K. Hi. This was going to be a one-shot, but I typed the whole thing, and it was sort of thing three separate sections so I made it into a three-shot. I'm currently writing two other fanfictions but this popped into my head and I decided to write it because I liked the idea. I do realize it's a bit angsty, but in all, saddening, reality, I'm better at angsty than anything else, really. So…here goes.

Basic background info: Post FANG. The world is saved, with only a few minor damages aka a few radiation problems and some lose mutants/experiments gone bad. Fang, upon leaving the group, went on helping Max discreetly through his blog, recruiting both mutants and humans, keeping tabs on Max and the gang to help them out when need be. Max went on to save the world with an army of mutants and humans alike, when a sudden burst of violence from the scientists behind everything popped up. Now, 7 years after leaving said group, Fang has decided it is about time to go back, what with no more threats, well, threatening either him or Max and the gang, and the world safe for the time being. Despite any misgivings, the Flock he left behind is more than welcoming to his return. They, however, have a not-so-minor surprise for him upon his return.

Told from Max's point of view, even though, as you've already probably guessed, she can only tell what she is observing, except during the memory.

Watching the one you love leave you is painful. Reuniting and having him promise to never leave you again is wonderful. Having him leave you again, after promising not to, is downright agony. The years waiting for him to return are years built from suffering and heartache. But if you truly believe in your love for one another, it's bearable. Because, with a strong bond, and a strong love, even one who walks away, or flies in our case, will come back. Even if he says it won't be for years, he will come back, you will see each other again. Because that's how love works.

He even came back a few years early. I waited, you see. I waited for him to come back to me. Seven years is a long time to be apart from one you love, even when its passing by in a flurry of bloody fights and gory battles; even when its rushing past in days on the run from mutants freaks so similar to myself, and yet so, so different. Even when my days were spent cataloguing bruises and broken bones, spare cash, much needed food, and how much time we needed to fly to our next destination.

It was still a long time when I had my little Angel, who had dutifully fallen back into place and realized her position as a normal 7 going-on-14 year old bird-kid, to hug and take care of, even when she started becoming too old. It was still a long time when I had my spazzy 9 going-on-16 year old Gazzy, constantly mimicking everyone to cheer me up, even when I did have to alert the local nuclear power plants about a natural nuclear bomb. It was still a long time when I had my talkative 12 going-on-19 year old Nudge, constantly chattering my ear to fill any silences, helping out on any hacker missions, and completely keeping my girl inside in check. It was still a long time when I had my 15 going-on-22 year old blind pyro Iggy, always ready to talk when I needed him, ready to be my best friend, even though he knew he wouldn't replace the one who left, always ready with new explosives to help get rid of enemies, and always coming up with quirky quips to keep us laughing. Not to mention his cooking. It was still long even when I had Total, who I had grown to adore after his wedding, and I had seen less of him. He had puppies now, and I loved being able to go back to my mom's to fall asleep cuddling with one, and I loved Total's sarcastic comments.

But it was still a long time.

He came back though. There he was, standing at the door of our house, built entirely by ourselves (with some help by mutant friends). There he was, older, stronger, taller, more defined, more… black. He did come back, and though I know from Angel's mind reading he was expecting cold shoulders and rejection, he was welcomed with open arms.

He rang the doorbell, and I could tell he was rethinking this entire thing. How I enjoyed being able to read him. But he stood there, and he waited. And slowly the door opened, to reveal a very much older, very much matured Nudge. She looked stunning in her simplistic outfit, her unruly hair straightened and braided, wearing purple shorts and a white camisole.

She stared at him for a few moments, and he simply stared back. Then, in her usual Nudge-like-way, a huge grin lit her face and she threw herself at him in a huge bear hug, squealing words of gibberish not even ears well trained for Nudge-nonsense could make out. His ridgedness lasted a millisecond before he was hugging her back, something I didn't expect but was grateful for. The years have changed us all.

Brought out but her squeals, Angel was the next to come, her beautiful long, sandy blond curls standing out against her navy blue tank top and blue jeans. She stood there for a moment, just as Nudge had, probably reading his mind for anything, whether it was good or bad or even just to see what he'd been up to. Then tears started rolling down her face and she ran to him to, like if she waited any longer, he would vanish like dust in the wind. But as soon as her arms were around him, she sobbed even harder, and clung even tighter, as if she knew he wasn't going to disappear, but she didn't want to take the chance.

It was an amusing sight to see two teenage girls, one crying uncontrollably, one speaking words of nonsense, clinging to a guy dressed in all black who looked relieved and slightly uncomfortable. But I think he was just as glad to see them as they were to see him, he's just a lot better at controlling it.

Next to arrive was Gazzy. He snickered at the sight at first, but then muttered "Good to have you back." My Gazzy, with his green and blue plaid button down shirt over a plain white t-shirt and khaki shorts, still sort of looked like a child. But I knew how much he had matured. He showed that when he was still man-enough to walk over and give him a small hug around the girls, before trying to help pry Angel and Nudge off.

Lastly was Iggy, dear Iggy in a red t-shirt and jeans, with the tattoo of an eye on his neck clearly visible, the tattoo I had so graciously allowed him to get when he claimed it was the closest thing he would ever have to the real thing. How wrong we were. Iggy smiled at him, and he stared back and blinked, his version of surprised. "It's nice to see you."

"Iggy…"

And by that short conversation, it was understood. Iggy could see. You see, after we saved the world and all, my mom discovered the experiment outlines for the procedure that led to Iggy's blindness. And through a risky operation, she was able to reverse the problem. Permanently. She also made a lot of money off of it and put it towards helping out abandoned mutants like us who needed homes.

I watched him look around for a moment, before shrugging it off. In my head I heard Angel say I'll explain a little later. Let's settle you in first. He must have asked about me. But he dropped the questions, and they all walked inside, laughing and smiling, happy, as they should be.

He was settled fairly quickly. After all, he really didn't have that much stuff. They fed him lunch, courtesy of Iggy's delicious cooking. I could smell it, spaghetti and meatballs, with garlic bread and a fresh salad.

After dinner they all moved into the living room for what I knew was about to become the most uncomfortable discussion yet.

"So. You're back." Iggy said.

"So. You can see." He replied.

"Okay let's get this over with. Where were you? What were you doing? Why did you leave? What took you so long?" Nudge asked, getting straight to the point. She had quieted down a little over the years. Just a little.

"All over, I kept moving. I was helping you guys, recruiting people and keeping tabs to tell them where to go. I left to keep you safe because I thought it was for the best. And well it's been 2 years since the world was saved, and I honestly was afraid you guys would be mad and wouldn't want me." He said, and I was proud of him. He talked, he didn't avoid the questions.

"Well, thanks. And we could never be mad at you. Sure, we were at first but she… we were really upset when you left, so we learned to stick together and sort of move on knowing that eventually you'd come back, because you said you would." Angel said. She almost entered a dangerous zone, and I heard the collective intake of breath go around the room, all except for him. He looked around curiously, knowing something was up. Of course something was up. Hello, I was not sitting in that room.

"Plus, we had a world to go about saving and we really didn't have time to be mad about things like that, and after we saved the world… things got a little hectic. So… the sooner you came back, we probably would've appreciated it a whole lot. I don't actually think that sentence made much sense." Nudge added. She gave a halfhearted smile.

"I get it, even if it didn't." He told her, returning her smile with a half smile of his own.

"We really missed you. Like, even though she-we were really busy, we still had moments where we went 'Man, if only he was here.'" Gazzy said. It was his turn to tread in dangerous waters, and he looked around as if he had accidentally spilled someone's most secret secret. Angel smiled reassuringly at him, as if it was nothing, and Iggy shook his head at Gazzy as if saying 'don't call attention that you did anything.'

Of course he had already noticed, and his suspicions were growing. He kept his mouth shut for now, however, deciding best to keep his observations to himself.

"I missed you too, guys. It was difficult, being alone. I made some friends, really, really weird ones. But they all went their own ways, and I always thought of you and that's why I kept away, so I could help from a distance. Be sort of a background player." He said. And it made sense. Someone to send back-up, right when we needed it but didn't think it was coming. And it came, but we never knew how. We always had our ideas, but never knew for sure.

"It was much appreciated, let me tell you. Oh man, one particular battle, we were totally way outnumbered, and then like, an army of kids like us just came marching in and beat the leaving hell out of our opponents, and we were so freaking grateful. She- we were practically laughing at the situation, because Gazzy had just said 'now would be the time for an army of freaks to fall from the sky' and in they walked. Good timing, bro, goooood timing." Iggy said, and though he also walked in a caution zone, the four of them who remembered that battle started chuckling a little at the memory. That was a good day, and man, were our butts saved.

"Hah, you're welcome." He said, noticing once more how someone caught themselves to change from she to we.

"I think it's time we told you. I can hear your thoughts, you know. I hear you questioning each of us every time one of us catches ourselves in a sentence. I have a new power, shocker I know, but I can show the past, only if I was there. I'll show you." Angel told him solemnly, and suddenly a chill ran through the room. I watched him for any signs of emotion to see if he expected what was to come, but nothing was there, even to me.

Everyone ran silent. They knew what was coming. Nudge was already tearing up, clinging desperately on to the pillow of the couch. Iggy was clenching and unclenching his fists, looking at the floor. Gazzy was staring blankly at Angel, waiting. I watched, knowing it would be eerie watching it all over again, but wanting to be there nonetheless.

"Alright." He said.

Angel closed her eyes, focusing, and then she opened them again and an image started playing in the middle of the living room. It was scary, her new power. You could hear the thoughts of the person you were focusing on, and the people were full, 3D people. You heard every sound, every word spoken to the person or by the person or near the person etc.

And so, my final battle began. Again.