Just some heads up in this chapter-

Fang has his own flock now (all are winged bird kids/adults) containing:

Nikki- Fang's daughter (plus Max's)

Ben and Cari- who are married and about 30

Damon- 18 year old who nikki likes. Ben and Cari's adopted son.

Ginger- Ben & Cari's daughter who is 12

Camdon/Cam- Ben & Cari's son who is 9

Quickie Disclaim- I only own Fang's flock characters, JP owns all the original flock characters.

Nikki POV:

"Nikki"

"Wha'" I mumble while flipping over from my stomach to my side on the bed.

"Get up kiddo" I hear Dad say. I groan and peel one eyelid open.

"Do I have to?" I ask, hoping against hope that it's really not time to get up and he's just faking me out.

Dad sighs and shakes his head. "Yes Niks, you have to. We all have to."

Now I sigh and start to lever myself into a technically upright position. I stretch my arms above my head, enjoying the pull of my shoulder, back and wing muscles. Lowering my arms I look over at Dad, who is leaning against my doorframe.

"Is anyone else up?" I question. One side of Dad's mouth does that weird quirking up thing and I notice that he's still in his pajamas. Weird for him, Dad's normally up and ready for the day before I even consider thinking about getting up.

"Yep, but they've already eaten and left." I glance at my clock radio beside my bed and see that it's only 7:38 AM. Why's everybody already gone?

"Where'd everybody go?" I yawn as I stand and walk to my dresser. I pull out some jeans and a green t-shirt then go to stand in front of Dad. He smirks.

"Ben and Cari took Ginger and Cam for a flight lesson this morning and Damon left about 10 minutes ago. He told me to tell you to meet him at the usual place when your lazy butt woke up."

I scoff and playfully wack my Dad on the arm. He pretends I really hurt him, like he always does but I ignore him.

"You totally embellished that last part old man. Damon has never called me that and you know it." Dad chuckles and turns to go back to his room down the hall. Then I remember something.

"Hey Dad!" I call and he turns momentarily so his dark eyes are trained on me, "Did you remember to print out my plane ticket last night?" Dad looks thoughtful for a moment. He brings a hand to face and strokes his chin.

"Hmmm....was I supposed to do that?" He mutters and I feel my eyes widen in shock.

"DAD!" I gasp. Then a look of amusement takes over his features and he chuckles.

"Yes Nikki, I printed it out. It's on the counter. Can I ask you a question though?"

I shrug, rolling my clothes up under one arm and cocking my hip. "Shoot"

"Why are you so excited to go on this trip and leave your father alone for 3 whole weeks?" His face looks so hurt I almost believe him. Almost.

"Two things. One, stop with the sad face, I mean come on, you are so far from alone here. Heck, I can barely even find any alone time here. Two, what's not to be excited about. I get to go for three weeks to the Florida Keys on an all expense paid trip for all that volunteer work I did for the CSM branch across town." I let my mind drift for a minute, thinking about all the relaxation and quiet time I am about get in about 2 hours and counting. It will be nice to get away from middle-of-nowhere Texas. I soooo can't wait.

"Yeah, go vacation kiddo. I'll just see what fun things I can turn your room into while your gone." I roll my eyes at him.

"Your so dramatic. But really, don't touch my room while I'm gone." I say hastily as I push open the bathroom door. I hear Dad's signature chuckle.

"I make no promises" he says as I shut the door. I shake my head and quickly strip off my clothes and step into the shower.

"Ahhh" I sigh as the hot water pours over my body. I untuck my wings a little and let the water stream over them as well. For some unknown reason I have loved a shower ever since I was little. Actually, I can't remember a time when I didn't like them.

When the water evenutally ran cool, I stepped out of the shower and toweled off. I pulled on my clothes and then rubbed a circle in the fogged up mirror. I stare at my face and start doing my what seems like daily ritual of just giving myself a once over. It's not because I'm vain (grace knows I'm nothing if not unnaturally sober), I just like to make sure I always still look like me.

I look into my reflection and first notice my same clear, tanned, slightly olive toned skin. I then see my thin straight nose and high cheekbones, that curve into my ovaled face. I examine my eyes next, with they're mix of colors, anywhere from light brown to dark green. I actually like my eyes, and so does my Dad. He says I get them from my mom. I wish I knew more about her. Anyway, my gaze then cuts up to my hair line, where a cascade of black ink waves to my shoulder blades. I especially look at the completely natural and also really freaky dark blonde streak that is about 2 inches thick and sits right on the left side of my face. I always think it makes my face look uneven color wise, 'cause one side is framed in black and and the other in blonde. Talk about weird.

I take a step back and let my eyes rake up and down my thin, lean body. I really do kinda look more like an olympic swimmer. I shake my now dried off wings out and feel a wave of euphoria spread through me at the blackish purplish feathers. They are so pretty to me, and I love my white tips.

I then hear banging on the door and a male voice shouting from the other side.

"Hey Niks! You ever gonna come out?" Damon. I smile and feel my heart race a little faster. I recently started to like him more and I think he likes me too, but I'm still sorting through the feelings, so...yeah.

"Yeah! I'm coming!" I yell back while throwing my towel in the hamper and quickly yanking a brush through my wavy hair. I finish, then stow the brush and pull open the door, only to take away Damon's leaning post and have him fall right on top of me, the back of his head laying on my stomach.

"Ow." I groan and wiggle out from under Damon. I stand and look up to see Dad staring at me from across the hall.

"What?" I snap but he just shakes his head and goes back into his room.

Damon then stands and rubs his shoulder.

"You should warn people before you just yank the door out from behind them."

I shrug nonchalantly. "Sorry"

I then make my way past the living room and into the kitchen with Damon right behind me. I open a cabinet door and pull down a box of Pop-Tarts and stash two in the toaster. I then turn to Damon.

"Where were you? I told Fang to tell you to meet me at the usual spot but you never showed up." As he talks, I look at his handsome 18 year old face, at his strong jaw and messy black hair. His cool blue-green eyes look at me with curiousity and I finally find my voice.

"Guess I enjoyed my shower a little to much." I keep a straight face as I talk, trying to stay cool.

Damon reaches over and grabs a apple from the counter beside him. He takes a bite.

"I'll say." I chuckles and turn around just as my pop-tarts come up.

I eat my breakfast quickly then Damon and I retreat to my bedroom to pack a few last minute things.

"Can you hand me that?" I ask Damon, gesturing to the laptop on my nightstand. He hands it to me and then clears his throat.

"So, how long you gonna be gone?" I think that I hear some emotion in his voice but I can't be sure, so I just ignore it.

"Three weeks" I glance at Damon and see him fidgeting with a loose string on the hem of t-shirt.

"Oh, cool. Hope ya have fun."

I do a half smile. "Yeah, me too."

Just then I hear a small knock on my open door. I twist at the waist to see Dad standing there, looking all dark and emo-ish, even though he's like 32 now.

"You ready to leave Niks? Your plane leaves in an hour." He says quietly and I nod. He nods and then comes in to grab my big duffle bag.

I grab ahold of my backpack and Damon takes my other duffle bag and we all shuffle out to the car. We load all my stuff up and as soon as the trunk is slammed shut, Ben, Cari, Ginger and Cam all touch down in the driveway. I watch them as they come over to me, Dad and Damon, their wings still slighty outstretched, with smiles on their faces. Nine year old Camdon, or Cam for short, then hugs me around the waist and so does his 12 year old sister Ginger. I hug them back for a second then let go.

"I'll miss you Nikki" Ginger says with a somber look. I smile and rub her freckled arm, watching her tousled auburn hair swirl around her.

"Hey, come on, I won't be gone that long. Just three weeks." This seems to cheer her up and she smiles, then goes over to talk to Damon. I go over to Cari and Ben real quick and give them a small hug too. I'm not usually one for hugs but this is kinda a special occasion. And I could never leave my favorite 'Aunt' and 'Uncle' without a hug.

I know they're not blood (only my Dad is blood) but I love them just like a second set of parents. They've always taken care of me ever since they joined Dad's flock and I really love Cari. She may be 13 years older than me but she's like a best friend and mom all rolled into one. I always talk to her about anything that I really can't talk to my dad about.

Smiling, I step away from them while jumping into the car with Dad. As we drive towards the airport I think about my vacation, about Damon (gotta hate 17 year old hormones), and the rest of my flock family.

I remember when Cari and Ben got married and had Ginger and Camdon. When they went to help Dad destroy some Itex building and came home with a 8 year old boy named Damon (who became my best friend). When Dad took the whole flock to the beach for a day and we did just about everything you can do at the beach. I suddenly find myself grinning at the direction of my thoughts as Dad and I drive down the road.

Finally we reached the airport and Dad helps me haul my stuff onto the loading port. I twist around to look at him and saw that his eyes were glistening.

I so love my Dad, but he's just never really been very mushy, crying, huggable parent. I know he loves me and all and we joke around, but, to see him really like, almost crying when I'm about to leave is just too much.

I quickly throw my arms around him in a hug and he hugs me back and kisses the top of my head. Once again that's kinda strange.

I pull back as I hear that I need to board the plane. I wave bye and sling my backpack over my shoulder, ready to finally get a great vaction.

Who knows, maybe I'll even find some new adventure....yeah, right.

Ahhh...please review! I will have a little preview of Scarlett's life and departure to this same 'vaction' in the next chapter.

So stay tuned!

Elizem17 :)