David knew something was off with Max the moment he met his little camper. Max was odd and secluded, but David was determined to get to the bottom of it. it wasn't until after parents day David understood. the paperwork said Maxine. David frowned a little, surely Max's parents knew his real name, right? it had only taken a few days after that for him to figure it out. it was a secret he'd keep to himself, but would do his best to make sure Max knew he was safe.

when pick up day came around and Max's parents never showed, Gwen and David agreed to take him home and foster him. Max wasn't all that happy, especially since it was a three day drive from the foster agency back to their house, but seemed happy he didn't have to go home.

"are we there yet?" Max huffed. Gwen groaned. this was the fifth time in twenty minutes Max had ask this.

"no you little shit. we still have a few hours." Gwen hissed.

"I gotta go to the bathroom." Max huffed.

"well when we get somewhere there's a bathroom we'll let you know." Gwen huffed.

"I could just pull over and let you go in the woods." David offered.

"no! I've been going in the woods for weeks." Max hissed, shifting uncomfortably. Gwen watched him, she knew too. David hadn't been able to keep his mouth shut around her at all, plus a few days after Max had come to her for 'help' and had told her all about everything.

"don't have a cow kid. he's joking." Gwen rolled her eye's, leaning back in her seat, watching Max squirm. "okay David pull over at the gas station. kid looks like he's going to piss himself." Gwen teased.

"I am not! I've just got bl- I've got to pee really bad and you dumbasses are making jokes!" Max shouted.

"we need gas anyway!" David smiled and pulled into the gas station. he pulled up to the pump and shut the car off, watching Max jump out of the car quickly and head inside. Gwen waited until he was in the store.

"you know he's-" Gwen started.

"I know. go with him." David replied with a nod. Gwen nodded slightly.

"think he'll come out to you?" Gwen ask.

"I don't care if he does or not Gwen. he came out to you so he knows that someone here knows and thats whats important." David assured. Gwen nodded and headed inside. David already had a present waiting on the bed for Max when they got home anyway. he had an old friend of his go into the house and put it on the bed, he'd ordered it the day Max agreed to come with them. he hadn't told Gwen, but this was his way of letting Max know that he knew and he was safe to live with them as himself.

"hey fucker. we brought snacks." Max said as he and Gwen came out of the store.

"language." David said automatically. he paid for the gas and smiled at them. "come on lets get back on the road. if we can hurry, we can be there by tonight." David said. Max groaned.

"stupid car." Max muttered.

"come on Max, six more hours at most." Gwen said. Max glared at her tiredly as he buckled in. David started the car and smiled into the mirror at Max, who scold at him. he chuckled and raised an eye brow, passing his cell phone to Max.

"here." David said. Max seemed surprised and took the phone, looking back up at David. he met David's eye's in the mirror and the man nodded slightly, driving off as they all buckled up. Max played happily with the phone. it was only about three hours before the boy in the back passed out, Mr.Honeynuts tucked happily against his side in the seatbelt.

it was midnight when they finally arrived home. grabbing Max's small backpack of items, Gwen headed to the door to unlock it. David scooped Max up carefully.

"huh...?" Max mumbled.

"shhh Max. we're home." David murmured. Max shifted and held tightly to David's neck.

"Mr.Honeynuts." Max mumbled. David nodded slightly and grabbed the beloved bear quickly.

"don't worry, I won't forget him." David assured, holding the bear to Max's side. the boy moved his arm a little and David tucked it up under his arm. Max buried his face into David's neck and mumbled something David would assume was a 'thank you'. Gwen had already headed upstairs to change into her Pj's. David took Max up to his and Gwens room. Max didn't have any Pj's. David sat the boy on the edge of his bed. Max looked at him tiredly.

"huh?" Max ask again. David handed him one of his own shirts.

"here this will do for Pj's until we can go shopping." David said.

"go away let me get dressed." Max hissed.

"alright, sorry." David murmured, turning away quickly. Max nodded slightly and pulled his shirt and hoodie off. the bruises, scars, and burns from his biological parents didn't matter to him at the moment, he was tired. he pulled on the baggy shirt and kicked his pants off onto the floor, before curling up around Mr.Honeynuts. David left him there while he went to get dressed as well. when he came back Gwen was staring at the sleeping boy.

"David." Gwen muttered. David looked at the boy.

"I'll take him to bed." David assured. he scooped Max up gently, the bear falling to the floor, as Gwen laid down. Max whined slightly. "hold on Max." David murmured, scooping the bear up as well. he carried the boy down the hall to his room. there was a package on Max's bed and he smiled. he laid the boy down gently and put the box on his desk. he turned to leave and paused. "oh right. sorry Mr.Honeynuts." David said, turning around and laying the bear next to the boy. Max immediately curled around the bear and David smiled, heading back to bed. he laid down quietly beside Gwen, back to his partner. Gwen mumbled and rolled over hugging his waist tightly. David smiled a little and rolled onto his back, cuddling her.

"David?" Gwen mumbled.

"hmm?" David ask.

"stop smiling." Gwen growled. David chuckled slightly.

"I'm just thinking. I know what we're doing for Max's birthday next month." David said. Gwen snored quietly. David smiled and fell asleep.

he shifted and slowly opened his eye's. red numbers on his alarm clock red 1:54 AM. Gwen was rolled over on the other side of their bed, snoring. what had woken him? he shifted a little and a small hand grabbed onto his sleeve and there was shifting. confused he let out a tired mumble. immediately the shifting paused. David stayed quiet his eye's slowly adjusting. he realized there was a small figure laying on his chest and a slightly bigger figure straddling his waist. after a moment when there was no sound the bigger figure moved to lay beside David and a little hand appeared from his side, grabbing the smaller figure, Mr.Honeynuts. his brain said after a moment. the bear disappeared to his side along with what David could only assume was Max. Max cuddled to his side and held tightly to the bear. David shifted some and looked at the boy tiredly.

"Max?" David ask.

"um... no..?" Max said.

"m'kay." David muttered curling up around the boy. Max cuddled to his chest. "y'okay?" David ask.

"I'm fine." Max huffed. "shut up and go to sleep." Max growled. David snored quietly.

the next morning when Max awoke, he was alone in the bed. he rubbed his eye's and yawned, heading down stairs in just the t-shirt David had given him.

"Gwen?" Max mumbled, holding Mr.Honeynuts.

"hey kid." Gwen waived. "David went for breakfast." Gwen said.

"coffee." Max mumbled. Gwen nodded and handed him a cup.

"you should go get dressed." Gwen smiled. Max nodded and dragged Mr.Honeynuts back up.

"hey Gwen! whats this box!?" Max called.

"I dunno!" Gwen replied. Max opened the box and grew silent, he grabbed the item and raced downstairs.

"did you get me this?" Max ask, holding up the blue binder. Gwen looked at the piece of clothing.

"n-no..." Gwen said confused.

"so it was..." Max trailed.

"Gwen! I'm home!" David exclaimed. Max turned around with the item in hand. David paused and looked at him. "oh... hey Max. I see you found my present." David said awkwardly.

"you knew." Max said softly.

"yeah." David admitted.

"how long?" Max ask, looking away.

"a while Max." David said.

"Gwen told?" Max ask.

"no. you're paper said Maxine, not Maxwell. I put it together." David assured.

"a-and you still wanted me?" Max ask, almost tearfully.

"of course! your birth parents didn't realize you're amazing." David said, crouching down to his level. "just because your body says your a girl doesn't mean its right. your mind says you're a boy." David assured. Max ran over immediately hugging him tightly around his neck.

"thank you." Max muttered. he shoved away then shoved his hands in his hoodie pocket. he headed quickly back upstairs.

"thats how you told him you knew?" Gwen huffed.

"I figured it was the easiest way." David shrugged. "besides his old one causes stress on his chest. the doctor said he'd need a proper one, not a home made one, besides if you think this is crazy you should see whats planned for his birthday." David grinned. Gwen sighed and shook her head. Max game running back down, grinning ear to ear. his posture seemed straighter and less tense. as though knowing the secret helped.

"so what are we doing today?" Max ask.

"well the Foster agency says I have to take you to meet your new therapist. so we're going to do that today." David smiled. Max groaned crossing his arms over his chest.

"thats stupid." Max hissed.

"you'll like this one trust me." David assured. Max scoffed.

"I don't want to see your stupid therapist." Max growled.

"Max, just trust me kiddo. you'll love this one." David said. Max glared at him and sat down to eat. he ae slowly, but David didn't worry. he knew Max would love this.

"David?" Gwen ask. David kissed her on the cheek and winked at her.

"don't worry Gwen! I know our boy here is going to love it!" David grinned excitedly.

when David finally managed to convince Max to hurry up so they could go to the therapists office, he nearly exploded with excitement.

"David this is stupid." Max groaned as they walked into the office.

"nope." David smiled. he sat in a chair, letting Max sit beside him.

"I don't wanna do this." Max huffed.

"yes you do." David grinned. Max growled at him and got quiet. when they called his name, he was surprised David didn't stand up to go with him.

"not coming?" Max hissed.

"nope." David smiled at him. Max scoffed and went into the room. David waited and waited and waited. after two hours Max appeared standing in the doorway tearfully. the room and people around them melted.

"y-you... you.... t-top surgery?" Max ask, tears streaming down his face. David grinned happily.

"yup! I told you you'd love this therapist!" David shouted.

"you sighed me up for top surgery!" Max shouted, running at him. David was surprised when he suddenly found himself on his back, Max wrapped up in his arms. David hugged him tightly, tearfully. the room was quiet, others were here about stuff like this as well and it was a heartfelt moment.

"of course Max. I told you, just because your body was born a girl, doesn't mean it was right. your brain is a boy and thats all I'll ever see you as, my son." David said softly. Max sobbed quietly as the man stood up.

"I love you dad." Max murmured. Davids heart melted and he hugged him tightly.

"I love you too kiddo and I just want you to be happy in your body. no more binders, no more hiding, and when you're older we'll save up for your next one." David assured as he carried him out to the car. Max sobbed into his neck. this was the happiest day of his life. he was finally getting what he wanted. a happy family, caring parents, and a body to match his gender identity. this was amazing!