Oh my goodness, I'm sorry I made everyone wait. I just couldn't get a good idea. But then I came up with this and well, I was pretty happy.

This is the last chapter, just so everyone's clear.

Disclaimer: I don't own…

Alright, let's begin!

*Fang POV*

In an instant, there were lips on mine. They were hot, hard, and wet, and didn't mesh well with my mouth at all. They had a slightly bitter taste, not as sweet and addictive as…

Max's. These were not Max's lips.

I jerked back suddenly and looked up to see the door slam, making a noise that rattled the interior of the boat and stopped conversations in their tracks. Everyone's heads instinctively rose to the sound f the noise, and I immediately knew who had caused the racket.

Max.

And it was all my fault.

I shot up out of my seat, causing the chair to clatter slightly as it rattled back. Half the dining room immediately turned to face me. I bolted towards the door, being sure to open and close it silently. I stepped out onto the deck and froze, knowing if I moved anymore Max would know I was here. Speaking of which, I was pleased to see she hadn't flown away. She was standing on the edge of the deck, looking out onto the water. The pale moonlight cast small shadows on her strong shoulders, and then she… shuddered?

Crap. I had made the great Maximum Ride cry.

I hated myself right now.

She muttered something to herself and I heard the wind shut the cabin door all the way behind me. I began to step forward across the deck. My footsteps were quiet and even, but she heard them none the less. She tensed and began to shake less.

I finally reached her and wrapped my arms around her waist, whispering "shh…" into her hair, trying to calm both her and myself down.

'Cause frankly? I was scared of what she was going to do.

She spun and slapped me, muttering "bastard" under her breath.

The boat lurched and I reached out and caught her, acting on instinct. I was stunned and shocked, so instinct was really I had.

But Max could still feel, so she slapped my hand away. Instinctively, again, I put my hands on either side of her, gripping the boat railing.

"Max," I said, but stopped. My brain couldn't form a full sentence right now. My only thoughts were "I made Max cry" and "I made Max hate me". Though exactly how I did it I wasn't sure.

"What do you want, Fang?" she tried to spit the words at me, but her voice cracked and her eyes watered. All I wanted to do was hug her and tell her it would all be okay.

But I couldn't. Because stupid me had to go and make the only girl I'd ever love hate me.

"Max," I whispered again, but I had no words for her. Nothing to describe how I felt and how she must feel.

She knew I had nothing to say and pushed my arm out of the way, stomping off across the deck.

I froze. I couldn't move. She was the one who gave me the energy to live, to survive, and she was gone.

I heard her stop and knew she was looking back one last time, so I willed my head to rise and meet her eyes.

She gasped, and I dropped my head again, hoping I could stay strong…

"I'm sorry," I whispered, willing her to hear me even though I knew the words were whisked from my mouth by the wind.

I heard her footsteps stop again.

"What?" she asked, and I could hear the challenge in her words. She was challenging me, daring me to answer.

"I… never mind," I said, backing down from her challenge. I just didn't have the energy right now…

I could hear her footsteps approaching me again, and I was glad she was coming back, if only for a minute.

"No, what?" she sounded kinder now, and she placed her hand on my arm. I relished in her touch and wondered if this was the last time I'd ever feel it. "Really Fang, what is it? You can tell me,"

Please listen, please forgive me Max…

"I'm sorry,"

The next day we were in the air again, and I felt like myself once more. Max had forgiven me, and accepted me, and now we were… well, sort of together, actually. I didn't think Max had told the flock yet though, and I wasn't about to get on her bad side again by breaking the news to them.

They could wait. Cause right now Max is the only thing that matters to me.

I heard wing beats increase to my right and saw Max fly up next to me.

"Hey," she said, smiling shyly.

"Hey," I said, and gave her a full blown grin. This made her smile double, and she beamed back at me.

God, I loved her smile.

And she loves yours, I heard Angel project into my head, She thinks it could light Las Vegas for a week.

I chuckled a little, and Max sent me a questioning glance.

"Angel," I said, giving her a lopsided half smile.

And those light up her world. I could hear the six year old's smile in her words.

Max's eyes glazed over slightly, then snapped into focus.

"Angel!" she yelped, her eyes going wide, but filling with a sort of playful vengeance.

Angel just laughed and flipped in the air.

An hour later we had stopped in some run down town some place for a bathroom break. When I came out of the men's room, Max was already leaning against the wall outside of the ladies room with her eyes closed. I walked over to her quietly and placed my hand above her head. As my shadow fell on her, her eyes snapped open.

"Quit doing that!" she said, playfully hitting my arm and grinning.

"You really think my smiles could light Las Vegas for a week?" I felt a grin tugging at the corners of my mouth as she blushed.

"Yeah…" she said slowly, and I watched as her face heated up even more.

"Well… I think yours could light New York for a year," I said, feeling a full blown grin come to my face. She smiled too. Then I leaned in and kissed her.

Her lips were warm on mine and they seemed to lock right into place with my own. I slid my other arm around her waist and pulled her closer to me, feeling how well our bodies fit together too.

Then I heard cat calls and we broke apart, breathing raggedly, to see the rest of the flock all standing outside the bathrooms in the dying sunlight.

"I knew it!" Iggy cheered as Nudge and Gazzy clapped. Angel just laughed.

"I really did know," she said, just loud enough to be heard, and I smiled softly at her.

Max clicked straight into leader mode.

"Alright guys, we'll fly for another hour, then find a place to stay the night," sje said commandingly, walking to the rest of her flock. Our flock.

We took off behind the public restrooms. I went last, and as Max lept into the air and unfurled her wings, I smiled again.

After all, now that I had her, was there any reason not to?

*End*

Wow, I really had fun writing this. This whole chapter came together today, and was created in an hour or so.

I have no idea if I stole that "you could light up Las Vegas" line from someone or if it was a random good idea I had. so let me know if it belonged to you before I used it. [sorry if it did]

This may be the end, but keep reviewing and I'll keep responding! They still make my day!

Like it? Hate it?

How bout you review and let me in on what you're thinking?

[PS: Thank you everyone for the wonderful reviews so far! And a special thanks to cnp97, who has reviewed every chapter I've written! :D]