Nicole's point of view
After comforting Nathan about his night terrors, I began to make my preparations for the day ahead, changing into the appropriate clothes, checking my resume and putting on makeup. As I finished, I made my way towards the kitchen, scrounging up a quick breakfast to sate both my boy and my morning appetite, it wasn't anything special, just some slightly singed pancakes with some golden syrup on top.
As I finished cooking up the last of the pancake batter, I quickly called out to my son "Nathan, breakfast is ready" I beckoned.
"Coming" was his reply. I took a seat by the kitchen counter; with breakfast all set out on the table, waiting for Nathan to come out. While waiting for him, I decided to have a little fun teasing my adorable sweet red fox.
I scooped up a pancake with a fork, the smell was amazing "Mmmm, these pancakes sure are delicious" I announced out loud, as I took a bite, making sure to savour the sweet taste in the loudest possible manner.
"Noooo, leave some for me!" he shouted, I could only smile and laugh at his adorable little pleas.
"Better hurry up before they're all gone!" I taunted.
Finally, Nathan came out of his room, all dressed and ready for the day; he scurried over towards the kitchen counter, frantically trying to climb the kitchen stool. His tail was wagging frantically; he was excited about breakfast. I gently plucked him up and sat him on the kitchen stool, I watched from the side, as he happily ate the pancakes.
"How are they? Hope they're not too burnt" I asked.
"They're the best, mom" he cried, with his mouth full, I smiled as I continue to watch him enjoy his meal.
"Well I'm glad you like them, sweetheart" I replied as I caressed his head "Mommy's going to be busy today, so your uncle is going to be looking after you, okay?" I announced, hoping that nothing unexpected would happen today or tonight.
"Okay," he replied, finishing his pancakes.
"Done?" I asked as I glanced over at the kitchen clock.
"Done!" he yelped, his muzzle covered with pancake crumbs.
I knelt and reached over my baby boy, with both my paws, I held him still while I gave him a thorough tongue bath, licking up all the crumbs on his muzzle.
"Mom that tickles" he protested, I finished up cleaning Nathan's muzzle of crumbs and proceeded to pat down any crumbs on my clothes, straightening my shirt from any creases.
"Alright, let's not keep your uncle waiting" I replied.
Downtown Zootopia: Bus 21
A nice sunny beautiful day, I could have spent it with my sweet kit at the park; instead, I have to spend it looking for a job, 'Isn't life just great' I thought to myself. I glanced around the bus, it was empty, except for me and Nathan. Normally we would walk over to the place where my brother works because it was close to home, but today I felt too lazy to walk 'Must be the pancakes' I thought to myself. Suddenly, I felt someone tugging at my tail, I gazed at whoever was touching it and found nothing but an overly energetic red fox kit "Nathan sweetie, please leave mommy's tail alone" I whispered.
"But it's so fluffy and soft" he replied, hugging my tail.
I smiled at him 'well, he's not doing any harm' I thought to myself, "I suppose it is kind of fluffy, you want to know why?" I asked him.
"Why?" he asked, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"It's for keeping warm during winter" I answered.
"I wish my tail was as fluffy as yours" he replied, staring at his own little bushy red tail.
"One day it will be sweetie, believe me, when I was your age, my tail was as hairless as an elephant's trunk, and look at it now" I assured him, giving my tail a shake in show.
"But it'll never be as fluffy as you, I'm not an arctic…" he pouted, ears laying flat.
"Oh sweetheart, you may look like your father, but you've got my genes, arctic genes. You'll be the fluffiest red fox in all of Zootopia"
"Really!?" he asked, ears perked high with tail wagging in excitement.
"Really" I replied as I looked back out the window, the bus was coming to a halt "This is our stop, come on Nathan" I beckoned, as I held out my paw.
Downtown Zootopia Wilde Suit-topia
As the blue bus rolled to a stop, I grabbed my boy's paw, and led him off the bus 'Wilde suit-topia' I thought to myself, here we were, at last. As I thought back, I guess it was rather obvious that my relationship with Nick was never a serious one, not once did he ever take me to meet his parents, not once.
'Makes it all the easier to leave' I sighed.
Still, it was probably for the best, if Nick's dad found out about whom I was to Nick, but more importantly, if he found out about Nathan, I shuddered at the thought.
We stood outside the store; I felt my heartbeat slowly rise as I realized what lies within the shop. I felt the same feeling I felt when I saw Nick, fear, "Stay calm" I whispered to myself, 'Nick's dad doesn't even know, just got to stay calm and act natural' I thought.
I suddenly felt Nathan pulling my paw, he walked towards the shop window and pulled me along, he stopped to look at whatever was on display. I looked up and saw just what he was looking at, wedding dresses and suits "winter, the breeding and wedding season" I muttered under my breath.
"What's wedding season, mom?" asked Nathan, in a confused tone. I looked down at him, smiling at his cute curiosity.
"Well, wedding season is a time of year, when people get married. And for us foxes, its winter or autumn" I answered.
"Oh, okay" he replied, as he returned to gazing at the beautiful white wedding dresses.
As I looked back at the dresses, I noticed my reflection, replacing the mannequin which wore the gown; it was a perfect fit, for my reflection anyway. "It's too late for that now" I mumbled to myself, for some strange reason, speaking those words felt like I was giving up on something, that unknown desire that I felt buried inside my heart, one that I couldn't describe. I shook the thought aside "Come on Nathan" I beckoned.
As we entered the store, the shopkeeper's bell rung, signalling our entry to whoever that was inside, I took one look around the shop 'No sign of Paul'. I thought back to the arrangement I made with my brother, he promised that he would be here and that I wouldn't have to run into Nick's dad, needless to say, that plan is now abandoned. Panicked as to what to do, I quickly blurted to my boy "Come on Nathan, let's leave"
"But we just got here" he protested, I was just about to argue back when I was suddenly interrupted by an unknown voice.
"May I...help you?" asked the unknown voice.
I felt terror and dizziness enter my body, I froze, too afraid to find out who the voice belonged to, I closed my eyes 'Just act natural' I thought.
I turned to face the mysterious voice; it belonged to an elderly red fox, who I presumed was the owner of Wilde Suit-topia and Nick's dad. John P. Wilde.
"I'm uh...looking for Paul, have you um...seen him?" I replied, giving off a fake smile. In reality, behind that smile, was a scared and panicked Arctic fox, I felt my ears stand to alertness in preparation of danger. I was hoping to get a simple answer and quickly leave before anything unexpected happens.
"Not since yesterday I'm afraid" he answered "Might I ask, why you're looking for him?" he asked with a tone of doubt in his voice, as he raised his ears in suspicion.
I felt myself tensing up, I was too afraid to even think, I felt the horrible feeling that he could read my mind, I took a deep breath to try to calm myself.
"Oh well, I'm his sister" I replied, in a more calm manner.
"Oh, you must be the one he was talking about" declared John.
"He...I...he talks about me a-a lot?" I replied, with a shaky voice. I was afraid that idiotic brother of mine, might have let off more than he should have, afraid that John might have already somehow found out.
"Well...no, not really, he just mentioned you once," corrected John "Misses?" he asked.
I felt a wave of relief pass over 'he doesn't know, not yet' I thought to myself, I felt myself starting to slowly relax. "White, it's just Miss. White...I'm afraid" I answered.
"Oh, uh...I'm sorry" blurted John in surprise, as his ears lowered in embarrassment, he took his attention to something else, as he crouched down towards Nathan "And who's this?" he asked.
"This is my son, Nathan" I replied, I was starting to feel nervous again "Say hi, honey" I ushered to my son.
"Hello" replied Nathan.
"Hello Nathan, my name's John Wilde, pleased to meet you" stated John, as he shook Nathan's paw, "You know, you remind me of my boy when he was your age"
"Really? Did he look like me?" he asked.
"Oh yes, you look exactly like him, I remember a time when he was nine years old when he wanted to join the scouts, he..."
"Anyway, I think we should be going now" I interrupted, remembering that I have a couple of job interviews later.
"Oh? Sorry to keep you then" replied John as he stood up.
"Come on hun" I beckoned, as I held out my paw.
As Nathan and I left the store, I heard John shout out a goodbye, just before the door closed. Once outside, I realized that I had no idea what to do, without Paul, there was no one eligible to look after Nathan "Damn it, Paul, where are you" I mumbled in frustration.
Nathan looked at me in confusion "So what do we do now?" he asked.
"I have no idea, sweetie" I answered, flustered, I let out a loud sigh.
Just as I finished letting out a sigh, a Black Sedan stop in front of the store, I was going to ignore it until I noticed just who was inside the car, it was Paul and a grey wolf on the driver's side 'Just what has my brother gotten himself into now?' I wondered.
As Paul got out of the car, I crossed my arms, in my mind, I was quite upset that I had to put up with that horrendous experience just before, while my brother was probably 'enjoying' himself. As the Black Sedan drove off, I approached my soon to be ex-brother
"Just where the hell have you been!" I yelled "You have no idea, what I've just been through! Who was that?! And why do you smell like a wolf?" I ranted "Well?!" I shouted waiting for an answer; meanwhile, I could hear Nathan giggling to himself from the side.
"Ah...w-well..." stuttered Paul, clearly surprised at my behaviour, he raised his paws in defence, while his ears were lowered in a sign of submission and fear "First, I was at a friend's place" he answered, taking a step towards the store "Second, that was a friend, whom I just made last night" he stumbled on his tail while slowly walking towards the door "And third, it's a long story" he declared, as he backed into the doorway, fumbling around for the door handle.
I sighed heavily to myself 'It can't be helped' I thought, "I'll let you off this time, just make sure you look after your nephew" I reminded, I crouched down towards my son, "Okay sweetie, you be good for your uncle okay?" I asked.
"Where are you going?" asked Nathan, his voice filled with concern.
"Don't worry, I'll be back soon, mommy's just got some things she has to do" I assured him.
He then pulled me in for a tight hug "Come back soon, okay?" he whispered.
"I will" I replied, returning the hug.
After a brief moment, Paul came up and stood next to Nathan "Uh sis" he asked "I think it's time you start heading off" he reminded.
"Oh, yes" I agreed, I let go of my precious boy and stood up, straightening myself out "Well, this is it, you remember what to do right?" I asked my brother.
"Yep, don't worry, as long as Nathan's with me, he'll be fine" assured Paul, as he patted his nephew's head.
"Right, goodbye then" I declared, looking at both my son and brother, I waved my paw in the air, and they did the same in response. Feeling nervous, I turned around and walked away.
Paul's Point of View
As Nicole walked deeper into the city, I felt a deep feeling like I'd forgotten to tell her something 'Oh well' I thought. Suddenly, I heard Nathan speaking to me "You smell funny, Uncle" he revealed as he covered his nose.
I took a sniff at myself in response "must be the smell of wolf and alcohol, boy I need a shower" I mumbled. "So, how about we head inside" I insisted "Come on" I beckoned my nephew, holding out my paw.
'Back into familiar territory,' I thought to myself, as we entered the store. Upon our entrance, John was the first to greet us, with both of his arms crossed and an annoying look on his muzzle.
"Ah, you're finally back, so, where've you been?" he asked.
"Sorry John, uh hold up a second" I answered back, as I hung up my coat.
I crouched down towards Nathan "How about you take a look around, explore for a bit?" I asked him.
"Okay" he replied, as he went off, in an exploration of the store, 'I wonder what the place looks like with the imagination of a kit'.
I got back up and turned to John "Sorry John, you were saying?" I asked.
"I...I oh god..." he cried, taking a step back, and covering his nose.
I took another sniff at myself, before retching at the odour, the smell of wolf was starting to foul the air. I tried to apologise to John, before I noticed that he had retreated into the shop, remerging back with a bottle of what I could assume to be deodoriser as he gave it to me.
Taking the bottle, I began spraying every part of my body that would be the source of the odour.
As I was sniffing and spraying myself John started to talk "Well anyways, I met your sister just then" he revealed, "She seemed to be worried about something..."
"Oh uhhhh she's got some job interviews coming up, you know how it is" I assured.
John walked closer towards me, he took a glance to where Nathan was and turned back towards me, "I noticed your sister has a kit, but uh, she doesn't have a mate" he whispered.
My heart started beating faster 'He's asking too much' I thought. "Well, the uhhh...no good Tod ran out on her" I declared.
"Oh, my, that's terrible. I sure hope he gets what's coming to him" replied John.
I started to feel a small bit of guilt residing within me, I felt the urge to tell him everything, but I couldn't.
Suddenly I heard the shop door swing open, and the shopkeeper's bell being rung, both John and I stared at whoever entered the shop, it was Nick.
"Oh hey, Nic.." I stopped mid-sentence, I felt my eyes widening and my ears lowering in realization, 'Crap' I thought to myself, 'Nathan's here, Nick's here, if Nathan sees him, then John's going to find out!'
Quickly I rushed over and shoved Nick out the door "Nick, I have something very important I need to talk to you about outside!" I blurted out.
As the door closed on us, I turned to Nick "What are you doing here?!" I blurted.
"Calm down Paul, I just came here to talk to you" he replied in an annoyed tone, as he straightened his clothes.
"You want to talk? Fine not here, let's go someplace else, just give me a second" I replied, I went back into the store to get my nephew and to say goodbye to John "Nathan? Come here, we're going" I beckoned, as I grabbed my coat.
I turned to John "I'm sorry John, but I'm going to have end my shift early today, I'll make it up to you on Monday if that's alright with you" I asked.
"Sure, Monday, just remember to place an order for some Organza and Chiffon with Simon by then" he answered. As my nephew walked towards me, I heard John mumbling to himself "Poor guy, I wonder where his father is..."
As the door closed, I made sure John wasn't looking; luckily, he went back towards the back of the store. I took him outside, towards Nick "Dad!" he shouted in excitement, running towards Nick, hugging his legs tightly.
Nick smiled as he looked down at him "Hey bud, what are you doing here?" he asked.
"Mom needed to do something, so she left me with Uncle" he replied.
Nick then turned towards me "So, how about a cup of coffee? I'm buying" he offered.
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