Restore external HDD using Time Machine

Hello Apple users,
First let me explain my time machine set up so that you guys will be able to help me out. I've 2 external USB hard drives: one is 1TB and the other is 500GB. In the 500 GB USB HDD I store my main Aperture 3 library and other things like music, movies etc., and I use the other external hard drive to backup my files using Time Machine.
So after, I've backed-up my external hard drive as well as my mac using Time Machine, I can't access my backups in my external hard drive without connecting the 500GB hard drive. What I mean to say is that, when I enter Time Machine without connecting my 500 GB USB hard drive, I'm unable to see the files that are saved in the backup. Does that mean if my 500 GB hard drive goes kaput, I won't be able to restore those?
When I do connect the 500 GB hard drive, I can see the files that are stored there and the changes that took place using Time Machine.

Everything Time Machine

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