Chapter 39: How I'm Feeling Part 2: Bandit
Hours before Rad shows up…
Bandit was tossing and turning himself around, all while whimpering while sleeping. Bandit then woke up in cold sweat, breathing hard and sitting up, all while looking over his side and seeing Chilli sleeping. He couldn't believe all that was a terrible nightmare. Bandit then looked at his phone and noticed the time and date. It was 4:30 in the morning on Emily's birthday. "Happy birthday Em," Bandit whispered with tears in his eyes. Bandit looked at Chilli once more. Seeing her sleeping gave him some peace of mind even in the most troubled situations, but he didn't know if he would have peace on that day. He then leaned over her and kissed her on her head. That caused Chilli to smile in her sleep, cuddling up to her blanket. Bandit smiled before getting out of bed and heading to his study. On his way to his study, he stopped by his daughters' room and saw them sleeping. Bandit smiled at them before giving each of them a kiss. Bandit then left their room and went to his son's room. In about an hour or two Thomas would get up anyway for his run but Bandit wanted to check on him anyway.
Bandit opened his son's room and saw his son sleeping soundly. Bandit couldn't help but wonder what his son would react to that day. He knew that day wouldn't be easy for him, so he had to make sure he wouldn't think all about how much he missed his mother or at least let him know he wasn't alone. While watching his son sleeping, Bandit couldn't help but smile and walked over to his bed, being careful not to wake him up. Looking down at his son sleeping, he kissed him on his head. Thomas whimpered like his father for a second before turning over on his side. Bandit smiled again before leaving the room and heading to his study. While now in his study, Bandit worked on some stuff for the museum trying to take his mind off his ex-wife. But hitting him like a freight train, Bandit started to remember the last birthday he spent with Emily.
(Flashback)
"Em, wake up," Bandit whispered to his wife's ear, while caressing her face. Emily opened her eyes and yawned before looking at her husband. "Bandit? Shouldn't you be at work?" Emily said sitting up. "I took the day off to spend it with you," Bandit said with a smile while handing his wife her breakfast. "And you made me breakfast, how nice," Emily said softly with a smile. "And coffee from your favorite coffee shop," Bandit said handing Emily her coffee. "Well aren't you my knight in shining armor," Emily said sitting up and taking her coffee. "Did you take Thomas to school?" Emily asked taking a drink of her coffee and then taking a bite of her food. "Yep, happy birthday babe," Bandit said with a smile. Emily chuckled before answering her husband. "I forgot it was my birthday, thank you," Emily said. "How could you forget about your birthday? It's your birthday, babe," Bandit said. "I know, but… I've been so busy that it went over my mind," she said. "It's a good think I have a husband like you to remind me," she added, before kissing her husband.
While kissing each other passionately Emily's moves her plate and coffee over so she and Bandot could have their moment. Bandit got on top of her and kisses her passionately some more. Emily held Bandit close to her while kissing him some more. "I love you so much Bandit Heeler," Emily said looking into her husband's eyes. "And I love you so much Emily Heeler," Bandit replied holding Emily. "Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve you," Emily confessed as she and her husband laid next to each other looking into each other's eyes. "After all, I did choose Rad over you…" Emily started, before being shushed by Bandit who placed two fingers over her lips. "I love you Emily with everything I have, you and our son, I don't care if I was your second choice or not, as long we are together at the now," Bandit replied with a smile. Hearing that, Emily couldn't help but chuckle before kissing her husband again.
(End of Flashback)
"Bandit," Chilli said, waking up her husband at his desk. "Huh?" Bandit said, waking up and looking at his wife. "Are you okay? I woke up without you next to me this morning and I got a little worried" Chilli said looking at her tired husband. "I guess I couldn't sleep," Bandit said now sitting up. Chilli chuckled. "Having to deal with two little kids, a teenager, work and households, it's amazing how you can do all that and still not be able to sleep," Chilli said. "Well, you sometimes don't make my life easy," Bandit replied, with his teasing smile. "Yeah, you got me on that," Chilli replied, chuckling. "Well, breakfast is ready if you want some," Chilli said, getting ready to leave the room. "Sounds good babe," Bandit said watching his wife leave the room. Bandit sighed before getting up from his desk and heading into the kitchen.
At the kitchen, Bluey and Bingo were already eating their cereals by the balcony. "G'morning, dad!" the two girls greeted Bandit joyfully. "Hey, squirts, did you sleep well?" Bandit asked, while going to get some coffee. "Yeah!" they all replied. "Daddy, can you come play with us after brekky?" Bingo asked. "Yeah, we can play 'follow the leader'," Bluey replied. Despite wanting to play with his daughters like he used to, the truth was that Bandit didn't know if he could do it at the time. The melancholy he was feeling at that day made him feel like he was the worst possible playmate for them at the moment. "I don't know, girls… I'm not quite in the mood for that," Bandit said. "Oh, come on, you have to come play with us," Bluey said. "Yeah, you have to, that's what a nice daddy would do," Bingo added. Noticing that they were about to use their please face, Bandit started to find a way to escape.
At that moment, Thomas got in the kitchen, having arrived from his jogging. Relieved to find a way to escape his daughters' please face, Bandit approached his son. "Hey there, mate, I see you're back, sorry if I couldn't join you, but…" Bandit said. "It's okay, dad, I… understand, also it was good for me to do this run on my own," Thomas said, while going to get some water. "Yeah, I bet it was…" Bandit said. "Hey, mate, I was thinking… maybe we could do something together today, maybe we could… play baseball, you could relive your memories from America," Bandit said. "Seriously? He's ditching us for Thomas?" Bluey asked. "But he isn't as cute as we are," Bingo replied. "Hey, girls, what if we went for a walk after brekky? We can go to the playground" Chilli suggested. "Hurray!" they both exclaimed. "Just go clean your teeth and your room after you eat everything," Chilli told them. Having said that, they went to eat their breakfast. Chilli traded a look with her husband who was thankful to her for dealing quite well with the girls, allowing him to focus on his son.
"That would be nice… but I think I'm going to pass it," Thomas said, while drinking his water. "Come on, son, we can do anything you want, just name it," Bandit said. "Dad, I already told you, I'm not interested, in fact, I think I'm going to spend the day putting my schoolwork in order, after a shower," Thomas said, preparing to go. "Oh, come on, mate, let's do something fun," Bandit insisted, while putting a hand on his son's shoulder. "Dad…" Thomas started, not very pleased. "We could do a father-son activity like we used to do when you were a kid… of course we need to adapt it, because you're now a teen, but…" Bandit continued. "Dad, enough, I don't want to do anything, I just want to stay in my room and hope for this day to pass quickly," Thomas replied, starting to feel himself more agitated. "But, Thomas… today is a special day," Bandit said. Unable to contain his frustration any longer, Thomas turned to Bandit.
"A special day?" Thomas asked. "And why is it a special day? You mean because it's mom's birthday? Sorry, dad, I'm not interested in your pity attempts to make me feel better," he continued. "But, son, that's not… You got it all wrong," Bandit said. "Wait, today is mum's birthday? I didn't know that," Bluey said. "But we don't have a present," Bingo said, a little disappointed. "It's not your mom's birthday, it's mine!" Thomas exclaimed to his sisters. As soon he said that, Thomas was filled with regret, not only to his sisters, but to Chilli. "I'm sorry, I… Mom, I didn't mean to…" he said. "It's okay, sweetie," Chilli replied, not holding anything against her stepson for what he said. Fearing to say something he shouldn't say, Thomas hasted to the exit of the kitchen. "Thomas, wait…" Bandit said, trying to follow his son. "No, just… leave me alone!" he exclaimed, while trying to keep Bandit away and running away out of the kitchen. That left Bandit heartbroken. "Daddy, are you all right?" Bingo asked. "I… don't know, mate…" he replied, while also getting out of the kitchen with a sad look.
Bandit went to his bedroom and sat on the bed with a sad look on his face. "Bandit?" Chilli asked coming into the room. Bandit didn't look at his wife he just sat there. Chilli then sat next to her husband and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Hey," Chilli said softly. "I'm sorry babe, Emily's birthday really meant something to me, she always forgot about it but I was always there to remind her," Bandit explained. Chilli smiled at that before kissing her husband on his muzzle. "You always bring out the good in dogs," Chilli said with a smile. "I just… I wish I didn't feel like this on her birthday," Bandit explained. "How do you think our son feels," Chilli said rubbing her husband's back. "I know he feels the same way," Bandit said now looking at Chilli. "You two have the same pain on this day and it's going to get harder when her one year anniversary comes," Chilli explained. "Your right babe, it's going to get harder when that day comes," Bandit said looking down. "Then this is what you should do now, go to Thomas's room and even if he pushes you out you try and stay there with him because he needs his dad by his side," Chilli explained.
Bandit then felt confident about what his wife had said. "What if he doesn't want me?" Bandit asked. "You fight for him like you've always have," Chilli said with a smile. Bandit smiled looking at Chilli before giving her a kiss. Bandit then got the courage and went to his son's room. Bandit stood by the door nervously to knock on it. Bandit then sighed before remembering the last birthday he spent with Emily and Thomas at the same time.
(Flashback)
"Happy Birthday mommy!" Thomas said coming through the door of the apartment. "Thank you sweetheart," Emily said, giving her son a big hug. Bandit walked in behind his son with a pink box in his hand. "Is that my favorite dog with my favorite cake?" Emily said with a smile looking at her husband. "I don't know how you like rockmelon cake," Bandit said, putting the box down. "Oh Bandit it's the best kind of cake," Emily said with a smile as she kissed her husband. "Eww," Thomas said, seeing his mom and dad kiss. "What mate?" Bandit said with a smile looking at his young son. "Kissing is gross," Thomas said now getting in between his parents. "Not when two dogs love each other mate," Bandit said, picking up his son. "Yeah and then they get to share a kiss with their kid," Emily said as she and Bandit both kissed their son on his cheek. "Gross!" Thomas shouted, getting down from his dad. Bandit and Emily chuckled as they watched their son run to his room.
"Are you ready for dinner?" Emily said looking at her husband. "Of course I am!" Bandit said with a smile. "I bought steaks for dinner as well," Bandit said while bringing in some bags. "I always love your cooking," Emily said, helping her husband in the kitchen. After dinner was made the family of three ate their dinner and then it was time for cake. "Here we go," Bandit said bring the cake to his wife. Emily smiled seeing the cake was white with roses and words that said happy birthday mom. "You guys know how to make a mom feel loved," Emily said looking at her husband and son. "Make a wish mommy," Thomas said sitting next to her. "Okay," Emily said before blowing out the candles. "Yay!" Thomas said as he clapped for his mother. About an hour later, Thomas had fallen asleep on the couch as Bandit picked up his sleeping son and put him in his bed. Bandit then came out to the living room where Emily was sitting on the couch. "Hey you," Emily said softly as she stood up.
Emily then walked over to husband and wrapped her arms around him and started to slow dance with him. "Bandit?" Emily asked looking into his eyes. "Yes babe?" Bandit asked softly. "Thank you for a great birthday, you never disappoint me," Emily said as they continued to dance and hold each other. "All I ever wanted was to make you happy even if it meant you were happy with my brother at the time," Bandit confessed. Emily rested her head on Bandit's chest and shed a tear. "You're in my life for a reason and I just want you and only you," Emily said, still resting on Bandit. "Don't ever let me go," Emily whispered. "I won't," Bandit replied as they continued to dance.
(End of Flashback)
Bandit took a deep breath while letting a tear roll down his muzzle and knocked on the door.
Kodiwolf321 A/N: it's very hard to write Emily and Bandit's love story because it feels like their lifetime should have lasted longer than it did, I was listening to a song that was slow and sweet and thought I had to write a scene where Emily and Bandit are together without a care of the world of whose watching them. Obviously no ones watching them dance except us I guess lol I don't know if that made any sense but yeah… tell me what you guys think and then we'll bring on the last part of how I'm feeling and then we will focus on "When Loves Around" alright guys see you soon!