Brian & Ellie 5: Family Life
Based on the TV Series "Family Guy"
Sequel to "Return of The Labrador"
CHAPTER 1
Ellie Gets A Job
One early morning, in the New Griffin's house, a doorbell was heard, as Brian Griffin came to the front door with his robe on. "Umm… Can I help you?" asked Brian.
"Are you Mr… Brian Griffin?" asked the Husky mailman.
"Yes, that's me." said Brian. "Are you the mailman?"
"The maildog." said the maildog. "And yes, I'm Doug, from Dogtown's U.S. Mail Postal Service."
"Doesn't the mailman always puts mail in our mailboxes?" asked Brian.
"Yes, all mailmen does it." said Doug. "Anyway, since you moved into Dogtown with your family, here's your first piece of mail." Doug gives a brown envelope to Brian. The envelope is addressed as, 'Mr. Brian H. Griffin, 25 Shamrock Gdns, Dogtown, OH'.
"And just remember, I'll be putting some more mail inside your mailbox someday." said Doug. "Thank you, and have a nice day."
"You too, Doug." said Brian, then he shuts the door.
Brian sat down at the table in the kitchen with his coffee. "Alright, let's see what we have here." he said opening the envelope, then he picks out a letter from the Dogtown Veterinary Hospital. He took a sip of the coffee and spits out some as he saw something unpleasant. His eyes widened at the moment that's about to happen.
In the master bedroom, Ellie Griffin was still sleeping in a queen-sized bed, until she heard a scream from downstairs. The scream was so loud that it woke her.
On her way downstairs, she is wearing her magenta robe, while she muttered to herself, "For the love of our canine God, can't a woman get herself some beauty sleep without all this… Chaos?"
Ellie then saw Brian shivering in fear, then she rushed to him in the kitchen. "Brian, what's with all the screaming?" asked Ellie.
"Ellie, you're not gonna believe this." he said.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I've got a hospital bill, honey." he said. "And it's set at… set at…"
"What's the amount?" she said.
"T… T… Ten… Thousand… Dollars." he said.
"Ten thousand dollars?" she said. "That's extortionate."
"I know, honey." he said placing his paws on top of his head. "I can't believe that it was that much. I don't know how we're gonna pay for all that. I only make $476 a month after taxes."
"That's almost five hundred dollars, a half G." she said.
"I know, honey." he said. "I can't also believe how much did they do to incubate our new six."
"It's okay, Brian." she said comforting her husband. "We'll work this out."
"Dad, did you really have to be this loud in the morning?" asked Dean, after the puppies went downstairs.
"It's only 6:27AM." said Coco.
"Dad, you really woke us up with your screaming." said Mitzi.
"Yeah, I've only had a dream, that I was walking along the tropical beach with my boyfriend, and sharing some ice-cream." said Sally.
"Oh, well, sorry to wake you, kids." said Brian. "Daddy's got some real problems."
"You see kids, your father's going through some financial problems." said Ellie. "It's been a week since your six siblings were born."
"Well, you're lucky it's Saturday, otherwise we'd've all been tired to go to school." said Brian Jr. holding his Chase Paw Patroller cuddly toy with him.
"It's not even a school day, Junior." said Genie.
"That's because it's the weekend, Genie." he said.
"Sorry I'm late, chaps." said Eli joining the family. "I was just doing my usual morning stretches."
"Yeah, and in the bathroom." said Frank. "Couldn't imagine how long you were in there."
"Well excuse me for having such a long widdle in the toilet, Franklin." said Eli.
"The name is Frank, Eli." said Frank.
"Boys, calm down." said Ellie. "I'm sure your father and I will sort this out."
"I'm really not sure how much of Dad's salary is gonna pay for that hospital bill, Mom." said Martin.
"We'll work it out, Martin." she said. "Why are you asking?"
"I don't think that'll be enough to pay." he replied.
"There's no way is that much, Martin." said Frank. "How much is that bill?"
"Ten thousand dollars." said Martin.
"Whoa, that's a lot of money." said Coco.
"We believe this one's an extortion." said Frank.
"I agree, Frank." said Brian. "I don't know who else might get a job. I just can't take a second job." The family stared at Ellie, then she stretched her collar a little with her paw, as she gulped.
o - o - o - o - o
Later that night, in Brian and Ellie's bedroom, Ellie lays in bed collarless, while Brian brushes his teeth in the master bathroom collarless. "Brian, I've been thinking," said Ellie.
"About what?" asked Brian.
"Well, how do I put this." she said. "A week ago, I gave birth to our six puppies, I was being treated in that vet hospital along with them, my thighs almost didn't recover until Thursday, and now, we've been issued an extortionate bill."
"So what do you intend to do?" he asked, then he gargles with mouthwash and spits into the sink, then he leaves the bathroom and gets into bed with her.
"Brian, it won't be easy, but I think it's time I've got a job." she said.
Brian's heart skipped a beat. "You're getting a… Are you sure, Ellie?" he said.
"Well, what else do I have to do, Brian?" she asked. "I can't just stay inside this house, doing dishes, vacuuming, washing our laundry, and even bathing our fifteen little puppies."
"You went grocery shopping." he said.
"That was different." she said. "And besides, Vinny can't sit with our puppies right now, because he's obviously dating Seabreeze."
"Lucky guy." he said.
"What was that?" she asked.
"I mean about Vinny finding love." he said.
"Fair enough." she said.
"So, when are you gonna get a job?" he asked.
"We'll talk about this in the morning." she said. "Now goodnight." Ellie turns off the lights and went to sleep.
"Okay, goodnight." he said, then he lays his head on the pillow and went to sleep.
o - o - o - o - o
The following Monday morning, Ellie drops Brian off at the bus station from his Prius. "Have a good day at work, Brian." said Ellie. "I'm off for my job interview." "Alright, good luck, sweetie." said Brian.
"Thank you." she said, then she kissed him. Brian gets out of his car and walks into the bus station, then Ellie drives on her way to the interview.
At Beg 4 A Treat Café, Ellie Griffin is being interviewed by Fiona the Cocker Spaniel manager of the café. "Mrs. Griffin, do you have a particular reason why you think you would like to work here in this café?" asked Fiona.
"Well for once, I served Brian some toast and water, when he was sick." said Ellie.
"Really, why was that, Mrs. Griffin?" asked Fiona.
"Well, let's just say that he had a bad case of goat flu." said Ellie.
"You're kidding?" said Fiona.
"No, it was serious, it was weeks ago before our first anniversary." said Ellie. "I also served him some Vanilla flavoured ice-cream for his sore throat."
"I see." said Fiona. "Do you have any experiences?"
"Well, I was performing in the Dog Show, back in Quahog." said Ellie.
"Fascinating." said Fiona.
o - o - o - o - o
Later that day, Ellie entered the house whooping excitedly. "Hi dear, what's with the woohoo?" asked Brian.
"Brian, I've got good news." said Ellie. "What's the good news?" he asked.
"I've got a job." she said excitedly.
"Whoa, really?" he said.
"Yeah, for real." she said.
Brian hugs his wife. "Wait a minute." he said un-hugging her. "Who's gonna sit for our puppies, apart from Vinny?"
"Don't worry, dear." she said. "I've booked an appointment to daycare for our six."
"Oh, okay." he said. "So, I reckon you'll get paid?"
"Probably a little more than your salary." she said. "I'd probably hope that this will pay our bill."
"I hope that too, dear." he said.
"Mom, Dad, come quick!" called Frank. The parents came quickly into the puppy room.
"What is it, Frank?" asked Brian.
"Dad, Tammy's about to say her first word." said Frank.
"Alright, let's hear it." said Brian. The family looks and listens to what Tammy Griffin is about to say.
"A… a…" Tammy struggles to say.
The two litters gape in their hope for her.
"Ba... Ba…" she said, then she said it again. "Baba."
The parents gasped to Tammy's surprise. "My God, she just said… she just said…" he said before Ellie weighed in.
"She just said 'baba'." said Ellie. "Tammy's first word."
Brian picks up Tammy to his eye level. "Say that again, Tammy." he said.
"Baba." said Tammy.
Brian chuckles. "That's right, Tammy." he said cooing her. "I'm your Baba."
"Guys, I know it's unusual," said Dean. "But I'm pretty sure that 'Baba' means 'Dada'."
"Of course it does, Dean." said Brian Jr.. "What else did we call our Dad?"
"I called him 'Father'." said Eli.
"Junior, everybody calls him Dad." said Frank.
"And I second that, Frank." said Brian Jr..
"Tammy, can you say 'Mama'?" said Ellie.
"Mama." said Tammy.
"Of course, sweetie." said Ellie cooing Tammy. "I'm your Mama. And guess what? Mama got a job."
The puppies gasped. "You've got a job, Mom?" asked Dean.
"I'm afraid so, pups." said Brian. "Your mother's got a job."
"It's just while we pay it all off." said Ellie.
"Wait, Mom." said Brian Jr.. "Who's gonna look after our new siblings? I mean, Uncle Vinny can't be with them right now, and we have no arrangements to drop them off at Grandma and Grandpa's."
"Don't worry, kids." she said. "I'll drop them off in the daycare center, while the rest of you can still be in school during the day."
"Sure that'll keep them for at least a week." said Frank.
"Franklin, be nice." said Sally. "We're gonna have to get along with the newborns."
"The name is Frank, Sally." he said.
"Now hold on you two, there's no need to fight." said Brian breaking it up. "I know we have financial issues that affects the whole family, but we need the money to pay it all off. I know this upsets you all, but if we don't, we'll be penniless and homeless, like animals. Wild animals. And we'll spend the rest of our days out in the cold."
"Brian, don't upset the pups!" said Ellie crossly to her husband. "We'll have the money to pay it off. No drama."
"Gees, I'm sorry, Elle." he said to his wife. "I just don't know what else to do. I've got that ten thousand dollar bill from the hospital, that's almost the price of a new hybrid car."
"You could ask Chester for a raise." she said.
"Oh God, I can't know, dear." he said. "What are the odds of raising my pay interest?"
"Mom, we don't wanna live in the cold, dark alley." whimpered Mitzi hugging one of her Mum's legs.
"Me neither, Mom." said Martin tearfully hugging his Mum's other leg. "We don't wanna live like mongrels and runts."
"We don't wanna eat from the trash cans." whimpered Frank.
"Or drink from the spewing rain gutter pipes." whimpered Sally.
"Or share the hydrant, when we have to pee." whimpered Brian Jr..
"Or even sleep inside damp cardboard boxes under the used newspapers." whimpered Coco.
Brian and Ellie looked at each other and then to the puppies.
"Hey, hey, calm down, pups." said Ellie comforting the puppies. "It's okay. Your father and I will work this out. Don't you worry, it'll be okay. Mommy promises."
"You will, Mom?" said Dean wiping his tear.
"Of course." she said.
"Your mother and I will get to the bottom of this." said Brian. "Right now, I think it's almost dinner time."
"Great, I'll go get dinner ready." she said, then she walks towards the kitchen.
o - o - o - o - o
The next day is Ellie's first day of work at Beg 4 A Treat café. Ellie who is now wearing her emerald green apron is serving a trayful of beverages to the table of two business dogs.
"Okay sirs," said Ellie. "Here's your latte and your cappuccino."
"Thank you, ma'am." said the business dog, then he takes a sip. "Say, ma'am. What made you think that you landed a job here?"
"See, here's my concern." she said. "My husband's got a hospital bill for ten thousand dollars, and I don't think that there'll be enough to pay it all off."
The two business dogs look at each other, then at Ellie. "Ma'am, I'd hate to break it to you, but I believe that there has been a mistake." he said.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"We believe that somebody typed the extra zero by mistake." said the other business dog. "That was supposed to say one thousand, not ten thousand."
"One thousand?" she said. "Are you saying that the hospital made a mistake?"
"I believe they have, ma'am." said the business dog.
"Oh, thank God that's a relief." she said. "I thought we could've got into financial trouble."
"Well, you might be," he said.
"You should tell your husband the good news, when you get home though." said the other business dog.
"Hey, new girl!" called the café lady dog. "Pick up order!"
"Coming!" called Ellie. "Thank you, sirs." she then walks to the kitchen.
o - o - o - o - o
Later that day, back at home, Ellie told Brian about the hospital bill.
"How much?" asked Brian.
"That was supposed to say one thousand dollars." said Ellie.
"Well, how come it says ten thousand?" he asked.
"I think that they made a mistake." she said.
"A mistake?" he said. "How did you know?"
"Well you see, Brian." she said pointing to the numbers on the bill. "See that? There's a comma between one and zero. As I slide my finger to where the two digits where the zeroes are right now, it seems that there's a third zero next to it."
"A third zero?" he said. "So that means… Oh God you're right. It's been a thousand dollars the whole time."
"So if we paid that bill for a thousand dollars, do I still keep my job?" she said.
"Of course, sweetie." he said, then he kisses her.
And so, with the bill being paid for one thousand dollars, and Ellie has her job, the New Griffins will continue to live their lives.
END OF CHAPTER 1
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Chapter 2 on its way. I've created the café that Ellie works there.
DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from Family Guy, which is a registered trademark of FOX and The Walt Disney Company. I do NOT own any of these Family Guy related characters, they belong to Seth MacFarlane, FOX and The Walt Disney Company. The story I tell here focuses on my fantasy of Brian X Ellie is my own invention and is not purported or believed to be part of Seth MacFarlane's story canon. This story is for entertainment purposes only and is not part of an official plot. I am not making any money of this fan fiction using any Family Guy characters. I am truly grateful for Seth MacFarlane for his awesome show taking place in Quahog, Rhode Island, for without his show, my story wouldn't exist.
