He felt awake but couldn't move his body.

The back of his head stung a bit, his half lidded eyes stared at a somewhat darkish ceiling immediately recognising it to be his lair's.

Though he laid stiffly on his bed only his eyes were open.

He never felt this weak before, it was like being trapped in your own body, with every motion or movement prohibited.

He could hear voices a short distance away, and he was certain it was his annoying family.

'What is going on? Why can't I move?' he thought. 'And why do I feel this need to be close to something or someone, dammit I feel so useless.'

He tried moving his body but to no avail.

'Dammit, what are they talking about? I need one of them to come wake me up from this , whatever this is.'

Internally shaking his head he pondered on his current predicament.

- With the Family -

After different scenarios of being bombarded with explanations Phoebe was astounded and found it difficult to believe what her ears were hearing.

"So that's it huh?" she said silently as she sat on the stairs of Max's lair surrounded by her family who eyed her warily.

"I sense you find it hard to believe, don't you not?" Dr Colosso asked perched in his cage.

She nodded in response.

"I know for a fact that after all this Max will be pissed since all of you plan on taking advantage of his state" the rabbit randomly exclaimed gaining the attention of everyone.

"Its inevitable really, I won't let this once in a lifetime opportunity pass" Nora stated smiling sweetly yet deviously at the same time.

"And this will also serve as blackmail material for future purposes" Billy quipped as everyone stared at him. "What?"

Shaking his head Colosso took charge of the pointless conversation. "Its been about half an hour, Phoebe go try and wake him up."

Phoebe sighed and did as she was told having no say in the matter.

She made it to his bed and her widened noticing Max's slightly opened eyes.

"He's awake!"

Everyone was instantly at her side.

"Max, wake up honey" Barb prodded eyeing him warily since he made no move to acknowledge their presence.

Billy poked him hard in the ribs.

Max immediately sat up inhaling hard caressing his dry throat.

"Thanks Billy, really needed that" he exclaimed hoarsely.

"No problem"

Everyone leaned in invading his personal space which was starting to creep him out a bit.

"Uh guys what's going on?" he asked unknowingly rubbing Dr Colosso who sat on his lap.

"Y-yeah, I could get used to this" the rabbit muttered comfortably.

"How you feeling Max?" Hank inquired grasping Max's shoulder lightly.

"I feel fine Han-, I mean Dad" he stuttered confirming Dr Colosso's theory to be true since Max always addressed his parents by their first names.

"Good, thought we lost you there for a moment buddy" Hank smiled thinly acknowledging the 'Dad' reference.

"What happened? Why am I in bed?" Max asked confusion heavily painted on his face.

He swore he had no idea who she was, the teenager staring at him with a somewhat perplexed expression, though he had this feeling that he knew her somehow but he couldn't put one and one so he concluded his thoughts for later.

"You hit your head on a mission and fell unconscious and we brought you home" Nora said blatantly lying taking her parents by surprise.

"But I thought Colosso said he wa-" a hand made its way to Billy mouth.

"Max, can I talk to the family alone for a moment? I swear it won't take long" Nora asked facing Max who nodded albeit slowly.

Everyone followed Nora away from Max and made their way to the rocks situated next to the entrance of Max's lair.

Barb immediately rounded on Nora who was already a step ahead.

"Mom, I can explain" she hastily said avoiding tongue lashing from her mother. "I think its better if we don't tell him what happened during the mission." she concluded.

"Mind explaining yourself Nora?" Hank asked arms crossed.

"Listen, his condition isn't permanent right?." they all nodded slowly not knowing where she was going wit this. "Imagine if we told him the truth and the side effect wore off OR he decides to return to his old persona having knowledge of what happened to him" she convinced them and to which Hank added,

"Yeah, and I really want to go to that expedition." Barb sent him a scathing look.

"You're seriously considering on using our sons condition for your own selfish needs?" Barb reprimanded.

"Come on Barb, I really want to go, and its not just me Max will be there as well" Barb didn't look convinced. "And once we come back we can steer him away from his villain phase before the effects wear off, does that sound convincing enough?" he asked hopefully.

"Okay, but listen everyone since Max is less likely starting anew, we should treat him properly and differently, everyone alright with that?" She asked to which they all nodded. "Now let's head back to Max" she concluded.

"So Max, are you up for dinner?"

"Yes Mom, I think my migraine subsided"

"You had a migraine?" she asked worriedly.

"Its gone now" he waved her off. "Mom?"

"Yes honey?"

"I've been meaning to ask you something ever since I woke up" he asked confusion literally painting his expression. Barb nodded allowing him to voice anything bothering him.

He pointed at Phoebe who had risen eyebrows and asked a question that took everyone by surprise.

"Is she by any chance my girlfriend? Because I clearly don't remember her at all" he asked bluntly ignoring the way his parents including Phoebe gasped at his proclamation.

CHAPTER END.