16 Old Friends Pt. 1

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Firstly, I want to apologize for the extremely long wait between chapters, and would like to state for the record that tales of my demise have (for the most part) been greatly exaggerated. Hopefully I'll be posting nother chapter of Life is a Highway before long as well.

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After yet another round of marital 'exercises', which has at least temporarily sated Judy's carnal desires, and after a good shower which is calm in comparison to the last few days (and nights), Nick and Judy head into Bunnyburrow from the Hopps family farm.

After going through most of the stores in the fairly large, mostly rabbit populated town and renewing old acquaintances with old friends, Judy decides to take a break and stop by another old friend's establishment, not at all sure how Nick would react when meeting her old kithood bully.

Entering the small bake shop, Judy keeps a close eye on her new(ish) husband and hopes for the best.

Answering the small tinkling bell that hangs just above the door, Gideon is unprepared for the sight before him.

To say that Gideon was shocked to see Judy paw in paw with a fox would be an understatement. When Gideon noticed the matching wedding bands, he was sure that he'd eaten something spoiled and was hallucinating.

"J-Judy? Judy Hopps?"

"Actually, it's Judy Wilde now Gid." admits a smiling Judy "I'd like for you to meet my husband and mate, Nick Wilde. Nick, Gideon Grey."

As Nick reaches out a paw, Gideon senses caution but no real animosity from the other vulpine, and cautiously extends his own paw.

Good to meet you" begins Nick softly "Judy's told me a lot about you."

"She-she has?" stammers the much larger fox.

"Yes, she has." admits Nick. "Some good and some bad. But since she's seen fit to forgive you and consider you a friend, I promise to hold no grudges against you for past misdeeds … we've all done things in the past that we're not particularly proud of." as he looks at his wife with a soft and understanding smile.

Shyly shuffling her hind paws a bit, Judy glances at Nick for a moment and then expectantly at Gideon, hoping for a positive reaction from the portly baker.

"Ah-ah gess ye're rite 'bout thet. Well, c'mon in an' sit a spell. Ah-ah've got sum paies fresh otta the oven, if'n ya'd like sum."

"That'd be great Gid." offers Judy. "Strawberry for me and probably blueberry for Nick, if you've got 'em."

"Ah-ah've got sum a both. Just gimmie a few minits and ah'll have ya some…"

As Gideon retreats into the back of the store, Judy takes Nick's paw "Thanks Nick…"

Giving his mate's much smaller paw a gentle squeeze, Nick smiles "No Fluff, thank you. You're the one who taught me to believe about second chances after all."

Returning to his new customers, Gideon places small, individual sized pies in front to the odd couple.

"Gid, just … what are these?" asks Judy in wonderment.

"They-they's sumpin' thet ah cum up with. S-small paies thet's jus rite fer one mammal, 'specially a bunny, since thet's what mos' folks 'round here is."

"That's quite ingenious Gideon. Well done." complements Nick.

"Th-thank ya kindly." returns the larger fox.

"Sit with us a bit Gid?" offers Judy "I'd love to catch up with you, a lot's happened since I left in such a hurry."

"If – if'n y'all don' mind, sure."

"Please, join us…" adds Nick, meaning every word, a gentle smile crossing his features.

"Doan mind if'n ah do." remarks Gideon, anxious to get caught up on the goings on with his old friend and her new hubby.

After recounting her (their) recent adventures, especially the chilling part when Stu accidentally shot her while trying to kill Nick, Judy wraps up her tale.

"So ... lemme get this strait … yer pa actually tried ta kill Nick here and' shot you instead?" asks a dumbfounded Gideon.

"Yeah, not exactly the start of a perfect wedding day…" quietly admits Judy. "Luckily the only damage was a couple of pellets through my left ear."

"Well, I gots ta say, them earscrews that ya got in it looks kinda classy." says Gid, hoping he's giving the doe a complement and not wanting to set Nick off at the same time.

"Nick told me I needed to put black studs in and go for a goth look."

Seeing Gideon's slightly shocked look, Judy admits "He was kidding Gid, he used that to try to lift my spirits a bit."

"Well, I gotta say, he's got a weird sense a humer…."

"He does at that Gid, he really does." smirks the doe.

"Gid…" begins Judy giving Nick a bit of a side eye "would you happen to know where Justine Gray might be?"

"J-Justine? W-why would ya need ta know 'bout her?" the todd asks, now very confused "Ya never got along with her 'tall in school!"

Now looking at a suddenly apprehensive husband, Judy explains "Nick and Justine had a thing going when she lived in Zootopia. I know that she married your cousin Brandon and we – that is I mostly was wondering what she's up to. Mom told us that she's had a couple of litters of kits, and we were wondering how she's doing. I'd kinda like to know what she went through when I finally end up having Nick's kits."

Clearly unsettled by the sudden question and answer from Judy, Gideon takes a few moments to gather himself.

"Furst, ya gotta understan' sumpin Judy" begins the nervous todd "Brandon's fam'ly. Whut with Justine bein' a rabbit, no one dares ta lift a paw agin' his decisions."

"What happened Gid?" presses the doe, suddenly very much concerned about the hares wellbeing.

"B-Brandon's got a bad gamblin' habit Judy. So bad thet he tried ta get Justine ta work at the Risin' Sun."

"WHAT?" was all a now mortified Judy could blurt out.

Seeing Nick's confusion, Judy could only come up with one answer to his unasked question. "It's a brothel Nick." She admits, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"J-Justine tole Brandon thet thur wuz no way in hell she'd be doin' thet, so he put her out in the street. Jus' lak thet." admits the todd sadly.

"Do you have any idea where she might be Gideon?" asks a concerned Nick.

"Naw, sorry."

After a brief pause, Judy asks "Would your uncle Maynard know by any chance? He always seemed like a decent sort." suggests Judy, keeping in mind that her mother was thinking about getting together with the elder todd.

"He-he might. Gimme a sec and ah'll give him a call."

After several minutes, Judy has her answer…

"Uncle Maynard tole me thet he thinks thet Justine an' her kits might be in the shelter on Blackbird Avenue in Decerd. Hope thet heps…"

"It's a start Gid, that's more than we had a minute ago, thanks."

Standing, Nick and Judy look towards the exit.

"If y'all gimmie a minit, I'll git ya each 'nother of them pies fer the road." suggests Gideon.

"Sure thing Gid…" answers a now somber Nick, wanting to set the other fox at ease.

"H-here ya go, enjoy, now-"

Just then several more customers enter and the portly canid has to wait on them.

"S-sorry, but ah gots ta take care a business…" apologizes the fox.

"We understand Gid." We'll try to come back when you're not quite so busy. Don't you have any help?"

"No-no one seems ta be willin' ta help. It's not laak they's lots a folks needin' jobs 'round here."

"Well, maybe we can find you some help…" offers Nick.

"Thet'd be great… 'scuse me…" and with that Gideon was busy with his other customers.

Leaving a fresh twenty-dollar bill on the counter by the cash register, Nick and Judy get Gideon's attention and wave on the way out of the door.

…

"Did you mean what you said to Gid back there, Nick?" asks Judy "I mean for real?"

"Of course I did Fluff. Surely you can talk to a few of your sibs and fine the poor guy some help!"

"That's really kind of you Nick, and thanks for dealing with Gid the way you did, it means a lot to me."

"I know Fluff. Like you said, everyone deserves a second chance. So, now where too?"

"First, back to the Burrow" indicates Judy with a fire in her lavender eyes. We'll need to borrow one of mom's smaller vans. If we can actually manage to find Justine, we're gonna need to get her and her kits as far away from Decerd as we can. I'll ask mom if she'd be willing to put them up in the burrow until Justine can find some other accommodations."

"Maybe she could help Gideon out?" suggests Nick.

"That's … actually not a bad idea. We'll need to ask Gid about it first though, since it could cause a lot of friction in the Gray skulk."

"True that. Anyway, let's get moving." prompts the todd.

…

Just as Nick and Judy stop at the last stoplight, a rabbit buck in a new Camaro SS pulls up beside them revving the engine …

When Judy glances at her hubby, she sees the light come on in his eyes and an evil smirk play across his lips…

"Nick! … NICK! … NICHOLAS WILDE, DON'T YOU DAAAARRRReeeeeeeeeee-" was all she could utteras the stoplight turns green and the Chevelle's massive 450 horsepower 427 cubic inch big block motor roars, launching the car in a heart stopping G-force that Judy had never experienced and was totally unprepared for.

As Nick worked his way through the gears of the competition Rock Crusher 4 speed manual transmission the doe was pinned back into her seat, gasping for breath and planning what she was going to do to punish her juvenile acting todd.

Seeing no trace of the Camaro, Nick snickers "All noise and no nuts…"

When Nick finally eases off the gas, Judy stands up, moves to the console and-

"Oww …OWW ... OWW! Dang it Fluff, that hurt!"

"What the hell was that Nick? You could've killed us both!" she scolds.

"Not likely, it's not the first time I've raced this thing. Gimme a break, sheesh." grouses the todd.

"Fine, I'll give you a break … which arm would you prefer?" snarks Judy in return.

"Really? Why are you so worked up over a simple race, it's not like it was for money or pinks anyway?"

"… Pinks? What are pinks?" she asks with a curious note in her voice.

"Pink slips – car titles. Did you really not know that the registration or titles to cars are pink?" asks a now curious Nick.

"Never had the want or need to know, dumb fox. I was concentrating on becoming a cop, remember?"

"Sorry?"

*HUFFS* "Okay, fine, just - a little warning next time please?"

"I'm kinda getting mixed signals here Fluff…."

"Ugh – okay, I … kinda enjoyed the rush alright?"

"Soooo, you weren't really mad?"

"A little yeah, but mostly surprised. I had no idea that this thing would do … that…"

"So, we're good?"

"On one condition …"

"And that would be?"

"DO IT AGIN!" comes the enthusiastic reply "Only this time, let me know when you're gonna start."

"How about if I let you count down when you're ready?"

"That'll work. So, anytime?"

"Ready whenever you are…"

"Okay … okay" as Judy pulls her lap belt tight and takes a few deep breaths trying to steel herself for the monstrous g-force that she now knows is coming.

"On one … three … two … onnnnnnnnneeeeeee-" as the car launches and again pins her to the seat.

As Nick once again runs through the gears, he side-eyes his bunny and has to grin at the sight. Judy sits there with a shit eating grin on her muzzle, eyes wide open and her once erect ears plastered firmly against the seatback.

After mostly completing the run, Nick asks "Well?"

Wearing the same grin that he saw at the beginning of the run and giggling like a 4-year-old kit on a county fair roller coaster ride, all the doe can say is "Again? Please? Just once more?"

Giving off a small smirk as then drops the transmission into low gear, Nick has to give a partial dig at his bride "Who'd a thunk it. The famous Judy Hopps, once a purveyor of law and order, now a speed freak!"

"Shush, just … once more … please…"

"Okay, but we're gonna need gas soon. Doing this really kills the mileage."

"Don't care. Ready? Three … two … onnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeee-" as the Chevelle again does a hard launch and once again presses the small doe back deep into her seat.

…

The remainder of the short ride to the Hopps burrow was met with a quiet and comfortable silence, with a stupid grin still stuck on the young does face.

Pulling up in front of the main entrance of the burrow, Nick and Judy are greeted by Bonnie.

Seeing the silly grin on her daughter's face, Bonnie has to ask "Judy…?"

"No mom we didn't … you know-" which draws a smirk from Nick.

"Really Nick?" asks Judy.

"Hey, your mom was thinking it before I did…"

Seeing the puzzled look that was coming from her mother, Judy rolls her eyes and tries her best to explain.

*SIGH* "Nick's on this thing" as she gestures towards her mother and herself with both paws "about us females. We never say what we're thinking when we're trying to be discrete and say 'you know' instead of being outright vulgar like the guys would be."

"And yet you'll cuss like no tomorrow when alone with us!" counters Nick.

"We're just trying to be a little less crass when in public Nick." suggests Bonnie "You should try it sometime."

"Thanks, but I'll take a hard pass on that…" snarks the todd.

"Aaaanyway," interrupts Judy, trying to get the conversation back on track "we think we may have a line on Justine, so we thought we'd maybe borrow one of your smaller, older vans in case we find her and her kits."

"Really?" asks Bonnie, now intrigued.

When Judy informs her mother as to the circumstances and possible conditions surrounding the hare doe and her hybrid kits, Bonnie quickly grants the pair permission to use one of the warrens vans.

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AN: Once again, sorry about the long wait. The truth of the matter is that a combination of work, COVID, life in general and a lack of inspiration has conspired to kick my butt on both stories. Please take into account the fact that both stories actually started off as one offs – single chapter posts that have morphed into the stories that they've become, not to mention the actual monster that Life is a Highway in particular has become. I am NOT giving up on either story, it's just going to take a minute to get my stuff together and figure out where and how to proceed, especially with Life is a Highway.

Chapters will continue to be sporadic, but hopefully there won't be time spans like there have been between them.

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