14. A Place to Live
"The Question is not about where you go at the end of the day but to whom." - Ansem
Nick
We are walking now for half an hour through this burrow and finally we are almost at our aim, Jimmy's apartment in this underground tunnel system. But hey, we had a very good half an hour. He showed me the living hall, yes it is actually a hall over multiple floors, with enough space in the middle for all bunnies and one half of Zootopia, the rooms for the little bunnies, as an example the room of Dorothe, an older bunny girl who was not so delighted about our visit. The bathrooms and of course a huge part of the tunnel system.
"So this is basically the whole burrow."
"Really? Just this? You are sure that you don't forget 40 or 50 more rooms Jimmy? Jeez how can you remember all of this? I mean that is basically a town in itself."
Jimmy chuckles but I am dead serious. I mean I'm good at remembering things but this home, this place… it is like a magical maze, you never know exactly where you end up the next time you take a turn. I also thought one time I could smell Judy but this could also be a hallucination in this burrow.
But despite that I follow Jimmy to his and Cathy's little apartment because he wanted to show me one of the bigger rooms and honestly I'm interested, I mean I saw the small rooms and they are quiet comfortable.
"Okay honestly Jimmy, how often do you played hide and seek in here and at the end, not all bunnies were back and you had to organize search troops?"
Again a little chuckle from him but then he scratches his neck and his laughing gets more excusing.
"Ahhh I think this was a bull's eye, right?"
"Well it happens more often than you could think and to be honest the longest search was two days but only when Judy is not here."
"What do you mean when she is not here? Is carrots the master of this magical maze?"
"I think that is not so far from the truth, in the past Judy found everyone regardless where or how they were hiding. Her shortest run was 1 hour and 16 minutes to find all bunnies and if I say all bunnies, then I mean all bunnies…"
"Well she has her ears and I have my nose. But I bet I could be faster, if I know this place better…"
Again one of his light chucklings.
"Your nose? You think you can find all of us just by sniffing a little bit in the air, is that so easy for you?"
I lay my arm around Jimmy and grin down at him.
"My little bunny buddy, I can tell you by the smell which of the female bunnies in this burrow are just now in heat."
"Really?"
"Mmhm."
"Is… well… Cathy is she?"
"In heat? No. Sorry buddy. Jessica is but the way she behaves and with the stories of Judy this could also be here normal state...so what do I know."
Jimmy's gaze turns a little bit darker and we cross the last doors without talking. Something is clearly going on with him.
"So here we are."
We enter the little apartment and well it is all there what you need. A little bathroom, bedroom, small kitchen, living room and a room for Tommy. Of course the items and objects in here are all bunny sized and have often something to do with their most loved vegetable.
"It's nice in here, do you have this also in fox size?"
"Not at the moment but if you are interested, we could do something for you and Judy."
Jimmy goes into the bathroom and clearly searching for something but this whole apartment is not very big, so we can easily talk to each other without shouting. I walk through the living room and look at the pictures. A happy little family looks up to me from the pictures but something is odd. Something that is missing or not complete, I don't know. It's like the first article we found about Stella, at first it is just an odd feeling but the thought gnaws at me until I find more and I can complete the bigger picture. I search for the missing piece. The whole family at the beach, the younger Jimmy and Cathy at a rock festival, Cathy happy and with a big tummy during her pregnan… oh no. Please just no. And then I see the black picture, with seven names on it. But I'm just aware of the last name in the list and this is Tommy.
Why do I have to recognize something like that? Sometimes I wish just to be stupid. And exactly now I remember one of Elliots sentences, 'ignorance is a blessing' and it couldn't be more true.
Jimmy stands now directly besides me and looks with a cloudy look at the pictures and foremost onto the black one. He is not here, his thoughts are far away, at a place where he relives his memories about an event that I could imagine are not very good.
"I'm sorry Jim."
A small but ironic chuckle comes from him but it isn't even enough to make his face move.
"Seven. A litter of seven kits Nick and it was all prepared. The rooms were ready, we were ready. Sammy, Calvin, Mable, Dom, Summer, Kara and of course Tommy. And if the doctors have waited longer Cathy would also be dead now."
"Shit Jim, what…?"
"Acute renal failure, something very rare that can happen during a pregnancy. Because of this it came to a miscarriage and Tommy was the only one who survived this and I'm so glad that he did. He and Cathy are the most precious things I have in my life, I wouldn't know what to do without them."
Jimmy turns a little bit away from me and I lay my paw on his shoulder to comfort him. Something like this should have nobody to endure and not even six times.
"It's okay buddy. Let it out."
He needs a little bit of time to get it together and without a question I give him his time. I mean I don't even know what I should say...
"Thank you."
"Your welcome."
After some minutes he is slowly back to his former and happier self. Puh Judy would kill me if I come with a sad and devastated Jimmy to lunch.
"Is that the reason you two are not married?"
"You are good, I understand now why Judy wants you as a partner in the force. Partly yes. She was with Tommy a long time in the hospital and I spend all my savings, which were original for the wedding, to pay the bills. In the end I had also to take on a loan. But I don't care as long as they are getting better."
"That's pretty hard."
"Yeah and the other problem are Cathy's parents. After we found each other on the concert and became a couple, they… how do I put this…"
"They don't like you, right?"
He smiles at me but he is understandable still a little bit gloomy.
"Exactly! It frightens me a bit how fast you understand things, almost like Judy. Anyhow in their opinion I'm not worth to date her daughter, she should do something with her life and not become a farming bunny. One morning after a big discussion with her parents, she stands in front of our burrow with a small bag and whiny face, mum and dad don't wait for long and take her in. Cathy's parents never asked her what she wanted to be, they just knew what she shouldn't be. They have never called her or tried to contact us."
I can feel how I slowly become angry about the behaviour of Cathy's parents, mainly because my dad did the same to me, Pati and mum. I don't know them but there is no real reason to reject the own daughter, especially someone like Cathy, I mean she is one of the shyest and kindest mammals I ever meet.
"You did great Jimmy, you have a great son and a great… well let's say soon wife."
He is now completely back from his own little valley of bad thoughts and even tries to make a little joke but I feel it is the truth.
"Ha if you would know how many money I owe the bank, you wouldn't say something like this Nick. Sometimes I'm joking around and ask myself if I'm sooner finished with the debt or Tommy finished the High School."
"So bad?"
"Yes unfortunately, my salary is not very high and Cathy's work is still developing. We two have just the luck to have such a great family. Mum and Dad let's us live here for free, I'm happy how it is now but maybe some day."
"Did you propose to her?"
"I wish I could but I want to give her at least anything pretty but ahhh well you know. Normally bunnies propose after one year in a relationship and yeah we are already for 5 years a couple."
"I see, you have it not easy long ear. Can I help you anyhow, you know I have connections. Just say a word and I can organize anything you want. A wedding, a ring maybe both?"
I grin down at him and he replies also with a smile but I can see that he is to proud to accept my offer. Maybe I should talk with Judy about this.
"Thanks, but no thanks."
"Okay listen, at least think about it. I would like to help you with this."
"I know Nick, I will think about it, okay? But now Cathy needs her medicine and I think dinner will soon be ready."
"Did she needs this often?"
"Two times a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. I take care of it because she is a little bit sloppy with the intake but she needs that or her kidneys will have another failure and I don't want to risk that at any price. Say do you want to see what she does for living? I'm proud on what she does but she always just plays it down. It is frustrating sometimes."
"Sure, why not."
He stands still for a moment as if he has a good idea.
"Nick I don't like to take from others or to owe somebody something but maybe you could help me with something."
I exhale deeply and go down on my knees to keep the eye level with him but nonetheless I have my charismatic smile on, just in case. Slowly I lay my paws on his shoulder and speak to him.
"Jim, remember one thing. That between me and Judy is damned serious, we even did the old bunny vow between us. Which is by the way really important for your sister and me. She and I, we both will go together through dark times, we don't know what will happen but a lot will and this is sure. Because of this you and everyone with the name Hopps is family for me and I owe nothing to my family or in reverse, okay? So as your brother whatever you need, I will help you, okay?"
He is touched from my little pep talk and I can see that he tries to hide a little tear.
"Thanks Nick, oh good I think I'm more like dad than mum."
"About that you can be sure. I mean just look at your whiny face...So show me what you got and I tell you how I can help you."
"Not 'if' I can help you?"
My smirk grows and I feel that I'm back in my old métier and it feels good to use it this time to help someone else than me.
"Believe me I know that I can help you, the question is just how."
But honestly I have no idea, what I can expect. Maybe art? But she doesn't look like an artist, no color or paint all over her fur. Maybe something technical, no she also doesn't seems to work with machines or something like that.
Jimmy and my humble self leave their little apartment and go down the hallway to head right up to a larger corridor which leads into the garden but we don't go outside, no Jimmy directs into a greenhouse which can be accessed directly through the burrow.
And well I know the greenhouse of my mum in her restaurant but this? You are flashed when you enter this place the first time, not because of the heat or the humidity. No there are so many colors that you don't know in the first second where to look at.
Orchids, hibiscus and little magnolia trees are everywhere but still none of them seem to be in a specific order. It reminds a little bit of Pati's apartment which I just call everytime I see it a 'colorful chaos' but as you can imagine she doesn't like it that much. I go through the rows of flowers and little trees to get a better overview, she put a lot of work in this and that can say someone like me who is just a layperson.
"So what do you think Nick?"
"It is beautiful, do you want to sell them?"
"That's the plan but we find nobody in the countryside who is willing to pay for this."
"Why? I mean even in the middle of nowhere must be someone, who wants to buy those beauties?"
"Unfortunately no, the problem is they are rare and with that expensive, fragile and not good in the cold."
"How many for one?"
"Two hundred."
"Puh, that's a lot of money for a flower."
"I know and this is just the basic price for one, other trader want even more for that and the magnolia trees are even more expensive. And look at this, she tries to create one for a long time now and this is one of the first that actual works."
I look at it but can't understand that this is even possible. It looks like a normal orchid blossom but the color is partly yellow, red and pink and that in one flower. I look closer at the flower and can see that there are more blossoms, one is pink, two are red and the fourth is yellow…on one plant...
Jimmy and myself are leaning pretty deep onto the table to see all the blossoms and details and don't even recognize that we have company.
"How is this even possible?"
A paw is touching both of us at our back and with a little scream from us two, we are turning around to look at the source of the touch.
"JEEZ Cathy…"
"Honey please don't do that again…"
We see Cathy standing behind us in a white shirt and some worn out jeans She grins this time at us but is also a little blushing, I don't know if it is because of me or why… she starts to speak in a fine and very soft voice.
"I'm sorry, Bonnie send me to get you two. You asked something Nick?"
I need some seconds to come down and exhale again deeply.
"Yes, sorry. Oh jeez…. How do you made those?"
"Mostly crossbreeding between colorful orchids, and then selecting the plants and doing all of this again and again and again. Than you have to wound a plant, if it is the same orchid kind, and then you can try to combine it. Honestly it can be tiring but I don't know… I like it..."
"Jimmy told me already that you plan to sell them but you don't find someone who is willing to pay the price."
Cathy is holding her right arm with her left paw and looks pretty gloomy to the ground.
"Yeah… that pretty much sums it up…"
"Okay listen I think I can help you. At the moment I have two quick ideas what we can do, the first is advertisement. Have you a possibility to send them to Zootopia?"
Cathy's face turns into no time to one of the happiest I ever saw and without warning she hugs me tight. Honestly I feel a little bit awkward because of Jimmy who stands directly besides me but he smiles just at me and her. She can't even let loose of me and seems even to cry a little bit.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you...since 2 years we are searching for someone to help us but no one wants to help or could do something."
"It's okay, no more crying okay? I think I get problems with Judy if I bring all of you bunnies to act like little water fountains and it is no guarantee that it will really work but I will try to do my best. So the first thing is…"
I take a piece of paper from the table behind us and write two addresses on it. Both watching carefully what I do.
"Send four or five of your prettiest flowers to this address, it is the restaurant of my mother. She has a lot of guests with a big bank account and most of the time they like to buy pretty things. I will tell her that she will receive the flowers and let her decorate them in the guest rooms."
"But do you think she will exhibit them?"
"Oh believe me they are more than pretty and I know my mum. She will exhibit them and order one or two for her home…"
"And the second address?"
"The second one is the address of a florist with the name Otterton. Mention my name and write to him under the name Hopps and he will help you for sure. Send him one or two of your flowers and wait for a reaction."
Cathy is now looking with a hopeful gaze at the paper and turns herself around, She is so eager to start this new try, that she is ready to leave the greenhouse and starts directly to pack the plants. She starts to run but Jimmy and myself shout to her.
"Wait!" - "Wait!"
A little bit scared she turns herself to us and I start again to speak.
"First do you have a logo or something like this?"
"Ehm… no?"
"Good draw one, think of name for your little company and then produce little cardboard cards on which you will fill in your company logo and some minor information, okay? And most important take your time, don't rush into it."
I smile at them and continue my little explanation.
"And second your medicine. Jimmy?"
"On my way."
Jimmy goes smiling over to her.
"Oh, I almost forgot this again. I'm so sorry darling."
"Open your mouth, honey."
She smiles a last time at him but opens her mouth without replies. It is an adorable scene and somehow a little bit intimate, I don't know why and I don't mind it in a filthy way. Cathy closed her eyes, opens her mouth a little bit and stretches her tongue out. Jimmy puts the pill slowly on her tongue. After she swallowed the medicine, he caress her cheek and gives her a light kiss on the muzzle. Only then she opens her eyes and smiles back at him, it seems to be their little ritual and both of them seem to enjoy it. They stand now muzzle to muzzle, looking the other deep in the eyes and I could clearly read the tension between them, it's time for me to go. And let them both have a little bit fun, I chuckle and remember their song from earlier today which I played for them. Ah I think it doesn't missed it's target.
And without waiting for their reply, I walk through the greenhouse on the side where nobody stands and shout a last time over to them.
"Take your time you two, I tell the rest you have something to discuss."
I smile and give Jimmy a thumb up, he nods in response and turn himself smiling to Cathy. The last thing I see is that he comes closer to her and starts kissing. Closing the door behind me, I ask myself how on earth I should find into the kitchen or better the living hall. I take the first turn to the right because I think that it is the right way. Just some meters on my way I hear a familiar and painfully missed voice behind me.
"There you are slick! I search you since 10 minutes, what happened?"
"Ah, what a luck, carrots! I hoped for so long to find you in this maze but unfortunately are two more bunnies gone missing in this time."
She comes slowly over to me and looks really confused about my statement.
"Do I have to understand that?"
"Let's say Jimmy and Cathy make a little detour."
I use her actual state of confusion and grab her by her butt to bring her close to my muzzle. Without hesitation she crosses her legs behind my back but plays nonetheless the poor maiden in distress. I love it when she does this and when she is sitting on my arms.
"Mr Wilde, here in the home of my parents? You little playboy, you."
"Let me show you Miss Hopps what in this moment happens between the two missing bunnies…"
I lean to my bunny and give her a long, passionate and much needed kiss. But out of the blue Judy ends it and looks at me with widened eyes and an open mouth. Do I miss something?
"Am I so good, that you lost your voice?"
"They… they do it?"
I try to put as much sarcasm in my voice as possible.
"Yeah, maybe. Unfortunately I was not long enough in the greenhouse to proof it with my own eyes."
"No you don't understand this! Since Cathy's miscarriage they have massive problems with being...well intimate."
I tried, I really tried to hold down my chuckle but I can't. And I know my own "intimate" time with her will be massively cut because of this but screw it.
"Intimate? You mean they can't make love?"
"Yes."
"Copulate?"
"Yes."
"Go all the way?"
"..."
"Adult naptime? Aggressive cuddling? Having funny business?
"Nick…"
"Doing the horizontal greased-weasel tango? Rolling in the hay? Wetting the willy."
"Nick!"
Now I have to be a little bit more careful.
"Violating the prime directive? Taking the bald-headed gnome for a stroll in the misty valley?"
"Wait, what?"
Yeah great Wilde, now she is confused.
"Tickling her tummy from the inside? Bringing an al dente noodle to the spaghetti house? Putting the email in the spam folder?"
Hah victory, she can't hold it together and starts to laugh.
"Hahaha... Nick... please stop…"
"Snu-snu? Tube-snake boogie? Exploring the rab-"
In a second she laid one of her finger at my muzzle and smile at me with a serious tone.
"Say the last one and you will get for a long-long-long while no "intimate" time with me, okay? And now you can let me down Mr Wilde, dinner is ready."
She gives me a last kiss and jumps from my arms.
"Pfff party pooper, I could name hundreds of those…"
"Why doesn't surprise me this Nick?"
"Okay maybe another time."
"But please let this other time not be during dinner, okay?"
"Oh I almost forgot."
"What?"
And without warning I grab softly one of her long ears and draw her closer to me.
"Auauau Nick that hurts…"
She looks at me with confused face, her right ear pinched softly by my paw and her left one straight up. I try to talk as softly
"The next time I ask you, if there is anything important to know about your family and you say yes two of them like the same music as me, but didn't say that the same two have a miscarriage of 6 bunnies and I have to get the information in the apartment of the father, by looking at pictures and deducting what happened. During we are alone and getting the medicine for his sick wife,... well it would be nice if you tell me something like this the next time whiskers."
Her left ear drops suddenly and I let go of the other one. She looks a bit ashamed to me.
"Sorry Nick, ...I didn't thought he would speak with you over this topic, he almost speaks to no one about this. Seems like we bunnies have a loose tongue when you are around…"
Well rescued Miss Hopps.
"It's okay, just remember it for the next time Judy. It was no pleasant conversation but I honestly asked me the whole day where Tommy's siblings are, I mean he is the only black bunny in the whole burrow. Okay besides Cathy…"
"I'm really sorry Nick, you are right this is important and I…"
But before she ends her sentence I bend down to her to give her a long kiss to show her that I'm not mad at her.
"Like I said it's okay."
Smiling and back in good mood I let Judy walk in front t of me, of course she is doing her typical little jumps which she ever does when she is happy. I walk slowly behind her and hope that she still finds the living hall, I mean she is a long time away from her home.
"So how was the talk with your parents?"
"Pretty good actually. The first step is done. Your singing and the story you have told have also given you some credit, so we're on our way here Nick. No need for my fox to be extremely worried."
I exhale deeply after hearing those words from her. My expectations for this day were quiet different but it is going pretty well. I thought by now a horde of bunnies would chase me through the streets of Bunny burrow but no most them seem to have no big problem with me and some like the smaller ones or Jess, Jimmy and Cathy even seem to like me.
Judy and I stand in front of a bigger two parted door that leads directly into the hall. She stands herself with her back to the door and hold it closed. Her grin is now bigger than ever.
"Are you ready Nick?"
"Please, I saw all the bunnies already. I don't think that anything here will still amaze me."
"If you say so."
She keeps smiling and enters the hall, holding the door up for me and what should I say I am not prepared, not in the slightest. My mouth drops open and the only thing I can think is chaos, absolute chaos. Everywhere running the small furballs, eating, chasing or playing with each other. The older bunnies sitting at the tables, mostly in a good mood and most of them are chatting with each other. It is warm and cozy in here and over all lays the scent of self baked bread, fresh pies and salad. On one side of the hall is even a fireplace that provide warmth to the surrounding bunnies, who lay on their back and try to gather as much as possible. Everywhere are armchairs and couches partly grouped around little tables. But there are also longer tables that would make every king proud for his festivities, they even have an old upright piano at one side of the hall, oh that is something Pati will like for sure.
But in short it is loud, it is warm, it is lively and I like it. I mean there is even another side where a big group of bunnies is watching television. What do I say I love it, this lively chaos that follows it own rules. Rules that no one ever set up, no they are just there and everyone knows what to do out of routine.
"So Nick, what do you say?"
"I say I love it in here. This is what the living room of a big family has to look like!"
"I knew you would like it, look we should go over to dad he is saving a place for us."
And there he is at the top end , Stew is sitting besides Jess, waving over to us. She still eats her salad and reads something on her phone. Some other bucks, which I still don't know till now but I'm sure this will change quick.
"Judy, Nick! Sit down, you must be hungry. So dig in. Oh Nick this bucks here are Randy, Stanley and Marshall, three of my oldest sons."
We sit down and I smile as a little introduction to my new bunny buddies, all three look very interested at me but no sign of anger or even fear.
"Thanks Mr Hopps."
"Oh stop that and say Stew to me."
"Okay Stew. And you guys, nice to meet you."
All three smile at me but Stanley is the one who starts the conversation.
"Man, I must admit what you can do with your guitar is pretty awesome! I know some guys in a band over in Pleinsfield but I don't think that they are as nearly as good as you."
"Since when did you know somebody in Pleinsfield Stan?"
"Well I talk to mammals from time to time Randy!"
I chuckle lightly as Stanley is turning back to me.
"Ha you should see me with an electric guitar, I bet you would loose your long ears listening to that. Ask Judy, she witnessed it once during a gig with my old band. Right carrots?"
"Yeah, it was very intriguing. The huge amount of mammals, you on stage with 4 other guys and then the songs you played for me... Oh and your sister fooled me, she said she wouldn't know that you can play!"
"You had a band?"
"Sure, we played every sunday in the Zootopia central park for six years, great times but I had to move one, I never thought that the stage would be the place where I will be happy with and carrots you should know by now what you can await from my sister."
"Yes, I know, I know. I just thought she is more the opposite of you."
I thought it would hurt to speak about the band and think back about the great times we had together but it didn't. And I know if I show any signs, it would hurt Judy and I don't want that.
Stanley stood up and knocked two times on the table.
"Well, we're leaving now, nice to meet you Nick and good to see you back Judy."
"Are you three still going to that bar?"
"Hah Judy you know us too good of course we do, so guys see you later. Dad don't wait for us you know it will be late."
Stew just waves his paw and shakes his head with a chuckle on his face. Not even five seconds and he is back in reading the "Triburrow Standard".
The three give us a little last salute and go in direction of the main door, where they have a little last conversation with Bonnie. She gives her boys a last hug, which they can't decline and resume in her task of cleaning the dishes. Judy and myself exchange a last quick look at each other and start finally to eat something, it is just now that I recognize how hungry I am. I take for myself 3 pieces of a delicious vegetable pie, which is not the fancy food mum cooks, more standard and rustic but I like it. Judy nibbles like always on her salad but treats herself with 2 extra yellow carrots. I have no idea if they are different, maybe they taste better? Must be a bunny secret, as I asked her she grins just at me goes silent. I just keep on drinking the tea, a little bunny brought me earlier.
"A lady can't give away all her secrets."
"Honestly whiskers that is just a vegetable, can't be such a great secret but speaking about secrets, look who is coming there. Jimmy! Cathy! I hope your dispute found a good end and with satisfaction for both of you I hope."
Judy besides me is almost choking on the last bit of her yellow carrot as she hears what I'm saying.
I couldn't hide my grin, I have more than enough fun with the current situation. Jimmy tries to keep up the smile and ignores me but I can clearly see the piece of fur in his neck which stands up, probably where Cathy bite him a little bit. Cathy on the other hand is completely messed up, her much longer fur is standing to all sites and is ruffled up. But her blushing is gone and on her face is just a satisfied smile, she doesn't even seem to recognize what is happening around her.
"What you two had an argument?"
Stew asks directly to Jimmy but I think I can play this little game a little bit further and answer for the two. While I beat softly on Judy's back, so that she doesn't choke to death on a little piece of yellow carrot, I try to sound as honest and worried as possible.
"Oh yeah and what I heard it was a rather rough one. None of the both wanted to give in or let it end abruptly."
I keep grinning at Jimmy, which has by now completely red ears but I'm the only one who can see it so clearly.
"Oh kids, kids you shouldn't do that. A long and steady talk, no rough one that will just hurt the other at one point."
It seems Jess is awoken out of her hibernation state, she stands up and starts to laugh. Stew on the other hand hasn't understand at all that he even went further on with my joke and looks confused to his daughter. I, myself, could barely pull myself together.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Jess is turning around and winks at her father to sooth him.
"Don't worry dad, everything fine. Jude do you help me putting the small ones to bed?"
"Yes...I'm on my way…"
My bunny stood slowly up and is on her way to Jess as I call her back.
"Ehm Carrots? I think you forgot something?"
Confused she comes over to me.
"What do I for...?"
And again before she can finish her sentence I give her a kiss on the muzzle. After some seconds she detaches from me. In return she tousles the fur on my head and leaves with a smile to her sister.
"Really sis? Do you really fall for all his tricks?"
"No just for the ones I want to and you are just jealous."
"Jealous? ME? Pah I can have every fox I want!"
Judy grins at Jess and take her into her arm.
"Wrong sis, not my fox."
I can see that Stew is smiling light behind his newspaper. Jess shouts some last words over to him.
"Oh and dad did you already look if something is broken in the barn I told you earlier? You know the one in the middle."
With widen eyes and a little shock Stew jumps up and runs out of the chaotic hall. Bonnie seems to ask where he wants to go but he just keeps running, she shakes her head about her husband and keeps on delegating the last work to some other older bunnies. Jimmy sits directly in front of me and has a stupid grin on his face.
"One day, you will get this back Nick."
"I hope for a good revenge Jimmy but be aware you have to be good to beat me in this game."
Cathy still smiling, starts now slowly to nibble on some salad. But she still seems not to recognize what is going on or she just doesn't care.
"I don't know what you did to her but you seem to be good at it or she needed this since a long time.…"
Jimmy is blushing qbut his smile is back.
"You really know no shame, right?"
"Oh Jimmy, don't judge me before you know my sister."
"I can't imagine she's worse."
I just chuckle about his reply and imagine how Pati would go crazy with all the little bunnies and the huge burrow...Pati, this reminds me. I hope she can help Finnick. Come on Nick you know she is as good as she is crazy, if she can't help him nobody can.
Jimmy and I talk a little bit more about the burrow and his ideas with the flowers and trees Cathy cultivates. His ideas and what he wants to do are not bad, he has just no connections to the market. Well and that is where I come into the plan. But I think this a story for different time. After some time Jimmy nodes in my direction, at first I don't understand what he wants to tell me but then I feel a light paw on my shoulder and Judy's scent in my nose. She is directly at my ear and whispering to me.
"Somebody wants a good night kiss…"
"Isn't it a little bit earlier for…"
Smiling I turn myself around to my bunny and look over her shoulder.
"What the fu…ehm holy blueberry is going on here?"
Behind Judy is an incredible long row of small bunnies all ready to sleep and yet in their sleeping outfits, to be exactly from the place I sit up to the door where we entered the hall. I bet I must have by now a really stupid face but Judy bows to my ear and goes on with her explanations.
"They saw that you gave me earlier a kiss and they asked me during their bath time, why you didn't gave me one the muzzle...so…"
"So?"
"I told them it is a lucky charm to get a kiss on the head from a fox. Well yeah one thing lead to another and now they want all a kiss from you, on the head understandably."
I grin at her and prepare myself mentally to kiss over a hundred bunnies on the head, no I really do.
"You know carrots, this is how rumors start."
"I know but it is a better rumor than that foxes are made by the devil, don't you think? And by the way, can you really turn down my wish?"
"Okay, you got me. You know exactly that I would do everything for you."
"That's my fox."
I stand myself on the bench I'm sitting on to get a better overview over the amount of the bunnies. This will take a while, that is sure.
"Okay bunnies, listen! I will give everyone a smooch on the head, if you want. I think I have enough lucky charms for all of you."
A wave of 'Yeahs' and 'Thank you uncle Nick' went through the rows of the bunnies. But that is not all, I also want something from them.
"BUT!"
All ears stand straight up and pointing towards me even the ones of Bonnie, which stands now right besides Judy to know what is going on here.
"But I have a condition! Because you are all part of Judy's family I want to know everyone of you, so step in front of me, tell me your name and in exchange for that you get a smooch on the head. How does that sounds?"
"YEAH!" "DEAL!" "Uncle NICK!"
And so it begins, I let a bunny step in front of me, he or she tells me their name, they get smooch, I wish them a good night and the next one is on the line. It takes almost an half hour but like I said I would do anything for her and this is actually something nice to share with the Hopps family.
Judy and Bonnie stand some step away from me and talk about something while I'm working myself through the line. And l really wanted to give every bunny a smooch but… I don't want to give one to the last member in the row…
"Judy?"
"Yes Nick?"
"Did really every bunny has to get one?"
"You promised it didn't you?"
"I know but the last one in the line is Jess and I feel quite uncomfortable giving her one…"
I hope she could hear the sarcasm in my voice.
Without hesitation Judy turns herself around and walks slightly angry and mumbling to herself to her sister which is only 5 little bunnies away from me. She grabs Jessica, the till then smiling bunny by her ears and walks away with her sister who tries at the same time to apologize and throwing a tantrum, it is hilarious. Some minutes later and the last one is standing in front of me.
"So and you are?"
"My name is Rosalie."
"Ah you must be in the same litter like Rose, Rosemarie and Rosaline right?"
Amazed stands the little Bunny in front of me.
"Yes… how do you know that?"
"It's a secret but maybe one day I tell you okay?"
"Okay."
I take her little head between my paws and give her the awaited smooch. Giggling she is running over to her siblings and maybe tells them about my magic abilities. But I just understood how Bonnie or one of her older daughters names her kits.
Jimmy and Cathy come over to me and stand themselves in front of me.
"What you two also want a smooch? Didn't you two exchanged enough for today?"
I grin at them and see that this time Cathy is blushing like she normally does and Jimmy keeps it together, well let's say a little bit better than earlier.
"Not yet maybe later. What do you think Nick, a warm tea in front of the fireplace? I finally want to know your story."
"Oh this will take time, a lot of time…"
"Hours?"
"No more like weeks."
We walk over to the fireplace, the amount of bunnies is slowly sinking in the hall.
The two taking a couch and making themselves comfortable. I for myself take an armchair in front of the fire, which is definitely for mammals bigger than foxes or bunnies but hey at least it's comfortable. Because of that I sit myself in a tailored seat position, knowing that my bunny will come back and she also needs a place near by me to sit.
"So you two, what do you want to know?"
Surprisingly it is Cathy who starts to ask me.
"What did you do before you met Judy? She just said that you had a business? A shop or something like that? I mean you know so many stories, you seem to have an interesting live."
Oh man the best question directly for the start.
Jessica who is finally back from the lecture that Judy gave her is sitting herself in the smaller armchair to my right but it seems she also was showering.
"Listen, Judy said I should be honest to you and I will be but it can be that you don't want to talk to me after this ever again. So…"
"Let it out Nick, can't be so bad…"
"First of all I left my home when I was 12. If you ask why, I can just say there were stupid reasons, which today look even dumber when I think about them. But I was not without a roof above my head if you assume that I knew how to get along. I'm not proud of it but from their on I made my money by hustling and scamming other mammals, selling stolen goods, taking money from mobsters and directing it to me. Every Time on the small line between crime and honest citizen, well till a little bunny caught me for something I never had in my mind…"
Jimmy asked confused.
"And that was?"
"Tax evasion."
All three look at each other and start to laugh. Yeah I know but honestly I deserve that.
"I had never paid one dollar on taxes and Judy found out. She gave me the options to help her with the nighthowler case or go to jail. I think you know what I chose."
I look around but nobody seems to hold a to big grudge against the work I once had.
"You three don't judge me for what I did in the past?"
Again it is Cathy which answer me.
"Nick, I think we all did things in the past that we regret, one more and the other less. That doesn't mean that you are a bad mammal, it just means you corrected your way and try to change something."
"Thanks Cathy."
Cathy nods and is now more than interested in my story.
"Okay but why do you stopped doing what you did and how did you came together with her?"
"Because of Judy, she asked me to become her partner in the force and without thinking about it, I said yes. After the case we almost spend everyday together, at first just as friends, I drove with her to her interviews, helped her with some public issues, we eat together every day, texting each other and so on. And one day I wasn't sure if this is still just friendship. It was also around that time when Judy was visiting you all here in August that I stopped completely with hustling, I just sat there and couldn't do it anymore because everytime I had a plan, I could hear her voice in my head that said 'Nick don't do that, you're better than this'. And it was this time that I knew I was fallen for her, completely, irreversible and forever. But I would say together are we since the day I went to the academy, which is by now just a week but it feels like years."
It was quiet between us four now. And I can hear the sound of Cathy, who tries to wipe away some tears.
"Oh come on, you were just a bad hustler and that is why you took the first opportunity for a real job."
Jessica grins at me and waits for my reply.
"Jessica!" "Jessica!"
Both Cathy and Jimmy shouted at her but I could just laugh about it.
"No Jess, I was the best. Everybody knew my name and I knew everybody. It was a law in the streets of Zootopia, if you need something then ask Nick Wilde for it."
"Oh come on! In all this year's how many money did you made, I bet it was not more than 100.000 $."
I lay my head back and close my eyes to remember the exact numbers.
"Everything till now or just what is left from the money?"
I take a quick look around, all three look very astonished at me, as if it was a joke from me.
"Okay from the day I left home till now I made 3.422.678 $ in total. From this left should be 2.543.766$ spread over the whole city of Zootopia in hideouts only I know."
I open my eyes and as I aspect all mouth are down and I look in even more astonished faces. Jimmy is the first who regained his ability to speak.
"That is a joke, right?"
"You mean like 275 siblings? I don't know? Carrots is that a joke?"
Again all eyes go to me but I still keep my smile. It takes some seconds until Judy walks slowly around my huge armchair and gives me a kiss on my cheek. Needless to say that all three looking a little bit amazed at us two.
"Okay, Why did I failed?"
"You and Jessica were showering but only she came back. But I could smell 3 things shampoo, Jess and you. Jess is sitting not so far away from me, which means you have to be in the same radius."
She stands herself in front of me and lays both of her paws around my snout. With a smile she draws me to her and gives me a kiss on the nose.
"I hope this nose will be in the daily police work as effective as now."
"That is one thing you can be sure about Officer Hopps."
With one jump she is on my lap and makes herself comfortable. One yawn and I know that she already reached her limit for today. Not to forget that she had almost no sleep last night because of the worries that kept her awake.
Her siblings still with widened eyes looking at her and waiting for a reply. Jimmy is finally the one who can't hold out the tension.
"And Judy, is Nick right?"
"Actually he is right."
"What? But how do you know?"
"Nick left a letter for me, in which he wrote that I should listen through his music collection, which is massively work for years, if you ask me. Anyhow Nick also wrote that I should especially listen to Mr Johnny Cash, I did as he said and directly behind it laid his account book and a paper I should sign…"
"And carrots did you signed it?"
"Nick I can't… I mean it is more than I could take but this is too much…"
"So you want to sit on the streets when something happens to me? I don't know if you know this but police work can be really dangerous Miss Hopps. And by the way who should stand on my balcony and look over the city? I think that is definitely your job my beauty."
Jess is now completely confused.
"Wait what the heck are you two talking about?"
"I left carrots a paper she should sign, with it she will become the second owner of my apartment but she seems to be a little stoic bunny, who wants to be begged."
I smile down at her but she replies just with a push of her elbows into my stomach. Jess seems to understand and tries to summarize the whole situation.
"Okay, okay, Judy you tell me this idiot behind you is since 6 days your mate, companion, whatever. And he is ready to give you half of his home? How did you do that? I thought I'm the seducer in this family...wait that means you could in no time move from your old, dirty and shabby apartment to his and live their?"
"Actually I'm living already there…"
This is too much for Jess she shakes her head and lays it into her paws. The fire in the fireplace is slowly going out, at the moment you can see nothing more than an orange and red glim which provides still enough warmth for everyone around but not for long.
"I'm done with her Jimmy, my sister is stupid…"
"I think it is a nice gesture from Nick, what do you think honey?"
Jimmy asks his bunny and Cathy replies with a node, she seems still to think about all the things she heard in the last moments. And for a short time it became quiet between us, at least until my phone begins to ring.
All eyes went again to me.
"Who is that Nick?"
"It's Pati...but she wrote me by now? What did she want?"
"Come on Slick, put the speaker on loud I want to hear that crazy vixen tonight."
"Hi Pati, everything al… "
"Oh don't you Pati me, I'm more than angry about you! You know that you owe me brother right? Well let's just say my favorite dress is from now on your list of things you have to repay!"
"What, wait… what is going on? Which dress?"
"The blue one you numbskull and if you try to play dumb, than ask your bunny she knows it, right Judy?"
Judy's heard the news from Pati and her eyes widen instantly.
"What your dress is busted, hows that? The blue one, with the sunflowers and the pockets?"
"Finally someone who understands me! It has pockets Nick! Pockets! Do you even know how long I searched for something like that? It is not just beautiful, which is till now confirmed through Stella and Judy, no it is also useful because of the pockets!"
I have no idea what is going on here, what for a dress? Why is she making such a ruckus about that? I mean it's just...
"But Pati it is just a dress…"
And then silence for a moment on both sides.
"..."
I can just hear how Jess replies to my answer.
"Oh boy, that was a big mistake Nick."
"Just a dress? Just a dress? Judy did you hear that? Listen carefully because this will be the thing he will say to you on your wedding. IT. IS. JUST. A. DRESS!"
Oh no, I could feel that I fucked up. I still don't know what happen right now but I know Jess is right, that was a big mistake...
"Bye Nick, I call you tomorrow."
Her voice is completely calm… she tricked me, maybe her dress was busted but this was not her main aime. Ohhh she tricked me...and now I have an angry bunny sitting in my lap.
"Pati, why?"
"NICHOLAS WILDE!"
And now she ends the call, this devilish vixen! I look slowly down to my bunny but try to keep my smile. Play cool Nick.
"So Mr Wilde you say that we female mammals 'just' wear dresses, they are nothing special? Like my blue dress I wear on the ferris wheel? Which you liked so much on me or so you said?"
"Listen Judy...I ...I… don't know…"
"Nick I know you can't understand this but my favorite piece of clothing is a dress. What is yours Cathy?"
"A dress."
Searching for help I look to Jimmy, who slightly hold up his paws which signals me clearly that this is my battle and from the first minute this battle was lost for me.
"Mhmm and Jess?"
"Dessous...no just kidding of course it is a dress."
She stands herself on my thighs and lays one paw under my snout, just to look directly into my eyes.
"And do you know what that means Nick?"
It is dead silent in the whole hall, we are the last ones here. But the tension for me is almost too much. I swallow a last time and wait for my punishment.
"No…"
"That means that you got fooled by 4 mammals and one of them is 350 miles away from here."
Cathy, Jessica and Judy starts to laugh about my not played tension but to my luck my bunny gives me quick kiss on the muzzle, to show that is was just a joke.
"What? I mean did I miss something?"
Judy is sitting herself back in my lap and closing her eyes.
"Nick, she has this dress 3 times. When we were shopping this week she bought it multiple times because she knows she comes often in contact with blood. But tomorrow you have to tell me what happened tonight with her, okay."
"Of course my lady."
"Good...that is...that."
Not even five seconds and she dozes off. Woah that was fast…
"Okay Nick, now that Judy is hunting criminals in her dreams, who was that on the phone?"
"That was my younger sister Patricia and that's basically all."
"Say what you want, I like her already."
"Great...okay now a question from me to you 3…"
I look around but Cathy is also fallen asleep.
"Okay than just you two. Why are you not surprised that I'm a fox or that Judy not came with a buck back to your burrow?"
Both look at each other and start to laugh for a short moment. Did I miss again something? Jimmy finally explains the situation to me.
"Listen Nick, Judy was her whole life different from all the other bunnies in this burrow. Maybe from all the other bunnies in this world. We love her and know that she will do great things but she was never good at dating or finding the right one for her. She had some dates but it all turned out the same way, she comes home, screaming what for a huge idiot that was and exclaims that she will never ever in her whole life date somebody again."
Jess continues with the story her brother began.
"You can imagine how curious we were as she said that she has a boyfriend now and how crazy we went as she said that you are a fox. But somehow with all the crazy ideas in her life, becoming the first bunny in the police, cracking the biggest case in the history of Zootopia, having a predator-prey relationship with a fox as the first in...I don't know ever? It just fits in the pictures of her. Normal is not Judy's way of life but this is also not yours am I right Mr Wilde?"
I chuckle about her last sentence. Yeah she is right normality was never something for me and when I look down at Judy I know that it will never be.
"So, I go to bed and if I were you, then you should put your bunnies also to bed. Because you know just a well rested bunny is a happy bunny."
Jess stands up and leaves our little group with a yawning, waving a last time with her paw. I look over to Jimmy and he just nodes, it is time and we both know that.
"I show you Judy's room, it is not far away from mine and Cathy's."
I took Judy easily in my paws and carry her like a bride but Jimmy had to take Cathy on his back and give her a piggyback ride back to their apartment.
"Do you need help?"
Smiling he replied to me.
"Nope, my bunny my responsibility. Besides you helped me today more than I ever thought you could."
"I? I didn't do anything. I just played some songs, told a story and made some jokes, I don't think that this counts as help."
"Sometimes is a song, a story, some jokes or someone who listens to old memories everything we need Nick."
"I know it sounds strange but I'm glad that you shared this with me. This morning I thought you bunnies would chase me through the streets with pitches and forks like Frankenstein's monster. So I never thought I could find one friend besides Judy in her family but it turns out you are all a pretty cool bunch of carrot eating mammals. And now I know you better, Cathy, Jess… oh and not to forget all the little bunnies in the burrow. It really feels like home...I know it sounds strange..."
"Not one bit."
What an odd scene. Together we are walking with our bunnies through the dark and silent burrow aiming for our place to rest. After 5 minutes we reach Judy's room.
"So Nick here we are. Make yourself comfortable and sleep in, tomorrow is Sunday. And even most of the bunnies will do the same thing."
"I will try. Good night you two and try not to be so loud in the you know what I mean."
I blink over to him and he smiles like always his shame away.
"Haha Mr Wilde but we wish you also a good night and oh lock the door if you don't want to have a bunch of little bunnies in the middle of your room."
"I will keep it in mind."
Jimmy walks on with the sleeping Cathy on his back and disappears behind the next curve.
I stand for a moment in front of Judy's door and watch at first my beautiful sleeping bunny and then the door to her room.
Judith L. Hopps
Her full name in purple color is the only thing that is written on her door. I went into it and take a quick look around. On the left side her bed, right in front of me a desk with a lot of books on it and an older laptop. The right side is mainly covered from a huge book shelf and a little door that leads to a small bathroom with a shower. I can see that my guitar and my bag are standing at the chair to Judy's desk.
I keep the lights out, not that I need them, place her softly on the bed and cover her with a blanket. I keep it short and take not a long time under the shower. Trying to dry my damp fur in her room, I look over her books and ask myself what she likes to read...every book over Sherlock Holmes, even more crime, thriller, some drama, looks almost like a cop of Pati's shelf, no wonder they got along so well. Hello? What do we have here? 50 shades of fur… ohohoho Miss Hopps that saves me my munition for the next week's and I can promise you I will have so much fun. I scroll through the sites and find even little notes from her and that is something she can't deny. I know her handwriting and this is definitely hers.
Smiling I turn around to her and place myself besides her in the bed. She is fast asleep but I decide to watch her for a while until the sleeps finally drags me into it's depths. Her nose slowly twitches and I can't hold back, I have to caress her cheek. Two little strokes and I can see a smile on her face, she is not awake but she reacts instinctively by sliding over to me and burying her face into my chest. I take my paws and grab her in a deep but relaxed hug, her head now directly under my muzzle, my left paw on her back and my right paw on the back side of her head. I know that she will not hear my next words but I don't care.
"I love you Judy."
I gave her a last smooch on the head and drift slowly into sleep. With a little bit of luck, I even dream of my own little lucky charm.
"Is he awake?"
"I don't know…"
"But his nose is moving…"
"His ears are moving to."
What a strange dream. Someone is standing beside my bed and talks with himself? No with each other, there are more… bunnies? Yes right bunnies, I'm in a burrow. And I'm here with Judy...and soon I will look into her beautiful purple eyes. I just have to open my eyes and see they are ...green and ...blue and... brown and… green again...what is going on. But that is definitely a bunny, oh now I get it, it is one but not my bunny. But where is mine? I can smell her for sure…
Like I said a strange dream but then my brain kicks back in and I remember Jimmy's last words from yesterday. Lock the door or you will have a bunch of bunnies in front of your bed. I open my eyes and see, it was no dream but what is more frightening he was right. But in the middle of the room stand the 'R' siblings. Rose, Rosaline, Rosemarie and Rosalie standing in front of me and looking amazed at my red fur and my white chest.
"Hey girls, you can't sleep?"
"But uncle Nick we are long up and want to eat breakfast with you."
Slowly I get up and sit myself on the edge of the bed.
"Really, wow. Can you say me how… wait there is my phone. 7:08 am that's pretty early...are you sure you don't want to sleep some more?"
"No uncle Nick we are hungry."
"Can we please eat with you?"
"I even wear my fine dress."
Oh no not again a discussion about dresses...
What am I doing here? I'm sitting on the edge of my girlfriend's bed, on a Sunday morning at 7:08 and discuss with four little bunnies about their breakfast. And why do they have to make this puppy face?
"Alright, alright I come to eat breakfast with you, okay?"
"YEAH!"
"Pssst! Your sister, aunt whatever still sleeps, wait a minute in front of the door, will you?"
"Yes uncle Nick."
And like little gnomes they stumble giggling out of the room. Still a little bit dizzy I look around me and try to stand up but it is not working. Something is holding me down. And a quick look behind me under the blanket reveals the mystery. Judy clasps to my tail and she doesn't seem to let go of it so easily. Nick you know how strong those legs are, so be definitely careful.
I discover a longer pillow at the end of the bed and exchange it slowly with my tail. One thing is sure she is not very delighted about the trade-off but I swipe three times with my tail over it and mark it with my scent. Judy seems to recognize this and starts instantly to smile.
"Good one bunny happy, four to go."
I slowly start to dress myself with a black T-shirt and some pants… and think about the fact everyone is so fixated on the tails of foxes…
Anyhow, I walk a last time over to Judy, cover her with the blanket and give her kiss. Again she starts to smile and what should I say, that is everything for me to start a good day.
In front of the door I stop for a short moment before I can use the door handle. The old me would just lock the door, turn around and lay back to my bunny. But not anymore, no matter how much I want this, I made a promise. And I should not forget I'm no longer alone, I'm part of a family and this means responsibilities…
Oh jeez I almost sound like a real adult…
I step outside and talk to the little ones.
"So girls? Hungry?"
Judy
I open my eyes and am a little bit surprised, my room is not what I awaited. An armchair in front of the fireplace yes but here? Hmmm Nick seems to carry me over to my room but where do he know where it is… stupid brain…
Everything in here smells like Nick but he is not here. But I know he was, in the night I was awake for a short moment and I know he laid directly besides me…
Come on bunny, time to get up and to check what your fox is doing. Hopefully the main part of the burrow is still standing.
Without further thinking I jump from my bed, go to my closet and choose some undies, a top and a jeans for the day. Five minutes later and with that 9:20 I walk into the living hall where Jimmy, Tommy and Cathy are sitting and eating her breakfast. I sit myself to them because those three are always a good company.
"Ahh, look Tommy, your aunt Judy is finally back from dead."
"You were dead aunt Judy?"
Jimmy shakes his head but looks a little bit irritated.
"No… It is just something you say when someone sleeps for a long time."
"Ah, okay I get it dad."
I stick my tongue out to Jimmy who takes smiling a sip from his coffee. Cathy meanwhile looks to the cereals she is eating and asks with a slight blush.
"I hope you two had a good night."
"A good night yes but if you are implying anything, then no. I was sleeping like a stone and this morning he is gone…. Do you know where he is?"
Both shaking with their heads.
"Good morning, Judith. Are you looking for your fox?"
Mum comes over from the sink and dries her paws in a cloth.
"Mum! Yes, you know where he is? What happened, I already thought he run away from all the bunnies…"
"Oh not in the slightest Judith, he was the whole morning here taking care of the little ones, especially Amandas kits and helping me with the dishes. You know the four little girls, all with rose in their names…"
"He...what? How?"
"It seems like he forgot to lock the door to your room and the four wanted absolutely to eat breakfast with him. They woke him up and he agreed to their plan but only if they let you sleep. Yes that was about 7:15 and since 8 he is helping Stew cleaning the barn, where yesterday happened a little accident."
"I told him to lock the door! Ahh typical first world burrow problems…"
"But why did he let me sleep? I mean I could help him…"
"Nicholas said, you had a hard night before you came here, so he wanted to let you sleep. He said you thought a lot about yesterday."
Jimmy and Tommy are already finished with their breakfast and Jimmy gives Cathy a last kiss before they go.
"Come on champ, let us take a look what grandpa Stew and uncle Nick are doing? What do you think?"
"Yes dad!"
After the two have left, mum turns herself to me. I look at her and she seems to be a bit sad.
"Mum is everything okay?"
She clasps on of her paw with the other and looks not directly at me, as if she wants to evade my gaze. But she doesn't has to, I can't understand what she is so worried about. To calm her a little bit down I lay my paw over hers and I can feel how she slowly stops to clasp her paw with too much force.
"Judy, I want to apologize to you. You were right about him and we shouldn't have doubt your choice. From all the males that ever entered this burrow, he is one of the nicest I ever met. I know his past is not the clearest but I know one thing for sure, he would never betray you or harm you in any way. If anyone in this world will suit to you, then it is him. And Judy no matter what you will do, you have our blessing."
I can't hold it together, I take mum in a big hug and then we are just sitting there in the middle of the bigger kitchen and crying like little kits.
"Thanks mum, that means a lot to me."
After some minutes we detach from each other and try to dry our tears.
"Oh jeez mum, we are such crybabies."
"I know almost like your dad."
Cathy and I look a little bit surprised at mum but we all three had to laugh about this unforeseen joke from her. Normally she is not the one who tells the best jokes.
"Judy I also have to thank you and Nick."
"Oh come on Cathy not you too, I mean seriously we don't need that thanks… But what did he do?"
"Two things, he gave us the address of a florist in Zootopia, his name is Otterton and second he said we can send some flowers to his mother and she will exhibit them in her restaurant. Isn't that great? I mean we don't know what will happen from here on but at least it is a starting point. All the other ones we asked doesn't wanted to help us or couldn't."
One day and he is already turning this burrow upside down. I hope we can do the same with Zootopia.
"That sounds good Cathy and I hope there will be a positive outcome from this. But now I need something to eat. Say mum who is helping those two in the barn?"
"The two? Nobody, as much as I know?"
I look at my watch, 9:44 am. Our train will leave in 2 hours from now on, still plenty of time and to my luck I have tomorrow the backshift, so I can stay overnight at the academy.
Without further discussion I start my breakfast with some granola, a banana and a small cup of coffee. I should drink not too much of this, my whole week is already determined by this black stuff. Ready for the day after 15 minutes, I stand up and go over to mum.
"Okay I will get my fox and then we have slowly to leave, anything you need from dad?"
"No, honey thank you."
Cathy who was reading something on her phone, turns to me and explained.
"Wait Judy, I come with you. I have to look for my boys or they get dumb ideas."
I smile at her and must really say I don't know what happened since yesterday but Cathy looks much more hopeful and not more so intimidated. If I wouldn't know that my fox was just yesterday on the edge to a mental breakdown because of the many bunnies that awaited him here, then I wouldn't believe that he is just now working with them as if he is living in the burrow with them since years.
Tommy and Jimmy sitting on the sideline and watching what Nick and dad are doing with the old tractor. It seems something crashed into it and I can imagine it was one of the hay balls that lay on the upper levels of the barn but some bunnies wanted to have some fun and pushed it together down.
"Okay Stew, next try…"
"Alright…"
Dad sits on the tractor and try to start the engine. But after the fifth attempt he stops and looks down to Nick who stands at the engine and thinks about something. Both are almost completely covered in hay, oil and dirt. I nearly couldn't realise that this is Nick who stands there and works on the machine.
We walk over to Jimmy and sit myself beneath him.
"What happened?"
"Hey sis, hey honey, they have for one hour cleaned up the barn and try now to repair the tractor. It is relatively urgent because from tomorrow on dad needs it to plough over the fields."
"And how are they doing?"
"Dad had for two times already a tantrum but Nick could keep him down and this is now their 12th attempt to start it."
"Ohoh"
"Yeah but you know dad has no patience, just like you."
"What like me? Thanks Jimmy, no gift for you to christmas."
"Pfff as if I need something…"
Nick seems to found something and starts to grin like a little kit.
"There we have it, there is still hay in one of the cylinders...wait...okay. Next try I'm sure the is our lucky number Stew."
Nick grins over his whole face to his father in law. But dad takes his time for this attempt, slowly exhaling he turns the keys around and after the second attempt we can hear the monotone sounds of a running tractor engine, followed by the screams of a unbelievable happy bunny, that jumps into Nick and hugs him like a son who returns from war.
"Oh my good, thank you, thank you, thank you Nick. Without you I had never repair this old piece of metal."
"Don't worry Stew, you had found the source of the problem sooner or later."
"Pah blueberries! I say it was your help, that found the problem so fast and that's it! No false modesty Nick!"
"Well at least we found it but now I have to make myself ready or Judy will think I'm a raccoon, trying to rob the burrow.."
"Don't worry slick, I think I will recognise my fox when I see him."
With an even bigger grin, he turns himself to me with his dirty fur and face.
"Carrots! What do you say, a little bit of cuddling before we return to the academy?"
"Ahh I think I refuse this time. But you are right we have to go soon and you have to shower."
Nick nods and turns himself over to dad.
"Alright Stew, I think it is time, unfortunately I can't help you with the cleaning."
"Oh come on you stupid fox. You helped me more than enough today. Make yourself ready, we wait here for you."
Nick's comes slowly closer to me but I can just in time dodge his attempt to cuddle me. Not this time Mr Wilde. We smile at each other and without starting another attempt to catch me, he walks in direction of the burrow but waves with his right paw back at us.
"Jude, I don't know where you found this guy but keep him, no matter what happens keep him."
"Dad, what? Didn't you said yesterday...well he is a fox and will never change?"
"Stupid talk of a stupid bunny Jude, just forget it."
With big grin on my face I give Dad a hug and whisper into his ears.
"I'm more than happy that mum and you came to this conclusion, thank you."
"Oh Jude, we have to apologize…"
"Don't worry, mum already did."
"She did? Good. You know I'm… well not so good at it and then I get teary and so one. Ah you know what I mean."
We sat us for the moment together with Jimmy, Tommy and Cathy to wait for Nick to come back, I hope he doesn't forget his bag and guitar...what do I think, as if he ever could forget his guitar, it is like he would forget his right arm.
After 20 minutes and some of Jimmy's terrible jokes later, he finally made it to us. But he is not alone, a huge crowd of small bunnies following him but with them is also mum, Jessica and Amanda. Grinning like a school kid on his first day he stands in front of me and I could imagine what shortly will follow.
"Look, carrots. They followed me, what do you think can we keep them? Oh please, please say yes."
Okay let's play a little bit with him.
"The train should be no problem for the most. But I don't think that there is enough space in the academy."
He waves with a paw at me, as if he tries to signal that I don't think in the right way.
"Ahh blueberries, if Nate, El and Stella would use lesser space than we could get without problems 20-30 of the smaller ones in one room, maybe even 40 if we can use the locker."
"Ehhmmm no. We will not put them in the locker, do you know how many mammals had their cloth in there?"
Jimmy finally intervenes our little game.
"You two not really discuss if you can take little bunnies with you?"
"Yes!" - "No!"
"Okay Jimmy, Cathy, Tommy and Stew. We two will miss you, so come here."
And without saying another word, we six come together for a last hug.
Nick grins and I can't resist to giggle loudly about this idiotic idea to take some bunnies with us. He accepts slowly that the game is over and turns himself to the mass of the bunnies, to hold a little speech. He would be such a good father… come on Judy not now...
"Guys and girls it was a crazy and eventful day for me and Judy. But unluckily we have to go back to the academy and learn how to catch criminals."
A long and loud 'Oooohhh' goes through the rows of small and bigger bunnies. A lot of disappointed faces looking up to me and Nick.
"But… we will be back for Christmas and if you think I'm a funny guy, than wait for my sister, you will find her hilarious."
Nick goes over to his guitar and takes it to play a last song. I already know which one and am happy to hear it again. I listen to his advice and work myself slowly through the mass of music he collected over the years. It is incredible how much he must have spent on it but otherwise this could explain the 1.1 million he spent over the time…
But something tells, there are also other reasons why such a big part is missing...
And with his old guitar he stands there in the door of the barn and plays "We'll meet again", like he ever do when he don't want to go and tries steal some time. And he really thought I wouldn't recognize that...dumb fox. All eyes and ears are on him and he enjoys it visibly. A huge crowd of bunnies moving their heads and bodies to the rhythm of Nick's song, it looks like a field of grass moving slowly in the wind,0 with all the pointed ears. And in the last verse of the song even myself, dad, Jimmy and Cathy start to sing with Nick. For him it is a perfect end of two days that didn't start so well.
"A great audience, as ever and we will miss you all for sure. Or what do you think carrots?"
"Of course we will slick. So bunnies don't do something stupid."
And with an enthusiastic grab I take the paw of my fox and walk with him through the rows of the bunnies. We both have to wave the whole time to al sides, to say goodbye to all available bunnies. One of the last bunnies in the row is mum, which stands herself in our way and holds a basket up to use.
"Judy told me already that you had some friends in the academy and I think Patricia and your mother will also appreciate some of them Nicholas."
Nick smiles with a very soft and warm gaze at mum, I don't know exactly about what they talked this morning in the kitchen but they seem to understand each other better now.
"Thank you Bonnie, I try to save some for the family and the mammals in the academy."
"Thanks mum."
I could feel that mum will give us one of her typical advises but she also seems a little bit teary.
"And you two, take good care of each other. You know winter is coming and...agh what am I talking, you are old enough…."
Without letting loose of the paw of my fox, we both take mum in a big hug in which more and more bunnies join. After putting all the little bunnies back to the ground Nick and I walk paw in paw to the street, I am still waving like crazy with my left arm but stop after the last one disappeared out of my sight. I don't how he did this without a free paw but Nick is munching some blueberries.
"Hey!? How did you?"
"Fox secret."
"Just… just keep the bowls for the others untouched, okay?"
"I try…"
"Nick?"
"Okay, okay will do."
"That's my fox."
We walk a while along the road until Nick turns around and we both take a last look at the burrow. I can see that he is smiling, something I just could hope for after the beginning of the last day and our drive from the academy.
"Judy?"
"Yes Nick."
"I could really imagine living here with you. Their burrow, our burrow I don't care, as long it is with you. For me this is a place to live far away from this damned city."
I know what he means and I turn myself with a sorrowful gaze to my fox.
"Nick, you…"
"Yes, I know. We have work to do… it was just a dream but I have to say it is a beautiful one."
He leans down to me and give me a long and romantic kiss, one of his paws directly on my cheek. We end it after some time but keep ourselves head to head with closed eyes.
"You are mine."
"And I'm yours."
Our vow, I don't know how many times we already exchanged it...
"And yes, it is really a beautiful dream."
I don't want to separate from him… not now and I think he feels the same way and stays like this for a little bit longer.
We are standing there for some more minutes, till I turn around and start dragging my fox behind me, to the railway station. I know he likes it here, well so do I. I mean it is home, so who wouldn't like it here? But I know that also some dark thoughts are mixed into the mind of my companion.
It took almost 20 minutes until Nick made his next joke but I could feel that his dark clouds slowly disappearing.
"Hey carrots, whom do you call when a mug gets mugged?"
"I don't know, whom?"
"The cups… oh come on THE CUPS, I told you already worser ones."
I start slightly to giggle but it is more about the fact how many jokes he tries to tell, then the joke he told me now.
Still 5 minutes and we arrive at the trainstation and of course nobody is here. Not that I would await somebody. All that someone could hear now is the yawning of a fox standing besides a bunny.
"Tired Mr Wilde?"
"A little bit but I think the main problem were the many smooches I had to give your family…"
He grins down at me and he know it would trigger me but in the same second our both phones vibrate. He took his one out but didn't break the eye contact with me.
"Oh come on, as if ...what is? Something wrong?"
Nick is looking with widened eyes on his phone but I don't understand what is going on.
"Nick?"
"You...ehm...you should look yourself. I think...mhm… Pati send you the same picture…"
Without long hesitation, I take my phone out and look for the notifications and yes Pati send me a photo and oh yes, I understand now, why Nick is a little bit shocked…
What we saw? Pati took a selfie from herself with her tongue stretched out in bed but that is not the interesting point. The interesting point is the obviously sleeping Stella right besides her. I am still looking at it and try to imagine the discussion that we will have in the academy tonight, nothing negative but Nick is already preparing something for Stella. How I know? Oh let's just say, his grin tells me everything I need to know.