Chapter 49: One Year
Thomas was sleeping in his bed tossing and turning while whimpering. Breathing hard while dreaming about his mother, he shot opened his eyes now filled with tears from his dream. Thomas sat up in his bed and looked at his phone, it was after midnight. "Mom's one year anniversary," Thomas whispered to himself. Realizing what day it would be Thomas couldn't help to cry silently to himself. After letting it out about his mothers one year anniversary of her death, he didn't want to sleep alone in his room. Thomas collected himself from he's bed and went to his parents room.
Thomas quietly walked into his parents room and went to his dad's side of the bed. Seeing his dad peacefully sleeping, Thomas really didn't want to wake him up, but he didn't want to go back to his room. "Dad," Thomas said softly as he shook his father awake. "Son?" Bandit said sleepy while waking up. "Dad, I had a nightmare about mom and today's one year anniversary," Thomas whispered. Bandit, now fully awake and aware of what his son was telling him, looked up at his son with a sad look on his face. "You don't want to be alone do you?" Bandit whispered. Thomas shook his head. "Come here mate," Bandit said while scooting over to make room for his son to sleep. Thomas then got into the bed and laid next to Bandit, now being close to him. "Don't ever be afraid to ask to sleep with me mate, I don't care how old you are," Bandit said softly.
"Thanks dad," Thomas whispered as he cuddled into his father's chest. Thomas took in a deep breath and let it out as Bandit felt the pain in his son's exhale. "It's okay mate, it's okay," Bandit whispered while cuddling up to his son. Thomas let's his tears free as they drop onto Bandit's blue fur. Eventually Thomas cried himself to sleep in his dad's chest and when Bandit was able to move when Thomas moved away from him he didn't let go. Bandit also had tears in his eyes as he couldn't believe it has already been a year since his ex wife passed away from cancer. Bandit cuddled his son tightly while letting his own tears fall onto his son's fur.
(Flashback)
"Daddy!" Four year old Thomas shouted from his room from his race car bed. "Hey mate, Did you have a nightmare?" Bandit asked while going into his son's room. Thomas nodded while wiping away he's tears. "Come here mate," Bandit said as he picked up his son. "Daddy I'm scared," Thomas said while hugging his father. "You scared? Why are you scared mate?" Bandit asked while holding his son. "There's monsters," Thomas said as some lighting had striked. "No, mate there's no monster I promise," Bandit said softly.
"You promise?" Thomas asked. "Cross my heart mate," Bandit said with a smile. Suddenly some thunder came and more lighting. Thomas got scared and hugged Bandit tightly. "It's okay mate, it's just some mean thunder and lightning," Bandit explained. "Will it go away?" Thomas asked while still holding onto Bandit. "Of course it will mate, you know I was once afraid of thunder and lightning too," Bandit said softly while bonucing his son up and down. "Really?" Thomas asked. "Really mate, do you want me to get your mum?" Bandit asked. "No, please stay with me daddy," Thomas asked while putting arms around his fathers neck.
"Alright mate, but just until you fall asleep. "Okay," Thomas said as Bandit placed him down in his bed. Thomas rubbed his eyes and yawned while looking at Bandit. "Daddy?" Thomas asked. "Yes mate?" Bandit asked softly. "Where you used to live, was there always thunder and lightning?" Thomas asked with a yawn. "Sometimes," Bandit said while sitting on his son's bed. "Did granddad help you not to be afraid?" Thomas asked with another yawn. "He sure did mate with help of your nana of course," Bandit said softly with a smile. "What about uncle Stripe?" Thomas asked. "Well mate, I helped him with that because your uncle Stripe was afraid of everything," Bandit said with a chuckle. "No he wasn't," Thomas said with a smile. "He was mate, I would know," Bandit said proudly. Thomas then laughed before shutting his eyes and going back to sleep. "I love you so much mate," Bandit whispered before giving his son a kiss on his head.
(End of Flashback)
Thomas woke up to the smell of breakfast as he turned over and saw both of his parents were gone. Thomas then got out of their bed and went to the kitchen. "Hey sweetie," Chilli said while making brekky. "Hey mom," Thomas said, sitting down at the table with Bluey and Bingo. "Why did you sleep with mum and dad big brother?" Bluey asked, looking at her older brother. "I thought big brothers aren't scared to sleep alone," Bingo added. "Everyone gets scared sometimes, even big brothers," Thomas answered. "Oh," Bluey and Bingo both said. "Where is dad?" Thomas asked. "Right here mate," Bandit said, getting his son's suitcase. "Where are we going?" Thomas asked. Bandit stopped what he was doing and looked at his son. "I thought since it's your mum's day we would just go to the cabin with just the two of us," Bandit said softly. Thomas lightly smiled at that. "Okay," Thomas replied. "After brekky we'll go," Bandit said while getting the things together.
After breakfast with the family, Bandit started getting things out to his car while Thomas said his goodbyes to his sisters. "Why can't we go!" Bingo said while hugging her brother. "Sweetheart this is important to your dad and brother and it just needs to be them," Chilli said as he pulled her daughter away from her brother. "It's not fair! We should be with them too!" Bluey protested. "Hey Blue, we'll be back before you know it," Thomas said while hugging his sister. "But I want to be with you and dad," Bluey said while hugging her brother.
"I know blue, but this is something me and dad have to do," Thomas said as he let go of his sister. Bluey teared up and then ran into the house along with Bingo. "Bluey, Bingo," Thomas said as he watched his sisters run off. "They'll be fine sweetheart, just have fun with your dad," Chilli said as she hugged her son. "Thanks mom," Thomas said as he hugged her back. "You may not be Biologically mine, but you're more of my son every single day," Chilli said while hugging Thomas tightly. "Thanks mom," Thomas said as he let go of Chilli. "Come on mate we better get going," Bandit said while loading the last of their stuff. "Have fun," Chilli said as she let Thomas go. Thomas went to his dad's car and got into the passenger side while Bandit said his goodbye to his wife.
"Have a good trip," Chilli said before kissing her husband. Bandit kissed his wife back and then looked into her eyes. "Will the girls be alright?" Bandit asked. "They'll be fine, you and our son need this time to heal," Chilli said softly with a smile. "Okay," Bandit said while giving Chilli a hug and then leaving. While on the drive to the cabin Thomas and Bandit were silent for the moment. "Your grades have been good mate," Bandit said while driving. "Thanks dad," Thomas said while looking at his father. "How's that art club going for you?" Bandit asked. "Good, I've seen mom's early work there," Thomas explained. "Really? They still have them?" Bandit asked out of Curiosity. "Yeah," Thomas replied. "Mate about last night…" Bandit started to say. "It's okay dad it won't happen again," Thomas said while sitting back in his seat. "Mate, I wasn't going to say you shouldn't have done it, I was going to say if you ever need to sleep with me and Chilli you're welcome to we sleep with your sisters all the time," Bandit explained.
"Dad I'm sixteen almost seventeen, I shouldn't have put myself with you and Chilli," Thomas said looking out his window feeling ashamed of himself. "Mate there's nothing wrong with Comfort and besides it reminded me of the times you came into mine and your mum's room," Bandit said with a soft smile. "It did?" Thomas asked, looking at his father. "It sure did and you coming into my room last night made me feel closer to you like we used to," Bandit explained. "I just don't want to be a bother to you and Chilli," Thomas said looking down.
"Hey! You are not a bother to us! You are our son!" Bandit said strictly. Thomas nodded as he sat back in his seat again. "Mate, I'm sorry I just… you are mine and Chilli's son for a reason and your mum would want that," Bandit explained softly. "I know that but… remember when I told you everything about thinking I was a mistake to you," Thomas said now looking at Bandit. "Which you are not mate and never will be," Bandit spoke up. "What if mom would have been happier with uncle Rad and having Charlie," Thomas spoke his mind on the matter. Bandit nearly lost control of the car and had to pull over and look at his son. "You don't mean that mate," Bandit said with tears in his eyes. "I loved your mother every little piece of my heart and I'm so sorry we couldn't work out our differences to keep our family together," Bandit explained. "I asked mom if it was my fault that you two got divorced," Thomas said looking at Bandit.
Bandit was speechless. "You thought that mate?" Bandit asked. Thomas nodded, Bandit shook his head while wiping his tears away. "No mate, it was you that kept us together for so long," Bandit explained. "Then why dad? Why stay together for so long if you weren't happy with each other?" Thomas asked. "We were happy mate, we were so happy with each other and happy to have you," Bandit explained, placing his hand on his son's shoulder. "I just don't understand dad, when did the love for each other stop?" Thomas asked. "Mate…" Bandit started to say. "And don't say that it was because you two were together at a young age," Thomas said trying to hold back his tears. Bandit sighed knowing he should tell his son the truth.
(Flashback)
Emily and Bandit drove back home from dropping their son off with Emily's parents who were staying at a hotel. "It was nice of your parents to take Thomas for a bit," Bandit said while driving. Emily didn't say anything, she just looked out the window. Bandit could feel the tension with his wife as he drove. "Em… are you okay?" Bandit asked softly. "Can we please just go home," Emily said, not looking at her husband. The two then drove back to their apartment and then went inside. "Are you hungry Em?" Bandit asked as the two walked into the apartment. "No," Emily said as she sat down on the couch. Bandit nodded as he sat down his keys and then joined his wife in the living room. "Em, what's wrong," Bandit said as he sat next to Emily. "Bandit what are we doing?" Emily asked, looking at her husband. "What do you mean?" Bandit asked. "This… us… Bandit… I'm tried of fighting behind out son's back and making him feel were okay when we're not," Emily said now looking at Bandit.
"Em… we'll work this out, we always do," Bandit said, placing his hand on Emily's. "No, we won't… not this time," Emily said as she stood up and went to the bedroom. "Emily!" Bandit said standing up and following her. "Bandit don't," Emily said now on the verge of tears. "Emily please," Bandit said as he grabbed Emily and stopped her from walking away from him. "We can't do this Em not to our son," Bandit said trying to hold on to Emily. "Stop Bandit! It's over and we both know it," Emily now crying. "If we would have just moved back to Brisbane, we would have gotten more support," Bandit said. "Stop throwing that in my face! You know why I can't go back there!" Emily shouted. "Emily! That was years ago! You need to let Charlie go!!" Bandit shouted back. "I can't Bandit! You don't know what it was like! Having to give birth to someone that wouldn't have lived a day!" Emily shouted with tears streaming down her muzzle.
"I've been there for you! Every step of the way!" Bandit shouted. "I know you have!" Emily continued to shout. "Then why are you doing this to me!" Bandit shouted some more. "I don't know! I wanted you to feel hurt like me!" Emily shouted as she went into the bedroom and slammed the door. Bandit stood behind the door and then hit the door with his hand. "You wanted me to feel hurt like you? But Charlie wasn't mine, Thomas is," Bandit said softly. "I want a divorce Bandit," Emily said softly as she sat against the door. "Emily…"'Bandit said with tears coming down his muzzle. "I'm sorry Bandit," Emily said while crying.
(End of Flashback)
Bandit drove into the driveway of the Cabin and parked as Thomas jumped out of the car and slammed the door. "Mate! Come back!" Bandit said getting out of his car. "It's all mom's fault!" Thomas shouted with tears in his eyes. "Mate," Bandit said softly as he walked up to his son. "If she would have just let Charlie go! You wouldn't have to leave!" Thomas shouted again. "Mate, listen to me, don't blame your mum, it's not her fault," Bandit said softly. "Yes it is! She would have let Charlie go and just accept it! I still would've had you growing up!" Thomas said crying as Bandit held his son close to him. "I
Needed you… I've always needed you," Thomas said while crying into Bandit's arms. "I know mate, I know," Bandit said while he held his son. "But you can't blame your mum mate," Bandit said softly. "Why dad? She caused this… losing you for years," Thomas said looking up at his dad. "Mate, your mum was hurting so bad that she didn't show it and she didn't want you to see it," Bandit explained.
Thomas took a deep breath and let out his painful exhale. "I'm sorry dad, I shouldn't have been so angry at her or you," Thomas said looking down from Bandit. "Hey, it's okay mate," Bandit said, making his son look at him. "Is it though?" Thomas asked. Bandit nodded, "I'm sorry we didn't handle it better than we did but we loved you so much," Bandit said softly. Thomas wiped his tears away which made his colors pop out more. "I remember the first time you cried mate, coming out of your mum and then seeing your eyes for the first time," Bandit said softly while helping wipe his son's tears away. "How did you feel? Having me with mom? Was Uncle Rad okay?" Thomas asked as the two Heelers sat down. "Having a son was everything I could ever ask for with your mum and as for Uncle, he was more in the background of things and I never rubbed in his face about being with your mum," Bandit said as he placed his arm around his son's shoulders.
Thomas nodded as he understood the situation. "It's peaceful here," Thomas said, looking around the Cabins outside. "Your mum always loved it here," Bandit said, also looking at the cabin. "Was it every summer you and my uncles came here?" Thomas asked. "Yep, every summer mate," Bandit said with a smile. "Could we start doing that?" Thomas asked. "With the girls and Chilli?" Bandit asked. Thomas nodded in response, "I don't see why not," Bandit said with a smile. Thomas chuckled as he rested his head on his dad's shoulder. About an hour later… The two Heelers were on the water fishing for their dinner. "Dad?" Thomas asked while they sat on the water. "Yes mate?" Bandit asked while looking at his son. "What was mom like when she was younger?" Thomas asked while looking at his father. "She was beautiful like always and she was never afraid of anything," Bandit explained. "What about you? What were you like?" Thomas asked with a chuckle. "Hmm still the same old dad like always had," Bandit said with a smile. Thomas chuckled at that. Bandit also chuckled while staring at his son.
(Flashback)
"Peekaboo!" Bandit said while playing with his one year old son. Thomas continued to laugh as he placed his hands on his fathers muzzle. "That tickles mate," Bandit said as he picked up his son who again laughed. Bandit bounced his son up and down and tickled him. Emily walked into the room and went behind her husband and kissed him on the side of his muzzle. "What was that for?" Bandit asked with a smile. "Just to show you that I love you," Emily said while kissing him again. Bandit smiled while kissing his wife. Thomas giggled some more as the Husky and Heeler then hugged their son in between them.
Bandit then laid his son down for a nap as he and Emily looked at him peacefully sleeping. "He's so beautiful," Emily said while making sure son was comfortable. "Just wait until we have two;" Bandit said as he playfully rubbed his wife's back. "Oh, so you want another one huh?" Emily playfully said while looking at her husband. "Maybe," Bandit said with a wink. "Maybe we he's two we can try again," Emily said as she kissed Bandit passionately. Bandit kissed his wife back passionately making her giggle in between kisses.
(End of Flashback)
The father and son sat down for dinner at the table and started eating. Bandit made his fathers famous fish and chips for their dinner. Bandit then suddenly got a video call from his daughters. "There's dad," Chilli said as Bluey and Bingo sat with their mother. "Hey kids!" Bandit said with a smile. "Hey dad!" Bluey said with a smile. "Hi daddy!" Bingo spoke. "What are you guys doing?" Bandit asked as he took a bite of his food. "We just had dinner," Bluey said. "Ohh, what did you have?" Bandit asked. "Roast beef and potatoes," Bingo spoke up. "I love you mum's roast beef!" Bandit said with a smile. "Where's Thomas?" Bluey asked. "Right here mate," Bandit said, giving his phone to his son. "Hey guys," Thomas said, taking the phone. "Thomas, we're sorry for how we acted when you left," Bluey said looking down. "It's okay blue, I understand that you were upset," Thomas said, not blaming his sisters. "Are you mad at us?" Bluey asked with a sad face. "No, of course not," Thomas said with a small smile.
"When will you be back?" Bluey asked. "Yeah! We miss you and dad," Bingo spoke up. "We'll be back on Sunday," Thomas said with a chuckle. "Oh okay," Bluey and Bingo said in a sad tone. "Here mate," Bandit said, taking the phone. "Me and your brother had an idea," Bandit said with a smile. "Really what's that?" Bluey asked. "We thought we would come to the cabin every summer just for the family," Bandit explained. "I like that idea," Chilli said as she hugged her daughters. "Hooray!" Bluey and Bingo shouted in happiness. "Alright mates, me and your brother need to eat our dinner," Bandit said wanting to eat his dinner. "Oh okay," Bluey said as she and Bingo went to go to the playroom. "Okay Bandit have fun with our son, I love you " Chilli said with a smile. "I will, I love you," Bandit said with a smile before hanging up. "Alright mate, tell me what do you think about being Uncle Rad's best dog?" Bandit asked looking at his son.
"I'm a little nervous to be honest," Thomas said looking down from Bandit. "You'll be fine mate, if it makes you feel better, your uncle fell into the pool at my wedding with Chilli," Bandit said taking a bite of his food. "Really?" Thomas asked, surprised. Bandit nodded in response, "but if you ask him, he'll just say probably," Bandit said with a chuckle. "That sounds like him, always wanting to be cool," Thomas said while taking a bite of his food. "Yeah, but he's not as cool as your dad," Bandit said with a smile. "Yeah, you have a point there," Thomas said with a smile. Bandit smiled at that as the two continued to eat their dinner. After dinner and doing the dishes the two Heelers went outside and laid down in the field with the sunflowers and watched the night sky with all of the stars. "Hey mate?" Bandit asked, looking over to his son.
"Yeah dad?" Thomas asked as he looked at his dad. "If you are truly ready… I'll teach you to drive," Bandit said with a soft smile. "Are you serious?!" Thomas said, sitting up. "Only if your ready mate," Bandit said softly. "I… I am dad," Thomas said with a smile. "Good, we can start when we get home," Bandit laying back down. Thomas smiled as he laid down and watched the stars. "This was mine and your mum's favorite thing to do when we came here," Bandit spoke up. "Watching the stars?" Thomas asked. "Yeah… I wasn't the first to bring here unfortunately, but I was the first to watch the stars with her here," Bandit explained. "I bet it was nice," Thomas said as he continued with the stars. "It was… and now I can share it with you," Bandit said softly with a smile. "I love you… dad," Thomas softly, still looking up at the stars. "I love you too son," Bandit said as he too continued to look up at the stars. The Heelers continued to watch the stars and even saw a shooting star to end their night.
Kodiwolf321 A/N: Hey guys we made it to their one year anniversary of Emily's passing and it seemed like their working through it. Emily still had pain from her past relationship with Rad and then losing Charlie and she didn't want that to affect Thomas or Bandit but it did affect them in more ways than one. Alright guys tell me what you think about this chapter and I'll see you later in the next one!