Chapter 9

My entire mind was about to self-combust. Yours would too if you had to take care of your future children, deal with being murdered in the next eight years, and learn your friend is trying to prevent all of it. Stop. Warm arms covered me into a tight embrace that made every molecule in my body jump with excitement. He pushed aside my hair to kiss the back of my neck. It was the most incredible sense, I wished there was a better word than electrocution. I stared out the window from the bedroom I shared with Fang. Again, I protectively watched my flock except this time, two new bodies joined in the afternoon swim.

"Fang?" He nuzzled his forehead against the curve of my neck and kissed my cheek as a response. "Did you…did you ever think we'd have kids? I always thought the flock was good enough." I turned around in his hold. He was wearing a buttoned up, black, loose shirt. I fumbled to undo the first two buttons in order to reveal a "V" of his well muscled chest. I felt his tanned skin that was comfortingly warm.

"It's different. Mela and A.J. are us, Max. I love seeing us in them." Fang's eyes gave off a slight glint of love. Could I picture myself at a hospital holding two babies with measly little wings like mine as Fang sat beside me with a protective arm over me and his children? Yes- it was the most vivid image in my mind but why risk putting Fang or my children in danger? "We'll change it Max. We will not have the same future," he whispered, reading my thoughts.

"How about marriage? Do you think we did that?" I joked, giving him a small smile. He pressed me against him tighter and raised an eyebrow. I watched as he thought it long and hard. I could see his thoughts of me walking down an aisle in a white dress. Angel a flower girl with purple flowers in her golden hair. Gasman looking suspicious in his ring bearer suit. Nudge a bridesmaid. Iggy best man and Ella the maid of honor. Suddenly, I was wondering if this was still Fang's thoughts or my own. The idea seemed ridiculous.

"Of course," he replied, kissing my lips (to which I barely responded). What?! Marriage?! But that reuiqred a wedding and me waering a dress that would make me trip! Reading my thoughts, Fang chuckled. "If you don't love me…," he warned, kissing my temple. He really did want to get married.

"I love you," I replied in a defending tone. I narrowed my eyes a bit but I was smiling. How could he say that? If he read my mind more often than he wouldn't doubt it.

"Oh yeah?" He smirked a silly grin and rested his forehead against mine, "Prove it.
Then, I pulled him towards me for a deeper kiss.

***

"Mommy?" I stirred from the crook of Fang's arm. I stretched into him and Fang shifted his position more into me. Then, I realized what I just heard that woke me up. I opened my eyes. Fortunately, the voice had come from behind the door which Fang had locked. Good thing too.

A knock came at the door, "Mommy, can I come in or are you and Daddy busy?" I realized it was Mela. There was more sounds as she tried opening the door.

I heard a voice Are you sleeping Mommy? It was A.J. now. I'm guessing he was standing outside the door with his sister. They are busy I think…Daddy's dreaming and Mommy's tired. I heard him tell this to Mela. Night, night Mommy. Uncle Iggy is making dinner. Footsteps hinted at their leaving.

Fang moved beside me. Our limbs intertwined freely without the restriction of clothing. Fang opened his eyes slowly, "Kids gone?" He asked with a smile. He had already placed his arm around my waist. I nodded my head and he responded, "Good." He made me move so that I was resting on his chest. "Sleep," he smoothed my hair. I titled my head up so I could kiss the bottom of his chin.

"Is it wrong that I love them?" I asked, he knew I was talking about Mela and A.J. Technically, they weren't my children, they were the children of my future self, whoever that was.

"No, of course not. I love them too," Fang whispered. Did he feel the same feelings that I did? To protect these kids no matter what? I felt the urge to fix Mela's hair when the short strands stuck up too much or to wipe A.J.'s face free of muck whenever he was covered in it. Then again, I remember Fang kissing Mela's knee when it was hurt, even though she refused to cry and only let a few tears drop or when he was able to help A.J. color in a picture in a coloring book.

I sighed, "I want this forever."

"Me too," he whispered.

Then, we drifted back to sleep.