10 Judy's Finally Home

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AN: Ok folks, I've had a few readers comment on how unrealistic it is that Judy has so quickly integrated back into society, and rightfully so. I explained before on how there is little to no helpful information on the interwebs in dealing with the subject at paw. In reality, Judy would be totally withdrawn even from loved ones who are desperately trying to help her. Support groups and shrinks do little to no good either, and Judy would be more likely to commit suicide than to lead a fairly productive life afterwards.

PLEASE remember that this is a work of fiction and for the most part, authors want for things to work out in the end. The story is only meant to raise awareness toward the very real epidemic of abduction of anyone who might fit a particular need for sick and demented minds. Victims are young or old, male or female, fat or skinny, short or tall. Skin (or in this case fur) color or ethnicity matter little to the bad guys either.

This note is posted on both sites that I post to, and will be included on the intro on AO3 as well.

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Leaving the City Center, Nick and Judy return to their car.

"So, back to the motel?" inquires Nick.

Not receiving an answer, he quickly looks over and notices Judy beginning to shake a bit, trying to fight back tears'

"Fluff?"

"I-I'm sorry Nick, I-I just…"

"C'mere" he requests, taking his freshly traumatized wife into his arms.

"I-I-I …" she begins "when Savage touched me and kissed me it was like … like I was a captive all over again!"

"Hopefully the Agency will make an example of him and he'll never bother anyone again. So, where to now?"

"I don't care … if nothing else just drive around for a bit, I really need to calm down before we go back. I don't want to upset the kits."

With a sly smile that quickly turns into a patented Wilde smirk, all Nick can say is "Yes ma'am. How about you use my phone to call Jasmine and let her know that we'll be a bit late so she and the kits don't start worrying about us! I'll unlock it and dial Jasmine's MuzzleTime number, all you have to do is talk and then hang up. We'll set up your contact list when we get a few spare minutes, ok?"

"That's actually a good idea, thanks Nick."

Taking Nick's phone after he dial's Jasmine, Judy has a few brief words with her sister.

When Jasmine answers:

"Hey Nic-Judy?"

"Hey Jaz. Nick and I are going to be a bit late. Things got … heated with agent Savage, so I've asked Nick to drive at least around for a little while so I can calm down a bit before we head back."

"Will you be long? It really doesn't matter to me since the kits are having fun, but in case someone asks it'd be nice to know."

"No idea really. I'll call or text when we're ready to head back, ok?"

"Sounds good. It's really great having you back Judes Give my brother-in-law my best…"

"I can do that. See you in a bit, bye."

…

As the city passes by, Judy stares out of the passenger window, looking but not really seeing anything.

When the car finally stops, Judy forces herself to take stock of her surroundings.

There, directly in her line of sight is the back end of a familiar rusty orange van.

"Nick?"

"What say we stop and visit an old friend?"

Walking around the car and helping Judy out, Nick leads her to the back of the van.

Pounding on one of the doors, Nick steps back and waits.

Suddenly the door pops open and once again an angry fennec fox glares at the offending mammals, baseball bat in paw.

"Who da hell … bunny cop?" as he suddenly focuses on his long-lost friend.

"He-hey Finn."

"I told you she was back, remember?" says Nick to remind Finn that he and Nicholas had stopped by earlier.

"Ya brought yer kit by, but I din't figger you'd bring bunny cop by so soon."

"We were out taking care of some … important business and Fluff here didn't feel like heading back to the hotel just yet. I didn't think you'd mind seeing her again."

"A'course not! Hopps ya …ummm-" he stammers, trying to find the right words but not be condescending.

"I look terrible, I know Finn, but I'm getting better."

"Ummm …. Ya know we was all worried about ya, right? Is there anythin' I can help wit'?"

"I don't think so, at least for now. Stop by sometime and I'll tell you about it ok?" suggests Judy "We're kinda house hunting right now, but we'll let you know when we find a place."

"Yeah, I guess dat'll work."

Stepping forward, the tiny fox unexpectedly gives Judy a tight hug.

"Take care of yerself Hopps." says the usually gruff fox softly.

"Finn, you know I'm a Wilde now, right? I have been for years."

"Yeah, and?"

Stepping back just a little, Judy pats Finn on one cheek "Good to see you again Finn."

"You too Hopps. Now git lost."

…

Waving goodbye to Finn, Nick and Judy climb back into the car and Nick sets his sights on another destination.

After about ten minutes, Nick pulls over to the curb again, and Judy's eyes begin to tear up once again.

"Nick … this … we … I …"

"I know Fluff, I know. How about some ice cream?"

Exiting the vehicle, Nick leads his bunny into Jumbeaux's Ice Cream Palace.

"Wilde?" inquires the pachyderm behind the counter.

"Hey Jerry, how goes it?" answers Nick.

"Hi Jerry." says Judy, waving a bit timidly.

"Is this…"

"Yeah Jerry, it's really me." confirms Judy.

"It's really good to see ya again Mrs. Wilde."

"Jerry, I keep telling you it's Judy …"

Seeing a certain look come over Judy's face, Nick whispers "It's ok Fluff … just breathe."

Sensing something being a bit off, Jerry simply defuses the situation admitting "Now, you know I'm always respectful of my customers, so it's still Mrs. Wilde. Ok?"

Giving a bit of apologetic smile, Judy allows the moment to pass "Ok Jerry, I understand. Thanks."

With the moment past, Nick requests "So, how about a medium scoop of that blueberry/strawberry swirl ice cream that I know you have in there?"

"Comin' right up. Grab a booth and I'll bring it right over."

…

After enjoying the ice cream break, it's back in the car and down the road.

"Nick…"

"Hmmm?"

"Thank you. This little trip down memory lane really helps."

"One more stop if you're up to it."

"Where …?"

"We're almost there…"

Pulling up in front of their old apartment building, Nick observes different emotions crossing Judy's face. Joy, sadness, anticipation, fear…

"We don't have to go up if you don't want to."

"It's … it's ok, … I think."

Exiting the vehicle, Nick holds Judy's paw as they enter the building and make their way to the elevator.

Exiting the elevator on the third floor, the pair take the short trip down the hall to apartment 304.

"Are you sure Fluff?" asks a still concerned Nick.

"Ye-yeah. I've got to do this Nick … open the door."

Unlocking the door, Nick slowly opens it and reaches around the corner and turns on the lights.

Taking a moment to take in the living room that she last saw almost seven years ago, Judy takes a deep breath and steps into the apartment.

Giving the room a slow look around, Judy remarks "Nothing's changed! It's still the same."

"I-I couldn't stand to change anything." admits Nick. "I wanted it to be the same for you when you came back."

"I understand, and thank you."

Taking her time walking around the now mostly unoccupied apartment, Judy finally comes to the bedroom.

"Fluff … are you going to be ok?" asks Nick, worried about her state of mind after everything she'd been through for the past almost seven years.

Taking a deep breath but saying nothing, Judy takes a single cautious step inside.

Doing a slow sweep with her eyes, the doe makes a comment that almost startles her "It … it's like I never left."

Not knowing what to say, Nick is silent.

As she moves closer to the bed … their bed … Judy notices … something.

"Nick, why is there a plastic bag over this pillow?"

"That-that's your old pillow. I put it in the bag to keep your scent. That and your old clothes were all I had for years. It-it helped me to sleep a lot of nights. That and the voicemail you left me on the night you disappeared."

Taking his cell phone out, Nick played the voicemail for Judy, the one that he'd played hundreds of times over the course of the past seven years:

"Hey Slick. Just finished the last of my paperwork and I'll be headed out the door in a minute or two. I should be home in about a half hour or so, and I have some exciting news to tell you so drag out that last bottle of bubbly that we saved from the wedding. You know, the one that I hate so much. See you soon, love you… bye!"

"Your pillow and this voicemail helped keep me sane for the last seven years. Every waking moment and most sleeping ones were dedicated to finding you, alive or … anyways-"

Pressing a finger to his lips, Judy stops Nick's confession "It's ok Nick, I'm here now. I'm alive and … on my way to being well."

Seeing her mate begin to tear up Judy asks "What Nick?"

"I … it's … it's all my fault!" comes the guilt laden answer.

"What are you talking about? What's your fault?" asks an astonished Judy.

"You being taken, all of the terrible things that happened to you. It's all my fault!"

"How on earth is any of that your fault?" she asks.

"You're my mate. It was my job to protect you and look what happened!" comes the passionate answer.

"Nick, there's no way you could've known, no way for you to be by my side every minute of every day. Besides, as I was being thrown into the getaway van, I overheard one of my abductors say that if you'd have been there, they would have killed you. They had planned this from the beginning. Watching my movements, timing everything, just waiting for me to be alone. Yes Nick, I was targeted. They specifically wanted the famous bunny cop of Zootopia. As bad as things were, in the end you helped rescue me and I still have you in my life."

"Still…"

"Still nothing!" comes the heated reply "There's literally nothing you could have done that night that would have changed anything, except for you being dead and my never having a chance at being rescued. Accept it Nick, please." counters Judy with a bit of attitude showing.

Seeing that Nick was still unaccepting of the fact that nothing would have changed, and how deep his guilt of his inability to prevent her abduction was buried, Judy decides to take a different approach. An approach that will unknowingly help her to mend her own spirit.

"Nick … do you still have that bottle of champagne that we were going to have that night?"

Gaining a thoughtful expression, Nick admits "Yeah, it's still in the closet above your wedding gown. Why?"

"Get it down and open it please. We can't really celebrate my being pregnant seven years after the fact, but we can celebrate my return home."

"You're sure about this? I mean, you never drank a lot before, and after being without for seven years and all-"

"Just get the champagne please. I'm a grown doe and I'm alone with my mate, what's the worst that could happen?"

"You're serious?"

"Yes Nick I'm serious. Go on, get the damned booze, I'll be waiting in the kitchen with some glasses."

While Nick gets the leftover bottle of champagne, Judy goes into the kitchen and looks through the cupboards to where the flutes were stored after their wedding and gets down two, one for each of them.

Returning to the kitchen, Nick opens the champagne and pours each flute half full.

"I'd like to offer a toast" begins Judy, lifting her glass "To my safe return and to the best mate a doe could ever ask for."

After they each take a sip, Nick offers a counter toast. "To the more or less safe return of my beloved wife, and to a happy life for all of us in the coming years."

After they each drained their glass, Judy holds out hers for more "Refill please."

"Fluff? Are you sure? You've always been a bit of a lightweight when it comes to drinking."

"What are you afraid of Nick?"

"You always got awfully horney when we were drinking before…"

"Yeah, and?"

"After what you've gone through for the past however long, are you sure you want to go down this road?"

A fed-up Judy grabs Nick's tie pulling him down to her eyelevel and responds "What I want, no NEED, is for my husband to stop mollycoddling me and start treating me like his mate again. What happened to me after I was taken was just sex. Mindless, brain and body numbing sex, with no emotion behind any of it. I want my husband, my mate, to treat me like he did before all of this crap happened to me. I want you to love me Nick. I want you to make love to me like you did before. I'm so sick of this damned pussyfooting around, of your being afraid to do or say anything for fear of upsetting me that I could scream…."

Standing in shock at Judy's outburst, all Nick could do was wait for his mind to catch up to the situation.

Finally grasping the fact that Judy was serious and actually wanted … and needed him to make love to her, the only thing he could offer for a response was "Protection?"

"What? Are you afraid of knocking me up again Nick? Really?"

"I … ummm … no?"

"Good answer, because right now I really could care less. If it happens, it happens. We can have bookend kits, with ours on each end and mine in the middle."

"You mean hybrids on the ends and bunnies in the middle, right? I already told you that I accept the bunnies as being my kits and I meant every word of it."

"Whatever…" and reaching across the table, Judy again grabs Nick's tie and pulls him into a very passionate kiss.

Momentarily breaking the kiss "Bedroom, now!" she demands, just before she reestablishes the lip lock.

Reaching across the table himself, Nick grabs his bunny with both paws on her butt cheeks and carries her to the bedroom, where they take turns removing each other's clothes just like before she was taken, never breaking the kiss.

As they join each other in the bed, Judy makes one final statement: "And just so you know, you can call me Judy again…"

As understanding penetrates his mind as to what Judy is referring to, a broad smile takes over Nick's face.

"Welcome home, Judith Laverne Wilde." he whispers quietly.

"Nick, I just told you, it's Jud-" was all she got out before being smothered with yet another passionate kiss.