27Tying Up Loose Ends
~0~
As the entire Wilde family enters the old-time diner, an elderly red fox vixen greets them.
"Help yourselves to a seat y'all, I'll be with ya in a-"
CRASH!
As the stack of dishes she was carrying suddenly hits the floor.
After gawking for a few more seconds, the vixen's mind finally kicks into gear: "MEL! MEL! GIT OUT HERE … NOW!"
"What in tarnation's got yer fur fluffed woma-" comes from the undersized brown bear until he notices the newest customers.
"N-Nick … and Judy? Judy, is-is it really you?" comes from the vixen as she reaches out to gently touch the doe's cheek.
"H-hey Alice … Mel … yeah, it's me… could you ummm, ease up a bit on the hug please…" asks Judy as Alice takes the small doe into a bone crushing hug.
"Sorry – sorry, I'm – I'm just so glad to see you … after all this time." apologizes the vixen.
It's all right, really. I'm just not quite back to my usual self yet, but I'm getting there."
"And these kits … are they all yours?" asks an astonished Mel.
Seeking a distraction for the kits, Nick asks "Would you by any chance, still have those colors and coloring books that you used to have for kits to keep them occupied?"
Quickly catching the hint, Alice comments "Ah course hun, ah'll be right back."
"And I think it's about time ta close fer the day…" adds Mel, since it was actually getting a bit late and there were no other customers in the café.
"And since we just happen to have some of both versions of our hash brown casserole left, I'll just bring some of the sausage version out for Nick and the predator kits and -" begins Alice.
"Actually, you can bring plenty for all of us, the bunny kits and I can all eat meat too…" comments Judy which stops both Mel and Alice in their tracks.
"Say whut?" says the vixen in a mild state of shock.
"I'll … I'll explain after we get the kits occupied…" admits the doe.
After bringing out generous portions of Mel's signature casserole for all and setting each of the kits up with a coloring book and a fresh box of crayons, Judy gives their old friends a condensed version of her absence for the past seven years, and her life since her return, intentionally leaving out the part that Jack Savage played.
"My gods!" declares Mel, while Alice can only stare open mouthed at the small doe "I'll never understand how you managed to put up with all of that. I know that I sure as hell never could have."
"It was tough in the beginning" admits Judy, "but once Nicholas was born, I had him to help me. He smelled so much like is father that it was almost like Nick was right there with me. Then the threat of them taking all of the kits kept me hanging on."
"The fact that you could actually conceive a kit from Nick is amazing in its self!" comments a flabbergasted Alice.
"Plus the fact that the kits, all of them, can eat meat…" remarks a still stunned Mel.
"But the most amazing thing to me" freely admits a demur Judy "is that Nick, of all mammals, so readily wanted, volunteered actually, to adopt the bunny kits - all of them, even though he knows the circumstances of their conception. What other mammal would do that?"
"Like I've told you before Fluff" inputs the previously silent Nick, who takes the doe into his lap and hugs her close "they're part of you! How could I not love them as much as I love you?"
As the four adults simply sit and enjoy a few brief moments of quiet, with Mel and Alice still trying to wrap their heads around what their old friend had revealed, Cotton pads over to tug on Nick's pant leg.
"Daddy, look …"
As all eyes turn towards the diminutive kit, Nick simply leans over and picks up his youngest and places her in his mates lap.
Undeterred, Cotton lays a piece of coloring book page on the table in front of the adults.
The formerly blank page shows a very well drawn depiction of the entire Wilde family.
"Tylee drawed it 'an I gots to color it!" brags the tiny doe, as she unknowingly runs her oldest sister's name together.
As the adults looked over at the booth where several of the kits sat, the young vixen was unsure of their reaction.
"This is beautiful!" praises Judy, with Nick nodding in agreement. "Where did you ever learn to draw like that?"
"Mom … mom taught me…" comes the shy answer.
"Well, you seem to have quite the natural talent" adds Nick "I guess we'll need to stop by an art supply store tomorrow on the way home and get you some stuff, if you'd really like to continue with your art."
"Really?" asks a stunned Ty Lee "you'd do that for me?"
"Of course" agrees Judy "you have a great natural talent, and it would be a shame to ignore it or let it go to waste."
"This will go front and center on the fridge back home until we can get it framed. Then we can put it up in the living room for everyone to see and admire." continues Nick.
"And you and any of your siblings that want to draw or color or whatever can get some supplies as well." finishes Judy.
"Well," begins Nick "as much fun as it's been catching up, let me pay our bill. We need to get to the Palms and get some rest, big day tomorrow. First to Precinct 1 to turn in our resignations and visit with our old co-workers then to an art supply store and finally the trip home."
"And a wedding to plan once we get there." adds Judy.
"Bill? What bill?" asks the smallish bear. If y'all hadn't showed up I'd 've most likely had ta throw that casserole out, so ya did me a favor. Go on, got otta here a'fore I change my mind…"
As hugs were exchanged and tears were shed, the Wildes departed the small café and headed to their rooms at the Palms for the evening.
With full bellies it was easy to get the kits to go to bed and every single one was asleep as soon as their heads hit their respective pillows.
Even the adults managed to say goodnight and fall asleep rather quickly.
…
Rising with the sun, Nick and Judy manage to get seven kits up, showered and down to the hotel cafeteria for some breakfast. Since Cotton had been more or less promised bacon, Nick made sure that the diminutive doe managed to get plenty without ruining the rest of her breakfast.
Plenty of sausage, eggs, toast, fruit and salad and fruit (and yes bacon) were partaken of by the various kits and adults, however Nicholas had to ask why they were starting out so early.
"Well" begins Nick "we need to stop by our old apartment and pick up some of our old police gear to turn in when we get to the precinct."
A few minutes later as the family was loading into their truck, Nick noticed that his wife was a bit spaced out. Deciding to wait and give her a bit of time to sort things out, he didn't ask about it.
…
Arriving at their old apartment, Nick opens the door and escorts the rest of the family inside.
"Look around and try not to break anything." the todd tells the kits, mostly tongue-in-cheek because he knows the kits are very curious and for the most part well behaved.
As the adults begin packing their old uniforms and gear, Nick notices Judy tenderly holding her back-up stab-proof breastplate. As the doe continues to stare at the item, a few tears rim her eyes while she runs a forepaw slowly over the space that would normally be occupied by her badge and nameplate.
"They wore them all the time to mock me…" she shakily comments, referencing the two items. "I worked so hard for so long to earn both, and they all they could do was make fun of my efforts…" as the tears begin to roll down her cheeks.
Thinking about the items, Nick knows that simply replacing them is out of the question. Judy's nameplate had a slight scratch on it from an impromptu 'make out session' one afternoon shortly after their honeymoon – and he still hadn't figured out how her bra ended up hooked on one of the blades of the kitchen ceiling fan. And her badge, it had a small gouge on one side as a result of taking down a particularly hostile wildebeest, all over a simple speeding ticket.
Taking his doe into his arms from behind, Nick consoles the tearful doe. "I know they meant a lot to you Judy, and I would never downplay what they mean to you, but they're just things, and things can be replaced. You and the kits … you're all irreplaceable."
"I know, but still…"
Turning Judy around and embracing the still mentally fragile doe into his arms in a passionate hug, nothing more was said, but the meaning … unspoken consolation and understanding … was there.
"If you want" continues Nick softly "I'll finish up in here, while you grab some of the other stuff from the kitchen and living room. You know, pictures and the like."
"Thank you Nick … I love you, you know that, right?"
"From the bottom of my heart, yes, yes I do. Now, go on … I know you can get the kits to help you…"
Knowing that there's nothing he could do to find Judy's old gear, and also knowing that replacing the items would never truly be acceptable, Nick finishes packing all of their old ZPD items into a single large duffle and heads out into the living room.
Watching Judy help the kits sort through various knick-knacks, souvenirs from various trips, the picture from Judy's graduation from the ZPA as well as his own, their wedding picture and the like, Nick notes that the doe has at least partially put the previous moment to rest.
"You got most of the important stuff?" he asks.
"Yeah, I guess…" answers the grey doe. "Dad and my brothers can get the rest. Now, on to the ZPD for one last hoorah…"
…
The short drive to precinct 1 was uneventful for the most part. While the kits jabbered about the stuff they saw and packed in their parent's old home, Judy was still noticeably quiet, but Nick decides to leave well enough alone for now.
After parking in a visitor's space, Nick and Judy unload the kits and make their way into the still imposing central lobby of Precinct 1, but notice that there is someone different at the front desk.
"May I help you?" asks the young pronghorn antelope whose nameplate identifies her as 'M. Prongs'.
"Yes ma'am" answers Nick "We're the Wilde's and I believe that Chief Bogo is expecting us in the bullpen."
"Ah, yes, Mr. and Mrs. Wilde and family …" intones the ungulate, looking down her snout in unmasked disgust.
Before either adult could make a remark, the desk mammal presses the intercom button "Chief Bogo the … Wilde's … are here to see you." and unknowingly forgets to release the button in time so the chief also hears "Filthy inters…"
The shock on Nick and Judy's faces was apparent, however a few seconds later when the door to the bullpen opens and a furious water buffalo emerges, and nothing was heard from the large mammal except "Nick, Judy, kits, come in … and Prongs … YOU'REFIRED! CLOCK OUT, TURN IN YOUR THINGS AND LEAVE … NOW!"
"WHAT? You can't possible do that because of a bunch of filthy-"
"Another word Prongs and you'll be in a holding cell for hate speech. Leave … NOW!"
Shooting the buffalo a very heated look, the young antelope abandons the front desk without a second thought.
"Clawhauser … I'm sorry, but you'll have to take charge of the front desk for a while until I can get Chief Howler from Precinct Two to replace Prongs." Bogo loudly informs the chubby cheetah.
"Oh, okay chief." comes the somewhat disappointed and muffled reply from the bullpen.
As Clawhauser exits the room, he suddenly spies Nick, Judy (especially Judy) and the kits…
"JUDY!" exclaims the large feline as he startles not only the kits, but Nick as well. (Judy was expecting the "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" that followed).
"Ben … too tight … please…" gasps the doe as she's caught in a fierce hug.
"Oh, sorry, sorry. I'm sorry Judy, it's just…"
"I know Ben, trust me, I know." the doe admits finally catching her breath. "I promise to visit before we leave, okay?"
"As long as you promise …" concedes Ben, who then adds softly "But … please make sure you leave me some cake… Oh, I wasn't supposed to say anything … sorry?"
Patting the much larger mammal on the cheek, Judy tells him "I promise not to tell Ben, don't worry. And yes, I'll make sure you get some cake."
…
Stepping into the amazingly full bullpen, Nick and Judy are amazed to see every single officer from Precinct One's first shift crammed into the rather confined space.
"SURPRISE!" yells everyone in the room, with Francine Trunkaby and Ronald McHorn being the loudest because of their immense size.
While Nick is only slightly taken aback, Judy is totally overcome with emotion while the kits, all seven of them, are trying desperately to hide behind their parents.
"Good one Chief." complements Nick, smirk in place.
"Oh, I'm far from done Wilde!" says the buffalo with a wicked grin.
"Winters, Da Vide!" bellows the large bull.
Entering through the door leading to Bogo's office, Special Agents Winters and Da Vide enter the room with Da Vide pushing a medium sized mammal cart covered with a large sheet cake decorated with a printed picture of Judy on it declaring 'Welcome Home Judy' while Agent Winters is holding a small wood presentation box in her paws.
"Judy" begins the vixen "while we were searching through all of the things in the place we liberated you from, these two items were found, and I knew they needed to be returned to you. Please … take them and know that Chief Bogo has assured us that even though you're resigning from the ZPD, you'll be allowed to keep them both."
When Agent Winters opens the box, Judy's eyes immediately begin to again tear up and her breath catches.
There, in the small wood box, are Judy's name tag and badge that had been taken from her and used to taunt her for so many years.
Catching the small doe before she collapses, Nick steadies his wife.
Reaching out with a trembling paw, Judy can barely control herself as she takes the nametag and gently runs a small clawed finger over the name – J. Wilde.
Taking the small item from Judy's paw, Bogo opens the clasp and pins the nametag onto Judy's shirt where it would normally fit on her uniform top.
Then, taking the doe's badge from the box, Bogo pins it to Judy's top, telling her "Judith Laverne Wilde, you have been, are now, and will forever be a member of Precinct One. May God be with you, your mate and your family, no matter where you are or what you do for the rest of your days. On behalf of the entire ZPD, I bid welcome home to our long lost sister."
Judy's happy tears were not lost on the assembled multitude of her now former co-workers, nor were they lost on her mate or kits.
"It's okay kits, your mother is going to be fine, I promise." Nick reassures their kits, all of whom were at a total loss, trying to understand the goings on and the reason for their mother's tears.
While Nick and Judy stand close by, the members of Precinct 1 that can be spared fawn over Judy and their kits, who try their best to remain hidden behind their parents. Slowly the kits accept the fact that these odd mammals are not threats and only want to know them better and begin to mingle with the officers, with Cotton taking a peculiar liking to Bogo, much to his dismay.
After finally recovering from the shock of the return of her badge and nametag, Judy is finally able to enjoy some time visiting with most of her old co-workers while keeping a close eye on her kits, even setting aside some time to fill a shocked and enthralled Clawhauser in with a condensed version of her captivity and the goings on after she was rescued and reunited with Nick, including the revelation of Jack Savage's part in her captivity, Nick's wholehearted adoption of her rabbit kits, and finally of their adoption of the young vixen.
While sad to know that the Wilde's would no longer be a part of Precinct One, Ben accepted the fact that the family would come to Zootopia and visit from time to time.
…
Finally back on the road and heading for home in Aurora, the adults are just beginning to enjoy the ride, even with the kits suffering from a sugar rush from eating cake and drinking various fruit juices, when…
[BRIIING – BRIIING – BRIIING – BR-]
Seeing on the digital screen who's calling, Nick answers the call.
"Hey Jazz, lon-"
"Nick" interrupts an irate Jasmine "why in the hell haven't you gotten back with me yet?"
"What are you yapping about?" asks the todd "You haven't called, so why-"
"Haven't you been keeping track of your e-mails?" asks the very frustrated doe.
"Actually no, I haven't. I've been kinda busy … you know, with Judy being back, the kits, new job, getting ready for our wedding and the like! Why, what's the big deal with my e-mail?"
"Zootopia's Got Talent has been bugging me about our next gig and about not being able to get in touch with you. We won our audition, so we're supposed to be on the next show that's due to be taped in like three weeks! We need to figure out a song, practice-"
"Whoa up there just a second Jazz." interrupts the todd "The whole point of the show was to get some viable tips to find Judy. We found her so mission accomplished. I could care less if we went back on the show."
"Maybe it's not just about Judy and you Nick." rants Jasmine "There are a lot of mammals out there that are still missing. We have a chance to prove that our message got out there, that Judy has been found, and that something like this can work for someone else!"
Stunned at the forcefulness that his sister-in-law is using, and how hard-hitting her logic is, Nick concedes.
"Yo-you're right Jazz, I'm sorry. We've got to see this through …"
After a few moments of thought, Nick's face begins to form a devious grin.
"Tell you what, I've got an idea that I think will definitely get the message across. I'll talk it over with Judy when we get home tonight and we'll get back to you sometime tomorrow. E-mail or call ZGT and let them know that I've been out of touch, and that we've spoken. Tell them that I'll be in touch with them in the next couple of days to confirm myself that we'll be there for the live show and the taping. Will you do that please?"
"I can do that. Thanks Nick. And I expect to see my sister and the kits sometime tomorrow, you got that?"
"Yes ma'am I do." answers the todd honestly. "We'll see you tomorrow and I'll fill you in on my plan. You're gonna love it!"
~0~
AN: Thanks again to dracotwo for the suggestion for Judy and Nick to get a fresh start, and for the welcome back/farewell party at Precinct One.
All that's left now is the final chapter/epilogue, so stay tuned.