7: Unintended Consequences

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This was really meant to be two chapters, but with the first being only a little over 1000 words I decided to give y'all a nice Christmas present and combine two chapters.

Merry Christmas, enjoy…...

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Less than two hours after Nick arrives at his and Judy's old apartment, there comes a knock on the apartment door.

Opening the door, Nick comes muzzle to muzzle with two very anxious parents, one concerned littermate and an overanxious young doe.

"Nick-" begins Bonnie.

"It's ok mom, I promise. Although I can't divulge a lot right now, what I can do is to let you know that it's confirmed that Judy is very much alive."

"Thank the gods." says Stu.

"My big sister is ok?" asks a now hopeful Cotton.

"You'll find out soon enough Cottonball, c'mon I'll take you to someplace better than here to reveal the good news."

After texting Judy to let her know that they are on their way, a quiet but tension filled ride finds a fox and four bunnies arriving at the VIM level of the Palms parking garage.

Taking the elevator to the fifth floor did little to dispel the building anticipation.

As Nick led the Bunnyburrow group to the Presidential suite, the tension was almost thick enough to cut with a knife.

Tapping on the door, all were treated to the muffled sound of "Come in."

After Nick opens the door he enters and tells those assembled "Mom, dad, Jasmine and Cotton … Judy and her … our kits are finally home."

…

With four bunnies standing stock still in shock for several moments as they take in the scene of Judy and her six kits, Jasmine is the first to break…

"Judes? Is-is it really you?" she asks, cautiously stepping forward and touching her sisters face.

"Yeah Jaz, it's me… really." answers the slightly apprehensive doe.

Quickly closing the distance and gathering her long absent sister into a typical Hopps bone crushing hug, Jasmine begins to weep, until Judy tells her "It's ok Jaz, and please, ease up on the hug a bit ok?"

Stepping back just a bit, Jasmine notices how thin Judy is.

"I'm sorry Jude. What-what happened to you?"

By then, Bonnie and Stu have joined the sisters with Cotton close behind.

Ever the observant one, Cotton then asks "If that's my sister, who are the other kits?"

"If we can all take a seat" interrupts Nick "I'm sure that Judy 'll explain everything."

A couple of hours and hundreds of tears later, Judy finishes her tale.

"My gods Judy" says a still tearful Bonnie 'to think of what happened to you is just … beyond words."

"I don't know how you could stand it all." adds Jasmine.

"Having Nicholas there was a big help" Judy admits "he's so much like his father it's amazing."

"So the fox kit is Nick's then?" asks Stu.

"Fox/rabbit hybrid dad." corrects Judy "And yes, of course he's Nicks."

"And the bunnies?" asks Bonnie.

"They're … they-"

"They're mine as well" comments Nick, attempting to rescue Judy. "I'm adopting every one of them."

"That's not what I asked!" responds Bonnie a bit heatedly.

"Who's did you think they were mom?" responds a slightly angered Judy "Do you not remember what I had to do, what had been done to me for the past seven years?"

"Listen Judy-"

"No, you listen mom! This wasn't some vacation I was on … or some cruise! I was a sex slave mom! I'm quite frankly surprised that I only had Nicholas and the three small litters that you see here in all that time. You can either get over it and let it rest or-"

"That's enough, ok Fluff?" asks Nick softly as he intercedes, gently taking his bunny into his arms.

"This is why you asked us to come here instead of telling us over the phone?" asks Stu.

"This and the fact that most of the Tri-Burrow area would have most likely followed you here." admits Nick.

"You're right about that!" adds Jasmine. "Neither one of the folks would have been able to keep quiet about Judy's return no matter how many Bibles they swore on."

"Are they my sisters and brothers?" asks Cotton (Judy's sister) indicating the other kits in the room.

"No Cotton, they're your … nieces and nephews." corrects Judy.

"I'm an auntie?"

"That's right." confirms Nick. "Are you ok with that?"

"I … guess?"

"Would you like to know our kits names now?" Nick asks Bonnie and Stu, knowing that Jasmine and Cotton were more than likely ok with everything.

"Yes please…"

"First, that handsome young todd is Nicholas James Wilde. Then we have Marion Leigh Wilde, Thomas Allen Wilde, Samantha Janae Wilde, Calvin Jay Wilde and last but not least Cotton Angelina Wilde."

"How are you gonna tell me and your Cotton apart?" asks a confused Cotton (Hopps).

"What's your middle name sweetheart?"

"Lucille."

"Well, our Cotton's middle name is Angelina. So, whenever you two are around together, we'll just call you by your middle names ok?"

"I guess so."

"Or we can go with Cottonball and Angel!" adds Nick.

"And they all have your last name?" asks Stu.

"When I told you that I adopted them I meant every word of it." confirms Nick.

"Where are you going to live?" asks Jasmine.

"We'll be staying here until we can find a home of our own, hopefully somewhere in the Meadowlands district so the kits have enough to run around outside." Judy answers.

"And what are you going to use for money?" asks Bonnie, still not entirely accepting of the 'extra kits' thing for some reason.

"According to Bogo, we'll have my back-pay from all of the time I was missing." answers Judy.

"And money that I had left over from before I joined the force." adds Nick.

"I'd forgotten about that, thanks for reminding me Slick."

"You didn't think I'd let you blow all of your own money did ya Fluff? We're in this together, remember?"

"IF you had all of this extra money before, why on earth did you rent an apartment in the first place instead of buying something outright?" accuses a still hot Bonnie.

"If it's any of your business, we simply wanted to save Nick's extra money for emergencies and live within our means with our ZPD paychecks." fires back an increasingly irritated Judy. "And before you insinuate anything, I already knew about Nick's extra funds before we were married and I knew that it was all legal and wasn't dirty money. Nick never hid anything from me."

"Judy, I was just-"

"No mom, just stop. What's your problem anyway? I thought you'd be happy to see me, but I've pretty much gotten nothing but grief from you ever since you walked through the door."

"I-I guess I'd pretty much given up hope that you'd ever come back to us." answers Bonnie. "Then the shock of seeing all of your … kits, and you not knowing who their actual fathers were…"

"Did you really have so little faith in me? Really?"

"Well, with Nick being a fox, I didn't know if you'd be able to have kits of you own-"

"So, you thought I'd do … what?" interrupts Judy angrily once again "… just go away for seven years and cheat on Nick in order to have some kits? My gods mother…"

"Can we just take things down about a dozen notches or so?" pleads Jasmine.

"Yeah" chimes in Cotton "I wanna play with my other sisters and brothers."

"You're their auntie not one of their siblings, remember?" corrects Bonnie sharply.

"I don't care, I just wanna go play!" sasses the frustrated young doe.

"James, will you please take the rest of the kits in the other room and play? Evidentially the adults need to work a few things out." asks Nick, rubbing his snout in frustration.

"Sure thing dad … c'mon you guys…"

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"Nick, he's so much like you, you know" comments Jasmine as she watches the young todd take charge of the other kits.

"He really is" agrees Judy "Nicholas helped to keep me sane while I was … captive. The feel of his fur, his scent…"

Turning her attention back to her mother, Judy continues "I was going to tell Nick that I was pregnant when I got home the night I was taken. I had just found out earlier that day, which was why I worked late that night so I could catch up on paperwork. I delivered Nicholas just over seven months into my captivity. The feel of his fur and his scent was and is so close to Nicks that whenever I needed a spiritual lift, all I needed to do was cuddle with Nicholas for a bit and it helped keep me from going over the edge. After I was pregnant with my first 'other' litter while in captivity, Nicholas gave me hope. While Nick of all mammals should have been the one who misunderstood the most, he's been nothing but supportive, even going so far as to offer to adopt five kits that he knows aren't his. Which is a lot more than I can say about my own mother."

"Are you planning on going back to work after all of this Judy?" asks a by now thoroughly outed Bonnie wanting to change the subject.

"I plan on it yes, but if we can't find a viable sitter, I'll resign. Raising my … our kits will take top priority. Besides, what do you care?" asks Judy hotly "You and dad have been against my joining the force since before I was Cotton's age."

"Ok you two, that's just about enough." interrupts Jasmine for a second time. "Mom, if you can't for one second just be happy that Judy's back with us safe and sound, why don't you just go down and wait for the rest of us in the lobby. Dad, what's your take on all of this?"

"Well…" hesitates the buck nervously glancing quickly between the three does, not exactly sure what to do or say. On the one paw, he was happy to have his daughter back, but on the other paw he knew how miserable his wife could make his life in the long run.

"I guess that's as close as I'll get to an answer." interjects a disgusted Jasmin "Why don't you and mom both just leave. If you want to keep your crappy attitudes towards Judy, then just get in the car and go home. Cotton and I will catch a ride with Nick to the train station to get back to Bunnyburrow. I've got my own place so I don't have to deal with either of you on a daily basis. But … if I ever, and I mean ever find out that you've chastised Cotton in any way for today, I swear to all of the gods that I'll report you to Sheriff Leaps for kit abuse."

"And I'll call a cab to get you to our place and you can leave from there." adds Nick.

"Bah" snorts a thoroughly disgusted Bonnie addressing Judy. "I never wanted you to marry a pred to begin with. Then all of this? … come along Stu, we're leaving!"

Giving one final, sad look back, a thoroughly intimidated Stu follows his wife out of the room.

As her parents leave, a totally stunned Judy would have collapsed if Nick hadn't caught her.

…

"I-I-I can't … I can't believe it. Mom and dad just … left!" admits a thoroughly deflated Judy.

"And to think that all this time, when I called your parents mom and dad, your mom at least secretly couldn't stand me!" says an equally stunned Nick.

"I never in my life would have guessed that mom disliked you like that" admits Jasmine to Nick.

"And dad too?" asks Judy.

"Judes," begins Jasmine "I think that dad's ok with you, Nick and the kits, but he's gotta live with mom and he knows how miserable she can make his life if he doesn't go along with her. I'll talk to him later after all of this has died down a bit."

"But for her to be so openly hostile towards the kits … kits who've never done anything wrong …"

"Except to be conceived and born outside of our marriage." adds Nick.

"But it wasn't their fault!" decries Judy.

"It wasn't yours either Fluff, you know I'm not judging you right?"

"I know Nick, but … what are we gonna tell the kits?" asks a heartbroken Judy.

"Not the truth, that's for sure" firmly states Nick "at least not all of it and even then, definitely not until they're old enough to understand."

Seeing Judy and Jasmine's questioning glances, Nick continues. "At least for now we'll just tell the kits that their grandparents are angry with us for some reason. That part's true, we just won't tell them the rest of it."

"As much as I hate to admit it, I think that's probably for the best." agrees Jasmine.

"I suppose … but … it hurts!" admits a tearful Judy, totally devastated by the entire ordeal.

"I know Fluff, but we'll get through it like we have everything else. Together."

"I worry about the kits and how they'll handle all of this!"

"They're our kits, they can get through anything we can, we just need to be strong for them."

"Damn it Nick…"

…

With that, Jasmine goes and brings the kits in from the other room.

"Where are Gramma and Grampa?" asks the ever-observant Thomas.

Trying and failing miserably not to show a sad face, Judy tells the kits "I'm sorry kits, but Gramma and Grampa Hopps are upset with me and your dad. They left to go back home."

"Gramma doesn't like dad … or me … or any of the other kits does she?" asks Nicholas.

"Nicholas…?" begins Judy.

"I could tell by her smell when they first met us that she hates us all." continues the young todd "She smelled just like the mammals that would spend time with you. They only tolerated you, and us, because you had something that they wanted, but they never liked you, even a little."

Kneeling with tears in her eyes and taking her young son's paws in her own, Judy can't help but admit "Nicholas, you are truly your father's son."

"Gramma and Grampa don't like us?" asks a concerned Cotton Wilde.

"Their problem is with your mom and I" lies Nick, sending a concerned look his son's way "I think they'll come around eventually and realize what wonderful you kits all are."

"Really?" asks Marion.

"I'm sure of it!" answers Jasmine.

"Look" says Nick "It's getting a bit late, why don't you and Cotton get a bite to eat with us and spend the night? Tomorrow's Saturday so there's no school, and I think that Cotton might need to be away from the madness that's sure to be going on at the burrow."

"As much as I'd love to Nick, I think that we'd best be going back." admits Jasmine "Regardless of my threat, mom's gonna be on a tear and Cotton doesn't need to be made an example of by being caught in the middle of anything. I need to be around and get the facts put out to the fluffle because you know as well as I do that mom's gonna spin this to look like it's all yours or Judy's fault, including her unplanned kits."

"I'm sure that Roland will be missing a certain bun as well." smirks Nick.

"Roland?" asks Judy.

"Yeeeeaaaah, Roland Gleeson. We went to high school with him remember? About a year ago we started out as 'friends with benefits' and now we're pretty steady. I know he wants me to marry him, but he hasn't worked up the courage yet." admits Jasmine.

"But he's-"

"A Lynx, yeah I kinda already figured that part out Jude. And yeah, I recall how speciest I was back in middle school, but like a certain sister of mine I grew out of it."

"Will you at least stay long enough for an early supper?" asks Nick.

Looking at her younger sister Jasmine asks "What do ya think Cotton, ya wanna stay and eat with Judy, Nick and the kits?"

"YES PLEASE!" comes the answer from seven enthusiastic kits, including Nicholas.

…

Following a quick early dinner, tearful goodbyes were the order of the day,

"Gosh sis, it's been so good to see you" intones Jasmine "You look …"

"I know I'm not in great shape, terrible actually," politely interrupts Judy "but at least I'm home now. The kits and I are with someone who loves us, and thanks to Nick I'll be looking better the next time you see me, I promise."

"Nick's explaining about your unusual nutritional needs were a bit startling to say the least, but as long as you get better, I guess that's all that matters."

Watching the kits (including Nicholas) give each other tearful goodbyes and heartfelt hugs as Cotton follows Jasmine out of the room, Judy pauses for just a second to judge Nick's reaction to everything that's happened so far that day.

The wistful smile seems real, but there's something in his eyes …

Catching her fleeting glance, Nick winks and tells his wife softly "We'll discuss it in a bit, I promise."

Knowing that it can't be too serious, Judy smiles back.

"Ok."

After ordering a snack tray for the kits and themselves, Nick and his new brood (or would that be a mini-fluffle?) settle down to watch Floatzen on tv before hustling the kits off to bed.

After getting ready for bed, Nicholas and Thomas lead the rest of the kits for a brief discussion with their parents:

"Mom, dad" begins Nicholas "we've all talked it over and … we want to try to sleep on our own in the next room so we can give you two some private time together. We know you've been apart for years and would maybe like some alone time, and-"

Tearing up slightly, Judy presses a finger to her eldest's lips "James … are … are you sure?"

"We're all sure mom" says Thomas, stepping up and supporting his brother. "We'll be right next door, and if one or more of us can't handle not being next to you-"

"You're more than welcome to join us anytime." interrupts Nick. "While we're glad to get some time alone, you kits should never feel like you're not welcome to join us."

"See, I told ya!" blurts out Cotton.

"Angel, was this all your idea?" asks Nick.

"Angel?"

"Sweetie, your dad gives everyone a nickname, and I'll have to admit it fits." Says Judy.

"Will we all get nicknames?" asks Samantha.

"If you'd like" replies Nick "How's Sammy or Sam sound for you?"

"But it's a guy's name!" whines the tiny doe.

"We'll figure something out, ok?"

"How about using my new middle name?" she asks.

"You're sure about that?" asks Judy.

"Yeah, I really like Janae way better that Samantha anyway. Sorry mom!"

"It's Ok honey, really."

As the kits all file out to the spare bedroom, Nick has to ask "Are you sure you're ok with this?"

"Only one way to find out I guess." comes the answer.

After a few minutes, Judy asks "So…!"

"So?"

"The little grin you had as Jaz and Cotton were leaving … what was that about?"

"I was just thinking about how well Jaz, Cotton and our kits get along …"

"And?"

"And … I guess I was imagining how much fun our kits could be having-"

"If mom wasn't being such a pain in the butt?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Well, enough wishful thinking for now, I really need to get a good private cuddle session going with my favorite fox!"

"So, now I'm your favorite?"

"Always have been …"

…

With everyone in the Wilde family settling down for the night, there are other happenings at the Hopps burrow.

Just as she expected, Bonnie was waiting for Jasmine to drop Cotton off at the main burrow entrance.

"What took you so long?" comes the angry question.

"What the hell mom? We stayed long enough to get a bite to eat, Cotton was hungry and so was I."

"I don't want Cotton to be exposed to those … deviants any more than necessary."

"Deviants? What are you even talking about?"

"Judy and her predator husband, their mixed species kit and those bastard kits of hers…"

"That's just about enough. You act like Judy had a choice. Would you like to hear the rest of what she told me about those so called 'bastard' kits of hers?"

"No, I really don-"

"Too damned bad, I'm telling you anyway. Judy was stolen remember? Held against her will and subjected to all sorts of humiliating things."

"She could have tried to fight back!"

"She was pregnant mom, remember? You know as well as anyone how easy it is for a doe pregnant for the first time to lose a litter. She was afraid of losing her kit!"

"That would have been for the best if you ask me!"

"When did you become such a heartless bitch anyway mom?"

"Don't you dare-"

"What? Call you heartless? Or is it the bitch part you don't like? They both work for me"

"Listen here missy, I-"

"You what? You don't like Nick for some reason, why? Exactly what did he ever do to earn your hatred? What?"

"He took my baby girl and-"

"That's bullshit mom. You know as well as I do that that could never happen. Judy's always been too strong willed to ever let anything like that happen, even for a mammal like Nick. Hell, even I know that it took her over a year to get him to even date her, and at least another six months before he'd even kiss her."

"Well, then there's the matter of those … kits of hers."

"What part about the fact that she was basically raped for nearly seven years do you not understand? Judy told me that once Nicholas was born, her captors told her that if she resisted or tried to escape, they'd sell him off to the highest bidder. The same goes for the rest of her kits when they were born. What would you have done in that situation miss-high-and-mighty? What if someone took you captive and kept you as a sex slave for years, threatened to sell off or even kill your kits if you didn't do what you were told?

"And as far as Nick's concerned, why the pretense that you liked him all this time? What did he ever do to earn your hate? Did he ever hurt any of us? Act untoward to any of us? You hate him just because he's a predator? What mom? Damn it say something!"

"It's just wrong. Judy had no business dating let alone marrying a predator of any sort."

"Nick treated her better than any buck you and dad ever sent her way. He has never anything but kind to her. Judy was gone for almost seven years and Nick NEVER gave up looking for her and NEVER gave up hope of finding her. And what buck do you know of who would readily take in Judy's other kits like Nick has? And just so you know, I'm dating Roland Gleeson and have every intention of marrying him when he finally gets around to asking me!"

"WHAT?"

"And if you think that Judy and I are the only ones dating and marrying preds, you're sadly mistaken. There are at least a dozen or more of us dating preds, and there isn't a damned thing you can do about it. And before I leave, I want to remind you that if you dare to even think about punishing Cotton in any way for being friendly towards Nick, Judy or their kits, I won't hesitate for one second about turning you in to Kits Services for kit abuse. You know that I'll do it, so don't test me!"

With that, a thoroughly pissed-off Jasmine stomps off and leaves.

Turning to return to the burrow, Bonnie sees a disturbed Cotton standing in front of her, trembling and in tears.

"Momma?"

Letting out a long sigh, Bonnie calms herself somewhat and answers the young doe "Yes Cotton?"

"Why don't you like uncle Nick? And why don't you like Judy? And why-"

"That's enough Cotton. It's an adult thing, you wouldn't understand."

"I don't wanna live here anymore…" answers the tiny doe who then turns and exits into the kitchen.

Rubbing her paw over her face, Bonnie sits in one of the rockers to calm down a bit.

Soon, Stu exits the burrow in search of his wife.

"Bon?"

"Am I wrong about all of this Stu?" she matriarch asks somewhat quietly.

"Ummm-"

"Truthfully Stu, am I wrong? I know you must've heard most if not all of Jasmine's rant, I – I just-"

"Honestly? Yes, I think you're dead wrong about all of it Bon. To begin with, we now know for certain that Judy was indeed taken against her will and did what she had to do to protect herself and her kit … kits, all of them, just to survive. Jasmine was right when she said that Nick treated her better than any rabbit ever could have, and you know that he never ever gave up looking for her. Who else would do that? That was the whole point of him and Jasmine doing the talent show thing. You and I both saw how he acted around Judy's kits, all of them, knowing that most of them weren't his. I would venture to guess that he'll love Judy's other kits like I know that he loves his own son."

"So now what? If I'm wrong, did I screw up my relationship with my daughter? And if so, can I fix it?"

"If you ask me, you're the one who needs to figure out if you're wrong, I can't do that for you. But yes, I fursonally think that you screwed up your relationship with Judy and quite possibly a lot more of our kits, but I also think that it can be repaired. But the first thing you'll need to do is get over disliking Nick or there's no point in going any farther. Nick is Judy's life, and is as important as her kits to her, especially now that they're reunited. Judy can live without us but not without Nick and her kits."

"So, where do I go from here?"

"In my opinion I just gave you the answer. Figure out why you dislike Nick to start with and work past that. If you can't get over Nick, there's no use even trying to reconcile with Judy. Once you finally DO figure that out, talk to Judy face to face and have a real heart to heart. If you explain things to her I think she'll forgive you, I know I would. I know that finding out that she's still alive and how she came by her kits was a shock, but if you consider everything, I think our daughter handled everything as well as could be expected under the circumstances."

Standing, Stu kisses the top of Bonnie's head and reenters the burrow, leaving her alone to think. "G'night Bon."

Why does she dislike Nick? He's never threatened her or her kits and the kits almost all love him – it doesn't seem to matter to them that he's not a bunny. He's always there when the burrow needs help. Is it as simple as when Judy was clawed by Gideon all those years ago? And what's with Jasmine and gods know how many other of her kits dating and marrying predators?

A now fully confused and very concerned Bonnie Hopps heads to bed.