It wasn't very long after Bingo's funeral, Muffin sat by herself and wondered about everything that happened. "Bingo was in the box and mum said Bingo would never wake up again, then the box was buried, will we really never see Bingo again?" The small blue heeler had an understanding of death, but she still struggled to grasp the finality of it all and how it would affect her as well. "Mum?" She asked her mother who was sitting next to her. Trixie set her book in her lap and looked at Muffin "Yes Muffles?" Muffin stayed quiet for a few seconds as if thinking about how to ask the question "Will….Bingo get better?" Trixie was saddened by the question, not only was Bingo's death hard on Chilli and Bandit, it was hard on her and Stripe too, not just because she was their niece but because their own kids were close in age to Bingo. "No sweetie" she knew Muffin wouldn't fully understand from the first time she had attempted to explain it. "You see, it's like she went to sleep forever because her body wouldn't work anymore" Muffin had tilted her head in confusion and raised an eyebrow "But, why can't the doctors help her? Didn't you say doctors make everything better?" Trixie bit her lip, "How exactly does someone define death?" She sighed and pulled Muffin closer to her "Well, for the most part, doctors can fix many things, but sometimes things happen to our bodies and doctors can't do anything." She pondered about a way to make things easier for Muffin "When our bodies can't work anymore, we die" Muffin looked at one of her battery operated toys on the floor "Like when a toy gets broken?" Trixie nodded "Kind of….like that time when dad's phone fell into the pool"
Muffin remembered her crazy antics from when she wanted to draw a cowboy hat but was ultimately put on time out for her disobedience. She sighed "So…is Bwuey all alone?" Trixie scratched her head "Well, your aunt Chilli said she was alone for a while, but she's playing and talking with her friends to make herself feel happier" after a few moments of silence Stripe entered the room with Socks in his arms, the two would sit on the couch next to Trixie and Muffin. "Dad?" Muffin looked at Stripe with a distressed look on her face, Stripe turned to look at her and answer her question "Yeah mate?" Once again she wasn't sure how to ask the question but decided anyway "One day, will Nana…die?" Stripe and Trixie gave each other a concerned look "Um…yeah" Muffin moved closer to Stripe "And Grandpa Bob?" Stripe nodded his head, this conversation made him uncomfortable, but he knew there was no point in lying "Yes, Grandpa Bob too" Muffin had a worried look on her face as she grabbed Stripe's arm and pulled herself closer to him "But…if they die, what about you and mum?" Stripe knew the conversation was headed there, and that there was no avoiding it. Trixie grabbed his hand and looked him in the eyes then gave him a reassuring look, she spoke so Stripe wouldn't have to "Yes Muffin, one day your father and I will both have to die" "I'm afraid everyone will have to one day Muffles" Stripe added they had hoped to wait a few years before they had the conversation about death, but with the events surrounding Bingo they knew that it was quickly approaching. Muffin backed up a bit "B-but I don't want you to die!" Socks looked at her older sister with confusion and concern "I know Muffin but we can't-'' Muffin's eyes began to water "I want you to stay with me…forever!" Trixie grabbed her older daughter and pulled her into a tight hug "I know Muffin"she sniffled "And we want to be with you forever, we love you and your sister so much" Muffin looked at Socks who only had a look of worry "But we will be here for you, for as long as we can" Stripe smiled at her to calm her down. Muffin sighed and hugged Socks, who smiled and hugged her back. She wasn't sure what the conversation was about but she was concerned about how Muffin felt about things, while it wasn't as obvious as the relationship Bluey and Bingo once had, Muffin and Socks were just as close as Bluey and Bingo were with each other.
"I don't know how to feel though" Muffin said after she managed to calm down. "What do you mean?" Trixie asked as she raised an eyebrow. Muffin looked to the ground "I mean, I'm sad I'll never get to play with Bingo again, and I'm sad that you'll die one day, but it also makes me mad, and scared" Stripe set his hand on her head "Ah, that's okay" she looked at him, not really understanding what he meant "We all feel that way at times, especially when something like this happens, and it's okay to feel what you feel" Trixie nodded while looking at her book "It made me very sad, Aunt Chilli wouldn't stop crying when she told me what happened, and she said Uncle Bandit was very mad. Then she said Bluey was scared and sad and wouldn't talk to anybody at first" Trixie had a sad look on her face as she recalled the events "I was mainly sad thought because Bingo didn't get to live a very long life here" A tear went down her cheek as she closed her eyes "A sweet child such as her should never have to die so young" Muffin and Socks both hugged their mother "Please don't cry mum" Muffin buried her face in Trixie's chest "I-if you cry…then dad and Socks will cry" She was trying to hide the fact that she too was already crying. "Speak for yourself Muffles, I know what you're doing" Stripe chuckled, but Muffin was right he was also shedding a few tears at the thought of Bingo. Seeing everyone else cry made Socks begin to join them "D-dont cry Muffin '' she spoke quietly to her older sister. The four of them had mourned Bingo together. "I don't think Bingo would want us to be sad when we remember things about her'' Stripe told the other three. Trixie shook her head and corrected him "It's fine to be sad dear, we just shouldn't be sad about it forever"
After a few days had passed the two parents decided to bring their children over to Bluey, just in case she'd felt lonely. The two were happy to see Bluey and she was happy to see them as well, Bandit was at work and Chilli had been sitting quietly in her kitchen watching the three while Trixie had approached her, she seemed distracted by her thoughts to notice Trixie at first. "What's eating ya?" Trixie sat next to her and gave her a friendly smile. Chilli was a bit surprised but quickly turned and gave a smile to Trixie "Oh…uh, nothing much" she glanced back to the table where she was sitting, she was clearly upset and not doing a very good job at hiding it. "Chilli, we've known each other long enough for me to know something is bothering you" She looked at her sister-in-law with concern "Please, tell me?" Chilli sighed and closed her eyes "All right Trix" she placed her hands together in front of her face then inhaled "It's…hard you know? I just get depressed thinking about how Bingo isn't here anymore" Trixie had correctly assumed that's what was making Chilli upset, she remained quiet to allow Chilli to continue "I mean, she was my baby" Chilli's lip quivered at the thought "And she was only five years old" tears welled up in her eyes "I just want her back with us" Trixie pulled her into a hug "Let it all out hun…" Chilli sobbed "And I get so emotional, I've snapped at Bandit and my own dad…almost snapped at Brandy" Trixie petted Chilli on her back "I know how you feel" Chilli gently pushed herself away from Trixie, she had an annoyed look on her face "YOU KNOW?! HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY KNOW?!" Tears streamed down Chilli's face "YOU CAN'T KNOW BECAUSE YOU STILL HAVE BOTH OF YOUR DAUGHTERS! HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF MUFFIN PUSHED SOCKS AND-" Chilli stopped herself from finishing the sentence, in her heart she almost said something horrible. She wouldn't wish that pain on Trixie, who had been her good friend for a very long time. She expected Trixie to be furious with her, maybe even walk away and leave with her children, she feared that she would have ruined an amazing friendship. However all she saw was tears in Trixie's eyes as Trixie stood up and pulled Chilli into a tighter hug "You're right Chilli, I'm sorry" Chilli hugged her back and sighed "No, no I never should've said that" she sniffled "I love Muffin and Socks and you loved Bingo, I would never want anything to happen to them" Trixie smiled "I know" she wiped her tears away then looked Chilli in the eyes "Vent to me all you want, but you have to agree to still be the best mother for Bluey" Chilli nodded, despite the pain and sadness, she still had one other child to love "Of course, after all I know how it hurts just as bad to lose a mother, and she needs me now more than ever"
Bluey was playing in the backyard with Muffin and Socks, the three girls were playing butterflies since it was Bluey's way of honoring her sister. Socks had climbed into the fabric swing while Bluey and Muffin hid behind the shed "Are you sure you want to play this?" Muffin asked while the two waited for Socks to emerge from the swing. "Why not?" Bluey was slightly confused at the question. Muffin scratched her head "Well, it doesn't make you sad about Bingo?" Bluey smiled and shook her head "Not really, I feel like she would be happy to see that I'm still having fun and not being sad all the time" Muffin thought about it for a second "Maybe she would be" Socks walked towards Muffin and Bingo's direction while flapping her arms "Flap flap flap" Socks repeated the word as she slowly approached. Muffin jumped behind socks and quickly ran towards her "Butterfly!" Socks sprinted as fast as her little legs would go until she saw Bluey jump out in front of her "Aha!" Socks gasped in surprise and crashed into Bluey, causing the two of them to fall over backwards "Are you alright Socks?" asked Bluey as she looked at her smaller cousin. "Yeah, I'm fine" Socks nodded and smiled at Bluey. "BUTTERFLYYYYY!" Muffin yelled as she jumped onto the other two and capturing Socks. The three girls laughed together until they heard yelling coming from the Heeler kitchen "YOU STILL HAVE BOTH OF YOUR DAUGHTERS! HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF MUFFIN PUSHED SOCKS AND-" they heard Chilli yelling about something. While Muffin and Socks weren't sure what Chilli was talking about, Bluey quickly figured out what Chilli was referring to.
Bluey stood up and looked towards their house, she had a saddened look on her face after hearing her mother's words, even if Chilli was correct, it still stung to hear. She walked slowly over to the side of the house,and stood under the clothesline "Are you okay?" Muffin asked with deep concern in her voice "I just…need a minute" Bluey responded. "Pssst" a voice spoke from behind the wall. Muffin and Socks walked over to where they heard the voice and they were greeted by a familiar labrador retriever "She's not okay you know?" Chucky spoke to Muffin, without looking away from his toys in front of him. "What are you talking about?" Muffin questioned. Chucky let out a low chuckle "You know she killed Bingo? She said it was an accident, but I think she meant to" Muffin raised an eyebrow "Why do you think she meant to?" Chucky looked up at Muffin "She had an argument with Bingo earlier that day, then she pushed Bingo into the way of my dad's car" Muffin was starting to get annoyed "Were you there when it happened? Did you see her push Bingo?" Chucky was unprepared for those questions, nobody else seemed this defensive when he mentioned this before "W-well no but…" Muffin raised herself a bit "Then you shouldn't say things about her!" Chucky had to think for a second, this small heeler before him had derailed his entire train of thought "Well she admitted to it! Askher and she'll tell you!" Muffin was not deterred by his words "Even if she did, you think she doesn't feel bad enough?" She seemed to grow angrier by the second "DO YOU JUST WANT HER TO FEEL WORSE? ARE YOU SOME KIND OF HORRIBLE PERSON THAT JUST WANTS HER TO CRY?!" Socks was also annoyed by Chucky's actions "Leave Bluey alone!" Chucky quickly stood up and backed away "I…you just…" Chucky couldn't find the words to say and simply ran inside his home. While he had messed with others such as Judo and Bluey herself, his words seemed to have no effect on Muffin and Socks, not only was this the first time did he fail to convince someone of Bluey since the incident, this was also the first time he felt flustered by someone else's words. "I'm…I'm not a horrible person….Bluey is…she's the murderer" he muttered to himself.
"Can you believe that guy Socks?" Muffin looked at her younger sister who simply shrugged "She has weird neighbors" Socks replied and returned to the fabric swing. Bluey walked over to the two confused "I heard shouting, is everything okay?" Muffin pointed towards the Labrador retriever's home "The kid over there was talking about you" Bluey sighed, she knew instantly that Muffin was referring to Chucky "Oh…him, he used to be my friend, but after everything that happened he doesn't like me anymore" she looked to the ground and rubbed her arm. "But if everyone else knows what happened, why does he want people to dislike you so much?" asked Muffin. "He's still sad about everything that happened, and he doesn't want to let things go. But, I keep trying to get through to my brother" a voice approached them, it was Lucky alongside Judo. "Another one?!" exclaimed Socks as she jumped down from the swing and growled at the older brother, Lucky raised his hands above his head as his eyes widened. "Socks wait, he isn't being mean to be, he's Lucky and he's with…" Bluey's eyes slowly trailed to a Judo who stood silently behind Lucky and looked back at Bluey "...Judo" Bluey still remembered the events of Judo telling Bluey's friends of her actions, which would lead to them isolating her until she broke down in front of them all.
Judo gave Bluey an awkward smile "H-hi Bluey" Bluey just rolled her eyes and looked at Lucky "You said he's sad?" Lucky nodded "I think for him everything just happened so fast, if you remember, he had a crush on Bingo then she died" Muffin looked confused at his words "He had a crush on Bingo? Then why is he being mean to Bwuey?" Lucky shrugged "All he talks about is the note our dad left, he says Bluey should pay for hurting Bingo. He said he wants to find some way to make her feel pain ""Why would your dad's note make him mean?" asked Socks. Lucky looked a bit depressed and sighed "Well…our dad's car hit Bingo, then Bingo died. Dad wasn't the same after that, he said Bingo haunted his dreams, then when he stopped sleeping he just looked worse. Then in his note he said he started seeing Bingo while he was awake and that she wanted him to…" Lucky clenched his fist, the thought of what he would say always unnerved him "He said Bingo wanted him to kill me" Bluey gasped at this revelation "But that's just because he was sleepy right?" Lucky shook his head "He…killed himself on the day of Bingo's funeral" Lucky closed his eyes "He was protecting me from himself '' Judo looked at him and placed her hand on his shoulder "So Chucky was right all along? Buey did push Bingo" before Lucky could answer Bluey snapped at Judo "YES, I KILLED BINGO! IS THAT WHAT YOU WANTED TO HEAR?! THAT I MURDERED MY OWN LITTLE SISTER WITH MY TWO HANDS?" Judo backed up in fear, she didn't mean to make Bluey upset again, yet she had.
Socks quickly ran to her older cousin and hugged her "But, if it's true, why don't you hate Bluey? Judo asked Lucky. Lucky let out a long sigh and stared at the ground "Because Bluey and Chucky have every right to hate me" This statement made the four girls both shocked and confused "What do you mean?" Bluey questioned, she looked at Lucky with a raised eyebrow. Lucky sat on the grass beneath him and spoke without looking at anyone "You see, my family went to the park early in the day. Chucky and I were playing with my flying disc, then Chucky had managed to drop a drawing he made. The drawing was of him and Bingo with a love heart, this was how I found out that Chucky had a crush on Bingo. While we talked about it I had completely forgotten about the disc and only remembered when we arrived home. Then I asked dad if he could get it from the park, so he agreed. After a few hours our mum tells us something happened with dad and Bingo, then much later dad finally comes home and he looks horrible. He doesn't say a word for a few minutes and he just cries, then finally he tells us that his car hit Bingo, that she died in the hospital." Chucky's eyes watered and his lip quivered "Then later I found my disc…under dad's seat. I don't know how it got there…or who put it there. If I had just checked for it myself" he began to sob "If I never asked dad to go back to the park…Bingo would still be here. Dad, would still be here" Lucky began to bawl "I'm sorry Bluey, I'm so sorry" Muffin and Socks looked at each other, then looked at Lucky "It's not entirely your fault" Bluey spoke as she placed her hand on his back "I really did push Bingo in the way, so I'm just as guilty" Judo looked at her friends "The two of you handled things bad, but that doesn't mean you are bad people" she walked over to Bluey and grabbed her hand "And we can't undo the things that happened, or else we wouldn't be talking about them now" she grabbed Lucky's hand with her other hand, then put Bluey's hand in Lucky's. "Everyone does something that makes themselves upset" she grabbed Socks's hand, causing Socks to look at her confused "And even though our hearts are breaking because we lost something…"she grabbed Muffin's hand and placed it in Socks's "We need to move onward and live the best lives we can" Finally, she joined Bluey's other hand with Muffin's other, Socks's with her own, and Lucky's other hand with her other hand, the five of them were now in a circle "Things will get tough, and we may want to give up, but we have to be strong" she turned her head towards Bluey "For Bingo" she then turned her head towards Lucky "and for Pat as well" Bluey and Lucky smiled at Judo"And that's what my mum says when she has a tough day" she smiled triumphantly as she finished. "Well that was cheesy" Muffin spoke as she pulled her hands away from the group "But…she's right" Socks added. "Thanks Judo, also I'm sorry for making your mum mad at you" Bluey said looking at Judo. Judo smiled back at her "Nah it was my fault, I should've did what you said and gone to sleep, besides mum just wouldn't let me use the tablet for the weekend, nothing too serious" Lucky looked over at Muffin "This may sound a bit odd, but thanks for making my brother back off. I told him before to leave Bluey alone but he wouldn't listen" Muffin smiled and nodded "Bwuey's my cousin, and mum and dad say don't let anyone be mean to family" Muffin took a proud stance.
Lucky walked closer to Bluey and Judo before being interrupted "Lucky! Time to go!" Janelle had yelled from their home. "Oh, are you going somewhere?" Bluey asked out of curiosity. Lucky nodded "Yeah, going to visit my grandparents for a few weeks while my mum does some stuff for her job" Judo looked a bit sad upon hearing this "I always get bored when you or Bluey are gone" she rubbed her arm. "Why? Don't you see them everyday?" Socks asked, not knowing Judo's situation. Judo shook her head "Not really, it's a bit hard to explain but my mum and dad don't really live together, so sometimes I stay with my dad and other times I stay with my mum, like now" Lucky began to walk away causing Judo to sigh "Bluey's usually at school or visiting her friends, and she hasn't come outside much since Bingo died, so when Bluey and Lucky are gone I have nothing to look forward to" she then mumbled "Though, I guess with the kind of friend I've been, they don't look forward to seeing me" Muffin tilted her head "If they don't look forward to seeing you, then why is he just standing right behind you?" Muffin pointed behind Judo. Judo turned around in confusion "Huh?" Lucky had been standing behind Judo and once she turned to look at him, he pulled her closer and placed a smoochy kiss on her lips. Judo, Bluey, and Muffin were all surprised by this sudden actions of the labrador retriever, Socks on the other hand watched as her irises expanded "OOOOHHH~" Socks usually smiled when she saw her parents smoochy kiss, now she was excited to see it happen with someone else. Lucky broke away and smiled with a blush "L-Lucky! What?!" Judo was too surprised to speak properly. "I always look forward to seeing you Judo" Lucky gave her a wink and ran off to his home to join his mum and brother. Judo stood in shock, but a small blush formed on her face. "I…uh…" After Bluey recollected her thoughts, she smirked "Judo and Lucky, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-" Judo quickly placed her hands over Bluey's mouth, her blush had become more apparent "Bluey, please be quiet!" Muffin looked disgusted "That's so gross! Even when mum and dad do it!" Socks rolled her eyes at her sister's reaction "It's not gross, it's romance!"
The four girls laughed together, with any tension between Bluey and Judo gone now, they all decided to play games together as the time passed by. After a few hours had passed, Wendy would call Judo back home leaving only Bluey, Muffin, and Socks. "What should we do now?" Bluey asked the other two girls, she was out of ideas for what to play. Muffin shrugged "Mum put my cone of shame somewhere and I haven't been able to find it" Socks giggled, the sight of Muffin wearing the cone of shame had always made her laugh "Maybe we can watch cartoons?" Socks had inquired, she then yawned since she was a bit tired due to being younger and smaller than the other two. "Yeah alright, maybe something funny will be on." Bluey responded.
The three walked inside and passed the kitchen where Trixie and Chilli continued to have a conversation, Bluey stared at her mother, and within a few seconds Chilli stared back at her and gave her a warm smile. Bluey smiled back and wandered over to where Muffin and Socks had gone. Socks fell asleep on the kiwi rug and Muffin stared at the tv in front of her "Is Uncle Bandit coming home today?" she inquired, the three of them had not seen Bandit all day. Bluey shrugged "Sometimes he comes home while we are asleep, and other times he doesn't come home until the next morning" Bluey took the remote and flipped through the channels until they had reached a nature documentary, it wasn't cartoons but Muffin wasn't complaining. Muffin placed a small blanket over her sleeping sister "Do you get lonely without Bingo?" Bluey nodded "Yeah, I wish so much that I could hear her voice again" Muffin stared at Socks, she couldn't help but wonder about Bluey's thoughts since she, just like Bluey, is an older sister. "Bwuey, what's it like? To not have her here anymore?" Bluey sighed, thinking about it was not easy but she couldn't avoid it "I miss her everyday Muffin. At first I didn't want to believe that she was gone, I kept waking up and tried to believe that I'd see her down in the kitchen eating breakfast, or playing with mum and dad" she stared outside at some of Bingo's old toys "These past months have not been easy, mum and dad cry a lot because they miss Bingo, and I know what Judo said was true, but I still cant help but blame myself." Muffin looked sad by Bluey's words "Sometimes, all I see when I look in the mirror is a monster, and I want it to go away but…it just won't, now because of the monster I don't have a sister" Bluey teared up. Muffin hugged Bluey "If it makes you feel any better, I see you like an older sister" Muffin confided in Bluey "And I think Socks does too" she pointed at the sleeping Socks, who had a smile on her face. Bluey smiled and petted Socks on her head "Thanks Muffin, it really means a lot"
The two watched tv and conversed with each other for a few more hours until Trixie walked into the room where they were at "Muffin, Socks, time to go home" Muffin looked a bit sad and walked over to Socks "Mum, do we have to?" Trixie raised an eyebrow "Unfortunately we do, why do you ask?" she walked over to her snoring daughter. Muffin eyed at Bluey then looked back at her mother "I don't want her to be lonely" Trixie smiled at Muffin's kindness "That's very thoughtful Muffles" Bluey didn't want to be a lone either but she didn't want Muffin to argue with Trixie "It's alright Muffin, you and Socks could always come over to visit, like you usually do and we could always do faceytalk" Muffin nodded "Alright Bluey, I guess we could do that if you feel lonely" Muffin smiled and waved at Bluey as she walked alongside Trixie who was still carrying the sleeping Socks.
After the two said goodbye to Chilli and got in their car, Bluey sat alone with an ashamed look on her face. Chilli noticed and sat next to Bluey "What's wrong sweetie?" Bluey stayed quiet and didn't respond at all, Chilli found this to be odd "Bluey?" Bluey put her head in her hands "Mum, are you mad at me and just trying to hide it?" Chilli was a bit confused "About what dear?" Bluey still refused to move her head "About Bingo, and that I pushed her?" Chilli wasnt aware of why Bluey suddenly asked "No, I know it was an accident" Bluey turned her head away from Chilli "Then why? Why did you ask Aunt Trixie how she would feel if Muffin pushed Socks?" Chilli finally knew what Bluey was talking about, she didn't realize she was loud enough for Bluey to have overheard her, and that she may have made her daughter feel even worse "Bluey…I don't know what to say, I didn't mean it like that" Bluey stood up from the couch and began to walk away "Bluey wait please!" Chilli called out to her daughter "I didn't mean it like that!" Bluey stood in place for a second "I know mum, I know you still love me" Chilli grabbed Bluey's arm "I made a mistake, please sit with me?" Bluey pulled her arm away "Bad dogs like me don't deserve company, only loneliness" Chilli picked her daughter up "You aren't a bad dog, didn't Judo tell you that?" Bluey was a bit surprised that Chilli knew what Judo said earlier "How did you know?" Chill smiled and poked Bluey's nose "You're not the only one who overhears things sweetie" Bluey looked her mother in the eyes "But…what you said was true" Chilli sat down and set Bluey in her lap "Sometimes when adults are feeling sad they say things they dont mean" she rested her chin on Bluey's head "And I never meant to hurt you" Bluey hugged laid against Chilli "I accept your apology mum" Chilli kissed her head and held her close "I'll do my best to be like the mothers on there" She had pointed to the nature documentary that Bluey had set the tv to, it was of a mother Kangaroo carrying her young in her pouch "You want to put me in a pouch?!" Bluey asked. Chilli laughed at the question "No, I want to be the mum that makes sure that nothing is bothering her child, and keeps her child safe from anything and everything the best way that she can" Bluey watched the kangaroo on tv then smiled "I love you mum" Chilli felt happy that she had managed to calm Bluey down "I love you too, Bluey" the duo would stay on the couch until they managed to fall asleep together, Chilli would eventually get up and grab a blanket and cuddle with the smaller sleeping heeler "I'll always try to keep you safe, I promise" she kissed Bluey's head, causing Bluey to smile in her sleep, and slept with Bluey on the couch
A.N: I apologize for the delay, I decided to release chapters 11-15 all together this however did lead to writer's block that was brought on by unfortunate events, in the meantime I want to thank everyone who has gained interest in my story and I hope you all continue to read.