Different Faces: What if?

One Last Time

Sometimes things work out and sometimes things don't work out. Maybe there's a rough patch in the road and sometimes you miss it and go on with life and sometimes you hit that rough patch straight on and work through the pain. In this story what if things worked for Bandit and Emily and then they hit a rough patch... and then another and then another and then another until finally the pain stopped altogether.

One Last Time

Emily was on her deathbed weak and scared but she had her husband next to her with her six year old son. "Mommy," Thømas said, holding her hand. "Hey sweetie..." Emily said weakly. Thomas teared up knowing his mothers fina hours were coming. "Hey babe," Bandit said lightly, petting his wife's head. "Hey yourself babe," Emily joked. Bandit lightly chuckled while kissing his wife's hand. "Thomas, my sweet little boy," Emily said. "Yeah mommy?" Thomas asked, letting tears fall from his muzzle. "Don't be sad sweetie, just know I'm in your heart and I'm always there," Emily said softly letting her own tears fall. "I know..." Thomas said looking. "And take care of your father, he's going to need his strong little boy by his side," Emily said lightly smiling. "I will mommy," Thomas said trying to be strong. Stripe and Trixie had Arrived and looked into the room. "Hey Em," They both said softly. "Hey guys," Emily said smiling.

"How are you doing?" Trixie asked, placing her hand on Emily's. "I've been better," Emily said with a light chuckle. Trixie fought back her tears and held Emily's hand. Stripe then heard Thømas stomach growl. "Are you hungry mate?" Stripe asked, looking at Thomas. "I.. no..." Thomas said, looking away from his uncle. "You should eat honey, Stripe, can you get Thomas something to eat?" Emily asked weakly. "I sure can Em," Stripe said as he took his nephew by his hand and took him to get something to eat with Trixie. Bandit and Emily were then left alone. "Bandit?" Emily asked weakly.

"Yes Em?" Bandit asked with tears falling from his muzzle. "Can you promise me something?" Emily asked while she held her husband's hand. "Of course! Anything for you Em," Bandit said softly. "Promise me... that when there's someone else... love them as much as you loved me," Emily said softly having trouble breathing. "Em I..." Bandit started to say. "Promise me... our son will need a mother in his life and I know you'll find someone who will love him as much as I do," Emily said as a tear fell from her muzzle. Bandit broke down while kissing his wife's hand and held it against his cheek. "I promise Em, I promise," Bandit said, still holding her hand. Emily smiled one last time and closed her eyes and went off her way. Bandit kissed her hand and cried while holding her.

(Some time later..)

"Please fasten your seat belts as we are entering Brisbane Australias air space," the pilot said from the cockpit. Thomas looked out the window and watched as the plane landed. Thomas sighed and turned and looked at his father. "Dad?" Thomas asked. Bandit turned and looked at his son. "Yes mate?" Bandit asked. "Is this where you grew up?" Thomas asked, looking up at his dad. Bandit smiled and nodded. "I did mate, and we're going to be living in the house I also grew up in," Bandit said with a smile. "Really?" Thomas asked. Bandit nodded and rubbed the top of his son's head. The plane lands and the two Heelers grab their things and head to the parking lot.

Thomas and Bandit walked together and then see a red/blue Heeler mix standing by his truck. "Oh! there's your uncle Rad now," Bandit said happily. "My uncle who?" Thomas asked. "Oh right, you never met your uncle Rad," Bandit said as he looked at his son and then kneeled down to his level. "Look mate, I know things are Changing and things are different but... your uncle Rad is a very nice dog and he's my older brother," Bandit explained, placing his hand on his son's shoulder. "Will uncle Rad like me?" Thomas said, looking down. "Of course he will mate, he's great!" Bandit said with a smile. Thomas then jumped into his fathers arms and hugged tightly. Bandit hugged his son tightly and then they went to Rads Truck. "Hey mate! I'm your uncle Rad," Rad said rather loudly at his first meeting with his six year old nephew. Thomas hid behind Bandit a little scared meeting his dads older brother.