Chapter 13: The Additions

***Author's Note***

Hello everyone! Thank you again for everyone who has been reading and reviewing! I really appreciate all the awesome support! As a reward for being so great, I wanted to give you all this chapter a little early. Enjoy!

***BCH***

"Okay, let's start with the basics…" Brett had a notepad on the table between him and Bandit, the two men sitting side-by-side. It was a rare morning when both men were able to spend time together. It had been a few days since their decision to get engaged, and while they hadn't told anyone yet, it made sense to start getting plans in place for the wedding. After all, it takes months to book anything anyway… The kids were at school, Bandit didn't have any meetings until a check-in at noon about a report he'd already completed, and Brett had given supervisory duties that morning to Daryl-one of his more responsible employees, so they were free for the next four hours to start planning.

"Okay…" Bandit pulled out his phone and scrolled through his notes to the one he'd used to jot down a few ideas he'd had about the ceremony. "Um, as far as I see it there's four main things for a wedding: the venue, the outfits, the rings, and the food." He paused, "Well, at least that's what all the wedding blogs I looked at at 3 in the morning said…" He grinned sheepishly, the excitement of the proposition causing him to have difficulty sleeping in the best way.

"Okay, we don't have an exact venue, but we know we want a beach. Probably nothing too far from here because all our relatives are in this area." Brett commented. "I could look around and see if there are any private beaches we could lease."

"And don't tell them it's for a wedding!" Bandit sternly stated.

"Why?"

"Anything for weddings has a crazy markup. If they ask say it's for a family event."

"Fair enough." Brett jotted down a few notes. "I guess we move onto outfits."

"I'm not wearing a dress." Bandit smirked.

Brett rolled his eyes, "While I can't say that thought ever crossed my mind, what are we going to wear?"

"Suits, I assume."

"Well, yes, but are they supposed to match?"

Bandit shrugged, "How am I to know? I've never been to a gay wedding. Before I met you all my friends were straight."

Brett sighed, "Let's think about the kids. The girls are your bridesmaids of sorts and the boys are my groomsmen."

Bandit raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not saying you're the bride, I'm saying they're bridesmaids because I don't think there's a word for a female groomsman." Brett defended, "If we figure out what they're wearing, then we can figure out what we're wearing."

Bandit assented, "Alright makes sense. I assume Bluey and Bingo will have dresses of some sort."

"And Bentley, Baxter, and Bradley will have suits." After a moment Brett continued, "What are the girls' favorite colors?"

"Pink and purple." Bandit replied. "What about the boys?"

"Blue and green." Brett paused, "As far as I can tell Bradley doesn't have a favorite color, given how he can't tell us anything yet."

"Okay, so the girls could have a sort-of mauve color dress and the boys could have teal suits?" Bandit suggested.

"And we'd match?"

"I don't hate mauve, you okay with teal?"

Brett nodded, "I wore orange at my first wedding, so anything's a step up from that." He made a few notes before looking up, "Alright, what about rings?"

"I lost my wedding band in the fire, though given how it was for my marriage to Chilli I'm not sure it would've been appropriate to reuse it." Bandit commented.

"Yeah, mine's upstairs in the nightstand. I haven't worn it since Sara's passing."

"Maybe we could get new ones?"

"Nothing gaudy though. We might be bi, but I don't want anything with a massive rainbow stripe on it." Brett commented, thinking of the display he'd seen at the jewelry store at the mall.

Bandit smirked, "What, afraid of what your coworkers 'll think?"

Brett frowned, "No, I don't want to go around with something mass marketed by a company as a stunt for one month out of the year to try and entice a demographic they've historically marginalized on my finger."

"Fair point." Bandit replied, knowing well that October tended to bring an onslaught of 'woke' companies into the limelight for their ads when the rest of the year they couldn't care less about their demographic. "Regular gold bands then?"

"Works for me." Brett made another note on the pad. "And lastly, food."

"Let's make it easy. Some sandwiches, some drinks, and a small cake."

"Again, not a wedding cake." Brett reminded.

"To save money, right." Bandit replied. "I'll see if the place I got Bingo's birthday cake can make us something."

***BCH***

While the initial intent had been to have another cookout to announce the engagement, there were other events that prevented that from happening. Namely, that both Frisky and Trixie went into labor. On the same day. At nearly the same time.

It wasn't until Bandit got the call from both his brothers that he realized that the two women were at hospitals on opposite sides of Brisbane. Stripe had called second, leading to Bandit realizing and quickly making a conference call with Rad. After a moment ringing the eldest Heeler brother picked up.

"Hey, what is it? You on the way?" Rad asked, more than a bit flustered, "This is sorta my first time doing this and I need a bit of help with what I'm supposed to do here!"

"Rad?" Stripe asked, surprised to hear his oldest brother on the line, "Wait, don't tell me Frisky's in labor right now…"

"Of course! I tried calling you but it went to voicemail, I guess you were talking to Bandit."

"Well, shit." Stripe sighed.

"What?"

"Trix just got admitted." Stripe chuckled.

"Wait, you're fucking kidding me, mate."

"No, he's not." Bandit interjected.

"I thought Frisky wasn't due for two weeks?" Stripe asked.

"Yeah, well, the little guy wants to come now, so…"

"And given that I'm incapable of being in two places at once I wanted to make sure you two understood what I'm planning on doing." Bandit stated.

"And that is?" Stripe asked.

"I'm going to help Rad and Frisky. It's their first time, this is your and Trixie's third." Bandit stated, "However, I will send Brett your way for moral support, besides, he's better with keeping the kids in line anyway."

Stripe grumbled, but conceded that it made sense. "Alright, but as soon as they're finished, you're over here."

"Of course mate, wouldn't want to miss seeing my new nephew." Bandit smiled.

As it transpired Bandit managed to be there for both births.

Apparently Frisky was further along than anticipated, because only a few hours after Bandit arrived a doctor entered the waiting room to confirm that he was now an uncle, again. Rad was beaming when Bandit came into the room. Frisky was exhausted. "Hey, you ready to meet your Uncle Bandit?" Rad whispered as he carefully lifted the swaddled newborn from Frisky's arms.

Bandit received the tot and looked down. The Heeler pup was a mix of cream and blue, with splotches around either eye of the same light blue his father bore on his torso. The rest of him looked like his mother, with cream and light red stripes. Bandit smiled as the baby opened his muzzle and made a small bark. "He's beautiful, what's his name?"

"Well, we wanted to ask your permission before it's official." Frisky smiled.

Bandit raised an eyebrow, "My permission?"

"Well, we wanted to name him Robert Bandit Heeler." Rad said, smiling at his brother.

Bandit blinked, "You want to name him after me? Why?"

"Well, if it wasn't for you and Chilli, we'd've never met." Frisky said. "That and Rad feels bad for how much he screwed with you as a kid."

"Hey!" Rad said, jokingly upset.

"I'd be honored." Bandit grinned as he looked down, "So, you calling him Bob like dad?"

"God no, probably Robby." Rad replied, "We decided on Robby, right?"

Frisky nodded.

Bandit handed Robby back to his mother, "Well, I did promise Stripe I'd be there as soon as I could. Mind if I take a few pictures, then run?"

"Of course." Frisky held Robby and Rad leaned down beside them.

It was another eight hours before Trixie had her son, which meant that Bandit, Brett, and Stripe were all busy trying to keep their seven children from destroying the waiting room. Even Bradley was causing chaos, as the toddler was now mobile and loved trying to run as fast as he could around the small room.

"Dad! I'm bored! When is mum going to get the baby out of her tummy?" Muffin complained as she looked up from the coloring book she and Bingo were working on.

"Sweetheart, I told you before, I don't know. It takes time."

"Dad, I wan my brudder!" Socks said stamping her foot. Unfortunately as Muffin had started to mellow by age five, Socks had quickly taken up the mantle as the resident Heeler 'personality' at age three.

"Socks, like I told your sister, I can't control it."

"But I wan him NOW!" Socks bellowed, causing the other kids to cover their ears.

"Was I really like that?" Muffin asked Bingo.

"No, you were worse." Bingo retorted. Muffin frowned as her cousin giggled.

Eventually Stripe got some news and quickly departed. Half an hour later he returned a cautious smile on his face. "We have the latest Heeler baby boy! I was told only one group at a time, so Muffy, Socks, let's meet your little brother!"

"Finally!" Socks declared, tossing her doll to the floor as she grabbed her father's hand, Muffin following suit as they walked through the double doors toward the delivery room. A few minutes later they returned, Muffin and Socks sporting slightly odd looks on their faces. Before they could say anything Brett offered to watch the girls while Bandit and his daughters went to see the infant. After a short stroll they arrived outside the room.

Stripe took a deep breath, "Kids, do you remember how last time we watched you we had a little talk about how sometimes people are different?"

"Yeah. Just because someone looks different, it doesn't mean there's anything wrong with them." Bluey replied.

"It just means they're different than us. We can still be friends." Bingo nodded.

Bandit looked at his brother, a slight notion of concern wavering on his face. "Stripe, is everything okay?"

"Yeah, you'll see in a minute." Stripe replied, pushing the door open.

"Hi Aunt Trixie! We're here to see our baby cousin!" Bluey said as she hurriedly walked up to the bed.

"Can I hold him?" Bingo asked, glancing at the blue blanket Trixie was holding.

"I'm not sure if that would be the best idea, but I can unwrap him so you can see him." Trixie replied, gently turning over the baby. After a moment she undid the blanket. The boy looked a lot like Stripe, a large stripe zigging across his stomach. He had a few patches of Trixie's color here and there, and some of Stripe's elsewhere. But that wasn't the first thing the girls noticed.

"Aunt Trixie, where're his tail and feet?" Bingo asked, concerned as he wriggled around, the tot grasping at the air with his tiny paws.

"He wasn't born with them." Trixie replied as she gently rewrapped him.

Bandit looked at his brother; They saw it in the ultrasound and wanted to prep the kids, that's why they had that talk. "I think he's a beautiful baby." Bandit said, sincerely looking his brother, then Trixie in the eye. Stripe grinned, Trixie wiped the corner of her eye as a small tear formed.

"Yeah, he looks like a puzzle, all sorts of different pieces stuck together!" Bluey added as she grinned.

Stripe chuckled, "He does, doesn't he?"

"Well, that fits surprisingly well with the name we picked." Trixie said as she rocked the infant in her arms.

"What's his name?" Bingo asked.

"Motley Rex Heeler." Trixie replied.

"Wait, Motley, as in Motley Crue?" Bandit chuckled.

"We had a deal that Trix names all the girls and I get the boys." Stripe replied, "And she vetoed Vince."

"I already have four Vinces in my family, we are not adding a fifth!" Trixie said.

After that Bandit and the girls returned to the waiting room and Brett and the boys went back. Upon their return Brett had a look on his face.

"What is it? You've got that 'I have an idea but I'm not sure of it' look." Bandit commented as they lead their pack of kids toward the parking structure attached to the hotel.

"Well, if Stripe and Trixie are up for it I have some connections from Sara's old business partners; I could probably hook them up with free prosthetics."

"That's phenomenal mate!" Bandit hugged his fiancée.

"Well, yeah, but I barely know them, I don't want to just assume they want my help. It feels like I'd be forcing myself into their lives and making them feel like they'd owe me a favor."

Bandit frowned a moment, considering Brett's statement. "Yeah, it could come off that way. What if we both mention it when we have the cookout? That way it isn't just from you, it's from both of us. After all, we're both going to be Motley's uncle."

"Wait…" Bentley said, overhearing the conversation. "What do you mean dad's going to be Motley's uncle?"

Bandit's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. Shit! I forgot Bentley was here. The kid's scarily good at figuring out stuff he isn't supposed to.

"Are you getting married?" His tail started wagging slightly as the group stopped in the middle of the parking structure.

Bandit sighed before looking at Brett. Both men replied, "Yes, we are."

"Awesome!" Baxter pumped his arm in the air.

"Yes! I knew it!" Bluey cheered.

"I'm not the youngest anymore!" Bingo shouted, doing a little happy dance. Bandit raised an eyebrow at the remark, but decided to let it slide.

Bradley clapped along in his stroller, just happy to have stimulation.

"Before you start telling everyone, no." Brett stated, "We're announcing it at the cookout next week. It would've been today, but two of your soon-to-be aunts went into labor."

"Do we get to wear pretty dresses?" Bingo asked.

"Can I carry the rings?" Baxter pled.

"What type of cake will there be?" Bluey questioned.

"Am I the best man?" Bentley checked.

"Kids, enough!" Bandit replied, rubbing his temple. "We will go over all the details later. Right now it's been a long day in two different hospitals for some of us. Let's go and get some rest, then talk about it in the morning."

The kids begrudgingly agreed. A few minutes later the two cars pulled out of the lot and headed home, excited about the promise of a new day.

***Author's Note***

Hey everyone! Hope you liked this one. I wanted to get this out of the way before the wedding because I felt it would be a nice break before some of the bigger stuff to come. I hope you like Robby and Motley, I wanted to give the kids a few more playmates and some potential mentees in the future-as after this I'm planning on a few one-shots with random time skips. Anyhow, feel free to comment, thanks again!