Drabbles of The Lives of the Ex-Fugitives

Ginger-Snapp

These are some missing scenes, continuations, and short pieces about the lives of characters involved in the Gordan Korman series, On The Run. I will explain in each one when it occurs and maybe a short blurb about the characters or situation if warranted. There will be no self insertions or original characters (unless it is just to shed some light on a main character) so please do not worry about reading something out of a middle school lit project.

Also I don't currently have a beta so feel free to make corrections when you r&r.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the On the Run series, or any of its related characters, story-lines, etc. All of that is written and owned by the talented YA author, Gordan Korman. These stories are meant only for fun and for thought, and are not for profit in any way.

UPDATE 2020: Edited for grammar and spelling but not content

Mouthing Off

A few days after the release of the falconers. Of course, reporters were everywhere at their home all over again, asking for thoughts, feelings, and emotions on their appeal, and on the now famous Falconer children. So Meg makes good on a promise she made some time ago.

"I don't want to do this. We don't need any more publicity." Aiden Falconer had learned not to like the spotlight, whether it came from your parent's trial, the bullies in juvie, or pedestrians on the street. It always mean bad business.

"Well suck it up, the camera's aren't going to go away any time soon, dummy." Meg Falconer felt much the same as her brother, but as usual there were two sides to their approaches. While Aiden had preached patience, claiming that the story would die down in a few weeks, Meg believed in running right up to problems and punching them in the face. Since she wasn't allowed to do that to the reporters on their lawn, she had to do it another way. "Besides, we promised."

While Aidan grumbled and walked into the station, their parents walked quietly behind, slightly amused at how their opinions on the subject didn't seem to matter. Meg and Aidan were clearly used to doing things on their own, and seemed to forget that they now needed an adult to sign the wavers that came with doing a radio interview.

The assistant at the front desk was perky and blond, not the kind of woman Meg was expecting to be in charge of who got into and out of the Mouth's studio. She had imagined big tough security guards to keep out police and people who wanted to beat up the shock jock. It made her wonder if the Mouth of America got many visitors. Aiden was just glad there were no security guards to worry about. Their parents took the paperwork from her and sat in the waiting room, filling out forms. It wasn't but two minutes before the Mouth came out of his studio to greet them. He was a thin man with scraggly, grey facial hair and dark freckles all over his nose, like he'd spent too long out in the sun as a child. He wasn't at all like they were expecting. He looked like he could be someone's push-over grandfather, not like a man who could command thousands of people with his voice.

"Aiden, Meg, its great to finally meet you kids!" He shook their hands roughly, the energy of his actions more in line with the radio host they knew than his appearance suggested. "I can't believe you're here! And whats more that you kids actually managed to do it. Justice for the common man!" Their faces were more familiar to the Mouth, having been plastered everywhere for days. He noticed that Aiden, the boy, was still a little leery of him, while Meg beamed up at him like he was the only friend she'd ever had.

"I couldn't believe how you got us out of Denver like that!" Meg gushed to him, oblivious (or just choosing to ignore) her brother's standoffishness.

"A team effort, don' ya think kid?" Meg and the Mouth high-fived, but the energy between the two drained quickly when Louise put her hand on her daughter's shoulder. Both the Falconers now stood behind their children, expressions carefully neutral. The Mouth, to his credit, did not look away from them, but stood straighter and became serious. His voice lowered to a more formal tone. "Dr. John and Dr. Louise Falconer." He took a step closer to them and the kids. "I owe you the vastest of apologies. I know I can never take back those things I said about you on the air, the letters I told people to write or the foul opinions I spread about your family. I can only hope that my actions on behalf of your children might temper my terrible actions towards you."

The Falconers all exchanged glances, even Meg staying silent for a moment.

It was John Falconer that spoke first. "You changed your mind about us, and you supported our children. That counts for something." Aiden suspected that would be the most they would get out of their father.

"We're really here for the children. It's what they want to do. We don't plan on speaking or being interviewed, if that's alright." Louise Falconer was a little more forgiving than her husband, but not by much.

"Can we get this thing started or are we going to sit here all day?" Meg complained. Aiden nudged her. Since they were no longer on the run, she had again taken to being loudmouthed and brazen at every possible moment. They weren't in danger of being caught, but Meg was in danger of being strangled by her older brother.

The Shock-Jock laughed at them, a large rumbling laugh that, like his voice, didn't fit with his body. "Alright, lets go into the recording studio."

"We're coming to the end of the show here, folks. I've promised Aiden and Meg that we will not be taking any callers, so to finish up the interview, is there anything you kids would like to say to the people of America?"

Meg and Aiden looked at each other and nodded. This was as good a moment as any to bring out the list. Aiden started off tentatively. "Yeah, Mouth, there is something we'd like to share. We know that we did a lot of bad stuff when we were on the run trying to save our parents."

Meg broke in. "We had to do a lot of it, just to survive. But we always planned on making amends. So yesterday Aiden and I made a list of everything we did and what we need to pay back."

"We can't do everything," Aiden stressed, "like the man hours the police put in or the damage caused when Frank Lindenauer attacked us..."

"But everything we stole or damaged we'll pay back. But it'll take us a while. I'm not even allowed to work for another 4 years."

"Not that anyone would hire us anyways," Aiden mumbled.

"Shut it. My brother and I just wanted everyone to know that. We wont be reading off names or anything, we'd be here forever, but it includes some of the stuff we told you about in this interview, and some stuff we left out and if we remember anything else we'll fix that too."

The Mouth piped back up, signaling the end of the time slot. "There you have it. Aiden and Meg Falconer, two kids who singlehandedly caught a terrorist while on the run trying to save their parents. They're true American heroes! That's the way I see it. You got a problem with that?"

The ON-AIR light flashed for a moment and then went out. Meg immediately turned and hugged the man who had once called for her parent's execution.

"No problem at all."

I imagine the interview to be just them going over the highlights of the adventure, answering questions about the most prolific stunts and screw-ups, and the Falconer kids just generally setting the record straight. I doubt it would have been very in depth. I love the Mouth though. He's one of my favorite parts, and I don't necessarily like my version of them going to give the interview, but I like the idea of them (Meg mostly) fulfilling their promises and even becoming fond of the shock jock himself.

Feel free to review. This fandom deserves more stories. Next I might do them paying some stuff back more on the family recovery, or someone joining the track team. Who knows? -Ginger out