A/N: I kept my promise. This is probably the fastest update ever, and that's because I had a huge surge in motivation and a little free time. This chapter gets a bit direct, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless! I can't promise this update schedule will become regular, but expect slightly faster updates. We are now over halfway through "on a night under the shining stars" and I'm starting to create ideas for what's going to be a huge line of emotional gut punch chapters coming. We haven't seen the last of sadness. Chapter 16 or 17 will be the last of this 'mini-arc' before we start getting real close to Bluey's birth, and eventually Bingo, and the big fight. Get ready! Again, thank you to all those who read my fic. It's been nearly a year since I published this fic, and it has been a full year since I made it in the first place. Thank you again, especially if you stuck with me when there was only one chapter up.

"Hey mate, what's going on?" An older and matured Bruce asked, curious on what had caused Bandit to go as pale as a newborn heeler. "You look terrified."

"Do I?" Bandit felt his face, unsure if his reaction was that obvious. Brandy tried to kiss me, knowing that her sister is with me. "Look, it's nothing, mate. Let's go back to talking about the game last night."

Bruce, who had known Bandit for 8 years longer at this point, knew that the heeler would eventually give in and tell him what happened in the silent room. He'd do it, just not in person. He didn't want to risk anyone else hearing.

Bruce raised his wine glass and took a sip before placing the glass down. "Actually, I'm curious on how Brandy has been holding up."

Bandit's fur rose, this being the exact topic he was trying to avoid discussing. "She's been alright. But wasn't it crazy how he scored two goals in under three minutes? He's the whole reason I stuck around and watched the game. I'm not really big on soccer."

Bruce gave him a look; Bandit wasn't great at hiding things. He always made it obvious if there was something he didn't want to discuss...and now he suspected it had something to do with the red heeler.

"Okay...," Bruce gave him a half-eyed stare. "Let's continue talking about the game, then."

Bandit rolled his eyes in response to Bruce's attitude, but he obliged and the two continued to discuss how crazy those two goals were.

"Hey mates!" Trixie and Stripe had joined in, a hopeful moment for Bruce, who was sick of discussing the game. He liked sports and all, but not when they were used as a way to avoid talking about certain topics. It got even more hopeful when the oldest Heeler brother joined in.

"Rad!" Stripe exclaimed. "Where were you?! I was looking everywhere!"

"I was here the whole time," Rad told him as he hugged his youngest brother. "I missed you, Stripe. How's directing playing off for you?"

"It's amazing," Stripe's tail wagged. "Trix and I just finished paying our house off. It has a pool, did I tell you?"

"I think Bandit told me about your pool," Rad nodded, proud of his successful little brother. "You should let me swim around sometime."

"Of course, just come home more often," Stripe teased, lightly slapping Rad's back. "After all, you seem to like swimming. I think your clothes are still wet from falling in the pool.."

As the brothers cracked up, Trixie joined Bandit and Bruce, silently pouring herself a glass of wine while she thought about how to phrase her question. She was careful to raise her glass, as being the maid of honor, even after the ceremony, meant one had to act properly until the day was over. She'd planned a decent amount of today, but having a raving party that lasted past midnight was not her idea.

"So, Bandit..." she eyed him curiously. "What's going on with Chilli? She seemed okay...until I asked her about Brandy, and she gave me this look."

"I genuinely don't know what happened between her and Brandy," Bandit told her honestly. "I asked about it as well, and she gave me the look too. But give her some time, she'll cool off and tell us eventually. You're her best friend, after all."

Trixie seemed satisfied with his answer, but remained curious on the state of Brandy. "How has she been?"

"It's better to just go see for yourself," Bruce told her. "Deep Blue here isn't too keen on talking about her."

"I told you to not call me that," Bandit growled at Bruce.

"Why not? Chilli calls you that."

"But that's Chilli, not you."

"Okay," Trixie nodded. "I'll go back to talk to the gals."

"And I'm going to go discuss the game somewhere else," Bruce got up, walking to the toilet area.

Bandit was once again left alone to process his thoughts.

Brandy looked around, feeling regret settle in before a small turning on the doorknob grabbed her attention. She felt a small pain in her abdomen, which settled away when she sat up straight, eyes on the door.

She wasn't prepared for what would ensue. An older and much more mature Bruce walked into the room, much visibly different than he was nearly a decade ago. A scar covered his left eye and his fur was much shaggier.

"Brandy," he smiled, extending his paw to her. "It's been so...long."

"It has," she reached towards his paw, getting up slowly. A headache started to settle in. "What...what are you doing here when you could be partying with them?"

"I'm concerned about you and Bandit," Bruce spent no time cutting to the chase. Younger Bruce would've said something stupid, along the lines of "I missed my second favorite red heeler! Oh wait, I think I told Frisky she was my second favorite red heeler, even though she's a mix..."

Brandy looked at him. "What...did he say?"

"He didn't, that's the problem," Bruce shrugged. "He only clams up like this when it's serious. Won't stop going on and on about soccer in a dumb effort to mask his concerns.."

"Oh," Brandy nodded, with a forced smile. "In that case, we had a...minor dispute. You know, one of us does something the other doesn't approve of and things get a little awkward."

"Oh," Bruce nodded, holding the urge to scoff. I ran into another dead end here. "Well. I hope you two can sort it out."

"Me too," Brandy took a better look at him. "Bruce...how've you been? With that scar on your eye and all..."

"Oh you know...I was just cooking one day and accidentally poked my eyelid with a fork," Bruce said normally, albeit the look on his eyebrows indicated otherwise.

Brandy stared blankly, unsure of how to respond. "...Really..?"

"Uh-huh," he said through his teeth.

The two kept quiet for a while before Brandy looked over at him. I want to get this bad thing off my chest. "You sure you want to know what happened?"

"Do you want to know how I really got this scar?"

"You won't be a cunt about it, right?"

"Ehh. It depends," Bruce chuckled.

"God, I hate this 'new you' even more than the old one," Brandy rolled her eyes.

"Thought you'd be a little less crass," Bruce brushed away her comment.

"Not really. I don't mean it, I mean- I'm just tired and wasted and I just want to go home. Home home. England."

"So you don't hate me," Bruce let a little of his past inner child come out.

"No, I'm just mildly annoyed with you," Brandy laughed before remembering the severity of the story she was about to tell. "..."

"Okay, okay," Bruce lent her a paw, reading the change in her emotions. "I won't berate you or anything, alright? I can tell whatever happened is pretty serious."

"It is," Brandy sighed. "But I trust you, so I'll tell you."

Bruce waited for what felt like an eternity as Brandy would open her mouth, then close it and shake her head. I have to find my ears. "Out with it, Brandy."

"I tried to kiss Bandit!" Brandy yelped helplessly, covering her mouth when she saw Bruce flinch.

"You what? A kiss?!" Bruce put his pinky in his ear, wondering if he heard what he thought he heard. He swabbed it around a couple of times, waiting for Brandy to laugh and correct him but she didn't. "Brandy..."

"It's true, okay?!" Brandy's paws flew to her forehead, clutching her fur, ripping some loose strands off. "It's no wonder he's avoiding the topic. It's his wedding day."

"Brandy, that's actually...a really...and I mean really big deal. There's no way to sugarcoat it," Bruce's ears were full erect, interested in hearing more despite the obvious fact what Brandy was telling him was very morally wrong. "You can't do that to him...not to your sister either."

"I miss what we had," Brandy felt her throat tighten. "And I don't want to ruin what he has with Chilli Heeler, believe me. I just want my own happy moment."

"First off, calm down with Chilli's new name. And look- I know it's unfair- Bandit is one incredibly lucky bloke and I'd be a lying cunt if I said I didn't want what he has, but look...my moment will come eventually. Yours will too- but don't go stealing what's not yours."

"I know, I...I'm a fucking idiot," Brandy growled under her breath. "But I had no idea you envied Bandit...How come?"

"I used to have like...the biggest crush on Chilli," Bruce began, biting his lip in embarrassment. "You have no idea. The thing is, I was a coward and couldn't muster up the courage to tell her at the time. Bandit and I went through a rough patch soon after you left to England. We had a big fight over you. I always felt that something should've been done to keep you here around the people that care about you because you kept both of us afloat without asking for anything in return. Bandit kept on the same viewpoint that it was "none of our business" where you ended up."

Brandy notably winced at this, but Bruce placed a paw on her shoulder to calm her down. "It was around then I decided to move out of his flat, because I had finally gotten a real job. It wasn't just because of the fight- things were just growing more tense in general. So now that I could maintain myself, I started to talk to Chilli more. You know, throwing big hints that I was interested and stuff. One day, I just tell her flat out: 'I like you a lot Chilli and not just as a friend'. She tells me the harsh truth: 'Oh...sorry Bruce. I'm dating Bandit...and I only see you as a friend'."

"Oh," Brandy said, looking up at him. "I'm sorry Bruce..."

"It's fine, it was ages ago," Bruce shook his head. "A lot has happened since then. But finding out that Bandit...Bandit was with her...it hurt. He never told me he was talking to her. Then it made sense on why he went from moping around to suddenly 'minding his own business'. He had started dating Chilli. He got that archeological degree he had dreamed about. He started making really good money. They'd go on holiday a bunch. Our band started to take off, but that's about the only time we really ever interacted. His whole world was Chilli. I was no longer in the picture, really."

"Yeah...I can understand feeling...unimportant," Brandy empathized. "I'm sorry, Bruce. You should've reached out if you felt like it...There were times I genuinely missed your company."

"It's one of my biggest regrets," Bruce sighed. "But the past is the past...and Bandit and I eventually made up, hence why I'm here today."

"I'm glad for the both of you," Brandy smiled. "But...now that's left me wondering..where does your scar fit in?"

"Should've asked that earlier, Bran," Bruce sighed. "I'm going home; it's been a long night."

"Oh come on, that's not fair," Brandy placed her paws on her hips. "We had a deal. I told you what happened and you would-"

"I'll tell you, just not here at the party," Bruce shushed her. "I'm not comfortable with everyone knowing."

"Oh, okay," Brandy looked away. Should've told me that before I told you about what I almost did.

"I'll take you to my home and we can talk in my car," Bruce said. "You clearly can't take yourself anywhere."

"Oh- I'd like that...but I was with a friend of mine," Brandy said. "I don't want to leave her on her own. Could she come with us?"

"Is she...good?" Bruce asked, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

"What?"

"She's not drinking her weight in liquor, right?"

"Right! Um...to be honest...I have no idea."

"I thought you were with her?"

"A lot has happened since Chilli made me stay here...and maybe before that, too," Brandy sighed. "I'll go tell her, then I'll return."

When Brandy returned with an intoxicated Tori, they both left in Bruce's car.

Tori fell asleep quickly in the back, leaving the two up in front 'alone' enough to discuss Bruce's story.

"She's knocked out," Brandy hush-whispered, turning to him. "So come on- fulfill your side of the deal."

Bruce's expression stiffened, a soft sigh escaping his lips. "I don't think I can right now."

"It can't possibly be that serious," Brandy said boisterously. She paused after noting that his ears were falling behind. "Look, tell me when you're ready- I won't pressure you."

The ride to his home was a quiet one, Brandy looking out the window. Familiar neighborhoods flashed and new restaurants opened, showing the increased influence of fast food via globalization.

I don't remember there being a Starbucks here...

"I want to spend tomorrow with you."

Brandy's eyes widened, startled as she was lost gazing at the beauty of Brisbane. "Bruce?"

"You know, catch up and all that. I owe you a lot for housing me and I don't know if I'll be able to fully repay you one day. I was thinking of eating lunch at this French restaurant; it's not very far from here," Bruce explained. "It'll be on me. I'd do dinner, but I'm invited to a BBQ tomorrow, so I won't be able to."

"Oh Bruce...I can't," Brandy shook her head with sorrow. "You don't have to pay me back at all. I'll pay for my own portion."

"I insist," he glanced at her before looking at the road again.

Brandy sighed as she twiddled her thumbs. I didn't even tell Chilli I left. I was supposed to stay at her flat tonight.

"It'll be a distraction from...you know."

"Okay, I'll go," Brandy nodded. "But please...promise to not tell anyone what I told you."

"Wouldn't dream of it," he parked his car in his driveway and opened the passenger door for Brandy. He carried Tori on his back and Brandy took a moment to admire his home. It was in a nice suburb with a pretty garden that would've been better appreciated during the day.

"Wow," Brandy said, looking around.

"Band things," he shrugged, grunting with the weight of the dachshund. "That, and working my day job."

"What's that?" Brandy grabbed his keys and opened the door.

"I'm an electrician," he said, carrying Tori inside and laying her on his couch. "Heh, seeing her laying down like that on the couch brings back some good memories."

"Oh yeah," Brandy scoffed. "Of you falling asleep after watching Nick for too long."

"Like I said, good memories," he laughed, Brandy joining in. "There's a guest bed in the room near the kitchen and you can watch TV if you feel like it. I'm gonna black out if I don't head to bed soon."

"Okay," Brandy nodded. "I think I'll just sleep as well. Good night. And thank you."

"Of course," he smiled, heading into his room, leaving the heeler to rest her eyes. He's...very different. I'm still curious on why.

Trees covered the large mysterious area, densely packed. It was hard for anything larger than a bin chicken to pass through and strangely, it didn't seem to end. The trees blocked any and all light, making it difficult to see any further than a few centimeters in front.

"Brandy..."

The red heeler scanned the entrance of the forest, trying to find out the direction of this strange call. Her ears swerved left and right, but it seemed to be coming from all directions. The leaves rustled quietly, out of view for the faraway Brandy. Closely, she walked towards the direction of the forest, slowly muttering out curse words beneath her breath. Leaves rustled again, aggressively louder and louder the more she neared the forest.

"Brandy..."

Brandy gasped when she hit a "wall", slowly feeling her way around for an opening. She felt the crisp texture of the leaves who were blowing all about and the opening was quite thin for a stubby muscular dog, like cattle dogs tended to be. Quietly, she began to make her way through the forest, shoving herself through the thin openings. A small white light started to show at the end and seemed to increase in size the more Brandy pushed through. That also meant the wind got even stronger, making Brandy's ears and tail wave wildly.

The woosh of the wind ruffled her fur as soon as she was in arm's reach of the white hole. She held onto a thick branch to not be blown away and slowly neared her paw to the hole. Closing her eyes, she anticipated the worst, being met with eerie quiet. She opened her eyes slowly, being met with the familiar rural home she had grown up in. She sat on the bench above the lake, her feet going under.

"Brandy, calm down," a familiar voice rung. "The only thing you have to be afraid of in a dream is your imagination."

"Mum?" Brandy's eyes widened. "What are you doing here?"

"I just thought I'd come in and check on my daughters," Clarice said, fixing the stray hairs on Brandy's coat. "That wind really did mess with your fur."

"I know," Brandy looked behind her, expecting to find the same dark void she'd been in, instead finding the familiar forest in the backyard of her home. "How've you been?"

"As well as any deceased person could be, I suppose," she chuckled a bit. "I'm fine. Now how are you Brandy?"

"...Life's been hard for me if I'm honest," Brandy sighed. It was simple for her to open up; this was simply a dream after all. Her mother would show up in her dreams occasionally, but what made this appearance different was that Brandy was able to talk to her mother. It was an action she hadn't been able to do in over a decade.

Clarice's voice sounded a little like static, but her face remained as clear as the pictures Brandy had of her in the flat. She struggled to remember her soft, rural tone, but that didn't seem to stop the mother heeler from talking anyway.

"I see that," she spoke. "You've harbored these toxic feelings towards your sister."

"And I don't want to hurt her, Mum!" Brandy let out in a louder voice than she intended. "I'm scared that I'll do something, something so bad that I'll permanently ruin our relationship."

"And why is that?" Clarice examined her daughter's mannerisms. She rubbed her paws continuously and her gaze seemed to point down onto the lake. She stared hard at her reflection in the water.

"I almost kissed Bandit," Brandy sighed, her grip tightening on her fur on her thighs. "I really almost ruined a happy marriage within hours of being there. Mum...I was right when I said I should've just stayed in England."

"You wouldn't have received closure by running away from your problems," Clarice crossed her arms, but her lips remained in a smile, like she knew something her daughter didn't. "But I assume you've already heard this before from everyone in your life."

"Yes, I have heard this," Brandy nodded. "And I'm glad I didn't actually kiss him. He and Chilli belong together and I would never want to get in the way."

"Right, you don't. You don't want to get in the way because you don't like him. You like the idea of Chilli's life. Surrounded by friends, family, and a lover. That doesn't mean you want specifically her friends or even family, because it's obvious you don't approve of Linda's...choices...regarding her circumstances."

Brandy cringed, almost deciding to deny the whole thing, but her mother would've seen through her anyway.

"That also applies to Bandit. You just want somebody that can love you- and it's clear that Martin is with Wendy, so your second choice-Bandit-suddenly seems like an appealing chance at love. This ties in so well because the both of you actually dated at one point."

"I know seeking people out to feel fulfilled is selfish...but how else can I deal with these feelings? I made up with Chilli years ago and I can't throw that away."

"Well it's important to remember that love goes both ways. You see, people...they can love you-but you must also love them. This goes for all kinds of relationships, whether they're platonic, romantic, or familial. In this day and age, honey...and excuse me for being crass...but in this day and age; words alone don't mean shit."

Brandy's eyes widened at the words. She had only ever heard her mother curse maybe 4 times in her lifetime and they were always in serious situations, like that one time the basement flooded from a strong storm.

"I know, I rarely say those things," Clarice calmed the other heeler down. "But I mean it. Words don't amount to anything unless you show it through your actions. Look at Chilli- she clearly loves being loved by Bandit- but she also loves loving Bandit. And I know you made up with her...but have you shown that to her?"

"How do I become like that? You know, let go of this bitterness and start to love loving people..."

"You need to focus on your own race. So what if Chilli's married now? Good for her; I'm so grateful my daughter found a good man. But that doesn't make you any less than her. Run your own race, your time will come. For now, just be happy for your sister."

Brandy started to tear up, her mother wrapping her arm around her. "Show the newlyweds your love."

"I will, Mum," she rubbed a tear away from her eye. She was about to embrace her mother's hug when the older heeler stood up.

"That's great," Clarice smiled. "I have to go...but remember, I'll always be there for you even if you can't see me..."

Clarice's figure started to fade away slowly, Brandy watching misty eyed as her mother became transparent.

"Because I love you."

Brandy opened her eyes to some buzzing coming from her phone. She held it up to her head and answered, dreading the earful she was about to receive. "Brandy!"

"Chilli," the heeler said, dazed. She was still thinking about the recent conversation with Clarice. "I'm sorry for just leaving, but I'm fine."

"Sorry won't cut it, Brandy!" Chilli sighed. "Where even are you?"

"Tori and I spent the night with Bruce," she shrugged on her end.

"Oh so they're who he 'discussed the game' with," Bandit's voice rung in the background, followed by a shushing from his wife.

"...Okay. You haven't got any alcohol poisoning or anything?"

"I stopped drinking after you sent me to the room," Brandy held her head in her paw. "Ugh, I just started to feel the hangover though..."

"Embarrassing," Chilli sighed. "But I'm glad you're fine. Look...I was thinking of going out to a nice brekky. It's been years since we've eaten at the same table and I miss you, Brandy. But I miss the sober you."

"Oh um...sure. Can Tori come?"

"Of course," Chilli said. "And one more thing. I'm sorry about how I acted yesterday. I hope you can open up and tell me what's going on."

Brandy felt some inner rage boil, but she remembered what Mum had said. Show the newlyweds your love. Calmly, she let out a deep breath. "I will, love. What happened yesterday will never happen again."

"Good," her sister approved. "Well, you can show up in an hour. Is that good?"

"Yeah," Brandy nodded. "Look...Chilli..."

"Yeah?" Chilli noticed Brandy's concerning tone.

"What happened yesterday was..."

Then suddenly, Chilli's phone was ringing with another incoming call from her job. "Oh my dog, again?! Brandy, we can talk later, is that okay? Work's calling, probably to sneak in one last shift before our honeymoon..."

"...Sure," Brandy sighed internally before Chilli hung up. It's not a race.

-End-