Lie Tonight – Chapter 15

By MyNameIsCAL

It was really something to hold Ari for the first time. He had Max's eyes, but it seemed like my dark complexion had won in the end. Max joked and said that she was just happy that he hadn't been genetically altered. It was nice to see that our children wouldn't be sprouting wings either. I mean, imagine if we had to run after Ari because he was trying to fly away. If today's kids had the ability to fly, that would be a whole new headache for parents everywhere.

The whole flock was here too, standing around me. Even Angel was here, although hiding away in a corner behind her brother.

I had expected Ari to start crying. Well, I guess I didn't really know much about having a kid. After all, this was never planned, but Ari, he just looked up at me, eyes full of wonder. I smiled at him.

"So, you want to meet your family, Ari?" I asked him.

He still stared at me.

"These are your aunts and uncles," I told him. "Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel."

"Hi, there," Gazzy said quietly.

Angel was standing by Gazzy's side now. "Hey, Ari. It's nice to finally meet you."

Iggy gave me a grin as I took a few steps towards him and Nudge. "We promised we wouldn't teach you anything bad, Ari, but don't you worry, I'll show you ways to annoy the heck out of your dad."

Ari blinked. I think he was more confused than anything.

"Aww, he's so cute," Nudge said, pushing Iggy aside. "He looks like you, Fang! Max, you have to let me babysit some time! Wait until we get him into the clothes I made…"

And that was when Ari started to cry.

"See! You made him cry!" Iggy laughed. "Even he can't stand your rambling.

Nudge frowned, elbowing Iggy in the ribs. "I'm sorry."

"Shh, Ari, it's okay," I said softly.

Still, he continued to cry. After another minute, I gave Ari back to Max. He seemed okay after that. I took a seat in the chair next to Max's bed.

"Don't worry, he'll like you better than me soon enough," Max assured me.

It was a lot of late nights without sleep over the next couple of weeks. Ari didn't seem to like sleeping all that much. Max was still exhausted though, so I usually was the one sacrificing my sleeping time, although I didn't mind.

"You know," I said, talking to Ari now that he had finally stopped crying. "One day, Mommy and I will tell you everything that happened to us before you came along. I'll take you flying someday, but not on a plane, real flying, with wings."

He gave me that usual confused stare.

"Yeah, I know, you think I'm crazy," I continued to speak. "I mean, you don't understand me anyway. I shouldn't talk too much, or I'll upset you like Nudge did."

I cradled Ari in my arms. "You really should sleep. Not sleeping is bad for you. I learned the hard way."

I rocked him side to side for a while, finally watching his eyes droop. Ari made me wonder what Max and I had been like when we were babies. I'm sure the scientists hadn't cared for us much, or maybe Jeb did, not that it mattered. But still, it seemed almost hurtful to know that we had no childhood and that no one had baby pictures of us. Over the past week Max must have taken hundreds of photos. At least we could give Ari what we never had.

"We named you after Max's little brother," I said, carrying him towards his room. "I bet he would have been happy to see Max have you now. I mean, Max is your mom, I shouldn't be calling her Max."

I laughed, but of course, Ari was asleep now.

"Goodnight, Ari," I whispered, setting him down into his crib. "Sweet dreams."

I got back into bed, taking my place back next to Max. She turned and curled up against me, half awake.

"I'll go next time," Max said.

I kissed her forehead, pulling the blankets up, knowing that I'd most likely being the one to get up the next time.

"Goodnight, Max," I replied.

"Night, Fang, I love you."

"I love you too."

Another short little chapter. I'll get some more little sweet moments of Ari since I never really write much with Fang and Max's kids. They're usually just an afterthought at the end.

Anyway, a few more chapters ahead, then the end probably. If you've got any ideas for this story, you better tell me before I end it. Be sure to check out my poll to vote for what I'll put up next. Thanks for reading! More soon!