Chapter 8

Parenthood- not exactly the way I planned it. (Not that I was planning)

Fortunately, Nudge's mother came for a visit the next day.

"Auntie N," Mela cried with joy. Both her and A.J. ran up to her and gave her a giant hug. "We're going swimming!" Mela exclaimed before grabbing her brother's hand and running out the door.

"You couldn't just tell us," I crossed my arms. Fang stood silently behind me. We'd be parents one day- if nothing changed. It's not like the future was set in stone. "Mela and A.J., they're from the future aren't they? And they are our children?" It felt weird and strange saying that.

"Yes," she replied. "I foresaw what would happen to the two of you. I found them running from the M-Geeks. Then, we ended up back when Jeb was in house in the past. Trying to get back to our own time, we got stuck here. Hopefully, Jeb wrote the note as I has asked him too and things have been cleared up."

"Not really," Fang muttered. "How did you get here? The past, I mean. Who are you really?" Fang had been reading my mind. She couldn't be from the future and be Nudge's mother at the same time while looking so young. She appeared in her early thirties.

The woman sighed and grabbed a wet towel on the table I had left there from cleaning. She wiped at her face and slowly, the make-up faded more and more to reveal a much younger face. "We haven't spoken in three years but that was a different Max- you shouldn't know me and I forget that sometimes. I may have appeared old but I'm only seventeen. My name is Monique to the real world...Nudge to the flock." I sucked in a breath as if I had just been shocked in the stomach. This was clearly a girl in front of me, about my age, without the make-up and once you gave her younger styled clothing. She wasn't so talkative as the Nudge I know now. Then again, Mela and A.J. had called her Auntie N but she said that she hadn't seen me in three years. Why was that?

"Max, don't think about what has not happened. We worry about the now. As for getting here, in the past, I wouldn't underestimate those children if I were you." One of the kids had brought them here? One of my future children could time travel? "A.J. was just so intent on find you that his powers came on a bit too strong for me to stop. They brought us to this house when Jeb was fixing it up for us. A.J. had been too upset to control it either. I had Jeb leave you the note. Then, I got him calm enough to bring us here. Now, I'm setting things right- to save the two of you." Woah- that was a lot.

Nudge- as an adult.

A.J. could time travel.

Fang and I had kids.

We died.

The note from Jeb was a result of Nudge's plan to save our lives.

A lot in three minutes but with Nudge, it was all talk all the time. I finally saw her now instead of the woman I believed to be Nudge's mother. "Nudge, seriously, why do we stop talking to you? You said it had been three years."

Nudge's eyes gave a hint of sadness in the pools of chocolate brown. "A lot happened Max, that's why I kept warning you about your powers. They are more dangerous than they seem. It's hard to explain when you're mind clearly won't be open to the concept."

I stepped towards her, she wasn't as tall as me wearing the heels she had on. Still, she was tall for average people. "Can I see your wings?" Then, Nudge gave a sad frown. I understood everything in that quick glance. "You actually did it, you cut them off." Nudge nodded her head. "I'm sorry for whatever I did to you." Did she cut them off because we weren't talking?"

"Max, if I fix things, you won't have to be sorry."

Then, she left.

A.J.'s POV

Mommy is talking to Auntie N. I wonder if they are talking about the big robot men and the red-head girl who killed older Mommy and Daddy. It confuses me how we got here. I never saw Mommy or Daddy so young. Mela says it's because we went back in time because I have a new power. I didn't know I could do more than hear Mommy and Daddy's thoughts. I thought I was special then.

What am I now?

Auntie N's younger self is chattering up with Uncle Iggy. Do they know about their future? Probably not, Mommy and Daddy just found out yesterday and by accident. I didn't mean to tell them my real name, which I was named after grandpa and Uncle Ari who are dead too. Mela was the silly one for saying our last name. Auntie N had made us swear not to say anything.

We broke our promise. We are bad kids.

I have not seen Auntie Ella or Uncle George or my cousin Sam. I miss them too. I like seeing Uncle Gazzy though and Auntie Angel. They are always fun to play with. Now, they are only a bit taller than me, which makes it even more fun.

Uncle Gazzy is teaching me right now how to make a bomb. He says it goes BOOM. I giggled at that and he gave me a smile. He's funny, my Uncle Gazzy. Especially when he farts and Mommy gets angry. Daddy thinks Mommy is cute when she's angry.

Careful A.J., we can't ruin anything. The future depends on it. I stare up at Mela to see her watching me while talking to Auntie Angel. They are having a good time. They don't know yet…that I am their nephew. Daddy and Mommy told me that it was a big secret last night and that no one could know. Even Auntie N, who showed Mommy the room where we had Grandpa hide the note, didn't know what the letter said. Only big Aunti N knew that stuff.

Eventually, I tire of my uncles and aunts although I love them very much. I stand up and head inside once I know that Auntie N is no longer there. Mommy and Daddy are holding each other in a hug. I always see them do that, even when they are older. They love each other as much as I love them. Mommy's head rest on Daddy's chest. Her big brown eyes stare down at me. "A.J., what are you doing bud? Shouldn't you be swimming?" I actually was waiting for them. Mommy seemed to understand, "Oh, you were waiting for us." Daddy kissed the top of her head before they backed away from each other. They always seem sad when they do that.

"Let's go," Daddy says picking me up in the air and holding me tight. Daddy's arms are strong and safe. I rest my cheek on his shoulder. I'd rather be here than swimming but I don't say anything. Mommy and Daddy don't look happy. They need to have fun.

"Love you?" I asked to the both of them. I lift my head and stare between the two of them. Mela may talk smart and talk a lot but I could speak to Mommy and Daddy with my mind if I wanted too. I didn't have to speak. I only needed to talk to Mommy, Daddy, and Mela. Everyone else…phooey.

"Forever," Mommy whispered with a smile.

"Always," Daddy replied.

They exchange a glance between each other.

Then, they stared at me.

I was home again.