Halo

"Remember those wall I built?" I asked into Fang's ear as we woke up on Christmas's Eve, it was late into the morning but it didn't matter. He nodded his head casually, one of his hands smoothing my hair. "They're tumbling down and they didn't even put up a fight. They didn't even make up a sound."

Fang was warm as he pulled me in close. I wondered if it would be like this forever? For the past month or so, we've been together and not once did we see Brigid or Abraham. Not that I'm complaining. Sunlight reflected into the window. I could hear the younger flock playing outside. As he liked to tease me, Fang pressed his ears on my lips and whispered, "I got my angel now."

It always made me blush and I thought of the beginning of our relationship- when I use to run away from his kisses. I would've hit him a few times for that line alone but now, I just melted from it. Being against the wall, I tried getting up by rolling over him. His hands held me as soon as I rested on top of his chest. I narrowed my eyes when I saw a quick hint of emotions; happiness, love, and worry. "Stop Fang," I replied as he gave me this look as if he wasn't thinking anything, "It's written all over your face." That said a lot for someone who was usually emotionless.

I managed to stand up and head towards the door feeling my own worries about what was going to happen. I only felt that the more time we went without being attacked, the more of a chance that when Abraham and Brigid came to fight, they'd be too strong. Fang stood up in the black pajama pants and shirtless, he had grown a bit more in a short amount of time, my chin was at his shoulder. "Every rule I have you breaking-" Fang shook his head and contined, "The risk that I'm taking just to be selfish."

"Woah, no way. You can't have all the blame." I stepped back towards him and wrapped my arms around his waist. "I'm the selfish one because I'd rather be with you all day today then go and see the rest of the flock." I kissed his lips quickly before backing away and heading towards the door. "Now, let's go have breakfast."

I heard him mutter, "I liked the other idea." He passed me and encompassed his hand in mine. I felt a blush creep up my neck just as usual. Nothing about Fang got old or dull, it was new and exciting as if it was the first time.

Just then, the door next to Fang's room opened and I watched as two figures attempted to sneak out. When the tallest one saw Fang and I staring, he stood up straight and practically yelled, "Shit!" Ella began laughing in embarrassment and turning red. "No word of this or we dish out the details- Max, I know especially a lot about you." Iggy warned as Ella hid into his chest.

I laughed, "Iggy, let's just call it even." He raised an eyebrow before looking at Fang.

"Seriously, what did you do to her man? This is not Maximum Ride. I was expecting a lecture or-or being smacked in the face for sleeping with her sister." Iggy waited for Fang for an answer.

"Well," I narrowed my eyes at him, "If you put it that way." Iggy raised his hands in surrender before grabbing Ella's hand and rushed down the stairs. Just as they turned down the stairs, another figure came into view that I hadn't seen before- Nudge.

I saw her mouth was hanging open in shock and her eyes were filled with tears. I stepped towards her, she hadn't seen me until now. Her eyes connected with mine for a moment before running back into her own room and slamming the door shut. I stared at Fang and he nodded, letting me know that I should go see her. He gave my hand one reassuring squeeze before letting go and heading downstairs.

I stood at Nudge's door, "Nudge, sweetie? What's wrong?" I heard sobbing on the other end. I went for the door knob only to find that it had been locked. "Nudge," I warned, "If you don't open the door, I will knock it down and I won't get you a new door so-,"

The door swung up and I watched as Nudge, who had opened it, flung herself back on the bed. I walked over to her after I shut the door and locked it again. "What's wrong?" Nudge had her face in a pillow to muffle her cries. I think after saving the world and living here had softened her up the most. I had never seen so many tears except for when she wanted to cut her wings off.

My hand smoothed the spot between her wings. "Nudge, what's a matter?" She was dressed in pajamas that she had made herself, pink with silver flower designs. Her talent was so unique and talented that I truly hoped she continued with it. I'd be real supportive of it and occasional wear the clothes if deemed appropriate to my style.

"Everywhere I'm looking now, I'm surrounded by him," she sobbed between each word. There was a pain in my heart that reached out to her. She was only thirteen years old after all. Her head tilted up to look at me. Her eyes were bloodshot from crying. "Max, I-I hate your sister- well, not really, but I kind of do!"

I raised an eyebrow wondering what she was talking about. She let out a sigh and sniffled a bit, "I liked this boy for the longest time Max, but I don't think he sees me that way. We've known each other for too long and I thought we'd work out just like you and Fang eventually worked out. But, now, he's seeing Ella and they slept together which makes it really serious and I'm going to be ignored by him even more! I hate this because we're like brother and sister but there's a part of me that loves him a lot more than that."

When Nudge took a breath, I stepped in, "Nudge, are you telling me that you might have strong feelings for Iggy? Now, answer this with a nod of your head, not a paragraph." She had opened her mouth but stopped and simply nodded her head. "Nudge, I can't tell you to change the way you feel. But, honey, Iggy's really happy with Ella and he sees you as the sister he'll love forever. If anything, you will always have Iggy because Ella and Iggy can break up but, the bonds of being siblings is stronger than that. Iggy wouldn't ever leave you, he'll always protect you like Fang or I would."

Nudge sighed, "Max, but you and Fang have something more than that. Don't say it's because I'm young either! You two were in love forever pretty much even though you didn't know it! What if Iggy doesn't know it either? What if he hasn't realized his feelings for me?" She gave me a weak smile and I knew then that she didn't even believe her own words.

Her eyes were on her hands, "You're lucky Max, to have the one you love the most already and to have them feel the same way." I reached over and grabbed her hands, I guess I had gotten better at this emotions things because I said.

"Nudge, I have a lot of loves." I saw her confused and shocked expression. I gave a smile and continued, "I have Ella and Dr. Martinez, my biological family. I have Angel, my baby. Gazzy, my pyromanic. Iggy, my sexist pig. Fang, my best friend. And Nudge, my sister." Nudge smiled and wrapped her arms around me.

"There are more than one kind of love Nudge. Be happy with the ones you've got." I felt her head nodding in agreement as we hugged. Her cheek was sticky from tears but I was glad to know that no new ones formed.

"I love you Max," Nudge whispered and I smiled wide. When she pulled away, she gave me another smile. I had made everything all right.

After making sure Nudge didn't appear as if she was crying, we went downstairs where everyone, even Gazzy, Angel, and Total, who had been playing outside, and my mom were there eating breakfast. In the living room, to our left, there was a giant tree by the fire that we had decorated few days ago after we got out of school for vacation. Nine stockings hang on the fireplace for our large family.

I slipped into the seat Fang had saved for me and I wrapped my hand into his underneath the table. We both ate as if we weren't touching at all and listened to the conversations. Tonight and tomorrow, we would celebrate our first official and happy Christmas.

Hopefully, said the optimistic part of my mind, it wasn't the last.