"Fang, stop!" you yell at Fang who is currently tickling you. He laughs and ignores your demand. He is tickling you because you threw a pancake at his head. Eh, it was better than punching him. Besides, you did get all the way outside before he caught you. New record.

"I won't until you say you're sorry, Max!" he tells you, laughing. You take him all in for a moment, wanting to remember this forever. You want to remember the way his black hair is ruffled by the wind, the way his dark eyes sparkle with amusement, the way his white teeth shine as he grins, and the way he looks in his usual black attire.

Perfect.

Except, you can't be thinking these things about your best friend. You shake your head like always and blame it on hormones.

"Ok, ok! I'm sorry! Now, let me up!" you say, struggling underneath his weight. He looks at you, fake astonishment on his young face.

"Did Maximum Ride, the one who never apologizes, say she was sorry?"

"Yeah, you're right. I take that back," you shout, flipping him over so he's the one that is pinned on the ground. He struggles but can't flip you over. That's weird; usually he can flip you easily.

"Max, I am going to kill you!" he growls as he glares up at you playfully.

"No you won't, Fangles! You looooove me too much!"

"Psh, nah. I think you're the one that looooves me, Maxine Ride,"

"Did you just call me Maxine, Fang?"

"I believe I did, Maxine,"

"That's it," you say as you start to tickle him. Lucky for you, you find that stomach is the most ticklish. He laughs again, trying to bat your hands away feebly. You laugh with him, enjoying the moment together. Just you and him. Friends since practically the day you were created.

"Max!" Nudge shouts as she appears, running towards you and Fang; breaking the moment. You immediately jump off of him, embarrassed. He senses your discomfort as he stands, and he smirks. You glare at him for a moment before turning to Nudge.

"What is it, Nudge?" you ask.

"We can't find Jeb anywhere!" she shouts hysterically.

"I am sure he's around here somewhere. Besides, he usually will leave for a day or two to attend to some business,"

"I know, but he wasn't at breakfast, and he always tells us when he is going to be gone! What if he left us forever? Do you think he got sick of us? Who will take care of us now? We aren't going to die, right? What will we do for- hmmpff," Nudge fires off quickly before Fang's hand slaps over her constantly moving mouth. You shoot him a grateful glance.

"We'll come back and help you search for Jeb, ok?" you tell her. She nods her head quickly, and Fang cautiously pulls his hand away. You both breathe a sigh of relief when she keeps her mouth shut.

You race away to the house, and find Iggy pacing in the kitchen. Angel watches him with a slightly worried look. She doesn't understand why Iggy is so worried. After all, she is only four. She is a mind reader but still.

"Where have you checked so far, Ig?" you ask the pacing strawberry blonde. He turns in your general direction, relief sparking in his sightless blue eyes. He isn't alone now.

"We have checked the whole house, Max, but found nothing," he says. You swallow uncomfortably as you realize that everyone is waiting for you to tell them what to do. If Jeb really is gone, will you be the new leader?

"Ok," you say slowly, thinking. "How about you and Nudge check the area around the house and Fang and I will check more far out?" You get tense nods.

You run out of the door with Fang at your back, simultaneously opening your wings and jumping into the awaiting sky, on a mission.

~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L

You sit on your bed and rub your temples, trying to release the tightening in your skull. It has been a week since Jeb has disappeared. Everyone else thought he had been killed. Well, you do too, but you think he knew it was coming. Why do you think this? He left a note.

Yeah, a note. A note that simply said that you should take over. Nobody knows that you had found it, though. You never told them, and you blocked it off in your mind from Angel. Not like she would understand but still, she might. You can never be too cautious.

Dread fills you as it did when you had read the note. You can't lead the flock! You can't take care of them. You aren't strong enough, and you aren't experienced. You are just a twelve year old mutant. Just a young girl. A kid. How could you possibly do this?

Tears of plain old fear burn in the back of your eyes, and you fight them. You can't break down now. It's a sign of weakness, and there is no space for weakness.

But despite your struggle, a few manage to make their way sluggishly down your cheek.

You fall onto your back, wincing as you crush your wings slightly. You don't move, though. Instead, you bury your face in your hands and just lay like that. You don't cry anymore, but your tears still linger on your hidden face almost like they are relishing the time of being there. After all, you have only cried once in your entire life.

You jump slightly as you feel a warm hand grab your own, pulling it away from your face.

Fang.

"Oh, hey Fang," you say weakly, embarrassed that he is seeing you like this.

"Max," he says softly, pulling you up off the bed, and into his lean arms. He is quite strong for a twelve year old. You melt into them, and that's when the tears really come. He holds you through it all, your silent support.

You raise your splotchy, red face when you run out of tears and look at Fang.

"I'm sorry, Fang," you apologize. He shakes his head slowly, never breaking eye contact.

"For what, Max? Being a normal? I know how stressed you are since you have to take care of the flock now, but remember that you aren't alone. I'll be here with you, and I'll help. Don't worry, we will get through this," he says with conviction. You are grateful. More grateful than you could ever put into words.

"Thanks, Fang," you tell him. Suddenly, you feel an overpowering urge to tell him about the note. "Fang? There is something I need to tell you about Jeb. He left a note to me, telling me that I had to lead the flock. It sounded like he knew he was going to die or something."

"Or he left us willingly," Fang countered, his eyes hard. You wince, not wanting that to be true.

"I'd rather not think about that,"

"I know, Max. I am just considering all of the possibilities,"

"I guess,"

"Yeah,"

The conversation lulls and you sit, enjoying each other's company for a time when it slips. The words that you have never uttered and never will again. The words that you could only ever say to Fang.

"I'm scared,"

His eyes soften, realizing that you had just admitted something that you would never admit to anyone. Maximum Ride is afraid.

He leans in close to you, touching your forehead with is. His breath washes over you, and your heart race accelerates. Why is he making you feel this way? He's your best friend!

"Don't be," he whispers, and then he kisses you right on the lips. It lasts a mere heartbeat, but it says more than anybody could ever put into words. Fang truly cares about you and maybe even something more.

You don't run from this like you will in the future. It just seems…..pointless to run. You don't want to spoil the moment. Besides, this has helped you tremendously. All because of Fang. He gave you hope in your time of utter despair.

Your bed shifts as he gets up, ready to lave with his head down. He thinks you are mad. He doesn't know that you are far from angry.

"Fang, wait," you say, grabbing his arm. He turns and looks at you, eyebrows raised in a questioning manner. "Thank you, for everything,"

Fang's lips twitch into a grin. "Your welcome, Max. Night,"

"Night," you say quietly, smiling at him as he walks out of your room. You are confused about where you stand with him now, but thanks to him, you know everything will work out in the end. He will be with you, step by step the whole way. Everything will be alright.

Thanks to Fang.

~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L~L

So, that was Max's dream when she passed out. I'd like to thank the people that reviewed so far. You guys are awesome. I should post the final chapter tomorrow or the day after.

Reviews are cherished but not pushed

Thanks again!

~Ftera