Don't kill me, please. I'm not even gonna try apologizing. If you're still with me, you are fucking AMAZING!

Chapter 8 of The Sequel!

Fang's POV

Something warm and soft pressed against me, stirring me from sleep and a very….interesting dream. My eyes flew open, only to squint as I was confronted by the golden sunlight of early morning. A soft puff of air brushed over the skin of my shoulder, and memories of the night before flooded my mind. I smiled, turning gently to look at the sleeping woman beside me. Lips curled into a smile, drenched in warm light, she was the most beautiful I'd ever seen her. I trailed a finger down the bare skin of her side, leaning forward to press a kiss to her forehead. Max stretched and yawned, my caress bringing her from sleep. Her eyes locked onto mine immediately and she smirked.

"Good morning, my brown-eyed Beauty," I said, twirling a lock of her hair around my finger. She rolled her eyes.

"I guess that makes you the beast." Her lips pressed to mine. "Morning. Did you sleep okay?"

I shrugged, pulling her closer. "I preferred the part when I wasn't sleeping, if you catch my drift."

She giggled, hiding her face in my chest. It amazed me that I was the only person who could ever make her giggle like a schoolgirl with a secret. Even better was knowing that no other man ever would. We were quiet for a minute, settling into the awkward 'morning after' silence, when a sudden thought donned on me.

"You know, Beauty and the Beast is a really kinky movie. It's like bestiality to the extreme," I said, breaking the stillness. Max snorted.

"First of all, what the hell? Second, it's a kid's movie, pervert. And third, they're both human by the end, so if they do anything, it's natural."

I scoffed and said, "That's what the pervs at Disney want us to think. Meanwhile they're in the back drawing up doodles of Belle and Beast gettin' it on. God knows they're horribly sadistic and fucked up sexually. I think you'd have to be to work there."

Max just stared at me as I finished my rant. Her expression was one of shock and amusement.

"Wow. What a conversation to have after spending a romantic night together for the first time in ages," she said, throwing her head back in frustration. I laughed, rolling over so I hovered above her. She threw an arm across her face, refusing to look at me. I could see the smile she was fighting with the twitch of her lips.

"It would make for some interesting role play, though," I said, knowing it would catch her attention. Max gawked at me, looking very much like she wanted to slap me. I grinned evilly.

Lowering my voice into a deep and husky growl, I said, "You are my prisoner now. You will stay here, FOREVER!"

She squeaked as I pounced on her, attacking her neck with my lips.

"Fang, you are so weird!" she said, her voice raised two octaves. Even as she insulted me, her fingers curled in my hair, pressing me closer. I grinned against her skin. I'm so evil. She pulled my face to hers, barely brushing her lips over mine.

A knock interrupted us, followed by the door bursting open. Iggy leaned against the door frame, eyeing us critically.

"Well then. I thought you two were done exchanging bodily fluids last night, but apparently Fangles hasn't had his fill. Isn't this what got you into that whole mess with the teenage pregnancy and kidnapping?" he said, wearing his signature Iggy smirk. I sighed and rolled of Max, landing on the bed with a thump. Unfortunately, I forgot Iggy was no longer blind, and so did Max. Now she was naked and in full view of the most perverted teenager in the world.

"Nice body, Maximum, but I'm pretty sure Captain Possessive over here doesn't want me ogling your 'feminine assets'."

Max let out an indignant shriek and threw the covers over us, shielding us from his sight. I groaned. Because Max had been gone for so long, it was time for Iggy to make up for lost harassment. These next couple of days would be hell for us, smothered by Iggy jokes.

"You better hurry up and bring the love ship to port, cuz Munchkins 1 and 2 want to see their mommy again," he said, pulling the door close with a naval salute.

Fuck my life.

Max's POV

After tying Iggy up and locking him in the closet, we went downstairs for some free continental breakfast. It would have been more enjoyable if Mini hadn't received Fang's empathy from our gene pool and unlocked Iggy. So in the end, Fang and him broke most of the furniture in dining room whilst fighting, Angel had to mind-warp the manager to keep him from suing us or making us into bird-kid kabobs, and we got the hell out of there before we started WWIII.

It was nice to be back in the air with my family. The sun broke through the thick cloud of smog around the city, drenching us in its golden warmth. Hm, I'm feeling very poetic today. Anyway, I'd never seen my family look so clean and happy. Nudge, who had steadily matured through the years, no longer looked like a little girl. She was a beautiful young woman. Even Angel was starting to lose her baby fat, and became even prettier. Total flew alongside her, his short muzzled turned up in a grin. And looking at my kids, they were almost six months old, but they looked like they were five. I felt like I had missed out on so much of their lives, despite how fast they grow. Normal parents get to mope about how their babies grew up too fast over a span of thirty years. I guess I should have known I wouldn't be normal in this category too.

Mama, are you okay? You look sad, Mini said, her ebony wings brushing mine. I smiled, opening my arms for her. Slowly but surely, she tucked her wings and dropped into my waiting embrace.

"I'm fine, baby, just a little sad. I missed out on a lot while I was gone, but I'm prepared to make up for it," I said a little louder, so the rest of my family could hear. I could practically feel Gazzy's plots conjuring in his devious little mind. I guess this was my penance for being so….stupid.

What? You think this is your fault? Angel asked in my mind. It surprised me for a minute, not being used to this for a while.

Yep, now get out of my head!

I saw her little round face pucker in thought. I rolled my eyes. If she wanted to talk to me about it later, than I would be prepared to avoid her… I mean listen. Yeah.

"Max, look!" Nudge said, pointing to a giant grey snake thingy winding through the mountains. I realized with a jolt (almost dropping Mini) what I was seeing; the Great Wall of China. The sun was setting low over the green ridges, casting a winding shadow.

"This seems as a good a place as any to stop and rest. What do you say, almighty leader?" Iggy asked, hope gleaming in his ice blue eyes. I still have to get used to him being able to see. It made me uncomfortable, the way his eyes locked directly onto mine, rather than say, three inches above them. I nodded wordlessly, angling my wings slightly so I'd descend smoothly.

The rock had that smooth, worn stability of ancient craftsmanship. It was cool to the touch and rough from centuries of wind and rain. Fang smiled, his eyes glittering black in the fading light. He crouched alongside Iggy, Gazzy, and Zane in preparation for a race. Angel helpfully stood in the middle of their path, acting as referee. The other girls were perched on a turret and laughing brightly at the boys. They were trying to trip each other and shove one another out of the way in an attempt to get the upper hand. Total and I exchanged amused glances. I sighed. My family, dysfunctional as they may be, was happy at last.

Four days later...

"Dinner!" my mom's chipper voice called from below. The resounding footsteps of each Flock member reverberated off the walls as they eagerly answered the call for food. Warmth spread through me. I was finally home.

Four days ago, we left our cozy little hangout amongst the crumbling Great Wall and set off for the good old US of A. It was like the old days; sleeping in trees, eating whatever we could find, including rat and bugs (yummy), and flying for hours on end. Finally we made it, landing in Mom's front yard just as the sun began to set. The door had swung open immediately and I found myself tackled to the ground by my mother and sister, both sobbing hysterically. My arms wrapped around them in a fierce embrace. I never wanted them to feel the pain of loss again, especially when it came to unimportant little me.

Now, watching the Flock and Mom and Ella stuffing their faces with Mexican food, my insecurities and fears were shoved violently aside. Total and Akila nuzzled each other lovingly, his pups attaching themselves to his side. Even Jeb's presence wasn't enough to detract from my mood. In any case my deep seeded resentment of him had altered a bit. The twins were staring a little unsettlingly into each other's eyes, though they were only talking in their weird way. I felt like Norman Rockwell should have been in the corner, painting the quaint family scene; that is, if Norman Rockwell generally painted scenes of multi-racial, recombinant DNA, underage-parenting families. I doubted that was a possibility.

Something tapped against my foot from beneath the table. Fang smiled at me from his seat on my left, his fingers curling around mine. It was amazing to have him with me again, to see him smile. He had changed so much in the past few years. No longer was he quiet, slightly vain, and at times affectionate, insubordinate Fang. He was warmer, happier, more expressive, and generally a father not only to his children, but to the family we had acquired from the beginning. I couldn't be prouder or love him more than I did at that moment.

"Do you want to go for a walk?" he asked, ducking his head in a manner almost shy. I grinned and nodded, allowing him to lead the way for once. The humid, Arizona air greeted us as we slipped through the screen door into the night. With our hands linked, we strolled towards the woods; the tree trunks bleached silver by the moon. Insects chirped happily in the darkness as we walked in silence, simply enjoying each other's warmth and company. Everything was still and quiet, a rare moment in our lives. I wasn't about to take it for granted.

The light from the moon steadily grew dimmer as we marched deeper into the woods, swallowed by the leaves and branches overhead. Not that we were very much affected by it. Every knot in the trunks and owls in the branches were visible to our keen eyes. I let the warm air wrap me in its comforting embrace. Everything was so lazy and warm and just...nice. I had no idea how much I missed this.

Of course, this is my life we're talking about here, so it was inevitable that something would ruin it. In this case that something was a large, black helicopter, hovering over the woods. My heart dropped somewhere in my lower abdomen. Neither of us had heard it approach, we were so wrapped up in the moment. Just...damn it.

Several men in bullet proof vest hung from the open doors, aiming large guns I didn't have the time nor the inclination to identify at us. Fang tensed next to me, his eyes dark and deadly. I knew that look. He wasn't prepared to give up anyone without a massive fight.

"Please, there is no escape. Come quietly," the familiar, nasally voice of Dr. Chu called. Yeah, because that suggestion totally has worked in the past. The dipshits never learned. Rather than answer, I proudly displayed my middle finger. Maturity has never been one of my strong points.

"I presume your Voice has told you about my little project. Every gun is loaded with a syringe," he sneered. "Do you really want to watch the life leave his eyes as you strangle him?"

Pain stabbed in my gut and I had to fight the urge to double over and vomit. I glared up at him, prepping my wings to launch me at his throat. No more. I wouldn't let him hurt us anymore. Jeb always told me I was born to save the world. I didn't know yet if I could accomplish that task. Only time would tell. But I knew this; I could save my world. My children, my mother and sister, the Flock, Total, everyone, I would save them.

For once, I had no snarky reply, no witty comment about my superiority. I wasn't fighting for survival, I was fighting for revenge. Dr. Chu wasn't my enemy, he was an insect I needed to squash. Every muscle in my body tensed and coiled. Rage bubbled in my stomach, hot and twisting and unbearable to contain. My vision was laced with red as I fixed my gaze on the pilot's neck. I could already feel the bone snapping beneath my fingers. The thought didn't frighten me, it only fueled my hunger. Dr. Chu, his minions, and everything he stood for would die tonight.

Fang's eyes bore into the back of my head. He was right there alongside me, like he always had been and always would be. No one, not Dr. Chu or Brigid or even death could change that. I grinned.

As I prepared to rocket towards the copter, a loud bang stopped me. Dr. Chu's eyes widened impossibly in the short second I saw his face. He looked frightened, but that was normal. No, his face looked sad, so broken as flames engulfed him. I felt myself being tackled to the ground while large pieces of hot metal whistled through the air. The explosion was massive, lighting the night sky to almost day-brightness. Chunks of debris and things I tried very hard not to think about pelted my legs and hands. Fang hovered over me, taking the brunt of the shrapnel.

Just as quickly as it happened, the explosion faded. I snuck a peak at my surroundings. Metal and charred pieces of fabric littered the ground. The tree tops were glowing with embers, shedding a small light on the immediate area. There was something odd though, in my field of vision. A pair of blue slippers stood directly in front of me. Roughly bucking Fang off, I sat up and saw the owner of the shoes.

My mom stood in her pale lavender bath robe, looking up at the sky. Her dark hair framed the smirk on her face and her eyes sparkled with victory as she watched the last of the smoke dissipate. All of this was relatively normal, except for the .22 long rifle in her grip. An empty shell lay at her feet.

"Not my daughter, asshole," she said quietly, her eyes narrowed into a dangerous look that I had often mirrored. Cautiously I rose to my feet, my eyes locked on her. Her face split into a grin.

"Holy shit, Mom, you killed them. You blew up a freaking helicopter," I practically shouted in awe. "Oh my god."

Fang laughed, his voice jovial and relieved. "Dr. M, way to be a badass."

"WHOA! Dr. M! That was so COOL!" Gazzy shouted from high above us. The rest of the Flock hovered around him, cheering and exchanging high fives. "They were all 'we're gonna kill you' and you were like 'bang' and they were like 'boom' and that was awesome!"

Nudge, most surprisingly, slapped a hand over his mouth mid-rant. "Gazzy, you sound like me. Shut up."

I laughed, feeling shaky as the last of my adrenaline died. Mini and Zane landed beside me, gripping my hands fiercely in their tiny fingers. I scooped them up and set them on either side of my hips. Mom handed the gun to Iggy, her lips pressing into my forehead.

"I'm just glad you're finally safe, honey. I don't think anything would have stopped me from finding that maniac and destroying him if I lost you again."

Tears welled in my eyes, but I fought them back and asked, "How did you know to save us?"

She smiled, brushing a lock of hair out of my face. "I heard the helicopter. As you can imagine I'm very suspicious of them and I decided to follow you two. Lucky I brought my gun."

"Wicked shot, Dr. M," Iggy said, raising his palm for her to slap. It was then that Ella decided to join the party.

"Oh my God what happened?" she screeched, taking in the smoking trees and scattered debris.

"Your mom blew up a helicopter with a rifle and killed Dr. Chu," Angel said nonchalantly, still licking an ice-cream cone she must have grabbed before they left. I rolled my eyes. She always would be my creepy baby.

Love you too, Maxi, she said in my mind. (I'm almost positive that statement will never cease to be weird.)

"Come on guys, we should head back," I suggested, looking to Fang. He nodded. "Let's walk though, just in case."

One by one each flying member landed and joined our trek. Nudge started up a round of 'I Believe I Can Fly', belting out the song noisily with the rest of the kids. The twins scrambled out of my arms, instead choosing to tackle Iggy's back. I smiled faintly, still on edge after what just happened. Tomorrow we'd head out and survey the scene in daylight, but for now I was content to go home, curl up with a movie, and eat buckets of sugar with my family. Fang's hand brushed mine and he grinned when I caught his eye.

"I love you, Max," he said quietly. I smiled, leaning over to press a chaste kiss to his cracked lips.

I enjoyed the peaceful moment with my family, hoping against hope that nothing would shatter our happiness again. As we neared the house, I felt relief spread through me. For now, all my troubles were gone. Sure, something else was bound to happen eventually. That's just how it is in my life. I'll always be hunted because I'm different, as will the rest of the Flock. Maybe someday we can live in peace without having to worry about the Voice, or saving the world, or angry Asian men. But that someday isn't today. Today we live with the constant fear of attack. Today we deal with loss, heartache, and occasionally pregnancy. Today we live each second at a time, we share these moments with the ones we love, and we hope for a better tomorrow.

Yeah, so I hoped you enjoyed the chapter. It most definitely wasn't worth the wait, and feel free to leave nasty reviews because god knows I deserve them. LOVE YOU ALL!