Not Expecting to Collide (COMPLETE) - ABP Fanfiction

Chapter 86 - Cute

August and Robert's departure date loomed closer which meant a big change for the Brown family since Birdie would be leaving with them. Both August and Robert had to return to work and Birdie wanted to be settled comfortably in August's spare room a few days before she reported for her new job. Birdie grew more and more excited each day to begin her new life in Banff. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation whenever she spoke about her job and Bam couldn't help but be excited for her. Birdie was spending as much time as possible with Rainy before it was time for her to leave, knowing that her absence would be felt most keenly by her younger sister.

With that being said, Bam had something important he wanted to discuss with August and he decided to do it before he ran out of time. He and October arrived in the main cabin late in the morning. October was big enough into her pregnancy now that she had trouble getting comfortable enough to sleep for any length of time so Bam always let her sleep in when she was able. Amber greeted them in the kitchen and offered them both a hot cuppa.
Bam shook his head. "Actually I was hoping to have a word with you, August." August turned his attention away from the cake batter he was mixing with Rainy. "Sure, what's up?" Bam tilted his head and grinned. "Let's go for a walk and talk." August gave Rainy a few last instructions for baking and grabbed up his jacket and boots. "Do I need to be afraid? I'll have you know that I brought my knives with me this trip." August eyed Bam warily.
"Knives." Bam repeated. "That's cute." He quipped as he took his hunting rifle off the rack by the door. August flashed an alarmed look at the ladies in the kitchen. "If I'm not back in an hour, come rescue me!" Bam laughed as he shut the door behind them.

Amber turned her attention to October. "Still not getting any sleep?" October shook her head. "Not much. I'll be very happy to get back to my own bed." As Amber set a hot cup of peppermint tea down in front of her, something sparkly caught October's eye and she gave a happy yelp. "Amber! Is that an engagement ring?"
Amber smiled to herself as her cheeks tinged pink. She nodded. "Matt gave it to me last night. He said he had planned something special for New Year's Eve but couldn't wait." October grasped her hand affectionately. "Matt has never come across as a real patient guy. Congratulations! Have you talked about wedding plans?"
Amber held her hand out in front of herself and admired her new piece of jewellery. "Something small - not as small as your wedding - we want all of you to be there. A nice dinner in town or maybe Juneau."
"It's an exciting time in Browntown!" Rainy exclaimed. "A wedding and a baby...and maybe more babies on the way?" She winked slyly at Amber. Amber dropped her gaze and shrugged. "Perhaps." She replied lower than a whisper.

~*~

Bam and August walked along a deer trail in silence. Bam listened for grouse but knew that they were making too much noise to find any. He stopped in a clearing a little distance away from the yard. "I wanted to talk to you about taking October back with you to Calgary when you go. I don't know how long until my work permit comes through and that baby is not going to wait for anyone."
August looked up at the snow covered pines and let out a long breath. "I expect you have talked to my sister about this already?" Bam nodded. "And what did she say?" August queried. "She said if I mentioned it again she would rip my tongue out and slap me with it."
August grinned. "Ah yes, she's used that threat on me a number of times."
Bam chuckled. "She's rather stubborn." He observed. "Maybe more so than me."
"She's always been that way when it comes to staying together with the ones she loves. Even as a fourteen year old girl, she refused to stay put when I was forced to leave home." Bam grimaced. He did not intend to bring up painful memories of the past. "I can be quite adamant if it comes down to the well-being of the baby. I can be stubborn too. "
"Maybe she's met her match in you." August replied.
"Or maybe I have met mine."
"She won't go without you."
Bam nodded in defeat and roughly pushed his hair away from his face. August slapped him on the back. "Go ahead - worry. It's what big brothers - and husbands, I expect - do. I can't make October do anything she doesn't want to any more than you could get Birdie to."
Bam set his eyes skyward and frowned. "Do you remember last Thanksgiving when we talked in October's kitchen? You said that protecting your sister was just for your own self-preservation."
"Yes." August nodded, knowing exactly where this conversation was headed. "I promise I will watch out for Birdie as if she were my very own sister." He promised. Bam let out a sigh of relief.
"Good talk!" August grinned as they headed back to Browntown. "And I didn't even have to bring out my knives!"
"Knives!" Bam chuckled. "That's cute." He said as he cocked his gun loudly.

~*~

Amber had left the main cabin to spend some time with Matt, leaving October and Rainy alone to wait for the cake to finish baking.
"Are you excited to go to Calgary with us?" October asked.
Rainy turned her gaze away from the oven and pressed her lips together. "Yes, but I'm a little nervous too. I've never been away from all my family before. I'm going to miss them so much."
October nodded. "When Bam came to Calgary, he missed you all. You should have seen him smile when we watched an episode of the show. With you coming to Calgary with us, it keeps a small part of your family together."
"He's moving for you." Rainy interjected.
"I know."
"We've always been all together." Rainy continued. "Will they... Do you think they won't know how much I love them when I am gone?" Rainy worried her bottom lip with her teeth.
"Rainy," October started gently. "People grow and change and move to different places. It's what families do but that doesn't mean they love each other any less. I'm not trying to pull your family apart but that's how families work. They can't always be together geographically but they are together in their hearts."
Rainy nodded. October explained further. "Everyone here at Browntown, Bam and you in Calgary -"
"And you and the baby." Rainy was quick to add.
October smiled. "Birdie in Banff with Auggie and Robert and even your parents in Seattle. Just because you aren't in the same house doesn't mean you aren't in each others hearts or that you are any less of a family because of it. Do you think that Auggie and I love each other less than you love your siblings just because we don't live under the same roof?"
Rainy shook her head emphatically.
"Rainy, I'm not going to lie. It's hard to be away from family when you are young." She spoke from experience.
"How old were you when you were away from your family the first time?"
"I was twelve when my dad died. After that it was me and Auggie - just the two of us."
"Just like me and Bam."
"Yes, but you also have me, and the baby when he's born. Did you know that Birdie and Auggie are less than two hundred kilometres away? You will get to see them as often as you want." Rainy stood still with her thoughts for a moment. October's words had definitely put her mind at ease. "Did you and Bam really watch an episode of the show?"
"Yep." October answered, remembering the day in her den with a smile.
"What episode did you watch?"
"The one where Bam and Bambi had the fight."
"October, can I ask you something?" Rainy said curiously.
"Shoot." October shrugged.
"Why does Rosanna need so many batteries?"