Technically, I'm breaking my writing rules. But oh, well. Self-made rules can be broken, can't they? I mean, there is no one to really enforce it… so it's okay.

Disclaimer: Any names you recognize from the Maximum Ride series are not mine. JP owns those.

Claimer: Any names that you don't recognize from Maximum Ride I do indeed claim to be mine. You can't have them. Nanana.

Still January 6th,

Fang stood unmoving, letting a wave of shame wash over him. No child should watch their parents bicker so violently; especially a little girl Sadie's age.

Max dashed after the 2 year old, tossing a lethal glare towards her "husband". He tried to shrug off her mute anger, but couldn't. This whole situation was Fang's fault, after all.

Deciding to try and smooth things over, the adult maneuvered over to Sadie's room. Inside, he watched as the toddler wiggled out of her mom's grasp. She climbed onto a stepstool, looking out at the Colorado rain as it beat against the pavement.

"Please, Sadie, come and talk to mommy," Max pleaded.

Sadie considered this. "No talk to momma. Talk to daddy." Turning around, she held her hands up and waited patiently for Fang to step in.

The brunette brushed her hair out of her face, clearly unhappy. "All right, then. I'll let you two talk."

Fang sighed, "Max-"

"Just talk to my daughter." She shook her head, toying with the ring on her finger. Sliding the gold band off, Max gently tossed it to the ground.

Fang took a huge gulp of air. When they had gone ring shopping, way back when, Max virtually squealed with delight. Maximum Ride doesn't squeal, never in a million years, but that night was as close as she ever came to letting out such girly feelings. She promised never to take the ring off that day, and now look where she tossed it.

Sadie gingerly picked the ring up, holding it as high as she could reach. With her midnight brown eyes gleaming, the toddler said, "Mommy drop her wing."

Her pronunciation of "ring" made Fang chuckle. He tucked the jewelry within a safe place; somewhere he would never forget. Sadie was next to pick up, and she giggled happily as her father spun her around.

When the grown man came to a stop, she rested her head on his shoulder, content clear on her face.

Water pricked Fang's eyes for a moment, remembering how many countless times Max had made the same gesture.

Shaking the thought away, Fang sat down, Sadie still clung to him. Delicately, he removed Sadie's little fingers from his arms, her head from the crook of his neck. He laid her down in bed, as if she were going to sleep, and heaved himself down as well.

There, in the room painted different shades of green, the father and daughter laid silently.

Fang was the first to break the quiet stillness that had settled around them. "Mommy and Daddy love each other,"

"Why fi-t ten?"

The 26 year old grunted, racking his brain for a response. Finally, he admitted, "I don't know why we fight, Sadie. But I do know that your mommy and I love you more than anything in the world." Mentally, the adult patted himself on the back. He found the easy way out.

"You do?" The little girl asked, her face lighting up.

"We do. And you know what else?" Fang paused, loving the look on the toddler's face, "No matter what happens between your mommy and me, you'll always be our little girl."

Sadie seemed pleased with this answer. She snuggled under her covers, a feeble yawn stretching across her face.

"Go to sleep, Sade's. Daddy loves you."

"Love Daddy too." She yawned again, "No mo fi-ting, otay?"

Fang smiled, "Okay, Sadie, no more fighting." He closed her door, knowing she was already fast asleep.

In the living room sat all of Fang's bedding, and a pair of pajamas, fresh from the closet. This sort of thing was why Max made no sense to him. She was mad enough to take off her wedding ring, but still took the time to neatly fold Fang's clothes and place them on the couch.

This wasn't the first time that Max had thrown him out of their room. Each fight ended with the same result, and Fang had grown accustomed to the loose springs in the living room furniture.

The couch soon resembled a beat up bed, and Fang lay down stiffly. His body was rigid; his mind racing. He desperately missed the warmth of Max sleeping right beside him, his arms curled around her waist and her cheek pressed against his. Even in their weakest hours, the couple seemed to attract one another like static cling.

No matter the tactic he used, the young adult could not fall into even a fitful slumber; he was still struggling to sleep in the wee hours of the morning. The nonchalant snoring coming from the master room constantly bothered him; Max was hypnotic in more ways than she realized.

After a while, Sadie's bedroom door crept open. Light brown hair spilled out of the shadows, and Fang's daughter looked outward into the dark living room.

"Daddy," She whispered. Her feet padded to a stop next to the couch. "Daddy,"

Fang reached out a hand, his fingers wrapping around Sadie's. "What, sweetie?"

"Seep out her?"

His hand absently stroked down Sadie's curls. "Why, baby?"

"No seep." She shook her head, spirals bouncing back into place.

"Fine," The man grumbled. He managed to make enough room for the toddler, but Sadie had plans of her own. She climbed onto her father's chest, situating herself just right.

A sly smile formed across her face. "Ni Daddy."

Not bothering to protest, Fang simply said goodnight in response. It wasn't long before Sadie's form relaxed, and her breathing became nice and even.

Inspired by his daughter's example, Fang drifted to sleep as well.

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~Faxisthegreatest123~