My mind was racing. Congratulations Max. you did it. Itex is gone. And so is Jeb. The voice said. I suddenly felt sick. Oh God, I

just killed Jeb. My won father!My stomach churned. You had to do it Max. You saved the world today. I didn't do it for the

world, I thought. I did it for my son, Ridge. To protect him. Yes, but he was your father , Max. That has to hurt knowing that.

Shut up, I thought. My head hurt. My mind spinning. I had to. I knew that. The world was better off without Jeb in it. We

could see the flashing lights as fire trucks arrived at what used to be Itex. The smoke smelled of the burning bodies buried

under the rubble, mixing with the odoer of burint wire and soot. I felt tired, very tired suddenly. Drained. The events of the

past year running through my head. So much has happened, changed. The headaches. Visons. Flyboys. Fang. And me. Our

son. Ridge. My heart raced as I thought of my baby boy. I had to see him. Had to touch him, to hold him. To really know he

was safe. I took off into hyper-speed. I heard Nudge's voice call to me but I just kept going. An overpowering need to be

with Ridge right now had overtaken me, pushing me on. To look into his sweet face, innocent eyes, still untouched by the

cruel world. I wonder how long before all that changes, before he grows cold and hard like the rest of us.Afterall, wasn't he

also a part-bird, part-human freak too? He was our son. Would the world treat him any differently than it had treated us? I

landed with a thump on the balcony, rushing inside, startling Ella.

"MAx, you are back. Thank God.Is it over?" she asked.

"Yerah, over. Where's Ridge? There he is. Come here baby. How's mama's little man? Yes, that's what you are. Yes you

are." Ridge started to fidget and fuss.

"He hasn't eaten. He refused to eat. I think he missed you"

"It's ok. I got him." I said as I turned and went into the master bedroom. I sat against the floor nursing Ridge, my thoughts

still everywhere. Mom. Mom was dead. Atear streaked my cheek. Because of me. Ella was now alone. Because of me. The

tears came fster.I looked down at Ridge.

"I'm sorry Ridege. Sorry you have to put up with the way people are going to look at you, treat you. And I am sorry you'll

never get to know your granma. you would have loved her. She loved you. She delivered you ya know. The first one to hold

you." My crying got harder. "And your grandpa, well, he was a different story. He was an evil man. Vile. He's reason we are

part bird, the reason we have wings. And the reason your granma is dead. I hope one day you can understand that I did

ewhat I had to do, to protect you. Hopw you can forgive me for the mess your life is starting off in." I sat holding Ridge,

rocking back and forth then, crying silently. The tears rolled down my face, holding onto the only thing that kept me sane at

that moment.

FAng and the flock landed and burst into the livingroom. Fang glanced around the room.

"Ella, Max?" he said.

"She's in there, with the baby. Just rocking and holding him , crying. FAng what happened? What could do that to her? To

Max?" Ella asked concerned. "I tried to talk to her but she doesn't respond.. I am worried."

"Max killed Jeb." Gazzy said. Ella gasped.Fang didn't respond. He was already walking toward me. He had to get to me.He

came in, kneeling beside me, putting his hand on my shoulder.

"Max?" he said softly. I raised my face to look at him, all puffy, red, tear streaked. He gently wiped away a tear with his

thumb."Don't do this Max. Don't blae yourself. It is not your fault. " He said as I dropped my head back down, tears rolling

once again. "Max, look at me. Look!" He turned my face back to his to look into his eyes."You didn't ask for any of this. It is

not your fault. It is Jeb's. Jeb grafted us with wings. Jeb locked us in cages. Jeb kept us from our real families. Jeb lied to us.

Jeb killed your mom. It was all Jeb. you just did what you had to. What was the onlything you could do. For us. And Ridge."

His eyes was so full of compassion and love.He took "Ridge from me and layed him on the bed to sleep.Then he took me

into his arms. I lay my head on his shoulders and completely lost it. i creid for what seemed like hours. Finally the sobs

ebbed. i raised my head to look at Fang.He wiped away the one remaining tear from my cheek.

"I'm sorry" I whispered, my voice almost gone.

"You have nothing to be sorry about." he said and kissed me softly. A sudden urge hit me. I needed to be with him. To feel

him close. i reached up and kissed him hard, demanding. He responded, wrapping his arms around me, pulling me closer.

We hadn't been intimate since Ridge was born He felt so good. Made me feel safe. My hands slid under his shirt to caress

his muscular chest and shoulders, lifting the shirt up and off. "Please FAng," I whispered in his ear as I kissed his neck,

nibbled his ear.I felt him shudder. His eyes locked with mine. Then, with a groan of surrender and desire, Fang bent down,

taking my mouth under his, and kissed me urgently. His tongue pressed against my lip before entering my mouth to dance

with mine.He trailed kisses down my cheek, necksetting me on fire. Andclearing mythoughts of anything but my need for

him. FAng made love to me over and over that night., chasing away all the demons and fears I held indie.Replacing them

with a promise of a better future.

"Do you still have that research you did on finding a deserted island somewhere?" I asked laying on his chest, tracing the

lines of his abs.

"Yeah, why?"

"Because i want to go, now. Today. I am tired of running. Tired of fighting. I just want to see the flock happy, raise our

son,.. be with you." said and kissed his stomach. FAng groaned out loud as I dipped my tongue into his naval."Iwant to

spend my days laughing with the flock, showing Ridge how to fly, and I want my nights to be filled with you..." I said, licking

a trail up his chest to his neck and ear. Fang groaned again, grabbing me and rolling us over, him on top."Then, we will go.

Right ...after...I..." and Fang made love to me once more as the sun came up.