Change

Chapter 12

"Max!" Tyler burst into our bedroom. "'ate!"

"Tyler!" I pulled the covers up around me.

Fang sat up a little. "Ty, go back outside."

"No!" He started to climb up on the bed.

"Tyler, please?" I asked, holding the blankets to me. "I'll be out there in a minute. Just…got to you room."

"Fine!" He glared at Fang before walking out of the room and stomping back to him own. Fang jumped up and closed the door, sighing.

"Told you sex was bad." Fang commented, going over to the closet.

"Oh, shut up." I got up and went over to my bag. "I'm taking a shower."

"Whatever." Fang watched me for a second. "You know…you can put your stuff in the closet or dresser. I mean, if you want to."

"Thanks." I told him, headed to the shower.


Fang walked out of his room after dressing and into Tyler's, who was sitting on his bed, pouting. The man went over to his son and sat down on his bed, setting the toddler in his lap.

"Why you may-es me leaf?"

"Leave?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

Fang sighed. "Max and me weren't…ready for you yet."

"Weady?"

"Yeah, ready."

"How?"

Fang thought for a second. "You know how girls are. Max has to make herself…presentable."

"How?" Tyler asked, still not getting it.

"Girls have to…put on makeup."

"Max wear mak-up?"

"Yep."

"Oh." Looking up at Fang, Tyler giggled.

"So, from now on, knock on the door and wait for us to let you in…okay?"

"Oh a!" Tyler jumped up. "Max!"

"She's in the shower." Fang told him, running after him. "Tyler!"

Tyler ran into the bedroom. "Max!"

"Tyler." Fang grabbed him. "See? She's doing her makeup."

"Oh."

"Let's go get Tabitha so we can make breakfast."

"No!"

Fang looked down at him. "What?"

"Wait fo' Max!"

Fang rolled his eyes. "She'll be done by the time we finish making it."

Tyler yawned. "'ate wid Max."

"You guys are going out later." Fang told him. "And quit calling it a date."

"No. Max me girl-find."

"She's your girl find?"

"Yes."

"Oh, we'll she's my girlfriend so I get to date her. You just found her."

Tyler glared at his dad. "Hate you!"


Max's POV

"Hi Max!" Tabitha yelled as I walked into the living room.

"Hi sweetie." I went over to her and kissed her head.

"Max!" Tyler ran out of the kitchen. "'ate!"

I picked him up as he ran to me. "Tonight Tyler."

"When?"

"Like at five."

He smiled, laying his head on my shoulder. "Oh a."

"Max." Fang walked into the room. "Breakfast. I made eggs."

"Thanks." I smiled at him, carrying Tyler into the kitchen. I sat down with him in my lap. Fang walked in with Tabitha, setting her down in a chair. Fang looked at me and Tyler, handing us our plates. "Fang, Tyler needs ketchup."

"Right." He went over to the fridge and sat it down a bottle of ketchup.

"Fang, you gave me too much." I complained, picking at my eggs and bacon.

"No I didn't."

"Yeah, you did."

"Max, just eat. I know you're hungry."

"No I'm not." I mumbled, taking a bite. After putting some ketchup on his plate, Tyler took the initiative to squirt some all over my food. Fang saw this and got upset.

"Tyler!"

He looked up. "What?"

"You did not just-"

"It's fine Fang." I smiled at Tyler. "He was just trying to be helpful."

"Here, I'll make you more."

"No, it's fine." Wasn't like I was going to eat them all anyways. "Thank you Tyler. Just ask next time."

Tyler smiled at me. "Love Max."

"I love you too Tyler."

"Love you!" Tabitha yelled.

I sighed. Why do they always do this? "I love you too Tabitha."

"Max?"

"Yeah Tyler?"

"'ate now?"

"I told you, later." I pushed his head a little. "Fang do you work today?"

"No. Tomorrow I do though." Fang sat down at the table. "Tabby?"

"Wa?" She looked at him, mouth full of food.

"You want to go eat somewhere too?"

"Wid Max?"

"No, she's going with Tyler."

"Go wid Max!"

"No!" Tyler yelled at her. I leaned down and kissed his head.

"Shh." I looked at Tabitha. "We'll go somewhere one day too."

"Shop?"

I shrugged. "Sure."

Tyler looked up at me. Having finished his own eggs, he asked, "Max no hungy?"

I put half of mine on his plate. "There."

"Max-"

"I wasn't going to eat them anyways, Fang."

"Just don't get sick Ty." Fang finished his, standing up, putting his dish in the sink.

"Hey Fang?"

"What?" He took Tabitha's plate when she finished.

"I want to get a job."

He looked at me before shrugging. "Whatever."

"If I make my own money, I think that I should be able to buy-"

"No."

"Come on Fang."

"No."

"F-"

"We'll talk later." Fang came and stood behind me, giving me a hug.

I pushed him off. "Cut it out."

He just kissed the back of my head, smelling my hair. "You're cute when you're mad."

"Shut up." I sat Tyler on the floor.

"Max, you didn't even eat."

"I ate a little."

"No, you didn't." Fang crossed his arms as I put Tyler and my plates in the sink.

"Yes I did."

"Up!" Tabitha reached her hands towards me. I sighed, lifting her into my arms.

"No Max!" Tyler yelled. "Max!"

I sighed, picking him up in my other arm. "You guys are heavy."

"It's Tabby." Tyler told me, leaning against me.

"Max, you don't have to carry them everywhere." Fang followed me into the living room.

"Shhh Daddy!" Tyler glared at him.

"Max?" Tabby wrapped her arms around my neck. "Go 'side?"

I looked at Fang. "Can they?"

He shrugged. "I guess."

"Ya!" I sat Tabitha and her brother on the ground. "Door Max!"

"Shoes!" Tyler reprimanded, sitting on the floor, his shoes in his hands. Fang rolled his eyes, putting them on him.

"Come here Tab." Fang grabbed her. Tyler stood up and walked over to me.

"Come Max!" He ordered, going to the door. Tabitha followed after Fang put her shoes on.

I groaned. I would much rather be sleeping. I sat down on the front step after we were out there, watching them. Tyler picked up a ball, bouncing it up and down, Tabitha running around. Fang sat next to me.

"So what do you think?"

I looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"Do you like living here?"

I shrugged. "It's…different than what I'm used to."

"You think that you could live here?"

I shrugged again. "I guess. I mean, it's a lot…calmer than what I've been doing."

"Yeah." Fang looked down at me. "I wouldn't blame you…or hate you if you didn't want to stay."

I watched as his kids started chasing each other. "I like it here."

"But could you see yourself staying long term?"

I leaned against Fang. "Yeah, I think I can."

"…Good."

"Hi!"

Tabitha's voice dragged us out of our little moment to see who she was talking to. That woman that had bothered me that one day when Tabitha was outside playing was walking across the street towards us, a two-year-old boy walking with her.

"Hi!" The boy ran over to her. Tyler threw his ball at him.

"Go!" Tyler yelled.

Fang sighed. "Ty, stop."

"Hi Fang." The woman walked over to us. "My brother dropped Tommy off today and I wanted to see if Tyler and Tabitha wanted to play with him."

Fang stood up. "Max, this is Cameron and her nephew, Tommy. You guys have met, right?"

"Yeah." I didn't stand up, not seeing why I should for her.

"Hi." Her eyes flickered slightly.

"Max is my, uh, girlfriend." Fang said.

"Oh."

"Yeah." Fang looked around. "Do you want to come in? The kids could play in their rooms with Tommy?"

"Sure." She smiled.

"Tyler, Tabby, let's go inside and play with Tommy."

"No!" Tyler glared at him.

"Play here." Tommy agreed.

"I have an idea." Cameron looked at Fang. "We could go inside and talk while Max watches them play out here."

"Well, Max might-" Fang started but she-devil cut him off.

"You don't mind, do you Max?" She cocked her head at me, smiling a little.

I glared at her. Truthfully, I didn't care that much. What's she going to do? Seduce him? If she hasn't done it yet, she's never going to do it. Plus, Fang's not like that. Now leave Michael or Chris, another guy I dated, with a woman? Fuck no. Mathew or Fang? Sure, why not? Not to mention I didn't want to get up.

"Whatever."

Fang pushed my head slightly, giving me a smile as he went into the house with her. A few minutes after they were gone, Tyler stomped over to me.

"Max!"

"Tyler!" I glared back at him playfully.

"I no like Tom-ma." He climbed up into my lap. "Or Cam-a-run."

"You don't?" I kissed his head. "Why not?"

"Tabby pay wid him, no me!"

"But you don't like playing with her? Right?" I smiled. Tyler's jealous.

"No!" He cuddled against me as Tabitha walked up, holding Tommy's hand.

"Ty no pay?" Tabby asked, stopping in front of us.

"No!" He glared at Tommy. "Go 'way!"

Tommy, apparently used to Tyler, looked at me. "Hi, I Tom."

"Hi Tom." I smiled at him. "I'm Max."

"No Max!" Tyler looked up at me. "No talk him!"

"Tyler." I sighed.

"Pay ball?" Tabitha asked Tommy as they walked away, having given up on Tyler.

"Tyler?" I looked down at him. "Are you jealous?"

"No!"

"Just because Tabby has a little boyfriend doesn't mean she doesn't have time for you." I told him, capturing his attention. "Actually, she needs her brother even more."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh. You have to keep Tommy in line, not let him hurt Tabby." He smiled. "And, you get to boss Tabitha around about it."

"Now?"

"Yep." I kissed his head, setting him on the ground.

"What me do?"

"Well for one thing, don't let them hold hands."

"Oh a!" He yelled, running over to them.


"So Fang," Cameron leaned closer to him. "How do you know Max?"

Fang's eyes shifted to the window, watching as Max sat there, bored. "We grew up together?"

"Oh she lived with you at that place?"

"Yeah." Fang leaned back.

"Where'd she go?"

Sighing, Fang shook his head. "Just out on her own for awhile, you know, taking a brake."

"So…you guys are together now?"

"Yep."

"…Do the kids like her?"

"Yeah."

"Even Tyler?" Cameron, who had babysat for the twins since Fang had moved next door, seemed skeptical.

"Yeah, he loves her."

"Really?"

"Yes." Fang looked at her. "Max is really good with kids."


"Don't eat that!"

Tyler looked up at me, dropping the fist full of dirt. "Why?"

"I don't know…it's nasty for one thing."

"No, it good." Tabitha argued, smiling.

"Yeah." Tommy nodded.

"No, it's bad." I looked at all three of them. "So don't eat it anymore. Alright?"

"No!"

"Tabitha-"

"No!" She glared at me.

Then Tyler pushed her. "No yell at Ma-ax!"

"Tyler!"

Tabitha's eyes watered. "Ah!"

"Tabitha." I tried to pick her up but she moved away from me.

"Daddy!" She cried. Tommy patted her head but she ignored him.

I heard the front door open and in seconds, Fang was at my side. He picked up the crying toddler. "What's wrong baby?"

"Ty push me!" She cried, looking away from her bleeding knee.

"Tabby yell at Max!" Tyler started crying too, apparently realizing that he was going to get into trouble.

"I think we should go." Cameron took Tom's hand, leading him back to her home.

Fang handed Tabitha to me. "Tyler, we do not push!"

"Max!" He cried as Fang snatched him up, taking him back into the house.

"Max." Tabitha cried for me too.

"Shhh." I carried her in also. "Let's go see if I can find a Band-Aid okay?"

"No!" Tyler yelled back at Fang, clearly disagreeing with him on something. "No! No! N-"

"Shush!" Fang hit the two year old on his bottom. "Go sit in your room!"

I would yell at him for that later. I went into the bathroom, setting Tabitha, who had finally stopped crying, on the sink. "Do you know where the Band-Aid's are, sweetie?"

She nodded, pointing the medicine cabinet. "Dere."

I opened it. There were regular looking ones and colorful ones. "You want pink?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

"Alright." I got one out, putting some Neosporin on it before putting it on her knee. "You good?"

"Yes." She reached out for me and I picked her up. I walked into the living room where Fang was watching TV, a scowl on his face. "Daddy!"

Fang took her from me as I walked back. "You okay?"

"Uh-huh." She pointed to her knee. "Pink!"

"Yep." Fang kissed her head.

"Fang, Tyler's not the only one who did wrong." I looked him in the eye. If he was going to spank Tyler, he was at least going to correct Tabitha.

"Tyler got in trouble because he pushed." Fang looked right back at me.

"And Tabitha yelled at me, which is why he pushed her."

Fang sighed. "Did you yell at Max Tabby?"

"No!"

"Tabitha." Fang looked down at her.

"Yes."

Sitting her down on the ground, Fang sighed. "Go to your room."

"Why?"

"You're in trouble."

"Like Ty?"

"Yep. Go."

"Hm." She glared at me as she left.

I waited a second before speaking. "Are you going to go get Tyler?"

"He's in trouble."

"For how long?"

"…I'm not sure. Until I'm not mad at him anymore."

"Fang, he pushed her, okay? Get over it."

"No, I always have to tell him to stop hitting or pushing and I'm pissed off right now. So, Max, I'm not just going to get the fuck over it."

"So she can yell at me but if he sticks up for me he gets into trouble?"

"Max, I sent her to her room too."

"Ooh, big deal. She can't sit in your lap. Oh no."

"Max-"

"Tyler got spanked and sent to his room."

"This really doesn't concern you."

"Fine. Then, since it doesn't concern me, I'm going to go play with Tyler. I mean, if it doesn't concern me, I might as well ignore the fact that he's in trouble." I walked off and into Tyler's room. He was crying still, hugging his teddy bear.

"Go 'way!" He yelled at me.

I walked over to him. "Tyler, don't cry. It's not that bad. Tabitha got in trouble too."

Tyler sniffled. "Really?"

"Yeah." I sat down next to him, letting him crawl into my lap. "But you can't push Tyler."

"Tabby yell at Max!"

"I know." I sighed. "But you've got to control your anger."

He looked up at me. "Wha'?"

I sighed. "You have to stop getting so angry. I can take care of myself Tyler."

Tyler hugged me. "Me love Max."

"I know. But you can't push and yell, alright?"

"Oh a Max." He let me go. "Max smell 'ice."

"I do?"

"Yeah." He yawned. "Foo now?"

I smiled. "Soon, swe-"

"Tyler." Fang walked in, Tyler immediately going back to mean and uncooperative.

"Max." He pushed away from me, as if shielding me from Fang. He's so cute and sweet. "'Tay! Me eel wid him."

I giggled. "Alright then."

Fang rolled his eyes. "Tyler, we do not push. You hear me?"

"No hit!" He argued.

"Ty, you were acting up. I didn't hit you, I spanked you. We've been over this before."

"Hmph." He sat back down in my lap.

"So you understand me? About not pushing?"

"Yeah." He said, though Fang and I both knew this wouldn't be the last time he pushed. Tyler has anger issues…bad anger issues. "'Ate now?"

"No." I rolled my eyes. "Fang, what's for lunch?"

He shrugged. "I think we have some hotdogs."

"Okay." I laid back on Tyler's bed, the two year old falling onto my stomach. As Fang left, I asked, "Where do you want to go tonight Tyler?"

He looked up at me. "On 'ate."

I sighed. "I know, Tyler. I meant, what do you want for dinner?"

"Food."

And this is why kids annoy me. "I know, but what food do you want?"

"Ham-urger."

"Okay." I kissed his head.

"Max?"

"Yeah?"

He looked up at me and giggled. "You pretty."

"Thank you." I ran a hand down his head. "You're really sweetie Tyler."

He smiled, blushing slightly. "'anks Max."


"There." I pushed his plate back to him after having cut his cheeseburger into four squares. We were at some family owned restaurant for our 'date'. And to top it all of, I got a application to work there. Score! "Now you can eat."

"Tanks." Tyler smiled, coving his fries in ketchup before holding it out to me. "'ere Max!"

"Thank you." I smiled, taking it from him. "You're a very good date Tyler."

He smiled before taking eating one of the pieces of his burger. With his mouthful, he smile at me. "Max good too!"

"Tyler." I sighed. "Don't talk with your mouthful, okay?"

He nodded. "Oh a Max!"


Tabitha looked up at Fang. "When?"

"They'll be back soon baby." Fang kissed his daughter's head. "Why do you want them back so badly?"

"No 'ike Ty wid Max."

Rolling his eyes, her father asked, "Why?"

"Max 'ike him bed-er."

"Better?" Fang asked, unsure of what she had said. When she nodded, he sighed. "No she doesn't. Max just…falls for his fake fits, that's all."

"Hmmm." The girl leaned into Fang more, yawning. Tyler better get back soon. She was sleepy!

"Hey Tabby," Fang took a deep breath. "Do you like Max?"

"Yes! Love Max!"

"...Like you do Mommy?"

"Ty tell Max 'bout Mommy."

"What?"

"Mommy here fo' birthday!" Tabitha clapped.

"Yeah but Tabby, what did you said about Tyler telling Max about Mommy?"

Tabitha giggled. "Max new mommy?"

Fang sighed. Apparently, she wasn't going to tell him about what Tyler said. "You remember how when Mommy came for your birthday, we talked about what mommy's do?"

Tabitha nodded. "Yeah."

"Well…Max could do that stuff now. I mean, if you want her to."

"Yeah!" Tabitha snuggled against Fang. "Love Max!"

Fang decided to repeat his original question. "Like you do Mommy?"

"More!"

"More?" Fang looked down at her. "Why?"

"Mommy give Bear and Woof and leave. Max 'tay fo'ever!"

Fang smiled down at her. "Forever?"

"Yeah." Yawing one last time, the toddler fell asleep.


I carried Tyler into the house, where Fang was in the chair, Tabitha asleep on his lap. Tyler wiggled in my arms so I sat him down.

"Tabby!" He yelled, running over to them. "Look what me-"

"Ty!" Tabitha jumped out of Fang's lap, hugging her brother. "Miss Ty!"

"Ew!" He pushed her away. "Look what me gots!"

"Max!" She cried out when she saw that Tyler had a new stuffed animal.

"Here sweetie." I handed her a stuffed leopard. "You didn't think I forgot you, did you?"

She smiled while Fang just rolled his eyes. "You don't have to buy them stuff."

"Yeah I do." I picked Tabitha up. "You ready for bed?"

"Yeah." She laid her head on my shoulder.

"Ma-ax!" Tyler grabbed onto my leg so I picked him up too. "Seep wid Max?"

I looked at Fang, who didn't look all that thrilled. I smiled. "Sure. You can take a bath in the morning, okay?"

Fang sighed, standing. "Ty needs to go put on his nightclothes."

I handed Tabitha over to her daddy. "Come on Tyler. Let's go get you ready for bed."

He smiled as I carried him off into his room. I sat him down on the floor when we got there and he immediately went to Bear, hugging it with the arm that wasn't holding his new stuffed toy.

"What are you going to name your new one?" I asked him as I got him something to sleep in.

"Wa-wa."

I gave him a look before shrugging. Whatever. Better than Bear. "I like that name."

He smiled, hugging the stuffed black lab to him. I got his clothes and changed him before picking him up, along with Wa-wa and Bear, and carrying them into my new bedroom. Fang was on the bed, Tabitha and her new toy next to him. I laid Tyler down before going into the bathroom to get changed. When I came back out, Tabitha had fallen asleep and Tyler was on Fang's chest.

"So you don't miss her?"

"No. Have Max." Tyler seemed up set by whatever they were talking about. "Max, Max, Max!"

"Yeah?"

Fang jumped slightly. "Oh, hey."

"Hey." I laid down next to Tabitha. She opened her sleepy eyes slightly but, seeing that it was just me, closed them again. "What are you guys talking about?"

"Nothing." Fang kissed Tyler's head.

"Max!" Tyler pushed Fang's head away, clearly agitated at the moment. "Max!"

"Come here." I reached across his sleeping twin to grab him. Tabitha had cuddled against my side so, instead of putting him behind me, where he could fall, I laid him on my stomach.

"Daddy mean." He moaned, laying his head on my stomach.

"Why?" I asked, looking over at Fang who just shrugged. Something's going on…

He just moaned. "Bear and Wa-wa?"

Fang pulled Tabitha closer to him, who whined a little before quieting, which allowed me to set Tyler on the bed. Fang laid his stuffed animals between him and Tabitha.

"Night Tyler. I love you." Fang told him.

Tyler just huddled against me. "Love Max!"

I smiled. "I love you too Tyler. And you Tabitha." I smiled as she opened her eyes again, just to let me know that she heard me.

"What about me?" Fang asked, looking hurt.

"Eh, I tolerate you."

"Well guess what Max?"

"What?"

Was he going to do it? Was he going to say- "I tolerate you too."

I rolled my eyes.