Before You Go
It has been two weeks after Thomas got out of the hospital from his very first panic attack. "Why can't dad stay with us?" Thomas asked his mother while they walked away from the school grounds. "Because your dad is staying at a Hotel and he wants you for the weekend," Emily said while they walked. "But I don't understand why he can't spend time with both of us," Thomas said looking up at his mother. "Honey, we talked about this your father and I aren't getting along but that doesn't mean we don't love you," Emily said holding her son's hand. "Oh," Thomas said looking down. Emily and Thomas walked into their apartment as Thomas then ran to his room. "Get ready! Your dad will be here soon!" Emily called to her son. "Okay mom!" Thomas said getting something's ready for a weekend with his dad. Emily sighed before shutting the front door.
It wasn't long until Bandit showed up at his old apartment and knocked on the door. Emily opened the door and had a soft smile to her ex husband. "Hey Em," Bandit said with a smile. "Hey," Emily simply said as she moved to the side to let Bandit in. "Is our son ready?" Bandit asked as he came inside. "Thomas, you're dads here," Emily called to her son. "Okay!" Thomas called back. "I guess that answers that question," Bandit said with a chuckle. "Okay, give him a bath when you have a chance and be sure to have him in bed by nine," Emily said, crossing her arms. "Emily, I think I know how to handle our son," Bandit said, a little offended. "Just making sure," Emily said as Thomas came out of his room. "Dad!" Thomas said, running over to Bandit and giving him a hug. "Hey squirt!" Bandit said, hugging his son. "Come on son. We better get going," Bandit said with a smile. "Okay," Thomas said as he opened the door and started to leave. "Bandit," Emily said, stopping her ex from leaving. "Yes Em?" Bandit said, looking at Emily. "Keep his feet on the ground, no surprises okay?" Emily said firmly. Bandit was a little taken back by this. "Em, don't you trust me with him," Bandit asked. "I do it's just… he loves you so much and I don't want him to get hurt even more from either of us," Emily explained. Bandit had a sad look on his face but nodded in response.
After they left Emily shut the door and then went to her room. Bandit and Thomas went to Bandit's car and they drove to a diner where Bandit used to take Thomas to all the time. The father and son sat at a booth and talked. "So how's school mate?" Bandit asked, looking at his son. "It's going good," Thomas said before drinking his soda. "Yeah? Anything interesting happening?" Bandit asked. "No… but dad can I ask you something?" Thomas asked, looking at his dad. "Sure mate, ask me anything," Bandit said with a smile. "Is this going to be our new normal?" Thomas asked. Bandit was a little surprised by this question. "Yeah mate, this is our new normal," Bandit said with a sad look on his face. "My friend from school, he's parents are divorced too and they share him, is that going to happen to me with you and mom?" Thomas asked. "Well… yeah but things that me and your mother are doing are going to be different mate," Bandit explained. "How so? I will see you right?" Thomas said now worried. "Yeah, of course mate I wouldn't ever let you think you wouldn't see me," Bandit said, placing his hand on his son's hand. "Okay," Thomas said looking down.
"Hey mate," Bandit said, making Thomas look at him. "Don't think that I don't love you because me and your mum aren't together because I love you with my whole heart mate," Bandit said with a smile. "Okay dad," Thomas said with a smile. "Now, let's see what we can get to eat," Bandit said with a chuckle. "Yeah," Thomas said with a smile. After dinner they went to where Bandit was staying. The father and son walked into the hotel room and Thomas sat down on the bed. "So mate, what do you want to do before we get you in the bath?" Bandit asked with a smile. "Can we just talk dad," Thomas said looking at his dad. "Sure mate," Bandit said with a smile as he sat down by his son. Thomas then rested his head on his dad's shoulder and sighed. "What's the matter mate?" Bandit asked while holding his son close to him. "I just have this feeling we're not going to see each other a whole lot and it's making me sad," Thomas confessed. Bandit knew Emily told him no surprises but Bandit knew his son deserved to know about him moving back home. "Mate I need to tell you something," Bandit said sitting up and making Thomas look at him.
"What is it dad?" Thomas asked. "Son, I'm moving back to my home country to Australia," Bandit explained. "You are? That's where uncle Stripe and aunt Trixie live," Thomas said softly. Bandit nodded. "And your Nana and Grandad too," Bandit said with a smile. Thomas then hugged his father tightly and began to cry. "I don't want you to go," Thomas said while crying. "I know mate, but I got a good job down there and your grandparents are giving me the house I grew up in," Bandit said while holding his son. "Dad, I'll miss you too much. I love you too much for you to go," Thomas said, still crying into his dad's fur. "Hey mate, you still see me, and you can visit me and I'll come visit you," Bandit explained, trying to lighten the mood. "But it'll be like when Uncle Stripes visits and I don't want that," Thomas said looking up at his dad. "Hey, it won't be like that I promise mate," Bandit said looking down at his son. "Promise?" Thomas asked, wiping his tears away. "I promise mate," Bandit said with a smile.
"Okay dad," Thomas said as he hugged his dad some more. "Alright mate let's get you in the bath," Bandit said with a smile. "Okay," Thomas said, getting off the bed and heading to the bathroom. While Thomas was taking his bath. Bandit moved Thomas's bag to the chair but then dropped a piece of paper from his bag. Bandit then picked up the paper and noticed it was something from school and Thomas had gotten a good grade on it. "My Everyday Heroes," Bandit read the paper's title.
My Everyday Heroes
My name is Thomas Heeler and my first everyday hero is my dad Bandit Heeler. He's from Australia so he has an Australian accent. But what makes him my hero is that he never gives up on me even when things are hard. He's very funny and plays games with me even when he doesn't have the time. I love my dad and someday I will want to go see where he grew up. My other everyday hero is my Uncle, Stripe Heeler. My Uncle Stripes visits me when he has what Australians call a holiday which is like what we call a vacation. Other than that I see my uncle on video call or phone call. I love my uncle Stripe because he's like my dad in many ways. He may be my dad's younger brother but when my dads not around and I have my Uncle by my side I think of my dad. Those are my everyday heroes and I hope someday I can be just like them.
Bandit couldn't help but to tear up from his son's report on him and his brother. "Dad I think I'm done!" Thomas said from the bathroom. "Okay mate," Bandit said as he placed the paper down and went to get his son out of the bathtub. As Bandit was drying off his son as they sat on the bed while watching some TV. "Hey mate I saw your paper about me and your uncle," Bandit said as he and Thomas laid down. "You did? What did you think about it?" Thomas asked, looking at his father. "I love it mate! Do you really think that way about me and your uncle?" Bandit asked. "Yeah, do you think uncle Stripe would like it?" Thomas said snuggling close to Bandit. "Of course mate, you are his favorite nephew," Bandit said with a smile. "But I'm his only nephew," Thomas added. "That's true," Bandit said with a smile while tucking his son into bed. "Dad?" Thomas asked looking up at Bandit. "Yes mate?" Bandit asked, looking at his son.
"How come uncle Stripe doesn't have kids yet?" Thomas asked as Bandit laid down next to his son. "Well mate sometimes grownups have a hard time having kids and your uncle Stripe is one of them," Bandit explained. "Was it hard to have me?" Thomas asked, now laying on his side so he could see his dad. "No, it was fairly easy to have you," Bandit said with a smile. "Did you always wanted to have a son?" Thomas asked. "Honestly mate, I would be happy no matter if I had a son or daughter," Bandit said with a smile. "Well dad, I'm glad I'm your son," Thomas said with a yawn. "I'm glad you're my son too," Bandit said giving a kiss on his son's head. "Good night dad, I love you," Thomas turned over and closed his eyes to sleep. "Good night mate, I love you too," Bandit said as Thomas went off to sleep. After Thomas was asleep Bandit turned onto his back and stared up at the ceiling.
Bandit thought about the questions his son asked him about Stripe and him not having kids yet. Unfortunately Stripe has been trying for some time to have kids of his own and he could only imagine how his younger brother was feeling while trying to have some kids. Thought of Rad also crossed his mind since he hasn't really talked or seen his older brother in a long time not since he and Emily got together and had their son. Bandit turned over and looked at his sleeping son and smiled at him. There was nothing that could stop him from seeing his peaceful sleeping son and Bandit wouldn't let anything happen to him. Thomas started to Whimper in his sleep much like Bandit does when he sleeps. "Hey it's okay, your dad's here mate," Bandit said softly as he got close to his son. Thomas continued to sleep but turned over facing Bandit and cuddling into Bandit's chest. "I love you so much son," Bandit said softly before falling asleep with Thomas next to him.
The End.
Kodiwolf321 A/N: well guys I wanted to shine some light on Thomas's and Bandits relationship. As we've only seen Thomas being a teenager for the most part and here I wanted to show what it's like for Thomas as a kid and how Bandit and him were. So their broken relationship wasn't always broken and this proves it. Alright guys tell me what you think and I'll see you soon!