Max POV

Mom looked at me in amazement and a small bit of fear.

"Mom? Look, Mom, I really love you and Ella. I would never ever want to leave you, but I have to. If I stay, you'll be in danger. I don't want that to happen, so the Flock and I have to go," I said gently.

She sighed, and nodded with understanding. Her face looked pain…but she didn't make any move to stop me. She was a strong person…and the best mom in the world.

Dr. Martinez came over and hugged me, whispering, "Try and be safe. And remember you can always come back here for help or just anything."

I hugged her hard in response and then went to call Ella.

"Max…I should call her," said Mom. I handed her the phone and stepped back.

Five minutes later, Ella burst in from the front door and stormed right past the kitchen, yelling my name. I wonder what her excuse to the principle was for having to leave. I mean, it's really perfectly normal and reasonable to say, "my sister, who is a mutant, is being hunted by her evil mutant cousins and so she has to leave, which means I have to go say "bye"…

Ella found us in the kitchen upon realizing we weren't upstairs. She stormed right up to me, and I swear, steam was coming out of her ears.

"…Why? Why are you doing this to us? We're your family and you're leaving us just to have another adventure!! I admired you! WHY MAX?! WHY?" she seethed.

I hugged her, guilt consuming my conscious.

"I'm sorry, Ella," I said quietly. Ella sobbed quietly into my shoulder, misery shaking her body.

Iggy walked over and gave me a look that said, May I? I nodded and Iggy took her away from me. He wrapped his long arms around her. Pulling her gently, but firmly into him, Iggy leaned his head on Ella's and hugged her. Then he pulled back and kissed her with such care, as well as hungry compassion, I let my mouth drop in shock. Ella was so surprised, she didn't react except to wrap her arms around Iggy's lanky form and kiss him back. Breaking apart to take a breath, Iggy smiled gently with kindness.

"Your eyes are such a beautiful milky brown," he whispered then kissed her again. She giggled then, suddenly her eyes widened and she broke away.

"Wait, what'd you say about my eyes?" she asked.

"Don't get obnoxious, Ella. I just said you have beautiful brown eyes," teased Iggy.

Ella screamed. Then she hugged him and said, "How?"

I stared at her in confusion. What was she talking about?

"A new power," said a grinning Iggy. I looked at him and Ella, and then turned with a hopeless look on my face to Fang. He smirked and mouthed, "Pay attention and you might understand English for once". I rolled my eyes and looked back at Iggy. He must have finished explaining his "new power" to Ella, because he was staring at me with a wide smirk on his face.

"Confused, Max?" he asked gleefully.

"YES, maybe you should explain," I said meaningfully.

"Well, it's not really an extremely helpful power…" Iggy said.

"Iggy! Stop stalling and tell me! Never mind, I'll ask Ella…" I said with an annoyed expression.

I looked at Ella with raised eyebrows, but she said, "Iggy made me promise not to tell you since he wanted to do it."

"And annoy me to death while telling me," I replied.

"Angel, read Iggy's mind," I commanded. She zoned out for a second as she concentrated on Iggy. Iggy's face was also rigid with concentration.

"Don't try to resist, Iggy. It's basically impossible," I said triumphantly. Iggy sighed and relaxed.

"Want to tell them, Angel?" asked Iggy wearily (fighting Angel takes a lot of strength..).

She smiled and said, "Iggy can see! Well, he can't see very well, but he can see our body heat, and so, he can see us and some details. Usually, the color of something is what he can "pick up", but sometimes he can see our facial features!"

Wow. I hadn't been expecting that. And I hadn't really expected Iggy to get together with Ella the day we had to leave…

Mom opened the front door from outside and called back to us, "Your stuff's ready! Each of you has small, compact backpacks with food, clothes with openings for your wings, and some money. Angel and Nudge, you each have a small stuffed toy. I think it's a teddy bear and an angel. Fang, you have a top-security Itex laptop, courtesy of Jeb, and Max, you have a phone, also courtesy of Jeb. Gazzy and Iggy, he gave you two a box with some materials. I think you'll like it…it says "CAUTION: NUCLEAR MATERIALS AND EXPLOSIVE CHEMICALS INSIDE".

Sweet. Phone's good for me. I might have to do something about Gazzy and Iggy's box of destruction and chaos, however. I turned to my Flock and cocked my head expectantly.

"Thanks!" said Angel, Nudge, and Gazzy at the same time. Fang nodded gratefully and Iggy smiled happily. I hugged Mom and told her thank you.

She nodded sadly, but there a was a hint of pride in her expression. Iggy and Ella embraced, kissed, and hugged each other, much to the surprise of Mom.

She laughed, then said, "It sure took you two long enough."

Ella blushed, but Iggy said, "At least we got together! The other two love-struck idiots are still being 'just friends'."

Mom laughed and said to me, "That's true, Max."

I rolled my eyes and Fang snorted.

"Whatever," we both said. Then Fang opened the front door and motioned for me to go. I walked out and he followed me.