worked hard on this. R&R please.

Previously: "Max!" Nudge yelled, looking her over. "What happened?"

Max was bruised and bloodied. Her cloths were torn, her eye was swollen shut, and her lip was bleeding.

"What happened," I asked again.

"We came a crossed some vampires," she said.

"That doesn't explain why you're the only one beat up."

"After words I went to go find one that got away, and…"

"What!" I yelled.

"I ran into some Erasers instead."

(Fang's Pov.)

Erasers, I thought. They're here. They attacked Max. they could find us, and then they could attack us.

Shock was clear on the whole flocks faces. "But the Erasers are dead," Gassy said. "They all expired."

"Looks like they're back," Ig said.

I watched Max. she was looking down, a look of guilt on. "Max," I said. "What is it you're not telling me?"

Isabelle looked a bit panicked, and blurted, "I think we should get Max to her room. She needs some rest." She started to drag Max away with Clary's help. But I wasn't having any of it.

"What aren't you telling me?" I asked again.

Max sighed. "I knew that the Erasers were back," She said finally. "This wasn't the first time they attacked me."

"You need to rest Max," Jace said.

"Izzy, Clary, get her to bed, and get the first aid kit," Alec ordered, and they quickly obeyed.

She knew. She knew they were back, and didn't even tell us? Tell me? How could she do that?

I quickly followed them, blending into the wall, when Isabelle and Clary took Max in, knowing that I wouldn't be allowed in as long as Izzy was there. When she exited, going to get the first aid kit. I slowly entered the room, and watched as Max sat down on her mattress.

"Why didn't you tell me they were back," I asked, catching her off guard. She jumped up off the bed, and looked for me, slowly sitting back down. She didn't answer. "Why?" I asked again, more forcefully this time.

"Because," she said weakly. "Because, we weren't talking."

"That's not a good excuse and you know it!" I yelled.

"Look, I'm tired. Can you just leave?"

"No."

She glared at me. "Okay, I'll ask nicely. Would you please leave so I can get some rest."

"NO! God Max! What the H*** is wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me?"

"Yeah, you. You think you can just charge off. Alone."

"I wasn't alone," she interrupted.

"Not the point!"

"Oh, than what is the point?"

"They point is that you think you can take care of everything all by yourself. I bet you knew that you'd run into Erasers, and you just had to go fight them on your own."

"That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard."

I ran a hand threw my hair. She was right, and I knew it. It was a stupid theory. "Okay, I'm sorry," I apologized. "I'm just a little freaked out."

"You think," she snapped. She looked away. "It's okay."

We stayed like that for a while. I would kill to know what she was thinking. Was she still angry? I hoped not. I hated it when she was angry. I thought then would be a good time to say it.

"Max, I'm sorry for what we did to you. Me and the flock are really sorry for kicking you out. We've been looking for you for about a year. It's not the same without you. It was a mistake, kicking you out. I'd take it back in a heartbeat. We never meant to hurt you, but you've got to understand, we thought we'd be better off without you, but we weren't. We need you Max. I need you. Please come back."

Max sighed. "Fang, you don't get it. I found my sister. My mother. Luke. Even Isabelle, Alec, Jace and Magnus. they're my family, and I'm a shadow hunter now. I need to stay."

"They aren't your family. We are. Me and the flock. An how can you just become a shadow hunter? How can you just go and kill things?"

She seemed to grow frustrated. She stood up. "They are my family, and I didn't just become a shadow hunter. I was always one. It's in my blood. And I kill demons- bad things that kill humans. And there's more to it then killing. We keep the downworlders in line. We make sure everyone is safe. I think this is my mission. My mission to save the world from demons."

"How can you think that? And how can you just leave your family behind like that?"

"If I'm right, I was kicked out."

"This is ridiculous. How can you choose them over us?"

"Because they haven't betrayed me yet. Because they listen to me. Because they treat me like I belong."

"When…" I started, but she cut me off.

"Get out."

"What?"

"I said get out. I don't want to talk about it."

"To bad."

"GET OUT, NOW!"

"Or what? You'll force me out?"

"If I have to, yes."

"No."

"FOR GOD'S SAKE, FANG! GET OUT!"

"What, you going to pull a knife out on me? Would you really do that?"

"Maybe I would."

"You turn into something else didn't you? What, you go and kill everything that angers you? I bet you do."

"You're an a**."

"And you're a murder…"

"SHUT UP!" she exploded. "It's my turn to talk, and your turn to listen."

"I thought you wanted me to get out."

"Just shut up! Listen! I practically raised you guys. I was always there for you. When you cried, when you were hurt, when you needed someone to talk to. I tried my hardest to be a good leader, but everything I did would upset you. If you guys didn't like it, then it wasn't going to happen, even when you knew I was right. I may not have been the best leader. God, I was only ten when Jeb left me in charge. I was still a kid. I still am. You couldn't have expected me to be perfect, but that's what you wanted. Perfection. All of you did. And when things didn't go perfectly, you took matters into your own hand, and made me look like a fool. You'd embarrass me. When you kicked me out, it was the most embarrassing thing ever. You didn't even know what was going to happen to me, but you still sent me away. Did you know I was attacked by a demon after that? Clary found me, and we found out who we were. It was almost worth all the pain you caused me."

"I'm sorry, Max," I said. "I know we hurt you."

"You don't know how bad you hurt me. You and Angle were the worst. Angle was my baby, my little girl. I did raise her. I watched her grow up. I taught her how to fly, and I kept her safe. When she was kidnapped, I went after her. Then she started to change. She started to make all the decisions. She started being the grown up. Then she betrayed me. She came back, but that didn't change the fact that she was on their side. She stopped listening to me altogether, and it was a struggle just to keep her safe. Then, she kicked me out. Later she pointed a gun at me. A GUN! What happened to my little girl? She said she was sorry. Then she betrays me again. She came back, her apology in hand. All was good, all was great. Then she kicked me out. Again! And you agreed that time! You have no idea how much that hurt.

"And then there's you. You were my best friend, Fang. The only person I ever trusted. I started to have feelings for you, and I bet you saw them. When you kissed me, I freaked. I don't know why, but I did. You got angry with me, and then, later, you left because you didn't like the fact that I was doing something nice for Ari. You even made Iggy and Gasman turn ageist me. That hurt. And then, later, you kissed me again. I had a lot of things going on, and I didn't need that right then. You started moping around, and ignoring me. Then Bridget came along and you started flirting like you were about to die. Did you not notice that she was like, fifteen years older than you? We did end up together, but that didn't stop you from running away. You left me. You even got your own flock. A flock that my clone was a part of. MY CLONE! You replaced me with me. You stood beside her instead of me. Then, you came back, without your flock, and you said you were sorry. And I believed you. But then you agreed to the "let's kick Max out of the flock" movement. I know you don't want to be leader. But news flash- NETHER DO I! It's time for you to feel the pain I felt for years. So step up, because I'm not going back to it!"

We stood there in silence. If she wasn't angry before, she was now. I was shocked. She said this like it was part of a script. She never forgot the times we hurt her. Never. Then she spoke again. "Looks like I always believed you guys when you said I'm sorry. I really got to stop that. You hurt me too much, Fang. And for that, I hate you. All of you."

I just stood there, paralyzed. She hated me. Hated. I saw a tear roll down her cheek, but she didn't wipe it away. "Get out," She said. This time I obeyed.

As I closed the door behind me, I looked to my left to see the flock. They had watery eyes, and were sniffling. They must have heard the whole thing. The one time they did listen they got hurt feelings. I walked over to them.

"D-did she mean it," Nudge asked. "D-d-does she really hate us?"

"Were we really that bad?" Gassy asked. Iggy put a hand on his shoulder, his eyes facing forward.

Clary and Isabelle rounded the corner of the hall, and saw us, a look of confusion on her face. They quickly ran to their sister, ready to be her family.

I stood there, silently, tears rolling down my cheek. I wiped them away, and said, "Go to bed guys. It's late." They nodded, and walked away. Only Angle stayed, looking at me like she was two again.

"I-I-I didn't know I was that much of a pain," she said. "If I'd known I was that terrible…" She shut her eyes, shaking her head. I put a hand on her back, guiding her away.

"We both should have been better to her," I said.

(Max's Pov.)

After I was sure he was gone, I gasped for air, tears finally falling. I felt like I couldn't breathe. I had said it. Actually said it, and for a moment, I believed it. I fell on my bed, gripping my stomach as though it hurt.

I heard the door open, and Clary and Izzy ran to my side.

"Hun, are you okay?" Iz asked.

I shook my head. "No, Iz, I'm not." I told them what happened.

"I'm sorry Max," Clary said, rubbing my back. "I wish I could have been here for you."

"I don't know what happened," I whispered. "It's like when you shack up a soda before opening it. I started to get frustrated, and then I exploded. I couldn't stop, I just couldn't."

"Sometimes those things need to be said," Izzy said, finishing fixing my injuries.

"Clary, you should go home. It's getting late," I said.

"Max…"

"Please. I can't go home, and I don't want to explain to Luke what happened."

Her eyebrows knitted together, but she agreed. I grabbed Isabelle's hand before she left. "Iz," I whispered. "Could you stay with Clary tonight?"

"Why?" she asked.

"Because if the Erasers come by I want someone, other than Luke and Mom, there who knows how to fight."

She nodded. "Oh course. I'll even pick up Simon. He'll be some help if they drop by."

I smiled. "That's just an excuse to see him again."

She huffed. "So? I'd cancel my favor to you, but I need an excuse to see him." She walked to the door, and looked back. "Night Max."

"Night Isabelle."

She closed the door, leaving me to sleep. Like that was possible now.

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