I HATE THIS!!!

Can you hear me now?

Unfortunately, yes.

How about now?

Ugh, let's stop. This could go on all day.

Now?

Are you even listening to me Fang?!

Well, yeah, you're voice is in my head Max.

Oh, never mind. Go away, I need to think alone.

It's not as if you can do anything about it.

I could not come and save your ass.

Fine, see you soon. And Max?

What?!

I love you.

Oh- right. Loveyoutoobye!

(chuckles)

I pressed my fingers against my head while trying to block Fang from my mind (hence the little questionnaire you just read) while flying towards New York City to go find him. I can tell you- it's not fun having Fang in my thoughts at all. It was bad enough with Angel and with her, I had developed a block so it was easy to avoid her. With Fang, I hadn't yet developed enough strength to build another wall.

Well, Jeb just won himself "Father of the Year" award (please note the sarcasm). I steadied myself on the wind so I didn't have to flap for a while as I complained to myself. Sure, Jeb had helped us in the way that he told me where Fang was and all that. But this connecting me with Fang's mind was way too much! Not at all helpful in anyway and was totally screwing me up.

Do you think I like having you in my mind?

Apparently, Fang was a lot more talkative in his brain. I think I prefer his silence. I found myself flying for a few seconds and then all of a sudden, I had flashes of images in front of my mind of what Fang was thinking about such as where he was living, the flock, us at the movies (which I didn't mind seeing that one), or Brigid (I minded that image a bit too much).

You could stop thinking for awhile. It's just like not talking which you're good at.

I didn't want to sound mean or angry but it was hard not to. I felt like the time Gazzy went around the house with my bra and was revealing it to everyone. I mean- I shared everything with Fang but not everything.

What? You don't trust me?

I trust you more than most people trust anyone in their entire life Fang but they don't have to worry about someone reading their mind all the time!

What secrets could you possibly have?

None that you should be concerned about!

In a positive note, I had grown use to not thinking of certain things when Angel was still able to read my mind and I couldn't block her. I had to apply the same techniques to Fang here right now. I just don't think of embarrassing thoughts or secrets EVER and he will never know.

"Max," Angel frowned, her little eyebrows digging in as her blue eyes watched me. "Are you all right? You seem kind of fidgety?" Sure, let's bring that to attention while I got my boyfriend reading my mind and a dependent flock staring at me while flying over highways and clouds towards said boyfriend!

Wow- it's like Nudge.

Shut up Fang…just shut up.

Could be nicer about it…

Let's say I did but I just won't.

You must really miss me.

Not with you annoying me like this.

Focus on getting here. I need you Max.

I need you too but Fang, let's try not hearing each other for awhile. I need to be alone.

All right, sounds good. I'll watch some "Dark Knight" while I wait for you.

I let out a breath when Fang's thoughts turned down in volume. I could hear and focus on his thoughts if I tried really, really hard but because I didn't want to, they faded away with the wind rushing past my ears. I stared at the flock. To tell them or not to tell them- that is not a question. "I'm fine guys, don't worry, let's go. We've got about twenty minutes of flying."

"Max," Gazzy was suddenly flying up beside me, "I've been meaning to tell you…I kind of have a new power." Uh-oh, do you see where this is going? I mean, this is the bodily fluid kid we're talking about. Everyone else in the flock had flown ahead but Gazzy and I slowed down our speed.

"What is it Gazzy?" I asked, not sure if I wanted to know.

"Well, when we were living on our own, Angel and I, I had to do all the hunting and taking care of her. I found that- at certain times- I could change into another animal…not physically but mentally. I found berries because my senses were like a bird's or catch a rabbit because I thought like a wolf…it came out of nowhere," Gazzy stared at me, either for approval or for punishment.

"Animal mimicry," I answered, "Interesting. Is there any issues with it Gazzy?" I watched as he looked down at the ground hundreds of feet below. "What is it?"

"I lost control a lot…Angel luckily could stop me with her mind but I got to some points were I thought I was the animal. I got really angry as a wolf or cried a lot as a bird. I'm not sure why but each animal made me do certain things. I had the hardest as a wolf. I find myself snarling and angry at certain times," Gazzy ran a hand through his hair.

"It may be because you're growing up Gazzy. We all have problems with new gifts," I answered him. He looked up at me wearily. "We'll watch out for you, don't worry Gazzy, nothing will ever happen to you." Gazzy smiled.

"I love you Max," he was suddenly back to the eight-year-old I remembered instead of the slightly silent, a bit moody depending on the day, ten-year-old boy in front of me. He was still Gazzy though.

"Love you too Gazzy, now, let's catch up and go find Fang." I smiled and we both increased speed to fall into place among the flock. There was nothing holding us back now. We would be a flock again.

I just never put Ella into that equation until I felt myself falling.