Chapter 5: For The Love Of Fang

Nudge POV:

I woke up in my bed with an awful headache. I groaned and sat up, putting a hand to my forehead. What happened? I took me a moment to remember, and I wished I hadn't. The Eraser attack, and before that, Max and Fang proclaiming their love under the mistletoe.

Wait, then how had I gotten here? They must have come to rescue me. I swung my legs around to get out of bed. Blood rushed to my head and I sat back, then put my feet down. I heard a clinking sound and my foot touched something smooth.

I looked down and saw my picture of Fang, the glass webbed with cracks. Funny. Just like my real heart. I wondered what happened to my picture. I climbed out of bed and walked into the hallway.

Ella saw me. "Nudge! You're awake!"

"Yeah," I said tiredly. "And I have a God-awful headache."

We walked into the living room. All of the presents were still sitting under the tree unopened. Angel was sitting on the couch and staring off into space. Iggy and Gazzy were flipping though the TV channels, but I could tell they weren't really paying attention to it.

"What happened? I know you're not all worried just 'cause I got hit by a little tranquilizer," I stated. Max and Fang weren't there.

"Fang's hurt," Ella said softly.

My stomach started to turn. "What? How hurt is hurt?" But I knew it had to be bad. If they were this worried about Fang, he was on his deathbed.

"He has three gashes running from here," Angel put three fingers at the base of her neck, "To here," she dragged her fingers down to her hip. My stomach dropped and hit the floor. Fang was dying, all because of me. This woulldn't have happened f I had listened to Angel and taken a chill pill.

"No, Nudge, it's not your fault," Angel said. Iggy looked like he thought otherwise. "You've been out for a few hours. Max gave Fang three syringes of blood, and Dr. M has already stitched him up."

"But he's not okay," I whispered.

Ella looked at Angel and sighed. "No. He has a fever and can't eat. He won't wake up, and even though the stitches mostly stopped the blood loss, he may be too weak to fight back."

"Max is going insane," Gazzy added. "She was sobbing and panicking. I've never seen her so upset."

I dropped my eyes. "I'm sorry."

Ella put her hand on my back. "I'll tell you what I told Max. Fang's a fighter. He won't let a little something like blood loss or Erasers keep him down. Especially now that he and Max are, you know."

I flinched, but I knew she was right. Max was Fang's and Fang was hers. They loved each other, and I would have to do my best to not get in the way. Even if it killed me on the inside. I sat down on the edge of the couch and Ella sat down next to Iggy. At this point, all we could do was wait.

Max POV:

I stepped into Fang's room. This was his third day of being unconscious. I was in here almost twenty-four hours a day, save showering, eating, and using the bathroom. I noticed his bandages were a little funky from him sweating off his fever, so I decided to change them.

First I went and asked Mom, and she said it should be fine as long as I was gentle. I pulled off Fang's bandages slowly, ignoring the rancid smell. The cuts weren't bleeding, but they were an angry red color. Even with our increased healing speed, Fang would need rest for about a week. Mom said it was only the quick healing that kept him alive, along with the hyper-drive/teleporting thing I had done. I asked Jeb about that, and he said it was a new power.

I went and got a bowl of warm water and a washcloth. I soaked the towel and started wiping around Fang's cuts. I gently cleaned the sweat and ooze from his chest. I whispered to him as I worked.

"Oh Fang, you're so stupid," I murmured. "Finally you get the girl of your dreams and promptly get yourself killed. What am I supposed to do without you?" I started putting on fresh bandages. "I love you, you know. I really do. Turns out Nudge loves you too. I had this really irrational jealousy at first, then I realized she was twelve. I'm trusting that you would never leave me for her."

I had finished redressing his wounds, but I didn't want to stop talking. It was relaxing me. "You wouldn't leave me for Nudge, would you? I would have to kill you if you did. I can't blame her for falling in love with you, look at how amazing you are. So good-looking and an amazing lover, even if you are annoying sometimes."

I sighed. "I want you to wake up, but I think I do prefer talking to you when you can't respond," I kissed Fang's forehead and headed out for dinner.

Halfway through dinner, Angel sat up. "Max, I think Fang's waking up!" she said.

"He's awake?" I stood up.

"Not yet, but his thoughts are shifting. They've been stagnant the past few days," Angel clarified.

I quickly ran to Fang's room. I pulled my chair over to watch him. He was stirring, grunting and moving his head slightly. I pushed some of his greasy black hair from his forehead.

Fang forced his eyes open. It looked like it took a lot of effort. Fang blinked a few times before groaning and trying to sit up. "Don't," I whispered, putting my hand on his chest.

Slowly, my boyfriend looked over at me, and I smiled. "You really are okay," I breathed.

Fang blinked again and gave me a weak smile. "Of course I'm okay. I am a vampire, after all."

I felt my eyes get wet, and I pushed the tears back. "So you admit it! I knew it all along."

I threw my arms around his neck, being careful of his stitches, and started kissing every inch of him. He was a little funky from three days of sweating without a shower or brushing his teeth, but I didn't care. "You're such an idiot Fang."

We kissed passionately for several minutes until I heard a voice say, "Max! Fang is supposed to be on low activity!" I pulled away and aw my mom in the doorway, hands on hips. I was now straddling Fang, keeping my body away from his cuts but still intimately close. I blushed.

"Sorry," I muttered.

Fang grinned. "I didn't mind."

Mom rolled her eyes. "Max, scoot out while I check on Fang. Then let Nudge have a turn to talk to him, before the guilt eats her alive."

Fang frowned. "It's not her fault. The Erasers are the ones to blame."

"Well, it turns out I'm not the only one who finds you desirable," I admitted. "Nudge has a monster crush on you. She even had your picture under her pillow."

"Oh. You don't have one, do you? Especially since you have the real me under your sheets," Fang teased.

My mouth dropped open. "Fang! In front of my mom?"

"Wherever you want, sugar," he smirked.

I gave a disbelieving laugh. "Okay, I'm leaving," I stated. But I couldn't resist one more kiss. A kiss that got hot fast.

I pushed him down. "Fang, the more you rest now, the more of this we can do later," I pointed out. And before you get any weird ideas, Fang and I have not had sex, nor will we any time soon.

"Max, you know I am not a patient man," Fang pulled me in close, kissing my neck. Mom pulled us apart.

"That's it, out," she snapped. I rolled my eyes and Fang laughed. Oh, that boy.

Nudge POV:

I hesitantly snuck into Fang's room. "Fang, can I talk to you?" I asked.

He looked up from his book. "Sure, Nudge."

I walked over and sat on the foot of his bed. "Max said she told you about…how I felt," I started. He nodded. "And I want to apologize. I had a stupid crush, and I panicked when I saw you and Max confessing on Christmas Eve. I didn't realize what a fantasyland I was living in until that."

Fang sighed. "Nudge, you're twelve years old, and you're going to be a beautiful young woman. You will find someone someday, maybe in the Flock, but probably not. I don't mean to be blunt but you and me, well…it's not going to happen Nudge," I nodded, and my eyes filled with tears.

"But I have no doubt you'll find someone who will love you a lot. And you're still my little sister, and one of my best friends. I just can't return your other feelings. I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay. I'll move on, and become a top model. Then I can have whatever man I want," I said firmly. Fang chuckled.

"That's the spirit."

We hugged briefly and cautiously, since Fang was still healing. That night I allowed myself the pleasure of crying until I couldn't cry anymore, then I promised to never shed another tear over Fang again. I was only twelve, after all. Plenty of time to find someone else.

I'm sooo sorry! I meant to upload this two days ago, but the internet broke so I couldn't upload it. Sorry!

This was indeed the final chapter of Heartbreak and Mistletoe. I'll post an epilogue tomorrow, maybe Monday. If you haven't already, I'm going to request you check out my other stories, An Enchanted Curse and What Happens In Vegas Doesn't Always Stay There!

Thank bunches to all of my reviewers! I love you guys, and I hope I can get a few more reviews for these last chapters. (::) Cookie for my reviewers.