Oh, my God! This is it! This is the LAST CHAPTER! TToTT I'll miss this story! Well, I guess just enjoy it. I'll miss you guys. You've been so great to me. *Virtual hugs all readers* Thank you so much.

Chapter Forty-One

Iggy

I rolled out of bed only to be greeted by the ridiculous August heat. I still secretly hoped that by some miracle I would get out of that stupid desert wasteland. I really just couldn't stand all the heat and lack of rain. I loved rain. Missed it really.

I trudged sleepily into the kitchen, expecting everyone to be asleep. Instead, I heard Max's voice, but no others to go with it. Curiously, I continued on. Slowly I started hearing the other voice, and I knew it. I stopped stiff in my tracks.

"So, how is Dylan doing?" the voice asked.

"He's dead," Max answered flatly.

The voice seemed taken aback. "Oh," it finally said. "That's too bad."

"Yeah," Max said snappily. "Guess that whole 'perfect other half' plan just didn't work out too well, huh?"

The voiced didn't have anything to say back to that.

"So, what are you doing here, Dr. Gunther-Hagan?"

"I knew it!" I hissed to myself.

"Good work, Sherlock," said another voice from behind me. I jumped.

"Damn it, Fang!" I exclaimed. "Twenty years and you still don't make a sound when you move!"

"Practise makes perfect," he said smugly. He passed me and headed for the front door to back up Max. I followed close behind him. Dr. GH seemed surprised at our arrival.

"I came to take you and Dylan to a new home in Canada to start your own flock, but—"

At that moment, Little One started to cry from the other room. I didn't know how the kid did it, but he always seemed to know just when to cry. I smiled to myself.

"What is that?" Dr. GH demanded. I could sense Max brisling defensively.

"That," she repeated harshly, "is me starting my own flock."

It was quiet for a moment, and I guessed that Dr. Hagan was looking back and forth between Max and Fang. Finally, Max sighed.

"Yes, that means that Fang and I had a baby together," she said. "I'm sorry if you can't quite get it though that thick, German skull, but that's just what happens. Okay?"

"Well," Dr. Gunther-Hagan said finally, "there's no point wasting a perfectly good house. You are free to live there, if you wish. It is in Canada, in Newfoundland outside of all population."

"So, like, on our own?" she asked.

"Yes, on your own," he confirmed.

"Then absolutely," Max said.

"Wonderful. Get your things together and be ready to leave by tomorrow morning," Dr. Gunther-Hagan said. I looked in Max's direction.

"What!"

"We're going. We need somewhere new. We've been here too long," Max said simply.

"But…" I tried to protest, but Max cut me off.

"Nope. We're going."

That afternoon, Max announced the plan to the others. I'm sure you can imagine how well that went. She had us all gathered in the living room under "flock meeting" rules (nobody is allowed to talk except Max). I was leaning against the wall, waiting for all hell to break loose.

"We're moving to a new house in Canada," Max declared finally. This was quickly followed by shouts of protest.

"I don't want to leave here!"

"What's wrong with this house!"

"I won't leave! You can't make me!"

"Guys!" Fang shouted finally. The room went silent. "One at a time."

Fang was much more reasonable than Max. Obviously, he would listen to why they didn't want to go.

"I like living with Ella and Dr. Martinez," Angel said firmly. "I even have some friends here! I don't want to move."

Gazzy went next. "I have friends here, too."

"I want to get a college education and actually do something with my life other than fly around on the run!" Nudge exclaimed. I knew everyone was looking at her. I would be.

"Nudge, you need to go to high school before college," Dr. M. said gently.

"Oh, she's got that," Ella put in. "She took all of her courses online. She did really well, too."

Max was obviously fuming. "Why didn't you tell anyone!" she demanded.

"I wanted to surprise you guys," Nudge explained.

"Okay, so Nudge is staying to go to school," Fang decided. "You two can make new friends in Canada."

"I don't wanna make new friends in Canada," Angel complained.

"Oh, come on, you guys!" Ella said enthusiastically. "You'll finally get the chance to fly around wherever you want, whenever you want without having to worry about anyone seeing you! It'll be great! You will love it there!"

There were mumbles of consideration. Finally, Angel and Gazzy agreed. We were sent to our rooms to pack our things. Ella came with me to help.

"I can't believe you're really going," she said softly. I continued packing.

"Me neither," I said. I closed my last suitcase and stood up, brushing my hands off. Suddenly, I was nearly knocked over by a strong force hitting me.

"Oh, Iggy!" Ella sobbed. I held her, confused. "D-don't leave me! I-I'll miss you so much!"

"I have to go," I said. "BossMax said so."

"So don't listen to her! Stay here with me!" she begged.

"I can't!" I moaned. "I would, but she doesn't listen. I don't want to leave either."

Ella's tears soaked my shirt. "P-please," she said. "I just…I'll miss you so much."

"I'll miss you, too," I said. "But…maybe it's time to move on."

Ella nodded, but she was still crying. I stood her back up, grabbed my bags (not that I had many), and carried them out to the front. Fang was packing things into Dr. GH's car. I could hear the thunk of bags hitting the car floor.

"You ready to go?" Max asked, standing beside me. I nodded stiffly.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

"Great." She grabbed my arm and led me out to the car. I had one foot in when somebody called "WAIT!"

I stopped. It was Ella. She ran into me, knocking me onto the pavement. I stood both of us back up.

"Ella?" I said. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, Iggy! I'm going with you!" she shouted. "Mom said I can come to Canada with you guys!"

My sightless eyes widened. "No way," I said, suspecting she was setting me up.

"Really!" she said.

"Oh, my God! Ella! This is…this is great!" I couldn't help but shout. She crashed her mouth against mine and I accepted her happily.

Finally Max broke us up and shoved us in the car. We all waved goodbye to Dr. Martinez, promising we'd come and visit and whatnot, and then we were off to the next chapter in our life-long adventure.