"Hon, I know this is confusing for you." Amelia said softly. She rolled up to Cooper and gave him a gentle nuzzle. A motherly nuzzle. A nuzzle Cooper had never quite received like this. He felt himself relax for some reason.
Alfie came up to join her. He gave Cooper a nuzzle on the opposite side. Cooper felt safer almost instantly. He deactivated his gun.
Finn and Holley exchanged happy glances.
"Where is Maddie and your relatives now?" Alfie asked after a moment.
"Back at C.H.R.O.M.E." Cooper responded slowly. "Locked up."
"You are faster than we imagined." Amelia smiled. "You have contained the evil before you even knew what it was."
"Maddie was doing all of this behind your back?" Finn asked.
"Yes, and she brought our little Millie into it. She made her hate Cooper. I still have no idea how." Amelia shook her hood.
Cooper still had no words to say. He couldn't even think. Everything was happening to quickly.
"Can we ask why you are in this place?" Holley asked.
"This is our... um.." Amelia tried to think of the words.
"This is our home, right now." Alfie finished for her. "We lost our house long ago. We couldn't afford it."
This brought Cooper back into reality. "You two are homeless?"
"Yes, sadly we are.." Alfie nodded. "Maddie came to us long ago and promised she would help us. We had no idea what she had done to you though. She told us she promised to get you out of that agency."
"She has lied to everyone here." Cooper said lowly. "Come with us. I think all of us need to have a word with her."
Once back at the agency, Cooper led the way towards the cellars. He hoped Max wasn't around. He didn't want him to get involved just yet.
"You have a lot to explain." Cooper growled, coming upon Maddie's cellar. She seemed almost shocked to see his parents, but her expression calmed after a moment.
"Hello, Cooper." She purred.
"Enough with this tone." Cooper hissed. "Explain to me, explain to my parents, explain to my agents why you did so much damage."
Maddie's expression changed yet again with a hint or anger. "I was really hoping the Head before you, Noah, would have killed you after I was supposedly dead." She scoffed. "But he didn't. He failed me. He ended up dying himself. Which was really a shame. Yes, Cooper. I hurt those three agents. I neglected Max. I used him. He was so good at doing what I told him. I just wish I could have been successful myself in murdering you and this entire agency!"
Cooper backed up as she came closer to the bars. She was admitting everything. Which was very helpful.
"Yes, your relative Mercedes tried to kill you too. I joined in with them. They wanted you dead because they were jealous."
Alfie shook his hood in disgust. "No good cars."
Maddie didn't say anything more. She just glared at Cooper.
Cooper turned around to his parents and Finn and Holley. "I believe it's time we put these cars away in prison now. Get them out of here."
"I wish I had killed you when I had the chance." Maddie hissed under her breath as they turned to leave. Cooper stopped and turned around.
"Were you jealous of me as well?" He asked. "Were you jealous that I took over the Head position?"
She only glared at him. Cooper took that as a yes and turned around to follow everyone else out.
It had only been a moment before the police had arrived and taken Maddie and Cooper's so called relatives into custody. Cooper felt so relieved to have such toxic cars out of the way. Now, he could get back to getting used to his parents presence. Max had even joined and was talking with Alfie and Amelia.
"Cooper took me in. He's so kind." Max said proudly. Cooper pulled up behind Max, smiling a little at his words.
"Has he adopted you yet?" Amelia joked. Max's smile disappeared. He wasn't sure what to say.
"I suppose it's about time I do, hmm?" Cooper said suddenly, making Max jump and turn around. "How would you like that?"
Max's frown instantly turned into a wide grin. He couldn't find the words to speak so he just jumped to Cooper and gave him the best plane hug he could.
"Now, I believe it's time for me to help you out." Cooper looked up at his parents. They exchanged a glance.
"'Help us out'?" Amelia repeated.
"Do you think I would just sit back and let you be homeless?"
Alfie and Amelia both smiled at each other. Cooper led them into his office and Max followed. He felt like he was the luckiest plane in the world.
Cooper, now, he felt like everything he had worried about in the past suddenly didn't exist. He felt more free. He felt safer than ever before. He felt happy. Everything was over. The bad cars were taken care of, and he was just left with those who actually cared. Those he didn't even believe cared. But they did. He just felt so relieved. Now it was time to give his parents what they deserved. All they wanted was Cooper to be safe. Yes, they acted foul, and they didn't go about their message very well. Cooper forgave them. They were all he had to his name, Max being a new member. Cooper put that past behind him. Now, he had to give his parents a second chance to be better.
"Oh, Cooper!" Amelia cried out. The two elder Cadillacs rolled into a large two story home after the agency let out for the night. "It's beautiful."
"I'm glad." Cooper smiled. He felt like a changed car. "No more abandoned unsanitary buildings."
"How can you afford this?" Alfie asked. He was completely in shock at the tidy home.
"C.H.R.O.M.E. pays well, and I have been saving for quite some time." Cooper said. "This home however, is yours now. It is paid for and I will give you extra so you can get back to your tires."
Amelia broke down to tears. "We've treated you so poorly in the past." she whimpered.
"The past." Cooper reminded. "Stays in the past." Amelia gave him the best hug she could manage. Cooper couldn't explain the feeling of happiness he felt at that moment.
Back at home, Cooper prepared Max for bed. Before leaving, he plugged a night light into the wall near where Max slept.
"I hope this helps a little bit. But do not hesitate to get me." Cooper smiled to him.
Max smiled back but all he could manage was to come forwards and give Cooper a small nuzzle. "Does this mean I can call you dad?"
Cooper's eyes widened and looked down at him. Yes, he thought of adoption, but somehow, the term 'dad' never even crossed his mind. "After the adoption process I assume it would be more fitting. But there's nothing I can do to stop a plane who isn't technically my son yet." He smiled.
Max pulled away.
"Goodnight, Max. I hope you sleep better tonight." Cooper backed out.
"Goodnight, Coopdad." Max giggled. Cooper stopped in the doorway and looked at him. Max then frowned.
"Never mind, that sounded better in my head."