AN: Please read the note at the end if you want to play a vital role to this story.

I could not comprehend what was going on right now. Here in front of me was a bunny holding out a candy bar that he just bought for me expecting me to just take it. That alone made me skeptical, but what made it worse was his exceptionally warm smile. I just couldn't understand what his motives where for buying it for me, or if he even had one at all. I just stood there, staring at the candy bar in front of me.

"Go on now, take it." He said with a smile, snapping me out of my thoughts. I looked back and forth between him and the candy bar. I didn't really know what to do at that moment. Slowly I reached for the candy and took it from his hand. The bunny's warm smile got even warmer as he spoke again. "Sorry about this whole misunderstanding, I didn't know the whole story."

No shit. I thought to myself but thought it be better not to say out loud. I was still a little confused by his behavior and didn't really know how to feel about it. But what I did know is that, whether it was sincere or not, he was being generally nice to me. I decided I might as well return the pleasantries. "No no, it's ok. It happens all the time, so I'm kinda use to it now." I said to him.

I could see a bit of disappointment flash on his face sir a second after hearing me say that. I don't know why he had that look about him but I had to admit, it was better then the look of disgust that I would get from most mammals. In a strange, somewhat sadistic way, I felt good to see that look on his face. Just knowing that someone actually felt sorry for me...

I shook my head away from my thoughts, "well, uh...thanks for the candy bar Mr..."

"Hopps. Stuart Hopps." He said to me as he held out his paw to me. I was almost taken back by his offer. Nobody's offered to shake my paw before.

"Nicholas." I replied as I grabbed him paw to give it a shake. The feeling I was getting from this confrontation was so warming and uplifting. The feeling must have put a funny look on my face, cause Stuart chuckled under his smile.

"Well Nicholas, it looks like the boys are finished unloading...how's about I give you a ride home." He said while pointing back to his trucks. Now I may not be the kind of mammal to given much, but i was still taught at a young age that it was a bad idea to accept rides from strangers. You never knew what they might try to do to you. However, with how this bunny and acted towards me so far I'm pretty sure it's safe to say he wasn't a threat. Hell, he probably thought I was still a threat. Also...

"Can I ride in the big rig?" I said with a hopeful look in my eyes. Like hell I was going to pass this opportunity up.

He gave me a hearty laugh. "Well, why not."

He said while wiping away a tear. I jumped with excitement. This was going to be awesome. We went out behind the store and Stuart told his workers that he was going to drive me home. I jumped up the large steps to the passenger side seat while Stuart hopped into the drivers seat and started up the truck. "Where too?"

"Corner of Palm and Academy, just a few blocks away." I had told him. We started on our way, the rumbling of the truck beneath us, and Stuart started telling me stories about his farm and his large family. Apparently he had 275 kits and counting. I guess that's to be expected of bunnies, but still... gods damn. All the same he still knew every single one of there names. It was pretty admirable. After a few minutes, we started telling each other jokes. I had told him some of my favorites and I could tell I was getting a genuine laugh out of him. It felt amazing to actually have someone laugh at my jokes for once instead of walking away or just telling me to shut up. He also shared some of his jokes. I could never really identify what is considered a 'dad joke', for obvious reasons, but Stuart gave me a pretty good idea of what they where like. And they where funny.

Dad...

I don't know why, but that thought kept going through my mind. Well, actually I do know why. The casually open discussions. The kind and generous behavior. The 'dad jokes'. Is this what it was like having a dad? I never knew my dad. He left the picture before I was even born. The closest thing I have is Mr. Otterton and he wasn't really around much. He ran a flower store after all and always had work. So I didn't really know what a real father figure was like. But now I'm starting to see what it's like. Maybe... maybe he could be...

And then came the inevitable question.

"So, tell me a bit about your family Nicholas." I froze and my eyes went wide. I knew this question was bound to be asked eventually, I just hoped it...didn't.

"Ummm...well, um. The thing is, uh...I...I don't..." I kept stuttering my words trying to explain to him my situation. I had never had trouble telling people before. Hey, I'm Nicholas. My mom is dead and my dad abandoned me before I was born. Why couldn't I say it this time. Stuart was giving me a questioning look waiting for my answer. We pulled up to my stop and I couldn't look him in the eyes to give him an answer. However, without ever looking, I could tell he had looked out the window. With one work, I could tell the pieces started to fall in place in his mind.

"Oh."

That word made me shrink. Here I was, starting to feel like I made a new friend. Someone that would understand me and wouldn't judge me. Now that he knows the truth, the judging eyes will start and I will look like some pathetic orphan that nobody wants. Well, the situation got awkward...better get out while I can. I thought to myself. I let out a sigh before went to climb out of the truck. At this point I just wanted to get out of there before things could get any worse.

"Wait, Nicholas!" He said to me as he grabbed my shoulder. I froze again. What should I do? I thought. Should I run? Should I stay? What was he going to say? What should I say? I slowly turned to him and for the first time in a while got a look at his face. He had a look of hurt and concern on his face "what happened, son?"

Well...I guess at this point there is no reason not to tell him. I finally decided. I turned back to the front of the truck and laid my head back on the seat. I took a deep breath, "when I was six years old, I was with my mom in the car. She had just got the car and was sending off to school. It was the first time I had ever been in a car and I was so excited." I said as a small smile came on my face. Stuart was sitting patiently, letting me tell my story. I took another deep breath.

"As we drove down town, I watched all the buildings passing by quickly. I noticed my mom watching me in the rear view mirror, chuckling at my excitement and I couldn't help but smile as hard as I could." I started to chock up a bit trying to tell my story. My eyes started to get watery and hard to keep open. Stuart must have noticed this, because he reached over and put his paw on my shoulder. The reassurance wasn't enough to stop the tears, but it did give me the strength to continue my story. I took another breath.

"Seconds after that, a car had slammed into us...I became so stunned from the impact that I didn't have time to react before I blacked out...when I came to, I didn't know where I was or what happened. I looked up to my mom wo figure out what happened, but...she was long gone. She was just...gone." I said as a few tears ran down my cheeks. It became so hard to hold in my feelings, and at this point I almost didn't want too. Stuart started rubbing my back to comfort me some more. "When the cops found us, I was taken to the hospital to get checked up. The doctors couldn't find any records on me, let alone a point of contact. So, ever sense that day I have been in this orphanage going from foster home to foster home trying to find where I belong... but big shocker, nobody wants a shifty little fox in their home."

"I'm so sorry Nicholas." Stuart said with a somber voice. He was trying hard to comfort me through the story. I don't know, but it really was helping to fight back the tears. After a few seconds of silence, Stuart spoke up again. "What about your father?"

Yet another sour subject for me. Every time I had thought about him, it never made me feel sad or angry, just confused. "I never really knew the guy. He had left before my mom even gave birth to me, according to here. After the accident, the police didn't give me too much info about him. Whether he was alive or not, they just said they couldn't contact him."

"Looks like you've been given a pretty bad hand, huh son?" Stuart said with a small and very weak smile on his face. I gave a small chuckle in return to welcome his bad joke in an effort to lighten the mood. Stuart let out a sigh and turned me to face him. I looked into his eyes and saw a sort of strength in them. A strength that can only acquired through enduring hardship. "I'm really sorry for the life you've had to live Nicholas. I won't say I know what you have seen through, cause I don't and probably never will. But I do know what is like to go through hardships and face your demons. What I have learned over the years is that the world will always throw you some curveballs and can leave you with a few scars. But as long as we keep working hard, keep moving forward and keep on smiling, things start to get a little better. It may take years or it can happen in minutes...but...it will happen." His words where like a bad , generic motivational speech...and yet, it made me feel so warm inside. That speech had made me give the most genuine smile I had ever given sense the accident, and it became even more genuine when Stuart had returned it. "You're a really good kit, Nicholas, I can tell you are and once other mammals see that, I'm positive they will love you."

It happened so suddenly, but I couldn't control myself. I was feeling so happy and emotional that I just had to do it. Before he could react I reached over and hugged him. "Thank you Stuart." I said to him in a soft voice. I didn't bother trying to hold back the tears as I continued, "when I do find a family that wants me, I hope they are like you." Stuart chuckled at that and returned the hug.

As I pulled away, I wiped away my tears and took a deep breath. Keeping a smile on my face, I nodded to Stuart and thanked him for the ride as I exited the large truck. As I walked down the path towards the orphanage, I felt so up lifted. I felt a new confidence about me, like my life was about to turn around and start a new. I hope I get to meet Stuart again. I thought to myself. I walked into the building and as I shut the door, I stood there for a minute. I was back at the orphanage, surrounded by mammals that hate me. But I wasn't going to let that bother me. Not anymore. Today is going to be a new day. A new Nick. I thought. I'm going to show the world who I really am and prove I'm more then just a fox. And if mammals don't like me, I'll just keep smiling till they see it too. I had my new resolve. I was ready to face my reality again and change it. I turned to walk down the hall, and just as I took my first step, there was a knock at the door. I turned back at the door, wondering who it could be. "I got it!" I shouted to let everyone else know, and opened the door.

"Stuart?"

There in the door way was the bunny from just a few minutes ago. I was a little confused to see him there. I was nice to see him, of course, but it didn't stop me from wondering why he was still here. I could have sworn I heard him drive away.

"Hey there Nicky. Ha, just uh... just in the neighborhood and thought I'd say hi." Another dad joke. I couldn't help but laugh at it despite my confusion.

"Really now, it's been so long, I'm glad you dropped by." I said in an exaggerated surprise. We both shared a laugh at that. As great it was to talk to him again, I was still wondering why he was here. "Seriously though, why are you still here?"

Stuart let out a sigh, "well... as I was driving away, I got to thinking a bit. I thought that you deserve to go to a good family. The more I was thinking about it, I started to think of ways I could maybe help you find the perfect family for you. Then I suddenly got the most obvious idea." Wait...he posted for a second leaving me to my thoughts. Is he... "now I'm going to have to talk it over the Mrs. first of course to see if it's ok with her fiyand work out the details, but..." is he suggesting that I... then to my relief he finally said it. "How would you like to come live with my family, son?"

Two thoughts ran through my head at that moment. The first had been how happy I was. I finally got the second chance I was just wishing for. The only reaction I could muster was to hug him, to which he returned gratefully. And then the second thought hit me.

I forgot flash.

AN: well another chapter down and many more to come. from here on out is where the real story gets started, and I'm sure you are all wondering how the family will react. well stay tuned to find out. but on that note, I started thinking what will this all be like from judies point of view as well. so I'm wondering if you guys would like to see that as well. if so, how should I do it? should I do every other chapter from her POV? or should I start another story line through her POV? I don't know, let me know what you guys think and if I even should. either way thank you for reading and ill see you next time.