Chapter Twenty-One:
Family Friends...
There was a small part of in the back of Trish's mind that almost wished that her and Marcus hadn't taken Grace and Ruth anywhere near the madhouse that the Zootopia mall. With her time away from the city, she had almost forgotten how crowded the place became the closer it got to Christmas. One good thing that had come from it was running into a certain fennec fox when the stopped for lunch. Unfortunately, that wish had grown quite a bit.
Within five minutes of meeting one of the friends of her granddaughters adopted father, vixen had come to two conclusions. The first being the reason both Bonnie and Judy were leery about him being around impressionable minds. The fennec foxes attitude didn't set well with either of the two and it was starting to get on her nerves as well. But it was the second thing that actually impressed her; and that was how quickly he went from a street hardened bonds mammal to one of the nicest mammals she had ever met with just two words.
"You mean dad actually did that, Uncle Fin?" Grace asked between giggles.
"It's not funny, Gracie," the fennec fox said sounding a little upset.
The young kit dissolved into a fit of giggles as her grandfather sighed before saying, "Only to the one the prank was pulled on. Too everyone else, it's hilarious. But when a mass text message goes out stating that a bunny orchestrated a prank that got both her mate, his best friend, and over half the ZPD; it then becomes the stuff of legends."
"Mom got you two good," Grace said smiling at Fin's stunned expression.
"I'm starting to wonder who the bigger bad influence on our granddaughter is," Trish said glancing at her husband.
"According to Judy and her family, it's Uncle Fin," Grace said looking at her grandmother, "But Mr. Bogo says Nick is as much a bad influence on me as he is a good role model."
"Regardless of who is a good role model, Nick and Judy have been doing a great job taking care of both you and little Ruthie here," Marcus said indicating the sleeping kit in the stroller next to him.
"Anyway, what brings you to the mall, Fin?" Trish asked calmly.
"Besides hiding from a bunch of insane bunnies?" he remarked, which caused Grace to start giggling, "Got to pick up something I ordered from one of the stores here. And it's not for a girlfriend, Grace, it's for work."
"Then whose picture is in your wallet?" the young kit asked smiling.
"Either someone important to him, or it came with the wallet," Marcus interjected after checking his watch; "We really should finish up and get back."
"I think you're right, love," Trish said with a slight smile, "It was nice meeting you, Fin."
"Same here, Mrs. Locksley," the fennec fox said before hopping down from his seat, "Take care of the munchkins."
"Have fun with your girlfriend," Grace said as he walked away.
"He seems nice," Marcus said after a few seconds as he looked at his mate, "A little rough around the edges, but nice."
"Mom threatened to shave him bald once if he ever so much as taught me how to play poker," Grace said before finishing her drink.
"Not knowing that Laura was the daughter to a four time Zootopia University poker champ," Trish said sounding a little smug.
"And I got banned from game nights at Precinct 3 because of what all she taught me," her granddaughter said hopping down from her chair, "Where are we going now?"
"Well, I figured we have enough time to hit at least one more store before we take you and Ruth back, but I do have one question before we get moving," Trish said looking at the young kit, "Is there anything you want for Christmas?"
"Not really," Grace said after a few seconds, "I mean, I was hoping that we could spend Christmas with mom's family; but that was until I found out they were coming up to see us."
"But there is something that you would like, right?" Trish asked. The young kit seemed to glance towards a toy store window for a brief second before they started to hear a whimper.
"Looks like someone is awake," Marcus said as Ruth started to cry, "And I think she needs a diaper change."
"I'll take her, you two go see about what Grace wanted in that electronic store," Trish said before getting up and taking the small kit off to the bathrooms.
He watched his mate for a few seconds before looking at his granddaughter and asked, "So why do you want to go to the electronic store?"
"I wanted to get mom's family something for Christmas," Grace replied looking at him, "Dillion said that their movie projector broke last summer and I wanted to get them a new one."
"Not trying to be mean, Grace, but are you sure you have enough?" he asked as they started to walk to the store in question, "Those can be pretty pricey."
She nodded as they entered the store saying, "Mom, dad, and Daniel made sure I have enough to get the one I want." After locating the one they needed and getting checked out, they went back to main hall to find Trish waiting for them with Ruth.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" she asked seeing her mate and granddaughter.
"Found it, three different box set DVDs, and got them for a third of what the expected cost," Marcus said indicating the bags he was holding, "Looks like she has your eye for deals, hon. Did you want long?"
"Not that long," she replied before the started walking towards the exit, "So did you have fun today Grace?"
"Yup, and I think Ruth had fun too," Grace said glancing at her little sister.
"And I think Stu and his kits will like what you got them," Marcus said as a white limo pulled up in front of them. They watched a well-dressed black panther stepped out of the front of the vehicle and looked at them.
"Hi Mr. Manchas," Grace said waving at him.
"You know him?" Trish asked a little nervously.
"He's a friend of Judy's," Grace replied as he walked over.
"There is a little more to it than that," the panther said with a gentle smile, "But that is a story for another day. As for now, she asked if I could come pick you and your grandparents a lift home."