys phone numbers. Max was lecturing her about being careful who she spoke to. "Max, she was practically raised by you. She'll be fine." Fang assured as they dropped the two off. Angel was staying with Nudge. "Fine. It's not gonna be me who has to deal with her boyfriends- it's you and Iggy. But if- Damn!! Go back!" "Why?" He asked in alarm."I didn't give Nudge the date rape speech!" She exclaimed, trying to get him to stop. "Max calm down. We have a three hour drive. Lay back and rest. We won't get home until four and it's not healthy for you to lose so much sleep." He scolded, turning right. Max started to argue, but was surprised to find the baby kick. She put Fang's hand on her stomach, watching his face when the baby kicked. First it paled, then it broke out into a very beautiful smile. "Wow, that's so cool." "That's great!" Fang felt guilty. Max was so excited about being a parent, and here he was ruining her joy. Besides, he should be happy, too. She wouldn't go to sleep, so by 3 AM, he noticed her face- sad, confused and a little guilty. "Max, what's the matter?" Her face cleared, as she tried to hide it, but eventually she sighed. "I…I was wondering if I can do this. If I can have a child and know how to take care of it. I don't want to screw this up." Fang pulled the car to the shoulder and looked at her. "Max…I…I've been wondering the same thing." She flinched. "No, honey, about me. I have no doubt in your ability to do this. It's me I'm worried about." "Why? You helped with Angel and Gazzy…and Nudge, for goth sakes! How can you doubt yourself?" "Well, we're first time parents. We don't know what kind of parents we are. Not yet." He kissed her gently. "Now go to sleep. We'll be home by four. One hour." She nodded and layback, only to sit up and glare.
"We have to stop, now. I have to go to the bathroom.""Now?" "Right now." She growled. Fang fell silent and pulled into a Waffle House restaurant, got out, and followed her in. "Welcome to the Waffle How-" The woman was pushed roughly to the ground as Max shoved her way to the bathroom. Fang helped her up. "Excuse her. She's…"
"I know." The woman smiled."Erm, yeah."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX August XXXXXX 6 MONTHS ZZZXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Hey Fang, do you wanna watch the wedding videos with us?" Max called to Fang, who was cleaning out their closet. "Uh…" Tally made a loud noise from the living room. Nudge giggled. "Stop being such a prude!" Angel called. Fang sighed. "I've really got to-"
"Fang, you're being a jerk!" Ella made the word sound like 'jeeerrrkkk.'
"Just watch them al-""Fang, you're going to make Max cry." Valencia announced. "I'm coming, I'm coming." He grabbed the two bowls off the dining room table- one full of popcorn, one full of random chocolates. He pulled Max into his lap as he sat in the black recliner.
"This is one of the ones that Tally recorded." It started with Max panicking about which dress to wear. Fang cracked a smile. N The next one was one of the ones Gazzy recorded, of Fang picking a tux. He was so clumsy with nerves that the shop owner thought he was the disabled one, not Iggy. Then one of Max getting ready; Fangs face got red when it showed Gazzy's DVD of him panicking in the dressing room. Max kissed his cheek.
"Look at your face, Fang! We've never seen a look like that!" Nudge exclaimed, throwing popcorn at him. Lucifer barked and ate it off the floor.
"You look like you're about to pee your pants, Nudge. Don't talk to me about my face," he teased. "You look ready to cry, right there." Ella remarked, pausing it where Max paused in the 'I Do's.
"So do you." Max commented. "Wait, Ella you are crying!" Ella blushed.
"No, I'm not." "Yes, you are. Look." Max zoomed in, then moved the screen to Ella's face. She was crying. "Okay, Maybe I was crying. So what?""Oh, nothing." Max grinned and relaxed into Fang's lap. "Press play!" The camera was suddenly aimed downwards. "Iggy, don't let Max or Fang see, come on!" Gazzy's voice said, slightly muffled. Iggy appeared, and everyone in the real world titled their heads to the side. The camera was outside, then, and the sky was bright. "Max, Fang, we know you probably won't see these for awhile, so when you do, you're welcome to scold us then!" Iggy laughed, moved, and pressed a button. The sky exploded with colors. Max & Fang Ride - October 31st ! Gazzy came onto the screen then.
"Just hold the camera like that, right there." He told Iggy. "And now…something we talked about a long time ago!" Tally was giggling madly. Max looked over at her curiously. "I…f-forgot a-about…that…" she said between giggles. On the TV she appeared. "Guys, when will this paint come off?" Tally asked.
"Four weeks. Come on!" The camera was propped up on something as the three of them did acrobats in the air, dumping, spraying and leaving behind trails of neon orange, lime green, and bright red. They spelled 'WE LOVE YOU, Max AND FANG! CONGRATS!" Max was crying and laughing as she watched. "We did have a conversation about that…before Angel dropped Total." "Oh, I remember that!" Nudge squealed. "No, Fang or Iggy dropped Total. I tried to catch him." Angel sniffed. Mom laughed. "Was this before or after you met Omega?" She asked.
"Before." Max and Fang said in unison.
"We went to real school for a while before that…" Max recalled.
"And Fang was making out with that red headed bitch." "Angel!" Max and Valencia scolded. "Oh please, Max, you were thinking it. Fang's thinking about how Sam was a dic-"
"Angel!" They scolded again. She grinned a sly grin and turned to Nudge. "Personally, I liked Sam. He wasn't mean like Lissa. Though, I think that Max and Fang make a better couple. I mean, who wants to say 'Sax' in public? Fax is way cuter." Angel smiled and Nudge was giggling.
"Well, personally, I don't like either of them. Now let's watch Mom's DVD." Max sighed, trying to get comfortable. Fang kissed her neck and let the DVD's switch.
The camera was going around, focusing on each group of faces it went by, so that everyone would be remembered. Max paused it on a certain group of people. "Wait a sec. Who is that?" She asked, standing up. She tapped a mans face behind JJ- Max's old friend. Fang stood, too, walking to their huge television."I don't know…Angel? Nudge, Ella? You were in charge of the guest list." He said. Nudge shook her head."No idea. I didn't invite him." "Me either." Angel said."Not me," Ella said, shaking her head.
"Mom?""No, I don't think any of us know him." Valencia said, eyes worried. Fang immediately opened his wings a little, so that it touched Max's arm."I'll be right back. Gimme that DVD." The player opened and he snatched it, running to the bonus room. If he wanted to, really wanted to, he could get files on this guy that were so accurate that he'd know every time he took a step. He put the DVD in the computer and waited. He fast forwarded and paused, then zoomed in. Then he opened his phone and called Adam.
"You're not coming back to work," is how he answered.
"No, I'm not. Can you pull up a file on this man?" Fang asked, taking a quick picture and sending it.
"Do you have a name?" He heard Adam typing commands."No." "Fang, is this really important.""He was at our wedding. No one knew him." Adam let out a slight gasp."He was- well you arrested him and his wife, too. For attempted assassination. He was crazy." "Why was?""He escaped seven months ago. We can't find him anywhere. His name is Jonathan Morge. How ironic. We've got agents all over the world looking for him." "He's the one looking for us." Fang said with sincerity. His face was pale and cold.
"How do you know?" Adam demanded. "It's just one of those things you just know, just sense." Fang said quietly."Do not leave your house." Adam hung up. A choking whimper came from the door. Fang whipped around, dropping his phone. Max was holding her stomach and the door frame, her breathing labored. "Max!" He was at her side swiftly, back and jaw tensed. "I'm fine. Just got really stressed, really fast." She whispered, hugging Fang. She was shaking."Don't be stressed. Calm down. We're safe. You're safe." He said softly. "Are you gonna tell me what's going on?" She asked quietly. "I think it'd be better if-""Fang." Max put her hands on her hips, scowling."We identified the…man that's been hunting for us. His name is Jonathan Morge. You remember him, yes?""Yeah…his wife was a bitch." Max nodded, rubbing her jaw slightly. "Does this mean…have they caught him?" "No. But now that they've identified him they can hunt him down.""Right. Well I'm not gonna be scared by myself." She linked her arm through Fangs and started towards the living room. "Max, I've gotta go. I'm sorry- They got a big murder and the scene needs a lot of cleaning up." Nudge said with a grimace. She gave them all big hugs, took out her phone, and walked out talking rabidly. An hour later, Angel left. "Max, I'm going to cook dinner tonight, okay? Then I'll cook chocolate chip cookies!" Valencia said with a smile. Max grinned and nodded.
"Did I miss something??" Tally asked when Max squealed."Mom makes the best chocolate chip cookies." Max said, sounding extremely happy. "I checked." She added."Yeah, she did." Fang chuckled. Valencia made dinner, and by the time it was done, Iggy had finished with work. Gazzy was visiting Angel at work, apparently. They all sat at the table and ate. "Anything interesting happen at work? Goth knows we've been in dire need of something interesting." Max said."Gazzy farted and blew a cart of nitroglycerin up." Iggy laughed."No one got hurt, right?""Right." They all sighed while laughing.
XXXXXXXX
Max sighed and lay on her right side, trying to relax. So Fang had figured out who was after them. What did it mean? That he had to go back to work? Or that they wouldn't be able to leave the house? "Max, what's the matter?" Ella came in the room, laying on the king sized bed opposite of Max.
"Nothing- why?" "Come on, Max, I'm twenty-one years old. I know when something is wrong." Max laughed a little, for some reason finding this funny.
"Right. We've just got a lot to worry about, that's all." "Well, if you ever need a baby sitter, I'm sure Iggy would love to.""Why?" Max asked with a raised eyebrow."All three of us were talking -Iggy, Tally, and me, that is- and he's more excited about your son than you and Fang are." Ella giggled."Aw, that's sweet. Changing the subject- do you have a boy friend yet?" Max asked slyly. Ella blushed.
"Well, sorta. He's a doctor that was in Med School with me." Ella smiled brightly. "Really?! What's his name?" Max asked, getting up a little.
"Joseph Dooley. Isn't that…cool? Dooley means dark haired hero…" She said, bouncing a little."Wonderful! If you don't mind, I think I'm going to sleep for now. Could you go get Fan- hey." She said as Fang walked in. Ella went to the bedroom she and her mother shared.
"Do you know that I love you?" He whispered as he crawled into the bed.
"I'm pretty sure I do. What about you? I love you.""Good to know."XXXXX November- 8th month. XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Everyone had begun to hang around the house, as Max was so pregnant that it looked like she was going to pop if she bent down too far. Every time she reached up too high, the baby would kick, making her recoil into herself. The problem was presenting itself now.
"Max, what are you reaching for?" Mom demanded, pulling down the box of Lucky Charms. "Well, you got the cereal down. What's wrong with you?" Max demanded, snatching a bowl from the cabinets.
"Every time a pregnant mother raises her hands above her head, the umbilical cord wraps around the babies neck!" Ella scolded, kneeling in front of Max. "We just can't wait to see you! You're going to be so cute! And aunty Ella is going to put you in all those cute clothes everyone got you at the baby shower." She said in a baby voice, rubbing Max's stomach.
"Ella, stop talking to my stomach. Can you read my shirt?""Sure. It says 'Rub my belly and be…destroyed'? Oh…" Ella got a sheepish expression on her face and walked away while Max made her morning cereal. By the time Fang had woken up an hour later, Max'd gone to the bathroom about twenty times.
"Max, do you want to go to the park today?" Ella was shaking her head frantically at Angel's suggestion, but it was too late.
"Would I like to go to the park? Would I?" "Max doesn't feel like walking. Leave her alone." Fang sighed, coming in from his morning jog with Lucifer.
"Exactly." Max nodded, pulling her husband down on the couch with her."Anyone have plans for today?" Iggy shook his head. Nudge looked at the calendar- November twenty-fifth.
"We could see a movie." Gazzy suggested. Tally nodded.
"A double feature." She quipped from Iggy's lap. Mom laughed.
"I'll stay here- Hernando is coming into town. He finally gets a few weeks off like the rest of us." She smiled.
At the theatre, Max and Fang were arguing in low voices. Iggy caught half of it.
"…why don't you carry a bowling ball around for nine months and tell me it's easy?" Fang sighed loudly."We aren't actually arguing about this, are we?""Yes, we are." Max said angrily."Whatever. I'm sorry. I just meant that we should sit near the middle, so that you don't have to go up and down stairs, just in case you trip. I don't want yous to get hurt." He said. Max's eyes filled.
"Really?" She whispered, tears falling."Really really." HE smiled, brushing her tears away with his thumb.
"Okay, I'm sorry Fang." She sighed, leaning her head into his chest. He rubbed her shoulders.
"Fine, it's fine. Let's get to our seats."The first movie was two hours long, and Max had to go to the rest room about twenty times- so in Fang's mind, at least- and it was getting worry some. On their way to the second movie, Max gasped, freezing and looking around. Everyone was tense and staring, even people who didn't know them. "Fang, we forgot our doctors appointment." Max hissed, pulling her cell phone out. Everyone let out a breath and relaxed."We can go now, Max, it's okay." Fang grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the exit. He waved to everyone, sighing. They arrived at the clinic an hour later, but the nurses were just happy they'd arrived. Jenny led them to the back. "He's getting bigger." She exclaimed excitedly. She pulled out a clipboard and started writing things down. "Okay, your due date is in the second week of December.""Really?" Fang asked, eyes glued to the ultrasound monitor. "What is-" he stopped, finger tracing a small, white bump on the babies back. He turned around, eyes bright. "Oh my God." Max breathed. She started sitting up, but Fang pushed her gently back down. Jenny- who knew, naturally, about their wings- dropped her clipboard.
"Max- Fang…oh my Go-" she stopped herself. Fang looked at Max, both of their eyes wide, bright.
"He's going to have wings." They said in unison. They all three were grinning as Jenny printed the picture off.
"I have to call Mom!" Max exclaimed suddenly. Fang dialed, and spoke.
"Mom- he- the baby is- he…"
"Fang, calm down. Is the baby alright?"
"Yes! He's going to have wings!" Valencia dropped the phone.
"Hello? Mom?" Max asked into the phone.
"Max! Oh my…this is…is…"
"I know- calm down! This is AMAZING!!"
"I'm going to…I have to…tell your step-father…"
Max and Fang told everyone to come home, but did not tell them what was up. Iggy had begun to see white and black, but only objects that had both of those. Max shoved the picture into his hands. "Look. What do you see?""The baby. Why? Wait- what's tha- oh. Oh my God!" Iggy dropped the paper, eyes wide. "Tally, look." They passed the picture around, getting the same reaction from everyone. Angel put her hand on Max's stomach. "He knows who you are Max. Just a tiny bit. He knows you mean safety. And he loves Fangs voice. When Fang talks to you, he likes it." She smiled. "Wow…" Fang whispered. "Ow!" Max exclaimed, looking at her stomach. "Hey, I didn't do it." They all laughed simultaneously.
"What now?" Nudge asked. They all looked at each other."Ice cream." Max announced, going to the freezer. Angel got herself and Max a bowl and spoon. "Who wants some?" Fang sighed, scooping the ice cream."ME!" Gazzy said, standing behind Fang. Nudge, Iggy, Tally, Angel, Ella, and Mom lined up. Max got hers first, grinning. "Let's play a game. " Angel suggested as they crowded into the living room. Max curled up by Fang, who put one hand on Max's stomach- so he would know if the baby kicked. "You guys can play- we'll watch." Fang said."I'll be right back- I've got to pick Hernando up from the air port." Mom kissed each of their cheeks and ran out the door."Truth Or Dare?" "No." Ella barked, face paling. Lucifer came in, sitting by Fang's feet.
"What else is there to do?" Gazzy demanded. "Calm down everyone." Max said soothingly. "Now lean your heads back." They obeyed. "Open your mouths, and close your eyes." She turned to Fang. "Quick! Get the pills!" She exclaimed. They burst out laughing.
"Okay, though, seriously, what are we going to do?" Gazzy and Iggy's faces suddenly lit up."We can take bets." Iggy said. Gazzy got up and left the room. When he returned, he was carrying paper and pens.
He wrote:Angel- Weight: Length: Hair: Eyes: Hour: Wings:
He did the same with everyone's names. "We take bets on how much he weighs, how long he is, what color eyes, hair wings, what hour he's born. Oh, and what day!" Gazzy explained excitedly. "I'm not taking bets." Max and Fang said in perfect unison. "I think he'll weigh 5 pounds, three ounces. Maybe twenty-one and a half inches long. His hair…dark brown. Eyes…blue, maybe. Wings….black. And maybe…around…midnight…And on the twelfth!" Angel said, writing it down in her bubbly handwriting. She passed the paper to Nudge. "Six pounds, exactly, twenty-two and a half inches long. Hair…black, eyes…brown….maybe eleven pm…wings….hm, the same as Max's. And the eight." She passed it to Ella."I agree with Angel on everything." She passed it to Iggy. Tally took the pen. "Brown hair and eyes, black wings. About seven pounds, twenty-three inches. Around one am on the tenth." He grinned. "It's all about genetics. Fang's black hair is pretty dominant, but we all know Max." She laughed at him. Tally gave the baby blue eyes and dirty blond hair, eight pounds, twenty two inches, brown/black wings, and around eight AM on the tenth. Gazzy put red hair, green eyes, blue wings, midnight, nine pounds, twenty three inches. "Gazzy, I'm not going to ask about that. Red hair? Blue wings?" "Everything and anything is possible." The seventeen year old grinned. "True, true. Okay, how much are yous betting?" "I say we each bet one fifty, and losers give their money to the baby when he's born." Max stared at Gazzy in surprise. Usually he was all for keeping the money. "He's got a girlfriend, now." Fang whispered. "Apparently she's changing him." They both laughed quietly.
"Okay, I'm in." Nudge slapped her hand on the coffee table. When she pulled her hand away, she left two one hundred dollar bills.
"Me, too." Iggy said, putting the same amount in. Tally dropped hers on his, Angel following in sync with Gazzy."I don't have enough.""Here Ella." Fang tossed the money in. "I'm older than Angel, and she's already getting paid more than me." Ella mock sobbed, actually laughing. Lucifer barked.
"Yeah, but you're completely normal and you've got a great job." Angel smiled.
"Yeah, yeah.""Alright, someone go get a jar, and we'll put the bet money in there." Nobody moved. "Okay, don't all jump up at once." Max sighed, trying to get up.
"I'll go Max.""Okay, but I have to go to the bathroom." They laughed as Angel helped Max stand. Omega showed up an hour later, grinning. He was carrying two very large and heavy looking boxes. "Fang, Max, may I intrude?" "Sure, what's with the boxes?""I have to child proof your homes. Sharp edges, plugs, drawers, stairs, everything! All of these things can be dangerous!""…you've been watching the home decorating channel again." Fang sighed.
"Yes. Child proofing. Get out. Lucifer will help me." He slammed the door.
"…Oh-kay. Did we just get kicked out of our house?" Max asked. "Yup. We can go to my apartment. Omega just redid it! It looks so…professional. I asked him to because I was hosting a business meeting at my house and-""Nudge! Please. We get it!" Max whined. XXX
Nudges apartment had changed from bright, childlike, to neat and business like and organized. Black, leather couch. Ebony coffee table. The kitchen table had a coffee shop feel to it, as did the kitchen.
"Wow, Nudge." Angel squealed. Tally laughed. "Doesn't it look great?"
"Yeah! I wish they'd allow us to decorate our dorms." Angel was attending a private school in the city, where they stayed in their own dorms. She liked everything but the dorms/"Oh you'll be fine. You only go three more years." Tally said, hugging her. "Okay guys, sit down. I'll be right back." Nudge disappeared. Max eased herself down on the couch. Nudge came back with some paper, pens, and a hat.
"Kay, grab a pen and some paper. Rip it up and write boy names on them. We'll put the names in the hate, and draw them one at a time. Just to see what we want to name him." "Oh, that's a good idea, Nudge." Max said, grabbing a pen and paper.
"Kay, Max, you draw the first one." Nudge handed the Chicago Bears hat to Max. She put her hand in the hat. "Okay, this one says…Chase Ride." She read. "How ironic." She smiled, looking at Iggy.
"Thought so," he laughed. Max passed the hat to Fang. "Joey Ride. Joseph isn't that bad." He said, glancing at Tally.
"Thank you very much." She grinned. Fang passed it to Iggy. "It's José Ride." Tally read. Ella grinned sheepishly. Tally drew one. "Micky-blue Ride.""I'm sorry Nudge- but no." Max said. Nudge giggled. Angel took the hat. "This one says Edward C. Ride." They all rolled their eyes to Max. "I was jus' kidding." She grinned. Fang sighed loudly, ducking his head. Nudge eagerly took the hat."Ooh, this one says Iggy Ride." Everyone paused."Fang?" Iggy asked.
"You're my brother, dude. Why wouldn't I want to name him after you? Or Gazzy?" Fang added. Iggy nodded, 'looking' out the window. "Wow, that was the most AMAZING awkward silence ever." Angel giggled at Max's sarcasm. "Oh-kay, Nudge pass the hat to Gasman." "Mike- Michael- Ride."There were only about three names left when Omega called Fang's cell phone. He was coming over. "Guys, no offense, but…none of these names sound like…us, ya know?" Like, I'm not sure if we want a normal name, or a name that…is us, the flock.""Yeah, I think we should go with a flock name." Fang agreed. "Max, draw that one." Nudge sighed. She drew it and read it quietly to Fang, so no on e could hear. "I like that one. But…whose hand writing is it?" Max asked.
"S'not Nudge, Gazzy or Iggy's." Fang answered."Not Angel's or Tally's, or Ella's.""Who wrote it?""I did." Omega said from behind them, grinning.
"Don't tell anyone, it's going to be a surprise." Max said.
"Yes, Maximum." Omega smiled. "Now come see your home. Nothing too drastic. Just for when he starts walking and crawling." "Oh-kay. Nudge, can we eat dinner here tonight?" Max asked."SURE! I'll start cooking. Be quick!""Let's just order pizza." Max replied, looking tired.
XXXXX DECEMBER 10TH. - NINETH MONTH XXXXX XXXX XXXXXX
"Mom, my stomach hurts." Everyone had been on pins and needles since the eight of December. "Honey, you've been through eight months of pregnancy. You know why your stomach hurts." Mom sighed."It's hot. Can you turn the air on, Fang?" Max called."Turning the air on." He didn't even look anymore at the actual temperature- he just pushed the forty degrees Fahrenheit button. Gazzy and Iggy were on the roof, building something for the dog. Valencia and Hernando were on the couch, watching TV while Max read. Angel and Nudge were packing bags for when Max went into labor. Fang tried to keep himself busy. Tally was shopping. Omega was at work. Ella was panicking. "Mom…" Max stopped herself and went back to her book.
11:45 pm
"Mom- I'm hungry. I think." Max panted. Valencia felt her forehead. "You've got a fever." Ella rushed in."Tell me your symptoms." She commanded. "Ella, I think I'm just hungry." Max sighed. "My stomach hurts a lot. My back is killing me, it's too hot, you know…things." "Max…just don't move around too much." Ella said, chewing her bottom lip."Like I've been doing so much of that." Max grumbled. Fang took Ella's arm and pulled her aside."What's wrong with her?""We'll have to be watching her. If the pain isn't making her yell, then she's okay, but I'll bet she goes into labor tomorrow." Fang just stared.
"Oh," he finally said, looking a little shaky. Ella nodded curtly and walked away. Fang stood still for a moment, then shook it off, going to Max. She didn't look any different, smiling and talking to everyone, still beautiful. Angel quickly started putting things- blankets, pillows, etc- out for everyone who didn't have a room. Nudge collapsed on the recliner, Ella on the couch; Hernando and Mom went to their assigned room, Gazzy his and Angel's, Tally and Iggy theirs, Fang and Max to theirs. "Max, you okay?" Fang asked quietly as he turned the light off."Yeah, why?" "Just worried because you said your stomach was hurting." He sighed. Max kissed him gently before falling DECEMBER 11TH 10:00 PM XXXXX
"Okay, guys, this is really starting to hurt." Max panted, attempting to walk out of her room. Fang gently took her arm and steered her in the other direction."Alright, Max, come on, I'm taking you to the doctor." He said, gesturing to Angel and Nudge.
"You sure?" Nudge asked.
"Yes, he is." Angel whispered, already holding two bags. Iggy and Gazzy grabbed the other two."We'll take two cars- just in case." Max looked completely confused. Then realization hit her."Oh goth." She gasped, told her that yes, she was in fact about to go into labor. Max was panicking, because her contractions weren't hurting as bad as they should have been."You should fully go into labor tomorrow at around eight pm, but it'd be easier to keep you over night." "Right." Fang said, easing Max down on her bed.
"Who will be my doctor?""Oh, Doctor Hill. You know him, he's very nice- and Doctor Burks. She's also very sweet." Max nodded.
"Alright. Now someone go get me some White Castles." Max demanded. Mom ducked out of the room with Hernando.
"Oh!! Max, Max, Max!" Angel grinned. "You've got to pick the God Parents!" Max's face paled.
"Fang, help." "Iggy, Gazzy, Nudge, Ella, Tally, and Angel." "All?? Isn't there a limit or something?""No- but…Angel and Nudge, Gazzy and Iggy." Fang sighed, looking away from Ella and Tally guiltily. "Okay, so…Iggy and Gazzy will be the godfathers- giggle- and Angel and Nudge will be the godmothers." Max announced. "Sorry, Tally, Ella, but…the flock…the original flock…"
"It's alright, Max. We understand." Ella said, Tally nodding with her."Thanks guys." Doctor Hill came in, just as Max gasped in surprise, grabbing her stomach.
"Well, that's a lot more painful than I thought it'd be." She gasped.
"Okay, Mrs. Ride, I think you're officially going into labor. I'm Dr. Hill, and I'll be here to get whatever you need. I'm going to get everything ready. Will you be using medication?""I don't need it." Max said, chin out as she grinded her teeth together. Her mother had just walked in, smirking. "You say that now, but you'll want it later.""Mom, I can handle it."One hour later…
"Fang, I'm going to kill you." Max yelled, grinding her teeth.
"Max, honey, just take the medication." Mom said.
"FINE! Only because you want- OW!" They quickly stuck her arm with a needle, connected to a medication bag. Angel was sitting on the ground, listening to everyone's thoughts, trying to block Max's pain out. Fang was holding Max's hand, wincing as she popped his knuckles. Tally and Iggy were on her right, speaking soothingly to her. "Fang, I swear to goth, you come near me with that thing again, I will rip it off." He smiled at his wife. Nudge was recording everyone and thing. Gazzy was in the hall way with his girl friend, Rose.
12:00 Midnight- December Twelfth. "Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Ride, it's a boy." Dr. Hill said, cleaning the baby up. Max leaned back, panting and sweating. The doctor wrapped the baby boy expertly in a blue blanket, handing the crying infant to Max. Tally sat the bed up so that she could relax and hold him.
"Hello, pretty boy…hello…" She cooed. The babies cries simmered down to small whimpers at her voice. She gently cupped his face. "Fang…look at him…""I see him….he's gorgeous…" Fang said, stroking the babies cheek. What little hair he had was blond. Max carefully turned him over a little and pulled the blanket down, revealing tiny, little wings with downy feathers. They were black with golden lining. "Time and date of birth!" A nurse called, writing on something.
"December twelfth, twelve AM." Dr. Burks answered. The nurse handed Max a pen and a birth certificate, putting a band on the babies wrist, Ride written across it. Max signed her name on the birth certificate, then let Fang sign it."Write his name, Fang." She whispered, nuzzling the babies cheek. Fang quickly wrote Freedom Ride in the blank. Nudge carefully held the camera over the baby, zooming in. "Oh, Max, could I hold him?" Mom asked.
"…How about after Fang?" She replied gently. Mom nodded. Fang got a panicked look on his face as Max handed him the took a turn holding Freedom, who Max had been calling "Free".
"I'm sorry, Max, but we have to…put him…""Can't you put the bed for him in here?" Max begged, holding Free closer to her. The nurse paused, considering it."Sure. Just this once, because he is your first…" They wheeled a plastic crib like bed in, and put it next to Max's bed. "Gazzy, Rose, Angel, Hernando, we should go rent a room in that hotel across the street. Anyone who gets too tired is welcome to come over. Bye honey, love you." Mom kissed Max's forehead, then Free's. She hugged Nudge, Tally, and Iggy, then kissed Fang's cheek. The youngest and oldest of the large group left. Iggy asked a nurse if they could have another bed. The nurses- happy to have company over night- brought a recliner, another hospital bed, and some thick mats for everyone to sleep on. Nudge got the recliner, Tally the bed. Fang sat in a comfy chair beside Max and Free while Iggy was on the mats. "Hey, buddy." Fang said quietly, stroking the babies smooth cheek. He opened his hand, grabbing Fang's fingers. "You look like your mommy." Free opened his eyes, looking at Fang. He gasped. The baby had eyes exactly like his, black, dark, alight with…something to intelligent for a newborn."He's got your eyes…" Max whispered. Fang looked at her; she was still sleeping. Weird. He stroked the now sleeping babies cheek again. Suddenly, Iggy gasped as if in pain, grasping his face. Fang jumped over to him, shaking his shoulder and asking quietly if he was alright. Blood was coming from between his fingers that were covering his eyes. Tally put his head in her lap. Luckily, Iggy managed to stay quiet enough for Max and Free to stay sleeping, though he must have been in a lot of pain.
"What's wrong with him?" Nudge gasped.
"I don't know," Fang whispered. Finally Iggy relaxed, entire body shuddering to a stop. Then he sat up, opening his blood crusted eyes. "Iggy? Can you hear me?""Yeah- and I can see you." He replied, panting as he stood up shakily. He walked to the babies crib. He touched the babies face. "He looks like Max, only with your eyes, and it looks like your cheek bones." Iggy smiled. The blood on his face disappeared. Free giggled, making everyone in the room relax. The sound was heart warming. Fang went by Iggy."What happened?"
"I don't know- but I can see." The baby gurgled, grabbing Iggy's fingers. Angel was suddenly at Fang's elbow.
"Free did it." She whispered. Iggy turned to her. His eyes widened when he saw her."Angel?! WOW! You're…you're so grown up!" He exclaimed, hugging her. She giggled.
"That's what happens!" Nudge said, coming from behind Iggy.
"Nudge!" Iggy said, looking at her. "Well, you…you're not three any more." He hugged her, hard.
"Yeah, I know." Iggy looked at Fang, grinning. "We know- he still looks the same.""Not really- the last time I saw him, his bangs were spiked, his wings had downy feathers in them, and he had no front teeth.""Fang had no teeth?" Angel asked, eyes wide. Fang's face darkened.
"You remember that?" He asked. Iggy nodded eagerly.
"It was my most "recent" memory of you.""Tell me what happened! I bet he got into a fight with a whitecoat or something!" Fang blushed more."Actually, he was walking around for a little bit of free time, and he tripped, knocking his baby teeth out." Angel and Nudge laughed, joined by Max, who'd obviously just woken up.
"I remember that!" She exclaimed, attempting to sit up. Already, she was going back to normal size.
"Max. You look so…different! So…well, you're definitely Maximum Ride." Iggy seemed at a loss for words. Max looked surprised.
"What are you talking about Iggy?""Freedom healed his eyes." Angel said quietly; the baby gurgled again. "Fang, gimme him." Max said quietly. She pulled the IV roughly from her arm. Fang, glaring, brought Free to Max. The newborn nestled against her arm, falling asleep instantly. Blood slid slowly from the tiny hole in her arm, then stopped before it dripped off, seeping into her skin."He can heal. He's so amazing…My baby…" Fang whispered, staring. When he stopped talking, Free started whimpering, tears starting to slip down his cheeks.
"Aw, Fang, keep talking." Nudge said.
"That's not why he's crying." But as soon as he started talking again, the whimpering stopped. "Yes, it is. He likes hearing us all talk." Angel whispered. Then her head snapped towards Tally, who'd been standing in the darkest corner of the room. "Come on, Tally. You know he wouldn't think that." Iggy looked over at her, then walked to her. He ducked his head, trying to meet her eyes. Everyone refocused on Free. Nudge let him squeeze her fingers.
"Oh, I can't wait until you can talk and walk and play!!" She squealed. "SH!" Everyone hissed. She giggled, pulling a cell phone out of her pocket and dangling it around the now wide awake newborns head. Free giggled, waving his fingers. The phone slipped from Nudge's fingers, making everyone gasp in wounded shock. But the phone didn't fall. Instead, it started floating in a circle around Free and Max. Angel smiled; Nudge grabbed the phone. Fang stared. Max snuggled the baby closer; Iggy and Tally sighed with relief.
3 days later
Max, I think he's hungry." Max rolled over, sighing and taking the baby from Fang.
"Oh the joys of feeding time." She grumbled. The clock said 3:30 AM. "We can give him the formula they gave us at the hospital." Fang suggested meekly."No, it's fine." Max sighed; she got up and started walking around, pacing. Fang looked at her helplessly.
"What can I do to help?"
"You can go get his blanket, and when he's done you even get to burp him." He nodded, smiling. "Oh, today when you were napping some lady by the name of Sandra called…?""Oh! Denesa!" Fang raised an eye brow. (Sorry everyone, I can't do a tilde on my comp, so it's pronounced D in yesa. Tilde or an enye.)
"Who?""This woman who was at the clinic when I got my test. We've spoken a few times. Remind me to call her?'"Of course." Fang said, smiling and kissing her lightly with the baby between them. Fang was dead asleep when Free was finished. Max sighed and burped him, then carried him to his decorated room. The first year picture frame had only one picture in it- a picture of the day he was born. In his Mommy's arms. The baby cooed, looking at her with his fathers eyes. "Hello, Free, hello baby." She whispered, rocking him. He whimpered a little. "No, you have to sleep." She lay him gently on his stomach, then rubbed his back and stroked his wings. They fluttered a little. Max jumped when she felt someone massaging her wings. "He's adorable." Fang whispered.
"He's ours. We have a hot little boy." Max giggled. Fang chuckled and kissed her neck.
"Yeah…I can't wait to teach him to fly.""What about school?" Max asked quietly, looking panicked.
"Max, he's three days old. Let's focus on Christmas, first." He assured, squeezing her. He was surprised to find himself frantic at the feel of her flat stomach, but hearing Free's even breathing calmed him.
"We always say things like that. What's the nearest school?" "Lyle Elementary." Fang sighed. Max stiffened a little and turned around to face him.
"You already checked." She accused.
"Better safe than sorry.""…What about when he gets a girlfriend?""Ma-ax!" Fang whined.
"I'm sorry, sorry." She whispered. They leaned against each other, watching their child. And then the phone rang. Max jumped and ran to get it while Fang calmed the now wailing Free. "Hello?" She asked breathlessly.
"Max? Why didn't you call me?!" Pierre's voice asked over the phone.
"Pierre…it's four AM." "You didn't call me!" "I'm sorry. It's been-""When?"
"December twelfth."
"Okay, I've no time for apologies- I have a party to plan. His name?"
"Freedom Ride."
"Oh, that's beautiful, Max. The party is going to be on Christmas. Who are the God parents?"
"Nudge, Angel, Iggy, and Gazzy." Se said quietly.
"Indecisive, as per usual. Okay, so the party is going to be at eight."
"Pierre, he's a newborn." Max protested, hearing Fang shush the baby back to sleep.
"Well, it can't start too early, either! Seven Pm, at the least!"
"Okay, okay." She sighed.
"Good, you three are the guests of honor, so don't be late. I'll email you the dress code and activities."
"Alright. Look, why don't you come over tomorrow-""Saturday.""Saturday, and we'll talk about this? Free is awake again.""Alright, we're going to lunch Saturday. It's a date.""Free and Fang are coming.""I'm buying the baby something already." Max laughed as her ex-boss hung up. Of course, he wouldn't hesitate to spend ten thousand on the baby.
"Who was it?" "Pierre." Max answered, not even jumping. She turned around and took the baby from Fang. "He's throwing a party for Free. On Christmas." Fang paused, no knowing how to bring up the subject, but it was important.
"Max, we…we were going to spend time with the flock on Christmas." He stuck with that, instead of what was really bothering him.
"Well, we still can. We don't have to spend all night at the party. Just go, say hi to some people, and leave." Fang shrugged, though still bothered by it. "Look, we can tell him to reschedule if you don't want to go then."
"No, it's okay. I'm just…nothing.""Fang, we're married. Tell me what's wrong." Fang shook his head, wrapping Max in a hug with Free between them.
"Nothing. We've got all day Christmas."
7:00 AM 11 days later. Christmas Morning
Free- Two Weeks old
"He knows it's Christmas." Max sighed brightly, sweeping the baby into her room where Fang lay sleeping. She put Free on his stomach, causing him to jerk awake.
"Morning, Little Man. Morning, Beautiful." He looked at Max.
"We're here!" "Can I hold him?!" Omega's voice boomed over everyone else's. Max blushed when he came in. She was wearing a silky black robe, silky red shorts, and a silky red tank top. Everyone followed him.
"I'm just glad I can fit into my own clothes again," she smirked. Everyone laughed.
"Max, your tree is gorgeous, as per usual. We put a few things under it." Pierre said. "Thank you. Should I get breakfast going?""Nope, I've got that." Iggy said from the kitchen.
"Your Mom and Hernando said they'd be here tonight." Pierre said. Max nodded, handing Free to Omega gently.
"Watch his head." Max warned. Fang was standing, watching carefully.
"I won't drop him." Omega said.
"Hurry up, I want to hold him." Everyone took turns holding him, then they ate breakfast together. Max fed Free, while everyone gathered in the living room. Twenty minutes went by, and Max found herself playing with Free as she walked down the hallway.
"Hurry up, Max! We want Free to see his presents." Angel commanded. Nudge started whining, and Gazzy and Rose cheered for the baby. Max rolled her eyes as Fang met her and took the infant.
"Here. Open mine first, I've got to go soon." Pierre said, tossing three boxes to Max. He got Max a silky black dress, and matching jewelry. She hugged him, thanking him profusely. He waved her off. "Oh, it was nothing. Really." And then the tag fell out of the box. He grabbed it before anyone could see."He spent twenty thousand dollars on yous all together!" Angel quipped. Fang gaped; Pierre shrugged.
"No big deal, really. I will not have my Max and my Fang wearing knock offs." He sniffed. Max knew he considered them his family, considering his family had basically disowned him. She just hugged him again."Fang, open yours!" He got an expensive suit, shoes, watch, and a pure gold chain.
"Thanks, man." He said, man-hugging him with Free still in his arms. "Now, for Free, Max, why don't you do the honors?" Max smiled and unwrapped the box. A bracelet, necklace, and ring with his birthstones and his name on each. Also a cute and acceptable out fit that would show his wings at the party.
"Wait, Pierre, what's-" Max stopped, moving the sweater. A black velvet case, holding a silver rattle, Freedom Ride engraved in it. Beside it were tiny baby spoons and forks, made of pure silver, with his name on them. Max's eyes filled with tears. "Oh," she whispered.
"He's going to need them. Now, I have to go." Pierre said, but Fang dragged him to the kitchen, giving him his gift of a bunch of exotic, imported champagnes. They knew his love for new things, and for wine/ champagne.
Angel got a car that everyone put their names on. She reminded everyone that she wasn't allowed to drive alone yet. And she got Free a few pacifiers, explaining that she really didn't know what to get him- besides the forty stuffed animals she'd already supplied him with.
"Thank you. Remember, you're not allowed to drive after nine." Max teased, referring to her religious abidance of the law.
"Shut-up, Max. I work with cops." Angel sniffed.
"We're just teasing." Fang laughed, cradling Free in his lap.
"And to think, I got you tickets to-" She caught herself, but now everyone was staring. Rose smiled.
"Um, Max, would you mind if I used your bathroom?" She asked quietly.
"Go ahead. I tell you every time- you don't have to ask." The girl with black hair smiled and got up.
"By the way- who won the bet?""No one!" Gazzy replied, jumping up. "That's twelve hundred dollars to Free." Everyone smiled at Rose as she came out while Gazzy put the jar in Free's room.
Nudge got a lot of clothes, shoes, and jewelry from everyone. She got Max and Fang both new iPods, and baby clothes for Free.
"They're cute!" Max giggled, hugging Nudge. Fang sat Free up on his lap, though clearly the baby wasn't old enough to sit up on his own yet.
Gazzy got just about everything that was explosive, and the packages were in Portuguese, German, and Japanese.
"This is really cool!" He gasped, looking like a young child again. He smiled at Max, giving her that irresistibly charming look, that was most likely why so many girls always came on to him, and asked him out.
"Alright, alright. On the roof, and after everyone is done." She sighed. Then he gave her the big smirk, and she saw Rose staring at him with admiration in her dark sapphire blue eyes. Big smirk. The big smirk that people loved. He always got in trouble sometime after giving that smirk.
Max shook her head, wondering why she'd started thinking like that. Usually she didn't think about stuff like that. But maybe it was because her son may have qualities like that when he was seventeen. Or he might be nothing like that…
6:30 PM
"Max, your hair looks great. Come on." Fang sighed. "If we're going to fly, it's not going to take very long.""I know, that's why this shouldn't be a problem." "But we shouldn't get there until seven, still." Fang sighed, shifting Free to his right arm. Lucifer put his front paws on Fang's chest, which made him laugh.
They didn't have a problem with Lucifer being near the baby. He was always gentle. They planned on taking the dog tonight. Fang put free in his car seat and put a spiked collar on the dog. Dang.
"Max, if we're taking Lucifer-""Iggy's driving with him." Max replied, coming out. She was wearing the onyx necklace and bracelet Pierre got her. Fang sighed and looked at her. Beautiful. And all that time spent on braiding a few strands of hair on each side of her head, back in a crown around to the back of her hair, where it was gently curling.
"Ready?" He asked, turning his back to her.
"Yup." She said, bending to pick Free up and to pet Lucifer. That's when he saw the slit in the dress all the way up to her thigh.
"You're flashing me," he grinned, hand on her waist. She glanced back, not straightening yet.
"You're welcome." She said, laughing a little. He laughed, too, and handed her a rose, within the petals sitting a ring with a ruby sitting in the middle.
"Oh, Fang…you didn't have to give me anything." She gasped. He gave her a look.
"But you knew I would." He said, kissing her.
"I guess I did, but you shouldn't feel like you have to get me anything." She whispered against his lips. "The rose is gorgeous, too.""Don't do that." He whispered in a whiny voice as she walked away.
"Just a sec. I figured I would do this later, but it's just the same right now." She called, holding Free close. Fang shook his head.
'Why does she do this? I'm supposed to spoil her…' he thought with a sigh. Maybe it was nothing big.
"Okay, it's nothing big, and I'm not even sure if you'll like it. I just, well it's the only one I could find, and I know how you are with things and their 'sentimental value'." She appeared, smiling. Fang just smiled back; she handed him a thin "fragile" box and waited. He carefully opened it, then unwrapped the bubble wrap. It was a big picture frame, with a big picture in it.
A very, very old picture. The flock. Max, Fang, and Iggy had all roughly turned sixteen. Max had scratches on her face. Iggy had a busted lip and some dirt on his face. Fang had a black eye. Nudge was tickling Angel at their feet. Gazzy was laughing, Ella was thrusting cake in his face. Jeb was holding the cake, and Mom was hugging Max. They were all smiling and laughing. A neighbor had taken the picture.
"Max…" Fang sighed, but managed to choke back his surprised words. He just stroked the picture of her sixteen year old face.
"I figured that when Free's about five, we can take another picture with the whole family." She took a deep breath and smiled. "Put it next to that one." She shrugged, looking away, towards Free.
Fang couldn't believe that she thought he wouldn't like it. He tried to gather his scattered thoughts to remind her that the flock was of higher value to him than material objects- second only to her and Free.
"That's a great idea.""Oh- jeeze! We're gonna be late! Come on, if we're late, Pierre will kill us." Pierre's mansion had been turned into a winter wonderland. Being in New York, everything was dusted with snow. He greeted them at the door.
"I'm so glad I told everyone to come at seven thirty." He sighed, rushing them in. Nudge, Angel, Gazzy, and Rose were already there, and Iggy and Tally were on their way. "Max, Sandra is here to see you with Denesa." Pierre smiled, opening one of a million unnoticed doors. "Long time, no see! Is that him?!" Sandra asked, tugging a now four year old, smart aleck Denesa with her.
"Yup- his name is Free." Max smiled proudly, allowing Sandra to hold the two week old. "He's adorable." She cooed, stroking his cheek. She and Max had been close friends for all nine months- she knew about the wings. "He's got Fang's eyes." She added, glancing at him. His face darkened with a blush.
"I don't-""He does." Nudge insisted, just as Iggy and Tally walked in with Lucifer. The dog growled and loped over to Max and Fang's sides, watching Sandra hold the baby. He growled a little louder.
"Don't get smart with me, young man. I won't drop him." She snapped, petting the dogs ears. Free started sniffling, and they all knew he wanted his mom.
"Come here, Free. You're okay- don't be rude." Max laughed at her senseless baby a lot more people started arriving, and the music turned on. Soft, dancing music. Pierre assured everyone it was so the babies wouldn't get upset by loud music.
"Let me see him." Angel commanded of Fang, taking the baby so that the two could dance. Gazzy and Rose were dancing, and Tally and Iggy were, too. Fang grabbed Max's waist gently, and pulled her close.
"You know how long it's been since we danced so close?" She breathed right on his cheek. He shivered and dipped her slowly back, eyes never leaving her face.
"Yes, I do. And I missed it." He replied, lips brushing her ear. She smiled.
"We're going to have to go back to work next month." She sighed with a sudden frown.
"I know- he'll be fine." Fang insisted.
"But who will watch him?" Their little dance was now tense, but they didn't miss a step.
"We'll get someone." He whispered. "I think Adam may know a few people." "Great. People from a spy camp, watching my baby." She said in disgust."Not exactly."