Too Little Too Late (Max)

Max went downstairs and gently picked up Buddy. He carried Buddy outside to the backyard and put him down so he could use the bathroom. Miley was still asleep and so were the puppies. He saw Krystal and saw her touching her belly. He got worried

Krystal looked over to Max and stopped touching her belly knowing she had to tell him what her doctor told her the other day about her not being able to have anymore kids. Buddy went to the bathroom and slowly started to walk with a bad limp to Krystal before laying down to rest again.

He went to her and sat down next to her. He looked at her and took her hand.

"Max, you know my visit to my doctor the other day?" she asked. She needed to know. In her robe pocket was the baby monitor. She kept it with her at all times encase James needed them.

He nodded. "yes, I do." he said and he kissed her hand.

"I never told you what he said to me about the ultrasound he took. I can't have kids anymore, Max. Some how I damaged my insides after having James. I feel horrible. He'll never get to have a brother or sister," she said. Tears started to fall from her eyes. Buddy whimpered knowing he was kind of like a child to her and so were Miley and Shooter.

He got up from the chair and picked her up. He sat in the chair that she was sitting and put her on his lap. He held her and rubbed her back.

"I feel so hopeless. He's going to grow up like I did. Without siblings," she said. She buried her face into his chest and cried. Buddy whimpered and barked sadly. He was trying to get Max to tell her they could adopt children.

He gently rubbed her back. "He can still has a brother or a siser. We can adopt a child." he said softly.

"It's not the same. I want to give birth to a sibling for him. He'll know the brother or sister isn't really his brother or sister by looking at them. Unless we ask Ginny to carry it for us. The doctors know if I can't they'll take one of my eggs and some stuff from you to make a child in a tube and make Ginny carry our child until it's born. It'll be ours not hers," she said. She was still crying. She knew Rachel would probably be more willing than Ginny would be.

He nodded and held her. "We can ask Rachel." he suggested. He kissed her forehead and held her.

"Yeah, I still don't trust Ginny after what you and her did together," she said. She actually hated Ginny after knowing what that woman and Max had done.

He nodded. "Lets talk to Rachel in the morning." he said softly.

"Okay, but I don't think I can fall asleep again. I came out here because I had a bad dream," she said. She moved off his lap and sat on her lounge chair again. Buddy had gone back inside and curled up beside Miley in the dog bed.

He looked at her and took her hand. "lets go into the living room.' he suggested. Miley nuzzled her face closer to Buddy's face.

Krystal sighed and nodded. "Okay, let's go," she said. She got up. Buddy made a happy sound and gently licked Miley's face. Krystal knew she was going to get Shooter fixed once he was better.

Miley gently licked Buddy's face and looked at the basket. The puppies didn't make a sound and she whimpered sadly. Max got up and took her hand. He led her to the living room and sat down on the couch. He pulled her on to his lap

She curled up on his lap and rested her head on his shoulder. "At least I can still enjoy the fun you and I have together," she said. She just wished she could have another child. Buddy whimpered too. But, he licked the top of Miley's head telling her the puppies were just sick and that they would get worse before they got better.

Miley whimpered softly and continue to look at the basket. Max held her in his arms and nodded.

Krystal could hear Shooter in the guest room but didn't want to move. She was enjoying being right with Max. "Even if I'm not in the mood you still promise not to cheat on me again," she said. Buddy moved and nosed at the puppies to see if they would at least move a little to let Miley know they were going to be okay.

Four out of the nine puppies moved under his touch but the 5 other puppies weren't moving. Max nodded. "I promise, my love." he said softly.

"Good. Now, in order to keep you to your word maybe we could have fun once of twice a week. As long as your okay with that," she said. She ran her finger over his neck teasing him. Buddy whimpered and woofed towards Max wanting him to take a look at the puppies.

Max looked at the basket and frowned softly. He gently moved Krystal from his lap and went to the basket. The four puppies that were fine climbed out of the basket and went to their mom. The four puppies laid down close to their mom's fur to get the heat from her body. Max knelt down and he widden his eyes. The five puppies weren't moving and breathing

Buddy got up and sat beside the basket. He wanted to know what was wrong. He knew the puppies were Shooter's but he wanted to keep Miley happy. Krystal watched. "Max, what's wrong with them," she asked.

Max looked over at Krystal and frowned slightly. "I don't know. Four of the puppies are fine and they are with Miley right now but something is wrong with these five." he said. Miley gently licked the four puppies that were with her