When they pulled up to the garage they heard the sound of Max waking up. The boy tiredly looked around rubbing his eyes.

"Where are we?" He asked with a yawn.

"Back home, little man." Ryan answered getting out of the car. Max helped carrying the bags to his room and they spent the next two hours putting everything up. The rest of the day was real peaceful with the trio watching TV and playing games. It was Ryan's turn to cook dinner and he made meatloaf that Max wouldn't admit to the man, but it was fucking delicious! After dinner Ryan told Max to go ahead and shower.

Surprisingly Max went off without much fuss, but Ryan was dreading the conversation they're going to have once Max comes back. Gwen saw the look on his face and gave him a sympathetic smile and encouraging pat on the shoulder. Knowing that what he's going to attempt to do is suicidal, especially when it comes to Max, but Ryan was determined to see it through and if that means that he'll have to resort to more drastic means, then so be it.

Max came back out to the living room wearing one of the new pajamas that he got today. It was black shorts with flames on the bottom and a red tank to that said "To Hot To Handel". When he came to the living room he knew something was up just from the atmosphere and that it was only Ryan sitting on the couch.

"Hey what's up? Where's Gwen?" He asked Ryan confused. Ryan turned to the boy and readied himself for what he was about to do.

"She called it in early. Hey, Max let's talk for a minute." He said as he patted the seat next to him. Though Max was suspicious he walked over and jumped on the couch next to Ryan.

"I know that you're experiencing a lot of changes and I'm really proud of you when we visited the school. But now that we're here I want to set down a few rules."

"Rules?" Max questioned raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, Max rules. It's something that we should have discussed before, but just never went about it. Now's no better time to get this over with." Though Max knew this conversation was going to happen eventually, he honestly thought that Gwen would be giving him this talk. Still, rules. Mac resisted the urge to roll his eyes. That's all adults do is make bull shit rules.

" 1st. Is that you never need to ask or wait for food. If you're hungry, eat. We will never use food as punishment.

2nd. If we tell you to do something we will always give you a reason. Never be afraid to ask why.

3rd. Chores-"

"Chores?!" Max yelled out dramatically.

"Yes Max, chores. And it's for simple things like cleaning your room and taking out the trash.

Lastly is Respect and not only for others but more importantly for yourself and that's why for now on whenever we're outside the house there's to be no cursing." Max blinked for a few seconds to let Ryan's words digest and once it did he jumped off the couch.

"What?!"

"Now Max, while it's fine while we're in the house it's honestly a very bad habit to have at a young age."

"But you do it!" Max yelled pointing an accusing finger at Ryan.

"Yes, I do. However, I don't want you to think that the only way to talk to people is by cussing. There's a time and place for everything and setting this rule will teach you that. It's a skill you will need once you grow up and become an adult."

"I don't care about that shit!" Max fired back hotly. "I don't give a fuck about any of that. I'm going to say whatever the hell I want and that's that!"

"Now Max, try to listen to me-"

"No! Fuck you! I thought you were different, but you're just like the rest of these shitty adults!"

"Max, you know that's not true." Ryan said softly trying to calm the boy down. But it seemed to give the opposite effect.

"No! Fuck you! Fuck Gwen! Fuck this house! Fuck all of you!!!!"

"Maxwell!" Ryan shouted making Max flinch.

"That is enough, young man. I know that this may be hard for you, but I need you to trust me that this is what's best for you."

"You can take that trust and shove it up your ass." Max sneered as he gave Ryan the middle finger, then turned around crossing his arms to his chest. Ryan took a deep breath.

"Very well, if that's how you want this conversation to go." Thinking that he had won Max was about to go back to his room, but he felt himself being picked up. Ryan placed Max over his shoulder as he began to walk to his room.

"Hey! Let me go asshole!" Max screamed as he struggled to get out of Ryan's hold. Ryan has a firm grip on Max's legs and when the boy realized he can't wiggle out he began pounding on Ryan.

"Let me go fucker!" Max yelled out as he try to fight Ryan. Having enough of Max's behavior Ryan used his fee hand to pull down Max's pajama shorts. Ryan then delivered two hard slaps on Max's exposed butt.

SLAP! SLAP!

"Ah!" Max yelped when he felt the hard and fast slaps. It was then that he realized that he was half naked on Ryan's shoulder.

"You fucking pervert! Let me go or I'm calling CPS on your ass!" Ryan ignored the boy's taunts as he delivered four more slaps on Max's behind.

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

"Ahh! Stop fucker!" Max yelled out as tears were starting to form from his eyes.

"I've had enough of this attitude Max!" SLAP! Max was trying all his might to struggle but Ryan has such a firm grip on him that he couldn't do anything as the man continue to beat his ass.

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

At some point Max kicked off his shorts as it dropped in the hallway that leads to his room. Ryan made a mental note to retrieve it once this is over. Ryan walked into Max's room with the boy still pounding on his back and screaming out profanity to be put down.

Ryan sat down on Max's bed and lowered Max so that he was between his legs. He leaned the boy over his left knee and trapped his legs together so that he couldn't kick. With the boy secured Ryan didn't waist any time as he brought his hand up.

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

Max shut his eyes tight and gripped his bed sheets with all of his strength as Ryan rained down slap after slap. Alternating between both small round checks so that it you see an even red shade.

Max tired biting his lips so that he couldn't cry out, but the pain was become too much. His ass felt like it was on fire and Ryan was not relenting. Well two can play this game, Max figured that he can hold on longer than Ryan can and would endure until Ryan got tired. Ryan could see what Max was trying to do and would make sure that the little boy was incredibly wrong in his assumption.

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

"Damnit!" Max cried out. He couldn't take it anymore as his ass was becoming scorched. tears flooded down his face.

"Ok! Ok! I get it. Stop!" Max begged. Ryan knew that Max was almost at his breaking point and that's where he needs him to be. Ryan decided by attacking the boy's thighs.

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

"Ahhhh!" Max screamed out. Max was beside himself in the pain that he didn't care if everyone heard him scream. Soon Max became limp too exhausted from screaming and the pain and could only lay there.

"I'm sowy ! I'm sowy! Waaaah!" Max moaned out, begging Ryan to stop. Ryan knew that Max had enough and hopefully he would never have to do this again. He looked at the dark red behind over his lap and finished the punishment with two slaps on the center of Max's bottom.

Max, not noticing that Ryan had stopped continued to cry his little heart out. His face was covered in tears and snot, but he didn't care. Ryan gathered through boy and held him in his arms using his right arm to support the boy's thighs so that his tender behind wouldn't touch anything. He used his left hand to rub circles on the crying boy's back.

"Shhhh." Ryan hushed as he started rocking Max. "It's ok, it's ok. All done. No more little man." Max griped his shirt with all his might and cried on his chest as Ryan rocked him. About five minutes had passed that Max finally recognized that he wasn't over Ryan's lap and that he was being held. Once that realized set in he began to struggle.

"Let go of me!" He cried. Ryan wasn't surprise that Max would react like this, but he was determined to let him know that he's not going anywhere. Max started using his fist to pound on Ryan's chest, but it only came out as soft taps.

"Let me go." Max cried pitifully. Ryan responded with getting up with Max in his arms.

"I'm not going anywhere Max. And I'm not letting you go. Not now, not ever. I love you Max." Max stopped struggling once he heard that. He figured that after this Ryan wouldn't want nothing to do with him since he fucked up. However, Ryan said the one word that he has never heard from anyone. Not his parents or even David. Love. It was something that he resigned that no one will ever love a little shit like him.

"You're lying." Max cried bitterly. There's no way that Ryan would love him.

"No Max. I do. Me and Gwen both do. You're our son, Don't ever question that. We will always be here for you. The ups, the downs. Even when you fuck up. We will never stop loving you." New tears were threatening to spill at what Max heard. This is what he has always wanted, just someone the care about him and say that they love him. Not even David said that, and he was the only other adult that Max would begrudgingly admit he trusts. He looked up at Ryan with his face covered in snot and tears. He was scared to say it, but if it's true then he has to make sure.

"You promise?" He whispered, hoping to everything that the man would say yes. Ryan knew that this was his one and only shot with Max and the boy was putting all his faith on that one question. Ryan gave Max the warmest smile possible.

"Yes. With all my heart." Ryan answered back placing his forehead with Max's. Overwhelmed with the new revelation Max wrapped his arms tightly around Ryan and silently cried on his shoulder. Ryan stood and lightly rocked the boy in his arms. There was something that Max wanted to asked and if Ryan said that he loved him then he maybe wouldn't mind. But his fear made him scrunch up. Ryan noticed it.

"What's wrong little man. Remember one of our rules? Never be afraid to ask a question." It wasn't that he was afraid of asking, just the answer. Max father his last bit of courage for the night.

"Can...(sniff) Can I call you dad?" Ryan's eyes popped open. He thought that this was something that Max would never call him. Ryan was honestly ok if Max never called him dad, as long as he was happy. But now Ryan realized that this right here is the final test. This right here will determine their future relationship. When Max looked up he grew worried because Ryan had tears in his eyes, maybe he shouldn't have asked. However Ryan used his free hand to place Max's head on his shoulder.

"Oh Max, I would love nothing more than for you to call me dad." That moment sealed the deal as Max began openly crying on Ryan. Outside the door Gwen watched as Ryan reached through Mac and knew that though it may take longer for her at least they're at a good start.

Ryan walked to Max's bathroom where he turned on the sink and grabbed a wash cloth. He damped it in the water and used it to clean Max's face. Once the boy was clean of tears and snot Ryan could feel that Max was about to fall asleep as his breathing was becoming more even and his crying has turn to sniffing.

Ryan walked back to Max's bed and was about to lay the boy down, but once noticed what Ryan was planning to do he tighten his arms around the man's neck. Ryan was taken back at Max's sudden behavior but smiled softly.

"Want to sleep with daddy tonight?" Though Max was embarrassed about acting like a fucking toddler his need for physical comfort and reassurance outweighed everything else. He nodded his head and Ryan got back up and adjusted Max on his right hip. Max didn't care that he was still half naked, he just didn't want to be alone. Ryan walked out of the room and saw the pajama shorts that Max kicked off. He bent down and picked them up.

"Want your shorts back?" Max thought about it and his ass still hurts and stings and even though getting his shorts back on will restore a tiny bit of dignity it however won't feel good and it'll more than likely irritate his already stinging butt. So Max shook his head, he didn't care if he sleeps half naked for the night. Ryan gave a small chuckle at Max's decision knowing what the boy was thinking about.

"I see everything worked out." Ryan looked up to see Gwen in the kitchen. He smiled as he went over to her and the two hugged.

"Yeah." He responded simply. Gwen gave him a smile and looked at Max who had his head buried on Ryan's shoulder.

"Goodnight Max," She whispered giving the boy a kiss on the head. "Everything that Ryan said goes for me too. Take your time, little shit." Though the adults couldn't see it Max grinned, knowing that's Gwen's affectionate nickname for him. It's weird to think of Gwen of all people as a mom, but if he's giving Ryan a Chance then Gwen can't be that bad.

"See you boys in the morning." Gwen said as she waved bye and headed to their room. Ryan walked to the living room and grabbed a blanket. He sat down with Max on his lap and draped the blanket over the both of them. Ryan started slowly rocking while using his left hand to hold onto Max and his right to rub the boy's bottom. Soon Max was lulled to sleep as Ryan could feel the even breaths coming from him. With Max successfully put to sleep Ryan leaned back and closed his eyes. He's officially a dad now.