Chapter 27

Its been so long and I can't apologize enough. I just made my chapters too long which made it hard to get them out so I'm limiting them to 6000 words per chapter so I can start to get them out again. Once again I'm so sorry for the long wait and if anyone wants to see some small short stories I've done then you can see them on the Zootopia Amino as I'm not sure about posting them here yet. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter.

"Why...why didn't you tell me this earlier...why did you have to wait all this time?" I questioned the still upset bright auburn furred and green-eyed vixen that was holding on to me for what seemed like dear life in an upset and wavering tone of voice before she began to speak in between her sobs.

"I was going to tell you sooner Ben...but I just couldn't bring myself to tell you...an...an when you left I thought that I would never be able to tell you again." My mum said in a drained and distraught tone of voice before said vixen began to cry once again whilst myself on the other paw tried my hardest not to join in with her again.

"It's not mum's fault Ben...I...I should have tried to find you when you left our house...especially when mum told me the truth about you. I wanted to find you so badly and tell you that we were brothers...I wanted to tell you that I would be there for you and that you could come back home... I should have looked for you instead of just looking out for myself..." Nick said as he pulled away from his embrace on both me and our mum before said fox looked me directly in the eyes with a defeated and saddened look on his auburn furred face to which I shook my head slowly from side to side as tears continued to try and make there way out of my leaf green eyes.

"Its...it's neither mums or your fault Nick...It was me...I...I was just so upset and afraid after my mum...after...my...my aunt died that I just couldn't go back to both you and mum...I...I didn't want you to see how my Dad...my uncle was treating me and I thought...ugh...I thought that It would just be easier to deal with it all on my own...I didn't want to get you two involved." I said as I could feel the tears begin to once again make there way out of my leaf green eyes as I looked down at the hospital floor in shame before I felt a small amount of pressure on my left shoulder which caused me to look up at the sad smiling face of Nick as said fox began to speak in a mirroring tone of voice.

"You didn't have to do that Ben...me and mum would have been over there within a flash if you had told us the truth and there would be nothing that could have stopped us from taking you home with us. We care for you so much Ben...It...it pained me to see you leave when you did and I knew something was wrong when mum tried to ring your houses number and when she did get through it was never you who answered the phone." Nick said in a pained and saddened tone of voice as I nodded my auburn furred head in response to Nick before my mum pulled away from hugging me as she looked at me with the same pained and saddened look that Nick had on his auburn furred face.

"I...I know you might not believe me Ben but I tried so hard to get to you...but each time I tried a wolf officer kept stopping me from seeing you as well as not even allowing me to enter the apartment building. He said that if I tried to get past him then he would arrest me where I was standing." My mum said in a saddened and angered tone of voice as I remembered the wolf officer that my mum was talking about as I nodded my head in understanding to which my mum let out a small sigh.

"I believe you, mum...like I said before it wasn't your fault...and I know who that wolf officer was and in some ways, I'm glad that you didn't try to get past him...he...he was... let's just say he helped my dad...uncle...to beat me up," I said in a pained and saddened tone of voice as I remembered the many times that the officer helped to punch and sometimes claw my body.

"I'm...I'm so sorry you had to go through that Ben...and I know I've said this before but all of the officers in the ZPD would never act like that...I...I swear to you that if I ever find out who that officer is then I will bring him to justice." Nick said in a saddened but determined tone of voice as I looked at said fox before nodding my auburn furred head in response to Nick.

"Thanks, Nick...I'm...I'm glad to have you as a brother," I said in a happier tone of voice to my previous tone which caused Nick to smile widely at me before said fox began to speak again in a mirroring tone of voice to mine.

"Thanks, Ben...that...that really means a lot to me," Nick said to which I gave said fox a small smile before our mum began to speak in a cautious but hopeful tone of voice as said vixen looked at me with a mirroring expression on her auburn furred face.

"Are...are you glad to have me as a mother Ben?" Mum said which caused both me and Nick to look at said vixen with both a shocked and concerned expression on the both of our bright auburn furred and green-eyed faces before I began to speak.

"Of course I am...it...it just might take me a while to fully accept you as my mum...because...well you know..." I said in a troubled but honest tone of voice to which mum nodded her head slowly with a saddened but hopeful look on her face whilst Nick began to speak.

"As much as I would like us all to just get past this Ben does have a point mum...I mean...we have just told him that well...were his actual family...and as much as it...as much as it pains me to say this I don't expect Ben to see me as his brother yet either..." Nick said in a saddened but knowing tone of voice to which our mum nodded her head in understanding as said bright auburn furred vixen looked at me with a mix of both sadness and understanding as I began to speak.

"It's not your fault mum...I...I just need time to adjust and stuff you know." I said in a saddened but honest tone of voice before I turned my leaf green-eyed gaze towards Nick as I began to speak again.

"And thanks, Nick...I...I really want to see you as...my brother but...like I said before its just hard to move on that fast." I said in a saddened but hopeful tone of voice whilst Nick let out a small saddened sigh before he nodded his auburn furred and grass green-eyed head before I myself let out a sigh.

"So...mum, Nick...what now?" I questioned both Nick and mum which caused both foxes to look at me in both surprise and confusion at my sudden question as Nick began to speak in a mirroring tone of voice to the look on his auburn furred face.

"What do you mean what now Ben? You're going to stay here in this room until a doctor says otherwise." Nick said whilst I looked at him with a small defiant smirk on my deep auburn furred face as I began to speak in a matching tone of voice to the smirk on my face.

"Well luckily for you and mum I'm feeling well enough to go and find a doctor to check me out of this hospital," I said before I began to get up and out of my seated position on the hospital bed only for both Nick and mum to quickly but gently set me back down on said bed much to my dislike.

"What are you thinking Ben? How many times do I have to tell you that you're staying here." Nick said in an annoyed but caring tone of voice as I looked at said fox in annoyance before I quickly looked towards mum with a hurt but hopeful look on my deep auburn furred face.

"Mum...please...help me to leave this place," I said in a hopeful and overdramatic tone of voice which caused mum to lightly swat me on the head with her right black-furred paw before speaking in a matching tone of voice to Nicks.

"Nicks right Ben. You should stay in here until a doctor says otherwise...but we can stay here to keep you company if you want us to son...I'm sure there's a lot of stories and memories we can share with each other." Mum said as she looked at me with a small smile on her bright auburn furred face which caused me to look away from said vixen before speaking again.

"Fine...but can I at least get a drink and something to eat," I said in a pleading and hopeful tone of voice to which mum nodded her head in response whilst smiling widely at me as said vixen began to make her way towards the hospital rooms doors before she stopped just outside said doors before turning around to look at both me and Nick.

"Is there anything in particular that you want Ben?" Mum questioned me as I nodded my deep auburn furred head slowly in response before I began to speak.

"A cup of coffee and a blueberry pie if that's OK mum," I said whilst mum nodded her head once again in response before said vixen began to speak once again in a caring and motherly tone of voice.

"Of course it's OK Ben. And what about you Nick. Do you want me to get anything for you?" Mum said to which Nick nodded his auburn furred head in response before he began to speak.

"I'll just have a cup of coffee," Nick said whilst mum gave on the other paw gave Nick a slightly confused look before speaking in a mirroring tone of voice.

"Don't you want anything to eat?" Mum said whilst Nick just shook his head in response before he began to speak in a sly tone of voice.

"I'm alright for now mum. I'll just take some of Bens blueberry pie when you come back." Nick said as he turned his auburn furred head towards me with a sly smile on his face whilst I on the other paw looked at said fox in both annoyance and slight anger before speaking.

"You can try to eat some of my pie but you had better be ready to fight tooth and claw for it, Nick. No mammal gets between me and some blueberry pie." I said whilst Nick continued to smile at me slyly whilst our mum on the other paw began to laugh in amusement.

"Oh its so good to see you two acting like this again. It's almost like your both cubs again." Mum said in a happy and upbeat tone of voice which caused both me and Nick to look towards said vixen in a mix of embarrassment and happiness as Nick turned to me before speaking.

"Did you hear that Ben. Mum thinks your still a little cub." Nick said as he began to laugh whilst I on the other paw let out a small sigh before I began to speak in a sly tone of voice.

"That's not what she said Nick. She said were both acting like we did when we were cubs so in theory mum sees you as a cub too." I said which caused Nick to stop his laughing as he quickly looked at me to mum with a surprised and slightly embarrassed look on his auburn furred face.

"The both of you are still little cubs to me alright. And no matter how much you both grow up that's how I'll always see you." Mum said in a happy and joyous tone of voice before she quickly made her way over to both me and Nick before she trapped the two of us in a strong hug.

"Mum...cant...breathe.." I said trying my hardest to speak even though I was struggling to breathe along with Nick as I noticed said fox's grass green eyes begin to water due to the tightness of the hug.

"Ok, I'll be back as soon as I can alright. And when I get back you two had better have some good stories to tell me or I'll have to show Judy some pictures of you when you were young." Mum said before she released her strong hug on both me and Nick which allowed the both of us to regain our breathing whilst our mum began to make her way back toward the door.

"You wouldn't show those pictures to Judy...would you mum?" Nick asked the bright auburn furred and green-eyed vixen that was our mum as said vixen turned to face Nick with a wide smile plastering her face.

"That's for me to know and for you to find out Nicholas," Mum said to which I couldn't help but laugh as Nicks' ears splayed back against his auburn furred head in worry before mum turned her green-eyed gaze onto me which caused me to cease my laughter almost immediately.

"I don't know why your laughing Benjamin. I'm sure Dave would love to see pictures of you when you were a cub...I think I have a good one of you when you got your paw stuck in the cookie jar and you came to me crying saying that it was eating your arm." Mum said in a humorous and sly tone of voice as I felt my ears begin to make there way against the back of my deep auburn furred head before I began to speak in a nervous tone of voice.

"You're kidding right?" I questioned the still sly smiling bright auburn furred vixen that was my mum as said vixen began to speak in a matching tone of voice to her smile.

"As I've already said to Nick Ben that's for me to know and for you to find out. Just hope that you both have a good story to tell me when I get back." Mum said as she gave both me and Nick a small wave before she made her way out of the hospital room leaving both me and Nick to look at each other with both worry and slight fear plastered on our faces.

"Do you think...she would really show those pictures?" I questioned Nick to which said fox nodded his head slowly before speaking in a low tone of voice as if he wasn't sure if mum had fully gone.

"She would show those pictures in a heartbeat if we don't do what she wants. She's been wanting to show those pictures to other mammals for years and seeing that were a whole family again she has more of a motive to show them." Nick said as I let out a small whimper at the thought of Dave and other mammals like Judy, Jerry and Ryan seeing the pictures whilst our mother would be laughing at our reactions.

"We...we can't let that happen, Nick...I mean...what if mum showed the pictures to Bogo...your reputation as an officer would be ruined." I said sounding a bit more upbeat and joking towards the end of my sentence as I began to realize that the photos would have more of an impact on Nick as said foxes eyes widened in realization to what I had just said.

"It seems that your situation is worse than mine Nick. I guess there are some advantages to being a con artist." I said as I smirked at the now irritated and sad looking auburn furred and leaf green eyed fox that was Nick.

"There aren't any advantages to being a con artist Ben. You should be doing something better with your life. You could be so much more." Nick said in a supportive and hopeful tone of voice as I couldn't help but lose my smirk and my happy attitude as I looked at Nick in a mix of both sadness and annoyance before I began to speak in a mirroring tone of voice.

"And let me guess Nick. Being so much more is me becoming a police officer?" I questioned said fox as Nick began to nod his auburn furred head slowly in response to which I let out a tired sigh before I began to speak again.

"Listen, Nick...becoming a police officer...isn't that simple for me..." I said whilst Nick on the other paw gave me an annoyed but still hopeful look as he began to speak once again.

"And why isn't it simple for you Ben? I was a con artist too and I still changed my life around and becoming an officer of the law really helped me to do that Ben." Nick said as I began to shake my head from side to side before I began to speak once again.

"Listen to me, Nick. like I've said before I'll think about it. You need to give me some space and time to let me make this decision for myself and besides didn't you say that you'd support me no matter what my decision is." I said to which caused Nick to freeze briefly before I began to speak again in a slightly saddened but joking tone of voice due to Nicks reaction.

"I knew you'd do something like that," I said which caused Nick to look away from me with a sad and troubled look on his auburn furred face before he began to speak in a mirroring tone of voice to the expression on his face.

"Ben...I don't know how I can get you to think straightly about this. But you have to know that there's only one good choice between being an officer and a con artist. You would be safer as a ZPD officer. You would have more reliable and trustworthy friends and you'd have the whole ZPD to help you in situations...and you...you wouldn't be here instead." Nick said which caused me to look at said auburn furred and green-eyed fox in a questioning way before I began to speak.

"And whats that supposed to mean Nick?" I questioned Nick in a suspicious and questioning tone of voice as said fox looked at me with a saddened and slightly angered look on his auburn furred face as he began to speak again.

"Ben...I...I know who knocked you out...and...I'm the one who let him escape." Nick said continuing his previous saddened and angered tone of voice as I couldn't help but stare at Nick in both confusion and slight anger at what Nick had just said.

"You know who nocked me out and you let them escape? Why would you do that Nick? I thought police officers were meant to catch criminals, not let them go." I said in a frustrated and angered tone of voice as I glared at Nick which caused said fox to look away from me before speaking.

"Because...you would have done the same thing if you were in my situation," Nick said in a low and unsure tone of voice whilst I couldn't help but let out a huff of frustration before I began to speak continuing my previous angry and frustrated tone of voice.

"And why would I do that Nick?" I questioned Nick as said fox turned to face me with a look of both anger and regret present on his auburn furred and emerald green eyed face before he began to speak.

"Because it was Finnick OK. Finnick was the one who knocked you out and...and I couldn't arrest him...I should have but...but I didn't." Nick said in a low and defeated tone of voice whilst I on the other paw looked at said auburn furred and emerald green eyed fox in shock to what he had just said.

"Finnick knocked me out? How did he even manage to do that...he's..so small?" I questioned Nick in confusion which caused a small sad chuckle from Nick before said fox began to speak.

"If he heard you say that Ben then he would probably knock you out again," Nick said in a more humorous tone of voice which caused me to smile before I began to speak in an understanding and calm tone of voice.

"I think I know why you didn't arrest Finnick Nick. I mean how long have you known him? five maybe six years?" I questioned Nick to which said fox nodded his auburn furred and emerald green eyed head before I let out a sigh.

"Hey in some ways I bet Finnick kind of saved you...I mean I was hit with nightholwers...I'm sure I was going out of control." I joked which caused Nick to shake his head before said fox gazed at me with a slightly sad but amazed look plastered on his auburn furred and emerald green eyed face.

"That's the thing, Ben. You didn't go savage...well you only went a bit crazed when you were first hit by the nightholwer but the only thing you really did was growl." Nick said in an honest and slightly amazed tone of voice which caused me to let out a surprised sigh before I began to speak once again.

"Well, I'm just glad that I didn't hurt anyone. I don't know what I would have done if I ended up hurting you or Judy." I said as I looked down at my black furred paws in slight shame before Nick placed his right black-furred paw on my left auburn furred shoulder in a reassuring way before he began to speak in a matching tone of voice.

"Well rest assured that you didn't do anything of the sort. The only thing that you did was scare the crap out of me." Nick said in a joking tone of voice which caused me to let out a small chuckle as I brushed Nicks paw off with my own black-furred paw.

"How could you be scared of me, Nick. I'm just your younger brother." I said in an innocent tone of voice which caused Nick to chuckle before said fox punched me lightly in the arm.

"Ow Nick. How could you hit a mammal who's in a hospital?" I questioned Nick in a fake hurt tone of voice which caused Nick to look at me with a sly smile plastered on his auburn furred and emeralds green-eyed face before I let out a small sigh.

"Nick...seeing as you told me about you and mum being my brother and mother...can I tell you something that...well its going to sound absolutely crazy to you," I said in a sad but joking tone of voice which caused Nick to look at me in confusion as said fox began to speak in a mirroring tone of voice.

"Now what could you tell me that would sound crazy to me?" Nick questioned me as I let out a small chuckle before I began to think about how I was going to say this to Nick.

"Nick...do you remember when I said if you actually knew me?" I questioned Nick to which said fox nodded his auburn furred and emerald green eyed head in response before I continued to speak.

"Nick...I meant what I said. I've...I've already been through a lot since coming here and...to be honest...I really don't know how I got here in the first place." I said in a saddened but slightly joking tone of voice whilst Nick on the other paw looked at me in both confusion and surprise as said fox began to speak in a mirroring tone of voice.

"What do you mean you don't know how you got here? And how many times do I have to tell you, Ben, you're my brother. So if I didn't know you then...well...why would I be here? Why would I go out of my way to visit some mammal I didn't know?" Nick said in a slightly angered and concerned tone of voice whilst I couldn't" help but let out a small tired sigh before I began to speak again.

"Listen to me Nick...I...you know what forget about it," I said in a tired and joking tone of voice as I waved my right black furred to exaggerate my point whilst Nick on the other paw looked at me in a mix of both concern and what I thought was slight fear as said fox nodded his head slowly in confirmation.

"Oh, what are you two boys talking about? I hope its something interesting because I promised you that If you didn't have a story for me when I got back then I would unleash photos of you both when you were cubs." The familiar and friendly voice of mine and Nicks mum said from the door as said vixen made her way towards the two of us with a bag held in her right black-furred paw.

"Of course we are mum," Nick said in a faked confident and happy tone of voice as said fox looked at me for support to which I nodded my deep auburn furred head in confirmation before speaking in a similar tone of voice to Nicks.

"I was just telling Nick about how I met Finnick when I got into Zootopia," I said whilst mum looked at both me and Nick as If we had just had a fight with each other as the stern looking vixen began to speak in a matching tone of voice to the look plastered on her auburn furred face.

"How could the two of you lie directly to my face?" Mum said in a tired and slightly annoyed tone of voice as said vixen took a seat next to the two of us before she placed the bag down on the floor that she had been holding in her right black-furred paw.

"So since you two obviously don't have a story to tell me I think that ill have to use these!" Mum proclaimed in a sly and happy tone of voice as said bright auburn furred and green-eyed vixen quickly pulled out a stash of photos from her purple dress before flashing the photos in front of the two of us in a slightly mocking way.

"H...how did you get those?" Nick said in a shocked and fearful tone of voice as said auburn furred and emerald green eyed fox looked at our mum in terror as said bright auburn furred and green-eyed vixen let out a small innocent chuckle before she began to speak.

"Oh, I always have these on me, Nicholas. These are my favorite photos of both you and Ben when you were younger. Some of these photos are absolutely priceless." Mum said in a happy yet sly tone of voice as said vixen smiled at the two of us and our still terrified and shocked faces.

"Please mum...I'm begging you...don't show those photos to any mammal...well do anything you want!" Nick said in a cautious and fearful tone of voice as said auburn furred and emerald green eyed fox's ears splayed back against his head whilst I on the other paw nodded my deep auburn furred head in agreement with Nick.

"Nicks right mum...we'll do anything as long as you don't show those photos...I'll even take you out to the fanciest restaurant in Zootoia as many times as you want!" I said to which my mum put her right black-furred paw to her head in thought before letting out a small chuckle and smiling at both me and Nick before speaking.

"I have one thing that I want from the both of you if you want me to keep these photos hidden," Mum said in a sly and happy tone of voice whilst me and Nick looked at each other in worry before gulping.

"You'd better have a really good reason for being here Finnick or so help me Ill show you how I became the first rabbit officer!" The grey-furred and violet-eyed rabbit that was Judy Hopps said in a warning and angry tone of voice as said rabbit approached the sand furred and deep brown eyed fennec fox that was Finnick.

"Officer Hopps is right fox. According to her, you're the animal who caused my best friend to be put in this hospital." The towering dark brown eyed polar bear that was Dave said in an aggressive and slightly sly tone of voice which caused the small sand furred fox that was Finnick to shake slightly in fear.

"H...hey Judy...who are these mammals that you're with?" Finnick said in a faked confident and happy tone of voice as said fennec fox looked at both the angered faces of Judy and Dave as well as the disapproving gaze of Jerry.

"What do you mean Judy...I never hit Ben at all...why would I do that I'm his friend after all right?" Finnick said in a worried and skittish tone of voice as said fennec foxes previous faked tone of voice had crumbled as he gazed in fear at the mammals in front of him.

"I don't believe you for a second fox!" Dave said in an aggressive tone of voice as said polar bear lowered himself to Finnics small height before growling lightly at the fennec which caused said fox's ears and tail to lower down in fear.

"You can't lie to me Finnick. Nick already told me that you did it." Judy said as she approached Finnick with a scowl plastered on her grey-furred and violet-eyed face as said rabbit tapped Dave on the back which caused said polar bear to back away from the fearful looking fennec.

"Listen Finnick...I just want to know why you did it?" Judy said in a more friendly and calm tone of voice as said rabbit gave Finnick a small trusting smile which caused the sand furred and hazel eyed fennec fox to relax slightly as the worried look on his face began to slowly disappear.

"Because...Ben was savage...and...and I thought he was going to hurt Nick...I didn't know who he was originally Judy...I swear...I would have done something else if I knew" Finnick said in a regretful and slightly ashamed tone of voice whilst both Judy and Dave began to feel guilty for the way they were acting before the strong sounding voice of Jerry interrupted everyone.

"So are we still going to rough him up a bit?" Jerry said in a joking tone of voice as said light grey-furred and bright green eyed rabbit looked at both Dave and Judy who only glared angrily at said rabbit.

"I guess not then," Jerry said continuing his joking tone of voice before said rabbit let out a little chuckle which was stopped by Judy as she smacked Jerry lightly on the head with her right paw.

"Well then Finnick if that's the case I think you need to apologize to Ben," Judy said in a slightly serious and knowing tone of voice as said grey-furred and bright purple eyed rabbit began to lead the way back to the room where Ben was whilst Jerry, Dave and Finnick followed close behind the rabbit.

"I sure hope Nick has calmed down," Finnick muttered to himself in slight worry as said sand furred and hazel eyed fennec fox followed behind the group with his ears lowered and tail tucked between his legs.

"Do we really have to do this mum?" I questioned the bright auburn furred and emerald green eyed vixen in embarrassment to which said vixen nodded her head quickly in response with a bright smile plastered on her face.

"Yes. If you don't want me to show you these photos then you two had better make this count." Mum said excitedly as she took her phone out to take a photo before she lowered said phone down before glaring at Nick.

"Nicholas you get back in the shot right now or I will show every mammal those photos!" Mum said in a slightly stern but happy tone of voice whilst I turned to look at Nick who let out a deep sigh before speaking in an embarrassed tone of voice.

"Okay, mum...but are you sure you don't want to do anything else?... I mean I look stupid." Nick said as he motioned towards the black trousers and the white long sleeved buttoned up shirt he was wearing whilst I on the other paw just glared at said fox in slight hurt.

"Hey I like those clothes and besides I look twice as stupid as you," I said in a slightly irritated and embarrassed tone of voice similar to Nicks as I looked at the light green Hawaiian shirt and beige trousers I was wearing before I turned and mouthed the words "these suck" to Nick which caused said fox to give me a sly glare.

"Come on you two the more time you grumble the longer this will take," Mum said in a knowing tone of voice before both me and Nick sighed in unison before smiling at mum whilst holding up an arrow each with the opposite mammal's name on it which caused mum to let out a small chuckle.

"That's perfect you two," Mum said happily before she pulled out her phone before snapping a photo of both me and Nick.

"Oh, you two are so cute," Mum said before both me and Nick let out a tired sigh before we both began to take off the clothes that we were in before changing back into our own.

"That's the last time we're doing that," I said in a mock angered tone of voice to mum which caused said vixen to place a paw over her heart mockingly with a smile whilst Nick nodded his auburn furred head in agreement to me.

"Right. Seeing as that's all now done and mums here what did you want to tell me, Ben?" Nick questioned me in a serious tone of vice as said fox glared at me with his emerald green eyes.

"What does Nicholas mean Ben?" Mum questioned me in a confused and worried tone of voice before I let out a loud saddened sigh as I looked at my hind black furred paws.

"Mum. Nick...you have to believe me when I say this...but I'm not a fox."