I don't own MR

Fang

"I'm not supposed to tell you why we're actually here, alright Iggy, and I still don't like you after that stunt you pulled, but I have the fashion sense of an emo high schooler who writes dark poetry, so… what should I wear for the wedding?" I asked the mirror in front of me, my mind boggling with what little I packed and the three thousand dollars I had stowed away for safe keeping. Most of that needed to go to a ring, but that didn't mean I couldn't get some cologne that smelled more like man and less like eight year old's shampoo. Behind me, Iggy sat on my bed, staring in my general direction with a smirk on his face.

"Maximum Ride getting married in Sin City? Oh this will go down in history,"

"Is that code for bowtie?" I questioned, my voice rising with the drip-drops of panic that had begun to overwhelm me. It occurred to me then that non-traditional weddings don't necessarily call for bowties. But they didn't call for dresses either and Max and Lupo had disappeared earlier claiming they were going to get 'groceries', but Max didn't know the first thing about buying anything that wasn't already cooked and ready to eat and Lupo most definitely would much rather spend her time with Iggy than buying vegetables. If she was going to lie she could have at least lied well.

"It's code for calm down. You're a sarcastic mofo' acting like a schoolboy. Get a grip." Iggy demanded, getting to his feet, taking a couple steps towards the lamp in the corner of the room, and then stopping. "You know what, I can't really see you to walk up and slap you all dramatically and frankly I'm slightly scared that I might be about to break something so could you please shove me in the general direction of the bed so I can sit down again."

I sighed and rolled my eyes, grabbing my not-really-anymore friend's wrist and dragging him back to the bed that Max and I would end up on tonight as Mr. and Mrs. Ride. "Stop trying to do dramatic things, Iggy. You can't see," I pointed out.

"Are you sure? Black's a color and also your aura. Maybe I'm developing a superpower where I can see people's moods."

"Or maybe you've walked into one too many walls," I suggested, heading over to my backpack and rifling through it. "Now give me some solid advice. You've been in love longer than I have."

"While true I've also never been proposed to. Although if this was Lupo and me, she'd want me to just be chill. You guys are already in love, you already do sick things to each other, and she was willing to keep a baby for you, so you're basically already married. Now all you're missing is the petty fights- oh wait, nevermind. Note to Mr. Ride- don't ask Max to make you a sandwich."

"Can you please not bring up the lowest moment in my life?" I mumbled.

"Can you please admit that we're besties for the resties?" Iggy asked.

"Not if you say that ever again." Iggy smiled, and despite myself I smiled back. Maybe I didn't exactly hate him for almost killing the love of my life because he was so worried about material things- not anymore at least.

"You're smiling, aren't you?" My friend inquired.

"Absolutely not." I grinned lopsidedly before walking back over to the mirror.

"Rule number one, don't be a worse liar than your spouse." Iggy joked, and we both broke out into laughter. However, as it faded away, so did my sense of relief. There was only twelve hours until our wedding and I still didn't even know whether or not to wear a bowtie.

"Alright, now this ring has to be perfection." Iggy stated as we headed into the nearest jewelry store. His finger was curled in one of my belt loops to keep from getting lost and breaking something. I didn't need to waste another three hundred dollars on a broken vase. "If it's too flashy she'll hate it, but if it's not good enough to be used as a weapon in some way she'll also hate it."

"I don't know how flashy and weapon correlate but whatever. So, should it have a stone of some sort or just be plain?" I wondered out loud, walking past all the rings.

"What are we? Cavemen? Of course it has to have a stone. Not diamonds though- way too cliche. What's her birthstone?"

"I don't know, when was she born?" I asked, glancing over my shoulder at Iggy as he stopped dead in his tracks. "What?"

"You don't even know her birthday?" He accused, sounding utterly appalled.

"I don't think she ever told me." I muttered, thinking back to all the time we've spent together. Nope. Nothing came to mind.

"Did you ever ask?" Iggy inquired, raising an eyebrow as he stared at my ear.

"Well when you're running for your life it's not that important." I growled persistently.

"Okay, okay. What's your birthday then?" My mouth opened but my mind hadn't yet pulled that file, and my voice faltered. When was my birthday? Was I already eighteen? Had that month passed yet?

"Um… July!" I remembered. "It's July 21st."

"Alright, get a ring with ruby stone in it then. That way she'll always have a piece of you," Iggy decided, and I blinked once in confusion.

"What does a ruby have to do with me?"
"It's your birthstone, Genius," Iggy rolled his unseeing eyes and tugged at my belt loop. "Now go find one."

"Alright, I'm going. Don't need to be pushy about it." I grumbled, walking over to the section labeled 'Ruby' and silently thanking whoever organized the stones based on birth month.

"Can I help you, Sir?" A voice fell into my ear, and I glanced up to find a blonde with a smile to wide for her face staring at me like I was a new specimen just released to the public.

"Well I'm looking for a ring for my girlfriend." I explained, and gestured to the section I was interested in. "And I need to find something she'll love with a ruby on it."

"Oh well alright! Are you planning on proposing? We have a whole section just for that right here, although they're a bit pricey."

"Nothing's too expensive for her," Iggy informed, and I nodded in agreement until I saw a four thousand dollar price tag attached to one of the plethora of rings.

"Um, well I have like a fifteen hundred dollar limit so is there anything around here like that?"

"Yes, Sir. We just got these five ring types in a couple days ago." The woman behind the counter unlocked one of the displays and pulled out five vastly different rings all sitting and their respective black velvet cases.

Some were too flashy, which immediately knocked out the first three, and then there were two left. One was a silver band lined with ruby flowers and the other was a gold band with a single ruby gem in the middle. Each strand of gold wrapped around it slightly, and I couldn't help but think of Max as I thought about it.

"I want the gold one right there," I said almost immediately, pointing at it.

"That'll be thirteen hundred dollars, plus tax." The woman said, a bright smile on her face as she walked it over to the cash register. I paid cash and shoved the little box in the inside pocket of my leather jacket before turning to Iggy even though he couldn't see that I was turning to him.

"So what's next?"

"Next is a suit."

"Well I only have twelve hundred dollars left and I kinda wanted to get some lunch." I whined, and my friend just shook his head at me.

"What's more important to you, looking nice for your Vegas wedding photo or adding a couple extra pounds to your already borderline fat figure."

"What? I'm not borderline- hey! You can't even see!" I snapped, although I still checked myself over. If anything I was skinnier than I used to be. Although I guess a month in a coma tends to do that to people.

"Okay, whatever you say, but when you're thirty and you can't walk on your own don't come crying to me."

"Iggy, shut up. Let's just go get a suit."

After spending the rest of my money we both ended up back at my hotel room, me trying to figure out how to tie a bowtie and Iggy snickering from where he sat on my bed as I complained about it.

"I'm surprised you even got the suit on with your incompetence," He joked, although I wasn't in the mood to laugh. Six hours to go and I had just realized I forgot dress shoes so I was stuck in my ratty black converse for what was about to go down. "Actually, why did you even put it in? You still have a few hours… I think." Iggy suddenly realized.

"I didn't put the suit on Iggy, just the shirt and the jacket. I'm taking Max out tonight to really propose to her before we get married." I told him, taking the jacket off, then putting it on, then taking it off again. I couldn't decide whether or not to wear it or my leather jacket.

"But you guys are already engaged," Iggy pointed out.

"That's because she asked me. Call me crazy but I want to do this right,"

"Well just don't do it in public whatever you do. Just because it's easier for us to blend in here doesn't mean you need to drag all the attention on her. Someone's gonna figure it out sooner or later if you do."

"I know. I have it all planned out." I waved off his warning, and watched as he opened his mouth to respond. Although the sound of Max's and Lupo's laughter cut both of our thoughts off, and I glanced at my friend as Lupo walked into our hotel room without so much as a knock.

"Max will be here in a second. She has to change first." She let me know, walking over and sitting next to her boyfriend.

"Great, can you see my sweat?" I asked anxiously, finally pulling on my leather jacket. it was more me. It worked better.

"Nope, but if you keep shaking like that sweat will be the least of your worries, Your Highness," Lupo pointed out, and I gulped before forcing myself to stop. Like Iggy said we were basically already married so there was no point in worrying about it.

"Okay, I'm cool, I'm calm. It's just two people who love each other making their love more permanent, right? That's it."

"Yeah, just don't accidentally say somebody else's name during your vows," Iggy chuckled, and I felt myself go pale just at the thought of that happening.

"Don't even joke," I snarled, glaring at him although he couldn't see it.

"Relax Fang. It's going to be fine. If it's any consolation, Max is just as nervous." Lupo promised, and I nodded, once, attempting to get a grip.

That attempt fell away into the pits of Hell however when Max stepped into the room wearing the hottest red dress I had ever seen. Although I couldn't for the life of me know what style it was or who made it I could tell that it was strapless and short, which made it and immediate winner for me.

After the initial shock of seeing so much of her long legs wore off, I realized she had curled her hair over one shoulder, and it had been dyed a chocolate brown that matched her eyes and made my heart melt. I could tell she felt nervous under my eyes by the way she shifted on her golden heels, but I was quick to get rid of that feeling. In just three strides I crossed the room and kissed her roughly, my arms wrapping around her waist and pulling her as close against me as she could possibly get.

"You are the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen," I whispered in her ear, trailing kisses down her neck.

"You don't look so bad yourself, Handsome. The hair gel was a nice touch," Max laughed lightly, her anxiety leaving her- and both of us as the sound filled the room. The obnoxious sound I loved so much.

"Why thank you," I smiled at my beautiful fiancee and let our fingers intertwine before turning to Iggy and Lupo.

"Well, we'll see you guys later," I waved once, as did Max, before we headed off to enjoy our first date of many.

When we got to one of the many expensive restaurants I double- then triple checked to make sure I had the ring and Iggy's credit card before we even had ordered our drinks. It was all accounted for and now all that was left to do was wait.

"So, what do you want to get?" I asked casually as I skimmed over the menu myself, looking through the pasta dishes.

"I don't know, what's your budget?" Max asked, looking over at me with those deep brown eyes. God, she was so beautiful I just wanted to take a picture of right now and live in it.

"No budget. Iggy's paying for this so just get whatever you want, Babe." I responded finally, looking back into my menu to keep from dragging her out of the restaurant and skipping to the honeymoon before the wedding even started.

"Alright well then we're getting an appetizer. This mushroom risotto looks awesome" Max drawled out the word, and I could see her mouth watering as she showed me the picture. I nodded once just as the waiter walked over, giving Max the kind of look most strippers got when they walked on stage. I didn't really like it but I wasn't going to ruin our wedding night because of some stupid jealousy over a guy who couldn't get her if he wanted.

"Welcome to Aze, may I get you two a drink?"

"Yes, I'd like a sweet tea."

"Me too, please." Max chimed in and just her voice made me smile.

"Alright and for an appetizer?"

"I'd like the wild mushroom risotto,"

"I'll take the ceasar salad," I replied and the waiter scribbled on the little notepad before looking back up at us, or rather back up at Max.

"And have you picked an entree, or do you need some time?" He asked, and Max quickly answered, obviously already having submerged himself into the menu.

"I'd like the Duo of Salmon."

"And you, Sir?" He asked, still looking at Max.

"The Filet Mignon." At my words the waiter took both of our menus and sent an award-winning smile at us.

"Your appetizer will be right out," and then he was gone, leaving Max and I alone with only each other. Under the table our ankles locked together, a slight reassurance for the both of us that nerves were pointless.

"You know, this is amazing. Just me and you here together. No worries, no wounds, and hey, we're both pretty clean." I finally said, reaching my hand towards Max, who took it with a half-smile on her face as she peered at me.

"It's all perfect. I have to be the luckiest fugitive in the world," she responded, her thumb brushing over the back of my hand in a melodic way. I blew out a laugh at that, glad she hadn't lost her sense of humor to wedding jitters like I had.

"And I'm the luckiest mutant," I added on, causing a soft smile to fall over her. If only I could lean over and kiss her without awkwardly hanging over the whole table.

"You know, since this whole marriage thing is going to happen so fast I thought I'd-" Max was interrupted by our waiter who dropped our appetizers in front of us smoothly, along with our drinks before leaving after a quick thank you from both us to go serve the new couple who had walked in.

"You thought you'd what?" I asked as I stuffed a bite of salad into my mouth, ignoring the fact that I probably should have gotten something that would have filled me up more.

"Well I don't know," Max mumbled, her courage drifting away as she took a bite of her risotto to stall. It took her an achingly long amount of time to chew and swallow before she finally said something again. "I just, since we're not actually making up our own vows I figured we could say some heartfelt stuff now- I mean not that you have to I just, I've been thinking and there's so many things I want to say you." Max finished, quickly shoving another bite in her mouth.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "There's plenty of time for that, Max. Don't worry so much about it. I probably already know everything you're going to say." I said as her ankle began to tap against mine with nerves. This was so unlike both of us but at the same time it felt so right. This date, this moment, this was all I ever wanted to do with the love of my life. Take her to fancy places, buy her the most beautiful ring, propose in a hotel room decorated to romantic perfection by a blind guy and his girlfriend... okay, maybe not so much that last one.

She didn't respond, but the light in her eyes dimmed a bit as she continued to want her appetizer, and although a swarm of questions and concern bubbled up inside me, I held it down for one night. I just wanted both of us to be happy right now, and if that meant keeping myself from prodding then so be it.

We ate our meal in a blur of conversation and long stories full of all kinds of jokes as we delved into each other's personal lives, learning new things about each other with every word. It was nice to fall into a rhythm. I would tell a story interrupted by Max's comments and then Max would tell based off of something I said and I would comment. It all flowed so smoothly. Just lie it was meant to be.

After our expensive dinner we both walked through the brightly lit city of Las Vegas, and at one point I draped my leather jacket around Max's bare shoulders, wrapping my arm around them and pulling her a little closer to me as we admired all the wild decorations and blinking lights on our walk back to the hotel. Her body fit perfectly against mine. Everything about her fit perfectly against me. We were the type of couple people dreamed of. The type of couple I dreamed of. And even as we rode the elevator up to our floor, and made our way to my room, I still couldn't believe this was real.

There's a year ago I was watching the news, smirking as Maximum Ride escaped again. Just a year ago I was in a courtroom, following every order my father spat out. Just a year ago I was a nobody. And now I was Max's fiance.

Slowly, drawing out the moment, I slid my card into the door, listening to the click that meant access had been granted and turning the knob, pushing the door open to reveal the room Iggy and Lupo had transformed in two hours.

Rose petals made up most of the floor and lined a heart on the bed, and candles served as our only lighting as we walked in- well, I walked in, Max stood in the doorway, frozen with awe as she looked around.

"Oh my God, Fang," she breathed out, and I could see her eyes glossing over as she slowly stepped inside, the door closing behind her. At first I felt a rock fall into my stomach at the thought of her crying, until i saw the smile and realized they were tears of joy.

Grinning myself, I grabbed her hand and led her to the bed, gesturing for to sit down, which she did with only a slight hesitation as she noticed the heart-shaped petals. I intertwined in her fingers with mine, gradually dropping down to one knee and looking up into her eyes as the first tears began to fall.

"I know were already engaged, but I wanted to do this right," I began, taking a shaky breath before beginning. "Maximum Ride, I've loved you since the first day I met you. You are the most amazing woman in the world and without you next to me I'm not sure I could have survived as long as I have. You are my universe and just the thought of us being apart makes my heart ache. Everything about you is perfection. From your hair- even when it's a mess, to the scars on your body," I pressed my lips against the back of her hand, where a scar rested from whatever she had encountered.

"To the little flaws you hate," another kiss, this time on her arm. "your laugh, your snarl, your glowing eyes, the look on your face when you're angry, the way you say my name," I trailed kisses all the way up her arm, her shoulder, her neck, until our foreheads were pressed against one another's and our lips were inches apart. "You are my sunshine, my heart and soul, my everything. I love you so much it scares me. I'll do whatever it takes to keep that gorgeous smile on your face, my love." I whispered, pressing my lips against hers tenderly before pulling away and reaching into my jacket that still rested on Max's shoulders. Her tears dripped onto my hand as she sat speechless, her eyes followed the small black velvet box as I readjusted myself back onto one knee and opened it for her to see the ring.

"So, Maximum Ride, my amazing, brilliant, intelligent, drop-dead gorgeous girlfriend who takes up all my heart, will you marry me?" I finally asked, and for a moment all she could do was stare into my eyes, crying quietly, before she smashed herself against me, causing us to both fall back onto the floor.

"Yes! I love you so much, Fang, yes!" Max exclaimed pressing a kiss against my lips as her arms wrapped around my neck. I went rigid from shock for a moment before kissing her back, slinging my arms around her waist as we molded into each other.

For a long time we just laid there, our lips pressed together in an eternal kiss that meant more to me than any of the other ones.

Well," I finally said, breaking the kiss with a lopsided smile on my face. "I guess we should go get married then."

"I guess we should."

Wedding next chapter guys! Review if you can't wait!

Pictures of Max's red dress, the ring, and the wedding dress are linked on my profile if you wanna take a look.

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