Disclaimer:: I DO NOT OWN MAXIMUM RIDE AND ITS CHARACTERS.

(Don't you just love CAPS LOCK?!)

"So tell me when you're gonna let me in,
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin."

--Keane

Chapter 13: Max P.O.V.

Man, did it feel good to be home.

I climbed out of the car and stretched my arms after the hour long car ride coming home from the airport. Grabbing my bag, I slung it over my shoulder and headed for the front door, more than ready to jump into the shower.

"Max!!" Nudge squealed, as she bound down the front steps and dove into me. "Oh, my God, you have to tell me everything!"

"Hey, Nudge. It's nice to see you too," I said and kissed the top of her forehead. She beamed.

She released me and went to hug Fang as I waited from the next ambush. But no one seemed to be home.

"Hey," I said. "Where is everyone?"

"Oh, Gaz and Angel went out to the grocery store with Dr. M. And Ella and Iggy went to go see a movie with some of Ella's friends from school. Total said he was going out to catch butterflies, but I think he might have been kidding…" she said, looking around for him.

"Oh," I replied. Walking into the house, I said, "They left you here by yourself?"

"Max," Nudge scoffed. "I'm twelve years old. I think I can handle being alone in a house all by myself. You should be able to trust me more than you trust Iggy. At least I don't blow anything up. Oh, man, you should've seen what happened. He got into so much trouble…" she drifted off after she noticed my wide eyed, nervous expression.

"What? I swear, if he did anything--"

"Well, anyway," Nudge said, and grabbed my wrist. "You have got to tell me everything that happened. Don't leave out a single thing!"

She dragged me into the room we were sharing with Angel, and closed the door behind us. I dropped my bag on the floor, promising to unpack it later. Whenever I found the time.

"OK." She breathed out. "So, what are my parents like?"

"Well," I started. "For starters, the wing thing went over smoothly. Kinda."

"It did?!" she screeched.

"Yup. Your mom cried a little, but then they both promised that they would do whatever it took to keep you safe."

"Really?"

I sat down next to her on the bed. "Really. They're both incredibly nice people. You look a lot like your dad. Which is good. I like them," I said.

"You do? As in, really like them? Or you can just tolerate them?"

"Well, considering the fact that most adults I've ever met have been trying to kill me, I'd say your parents are pretty decent people. But yes, Nudge. I really do like them."

"OK," she said, smiling. "What about my brothers and sisters?"

"Well, your two youngest brothers, the twins, disappeared outside after they came home, so I didn't really get to meet them," I said truthfully. "But they seemed nice. They're around Gazzy's age."

"That should be fun," she muttered, but she was still beaming. "What about the oldest one?"

"Ben? He was pretty friendly. I liked him too," I replied.

"A lot?" she asked.

I shrugged. "Enough."

"What about my sisters?" Nudge asked.

"They both are… very different. But in a good way. I think you'll get along with them."

She smiled. "So, you approve?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Good. I'm really glad. You know, it would've been awful if you didn't like them, because then you wouldn't allow me to go meet them. Oh, my God. I'm really going to meet them, aren't I? Well, what if they don't like me?" She looked up at me nervously.

I placed my hand on top of hers. "Nudge, they'll love you. Anyone who doesn't is completely insane."

"Aw, thanks Max," she said, and then she hugged me, because it would've been totally un-Nudge-like if she didn't.

"So," she said. "How was the rest of the trip? I mean, with Fang and Jeb and all. Was it awkward?"

"Yeah," I said. "Completely awkward."

She gave a sly, mischievous smile. "Why? What happened? Did Fang do something?"

I narrowed my eyes. What was she talking about? "Is there something going on?" I asked.

"Noooo," she sang. "Max? Are we going to go move in with our real parents?" she asked, her voice lower.

"If you want to," I lied.

She nodded. "I think should meet them first."

"That seems like a good idea," I said. I absolutely hated lying to her, but it was the right thing to do. I couldn't tell her the truth; couldn't tell anyone the truth. Not even Fang. Especially not Fang.

"What if I don't want to go?" she asked, but I was saved from answering.

Angel burst in through the door and threw herself into my lap, the Gasman hot on her tail.

"Max!" she said. "I missed you so much!"

I hugged her with one arm and pulled Gazzy closer with my other. "I missed you guys, too."

"Did you meet my dad?" Gazzy asked, looking up at me.

"Yup. He was incredibly nice," I said. "And his house is humongous."

"What did he say about the wings?" Angel asked.

"Guess what? He doesn't care about them one bit. He said that all he wanted was his kids back home," I said, and then look on their faces pretty much broke my heart.

"Really?" Gazzy asked.

"Uh-huh," I said, ruffling his hair.

"What about our mom?" Angel asked.

"I think that's a story for another time, alright?" I was going to tell them about it, but I didn't really feel like breaking the hearts right now. It wouldn't hurt to wait, at least.

"OK," said Angel, and then she perked up. "Oh! Me and Nudge and Ella made you and Fang a cake! Ella taught us and it's made out of ice cream. But Dr. Martinez said we couldn't eat it until you caught home. 'Cause it's a welcome home cake," she said.

"Ooh, sounds yummy. Shall we go eat it?" I said, standing up.

Angel grabbed my hand and pulled me into the kitchen. Iggy, Fang, and Ella were sitting at the kitchen table already.

"Hey," I said. "I didn't know you guys were home already."

I walked around the table to face Iggy and was about to lean down to hug him when I gasped.

"Iggy! What the hell happened to your face!" I exclaimed. He smiled.

Looking at him, it looked like he had dunked his face into a pot of boiling hot grease. He had bright red burns and blisters surrounding his face, and one eye was swelled half-way shut. There was no pattern, just a bunch of random, dark splotches coating his face.

"Well, you see Max," he said. "Nudge and I were helping Dr. M. make fried chicken for dinner. And I said something to Nudge that really pissed her off, and she threw the entire pot of hot oil right on my face."

"I did not!" Nudge screeched. "Max! He got too close to a bomb he was building and it accidentally exploded. That's what really happened."

"I hate to break it to you, Ig, but Nudge's story sounds more realistic," I said. "Are you alright?"

"Well, I just figured it was worth a shot. You know, if she wasn't already in trouble with you, then maybe—ow! Sheesh, Nudge, I was only joking!" Iggy rubbed his arm in the spot where Nudge punched him. "Anyway, I'm fine."

"Wait, Nudge, why would you be in trouble?" I asked.

She looked from Fang to me, and then at Angel. She glanced at Ella, who was smiling like a lunatic. "I'll tell you later," she said, uncharacteristically to the point.

"Nudge?" I asked.

"Max!" Mom said as she came into the kitchen. She wrapped her arms around me and I hugged her back. "How was your trip?"

"Completely awful," I whispered into her shoulder.

She pulled back and smiled. Then gave me a look that said, we'll talk later.

She walked over to hug Fang, and then said, "Ange? Do you want to help me cut the ice cream cake?"

"Ig," I said, leaning down and speaking in his ear. "I want to talk to you after this."

"Nah, let's talk now," he said. "We'll be right back," he announced, standing up.

I felt Fang's eyes on me as we walked away. I had to be extremely careful around him. Knowing my luck, he'll figure out exactly everything before I even get the chance to tell him.

Iggy closed the door to his room and sat down on the bed. "Shoot."

Stalling for time, I said, "I can't believe you went out in public with your face looking like someone threw a sparkler at you."

He shrugged. "It gave the ladies something to look at."

"Uh, yeah. Totally," I said sarcastically. "So," I continued. "Was that like, a date? With Ella?"

"No," he said, completely unmoved. "She just invited me to go to the movies with some of her friends."

"Uh-huh," I said. Changing my tone, I said, "Seriously, Iggy. I really need to talk to you about something."

"What is it?" he asked, hesitantly.

"Well, it's not really good, and you probably won't like it," I said. "But I want to tell you before I tell anyone else. Just to give you a heads up."

He looked wary. "What's going on?"

I breathed deeply. "Iggy," I said, and then paused before continuing. "I know you're going to hate me. And I know you'll cool me out for, like, eternity. But I'm telling you now; I can't do anything about it."

"Max," he said. "What the hell is going on?"

Another deep breathe in. But he answered before I could.

"Is this about Fang? Or something, because truthfully--"

"No, Ig. This isn't about Fang. Just hear me out, OK?"

He was quiet. I inhaled again.

"Iggy," I whispered. "Please don't hate me."

"Max," he said. "Just spit it out already!"

"You have to go live with your parents," I said, quickly, like pulling off a Band-Aid. "You can't stay here anymore. No one can."

Well, I know technically, it's about ten minutes into Saturday, so I officially failed the deadline I've given myself, but I hope the next chapter will make up for it. This will be updated either sometime on Saturday (today) or Sunday hopefully.