Chapter 34
A/N: Hello all! Well, I'm back! I'm sorry for the extremely long delay in the new chapter and I apologise in advance if my writing looks sloppy! College has started and I am focusing on college more as I am now in for two years! Hopefully I will get back up to steam soon! In this chapter, we pick up at the aftermath of the reunion and tragedy! Hope you like it!
In a few hours, the scene of devastation that swallowed in the normal and bustling atmosphere that is Zootopia Central was a pile of lightly smouldering mess. The elephant sized crater that stood out in what seemed to look like an endless drop into a dark and empty void was the direct attention to many police officers, investigators, news cameras and a worried Katherine Wilde. The day that she was reunited with her darling son, a long lost one at that, has changed to a day of terror and worry. She was used to those days unfortunately, for the past few years that seemed like decades to her she wondering where her son was and wasn't any sort of danger.
Knowing that her fox was behind police tape and many officers bigger than her, they all were cut her off from reaching each other. She could see him hopping back up the crater, covered in what seemed to be dirt and dark coloured dust tainting his bright orange coat and uniform. She hoped he wouldn't be hurt and for a long time, it wasn't easy coping with it at all but Nick was within reach and that sight made it nothing but worse of a situation. The canine waltzed over to Judy and held her paws tightly, looking deeply into her lavender eyes.
"We've found something. A pretty powerful RC bomb in what seems to have been a backpack." murmured Nick. "How original. A pretty sight of a old abandoned train shell burnt to a crisp down there too." His radio blipped and beeped every two seconds, feeling like his speech is rudely cut off by the device.
Judy sighed and looked over his shoulder to look at her fiancés worried vixen. "I know we have a job to do, but do you think we should speak to your mother? She looks like she is going to break..."
The red fox nodded and his floofy tail curled around the rabbit's waist, making their way through the crowds and neared a news reporter who was covering the story to the mammals that least expected it at home.
The reporter, that seemed to be a deer blasted into his microphone and stood straight in front of the rolling television camera reporting the devastating scene to the few that are unaware of the catastrophe.
"And these pictures are just the beginning of the tragic events that unfold here at the once bustling core of our city, our economy and citizenship." he solemnly stated as he looked back at the scene, until his eyes set eyes on the two coppers. The deer stood there for a second or two inspecting the bunny. She looked familiar. Those tall and perky ears, the familiar shade of lucious purple, the perfect officer for an interview.
'Cha-ching! This is going to be the cherry on top of this sundae!' he thought ecstatically and excited. He signalled the snow leopard to follow him while the light on the camera flashed red. "Officer Hopps! Officer Hopps! Over here!"
Judy's and Nick's ears stood tall and twitchy as their attention turned to the deer and they stopped in their tracks, tipping their shades over their eyes. Nick stood there with crossed arms and sly look, but underneath that mask, he was terrified. Terrified of his wellbeing, his mother's and his bunny.
"Connor Knapp, ZNN. Could we have an update on the situation Officer Hopps?" he requested, rubbing the microphone in the rabbit's nose. She kept calm and gave him a response.
"Everything is under control we can assure you all. However, we do not plan to give anymore information about the case until we are obliged to." she spoke softly and made their way back to Katherine. The deer and snow leopard followed them along wanting some more questions answered.
"Do you plan to conduct a mammal hunt for the suspect who had done this treacherous incident?" he blathered on.
Judy sighed and looked back and gave them another answer. "I cannot give you any information about that. We advise all of you to stay calm and we will keep you up to date because here at the ZPD, safety and citizenship is our number one priority. No further questions." She finished just as the fox patted her side to go in front of him away from the intruding gentlemammal.
He looked back to see the reporter blare to the camera and gave his final thoughts. "That was Officer Hopps at the scene with her views on the situation, we will keep you up to date on the building situation here at Zootopia Central. Connor Knapp, ZNN."
Nick escorted his bunny away from the commotion. He knew she was a strong woman, but he still felt that pit in his heart that grows when she is in demanding situations and commotions. Tipping his shades back up, he slowly, he approached Katherine again giving her a big hug as he buried his head in her small shoulder.
"I- I'm so sorry Ma'..." he murmured, his voice on the edge of breaking. "This wouldnt've happened if I did it right." he added as he looked into her eyes, tears rolling down his face. "I- I never done anything right for you."
Katherine sighed and showed a strong smile, flicking his tears away with her gentle finger. "Nicholas… I may have lost you… but I'm not going to lose you again. Because you have made me proud. You've made Judy proud and most of all, the city. If you didn't take the right way for your career, I would've been meat. But I'm still here, alive and well. Happier to see you and alive, and it's all thanks to you my baby boy."
Nick felt like he would explode in tears of relief like a little kit all over again. But he couldn't and wouldn't. He wanted to show his mother that was in the past. He wanted to show her he was grown fox. An independent one at that.
"I- I love you mama!" he squeaked, his tail wrapping around the vixen's body as he hugged her tightly but carefully, blubbering his tears away. Katherine giggled and patted her son on the back gently in the embracing moment.
"I'm always proud of you, Nicholas." she said earnestly and nuzzled into his broad shoulder, letting their emotions pour out of their body. Katherine had so much to say to Nick, including Judy. She was fed up being part of the broken family. She wanted to fall into this new and amazing one with wide open arms. A fox, a bunny, a vixen and an amazing new kid. The perfect dream. The perfect reality! But she didn't know she had more of a family than she thought especially with a certain family that Judy was part of. Many grandsons and daughters.
Judy smiled and took in the moment. Once again, she thought this sight, especially with Nick was the most adorable moment she had seen so far. Nick looked to his side and held his arm out wide, signalling Judy to come closer. She simply just blushed and took his paw. But a swift but gentle pull sent the bunny into the deadly loving hug and embraced each other. The perfect photo opportunity. And that is exactly what Nick did. He pulled out his pawPhone and turned it to face the three. Nick positioned himself to the left and had his mother pressed cheek to cheek with Judy visible in the middle clinging onto Nick's back with a toothy smile.
"Say cheese and crackers everyone!" he giggled and smiled to the camera with a cheerful smile. Everyone did the same and the camera clicked, showing them the result. "How adorable." Nick commented with a relaxed smile.
"A cheerful moment for us!" Judy squealed happily.
"I could look at that all day and never get bored." Katherine added.
They smiled and stayed close for a little longer until Nick heard a great big booming voice erupt from the corner of the station entrance.
"WILDE!"
Nick recognized that gruff tone from anywhere and knew who it was even before he turned his muzzle. And sure enough, it was Bogo signalling him to come closer to the cape buffalo. He nodded to him and turned back to his mother and Judy. "I'll be right back guys. Bogo is calling me." he said and gave a kiss to Judy then to his mother as he plodded to the chief.
Katherine looked puzzled and whispered to Judy as she kept her eyes on her son. "Who is Bogo?"
Judy's ears perked up and eagerly answered like the helpful bunny she is. "Oh! Bogo is our boss. He might look a bit grumpy but he sure is proud of all of us!"
"Oh? That's great to hear that he is recognizing all of you for your hard work! I think I have seen him on telly once actually when that terrible Night Howler scandal concluded…"
Nick stopped and stood at attention in front of his boss and looked at him attentively. "Is there something you need, sir?"
"Wilde, who are you speaking to?" he enquired looking at him strictly. "She seems to be disturbing you from your duty."
Nick's ears folded and looked back smiling at his mother and Judy chatting away like true friends. "Oh her?" he turned his head back facing Bogo again. "She's my mother, Katherine. We just been reunited today after a long time! Can you believe it? Meeting my mother during the job I was assigned to?!"
Bogo sighed and looked on. He wanted to lecture Nick about being distracted during an investigation. But this time, he was feeling soft hearted. Hearing that he has seen his mother for what has probably seemed like years to the both of them, and Bogo knew that feeling personally. He nodded subtly.
"I see… I can give you one exception Wilde today that I allow you and Hopps to be dismissed. But just this once."
Nick smiled and nodded, feeling he can live with that. It also meant he could invite his mother up to his house for a much needed catch-up. "Thank you sir. But you don't have to do this."
Bogo knelt down and spoke solemnly. "I know how you feel Wilde. Trust me. You need it because I know the feeling myself. I met my mother after a good long fifteen years separated from each other because of my father. He drove her away with his explosive anger. Heck, that's where I probably get my temper from. But his was even worse. I spoke to her for a good week until she just disappeared again… I don't know what happened to her and I still don't know where she gone to this day. So just go and enjoy it."
"Gladly sir." he replied and turned back, slipping off his kevlar vest and unbuttoning the top button of his police shirt as he approached the ladies. "Bogo has dismissed us early so we can catch up with mum!" he said happily.
"Really?" asked Judy looking back to the scene. "Are you sure they don't need any extra help?"
Nick chuckled and hugged her tightly with Judy burying her face into his chest giggling. "If they did, Bogo wouldn't have said we could leave wouldn't he?"
"I guess you're right…" Judy giggled, her voice muffled from his broad chest as she slipped out of her own kevlar armor.
"When am I ever wrong?" he joked, giving her a gentle noogie as she giggled squirming.
Katherine took in this wonderful sight and smiled. "Wow, its like you two were made for each other and just had to find yourselves!"
Nick nodded and walked the way to home in the middle, holding both paws. "Oh mother, I have so much to tell you."
Katherine smiled and nuzzled into his shoulder. "Me too Nicholas. Me too…"
They all giggled as they disappeared into the next street on the way to Nick's apartment where they plan to giggle and chat all night long.
A:N/ New chapter will be out soon! I really hope you like it and hopefully my writing will perk back up soon as I ease back into writing! I hope to see you sooner than this time! ^/^ Stay fluffy! ~RetractedEmotions