Chapter 1

"Hey," came a whisper in my ear. "Wake up." I groaned and pushed my face into the pillow, lying on my stomach. Fingers trailed against my bare feet, making me shiver and giggle at the same time. Then, he was preening the feathers of my wings gently. Max, wake up. Come on, he teased me. He was sweeping my hair aside so that he could kiss the back of my neck. I smiled, it was too nice being in bed, the sun shining on the spot between my wings to want to get up.

"No," I mumbled, my cheek sticky from drool. Too nice to move, I thought, knowing he would hear me. I adjusted so that I was lying on my back. I tugged at the tank top that had ridden up to show my stomach. My eyes were still shut but without the pillow to shade me, I saw a bright pink light instead of darkness. "What's the time?"

"Late," he responded pulling me towards him. I was awake now. I opened my eyes to see his dark eyes glinting with happiness. I yawned and arched my back to stretch it out. "Nice dream you had," he pressed his lips against my ear.

I blushed, "You don't always have to intrude on my dreams Fang." I had dreamt about being older, with Fang, and we had kids. I could tell from his thoughts that he liked the idea of it as well. The girl had long black hair, dark eyes, and black wings, an exact replica of Fang except with my stubborn chin. The boy was just like me, tawny wings, brown hair and eyes, except with Fang's silent attitude. The rest of the flock was there crowding around, playing with the children who were about five or six.

For those just joining us, let me explain how Fang and I were so connected. Fang had been able to enter my dreams since he almost died and I had given him that blood when Anne Walker had found us. Being able to read each other's minds had happened last winter, when I had almost died and Fang had given me his own life in order for me to survive.

Now you're probably wondering why Fang is still alive if he gave me his life. Fang was given the power of a Phoenix. He had two lives. Technically, his first life was supposed to end by Fang bursting into flames and then rising from the ashes. Instead, he bent his powers to give it to me and with the help of his tears, had completely saved my live. We were connected now more than I ever thought possible.

We lived now on a safe house on a island, just as Fang wanted. Jeb had set up the house long before he died and had given Angel the coordinates. Angel, by the way, didn't have her powers anymore. Because they didn't help her survive, Angel could only fly now, her body going through a re-evolution. Nudge was busy with a new power to see the future. Gazzy was still…air du smell. Iggy had gotten his sight back but he was almost completely blind again. I could heal faster than the rest of us. Fang's tears could heal us.

Apparently, though, we weren't done quite yet.

Let's not worry about that now.

"Max?" Fang asked, hearing all of my thoughts. I sat up and pulled my legs up against my chest. Fang remained lying down, staring up at me. He ran his fingers through my wings again. He was bare-chested, I could see the strong muscles from all the years of fighting. I stretched more. In a few days, I'd be turning seventeen. I felt much older than that already.

"Fang, what should we do about what Nudge's mother said?" I watched as he sat up beside me in deep thought. Nudge's mom had helped us escape from Brigid last winter. She was also a scientist like my parents and Fang's father. She knew all about our powers and according to her, there was more in stock for my family.

"We should swim," he replied, wrapping his hand over mine and pulling me off the bed along with him. I laughed but I was serious. Fang pulled me towards the large window of our room that overlooked the shore of the beach. "Look." He pointed down to the beach where the children played. Total was trying to tan although I don't know how that was possible. Gazzy and Angel were playing Marco Polo in the water. Iggy and Nudge were trying to body surf on the waves. My flock was happy and peaceful.

"She said we were a danger to ourselves," I pointed out. Fang listened, nodding his head. He bent down to kiss my forehead, "I'm just nervous as to what she had to get for us. She seemed to think it was very important."

"I'm worried to, but for their sake," he nodded back towards the flock, "We act as usual." I smiled, this was how I usually act. Just then, there was a banging of a door. My eyes went wide with shock.

Fang too, was panicked, as we ran down the stairs to the kitchen. There stood the woman we had been talking about. Her hair was just as crazy as Nudge's and I couldn't help but see the immediate resemblance between them. I would have to figure out how she managed to sneak into our house. If she could do it did that mean Brigid could do it as well?

"Max, Fang," she nodded her head at us. It was better now that she called me by my real name instead of 000001 and Fang by his name instead of Phoenix. Those were the names the scientists had given us. She peered over her shoulder, "B01 and B02, come here." I heard high pitched squeals. Two figures ran into the room and wrapped around her legs.

"I couldn't protect them, Brigid is hunting me just as she is on the look for your flock. They are safer, better off, here." Nudge's mother told us, staring up at us. Then she kneeled down in front of the children, "I can't take care of you anymore. Stay with Fang and Max and the flock."

"Why?" Asked the girl impatiently, her dark black hair was long and went to the small of her back. She appeared to only be three. "I want to stay with you," but Nudge's mother shook her head.

The boy stared at me quietly with a hard glare. He was the girl's age as well. Light brown hair that was shaggy hung in front of his dark eyes. "They have wings too, sis." He replied, his eyes hanging on the arch of my wings just over my shoulder. Then, I watched as the boys opened his wings, they were light creamed and black layered. The girl turned to stare at us, opening up her wings, they were completely black. I saw now the instant relation between the two. They had stubborn chins and were tall for their age. They both had a hard expression and I wondered how many time they had to try and fight. They looked like they had taken a lot of blows.

"They're kids," I pointed out. "How did the School have time to make new experiments?" Three years ago…I was living with Jeb in his house and the School was still operating. They had plenty of time. I knew by the look in Nudge's mother's eyes that we had no choice but to take the young ones in.

"They were curious is all," she answer my question, "Plus they needed more bird-kids after you escaped. They're turning four in March but B01 and B02 are smart and know almost as much as you do. They won't be in your way, right?" The two children nodded their heads. "Now, I'm going to talk to my daughter. Goodbye children, behave."

I watched as the girl and the boy hugged her before watching her leave. Then they stared at me. The girl, who I learned was the talkative one, smiled, "You're Max and you're Fang. We were told a lot about you." I wondered exactly what they had been told. "We're part of your family now?"

My heart went out to them.

They were just two children who didn't have a home.

I had been there.

Fang was the one to speak though.

"Welcome to the flock."

What should I name the two new flock members? And no jumping to conclusions! You will be shocked- I'm still in shock to what I have in store! Please review!

Welcome to Part 3 of this series.

If you haven't read the previous installements they are Maximum Ride: Taking Back the World and Maximum Ride: Save Us