14 I'm Sorry Pt. II
~0~
As the morning sun peeks through their curtained window, Judy relishes waking in the strong yet gentle arms of her husband.
With the breaking dawn highlighting his russet fur, she's still amazed that he can so readily accept her back into his life, plus the fact that he has not only accepted his true son, but her other offspring as his own as well. This must be what true love is.
When his eyes begin to crack open and focus on here, Judy sees the ghost of a smile pass over his lips … and then slowly morph into … concern?
"Nick? What's wrong? And please don't say nothing."
Thinking for a long moment, trying to find the appropriate words, Nick finally answers:
"I-I can't help but wonder if we're moving a bit too fast" … Considering all that you've been through the past seven years, I wonder if you're umm …."
"Compensating? Trying to block out the bad with the good?" she asks, suddenly concerned that Nick might be having second thoughts, not only about the having made love to her, as well as taking her and her kits into his life.
"Something like that, I guess. Maybe. I-I really don't know how to ask. I guess I'm afraid that you'll melt down at some point and I really want to get ahead of that. Maybe I'm just being dumb, I just don't really know how t-"
Placing a finger on his lips, Judy quiets her worried mate.
"Shhhh, it's ok Nick, I understand, at least I think I do. Can we put this conversation off until after we talk to Froid? Maybe everything will be a bit clearer for you then."
"As long as you're sure, of course. Anything for you, you know that!" as he places a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Snuggling in just a bit closer, Judy hates to break the cuddle session, but "You know that we're gonna have to get up and get the kits moving pretty soon, right? Mom, dad and the rest will be here before we know it."
*SIGH* "You had to break the spell and remind me, didn't you?"
With a quiet giggle, Judy tries to mollify (placate) her mate "It's ok Nick, I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere that you don't want me to go. As long as you'll have me, I'll be right here beside you."
"Well, I guess it's forever then…"
…
After around 30 minutes or so, Nick and Judy hear a light tapping at the door separating them from the kits.
"Yes?" answers Judy.
"Are you and dad ..."
"Decent? Yes we are James, you may come in."
"What's up son?" asks Nick.
"Well, the rest of the kits and I are kinda out of clean clothes, and we really wanted something nice to wear when Gramma and Grampa and Cotton get here."
"The hotel already has the kit's sizes." remarks Judy to a suddenly concerned Nick "The agency provided all of us with new clothes when we first arrived. I'll call down and get you kits some fresh clothes, and James…"
"Yes mom?"
"Please at least try to get along with Gramma Hopps. She's going to be trying really hard to understand everything, so I'd really appreciate it if you'd at least be nice to her … for me?"
"Ok, I'll try … for you and dad…" reminding his mother that he still remembered that Bonnie had dissed Nick as well as him and the rest of the kits.
As James exits the room, Nick tells his mate: "And as luck would have it, I thought to bring a couple of your old outfits along when James and I stopped by the apartment." confides Nick.
"I guess I can call down to the gift shop and get more clothes for the kits-"
"While I get you one of your favorite outfits from my go-bag." finishes Nick.
…
While Judy calls to get clean clothes for the kits and have them delivered as soon as possible, Nick digs through his duffle to find several of Judy's old outfits, and one in particular.
When Judy hangs up the house phone and turns to find Nick, she's moved to tears when she sees what Nick brought.
"Nick….!"
Smiling, Nick paws his bride the same old pink flannel top and blue jeans that she was wearing that fateful day when she apologized to him under the old stone bridge.
"I-I thought you might like these?"
Throwing her arms around her mate, the bunny weeps uncontrollably.
"Fluff? Is-is everything ok? If I-"
"No Nick, it's ok, I promise … you big goof. How did you know … how … no, why did you keep that outfit around all this time? I thought I threw it away a long time ago!"
"You did, but it's always kinda been my favorite. It always reminded me of my country doe wife, and you always looked so damned sexy in it and all."
"Sexy? … in that of all things?"
"Well, yeah. Especially when you'd wear it and nothing underneath …" he admits, wiggling his eyebrows.
Showing a mild blush, she had to admit "I remember that you were always turned on quite easily when I dressed that way, I just never realized that it was this particular outfit that was your fave. Are you sure you want me to wear it, today of all days?"
"If you're uncomfortable in it, we'll find you something else to wear …"
"NO! No, I-I think this will do just fine. And … thank you." she remarks as she plants a tender kiss on his lips.
"Moooooom! Daaaaad!" comes from a slightly aghast Marion as the kits enter the bedroom.
"Eeeeeep!" was the reaction from Judy, while Nick simply snickered.
"Maybe we need to get those radar dishes checked Fluff." Nick ribs his wife.
"Stuff it Slick … and never mind with the smart remarks with the kits around…"
"Yes dear!" is his answer, with his smirk still firmly in place.
Rolling her eyes, Judy turns to her daughter "What is it Marion?"
"It's Leigh mom, remember?" comes the slightly annoyed reply.
"Fine then Leigh, (eye roll included at no extra charge) what is it?"
"Umm, Gramma, an' Grampa, Jasmine an' Cotton, an' somebunny that we don't know are here…"
"Oh! Ummm, thanks. Tell them we'll be out in a minute, ok?"
"Yes mom…" as the kit exits the room, giving her parents a quick side-eyed glance.
"And you can wipe that stupid grin off of your face while you're at it!" suggests Judy with mock seriousness.
"You mean this grin?" asks Nick points to his muzzle as his smirk actually gets larger.
"Nick please, this is going to be weird enough as it is."
"No problem Fluff. I know you're looking forward to making up with your mom, so I promise to behave … for now."
…
Drawing a deep breath, Judy steps into the bedroom that holds her kits and parents plus Jasmine, Cotton and … "Sasha?" **
Turning her attention to her parents, especially her mother, Judy is totally confused.
"Mom, dad …"
A nervously smiling Bonnie Hopps steps closer to her daughter: "Judy … honey, I … I hope you didn't mind me bringing Sasha along today. She was dead set on seeing her uncle Nick and his handsome son.
"I-I know that you might not want to talk to me, even after my apology last night, but … I … I had to take the chance. I'm ever so sorry about judging you, Nick and the kits like I did, and I don't know if I can ever make it up to any of you, but I thought that maybe by bringing Cotton and Sasha, and a few of your favorite pies, that it would at least show you that I'm really trying…"
Suddenly grabbing her mother into a tight, tearful hug, Judy instantly shows her mother that while the past might be difficult to forgive, she's willing to work at it as well.
"I-I-I love you mom, of course I'll forgive you." comes the soft reply through the tears and sobs.
As Bonnie turns hope filled eyes toward Nick, she's greeted with the open arms of the todd. "Same here Bonnie, welcome home."
After several minutes, Bonnie turns to the kits that stand tightly grouped behind a protective Nicholas.
"And you, young Nicholas-" begins Bonnie.
"James." Comes the todd's terse answer.
"P-pardon me?" replies a slightly shocked Bonnie.
"It-it's James if you don't mind…"
With Nicholas glancing at both his mother and Bonnie, he tempers his voice and clarifies his remark.
"It-it's James, Gramma, that way you're not getting me and dad mixed up … kinda like our two Cottons."
"It's ANGEL!" corrects his sister firmly, and he's equally taken to task by his cousin when she announces "And it's COTTONBALL to you, dumdum!"
"COTTON LUCILLE HOPPS!" says a horrified Bonnie, deathly afraid that the young doe has managed to undo the fragile truce that has taken her so long to put together.
The kicker is when Sasha (remember her?) gets in Cotton's (Hopps) face and tells her to "Leave James alone! I wanna have him for a boyfriend an' me an' him are gonna get married some day!"
While the two young does are locked in a battle of wills, the rest of the room freezes.
As the adults (plus Nicholas) trade astonished glances, Judy and Nick share a smile and then each suddenly let out short snorts and begin to giggle.
Seeing the shocked look on her mother's face, Judy can't help but begin to laugh out loud, with Nick joining in only seconds later.
"Looks like there's romance in the air." observes a highly amused Judy when she finally gets her laughter under control.
"Maybe she'll grow out of it?" suggests a hopeful Stu.
"I really hope not." admits Bonnie softly.
Seeing the again mildly shocked faces of not only Nick and Judy, but Stu as well, the elderly doe continues "If that's what it takes this family, especially me, to heal, then so be it. But gods help me, I'm not sure I can stand another WildeHopps pairing…"
Finally releasing the hug, Judy and Nick prepare to head to their appointment with Dr. Froid.
"Mom, I'm so glad the we could finally get together on good terms, but Nick and I really need to get going if we're going to make our appointment on time."
"I know sweetie, and … thank you for giving me this second chance."
"Just try and keep James and Sasha from-" begins Nick.
"NICK, don't even start…" scolds Judy.
Waving goodbye to the entire room, Nick and Judy head out for their dreaded talk with the psychiatrist.
…
AN: **Sasha Hopps was almost 2 when Judy was taken, so she'd be around 8 – 2 years older than Nicholas.
