Here's the big one; in this chapter, Fang will finally get to meet his parents after eighteen years! I hope it's good!
Thank you to everyone who reviewed, and also thank you to everyone who favorited this story/put it on Story Alert. It really means a lot to me.
Chapter Four: Reunited
Iggy was already preparing breakfast when Fang walked into the kitchen. The smell of eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, fruit, and pancakes greeted him as he sat down at the kitchen table. The Flock had two tables, one for eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner on regular days, and another for when they had special guests, like Dr. Martinez or Jeb or a CSM representative. Fang picked up a newspaper that lay in front of him. The headline was something about bombing raids in Iraq.
"So, excited for today?" asked Iggy, flipping an omelet.
"Yeah. Definitely." Truth be told, being on your own for three and a half years made you long for company. Even parental company.
Iggy nodded. "That's cool. But if I remember correctly…you weren't too excited about meeting your parents a few years ago."
Fang creased his eyebrows. "What?"
"When Angel told us about our parents," he said, putting a stack of pancakes on a platter. "You seemed…indifferent. Now you're excited."
"Oh yeah." Fang looked away. "Well, I guess I was a little taken aback that my mom was a teenager when she had me."
"Why the change of heart?" Iggy smiled, pulling some butter out of the refrigerator.
Fang shrugged. "Not sure, Ig. I just...want to see them."
"You've been too lonely on your own for the past few years?"
Fang flipped to the next page of the newspaper. "Maybe."
Silence enveloped for a few minutes. Iggy continued cooking breakfast while Fang flipped through the Seattle Times, not really focusing on the articles. Something was bothering him.
"Hey, Iggy?"
"Yah?"
Fang pushed the newspaper away from him. "Are Max and Dylan…a couple?"
Iggy looked in Fang's general direction. "They've…gotten together. But they're not together right now. They've been on and off for the last three and a half years."
Fang nodded. He wasn't happy that Max had been with Dylan at all, but at least it hadn't been permanent.
"Why was it on and off?"
Iggy looked down. "Uh, well…because of you."
Fang's eye twitched. "What do you mean, 'me'?"
Iggy swallowed. "Well, every time they tried to get more serious, she, she…she thought of you. She couldn't forget you. And, well, they couldn't go any further with the relationship."
"It was because of me every time? It was always her?"
Iggy nodded. "Yeah." Fang heard Iggy mumble, "No shit, Sherlock."
"She…she didn't look to happy to see me yesterday."
Iggy shrugged. "Well…everyone but Max and Dylan had varying amounts of happiness to see you…but man, we're still pissed off at you for leaving. Don't get me wrong. It's just that…well, Dylan never liked you-"
"And vice versa," interrupted Fang.
"And Max…she took your leaving the hardest. She's just…very distraught."
Before Fang could reply, Nudge, the Gasman, and Angel walked into the kitchen.
"Oooh, pancakes!" said Gazzy, sitting down at the table. Nudge sat beside him, while Angel took a seat next to Fang.
"Hold your horses, Gazzy," said Iggy, putting maple syrup all over the pancakes.
"I don't have any horses," mumbled the Gasman. He frowned.
"Good morning everyone." Dylan walked into the room, immediately setting his eyes on Fang. Dylan looked away first. He took a seat next to the Angel, and snatched the sports section of the Seattle Times before Fang could object.
"Morning, Dylan," everyone but Fang replied. Iggy walked over to the table and set down the dish full of pancakes and omelets/eggs. In the next minute, the table was full of food.
"Where's Max?" asked Nudge, taking a dish, napkin, fork, and knife from Iggy.
"Not here, Nudge." Angel gave her a look.
"Fang! Were your pillows full of rocks? Cuz mine feel like that too," said Gazzy, rubbing his neck.
"No. They were fine."
"Was the bed comfy?" asked Angel.
"How long did you sleep?" asked Nudge.
"Yes, and from 11 till 7," answered Fang. Nudge, Gazzy, Iggy, and Angel laughed.
"Max!" said Dylan.
Fang forced himself not to look up. He heard everyone greet Max, except for himself. He heard her walk past him to sit next to Dylan; far away from him.
"Max, how'd you sleep?" asked Nudge, taking a sip of orange juice.
"Great." Her voice was hollow, as if she had been crying. Which she had, of course.
Fang looked at her from the corner of his eye. Her eyes looked red and puffy, while her hair was in horrible tangles.
"Max," said Dylan. He opened his arms. Fang saw her glance at him, then hugged Dylan. Fang tried not to throw the fucking table out the doorway.
"Fang, take some omelets," said Angel, smiling up at him.
"Thanks." He took three omelets, then passed them to Iggy, who sat to his left. He dug in to them, trying to ignore Dylan's and Max's whispers.
Suddenly, Max stood up. She ended up right behind Fang.
"Fang."
He set down his fork, and turned around to look at her.
She looked worse than he had thought; Her skin looked like it was sagging, her mouth was in a frown, and her eyes were bloodshot.
"Fang, I'm…I'm sorry about yesterday. I…I shouldn't have yelled like that."
Fang looked into Max's eyes. He could tell that it was hard for her to say that; she was too stubborn. Fang was surprised Dylan had gotten Max to do this.
"It's fine, Max. I…I would've done the same thing." He looked straight at her. Her mouth opened slightly, and her eyes bugged out.
"Okay." She moved away from him and sat down at her chair. For a minute, everyone ate in silence.
Max stood up. Her fork clattered to her plate as she stormed out of the room.
"Max, are you okay?" asked Nudge.
"Just need…some air." Everyone heard a loud bang as Max shut the door to the open-air flying room.
Fang dropped his fork to his plate and stared at the table. This was all his fault. He almost regretted leaving the Flock.
"Don't worry, Fang. Something's just messing with her brain," said Angel cheerily as she took another pancake.
Fang looked at her. "Something's messing with her brain? You mean the Voice?" Max had a special voice that told her what to do and how to do it. But she wasn't crazy or anything, it was programmed inside her by some scientists or something.
Angel rolled her eyes. "Not her Voice, Fang. Something else."
Fang let it drop; he didn't want to know anything else.
XXX
At 2 o'clock, Fang was spick n' span in a dark blue Lacoste polo shirt and Lucky Brand jeans (both were definitely not his style) as he sat waiting for his parents in the Flock's living room. Dr. Martinez and Jeb sat with him.
"It'll be alright Fang. Just don't get too nervous," said Jeb.
Fang nodded. "I'm fine. Totally okay." He wasn't; his hands were getting sweaty, his stomach was turning into knots, and he kept thinking that his parents would run from the room once they saw his wings.
"Fang." He looked up; Jeb was gazing at him intently.
"Max...she...she's just-"
"Jeb, it's fine. Really. And anyway, it's my fault. She wouldn't be like this if I hadn't-" Fang looked down at the floor.
Jeb shook his head. "It's not your fault. You did what was the best for everyone. And, you probably won't want to know this Fang, but most of the time...she's been...normal. Leaderly. If you had been there..."
Fang stared at his shoes. So she hadn't missed him.
"But...if she's been alright...never mind."
Jeb patted his shoulder. "She'll come around. But right now let's just focus on the matter at hand."
Fang heard a vibration echo around the room. Dr. Martinez pulled her cell phone out of her pocket.
"Hello? They're here? Right outside the door? Thank you so much, Brigid."
Fang's blood pressure dropped dramatically. Brigid?
Brigid Dwyer?
XXX
"I'll be right back. Fang, everything will be fine." She rubbed his shoulder comfortingly, then exited the room. Jeb and Fang sat in silence. Fang didn't even have time to reflect on Brigid Dwyer being in the CSM headquarters when the door opened.
XXX
Dr. Martinez wedged her head into the room. "Are you ready, Fang?"
Fang nodded, in spite of his legs shaking.
"Stay calm, Fang. You're quite good at that." Jeb smiled. Fang's heart lightened just a bit.
The door opened all the way. In stepped two people. Fang looked up, tucking in his wings.
XXX
Fang's eyes fell on his mother first. Josie Carrison.
She's not a drug addict after all, thought Fang.
She looked well put together; she wore a dark green silk skirt and a white blouse. She wore exotic bangles on her arms, and wore high-heeled shoes. She was petite, but had long legs. Josie had hair as dark as Fang's, but pale skin and dark blue eyes. Her eyes seemed guarded, almost as if she were introverted. Like Fang.
Fang didn't know how long he looked into the eyes of his mother. How long she gave him a look full of love and compassion. But eventually, he looked away. And his gaze fell to his father. Robert Lorenzo.
His father was a tall man. He wore a white button-down and wore gray pleated pants. He wore brown leather shoes, and wore what looked to be an expensive watch.
Fang had his father's olive skin and dark eyes. They looked almost identical; except Robert had brown hair, and Fang had his mother's chin and cheekbones. They exchanged a look almost as long as Fang and Josie's. Robert looked at his son with a mix of love and compassion. Fang could see a smile playing at his lips.
"Robert, Josie, this is your son. Fang." Dr. Martinez sounded as if she were a million miles away. Fang felt like he was in a bubble, one in which only he and his parents were allowed in.
Josie began to walk forward, until she was only a few inches away from Fang. Robert followed close behind.
"Fang." Her voice was soft. She reached over and stroked his hair.
She stopped stroking. "Can...can I-"
"Yes." Josie pulled him into a hug. Fang held on for dear life. He could feel tears forming in his eyes.
"I'm your mom, I'm your mom, I'm your mom..." Josie kept whispering over and over. She kissed his forehead. He smiled; he was home at last.
XXX
Finally they separated. Robert approached Fang. Just like before, he was pulled into a hug by his father. Soon, Josie joined them, and all three of them hugged each other fiercely.
"Fang...Fang..." Robert kept repeating, and soon Josie said their son's name too. They stood there, hugging each other, not wanting to let go. They were finally reunited after eighteen years.
After what felt like an hour to Fang, they separated. They took seats on the couch. Each of his parents took his hand.
"Would you like us to leave?" asked Dr. Martinez. Fang had forgotten she was there.
"Please," said Fang's father. Jeb got up from the sofa opposite them, smiled at Fang encouragingly, then exited the room behind Dr. Martinez.
Josie kept stroking Fang's hair as she asked, "Your eighteen years old. Eighteen years apart."
Fang looked down. "Yeah."
"You...look much older than that," said Robert, gazing intently at his son.
Fang nodded. "It's...a long story."
"Well, how about we start from when we first met, and you pick up until after you were born?" asked Robert. He held his gaze.
"Okay."
And so Josie and Robert told the tale of how they had met. They had known each other two years prior to Fang being born. In Josie's sophomore year of high school and Robert's senior year, they had grown closer, progressing from friends to a couple...to lovers.
"We," Josie shut her eyes, remembering the memory. "We...had too much to drink that night, and we ended up not waking up until noon the next day."
Fang creased his eyebrows. "You...were drunk?"
Robert nodded. "I had an older friend around the block. He bought it for us."
"And you..." Fang began, looking at his mother.
She nodded, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I got pregnant with you."
Fang swallowed. "How...how did both your parents take it?"
"Not well." The three of them laughed silently. Robert went on to explain how the two families decided to let Josie continue with the pregnancy. It was decided that a babysitter would take care of Fang while Josie stayed in school.
"Were you good students?" Fang couldn't help asking.
"I was a jock, but my grades weren't below average," said Robert, smiling mischievously.
"I was on the honor role," said Josie.
They continued with the story, explaining how Josie had taken some tests and had been given blood long before giving birth (Fang figured this was how they had gotten bird genes into him) at the hospital. And very soon after Josie had given birth, she had let a nurse take Fang for a check up and cleaning.
"After two hours, she came back and said...she said-" Josie stopped. Tears flowed down her cheeks. Fang squeezed his mother's hand. Regardless if she was a women who was, essentially, a stranger to him, she was his mother.
"She said you had disappeared, likely dead. We...we weren't sure she was telling the truth," said Robert, brushing his hands through his hair, tears coming to his eyes as well. "The police came to look for you...they didn't find you. We got some detectives soon enough. But...we never found you. A year passed and...we decided to close the case." Robert buried his face in his hands.
XXX
After a few moments, Fang's parents calmed down. Fang tried to tell them it was okay, that it wasn't their fault, but he was too shocked, thinking of how the School had so cruelly taken him from his family.
"So...tell us everything that happened after that, Fang," said Josie.
"Don't worry, we know there's something...different about you." Robert smiled at him, as if encouraging him to tell his story.
"I...I don't know if you can-"
"We're your parents, Fang. We need to know."
Fang took a deep breath, and began.
Fang told them of how he had been constantly experimented on for years at a scientific institution called the School. How whack-job scientists had constantly injected him, measuring his heart beat or his oxygen levels or any other ridiculous thing. He told them of how he had spent years inside a dog crate. How he had become claustrophobic. How he was a genetic freak, not completely human. Part bird. How the man who had just been in the room, Jeb Batchelder, had helped himself and other mutants like him escape the School. How they had become a family. How Jeb had disappeared. How Max had taken over as leader of the Flock. How Angel had been kidnapped, how Max had been told her mission to save the world. How she had saved it, and how they had traveled to Antarctica and performed air shows for the CSM. How they had helped rescue the woman who had just been in the room from an evil man named Mr. Chu. How they had traveled to Africa and a prophecy had been made about Fang dying. How he did die, but came back to life. How he had left the Flock. He told them everything that had happened in his life (it was the most he had ever spoken at once). Except for loving Max, of course.
"You...you have wings?" asked Fang's dad.
Fang nodded, looking downwards. "Yeah."
A tear flowed down Josie's face. "I can't b-believe this happened to you..."
Fang took her hand. "It's not your fault."
She shook her head. "Yes it is." She put her head in her free hand.
After a few moments, she calmed down, urging her son to continue telling the story.
"That's it," he said, shaking his head.
"Sh...show us." Robert looked down at his feet.
"My wings?"
"Yes."
Fang hoped that his parents weren't like Iggy's, in the sense that they were going to take interviews about him and get him famous because he had wings. Fang desperately hoped this as he stood up, faced his parents, and let his fourteen feet long, jet black wings stretch out across the room.
Part two of of the Fang family reunion will be in the next chapter! I didn't want to stuff it all into one chapter because that would be really long.
Whoever is the first to review will be given a mention in the next chapter's Author's Note! And of course, a virtual cookie!
(::)
-singingtothewind