Max waited outside Shelby's apartment building waiting for her to open the door. Alexis was still asleep in her stroller and Max was making sure she doesn't hurt her neck in that position.

"Hey Max! Sup Krista!" Shelby chirped, opening the door and smiling at them.

"Again, I can't thank you enough for this Shelby," Max said, walking over to Shelby and gave her a hug.

"No problem Max! Come on inside, you guys must be pretty tired," Shelby gave them a loving smile as they brought their stuff inside, Shelby volunteering to push Alexis' stroller. "I've set up the guest room for you guys, its not really a guest room but it should do until you guys can get a hotel room."

Max nodded as they waited for the elevator to get to Shelby's floor. Max and Krista followed Shelby to her apartment and walked in, immediately complimenting it politely.

"Daddy?" Alexis let out a tired yawn and stretched her small limbs. "Where are we?"

"Pumpkin!" Shelby said and Alexis perked up, her eyes drooping from the remaining tiredness she felt, yawning again.

"Hi Awnty Shelby," Alexis greeted politely.

Max walked over to Alexis and helped her out of the stroller. Max held her in his arms as she started falling asleep again, resting her chin on his shoulder. Max rocked back and forth lightly, seeing the child's exhaustion.

"We are staying at Auntie Shelby's until we can get a hotel, okay?" Alexis nodded against Max's shoulder and slowly fell asleep in his arms. Max hummed softly, walking around the apartment.

"If you want you can put Alexis in my room while you're unpacking," Shelby offered and Max nodded, giving her a smile of gratitude.

Max walked over to the stroller and grabbed Mr.Mc Stuffington as well as her yellow blanket, walking over to the room Shelby pointed at. Max set Alexis on the covers, placing her bear next to her and laid the blanket on her small figure. Alexis grabbed onto the bear as Max laid a kiss on her forehead, quietly walking out of the room.

"The room is just over there and and we can have Alexis sleep on the couch. If you want her in your temporary room I can go get an air mattress from the storage locker," Shelby offered and Max shook his head.

"I'm sure she'll be fine on the couch," Max had a gental smile on his face, running a hand through his hair as he yawned.

"You sure? I have a bunch of camping stuff, I don't mind," Shelby smiled and Max shook his head again.

"Its fine Shelby, and if she doesn't like it I'll sleep on the couch instead."

"Alrighty then, tell me if you need anything else. I'm just going to run down to the lobby real quick."

Max and Krista nodded as Shelby left out the front door.

•~•~•~•

Max had woke up needing to go to the bathroom. As he walked back to his room a small voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Daddy?" Alexis stopped Max in his tracks, his hand resting on the door knob to the room he was sharing with Krista.

"Yeah baby?" Max answered, walking over with a confused look on his face.

Isn't it past midnight?

"You know all your ex girlfriends?" Alexis asked as Max started to walk over, taking a seat on the floor next to her. Alexis sat up and turned toward Max.

Max's breath hitched in his throat. "Yeah? What about them?"

"You said you loved them." Alexis looked down, messing with the blanket that laid on her legs.

"I said a lot of things, what about it?" Max asked looking into his daughter's eyes, utterly confused.

Why now? Why is she even wondering about this? She is way to young to be worrying about relationships.

"If the love 'died out', was it ever love in the first place?" Alexis asked softly, looking into her father's eyes. Her matching brown eyes gleamed with curiosity as she left her father speechless. Letting her words sink in.

He opened his mouth to speak only to close it seconds later. Max did this multiple times, all he achieved was looking like a fish.

She's been reading too many fairytales hasn't she? Max thought to himself while running a hand through his hair, a yawn escaping his lips while doing so.

Its way to late at night for this.

"I don't know baby, I don't have a good answer for that," Max gave a tired sigh as Alexis continued.

"I though love was undying, always head over heels for each other. Like every time you see each other, it still feels like what you felt when you met for the first time. Something clicks and everything feels right. Actually being truthful and loyal with each other instead of leaving them for someone else." Alexis paused, looking down at her folded hands. "Being happy at just the mention of their name," Alexis spoke quietly, if it wasn't for being right next to her and it being extremely quiet, Max might not of heard her.

The two sat in silence as Alexis looked at her father, her eyes boring into the the side of his head. Max averted his gaze to the ground, soaking in everything he was just told.

"Its too late for this, you need to get some sleep. We are going out tomorrow and I don't want you complaining you're tired."

"But-"

"No buts," Max stated standing from his spot. "Bedtime."

"Will you at least stay until I fall asleep?" Alexis asked quietly. "Please Daddy?"

Max felt a smile edge onto his face as he heard Alexis call for him, reassuring him she still needed him even though she is still so small.

Max had been having doubt lately that he wasn't doing a good enough job raising Alexis. Sometimes it felt like she was raising herself, losing her childhood too quickly. But, the small cry for some sort of comfort silenced those thoughts, leaving Max with a small smile.

"Of course baby," Max said, laying down on the ground next to the couch, kissing her forehead before grabbing a pillow from the couch.

Alexis hugged Max's lower arm, leaving him in a slightly uncomfortable position. Max moved closer to the couch, trying to get comfy. Alexis' words echoed in his head as sleep soon consumed him.