A/N My fav chapter. It was fun to write, and I hope equally fun to read.

ellie

IGGY POV

It was quite infuriating, really. As soon as Max told Jeb off, everything went really quiet. When I began to concentrate, I could hear a second person breathing next to Jeb.

And then Angel whispered the one word that had become taboo to say around me.

Kae

My mind flew into hyper drive. I found myself remembering how she had breathed, and began comparing it with the person I heard next to Jeb. Before I could reach a conclusion, I hear her voice.

And my brain stopped working on all levels except one.

It was her. Truly her. She was here, and was speaking.

It was her voice, no question. She sounded older, sure, but there was no fooling me. I knew it was her, and a sense of dread filled me.

If she was here, she had either come to speak to only the Flock, or to leave me again.

I began wishing I could turn my emotions off like she could.

29 POV

Seeing his face in utter turmoil, I could only imagine the confusion and hurt he was feeling.

I didn't know what to say, or how to say it. But I felt that I needed to start, because he had no way of knowing my expression. Not that my face gave away anything of what I was feeling, anyway.

"Iggy." I whispered. Neither of us moved. I saw him stiffen at my voice, and his previously confused face took on a look of utter disbelief.

I walked closer, and gently placed my hand on his shoulder, to show him where I was. He tentatively reached out to brush my face with his hand. He gently traced my features, committing the changes to memory.

"Is it really you?" He asked incredulously. Holding his hand to my cheek, I nodded. He opened his mouth to speak, but shut it after a few moments.

"Iggy, I'm sorry. I don't know what I did to you when I left. I was scared, Ig. Sacred shitless, if you'll excuse the language. I didn't know what to make of you, or of what I felt when I was around you. And then I realized, or thought I realized, we were too different , far too different. I was too distant. And so, I left. I was selfish Ig. I know it. And I'm sorry. But, I've grown up in this last year. Jeb has worked with me to make me less distant. I'm not going to lie and tell you I'm not scared anymore. If anything, I'm even more scared. But I'm ready to try. I'm ready to take a chance. Of course, if you can stand to have me around after what I put you through." I said the last part bitterly, reminding myself of exactly what he had been through because of my selfish actions.

I fell silent. My throat burned. Even though I spoke more often these days, such a speech would leave anyone dry. I looked back up at Iggy, to see his face twisted in complete shock.

He reached out, take my chin in both his hands, and began to speak.

"Kae, during those two years you were part of the Flock, I thought with all my heart I loved you. I truly did." As soon as he said those words, my heart froze. I began chiding myself.

What did you think? He would welcome you back with open arms? You were foolish, Experiment. Foolish like a child. Jeb had led you to such assumptions that were so fantastic it was difficult to believe you fell for them. And now this. You deserve these next years of pain, you know. You did this to yourself. Remember that.

I began slipping away into that comforting black of my mind. However, one small, hopeful part of my mind was listening to Iggy speaking again.

"But time went on. You left. And I felt a chasm deeper than I thought was possible. Everything I looked at reminded me of you. I didn't cook. I didn't eat. I didn't talk, except when absolutely necessary. I would tear up anytime someone mentioned you, to the point where everyone stopped saying your name for fear of my sanity. Every time I blew something up, it was purely out of spite, and hatred. I had begun to plan my suicide. As soon as the three branches we taken down, I would pretend to accidently fall victim to one of my own bombs."

His eyes betrayed this sorrow, and his words left the Flock shocked. Iggy? Suicide? Before any of them could say anything, he continued.

"But then, the helpless romantic in me reminded me that you weren't dead. That if I killed myself I would surely never see you again. So I refrained. And then you were here with Jeb. And my iced-over heart began to thaw at every syllable you uttered. And just now, when I felt the changes in your face, I realized I had never loved you. Because only now do I feel love. Because I know the contrast of the emptiness you left, and how unbelievably quickly you filled it back up."

He continued speaking, but softer this time.

"I love you. I don't know how, or why. I don't get it any more than you do. But I would go to hell seven times over to save you. I would willingly accept all of your pain as my own, if only to make you happier. I would do all this and more. If this is not love, than I don't know what is." His voice tapered off.

I had halted my self-induced emotional coma.

Could it be true? My rational self screamed at me to not believe him, that I would only get hurt.

But my other side…that told me something entirely different.

And for the first time in my life, I listened to the non-rational side of myself.

I leaned in slowly, unsure as to his reaction. He didn't move. I guided his hands to my cheeks, and stayed motionless for a second. He seemed confused, before suddenly splitting into a grin. My stone cold heart melted at the sight. In half a second, the distance between us closed.

I smiled against his lips, and sank fully into his arms, feeling safe for the first time in my life.

And there it is. I tried to think of a celebrity type couple name for Iggy and Kae, but couldn't come up with anything. Iggy and 29 is nearly impossibe. If you think of something, tell me in a review. Just for fun.

Next chapter is last. I think. Maybe second to last (if theres an epilouge)? Whatever. I'll figure it out.

Review please