A/N Sorry it's been a while, I just haven't had any inspiration and I have been busy with work. But its nearing the end of the first year on my course so holidays will be here soon and I will update regularly then, but until then my work load has tripled and I'm preparing for an exam, so be patient peeps. Also this chapter is for you itscelesty, for being such a great reviewer and so supportive, hope you like this chapter. :)

Chapter 11

Max POV

My foot was tapping a mile an hour. I didn't do good in talking situations, well not ones that were personal and involved my thoughts, or my life, or anything that was close to home. Fang had a thing for making me go so far out of my comfort zone though that I didn't know whether to pause for thought or run for the hills. But he did make me smile however and laugh, and for once think of a boy as more than a physical opponent.

But my nerves we're still wrecked as he quietly sat on the sofa next to me. "Talk about what Fang?"

I saw his jaw tense slightly. "You know what Max, that guy, you're mother, you're siblings and what the heck you're doing in the fights. This isn't right, I meant what I said the other day, you need to get out."

I shook my head feeling the tough Max come back in me. "I can't, I told you that. I need the money, or I'll lose this place and the kids."

"But you lied to me, you're mother doesn't work at the hospital on late night shifts, I checked the records her names not there, I spoke to my dad's men and they say your mother is well known in the drug community. She wasn't drunk last night, that's why you fight you practically care for everyone and pay for everything by yourself."

My tapping leg stilled as I focused fully on him. "I didn't lie, I just withheld information that doesn't concern you."

Fang leant closer. "Well it concerns me now, because I say so and I care."

I leant closer till we were a breath apart. "Yeah? And what exactly are you going to do about this? You already said you wouldn't report it, unless you're the type who go back on their word."

That time Fangs jaw definitely tensed and flexed. "I don't go back on my word, but I'm going to help you. We'll start by getting your mother clean and off the drugs and finding you a reasonable job that will help pay for this place."

I threw my hands up into the air. "You think I haven't tried that? I got into the fights because it was all I could do, it pays enough to satisfy the landlord, as well as put food on the table and clothes on the kids back, I barely save enough to cover the medical bills when they come in. It's not like I jumped on this band wagon willingly. I looked at everything, every option available, but other than handing my mother over to rehab and signing the kids up to care and being separated, I'm out of options."

Fang pulled back slightly and grinned. "What part of having friends do you not get? I'm your friend, a very wealthy friend, I can help with this, consider it a long term IOU."

I shook my head. "Hell no, I won't be indebted to you and I never take money off of friends. It's one of the few rules I don't break. Also you're not my friend, you're my boss's kid."

Fang's face reddened in anger. "My father is not your boss, you don't work for him."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm his fighter. One of the best because no matter how hard I get hit I get back up, I won't back down and he pays me therefore, he's my boss, or are you delusional?"

"I'm trying to save you, goddamn it, you stay fighting with these guys and you'll end up in hospital, permanently injured, or even dead."

I rested back into the sofa and gave an exasperated sigh. "Dead? Now you're overreacting."

"You think I am? I'm not, I've seen these fights run all my life, you took on one of the Russian elites, don't know how you did considering they outweigh you, but miracles happen. You've got their attention, they'll pull you into the big league fights, and people have been known to lose thousands in bets on those fights, they go to extremes to make sure their side wins, people have been shot in the street just so they can't fight any more, simply cause they were too good. If you're dead, who's going to care for your brother and sister then?"

I didn't like what he was implying, but I didn't think the fights were a picnic either, I knew the further up the ladder you got the more serious the fights got. Nothing we did was legal, but we didn't care, have the cops were paid to turn the other way and the other half didn't have a clue what was going on. I wasn't perfect, but I had no intention of going into the big league fights, the fighting would go beyond the rings and would probably affect my entire family. But if Lucas signed me up for it, I couldn't refuse, he was the boss and he was paying me to fight and all I had to do was agree. If I refused, no payment, and probably no more fights. So what did I do?

I rubbed a hand across my face. "I get what you're on about Fang, but I can't stop, my landlord wants the money and if I can't pay in the exact amount on time again, we're out. The money is too good, as bad as that sounds."

Fang reached a hand out and tangled his fingers with mine, it took me a while to realise I hadn't yanked my hand back yet, but I left it there. It felt too nice, too intimate to ruin with my no touchy issue.

"Just, give me time to work things out, no more than a month and I should have things rolling and a plan. Let KJ talk to you and listen to her, she can help more than you think. And refuse to go into the big league fights, stay out of it, and otherwise all the help I can give you will be for nothing. It won't stop them targeting you."

I watched him and felt the decision in me before I even spoke. "Fine, I don't know why but I'll trust you, I'll give you the chance. I know if I get any deeper, things will get worse, so I hope you're rich brain comes up with a solution, because I only see a few options left to me, and they don't end well."

Fang smiled and his grip tightened on my hand. "A chance is all I need, you'll see, trusting me won't be so bad."

I quirked an eyebrow at him. "And why's that?"

"Because you enjoy my company, you deny it but I can see, you're head over heels for me." He said and chuckled.

I felt anger surge in me, not because of his idiotic statement, but because I had a sneaky feeling the idiotic statement was quite close to the truth. "As if, you're annoying, self-cantered, self-obsessed, self-assured, cocky, moronic and…"

Before I could finish my little rant everything changed, I was no longer resting against the sofa cushions, I'd been pulled forward by the grip on my hand and Fangs free arm had wound around my waist, holding me close, my head tilted as his lips slanted across mine. I felt my toes curl as he deepened the kiss slightly, my free hand tangling in the back of his shirt and felt a wave of joy rush through me. I returned the kiss and realised my eyes had closed, I snapped them open and was immediately captivated by his dark eyes, they held me like a fly in a web.

What the hell was I doing? I was kissing fang! Lucas's son, the rich boy from school who I made jokes about. But he also knew more about me than my best friend. He made me feel safe and helped me when I needed it the most. And dang it, but I was enjoying the kiss.

Maybe I had hit my head too hard earlier, or maybe, just maybe, I wasn't as unemotional as I made myself seem to the rest of the world. And to be honest, this was my first kiss, well the first one that hadn't ended with me punching the guy's teeth out. For a moment I could nearly believe I was a normal girl.

I pulled back and tried to catch my breath, though I couldn't go far because his arms refused to let me go.

"Fang, we…I…you see this whole.."

"No, don't over think it Max, we kissed, we have feelings, don't ruin it. We're still friends and we can be more, just give it time. I won't push you, but don't slam this down before we see if it works. You're giving me chance, so take a chance yourself."

I chewed my lip and thought. I didn't want to ruin this, I felt happy from a simple kiss, I wanted to look at his face and continue feeling this affection to him. I sighed and hung my head, resting it against his chest. "What happened to us threatening and cursing each other?"

He chest shook as he chuckled. "I think that's what started it. But will you do me a favour? Come out with me tonight, no fighting nothing like that. Just us like two normal people, on a date. Let me do that for you."

I chewed my lip as indecision warred within me. "I don't know….I can't leave the kids…"

"She will! She'll go on a date! Max will go!" An overly bright voice called out.

I snapped my head to look over the back of the sofa and glare at the blonde cherub hanging ont to the stairs banister. "You're meant to be in bed." I growled.

Angel laughed and balanced on her toes. "It['s morning, and you will go on a date with him, or I'm drinking coffee and you'll have to care for me through that. I'm going to tell Gazzy, he ran and hid under the blankets when he saw you two kissing, It's really sweet. I think you make a cute couple." She said before skipping up the stairs.

I was surprised I hadn't even heard either of them come down the stairs, and those stairs were really creaky. It must've been that kiss, yes, I would blame the kiss.

I turned back to Fang and was glad to see I wasn't the only one blushing, though his head was thrown back a bit as he shook with restrained laughter. I let my smile show as I chuckled. "Well you heard her, I'm under threat to go out with you so I'll have to now. She's scary when she has coffee."

Fang his eyes twinkled as he turned back to me. "I'm glad she's on my side. And don't worry, I'll have Hendrix or one of the other guys watch them for you, we won't be gone all night."

I nodded grateful for the offer. "Thanks, and come on, if we're going out you should meet my brother and sister officially." I grabbed his hand and walked to the bottom of the stairs. "Gaz, Angel! Come and meet Fang!" I called.

I could hear Angel's running feet as she nearly flew down the stairs and jumped at me wrapping her arms and legs around my waist and neck. "Hi Fang!" She said looking at him.

I chuckled, "This is Angel, Angel this is Fang he's-"

"He's your boyfriend I know." She said smiling at him.

I shook my head, I could refuse it all I wanted, but it wouldn't change her opinion, and to be honest the thought of Fang being my boyfriend wasn't that appalling. But we had just kissed, that didn't make us automatic boyfriend and girlfriend.

"Gazzy! Come on down!" I called after a while of him not making an appearance.

"Is it safe?" I heard him call faintly.

I frowned and turned to angel as she giggled. "What do you mean safe?" I asked puzzled.

Gazzy popped his head around the corner to glare down the stairs and point a finger at me and Fang. "You two were kissing! I saw it! I'm scarred for life. I didn't want to ever see that!"

I slapped my palm to my forehead and smirked. Could things get any more embarrassing? I turned to Fang and made a grand gesture with my hands. "And Fang, please welcome my family, we get more absurd than this."

Fang laughed and eagerly took Angel out of my arms when she gestured she wanted him to hold her. "Don't worry Max, I'm sure I can handle anything you throw at me."

Now was it me, or did that just sound like an invite to tempt fate? I would have to talk to Fang about not using absolutes due to my superstition. But on the bright side, I was going on my first date that night! And boy was I turning into the average teenage girl or what. I might have to hit Fang just to balance things out in the universe.

A/N There you go guys, I'll work as quick as I can on the next chapter, which as you're probably guessed will be the date, but I make no promises, I'm swamped with work and I can only type when I find some down time. So thanks for reading and please review.