"Max!" Fang's voice broke. "Please, Max…"

I felt a rough hand close around my throat and lift me from the floor. I forced my eyes open and saw Kieran leering at me. Behind him, I could see my flock looking at me with their faces filled with horror and their eyes wide. I looked for Fang, and found his face. Angry tears were pouring from his eyes, and I could see him straining at his ropes again. The ropes that were around his wrists were stained with blood from the cuts made by the rope cutting into him as he's struggled.

"Now, Maximum, you die." Kieran whispered.

Fang's eyes widened when he heard the words. I saw his lips form my name as I looked into his eyes. There, just like Tonks had said, I saw everything. Pain beyond imagination shadowed by something I'd only seen pass between Keez and Tonks. Something I wasn't entirely sure Fang could feel, but there it was. I saw, right in front of me, as it had been for such a long time, love that was etched into Fang's very being.

"No." I said.

"What?" Kieran brought my face closer to his.

"I said no!" I kicked him, right under his arm. I felt the muscles go totally limp, and I dropped to the floor. I grabbed into Kieran's shoulder and flipped myself over him as I squeezed. I glimpsed the terror in the Eraser's eyes as his arm became limp as a rag doll. I did the same to his other arms and kicked the small of his back. I sat on his back, grabbing his head in my hands.

"No one," I whispered in his ear, low and deadly, "Touches my Fang." I jerked my hands, like I'd done so accidentally in the sewer tunnel in New York, and I felt his neck snap. The look of surprise stayed in his staring eyes, and would stay forever.

I heard the flyboys behind me fall to the floor. I rolled onto my back and lay there, panting. I heard a couple of the flock go to Fang's chair to untie him, but didn't have the energy to raise my head and look. I felt a burning in my side, and something warm. I was still dazed, so I didn't realize what it was at first. Then it dawned on me that it was blood. My wing and shoulder hurt like hell, too, and I guessed that my stitches had come out. I could feel blood on my back. Running my tongue around my teeth, I was thankful to find them intact. I had been worried that one of them might have been imbedded in Kieran's arm.

"Max?" I heard Fang's voice whispering close, but I couldn't see him. Another groggy moment passed before I realized that my eyes were closed. I opened them slowly, and saw Fang looking at me with wide eyes. He was barely breathing, I could tell. In my peripheral vision, I saw the flock standing against the cave wall still and silent. Gazzy was recounting the fight in a whisper to Iggy.

"Max?" Fang breathed again.

"Yeah?" I said. My voice was thick, but not as weak as I had expected it to be.

"Can you move?"

"It'll hurt, but I think so. There's not really anything keeping me from moving." What, did he think I was dying?

"Let me re-phrase that. Can you fly?"

I thought for a few seconds.

"No."

Fear flickered slightly in his eyes.

"I can carry you." He said.

I sat up quickly, making myself dizzy. I shook it off.

"Nuh-uh. No way in heck are you flying carrying me. You can't do it!"

"Yes, I can."

"Fang." I said, my patience wearing slightly thin. "You've been here for over half a day with no food or water, and you've had the crap beat out of you. There is no possible way you can fly carrying my weight."

"Maybe I just need some...inspiration." His lips quirked into a small half smile that nearly made my heart stop.

"Oh? From where?"

He bent down and whispered in my ear, sending shivers up my spine.

"You."

My heart practically did stop.

Then went into erratic, fluttering beats as Fang gently pressed his lips to mine.

I couldn't think. I could hardly feel anything but Fang. My eyes closed of their own accord, and my hands went into Fang's hair without me really telling them to do so. Fang pulled me closer, and his tongue ran along my bottom lip. I had a brief thought of 'Holy cow, this is really happening!' before I let his tongue in my mouth. Wow, that boy could kiss... I don't really know how long I kissed him, but I realized that I was lightheaded. I needed air.... crap.

We parted, and I heard small scuffling noises from where the rest of the flock stood. I looked, and saw Angel and Nudge jumping up and down excitedly. Gazzy was standing with his mouth wide open.

"They kissed, didn't they?" Iggy said.

Gazzy nodded. Then he seemed to remember that Iggy was blind.

"Uh-huh..."

"Took you two long enough." Iggy addressed us this time.

I didn't care what he said, I just grinned wide and hugged Fang.

"You know what, Max?" He whispered in my ear, sending pleasant shivers down my back.

"What?"

"I love you."

I hugged him tighter.

"I love you, too."

Wow…He'd said it! And…I'd said it back... I couldn't believe that this was happening to me. Because I'm, you know, a mutant freak and all. Yet, it was real!

Fang stood, me still in his arms. The movement caused my side to burn, and I gritted my teeth. Fang cast a worried glance at me, and I smiled at him. The worry disappeared from his eyes.

"Let's go, guys." He told the flock.

Angel and Nudge took off first, giggling insanely. Iggy rolled his sightless eyes and followed them, and Gazzy went next, still dumbfounded.

"You sure you can carry me?" I still wasn't so sure he could do it.

He didn't say anything; he just kissed my forehead and started running. I clung tightly to him as he jumped, and I heard his wings whoosh out. We lost altitude for a few heart-stopping seconds and then he started rising, his wings beating steadily.

"See, I told you I just needed some inspiration." He said in that cardiac-arrest-inducing whisper.

"Yeah, yeah. Rub it in." I murmured, resting my head on his shoulder.

"I can't. I'm distracted."

"Why?"

"Because there's someone incredibly beautiful in my arms. It's very distracting."

I felt my cheeks flush hot and knew I was blushing. I, Maximum Ride, who's cheeks had never so much as gotten warm (unless I was fighting), was blushing what I was sure had to have been a furious red.

"You're blushing." Fang smiled at me.

"Be quiet." I muttered. Thank you, Captain Obvious, gorgeous as you may be.

"I like it."

I grinned. I take back that Captain Obvious remark. All but the gorgeous bit....

"You can't be serious?"

"I am." He looked down at me. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Fang, even in the light that I'm a mutant I am very, incredibly, unmistakably, plain. Whereas you are....amazing. In every way, but especially looks."

"Both of those statements are lies. You're beautiful, and I'm plain."

"How about I agree to go along with your ludicrous idea that I'm beautiful if you go along with the-"

"Equally ludicrous idea that I'm amazing looking?" He finished for me.

"Yes."

"I can do that. For you."

I smiled, and felt dizzy again. Then, everything went totally and completely black.

Author's Note:

Hey, an actually AN! I've just posted all my previous stuff wicked fast and didn't pay attention!

Thank you, all of you, for reading this! It's amazing!

And I just noticed: All my previous chapters have been bolded cause I didn't remember that the actual document for this fic was in bold! Gasp! Apologies all around!

See you in the next chapter and thanks again! FLY ON!

~Inkweaver