Too Little Too Late (Max)

Buddy nosed at the puppies in the basket. He gently licked them too. He wanted them to be alright for Miley's sake. Krystal sighed. James had woken up and was crying in his room. Shooter was pawing at the guest room door. He needed to go outside to use the bathroom.

Max sighed. "I'll be right back." he said and he went to the guest room and opened the door for Shooter. The puppies finally started to move.

Shooter went right outside to use the bathroom before coming inside and going back to the guest room to go back to bed. James was crying in his room. Krystal had gone to get him. Buddy woofed at Miley to tell her the puppies were moving.

Miley was happy and she wagged her tail. The other five puppies got out of the basket and went to their mom. They laid down near their mom's fur and rested near their brothers and sisters. Max sighed and closed the backyard door.

Krystal had gotten James and was on the couch rocking him and holding him close to settle him. He had had another bad dream again tonight. Buddy curled up and Krystal's feet watching her with James. James wasn't settling down. He wanted his dad.

Max went to the living room and sat down next to Krystal. He looked at his son and smiled softly.

She looked at him and sighed. "He had a second bad dream tonight, Max," she said. She rocked James. James wouldn't stop crying and was reaching out to his dad. Buddy sat up and put his head on Max's lap and sighed. He wanted to help make James feel better. He knew James liked Miley and would allow him to sleep against Miley tonight while he slept in the cage in the bedroom.

Max took James from her arms and held him. Miley was laying in the big dog bed with her puppies

Buddy whinnied and pawed at Max's knee. He was asking if he could help cheer James up. James clung to his dad and wasn't settling down. It was like he wanted his dad and Miley to cheer him up. Krystal was starting to feel useless but didn't want to take her anti-depressant pills today.

Max looked at Krystal and kissed her cheek. Max looked at Buddy. "Yes you can help cheer up James, Buddy." he said. Miley looked at James and whinnied at him. Max kissed James's forehead and put a hand to his stomach. He started to gently tickle his son

Buddy jumped onto the couch and started the gently lick James's face to make the tears go away. James giggled and laughed as Buddy licked his face and as his dad tickled him. He made a happy sound hearing Miley whine at him. Krystal moved to sit on the floor with Miley and gently rubbed her head and back.

Miley licked Krystal's face and Max smiled.

Krystal smiled softly and took a dog treat from her pocket to give it to Miley. Buddy curled up on the couch. James looked up at his dad then looked at Buddy. "Daddy, can I lay with Buddy?" he asked.

Miley ate the doggy treat and licked Krystal's hand. Max nodded and looked at Buddy.

James crawled the Buddy and laid with him and cuddled with him. Buddy wagged his tail and woofed at Max. He curled with James using him as a pillow and fell asleep. James finally fell back to sleep. Krystal smiled. "Your a good dog, Miley and a good mother," she said.

Miley rested her head near her puppies and the puppies were asleep. Max smiled and looked at Krystal. He patted the spot on his lap for her

Krystal grinned and moved to sit down on his lap. She moved so she could rest her body against him with her head on his shoulder. James was fast asleep and Buddy soon enough fell asleep too.

He held her and kissed her neck. "Lets go to bed." he said softly

"Okay, I think our son is in good hands for tonight thanks to Buddy," she said. She didn't feel like walking so she wrapped her arms around his neck.

He smiled and picked her up. He carried her upstairs to their bedroom and put her in bed.

She smiled at him and just to see what she would do she took his pillows and started to cuddle with them.

He smiled and laid down next to her. He took his pillows from her and put the under his head. He held her to him and kissed the top of her head.

She snuggled right up to him forgetting she hadn't really put real clothes on when she went outside. But, she moved enough to pull her robe back off. She put it on the free space on the bed. She had hardly ever used her own pillows unless they both didn't feel like cuddling. She mostly used his chest for a pillow.

He held her and kissed the top of her head. "Lets get some sleep." he said

"Sleep sounds good right about now," she said. She then closed her eyes and started to use him as a pillow and fell asleep.