(A/N [4/18/19]: And here it is! The first chapter. I can't tell whether this one is too short or too long, or short or long, or... whatever it is, enjoy! I've decided that Chapters will be released as they are made, as I won't have to format a whole bunch at once. This was all written in a separate program, so the indentation isn't showing. The formatting is also a bit off. I think I'm gonna use a different editor. They should really add an indent key in the Wattpad online writer thing, too. Ugh. Anyways, time to sleep. It's about 2AM here. Once again, enjoy.)

(A/N [4/19/19]: Hey all. Next day; I realized that the formatting was really bugging me, especially the lack of space in-between dialogue, so I fixed it for your reading convenience. I'll be writing Chapter 2 soon. It's gonna be a long one. And, who knows; there might be a reunion with someone Max once knew years ago. Anyways, if this is your first time reading, enjoy!)

"Max?"

"Max, if you don't get up, breakfast is gonna get cold. It's pancakes today." she giggled.

Max had just barely heard her the second time, as he opened his eyes to a still dark room. It wouldn't be dark for long, however, as Sylvia marched to Max's window to yank the curtains wide open.

The sun shone so bright, he couldn't see a thing. He covered his eyes with his hands, which were gloveless. But, I mean, who sleeps with gloves?

Sylvia walked over to Max, who had made an effort to cover his eyes with his bedsheets, and planted a kiss on his forehead. Max let out a small grunt. "Come down, quick, or your father will eat every pancake he made, yours and mine included." she said. She ruffled his hair and walked out of his bedroom.

Max turned to lay on his back, and looked up at the ceiling, opting to take in his surroundings with his sense of hearing, rather than his sense of eyesight, which he had felt he lost when Sylvia had pulled open the curtains a few hours too soon. He could hear pans clanking around downstairs, and remnants of conversation between his dad, Goofy, and Sylvia. Of course, he couldn't hear anything in particular. He was a floor up. Go figure.

Of course, Max didn't have all day. It was probably best to take the day head on, rather than lay around all morning. After all, this was his last day with his dad and stepmom, before he left for Ohio State for his second year. I mean, hell, he had fun last time, even with the Gamma's, and not to mention, his own dad, up his butt every day. But, why he shouldn't have fun this year? His dad would be gone, and his confidence had grown so much since he had won the College X-Games a few months prior, he had no time to worry about losing to the Gamma's again. At least, not now. Not when he had food waiting for him at the table.

He pushed his covers aside and groaned as he sat up, at the foot of the bed. He yanked his gloves on, and stood up. He trudged to his dresser, where he whisked on a red shirt, and a pair of jeans. A yawn escaped his mouth as he threw his underwear into the hamper just across the hall.

He walked from his bedroom to the bathroom, where Max brushed his teeth and combed his hair, before walking to the staircase, leading downstairs

XX

"You think he'll be okay there, all by himself?" Goofy asked from across the table.

"Yes, honey, he'll be fine. He's 19 now! A grown man. Plus, he has his friends! He'll be okay, I promise." Sylvia responded, getting to work on her pancake stack.

She had noticed Goofy frown a bit more, which she reacted to with a quick smile. She immediately noticed he wasn't convinced. "Well, you never know, Syl-"

"He'll be fine!" She giggled. "I promise you. He knows where he is! He attended Ohio State last year, remember? As a Freshman? I'm sure he'll even get to know the place a little bit better, after exploring the place a bit more. He doesn't need you there. He's okay."

"Well...fine." Goofy said back, defeated. He'd always saw himself as a protective father, but never thought the "protective" part harmless. And of course, it wasn't at all; but, when, you get to be Max's age, you'd find it best just to lay off, and let him go his own way. But, the word "stop" wasn't entirely in Goofy's vocabulary.

They both continued to eat silently, forks clanging against their plates, before they noticed Max make his way to the glass cupboard. He flipped open the cupboard door and fished around for a cup, before pouring himself a glass of milk.

"Morning, Maxie!" Goofy said heartily. A wide smile was on his face at that moment. Nothing made him light up more than the presence of his son.

"Good morning, dad," Max replied, still sounding rather tired. "Sleep well?"

"Of course! Say, you sound a bit tired. Are you okay?" Goofy asked, turning around to face him.

"I'm okay. Just got to bed a little bit later than expected, that's all." Max replied, leaning forward now. He smelled pancakes, which were laid out for him in a neat stack. If there was one thing his dad knew how to cook well, it was pancakes. They were topped with a clean slat of butter, along with a few blueberries, which were placed on top of the butter, which had just about melted. Syrup was drizzled daintily over everything. "Oooh, pancakes!" Max said excitedly. It had been a while since he was treated to such a meal. Usually it was just cereal or a quick granola bar. Surprisingly, Goofy got tired of making breakfast sometimes, if you can even believe that he gets tired of anything.

"Well, that's good to hear, at least. Don't want my boy going through some sort of... depression." Goofy said quietly, eating up his food quickly. Max walked to the table, pulled the chair out, and sat down. He set his glass of milk next to his plate, and began to chow down.

He looked over to Sylvia, and asked with a smile, "So, Sylvia, how did you sleep?"

"Just wonderfully, Max!" she replied quickly. Max could tell she was a bit giddy today, but couldn't discern why. "I'm running on about... eleven hours!"

"Wow, if I could only find time to get any sort of sleep. I'd been up until something like 12 last night, packing and getting ready." Max said, cutting into his pancakes. Goofy looked concerned.

"12? In the morning? Well, that isn't good..." Goofy said, finishing up his plate. He got up and placed his plate in the sink, as Max continued to talk to Sylvia. "Really? Young man, you really should be getting more sleep!" Sylvia smiled. "Especially when you're in college! You're really gonna need it!"

"Yeah, no kidding. We have to go up against the Gamma's again this year. We won last time, but I feel like we just got lucky. We're really gonna have to push to win this year." Max replied, quickly eating through his stack. As Goofy washed his dish, he asked, "So, son, what kind of degree are you goin' for?"

"Bathelorths." Max said, his mouth full.

"What was that?"

Max swallowed his food. "Bachelor's." He took a quick drink of milk right after.

"Four years, huh?" Sylvia has said, laughing like Max was in for a ride. Which, I suppose, he was. "It'll be graduation day before you know it! What's your major?"

"I haven't decided yet. I'm just focused on winning that competition, you know?"

As Goofy set his plate on the drying rack, he had stuck onto what Sylvia had said. Graduation Day... Goofy wanted it to be forever away. He didn't want Max to grow up so fast, but, alas, it was inevitable. In the end, he had no control over time. He sighed heavily, and turned to Max with a smile on his face. "Bachelor's, huh? Well, I'm proud of ya'... You-... you really have grown up...-" Goofy choked, tears welling in his eyes. Before Goofy had time to react, he had felt Max hug him tight.

"I know. I know you're proud, dad." Max replied, patting Goofy's back, his eyes now watering. It hurt him to see his dad upset. "But don't worry about me, okay? I'll be fine. I'll always be your son, you know that." Max laughed, trying to cheer his dad up. Goofy replied with a slight "hyuck". Sylvia couldn't help but smile.

XXX

Just 20 minutes later, Max was getting ready to head off for P.J.'s, whose house was adjacent to the Goof's.

"Don't forget to be back before dinner, Max!" Sylvia had called from the family room. She decided today was the right day to give the place a little dusting. Goofy was lounging in a recliner, reading a newspaper.

"Bye, Maxie!" Goofy yelled. Max smiled. After last year, he really started to appreciate how much his dad loved him. Sure, at times he could be embarassing, but he had good intentions. However, aside from that, Max was 100% ready to kick back and relax with his buddies, and enjoy college, all on his own. At least for a little while, before they have to kick it in high gear when the College X-Games got close.

"I will! Bye Dad, Sylvia! Love you both, See you at dinner!" Max yelled, pulling open the door.

"We love you too!" Goofy yelled from his reclined state, smiling wide. He flipped over the newspaper as he heard the front door open and close.

"Kids..." Sylvia smiled, laughing to herself. "Right, honey?"

"Yeah..." Goofy replied, smiling wide. "Kids."