Chapter 16

Fang and I made our way to the beach, the flock running up ahead of us. I was trying to secretly miss Mela and A.J. but in the end, with Fang being able to read my mind- it was impossible to prevent it. He reached over and grabbed my hand to give it a squeeze. I gave a weak smile.

Hey, it's all right Max. We'll see them soon enough.

In four years…I just have to remember that.

Truth was, I didn't know if the future was going to be anything like that. I could die between today and the time in which I would've had the twins. There was no knowing with our future completely changed. I just hoped, somehow, that it was exactly as it was without being chased by the enemies and having to separate from the flock.

After Brigid was taken away, we were given permission to search the premises for information. I found certificates-birth ones. The flock had the option to go find their parents but Angel surprised me the most when she looked into my eyes and then at Fang when she said, "But you guys are our parents, Max. You and Fang, keeping us together and protecting us, we don't need 'real' parents- we've already got them." I swear I almost burst into tears…almost.

I never did learn if the flocks' names really meant anything like 000001 did for me and Phoenix did for Fang. Maybe there was a reason but we all agreed to put it behind us. We had a future to look forward to. Our past was troublesome, I wanted to forget it but I knew I couldn't, so I was just going to take the moments I can without looking back.

Fang shut down the blog- he figured it wasn't worth writing in anymore. We had saved the world, we had saved our selves, and we had given ourselves a new beginning. I believe Jeb would've called it Evolution with the way we were adapting. I would've called it providing a better life for my family, my flock.

We found medicine for Iggy at the building where we captured Brigid. Amazingly, there was more than enough for the rest of his life, if his sight started to go then all he had to do was take a pill and it was restored. Iggy would never be blind again unless he chose to be.

It had been a week since Brigid was put in jail. Iggy and Nudge sort of admitted their feelings to each other but it wasn't official yet although it made sense now- with the way future Nudge was always looking at Iggy. I watched them now as they "discretly" held hands while trying to body surf the same wave. Angel flew about, drawing her feathers long the ocean. Gazzy practice moving rocks around and juggling them without touching them.

Ever have those moments where everything is too perfect and you feel something is going to go wrong? Well- try what you felt and multiply the paranoia by a million and you get me. Wind passed through my hair. I knew fall was on its way. Maybe we would give normal a try. Fang, Iggy, and I would techinically be juniors now if we ever went back and tried. Maybe I could live with my mom again and see my half-sister....

But it will never be where I belong...

The scientists grafted me with wings- by definition- forced me to stand out. Forever and ever, there would never be normal...but since when has normal had a clear, set definition. I bet you aren't normal. It's just- there is no hiding who I am and what I've seen. I can't erase this paranoia or avoid the past. I can't even look towards the future. I still have to focus just on today. Which is why I probably won't go back to school- I've gone far enough without it. I won't go to live with my mom but just see her occasionally, like on holidays- it's most then some kids.

Instead, I choose this life. The one of an island, six bird kids, a talking-bird dog, and a safe house meant for our secrets with the only escape as a pair of wings. To think, two years ago, in a cave, when Fang came up with this idea (which I considered to be utterly impossible) is now our only option. Well- it's my only option as far as I'm concerned. The rest of the flock can up and leave if they choose. I'm never one to hold them back, as much as I love them. All parents have to say goodbye to their nestlings at one point.

Then again, if I do happen to see Mela and AJ again, I'd want to give them the life I didn't have. I wanted them to go to school, make friends, discover themselves not flying and being chased, but flying for the sake of having that blessed freedom which no other human had.

That's why you saved the world Max- for them even though you didn't know they would exist. We always fought for each other...and our children.

I smile at Fang as we take off in flight. The rest of the flock have their heads turned up to watch us fly off to a secret little grove on this secret little island that is all ours. We hid quickly in the shelter of the cave hearing only the crashing of the waves and the pounding of our hearts. Fang stands beside me staring at only the blue scene of the mouth of the cave from where heaven touched earth. I felt like flying and touching that spot off in the horizon if I could ever reach it.

You're Maximum Ride. You can do anything.

Of course, there is silence between us but it is not awkward or uncomfortable. Nothing between love can be so hard or strange. If it is, you fight for it. We had learned that long ago in a different story. Fang turned to me and gave me a smile. I returned the grin because with Fang, once he smiled, I suddenly was too. That's why my heart sputtered to a quick stop and restarted all over again.

Fang grabbed my hand and raised an eyebrow for a moment as if questioning me. I read all the answers to questions I didn't even know I had. Will we be together forever? Will he always love me? Will I be happy with him? His eyes told me yes, our conversation said just then in one look. Some people on the outside called it scary but they wouldn't know the feeling- it's difficult to come by if you don't have your best friend and the love of your life rolled up into one human being. Finally, I feel something slipped on to my ring finger and I stare down at the ring. I know enough of what it means.

A promise for our future. he whispers to me in my mind.

Then, we kissed as if we had never kissed before.