Chapter Twenty-Nine:
Parenting…
Nick smiled as he stood in the doorway to Grace's room watching the young kit sleep. He wasn't sure how, but Grace seemed to have a renewal of energy once the damage to her favorite hoodie had been finished. His smile widened slightly before carefully closing the door to her room as not to disturb her. 'I wonder if I had that much energy when I was her age,' he thought before walking to the master bedroom. As he reached the doorway to the room he shared with his mate, he stopped as he watched her push her jeans down her legs.
"Well you were right, Carrots," he said leaning against the door frame, "She completely wore herself out."
"I figured as much," she said smiling, "Enjoying the show over there?"
"Only when it's you," he said watching her tail, "I still say you have the cutest tail I've ever seen." She gave a slight wiggle of her tail at the compliment. It was an unspoken rule between the two since they had started dating. He would only call her that in private and nowhere else. If he did, she was allowed to hit him as hard as she wanted for each offense.
"I bet you say that to all the bunnies," she remarked looking back at him. He pushed off from where he was and walked up behind her.
"Just you," he said wrapping his arms around her. She leaned back into his embrace and sighed. "Crazy past couple of weeks, huh?" he asked softly.
"Yeah it has," she said closing her eyes. They stood there in silence for a few moments, neither wanting to break the mood. "Hey Nick," she said placing a paw on his, "Do you think we're doing a good job taking care of Grace?"
"I think so. Why do you ask?" he asked looking down at her. She gave a slight shrug before saying, "I'm just worried if we're going to be this good with our own kits. I mean seriously, you were asked to take care an eight year-old. That is not exactly the same as raising one from birth."
"That makes two of us," he said holding her close, "I mean, my dad left when I was younger than her and I have no clue what I'm doing."
"You're fine, Nick," she assured him, "It's me I'm worried about."
"What are you talking about?" he asked a little surprised at her comment, "You probably helped raised your younger siblings. The only thing I'm worried about is if she takes on your Mega-bunny attitude."
"Mega-bunny?" she asked turning to face him.
"Yeah, Mega-bunny," he said with a slight smile, "You rush headlong into a situation like nothing can hurt or stop you."
"Is that so?" she asked with a slight smile, "If I'm Mega-Bunny, what does that make you; Mr. Incide- Fox?"
"I'm honored you think of me that way, Carrots," he teased.
"Oh no," she said swatting him in the arm, "If anything, you're more like Dash."
"Ah, you wound me Carrots," he said dramatically, "You call me that before you even give me a chance to prove myself."
"Oh you've had more than enough chance to prove it," she said flipping his tie, "Not my fault you haven't yet."
"Blame your father's Taser," he said before they heard a knock on their bedroom door, "Come in." They looked over to see the door open slowly to reveal Grace looking a little shaken up.
"Grace, are you ok?" Nick asked walking over. The young kit slowly shook her head and said, "I had a bad dream. Can I sleep with you guys tonight?"
"Sure thing, kiddo," he replied gently picking her up. "Do you remember what the dream was about?" Judy asked a little worried.
"The one that killed my mom went after you two," the young kit said quietly resting her head against Nick's shoulder.
"He's not going to get anywhere near us, Grace," he said gently rubbing her back. "You sure?" she asked looking up at him slightly.
"We're sure, Grace," Judy said walking up and placing a gentle paw on the young kits shoulder, "The only way he would be able to get near you would be to get past Chief Clawson. And do you honestly think that is going to happen?"
"I know I don't," he said with a slight smile, "Seriously, he escapes and I have to run after Mega-bunny over there while she's chasing him."
"Only because you're not fast enough to catch them before me, Dash,"
Judy said before giving him a quick kiss.
"Oh, you're going to pay for that," he said looking at his mate. "Can I go to Grandma Maria's before you get even, dad?" Grace asked looking at him.
"Maybe tomorrow," he said with a slight chuckle, "It's a little late to give my mom a call just to see if you can spend the night. Right now I think we all need some sleep."
"You sure you can wait another night, Slick?" Judy asked before grabbing her night shirt then heading to the bathroom.
"Can you, you horny bunny?" he retorted watching her leave the room.
"You two are weird," Grace said laying her head back on his shoulder.
"And there's quite a few mammals that would agree with you," he said before gently setting her on the bed.
"Except he's the weird one," Judy said entering the room.
"Says the bunny that fell in love with a fox," he muttered before grabbing his pj's and heading to the bathroom to change.
"What was that?" Judy asked watching him as Grace let out a soft giggle.
"Hey Judy," the young kit said looking at the bunny, "Thank you."
"For what Grace?" the bunny asked turning her attention to her daughter.
"Taking me in," Grace said sitting up, "I know you and Nick didn't have to, and I'm sorry if I'm a burden." Judy placed a single finger on the kits nose stopping her and said, "You're not a burden, so stopping thinking that right now. What you are is someone I am proud to call my daughter."
"That makes two of us, Grace," Nick said walking back into the room.
"But the others," Grace started to say looking towards the fox.
"Are sitting in jail for hurting you," Judy said giving the young kit a hug, "And that is something you don't need to be anymore."
"Judy's right," he said sitting next to them, "Which is why the three of us are going to talk in the morning about whether or not you want to go back to school."
"But I do," Grace said nodding.
"You sure you want to go back?" Judy asked.
Grace looked at her and saying, "I was having fun up until those four trashed my hoodie."
"And you didn't even get to finish the day," he said gently brushing her fur back.
"That too," she said before yawning.
"And that is our que to stop for the night," he said with a slight chuckle.
"You want to go back to your room, or stay here tonight, Grace?" Judy asked.
"I'd rather stay here if you don't mind," the young kit replied.
"Are you sure about that?" Judy asked smiling a little, "Nick has a tendency to snore."
"Whereas Carrots steals the covers, sounds like the mother of all chainsaws, and has a tendency to kick in her sleep," Nick said stretching out on the bed. "And you don't?" she asked looking at him.
"That's fine," Grace said before lying down. Once everyone got settled, Nick reached over and turned the light out.
"Night everyone," Judy said reaching over and taking Nick's paw in hers.
"Night mom, night dad," Grace said as she snuggled down in between the two, "I love you."
"They love you as much as we do, Grace," Nick said smiling. He lightly kissed her forehead before leaning over and kissing his mate. "Goodnight Carrots," he whispered watching her.
"Goodnight, my sexy fox," Judy whispered before falling asleep.
"Could you not while I'm here?" Grace asked yawning.
"Not my fault your mother is a horny bunny," he said with a slight chuckle.
