One night a couple of weeks later, after checking that the flock were all down for the night, I took a long hot shower. The

water felt great. I took one last glance the little bulge of my belly in the mirror and went to bed.Totally unable to sleep. My

mind was in overdrive. The flock. The baby. Itex. Jeb. Fang...Suddenly feeling restless, like the walls were closing in, I

jumped out of bed and, still in shorts and one of Fang's shirts I had snagged out of the laundry, I crept down the hall and

out the back door. Seconds later, I was airborne.

It is amazing how flying across the dark noght sky, all quiet and peaceful, can make any problem go away. For a while

anyway. It was after one a.m. when I finally landed back at mom's. I leaned against the side of the porch, not yet ready to

go back in.I could feel someone watching me. I did a quick 360.

all I could see were the shadows from the trees in the moonlight. Then I heard a voice.

"Max."I jumped and spun, ready to fight, then recognized the voice. It was Fang.

"God Fang, give a girl a heartattack would ya?" I said, placiing my hand over my chest. His expression was serious. His jaw

set. He didn't even smirk at my comment. I knew I wasn't getting out of talking to him this time.Ok Max, I thought, here

goes everything. He stepped closer, mere inches from me. His eyes staring into mine.And then he kissed me, sweet, soft,

lingering.

"Talk to me Max. What's bugging you?" he said in a low tone, pulling back a little.My heart skipped.I swallowed hard.

"There's something I haven't told you Fang. I've tried its just that, I haven't figured out how." I responded

"Just tell me."

"Well, it has to do with all those nights we...um...shared lately..." i looked at my feet, kicking at the ground.

"Seems to me there have been a few mornings also." he said, voice low, soft.

"Yeah well," I paused.

"Max, what is it?Don't tell me you regret any of them. I know better than that." he said, hi svoice becoming hoarse as he

gently stroked my cheek with his thumb. I closed my eyes, trying to fight the automatic response my body had to his touch.

"No, never. I mean...it's not that. It's that I...I'm-" just then a buzzing sound--flyboys. Fang turned , keeping me behind him

at first.

"Out of my way boy" It was Rags. he grabbed Fang and they wrestled, Rags throwing Fang to the side where two flyboys

grabbed him. They began to fight then. Rags looked at me. "Ready to fullfill your destiny Max?" he grinned.

"Go to hell Rags." I said, and I punched him hard on the cheek. Rags punched back, causong the back of my head to hit the

porch rail. I kicked his knee and he stumbled backward a bit. Then he came at me again . I ducked the punch this time but I

didn't see his feet sweep underneath mine, knocking me to the ground. Rags grabbed my shirt, holding me still as he

punched me twice more before looking at my growing belly. he grinned.

"No!" I yelled, pulling out of his grasp to ball up around my little bulge.He swung his foot out, aiming for my abdomen,

hitting me in the side of the temple instead causing my head to snap back.

"Max" Fang yelled, taking out the second flyboy and charging at Rags. He had RAgs down choking him in minutes. Rags

managed to pull his legs up and throw FAng off. Then Rags took off into the night sky.

"Soon Max, very soon." Rags called back as he flew out of sight.

Fang helped me to my feet. "You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah", I replied, raising my hand to touch my now bleeding temple."But we better get cleaned up. Mom will freak if she

sees us like this."and I turned to go up the stairs to the door.

"Max, what were you going to say earlier?"

I stopped, took a breath. I turned and looked him in the eyes.

"I was going to say that I am preg-- owwwww" a pain suddenly shot across my abdomen causing me to double over. I

wrapped my hands around my belly.

"Max, what is it? What's wrong?"

"Not...sure... better get mom" I managed to say. Fang swooped me into his arms, carried me into the house to my room.

He was back in seconds with mom in tow.

"Max, honey, what is it?" mom asked concerned.

"Not sure... Pain...hurts...owwwww..." God, I have felt my share of pain what witht he fighting for my life on a regular basis

and all but this, this was the worst I had ever felt. maybe because it scared me knowing it had to be the baby. The baby I

hadn't even told FAng he was having. And now I might lose it.

"Fang, get cleaned up. I'll check Max out and let you know soon.' mom said. Fang just stood there loking at me.

"Fang. Go. Now." I hissed. He stood a minute longer then turned and walked out. Mom diod a complete exam.

"Max, deep breaths. YOu are in labor. I am going to have to try to stop it. Try to relax."

"Relax? But it hurts like hell. And my baby, mom, please save him."

"I'll do my best sweetie."

"But he's-"

"Too small, I know. I'll do all I can" mom replied and turned toward the refridgerator where she kept viles of medications.

She had started keeping things here to better treat us when needed.

She gave me two separate shots. An hour later, the pain was gone. And I was soooo sleepy. I was in and out for a couple of hours.

"Mom?"

"Yeah sweetie. "

"What was in those shots?"

"Muscle relaxants mostly. Along with a sleep aid and an anti-anxiety drug. Looks like they worked though. Now, care to tell

me what brought ont his sudden early labor?"

"I was talking to Fang. Was going to tell him. Then we were attacked by flyboys and Rags." I paused, remebering.Then I

asked"Where is Fang?"

"Just outside the door. He hasn't left that spot since he brought you in. He obviously loves you very much, you know?"

"Yeah, I guess he does. Ask him to come in.He has to know what's going on."

"Would you like me to tell him Max?"

"No. I have to do it myself."

Mom asked Fang in and then excused herself, closing the door behind her. FAng sat on the side of my bed, taking my hand in his.

"So, Dr M seems to think you are going to be alright." he said.

"Yeah, jusr need a little rest. And avoiding flyboys couldn't hurt either." I said, grinning . A long silence. He reached and

brushed a strand of hair from my face.

"Fang, I need to tell you something. Something big. I should have already told you but-"

"Max, say it. It's obviously been eating you up inside.Tell me. I'm right here."

I swallowed hard."Umm...I'm pregnant" I looked up at him as I placed my hand on my bulge. His eyes bulged. His chin

dropped.He took a deep breath.Shock on his face.

" I wanted to tell you. I tried. It's just that I thought, what if you were angry...what if you hated me...what if you left me

again..." my voice trailed offoat the last of the statement as I looked down toward my feet.

"Hate you? Leave? I could never leave you Max. I love you. Am hopelessly and completely in love with you." he said,

glancing at my belly. He placed his hand on mine on toop of the bulge." A baby... wow" he whispered

"A son actually" I said sliding my hand out from under his so that his was on bottom, directly on my belly. Fang's eyes were

full of amazement now.

" A son. my son" he said in disbelief, gently rubbing the bulge now.

"Our son." I said, with a slight smile

"It'll be okay. i'll be right here Max. I told you, I'll never leave again."

"I know that now. i am sorry FAng. i should have told you when I first found out at Itex." His eyes widened.

"Itex...Jeb said something about a...oh Max. All this time you have known, kekpt it to yourself. Dealt with this problem all

. I am so sorry Max. Sorry I ever made you feel as if you couldn't tell me. he said and kissed my forehead. He laid on

the bed with me and we talked til we both drifted off to sleep, Fang's hand still just above our little one.