Chapter 36: Realizations & Lies

Several weeks later, the kits eyes and ears had finally opened and Judy swept them up into her arms. She giggled as they pulled on her ears and wiggled around. Finally, she handled off one of the kits to her husband, who was as impatient as her to hold them. Everyone laughed as the fox gave the little raccoon a big hug and kiss, the fox's tail was swishing with happiness. He held the kit up in front of his face and went to nuzzle him, but suddenly he yipped as a little paw grabbed his nose. He pulled back and laughed, "You're a little bundle of trouble Nicky. Guess that's why your parents named you after me."

Marie's parents had arrived and were staying in the guest room. After watching his friends snuggling with his sons, Jake stepped outside where his father -in-law was standing looking out towards the park. He could smell the farmer's anger as he approached and his ears pricked up when he heard him speak, "Sure you don't want to give this up? I can find you some land or a house in Warrenton for you to live in. Hell Jake, I'd feel better if you were there, where no one was going to hurt my daughter and grandsons…and you. I'd don't know who's going after you and why, but they'd have to come through a whole village, over a dozen coyotes, and then me and her brothers before they could get to you." Looking back out at the park he added, "But you aren't the running kind are you? I can't blame you, so I'm asking that you just keep her and the boys safe, okay?"

"Maybe time in the county might do Marie and the kits some good this fall. Mind if we come for the Harvest Moon Ceremony this year?" Jake replied as he put his arm over the older raccoon's shoulder. "I only know this city and it's a love hate relationship between us Fred. But I can't walk away from her, because she's in my blood like the land is in yours." Looking back at Nick and Judy he added, "I've got friends here as close as family and I can't walk out on them either. Here I've got the whole ZPD and a lot of very dangerous and not so dangerous friends looking out for my family."

His eyes stopped at a building top in the distance and he saw a figure in black watching him. He smiled and winked at the figure, who quickly sank back into the shadows. His eyes searched out another watcher. He sighed and turned his attention back to his friends.

The watcher pulled up his rifle and wondered did he actually see me? He was tempted to take the shot, but that was not his orders...yet. Stepping back into the darkness, he felt uncertain that he had picked the right side.

Tails spoke into his radio, "Did you get either one on camera, Jerry?"

The little mouse called back, "Nah, both were covered, but I think one was a feline and the other canid. Both medium sized mammals though."

Jake and Fred came back into the suite. Nick was struggling with the little kit, who had now found his whiskers. "I think we need to change this rascal's name to Diablo, because I think he's part devil." Then the fox looked up at everyone one and asked, "Did I say something wrong?"

Judy rolled her eyes and snickered at her husband, "Nick you don't call a raccoon a rascal, it's like calling a rabbit cute."

Turning his attention back the grey and black bundle in this paws he whispered, "Uncle Nicks going to have to write you a book of all the words you can't say about other mammals." Then he added, "And yes, I think my bunny's cute and you are rascally."

As the two little raccoons began to get fussy, Marie announced, "Time for dinner and a nap little ones." Taking her sons in her arms as she started to the bedroom, she looked at her husband and asked, "You cooking tonight or are we ordering in?"

Jake smiled and spread his paws, "I guess it's going to be room service since we've run out of noodles in a cup dear."

"I know Marie is not much of a cook, but you never cooked Jake?" Marie's mom, Karen asked.

"Never needed to as a kit, then couldn't afford to later. When I did get money, I just ate out," Jake replied. "I can make coffee."

"You've just bought one of those fancy single cup coffee machines Jake," The fox snickered.

Picking up the remote control, Jake turned on the large television and said, "We've gone high tech now." He pressed a button and a menu from the hotel's restaurant appeared on the screen. "Anyone see anything they like?"

After a moment, he rose from the couch and slipped into the bed room. His wife was sitting in her new rocking chair nursing his sons. He smiled at them and stood for a few moments before his wife looked up and asked, "you've seen me do this plenty of times Sugar, what's up?"

"Chef's got nut crusted salmon tonight, would you like that for dinner?" Marie nodded and adjusted her bundles. She was surprised when he husband walked over and kissed her passionately.

She watched him leave the room and muttered to her sons, "your daddy still has one cute tail, boys."

In the predawn light Jake rose as usual and stepped outside, he smelled the night air, listened to a city coming to life again for a new day, his eyes moved towards the moon and stopped. On the table was a white sheet of paper, walking over he picked it up and it read, Tell your rat friend he's good. I could not make it inside this time without the chance of setting off an alarm. I need to see you tonight at the same place. Jack.

He growled as he crumpled the sheet in his paw. I told Nick that I'm a father now, I can't afford secrets. I guess I lied to both him and myself.

He spent the day with Fred at the Zootopia City University's Botanical Gardens attending a day long symposium on apple trees and orchard care. He came to realize that his father-in-law really had to work hard to make a living and scratched the life as a country farmer off his list as any potential future career choice. He did like the topic on raising worms, but not as much as the ground worm burgers they had for lunch afterwards. He looked around at the rats, moles, shrews, skunks, opossums, and a couple more raccoons that seemed to be enjoying their meals.

On the way home, they picked up crawfish, bread, and salad for dinner from a Cajun restaurant and bar near his hotel, called the South Quarter. Over dinner, Marie had her parents almost in tears with laughter as she told them about meeting with Jake the second time at the restaurant's bar. Jake tried to defend himself but finally conceded that he was so infatuated with their daughter that he was a major klutz that night.

After dinner he excused himself and went with Marie into the bedroom. He finally told her that he had to go meet with the guy who killed LePew and he felt that these were the kind of mammals you don't say no to. He assured her that Tails had a team watching his back. She pleaded with him not to go, but she knew he would and he left her standing in the hallway with his sons clutched to her chest.

By the time he arrived at the old Dingo Bar he was pissed. He didn't try to sneak in this time, instead he threw open the front door and stood there adjusting his tie. Skye was behind the bar, dressed in a black evening dress and Jack was standing facing the door. As he entered the raccoon softly growled, "So tell me Mr. Savage what the hell does the ZIA want with me this time?"

Skye looked at Jake, she knew he had changed and now had those odd pale yellow eyes. But now he also gave off a dangerous primal scent, she looked at Jack and knew he felt it too because the rabbit had physically tensed up. As he approached the bar, Jake seemed to be ignoring the hare again. He looked her up and down with those eyes and she fought to keep from blushing. He reached a paw across the bar and placed a single digit across her lips, then drawing her face closer to his he whispered, "I guess you're my bartender tonight?" Skye did blush as she felt the lust surge though her body, his touch almost made her moan and her paw shook as she poured him a drink of Scotch.

Jack looked at the raccoon and found that he was annoyed with both himself and the way the mammal was seemingly seducing his partner. He felt a slight flush, when he realized that he was jealous and then he wondered did he really care for the vixen in that way? Sure he they had casual sex from time to time, but nothing serious. Clearing his throat he spoke, "Really Mr. Runnel and here I thought you were a loving husband."

The raccoon whirled towards him, his claws stopped inches from the rabbit's throat. He could hear Skye drawing an air pistol from under the counter and he growled, "Don't ever touch my family or I'll bring down the whole ZIA and you with it."

Jack's demeanor changed and he stared at the angry raccoon and smiled, "We're not interested in your family old boy, it's that we just need your help. I've got an associate we need extracting from a rather sticky situation and I was hoping you could rescue him."

The raccoon sat back on the stool and then tossing back his drink, looked at the well-dressed hare and asked, "First any idea who's been after me and Mr. Big?"

Never taking his eyes off the rabbit, Jake's paw shot out and caught Skye's as she reached to pour him a refill. He felt her shudder at his touch.

Jack looked at the two paws and flatly answered, "No we don't."

Jake smiled at him and squeezed Skye's paw, "Times have changed, you need a better thief then I've ever been." Releasing Skye's paw, he picked up the bottle, poured himself a refill and topped of Jack's glass. Then he yelled, "Tails, get in here now and bring in the team." He reached into his pocket and pulled out eight small glasses for Skye to fill.

A rat with a chopped off tail walked through the front door and Jack marveled as seven more rats and mice suddenly appeared throughout the room. The rat looked up at the rabbit and said, "Hi, I'm called Tails and I guess you could say I'm Jake's version of what they call the guy in those spy movies…yeah, Q. Let's see what you got buddy."

As the rabbit was talking to the rats and mice, Jake turned his attentions to the arctic fox. He reached over and brought her face close to his and whispered in her ear, "Another time or another life, I wished I'd taken you up on your offer. Our bodies could have made music together, but my heart belongs to three raccoons who are waiting for me at home. We both know where your heart belongs, so don't lose him."

He left her at the bar, walked out the door and onto the street. She sighed as she watched him go.

It was late by the time Jake arrived home and his in-laws had long gone to bed. He quietly entered his bedroom to find his wife sitting in the darkness rocking the kits in her arms. She was startled as he emerged from the darkness, he had removed his shirt and she could not help herself as she appreciated his lean muscular furry chest. He took his sons from her paws and tenderly held them to his chest, they snuggled into his fur. As she rose, he leaned down and kissed her, then taking her place in the chair he began to rock and murmur to the kits. As she stretched out on the bed and watched her husband and sons, she heard him say, "Daddy's home to stay." Jake stared off into the room and prayed to both the Lion and the Lamb that he wasn't lying to himself again.