The day had turned to night by now as Judy, Nick, Stu, and Bonnie sat in the kitchen together. The night was cool with the moon bright and full. Judy had just told her parents of her intentions.

Stu slumped into the chair as he looked at his daughter. "You want to get an abortion huh? I understand why you would want to have it. No female should be forced to carry unwanted children against their will. You have my support Jude." He was clearly devastated at finally hearing it from her daughter as to what had happened to her when she was kidnapped. He could see that Bonnie was visibly shaken at the story and her decision. Stu's fists were shaking as tears ran down his face.

"I'm sorry for not protecting her Mr. and Mrs. Hopps," started Nick as he stared down at the table they sat at, "I wasn't there for her when she needed it most and I failed at being her partner…"

Nick was quickly met with a jab by Judy before anyone could say anything. "Nick stop blaming yourself, how could we have known? How could anyone have known that Michael was the killer? He fooled us all and knew what he was doing. He used to be a ZPD cadet Nick, he knew how to not get caught until he wanted to. I don't blame you or want you to blame yourself!" she quickly hugged Nick tightly just as he was rubbing his arm. Looking up at her partner, she stood on her toes and kissed him on the side of his muzzle.

"It's just not easy to accept that Judy… I… The feeling of failing so horrible hurts so much. It just gnaws at your gut and soul that… that maybe had you said or done something different, everything would be ok. All my life I've lived with that feeling. Getting muzzled, leaving home, living on the streets, nearly losing you… It never goes away, just fades with time but is ever present, just like a scar," Nick held her close as he kissed the top of her head.

"But Nick, that's what surgery is for! To remove those scars forever. Accepting help for something you can't do alone is only natural. Look at hospitals, the ZPD, firemammals, friends, family, lovers. Just, just don't blame yourself. Do it for me, please?" Judy's words slowly sank into Nick as they held each other close and enjoyed each other's warmth and fur.

"Ahem… Let's not get carried away… in the kitchen…" stuttered Stu as he ruined the moment.

"Stu! Rude!" groaned Bonnie as she shook her head with a slight disappointment at her husband's remark, "I think we raised our children well enough to avoid such… things to occur in front of others!"

"Oh my goodness Dad!" Judy cried out as her face turned red, covering it with her ears.

"Nice one Mr. Hopps," was all Nick said as both Judy and him stood up, "I guess it's time for us to head to bed, wouldn't you agree Carrots?" asked Nick as he pushed the chair in along with Judy's.

"Sorry about your dad Judy. We'll call and schedule an appointment for tomorrow. It shouldn't be that difficult since Joseph, you remember him right? He's your fiftieth younger brother who broke his arm ten years ago…" started Bonnie before getting cut off by Judy.

"Mom, your rambling about our family again, and yes I do remember him."

"Well… umm if it's ok with you, he is one of the many abortionist doctors in Bunny Burrows. We never really knew how much of a demand it was until a couple years ago." Bonnie explained as she shifted a bit.

"I uhh see… If it's alright with Nick as well, I'll be… ok-ish with it… Kinda awkward having a sibling doing that though… you know what… let's find someone else. That does not sit well with me at all. Kinda creepy actually," admitted Judy as she cringed at the thought.

"Oh gosh I didn't think about that at all… I'm sorry Judy," Bonnie quickly apologized before turning to the phone on the wall and began to dial some numbers. "Well, I'll let you know during breakfast the time and place. It's a good thing you brought this up so you waited another four or six days it would have ummm matured a bit… Just ignore me… I'll see you two in the morning." Bonnie turn her attention back to the phone as she waited for it to answer.

"Well I'll be heading to bed Bonnie, you two should also get some sleep," suggested Stu as he headed down the hall toward his bedroom.

"Alright, goodnight Mom and goodnight Dad, see you tomorrow," said Judy as she took Nick's paw and went to the guest room.

"You two have a good night, Mr. and Mrs. Hopps," called out Nick as he walked with Judy.

"You doing ok Carrots?" asked Nick as they stopped in front of the door after a few minutes of silent walking. Judy stood there, her paw gripping the knob tightly. Her form still and silent as Nick watched with concern. "Judy?"

"I… I'll be strong Nick. I was thinking about earlier on the train when I snapped at you. I just… it must be the hormones. I just get these mood swings and the stress is so much. I'm sorry, I shouldn't act like that." admitted Judy as she turned to look Nick in the eyes. Her own beautiful eyes shining somehow in the darkness to the fox.

"You have nothing to be sorry about," Nick said. "Don't blame yourself over a simple misunderstanding. We managed to overcome it quickly and properly, by talking to each other and being honest," His paw reached out and cupped her cheek as he leaned forward. "I love you Judy, you know this right? You know I will never betray you or hurt you?" Nick continued to lean closer.

"Do I? I do know this, with all my heart," She didn't continue, or couldn't as her lips connected with the handsome fox before her. Their lips moved and tasted each other's as Nick opened the door. It was slow, deliberate and passionate. A physical and unspoken agreement between them as they confessed each other's love to one another once again. They broke the kiss once they made it to the bed, where they laid next to one another, holding and cuddling each other.

"It's quiet tonight," cooed Judy as she hugged the warm fox next to her.

"Yeah, it's very relaxing, wouldn't you agree?" asked Nick, laying his head on his pillow and looking Judy in the eyes as she too had her head resting on a comfortable pillow.

"Yeah, very," agreed the grey rabbit, pausing for a moment before speaking up again. "I'm scared about tomorrow… Are you?" she gave her own question for him to answer.

"Yes, because I'm scared for you. You, no one should have to go through what you are dealing with. I'm scared that you might break. I know you're strong but still… I worry." answered Nick as he caressed one of her ears with a paw. "You understand that right?"

"Yes, I do… We should get some sleep, I'll see you in the morning Slick," stated Judy as she turned around and scooted closer to the fox. Nick accepted her as he curled around her protectively, nuzzling her ears to give her comfort. Slowly they both fell asleep, Nick spooning Judy in a caring manner.

…

The rabbit woke with matted fur as he looked around his cell. His nightmares were getting worse each day, slowly but surely he may even be driven mad by them alone. He shook his head as he knew he had passed that threshold long ago. His breathing heavy and rapid as his eye darted around the room, looking for the danger his dreams brought to no avail. Soon his eye closed as he put his head into his paws.

He sat there for what seemed like hours, knowing what this day would entail. Today they will set his bail and all that useless law bullshittery. He knew he wasn't leaving this cell till his sentencing. He didn't have the money to post bail nor did he want to. He knew himself to well, being "free" out there would driven him to kill even more. Besides, his plan required him to stay put and endure this long, tedious, broken even court system in place inside Zootopia. There shouldn't be any reason for the law to move this quickly.

He didn't care as he woke to the sound of his food being brought to him. "Wake up, time to eat rabbit!" barked a wolf as he slid his food through a slot. This was how it was done for dangerous mammals. Solitary confinement, yet always watched.

Michael only nodded as he ate his food in silence. Thoughts cycling though his mind as he bit into his bread. Wondering, wandering, lost, and certain. His thoughts always drifted back to Judy, wondering what she thought of him. Was he a savage, a victim, a monster, a psycho, or scum to her? His eye shifting to his paw, wondering what her fur would feel like in it, free from its host. Clenching his paw tightly he saw a drop of water fall onto his plate, wondering where it came from as he looked to the ceiling.

"It's going to be a very long day…"

…

The house was loud and bustling as swarms of rabbits ran around the kitchen tables, sitting and conversing, screaming or crying, a typical morning in the house of a family of rabbits. Morning had come just a couple hours ago and everyone was now awake, eating breakfast served by a couple dozen of the Hopps family. Nick was teaching some of the little ones how to pull their thumbs off of their paws. Judy was laughing as one of them actually thought he tore his own thumb off. It took Nick a minute or two, but he managed to show that it was a simple trick and he was alright.

Even though the morning was full of smiles and laughs and joy, a deep and heavy dread was weighing over a few of the mammals in the room. It was all too soon over as Nick, Judy, Mr. and Mrs. Hopps were in a side room talking about today's plans. Nick and Judy were both holding each others paws as Bonnie spoke.

"So the appointment will be at one PM, that gives us about four or so hours to prepare for it," Bonnie said. "We will be dropping you off at the clinic just inside town. We'll be there for support if you need it. We know you'll find a way to get through this, you've always have Judy," She walked over and hugged her daughter tightly as she shook from keeping her tears from breaking through.

"Yeah," Stu said. "You'll always been the rebel, fighting against the current. Even if the current is strong and formidable, you'll push on through and be even stronger than before. You'll always be my lil Jude, independent, bold, determined…" He started to choke up as he too gave a big hug to Judy.

"That means so much coming from you guys… It must have been hard to support me all these years. Trying so hard to keep your little girl safe AND happy. To let me roam free to chase my dreams. I love you guys!" Judy cried with a shaky voice. Holding the embrace for a while as they didn't want to let go.

Nick reluctantly had to break the moment, finding that after four minutes of silence was getting a bit awkward for him. "So who are we meeting? Also I don't really know how long these procedures take… Any Ideas?"

"Judy will be meeting with Doctor Lumphrey." answered Stu as he broke free from the hug. "She helped my sister when she got pregnant with her first litter after she fell for a roving buck who left town when he found out. Doctor Lumphrey's been doing this for years. As for how long? Um, maybe an hour or two, depends on all the paperwork I think,"

Judy quickly went over and sat down next to Nick as she heard his answers to Nick's questions. Bonnie excused herself for a moment to get some almond milk for the four of them. It was at this time a few of Judy's sibling came running into the room. They quickly swarmed Nick, or more like his tail. Jumping on and hugging it as he slowly swished it across the floor, giving the little ones a makeshift ride across the house as he walked to the living room.

Judy thanked her dad for the support and info before following Nick and attempting to get the little ones off his tail. Nick was adamant they weren't doing anything wrong, but Judy was persistent they get off of him. Bonnie walked back into the room, handing Stu his glass and watching the two. A smile crept across their faces as Stu spoke up.

"They'll make great parents one day. I can't believe she has grown up so much…"

"We always knew she would become a fully grown doe, just like the rest of them," Bonnie said as she picked up a little white bunny crawling across the floor. "It's a shame we can't really have any more. Just a bit too old I am."

"It's ok Bonnie, I love you and so does the family. But yeah, they just fill you with so much joy, seeing their little faces," Stu agreed as he wiggled his finger in front of the face of the baby bunny Bonnie was holding. Making little faces before she suddenly sneezed and covered his face with snot.

"Ha ha ha, I won't miss the messes they make though!" laughed Mrs. Hopps before handing Stu a paper towel.

"Indeed," said Stu as he cleaned his face as the little one looked at her dad weirdly, not quite understanding what had happened.

…

The drive was quiet as the tension in the car grew and grew. No one was saying a thing, but everyone was thinking the same thing, "Will Judy be ok?" Judy was sitting in the back with Nick while her parents were sitting in the front. Her mother at the wheel and her father in the passenger seat. Judy's eyes were focused on the passing countryside as she counted the telephone poles. Nick was watching her with a great pressure on his chest increasing with every beat.

Bonnie turned the radio on and put it on low so there was some kind of background noise that would hopefully ease the tension in the car. Minutes passed into nearly an hour as they eventually arrived to the clinic. Pulling into a parking space, Nick and Judy's parents got out and stood next to the care for a moment as they waited for Judy to slowly get out. Her head was down as she took sluggish steps towards the front entrance.

"Judy… are you ok?" asked Nick as he placed a paw on her shoulder.

"Yeah… I'm… I'm just extremely nervous and scared," answered Judy as she looked up at Nick. Her eyes were strong yet tired looking. He couldn't imagine how stressed she must be over everything.

"Alright let's take our time walking over there, ok?" suggested the red fox, helping his bun bun along. Nick pulled her close to him as they began to move to the front door of the building. They slowly crossed the parking lot and stepped up onto the sidewalk. Judy stopped and looked at the large imposing building before taking a step forward.

"Don't worry Judy, I'll be there for you, I will always be there," assured Nick as he walked next to her.

Step after step they moved closer and closer til they were just a dozen feet or so from the front door when Judy halted suddenly.

"I… I…" stuttered the grey bunny, not finding the strength to lift her feet to continue walking.

"What's wrong? Are you ok?" asked Nick with concern covering his face as he stopped to check on her.

"Nick… I… I CAN'T DO IT!" screamed Judy, dropping to her knees.

"But this was your idea in the first place!" said a confused Nick, dropping to his knees as well.

"I know but… it's just… I…" stuttered the rabbit as she tried desperately to process her thoughts.

"But what? What's wrong?" asked Nick with a slightly raised voice.

"I can't do it because it's not fair!" shouted Judy.

"What do you mean? I don't understand you Judy," Nick placed his paws on both of her shoulders as she looked up at him with that old determined look he had always known from her.

"It's not fair for them!" she pointed to her stomach before continuing, "Why should they not get a chance to live because of what their father has done? I have every right to stop this and end it now. But I can't… I can't live with the knowledge that I've ended them before they can be whatever they want to be when they grow up. I simply can't do it… to have the figurative blood of my cubs on my paws…"

"Judy…" Nick's mouth stood agap, not knowing how to respond to what she said.

"I don't know if I can raise them myself… but I can't snuff them out like that… I want to give them a chance to grow up… They're innocent, they don't deserve to be punished for the sins of their father!" Judy couldn't hold back the emotions of what she was nearly about to do and began to sob softly as Nick pulled her head into his chest and held her close.

"It's ok Judy… we'll figure something out. I just know we'll get through this."

((((Author's Notes))))

So before anyone starts attacking me for political things I have this to say, I am not shoving my ideals down anyone's throats. I'm simply telling a story

and in this story, Judy doesn't go through with the abortion. I am not choosing this because it's my belief, its because this is something I THINK Judy will do in this situation.

She doesn't seem like the person who do something like this. With that out of the way, sorry this took so long to get out, I got a new job and have been very busy with ZNN

and the special projects I'm in charge of. My old editors have gotten too busy irl to continue and so I've had to find a new one. I thank DrummerMax64 and BlenderGuy15 for

all their hard work editing my story. As for my new editor it is the very talented LapisLucius42 who also has zootopia stories of their own which you should check out if you

haven't already. Thank for reading this story and staying with me for this long. I hope to see you real soon with the next chapter!