Chapter Text
When Bluey woke up, she wasn't expecting to see Bingo standing by her bed. "Is something the matter, Bingo?" Bingo nodded.
"Bluey, I think someone is downstairs!" she whispered. Bluey giggled.
"It's probably just mum. Dad says that pregnant people sometimes wake up super early because the babies in their bellies make them do it. At least, I think that's what he meant." Bingo shook her head. "No, it sounds like some lady, and she's whispering like she doesn't want anybody to hear her." Bluey gasped. "We should tell mum and dad!"
They raced to their parents' bedroom in panic.
Downstairs, Chilli stopped her conversation with Frisky and looked up at the ceiling. "Oh, sounds like the girls are awake! Anyways, as I was saying, his dad apparently threw his back out when he..."
Bingo gasped. "Bluey, they're not in here! The bad lady must have them tied up to a chair like in one of the old movies grandpa Bob was watching on the TV!" Bluey motioned for her sister to follow. "Come on Bingo, I'll go in front because I know karate. This bad lady picked the wrong heeler to mess with!"
They tiptoed downstairs to the living room, where the voices were coming from.
*********
"...And so Stripe needed bandages there for like a week, he had such a fun time trying to explain them to Socks and Muffin!" Chilli concluded, laughing with Frisky.
Bluey charged into the room, yelling. "He-yaaaa..." She stopped abruptly, Bingo bumping into her.
Instead of the "Bad Lady" they had feared was inside, they instead saw Chilli and Frisky on the couch chatting. Chilli had a cup of tea in her paws, while Frisky was breastfeeding Almond. "Uh, mum, why are aunt Frisky and Almond here?"
Chilli laughed. "Well, firstly, what are you two doing? Playing ninjas?"
Bluey shrugged. "Bingo said she heard some lady who didn't sound like you whispering downstairs and we thought a bad lady had tied you and dad to a chair." Chilli rolled her eyes. "Dammit Bob, again with the old films..." she muttered under her breath.
"Well Bluey, It was a bit boring around the house with uncle Rad away at work, so I figured Almond and I could come visit!" Frisky explained.
Almond pulled himself off of Frisky, rolled over and waved before rolling back over, causing Bluey to utter a delighted "awww!". Bingo walked up to Frisky, confused. "Um, aunt Frisky, what are you doing to Almond?" Frisky shrugged slightly. "I'm just feeding him, Bingo." This confused Bingo further. "But how? He doesn't have a bottle!"
Chilli giggled. "Never mind, Bingo." She put her tea down and slowly got off of the couch. "Come on, you grubs. Let's get you some brekkie!"
As she walked upstairs into the kitchen, Bandit appeared out of a nearby door, holding forks in his paws, pretending he was an air traffic controller. "BEEP! BEEP! Out of the way folks, jumbo jet coming through!" He announced, cheeky grin on his face. Chilli glared at him as Bluey and Bingo giggled, making sure to "accidentally" elbow him in the stomach as she walked past. "So.. worth it!" He groaned as he doubled over in pain.
At the dining table, Bingo raised her paw. "Hey mum?" Chilli grinned. "No Bingo, we don't know if the baby is a boy or a girl yet, we'll see the doctor later today and find out!"
Bluey walked up to her, Bingo following. "Mum, can we feel your belly to see if the baby will kick?" "Go right ahead!" Chilli replied. The girls each placed a paw on her stomach, flinching and giggling when they felt a kick.
**********
After breakfast, they all joined Frisky and Almond downstairs. He lay on the playroom's kiwi rug, propped up by a few pillows. Bluey and Bingo observed him, just as confused as he was. "Aunt Frisky, what can we even play with Almond?"
She pulled out a couple of toys from a bag, handing some to the girls. "Try some of these." Bluey turned to Almond and handed him a stuffed cow. He immediately stuck the cow's ear in his mouth and sucked on it for a few seconds before spitting it out and giggling. "Let me try!" Bingo offered. She shook a rattle near his face. He watched it entranced, following it wherever she moved it. She moved it forward, and Almond promptly fell on all fours, letting out a startled yelp. He wasn't hurt, just confused and wriggling about on the floor.
Just as Frisky moved to pick him up, she stopped upon hearing footsteps. On the other side of the room appeared Rad, still in his Hammerbarn uniform. "Hey guys!" he said, bending over to hug Bluey and Bingo. "What are you doing here? I thought work wasn't over for at least two more hours?" Frisky questioned, walking up to him and planting a kiss on his cheek.
Rad chuckled. "A generator blew, so the store closed early. Nice note you left on the door by the way, you left an L out of Chilli's name."
Frisked giggled. "Did I?" Unbeknownst to anyone but Bluey and Bingo, Almond, who was still on all fours, slowly began shuffling his stomach along the carpet. They watched in awe as he slowly pushed himself up, and began moving, crawling for the very first time. Rad stopped mid sentence, mouth agape. He tapped Frisky on the shoulder and pointed. She turned around, and her jaw dropped to the floor as the two of them watched Almond slowly but surely crawl across the room to them. Rad wordlessly pulled out his phone and began recording.
Almond eventually made his way to his parents, bumping into Rad's left leg. He looked up and began motioning upwards with his tiny arms. Rad put his phone away and picked the pup up, smiling. "Well done, little fella, well done." He said, tears in his eyes. Frisky and Rad planted several smooches all over his face, proud of him.
**********
Bob sat in bed adjusting his neck brace, waiting for his wife to come back. When she did, he noticed that she was grinning from ear to ear.
"Someone's happy!" He observed. Chris nodded. "Indeed. Bandit and Radley called." Bob smiled. "What did they say?" Chris sat next to him on the bed before responding. "Okay, firstly, Chilli's having a boy, and they're all excited. Second, Radley called to say that Almond has started crawling!"
Bob raised an eyebrow. "Crawling already? I coulda sworn he was starting to roll over less than a week ago! Boy, that kid is smart."
Chris smirked. "He must have gotten it from his nana." Bob thought about that for a moment before he realized. "Hey!"
**********
Brandy and Calypso observed as Jeremy danced around the living room as gracefully as he could. Music could be heard from the TV, which as usual he had turned up a little too loud.
So when you need some lovin tenderness
And it's me baby that you miss
Here's the key to unlock the door
To my house (to my house)
Jeremy was trying his best to replicate the dances in the video, paying close attention to the TV as he did so. While the dances done by the women in the video could be described with words like "seductive" and "alluring", when copied by a nearly 6 year old, words like "concerning" and "strange" were more appropriate. Brandy and Calypso at least had the reassurance that Jeremy likely didn't understand and just liked dancing.
When the song finished, Jeremy flopped down onto the couch and let out a sight of contentment and relief. Brandy and Calypso applauded, startling him. "Did you see me dancing?" he questioned, tilting his head. They nodded, grinning.
"That was wonderful, Jeremy! Have you been practicing?" asked Calypso. He shrugged. "Kinda? It just comes naturally, I suppose. It really isn't that hard!" His ears perked up. "Oh yeah, I just remembered I had a question earlier that I forgot to ask! When's the wedding gonna happen, and who's gonna be there?"
Brandy laughed. "It's not for another month, Jer-bear. And we don't know for sure everybody who's coming. Aunt Chilli is going to be there for sure, same with Grandad and probably Maynard."
"Grandpa Thomas and Grandma Linda might be there too!" Calypso added. Jeremy raised an eyebrow. "Who?" Calypso giggled. "My parents, remember? I showed you a couple pictures last week. We're visiting them tomorrow!" Jeremy gasped. "Really? Wow, and I thought going to school was exciting!" Brandy and Calypso shared a hearty laugh.