I really wanted to update this fic sooner, and I already have a conflict brewing in with Brandit Bingo's introduction next chapter... That's the thing though, it's been ages. Workload has gotten to me as long as slight money issues- I've recently lost 3k dollars on a trip to find out I most likely won't be going- and not getting a refund. It's fine- I've just been royally pissedabout it and if there was any justice, this and OANUTSS Chapter 18 would've been out LONGER ago, probably better written as well. Don't worry though, as I'll do my best to make chapter 5 of this and OANUTSSS 19 exceed y'all's expectations.

Also TW for SLIGHT allusions to PPD. It happens- and it's a fairly normal thing for new parents to experience. However, these moments tend to be the darkest in the parental journey, so it is completely understandable to not want to associate a grim albeit normal topic with the beautiful world of Bluey.

It was 3 AM and Brandy stared groggily at the wall, watching Bandit's shadow walk back and forth with newborn Biscuit in his arms. He wouldn't stop crying and her ears folded towards her temples, wanting to mute the world temporarily as she got used to how difficult parenthood would be. The little pup turned out exactly like how she imagined him, a beautiful blue heeler that took after Bandit in almost every way- though she still had some influence on him. His beautiful features seemed to distort with his cries and she let out a low groan, knowing that Bandit was just as tired as she was.

"He's had his milk, I've burped him, he's been changed... what else could he possibly need?" Brandy raised her voice as she got up from her bed, snatching the puppy from Bandit. "Oh biscuits, Biscuit... Mama and Papa love you, but you're so annoying!"

Bandit, too tired to say anything, simply nodded, motioning for Brandy to sit down on the edge of the bed. "Maybe he's hungry again, I'll go get him some milk. Don't fret too much love, I hear crying exercises a puppy's lungs."

"I wish he could exercise his lungs quieter," Brandy sighed, feeling defeated and guilty. She stared at her baby, the precious being she would give up her life for, extend his jaws as far wide as he could and just yell, his wails echoing from the walls. She was supposed to be happy, like those mothers in formula or diaper commercials, yet she felt done. A baby had no other way to communicate, she reasoned with herself, but with every cry, she felt her stability break more and more. She stared with a slight resentment towards her son, who had innocently ruined every night since he came into the world. At this rate, I really could go insane through lack of sleep...

"Come on, Biscuit," Brandy began to rock him back and forth. "What is it that you want so badly? I can't do this forever mate... Why, I'm human (dog?) and I have my limits, sad as that may be. I know you can't answer me, so why am I even wasting my breath, right?"

Biscuit wailed even more, making Brandy frustrated again. "God damn it!"

Bandit walked back with a warm bottle of milk, gently taking the infant from his mum. Truth be told, he was sick of Biscuit's wailing too. It was interrupting his life. He couldn't work well under sleep issues and genuine frustration plaguing him and he grew even more annoyed with Brandy's constant bouts of anger, even if it was completely reasonable and understandable.

To keep things short and to the point, the couple were exhausted.

"I wish I knew who we could turn to for just one day of this nonsense so we could just enjoy ourselves for once.." Brandy groaned, feeling her head pound heavily. "God Bandit, I'm starting to wonder if we were even ready. I know I said so much stuff about it when I was smothering you on our wedding night, but what if all of it was in the heat of the moment? What if I just wanted to be bred without having to deal with the nonstop crying?! I wonder who he takes after because I'm positively sure no one in my family cried this much as a newborn."

"Brandy..." Bandit sighed, feeling a little offended as he tried to get the suckle in the puppy's mouth. "You wouldn't remember that far back to actually verify that."

Brandy began to tear up, her emotions dangerously unstable. "Bandit..."

She began to sniffle, that ugly sound escaped her throat as she forcefully attempted to stop crying. The last thing Bandit needed were not one, but two inconsolable dogs. He'd lose it for sure- even if he had more patience than Brandy did by a mile. "Brandy?"

"I'm such a terrible mother, Bandit," she wiped her tears away with her finger. "Biscuit deserves so much better than me for a mum... How could I yell at such a defenceless creature who couldn't communicate even if he wanted to?!"

Bandit, too tired to offer words of affirmation, simply motioned for her to hold his bottle, then hugged her, bringing her closer to them. Slowly, the baby calmed down, gulping down every last drop, his little creamy blue paws reaching out to Brandy's face. He coped softly, Bandit mustering the courage to break through his fatigued mind. "You aren't a bad mother, Brandy...you're just a mum pushed to her limits and that's okay. It happens. I've seen... the way you look at him with so much love when he's calm..."

Brandy sniffles slowed down, holding her paw close to his face, watching him interlock his tiny paw on her finger. "Look at how he's reaching out to you."

She stared at his face, a near replica of her own. She had no idea that she and Bandit would create an undoubtedly handsome pup, but here he was, calm and as affectionate as possible. He started to squirm around in Bandit's arm, Brandy picking him up and holding him upright, rubbing his back. "Let it out, honey."

Bandit softly smiled at the now happy Brandy, still tired and exhausted, still with dull fur and slight eyebags, still yearning for peace and quiet, powering through it. She was so strong, a feature of hers that he greatly admired her for.

Suddenly, the baby let out a loud belch, startling both parents before they stared at each other and laughed.

"He left some of the milk there," Bandit noted out loud, motioning towards the half-full bottle. "Where did he get all of that air from?"

"Exercising his lungs, apparently," Brandy giggled, slowly placing his now dozing fragile self down onto the cot. Bandit joined her in giggling. "And hey Bandit... thank you for being patient with me. Even though Biscuit's been a fuss, I haven't been as... helpful when it comes to my emotions. I really really wish I had the energy to properly thank you for that..."

"It's the bare minimum," Bandit snuggled deep into her after she returned to their bed. He deeply inhaled her scent. "I can't expect you to act fine and dandy when the noise has been testing both of us. And Brandy...?"

She turned to meet his gaze. "You're doing great, honey.."

Brandy smiled weakly, wiping her tears away in her husband's chest. "God Bandit, I love you so so much..."

"I love you too," he smiled, trying his best to keep the waterworks away. "Remember that both Biscuit and I are lucky to have you."

The next day, Brandy sat on the leaning chair, watching TV mindlessly. Biscuit hadn't awoken yet and she needed this time to just relax and zone out; Bandit was dozing off on top of his keyboard, in the midst of a report he was supposed to have done two days ago, though thankfully, everyone seemed lenient as he was a father now.

I'm supposed to be writing, but I just can't... Brandy felt her eyes involuntarily close, feeling the urge of rest defeat her before a knock was heard at the door. "Last I checked, I didn't invite anyone over.. especially not now with Biscuit, lest he get sick. She couldn't power through flawlessly while he was healthy; she shuddered at the thought of him being sick.

She slowly stood up, feeling her head pound as the world seemed to move in slow motion. She answered the door, expecting a commercial dog or something along those lines, but was met by her father and Chilli, smiles on their faces.

"Dad?! Chilli?!" Brandy yelped.

"Brandy!" the duo exclaimed happily, quickly composing themselves upon the sight of Brandy, who looked like she could pass out any second. "Brandy?"

"Oh, I appreciate you guys coming over, really I do, but the flat is a mess," Brandy sighed. "We haven't had time to clean or cook or really anything."

"That's why we came over, Brandy," Mort smiled. "I know how difficult it is caring for newborns and Chilli was worried since you hadn't reached out in a while."

"Ah, you two want to help," Brandy cleared up her misconception, relieved that she won't have to juggle a conversation and a newborn. "Well little Biscuit is asleep right now...but come in! Come in...I'll make us all a cuppa...I believe I still have some coffee left."

The red heeler stumbled into the kitchen, feeling the lightheaded feeling again as she moved too quickly for her energy levels.

"I'll take care of that, hon," Chilli walked up behind her. "You go relax."

"Thank you, Chilli," she smiled, walking back to the living room. She sat next to her dad, Bandit coming out to greet the visitors, a similar washed up look on his face.

"Good day, Mort," he shook his father-in-law's paw. "It's been a while.."

"Good day, Bandit," he reciprocated, agreeing. "It has. How has the little one been?"

Bandit processed the question, the look on his face answering his question.

"Tough, isn't it?"

"I never knew it would be this difficult," Brandy sighed. "He just loves crying all day every day."

"Oh, reminds me of when you were his age," Mort laughed, holding his daughter's paw. "Why, your mother and I didn't dread anything more than you squirming around in your sleep... You'd wake up after a whopping 3 hours and sure let all of us know in the loudest way possible."

"Oh, so Brandy was a crier," Bandit smirked at his wife, a clear answer for her question last night.

"You have no idea," Mort nodded, a dear look of slight pity in his face. "If his baby stage is anything like Brandy's..."

He shuddered. "Chilli was significantly easier though there's really no such thing as an 'easy' child."

"Dad, I'm sure I wasn't a terrible baby," Brandy groaned, slouching heavily on the couch. "Biscuit...he's in his own tier. Bandit and I haven't slept since he was born, and while I expected a baby to be fussy, the way he does it seems motivated. Every time we sleep or god forbid we try to enjoy our days, he'll start up with a cacophony of noises that I didn't even think were possible."

"Sometimes a parent needs time away from their kid," Mort suggested. "What use is being there for them when you're so full of rage you can't care for them properly? Taking as little as a twenty minute break really does wonders, honey."

"I really could use some time to clear my mind," Brandy agreed. "I think Bandit could too."

"I can tell," he lightly poked fun at her. "He sounds like he's very much your clone and I couldn't just sit there and watch you juggle him and yourself at the same time. How many times did Mary or your grandparents take you in as a puppy? Hmm...I think I've lost count, Ivy."

Brandy blushed in embarrassment. "This is really not what I want to hear, Dad. I really will disintegrate if he wakes up one more time.."

"Alright, alright. Go on, relax. I'll take care of the bugger for now."

Constant talking filled in the void as the red heeler came to her senses, the power of a four hour nap enough to completely change her attitude on most things especially parenthood. She felt herself long for her baby in her arms and her ears perked up to hear anything- his cries, the squirming he'd do just before it, or really anything of his.

She stood up and stretched, feeling her cramped muscles unwind. Afterwards, she trotted over to their room, hearing her father, Bandit, and Chilli all conversing.

She knocked on the door before slyly walking in, greeting everyone while brushing her fingers through her coat.

"Hello," she greeted, looking like a million bucks as she joined her husband, with Biscuit in his arms. He was cooing, his little paws reaching out towards Brandy. "Oh, Biscuit, honey," she smiled, carefully lifting him from Bandit's arms.

His small gaze naturally made her giddy, planting a kiss on his cheek.

"Aww," everyone cooed, including Bandit, who seemed to be feeling as chipper as she felt.

As the trio slowly lost themselves in chatter again, Brandy couldn't help but keep staring lovingly into Biscuit's eyes. I'm sorry, little one.

She brought him in closer, admiring his beautiful fur, a heavenly combination between Bandit's own colour and Brandy's spots. I love you more than anything.

Watching as the pup wrapped his paw on her finger, Bandit instinctively huddled up to her, gazing upon them with love.

Despite how difficult he could be, he was the amazing start of a new arc in their lives- and even though neither were anywhere close to capable for another child in the moment, the two beamed at the thought of big brother Biscuit.

Just give it like two years or so...

-End-