SURPRISE!!!! i updated!!!! and in record time!!! GO MEEE!!

i think it was all the reviews that helped. hehe.

and, you know, the fact that i'm on spring break, and have NO homework could have contributed a teeny bit.

oh big thanks to randomperson!!! you're flippin awesome!!! love your reviews!! thanks so much!! :] and yeah, i know, the plots not movin along as fast as i'd like either. i'll work on that.

woot woot!! chapter seventeen!! this story is going longer than i thought it would! suggestions on when to stop would be helpful ;)

i have to have them break up that itex meeting in washington, THEN the story can end. and then i get to continue all 2 of my oneshots!! yayy!!

i don't think i'll post any more today; my friend's sleeping over tonight but i'll try to get something up either tomorrow or the next day, so yeah!

but this one is pretty long, so i hope it makes up for my lack of updatage.

oh. right. beta news: i've gotten 2 offers! i think i know who it's gonna be, but any one else who wants to give it a try, review or PM me!!! ;)

oh, and thanks to every one who's followed this story and waited FOREVER for me to post and read it and...

you guys are just too sweet. sniff, sniff...

dang it. i'm getting all emotional. :sob: er, on with the chapter, we shall!!

CRAZY-MAZIN CHAPPATERRR SEVENTEEEEEN!!!!!!!!

::::::::::::::::::::::::

"Wake up, sleepyhead." This time it was me who woke up first. I shook Fang awake and got out of bed to pack our stuff up.

Fang groaned, and shielded his eyes from the bright sunlight that contrasted so deeply from the darkness last night. "We're leaving?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "Of course we're leaving! We're not gonna stay here forever!"

Fang rolled over onto his stomach. "Mmmph."

Whatever. I grabbed his pack and threw it at him. "Let's go, you lazy butt."

With great deliberation, Fang rose from the small cot and picked up his backpack. "As you wish, master."

I smacked him, then we took off. The wind blew through my hair and the sun's warmth radiated down on us, heating the chilled air somewhat.

I flew over beside Fang. "You want to tell me about your dream last night?"

He frowned. "Not really."

"You're gonna have to some time," I pointed out. "Might as well do it while we're alone."

"I can think of a lot of better things we could do while we're alone." He looked pointedly at me, a hint of a smirk flickering across his lips.

I blushed, despite my efforts not to. What a sexist pig.

"Fang…"

He grimaced, rubbing his eyes. "Not right now, Max. Later, okay? I'll tell you later."

I gave him one last look, then flew ahead of him. Stupid, stubborn, macho, egotistic birdkid. Grr.

We landed at the hotel half an hour later. The kids were already outside waiting for us. When I saw Nudge was crying, I landed beside her, and touched her arm.

"What's the matter, sweetie?"

Nudge sniffled, wiping her eyes delicately. "It's just... do we have to go? It was so much fun, and we—we never get vacation, and…" She sniffed again.

I drew her to me and hugged her. "It's okay, Nudge. Once we save the world and all that stupid crap, we'll have vacation every day."

She looked up at me hopefully, tearstains marring her cheeks. "You mean it?"

I did my best to smile. "Yup. Every single stinkin' day."

Nudge wiped at her cheeks and gave me a sort of sad half smile. "Okay."

I gave her one last squeeze, then faced the rest of the flock. "You guys ready to go?"

They all nodded solemnly, forlorn expressions on their faces.

I swallowed, feeling guilty once again. "Then let's do this."

And with that dramatic exit, we took off into the brilliantly blue sky.

: : : :

We landed that night in a little hollow near the border of Idaho. The younger ones went to gather firewood with Iggy, while Total, Fang, and I stayed to set up camp. Well, Fang and I set up camp. Total mostly inspected the area, looking for a "potty spot." I wasn't about to stop him.

I sat down on a log by the fire our resident pyromaniac had so kindly made for us, and thought about the mission. The longer I thought about it, the more confusing it seemed.I rubbed my temples and leaned forward. I needed to concentrate on my goal. What was my goal? The images from my dream the night before came rushing back at me full-force; it felt like an overwhelming flood of tension, I couldn't take it, and I gripped the log tightly with both hands, willing every thing to just stop.

I was vaguely aware of Fang kneeling down in front of me and shaking my shoulders. "Max!"

I looked at my hands. They were shaking like leaves in the wind.

"Max, we seriously need to talk."

I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath.

"I know there's something wrong." Fang rubbed my bare arm with his calloused hand, sending shivers down my spine.

I shook my head vehemently.

"Max, you were shaking and holding onto that log like it was life support." Darn him and his well-honed observational skills.

I exhaled deeply. "I'm fine."

Fang tilted my chin up with his thumb and studied me for a moment. Everything seemed to freeze, and it was just me looking into his dark, swirling eyes. Holy shnikes, I thought, lost in his gaze.

Then he broke the spell by replying slowly, "No you're not. But you will be." And to my surprise, he pressed a kiss to my forehead, then stood up, giving me a we'll-talk-about-this-later look. Oh, joy.

Total trotted into our little campsite, humming the theme song of "The Office." (A/N: i don't know why, but whenever i picture Total singing "The Office" theme song, i crack up laughing!!! Lol!!!!) He plopped down beside me, curling up against my leg and sighing. "Good Jehosaphat, what a life. All this running away from creatures and battling things and so on. It's tough, you know?"

I rubbed my eyes. "Hey, it's my life too."

Total sniffed. "Well, it's a living, I suppose."

I rolled my eyes and stood up, just as Iggy and the rest of the flock stumbled into the camp, heavy loads of firewood in their arms.

I forced a grin. "Ah, the triumphant return!"

Iggy dumped his wood by the fire, then collapsed on the ground beside it. "We bring back spoils of war, milady."

I laughed. "Good. Now go make supper."

Iggy rolled over and looked in my direction, pretending to think. "What am I getting out of this deal?"

I thought for a moment. "I won't rip your spleen out and beat you over the head with it."

Iggy's sightless eyes widened, and he scrambled up, almost knocking Gazzy over in the process. "You drive a hard bargain, lady, but I accept." He bowed deeply, waving his hand in a flourish, then marched over to the food.

I grinned at his retreating back, shaking my head.

Angel plopped down next to me, snuggling into my side. "Max?" She said softly.

"Mmm?"

"Nudge and I were thinking…"

Uh oh. "About what?" I asked warily.

She smiled up at me, apparently having read my thoughts. "It's nothing bad, Max. Trust me." Uh huh. Trust the six-year-old who controls minds and talks to sharks. That's likely.

She yawned, her fine blonde hair shining golden in the firelight. "Oh, we just remembered how at your mom and Ella's we had told you about that whole thing with Fang and before that you had promised to thank him, but you never did."

Crap. I thought they'd forgotten about that. "Uh huh?" I said off-handedly.

Angel giggled. "You should do it now."

"Sorry, Ange. Not happening."

"But Maaax," she whined, her lower lip jutting out. "You promised."

I sighed. "Later, Angel. Okay? I have to talk to Fang anyway, so I'll do it then."

She grinned at me, kissed my cheek, then skipped over to where Nudge was talking animatedly to Fang—who was watching her impassively, of course—and whispered something in her ear. Nudge immediately stopped talking and let out a loud, shrill squeal. Fang looked at me questioningly and I shrugged. Some things are better left alone, I say. Plus, if I asked, Nudge would probably just talk my ear off, and I like my ear where it is, thank you very much.

"Cooome and get iiiit!" Iggy yodeled from the food area. The kids scrambled over to him and grabbed their food.

I stood up and stretched, then went over to join the flock, who had already dug into their portions like rabid squirrels.

Gazzy looked up from where he was in the process of inhaling a sandwich. "Hey, Max, what does 'smitten' mean?"

My head snapped up. "What?"

Gazzy shrugged, returning to his sandwich. "Oh, Iggy said that's what you and Fang are, and that's why he wanted us to all help him get firewood so you guys could have some time alone."

I glared daggers at Iggy, who grinned sheepishly. You know, at times like these, it's really fortunate for Iggy that he's blind.

I felt myself blushing, so I ducked my head down, my hair falling over my face.

Well, our lives may be up in the air (literally and figuratively speaking) and unpredictable most of the time, but at least we know one thing for sure.

Come tomorrow, a certain blind birdkid is going to be sooo dead.

::::::::::::::::

heh heh. let us see what we can do...

good heavens, i sound like gollum from lord of the rings!!! eep!!!!

anywho. :P

review, darlins!!