Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride or the song in this fic.

In the past, it was hard for me to like myself, let alone Fang. How can I love someone if I don't even think I'm worth the time? I was always so focused on trying to be the best that I never noticed, or wanted to notice, what Fang was going through. He put up with me for so long, and I have no idea how he did it. After things calmed down for all of us, I finally had some time to just sit and think about what I wanted out of my life. At first, I went crazy. There was never any real danger and Mom would help take care of us.

Once I got past all of the perks of living a semi-normal life, my hormones started to get the best of me, I guess I could say. It was hard for me to accept that I had anything more than brother-sister feelings for Fang. I mean, how do you fall in love with the same person you've lived with as siblings for your whole life? It was kind of weird, okay, really weird. Even now, it's hard to love Fang when we're not alone. I keep thinking about the rest of the flock and what they would think.

Even with my doubts, Fang has been so supportive of me. He knows that I'm not so sure about us with the others around. I love him so much, and I know that he loves me too, but it's hard sometimes. They, meaning poets and speakers, say that love can pull you through anything. It's still hard to believe that. I hardly believe that I'm good enough for Fang to begin with, but we can make it. We will make it.

Sometimes it's hard to love me
Sometimes it's hard to love you too
I know it's hard believing
That love can pull us through.

It would be so easy for Fang just to walk out on me. He could leave at any time, really. I don't know why he chose me over everyone else. To me, it just seems like it would be easier for him to live on the side of us. If he ever wanted to leave, he'd be able to just get up and go like that. He'd have one foot out the door, ready to leave when he lost interest, and it'd be simple for him to just walk out when he wanted to.

It would be so easy
To live your life
With one foot out the door

But I know that Fang would never do that to me. He knows what he means to me, and I know what I mean to him. Fang would never leave me, and I wouldn't even think about leaving him. We made a promise to each other. We'd never leave each other alone. That promise was made at least five years ago when the girls and I met up with Fang and the rest of the flock after splitting up for the first time. Since then, we'd never split up.

Yeah, we'd had our rocky times where we'd get ticked and fly off for a day or two just to be able to cool off, but we always knew where the other was.

My mind traveled back to the present, where I was pressed up against Fang back in the hotel room bed. I had my back to him, and his arm was wrapped protectively around my waist. The heat that radiated from his body kept my back warm. Distantly, I could smell the cologne that he had put on earlier today, and I inhaled the scent, enjoying the way it still tingled my nose.

Fang lightly kissed my neck and jaw repeatedly with the utmost delicacy. "Is there anything you want me to do before I turn off the lights?" he asked me.

"No," I sighed, "just don't let go of me after that."

I felt him smile against my skin. "That can be arranged," he whispered to me in a low voice that sent chills down my spine.

And that's all I did want from him right now. All I wanted was for him to hold me, like the way he was right now. That was it, just for him to hold me until there was no restrictions or barriers between us.

Just hold me baby
'Till we ain't strangers anymore

I unwrapped my arm from around Max's waist and quickly turned off all of the lights, blowing out the candle before I crawled back into bed. It was pitch black in the room, and a normal person wouldn't be able to see six inches in front of their face. Luckily for me, I have heightened vision, so I could see Max as clear as day, like I knew she could see me. Funny how regular people need so much light and couldn't find anything with the lights turned out, and yet, I could find everything and more just fine.

Wow, I can only imagine what it takes to find forgiveness in the dark. I mean, it's hard for people to find the strength to say sorry when the problem is right in front of them, let alone when they can't walk three steps without tripping over their own feet. It must be pretty hard to apologize, too. With Max, I can read her face, expressions, and even her body language. I wonder if it's the same for just plain old people. Can they say what's wrong or right just by reading a person? Thanks to that deep connection I have with Max, I almost always know how she's feeling, which is a really great thing to be able to do when the girl you love is feeling under the weather.

It's hard to find forgiveness
When we just turn out the light
It's hard to say you're sorry
When you can't tell wrong from right.

It would be just so simple for Max to look the other way and not at me. She could easily make it on her own in the world, and I think she'd fare pretty well if she and I weren't together. There isn't a doubt in my mind that thinks that Max could easily find somebody else if I couldn't provide for her, which is why I try so hard to make her happy. Seeing any other guy with her seems wrong. No, it is wrong. Still, she could so easily keep score of how many people she attracts. It's hardly fair.

I know that Max wouldn't dream of doing that, though. We're in this pretty deep. Max is my world now, and I'd do anything for her. She's everything I could have wanted and more. Before Max, I never really believed that there was any meaning or purpose in my life except to just live as a mutant freak, but since Max and I have gotten together, it's like there's a reason to get up in the morning.

"Is there anything that you want, Fang?" Max asked me suddenly.

My mouth wouldn't allow me to say what I wanted, but if she thought about it and read me like she does, she would know. There were so many things I wanted from Max and twice as many things that I wanted to give to her, but right now, there was really only that one thing that I wanted. I just wanted to get right down to doing it. There was no reason for me to lie to her. I'd hurt both of us by lying, and she would be able to see right through any lie I could throw her way.

It would be so easy
To spend your whole damn life
Just keeping score
So let's get down to it baby
There ain't no need to lie

"Fang," Max whispered, "who do you see when you look in my eyes?"

I kissed the corner of her lips. "I see everything. I see a beautiful young woman. I see the person I love more than life itself, and I see my future."

She shifted so that she could see my face, to see if I was being serious. I'd never been so determined and serious about something in my life. Max was my future.

"What do you see in me?" I asked in return.

She reached around and draped her arm over my head, and kissed me passionately. "The same," she answered. "I want you to stay with me forever."

Tell me who you think you see,
When you look into my eyes.

So, there we go. I reached behind me onto the bed side table on my side of the bed and pulled out a black velvet box. Max's eyes started to tear up before I even had a chance to say anything.

"Max, my beautiful, beautiful, Max, will you stay by my side and so I can love you until the end of time? Will you marry me?"

She nodded her head, trying to choke back the unruly tears that were on the verge of coming out of her heavenly eyes. "Yes, yes," she cried, kissing me again, "I will."

I slid the ring onto her finger. It wasn't anything too fancy, just what I could afford. The white gold band was just what I knew that she wanted. I wish I could savor the look on her face when she finally caught sight of the three small diamonds that were placed on the top of the ring. Max turned and flipped the lamp on, and her eyes grew wider. She blinked again and again, trying to convince herself that it was true.

"Oh, Fang," she sighed, "it's amazing."

I smiled, happy that she was pleased. "I'm glad you like it," I said, kissing her ring finger where the engagement ring sat.

"Like it, oh, Fang, I absolutely love it!" she cried with excitement.

Max kissed me over and over again. This was the way we should be, perfectly happy and together. We were better off together than apart, and all of the other broken little details could be left far, far behind.

Lets put our two hearts back together
And we'll leave the broken pieces on the floor

"I love you, Fang," Max whispered into my ear. Her lips fluttered against my skin as she spoke, making my heart speed up.

She kissed me again, and I held her body against me as she tangled her hands into my hair. I couldn't breathe that well and was starting to breathe heavily soon enough, but I didn't really care. Max was mine, and would be mine forever. I loved her, and she loved me just as much. We weren't new to this game of love, but with her, this felt more right than anything else. She and I were one of the same, and I loved her enough to know that we'd never be strangers anymore.

Make love with me baby
'Till we ain't strangers anymore

After Fang showed me the ring, what more could I do? I got as close to him as possible, pressing my self against his lithe frame. Kissing Fang was like tasting heaven. There wasn't anything better than it then heaven itself, and even then there's some competition. His hands traveled down to my waist, and I nearly jumped when I felt his thumb against the elastic of my cut off sweat pants. He smiled and continued to kiss me, as I tried to find the off switch to the lamp without having to turn my back to him.

One thing was for sure, I loved Fang so much. With him there caressing my face and kissing me the way he was, it wasn't so hard to believe what I was doing. My, gosh, this was Fang. I was engaged to him. There wasn't much more I could really say about it, except that by the time tomorrow came, the two of us as strangers would be in the past, the very distant past.

We're not strangers anymore
We're not strangers
We're not strangers anymore

Okay!! Second half to We're Not Strangers. Told you it'd be long. hehe

Remember, the song is 'Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore by Bon Jovi feat. LeAnn Rimes.

I, personally, think that some of it sounds suggestive, but seriously, all he wanted to do was pop the question. Whatever you think happens or what happens next is solely up to you to imagine. In my stories, the clothes stay ON. o.o

Well, uh, I don't have much more to say, so...enjoy and review!

- Saz