Two weeks later I was physically feeling almost normal again, whatever that is.Three more weeks and I was sleep
depraved, tired, frustrated and my nipples hurt.
"I can't do this anymore!" I screamed after suffewring through the pain of nursing Ridge for the fourth time today with
sore sweeled nipples. I thought this was supposed to come natural to a mom.
"Oh yes you can hon. You have to, for him. It will get better in a few more weeks. " Mom said, taking Ridge to put down
for his nap.
"Weeks?!" Mom chuckled.
"All new moms go through this Max. Don't worry. You are doing fine. And I got some cream for your soreness too." She
replied and walked out. I looked at Fang, who sat staring at my still open top.
"All he does is nurse. Even if I have just fed him, he cries til I put him back on me." I said exasperated.
"I'd cry if I knew every time I did it you'd hold me and let me suck your nipples" Fang replied with a grin and a wink.
"GRRR.. You sexist pig" I said throwing a pillow at him.
Fang got up, picking up a large bag off of the floor by him and walks over, handing me the bag
"Here, got you something. You can thank properly me later, after you've healed." he said and walked back over to the
chair and sat back down. Inside the bag was bottles, formula, pacifiers... I smiled at him and grinned.
"I love you" I said ""I know" he replied.
"And as soon as we sterilize these , it is your turn to feed Ridge." I said as I got up , walking over to kiss him.
"Okay, but I get to take his place days he is on the bottle." Fang said in a low teasing voice.
Ridge really grew over the next few weeks. And he had started sleeping all night, thank you God. I was back in my pre-pregnancy clothes and had started talking to Fang and the flock about getting back to destroying Itex. It was time.Then one night, the phone rang.
"Hello?...You...What do you want?...How could you? She's your daughter you monster...What?... The baby?..."
mom's conversation started. It was Jeb. Fang and I glanced at one another, then back to mom. Jeb was trying to find out
if the baby had been born yet.Fang stared at mom as I shook my head no. "Um, no, she hasn't delivered. Anyday
tho...Not that you care...No!... you can't ... just leave her.. us /alone... No, you listen, you stay away from my kids...all
of them you hear me or so help me..." Jeb hung up. Mom was shaking as she sat down. Nudge took the phone and
hung it up.
"It's okay mom.I know you loved him. He decieved you, used you to keep track of us." I said, rubbing her shoulders.
"I was such a fool." she whispered.
"No. You were just in love. He is the idiot." Nudge said.
"We have to get out of here. He'll be back soon. We gotta get Ridge somewhere safe." I said, looking at Fang. He
nodded and got up to go upstaris to pack.
"Oh Max, no. This is your home You can't go on the run with him, he's just a baby." mom started. I smiled at her.
"No he's not mom. He's a avian-human bird baby. And They will be after him too. Thanks but we really have to go. I have
no choice. We'll be fine. We've been on our own for two years. "We can handle it. We knew that right after Ridge was
born we'd be going again. I still have some business to swttle with Itex. If I don't. Ridge will never be safe." I said and
went upstairs to help the flock get ready, fighting the tears.
"Time to go guys. Take everything you need for a while." I ordered as I packed a second bag for Ridge.
The flock nodded and walked off.Mom came in behind me.
"You can't be serious Max. you know they don't want to go. They like it here" she started.
"They love it here. And no, they don't want to go, but they will. It's who we are. It's what we do." I said, still packing.
Then I said " I'm goin down to get Ridge's cans of milk" and walked out, hoping to hide my tears from mom.
"It's the only wya Dr M. Please don't make it any harder on her than it already is." Fang said and walked past mom and
out the door. I heard mom start to cry. Fang came up behind me in the hall.
"If there were any other way Max." he whispered as his hands rubbed my back.
"I know. it's just..let's just go Mom will get over it. She still has Ella.And we'l visit again after destroying Itex" I said , a
tear escaping to trickle down my cheek. Fang pulled me into his arms for a moment. Then the flock came out .
"Everyone ready?Good. Fang, you carry Ridge in his baby rider I altered for flying. I got his bags. " We walked out the
front door. I turned to wave at mom through the window. "U and A guys" I said and I took off, the flock right behind me.