All You Need is Love

Being our first official Christmas with more to celebrate than to regret, we decided to begin our mutant, jolly festivities that night. We all dressed in these special pajamas that my mom had bought- they were very in season. For example, mine was red pants and buttoned-up long sleeved shirt with little snowmen all over. Everyone else had similar things.

Angel fluttered about on her angel wings, the symbol of our kind of Christmas, in the pink pajamas with little angels all over them. Even Total got a little Santa hat to wear. My mom had brought out music that played on the stereo, Iggy and Gazzy lit up the fire (in the fireplace thank goodness), and Ella helped Nudge and me make some food.

Fang was watching me casually from the corner of the room. His thoughts lost on all the worst parts of our lives- I wish I could pull him out from it but his fate had been a lot worse than mine back at the School. He had suffered a lot more.

I watched as Ella plopped cookie dough onto the sheet while swaying back and forth to the music. Well, I was trying to eat a piece of the delicious goop raw but somehow, even with my super fast reflexes, my sister seemed to notice and smack my wrist.

Nudge was talking about how she was designing this new dress for tomorrow's Christmas celebration that took place in the town square at night. Apparently, they lit up the large tree in the center of town while everyone oohed and ahhed. Yeah, fun.

I went for some cookie dough but Ella smacked my hand again. As I shook the stinging hand, I glared at her. "Well, you shouldn't try to ruin my perfectly made food." She placed the new tray in while pulling a new batch out.

"There's nothing you can make that can't be made. I could easily do that." I stuck out my tongue just as Iggy walked in.

"Max? Cook? No way, not unless you're willing to die." He turned towards his own part of the party- some kind of fancy desert that looked really good. I won't bother with the name. Everyone was chuckling at Iggy's remark anyways and I was real angry about.

"I can cook just fine if I have to," I complained. But everyone was back to the swing of things- dancing to the music or singing along, Nudge talking about a new piece of clothing, Iggy and Ella baking, and Fang silent in the corner.

Angel and Gazzy were now in the kitchen. This house was built for six bird kids and others so there was plenty of space. "Do we get presents tonight?" Angel asked curiously. Her voice was delicate and sweet. She had a scar on her arm from the M-Geek attack a year ago, around the same time she stopped hearing thoughts.

"Nope," Ella gave a smile, "Tomorrow, that's how it works kiddo." I quickly grabbed a cookie, even though it was too hot, and burnt my tongue on the first bite. "Max," Ella warned, "You're supposed to wait." I rolled my eyes and shrugged. Since when was I ever the patient one?

I missed this, just my family talking like this. I had been wrapped up in my selfish sorrow that I didn't do much to make things better for them. I regretted that I hadn't smiled more or talked more. One more minute with them, I told myself, is all I needed just to tell them I was okay. I guess they knew that now since Fang and I were together.

Iggy made more sexist jokes.

Nudge talked more.

Gazzy built bigger explosions (away from the house).

Angel smiled and spoke with me more.

For the longest time I thought it was just me who held this flock together but I see now how many times I have failed to do that. Fang and I took on the job, sometimes one of us had it more than the other, but it was how we worked. When I was a wreck, Fang was the one taking care of the flock. When he could be silent and invisible, I was telling them what to do. We were worked together- not alone- which is why I would always go back to him. That's how much I needed Fang.

Later, once the party got into swing, we began boards of Monopoly and cards (which was easier without Angel being able to read our minds). We surrounded one coffee table, some of us on the couch or on the floor. Fang and I were right next to each other, in between rounds holding hands underneath the table or his hand reassuringly on my knee where no one could see.

Nudge appeared over her sadness about Iggy and didn't seemed bothered whenever Ella or he kissed. I bet it still hurt her a bit but I hoped what I said had put everything into perspective for her. Angel and Gazzy were caught trying to cheat a few times whereas Total had to have my mom as a partner because he couldn't hold his own cards. "Insulting that this should have to happen," he would mutter. We were all smiling. We were all laughing. We were having Christmas.

Eventually, after the younger kids (Nudge, Gazzy, Angel) and Total went to bed. I placed on my boots and my thick coat. Fang followed after me as I flew up onto the roof. Using my wings by bend my back a bit, I wiped off the snow and sat down on the cold surface. My head tilted back to stare up at the stars and the moon. Out here, it felt like when we had been in the desert only a few years ago. A lot happens when you have to save the world- after that- it's pretty slow and amazing.

"What are you thinking about?" Fang always wanted to know. I could ask him the same thing because I was just as curious. What did he see in me? Everything, nothing, a little bit a both? Were we together because we were in love- the real deal or because we were teenagers that needed someone to understand? I hopefully wished for the first but I've learned not to plan ahead too much or to assume. You get hurt that way.

"Just," I began with a sigh, "wondering if we're supposed to be here you know? We were lab rats so I'm just wondering if we weren't in God's plans- or whoever's a plan…Are we suppose to be alive?" Fang wrapped an arm around my shoulder as his wing went over my back.

"Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be Max." Warmness tingled my blood and I felt myself smile. "Merry Christmas," he murmured, holding up his clock which glowed in the dark, it read midnight. It was now Christmas Day.

Our first holiday with a family that was real and intact. We were normal (as much as we could be) and happy. We had saved the world. Our real Christmas.

Except for the nagging feeling about Brigid and Abraham came to mind.

Soon I would have to face them.

But that didn't matter for the moment.

"Merry Christmas," I whispered back as our lips came together. A nice, wonderful present and I didn't need any present. Fang's hand gently held my cheek and the arm that had been around my shoulder was now holding my waist. Forget the freezing temperatures and the snow, Fang kept me warm and protected. We kissed for the longest time it felt, not needing air- as if we could live off each other. We did in a way. In the back of my head, I heard an old song I had listened to once before, repeating in sync with our kisses.

All you need is love. All you need is love.

Boy, did they have that right.

To bad our world was about to come shattering down.

Song is "All you need is Love" by the Beatles (my favorite band in the entire world btw)

Hope you enjoy because if you read that last line- not so good. (evil laugh with evil music playing in the background)