Author's Note: I'm horrible at editing! I'm so sorry, those chapters are a disgrace (I'm updating from my phone so this probably won't be much better... sadly) Review!

Oh and PS. I have a one-shot of Newt and MaC back at the Maze... it's basically the beginning of their relationship... "After"is what it's called. Placed After Newt's attempt at SPOILER ALERT, revealed in The Death Cure... after he gets his limp...

I stared, unmoving... I looked straight into his eyes, a mistake. He'd looked back, locking me in place with only one look. He tore is eyes from mine, and stared at the ground before returning to the task at hand. I walked with Brenda to the kitchens. "MaC!"

I smiled, "Frypan!" He held out his hand. I shook, smirking, I had a firm grip..."Any chance we can get a bite to eat?"

He started his rant about missing mealtimes, and pestering him about food... much like at the maze. I folded my hands across my chest and smirked once more, "Whine all you want, Frypan. You know you love it..."

He couldn't hold back the smile tugging the edge of his mouth. "Take care of yourself, MaC," he said.

I nodded in reply, "You too..."

Brenda had sat been sitting pretty during the conversation, taking the chance to avert my attention back to her she said, "You should go check on your group after this."

I nodded handed her a plate of... whatever Frypan had seen fit for us to eat... it looked more like pig slop than actual food. "After... there's a Gathering this afternoon."

"There is?" she asked with equal parts of curiosity and frustration, "Why wasn't I invited?"

"Brenda you're not the Keeper of anything."

"Neither were you back in the Maze." she said calmly. When in the maze I had been part of the Gatherings because I'd fought to be there. I'd been there longer than most of the shanks in the shuck Gathering, so i thought I should be there. Newt and Minho had agreed with my every word, helping me to persuade Alby and the rest. "I fought for it..."

She looked at me, incredulous, "And who says I won't?"

"No one, what I'm saying is that if you want to be part of the Gatherings, you have to prove your capable of making the hard decisions... I know you are, but you gotta prove that to them... this shank can't interfere."

She pondered the thought, then finally responded, "Thanks... I'll think on what you said..."

"Oh, and Brenda..."

She turned back, "Yeah?"

"Thanks..."

She smiled, "Any time Mac, Anytime"

Later That Day...

I sighed, it was about time for the Gathering. I had been avoiding Minho all day, but now... I would have to talk to him. There was no getting around it. So, I walked... I greeted and smiled, acknowledging the few who recognized me as one of those who'd rescued them... or gone through the same thing. The Gathering was to be held in the clearing that the flat trans had dumped us. I took a few more steps until I was looking out into the clearing... no one was there.

Rolling my eyes, I looked around for a tree. Granted there were trees all around me, but I was looking for one to climb... One the had a somewhat comfortable branch that I could sit/lay in for a while.

"Ah-ha!" I said for my own benefit. I think it was a mulberry tree, but then again I don't know much about trees other than they're fun to climb and a good place to sleep if you're not to picky and don't roll around much. Limb by limb, branch by branch I found the spot I was looking for. Not too far off the ground there was a good-sized branch wide enough for me to sit on without fear of falling. I planted my bottom and leaned back against the tree,listening to the quietness of the wood and the creatures that lived there...

The birds chirped happily in their trees singing songs as they went. The gentle wind shifted the leaves in the trees making a subtle sound that most would not acknowledge. I heard my heart beating in my chest. I wondered how many times I'd come close to having that steady beat stop... It must be a lot. What made me different? Why was I allowed to live whilst others had to die? What made me and the others here so much different from those who died in the maze and scorch?

I guess I'll never know...

"Figures," a voice from below the tree muttered. My initial shock cleared and I looked down. A breath caught in my lungs, Minho.

"What figures?" I asked managing a nonchalant tone. I made no move to climb down.

"Figures that you'd-" he began climbing, "be in a shuck tree, when there's supposed to be a Gathering."

"No one has gathered..." I said as he sat down in a cluster of branches not a foot from where I was perched. "And what else were you expecting?"

He smirked, obviously thinking of something that would make me have to smack him. I rolled my eyes and looked at him... our casualness fading fast, I could no longer meet his gaze. "Minho-"

"Don't. You don't owe me anything..."

"But I do, Minho, I do. You deserve an explanation .." he didn't interrupt, so I continued, "I... I like you...a lot... but, I... I don't... I'm not ready for another... relationship... at least not now... I'm sorry."

He moved towards me, the gap between us closing fast. My breath caught in my lungs, "You have nothing to be sorry for... I shouldn't have put you in that position." He was being so serious, not a hint of sarcasm or joke. Fora split second fear filled me, was it possible that the man standing in front of me was not who I thought it was? Did WICKED somehow swap Minho for this... Imposter? Could it be possible?

No. One look into those deep dark eyes erased all doubts that I could possibly have. It was Minho, steady and true. His calloused hand cupped the side of my face, "But I'll wait... However long it takes... I'll be here." I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came... And then it was too late. He was climbing down the tree, to the ground... away from me... But he'd said he'd wait. I had no doubt he would.

Author's Note: Sorry this took so long... busy week, but it's up now right?! So Review... Seriously review! Will take anything, just review! Please!