Here is is, Chapter 16! What will happen next? How will things wrap up in the end? Read on to find out. I hope you enjoy...because chapter 17 (and part of 18) are the last chapters in this mini arc. We're approaching the kids, after a full on year of this story being up on and as of now, AO3. Bluey awaits us in the future (likely chapter 19), along with Bingo. I cannot WAIT for the huge buildup to the fight, as we lie past the halfway point for this fic.
I hope you enjoy!
"Things sure do change in 8 years," Brandy remembered looking around the inner city, feeling the nostalgia settle in as she ate. She stared at the venue she had been in so many years ago, signing merch from her stories. It was diagonal to the restaurant and still stood out as the nerdy place. I complained like a little shit back then, but I haven't been booming in popularity in ages. I miss it. "I've came back to visit 5 years ago, but I didn't go to the inner city, you know?"
"I know," Bruce nodded. "This city is even more beautiful than ever. They opened up a new nature park not far from here..."
"So is that where we're going after lunch? It sounds fun!" Brandy nodded. "But you know- I could get lost nowadays. Sure, I remember basic stuff like how to get to my old flat, but navigating the center of the city? It's been much too long."
"It has, and add on the new locations that have opened and the old ones that have gotten the boot? You'd get lost," Bruce noted. "But I imagine by now, you're the expert on England?"
"Not the entire country, but London, yes," Brandy nodded. "To be fair though, it's difficult to get lost in London."
"That's good," Bruce smiled. "I was talking to my bandmates...we were interested in going to London in the future. We have risen and fallen in popularity, but we've been a hit over there recently. We could use an expert on the city."
"Haven't you been there before?" Brandy questioned him, a small smile forming on her face. "Why would you need me for that?"
"It would be nice to spice the group up a bit," he met Brandy's smile with one of his own. "I mean, you don't have to, but I want you to have fun. You haven't been having enough fun lately."
"I have fun," she retorted. "I enjoy working at the café, I love writing still, and I've got Tori. Besides, I can't sing or play any instruments besides the piano. You guys play rock."
"But you're a good artist and a good writer," Bruce noted. "You could wizz up a fantastic album cover or even write some of our lyrics. And we could start with like...a really soft and melodic piano riff at the beginning of one of our songs, than transition straight into rock, like usual.."
Brandy paused to think about it; the idea did sound very fun. I'd love to, honestly. It sounds awesome, but I barely have any time as is. Could I manage that? "I'd like that, but I'm afraid my schedule is very tight.."
"Don't worry, our latest album is about to release," Bruce shrugged. "Besides we take a long time releasing things anyway, so take your time if you have to."
"Oh well, if you're sure about it, I guess I'm up to it," Brandy coyly said.
"Really?"
"...Why not?" she responded. "Also, you don't suppose you have enough petrol for something?"
"Oh, yeah I do," Bruce nodded. "What for?"
"I need to check on someone," Brandy faintly remembered the last time she had talked to her father, a little over a month ago. I can't believe I forgot the date. I should get him something to eat before I visit.
I'm glad things aren't bad again, but I can't keep doing this anymore. Petty fights, the uncomfortable nature, the painful past that can't be changed...
Chilli sighed and got her phone, pressing the buttons until she found her father's number. She pressed the call button, feeling the weight of her broken sisterhood come in, crushing her like a tsunami. She stared at the wedding picture she held next to the television and for a split second, she saw Brandy in her gown and veil.
She rubbed her eyes and it was herself again, but she couldn't shake the thoughts that came one after another, much like wasp stings.
She used to be with Bandit. She moved out shortly after the fact. But she dated other men afterwards!
Chilli groaned, the overwhelming thoughts were starting to hurt.
Even if she still had feelings for Bandit, I couldn't remove him to be on good terms with her. I love him so much and he has been there for me more than Brandy ever has.
Chilli recalled the hurtful memories she carried as the little sister.
"Nobody likes you, you're so annoying!" as a 5 year old.
"I'll chew your face off if you tell Dad I broke that picture.." as a 10 year old.
"You're a spoiled...a spoiled cunt." Chilli remembered this one dearly, for it was the first time in her 14 years of life she had heard "cunt" be used in a derogatory manner rather than as a sign of friendship.
"I don't need your help. Stay out of my way, Chilli." The young adult heeler cornered the older teen, after being "ratted out" to her father by her sister. This might've been the most hurtful one. Chilli thought about the scary things she read in that diary. It was a photographic core memory that she could recall with perfect accuracy if asked to- though she often tried to forget it.
When Mort picked up, Chilli had to work hard to mask the soft gasps of incoming tears.
"Hey Chilli Dog!" Mort rung in, sounding a bit tired on the other side. Chilli heard the sound of cracking wood, assuming her dad was having a "stumpfest" as he often did when she was growing up.
"Dad...," Chilli said sternly. "You ought to be resting, right?"
"What use is that if I'm feeling up to it?" Mort reasoned. "Sure, the scar hurts a little, but otherwise, I'm fine!"
"No, no you are not fine," Chilli started. "You must rest, you had stomach surgery no less than a week ago. Come on! You couldn't make it to the party because of the pain, and that was yesterday. And you can't possibly think I didn't see your face go pale during the ceremony! The stumpfest can wait- I need you to relax, maybe get some takeout, and talk to me."
"Okay, okay," he felt the pain, though he wasn't sure if it was physical or mental, and obeyed his daughter. He went inside and propped up his recliner and held the phone, eager to make the stinging waves disappear. "You're right, I can do that tomorrow."
"I'd say next month," Chilli gave a half-eyed stare to the picture, as if she were really with her father at the moment.
Mort shook his head dismissively, knowing Chilli tended to be a bit of a worrywart. "I will be fine, honey. Now enough about that, I want to hear what's up with you."
"Well...," she started. "It's...Brandy."
"What did she do this time?" Mort held in a sigh, knowing the two to not have the best relationship. He mourned the days, long away, when his girls got along like best friends, wondering what went horribly awry.
The truth is, he knew the sisters were prone to fighting even about as far back when Chilli started to talk. Arguments over toys, VHS movies, and even mum and dad.
"That's my mum!" 5 year old Brandy snuggled onto Clarice, pushing Chilli away from her embrace.
"My mum...too!" 3 year old Chilli forced herself into the hug, much to Brandy's annoyance.
"Now girls, you mustn't fight over me," Clarice picked up both girls in her arms. "I'm Brandy's mum..."
Brandy smugly smiled at Chilli.
"And I'm Chilli's mum," she gave her oldest a hard stare.
Chilli giggled and hugged Clarice back.
"Mum! But we paint together, not you and Chilli!"
"Yes, in fact, why don't you join us, Brandy?" Clarice said in an attempt to encourage both of the sisters to make up together again. "Chilli only wants to paint because she wants to copy you. Little sisters want to copy their older sisters sometimes. It's important to be an older sister worth copying."
"...Oh," Brandy thought. "...Well, okay! I will go get my paints!"
Clarice was very good at calming down the fights. Mort was better at one-to-one communication- hence his belief that siblings ought to resolve their own issues, because that yields a stronger bond in the end. Clarice was the type to constantly look for a compromise.
As she painted with her daughters, she subtly painted herself with her younger sister, Linda. She used the picture hanging in the room, a picture of her and her sister at a couple years older than Brandy and Chilli, as a reference.
Brandy was painting a leaf bug, making sure to get the colours right. She peered over to her right and saw Chilli's painting. Chilli, who was three, was merely putting her paws in the paints and placing paw prints all over her canvas.
Brandy smiled. "That's so cute, Chilli!"
Chilli let out a small giggle. "Thank you, Bran."
She was still learning how to speak properly, and often paused a lot during her sentences. Brandy understood than "Bran" meant her, and she ushered a "you're welcome!" before turning to her mum's side.
"That's you and Auntie Linda!" Brandy pointed at the smaller blue heeler next to the older red heeler.
"That's right, hon," the mother affirmed, carefully applying the dull blue markings on her younger sister. "You have the same markings as her."
Brandy looked at the reference, noticing that kid Linda had a lot of sporadic marks all about her. "Do I? She has all these spots, and my markings are..."
"More constant," Clarice nodded. "Yes, that's true. But Linda's markings now remind me of you."
Brandy looked at the living room and saw another picture of Linda as a young adult, with Clarice. Her marks were 'constant' like mum had said, and she agreed then.
"You're right," Brandy nodded.
"You know what I told you earlier about big sisters and little sisters?"
"Yes."
"I remember when Linda and I had a little squabble like this one," Clarice cleared her throat. "I must've been about 8 at the time. I was a little angry with her because she stole my bow and took it to school without me knowing. I didn't like that, but my mum told me little sisters sometimes like to emulate their older sisters. We're like role models to Linda and Chilli. Because of that, it's important we treat them with kindness and give them a good reference to emulate. Since then, I always brought two ribbons from the store instead of just one for myself. Brandy, I'm proud of you for allowing Chilli to join in on our painting time."
"Really?" Brandy's tail wagged. She looked at the picture again, and noticed that both sisters were wearing ribbons on their ears. "Also, what does 'em-oo-late' and 'refuhrunce' mean?"
"Well...emulate means to copy. Reference can mean many things. For me and my sister, it meant I was something good she could copy. It's like...that picture on the wall here. I'm copying it onto my canvas, you see?"
Brandy nodded, now into the idea of being a good reference for Chilli to emulate. This didn't last long, especially seeing how Chilli's paw prints became an iconic painting in their living room while Brandy's leaf bug was stored away in the basement.
Paint day after that became a Clarice and Chilli thing, and Brandy instead took into drawing and colouring.
Mort thought of more things that went wrong, either by Clarice or Linda telling him, or him experiencing it with the girls as Chilli explained what happened.
He sighed, connecting the painting story Clarice had told him to this one.
"She just stopped painting with us," Clarice sighed. "I thought I did well in telling her about Linda and me."
"She already spent 5 years not coming back," Chilli sighed. "I thought things were going well because she really came for our wedding!"
Mort remembered his reply to his late wife.
"Maybe Brandy just isn't interested in it anymore. If there's any problems between the sisters, they'll hug it out. It's better for them to solve their problems. If it's more serious, Brandy can always come and talk to me."
His reply to Chilli was about to be something similar to letting time heal, but he bit his lip. "I'll talk to Brandy."
I'll have to be Clarice for now and find a compromise. I can't keep letting my daughters fight well into adulthood.
Chilli paused her train of thought. "Really?" That...sounds like something Mum would've said.
"And remember to not let what happened drag you down. I know Brandy has her own story to tell you."
Chilli nodded and answered with a "yes, you're right".
"I know it's easier said than done, but remember what your mum would say. Take a deep breath and let it all out," Mort continued, feeling his usual nature settle back in. "Both of you can't solve the issue if you're fighting with your emotions all over the place. When your minds are clear, the problem will solve itself. And I want you to remember I'm always here for you."
"Thank you, Dad," Chilli felt better, grabbing the picture and smiling softly.
"Of course. I know it's hard...but you know, my siblings and I didn't exactly get along all the way up to adulthood either. It takes time and effort on everyone's end...and I'm sorry that it turned out this way."
"Sorry? This isn't your fault," Chilli felt a little nervous, trying not to place any stress on him.
"Honey," he read her tone. "I did you two a disservice by not stepping in at all. The next time I see or talk to your sister, I'll let her know about the problem."
Suddenly, he heard a knock on his door.
Chilli heard it through the phone, curious on who would be visiting her father right now. Maybe Maynard? He used to babysit from time to time whenever her parents would go out on a date in the city. "Is someone there with you?"
"Yeah," Mort answered. "Goodbye Chilli Dog, I'll be sure to call you back later today or tomorrow."
"Bye Dad."
Chilli sighed after pressing the hang up button and loafed around on the couch for what seemed like hours.
"Thank you, Bruce," Brandy smiled at him. "It's a long way out to Dad's and I'm grateful you were able to take me."
"Of course. I'll be heading out for a little spin," Bruce opened her door. "I'll be back in an...an hour."
"That's a deal. Again, thank you," Brandy got off and hugged him. She knocked on the door and was quickly met with Mort's gaze, one much more serious than his usual expression. She went in, greeting him and Bruce drove away in the same direction they had come in at.
"Hello Brandy," Mort motioned for her to sit in the couch adjacent him. "Speak of the devil. We need to talk."
"Yes we do," Brandy nodded, a little unnerved. "How have you been since...the surgery? I'm so sorry that I didn't think about asking sooner, Dad."
"I've been fine," he sighed. "But I'll cut to the chase. So I heard that you had a fight with Chilli? At the party?"
"Oh...That," Brandy anticipated his attitude might've been caused by Chilli. "I didn't mean to let it escalate this far."
"Brandy," Mort talked again. "And it happened again in the morning?"
"I apologised to her for that, but yes...," Brandy felt like a child all over again. Her father had given them much more space to sort out their problems on their own, but this was exactly like back then- she was scared he'd call her by her full name. "I really don't mean to cause you any stress. Maybe it's best to put this discussion off?"
"It's a little stressful, yeah," Mort twiddled his thumbs. "But Chilli's really taken all of this fighting personally. I don't think I can keep brushing it aside forever, honey."
...Brandy didn't know what to say.
"When are you going to tell her?" Mort raised his paws in the air, knowing that Brandy would know what he was referring to. "It's about time she knows a little more about you!"
"She has no reason to know," Brandy got a little defensive. "Look...the less she knows, the less I'll bother her. I'm trying really hard, Dad. I'm laying off the alcohol now, probably forever. The fight at the party was my fault, and I'll try to make it up to her while I'm still here. The fight at the restaurant...That wasn't completely on me."
"I know, it isn't only your fault," Mort placed his paw on her shoulder. "But where's the harm in telling her? You wouldn't bother her at all, in fact I think it would be the opposite. You two briefly repaired your relationship after you told her about the first one."
Brandy looked away, holding her abdomen in response. "Dad...it's a really sensitive topic for me. I don't feel comfortable just telling her because she is my sister. She...we...we aren't close enough to have those kinds of talks."
Mort stared at her, sorrow in his gaze. You're just like Clarice. "You know, your mum wasn't always the closest with Linda."
"Yeah, I know...but they were never as strained as Chilli and I are," Brandy noted. "I don't remember much of what happened..."
"Brandy...While that may be true, it's good to use them as an example. Because if anything horrid happened to you or Chilli, would either of you want to pass with these unresolved feelings? You see Linda there- she still loved Clarice very much, but you can see the fact they never discussed all of their issues together eat at her. I believe that's why...she pretends Ralph didn't exist. His death is almost like a reminder of the hurt she shared with her sister," Mort painted out a grim story, Brandy's ears drooping.
I can't do this all over again. I told her about the first one.
"I know, I know," Mort read her mind. "Why should you have to when Chilli seems to never talk about herself? I told her this as well- to talk about how hard her life's been without you. And whatever happens, even if it goes in a way you don't like...would you rather be right, or be on good terms with your sister? Think about it."
Brandy thought about it for about 15 seconds, shuddering a little at the thought of Chilli pitying her for her other two lost children. "I'm so sorry Brandy. I'm sure you'll be able to have your own kids someday!" She could already envision it clearly. The pity. To be frank, Brandy had no idea if she had worked on that trait of herself, like she had said she would on that night.
Mort got up. "Anyway, enough of that dark talk. It's stressing me out, like you said. Do you want to come and see Maynard's grandkid? Maynard had invited me to come over and eat some mackerel with him and some family."
"He has a grandchild?!" Brandy exclaimed, surprised on how much things could change. "Sure!"
...It was typical.
Oreo cried. He swung his arms about, refusing any food- he was in the terrible twos stage that all parents dreaded, his mother looking at the visitors in embarrassment. "I'm so sorry. Oreo here...he isn't too fond of fish. He used to until one of his favorite cartoon's characters said it was gross. Now I have to deal with this."
Brandy watched as Maynard's daughter tried his hardest to feed her son some of the fish. "Hon, it's good for you. You used to chow down mackerel every time we came by Dad's house!"
"No, it's gwoss!" Oreo shouted. "Dan-Dan said so!"
"You shoulda left the noise at home with his dad, Raven," Maynard sighed. "I warned you- Why did ya think I only had you?"
Raven chuckled. "Daad, come on! At least try to help!"
"Okay, I'll try," Maynard picked up his grandson from his kitchen booster seat. "Oreo, you know your granddad, me, I caught this fish while out on holiday? I would be very sad if you didn't eat at least a little."
He grabbed a piece of it with his fingers and neared it to the toddler's mouth. "Here comes the airplane~"
Oreo jerked back, startling Maynard, who knocked his plate onto the floor. "Just like your mother, aren't you.."
Maynard bent down, picking up the mess, complaining about his back pain as most folks his age tended to do.
Mort saw from the corner of his eye, watching Brandy's analytical skills at work. She had her brow furrowed, staring at the scene intensely.
"Hey...Raven," Brandy reached out. "I think I know a way to get him to eat his mackerel. If you don't mind, of course!"
"Oh? Would you be willing to, dear?" Raven looked at Brandy. For a split second, her motherly exhaustion appeared in her eyes, her beautiful makeup not being able to hide the lines under her eyes and the somewhat messy fur on her tail. All mothers needed a break, no matter how patient and fun they were. "Oreo, the nice lady here will be tending to you right now...and I'll finish my plate down before the next tantrum starts."
The last part was said in a hush-whisper to the red heeler, who completely understood Raven's predicament. Mum used to say she needed twenty minutes on her own when we were too rowdy.
Raven handed Oreo to her, the young toddler staring at Brandy's beautiful brown eyes. "Hey Oreo! Are you willing to eat any mackerel?"
"Noh." Oreo shook his head. "It's gwoss."
"And why is that?" Brandy squinted her eyes in a sly smile. "The rest of us think it tastes magnificent. As in, yummy in our tummy!"
"Well I think tomato sauce is gross," Brandy told him. She wasn't exactly lying- it had a flavour she wasn't particularly into. She preferred actual tomato sauce, the kind one uses for cooking rather than as a dipping sauce. "But you're over here devouring it like a hungry little wolf!"
"Noh. It's yummy," Oreo gasped in shock. How could anyone dislike tomato sauce?! It was the most delicious thing ever made, in his kiddy mind. "Taste tomato sauce!"
He pointed over to the bottle and Brandy grunted, slightly regretting the whole thing, but she did as told and poured a little onto her thumb before looking at him again. "Hmm...no. I don't think so!"
"What?!" Oreo exclaimed. "You has to. It's a wule!"
"If you try your mackerel, I'll try your tomato sauce," Brandy shrugged, pretending to look uninterested.
To everyone's shock, the boy listened and chewed a piece of fish from Brandy's plate. Sure, he whined a little beforehand, but now he was chowing a little too good on Brandy's food.
"Dan-Dan was wong! Fish yummy!" Oreo shouted.
Raven took her son back and let him chow on his own plate, subtly thanking Brandy for the whole ordeal. "You're a natural!"
Brandy blushed, wiping the sauce on a napkin. "I try! But honestly, I'm glad I didn't have to eat the sauce. I actually don't like it."
Raven laughed. "You know, I like you. What's your name?"
"I'm Brandy. And I know yours because of Maynard," she let out a small laugh. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," she smiled. "And thanks. I try to be patient with my Oreo, but you know how kids can be. I bet your kids are so lucky to have you."
Brandy's heart stung with pain, but she accepted the compliment. "Thank you! I don't have any of my own yet, but I hope I can one day."
"Oh, for sure. You'd be a great mother," Raven complimented her again.
Brandy looked down shortly after she, Maynard, and Mort had all started talking together again. I wish I could've said I got the experience from any of my three kids...
She vividly imagined a life where she guided her kids through all stages of their life...their birth, their first birthday, their first word, their first steps, their first day of school...all the way to their first day living off and alone, where Brandy would've seen how her hard work would've paid off.
She then thought of her mum's situation, how hard it must've been for her to suffer so many miscarriages, how Brandy was actually quite far from being the first child. She wondered if maybe she would take after her mother and one day, have kids of her own that would take its time. How often she must've completely lost it on her own when Linda would come by and try to cheer her up by attempting to distract Clarice's mind from her lost children.
Her mind drifted off to Linda, how hard it must've been for her to see her sister birth two healthy girls, while she could only have her Ralph, who passed away in the end. How painful it must be to pretend you never had a kid- you never wanted one, while staring at your deceased sister's children, wishing you could enjoy what she had, that both you and your sister could have happy, thriving families. As Brandy thought about it more and more, she realized maybe she didn't dislike Linda so much as she thought she did.
She didn't like how unregulated Linda's mood swings became after the fact, but she started to understand how much of a roll it did on her. How she, Brandy Ivy Cattle, and her sister, Chilli Irene Heeler, were the living embodiments of the life she had craved with Lorence, and hence that may have been the reason she could be so nasty at times where Brandy tried to help her through the event.
Then, it all made sense.
It was intense.
Dad was right. Brandy's eyes widened suddenly. "I need to use the toilet."
When she was alone in their restroom, she stared at her reflection.
Neither of them were wrong for feeling how they did, but both were wrong in handling the situation. Brandy scratched her head.
She thought back on her dream about her mother.
"You like the idea of Chilli's life."
I need to talk to my little sister...
-End-
