A few days later Sam is sitting in her office looking over emails from work when Bisky comes zooming into the room. Behind her, another cat hurries after her before she can get away. Sam laughs as Bisky seeks refuge in Sam's lap.
"Is Piper being mean to you Bisky?" Sam laughs as Piper, Max's adorable cat comes to a stop at her feet. "Come on, both of you." Sam sets Bisky back on the floor and exits her office with both cats on her heels.
Sam makes her way into the main room of the house and glances around for Max. She doesn't locate him at first, but the sound of weights hitting concrete alerts her to his location.
"Max, your child is bullying my baby." Sam steps into her garage turned home gym and leans against the door.
"Piper is just making sure that Bisky knows who the boss is," Max replies casually from Sam's weight bench.
"Look here, Friedman." Sam scoffs and walks over to the bench. "Piper is a guest in this house. Just like you are." She leans down since Max is still in a vertical position on the bench. "And you both seem to be forgetting that rather quickly."
"Oh come on, princess." Max grins up at Sam. "I'm sure that they were just playing is all." He insists and rises into a sitting position.
"Whatever. But if they get into a fight you're gonna be the one breaking it up." Sam warns with a roll of her eyes.
"I can live with that." Max shrugs. "Won't be the first time I've earned some scars for the sake of my lady." He jokes lightly.
"Oh, whatever! Dramaqueen." Sam laughs as Max stands and grabs her by the arm to pull Sam into his side. "You can barely even tell the stitches were there." She pokes at Max's temple where he'd gotten some stitches courtesy of Chris.
"It's the thought that counts, babe," Max replies matter of factly.
Sam rolls her eyes again and leans in for a kiss, which is interrupted when the doorbell rings. Sam sighs and pushes off of Max, which makes him pout a bit as she walks off.
"Man, at least she looks good walking away. Huh, Piper?" Max comments as Sam walks off.
"Bite me," Sam replies as she disappears through the door.
Sam walks out to the front door and swings it open to see who is paying her a visit this time. She gets the door open and stares down at Sierra and Cheyenne, her twin sisters. Behind them, Jessica stands twirling her keys in her hand.
"Sam!" the twins both attack Sam in a hug.
"Hey guys, mom?" Sam is a bit surprised as she's assaulted in a hug. "What are you three doing here?" She glances over at Jessica.
"Hey, sweetie." Jessica greets her eldest daughter softly. "Sorry for dropping in on you like this." She apologizes.
"No, don't worry about it, mom." Sam shakes her head and pry's her sisters off of her. "Please, come in." She steps off to the side to let everyone inside.
Sierra and Cheyenne both hurry inside, eager to snoop around Sam's place. Jessica laughs and follows inside after them both. Sam shuts the door and turns back to her mom with a curious look.
"How have you been sweetie?" Is the first thing that Jessica asks her daughter.
"I've been good, mom." Sam nods. "Things are going much better now with work." She assures her.
"That's wonderful to hear." Jessica nods. "And what about that charming boyfriend of yours?"
"He's fine mom." Sam laughs at her concern and the stark contrast from how Chris acts. "It was just a scratch. He got some stitches but you can barely tell they were there anymore." She explains. "So, what brings you by? Not that I don't love seeing you."
"I just wanted to remind you that Sierra and Cheyenne's birthday party is tomorrow," Jessica informs Sam. "And I wanted to formally invite you and Max."
"Right." Sam nods. "Damn, I almost forgot about that." She shakes her head.
Jessica digs through her purse and hands Sam a pastel pink invitation to the party with hers and Max's name written neatly on the front. Sam takes it and briefly reads the information on the inside. She just gets done reading it when a fit of giggles breaks out through the house.
"We better go see what that's about." Jessica laughs.
"Yeah, definitely." Sam agrees.
Sam and her mom follow the faint sound of giggling until they get to the door to Sam's garage. The twins are both wedged in the doorway and intently watching Max finish his benchpress for the day.
"Okay, dissipate you little gremlins." Sam playfully pushes the twins out of the way. "Shows over, he's taken." Her comment is enough to catch Max's attention again. "Max, you remember my sisters right? Sierra and Cheyenne?"
"Hello, ladies." Max takes note of the number of women currently watching him at the moment. "Sam, where did all your lovely family members come from?" He sits upright and turns his attention to Sam.
"Mom just came by to invite us to the twin's birthday tomorrow," Sam explains and flashes the invitation. "You don't mind, right babe?" She asks him.
"Not at all." Max shakes his head. "And just how old are you lovely ladies turning?" He turns his attention back on the twins.
Sam rolls her eyes and Jessica pulls her away from the group for a second. Her smile is replaced with a more serious look though.
"I had a talk with your dad," Jessica explains. "I think that he's calmed down and ready to talk, Sam." She informs her daughter. "You and Max, both."
"Is he really?" Sam is quick to question the legitimacy of the claim.
"Yes, I believe he is," Jessica confirms. "I made him promise that he'd be civil at your sisters' party." She adds. "Will you give him a chance, Sam? For me?"
"Yeah...alright." Sam reluctantly agrees to talk with Chris. "We'll both be there mom."
Jessica nods and she and Sam both turn back to save Max from the twins. Jessica drags her eager daughters off and leaves Sam and Max alone again to talk after a brief goodbye.
"My mom says that Chris might be ready to bury the hatchet," Sam explains once she and Max are relaxing in the main room later in the day.
"Really?" Max nods. "Are you ready for that?" He glances down at Sam resting her head on his shoulder while a movie plays on the tv.
"I don't know." Sam lets out a heavy sigh. "He's my dad, max. I can't hate him forever. At least, I don't want to." She explains. "But it's not like he's exactly made it easy to forgive him."
"I know, babe." Max nods. "The way he's treated you has never been fair. And I'm not related to the man so I'm allowed to resent him forever for that." He insists. "But if you want to try and patch things up with him, Sam. I won't stop you."
"Thanks, babe." Sam leans up and kisses Max on the cheek sweetly. "But if Chris can't accept that we come as a package deal then that's his problem." She insists.
"Good." Max grins. "Because I love you, and I ain't planning on going anywhere."
YOU ARE READING
Bloodlines//MJF
Fanfiction"You know I'm just using you to get in your dad's head right?" Sam's arms wrap around the back of Max's neck. "That's fine. Because truthfully? I'm just using you to royally piss him off." Max flexes his shoulders against her delicate touch. His ha...
