Adopted by Brendon Urie

28

Brendon's POV

Max was sprawled on the couch, still dressed in her clothes from the night before. She was drooling onto her cheek, and I chuckled and took a picture of her, sending it to all of the guys.

Max sat up, and looked at me, her speech slurred, and her bed hair completely insane looking. "I need to borrow your studio today, is that okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine. I'm gone all day. Why do you need it?" I watched as she stood up to make herself a cup of coffee.

"Pete said if I can get a demo done in the next couple of days, just for one song, he would hire me as a co-writer for Fall Out Boy. The only problem is that I haven't played since I left."

"Try it." I smiled at her. "You're a Urie. You're probably still just as good as before."

"You seem to forget that we aren't blood relatives." She smiled and sat down at the piano.

A melody poured from her, a little rusty at first, but then it came out more and more smoothly. It had a melancholy feeling to it, and it spiraled into a more sad sounding tune as it went on. She smiled as the song finished, and I smiled with her. "See, you still have it in you."

Max's smile grew. "Now if only I could get my hands on a set of bagpipes."

I shook my head. "If only."

*****

I came home after a long day of arguing with Pete about the album cover, going into my studio. Max was sprawled asleep with a CD in her hand. The CD was labeled, Demo for Pete's ass, 'cause deep down inside, he knows I am already good enough for this shit. I chuckled and gently shook Max's shoulder.

"Maxie. You need to wake up. It gets cold in here at night."

She mumbled. "Just for the record, the weather today-" she trailed off.

"Yeah, well, that doesn't change anything." I shook her again. "C'mon. Did you eat?"

She stood and shook her head. "I forgot. I'm tired. Axel wanted to come over. Is that okay?"

"Yeah. You fell asleep pretty early." I dragged her into the house. "What do you want to eat?"

She was suddenly awake. "I want to make a cake!"

"Real food first."

"Damn it, Brendon. Cake is great."

"You have to eat real food, or you'll die."

"Only if we have apple juice." She crossed her arms over her chest. Somethings never change.

"Yes. We have apple juice."