One word. SHOCKER!! '

Another word. NOOOOOOOOOOO!

~BEAR

Iggy.

Sydney had woken up, right before I had dropped her off at her place.

Well on the roof of her house condo place.

"You better get!" She laughed sleepily as she slipped like soap from my hands on the concrete roof.

"Why so quickly?" I asked with a mock evil glint in my eye as I quickly grabbed her hands and pulled her back up into the air.

My hands quickly moved to her waist and I pressed her body against mine.

"Cause when my brother catches us together and you with no shirt he'll surely blow up." She replied, fumbling with the ends of my hair.

"Would he be jealous of these abs?" I asked.

She laughed and smiled as she said. "This is just as painful for me too. Go!" I landed promptly on the roof and kissed her forehead tenderly. I was about to take back off, but she grabbed my hand and pulled me back.

"Oh, no, no, no, no. That was not good enough!" She called, bringing me closer and our lips crashed together with ease.

Her lips softly parted mine and

When she pulled away she sighed happily and said.

"Much better."

"So I've got a bit of a surprise… Tonight? Five? I'll come get you this time. Oh and bring my clothes back."

"Good! Can't wait." She giggled.

She smiled and her hand fell from mine as she slipped down a vent into the building.

When I got back to Dr. Martinez's vacation home. The flock were all gathered in the living room, suitcases were fully stuffed and there were a lot of them.

"Come on Iggy. Get a shirt on and let's ditch this dump." Max said, throwing a t-shirt my way.

I caught it and thrust it on.

"What?" I asked.

"Iggy… We're going to New York… We've got to destroy the regrouped Itex members…" Nudge sniffled quietly.

"What!?" I repeated even louder this time.

"You heard her. We're going." Max said in exasperation.

"No way! I'm not leaving! I've just met Sydney and-"

"Then you should have no problem leaving her!"

"Well I do have a problem leaving her! Go on ahead without me."

"Iggy you're a well needed member of this family!" Max protested.

"It doesn't feel that way!" I retorted, making Max's face curl in surprise.

We were bickering angrily back and forth before Angel, let out a wail, stood up, clamped her hands over her ears and stomped her foot.

"STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT! I'M SICK OF THE FIGHTING!"

"Well I hope your happy, you've upset Angel." Total said grouchily.

I rolled my eyes and cooled off a bit.

"I-I-… My life was a giant pile of crap. And then she walked into it and everything's better and brighter and I'm finally happy. Finally happy. And it's plain obvious no one here can accept that. So go on ahead without me. I'm staying here with Sydney. Save the world, Max. But save it without me."

I turned to go back to my room, but the next words out of Max's mouth made me rethink my actions.

"Fine. But soon the Erasers and M-geeks discover we're not there and they'll come back here. And when they attack the city it won't before Sydney's recognized and is killed or worse; she could brought to the school. This isn't just for us James, it's for you and Sydney too."

I froze and contemplated this.

Next thing I knew, I had turned around.

"For Sydney…" I mumbled quietly as Max made some half hearted sympathetic face as she tossed me two bags. "Your things." she told me as she left with Ella to load up the car.

Dr. Martinez turned to me.

"Iggy I'm sorry I've just gotten connected with her again. I don't-… Here, I'll just leave you to your thoughts…" She sighed before hugging me and motherly kissed me on the top of my head and went with her two daughters.

I glanced at Fang. He just looked sadly at me, winced and turned his head comforting a crying Nudge.

"But… But… I've just gotten to make friends and settle in and…" She rambled through tears.

I watched as Gazzy and Angel, drug their feet to the car, heads hanging down.

I looked around the house sat down in one of the chairs and ran my fingers angrily through my hair.

Could I really do this?

Could I really leave Sydney?

For a half of forever?

Was I going to return to see her again?

If I did survive this, how long would I be gone?

Would she have met someone else?

Would I meet someone else?

These questions ran through my head and I felt a hand on my shoulder.

Max's voice spoke sweetly.

"Are you ready?"

I paused.

Was I ready?

Was I really ready?

"Another minute… Please…"

I whispered. And I closed my eyes.

This was for Sydney. I had to protect her.

I may have just met her, but that one encounter with the Erasers was serious. I had to get rid of them before they got rid of her.

Shaking with no emotion,

I stood up.