Chapter 3: Christmas Eve

Thanks bunches to all of my reviewers so far! I'm sorry, I don't really have the time or energy to thank you all personally.

Max POV:

I walked into the kitchen. Mmm, cookies. Fang was pulling the last batch out of the oven. I leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Those smell delicious babe," I said.

Fang winked at me as Nudge came in with Ella, blabbering about something or other. He invited Nudge to help him cut the cookies into tree shapes. Her face lit up and she grabbed a cookie cutter.

Today was Christmas Eve. Fang was making cookies to decorate and leave for Santa, and we had about eight hundred other activities planned. I highly doubted we could get to them all in one day.

"Max, do you know where the rest of the Flock is?" Ella asked. "I want to make a gingerbread house soon."

"They're out sledding, I think," I said. "Fang and I were going to join them after he finished the cookies. Mom's with them."

Ella nodded. Twenty minutes later, we were all bundled up and flying to the sledding hill. Fang was carrying Ella, and Nudge and I were flying on either side of them. It was only a five minute flight. We got there just as Iggy and the Gasman pushed off for a race. Ari and Angel were bouncing up and down, Angel cheering for her brother and Ari cheering for Iggy.

"There you all are," Mom said as we landed. "I was about to call you."

"We were finishing up the cookies," I said. We had three sleds, a red one, a green one, and a purple one. The green one was sitting next to Angel, who was sulking because Iggy won.

"Ari, do you want to ride down with me?" I asked him.

Iggy and Gazzy flew back up the hill, dragging their sleds behind them. The sledding hill was in a secluded area where no one could see us, so it was okay for us to let our wings out. Sadly, our feathers didn't do much to keep them warm.

"Sure!" Ari's face lit up in excitement. I knew he had a little crush on me, so I had to do my best to treat him as a little brother but not give him the wrong idea. He grabbed the green sled and ran over to me.

I looked at Fang and grinned. "How about a little competition? Me and Ari versus you and Angel," I challenged.

"Game on," Fang smirked. Angel grabbed the purple sled and ran over to him.

I sat on the back of the sleigh and set my legs on either side of Ari, who was steering. Fang and Angel were in the same position. "Okay, ready," Ella began, "Set…go!"

Fang and I pushed off. The hill had two sides that were good for sledding. One was just snow, aside from a few rocks, and the other had trees and rocks scattered all over it. We were racing down the second slope, which involved a little more skill.

Ari and I were in the lead, but Fang and Angel were right by us. It was going great until about halfway down the slope, when Ari called, "Look out!" He jerked the rope hard and swerved to the right to avoid a huge rock. Sadly, Fang and Angel were sledding to our right.

We collided. I hit Fang and we both went tumbling into the snow. Ari and Angel were able to keep their balance and keep going. I landed across Fang's chest, and I lifted my head with a groan.

"I won't lie baby, this is unexpected," Fang murmured, smirking. "But not unwanted."

"Shut up," I hissed, standing up.

"Fang, Fang, I won!" Angel called happily. Fang gave me a smug grin, and I stuck my tongue out at him.

We flew down the hill and grabbed the sleds. Fang carried Ari back to the top of the hill.

"I'm sorry Max," Ari said, ducking his head.

I laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "Don't look so bummed. No one got hurt, and we can always go again," I assured. He smiled.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Mom asked.

I smiled. "Mom, we're fine. I had the snow and all of Fang's blubber to break my fall."

"Oh, I'm fat?" Fang asked, raising one eyebrow. "How much of the raw cookie dough did you eat?"

I gasped and launched myself at him. I pinned him down and smacked whatever I could reach. "You-take-that-back," I said between hits.

I was straddling him, and boy, did want to kiss him. Especially when he gave me his "player" smirk, the one that made you want to tear his shirt off. The blubber comment couldn't have been less true. I do believe I once mentioned Fang's awesome abs, and I meant it. They're gorgeous.

"Come on guys, not here," Iggy said. "You can wrestle in Fang's room, at home."

Sadly for him, I knew exactly what he meant. I turned to launch myself at him next, but Fang held me back. Mom got us to settle down after a moment of negotiation. We spent another hour at the snow hill before heading home.

"But Max-" Gazzy whined.

"Bed," I snapped. Angel, Gazzy, Nudge, and Ari headed back to their rooms. Mom and Jeb were already asleep, anticipating an early morning. It was time for me, Fang, and Iggy to play Santa.

Fang and I started getting the presents from the garage and putting them under the tree. Even though none of the kids believed in Santa, we still put all of our presents in the garage until Christmas Eve. Then Fang and I moved them under the tree. How did Iggy contribute to being Santa? He ate the cookies. Bastard.

Fang's iPod was plugged into the iHome I had gotten him last year, playing quiet holiday music while we got everything ready. It occasionally froze, upsetting Fang, and I would smile privately. Just a few more hours baby. Then you won't have to be irritated with your crappy iPod any longer.

I hummed along to "Baby, It's Cold Outside" as I set out the last few presents. "Done," I said proudly.

"Me too," Iggy said. I swatted the back of his head.

My eyes locked with Fang's dark ones, then slid to the mistletoe, then back. Fang looked like he had the same idea. Then we both looked at Iggy, though he couldn't see it. Somehow, he seemed to get the message.

"Oh, I get it. Mr. and Mrs. Claus want to canoodle," Iggy waved his hand back and forth between us. I blushed.

"Uh-" I began.

Iggy held up his hand. "Max, please. You really think I haven't noticed that you two have something going on? I hear him call you 'babe' when you think no one is around. I think Ella, Angel, and I have all noticed."

"Well, I knew Angel had, but…," I trailed off.

"I'm not that clueless. Why did you want to keep it secret anyway?" Iggy asked.

"I guess…I don't know. Maybe I thought you guys would freak or something." I felt like an idiot.

Iggy shrugged. "Whatever. Anyway, I guess I'll leave you to your canoodling." He got up and headed to his room.

Once he was gone, I turned to Fang and grabbed the front of his shirt. "Now…," I whispered.

Fang smirked and pushed me over to the mistletoe. He pressed his lips to mine, long and sweet. I smiled against him, stepping closer. I could feel the heat of his skin through my flannel pajamas. I wrapped my arms around his neck and tilted my head, letting my lips part.

This kiss felt different. In a good way. Fang and I had made out before, sure, but something about this kiss felt…deeper, I suppose. There was more emotion and less lust. I know I sound like some ditzy princess or something, but still.

I let Fang slide his tongue between my bottom lip and my teeth. I whimpered, grabbing two handfuls of his shirt and pulling him closer. "I love you," I moaned.

We both stopped. Fang pulled back to look at me, his eyes glowing. I had told Fang I loved him before, but this time when I said it, I truly meant it.

Fang sighed. "Max, I have wanted so long for you to say those words to me and really mean them."

I blushed and looked at him through my lashes. "Can you say the same?" I asked softly. Fang did love me, right? This wasn't some teenage lust thing?

"Of course I can," he said. "Max, I love you. I really do."

I felt my lips curve up. "I guess we can start being public about it now. I don't know why I wanted to hide our relationship in the first place."

Fang grinned. "I love you."

"I love you too," I said. We kissed again, blissfully unaware that a certain Flock member had overheard us, and had just flown out the window in pain.

Nudge POV:

I slipped out of my room to grab a glass of water. It was just past midnight, so "Santa" should have already been done. I turned the corner and began heading down the hallway, then froze. My heart stopped and all of the blood drained from my face.

I saw Max and Fang, my Fang, kissing under the mistletoe.

Maybe that's all it was. I desperately wanted to believe that. Iggy and I had been caught under the mistletoe yesterday, which had really sucked. That kiss had been less than a second, and we had both just about puked afterward.

This kiss wasn't like that. Fang was really kissing her, with tongue and everything. I had dreamed about him kissing me that way. He was so silent, but so strong. And he was both hot and handsome, and he did have a sense of humor, if it was buried. Fang was the total package.

"I love you," I heard Max sigh.

I froze, my muscles locking. I wished I didn't have super hearing, or that I could at least move to go back to bed, but I couldn't. I was forced to listen to him say those words back, and promise not to hide their relationship anymore.

I managed to run as they started up another passionate kiss. I pulled on some jeans and my coat.

"Nudge, don't," Angel muttered sleepily. "You knew he didn't love you back."

I froze for a moment, then tugged on my gloves and jumped out the window. I flew until my wings got so cold they stiffened up. I landed in the old log cabin, huddling against the wall and sobbing my heart out. I swear my tears were freezing.

How could I have been so delusional? I was twelve and he was fifteen. Fang never looked at me as more than a little sister. I sobbed through an endless cycle of despair until I fell asleep, curled up under a ratty old blanket.

"There you are, you little runt," an angry voice said. I woke up and looked into the cold eyes of an Eraser, and my world went black again.

Oh there you are conflict.

I got the inspiration for Nudge's crush from the graphic novels. Well, the first one anyway. It seems like she has a crush on Fang, at least in the kiss scene.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays guys! I thought I'd say that in case I can't update tomorrow. Review please?