A/N: A special request from BlackCat0827. Hope you enjoy this one ;-)
Judy was grinning from ear to ear. And for a rabbit, that's pretty big.
She had called out of work that day because she wasn't feeling well. For a while, she had been unusually queasy off and on. There would be times when she would be so ill, you had to force her to eat something because the sight of any food at all repulsed her and would send her flying to the toilet. Then there were those other moments when she would develop the most beyond the pale cravings imaginable. The things that Judy's appetite demanded would've made a cook from the Bunny Burrow county fair blush.
Nick would sit next to her, mouth agape, while witnessing his wife devouring a pickle that's been pan fried with a half stick of butter and then smothered with peanut butter. Naturally, these strange occurrences made their way to Bonnie Hopps' ears during casual conversation. She knew (without details) that Judy and Nick were being intimate. They had been together for sixteen months before tying the knot and were going onto their second year of marriage. For a bunny bride, it seemed suspect that no pregnancy had been reported. Even the most conservative rabbit couple would have had at least three by now without even trying.
"Hon, I really think you should see your doctor. You know...the other doctor...and have her do an exam. Just to be sure."
Judy was dreading this. While Nick was indifferent about that possible outcome (being married to his sexual partner makes you more comfortable), Judy was hoping in the back of her mind that she would get pregnant. Despite how far mammals have come, there are just natural instincts that cannot be ignored. When two mate for life, the desire to procreate is a certainty. Judy believed in her heart of hearts that Nick would want to have a kit, despite his playfully apathetic demeanor.
What bothered Judy was that they were an inter-species couple. Biologically speaking, the two of them conceiving was not impossible. But considering how long they've been physical up to this point, it bemused her that nothing has transpired yet.
But she knew it had to happen so she made the nearest appointment and made a mental note to call out that day last minute. Had Judy not done this, Nick would have wanted to go with. But she didn't want him to be there; not until she knew what may be wrong. Nick wanted to stay and help her feel better but she insisted that the chief would rather have one of them out than both. Judy kissed him on the snout and thanked him for all the fuss but she could handle herself. He reluctantly conceded but found her acting really strange.
It was mid afternoon and a rather slow day for the ZPD, so Chief Bogo agreed to have Wilde leave early to check on Hopps. That was fine with Judy; she had gotten back from Dr. Foster about an hour ago. Actually, Judy was more than fine. She was so elated she thought she was going to burst. Naturally, she contacted her parents first and told them the happy news.
The doctor informed Judy that she was indeed expecting, and then some. The way she's been feeling was completely normal, Dr. Foster reassured her. She wasn't too privy on the combined genetics of a fox and rabbit, but she told Judy that every couple experiences pregnancy differently. Judy was also told that she was a little bit along and ought to be showing very soon. Judy lamented for a moment about putting on the weight. But she figured it would be worth it and judging from her mother; it needn't be difficult to lose it all again.
"Well, I can safely say that I'll always be able to see me feet," Judy said.
That made the doctor chuckle as she handed Judy the fuzzy sonogram. Listening closely, they could hear the heartbeats but until enough time passes, nothing more clearer than this picture is possible.
"It doesn't matter," Judy shook her head. "They'll be beautiful; I can tell."
Judy sat on the couch, watching some junk on TV. When she got the text that Nick would be back home early, she braced herself for how she was gonna break the news to him. Then she smirked and was a lot more relaxed.
"I know what to do," she told herself.
The sound of keys going into the lock made her heart skip a beat and she watched the knob turn. Nick smiled broadly, holding up a white paper bag with a greasy bottom and a plastic bag in the same hand.
"Hey, babe!" he greeted. "How're you feeling?"
Judy discreetly put the sonogram face down on the coffee table.
"I'm feeling great now," she smiled in return.
"Awesome!" he sighed, plopping the bags onto the kitchen table.
"What are those?"
Nick dug out of the bags like Santa Paws with a sack of presents.
"Well, I wasn't sure what mood you were in. So, I got you a hot, gooey panzarotti from that place we like. Aaaaand if you're NOT up for something messy, I also have a garden salad from Babbage's Cabbages. It's a new place but they make the kind you like."
Judy's ears dropped and her eyes widened, grateful for marrying such a clever and loving fox.
"I am quite hungry," she admitted. "But there's something we need to discuss first."
Nick scrunched up his face while getting two glasses from the cabinet.
"Uh-oh."
Judy's ears perked up.
"What uh-oh?"
"Last time we had a discussion," he said, filling the cups with water. "I had to get rid of my favorite chair."
She out her paws on her hips "That thing stunk up the apartment."
"No it didn't," Nick protested as he walked over to her.
"The other tenants filed a grievance with the landlord."
Nick shook his head.
"Carrots, nobody has a better nose than me. And I didn't mind it."
"Will you get over here!"
Nick dropped to his knees and walked on them over to a mildly annoyed Judy. He set the glasses of water for the two of them down on the table.
"Yes, ma'am. You have my full attention."
Judy took a deep breath and prepared herself.
"Nick, I love you more than anything."
He was sensing something was up from the look in her eyes, so he decided to ignore the sarcastic response. Instead, he took her paw in his and held it tightly.
"Is everything okay? Whatever it is..."
"Nothing's wrong, Nick" Judy interrupted.
Nick stood up, still holding onto Judy.
"Then what, then?"
"This isn't easy for me to tell you."
"Just come out and say it," Nick insisted.
Judy shook her head "I don't want to shock you."
He rolled his eyes "Fluff, nothing you can say will sh-"
"I'm pregnant!" the bunny blurted out.
The fox stood there stiff as a board. Judy could feel her hand slipping from his grip as it had loosened.
"Hello? Nick? You in there?"
"What?" Nick shook his head. "I was just...I kind of shut down for a second," he nervously laughed. "How did this happen?"
Judy gave him a look.
"Right stupid question," Nick rubbed the back of his neck. "Is the kit okay?"
"Everything's fine...but..uh..."
Nick smiled brightly at that.
"Boy or girl?"
"I don't know, but..."
Nick huffed, "Well I really don't want to call the baby 'It' but what else can we do?"
"NICK!"
"What?"
"It's not an It. It's a them."
"Th-th-the-them?" Nick stammered.
Judy nodded, "It's a litter. Congratulations, dad."
Nick looked like he was going to collapse.
"How...how ma...ma...mann...many...?"
The bunny grinned and replied "Just seven."
The glasses on the coffee table clinked from the impact of a red fox hitting the floor.
Judy leaned over, looking down at her husband. She hopped off the couch and took a small pop-up vanity mirror out from her pocket and held it under his nose. When the mirror fogged up, she sighed and shook her head.
The buzzing of her phone made her ears perk up. Grey paws gripped the phone and unlocked the screen. It was her mom.
"Hey, Momma!" she cheerily answered.
Judy paced around the living room, listening to her excited mom.
"Yeah...yeah...I told him."
She looked back at the unconscious pred.
"Very well, actually" Judy chuckled. "What?...oh OK...great...I'll see you then."
The bunny picked up the sonogram and smiled warmly at it.
"I love you, too. Bye!"
She hung up and tossed the phone to the couch cushion.
"Nick? Nick, dear?"
The fox groaned and turned over onto his back, his eyes narrow slits.
"You alright?" Judy asked.
"Wow, Carrots, just wow" he rubbed his eyes with his paws. "Sorry, that was just alot to take in."
She nodded, "I can see that. Aren't you happy?"
Nick gripped the couch, using it to rise up to his feet.
"What kind of question is that, Fluff? Of course I'm happy. We've got so much to do. I mean, seven kits..."
"Um...about that..." Judy sheepishly grinned, holding up one finger. "I may have embellished the results a little."
The red fox looked at the grey rabbit like she told him that there was a second head growing from his neck.
"I don't get it."
"I may have said that we were having seven just so you could get over the shock when I told you what we were really having."
Nick gave her a look "How many?"
Judy opened her one paw and held it up. "Four."
His eyes raised as high as the ceiling "Four? Four! Wait, why did you...?"
"Figured you would overreact at first. I knew between us, a litter was extremely likely. So I told you seven and that way four would seem amazing by comparison."
"You played me?"
Judy shrugged, still grinning.
"Sly bunny," he quipped. "What'd ma and pa say?"
"Oh, mom couldn't stop talking about being a first time grandmother. She's actually coming over today. We're doing some shopping. Gonna need some clothes that are a little loose, don't you know."
Nick shifted and laid down, resting his head on the arm of the couch.
"Well, I'll leave you ladies to it, then. Think I'll take a nap."
Judy slid off the couch and walked toward the bathroom.
"You can't nap!"
"Why not?" the fox yawned.
"Because daddy and you are having you special father and son-in-law time. He really wants to talk to you."
Nick's eyes snapped wide and he looked at the front door as if Bonnie and Stu Hopps were going to come through that door at any second.
"You're serious, Carrots?"
"Sorry, honey, can't hear you. Need to get a shower. Love you."
After that rapid-fire response, the bathroom door slammed shut.
"I should have stayed unconscious."
