Okay, first off, I'd like to say that I'm not trying to quote 'kill everyone off'. It was suggested to me in a review that I go through all of their expiration dates instead of just one. Why give one member more attention than the next? No point, really. Now that I've completed my rant, a disclaimer.

I DO NOT own Maximum Ride, I'm not a middle aged man who, therefore I cannot control who dies when, and I do not own the rights to Waitin on a Woman by Brad Paisley.

Gazzy's POV (he's so often forgotten!)

The flock; we started as 7. Jeb left, we thought he was dead. He turned up worse than dead; he returned to our lives as a white-coat. No longer one of us. Then, Max expired. Fang followed in her footsteps a week later. Now, it's my partner in crimes time to go.

Sittin' on a bench at West Town Mall
He sat down in his overalls and asked me
You waitin' on a woman
I nodded yeah and said how 'bout you
He said son since nineteen fifty-two I've been
Waitin' on a woman

On the day before the numbers on his neck bared, just he and I flew down to the local mall and sat on a bench. Iggy's always been the cocky and coy one. Always been the most upbeat of us guys when it came to girls. But now, he could care less. He wore overalls that were twice his size, his hair messy and flying everywhere. He didn't care anymore. Who can blame him? Without looking in my general direction, he asked if I had anyone special in my life. I nodded with gulp of sympathy; he wasn't going to gain his sight back fully. I said her name. Nudge. He smiled knowingly, and said that Ella was to him as Max was once to Fang; everything. He claimed with patience, "You're going to be waiting for her, dude. So get ready. Grow some patience. If you really love her, you'll wait."

When I picked her up for our first date
I told her I'd be there at eight
And she came down the stairs at eight-thirty
She said I'm sorry that I took so long
Didn't like a thing that I tried on
But let me tell you son she sure looked pretty
Yeah she'll take her time but I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman

I was questioning his sanity at this point. Never has he talked about girls with me. Why now? Why as a last minute decision? My mind reeled, but my focus was turned back on him; my older brother, best friend and mentor. He continued giving me advice, useful advice, using Ella as a constant example. "On our first date, I stood around for 30 minutes downstairs waiting. When she finally came down, she apologized. She said nothing looked good. First I said that nothing would be fine. She slapped me for that. Then, I said that I was sure she looked fine. I earned silence; silence! She placed my hand on her face, and I felt her smile, her blush. Let me tell you, Gassy, she was worth the wait."

He said the wedding took a year to plan
You talk about an anxious man, I was nervous
Waitin' on a woman
And then he nudged my arm like old men do
And said, I'll say this about the honeymoon, it was worth it
Waitin' on a woman

He continued to launch into the engagement. Yes, the engagement. Just last month he asked; Ella declined, saying that she was too young. Being only 16, she had every right to decline. An engagement ring wasn't the only thing she wasn't prepared for though. First Max, then Fang, and now Iggy. She's been locked up in her room, already grieving the love she is soon to lose. A touch on my arm shot me back to present day. Iggy was nudging me, and I couldn't help but imitate an old man. "Would you quit elbowing me, you old coot." I earned a chuckle, and a wink. He couldn't help but say that he most regretted not getting a honeymoon. "It would have been a phenomenal week, not to mention the week outside of the hotel room." He drawled mysteriously with a straight face. A few seconds later, we were both laughing so hard we were crying. I was going to miss this time with him.

And I don't guess we've been anywhere
She hasn't made us late I swear
Sometimes she does it just 'cause she can do it
Boy it's just a fact of life
It'll be the same with your young wife
Might as well go on and get used to it
She'll take her time 'cause you don't mind
Waitin' on a woman

When our laughter died down, Iggy went on to tell me that things never changed. Ella was never downstairs on time for a date, never ready to leave at an exact time. Now, he turned and faced me directly. His sightless eyes 'looked' into mine, and he said in a whisper, "Nudge will be the same. Worse, even. But don't give up. She'll take her time, but she'll be worth the wait. Trust me." I couldn't help but nod, my eyes beginning to water slightly.

I've read somewhere statistics show
The man's always the first to go
And that makes sense 'cause I know she won't be ready
So when it finally comes my time
And I get to the other side
I'll find myself a bench, if they've got any
I hope she takes her time, 'cause I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman

There was no way that either of us could leave with dry eyes and Iggy finally pushed the tears out in the open. "Statistics show that men die before woman. That'll be true for Ella and me." He said, taking a shaky breath. "So tomorrow, I'll be waiting for years to see Ella again. But I won't mind. I've spent almost my whole life waiting for her. Just, promise me that you'll wait for Nudge. Make the first move, but wait for her to respond. Please. Don't end up like me." Iggy barely squeaked out that last sentence before bursting into tears.

Honey, take your time, cause I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman

One more day of having Iggy to confide with. One more day of him having Ella to hang onto. I couldn't let Nudge slip through my fingers. I promised Iggy that much.

How'd I do? It wasn't really about his expiration in whole, more about Eggy and Nazzy, but still. I thought it was kind of important to incorporate romance. Who said death had to be totally depressing?

Next up: Nudge

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~Faxisthegreatest123~