Chapter 10: Late night antic's

a/n: Hopefully this will be a longish chapter and I know I was meant to put this up ages ago. 3 month ago actually and I have no excuse except I was in Wexford during the summer and I was lazy. So, without further ado: the chapter that took 3 months to write. just take a seat , grab some fox's bisquits, and enjoy with Vinnie the panda!

Disclaimer: you know the drill! I own nothing except my plot, my ipod, a pair of old runners and the current contents of my head.

Max's POV

Jumping lightly off the roof I landed a bare second before hearing Fang's sneakers hit the ground. Doing a quick 360, I took a look at my flock and judging by the looks on most of their faces I decided to get these guys to bed.

"Come on people, time for some shut eye." There were mild protests from all around me but you could hear that their hearts weren't really into it. Stooping only slightly (he was getting so big!) I scooped up the Gasman. His head drooped and came to rest on my shoulder. I looked on quietly as his eyelids fell over the blue iris' I loved so much. He really was a sweet kid. Soon he was snoring lightly, his finger in the middle of twining around a lock of my hair. I gently ruffled his hair and kissed his forehead watching everyone from the corner of my eye. Nudge was gently leading Iggy in the doorway , following Ella and my Mom who were talking quietly. I was about to go in when I saw something amazing.

Angel had been lagging behind. Fang held his hand out for her to take. She looked up at him in surprise and took it gently smiling. As soon as she did though she knew she was done for. An evil smile flashed its way across Fangs face and soon he had thrown her into his arm and was tickling her mercilessly. Her squeals soon brought the gasman out of his land of dreams. He surveyed the scene before him, cracked a grin and shifted slightly in my arms for a better view, resting his head on my chest.

"Fang, stop!" Cried Angel."Only if you beg for mercy!" He cackled.

"No, never!" Soon she resorted to the easier way of making him stop without using her powers. "Please Fang?" Cue Bambii eyes. 'insert Bambii eyes here'0 0

"No fair! Powers are not allowed" He righted her and cradled her to his chest."There not powers silly there just skills" She said hugging him back. At that last sentence I burst out laughing, Gazzy soon joining me. They both shot me and Gazzy a look and we cracked up harder. I swear I was gonna bust a gut.

I got to hand it to Fang though, for an emotionless guy he would be a great dad.

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Fang's POV:

Max and the Gasman looked over at mine and Angel's antics. Max smiled, she seemed almost wistful and proud. Proud of me? I was just messing with Angel, but I guess me being the emotionless rock I wouldn't do that much now would I? In anyways, I strolled towards Max and we left the garden together, me cradling Angel and her the Gasman. Walking into Angels room I was again amazed at the amount of stuffed animals she managed to inherit from Ella. I gently lay her down in the bed and took of her shoes and socks and then got her into her pyjamas. She shifted in the bed and her arms went around Total who was sleeping soundly on "his" half of the bed.

"Fang?" she mumbled sleepily.

"Yeah Angel?" I pulled back the curtains surrounding her bed and sat at the end of it waiting for her to speak.

"Fang?"

"Still here Ange'"

"Max was right…you would make a great dad…. zzzzzzz" Judging by the snores I would get nothing more from her tonight. I drew the curtains around her bed in the first stages of shock. I would make a great dad? Well we all new Max would make a great mom, she already was one! Hmm so Max was the mom of the flock and I would be the… dad? Iggy would so be the crazy uncle or big brother, Nudge the teenage daughter, Gazzy the mischievous troublemaking little brother and Angel the cute little baby of the flock (who was really a scary little mind reader.) I suppose Dr. M would be a Granny or older aunty and Ella would be the flocks cousin. Jeb didn't come into it but if he did he would be the rich great uncle who we never see and just sent money in cards at Christmas. And when we did hear from him it was from Max's head.

Drifting away from the confusing and painful memories of Jeb and into dreamy fantasies of Max and I while I waited for afore mentioned bird girl to come upstairs from Iggy and Gazzy's room.

In the middle of a good daydream.( We were getting married and we had kids) She shuffled upstairs and I grew slightly nervous, what was she gonna think of me, Mr. slightly-more-emotional-lately-rock doing this. Being a cliché. And stereotypical. And stupidly but still completely head over heels in love. Well we'll just have to wait and see.

She looked mildly surprised when she saw me but then pleased. Then just a smidgen puzzled.

"Why'd you wait up?" She whispered, afraid she'd wake the kids up. Selfless Max, that's her.

I motioned with one finger and she came closer.

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Max's POV:

When I reached Fang he wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head. I sighed and leaned into him. A girl could get used to this, you know the constant special attention, secret looks and safe feeling, not to mention the kissing part of things...;-) Then there was the possible jealously, over protectiveness and the fact that you weren't single anymore. Love. It was a fucked up feeling, a fucked up experience, if you excuse my French. I highly recommend it.

I looked up at his face, for once it wasn't closed off and carefully masked. Hesitation was written all over it. In Fang-ginese that means he was scared shitless.

"What's wrong?" Trade mark hands on hips.

"Nothing's wrong silly" He teased. " I just wanna give you something"

"What?" I asked incredulous.

"I wanna give you something" He repeated.

"I know that idiot, but what is it?

"Here." He said, suddenly, shoving something smooth into my hand. " Happy really late birthday Max"

My birthday was in March, Fang's in July, Iggy's in September. We were now all 15.

It was now November.

I looked down at my hand to examine this mysterious late birthday present.

Opening my hand slowly I glanced down at the smooth round object caught in my fingers. I felt tears prick at the corner of my eyes and my breath hitched in my throat.

It was a thick wooden bangle. Tan in colour with splotches of pale almost white and brown. That wasn't what amazed me. The wood was carved in the shape of three feathers connected at the tips. They looked like my own primary feathers. It was beautiful. I had no idea Fang could do this. Mr. tall-dark-silent and handsome…forget I said that….had a talent for carving? Wow.

"Looks like you have many hidden talents" I joked lifting my head to thank him. My thanks died on my lips when I realized I was thanking nothing. I wheeled around wildly images flashing through my brain, whitecoats erasers, needles, pain.

That's when I heard a dark chuckle from somewhere behind me.A low growl built up in my throat and ripped out my chest, him and his damn disappearing act! I turned towards the end of the hall. Tracing the sound to my right I brushed my hands along the wall, one at waist height, the other at his knee height…just in case he was crouching. Wouldn't surprise me, sly little fecker.

My hand brushed against something and I cracked a grin. I couldn't see Fang but I could touch him. Experimentally I traced a finger up the wall. Yep, that was definitely him. When I reached his shoulders, I grabbed them and dragged him forward into a hug.

The funny thing is to anyone else it would look like I was hugging thin air.

Fang put his arms around me and suddenly appeared, awkwardly hugging me back.

"you know," he began conversationally "I didn't think you'd like it this much."

"Thank you" I whispered into his shoulder.

"Your welcome"

I took a long breath in, filling my head with his dizzying scent. It smelt like rain and pine trees. Like outside. Kinda musky but definitely masculine. It was heaven. We stood there for a minute until I ruined it all with a yawn.

Fang pulled back, licking his lips.

"Your tired, you should go to sleep."

"I'm not tired I'm fi-," Another yawn blocked what I was trying to say. Fang smiled in triumph.

"Goodnight Max"

"Night Fang," I mumbled turning and heading to mine and Ella's room like the good little puppy I was.

"Don't I get a goodnight kiss?" There was teasing in his voice.

I turned with an eyebrow quirked.

"You're sending my to bed like a 5 year old," I scoffed. "Of course not" His eyes became round and he pouted. Believe me, it took all my self control not to laugh. I rolled my eyes and turned. When I was sure he couldn't see my face I allowed myself to grin and begin sauntering to where my bed was calling for me.

A slight breeze and I felt warm lips on my neck. An involuntary sigh slipped between my lips.

" Ok now I can let you go."

"Your so very mature Fang"

"I know, but that's why you love me."

"And yet, in moments like this I wonder why."

"Because I can do this." His finger ran along my spine and I shivered. Damn, there goes my self control.

"That's why."

"Yes," I responded "you can, but I can do this." My elbow poked his floating rib and I slipped out of his weakened grip. My hips moving in success, I reached the door. Turning with a smile, I grinned at him staring back at me, the most shocked expression on his face.

"Close your mouth Fang you'll catch flies." It closed with an audible snap.

"Better look next time Superman. See ya in the morning" And then I was gone, the door swinging shut in front of my receding figure. Still grinning I landed on the bed with a thump I gradually drifted off to sleep, awaiting morning, the duvet soft under my finger tips.

Turns out morning was in the pitch dark being woken by Ella.

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A/n: ooh cliffy! What will happen next? Will the flock discover any secrets? It's about to get interesting.

As ever read, review and recommend to a friend. Thanks for reading and please forgive my laziness.