Chapter 14: The Announcement

It was two weeks later when Brett and Bandit had managed to coordinate a reschedule for their initial cookout date. "So, this is the big one, huh?" Bandit muttered as he finished getting the last of the lawn chairs set up around the card table they'd hauled out from the garage to handle the extra company.

"Well, it is the first time our families get to meet each other." Brett replied, "But given how my family likes you and your family likes me… hopefully it will go well?"

"I think it will, and if not, screw 'em." Bandit paused as he struggled with a folding chair, "I'll still love you anyway."

Brett rolled his eyes, "Always a romantic, Ban."

Bandit grinned, "But you still love me, anyhow."

Brett sighed, a smile poking at the corner of his muzzle, "Yeah, I do." Before the two men could do anything they were interrupted as one of the kids poked their head into the backyard.

"Dad! Aunt Sherri's at the door!" Baxter yelled from the Heeler's kitchen.

"And so it begins…"

***The Elders***

Brett smiled nervously as he led his parents through the home, his father nodding approvingly at times as he explained the work he'd done. "…and that's basically the house." Brett stopped in front of the back patio where the rest of the day's guests were mingling about; bouncing on his heels, hoping that his father was okay with the work he'd done.

"Good job Brett, I must say, I'm impressed." Dale Hanley smiled at his son.

Brett brightened, his tail wagging slightly, "Really?"

"Yes, you did a nice job blending the historical Queenslander style and some nice modern upgrades. If it weren't for the fact that you and I were in this business I could buy that this was the original home."

Brett grinned, not bothering to stop his tail from wagging happily. "Thanks dad, though Bandit did contribute a fair bit."

"I'm sure he did, he certainly seems like the involved type."

"That's for sure." Brett chuckled, thinking of how obvious it had been in retrospect that Bandit liked him, given how flimsy some of his excuses for checking up had been.

"Has your sister had a chance to make her peace with the fact that you didn't want the mural she offered?" Susan asked. Brett's mother was always to the point, an effect of her decades of studies in anthropology and sociology.

"Yeah, Sherri and I are okay. Her studio's still doing fine, and with her most recent 'vision trip' to Barbados she forgot she was even mad at me." Brett nodded toward his sister, happily entertaining the kids in the yard.

"Good, I hate when you two squabble." She nodded. "So, I suppose you're going to introduce us to Bandit's mother now?"

"As usual, you know exactly what I'm planning." Brett said as he opened the door.

A few moments later they were standing beside Chris. Brett politely cleared his throat, causing Chris to turn to him. "Hey Chris, I wanted to introduce my parents, Dale and Sue."

"Hello Chris, pleasure to meet you." Sue shook her hand, "Sue Hanley, Brett's mum."

"Nice to meet you, Sue."

"Dale Hanley, as you might've guessed I'm the father." Dale gestured to himself before shaking Chris' hand.

After a moment of silence Brett cleared his throat again, "Well, I'll leave you guys to talk…" He awkwardly backed away, making finger guns as he quickly slipped into the crowd of other family members.

After another moment Chris spoke, "So, Brett seems nice… Bandit and him really have hit it off."

"Surprisingly, yes." Dale commented watching as Brett stood beside his beau at the barbecue. "After what happened with Sara I figured he'd be on his own."

"I thought the same with Bandit, he and Chilli were so close."

After a pause Sue spoke, "Okay, I'm just going to say it, we're all thinking it, did you think he'd end up with a guy?"

Chris chuckled, "Honestly, I wasn't sure. When he was younger there were a few boys he seemed awfully close to, but when he met Chilli he only ever had eyes for her." She paused, looking at the two men standing close, "But they do make a cute couple, I must admit. What about you two, did you ever suspect Brett?"

"Not really, at first I thought he'd end up just staying single his entire life." Sue commented, "He didn't even date until he was thirty, and even then it was only because he knew I was getting desperate for grandkids."

"There was no way Sherri was ever having any." Dale added. "She'd sworn that off as soon as she realized how much time and energy kids needed. She's a great aunt, but she'd never want to be a parent full-time."

"I thought the same thing of my oldest Rad." Chris indicated a blue and red Heeler standing beside a woman with a newborn, "But Frisky managed to nail him down and they're parents now. He's taken to it like a fish to water, far as we can tell."

"How many grandkids do you have? I see a few recent additions." Dale asked, noting the two women with young pups.

"Six. Bluey's the oldest, then Bingo, then Muffin, then Socks, and Motley and Robby are our almost twins."

"Almost twins?" Sue asked.

"Believe it or not they were born on the same day, though Motley's Stripe's boy and Robby's Radley's." She pointed out her sons and grandsons.

"Wow! They are almost twins." Dale remarked, "My sister has two boys on the same day, but three years apart, but I've never heard of cousins born on the same day. Must've been a riot."

"Oh you wouldn't believe it, let me tell you about it…" She was interrupted by a shout from the yard.

"WATER FIGHT!" Baxter yelled as he shot Bandit in the back of the head with a squirt gun. Bandit sputtered before he got a devious grin.

The blue heeler turned to his boyfriend who was standing beside the barbecue grill. "Brett! I think you know what this means…"

Brett pulled a bucket from under the table beside them; it was full of water balloons.

"Uh-oh." Baxter's eyes grew wide as he turned and ran toward the other kids armed with water guns.

Ten seconds later a full-out water war had broken out between the two men and most of the kids, laughter resounding through the yard as some others dodged out of the way to attempt to stay dry.

Dale and Sue chuckled as Brett supplied Bandit with a few balloons that he tossed at the kids. "Yeah, they do make a nice couple." Sue smiled.

"Definitely." Dale concluded.

***The Mothers***

It was later in the afternoon when Trixie's phone beeped. "Oh, looks like it's time." She glanced over at Stripe, who was busy playing with Motley on a blanket under the shade of the Poinciana tree. The father relished time with his youngest, finally having a boy to play with. "Hon, it's three."

"Feeding time. Gotcha." Stripe picked up the tot and carefully carried him over to Trixie. "You got your swaddler?"

"Yeah, it's in the bag somewhere…" Trixie rooted through the diaper bag before producing a cloth device. "Here, hand 'im over, I'll get him in." Stripe complied and a moment later Trixie had Motley in place and covered him with the cloth.

"You need anything else?"

"Nah, I'm good for a bit. Maybe Frisky and I'll talk for a bit while the little ones eat." Trixie nodded toward Frisky, who was rooting through her own diaper bag as Rad held Robby.

"Alright, you need anything, let me know." Stripe kissed his wife, then patted his son's forehead before returning to the group of men chatting by the barbecue grill.

A moment later Rad walked past, also returning to the men. Trixie looked over, but Frisky had disappeared. Taking one hand to support Motley as he nursed she got up and walked into the house. She found Frisky by the microwave, testing a bottle on her forearm.

"Alright mate, looks good. Eat up!" Frisky offered Robby the bottle, and soon a hungry sucking began.

"Hey Frisky, you disappeared there for a second." Trixie said, startling the woman.

"Oh! Cheese and crackers! Sorry Trix, you startled me." Frisky gently rocked Robby as he drank.

"Everything alright?" Trixie asked, sensing that something was troubling the younger woman.

"Yeah, everything's fine…" Frisky said, waving her hand to try and dismiss the concern.

Trixie raised an eyebrow, "Frisky, I have two daughters who are constantly breaking things and trying to hide it, I know when someone's lying. What's going on?"

Frisky sighed, "It's fine Trix, I'm okay, really."

Trixie glanced at Robby as he finished half the bottle, "He's a hungry one, eh?"

"Constantly. According to Chris Rad was the same way."

Trixie grinned at the small pup. "Wonder if he'll end up as tall as his father?"

"I hope not. I'd like to not be the shortest one in my family."

"Well, either way, it looks like you're doing a great job." Trixie said.

It was at that moment that Frisky burst into tears, sliding down the cabinet to the floor as she continued to hold Robby. "No, I'm not!"

"What?" Trixie asked, startled at the sudden crying.

"I'm not a doing a great job! I'm a terrible mother, Trix! I mean, look at me, I'm bottle feeding! I keep trying and trying, but I just can't get Robby to latch. And even when he does I don't make enough…" She was on the verge of hysterics.

Trixie sighed and smiled as she rocked Motley, slowly sitting down on the kitchen floor to meet Frisky's tear-filled eyes. She looked at the tear-stained muzzle and gently lifted it to face her own eyes. "Frisky, you are a good mother. Bottle or breastfeeding, it doesn't make that much of a difference." Frisky snorted, "Listen to me, Muffin was bottle fed, and Socks was breastfed. They both turned out fine. I'm doing a mix with Motley.

Frisky sucked in through her nose, "But all the other moms in my mom group-"

"Ah, that's enough." Trixie cut her off, "They are not your child's mother. No one has the right to tell you what you're doing is wrong as long as you're trying your best to make sure your child is happy, healthy, and well-adjusted." She paused looking down at the happy tot finished his bottle. He was cooing in his mother's arms, trying to reach up and grab her hair, "And as far as I can tell, right now Robby is doing just fine."

"But what about all the stupid mistakes I keep making?" Frisky paused, "Yesterday I was going to change him but I forgot to put on his nappy after I cleaned him up. He ended up peeing all over the nursery floor and I had to scrub it all out… I can't even do the basic stuff right, what about when he starts walking or talking? God, I'm gonna end up screwing him up or something!"

"You know how many mistakes I made with Muffin? Or Socks?" Trixie smirked, "Ask any parent, kids, they're a challenge. You'll make mistakes, but as long as you try your best to love your kids and make sure they're okay, it'll work out."

Frisky smiled, "Yeah, I suppose you're right."

"Good." Trixie nodded, "And if anyone starts that shit again with you, calling you a bad mother, send them my way, I'll tell them to fuck right off."

"Trix!"

"What, just saying. I'm spoiling for a fight, I'm out of commission for field hockey for a while and I need something to do." She shrugged as Frisky chuckled.

"Thanks." Frisky sniffled as she wiped away her tears.

"You're welcome." Trixie offered Frisky a hand and the two stood up, "Now, let's get back to the party, I can't imagine what the kids have managed to get up to while we've been busy."

***The Fathers***

Rad returned to the other fathers as Frisky went into the house to warm up Robby's formula. Stripe and Brett were discussing a cricket game from the day before while Bandit rotated some sausages on the grill. He inhaled, mentally steadying himself. Okay Rad, no shame in asking your little brothers for help… Even if they are your little brothers and they've been looking up to you their whole lives, you can totally ask them for help. He growled to himself. Come on Rad, man up!

"Rad, everything okay mate?" Stripe asked.

Oh shit. I think he heard my growl. "Um…" He paused, closing his eyes as he blurted, "Okay, how do I make sure I don't fuck up my kid?" He asked, clearly nervous about having to now raise a newborn.

"Well, as far as I can tell he seems fine so far…" Stripe commented, having seen that Robby was just fine when he was sleeping in his cot earlier.

"No, I mean… How do I do this whole 'parenting' thing? I mean, God, how do you guys do it? I have no idea what the fuck I'm doing and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna screw this kid up! What's the right way to do it?"

Bandit, Brett, and Stripe exchanged a look.

"Rad, there really isn't a 'right way' to be a parent…" Bandit began.

Rad scoffed, "Easy for you to say, look at your kids, they're perfect! You're practically father of the year."

"I'm going to choose to ignore that comment because you're stressed." Stripe remarked before he continued, "Like Bandit said, there really isn't a right way. What's right for Muffin isn't what's right for Bingo, even if they're almost the same age."

"But all of your kids are great!" Rad said to both his brothers, tugging on his ear before he turned back to Bandit, "Even after everything that happened you somehow manage to meet a guy who's got his own kids and they all get along really well!" He gestured to Brett.

"Well, admittedly that was just good luck and a bit of shared trauma…" Brett stated.

"But in any case, there really isn't a 'right way' to be a parent." Bandit restated.

Rad irritably sighed, "Okay, there isn't a right way, fine. What the hell am I supposed to do?"

"Just try your best." Stripe said as he sipped his beer.

Rad scowled.

"Let me finish…" Stripe defended, "Look, chances are you will inevitably fuck up the kid a bit, but the point is to try and help as much as you can, and along the way your kid will figure out some stuff, but most of it is up to you guiding them."

"So, what, I'm just supposed to sit back and let him do whatever?"

"No, not at first, at least." Brett commented. "You have to teach them and help them figure out what's right and wrong, get them through the basics, then you gradually give them more chances to try stuff on their own. They'll make mistakes and learn from them, and you'll help guide them along the way."

"Just think about mum and dad." Bandit added, "When we were kids we didn't get to do everything right away, we had to earn it. Same thing here, kids earn the right to do things and make mistakes. When they do mess up, talk with them and figure out how to move on. Don't necessarily fix it for them, but offer help."

"Yeah, it's basically Vygotsky's zone of proximal development, just remember that and you'll be fine." Stripe said as he waved his hand.

The other three men blinked.

"What?" Bandit asked flatly.

"What? Did none of you guys take child rearing classes before having kids?"

"Not with that in it, no." Brett replied.

"Me neither mate."

"No, given that I was on an oil rig up until I was reassigned last month, I didn't have the luxury." Rad rolled his eyes.

"Anyway, Vygotsky came up with this zone of proximal development, ZPD for short. Basically it talks about how to teach kids new things. First you model it for them. You show them how to do it. Then you do it together with them. Finally, the kid gets to try it on their own, with you there to check in or support as needed."

"That sounds like it could work." Rad remarked.

"But so far you're doing fine, you're keeping Robby's best interests in mind and he seems happy and healthy." Bandit concluded, "Just keep that up and try that thing that Stripe talked about and he should be fine."

"And remember, we're always available to talk." Brett said, putting an arm on Rad's shoulder, "If you ever need advice or help, we're here for you."

"Okay, thanks guys."

"No problem, mate." Bandit smiled, "Now, who wants sausages?"

***The Announcement***

It was as everyone was sitting down for food that Brett and Bandit stood up at the end of the table.

"Attention everyone, Bandit and I have an announcement." Brett said, his tail wagging furiously.

"We're engaged!" Bandit grinned as he placed his arm around Brett's shoulder.

"Congratulations!" Frisky clapped.

"I knew it!" Trixie nodded.

"Good choice son!" Dale shouted over the clapping.

"He's a keeper!" Sue added, smiling.

"Rad better not be best man again…" Stripe teased.

"It was only a pool! No one else even got wet!" Rad huffed.

"Thank you." Bandit smiled, "So, we decided that we want to keep our wedding small."

"Given that this is both our second marriages, and we have kids, we want it to be something a bit more intimate." Brett added.

"We want to make sure we can share it with all of you, and we can't wait to tell you more."

"But we haven't planned anything yet, well, not really, anyway." Brett grinned sheepishly.

And so the day continued: two men and their families celebrating a hope for a bright future.

***Author's Note***

Hello everyone! Two more chapters left! After that I'm going to be making a sequel series that's mostly going to be one-shots related to the characters throughout a few years after this one. Thanks again for the readings and reviews!