Chapter 16: Bandit's Birthday Part 2

10 years later...

Thomas stands in his messing living room as he looked for his phone in his mess. Finally he found it and called Bluey's phone. She didn't answer. "Come on Bluey," Thomas said to himself as he tried to call again but this time it went straight to voice mail. "Bluey please talk to me, I know I said some things and you said some things just please talk to me," Thomas said as he hung up the phone. "Maybe she's right," Thomas said to himself. "But it was my fault he got hurt," Thomas said looking at a picture of the family together on his dads birthday when he was sixteen. "Dad I'm sorry..."

Present day

Bandit was getting ready to go home from the long day at work. Bandit looked at his at phone to see if he had any missed calls or messages. "Nothing," Bandit said to himself, a little disappointed, as he grabbed his stuff and headed to the car. "Hey Bandit! Happy birthday mate!" Matt a co worker said. "Thanks mate heading now to the family," Bandit said as he started his car and headed home. Bandit was a little excited for this birthday of his as he would spend it with his son, since he has not been able to do it for the past seven years. Bandit thought about when Thomas was very young and had a great birthday with him.

Years ago…

Bandit was sleeping on his bed, beside Emily, who was also still sleeping, when he finally woke up. He sit up, while stretching and yawning. "Hi…," Bandit heard a little voice saying. He looked forward and saw a four-years-old Thomas right in front of him, with a big smile. "Hey there, mate, up already?" Bandit asked. It was then that Thomas went to a big hug to his dad. "Happy birthday, daddy" he said. Bandit smiled and then returned his son's hug. "Thank you, mate, I have to say this is the best way to start a birthday," Bandit said.

"Can we go make a great birthday brekky?" Thomas suggested, all while trying to make an Aussie accent. Bandit couldn't help but release a chuckle after hearing his son trying to copy his Aussie accent but with not much success. "All righty then, let's do this thing." And so he and Thomas headed towards the kitchen and the two of them started to make a typical Australian breakfast, at the sound of one of Bandit's favorite songs. As they prepared a typical Aussie fry up, one of Bandit's favorite breakfast meals, he couldn't help but notice Thomas was copying more than just his accent, but also his gestures, moving at the sound of the music.

Emily woke up with the smell of the breakfast. "What is this delicious smell?" she asked, while getting up. She went to the kitchen and got surprised, but happy, to see both her son and husband cooking together. "What's going on here?" she asked, while approaching. "We're doing birthday brekky, mate," Thomas replied, still trying to copy his dad's accent, while setting the table. "And a delicious one, if I do say so myself," Bandit told, as he started to serve everything on the plate.

"You know, Bandit, a birthday breakfast is normally not cooked by the birthday dog," Emily said. "Oh, I know that, but I just couldn't help it," Bandit said, while ending up serving the breakfast on all the plates. "Besides, what can be better than making brekky with the best son a father could ask for?" Bandit asked, while cuddling Thomas, who just couldn't help but making a big smile and giggle. Emily then made a tender smile, seeing how close the two dogs of her life were.

(Present day)

Bandit parked his car next to Chilli's and then walked up to his house with his backpack on his back. Bandit then walked inside, finding it to be dark inside. Bandit then turned on the lights "Surprise!" Bandit's friends and family shouted to him. Bandit's heart melted seeing everyone he loved and cared about there for his birthday. "Aw, thanks everyone," Bandit said, while putting down his backpack. Bluey and Bingo ran up to their father and jumped into his arms. Bandit held his daughters close to him, with them hugging him, as the party started. Bandit then placed his daughters down and walked up to Chilli. "Hey Babe where's my son?" Bandit asked.

"In our room he has something to show you," Chilli said, while kissing her husband on his muzzle. Bandit greeted his friends, parents and brothers before heading to his and Chilli's room. "Thomas? Mate?" Bandit asked looking for his son "I got you mate!" Thomas shouted from behind his dad. This startled Bandit but in a good way. "Still trying that Aussie accent huh mate?" Bandit asked with a tender smile. "Yeah, not quite as easy as some Americans make it look like" Thomas confessed.

"Happy birthday old man," Thomas said as he hugged his father. Bandit felt warm hugging his first born back. "Thanks mate," Bandit whispered softly. "You don't know what it means for me to have you here to celebrate my birthday," Bandit told. "But I am curious, why you would want to meet me here?" the father asked. "I made this for you and I think you would want some privacy to know what it is" Thomas said sending his dad a file from his phone. "A file?" Bandit asked looking at his email. "It's what's on the file," Thomas corrected his dad. "Okay," Bandit said getting out his air pods and started to listening to the song his son recorded.

As he heard the song, Bandit couldn't help but form some tears. He knew that was the song he wrote about Emily. After the song was over he turned and looked at his son, proceeding to hug him tightly. "Dad I can't breathe," Thomas said hugging his dad back. "Sorry mate, it's just I wrote this when I first got married to your mother," Bandit said still with tears in his eyes. "Yeah, I know… Mom… I mean, Chilli told me," Thomas said, avoiding to call Chilli 'mom' at that moment because of them being talking about his mother.

"I was just looking for an old song of yours, record it and offer you as a gift, as music is one of the things we have in common," Thomas told. "And you choose right this one… very well picked, this song is perhaps one of my best creations" Bandit said. "At least better than the one you made to Chilli, 'Rude Hours', seriously?" Thomas asked. "Yeah… let's just say I was not very comfortable when writing that one, I was just divorced from your mother when I got to know Chilli and… well, let's just say it could have been less awkward" Bandit told. "I see… well, I guess you now know what to get her on her birthday, you're welcome" Thomas told. That remark caused Bandit to laugh and then, after sharing another hug, the two of them rejoined the party.

The party went so well, with Bandit, wearing a birthday crown the girls had made for him, talking joyfully with his family and friends, while receiving other gifts. Bluey and Bingo gave Bandit a huge birthday card that showed not only him, but their family: him, Chilli, the girls and Thomas, all involved by a big heart. Meanwhile, Chilli gave him a new touch football ball, proceeding then to get the birthday cake with the candles lighted. Everyone sang the birthday song to Bandit, with him blowing the candles after that.

It was then it was time for Bandit to make a speech. "Thank you very much for this party, everyone," he said. "You can't imagine what it means to me having my family and friends here. It fills my heart with joy and happiness… But what really makes me feel like the luckiest dog in world is having my whole family here to celebrate this day. I'm talking, of course, about my beloved son, Thomas. His presence here… it means a lot to me, even if the circumstances that led to it were… far from ideal. Thomas, I just want you to know… the Heeler family has never been completed until you came." Hearing that, Thomas couldn't help but making a smile at his father, even having one tear on one eye. After his speech, Bandit gathered Chilli, Bluey, Bingo and Thomas for a family photo…

(Ten years later…)

Thomas calls Bluey's phone once more but still no answer. "Dang it!" Thomas shouted as he through his phone to the couch. Thomas shook his head before grabbing his keys from the coffee table and heads outside of his apartment. It wasn't long until he drove to his dads house now the family house. Thomas sits outside in his car nervous to knock on the door. Afraid to run into Bluey or Bingo Thomas hesitates to get out of the car. Thomas now takes a deep breath and gets out of his car and walks up to the house. Thomas now stands in front of the door about to knock. Even though his father told him to never knock and it's still his house he could just walk in Thomas knocked away. "I'll get it!" Bluey shouted from the other side. "Shoot," Thomas thought. Bluey answered the door, a frown came apon her face. "What do you want?" Bluey asked. "Look, you were right I should talk to dad even after the thing I did," Thomas said looking down to the ground.

"Well he doesn't want to talk to you!" Bluey said as she shut the door in her brothers face. "So much for that," Thomas said as he rang the door. "Bluey, who was at the door?" Bandit asked walking down the stairs with his cane. "Just some jerk selling things," Bluey said as she ran past her father and went to her room and slammed the door. The door bell rang again as Bandit walked over to the door. "They must really want to sell something," Bandit said as he opened the door. "Sorry mate, we don't need any… thing.." Bandit was lost for words when seeing his son at the door. "Hey, Dad," Thomas said shaking on the inside. "Thomas? Oh my gosh mate where have you been? You look terrible," Bandit said pulling his son in for a hug. "Dad, I wanted to wish you a happy birthday," Thomas said still feeling guilty for what he did. Bandit then looks go of his son and looks him in the eye.

"Why haven't you called? Where do you live? Have you eaten yet mate?" Bandit said looking at his son making sure he was alright. "Dad I'm fine I just.. wanted to see you," Thomas said looking at his father. Thomas was now just as tall as Bandit is now seeing them eye to eye. "Then get in here so we can talk mate," Bandit said almost pulling his son in his house. Bandit and Thomas sit in the back room until they heard Bluey's music from upstairs. "Sorry about her mate teenage girls are a little different than boys," Bandit chuckled holding his cane. "He hates me dad," Thomas spoke up starring at his fathers cane. "She doesn't hate you mate she's just upset is all, you too will make up soon enough," Bandit said with a smile. "She already told me she hated me," Thomas said looking down. "I'm surprised you haven't hated me either," Thomas added. "Don't you dare say that! I love you and you know it mate!" Bandit growled at his son. "Daddy I'm home!" Bingo shouted from the living room. "Hey sweetheart come see who's here!" Bandit called from the back room.

Bingo came from the front room to the back she had a smile on her face until she saw her brother there. "Oh, hey Thomas," Bingo sqeaked. "Hey little sister," Thomas said with a small smile. Bingo nodded before leaving the room. "I don't blame you for what happened mate and they don't either at least they shouldn't," Bandit said sitting up. "I was driving dad and I was tried I should have stopped and rested or something other wise you wouldn't be here in a cane," Thomas said sitting back in the chair. "Don't you dare think I blame you for this mate!" Bandit shouted. Tears began to run down Thomas's muzzle. "But should blame me," Thomas said softly. Bandit's heart started breaking. "I could never blame you son, remember when you were four and we had my birthday with your mom?" Bandit said with a smile. Thomas wiped his tears away. "Yeah I remember," Thomas said now remembering it,"

Years ago...

Emily places her son in his bed and gives him a kiss on his head before heading back out into the living room. Bandit was on the couch getting ready to pick up the plates from dinner from the coffee table. "I got those babe," Emily said as she picked up the plates. "Babe you don't have to treat me like a king anymore now," Bandit said as he watched his wife put the dishes in the sink. Emily then goes back to the couch and sits down on Bandit's lap and smiles at him. "What?" Bandit asked softly with a smile as Emily rub the top of her husbands left ear. She smiles at him before taking her hand down to his cheek. Emily then kisses her husband on the top of his head and then looks at him again. "You'll always be my king mate," Emily said also trying to copy her husband's accent like her son.

Bandit then kisses his wife's hand and smiles at her softly. "Always and forever," Bandit said hope for his wife to finish the words. "Till death do us apart," Emily said rubbing the back of her husbands head making him feel relaxed. "Daddy!" Thomas cried him his room. Emily sighed before getting up. "I'll get him love," Bandit said as he quickly from the couch. Emily nodded before kissing her husband to let him go. Bandit walks into his son's room. "Hey mate," Bandit said as he walked over to his sons bed. "I had a bad dream," Thomas said as Bandit sat down near his sons bed. "I'm sorry about that mate, what was the dream about?" Bandit asked. " I had a dream you replaced me," Thomas said as he jumped into his fathers arms.

"I could never replace you son," Bandit said as he hugged his son back. "Can you sleep with me?" Thomas asked his father. Bandit smiled at his son. "Of course mate," Bandit said as he got into Thomas's bed and laid to him. Thomas snuggled close to father feeling his fathers body heat. "Good night daddy, I love you," Thomas said still snuggling next to Bandit. "Good night mate, I love you too," Bandit said holding his son close to him. Not long later Emily comes into her sons room to see her Husband sleeping with him. Emily smiled about ready to wake up husband to come to bed with her until she saw him whimpering with their son doing same thing until the touched each other again and felt comfortable. Emily then leaves the room and closes the door behind her.

Kodiwolf321 A/N well guys heart meet break right here. Do you guys like these time jumps back and forth? What I am planning to do with these is led them up to the sequel to this and yes there will be a Sequel to Sad Faces. But i'm going through the times of Thomas being a teenager with his father and his family and the in the Sequel will explore the collage years and Bluey and Bingo will get older as we get going along and the title for the sequel will be called "The Good Times and The Bad Ones"