Well, hello world!

Haha, so it's kinda been a long time since I updated this story…

Hope I haven't lost too many readers.

So just giving everyone a heads up, this story is almost at its' end. I'm hoping no more then 40 chapters, and we are at 35…

So pardon me if time is dramatically going faster from this point on, but I have a couple more ideas that are crucial I add.

I probably won't add what time of the year it is any more, just until the last few chapter. So from here on out, it's up to your imagination as to what season, month, year ect. they are in, capishe?

So bare with me as this story slowly comes to an end.

Anyway, I'll spare you my sad life and just continue from where we left off.

Enjoy :)

Chapter 35: Setting Things In Motion

"Hey Iggy, have you seen Akila lately?" I asked, coming down from the stairs and into the kitchen where Iggy was sitting on the counter.

He looked up at me as he bit into an apple, the loud crunch bouncing off the cabinets annoyingly. He swallowed and wiped the side of his mouth with his sleeve. Pig.

"Nope." He replied, popping the 'p'. "Sorry Max, didn't know I was on doggy patrol. Do you want me to make 'Lost Dog' signs as well?"

He leaped off the counter and sauntered into the living room, picking up the remote. I rolled my eyes and followed him, standing by the TV with my arms crossed and glaring at my brother.

"I was just asking, jeez, you don't have to be so rude about it." He ignored me and flicked on the TV.

Suddenly I changed my voice to a more sincere tone. "Oh wait, is it your time of the month sweetie? Poor baby, do you have cramps Iggy?"

I made a frown and looked at him with sad eyes, touching my heart for a dramatic effect.

I didn't even faze him, though he simply lifted his left hand and shot me the bird. Ha! I did get him mad! Mission: complete.

I huffed loudly and shifted my weight to my other foot, "Well, do you know where mom's at? Akila is about to pop and I don't want her to give birth without mom being here."

He rolled his eyes and shifted to face me, "Why do you need mom? And Akila is not going to pop, Max. It's called giving birth." He ended the sentence in a 'duh' tone; which only ticked me off.

"Well only because, I don't know, mom is a freaking VET! She knows how to do all that animally stuff and we don't. Idiot." I too, ended my sentence in a 'duh' tone.

He clenched his jaw and focused back on the TV screen. "Don't you have anything better to do, like go color or something?"

Sometimes I wonder why God punished me by sending me to live with Iggy.

I stuck out my tongue like a child and stomped away, my arms crossed over my chest and my eyes fuming.

I had already checked the second story and bottom level, no luck finding my pregnant dog. I mean how far could she have gone?

And then I remembered I hadn't checked the basement.

I quickly ran down the three stairs and flicked on the light, my eyes blinking rapidly to adjust. I scanned the whole room, behind the couch, under the TV table, the corner beside the game closet.

And still, no pregnant dog.

I was just about to walk back upstairs when I heard a soft whimper. I stopped at the top of the last step and listened.

Another soft cry coming from behind the cabinet that held the extra blankets.

I reached over and picked up a fallen pillow, only to see Akila curled in the corner, looking up at me with big cow eyes.

"Akila!" I shouted, feeling relieved to find her.

Her ears went flat against her head as another soft whimper came from her.

I kneeled down and stroked the top of her head, her eyes in pain and fear. "What's the matter girl?"

She looked into my eyes and then looked down, her breath coming in short puffs. I followed her head down and saw that she could possibly be pointing at her stomach. Her stomach…

Did she eat something bad?

Was she feeling sick?

Were the pups coming?

I suddenly sucked in a breath, the pups were coming.

The freaking pups were coming! NOW!

I cursed under my breath and yelled for Iggy. I scanned the room and racked my brain for possible ways I could do this.

"Iggy! Get down here now, Akila is giving birth!"

To be honest, I had no clue what to do. None. Nothing. Zip.

I heard rushed footsteps stop at the door of the basement.

"She's what?!" Iggy asked, his face looking panicked, no doubt like mine.

"Do you want me to spell it out for you! She's giving birth! What do we do?"

Suddenly I reached for my back pocket and brought out my phone. Iggy came at my side and looked down at Akila, his mouth streaming with curses and prayers.

I quickly dialed my mom's number and waited for her to answer. It was the longest forty-five seconds of my life.

"I told you she was going to pop! But you never listen to me Iggy!"

The phone kept ringing.

"Well, how was I supposed to know she was going to pop right now; I'm not a freaking psychic!"

Still kept ringing.

"You just had a health class, you should know about this kind of stuff right? About birth and babies." I looked at Iggy frantically, my eyes wide.

He stopped and looked at me like I was stupid.

"Yes Max, but for humans!" His voice rose as he yelled at me, then he pointed to Akila.

"Does she look human to you?!"

I rolled my eyes as I heard my mom finally answer the phone.

"Hi Max, I just came…"

"Mom! Oh thank God! Mom, Akila is giving birth! You need to come home now! I don't know what to do!"

Iggy and I looked at each other as I heard my mom suck in a breath.

"Now? But Max, I'm at the vet… You guys have to did this without me."

Well that helped.

"But mom, we have no idea what to do!"

Iggy was stroking Akila's side, his worried eyes focused on my own.

"Ok, first of all, you both need to calm down. Don't stress or worry cause it will only lead to stress for Akila. Second I need you to go get fresh towels and the empty basket that we keep in the hamper room."

I instructed Iggy to get the supplies, and he returned a few minutes later with the towels and basket.

"Ok mom, we got the things, what do we do now?"

Akila whimpered loudly, she was in pain.

"Next, I need you to check if the placenta came out."

I scrunched my face and looked at Iggy, "The what?"

My mother sighed, "Max, check if clear stuff came out of her butt."

I frowned and looked, seeing a pool of what looked like a puddle of clear jelly on the towel under Akila's body.

"Yes, yes! There's clear stuff, what now? Is that normal? Oh God, it smells."

I plugged my nose as I saw what I hoped a puppy was coming into view.

"Max, is that one of them?" Iggy kept stroking Akila's head as we watched a puppy slump into the blanket.

"Mom," I breathed, watching as Akila sat up and touched the puppy with here nose.

"Max! What happened? Did one come out already?" I couldn't say a word as I watched Akila begin to lick him-or her.

"Yes mom, one came out. What do I do?" I heard my mom laugh in the other end.

"That's good, just wait a second and then pick up the puppy and dry him with the towel. Then do the same when the other puppies come out."

Iggy gently picked up the crying puppy in the towel and began to rub it.

It cried the whole time, the small black figure squirming in Iggy's hand.

"Max, honey, I have to go. I can hear him crying, that's a good sign. Just dry them, soothe Akila and let her do the rest, she knows what she's doing. I'll be home as soon as I can."

I ended the call and watched as Iggy placed the puppy in the basket. "It's a boy." He stated and I saw his little head move as he cried from the center of the basket.

"And here comes another one…" Iggy mumbled.

And so, after one hour and thirty minutes, Akila was a new mother to six puppies.

My mom had finally arrived after the fourth puppy was born, and I was crying like a baby.

"Oh Max, Iggy, you guys did amazing! I'm so proud of both of you!"

Once Akila had cleaned her puppies, they were all together once again. We watched as the puppies crawled to their mother, blindly searching for a source of milk.

"Yeah, well I just about lost my lunch and future meals." We rolled our eyes at Iggy, our mom hugging him around the waist.

"I'm so proud of you Iggy." She smiled and placed a kiss on top of his head.

…

So hope you all didn't lose your lunch either, that was a rather… graphic event. You can see now, Akila and Total are one happy family with their new addition.

As for me and my life, well let's just say that I also have another surprise in store for me.

…

"Hey Max, you're um, not busy on Saturday, are you?"

My eyes found Fang's black ones from across the room; I smiled and shook my head.

"Nope. I'm free all day long. Why, did you wanna hang out?"

I watched him as he nodded his head, and was that, was that pink blossoming on his cheeks? Gasp.

"Yeah, I kinda had something to show you. If that's okay with you." He looked down at his textbook, as I laughed from my desk. We were currently 'studying' in my room.

I got up from my chair and took a running start to my bed, jumping at the last second and landing next to Fang. We both sunk into the mattress and his papers flew everywhere. Oopies.

"Why wouldn't it be okay Fang?" He looked at me with some irritation in his eyes, but it quickly melted away as I smiled up at him. "Well I didn't know if you had plans or something."

I rolled my eyes and crawled closer to him, "Me? Plans? I don't have a social life, remember?" We both laughed as I sat beside him, my head resting on his shoulder.

"And if I did have plans, I probably would cancel them anyway." I felt his cheek move up into a smile and his fingers gently drumming the top of his binder.

I wonder what this thing was that he wanted to show me…

Saturday – 6:15 p.m.

I was lying around all day, being the lazy bum that I am, waiting for Fang. To call me. To text me. To ring my doorbell. To kidnap me for crying out loud. But instead I got nada.

He made no attempt to contact me, I knew for sure he was giving me the silent treatment. Yeah, well too bad for him, cause two can play that game!

"Max, you've been in your room all day, is everything alright?"

My mom stood at my door, a worried glance faced in my direction. I was currently lying down on my bed, with my head hanging off the side where my feet should be, absentmindedly watching the moving pictures on my TV screen.

"Yuperoos, everything is just dandy." I tried my hardest not to add fake enthusiasm, but I failed miserably. She checked my room and sat on my bed, gently laying a hand on my forehead.

"You're not getting sick are you?" The sincere worry hinted in her voice made me sit up and look her in the eye.

"No, I'm not getting sick; I'm just," I searched for the right the word, "I'm just troubled with some things."

I looked down as she stroked my hair, "With Fang?"

My head snapped up and met her eyes, a playful smile on her lips.

"What? Psh, no. Why would I be troubled cause of a guy? That's ridiculous." My eyes traveled down to my bed, suddenly very interested in the pattern on my sheets.

"Max, I've known you all your life, I know when someth…" she was interrupted by my phone, signaling me I had a new text message.

I got up and read the screen,

1 New Message: Fang

"Hmm, speak of the devil." I muttered.

My mom just chuckled behind and stood, heading for the door. "All I'm saying Max, is that I'm here if you want to talk."

We both smiled at each other and she left my room, leaving me to read the text from Fang.

Fang: Can u come over right now?

Oh now he wants to hang out with me? After all this time?

Me: depends on wat we r doing

Fang: it's a surprise

I snorted loudly and fell back on my bed.

Me: u know I hate surprises

Fang: but you'll love this one, I promise

I laid the phone on my stomach and stared at the ceiling. Maybe this is what we needed. To be with each other.

Even though everything is all smiles and giggles with the whole kissing-Lisa-drama, we haven't really, been the same. We aren't at the level we were before, were kinda starting over. Again.

Me: I'll b there in 5 minutes

Fang: just don't come thru the back

I quickly dressed in a grey thermal, some old jeans and my trusty ol' Ugg boots.

I walked downstairs and found my dad and Iggy in the living room; my mom was on her laptop in the dining table.

"Bye guys, I'm going to Fang's house!' I called, already walking out the front door. I jogged to the end of my street and turned onto Fang's, grumbling about not being able to use our secret entrance from the backyard.

I finally reached his house and knocked once, then was greeted by Angel.

"Max! I haven't seen you in forever!" I laughed and hugged her skinny form, her blond curls bouncing.

"Missed you too sweetie. It's been too long since I've seen you guys."

We walked into the house, her small hand clutching mine.

"So, have you seen your brother?" I glanced around the house, noticing that the whole house was dark, except the kitchen.

"Um, Angel, what's going on?" I asked, her body walking in front of me as she led me into the kitchen.

I stared at her confused, until she finally stopped and released my hand.

She turned to face me and she held a small envelope in her hands. She smiled innocently and handed me the envelope, her eyes burning into mine.

"Okie dokie, so here's what's going to happen." She placed her hands behind her and began pacing back and forth in front of me, almost like a captain would to his cadet team. It would be adorable if I weren't completely confused as heck right now.

"When I leave this room, you will open the letter, reads its' content, find three more letters, and then," she stopped pacing and pointed a finger at me, "Only then, are you allowed to see Fang. Is that understood?"

I blinked twice and nodded my head slowly, "Yes, ma'am?" It came out more like a question.

She puffed out her chest and raised her hand to her forehead, like she was saluting me. "Alright, that will be all. Your mission begins, now!"

She smiled and raced off, up the stairs, leaving me in total confusion. But, I decided I would open the letter anyway, just to play along.

If you opened this letter, that means who have survived the wrath of Angel, so far you're off to a good start.

I laughed as I recognized Fang's writing.

So, to be able to enjoy this night as planned, you first must acquire necessary materials that are very crucial.

First target on the list:

This item is a one of a kind, now where else in the world can it be found, but only here in our little town. It's sweet and baked with care, a treat Max doesn't like to share.

My eyebrows crinkled in confusion and I looked around the kitchen. What don't I like to share?

I share anything, except for my mom's chocolate chip cookies. Those are mine, and only mine. But what does that have to do with anything?

Suddenly the smell hit me, like a freight train. Chocolate!

I lifted my nose in the air and sniffed the delightful aroma; it was definitely my mom's cookies.

I looked across the long counter top, but found nothing. But I could smell the cookies! Where were they!?

I began to open drawers and cabinets, searching for my cookies. I passed the stove and opened the drawer that contained the cups when I stopped. The smell was coming stronger in this direction,

I zeroed in on the stove door and yanked it open, to find a huge plate full of cookies on the middle rack.

I may have squealed for a second, but I'm not sure.

I pulled out the still warm plate and set the large batch of cookies on the counter, another small envelope placed on top.

I groaned and pulled out the letter from inside.

Congrats, item number one found. Now just don't eat them. Not even one. Trust me, I will know.

Second target on the list:

This next item shows us what the naked eye cannot portray, but it is used to see light-years far, far away.

Light-years? Oh gosh, this boy has been watching to many Toy Story movies.

What item shows us things that we can't already see?

Suddenly I was engulfed in blackness; the lights in the kitchen went out and I was standing alone in the dark. I looked around me, "Um, Angel?"

There was only silence until the light leading to the stairs was turned on. Creepy.

I walked toward it anyway and made my way up to the second story. The hallway light flickered on and I saw a small arrow scribbled on a piece of paper taped to a door.

I walked toward the door skeptically, stopping in front of it. I knew it wasn't Fang's or Angel's bedroom.

I opened the door and entered what looked like a small office or study room. There was a wooden desk to the left and an empty bookshelf to the right, a telescope placed in front of the window.

I looked down at the letter again, what could he possible mean?

There were only three items in here, none that were very helpful either. I walked toward the telescope, touching the sleek black body and wondering what the sky would look like. The stars that could be seen far away.

Wait a second… the naked eye can't see stars that are light-years away, can they? I smiled to myself and grabbed the telescope, tucking it under my arm.

Well, aren't I such a clever girl?

I turned and saw another envelope taped on top of the light switch; I pulled it down and read the letter.

So Maxie does have a brain, it takes quite some skill to have come this far.

Almost done, one last item and then we can enjoy the night in bliss.

Third target on the list:

This last item is a small glass case, filled with wondrous music when you touch its' face.

What has a face that is made of glass? I was so gunna kill Fang once this little charade was over.

Once again, the lights turned off and I walked out to the lit hallway once again. I found another arrow on a paper taped to Fang's door.

Hmm, the item is in his room. I quickly opened the door and strolled into his room, glancing at his made bed. So he does keep a tidy room, so weird.

So, I'm looking for item filled with music. His laptop maybe? But it was nowhere to be seen.

What else contained music?

Did he have some sort of music box? No.

Fang and his precious music…

What's the one thing he never leaves home without?

And then it clicked; his iPod Touch.

I went to his desk and found the 'last item' sitting there with another dumb envelope under it.

I lifted the iPod and stuck it in my pocket, then opened the letter.

Well, well, well, we have a winner!

Nice going Max, you have completed the mission, and now you can be rewarded. In a second you will be escorted to your new destination where you will meet your acquaintance for the evening.

I laughed despite myself and shook my head. Oh Fangy, what am I going to do with you?

The lights turned off again, and I just stood there until one light came on and I saw Angel smiling up at me.

To be honest, I was a little freaked out. But what's the worst she could do? Hug me to death?

"This way ma'am." She once again grabbed my hand and led me downstairs, stopping in front of the sliding door that led to the backyard. The dark blue curtains were closed shut, obstructing my view.

"And don't forget these." I looked down and saw her holding the plate of cookies. I took them from her and watched as she stepped to the side, her hand reaching for the light switch.

"Have fun Max." Were her last words before she flicked off the switch.

And there I was holding a plate of chocolate chip cookies, a telescope and an iPod.

In the dark. Again.

Fang was dead.

Alright my lovely readers, that came out a lot longer than expected, but I owed it to you guys.

So can anyone guess what Fang is planning? Any guesses would be greatly appreciated in a review!

I want to have reached 400 reviews or more before this story ends, and we are coming down to the last few chapters, so please guys!

Anywho, hope you liked!