Caught In Eagle Talons

Five: Everyone, Meet Hope

Sorry, it took so long! I've been distracted by school and my other stories! For those of you who are reading my other stories, I will try to get a move on with those as well!

Max:

"Wait," Iggy said, holding up his hands. "Your daughter, Hope can turn invisible?!"

"I guess!"

"Max, relax," Fang said, reaching for Hope. I gave him to her and watched as she relaxed. "She'll be fine. I could still see her, so that helps."

"Does it though?" Nudge said. I glared at her. "Sorry. Not helping. Noted."

"I'm sorry. I'm just stressed. She's never done anything like this before, and it scared me." 

"I know," Fang said, pulling me into him with one arm while holding Hope with the other. He kissed the top of my head. "Sometimes you just need to relax."

"I know. It's just...she used to do stuff like this, and then the whitecoats would take her or it would be something from them. I forget that they're not here."

"Was it bad where you were?" Nudge asked. I nod as my eyes fill with tears.

"Worse than when we were at the School. It was so much worse, because everything they were doing, they were doing to her." I felt the tears fall faster as I remembered everything that happened to my baby.

"It's okay now," Fang said, letting go of me to hold Hope better. She stirred a little bit but was soon fast asleep in his arms. "You're okay. You're safe."

                                                             *************************

"Fang? We're home!" Angel said as she walked into the house. Gazzy was close behind. He dropped his keys in the bowl by the door and grabbed an orange off the counter.

I looked up from my book and waved. Angel saw me and smiled.

"Hey, Max! How have you been doing?" 

I smiled and scooted over so she could sit next to me. She did and looked at the cover of my book.

"Good. How was school?" She shrugged.

"Same as always."

"Which is?"

"Not important." I laughed.

From upstairs I could hear Hope crying. I went to stand up and get her, but I could see Fang already heading up the stairs.

"I got her!" Fang shouted. 

"Do you know what you're doing?!" I shouted back.

"Yes! She's my daughter too!"

Angel looked at me with one eyebrow raised in question. Gazzy choked on a piece of orange. "You can meet her when she's not fussy from her nap." 

"I forgot you were pregnant," Gazzy said as he slammed his fist on his chest to stop himself from choking.

Fang came down the stairs a minute later with Hope. She reached her arms out the minute she saw me, making squeaking noises through her red pacifier. I reached up over the couch and Fang handed her over. She looked over at Angel with keen eyes. I smiled as she reached her hands out to Angel. She looked surprised but took Hope anyway.

"She's so cute," Angel said. "What's her name?"

"Hope."

"GASMAN!" Nudge shouted from upstairs. Gazzy groaned loudly. "DID YOU TEAR APART MY STRAIGHTENER?!" Nudge appeared on the bottom step. A hair straightener was in her hand, its wires frayed and slightly sparking.

"Yep. I needed it for a bomb."

"You're making bombs again?!" I asked. He had stopped 2 years ago. 

"I was afraid they would come get more of us!"

"And you wanted to make bombs," Angel said, matter-of-factly. I laughed.

"I missed you guys." They smiled at me. "I love you guys."

"Don't get all sentimental on us now," Gazzy said. I smiled. I had truly missed them.