16 Aweston
XxX
After about an hour or so on the road, Sarah finally comes out of her funk and begins to enjoy the scenery. Rolling through the previously unseen countryside, enjoying the new sights, sounds and smells and just chilling in general seemed to loosen the young doe up.
While Nick concentrates on driving, both does marvel at the changing scenery and take turns trying to guess what Nick's shop might look like, and when Judy brought up the subject of Nick's home, the guessing game takes on an entirely different tone.
Laughing at some of the preposterous guesses about his home, Nick has to shoot down at least a few of the most outlandish ones!
"No, there's no armory with millions of dollars in gold coins hidden in the garage floor like in 'John Weick'.
No, I don't have female underwear lying all over the house, and no, there ain't tons of fur mags either.
No, it's not a 34-room mansion.
No, it's not a bachelor's 'pit!' Really? Where'd that even come from?"
Deciding to stop in Selina for the evening just like they originally planned, Nick of course gets the best room available in town, which is at the Windmark, a resort style hotel that he has membership for.
As the weary travelers take a few belongings to their room, it's decided to just order in pizza (a veggie supreme for the does and a pred special for Nick) from the local Mamma Jill's pizza chain, along with a two liter of soda and some good wine to finish the meal and evening properly.
Of course since the room has a hot tub, that particular item is almost immediately put to good use.
…
"So" begins Nick "Have you two figured out what my house looks like yet?" as he offers Sarah a bite of his anchovy and turkey sausage pizza.
"In all seriousness" answers Judy as she watches Sarah's eyes widen at the extreme saltiness of a mouthful of anchovies "I figure that it's probably a grey ranch style, with white trim and or shutters, at least three bedrooms, with two or more full baths, a huge garage and … is neat as a pin!"
"Pretty much dead on Fluff" Nick answers with a large smirk, watching Sarah's eyes water and her mouth pucker, trying to figure out whether she wants to finish the bite and swallow the pizza or spit it out, eventually swallowing the bite.
"Since I live a fair piece outside of the city limits, with no neighbors for miles, the yard is huge with a … shooting range out back."
"Wait, what? You mean an actual shooting range … like for real guns?"
"Of course. You do realize that guns are only illegal in big cities like Zootopia, New Yack City, Lost Angels and places like that, right? Besides, with my military background, I'm allowed to own guns anyway. Not to worry, I keep 'em locked up in a safe and I'm the only one with the combination."
"And you're gonna do what with 'em when we move to Aurora?"
"Move 'em, safe and all of course."
"Absolutely not!"
"Fluff-"
"NO!"
"Give me one good reason and I'll get rid of 'em, every one of 'em. One GOOD reason!"
"They're dangerous, Sarah could be injured or killed!"
"She could be injured or killed on a motorcycle, riding a bicycle or ridin' in a car. Or even just walking along a sidewalk… next reason…"
"It's wrong to own guns, that's why they're banned in Zootopia and other place like that!"
"That's a load of crap and you know it! For instance, look at the knife ban in Lundon. How much sense does that make?"
"That's different!"
"Why?"
"It just is!"
"That doesn't make a damned bit of sense and you know it."
Surprisingly, Sarah had the presence of mind to keep quiet, letting the adults work this out amongst themselves. Even though she secretly wondered what it would be like to actually shoot a real gun, she wasn't entirely sure whether she really wanted to find out for sure or not.
"Ok, look" says Nick finally, pinching the bridge of his snout "Let's wait until we get to my place to continue this discussion. That'll give is both some time to think this over and continue with cooler heads."
Letting out an exasperated sigh, Judy has to agree "Fine, I guess it can wait until then. But this is far from settled."
"I know Fluff, but it is something we'll need to talk over."
About that time, Sarah lets a tiny fart, hoping that the bubbles in the hot tub will cover the action. However, the odor caused by the interaction of anchovy's and her innards gives her away…
"What in god's name is that smell?" asks a horrified Nick.
As an unsure Judy finally gets a good whiff "… Oh good lord…!"
"… Sorry?" confesses Sarah as she turns blood red under her dark brown fur.
Holding her nose, Judy tries to scold Sarah while also trying not to laugh "That's it young lady, absolutely no more little dead fish on your pizza … ever … oh ick…" as she tries not to gag.
"Cripes Sarah …" adds Nick, trying desperately to fan his snout.
As the smell slowly dissipates, everyone laughingly agrees that that was just what was needed to break the unexpected tension cause by the disagreement.
"What say we get a good night's sleep and hit the road fairly early? If we start around six or seven, we can pull into my place around suppertime tomorrow."
"There's only one small problem" says Judy, looking around the room. "There's a couch, but it's not a pullout…"
"Then I'll take the couch" suggests Nick.
"No, I will" insists Sarah.
"Look" says Judy "the bed is lion sized, so we'll all sleep in the bed. Nick by the wall, me in the middle and Sarah on the outside. And Nick, keep your paws to yourself…"
"I make no promises I can't keep" responds Nick with a smirk "but I only have paws for you, my darling bunny."
…
After a restful and uneventful night, our trio is up at six am. Stopping at the all you can eat breakfast buffet proves uneventful, with Judy making certain that Sarah doesn't eat anything that might cause a repeat of the previous night's 'gas attack'.
Back on the road again, Judy's mind returns to the gun conversation from the night before.
"Nick …"
"Hmmm?"
"Just what did you do, I mean what were you trained for in the military?"
After several moments thought, Nick decides to share generalities, but no specifics. "Well, believe it or not, my primary assignment was to scout places and provide intelligence. What kind of security, how many troops, type and number of said troops, type and number of weapons, that kinda stuff. My team and I normally only engaged in combat if there was no other choice.'
'Occasionally, if the mission called for it, we would infiltrate, that is secretly enter a danger area for more detailed reconnaissance.'
'It was quite rare that we'd actually be called in for close combat support." After another long moment of deep thought "I was skilled at nighttime surveillance because of my great night vision, but I was also one of the best snipers on my team … in all of the Teams actually. Because of that, I was constantly called in to provide overwatch security.'
'One of the main reasons I still have most of my guns is … because of my status in the Teams. I have the unfortunate position of being called back into service at any time for probably the next five or six years. That's another reason I'm still in great shape. This last couple of weeks is probably the longest I've gone in years with no exercise."
Reaching out and laying a gentle paw on Nicks arm, Judy says softly "I-I had no idea …"
"I know Fluff, I know. Remember when I told you about the Moogadishu mission? The teams haven't called me, or any of my particular section back because of the pushback after that particular mission, but I still have to keep active, just in case.'
'I'd really like the opportunity to show you and Sarah some of my skills, but most of all I want to be able to show you how to protect yourselves if it comes right down to it."
"I-I'll think about it, ok?"
"That's all I can ask … thanks."
As Judy sighs and leans against Nick's shoulder, Sarah mulls the conversation over in her head. Even though she knows a few veterans, the doe has never heard anyone talk about a particular mission, or any mission for that matter. Then she recalled the conversation that she and Nick had at the Tower. What kind of mammal does it take to do what he's done and still live with himself, with the memories? She vaguely remembers a statistic that an average of twenty-two members of the military commit suicide every day, and her admiration for Nick's resolve and his love and concern for her and her mother only intensifies.
…
With the rest of the morning passing in relative silence, Nick stops at a little place just outside of Dalles for a quick lunch.
Heading south out of Dalles on I35, Nick provides a bit of travel information "It's only around four more hours to Aweston, then another thirty minutes to my place. We've made good time."
"Mainly 'cause you've been speeding?"
"Only a little… around eighty is all, and the speed limit's seventy-five."
"Hmmm"
"I know that smile, you're tired, ain't ya?"
"Jus' a lil'." Judy replies with a large yawn.
"Sarah" asks Nick, "you ok back there?"
Hearing no answer, Judy looks into the back seat and finds Sarah curled up, fast asleep.
"Out like a light" Judy says, giggling.
"Can you imagine what it woulda been like if we'd rode on the trike?"
"It woulda been fun, but yea, I get yer point."
"Do ya think she heard us earlier?"
"Prob'ly, bunny ears and all."
"And?"
"I dunno. Hard ta tell with her. She's had a tough go of it, so maybe she gets it. Do ya think we need ta talk to her about it?"
"Let's leave her be fer now. If she starts actin' otta sorts, then maybe…"
…
"Hey" says Nick softly, jostling a napping Judy.
"…. Wha …?"
"Wakey, wakey sleepy head. We're just about ta Aweston. You wanna stop and see the shop for a quick tour or head straight fer my place?"
"Home James" says a still sleepy Judy.
"And just who is this James character anyway?"
"You ain't James?" asks a now playful doe.
"Naw, I kicked his ass out a long time ago. It's just us foxes and bunnies now."
"Ok, I think I like you more anyways…"
"You think you like me more better?"
"Yea I-wait, more better?"
"Ok, more gooder then!"
"Will you stop that?"
"Stop what?"
"The gooder, better thing."
"Would more betterer be better?"
"Would more bet-you shit, stop, please" Judy laughs, then hears Sarah giggling in the back seat.
"Well, welcome back sleepyhead!"
"Hey mom, dad. Where are we?" asks Sarah in the middle of a good stretch.
"Just went past Aweston and are about twenty minutes from my, that is to say our place." says Nick.
"Wait … I thought we just left Dalles…!"
"Honey," giggles Judy "that was over four hours ago."
"Just … damn … sorry mom."
"It's ok baby."
…
"Wow!" says Sarah, noticing the difference in scenery.
Gone was the lush green countryside that had been around Dalles. The dry rolling hills with scattered patches of green now dominated the countryside.
Turning down a well-used gravel road, Judy notices the 'NO TRESPASSING' signs posted one both sides of the road.
"I take it you don't really care for a lot of company?"
"Not really. You probly didn't get to read the entire sign did ya?"
"…Um, no?"
"It actually says 'NO TRESPASSING – Violators will be shot, survivors will be shot again'." says Nick, giving her a quick wink.
"Were those skulls I saw nailed to some posts?" asks a horrified Sarah.
"Holy crap Nick, really?"
"Plastic ones, yea" laughs Nick. "I put them up years ago as a Halloween stunt. But since it tends to keep adventuresome salesmammals out, I left 'em up."
Reaching over to gently close Judy's mouth, Nick has to comment "Ya better keep that closed sweetheart, there's lots of flies out here…"
…
As they head up the long driveway, the difference between Nick's home and the surrounding countryside is immense.
The entire home seems to be surrounded with lush green grass and tall oak trees.
As the car rounds the turn that takes them past the shelter belt of trees, Judy sees that her assessment of Nick's (and now her and Sarah's) home was pretty much right on.
The large light grey ranch house had white trim and shutters, with a white stone fireplace set on one end. The other end of the home had a two and a half car garage with a large glassed in room and a large shop close by.
After remotely opening a garage door, Nick pulls the Nomad in and shuts down the motor.
"Welcome to Casa de Wilde ladies."
…
Entering the house through the garage, Judy and Sarah take in the large open area of the main floor.
The large kitchen area has all modern appliances and a center island spacious enough for four medium sized mammals, with what appears to be a bathroom off to one side. A sliding double door off to one side has Judy curious, but she says nothing for the time being.
The living room is dominated by a fifty-five-inch plasma tv, with two different types of gaming consoles and controllers, a Blu-ray player and some sort of little satellite dish.
The fireplace on the far wall even looks to be functional.
The art on the richly paneled walls is typical southwestern, with nothing that seems to be of a personal nature.
The furniture, while not new isn't exactly dated either. It's not worn out, it's just worn in … kind of "Comfortable."
"Hmm?"
"The house, everything in it. It seems to be … comfortable … like you!"
"Thanks?"
Giving Nick a soft hip-bump "It's a complement dummy."
"Not much to see down here that you haven't already seen," remarks Nick "ya wanna see the upstairs?"
"Sure!"
"You ok there kit?" Nick asks Sarah, noting that she had been quiet since their arrival.
"Huh? Oh, I mean yea. Just … wow!"
"C'mon, I'll show you the rest of the place…"
…
Leading the does up the stairs to the second floor, shows them the four bedrooms.
"This one" he states beginning with the room to his immediate left "Is the master bedroom. Plenty of walk in closet space and a full bathroom."
Watching as Judy and Sarah give the room a quick but cautious look over, not sure what they'll find, he has to stifle a snicker.
"There's nothin' inappropriate in there, so look around if ya want…"
Rolling her eyes, Judy steps in for a closer look, with Sarah close behind.
A king-sized bed takes up plenty of space, with a dresser and chest-of-drawers on one side and a small nightstand on the other.
The large walk-in closet has various work clothes, several sets of casual wear and quite a few sets of military fatigues and dress uniforms inside as well.
"Would you …" cautiously begins Sarah.
"Be willing to give you a fashion show?" Nick finishes.
"I guess. I wanna see how you look dressed up … please."
"Yea, I can do that. Tomorrow maybe, but for sure before we leave for Deerbrook, ok?"
"Ok."
Finishing the upstairs tour, Nick shows them the small bedroom on the same side of the hall as the master, and then the two full bedrooms on the opposite side, with walk-in closets and queen-sized beds. Then there was the well-appointed full bathroom between the two bedrooms, complete with a large stand up - walk in shower and medium mammal size full body fur dryer.
…
Leading his does back downstairs, Nick then takes them through the large sliding glass doors towards the back yard.
Seeing the inside of the large glassed in room that she noticed when they arrived, Judy marveled at its contents… a six medium mammal sized hot tub, sauna and a …
Nick?"
"Hmm?"
"What is that?" she asks pointing to a rectangular object full of water imbedded in the floor, close to the hot tub.
"That, my darling bunny" says smirking Nick "is called a lap pool."
"…."
"It's used for swimming laps, but doesn't take up the space of a regular swimming pool. There are a lot of times when the Teams need to swim to a certain place, so I need to keep in shape. With that lap pool, I don't need to put in a regular swimming pool, and I don't need to go to a public pool to do laps."
"And you normally use it ….?"
"At least five days a week when I'm home."
"This is all … impressive!"
"It's about the only thing I'll need to have built when … that is if we move to Aurora."
"When Nick … it's when."
"Sarah, your thoughts?" asks Nick. "You're part of this too ya know."
"This?" she says, gesturing to the entire room "This is so otta sight!"
"I take it you approve-OOOF!"
Stroking the now crying does ears, Nick isn't sure what the problem is…
"Sarah? What's the matter?"
"….. (sniff) …. How can you be so good to m-me and mom? So much better than my real dad?"
"I can't answer that sweetheart, I'm sorry. All I can do is treat you like I feel that you deserve to be treated I guess."
"C'mere fluff, Sarah doesn't need to be standing here cryin' alone. You know ya can't hide them tears from me…"
After a prolonged wet hug session, Nick decides to lighten the mood a bit.
"How about this, I'll rustle up sumthin' up for supper, then we can sit in the glass room a bit. I'll turn everythin' on so it can get up to temperature while we eat. Then you c'n do what cha want. Relax in the hot tub, use the sauna or even do a few laps if ya want. Wada ya think?"
"Sounds like a plan" says Judy "What's fer supper?"
"I had some stuff delivered a couple a days ago, so whatever's in there is fresh, let's look, shall we? How about I make supper while you two drag our stuff out of the car? Judy, you can put our stuff in the master bedroom, and Sarah, you can have your pick of any of the other three."
…
After a leisurely supper of pancakes and fresh fruit for the does, and some turkey sausage for Nick (which, of course he shared with Sarah-with the understanding that she wasn't to fart in the glass room) everyone retired to use the various facilities in the rather large area.
While sitting with Sarah in the hot tub, Judy observes Nick using the lap pool.
After about ten minutes when the lap pool shuts down, a slightly tired Nick climbs out and heads to the hot tub to join Judy and Sarah.
"Wouldn't it be easier with some sort of wetsuit or something?" asks Judy, noticing that Nick is soaked to the skin.
"Of course," he answers "but that's the entire point. I may be called up on short notice and I'd have no access to a wetsuit, and besides, with my fur being soaked and creating excessive drag in the water, I get the benefit of added cardio without havin' to do a separate workout."
"Huh, I'd have never thought of that! Sly fox."
"Dumb bunny." as Nick gives her a big wink and a very meaningful kiss.
"Ok you two" interrupts Sarah before things get heated "minor present here…"
"….Ummm ... sorry?" answer both Nick and Judy, not in the least bit actually sorry.
Rolling her eyes, Sarah lays back with her ears hanging over the edge of the hot tub, a wet washrag over her eyes.
"How about a quick movie before bed?" asks Nick.
"Which one?" asks an excited Sarah.
"The new Dragon Riders movie is on Nitflix."
"Really? Cool … if it's ok with mom …."
"Fine, why not. Maybe it'll take a bit of energy otta you." says Judy, addressing Sarah.
"Great. You two catch a quick shower while I make popcorn!"
…
"Mom …" begins Sarah as both does rinse off using the upstairs shower.
"Hmm?"
"What's gonna happen to Gerald?"
"I don't know for sure honey, why do you ask?"
"Is it wrong for me to want him to go to prison? For what he tried to do to me?"
"No baby, I don't believe it is. You know what Nick would've done to him when he found out don't you?"
"Hurt him real bad…?"
"Sarah, I think Nick might have killed him. He more or less said so, remember?"
"Yea, I remember. I don't think he should die, but I do think he should suffer."
"Me too sweetheart, me too. Let's finish up here and get ready for the movie, ok?"
"Sure thing mom… umm, one more thing…"
"What baby?"
"Do you think that he'll try to stop Nick from adoptin' me?"
"That's what we're hopin."
"Really?"
"Yea. If he shows up, we'll have the sheriff there ready to arrest him."
"Cool! Ok, let's get dressed and get downstairs, I wanna see the movie…"
…
After using the fur dryer, the does both dress in loose sweats and head downstairs where Nick has the movie queued up, popcorn (with lots of butter) popped and soft drinks at the ready.
Sitting on the oversized couch directly in front of the massive tv, Judy sits on Nick's right, with Sarah parked comfortably in Nick's lap.
"Really?" Judy asks Sarah, giving her a furry eyeball.
"Cool it mom, you get his lap later, so I want it now… please?"
"Why you little …." begins a thoroughly embarrassed Judy, knowing full well what Sar is referring to. "And as for you-" turning and looking at Nick, who has a huge smirk on his face.
"Yes?"
"Never mind …" she huffs rolling her eyes and crossing her arms, knowing all too well how the evening's going to end up.
…
Not twenty minutes into the movie, Nick feels Sarah's breathing slow and her small form begins to slump.
Giving Judy a gentle nudge with an elbow, Nick indicates Sarah's sleeping form, curled up and sound asleep in his lap, tightly clutching the tip of Nick's tail which he had wrapped around Judy and had rested the tip on Sarah's lap.
Wearing a rueful smile, Judy can only be thankful that she and Nick had found each other through astronomical odds.
"You ok Fluff?"
Wiping a single tear "Yea, I'm ok. Just thinkin' how lucky this trip has been for not only me, but especially Sarah. Finding a mammal who can love us both for who we are…."
"I guess we're all lucky then. I really only rode the springer because Skye and Nickie ragged me about ridin' my custom."
"And the difference is?"
"The custom springer has a solo seat. Room for one. I had no real intensions of looking for another … prospective mate … since Krystal …"
"It's ok Nick, I totally understand. After Gerald and all, I'd pretty much given up on finding someone as well. Would you …"
"Show you the bike?"
"Yea."
"Sure thing. How about tomorrow sometime?"
"That'd work. Let's put sleepin' beauty here to bed, then we c'n talk for a bit, ok?"
"Ok. Which room did she pick?"
"The one farthest on the right." says Judy giggling. "She said she wanted to be far enough away because she didn't wanna be disturbed in case we got 'physical' as she put it."
Gently loosening Sarah's grip on his tail, Nick unwound said member from the two does and stood up carrying Sarah and headed for the stairs.
After Judy turned down the covers, Nick placed the sleeping doe in her bed, and was surprised when Judy placed a small, well-worn stuffed plushie into Sarah's paws before covering her up.
"You really had it bad dint' ya?" he comments, noticing that the plushie was a red fox.
"Yea, I really did."
Heading back downstairs and giving Nick a tight hug, Judy continues "Nick there was large part of my life for a lot of years. I think that Jack knew about him, but Gerald never had a clue.'
'Speaking of that asshat, Sarah asked about him when we were showering."
Seeing the concerned look on Nick's face, she elaborated "It wasn't what you might be thinkin'. She was worried that he might try to stop the adoption."
"And ….?"
"I explained about us wanting him to show up at the adoption hearing so we could have him arrested."
"And she's ok with that?"
"More than ok to tell the truth. As much as she actually hates him, she thinks the world of you, you know that right?"
"I kinda got that feelin' yea."
"I don't know if I can ever thank you enough for stoppin' that day…" she says, tearing up slightly.
"It's like I told you then, it's what we do, and have done in a lot more than once. You have no idea how much the service actually pounded that into us, especially me. We, that is I, probably would've stopped anyway, but it's just somethin' that seems to be ingrained into a mammal when they're part of the military."
As the two sit on the couch, Judy takes the remote and turns off the tv, then turns towards Nick with a very serious look on her face. "I've been thinkin' about the gun thing."
"And?"
"I'm still against them. I know that the world can be a terrible place, the ZPD proved that and I need to do more than hope that martial arts will help keep Sarah and myself safe. Honest question Nick, do you usually carry a concealed weapon?"
Seeing exactly how concerned Judy is "Yes, I normally do. I even had one on me most of the time during the rally. The purpose of a concealed weapon is so no one knows that you have it. I left it off when we were on stage because there were all kinds of armed security in the crowd. It's part of how the rally operates.'
'And while I understand your hesitance about the guns, because of my unique standing in the Teams, I'll need to have some close at paw. I'm having a safe room built in our new place in Aurora but I'll be the only one to be able to access it, ok?"
"Yea, I guess. I get it, I don't like it, but I guess it's somethin' I'll need to get used to."
"Well, with that settled, what say we head upstairs and try some of that 'physical' stuff that Sarah was concerned about?" he asks, wiggling his eyebrows.
Playfully fanning herself with one paw and placing the other over her heart, Judy decides to mess with Nick "Why mister Wilde, I'll have you know that I'm a taken doe…"
Gathering Judy up bridal style and getting a loud 'EEEP!' from her "And you'll be taken again tonight my lovely…several times perhaps…" he laughs in his best villainous laugh and heads up the steps to the master bedroom, closing the door firmly behind them.
XxX
AN: Sadly, an average of 22 veterans take their lives every day. PTSD is real.