After all, I deserve some fun right. And God knows the flock deserves it. I could hear the others squealing in the distance as

they played in the water. I couldn't help but smile. It is so good to hear them having some fun for a change. It beats the

crying and screaming from the nightmares of the school or from pain from the last battle. God they have been thru so much

to be so young. I will ttry to have a good day, no worries, just for today. For them. Just then Fang came up behind me,

spinning me around to face him and kissing me deeply. "What ..are...you doing? They could walk up any time." I mumbled

against his mouth in a weak protest as my hands tangled in his hair. He pulled back slightly, grinning." I've wanted to do

that all morning"

"Come on Max. Please" Angel called out just then from the lake.

"Yeah, come on Max, please" Fang copied her, pulling me toward the lake.

"I should look at those files again first."

"Come on, you know you want to." Fang said, kissing my fingers , still pulling me closer to the lake.

"Oh, alright. At least let me change. I don't wanna get these wet." I said.

"Need any help?" Fang asked, grinning an evil grin, eyes shining and dark.

I blushed and grinned back "Just go play with the kids" I said.

"Yes dear"

"And stop that." I said and went and got changed. I walked down to the lake and snuck into the water a few feet from the

others. Fang had joined the flock and was flipping Nudge, Angel and Gazzy off of his shoulders into the water. Iggy was

judging who was best by the sound of the splash.

I snuck up beside Nudge and griped her shoulder. She screamed and jumped, turning red when she realized it was only me.

"Oh Max!" She said. The others laughing hysterically. We splashed around awhile, then Nudge asked," Hey, if Max is here,

then just who is going to fix lunch?"

"Noone. I have some snacks left in my bag. So I figured we could just snack and eat an early supper." I replied.

Fang looked over at me, his face expressionless, but eyes full of thought, then he suddenly grabbed me and took off into

midair.

"Put me down. What re you doing? I said put me down, now"

"Your wish is my cammand" he said, grinning and dropped me into the middle of the lake.

"Ohhh...me next, Fang. I wanna do that." Nudge yelled. Fang then spent the next hour lifting the others into the air too

drop them into the deeper water in the middle of the lake. It was actually a pretty cool afternoon.

After supper, Nudge, Angel and Gazzy chased fireflys while Fang gave Iggy a more in depth description of our surroundings,

only not so much a recon description. More of a 'this place is really cool' description.I cleared what was left of the meal and

trashand fish bones. Gaz called Iggy over to play cards. I know, a blind kid playing cards? Yeah, and sometimes he wins.

Ok, so he wins a lot. I just sat listening, the girls were laughing, the guys chatting and snickering, crickets singing, perfect.

Like we were just a normal family on a normal weekend hike. I couldn't help but smile.Then I could feel Fang's eyes on me.

I turned to look straight into those dark pools.

"They sem so happy here." I commented as he sat down beside me.

"That is because they are happy.It has been a great day, for all of us." He paused, lowered his voice slightly," I know I will

never forget it"

I looked at him. God but he was gorgeous. And those peircing eyes. Damn near took my breath just to look into them.

"Me either" I replied

"What if it could be like this forever?All the time." he said.

"That's impossible.What with this voice in my head, the world needing saving evry other day and Ietex still around." I said.

"What if we could just stay right here, never leave. Fish, hunt, and let them be kids while they still can."

"But they are not just kids Fang. They have wings. You know that. Besides, could you really turn your back on the world?

And all those poor experimental kids Itex probably have locked in cages right now? Remember living thru that?"

I saw him wince at the thought. "I don't owe the world a thing. It's done nothing for me. But I wouldn't turn my back on

kids in need of help. But maybe soemday, after Itex is destroyed, we get away, concentrate on us for a change, on our

future. Deal?"

Us? Our future? Why did those words send shudder of both joy and fear down my spine?

"Deal." I said then quickly turned to call the flock to ready to turn in. After checking that everyone was asleep, I walked out

of the cave where Fang was keeping watch.

"I still have some of those Itex papers we never figured out. Maybe we could get something from them now." He said.

"Good idea. Let's take a look." I said and he went for his pack.After about three hours of nonstop reading I raised up and

said"I can't read another thing tonight. "

"Yeah, me neither." Fang replied.

We put the papers away and just sat for a while.

"It's so beautiful here" I commented, mostly to myself.

"Yeah, beautiful" Fang reponded in a low, husky voice. I looked over at him.The moonlight in dancing in his eyes.

"Fang, I... last night...was--"

"Beautiful" Fang responded in a low husky voice."Last night, this morning. Right now..." and leaned down and kissed me.

No, stop i wanted to scream, but another part of me, a bigger part, wanted to beg him to never stop. The kiss started off

soft, sweet. Torturously sweet. It was long, slowsoft. My mind forgot everything and everyone except for him-Fang. My

Fang. My arms went around his neck, pulling him closer, tigher, wanting more. And he was eager to give it. His arms

wrapped around me. His tongue becoming demanding. And then we heard it--the buzzing of wings--flyboy wings. Fang

pulled away quickly, his mind already in defense mode by the time he was on his feet.

I thought you said I could have my day today, I thought to remembering the voices words.

Yesterday, Max. It is after midnight. Today, you begin your journey to save the world