This drabble is going to be pretty much on the wholesome end! This drabble was heavily inspired by PumpkingxAngel drabble about this same duo, but I'm coming in with a different approach. Please check out the original and give him a follow, he's a super talented writer!

Warning for the following:

Sickness/Illness
Hints of Divorce

(Words: 2900)

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→ 1989

"I want to see the stars..."

A dark skinned young man stared up at the ceiling of the cavern. His lower body's dark coat faded into the snow as he rested on the ground. His expression filled with want. Sitting nearby sat an orange fox, who had been resting against his friend's body. The fox grinned, speaking up.

"Oh Gal, of course you'd want to see the stars!" He laughed, his sapphire blue eyes crinkling with mischief.

The centaur turned his head towards the fox, only giving a small smile. His purple eyes gleamed as he spoke, voice soft, "Well, can you blame me? Seeing pictures and reading about the stars just isn't the same as seeing them," He grinned, "Plus, it's not like you don't have things you wish to see, Maxie."

The fox chuckled as he turned his head upwards towards the underground's ceiling. "I do want to see the world and meet new people. I've always kind of wanted to see what the home country of my mama looks like, you know?" Max' head then turned to the centaur. "Maybe we could travel the world? Kill two birds with one stone?"

The centaur laughed, "'Galileo and Maxwell, World Travelers by day, Astronomers by night.' Can you imagine?" He asked, roughing up Maxwell's head.

Maxwell only laughed.

"Maybe we could do that. But aren't you still chasing after that girl? Camilla, right" Galileo asked, his head cocking to the side as his pretty purple eyes glittered with wonder. Maxwell thought about the question for a moment.

"Well, to be honest, as much as I love Camilla, I think I'm not gonna win her heart. Not in the same way that Shadow has," He admitted, "I think my brother and her are going to get together, so it will most definitely just be us. Unless you get with that girl at schooooool!~" Maxwell teased, elbowing his friend in the side. Galileo's face flushed and he laughed.

The two boys let out amused laughs before they rested to stare up at the ceiling, the future seemingly uncertain.

→ 2017

A soft groan escaped through his barely ajar mouth as the dream faded into the dimly lit room of his home. Dull purple eyes landed on the nearby pale yellow lamp as the older centaur started to wake up. The memories of the dream faded away faster than when they first appeared, causing a feeling of confusion to hit him as he started to glance around his bedroom, humanoid arms helping to prop him upwards. Despite the room having light, the man could hardly see anything infront of him. "Max...?" He spoke out into the quiet, dark room, before letting out a nasty cough.

The cough alerted someone outside the room, as the next thing the older centaur heard was heavy sounds of thumping. Footsteps. His ears perked up as his attention went over towards where the sound came from, and a door opened up. A familiar silhouette filled the door frame, carrying a tray with a small cup. A young centaur woman with a dark purple body. His daughter, Twilight. "I heard you coughing," She spoke, her voice sharp, "I made you some tea a little bit ago. I hope you don't mind if it's a little cold," As she spoke, she entered the room and got down on her knees, horse body a little unstable as she moved down to his level. Twilight placed the tray down in front of him, making sure it was within eyesight. The older centaur, Galileo, wrapped delicate, shaky fingers around the handle of the cup.

Pulling up the cup, he brought the tea to his mouth, careful to avoid spilling it on his soft white beard. His daughter's magenta eyes remained trained on him for a moment. He then brought the cup down after taking two small sips of the cold tea. A small smile rested on his tired face as he spoke up again, "Thank you, my comet. I appreciate it..." His voice was rough. Years of coughing destroyed his vocals. "What are you doing home? I expected you to be out doing something with some friends today. You're still so young with a future ahead of you, don't waste it away on me."

Twilight shook her head, "I couldn't leave you alone very long today. You were talking quite a lot in your sleep, and I was... worried." Her eyes flickered down, "I'm not wasting my youth on you either dad. I don't think it's right to put you in a home just because you're so sick..." Her voice wavered as hints of emotions revealed itself. As quickly as they appeared though, they disappeared, "Anyways, do you remember anything about your dream? Was it mom again?"

Galileo's ears perked up as he tried to remember what happened. Max. All he remembered was Maxwell. His old friend... the friend that passed away long, long ago. A sense of sadness filled his head as memories filled his head of the funeral he attended with his girlfriend, at the time sick herself.

A knock downstairs pulled his head out of the clouds. An annoyed grumbled escaped his daughter's mouth as she started to pick herself up. "Who is that?" Galileo asked his daughter.

"No idea," She responded, "About to go look and see. I'll be right back, okay?" Twilight left the room as she spoke, her footsteps softer from the gallop she did earlier. Galileo sat on his mattress for a moment. Just a moment. Then a feeling urged him to get up, and he did. He used his weakened arms to push himself off the mattress as his weakened legs trembled underneath him. As his shaky body moved off the soft mattress, he knocked over the cup filled with room temperature tea. The liquid hit his leg, awakening a few nerves that hadn't fully awoken until then. He winced at the pain that could be felt as his muscles protested at moving. However, it didn't stop him from taking small babysteps from his room.

The wall became his support as he moved out of the room and into the short hallway. The centaur passed by a few photos, accidentally knocking down one of the framed pictures. His ears heard the glass crack and he muttered a small curse at Idyllic, but carried forward. It could be looked at later. Galileo perked his ears forward as his daughter's recognizable stern voice could be heard, as well as another... strangely familiar voice.

Galileo's heart began to race as the voice filled his home. That familiar, yet strange voice. Just slightly off. He reached the end of the hallway and cleared his throat, alerting his daughter and the stranger of his presence. His weak eyes took a moment to adjust to the brightness of the open door, but once it did...

Orange fur.

"Gal?"

That nickname. That gods forsaken nickname.

Maxwell was alive?

Despite the conflicting feelings of excitement and anger rising in his sick body, Galileo smiled and slowly walked up to the door, taking extra care to watch his step. "Maxwell, it's great to see you. What brought you here?" He asked, gently placing a hand on his daughter's shoulder, both to let her know it was okay and to keep himself steady.

The fox' familiar blue eyes stared up at him, shocked. Surprised. Guilty.

There was that unmistakable look of guilt and shame written all over his face. This only added to that angry feeling building up inside of Galileo. But he remained stoic and friendly outwardly. "Well?"

"O-oh-! Right...." Maxwell cleared his throat, "I was bringing home your daughter, Rosebud. From hers and my daughter's club meeting," he explained sheepishly. His blue eyes turned to look behind him, Galileo's eyes following. Although he couldn't see much.

Twilight's reaction of quickly running past them towards what looked to be a small white car on the street gave Galileo the idea that his youngest was probably stuck. The curse of having a big horse body, he figured.

Maxwell turned back up to Gal. Silent. Unlike him. Galileo turned to look at him and smiled at him, feeling some form of vindication (yet shame) for his old friend's guilt. "Well, the girls will be quite busy for a bit. Would you like to come inside and chat?" The smaller fox's tail swayed and he brought his own trembling arm up to his neck, giving it a rub. Galileo was just close enough to make out missing fur.

"Sure, that'd be nice..." he spoke awkwardly, but smiled despite it. The two walked a little into the living room, in which Galileo pulled himself on to one of the couches. It was made lower to the ground for centaurs, which made things easier. Maxwell stayed standing, now equaling the tall, sickly centaur in height.

Silence filled the air.

The fox took a deep breath, exhaling quite hard afterwards, "Gal, I-" he started, taking another sharp inhale, "Galileo, I'm so, so sorry for... a lot. I had no idea you were so sick..."

Galileo couldn't help but give a small chuckle, then shook his head, "Suppose I should say the same to you. Did you fake your death to escape me?" He half teased, although the anger and hurt he felt internally escaped into his words. Maxwell's tail twitched.

"I wish I could say I faked it," Maxwell sighed, taking off his square glasses to wipe them, "However... I was genuinely gone, Galileo."

"Bullshit." Galileo grunted before coughing. The fox flinched. A moment of guilt hit Galileo. "Sorry, just... how am I supposed to believe you when you're standing right before me. How do I believe that Demise himself just let go of you?"

The fox placed his glasses back on his face, sapphire eyes filled with genuine sorrow, "I know it's really, really unbelievable. I know it is... It's just a long story, and all I've got to show for it is this damned scar on my neck." He pointed it out.

Galileo remained silent, which garnered Maxwell to pull his hand down and sigh.

"The years have gone by so fast..."

The centaur nodded, "Indeed." He shuffled around a little on the couch. "Many things have occurred. While I don't believe you when you say you died, I will give you some... benefit of the doubt. Mainly because everyone I knew hasn't seen you in years," he turned to look down, his arms crossed. "I'm not going to sugarcoat it Maxwell," he then looked back up, "I'm quite angry at you."

Maxwell only gave a dry laugh.

"I'm mad at myself too."

Galileo snorted, "Of course. Been 17 long years since you even spoke to me, you punk." He chuckled a little. Maxwell's ears twitched and he looked around the house.

"I... notice a distinct lack of Venus. I'm guessing she's..."

"Gone. Died a year or two after you did, the uh," Galileo's voice thickened with sadness, "the cancer got her. She's buried in Hyacinth's Forest like she's always wanted. Where you and... Camilla was."

Maxwell tensed up, now crossing his arms, "I see. I'm very sorry for your loss..."

The centaur just shrugged, letting out another cough, "Can't say much, it's been years. The kids hardly remember her," his voice softened at the memory of his young children. Just fillies at the time. It hardened up once again as he spoke, "So, is Camilla 'alive' too then?"

The fox just gave a shallow nod, tail basically between his legs. "I know you don't believe me, but we were genuinely dead. Gone. It was miserable..." His voice weakened, "I didn't even get to experience my kits growing up." His voice cracked. Galileo felt his heart drop as the other man revealed deep sorrow. The centaur thinned his lips before letting out a sigh.

"I forgot you and her had children together, such a shame," Galileo had to admit that it'd be completely unlike Maxwell and Camilla to abandon their children. Galileo remembered their daughter and son rather well. The Fox' were very doting parents.

"Yeah well-" Maxwell tried to perk up a little, "your daughters seem like lovely young women. I think you raised them quite well."

Galileo chuckled, feeling proud of his daughters, "Well, while I'd love to say it was all me... I think the real credit goes to Twilight. She raised Rosebud when I fell sick," He spoke softly. The centaur glanced over at the door as a girl's voice shouted out into the air. "Sounds like they've gotten her out."

Maxwell nodded, "yeah, seems so." He bowed his head in shame and glanced over towards Galileo. "I suppose I should get out of your hair then?"

"Psh," Galileo laughed, "And just resume hiding from me? Have you no shame, Mr. Fox?"

"It's Mr. Connor now, actually..."

"Oh," Galileo let that information soak in and his eyebrows creased inwards, "Oh, I'm sorry. Did Shadow...?"

Maxwell quickly shook his head and laughed anxiously, "Oh no, no. Cam hates Shadow. It's just a long, long story." He placed a hand on his neck, "Maybe uh... maybe instead of 'hiding', I could come by sometime and talk about it?" He tilted his head to the side. The centaur couldn't help but smile at the familiar silhouette.

"Of course. I can't hold a grudge very well. Besides... I still need a pair of eyes to see the stars. Twilight and Rosebud didn't quite take up my astrology knowledge," He laughed a little, getting a chuckle out of Maxwell.

As the two men chuckled, three new silhouettes walked in. Too far away for Galileo to see details, but he could make out his two daughters and, who he guessed to be, Maxwell's daughter. His youngest daughter was laughing a little while the vixen continuously apologized for... something. Galileo didn't really know what it was about, but he figured whatever happened made Twilight upset by the way her hooves hit the ground. There was no mistaking her anger. The older centaur man cleared his throat, gathering all three girls' attention.

"Good afternoon, Rosie hun. Did you have a good day at school?" He asked her, smiling. The young white-and-pink centaur girl nodded, enthusiastic.

"I did! I need to go put up the rest of these seeds though, Twi- can you help me put them up? You're taller than me!" She pleaded with her older sister.

"Rose I can't-"

Galileo started to pull himself off the couch and walked over to his two daughters, "Twilight, go help Rosebud put up her belongings, okay dear? I was more than capable of leaving my room and I am more than capable to walk back," He gave his eldest a small peck on the head. She frowned, but accepted, muttering small curses under her breath about the 'sly foxes' infiltrating their house. Galileo would have to talk to her about the anger she felt later. Once the two centaur girls had gone, Maxwell walked up beside Galileo and grabbed onto his own daughter's hands. She was... rather small. Dainty looking, from what the centaur could tell. White as snow with splotches of black, and her eyes glittered a similar blue color to her father's. No mistake this was his kid, although the black threw Galileo off. Neither of her parents had that color anywhere on them...

Ah well.

"Maxwell, are you going to introduce me to this beautiful young lady or what?" He asked, cheerfully picking up the vixen's other small, delicate hand. Silky soft. Maxwell gave a small chuckle while the small girl let out a surprised, stuttery greeting.

The older fox man spoke, his voice full of soft care, "This is my youngest daughter Mavis. She wasn't even born when I..."

"Right, right... I remember now. Camilla was still very much pregnant with her at the funeral. Well I'm rather pleased to say she looks like the best parts of both her parents," He lightly elbowed Maxwell, remembering the very short time they had dated. Experimented. The vixen, Mavis, only flushed and thanked the older man. He bowed his head at the young lady and let go of her hand. Due to her size, he had to assume she was a runt, but... even for a runt, she was still abnormally smaller than she should've been. Right?

Galileo decided it was best to not ask. The young girl looked as though she was crying anyways, and he'd hate to make her feel any more uncomfortable and upset. Glancing over to his old friend, the centaur smiled and wrapped his arms around him. Hugging him. In returned, he gained a hug back and witnessed Max' own orange tail wag, the first it's done so since he's arrived. Upon letting go, Galileo only laughed and grinned as Maxwell spoke up, chuckling as well, "Next time I'm visiting, let's sit on the porch. I know you've been dying to see the stars again, hm old timer?" He teased. Galileo laughed and shook his head.

"It's only fair you owe me your eyesight to see the night sky."

The fox nodded his head in agreement, before he lightly patted Mavis on the arm, signalling it was time for them to go. "I'll see you later Gal. Maybe I'll come visit next time the girls have a club meeting?" To which Galileo responded with a short nod and answered:

"Of course Maxie."