Chapter 7: Birthday
"Thanks again for letting us have the party here." Brandy said, hanging a streamer from the railing on the back deck of the Heeler's home.
"Of course! We're happy to have you!" Chilli smiled, tying balloons together to make a centerpiece for the table.
"We would've had it at the apartment, but the guest list turned out longer than expected. I mean, between you all, Stripe's family, Dad, and now Rad and Frisky… It's a lot of people for a family party."
"Well, when you're around the Heelers they tend to like to get involved." Chilli smiled knowingly.
"Yeah…" Brandy grinned. She was glad. The last year had been incredible in so many ways. She never thought that she'd manage to change so much in such a short period of time, but Austin had done wonders. Between her new friends and family (well, even if they weren't blood relatives they all considered her family and she them) and all the love she had for her son, she'd never been happier.
"Aunt Brandy!" Bingo called from the kitchen inside, "Grandad's on the phone! He wants to ask you something."
"I'll be in in a minute!" Brandy stood up and dusted herself off before walking to her niece.
Bingo was holding her aunt's cell phone, left forgotten on the dining room table while the sisters had been decorating the back porch. Bluey was playing with her father and cousin in the living room, if the squeals of delight from the two young ones were anything to go by.
"Thanks Bingo." Brandy said taking the phone. Bingo nodded and ran off to return to her game. "Hey dad, what's up?"
"Hi Brandy, I'm having trouble finding your sister's house again."
Brandy sighed silently; her father was awful with technology. "Dad, did you put the address in the map app on your phone?"
"Yes, but the damn thing kept telling me that I was using the wrong highway so I shut it off. I know how to get to Brisbane; I'm not that out of it!"
"Okay, pull over and bring back up the map app."
She heard a turn signal and a moment later Mort was back on the line. "Alright. How do I do that because I'm on the phone with you?"
"Tap the button in the middle, it'll take you back to the menu, then touch the map app." Brandy instructed.
"Oh! Okay." Mort tapped a few times. "And now I put in the address?"
"That's right."
"Wonderful!" Mort hummed, "They really have thought of everything these days. Thanks love, it says I'll be there in about half an hour."
"Thanks dad, love you, see you then."
Brandy hung up and was about to return to the porch when she heard a peel of familiar laughter. She couldn't help herself as she snuck up to the doorway that led to the living room and peeked in. Bandit and the girls were playing with Austin, the toddler running around as they held up pillows for him to charge into.
"And what's going on here?" She asked playfully.
"Austin's a sumo wrestler!" Bluey declared.
"Yeah, and we have to stop him from getting out of the ring!" Bingo added.
Austin ran into Bandit's middle, causing the man to groan slightly as he held his crotch. "Oh, biscuits…"
The girls giggled as Austin stopped and tottered to his uncle's face. Realizing he was hurt he hugged his snout and rubbed his nose against Bandit's.
Bandit smiled, "'t's okay mate, I know you didn't mean it." He patted Austin's head.
Brandy chuckled slightly, pleased that her son had a good sense of empathy at such a young age when the bell rung. "Why don't I get that, let you nurse your injury a minute?" She suggested.
"Thanks." Bandit nodded, stretching his leg slightly as he tried to ease the tenderness.
Brandy took the stairs down to the first floor and opened the door. A tall multicolored Heeler brother stood next to a woman about Brandy's height.
"Hi Rad, Frisky!" Brandy smiled. While she didn't know the two as well as Bandit or Stripe's families, she didn't mind the extra company.
Rad grunted under the weight of a large present he was shifting between his paws. "G'day Brandy… where'd ya want the gift for the little anklebiter? This thing weighs a ton…"
Frisky patted her husband's chest, "Nice first impression, galah." She said jokingly.
He huffed in reply.
"Upstairs on the dining table. Thanks, Rad."
He grunted and started working up the stairs. After he disappeared Frisky took off her sweater, revealing a sizable bump in her middle. Brandy's brow rose slightly.
"Sorry about him, he's a bit of a drongo, but I love 'im." Frisky replied. She sat on the couch in the downstairs family room and sighed slightly, rubbing her middle as she did so. "Little one's started kicking something fierce. Takes after his dad, this one."
"How far along are you?" Brandy asked.
"A bit over four months. Just got the news it's a boy."
"Wow, and you're already showing that much?" Brandy remarked, "No offense." She quickly added.
"None taken." Frisky sighed, "I knew the first'd be the hardest, but I never figured he'd end up this big this fast."
"Maybe it's twins." Brandy joked.
Frisky looked down, "God I hope not, my older brothers are twins and they were terrors when I was growing up." She paused a moment, rubbing her paws together before looking at Brandy, "Um… I don't want to sound too forward, especially since we really don't know each other that well… but… can I talk to you about something, like, mum-wise?"
"Course, we're practically family." Brandy nodded.
A small smile flitted on Frisky's face at the remark before she took a deep breath. "You just had your first a little while ago, and, well… How did you manage?"
"How so?"
"Rad's still working on the rig right now, he's trying to get a transfer to a refinery in Brisbane but it's difficult, so I'm probably going to be on my own for the first bit-at least the first six months. Not that Rad isn't going to be involved, but…" She shook her head, "Nevermind. Sorry, it's too personal." She looked at her feet.
Brandy frowned as she put a hand on Frisky's shoulder, "Hey, hey… It's okay. I don't mind."
Frisky looked up.
"Being a mum on your own, it's not easy, but that doesn't mean you've got to be on your own."
Frisky tilted her head in confusion.
"Let me explain." Brandy clarified, "Chilli's my sister and she's been incredible at helping me out with Austin. And Trixie, if you ever have any questions about your baby's well-being, she's the one to ask. I don't think I could've managed without them helping me out. And that isn't to say Stripe and Bandit haven't helped either." Brandy smiled, "We're family, we're here to help each other out. If you ever have questions or need advice, or just need 20 fucking minutes of peace and quiet, just let one of us know."
Frisky leaned in suddenly and hugged Brandy, warm wetness tricking down her snout as the two hugged. Brandy reciprocated the hug and felt her tail wag slightly. "Hey, it's gonna be okay."
"Thank you." Frisky whispered.
***MH***
Mort was the next to arrive, and after depositing his present on the table quickly hugged his only grandson and started cooing over him. "Hello Austin!" He scratched the tot's tummy, leading to the little one giggling slightly. "I'm sorry we haven't met yet. Grandad's been a bit busy with some medical things that are thankfully all good now."
Chilli and Brandy exchanged a knowing look, after their father's recent health scare involving his heart he'd spent a good while recovering before he'd been allowed to return to his normal life.
Austin looked up, brown eyes staring into amber. He was curious about the strange dog holding him. He didn't know that many men, as aside from his uncles Bandit and Stripe he hadn't been around many. He saw some scruff hanging down where he could reach it, and before Mort could react the toddler grabbed onto his beard and yanked as hard as he could.
"Yow!" Mort shouted.
Austin laughed and grabbed again, yanking slightly less hard this time.
"Oh, sorry dad. Let me get him." Brandy offered to take Austin away.
Mort grimaced slightly as the tyke again pulled. "I don't mind, your sister was the same way at his age."
"You were?" Bluey asked in shock.
"Yes, I was a bit grabby I suppose." Chilli admitted.
"A bit?" Mort and Brandy said in unison.
"Okay, I was a very grabby baby." Chilli admitted.
Bingo laughed. "Mum was a cheeky baby, just like you Austin!"
"Your mum never had this problem…" Mort remarked, moving Austin a bit lower so he couldn't quite reach his beard.
Chilli and Brandy both smiled melancholically, "Yeah, but she would've loved him all the same." Chilli said as she looked at her sister.
"Not as much as your girls." Brandy joked, "Mum always said she wished we were more active, I don't think she would've had any problems with your girls' games."
Mort came between his daughters, Austin still attempting to grab his facial hair, "I know your mum's looking down on all of us, wishing she could be here with her daughters to tell you both how proud of you she is. You're both terrific mums, and she would've loved getting to meet your little ones."
Brandy sniffed. "Thanks dad."
Chilli embraced her father and sister. "I love you guys."
"I love you too." Mort smiled.
***MH***
Stripe and Trixie were the last two to arrive along with their two girls. Muffin and Socks said hello, and soon the five cousins were all playing together in the living room while the parents took some much needed time to sit and talk.
"So how's Muffin adjusting to full-day school?" Bandit asked as he sipped a cup of coffee.
"She's managing better than we expected." Stripe replied. "Her teacher says she's getting better with calling out and she's probably the most popular kid in her class at the moment."
"Though having them all over for a pool party probably helped a lot with that." Trixie smiled.
"If we're honest Socks is the one struggling at the moment." Stripe added. "She loves kindy, but she has trouble with talking with the other kids."
"She has trouble coming out of her shell, and she doesn't really know how to talk with people she doesn't know well." Trixie said.
"Do you think that's because of her diagnosis?" Chilli asked.
"Probably. Dr. Kelev said that it's normal for children on the spectrum to have social difficulties. We're looking into a group to help promote socialization." Stripe noted.
Before the conversation could continue a loud crash was heard in the next room.
"Uh-oh." Socks muttered.
Bandit sighed, "Let's see what the damage is."
The adults walked over from the kitchen to see the children all standing around a broken lamp, clearly knocked off an end table.
"Bingo did it!" Muffin said, pointing at her cousin.
"No I didn't!" Bingo huffed. "It was Bluey."
"What?!" Bluey gasped in typical Bluey fashion. "It was Socks!"
"No! Muffin broke it!" She pointed at her older sister. Muffin shot Socks a death glare and the smallest girl lowered her finger.
"Girls!" Stripe said, stopping the accusations. The four stood silently. "Thank you. Are you all alright, anyone hurt?"
"No…" Bluey said, checking herself over.
"No." Bingo shook her head.
"No." Muffin said, still glaring at her little sister.
"No daddy." Socks said, playing her cute factor to try and stay out of trouble.
Brandy picked up Austin to check he hadn't accidentally stepped on any broken pieces of the lamp, he was fine.
Chilli sighed as she looked at the lamp, "Girls, I don't really care who broke it as long as you're all okay."
"That being said, we want an honest answer. What happened?" Bandit asked, crossing his arms.
The four looked at each other before Bluey spoke. "We were playing tag and Austin tripped over the cord and knocked the lamp over."
"We don't want him to get in trouble though, it was an accident. He didn't know better." Bingo added.
"He's just a baby." Muffin added.
"Yeah. He made a mistake." Socks concluded.
"Wait, you were all blaming each other so Austin wouldn't get in trouble?" Trixie asked.
"Yeah…" Bluey said, looking at her foot as she dragged it back and forth across the floor.
The adults sighed collectively.
"Look, there's no harm really done, I'm just glad everyone's safe." Chilli remarked.
"Next time, just tell the truth though, okay?" Bandit said.
"Yes dad."
"Yes Uncle Bandit."
"Why don't you kids go to the other room? We're going to get this cleaned up, then we'll get started on the food and presents." Trixie said, ushering the group toward the dining room.
***MH***
After the group was settled and sung happy birthday Austin was presented with a slice of cake. He stared at it a moment, unsure of what to do. Brandy took a little on her fingertip and gently let him lick it. Upon discovering the sweet flavor he immediately smashed the cake with his fists, happily licking the icing and bits of cake off them as he did so. Following the food Brandy helped him open gifts. He got a few new outfits, some toys, and a new car seat courtesy of his Uncle Rad and Aunt Frisky. After the food they started winding down. The kids played a bit more as the adults finished tidying, and by early evening it was starting to be time to head home.
"Well, thanks again for the invite. We had a great time." Stripe said, hugging Brandy before Trixie did the same.
"Glad to have you. Thanks to Chilli and Bandit for letting me have it here."
As the group stood by the top of the stair, baby-gate shut to prevent any accidents, Austin walked in from the living room to Brandy and held his arms up, indicating he wanted to be held. She picked him up and held him to her side.
"I love you Austin." She cooed. "I hope you liked today."
The littlest blue heeler looked up at his mother and opened his mouth. His tongue rolled around a moment before he uttered his first word. "Mama."
Brandy was stunned silent, as were the others.
"Did he just talk?" Mort asked.
"Mama!" Austin declared, happily hugging his mother.
Brandy felt happy tears rolling down her cheeks as she held him. "Yes Austin, mama's here."
***The End***
And we're done! I hope you all enjoyed this journey with Brandy and Austin. There is a sequel to this in the works called "Parenting" that I will be releasing soon. It will follow the lives of the Heeler brothers and their kids as they grow up. I anticipate it to be a longer series, and I would ultimately like to go from the kids at their ages at the end of this fic until they're in middle/high school. If you liked this, please review, and if you have comments on things you'd like different, review as well. I appreciate the feedback and thank you for all you've read thus far! I also have a few other fics in progress-Society and a collab with Kodiwolf Project New Era-feel free to check them out. Have a great one!