A/N: Thanx for not minding! And I'm definitely not mocking you just so you know, I happen to completely agree…and I happen to be quite the Edward fan! (wink, wink) Hottie! (ok when you start drooling over fictional characters, this is when you know you read too much, lol…never)

Disclaimer: I own nothing…except mutant – footsy…

Okay, now back to the flock!

Knock, Knock, Knock!

"Huh?" I said waking up to a faint pounding on the door. I lifted my head off a sleeping Fang to look at the door. Who would be knocking on our door?

"Fang" I whispered in his ear reluctantly rolling out of his arms, "Fang…Fang!"

"Huh? What?"

"Get up, someone's at the door" I said suspiciously to a very sleepy Fang. And as if on cue the pounding rang through the room louder than before. He immediately snapped up throwing me behind him on the bed, crouching protectively.

"Jesus Fang! Calm down!" He relaxed a little bit and we both cautiously approached the door tripping a little bit in our drowsiness. I approached the door walking in front of Fang who stood behind me towering over me protectively. I put my finger to my lips to remind him to be silent, although that wasn't very necessary seeing as he's always silent. I lifted my other hand and put up three fingers.

"One…" I whispered

"Two…"

"Three…" I flew open the door, sliding out and pinning the mysterious knocker to the wall next to the door. Fang grabbed his arms pinning them behind his back.

"What the hell?!" came the voice from none other than the greasy clerk. We immediately let him go, stepping back and blushing.

"Oops?" I offered.

"What the hell was that about?" he said eyeing me up and down. Fang tensed beside me and I put my hand on his arm.

"I'm sorry we're just a little paranoid; no harm intended."

"Gees…well I was sent up here to tell you check out was an hour ago." He said looking disgruntled.

"What time is it?" I questioned, confused.

"A little after twelve. (twelve?!) Now, if you wouldn't mind this room has been rented out to another couple that will be checking in shortly."

"Right sorry, we'll only be a few more minutes" and with that we turned around and walked back into our room.

"Wow, we slept for sixteen hours" I said amazed, I don't think I've ever slept that long.

"Wow, we must've needed it" Fang replied just as amazed.

"I guess…dibs on shower!" I yelled suddenly peppy, smirking at Fang.

"Be quick, we only have a few minutes," Fang reminded me with a grunt.

"I know, I know" I murmured. "Oh and look who's jealous now…pooh bear!" I called flinging the bathroom door shut before Fang could run in and strangle me.

"I don't know what you're talking about" he yelled from the other side of the door, while I undressed.

"I saw you tense up, you can't deny it" I called back.

"I did no such thing…and don't call me pooh bear!" he yelled back

"Yes you did" I said, and when I heard him begin to reply I turned the water on and yelled, "Sorry, can't hear you" and that was the end of that. I few minutes later I jumped out of my navy shower and threw back on my dirty clothes...uggh we need new clothes.

Fang got in the shower after me, going even quicker. I was just finishing brushing my hair when he came out of the bathroom.

"Ready?" I asked, he nodded, and we strode out of the room leaving nothing behind, because well…we came with nothing. I dropped off the key to the impatient clerk and we walked out of the hotel.

"I think we should grab new clothes before we go back to the flock. You still look like a hobo" I said laughing

"As do you my dear, as do you" he replied smirking at me. I elbowed him in the side. A few minutes later we found a wal-mart down the street. I bought a white t-shirt and Fang of course bought a black t-shirt. We each grabbed a new pair of jeans, and I treated myself to a pair of Nike's and Fang grabbed the usual – black combat boots. We were almost done; but there was just one more thing I needed.

"I'll be right back" I said, slipping away before he could reply.

"Ah hah!" I said, finally locating the very intimidating underwear section. My white sports bra really wasn't gonna cut it anymore; but which to choose? There's so many! I finally decided on a plain black (Demi?)bra. It was a regular bra and didn't have any lace on it or anything, but it wasn't a sports bra either and it was a black…a nice medium, I thought smiling to myself. I still had to feel somewhat girly if Fang and I ever, well…got caught up in the moment. I blushed at the thought. Okay now to pay and get out of here, I suddenly felt very impatient at the thought of returning to my flock.

I found Fang again, and he didn't question where I was, probably assuming I went off to do something girly – a very rare occurrence for me. We paid for our stuff, and got changed in the bathroom. I threw out my old clothes not bothering to keep them. I met Fang outside after I was done and felt very…clean.

"You ready?" I asked. He nodded, and we both stared at each other for a few moments, before we both blushed and turned away. He looked good in his new clothes, actually good is an understatement, he looked…HOT. Yes I did just think that.

"Right" I said, voice cracking a little, "Let's go". We found a secluded spot and took off into the warm day's breeze. Seeing as we weren't running from an impending doom anymore, I was actually able to enjoy the flying this time. It felt liberating and euphoric letting the breeze toss your hair in the sky; I could feel Fang watching from the side, but didn't let him know I noticed.

"Max, you never did tell me where the Flock was staying?" Fang questioned flying up next to me.

"Oh…I sent them to Dr. Martinez, do you remember that?"

"Of course I do, are you sure we can trust her?" he asked skeptically.

"Yes, she doesn't care about our…difference." I said. He looked me in the eyes, searching for the truth, and found I was being sincere, and said no more. Considering the fact that we were already in Arizona, we really didn't have far to fly. It had almost been an hour when we finally reached the town.

"This is the town" I pointed out obviously.

"We should land" he pointed out obviously, both of us feeling slightly uncomfortable for some unknown reason. I think we were nervous, well at least I was. I wasn't sure how the Martinez's greeted the flock and how they'd greet us; I'd only known them for a few days. Fang and I had also never been together around the flock before. I mean, I'm sure Angel has filled them in, but still. I also didn't want to have to explain what happened while we were gone either…I don't know if I could handle that yet, especially Fang.

When we landed in a small clearing right outside of town I asked the question that had been plaguing my mind. "Fang?"

"Yeah Max?" he said turning to me, and meeting my gaze.

"Um…what do we tell the flock?" I asked. "I mean, I don't know if we should tell them everything…I don't know if I can handle explaining what happened." I whispered. Fang flinched and tensed. I looked away from his face feeling my eyes tear up at the memory (I'm not one much for crying, but imagine if you watched as the man you loved was tortured.)

As the tears overflowed and silently ran down my cheeks, I felt terrible. "I'm sorry Fang, I'm sure this is much harder for you. I mean you were the one that actually got, well…and I know I only had to watch, but it was horrible watching…" I frantically whispered under my breath.

"Hey" he said lifting my chin with his fingers and wiping away my tears with his thumbs. "Never be sorry." he said, repeating the words he spoke the night we were in the cell. He pulled me into a strong embrace wrapping me up in his burly arms.

I hid my face in his shirt and said, "This is embarrassing, I shouldn't be the one crying."

"You have every right to cry. Yeah it was horrible sitting in that chair, but physical pain is one thing…I couldn't imagine what it would feel like to watch if they ever did that to you, I don't know if I could handle that." He said, whispering through my hair to my ear. I lifted my head and remembered something Jeb had said before I knocked him out. "Yes Maximum, don't you remember, everything's a test. It was all a test – a test of you emotional stability. A test of your capabilities at beating your emotions and controlling them, not letting them get the best of you. But you failed. If you had controlled your emotions you could have saved Fang…" and I began sobbing…I could have saved him.

"I was supposed to save you Fang, but I failed." I said pulling away from him, becoming suddenly frantic and feeling undeserving of his embrace.

"What're you talking about Max?" he said stepping closer to me. But I stepped back.

"Jeb – he said…he said it was a test – a sick twisted test – and that I was supposed to save you…that I could've saved you." I cried wrapping my arms around myself before I completely lost it.

"Max, that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. They had you trapped; you had no way of saving me." He said, seeming almost angry that I thought that.

"No Fang, he said that if I had just controlled my emotions instead of breaking down when they did that to you, I could have broken out. But I failed, Fang." I said beginning to cry even harder falling to the ground and hugging my knees. As much as I hated looking week, I couldn't control it at the moment…I hated myself right now.

"And it's a good thing you did!" he said getting angrier.

"What're you talking about?"

"If you had been able to control your emotions at a time like that, I'd question your ability to feel emotion. It's a good thing Max, because it shows your human, not some drone fresh out of the lab." He said stepping closer.

"But what if I could've sto-" I began but was cut off by an even angrier Fang.

"God Max, you're so naïve sometimes! I'm glad you failed. You're not superman you know…although at times I think you think you are." He said kneeling down next to me with a small smile. He scooped me up and my sobbing turned to a few silent tears. He kissed my cheeks to rid them of my tears and placed me on my feet.

"Thanx" I mumbled, feeling ashamed and weak.

Noticing this he said, "Its okay to feel weak sometimes Max, that's why you've got a second in command." He gestured at himself with a smirk.

I looked up at his slightly smiling face and registered his sincerity. "I love you Fang" I said.

"You have no idea how much I love you" he replied. I brushed his bangs away from his deep onyx eyes and saw them blazing. I smiled and stood up on my tiptoes, landing a kiss on his lips. He reacted by pulling me to him and wrapping his ropy arms around my waist. We deepened the kiss and stayed like that, in our own little heaven, for a few more minutes.

I finally broke away pressing my forehead to his and said, "We should go, the flock is waiting".

"Right" he said, planting one last quick kiss and untangling his arms from around me.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

A few minutes later we were standing on Dr. Martinez's door step. We looked at each other for a moment taking in the last of what's been an interesting journey.

"Here goes nothing" I said, and just as I was about to knock on the door it flew open to reveal a little blonde, curly head.

"Oh My God, Max!" screamed Angel pouncing on me, and nearly knocking me to the ground. "Max, you're alive!" she sobbed, "I thought you were dead, I was so sad and-FANG! You're alive too!" she screamed noticing Fang standing behind me. She pounced on him too, and a small blush came to his face; he wasn't one much for hugging – well, unless it's me, I thought giddily.

"Oh My God Max! IGGY get down here!!" screamed a sprinting Nudge repeating Angel's previous actions and jumping on me. At Nudge's screams the Gasman, Iggy, and Total came running down the hallway.

"Max! You're alive!" screamed the Gasman jumping on me along with total. Seeing as Nudge was still on me, I couldn't hold out any longer and was sent flying to the ground with the impact from the Gasman and Total.

"Oomf" I grunted out when my butt hit the stoop. Than began laughing.

"Sorry Max" said Nudge and the Gasman not really sorry at all, seeing as they didn't bother getting up. The three of us sat piled up on the ground laughing.

"Ooo, I'm coming!" yelled Angel jumping into the Maximum Ride pile up. I looked over to see Fang and Iggy awkwardly patting each other on the back, boys. They both looked over and began cracking up at the sight.

Finally regaining his resolve Fang said, "Guys, why don't we give Max some room." The three kids including the dog all rolled off me. Iggy put his hand out and I grabbed it pulling me up.

"Nice to have you back" he said when I was once standing on my feet again. I jumped on him and wrapped my arms around his neck; he was shocked at first but eventually hugged me back.

I finally let go and punched him in the arm, "'Nice to have you back'" I mocked him, "that's all I get?" I said smiling.

"You're right…It's really nice to have you back" he said with a smirk on his face.

I punched him in the arm again and said, "where's the doc.?"

"She's at work, and Ella's at school" Iggy replied as we all filed into the house.

"So, I'm guessing she took you guys in okay?" I asked

"Yeah, Max, she's really great" this was Nudge, "She was like, 'any friend of Max is a friend of ours'. We weren't sure if we could trust her but Angel said we could because she could tell you trusted her. She's been really great, and she made us cookies yesterday! And-"

"Nudge!" I warned, before she gave us all a headache.

"Sorry" she said with a sly smile.

"It's ok"

"So…what happened?" inquired Iggy asking the question I was hoping to avoid for as long as possible.

"Why don't we all go sit in the kitchen, so Fang and I can grab some food." I suggested. They all complied and we filed in to sit around the kitchen table with some cookies. Fang sat on one side of me, and Angel on the other. The other three sat across from us.

"Angel told us about 'your plan' to get in there" said Iggy using his hands to put 'your plan' in quotations, and breaking the silence. I blushed and fidgeted in my seat.

"It was the only way in, you know security's tight in that place" I replied. I felt Fang stiffen beside me and whispered in his ear, "I'll explain later, I promise"

"Well, what happened once you got in?" asked Nudge. Knowing that Fang would never explain I decided to tell a modified version of what happened.

"I spoke to Jeb, than found Fang. But I was overpowered by erasers and they separated us, than…" I paused, and sensing my discomfort Fang reached under the table and grabbed my hand, the touch of his making me feel a little more at ease. Angel giggled beside me and I glared down at her. She reached up and whispered in my ear, "don't worry, I haven't told them" referring to me and Fang. I mouthed a 'thanx' and continued.

"Than they beat us up a bit and threw us both back in Fangs cell where they'd been keeping him. The next morning…or was it afternoon? I don't know…but the next whatever they came to take us out for some tests and we escaped. We found a hotel for the night because we were pretty beat up and needed to rest before we started flying again. Now we're here." I finished. Phew!

"That's it?" asked Iggy. I turned to Fang and he nodded his head.

"Yep" I said in the cheeriest voice I could muster.

"You're lying" said Angel.

"What?" I retorted glaring down at her. Angel, I guess you know, but please don't make us tell…the flock doesn't need to know. I pleaded with her in my mind.

She turned so she was speaking to me and said, "It's one thing to keep the secret about you and Fang, at least it's not really lying. But not telling us everything that happened at the school is lying, we have the right to know."

I heard someone in the background inquire about Fang and me, but I brushed it off, it was the least of my worries right now. I stared at Angel wide eyed.

"Angel, it's not important" said Fang speaking for the first time. I turned to look at him, his eyes were black and his usual emotionless mask he'd left somewhere the last few days was back. Please Angel. I pleaded.

"No, don't lie to us, we're your flock and we have the right to know" she persisted.

Fangs eyes met mine and I didn't know what to say. I couldn't talk about this and rehash the mini-breakdown I'd had in the clearing outside of town. We stared at each other for a few moments and the room was silent, the others were sitting in total confusion. Fang squeezed my hand and finally looked away. I looked down feeling fresh tears sting my eyes. After another moment of silence Fang finally spoke again.

"They tortured me and forced Max to watch." He stated looking off into the distance. I heard a few sharp intakes of breath and the room remained silent, all forgetting about the 'Fang and Max' thing Angel had brought up.

A drop fell from my eye and onto our joined hands. Fang snapped his head around and lifted my chin wiping away my tear. The flock stared at us curiously.

"We're gonna go take a nap, we're exhausted, wake us when Dr. Martinez gets back" said Fang rushed, pulling me form my seat. We rushed out of the room and heard the four break into intense chatter the moment we left. Fang followed me to the room I'd stayed in the last time, and luckily it looked like no one had been staying in it.

I dropped to the bed and curled up knowing this would take more than two days to get over. (I'm not an overly sensitive person, but I at least needed more than two days before I started talking about it with other people.) Fang shut the door and lied down on the bed next to me wrapping me up in his arms. I turned over so I was facing him and pressed my head into his chest. He kissed the top of my head and we laid in silence until eventually we both fell asleep.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed! Please Review!

P.S. There's lots to come...