"STUPID MACHINE!"

Martha May startled from the magazine she was previously reading as she heard the cacophony of metal parts and machinery smashing in the background of the cave.

Max soon came trotting out from behind one of the stone walls where his workshop was located. He ran up to the Who, whimpering and whining as he covered his face with his paws, alerting her that something was wrong.

She looked at the pup and tried to calm him as yet another crash sounded in the distance.

"He's getting frustrated again, isn't he?"

Max whined in response, seemingly answering her question, before he ran back into his doghouse. It wasn't out of the blue for Grinch to get irritated while working on his inventions. In fact, she was starting to get used to it; but she's never heard of him destroying his inventions before! Something else was definitely going on.

Martha carefully and quietly made her way to the back of the cave, which is where she saw her boyfriend smashing spare parts into a pile. She could tell he was angry. His body posture was a lot more stiff, and the creases on his green face were much deeper than they normally were. "Grinch?"

The What tensed even more at the sound of her voice. Great, now he's got Martha worried.

She slowly approached him as he made his way to his work desk. "Baby, what's wrong?"

Grinch had his hands clenched on the side of the desk. His shoulders hunched as he breathed heavily from his previous actions. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "I messed up, Martha." He said nonchalantly, which worried her even more.

He had a loose screw in his hand and he glared at it. If he had the power to do so, he would've melted it with his enraged look. "It didn't work out as I planned...and I messed it up!" He shouted, tossing the small metal into the larger pile of scrap metal.

Martha furrowed her thin brows as she lightly touched his arm with the tips of her fingers, and watched as he flung the pencil across his blueprints in irritation. He sighed, defeatedly.

"Why can't I just do anything right?"

She stared in awe as tears fell down onto the blueprints beneath him. He was crying! Martha has never seen him cry before, and the sight of it broke her heart. Feeling her own eyes start to prick themselves.

Her hand gripped his chin as she gently pulled him to face her. His yellow eyes wet and downcast from sorrow.

"You are not a failure," She responded softly with a touch of sternness in her voice. "You're one of the smartest and most intelligent man I've ever met, and I know you're more than capable of doing this." She let her fingers glide through his emerald fur as she continued to speak to him. The sound of her gentle voice and her encouraging words comforting him. "Our mistakes is what makes us stronger, honey. Keep trying. You are remarkable...and don't you ever forget that."

A small smile spread across his lips as a single tear fell down his cheek. He loved this woman beyond compare.She wrapped her arms around his fuzzy body and embraced him into a hug. Grinch let his head rest against her shoulder as he embraced her back. Martha could feel his tears fall onto her skin. She took her fingers and began to slowly run them through the softness of his fur. Petting him as she placed gentle kisses on his cheek.

Martha giggled at the vibrations from his purrs. It was one of her favorite sounds in the world. Letting her know that he's happy again.

Her lips were near his ear and she whispered, "I believe in you, Grinch. And I love you so much."

Hearing that made him purr even louder, squeezing her tightly against him. The warmth of her body soothing him completely.

He pulled back for a moment, just to gaze at her pretty face and smiled as she pressed her lips to his snout, nuzzling their noses together.

"Better?" She asked him.

But instead of responding verbally, he just decided to answer by kissing her fully on the lips. Which, in Martha's opinion, is better than a verbal reply.

He let go, but only to lean down and softly kiss at her neck, letting her know just how much he appreciated her support. He stopped and wrapped one of her arms around his neck, lifting her up and tossing her over his shoulder as he proceeded to carry her through the cave.

Martha laughed, "Where are you taking me this time?"

"To the recliner...I want to snuggle you."

He placed her down and seated himself in the cushioned chair, patting his leg for her to come sit.

She obeyed and positioned herself in his lap, throwing her arms around him and burying her head into his crook. She sighed contently at the feel of his coat against her skin, and hummed as she felt his hands rub at her back.

Grinch started purring again, having his woman wrapped securely in his arms as he smiled deeply at the smell of her sweet perfume. It was the perfect way to end such a stressful day.

They stayed that way until both began to doze off, holding each other as if it were the first time.

As long as he had his Martha around, the Grinch could conquer anything.