Author's Note: For those who have been following me on DeviantArt, Mickey's Family Ties is a fan comic about Mickey who wants to fit in with the family and at the same, keep his adopted family together. So here is the written version! Enjoy!

Mickey's Family Ties Prologue

All children, whether prey or predator are all miracles. They are loved and well cared by their parents, as it always was, and should be.

Every year, families have been giving birth to their kits and showering them with compassion and care.

Here in a small town of Bunyburrow, located in the country of Animalia, there is a mouse who is waiting for a child. Gloved paws behind his back, the mouse was pacing back and forth in front of his house, nonstop. His muzzle showed lines of worry, and he was sweating. Many thoughts ran through his head. What is taking the birth process so long? Will he have a daughter or a son?

Suddenly, a wailing sound rang throughout the house. The mouse stopped and looked up surprised.

The door opened to reveal a happy mole doctor.

"Congratulations Walter Mouse, you have a healthy baby boy!"

Walter was so happy that he jumped up and down in excitement.

"Oh boy! Can I see him? Can I hold him?"

"Of course!" the mole doctor laughed and led him into the house.

Walter ran upstairs to the bedroom where the birthing process took place. He opened the door, not caring if the midwife wasn't done cleaning the baby or not.

"Lillian! Are you all right? Where is my son?"

''The mother and baby are doing fine," the midwife, a white mouse, responded as she stood next to the bed. She had just wrapped the baby in a blanket and placed it in the mother's paws.

Walt's wife, Lilian, smiled tiredly as she laid in bed with a bundle in her arms.

"Walt, come and see your son!"

The mouse took a first look at his son and instantly fell in love!

The baby's eyes were droopy and unfocused. He was a tiny little fellow!

The father kneeled down beside the bed, and gently stroke the baby's little muzzle.

After the midwife left them alone for privacy, Walt and Lillian began discussing possible names for their firstborn.

"Dear, I have thought of the perfect name for our son!" Walt beamed.

"What name do you have in mind?" Lilian asked.

"Mortimer!"

Lillian's smile was quickly replaced with a very annoyed frown.

"Walter Elias Mouse! There is no way, I am naming our son, 'Mortimer!' Out of all the names, why that? Let's pick something else!"

Her husband shrugged and smiled sheepishly. He thought it was a good name.

"Okay, okay. But I want a name that starts with the letter 'M'!"

Her husband shrugged and smiled sheepishly. He thought it was a good name.

"Okay, okay. But I want a name that starts with the letter 'M'!"

For the next three minutes, Lillian listed off names that would fit for their little miracle.

"Matthew...Mark...Monty...Michael...Mickey!" she gasped excitedly at the last name. "Let's name him Mickey!"

Walt beamed proudly as he looked at his son.

"Mickey, it is!"

Thus Walt and Lillian were very happy to be raising their little mousling. They always make sure to keep him safe and well cared for. Every day they would take him to park all the time because that was where he liked to run around. Even if it meant that the father had to chase him over the hills so the baby wouldn't get hurt.

Raising Mickey wasn't always easy. Every day, he would cry and cry and cry and cry! Lillian was always trying to figure out what's wrong with her son every time he cried. Was his diaper dirty? Was he hungry? Did he need his blanket? Or was he lonely?

Other times, the mouseling would just cause mischief for the parents. One of the things he likes to do is put a bowl on his head, and pretend it was a hat! Other times, he would throw his mother's jewlery out off the window! The parents felt that their son was driving them crazy! But they love him, despite all that trouble.

One day, Walt was in the bedroom, packing his suitcase. His smile and eager eyes showed excitement. He and Lillian were going on a trip to Zootopia for a little vacation. Lillian was unsure about it. She didn't want to leave her toddler behind but Walt didn't want to bring Mickey along. He believed that his son was too young to travel. Thus he asked his friend, Mrs. Joanne Hopps to babysit Mickey.

Lillian was skeptical of leaving her son in the paws of a family of rabbits. She worried that her son would be too small to be in the presence of rabbits. But her husband assured her that the Hopps family would take care good care of Mickey.

One the day of their vacation, the Mouse family arrived at the Hopps farm and residence. Despite Walt's assurance that the Hopps are a good family, Lillian was still uncertain of this matter. How would she know her baby will be safe and sound?

Her husband introduced her to Joanne Hopps, and her husband, Oscar. Oscar seemed aloof and silent but Joanne was very friendly! She showed her her huge home and introduced the Mouse family to her brother-in-law, Stu Hopps and his wife, Bonnie. Lillian felt at ease by Joanne's warm personality and hospitality.

While the adults talked of Mickey's wants and needs, little Mickey played with his ball. It was yellow with a blue stripe and a red star. The mouse bounced the ball too hard and the ball ran away! The toddler ran after the ball as it kept rolling and rolling until it bumped into a foot of small girl rabbit, who was about three years old. An older boy rabbit, with black fur, was with her. When they wondered who the ball belonged to, they jumped when they small mouse waddling toward them. After learning that the ball was Mickey's, the two little rabbits decided to play with Mickey. They introduced themselves to him. The little girl rabbit was named Judy Hopps and the older rabbit was named Oswald Hopps. Mickey was very happy to have playmates!

When Walt and Lillian witnessed their son making friends, they felt content that their son will be safe. They bade goodbye to Joanne who promised to take good care of Mickey.

Unfortuantely, weeks have passed and Mr. and Mrs. Mouse never came back. When Joanne received a telegram from an apologetic mail rabbit, she shrieked with tears. Walt and Lillian have died in a terrible car accident. They kept this news from Mickey, believing that he was too young to know.

After a funeral was held for Mr. and Mrs. Mouse, the elder Hopps discussed on what to do with Mickey. He had no relatives to live with so they wondered whether or not to put him in an orphanage. Joanne ended the discussion the moment she decides to do something completely out of the norm: adopt Mickey. Adoption was not common in Bunyburrow. Even if it was practiced, families would never adopt a child that is outside of their species. The family tried to discourage Joanne from adopting Mickey. They cannot accost a mouse into their family-he's too small to live with them and too small to adapt to their lifestyle! But Joanne fought hard to keep Mickey in their home. She had never been able to have children after Oswald. Having Mickey in the family would give her eldest son a chance to be a big brother like he always wanted to be. The family finally agreed to let Joanne have the baby rodent, feeling sorry for her. Oswald and Judy were the only ones who have already accepted Mickey and they would make sure that they will be the best family that Mickey ever has!