MAX'S POINT OF VIEW

Ella was doing better. That was for sure. She got a concussion, plenty of stitches and too many bruises to count... But she's recovering. She spent the first few days in almost utter silence, tears lining her cheeks. There was nothing we could do or say to coax her out of her stupor. She had retreated to a dark place and, for the moment, was determined not to come out. She didn't eat, she didn't sleep and she didn't speak for about three days.

I remember Fang telling me that Iggy stayed at her side the whole time, his hand in hers as he spoke quiet, comforting things. Iggy had suffered no injuries but lost his fancy scholarship after he refused to leave Ella's side. He hadn't moved his things back, Fang told me. There were just boxes stuffed in the front room. He spent every waking moment with Ella, and it made all the difference. After asking her random questions for the billionth time, Ella started answering.

It took a while before she would speak on her own and even longer for her to laugh, but I could hardly blame her. She was not hardly broken physically- she was emotionally broken. Those wounds take a lot longer to heal.

Fang had unset his leg, which he didn't realize until his adrenaline ran out. He had a lot of cuts and scrapes for not being in the fight very long. He claimed none of it hurt, but I saw him shift uncomfortably in his chair on more than one occasion.

Then there was his emotional health. He was the one who delivered the 'final' blow to his...assailant. I never brought it up, but I thought I could see guilt in his eyes every time he stared off into space. His hands would shake just a little bit, his sentences would trail, or he rubbed his hair in frustration. I got the point. He knew he did the right thing, he just needed to cope in his own way.

And me? I'm back in the hospital, again. Undergoing minor surgery. Apparently I'm lucky to be alive after the little bullet wedged itself near a major artery, that, if damaged, would have killed me in less than three minutes.

But hey! All's well that ends well. I'm getting really sick of the bandages, medication and hospital gowns, but what can I say? For me, the worst part are the nightmares. It's always the same.

I look at Fang.

Fang looks at me.

Then I get shot.

Over and over. I can still hear the blast ringing in my ears, still feel the impact on my body, still see the terror in Fang's eyes.

Not a moment I'd like to relive every night.

But, the morning always comes, as it always will. Visiting hours open and my family comes, bringing stories and colored pictures for me and making me laugh. Ella and Iggy come, both blushing as they hold hands in public and they tell me about how the court has given Fang legal custody of Ella and that they're moving in with Iggy. They use wide hand gestures as they tell me about the fame Iggy's getting from the 'incident' and how a local chef has offered to take Iggy as his personal apprentice.

Then comes Fang. He never comes in loudly and honestly, sometimes I don't know he's there. He's silent until the sun sets and my family and friends exit, leaving just he and I. Then he'll stick his chair right up close next to my bed and take my hand underneath my thin, crappy blanket.

He'll tell me about how they had a memorial for his father, though he and Ella were the only guests. He whispers about how he did not feel any sadness for the man in the casket, but how he mourned the loss of a man in his memories. Then he gives me his famous half smile and tells me how well I pull off the hospital garb as I roll my eyes. He'll laugh and kiss me on the cheek, saying something sweet and I'll forget everything else.

Fang was surprisingly open about showing affection to me. He would stroke my hair and peck my cheeks no matter who was around, and gave me quiet compliments when we were alone. He seemed to have come to the conclusion that we were together, and that was that. He didn't need to say it or pronounce it to the world... it just was.

But I'm not complaining.

Don't look at me like that. I'm no love-sick-wannabe. But, we'd been through hell together. I guess we...understood each other. I mean, I could practically catch every slight emotion he displayed, no matter how small. He knew how to speak exactly what I was thinking, though he never said much. We just fit.

I mean...I couldn't imagine life without him.

And after that little 'incident', I don't think he could imagine life without me.

It works out well.

IGGY'S POINT OF VIEW

"Alright, you're...wait. We're off," Ella said, her voice close to my ear. I felt her adjust my arms just the slightest as I tried my best not to move without her instruction.

"Wait. Wait. Perfect!" she released me and stepped back. "Go for it!"

I released, hearing a light, whoosh and a distant whap!

"Well? Bull's eye?" I asked impatiently.

"No, but we're not an inch off. Let's go again."

I reloaded my bow, stretching the arrow back. Ella adjusted me again, taking her time. I tried not to laugh as I thought about how ridiculous this was. Who would have thought blind people could do archery? Not me, that' s for sure. I mean, not on my own, anyway.

But with a partner...

Olympics here we come!

"Alright. This one will hit it, I can feel it."

"I want you to see it," I teased, letting the arrow fly. I jumped when Ella burst out in shocked and delighted laughter. Next thing I knew, I was knocked over as Ella jumped on/hugged me. I laughed with her, surprised.

"I guess we got it, huh?"

"Perfect! We could not have hit any better than that! Come on, come on!" Ella coaxed, dragging me up. She pulled me to the target a few yards away, putting both of my hands on opposite sides of the round target, then slowly bringing my hands to the center of the target where our arrow was lodged.

"What? No way! We're professionals! High five!" I said, holding up a hand. Ella promptly slapped me back, laughing.

I was probably the best blind archer in the world. Talk about bragging rights, eh ladies?

After our victory, Ella and I went out for shaved ice before heading back home.

Did I mention it was ours now? Like we owned it?

I couldn't stop grinning at the thought. Max was supposed to be released today, though she'd be on bed-rest for a while. Which meant Fang would be with Max at her house for a while.

So the house was all Ella's and mine.

What did that mean?

-I could kiss Ella whenever I pleased,

-We could build a huge fort and hide in it

-I could build explosives

-Did I mention I could kiss Ella?

It was gonna be an awesome weekend.

FANG'S POINT OF VIEW

This (insert curse word here) paranoia was starting to get to me. I knew it was over. I knew we were safe. But freaking heck, every time anyone got around Max or Ella, I felt the need to punch their lights out. With Ella it was easier, because she was practically healed and she had Iggy with her constantly. But with Max's injuries, she could hardly lift either arm. She was defenseless. Leaving her, by herself, in some shady hospital every night had been killing me.

I knew she'd be fine. The girl was too freaking stubborn to die, and she could fight better than anyone else I knew, but...

Still.

Whenever someone walked past and paused to peek in, or another reporter comes in to get the story, the hairs on my neck stand up. It's driving me crazy, because I couldn't do anything if I wanted to. I can't be protective of Max, she's not really mine to protect. I mean, sure, we were together, but I knew she'd get mad if I suddenly started interrogating everyone who wanted to speak to her.

Screw it. I sound like an idiot.

"Fang?"

I blinked, letting my eyes re-focus. Max sat across from me on her bed, her hand of cards next to her, temporarily forgotten.

"Hon, you've been totally out of it all day," Max commented carefully, watching my face carefully.

"Sorry," I mumbled, not wanting to worry.

"Don't apologize. Just tell me what's up," she coaxed.

And sound like a clingy, overprotective nut case? No thanks.

"S'nothin," I assured her, picking my cards back up. She hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip. She knew something was up, she just wasn't sure what to say about it.

I was hoping she would drop it.

"Fang, dude, something's up. C'mon."

Or not.

"Is it...your father?" she asked.

"No, I-"

Wait.

It wasn't about him, but it was because of him, right?

"I mean, a little."

"Are you okay?"

That's not what I'm worried about.

I guess she took my silence as a no, because she set down her cards and took mine from me, taking my empty hands in her own.

"Hey, it's over now, right? We're all good. Ella's safe and happy, Iggy's back in town and we made it out okay, didn't we? What's bothering you?"

I just looked at her. She sighed, shrugging.

"Look. There's a lot of crap out there. A lot of bad people who want to do bad things. But y'know, believe it or not, there's a lot of good too. Enough that it cancels out all the bad stuff, even. I mean, think about it. What do they say? There's a rainbow at the end of every storm? We're alive! That's our rainbow! You're living with your best friend, you have custody over Ella, your dad's gone, I'm here... it's all good from here on out."

Max looked at me so earnestly I knew he meant every word she said. I carefully wrapped my arms around her, making sure not to hurt her as I did. I put my head in the crook of her neck and sighed.

"Thanks," I whispered.

"Sure thing, Fangy." I rolled my eyes at her new nickname, shutting her up effectively by kissing her. I could feel her smile, as if she had been hoping I would react that way the whole time. I put my fingers in her hair, knowing she hated when I did that. She pulled back, only an inch away from me as she caught her breath.

"Yup. Fangy's the one."

Screw it.

I love this girl.

So there.

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Tada! There's so cute, aren't they? There you have it, people. Once Upon A Secret. I hope you enjoyed following along with me. I sure had fun. But don't worry, I have a new story in the works! But before we put this to rest, tell me. Are there any one-shots from this story you'd like me to write? Scenes not explicitly written that you'd like to see? Let me know!

LOVE YOU!

-wise_yet_harmless