Catch and Release

Chapter 27

Fang took a sip of his coke to keep from saying the first thing that came to mind. Honestly, that was more because the first thing that came to mind was to call Max way worse names than he had the other night, which would ultimately help no one. At all. So instead when he removed the can from his lips, he said something completely random.

"I like your hair."

Max blinked. "What?"

"It's nice. The color you chose. Black. I like it. It makes you and Carter look more alike."

Again, she just blinked. "Fang, I just told you that Angel's coming to Christmas with her girlfriend. Isn't that what you wanted?"

"When did I say that?"

"That day Angel left. You wanted her back. So I'm getting her to come to Christmas."

Again, he took a sip of his coke before telling Max that he had no desire to see Angel and her stupid girlfriend. Christmas was going to be all about hanging out with Iggy and
Gasman. Not dealing with Angel's self made drama.

"I like how long you're keeping it."

"What?"

"Your hair." Fang walked around Max and back into her living room. "It's very nice. You wouldn't think that black would look good on you, but it does. You normally keep it lighter, but this is nice. And long hair is always good, just FYI."

"Fang, would you listen to me?"

"I did listen. Angel and that girl are coming. Who cares?" He sat down on her couch. "Great. I don't know where they'll be staying, but great."

"What do you mean? They'll be staying at your apartment, like before."

"No," Fang said slowly as Max came to stand in front of him, arms folded over her chest.

"And why not? It'll be Christmas, so you'll no doubt be here, with Carter and I."

"Carter and me."

"Excuse me?"

"You said Carter and I. It would be Carter and me." He stared up at her. "Or am I still to stupid to correct you on things like that."

Max clicked her tongue before walking away, headed towards Carter's room, where the little girl was taking her nap. "Then Melissa and Angel will stay here, with Carter and me. You can go die in the streets for all I care."

Again, he took a sip of his coke. Well then. At least that was settled.

"Apple."

"It's an orange, Carter."

"Color."

"Orange is a color, Carter, but it's also a fruit." He handed her a slice. "Good job though."

Giggling, Carter ate the orange slice before climbing out of Fang's lap. They were over at Danny's house, where Owl had been staying for the past few days. That was fine though, because Danny had a dog. Carter loved dogs.

"Ghost." She ran over to the dog and ran her sticky hands down his fur, trying to clean them.

"So what do you see?" Fang could hear Danny questioning Iggy in the kitchen, where his blind friend was making lunch. "Like darkness or white or what?"

"I really couldn't explain it to you. You'd have to be blind to understand, I guess."

Fang rolled his eyes before glancing back at Carter, shocked for a moment to find her gone. Then he heard her giggle from the other room and the sound of a squeaky toy. She must have gone to the dining room, where Ghost's basket of toys was. Leaning back on the couch, he checked his phone, shocked to find a text from Max.

Out to lunch with Nudge, Ella, and Gazzy.

Fang rolled his eyes, deciding he better text her back before she got mad at him.

Yeah, I know.

It didn't take long for her to respond.

Where are you?

Over at Danny's.

w/ Iggy?

Fang frowned.

What?

Are you with Iggy?

Fang glanced in the kitchen, where the blind guy was.

Not tehnically.

*technically

Your correcting my spelling?

*You're

Whatever, Max.

He sighed as Carter came back into the room, Ghost following along behind her. When she got too close to the fireplace though Fang got up and picked her up.

"Owl."

"What are you doing, silly?"

"Hot."

"It's fire. I told you not to go over there." He carried her back over to the couch with him while Ghost went into the kitchen, probably in search of food. He thought about going in there also, but decided not to because his phone vibrated again.

Dinner tonight?

Iggy's making us dinner, over here.

I thought you weren't with Iggy?

Not technically.

"Owl." Carter poked his chest, angry that he was on his phone instead of paying attention. When that wouldn't work, she frowned. "Fang."

He kissed her head. She had been calling him Fang recently when she wanted him to notice her, knowing now that it got his attention pretty well. "What's wrong?"

"Owl." She snuggled into his chest, trying to simultaneously push the phone out of his hands. "Car'er."

"I'm talking to your mommy," he told her as he got another text.

Gasman said that his girlfriend is at your apartment still.

And?

You such at entertaining your guests.

*Suck

Shut up, Fag.

He was in shock for a moment before he responded.

I can not believe you called me that.

?

Don't play games, Max.

What are you talking about? What's wrong?

You called me a fag.

I did not!

Did too.

When?

Just now.

Fang looked down at Carter, who had pulled up his shirt and was patting his stomach. "What are you doing, Holden?"

"Hold'em." She patted him again as his phone vibrated.

I meant Fang, not fag. Why would I capitalize fag? I misspelled your name. Sorry.

"Fuzzy." Carter ran her hand down his face, giggling at the feeling. "Owl." The she poked her own chest. "Owlwet."

"You are Owlet, aren't you? You're my baby owl."

"Little owl?"

"Yeah." He nuzzled the top of her head. "Little Owl."

Once he had Carter settled again, he got back to his conversation with Max.

Sorry.

There's nothing to be sorry about, Fang. You just thought I said something. I didn't.

Well, what are you doing right now?

Still eating.

Must be a boring lunch.

?

You keep texting me.

That's because I wish I was with you right now.

Really?

I like having lunch with you.

And Carter?

And Carter.

I like having lunch with the two of you to.

*too

Shut up, Whore.

Excuse me?!

Sorry. I meant Max. Would I have capitalized whore if I meant it that way?

You're an ass.

Only for you.

"I'm thinking of moving up here."

"Here?"

"North."

Fang frowned. "I thought you were having a kid."

Iggy snorted. "Why do you think I'm getting out?"

"Ig."

"I slept with her three times, Fang. If she's enough of a slut to sleep with me, a guy she hardly knows, how do I know how many other guys she's been with?"

"It doesn't matter."

"The fuck it doesn't."

"Watch your mouth," Fang said, glancing at Carter, who was sleeping in his lap, Robbie in her hands. "You are just as likely as being the father as any of the other guys. You dig your own grave, Iggy. If she's willing to sleep with you after two days or whatever and it bothers you, maybe you shouldn't do it. Just a thought.

"Well, aren't you Mr. High Mighty today."

"No. I'm just rational." Fang shifted Carter slightly as she slumped forward, not wanting her to wake up. They were still over at Danny's, watching television. The youngest of the three males was sitting on the couch next to Fang, minding his own business. He didn't know Iggy well, but knew Fang enough to know not to correct him on anything he said.

"How are you being rational?"

"You have just as much a chance of being the father as anyone. Are you gonna run from your kid? Huh?" Fang frowned over at Iggy, who was sitting in a chair, rubbing the dog's head, as it was sitting next to him.

"It's not my kid."

"You don't know that."

"And I won't know for sure for a few more months, so why stick around?"

"Wow," Danny mumbled. "It's like Game of Thrones, Fang."

"What?"

"Iggy's bastard."

He just shook his head. "Not now, Daniel."

Making a loud noise as she woke up, Carter began to whine, cuddling into Fang. "Owl."

"Shhh. It's naptime."

"Owl no nap."

"I'm not sleepy." He leaned down, rubbing his beard into her forehead as she looked up at him. Carter made a noise of annoyance, pushing him away. "You wanna go lay down?"

"No!" She grasped Fang's arm. "No, Owl."

"Okay," he gave in as she relaxed into him again, shutting her eyes. "You're fine here."

Carter licked his shirt. "Owlwet."

"Don't lick, Carter. I've told you about that."

"Owl."

"She licked you?" Iggy made a face. "See? I couldn't deal with a kid licking me. That's disgusting."

"You just don't care about her like I do. And if you had a kid and you did care about, you'd get it." Fang looked down at Carter to find her looking up at him, just staring. When she saw his eyes though, she smiled, reaching up to pat his face. "I'm not saying, Iggy, that you shouldn't get a DNA test the second the kid is born, because you should, I'm just saying that you shouldn't write this woman off, just in case it is your kid."

"Whatever, Fang."

"Iggy, you're blowing me off as if this is my fault. It's not."

"I know it's not. You had nothing to do with it. That bitch-"

"Watch your mouth. I'm serious." He wrapped an arm around Carter, who was now chewing on her teddy like usual. "And if she has any blame in this, so do you. No one made you have unprotected sex with her. No one made you have so much sex period. You did that. So stop blaming other people."

"Shut up, Fang. What do you know about sex?" Iggy sneered at him. "Still getting your weekly handjob?"

Daniel stood up. "What's that, Ghost? You have to go to the bathroom? Come on then."

Ghost, who had been enjoying Iggy's petting, was still a very loyal dog and got up to follow behind his master. Once they were out of the house, it was just Iggy and Fang…and Carter, but she hardly counted.

"Bye-bye," Carter called after Ghost. She loved that dog. So much. Not as much as Owl though. "Owl."

"You know, Ig, I got into a freaking fight with Max to be able to have you come here and then you-"

"You're not my father, Fang. You're not even older than me! So stop trying to be something you're not. I get it, you take care of Carter now. Whoop-de-doo. Now you think that you're somehow better than everyone because you're taking care of a kid that's not yours. Well, guess what, Fang? You're not." Iggy stood, headed towards the front door, having to hold his hand out in front of him to make sure he didn't run into anything. "Get over yourself."

Instead of arguing with him, Fang just leaned down, burying his head in Carter's hair. Turning up to look at his once more, she kissed his cheek.

"Owl baby. Owl sad." She kissed him again. "Love Owl." When he didn't say anything, she kept going. "Love Owl. Owl? Love Fang."

He kissed her head. "I love you too, Carter."

"How did things go over at your little boy toy's place?"

Fang sent Max a glare as he pulled his shirt off. "Would you mind leaving? I'm about to take a shower?"

Still, she just sat there on the edge of the tub, watching him undress. "I heard it didn't go well."

"From?"

"Gasman sent me a text saying you and Iggy had a fight."

Fang shrugged, dropping his jeans. "I'm just tired of his pity party, that's all."

"About?"

"About this woman getting pregnant." Fang stared at Max. "He keeps acting like she's a whore and all this stuff, but come on. If you're gonna sleep with a whore, you're no better. I hate guys like that."

Max leaned forward, resting her elbows on her thighs. "Maybe she is a whore. I'm betting Iggy sleeps with a lot of those."

"It doesn't matter. She might be the mother of his child."

"Doesn't make her a good person."

"No, but that baby didn't do anything. So his son's gonna lose out on a father because his mother made mistakes?"

"Or daughter."

"Whatever, same thing." Fang finally walked closer to Max in only his boxers. "Now could you move so that I can take a shower?"

Max reached up, running a hand down his stomach. "What if we both do?"

"Both do what?" Fang was clearly enticed. "Shower?"

"Well, I wanna take a bath, actually."

Fang reached down, grasping her hands, and pulling her up. "If you're sure."

Giggling, Max wiggled her hand from his before reaching behind her, turning on the tap water. "Let me go check on Carter first, to make sure she's still asleep."

"Don't wake her."

Max ran hand across his chest. "Trust me, I won't."

Fang was dancing around the bathroom practically as he waited for the water to warm. He wasn't sure what was to come of this bath, but knew that it would be good either way. See Max naked? For sure. Possible touching? Maybe. Sex? Meh, but he could always dream.

"Mmmm, take those boxers off."

Fang glanced behind him as Max came back into the bathroom, locking the door behind her. "Is Carter okay?"

"She's asleep. We have to be quiet though. You think you could do that?"

"Yeah," he said after plugging the drain of the tub. "I can."

"You sure?" She wrapped her arms around him.

"Not really," he mumbled as she took it upon herself to finish undressing him. "But I can try."

After their long bath, Fang went into the kitchen to make them a snack while his girlfriend checked on her daughter. They met back up in the bedroom, where Max immediately dove under the covers.

"I love living here, close to Mom, Nudge, and Ella, but these winters kill me."

"Come on, Max." He sat the plate of nachos down on the bed. "That house we lived at with Jeb when we were kids was in Colorado."

"Still. I'm not used to cold anymore." She ate a chip, smiling at him. "Thank you for making nachos, Fang."

"It's the least I could do after we got to bathe together."

She made a face. "I told you that we should take a bath together, not have sex."

"I know."

"Your tone said otherwise."

Fang wiggled his toes. "I just assumed we would do something else. That's all."

"Well, maybe we can, after we finish eating."

"Can…?"

Max let out a long breath. "I'm just nervous, you know. About what comes next."

"What comes next, Max, is nothing new."

"Still. It'll be different."

"Everything's different now." He smiled at her. "It doesn't make it bad."

"I know."

"What we've been doing, we used to do. Remember? When we first saved the world and you didn't want to…lose it yet, so we used to do other things. Like now. And eventually we worked our way up to it. That's just what we're doing now, working our way up."

Max fed him a chip, smiling when he took it. "I love you."

"Enough to tell everyone about how we're not having sex?"

"Excuse me?"

He stared at the plate of nachos. "I have been made fun of enough about these stupid handjobs."

"Fang-"

"I don't like being taunted or treated like a joke. I don't talk about you in bed, I never have, so I would appreciate it if you kept that side of our relationship between us."

"It's just what Nudge, Ella, and I talk about. I didn't mean-"

"I would like you to respect me enough as your boyfriend to not talk about it."

She leaned over, kissing his cheek. "Okay."

"I love you." He watched as she settled on the bed again. "Okay?"

"Okay."

"Owl?"

Fang felt something crumbly fall onto his forehead.

"Owl?"

Opening his eyes slowly, Fang found Carter sitting on the pillow above his head, eating crackers. "Holden?"

"Hold'em," she told him before shoving a cracker into his mouth. "Owl."

"Mmmm." Reaching up, he grabbed her before pulling her over him to lay her on his chest. "Where's Mommy?"

Carter ignored him, instead poking his chest. "Owl no jammies."

"I sleep shirtless, Carter."

"Bad. Bad Owl." She stood up on his stomach before giggling, falling right back down.

"Oof." Fang sat up, causing her to fall into his lap. "You hurt me."

"Hurt?" Carter reached up, patting his nose. "Poo' Owl."

"Poor me." Fang kissed her, making Carter laugh some more. "Come on, let's go find Mommy."

"Owl." Carter wrapped her arms around his neck as he stood up. "Brrr."

"Brrr," Fang mimicked as they left the room. Fang found Max in the living room, watching the news. "Why did you put her in bed with me?"

"You were dressed," Max said dismissively. "Not to mention she wanted you."

"You wanted me, Carter?" Fang nuzzled her neck. "I wanted you too. Even in my sleep."

"Owl." She yawned as he deposited her on the couch.

"You guys slept late today," Fang mentioned to Max. "I got home from work and got to sleep for a few hours before you woke me up."

"Oh, no, we've been up for awhile. We just let you sleep. Huh, Carter?"

The little girl nodded, snuggling against her mother, who was curled up on the couch. Sighing, Max wrapped Carter up in her blanket before looking at Fang.

"I let you sleep, you know. It's noon."

"Great," he mumbled, walking into the kitchen. "I'm hungry."

"Get your blind follower to make you something."

"Shut up, Max."

"You're the one that wanted him here. Not me."

Fang just let out a slow breath. "Carter? Are you hungry?"

"No. No, Owl."

This proved not to be true as, five minutes later, when Fang sat down on the couch, Carter was basically in his lap, trying to get at his sandwich.

"Cut it out, Carter."

"Owl," she whined. "Owl."

"Fang, just share with her."

"No, Max," he said, frowning. "I asked if she was hungry."

"She wasn't then. Now she is."

Groaning, Fang ripped his sandwich in half before handing Carter some. "There."

"Owl." She then proceeded to lick to the whole thing before setting it back down on his plate. "Owl."

"What was the point of that, Carter?" He knew that he was being too loud, but that really did annoy him. Carter starting to stare at him for a second before whining and moving back towards Max.

"Mommy."

"Owl's just grumpy." Max snuggled Carter to her. "She was just playing, Fang."

"No. She was being disgusting."

"Owl. Owlwet. Samich. Samichwet."

Fang just shook his head. "That was nasty, Carter."

"Owl."

"Say sorry."

"No!" She turned to bury her head in Max's chest. "No. Owl say."

"I'm not gonna say it. You did wrong. I am not sorry."

"Fang, stop being mean," Max said, pushing him with her foot gently.

"I'm not. I'm disciplining her. She shouldn't have done that."

"She's play with you," Max said, suddenly defensive. "You just haven't taken your afternoon pills yet."

She did have a point… Sighing, Fang let out a long breath before setting his plate on the ground before reaching over to grab the little girl.

"No!" She bit at Fang, but he held on, tucking her head under his chin in some kind of awkward hug. Then, pulling her back so that they could stare at each other, he said, "You did wrong, Carter. I know that you were joking, but you shouldn't have done that. So maybe we were both wrong. Okay?"

Reaching out, she patted his cheek. "Owl."

Fang brought her closer and rubbed his beard against her, making her giggle. Now content that he wasn't being too uptight, Fang sat her back down in her mother's lap, sighing.

"What are we doing today?" Max asked. "I work at six."

"I dunno. I have to entertain my guests, huh?" He picked the rest of his sandwich back up. "Hey Carter?"

"Wha'?"

"Are you ready for Christmas?"

"Yes!"

"Good." He smiled over at her. "I got you a lot of gifts."

"Santa."

"He got you some too, of course."

"Only if you behave," Max reminded her. "Can you do that?"

"Car'er good."

"Carter's very good," Fang agreed.

"I wouldn't go that far," Max commented, changing the channel. "Good? Sure. Very good? Meh."

Fang shook his head, though he was inclined to agree with her.

"Are you not hot, Fang?"

He shook his head, not wishing to talk to Gazzy's girlfriend. When the Gasman told him that he wanted to bring his girl, Fang was certain it would be Maria, the same girl he brought down before. Alas, it was some other chick, Kimmy. Max immediately did the same told you so thing that he was sure Angel would do, but hey. At least Gazzy had girlfriends and didn't just sleep around like Iggy. Well, as far as Fang knew, that is.

"You sure?"

He just nodded, still not looking at her. She was hot, he would give Gazzy that. Very hot. She wasn't a redhead or anything. She was dark headed and short, very slight. Big boobs…or whatever. So yeah.

"Oh, he's just mad that Max isn't here," Nudge told the girl, coming to stand next to them. They were all over at Dr. Martinez's for dinner. Max hadn't had to explain to her mother why she wouldn't be around Iggy due to the fact that she had work. Fang wished he had that excuse.

"I haven't met her yet," Kimmy told Nudge as Fang snuck off, trying to discreetly look for Carter. Mostly everyone was in the kitchen, like Nudge and Kimmy, or in the living room. Somewhere in the house, though, Carter was playing hide-and-go-seek with Sebastian.

"Have you found her yet?" Fang asked the boy, who he found in the dining room, sitting on the table as he messed around on his phone.

"She's out of town."

"What?"

Seb glanced up. "What are you talking about?"

"Carter. You?"

"My girlfriend."

Fang rolled his eyes. "Why would I care?"

"I dunno. You're the freak."

He let out a long breath. "So where is she?"

"Nebraska."

"Boy, you had better-"

"I don't know, okay?" Seb shrugged. "I couldn't find her so I gave up."

"What?"

"It's not like she's in danger," he said with a flip of the hand, still focused on his phone. "She's in a house full of adults. What's the worse that could happen?"

Fang wanted to hit the boy, but knew that would get him no closer to finding his little buddy. So, leaving him behind, Fang went to work on the bedrooms.

"Carter?" He tried his old room first. "Holden."

"Hold'em."

"Carter?" He stepped into the room, looking around. "Where are you?"

"Hi-seek!"

He located her voice before getting down on his knees. "Owlet?"

"Hi." She stared at him from under the bed. "Owl."

"Come out, Holden."

"P'ay. P'ay Seb."

"Sebastian's done playing," he told her, reaching out to grasp her. "Come out."

"Me win."

"You did win, didn't you?" He stood up, his little one in his arms. "Oh, you're getting to be so big, Carter."

"Owl." She patted his face. "Ows. Owlwet."

She kissed him then, giggling when she pulled away. Fang just bounced her slightly before heading back out of the room. When he passed the dinning room, Sebastian called out to them.

"There you are, Carter. I found you. I win." With that, he went back to his phone.

"Seb win?" Carter asked Fang.

"Nah. You win. You'll always win."

He was headed towards the living room when he was intercepted in the hall, Dr. Martinez pulling him aside.

"Fang, the heater is on and you're sweating," she said, taking her granddaughter from him. "Take that stupid hoodie off."

"I'm fine."

"You are not." She shifted Carter to her hip. "You have to be burning up. Take it off."

"I…can't."

"What?"

"I just have to wear it," he said, reaching out to take his friend back. Carter held fast to her grandmother though.

"No, Owl." She spit at him. "Granny."

He huffed. "Fine. I'll be outside."

"That's probably best if you're honestly not going to take that hoodie off. You're burning up," the vet called after him.

Once he was outside, Fang sent Daniel a text, telling him that he'd probably stay with Max again that night, but Iggy would be coming back more than likely. When Danny texted back he asked that he probably wouldn't be there anyways. There was an emergency at the pound with some dog or something. Whatever. Fang just sighed, sitting down on the porch steps.

It was freezing outside, but he welcomed it, as it was better than burning alive in his savior's house. Slipping his phone back into his pocket, he just sighed, not sure why he was feeling so oddly about the day. Nothing had happened, really, not compared to the previous one. And he wouldn't be seeing Max for the rest of the night, so he had nothing to be nervous about. Still, he had a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach that he wasn't sure was even about the night. But what else could he be upset about? He couldn't figure it out.

The door opening behind him flooded the porch with light. Two shadows quickly filled that though, on significantly smaller than the other.

"Brrr, Owl! Brrr!" Carter rubbed her arms for effect. "Eat. Owl now! Inside!"

"Shhh, Carter," Nudge chided gently. Then, speaking to Fang, she said, "Fang, come eat."

Standing slowly, he turned to face his two biggest headaches in life currently, not shocked when Carter ignored the fact she was barefoot and without a jacket when she ran to him, wrapping her arms around his leg.

"Carter," he scolded, scooping her up. "You'll freeze to death. Come on, let's go eat."

"Hoo." She kissed his neck, grateful for him picking her up. Her toes were getting cold! "Owl."

He allowed her to snuggle against him as he headed back into the house. If he had to suffer through this odd feeling, though, at least he got to do it with his best friend.

"Where's the baby?"

"What do you mean?" Fang didn't remove his head from the pillow it was pressed into, knowing that Max could decipher his muffled words.

"She normally sleeps with you. Especially if you're over here."

Fang just grunted. Sighing, Max pulled off her work clothes and changed into some bed wear before climbing under the covers with him.

"Cold?" Fang turned his head to look at her now, taking her tired expression as a warning not to try and pull anything. "Max?"

"Not so much tonight, no." She yawned, snuggling into his side. "How was dinner?"

"Uneventful."

"Just the kind you like, huh?"

Fang shrugged, shutting his eyes once more. "I guess so."

"Unless of course it involves me and you, right? Alone?"

"I like events relating to those, sure."

Max groaned, letting out a soft sigh as she cuddled into him even more. "I'm sleepy."

"Poor Max." Fang reached out blindly, easily finding her head, which he rubbed gently. "Good day at work?"

"It was work," she said wryly. "What time do you go tonight?"

"Soon."

"I'll miss you." She kissed his chest. "I love you."

He laughed slightly. "Can I tell you something?"

"Is it that you love me?"

"I do love you."

"Then what?"

"I…feel awkward around Gazzy's new girlfriend."

"Why?"

"…I dunno…"

"Fang-"

"It's just weird, you know?"

"What's weird?"

"That he already has a new one."

"Well, get used to that." Max kissed him again. "Gazzy has a problem with differentiating dating and being in a committed relationship. Me and you? We never dated. We've always been committed. Nudge dates, gets in a committed relationship, and then gets dumped. Gazzy thinks he's committed, but he never really is. And Iggy'll do anything."

"What about Angel?" Fang asked, wanting to get the subject away from his friend. Or were they friends now? Fang felt like a girl, thinking that way, but he couldn't help it.

"Angel and Melissa have been together a year, I think." When Fang didn't speak, Max said, "You can just tell me that that makes you uncomfortable too."

"It does not."

"It's obvious, Fang."

He just grunted, now done with the conversation. "Whatever."

"She's still Angel."

"You mean she's still a bitch?"

He got hit for that, but he knew that he deserved it so he didn't get upset. Finally, his medicine was good for something.

"Do not say things like that. God, Fang."

He just stroked the back of Max's head. "Sorry."

"You are not."

"How would you know?"

"I know everything about you," Max yawned as she started to drift off, still curled into his body. Fang felt bad knowing that he would soon be gone and she wouldn't have anything to support her, but he also knew that he would be back hopefully before Max even woke up.

"Then did you know that I'm thinking of getting another job? During the day?"

"Mmmm, why? Carter not good enough for you?"

"That's just it though, Max. I can still have Carter with me."

"What's this job you speak of?"

"Danny's putting a good word in for me down at the pound and I-"

"Fang, you hate animals."

"I do not. I kept Total, didn't I?"

Max looked off, remembering their fallen friend. "Just because you wanted to please Angel."

"And now I have Carter." He opened his eyes again finally, staring into the darkness. "She means so much more to me than Angel ever did."

"Don't say that."

"It's true. Angel was like…a sister or cousin or something to me. Just someone had to look out for. Carter? I have to raise Carter. I have to care for Carter."

"You cared for Angel too."

"No," he said slowly. "You did."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you." He let out a long breath. "Don't get me wrong, I care for Angel, but it's not the same feeling I have for Carter."

When Max didn't respond to that, Fang shut up. After about ten minutes, he made his leave, figuring that she was asleep at that point.

"You'd leave without saying goodbye?" Max muttered as he slipped on his hoodie. Glancing back over at her, Fang made his way over before pushing her hair back from her forehead, watching as she curled into a tighter ball, filling the space he had occupied.

"I'll see you later." He pressed a kiss to her head. "Max."

"Mmmm," she moaned, rolling her shoulders. "Be safe."

That was such a random command that for a moment, Fang just watched her as she drifted back into sleep.

"I'll try, Max," he mumbled, that funny feeling returning. "I'll try."