A/N: Welcome, welcome! I hope you guys are as excited as I am for this!
As I explained in a previous chapter of "All This Time," this series takes place during the timeline I've created for my trilogy of BatBey stories that I've titled "Unpack Your Heart." The name is the same title as the song by Phillip Phillips which is amazing and I highly recommend you go listen to it. The song, to me, along with the titles of the songs I've chosen for my chapter stories, fits perfectly for Max and Terry.
Also, these stories will not just be Max/Terry stories, though they are the primary focus most of the time and these are stories all happen because of my love for that ship in the first place. We're going to have TONS of interactions with other characters from "Unpack Your Heart", such as Basem, Sally, Melissa, Eddy, Lisa, Chelsea, Bruce, and even Joe, if you can believe that.
All these stories will have a T Rating, at the most. IF, and this is a big IF, I do another M Rated story, it will be a standalone and will not appear here as to keep the rating where it belongs. Now, that being said, some stories may get steamy but never too over the top. I hope.
This whole idea for this was inspired by the fanfic writer sleepyheadfan20, who does stories for Sleepy Hollow. I loved the approach of a series of one-shots that are fun, dramatic, insightful, and, sometimes, all of the above. It inspired me and challenged me and I want to give it go!
Next, I want you all to know, there is NO set limit on how many of these there will be and there is NO set limit on how long or short. And with that, YES, ALL IDEAS ARE WELCOME! Either PM me or leave a review (please, leave those anyway! Show me you care!) with any ideas you. I have a bunch already but more are welcome. But these stories will keep going for as long as I am able to come up with ideas and, honestly, as long as I find it fun.
So, there are three reasons why I am doing this and the first two I mentioned: one is to challenge myself and the other is because it's fun. Last, but certainly not least, my reason for doing this is you. Yes, you. The one reading this right now. Whether you JUST joined this party or you've been here since day one, thank you and I hope you are loving this as much as I am!
Lastly, for each story, I'll explain where they line up in my trilogy and hopefully I will do my best to post a timeline for each story as to where they fall in the whole narrative. This first story takes place way before the start of "Count On Me."
Alright, I think I've covered everything! Thank you all so much! Enjoy! Leave me some reviews! See you soon!
Doughnuts and Goodfellas
Max rubbed her face with one hand while she held the phone with the other. "But…" Max exhaled. "But Mom… you said that you would…"
"I know, baby, I know!" Lisa, her mother, said. "I am so sorry!"
"I just… I thought we'd have the weekend."
"Max, I'm sorry. This was all at the last minute and I did everything I could to get out of it."
Max fell silent and just shook her head.
"Max, I can…"
"It's fine." Max sighed. "I gotta go. Terry's calling me." She knew she was lying but she hardly cared.
"Oh. Okay." Lisa tried to figure out what to say next. "I'll, uh, I'll call you as soon as I can."
"Yeah, sure."
"I love you."
"Yeah. Love you, too." Max ended the call and placed her head in between her knees. She looked up when her phone rang again and saw that Terry was calling. She answered, "Hey, Ter."
"Whoa," Terry said. "That was heavy. What's wrong?"
She shook her head. "Mom can't make it this weekend."
He sighed in disappointment, "Are you serious?"
"Yeah."
"Aw, slag! Max, I'm so sorry."
"Don't be."
"Need me to come by?"
"Aren't you about to go out on patrol?"
"I meant after."
Max thought about asking to come by but shook her head. "No. Go home."
"Max…"
"It's okay, Terry." She smiled. "Go save the city."
"I'll just keep it safe for now. Hopefully, it won't need saving tonight."
She laughed. "I'll talk to you later."
"You got it."
It was hours later and Max was still sitting up, trying to find something to watch on television. She tried going to sleep but just couldn't do it. She was too upset. She had really hoped to spend the entire upcoming weekend with her mother. It was history repeating itself all over again. Her mother would make promises and she wouldn't come through for the same reason always: work. Max did her best to never take it personally but it was hard not to sometimes. This was one of those times.
She started crying and she almost hated herself for it. This wasn't the first time and it wouldn't be the last time. Her family tended to forget about her. But she was in her senior year and didn't know where she was going for college. She wanted to spend time with her family before completely took her away from them. She just wanted her family. It always felt like that was just way too much to ask for. Even if Melissa talked about moving back to Gotham, she knew that it was just too much to hope for.
Max knew she had to face it: she was alone and she was going to stay that way.
Her phone rang again. Max wiped her eyes and answered, "Hello?"
"I'm outside," Terry said.
She looked at the clock. 1:04 AM. "You're on patrol."
"Quiet night. Finished up early."
"Then go home and go to sleep."
"I brought doughnuts and Goodfellas."
She stopped then ended the call, got up, opened her door, and found Terry standing there holding a box of doughnuts in one hand and a DVD case in the other.
He smiled.
Max threw her arms around him and pulled him close.
She exhaled in relief, "Thank you."
"Anytime," he replied.
"When you get a girlfriend again, I'm really gonna hate it!"
He chuckled and came inside the apartment. He set the box on the coffee table, "Even if that does happen, she'll have to get how much you mean to me."
"Sure she'll be cool with that?" Max closed the door.
"She'll meet you and she'll get how awesome you are, so she will."
She sat on the couch. "That's good for me. 'Cause, honestly, I don't know what I'd do without you."
"I was gonna say the same thing."
"Let's make a deal."
Terry sat next to her. "What's that?"
"No matter what, no matter where our lives take us, just promise that we will always have each other's backs."
He stared into her eyes and took hold of her hand. "I promise, Max. No matter what."
She threw her arms around him. "Thanks for coming by."
"You know I use any excuse to get doughnuts."
They both laughed.