Abby Hopps was five years old. She lived with her mommy and daddy, brother, sister, and a bunch of cousins in their families burrow.
Her mom, Dorothy Hopps and her Dad, Brian Hopps, had a set of three small rooms that branched off of Mess number six.
Abby understood that a 'Mess' was actually a word that meant a place where lots of people sleep and live. She found it funny though, because it was always getting dirty, so the 'Mess' would often have to be 'cleaned'. She would giggle uncontrollably when the Mess leader, Ori, would raise his hands and in a booming voice say, "All right everybody-" to which all the younger rabbits would chant along in unison, "let's clean this mess!"
Just like all the other married rabbits in the burrow, her parents had their own living area and a private room to sleep in.
It wasn't a lot of space but Abby, Thomas and Lyra had filled every available inch of it with drawings, toys, trinkets and treasures.
Her mommy knew all about plants and helped her grandpa Stu to figure out where to put crops. She also had a greenhouse where she grew all sorts of things.
Abby had only ever gotten to see inside the greenhouse once or twice before because her mommy said it was a dangerous place for little bunnies. But, Abby, being the kind of precocious young rabbit who liked to test adults preconceived notions of what she could do, tried to get into the greenhouse at every opportunity.
For someone her age Abby had quite the knowledge of different plants; she felt that her brain was full to the brim with them. Abby knew that some were safe and that some were dangerous. She knew that the white flower that grew alongside the road was called, 'Queen Anne's Lace' but it was also known as 'Wild Carrot'. She also knew there was a plant called 'Giant Hogs Weed' that looked like a big version of Wild Carrot and that if you touched it, it would hurt you and give you burns.
Abby especially liked the plants she wasn't allowed to touch.
The most special of all had a big long name that Abby couldn't remember. She had seen it growing in her mommy's greenhouse and had been told very sternly that, "These are the most dangerous things on the farm. Don't go near them, don't touch them and never, never eat them. They are poison and they will hurt you."
As such, Abby had an obsession with them that only a five year old would understand.
That morning had been full of strange rabbits and yelling and a couple of big foxes. Everyone was excited and distracted.
So Abby, understanding an opportunity, was finally able to pick a few of the special flowers which, in her mind, possessed a kind of magic.
She was careful, making sure to wipe her hands on her dress after touching them. Hiding them securely at the bottom of her basket where no one would see. She nicknamed them, 'Little Blues' and because they were dangerous she restricted herself to handling them only a few dozen times in the first hour.
She always wiped her hands on her dress afterwards.
Abby decided it should be safe to smell the, 'Little Blues' but only for a moment and so long as the pedals didn't ever touch her face.
She was secretly looking at her special flowers when the dinner bell rung over the P.A. a half dozen times telling everyone that it was Mess six's turn to come to the cafeteria.
Her siblings Thomas and Lyra had already gone to wash up while Abby stayed behind.
Abby thought about telling her litter-mates about her secret but decided against it. She was feeling angry at them for some reason. They wouldn't understand. They didn't know plants and flowers like she and mommy did (and she had to think hard to find the word she was looking for) because they were "Idiots!"
She felt her tummy grumble which made her feel even more annoyed.
It was time to eat but she had missed her chance to wash up. Luckily she hadn't gotten terribly dirty while playing.
Looking down at her hands Abby realized that all her angry feelings had caused her to crush a few of her special flowers.
She wanted to scream and throw things but no one was around and she was very hungry so instead she huffed, messily tucking her now badly bruised flowers away again in the bottom of her basket.
She should probably have washed up but Abby was far too sour at the moment to care about stupid rules, so instead marched off to dinner in a tiny rage.
Judy had been practicing what she would say to Gideon as she stood motionless in the hallway.
This lasted until she simply couldn't delay any longer and finally, plucking up her courage, she entered the clinic.
Before saying a single word she marched directly up to Gideon who was startled to see her charging at him. He scrambled at the last moment to further cover himself with his towel.
"J-Judy-"
"Listen Gideon, I did a terrible thing to you today and nothing I say is going to make it right. I want you to know that I am truly sorry, and I realize that's not worth much. I think this morning you had intended to apologize to me about what happened when we were kids. If that's the case, then I assure you I forgave you a long time ago, so don't feel bad; especially after what happened today."
As Judy spoke, Gideon's mouth worked as if he wanted to speak; she never gave him the chance. "You are different than I remember. I'm really happy you are working together with my parents and I know it isn't likely, but I hope we can be friends someday. But there is one thing I need you to understand," Judy barrelled on, needing to say what she had rehearsed in the hallway, "whatever part of you is still the old Gideon Grey, you need to keep working on him. Because if you hurt someone I care about again I will annihilate you."
Judy let that statement hang for a beat in the otherwise silent clinic. "That might sound hypocritical, well, because it is. But I'm telling you in all honesty that I think you are a better person than I am Gideon. You had problems growing up and I know you've tried hard to better yourself. I'm sure that took a lot of soul searching. I on the other hand tried to enforce onto the world my messed up version of what was right. I never stopped to think or consider that I could possibly be wrong. So Gideon I really am sorry; not that I stopped you from hurting my friend, but because I couldn't control myself, and because of that, you were hurt. Again, I don't expect or deserve forgiveness… so just…"
Judy had finally run out of steam, "Well... I guess I just needed to get that off my chest. So thanks for hearing me out."
Judy took a deep breath and closed her eyes. As she exhaled she turned on her heels and walked over to Nick's bed wearing a sad but determined expression. She never saw Gideon's face, but if she had had the courage to look, she would have seen she'd left him speechless; his eyes trailing after her thoughtfully.
Nick was looking at her seriously as well from where he was reclining.
"Judy-" he said softly.
She couldn't help but shiver when Nick used her name. It instantly lifted her mood just a little, "you know you really don't need to be so hard on yourself." He gifted her with a small smile which, despite her current bout of self-loathing, soothed her in a way that seemed almost like magic. Nick then eased into a ridiculous impression of a burrows accent, "Us mammals may be evolved, but we ain't perfect sweetheart. Why don't yah sidle down here and wallah in the mud of poor life choices alongside me and my new friend."
Judy sighed with amusement as the cloud hanging over her miraculously started to break. Of all the mammals she'd ever known, only Nick had ever been able to do this to her.
"By that Carrots I mean pull up a chair, I've been looking forward to just sitting and chatting with you all day. I need the full scoop on all the latest family drama and juicy Bunnyburrows rumours."
Judy couldn't suppress a laugh, "Whatever Slick, forget the chair, make some room."
Feeling lighter and a bit impulsive, Judy hopped right up and plunked her butt down on the edge of Nick's bed.
Unfortunately the bed wasn't exactly meant for anything larger than a bunny. So Nick, already taking up most of the space on the bed, had to shuffle at the last second to avoid getting sat on, and in so doing, lost his tiny towel, which flopped wetly to the floor. Half a second later he was covering his crotch with his hands, masked in an expression of utter shock.
"What are you d- Judy!"
Judy used every ounce of willpower to keep her face placid, as if she wasn't now sitting next to a very attractive naked fox. She also fought down the urge to burst out in nervous laughing.
"Sorry I guess I didn't really think that through." Her ears wanted to flare up in a deep blush but she suppressed the reaction and instead drawled, "So Nick I'm just curious - how are you and Gideon suddenly friends now? Is naked bonding some kind of fox thing I should be aware of?
Judy knew full well it wasn't, and both of them were actively trying to suppress a sudden grin. This kind banter just felt so natural. Judy had missed it.
Nick was trying not to smile for other reasons as well. First, he was finally close to Judy again and he found himself treasuring every moment he was able to be around her. Intent on filing away each memory of her in his mind, with as much clarity as he could manage.
Also he was impressed at how good she was getting at acting nonchalant. If not for his years of experience she would have fooled him with her casual act. As it was though, he could tell that she was just barely keep herself from curling into a ball of pure embarrassment.
Luckily two could play at being casual and Nick was a master.
"True enough Fluff. I think me and old Gid here have pretty much worked out the majority of our vast differences. Turns out it was all a misunderstanding; a big whoopsie if there ever was one. And yes, us foxes are quite comfortable with the magnificent gifts that nature bestowed upon us. As you may be aware, shame is not something we suffer from."
"Oh, if that's the case then why are you so concerned about covering yourself. It's too late after all, I've seen everything." Judy managed to finish the sentence with a yawn, albeit not a very convincing one. At the same time her mind was having a minor freak out,
"Did you seriously just say that? Just give him the clothes you perv!"
Nick's unflappable facade was shaken for a moment before he decided to simply jump off the deep end. Smiling slyly he said, "Well, 'ex-officer toot-toot' I was thinking back to our time at the Mystic Springs Oasis. I recall you being a bit bashful when it came to nudity; so I thought it would be only polite to try and protect your delicate bunny sensibilities. But since that's obviously not the case then by all means."
With relaxed grace Nick removed his hands from his unmentionables, webbed his fingers and braced his hands behind his head, "Ahh, now that's more comfortable. I bet with a little convincing I could start my own little naturalist club down here. What'd-a-ya think?"
Judy was starting to lose her composure. She felt that at any moment steam might start to blast from her ears.
Screw it. I'm not letting him win.
Her brain having gone on temporary vacation, Judy relented to her base curiosity and gave Nick a very long, deliberate look all the way down from the tips of his ears to the tops of his pawed feet. After which her brain reasserted itself and she immediately began to generate a blush hotter than the surface of the sun.
Gideon could be heard awkwardly coughing a few time during this exchange.
At the same time Nick's brain, which had been stunned as Judy traced her eyes over his naked form, couldn't help but make a quick observation, "She just checked me out…"
Also occurring at that very second was the return of Lana Hopps who walked into the room and after taking one look around, said with a clap, "Sorry to interrupt the peep show everybody!"
Both Nick and Judy jumped so high they simultaneously fell off the bed on opposite sides. Nick instantly grabbed up the inadequately sized towel so he could again cover himself.
"First off, Judy you're drooling a little. Second, foxy- from what I just saw I'm guessing that you've never met a vixen that you didn't disappoint. Lucky for you Judy here is half your size and apparently has a type; how fortuitous! Now that that's out of the way, Judy could you please give these two their clothes and then get out of here so I can stop having to bear witness to this endless parade of weirdness."
Mortified beyond words Judy handed Nick the clothing she had been holding. She then walked over to Gideon.
"S-sorry, there aren't any clothes that would fit. I found a table cloth and I think we can make you a toga."
Five minutes later and with more safety pins then were strictly necessary Gideon was looking like an extra on the set of a budget remake of 'Ben Herd'.
Nick had squeezed himself into a pair of tan shorts that were so tight they could have been mistaken for spandex. He found they made a strange squeaking sound whenever he tried to move in them.
For a shirt he had been given a purple vest which was too small to button up and covered less than half his torso.
Everyone had remained silent throughout and when they were done Lana surveyed the three of them one last time, "Wow… Jesus Judy, you really scraped the bottom of the barrel. Alright, if you three leave now you should still be able to get some dinner. 'Mighty Caesar' over here can push 'Moose Knuckle' in the wheelchair. Gideon, if you can manage to find someone who will drive you home you're free to go. Nick, you definitely have a concussion so I'll need you back here after dinner so I can wake you up every hour or so. It's going to be a fun night."
Still embarrassed beyond belief, the two foxes and Judy did exactly as Lana suggested and were out the door and walking/ rolling down the hall in seconds. As they passed by an endless assortment of doors and branching hallways Nick finally found himself chuckling, "Jude, this day has been something else. Your sister is pretty funny by the way. Do not tell her I said that."
Judy huffed and looked at him sideways, still feeling horribly embarrassed from before, "Yeah when it comes to snark I think Lana might even give you a run for your money. She likes you though; otherwise she wouldn't be giving you all those flattering nicknames."
Nick settled back it his chair with a sign, "Well, that's one Hopps on my side so far at least."
Judy reached out and squeezed Nick's shoulder, "Two actually, you've always got me."
Nick couldn't suppress a grin as Judy's hand lingered on his fur for a while before they continued in comfortable silence.
Ahead they were approaching a large well lit room. Before they reached it though, Gideon brought Nicks wheelchair to a stop.
"Judy Ah-" Judy tried immediately to interject but Gideon spoke over her, "Ah'm not gonna apologize, ok. W-what I means that.. well, Ah've bin thinkin' - you said that you wanted us to be friends someday. An well… maybe that day could be t'day? I understand it if you don't want to, but Ah feel like we both deserve another shot. Can't we jus start over like… H-hey I'm Gideon Grey. Ah'm Ah baker from B-Bunnyburrows. Got some problems with my temper but Ah'm tryin' to do better. It sure is nice to meet you."
A number of emotions crossed over Judy's face as Gideon spoke. It was true she still didn't fully trust him, but it was also true that she felt everyone deserved a second chance.
Even myself?
The sincerity in his voice was what won her over.
She thought back to the conversation she had overheard in the showers. She didn't blame Gideon for being desperate to save his business. She might have at one time but now things just didn't seem so black and white. Maybe that was the key; good and bad, lawful and unlawful, moral and immoral… they weren't immovable.
She could be better, but it wouldn't be as simple as following a set of instructions; sticking to the rules.
"It's nice to meet you Gideon. I'm Judy, failed police officer living at home. I have a lot of things that I need to work on. But, I still don't know when to quit, and I feel like that counts for something."
The two looked at each other for a moment, and then smiling, they shook hands.
Nick decided to jump in, "Will you look at us, huh? Just a couple of friends going to dinner; how things change. Amigos, what's say we continue this conversation once we're seated. I need to refuel so I can start replacing my diminished supply of precious blood."
To that all three were pleasantly in agreement.
...
The good feelings were short lived unfortunately.
The scene at dinner was not what they were expecting. As they approached the cafeteria an obvious commotion could be heard. Upon arriving they witnessed a tiny rabbit crouched on all fours atop one of the long tables absolutely losing her shit.
The child, who from the shouts and reprimands of various adults seemed to be named Abby, was throwing, kicking and smashing everything in reach; all while letting out an adorable little growl.
One of the larger males in the room tried to pick her up off the table but the terrifying little ball of rage instantly bit down on his hand. They watched her teeth sink in all the way to the gums and with a high-pitched shriek the buck reeled back in shock only to then faint dramatically.
Judy realized what was happening at the same moment as Nick, eyes wide, they both turned to each other and said in unison, "She's gone savage!"