A/N: So it's been a while. This is one I've kind of had in my head for some time, but I only just got around to writing it ('cause, you know, it was midnight and I was like 'what better way to spend my time before I go out on work experience placement tomorrow?'). Anyways, I hope you like it - a bit cheesy, a bit corny, but I feel like I've been writing some unhappy songs and stuff as of late, so this sort of balances it out. Read away!

New Year's Eve. What a joy. 'Cause everyone knows that I just love flashy holidays with lots of noise and lights and promises I can't keep, right?

'It would've been really nice to go and see the fireworks, Max.' Angel's voice carried across the room to me from where she sat in front of Nudge, whose hands were busy weaving her ever-lengthening blonde curls into two plaits that hung down on either side of her head. It really was about time I laid hands on some scissors and neatened everyone's hair up a bit; we'd scrubbed up as best we could for our debut in front of Congress, but there's only so much that can be done at the last minute and we were all starting to revert back to our pre-Capitol state (that is, just a tad dishevelled around the edges).

'I know, sweetie, but it just didn't work out. You know we don't do well in crowds and the streets are gonna be packed tonight.'

'I know,' she sighed sadly. 'They're really pretty, that's all. And it's not as fun watching it on TV. Thanks, Nudge.'

Angel hopped up from her seat, plaits brushing her shoulders lightly as she moved.

'Looks good,' I said, laying a hand on her head and running it down one of the braids as she wrapped her arms around my middle.

'Uh-huh,' she mumbled, her voice lost a little in the hug. As she stepped back I could see the distance in her eyes; she was stuck in the dream of going out for New Year's, feeling the anticipation and the excitement, being able to act like a normal six year old for once.

'Why don't you two go and get ready for bed?' I suggested, looking over at Nudge. 'Then you can come back through here and we'll all stay up late and watch what's happening on the TV and make New Year's resolutions that we know none of us will stick to, 'kay?'

Angel smiled a little but it was clear that her thoughts were still far away. I let out a sigh as she and Nudge traipsed through to the adjoining room – our designated bedroom out of the two that had been booked for us during our stay in DC – and moved over to the sofa, slumping next to Fang in the spot that Angel had just vacated.

'You okay?' he asked, his dark eyes turning towards me.

'Mhm.' I leaned my head against the back of the sofa, my face tilted towards the ceiling. 'I hate disappointing them, but… Claustrophobic streets, lots of loud bangs and bright colours, everyone around us being drunk and over-excited… It's too much. Too many people, too loud, too chaotic, too distracting. Too everything. I just don't see how it could work.'

He didn't say anything for a moment and I assumed that was the end of that conversation. I was mistaken. Because apparently the boy's always got to do something to prove me wrong.

'What if I do?'

I frowned and lifted my head to stare at him; his eyebrows were raised in a way that said 'no big deal', but one side of his mouth was quirked up in a sort-of-smile that told me he was just waiting to show me up with whatever – ahem – brilliant plan he'd put together. So of course I had to hit him with all the wit that I possessed.

'What? What do you mean?'

Yep. All the wit.

Fang's sort-of-smile turned into a half-smile and his eyes gleamed in that annoying way they always do when he knows something that I don't.

'Do you trust me?'

An hour later we were sitting on the roof of the Torpedo Factory on Alexandria's waterfront. We'd managed to bundle the kids back into day clothes and jackets, and within a half hour of Fang's suggestion we were ready to go. The flight over should have taken about ten minutes, but the whole place was so crowded that we kept having to slow down as we got closer to our destination, stopping and starting to avoid being seen. By the time we arrived, I was convinced that we'd been spotted; my anxiety levels were off the charts, and my gaze darted around to check for any threats in the throngs of people that filled the streets.

But it was worth it.

From that roof we could see everything. The barge that held the fireworks was docked out on the Potomac River, off-shore at the end of King Street. Bang in front of us. And on the ground below we could see people milling about, their voices all merging together in one excited buzz that floated up towards us.

And the best part of all?

Although we could see everything, no one could see us. Because, you know, we were on a roof.

'So?'

I looked over to where the kids were jumping around, full of energy, their faces glowing as they peered over the railings at the crowd and stared out across the water at the firework barge. Iggy was lying on the flat surface of the roof, propped up on his elbows, his eyes closed and a small smile on his face as he waited for the smell of gunpowder.

Turning back to Fang, I gave him a grudging smile.

'Well played,' I conceded, and his face lit up in a triumphant smirk.

'It was, huh?'

'Okay, don't get ahead of yourself, it wasn't that well played.'

The evening passed in a blur of noise and colour and high spirits, and by the time things were gearing up for the countdown we were all huddled together in a cold-defying clump by the railings that ran along the edge of the roof.

'One minute to go!' Gazzy crowed, caught up in the exhilaration of the fast-approaching New Year.

Angel came up beside me and slipped a small hand into mine. We'd splurged on snacks from the hotel mini-fridge (despite the insane prices – seriously, who said it was okay to charge four dollars for a candy bar?), and her fingers were sticky from whatever it was she'd been eating.

This is fun, said her voice in my head.

I smiled down at her.

It is, isn't it?

The crowd started to speak in unison, the buzz turning into words, and as the countdown started we all joined in with them.

'Ten…'

I'm glad that we came.

Me too, sweetie.

'Nine…'

'Eight…'

You know you're meant to kiss someone at midnight, right?

'Se-… Seven…'

For some reason her words jarred me, threw me off. I turned to look down at her as the countdown continued.

'Six…'

He's behind you. What was this, some kind of weird pantomime built around making me feel confused and insecure?

'Five…'

'Four…'

Her eyes held a mischievous glint which made them look far too old and knowing for her face.

'Three…'

Why was my heart thumping so hard?

'Two…'

'One.'

Then Angel stood up on her tiptoes, planted a slightly sticky kiss on my cheek, and bounced away towards the other kids with an all-too-innocent 'happy New Year, Max!'

I could practically feel Fang's eyes on the back of my head, and I almost couldn't turn around. I was kind of scared about what would happen. But I managed it, forced it, wanting to prove to myself that it was nothing.

It was a mistake. I think.

As soon as our eyes met it was as if his gaze lasered into me; the intensity of his stare made me catch my breath. Bright bursts of light from the fireworks flickered across his face, throwing every feature into technicolour definition.

I spun away, plastering on a smile as I took a few steps away from him and towards the others where they stood, fixated by the New Year's display.

By the time we arrived back at the hotel, the three younger kids were exhausted. They went straight through to the bedroom, Iggy and Fang following to make sure they got changed and at the very least attempted something close to oral hygiene before collapsing into bed. I stayed in the second room, trying to clear my head enough to work out how much our mini-fridge fee would tally up to. I think I stared at the price list for about five minutes before realising that it wasn't going to happen.

The back of my neck prickled as I straightened up and I swung around quickly, only to be met by a wall of dark shirt.

'Jeez, every time,' I muttered. Then, louder:

'Really, Fang? Do you have to do that?'

He shrugged.

'It's kind of fun.'

I rolled my eyes and stepped around him, straightening things up as I moved through the room - my mom was visiting the next day and I didn't want her to think that I was totally incapable of keeping the place respectably tidy.

'So things worked out well tonight.'

I nodded as I bent to pull a sock – Gazzy's, by the smell of it – from underneath the coffee table.

'I'd say so. The kids enjoyed it.'

'Yeah.'

Neither of us said anything for a moment as I continued to make my way around the room.

'Max?'

'Yeah?'

I heard him take in a short, sharp breath.

'Three.'

I frowned and twisted my head to look back over my shoulder at him.

'What? Three what?'

'Two.'

My frown deepened as I turned to face him fully, not understanding what was going on.

'One.'

And Fang's hand was on my neck, and the other was at my waist, pulling me forwards, and his lips were on mine. This kiss was deeper than the ones before. Rougher, more urgent, full of snatched breaths and gripping fingers. Like he was trying to prove something. He pulled me closer and I felt myself giving way to him, kissing him back.

Oh, God.

I wanted to stay like this forever.

My hands moved up almost of their own accord to his shoulders, wanting to get as close to him as possible, and I could feel myself shaking but clearly Fang didn't care so why should I? And his mouth was unrelenting against mine, and my heart felt as though it was pounding right out of my chest, and it felt so good but at the same time so damn terrifying and…

Oh, God.

I pulled back, barely able to breathe and completely unable to move. Fang's arms were wrapped around me, holding me tight against him. There'd be no running away this time. I settled with staring downwards as best I could, not meeting his eyes.

'Why do you do that?' he breathed, his words brushing over the top of my head.

I couldn't answer him. I couldn't speak. All I could manage was a slight shake of my head. I don't know.

His lips pressed against my forehead, lingering there, his thumb stroking slowly along my cheek. Is this so awful? Would it really be so bad to just let this happen? My eyes closed, my body leaning into his even as he pulled away completely; the loss of his arms and warmth and closeness was felt more keenly than I'd really like to admit.

I started slightly as he let out a low chuckle, nodding slightly as if to himself.

'Whenever you're ready, Max.'

And all I could do was stand there, stunned, speechless, as he settled himself down on the sofa.

'My turn on first watch. Go get some sleep.'

Somehow I managed to force my feet to move, to turn around and walk through to the other room where the rest of the flocked lay sprawled out across the twin beds. My heart was still racing as I curled myself up as small as I could on the armchair, a thousand different thoughts (thankfully all belonging to me on this occasion) flying through my head.

'Get some sleep'? Yeah. As if.

A/N: I think that the part of the series that came before they got together was better than the part that followed - the tension between them was just so awesome in the first few. And I guess this was my attempt at adding to that. Please let me know what you thought by reviewing. It's really easy and the comment box doesn't bite!