AN- Woo! My writer's block for this story is GONE!! -celebrates- And I saw Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat last night! It was FABULOUSO!! And the guys playing Joseph and the oldest brother were SO CUTE!! Anyway, more slashy goodness in this chapter, but we actually start developing a plot, too!! Please R'N'R!!

Disclaimer- James Patterson owns Maximum Ride and it's characters. The only thing I own is this plot, the MR books 1&2 in hardcover, and several gazillion notebooks. -sulks- Not fair...

"Fang? Fang? Come on, time for breakfast. Get up! Fang-" I sigh at his lack of response, opening the door to 'his basement'. "Fang, I'm coming down. You better be decent!" I call out, making as much noise as possible as I tromp down the old wooden steps. "Fang- oh. Oh my god." I find myself suddenly sitting on the steps, my legs having given out at the sight before me. Fang's decent, yes- as is Iggy, who has his arms tight around his waist- but that was not what I was expecting when I came down. "Oh, dear god. There's no way…" My breath catches, and I squeeze my eyes shut, resting my head on my knees as I try to calm my wildly beating heart. They can't be- together. Fang's not like that- Iggy, maybe, but Fang… god, there has to be some kind of other explanation…

"Mmm…" My head shoots up, fear of being caught down here clenching around me like a vise, and I sit, absolutely still, and stare in silence as Iggy shifts, nuzzling his nose into Fang's hair and rolling away slightly, the other boy unconsciously moving with him. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding, and Iggy suddenly tenses, his muscles tightening. "…Max?" He whispers, and I freeze, blinking at the blind boy as he turns his head toward me. "Max, is'at you?" His voice comes out soft and slurred, but I can tell he is actually awake.

"…uh, yeah. It's me." I reply hesitantly, and instantly feel slightly bad at the guilty, nervous expression on his pale face. "Um…"

"Listen, Max, I'm sorry we didn't tell you, but we felt it best if no one knew, so please don't tell anyone, because I don't think they would take it all that well- I mean, Gazzy would lose the image of his idol, and Angel would lose the image of her father, and Nudge-"

"Iggy, stop." I cut him off, and his mouth snaps shut, an upset look crossing his features. "I won't tell, alright? It's really- it's really not that big of a deal. Just- just don't be too obvious about it, got it? And-" I take a deep breath, trying to buy time; to figure out what other words I could stick in the air between us; to cover up my real emotions. "And- I'll leave now. But it's time for breakfast, so if you could get him up…?" He nods, relief clear on his face, and I stand up, making a mad dash up the stairs before I could see how he woke up his boyfriend- Fang. My Fang. God, he was really- gay. I lean back against the door, my heart pounding in my ears and tears threatening to spill down my cheeks.

"There's got to be a mistake…"

Iggy's POV

"But it's time for breakfast, so if you could get him up…?" I nod, relief screaming through me, and I hear Max stand up, sprinting up the stairs and slamming the door shut behind her. Sinking back into Fang's mattress, I hug him closer, kissing his lips possessively. I did not like the edge in Max's voice as she cut me off, and what she said when she got upstairs… my heart feels like it's in a vise, and I kiss Fang again, claiming him. When I pull away, I hear his familiar chuckle, and the vise loosens ever-so-slightly.

"Well, good morning to you, too, love. What's got you in a frenzy?" He teases, his voice deep with sleep, and a grin works it's away across my face, my hands reaching up to caress his cheeks.

"Just a dream, Fang. Don't worry about it. But I think I heard Max shouting about it being time for breakfast, so…" His eyes widen slightly.

"What if she came down to check on me?" The vise tightens viciously, and guilt floods through me.

"She didn't. I was awake for a while before I heard her. Anyway, let's get the day started." I start to get out of bed, but Fang suddenly latches onto me, successfully keeping me still. "…Fang?" His gaze burns into me, and I touch his cheek to find that he's frowning, worry etched into his face.

"Something bad is going to happen today." He mutters, tightening his grip as I try to move away from him.

"Fang, sweets, the bad thing'll happen, regardless of whether you- we- stay in bed or not, so why not just face it? Besides- maybe nothing will happen. Maybe it was just a bad storm last night, and that's all. Come on." He sighs, clearly not believing my weak statements, but let's me go, though not before catching my lips one last time.

"Thank you, Iggy." A half grin tugs across my face, and I kiss his forehead softly as I crawl out of his bed.

"Welcome, Fang. Love you."

"Love you, too." I turn and carefully make my way upstairs, struggling with my conscience. Following Max and the Gasman's voices to the kitchen, I hesitate just outside the door before walking in, going directly to our beat-up couch and falling onto it with perfect aim, if I may say so myself.

"Hey Ig, rise and shine." Max says, and I mentally roll my eyes, sensing her confusion still under her cheerfulness.

"Bite me." I mumble sleepily, and she sighs.

"Fine. Miss breakfast." I hear the fridge open, and sense Fang walk into the room. Max straightens quickly, and I know that Fang had snuck up on her yet again. Hmph. Serves her right. "Will you quit that?" Fang's calm amusement is almost tangible, and I find myself grinning as he replies:

"Quit what? Breathing?" I can imagine Max rolling her eyes.

"You know what." Having enough of Max's weak attempts at flirting (which is exactly what she was doing, I swear), I stagger upright.

"I'll make eggs." Yes, I know. The blind guy cooks. Get over it- I'm the only one that can in this house.

"Fang? You set the table. I'll go get Nudge and Angel." I hear Max stride out of the room, and Fang brushes past me to pull out our mismatched silverware.

"What'd she think I was gonna do? Dance the rumba on the table?" He mutters to me, and I snicker quietly, accepting a quick kiss when- I'm assuming- Gazzy isn't looking.

"You never know with that girl." I reply under my breath, and I hear his barely concealed snort as he pulls out a few plates.

Later

After finishing breakfast- and another of Gazzy's "gifts"- we all headed outside on Angel request for strawberry picking. My fingers were hooked through Fang's belt loop, and I could feel how tense he was. "S'matter?"

"Can't you feel it?" He mutters. "Something gonna happen." I sigh, squeezing his hand as he rests it discreetly against my own.

"Just- relax, okay? Whatever happens, happens. Let's just enjoy the moment." I sense a grimace on his face, but he nods.

"If you make cake, I can make strawberry shortcakes." Angel says happily, and I roll my eyes. Max? Cook? Yeah, right.

"Yeah, that'll be the day, when Max makes a cake. I'll make it, Angel." I jump as I hear my own voice not coming from me, and Fang stifles a laugh beside me.

"That was Gasser." I begin laughing, mentally applauding our little ventriloquist.

"Oh, thank you!" Max exclaims, whirling on me. "Okay, I'm not a fabulous cook. But I can still kick your butt, and don't you forget it!" I hold my hands up in defense, still laughing. Nudge was struggling to not laugh behind me, and I could sense Fang's wide grin.

"Was that you?" I hear her accuse Gazzy, and he giggles. Something catches my ear, and I freeze. Oh, shoot…

"Fang?" He turns toward me, and I take a deep breath. "You were right about something bad happening today." His brow furrows, and he opens his mouth to respond.

And that's when Angel screams, and all hell breaks lose.

AN- Oo, see? Plot. –grins- Please review!!