Sorry for the long wait! I've been busy... Enjoy! -Max

Disclaimer: I don't own MR. Isn't it obvious?

I woke up the next day not knowing where I was. It all came back to me quickly, though.

I smiled at my sleeping baby, resting for a few more minutes. I finally sat up, and she woke with the movement.

"Shhh, baby," I whispered. "Dylan's sleeping."

Tyler gave me a tiny nod. I was always surprised by how smart she was. The Whitecoats had done some tests on her brain the day she was born, causing her to be able to understand everything, even though she couldn't make intelligent responses. Yet.

I stood up and moved through the house silently. I wanted to check on the other kids. They were all still asleep in the bedroom. I didn't want to interrupt their peaceful sleep, so I left as quietly as I had entered.

Dylan was awake by the time I finished using the toilet and giving Ty a quick bath. He was in the miniature kitchen, talking to the kid from yesterday.

"I hear you know Valencia Martinez," Ivan said. I nodded.

"Yah, she helped me out a long time ago," I agreed, not understanding why he brought that up.

"She is my aunt," Ivan stated matter-of-factly.

"Do you know where she is right now?" I asked excitedly.

"Yah," Ivan answered. "She's at my other aunt's house."

"Where?" I wondered.

"It's in Texas," Ivan said. My eyes lit up. "About ten miles outside Houston."

"Thanks so much," I breathed. "For everything."

As soon as the kids woke up we left, packed with two days worth of food and extra clothing. Now that they could fly somewhat well, we could move faster. It took about a day and a half to reach our destination. Including breaks.

I spotted the house Ivan had mentioned before anyone else did. I angled myself south-west a tiny bit so I could slowly descend. We landed a mile from the house and walked up to the door nervously. I rang the doorbell. The door opened shortly after. A very familiar woman stood in the doorway.

"Yes?" she asked, confused. "May I help you?

"Dr. Martinez?" I wondered. The woman looked up (I was taller than her!) and her face broke into a huge grin.

"Max," she whispered almost silently, hand on her heart. Or at least in the general location.

I could only nod in reply.

"Who's there, Valencia?" a man's voice called out. I froze at the voice. It was an unmistakable voice. He was my favorite person for the first fourteen years of my life, then my worst enemy for the last six. Even more now than before.

"It's Max!" Dr. Martinez cried, her eyes brimmed with tears. She hugged me tightly. I relaxed a little in her loving hold. Jeb came out into the doorway. He froze when he saw me and the kids.

"How'd you get out?" he questioned. His voice wasn't angry. It was more awed. And frustrated a tiny bit, too.

He does not know of our escape, Dylan informed me. Apparently we were not even supposed to be taken outside. He is going to fire someone now.

I smirked. Jeb wasn't doing a very good job running his company, was he?

"They let us go!" Lumi exclaimed happily, in answer to Jeb's question. "But then They came after us. We ran, though."

Jeb raised his eyebrows. I looked at him, silently saying, "You're the one who told me to leave!"

"Come on in," Dr. Martinez offered. "I bet you're tired. Oh, and this is my sister's house, but she's not here right now."

"Fang and the others keep coming by Val's home," Jeb informed me as we walked indoors, a bewildered look on his usually calm face. He still couldn't believe we were out. My heart swelled at Fang's name. "They were always asking about you. Eventually Valencia here decided to put in an extension on the house. There are more rooms now."

Jeb and Dr. Martinez led us upstairs. The whole house was huge. Marble everything. I had never seen so much marble in one place before. It was breathtaking.

I put the five younger kids to bed, the girls in one room and the boys in another. Dylan refused to go to sleep yet. I knew Jeb and Dr. Martinez wanted to talk with me, so it would be a long wait.

"Would you like some cookies?" Dr. Martinez wondered. My eyes lit up and she laughed.

The four of us sat at a dining-room table with cookies and hot chocolate. Jeb put two marshmallows in my cup just like old times, which make me feel a little guilty for being so cold to him. While Dylan was chewing- and savoring the flavor of- a chocolate-chip cookie, I asked Dr. Martinez about Ella, and she said the girl was in collage. Wow.

"Max, how are you?" Dr. Martinez asked. "I haven't seen you in over five years."

"I'm fine," I lied. "I've been… Busy."

Dr. Martinez nodded, showing she understood that I didn't want to talk about what I've been up to. Jeb seemed happy about my decision.

"Jeb, can you check the laundry?" Dr. Martinez suddenly requested after a few minutes of silence. "I think it's done." He nodded and left, partially annoyed.

"Do you know where the Flock is?" I asked once Jeb was out of ear shot.

"Yes," Dr. Martinez answered. "Fang told me a while ago. Is that where you're headed?" I nodded. "Here, I'll write down the address for you."

The older woman took out a pen and piece of paper and scribbled something down. She handed it to me. I put it away just as Jeb entered the room.

"Jeb, can I tell her?" Dr. Martinez asked the man. He thought hard for a few seconds. I wondered what she wanted to tell me.

"I guess it won't hurt to tell her now," Jeb answered slowly. Dr. Martinez smiled gladly.

"Max, the Flock knows this already and that's why the keep coming to my place," Dr. Martinez began. I sat in my seat, impatient to find out what she was talking about. "I'm your mom, Max."

My jaw dropped open. I hadn't been this shocked in years. Finally I closed my mouth and grinned. She was my mom. That made me so happy!

"And I'm your father, Max," Jeb added. "Just like you used to want."

Jeb was my dad? I could do without that. But Dr. Martinez was my mom? That was the best news I'd ever received. EVER.

"That's so cool!" I exclaimed.

"It is," Dylan agreed, speaking for the first time this entire conversation. He knew how badly I'd wanted Jeb to be my dad when I was little and how much I loved Dr. Martinez ever since that day five or so years ago.

"Val, what time is it?" Jeb wondered. I couldn't really bring myself to call him dad. Not after all he'd done to me. Not yet, anyway.

"It's after twelve!" Dr. Martinez, I mean Mom, answered. "I need to get to bed. I have to go home tomorrow morning. It's great to see you, Max. I hope you'll come by home soon."

"I will, Mom," I replied.

My mom jumped up and ran off, somewhat frenzied. Jeb followed her. He looked amused. Dylan and I walked up to our borrowed rooms in silence.

I still don't trust him, Dylan thought to me after we were in our separate rooms.

I know. I don't, either, I replied. Don't worry. We'll leave first thing tomorrow.

Good, Dylan agreed. G'night.

Goodnight.

I walked into my room and climbed into bed. I had Tyler in a make-shift crib made out of some blankets and a dresser drawer. She was sleeping soundly.

This is great, I thought happily. Dr. Martinez is my mom, Ella's my sister. That means that Sara is my aunt and Ivan is my cousin. And whoever's house this is must be my other aunt. It's nice to know I actually have a blood family...

I fell asleep for the second time in a long time, and for the second day in a row. A new record! I was happy, and relaxed. Well, as relaxed as a twenty-year-old bird hybrid who was constantly on the run and had to find her family before some evil scientists were able to capture them could get. As long as I could return home soon, everything would be wonderful.

*The Flock*

Fang looked up from the stack of papers on his desk to see Gazzy shuffling into his office. Fang frowned, knowing what had happened that caused the rowdy boy to be so gloomy.

"Your principal called."

Gazzy looked at the ground, watching his feet with great interest.

"Yah…" the boy replied.

"It's the third time in two weeks, Gazzy." Fang spoke softly, trying to cheer him up. "I know it's hard for you to behave, but please try. This is your third school this year. Don't mess it up." Again.

"I know you're tryin' to make me feel better," Gazzy accused. "And… Thanks. I guess."

"I know, Max was better at this then me," Fang whispered. Gazzy nodded. "Why don't you go find Iggy? He has a new idea for a bomb…"

Gazzy's eyes lit up and he ran off.

Ever since Max left- again- the poor boy's been depressed off and on. At least Iggy can keep him happy with his ideas… Ugh! How did Max ever do this…? Five years and it's still as hard as the first day. And it doesn't look like it's getting any easier.

A tentative knock interrupted Fang's thoughts. Angel stepped into the room followed by Nudge. It was clear Angel was depressed just by looking at the miserable expression she wore all the time. She missed Max as much as Fang did. Sometimes Fang even thought she missed Max more than he did. Nudge, on the other hand, had stayed upbeat and chattery, though she had become more careful of what she said around people. Angel had hurt herself once after Nudge started rambling on and on about how much she missed Max. It had taken nearly three weeks for the little girl to recover.

"Ange?" Fang asked cautiously. "Nudge? Is something wrong?"

"Angel saw something in a vision," Nudge answered. She sounded terrified. "It's about Max."

Fang dropped his pen and hurried to Angel's side. He gave her a quick hug.

"What is it?" he wondered.

A vision? When did she get this power? And when did Nudge tell Angel about it?

"Max needs our help," Angel whispered, her voice cracking. She hardly ever spoke in the last five years. "She's in danger."

"Where is she?" Fang demanded gently.

"I'm not sure…" Angel replied, tears silently making their way down her smooth cheeks. "At a School. Here, in the States. She's not there yet, but she will be soon."

"Draw for him what you saw," Nudge urged. She handed Angel a pencil and paper. Angel made a rough sketch and handed it to Fang.

So this is why Ange has all those drawings in her room... They're her visions...

"Looks like… The School we were at?" Fang mused. "I thought she blew it up…"

She told me they got rid of it, Fang thought. And she made me promise not to go after her… But we need her back more then she knows… This is bad. Very bad. What do I do? What would Max do…?

"They rebuilt it," Angel whispered. "Max needs us! They're gonna hurt her and the babies! Fang, if we don't go save her, Max will die!"

I hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving (if you celebrated it). I hope you liked this chapter. I'll try to update faster next time! There will be action soon. Hang in there. -Max