Judy Hopps loves her family.
Ever since she moved to Zootopia in order to pursue her dreams she missed them a lot; true being part of such a huge family of more than 275 brothers and sisters could be a little chaotic and with zero personal space or privacy, but when night comes and you find yourself alone in a little apartment no bigger than a shoe box with just a bunch of little bunny plushies, things can get a little difficult and even the silence can be too loud
She especially misses her mother more than anything.
Bonnie Hopps a small hurricane and a great mammal, so many children but so much love to give to each and any of them, Judy always wondered how on Hearth she could remember more than 275 names, birthdays, first teeth, favorite dishes, colors, illnesses and of recently wedding anniversary and grandchildren's litters.
But as unbelievable as it may be, she does, and she possesses the sixth sense of every mother, always there when needed, to take care, to reassure, to advice or just to give one of her magical love filled hugs.
Yes Judy Hopps, despite her age, needs her mother like air, but sometimes she wishes she doesn't and this evening was one of those because the worst thing in the world that a mother could do was asking of your romantic life when you have no romantic life at all, but when your mother decides that enough is enough and tried to play matchmaker is even worse!
"Mum please I don't have time for that now" said Judy for the umpteenth time with a slightly annoyed look
"But Judy I'm not asking you to marry him right now" replied the overly eager rabbit "All I'm asking is to give him a chance, go out with him and see how it goes"
"Mum really I'm not interested, can we just pretend that you didn't ask me anything?"
Bonnie didn't reply at first seemingly lost in thought but after a second she said with a new determination in her voice "No, not this time, the truth is bun bun I'm worried about you"
Judy felt her annoyance fade immediately at her mother's words "Worried about me? How so?"
The older rabbit sighed avoiding eyes contact with her daughter, a clear sign that what she was about to say was very serious and heartfelt, Judy braced herself for the blow because she has a feeling that she was slowly losing her battle and when her mother's eyes were on hers again the feeling became certainty.
"You are alone Judy, that's why, I don't want to see you lonely and with no one in your life."
"Mum I appreciate the concern but I'm not alone I ha-"
"You are alone now"
"Mum it's 10.30 pm of course I'm alone now, besides I-"
"Bun Bun just answer me ok? what do you do in your free time?"
Uh? what kind of question was that? "Usually I hang out with Nick here or in his apartment, we cook something or we just order in and we watch some movies. Sometimes we go for dinner and a movie, some other times we-"
"You are always with him? don't you have other friends you hang out with?"
"Well no, not really, why did you ask?"
"What about your coworkers?"
"What about them? I see them every day at work but that's it, they are my friends too you know."
"But still the only one you spend your time with is Nick, am I wrong?"
"Mum listen, now I am worried, what are you trying to accomplish here? Nick is my best friend and is a great guy even if he's a fox. You said you were over that now." Said the now more than annoyed bunny
Ok no more beating around the bush it's time to be blunt thought Bonnie "No sweetie you got it wrong, Nicholas is a really dear boy, fox or not, and I'm happy you are so close both on work and outside he's not the issue here" reassured her mother
Judy visibly relaxes hearing the praise to her friend but she knows that there was something else in store for her "Then what is it?"
"What happens when he finally finds himself a cute vixen and decided to settle down? what will you do?"
Despite being one of the strongest officer in Zootopia Judy wasn't ready for the dull pain in her chest at those words, Nick? settle down with a vixen? Nicholas Wilde the same green eyed fox that every morning greets her with a cup of carrot coffee and a lopsided grin on his muzzle? no, not possible but...what if it was?
"Mum It doesn't matter, we can still be friends you know?" she said showing her best poker face.
"You will certainly be, but he won't always be with you and I'm not sure that his future girlfriend will approve of a close relationship like yours. He will slowly take his distance Judy you will spent less and less time together, he will always be your friend sweetie but he will choose her over you. and believe me it will probably happen soon, female always had a soft spot for uniforms. How old is him 33?"
"34 in a couple of month." The younger bunny replied
" A perfect age for starting a family for a fox, if he's not interested in someone already. I know little of their mating habits but when they find the right one that's it, they mate for life sweetheart, and then you will be really alone and it could be too late for you to have a family. You know bunnies, we don't like to wait too much in that kind of things and the available bucks your age are very few"
Judy didn't reply at that and sensing she was winning the argument she simply add, "Gie it a chance Judy. Just this once that's all I ask. Please Sweet Bun."
With an ever growing need to be alone Judy decided to cut it short "What's his name again?" She asked with the most neutral voice she could muster
"Thomas Crops, he's a very sweet guy, he's three years older than you and he's finishing his internship in pediatrics, he will be in Zootopia for preparing his degree thesis and he will stay there for some time, I see his mother every weeks in the market I can arrange something very quickly before he moves to the city"
Judy sighed not pleased at all but her mother seemed so happy to set her up so she find herself nodding once to the phone" okay mum I promise I'll think about it, can you give me a couple of days? I need to clear my head first"
"You'll think about it? Really? That's good sweet bun that's more than I've hoped for and I'm very happy to hear that, listen what about this? I see Tommy's mother next Friday is Thursday afternoon enough time for you to decide?"
"That will be good Mum"
"Ok dearie I'll let you sleep now I'll call you back on Thursday, Sweet dream baby girl, I love you"
"Love you too Mum, Good night", and she ended the call
She stared for some time to her phone showing a photo of Nick and her in one of their usual poses, Him with his smug grin and aviators on and one arm on her head and she with the smile she reserved for him alone both in their uniforms looking directly at the camera.
She sighed again, placed the phone back on her night stand plug in the charger and then she hopped (no pun intended) on her small bed.
Sadness enveloped her almost immediately like a warm blanked but it was much less welcome, Nick and a foreign vixen?
Man that hurts.
It shouldn't but it hurts too well much, she never elaborate her feelings towards him because she knows it was pointless, but now that she was so close to let him go she couldn't avoid it, she wasn't ready to tell out loud that she wishes for a very long time for him to be more than just her best friend but he never showed interest in her THAT way and she slowly give it up.
"Sweet cheese and crackers why life is so difficult? Get a grip girl you are a bunny he's a fox, all that he will ever seen in you is a friend, a very close friend and nothing more, be happy with that."
Time to face the truth he will never be attracted to a small dumb bunny like me.
She closed her eyes and prepared herself for a sleepless long night