Chapter 14: Want That Too

Chili sat down in the sun, letting out a breath of relief. "He's a sweet kid chili, he really is," Brandy said, bringing it in some tea. "He is... Emily did a great job with him and raised him great." Chilli replied as she took the cup of tea from her older sister. "And you're doing great for the rest of the way," Brandy said, also taking a sip of her tea.

"Thank you, Brandy... I'm doing the best I can for not only her or Bandit, but for Thomas' sake. He's a good boy who's on his way to becoming a great man." Chilli replied with a light smile, "I've missed you, Brandy..." Brandy then sat down her tea and held her little sisters hand. "I miss you too, so much," Brandy said longer in the eye with tears. "It broke my heart seeing you with your family... I just... I want that, too..." Brandy explained.

"I know Brandy... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to hurt you..." Chilli replied as her eyes welled with tears, "You deserve to be happy too..." Brandy then hugged her sister tightly, letting her tears flow freely, letting go of the pain she's had for years. Chili hugged her back tightly, holding on to her fur before letting go.

(Flashback)

Eleven year old Brandy and eight year old Chili were running through the back forest, laughing and having a great time. "Wait for me, Brandy!" Chilli called out to the red and cream Cattle Dog as they jumped over a fallen tree. "Come on, Chilli, keep up!" Brandy said, laughing while running. "I only got little legs!" Chilli replied as she saw Brandy run down to the creek.

Brandy chuckled as they came to the spot where their dad hid some snacks. "I wonder why Dad buried snacks out here?" Chilli asked they removed the board before the two pulled up the backpack. "Just in case we're hungry," Brandy said with a smile while wagging her tail. "Yeah, but... I mean, it's like he knew where to bury them." Chilli replied as Brandy handed her a bag of chips.

"He's dad! He knows everything!" Brandy said cheerfully. "... Hey Brandy?" Chilli asked as she opened her bag of corn chips before looking at her older sister. "Yes, chilli?" Brandy asked, turning her head to her little sister. "Do you think we'll always be sisters?" Chilli asked as she looked out towards the direction of the lake, where they're dad's friend, Maynard lived. "Of course we will!" Brandy said with a wink. "That's good..." Chilli replied, taking a bite of her corn chips, "You don't think Mum would be mad if I ate these?" She asked with a worried look.

"No, she won't be mad. As long she doesn't find out." Brandy waved her hand. "I won't tell, though. I promise!"

"Pinkie promise?" Chilli asked. Brandy chuckled, "Pinkie promise." She stuck out her pinkie, and the two interlocked their little fingers a moment before separating. The girls shared a laugh before finishing up. "You're the best sister I could ever have!" Chilli said with a smile as the two placed their trash back in the backpack so as not to litter. The two then walked back to their house seeing their father cutting wood while the smell of homemade stew was being made.

"Hi dad! Do you need any help?" Chilli asked as they approached. Mort dabbed his brow with a handkerchief and smiled. "Just finishing up, your mum wants to have a nice fire tonight, so i had to get a bit chopped up. It's supposed to be a chilly one." Mott explained. "Hey that's my name!" Chilli said with a giggle while wagging her tail.

"Hehe, sorry sweetheart. I meant that it's gonna be cold." Mort replied with a chuckle as he ruffled the top of his youngest daughter's head, "You know why I named you Chilli?" The old red furred cattle dog asked. "Why?" Chilli asked as she tilted her head to the side while looking at her father. "Because your mum was craving a bowl of my famous chilli when she was pregnant with you." Mort replied with a smile, "Then when you were born, you were as red as a Chili Pepper. That's when me and your mum decided to name you Chilli." Mort explained as he thought back to those memories of both his youngest and oldest daughters.

"That's so sweet!" Chilli said wagging her tail. "Just you and your sister." Chilli and Brandy's mother, Nicole, chimed in as she walked into the living room from the kitchen. "Mum!" Both girls said as they went to their mother and hugged her. Nicole smiled as she hugged her girls while wagging her tail. "Dinner is ready," Nicole said as she let go of her girls. "Hooray!" The girls said as they went into the house. Nicole chucked as she looked to her husband. Mort smiled at her before walking up to her to give her kiss. "What was that for?" Nicole asked her husband as she placed her hand on his head.

"Just something to tell you that I love you," Mort said with a low growl. Nicole chuckled with a blush. "Alright let's get to dinner," Nicole said as she started to head inside the house Mort chuckled and then followed his wife into the house. The girls sat at the table with their father while their mother was bringing in the roast from the kitchen. The girls were laughing while their father was making funny faces and tell funny stories. Suddenly Nicole felt weak and dropped the roast and fell to the ground. "Honey!" Mort shouted as he stood up. "Mum!" Both girls shouted as their father ran over to their mother.

Mort checked on his wife while she was unconscious on the ground. "Brandy grab me the phone, please!" Mort asked his oldest his daughter. Brandy nodded as she went and grabbed the phone for her father. Chilli stood by her father and older sister, scared for the worst of her mother.

"Dad, is Mum gonna be okay?" Chilli asked her father with a worried look as he did his best to give her medical attention, "Chilli, I need you to listen to me. I need you to go to the closet and get me a flannel that's wet with cold water. Can you do that for me, Sweetie?" Mott asked his youngest daughter. Chilli nodded and ran to go what her father needed for their mother. "Mort?" Nicole said weakly trying to look at her husband.

"It's okay, Nicole. I'm gonna take you to the hospital as soon as Chilli gets back." Mort said, holding his wife's hand, trying to comfort her in her time of need. Chilli then walked up to her father with a cool wet cloth. "He's the phone daddy," Brandy said bringing the wired phone as close as she could to her father. "Thank you, Brandy. You stay with your mother and hold that flannel against her forehead." Mort said as he dialed zero,zero,zero. Brandy did as she was instructed while her and Chilli stood by their mother.

It took some time before the ambulance arrived the cattle house but they did make it just in time. "It's going to be okay sweetheart," Mort said while the paramedics took Nicole in a stretcher bed. "Mort..." Nicole managed to mutter weaky, "Take care of our babies..." She said as the Paramedics loaded her into the ambulance before it drove away. Mort started to tear up and sniffed worried for his wife. "Daddy?" Chilli asked while standing by her sister. "Yes Chilli?" Mort replied before clearing his throat, his voice cracking from the overwhelming emotions building up inside of him. A result of seeing the only woman he ever loved in a weakened state and seeing her get taken away.

"Is mama going to be okay?" Chilli asked tearing up. "Of course she will! She's mum!" Brandy protested trying to be strong for her little sister. Mort smiled at his daughter, a sense of pride fill his chest as "Your sister's right, Chilli..." he said as he rubbed the top of Chilli's head, "Your mumma is in good hands..." he added.

Three hours later at the hospital...

"Mr, Cattle?" The doctor asked Mort while coming out of Nicole's room. "Yes, Doctor Poodle?" Mort asked as he looked up at the white furred Poodle. "Unfortunately Mr Cattle, Mrs Cattle has a very fast heart rate, she has congestive heart failure and her heart is beat twice as fast as a normal heart," Doctor Poodle explained. Mort took a deep breath as he processed what he had just been told, "Okay... is there a way to fix this like surgery or procedure?" He asked as he tried to keep calm. "Unfortunately is a very risky procedure in her condition," doctor poodle explained.

"But could it help fix what's wrong with her?" Mort asked as he clenched his fist in frustration. "It could help, yes, but there are complications," Dr. Poodle added. "What kind of complications?" Mort asked, taking a deep breath to compose himself. "Blood clots as well as her heart valve are damaged," Dr poodle answered. "Too much stress also could affect her as well," Dr. Poodle added. "Okay..." Mort replied as he processed all of the information, "Can I see her?" He asked.

"Yes, you may. I'm very sorry about this, Mr Cattle." Doctor Poodle replied somberly. As Mort walked inside the room, he saw Nichole laying in her hospital bed, the heart monitor beeping, and the IV bag dripping into her arm. The sight of seeing his wife hurt him, he had seen so many horrible things when he had fought in Vietnam, things that would haunt him til the very day he died, but seeing Nicole in such a weak and vulnerable state.

It made the old red furred Cattle Dog's heart hurt, "Nicole?" He called out to his beloved softly as he slowly walked over to her bedside. "Mort?" Nicole asked, breathing shallowly. "How are you feeling, honey?" Mort asked as he gently held his wife's hand. "I'm okay,"Nicole said with a weak smile. "I'm happy to hear that..." Mort replied as he swallowed a lump in his throat. "Where are the girls?" Nicole asked while wheezing. "There with my sister in the city," Mort replied, still holding onto his wifes hand. "Okay, that good," Nicole said with a soft smile, "I figured they shouldn't see you like this... but Nicole... I need to tell you what the doctor told me..." Mort said as he looked into his wife's eyes.

"Tell me," Nicole said weakly before hearing her husband sigh as he explained everything the doctor had told him.

Nicole teared up. "I'm sorry mort," Nicole said looking away from her husband. "Why are you sorry?" Mort asked as his saddened expression changed to one of confusion. "That I'm sick," Nicole said now looking back at her husband. "Nicole, this is something you couldn't help. The doctor said it could be treated, but it's very risky." Mort explained before kissing his wife on her forehead.

"What if something happens?" Nichole asked. "I understand, but I don't want what happened back at the house to happen again... What do you want to do, Nicole?" Mort asked softly as he looked into his wife's eyes. Nicole looked at her husband and gently place her hand on his cheek and look into his eyes. "Whatever you decide... I promise I'll support you." Mort said as his eyes glistened with tears. Nicole nodded. "I love you so much Mort," Nicole said with tears in her eyes. "And I will always love you," Mort said with a soft smile.

(End of flashback)

Chilli walked out the front door of her sisters house and then turns to look at her. "You will be a great mother one day," Chilli said with a soft smile. "Thanks, Chilli... I wish it was possible. But thank you. Maybe it might happen." Brandy replied with a smile before hugging her little sister. "Hey, call this number," Chilli said handing her a card. "What is it for?" Brandy asked as she took the card and looked at it. "There is a group home for kids of all ages, and mum always has said everyone deserves to have a home and to be loved, blood doesn't make family, love does," Chilli explained. "That is true... I'll think about it. Thank you for this, Chilli." Brandy replied, pocketing the card before walking Chilli to her car.

Chilli hugged her sister again. "Please call me, whenever you need me," Chilli said wagging her tail lightly. "I promise I will... and I promise that I won't ever leave you again..." Brandy replied as she returned the embrace. "Take care okay?" Chilli said as she let go of her sister. "I will, you do the same, Chilli." Brandy said with a smile as her younger sister got into her car.

Chilli smiles before starting her car. She waved at her sister one last time driving home. Brandy took a deep breath and knew things were going to get better for her. This wasn't the end of her story and she knew that. One day she'll find happiness in getting what she's always wanted. To be a mother.

Kodiwolr321: A/N Helpo everyone sorry for the long wait life has been well life, real life and work have been… ugh lol yeah that's how it's been but! Here we are! Also Arika 24 please stop harassing there's more to life than writing I have a job outside of this and don't have a lot of time.

Loyalguard600 A/N: Hey everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the latest chapter of Sad Faces Changes! Sorry for the delay, Kodi, me, and The_Suburban_Guy have all been caught up with work and various other things. But now, we're working to help get back on track to writing the stories you adore. Thank you all for your patience. Stay tuned for more from Kodi, me, and The_Suburban_Guy!