25 Settling In

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Another longer chapter … enjoy.

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Once again, the ride through the countryside totally held the kits attention, especially Ty Lee's who had yet to really experience the wide-open spaces that were typical outside of Zootopia, or any city for that matter.

Pulling onto the drive that led to the house, Nick grins as he observes a large yellow bow fastened to one of the shop doors.

Seeing her todd's grin, Judy followes his line of sight to the shop door and wondered aloud "What in the world?"

Opening the doors of the vehicle and freeing all seven kits of their belts, a now smirking Nick remarks to his bun as he tosses her the remote that will open the overhead door "I wonder what could be behind door number three…?"

Rolling her eyes, Judy presses the 'open' button barely keeping her curiosity in check.

Upon seeing the contents, Judy can only gasp.

"Nick, what … what in the world?"

Sitting there in all its glory is a fully restored, poppy red '65 Shelby 2+2 Mustang fastback.

"I – I originally got it for you for our first anniversary. Finn's been keeping it stored for me, and I texted him a while back to have it brought out and put in the shop. I … I hope you OOOOFFF!"

"Damn you Nick…" was all the doe could choke out.

"I know Fluff, I know." Nick replies as he gently strokes his wife's ears.

As the kits follow Judy into the shop, the doe slowly opens the driver's side door and takes her place behind the steering wheel.

Making sure that no kit is immediately behind the vehicle, Judy's shaking paw twists the ignition key and fires up the 300-horsepower pony car.

After revving the engine a few times, then letting it idle for a few seconds, Judy switches the car off.

When the doe fails to emerge from the vehicle after a few minutes, Nick becomes slightly concerned and makes his way past the kits to the still open driver's side door.

With her paws tightly gripping the wood trimmed steering wheel, Judy still sits with tears streaming down her face.

"Fluff … Judy … are you okay?"

"I – I -I don't know Nick, I really don't. I need a few minutes to process this, okay?"

"Take your time, it's not going anywhere."

" ….. Wh-what did I ever do to deserve this, to deserve you?" finally asks the still shaking bunny.

"We've been over this before. You quite literally saved my life. You're the best mate a mammal could ask for, dream of even, a great mother and just an all 'round great mammal."

Slowly getting out of the classic car, Judy simply steps over to her husband and gathers him into a hug like he's never had before, even though he's had more than his fair share of Hopps hugs.

"Thank you, Nick. From the bottom of my heart … thank you." she murmurs softly into his ear.

"It's been my honor and my pleasure Fluff, more than you'll ever know."

Letting out a quiet giggle, Judy looks at seven kits who are all wondering why their mom is crying.

"I-I'm fine kits, I promise. Your father just got me to crying happy tears ... again! And before you say anything Nick, I already know … emotional bunny … deal with it!" as she wipes her tears (and nose) on his shirt.

"Ewww!" replies Nick, breaking the moment "Bunny snot!"

"NICK!" which draws a quick punch to the todd's shoulder and laughs and giggles from the kits.

After a brief family hug, the truck is unloaded and contents swiftly placed into their separate rooms – which, to the kits and Judy's surprise (but not Nick's) already had furniture in them. Bunk beds, dressers and desks in the girls' room (the adult's former bedroom) and the bucks' room, with Nicholas retaining his own (being the – almost - oldest) as well as the newly built and fully furnished downstairs master bedroom for the adults.

Heading into town, several clothing stores are gone into, then to a fairly large Wally-World to get a few odds and ends (like 'fursonal' items for the girls) as well as curtains and the like and to stock up on a ton of groceries.

Returning home, the next hour or so is taken up by having the kits put everything away and organizing their rooms, while Nick helps Judy stock the pantry and start supper.

While Judy's fried chicken wasn't exactly up to her usual standards from so long ago, it was still plenty edible and no one, especially Ty Lee, complained.

After helping to clear the table, the kits were all sent outside to play while Nick and Judy did the dishes (big deal – they put them in the dishwasher and turned it on).

With the dishes being more or less care taken of, the fox and bunny make their way to the back porch and sit on the swing, watching their odd assortment of kits running around and playing, with Ty Lee finally becoming at-ease enough to join in with no reservations.

Watching the kits simply run around and play while marveling at the fireflies, with no seeming worries in the world, a sense of calm settles over the adults.

"We did good Fluff." comments Nick.

"Do I know that? Yes, yes I do." admits the doe.

Suddenly "MOM, DAD LOOK!" comes from Leigh as she points towards the night sky.

As the adults turn their gazes skyward, several ribbons of multicolored bands of light light up the night sky.

"Wow" marvels Judy "It's been soooo long since I've seen those!"

"They're called the Northern Lights kits." supplies Nick. "Legend has it that when our ancestors died, they became part of the universe and when the lights are in the night sky, they show up to watch over us and protect us."

"Like – like my mom?" asks Ty Lee as she starts to tear up.

"Of course sweetie." says Judy, trying to console the young vixen. "I'm sure that she's up there right now, looking down on you, on all of us. Nick and I can never truly replace your mother, but hopefully we can raise you to be the sweet, kind vixen that she would be proud of…"

Holding up one shaking paw towards the lights, Ty Lee can only choke out "M-mom …. I-I'm here mom. I-I miss you…."

Taking the tearful kit into a tight hug, Nicholas comforts her while the rest of the kits slowly gather around to offer their support for their new sister.

By the time the lights finally begin to play out, seven very tired and extremely dirty kits are sent in the house to get cleaned up.

With Judy supervising the girls and Nick the boys, seven kits are actually glad to finally be clean and climb into bed … their own beds … and go to sleep.

"So…" begins Nick.

"Yes?"

"I guess tomorrow we'll need to head to the Tri-Burrow sheriff's office and submit a couple of applications…"

"Yeah, I guess."

"You're not having second thoughts about moving, are you?" he asks.

"Sure I'll miss the gang at Precinct 1, but … no, no regrets. We've got each other and we've got our family. I'm happy with that."

Pulling his wife close into a good spooning position with him being the large spoon, Nick agrees "Same here Fluff, same here." as the couple slowly drifts off to sleep.

…

As the morning sun peeks into their bedroom window, Nick and Judy are woken by the sound of multiple kits pounding down the stairs.

As the kits burst into the bedroom, the couple thanks their lucky stars that they both are at least in their night clothes ... for a change

"MOM - DAD … THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG OUTSIDE … COME QUICK!" comes from a panicked Nicholas with the rest of the kits close behind.

Wondering what could have possible have set the kits off in a total panic, Nick draws the east facing curtains aside and stares at … fog. A very dense fog has completely enveloped the house, limiting visibility to a mere few feet.

Letting out a soft chuckle, Judy simply tells the kits "It's nothing but fog kits …

Knowing that none of the kits have ever experienced fog before, Judy explains "It's … it's kind of like low flying clouds? It's harmless, I promise."

Seeing the tiniest bit of doubt in the kits eyes, Nick intervenes: "Everyone get dressed as quick as you can in yesterday's clothes. We'll all go out and I'll show you…"

As Judy changes out of her sweats into some jeans and t-shirt, she's suddenly overwhelmed … the kits are all so amazed at so many little things that she had taken for granted when she grew up – rain, snow, the moon, the stars, fireflies, the light show last night and finally and the fog this morning. How will they react to the upcoming holidays, family get togethers, BIRTHDAYS! Birthday parties and coming of age parties and proms ... dating…

Suddenly, Nick breaks her train of thought "You ok there, Fluff?"

"Yea, I – sorta?"

"Wanna talk about it?"

After a couple of calming breaths, Judy tells Nick of her sudden revelation and concerns.

"It'll be ok sweetheart, we're both gonna be right here to help them through it all. Plus, we've got your folks and siblings to help. Everything'll work out fine. C'mon outside and get wet like the rest of us. The fog's got everything damp, and I'm not gonna let you miss out on that!"

"Nick … Nick, don't you dare -"

Was as far as the doe got before Nick hoisted her over his shoulder and headed outside.

As he was running through the wet grass with a protesting doe over his shoulder, Nick accidentally(?) stumbled? Tripped? And down the two of them went, getting absolutely soaked rolling around in the wet grass.

When Judy tries to stand, she's held down in the grass by her husband who was laughing hysterically.

Her short burst of misplaced anger was quickly squelched by seven equally drenched kits who were also rolling around in the wet grass, laughing at their equally soaked parents.

Realizing that Nick's entire stunt was to not only help break her out of her self-induced funk, but to give the kits something to laugh at as well, she quickly joined in the laughter.

After sending the kits back into the house to get dried off and cleaned up while they did the same, a healthy breakfast of eggs, hash browns, turkey sausage (Cotton wanted bacon but was promised that maybe tomorrow they'd have some), toast and fresh fruit and juice was fixed and quickly consumed.

…

Finally loading up and heading out, Nick and Judy set their sights on Deerbrook, which is the actual county seat of the entire Tri-Burrows area, which includes Podunk and Bunnyburrow as well as Aurora.

As the entire family invades the sheriff's office, the sheriff himself greets Judy and family.

"As ah live and breathe, if it ain't 'lil Judy Hopps herself." spouts the seemingly overweight rabbit (he's actually a Silver Fox Rabbit).

"Sheriff Justice," coolly acknowledges the doe "you know very well I'm a Wilde now, have been for nearly eight years."

"Well, ah guess ah kinda fergot, whut with you bein' gone fer so long an' all."

"I know better sheriff. You aren't still mad because I married Nick instead of that son of yours, are you?"

"Naw, ah got over that a long time ago. It's pro'ly a good thing too. Junior's a mite touched in the head don't cha' know." admits the large lagomorph.

"You talkin' 'bout me agin' daddy?" comes from the back room.

"Shut yer yap boy!" loudly instructs the large buck.

Turning his attention back to Judy and her brood, the sheriff continues "See whut ah mean? Anyways, what kin ah do fer y'all t'day?"

"Actually" begins Judy, "Nick and I were thinking about applying for positions in the county sheriff's department."

"Really?" asks the huge buck.

"Yes, really" admits Nick. "Myself as soon as the beginning as the first of next month, with Judy starting after the kits are all in school."

"Kits? Y'all have kits? All these kits is yers?"

"It's a bit of a story as I'm sure you already know." admits a slightly put-off Judy. Turning to Nick "Nick, please take the kits down the street to the mini-mall and look around for a bit please. I'll send you a text when the sheriff and I have finished."

Seeing the concerned look that the todd is giving her, Judy quickly touches his arm and adds "I'll be fine … I think. If not, you won't be that far away."

Nick finally concedes to Judy's request and gathers the kits and heads down the street.

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Making sure that Nick and the kits are headed down the street and well out of earshot, Judy turns to sheriff Justice "Listen here Justice, I know you said that there's no hard feelings, but your tone and body language say otherwise. Now, spill!"

"Straight ta the point ah see, jest like always." answers the huge buck "Okay, here it is … sure ah was hopin' that you'd take up with that dimwit son a' mine so ah'd at least have a few halfways intelligent grandkits. Junior's 43 and no respectable doe in her right mind 'll give him the time of day, so sure ah'm a bit miffed. Then here ya come, waltzin' in here with a damned fox of all mammals as a mate and a passel of mixed species kits trailin' behind ya lookin' fer a job. No way in hell is that gonna happen. Ah've got half a mind ta-"

"Oh, I believe the half a mind part!" interrupts Judy as she pulls out her trusty carrot recording pen, shaking it at the suddenly quiet buck "but here's the thing … you've been sheriff around here for as long as I can remember. All prey mammals for deputies, with no predators at all on the roster. All it would take to have you ousted and probably locked up for being totally anti-predator and speciest to boot, would be to play this little gem back to the ZIA!"

"Then here ya come, waltzin' in here with a damned fox of all mammals as a mate and a passel of mixed species kits trailin' behind ya lookin' fer a job. No way in hell is that gonna happen." suddenly fills the office as Judy hits the playback button.

Giving the astonished buck a Nick worthy smirk, Judy lowers the boom on the sheriff.

"Thank you sheriff, for that glowing testimonial on your speciest attitude, I'm sure Special Agent Winters would know how to use this. Now listen up you fat fuck," begins a now thoroughly angry Judy "I spent almost seven years of my life as a sex slave being forcibly raped multiple times daily by speciest pieces of shit just like you. The young fox todd is mine and Nick's biological son, all of the bunny kits were a product of some of those rapes, and that doesn't count the many kits that I lost for one reason or another. The young vixen is an orphan that Nick and I together adopted out of the goodness of our hearts because no one else wanted her."

As Judy steps closer with slitted eyes and ears laid flat against her back, the totally intimidated buck that's easily three times her size and weight steadily backpedals until he comes in contact with a wall. "If you think that I'm intimidated by any threat you might level against myself or my husband, you are dead wrong."

As she pokes the sheriff in the chest with a blunt claw, Judy continues her rant. "So, here's what's going to happen unless you actually want me to turn this recording over to the ZIA … you're going to hire Nick as your lead deputy. Then you're going to retire. And if you even look at any member of my family sideways, I'll have you arrested and thrown so far into prison that they'll have to send you sunshine in a box. Do. You. Understand. Me?"

Knowing that Judy is dead serious and that she more than likely has the power to do exactly as she says, the rabbit simple nods.

"Not good enough!" states the doe forcefully, holding up her recording pen "Say it - out loud. Say that you understand!"

"Ah - ah un'erstand."

"Good. Now, I'm going to fill out a job application and leave the date blank. Then I'm going to find my husband and send him in here to do the same. You're going to accept his application, perform the usual required background check and hire him."

"Ya - ya know thaet thet's blackmail, right?" asks the still stunned buck.

"Ask me if I care. Ask me what'll happen if you tell anyone about our little conversation. Go ahead … ask!"

"Ah-ah'll take a hard pass on thet."

"That's what I thought."

After taking enough time to properly fill out an application for a county deputy position, Judy leaves the sheriff's office, stopping briefly at the door to shake her pen at the poor buck, who is barely short of having a heart attack.

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EARLIER, AFTER NICK AND THE KITS EXIT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Several minutes after Nick and kits enter the mall entrance, they're surprised to encounter Bonnie, Stu and their four newest kits.

"Well," begins Bonnie wearing a large smile "look who we have here! What are you in town for and where's Judy?"

"We came in to get me a position at the sheriff's department, Judy's still there speaking with … what's his name."

"Sheriff Justice? That old fart?" begins Stu.

"Yeah, him. Anyway, what are you all doing here?" asks Nick.

"We actually came to get Jessica, Roger and Eugene signed up for the next school year. It's too late to get them in this year's first grade class, but we figured that since we have the time, we might as well get ready for next year. New clothes and what-not." Bonnie tells her son-in-law.

"SCHOOL!" states a somewhat stunned Nick "Dam-aaang," as he suddenly remembers that there are a LOT of young kits nearby "I forgot that James and Ty Lee are going to need to go to school next year, and I'll bet Judy spaced it out as well!"

"Spaced out what dear?" comes from directly behind Nick, somewhat startling the todd.

"Dang Fluff!… Scare a mammal to death why don't ya?" says a mildly startled Nick as he jumps about a foot in the air, mostly for the kits benefit, who all giggle at his antics.

"Relax you big goofball." says the doe as she plants a soft kiss on her husband's cheek "Anyway, I'll take care of things here while you go put in your official application with the sheriff."

"Fine." When he returns the kiss, Nick gets a 'I'll tell you about it later' look' from Judy. "I'll be back in a jiffy."

As Nick leaves for the sheriff's office, Judy turns to her parents "I heard what you guys were talking about. I'll just give Agent Winters a quick text to let her know which school that James and Ty Lee will be attending and have her fax all of their records to the school district as a copy to Nick and I. Nick and I can stop by in a few days and sign the paperwork."

…

Returning from the trip to the sheriff's office, Nick is greeted by a smirking Judy.

"That didn't take long." she comments.

"I wonder why…"

Seeing that their kits are busy talking to their new kin, Judy gives Nick the condensed version of her visit.

"I simply called Justice out on his speciest bullshit and recorded him on my pen. Easy peasy."

"Sly bunny…" smirks Nick.

"Dumb rabbit!" counters Judy.

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AN: Thanks to dracotwo for the suggestion to have Nick (and eventually Judy) to get jobs out of Zootopia. I kinda had that in mind to begin with, but it was simply reinforced by the suggestion, along with another short bit in an upcoming chapter.