Timin' is Everythin' [Brett]

[Travis Bondurant]

Outfit

With a two hour head start getting up this morning, Travis was certainly in a cheerful mood. Although he hadn’t yet his roommate he was content to have settled into his new quarters. It wasn’t home but it was definitely starting to feel liveable. It was missing one important thing; family.

He set aside an hour to make breakfast - Who didn’t like sweet waffles with golden syrup? It was a crying shame about the lack of kitchen ware but they’d worked out ok. Crispy brown on the tops with squishy vanilla pancake tasting spongy batter underneath. Perfection on a plate - no matter how crumby the china was. Even the truck ride to the little tattoo shop was decent if you left out the traffic jams and lack of parking, pulling into the street outside was like playing Tetris but with American hotrods and other vehicles. The streets weren’t the dirt tracks or pot hole ridden country roads - that made listening to the radio much easier, all those trips back in Virginia and he hadn’t been sure there even was one.

Bright lights and artwork covered walls completed by the faint buzzing of electric needles. Tattoo shops were addictive just like the ink that they pierced into the skin but unfortunately that wasn’t why he was here. Not this time at least. Travis had heard whispers that Brett worked this joint - he hadn’t seen his brother in two years. The young brunette ran his hand through his hair giving it a quick tussle while tugging idly at his black hooded jacket. Why did he have to be greeted by a stunning face? She was beautiful – stunning even. With eyes he could get lost in, bright like stars but her hair... her hair was something else entirely. Now normally he didn’t like it when a lady went changing her hair colour but this he could make an exception for. Travis must have looked like a fool with his mouth opening and no sound coming out, nothing but tiny squeaks and breathy whispers. He cleared his throat and managed to ask what he needed to and got on the new path.

Damn his inability to talk to women!

An apartment block. St Albert’s apartment block to be precise. It was pretty close to the city centre so it wasn’t even a long walk from the college dorm but since he’d taken the truck to the tattoo shop he had to take it that last stretch to the complex. A waste of gas but hey he could explore the place later. Travis pulled up outside taking a minute to gather his thoughts and take a few calming breaths before venturing out to the door. Luckily for him someone was just coming out of the door as he came forward, leaving him to catch the door and hold it open for them slipping inside once they’d passed. Apartment 128.

‘Okay, Travs, jus’ knock. Whatcha got ta lose? ‘E’s family.’

Tap tap.. Tap tap!

Breeeeeeeathe.

[Brettley Bondurant]

In only a month Brettley would officially have been a dad for a whole year. That means his little babies were turning a year old. He really got the hang of the whole dad thing, it was extremely hard at first and it still isn't easy but he got the hang of things. It takes a lot to take care of two babies but he manages. He only gets to see them a few days a week, which works perfectly with his work schedule. He would want more time with them but he needs to provide for them as well.

He still couldn't believe the twins were going to turn a year old soon. It seemed like just yesterday that he held the tiny babies in his arms for the first time. Now they were crawling everywhere and trying to walk. He hoped they wouldn't grow up to fast. Today was his day off and he had his little monsters all to himself, usually Kodi was over there helping him and spending time with the family. Brett had major feelings for her, and he thought she looked adorable in mom mode. But for some reason she just didn't want to date him yet, and it was driving Brettley insane. Though he kept his cool because he didn't want to scare her off.

Johnny was in his bouncer watching Yo Gabba Gabba, one of they're favorite kids shows. Then Brett was feeding Shilo in her high chair some delicious fruit flavored baby food. But then he heard someone at the door. He really hoped it wasn't Kodi because he was in lazy dad mode at the moment, he was still in his pajama pants and had no shirt on with some DC house slippers on. He then gently wiped Shilo's face, "I'll be right back baby girl." He said as he got up and walked towards the door. He quickly opened the door and when he saw who it was his jaw dropped. Was it really his little brother to come see him? "Holy shit, Travis!" He said with excitement and immediately hugged the boy. "Bubba what are you doing here? Are you back for good?" He asked while still hugging him. Then he realized his brother had never met his kids, he knew he probably had heard of them, Mamma couldn't have kept that a secret for that long. "You have to come inside, and meet two cute Lil' thangs." He said as his accent started to come out a little more with his excitement.

[Travis Bondurant]

Travis shuffled his foot against the floor nervously with his hands, constantly fiddling with his any little
bump in his clothes and smoothing out creases that weren’t even there to begin with. The seconds passed like minutes and the more that passed the anxiety threatened to spill into his legs and send him running for the hills. Was it normal to be this worried about meeting up with family like this? Brettley was his brother, not some stranger in a dodgy alley… so why did it feel like he’d be sick on this already suspect looking hallway carpet? He could feel the butterflies turning into bats flapping around in his stomach cracking against every inch of his insides.

The youngest brother of the Bondurant clan swallowed hard as the door swung back to reveal the tattooed, slick black hair and clean shaved faced Brett. Travis’ eyes widened with surprise like a small fuzzy caught in the beams of a vehicle as he saw his expression distort into shock and bewilderment. Of course the bolt from the blue was made slightly worse as he practically yelled his name. It was excitement in his tones… nothing more. Suddenly the shorter boy found his body collide with Brett’s solid form enveloped in his strong arms with his face crushed against his shoulder. Despite the invasion of a crushing bear hug that should have been suffocating him Travis couldn’t help but smile a grin brightly. The familiar scent calmed his nerves as his deceptively strong arms clamped round his brother locking them together.

“Brett!” His voice was merely more than a muffled cry as the sound was lost into Brett’s shirt sleeve. “I was passin’ through the neighbourhood ‘n’ seeins how yuh live out these parts, ‘though’ I’d drop by.” he replied “I’m back fuh college. Go’ myself a li’le dorm room on campus.” Travis finally plied himself away from the older boy grinning up like a child. In all honesty he was still reeling just from being here - His heart was ticking ten to the dozen but it felt so much like home. Guess that was why they always said ‘Home’s where the hear’ is’ and by heavens that had never felt more true. Going home to Virginia to finish out school was meant to make him feel comfortable and warm keep him close to his roots, but in truth, when he got there it was just an empty shell of what it used to be. It didn’t feel like home anymore just echoing bad memories with a sprinkling of good. He’d known there and then that all he wanted was to get back to his family in San Francisco. Now - Here he was on Brett’s doorstep.

Travis’ eyes lit up as he mentioned the li’leuns. “I heard rumours I was an uncle! Mama tol’ me I migh’ be!” He almost skipped inside the apartment his eyes trailing over everything. It was very him. Reminded the younger Bondurant of his brother’s old room at the ranch.

[Brettley Bondurant]

Seeing Travis made Brettley really feel like home, especially hearing that thick Virginian accent that Brett once had. He was able to turn it on and off like a switch most days, but sometimes it just couldn't help but to slip out sometimes, especially hearing Travis' accent. He then smiled and finally let go of Travis. "Well, I sure am glad you stopped by, Bub. You can always come by here, you know that." He said as he pat his brother on the back and started to lead him inside.

"Oh you're back here for good? That's great! I sure did miss ya when you were away." He said with a smile as he made his way to the living room. "Yep, you are definitely an uncle of two...so far." He said with a wink. "You know, I could just keep on makin' babies, like mom and dad did." He joked. "Because, you know Daisy is outta the question." He added with a smile and then got the twins out of their play pen and brought them up to Travis. "This is Johnny, and this is Shilo." He said as he handed Travis, Johnny and sat down on the couch with Shilo, and motioned for Travis to sit. "Look Kiddos this is your uncle Travis." He said in a high pitched voice as he kissed Shilo's cheek and she giggled and shook her hand towards Travis. "These kids are gettin' big so fast, they are almost startin' to walk and what not." He said with a sigh. "Say! You know who else is having a baby?...None other than little Karly Bondurant!" He said with a laugh. "It's a trip right? He got this pretty French gal knocked up. He loves her though and he's excited, I've never seen that kid so happy. So can't complain to much, cuz' I remember when I never saw that kid happy, right?" He added. "So, What's been goin' on with you? How were things back home...Fill me in." Brett said with a smile.