Chapter 16: The Blending
Families are complicated.
No matter who you are, or where you are, you have a family. Some family is biological. Your parents, siblings, and blood relatives are all connected to you through genetics, for better or worse. But more often, the most powerful family bonds are those established through choice. People choose to love each other and get married. People choose to start again, even when it hurts. People choose to show love, even when they're broken and alone. People choose to do more than they thought possible because they want someone else to be happy. That's what family is all about. It's about doing more, not on your own, but together. For the Heelers and Hanleys their new family had a few steps ahead of them before they were all together.
Bandit rolled over and watched Brett's chest rising and falling steadily in the morning sunlight. It was almost nine, an unheard of time for him to just waking up, if not for the current circumstances. Bandit scratched the back of Brett's neck, hearing a faint whine from the red heeler. I wonder if my voice is still raspy? Chilli had always been a fan of his voice first thing in the mornings. "Hey babe…" Yes, it is raspy.
Brett rolled over, a bemused smile on his face. "Mornin' Ban. What's with the Hemsworth voice?"
Bandit chuckled, immediately losing the little rasp he had, "Aw, damnit. You made me lose it."
Brett raised an eyebrow, "Well, maybe I can make it up to you?"
Bandit looked down at the sheets, noticing a small bump where there hadn't been one before. "You can try…"
Brett rolled his eyes as he kissed his husband on the forehead, leaving the bed to get a drink.
"You are such a tease!" Bandit huffed in false irritation.
"Damn right. Have to keep you on your toes somehow." Brett smirked.
Bandit sighed as he got out of bed. Their hotel room was gorgeous, and even better was the fact that they'd gotten a whole four days away from everyone for their honeymoon. I mean, we still check in with the kids twice a day, and mum and everyone's called at least once besides, but it's still been mostly just us… He joined Brett at the balcony, drinking some juice from the complimentary beverage cooler.
"Well, we go back tomorrow." Brett remarked, looking out at the ocean.
"Yeah." Bandit nodded. "This was nice, but I do miss the kids."
"I'm looking forward to going home too."
Bandit paused, a thought stirring in his mind a moment before he spoke. "Speaking of home, what are we going to do about that…" The two had acknowledged that there were some issues to resolve on their return, one of which was the problem of living arrangements.
Brett paused, "Well, given that we are married it makes sense that we should live together." He paused, "Not to impose, but with the rebuilding your home is larger, and would be more suited to fitting everyone."
"I was actually thinking the same thing…" Bandit smiled, "Besides, it's sort of romantic, you built it for me and all."
***BCH***
It took some doing but the Hanleys successfully moved into the Heeler family home. Brett got settled in the master suite along with Bandit, his office joining Bandit's in the room next door. The spare bedroom was converted into Bradley's room, with the toddler's ever growing collection of stuffed toys and blocks spilling out of every corner. The older boys and girls ended up sharing the large room. Bingo didn't mind her bed sliding slightly closer to Bluey's, it was like before. The boys then had the other half of the room, the four of them content at having a large space they could share.
"I like it! It's like we're always having a sleepover." Bentley commented when he'd gotten all his things set up.
"Yeah!" Bluey replied, her tail wagging, "And we can always slide the wall over if we need secret girl time."
"Why would you need secret girl time?" Baxter asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Wouldn't you like to know." Bingo sing-songed, before giggling.
Pictures and belongings were spread throughout the house, and within a few weeks it was hard to tell that the two families hadn't always been together. There was, however, one issue still to deal with. Bradley was talking.
Normally, a child talking is a great thing. Bradley had been a bit late to start speaking, and most of his first words were things-ball, drink, and food being his first three words-he didn't start with people until one afternoon when he was sitting in his highchair while Bandit was feeding him. The small pup looked at the man and moved his muzzle like he was trying to get a bunch of marbles out of the way. It's cute how he scrunches his face up when he thinks. Bandit thought.
"Dada."
Bandit blinked. "Bradley, what did you say?"
"Dada!" He happily clapped as he looked at Bandit.
Bandit beamed, "Brett! Get down here!" He yelled to his husband.
"Ban, I'm in the middle of a work call!" Brett yelled back, covering his phone as he shouted out of the office upstairs.
"Bradley's learned a new word!"
"Down in a minute!"
A minute later all the rest of the family surrounded the high chair as Bradley continued babbling. "Dada, dada, dada…" All the while looking at Bandit, then turning to Brett he continued. "Dada, dada…"
"Oh, this is going to get confusing." Brett said.
"Huh, I never thought of this…" Bandit admitted.
"Well, he can't call both of you dad." Bluey commented.
"Maybe one of you can be dad and the other can be daddy." Bingo suggested.
"Bandit could be daddy." Baxter said, looking over at the blue heeler. "I'm pretty sure dad calls him that sometimes."
Both men immediately blushed.
"Nah, it's too babyish. If we start calling him something instead of Bandit, it's not going to be daddy." Bentley shot down.
"Can we call our dad 'dad' and your dad 'pop'?" Bluey asked.
"I could handle that. You okay with that Bax?"
Baxter nodded in agreement. "I could live with that, right pop?"
"I guess I'm pop now." Brett replied.
"And you're dad." Bingo pointed at her father.
"Now we've just got to teach Bradley." Bluey noted as the toddler continued babbling, happy to be surrounded by his family.
***The End***
And that is the end! Thanks again everyone! Here's a preview of coming attractions in our sequel series:
1) "Bluey! You need to pick, your siblings or us!" Chloe shouted, her arms crossed.
"We're tired of you always picking them." Mackenzie added, grumbling as he looked at his paws.
2) Motley stood petrified.
"Oh my god! His tail fell off!" A girl huskie screamed. Soon most of the other children were similarly frightened and backing away.
"No, I, no…" Motley stuttered, backing away as he grabbed the fake tail off the floor and tried to repin it onto his uniform.
3) "Alright, just hop in." Stripe splashed the water in the shallow end. It was barely two feet deep. Far shallower than his height, but that didn't make it any easier.
"No." He shook his head vigorously as he sat on the water's edge.
"I know it's uncomfortable being without your prosthetics, but I promise I'm here for you."
4) "So, wait, is Jesus gluten free?" Bingo asked.
5) "Responsibility?" Socks asked.
"Yeah, responsibility." Muffin echoed. "Since you're not the youngest you've got to be responsible now."
"But you're not responsible."
"Quiet you."
6) "I like it." Frisky said, looking out the second story window. It was a nice view of a park across the street. While the house was quite a bit smaller than either of his brother's, Rad agreed, it was a nice house.
7) "…which is why we're banned at the roller rink." Frisky concluded.
"Okay, so where can we have it?" Trixie asked as she crossed another place off the list.
8) "And this is my dad, and this is my other dad, Brett." Bluey pointed to the two men sitting beneath the shade of a large tree. "And you know Bingo, I think. Did I introduce you last time?"
9) "I never like May much." Baxter sighed as he looked at the pink card he'd chosen.
"I know it hurts a bit, but it's important." Bentley reassured his brother. "C'mon, the girls are waiting."
I should be working on those chapters starting in a week or so. Keep your eyes peeled!
