Could Things Get Any Worst?

"Bogo, we don't have to do this." Nick whined, holding his head, as it throbbed from pain. He didn't get much sleep; it was really showing and taking a toll on him. Plus adding more pressure to his stress level. For the past 20 minutes, he's been pacing back and forth, in his boss's office. Bogo massaged his temples, eyes closed.

"Wilde. We've been over this." the water buffalo said exhaustly behind his desk.

"Yes, I know, but. Can't they just send me an apology card instead?" he let go of his head, "This does not have to be a public thing." Nick at this point, was leaning on Bogo's window. He was getting really agitated, so to help distract himself from the situation; he would pull at the blinds, with one finger, to watch what was going on outside the office.

"Wilde." Bogo sighed. "You know as an officer, that any assault to another officer, means for a public apology."

"Not if I decide to not press any charges." Nick was trying his best to stay cool, but his act was slipping. His tail was swooshing back and forth to the point of it just being more like a flick. His foot was tapping and his other paw was quietly shaking fast; but more in a 'so so' paw motion. Not really out of anger, but more to being nervous. He licked his lip where it was busted open. It was scabbed up now but still hurt. It made him think of the muzzle incident. Feeling so helpless. Everyone could see his emotions, right then and there. When his walls were broken open. Everyone saw what he really was feeling, and he hated that. He didn't want to face them again. He could almost see them laughing at him. 'Awwwwww… Is he going to cry!' He started to hyperventilate a little. Enough that no one could tell. Bogo on the other paw, was getting annoyed that the issues were not getting resolved.

"Wilde!-" The Chief voice was getting louder. All the stress Nick was feeling at that moment; he couldn't keep those walls up anymore. It felt as if his emotions exploded.

"OH, THIS IS A BUNCH OF BULL SHIT! And you know it!" All his twitches stopped as if the energy found a new way to get released, and that was his voice. He let go of the blinds he was pulling down, and snapped around to face his boss. "And I don't need someone telling me what to do! If I don't want a public apology! IT'S. NOT. HAPPENING." He growled and his breathing was heavy at this point, as his face looked like it was ready for a fight, for it was all squished up.

"Lock that door." Bogo responded quietly. Nick's whole posture changed, his eyes went wide and his body coward down. "NOW!" Bogo boomed. 'Oh, you are in it now Wilde…' Nick thought. Through the small gaps of the blinds, he could see and hear other mammals rushing away from the office. They do love their gossip, but they knew from the sound of that voice, it meant Business. Better yet, they didn't want to be seen by an angry Chief. Nick quickly latched the door. "Sit. Down." He pointed to the empty chair, his words were like venom. Seeping through his mouth. Nick followed his order obediently. "Now." Nick didn't know what to do. "How do you feel…" Bogo's persona changed, instead of being aggressive, and intimidating. He was kind and soft. Nick honestly didn't know what was more terrifying.

"Uhhhhhhh…" Nick was trying to collect his scrambled thoughts, 'fucked.' He thought before saying, "Scared. Sir." He felt so small. The water buffalo just nodded.

"Do you know anything about my…" He stopped, almost as if he was debating if he should tell him this. "My wife." He coughed. Nick shook his head. Bogo just laughed in one short "Huh, no..." He blinked and slowly spaced out. "You wouldn't." He had a slow and sad smirk.

"You know, Wilde." Bogo seemed more relaxed. He leaned into his chair and placed his hooves behind his head. "I used to be quite the mammal back in my younger days."

"And. You're not now?" Nick tilted his head frontward, raised a brow, and became a little more relaxed himself.

"Ha! Not even close." Bogo shook his head. "In high, I was quite popular. I had tons of friends; all said I was funny, need I remind you. Said that I should be a comedian." His smile only grew stronger. Nick didn't know if he was telling the truth or lying, either way, to think of Bogo of all mammals, funny. That's pretty hilarious as it is. "But not Bell. Not that she didn't think I was funny, no she would love to laugh at all I would say. Bell-my wife, we were high school sweethearts. No, she is the one who convinced me to work hard and be part of the police crew. Without her encouragement and support, I would have never... be here right now." His smile left, as he was quiet for a moment. "Anyway," he said shaking his head and sighing. "Bell, she is something I tell you." thinking about her made him smile again.

"She may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but she sure is the most kind… Thoughtful… And beautiful… Her heart is so pure…" Bogo felt his eyes tearing up, so he blinked a few times. "We uhhhh… We wanted a calf. One of our own. But… After so many failed attempts…" Bogo shook his head and closed his eyes. "I finally begged her to stop. For the last few attempts-lets just say, I was close to be losing two love ones that day. Yet she kept insisting, despite what others told her. And finally, she got pregnant again. And I was so scared of losing her, but not she. Not she… She was just so happy. And after a month passed. And another one. I too became hopeful. I would be so proud! I told everyone 'I'm going to be a dad!' Or 'He or she will have my toughness and its mother's soft touch.'" Nick didn't know why his boss was telling him all this, but he knew it was a very touchy subject. He remained quiet and alert as Bogo went on. He saw him act like this.

"Now. My wife and I love each other very much. But, that doesn't mean we don't have our arguments. In fact, if every relationship didn't have its weak spots. There is something wrong with them." Bogo laughed, and also brought out a smile on Nick's muzzle as well. "Yeah." He sighed. "Now, what we were arguing about, was something so small so stupid. Every day from work, I would get so exhausted-physically. Again, this is when I was out in the field, running all the time. I would track in mud all over the house, and she would have to clean it up, to the point she just had enough. But I was so tired, I didn't care. Now, usually when we get into fights, one of us would call the other to make up, and everything would go back to normal. But oh was this agreement a bad one. I just remembered storming out that night, heading to work, and sleeping in my car. How selfish… Could I be… Making his pregnant wife clean up his mess…

"Anyway. The next morning I released my anger through work. I did get a call, but I ignored it. I didn't want to make amends. Not quite yet. It wasn't until the 3rd call I felt bad, and answered." He paused. "It was the hospital. They said we lost the calf… And-and that I…" He choked. "I lost her. As well." Nick was completely quiet, his mind was completely empty. His ears laid back, and paws folded in his lap. He could tell that Bogo's voice was quivering. His boss started to stare at nowhere in particular. "I blamed myself so much. All these years. After a week after her passing. I didn't know how to go on. I didn't want to move on. I didn't want any of her stuff to be touched. I was just waiting for her to magically walk back through those doors." He looked back down at Nick. "That's how I got to be where I am In fact. I worked myself to the bone for her. Hopping that I would pay it back to her. Make her proud. I've been so focused on work. That I've lost my friends, and what little left I had of my family. I didn't want to get close to anyone, anymore. It hurt too much to know that it will all end one day. And I couldn't deal with the pain. So, whenever I got too close to something, I would end things before I could develop any strong feelings. Or before anyone does the same for me…

"After about a month passed, I got robbed. Almost my whole house and everything it possessed. Gone. At first, I was angry, but then I thought it was a blessing. I didn't have to deal with all that pain anymore. Worrying what to keep and throw away. The job was already done. I was so relieved, it scared others. I didn't even want to press any charges. Despite what everyone told me. It would be an easy arresting. They left tons of evidence." Bogo kept studying Nick. "It was two that committed the crime. A coyote. And a fox." Nick felt Bogo's cold eyes on him. Bringing a chill with it. "Three days go by. And another robbery. A moose family. A father. A mother. And their weeks old calf daughter. All shot dead. Over $50 worth of jewelry. 50 dollars for 3 lives. and it was the same coyote and fox that I let go. I thought that they learned a lesson to not do it again. I thought that they would also take my kindness as a blessing. The coyote was quiet, while the fox tried every tactic to get out of this. He denied everything, despite! The evidence!" Bogo snorted. The whole room was heavy and thick. The water buffalo, leaned on his desktop, to get a bit closer to Nick.

"Do you remember what I said when I first met you?" Nick didn't move, more blinked or even spoke. "'You think I'm going to believe a fox' I was wrong to believe all foxes were like that, officer. and I'm deeply sorry." Bogo slumped back into his chair. "Hopps changed how things were thought here-YOU helped change how things were thought here. But those cops, in Yelp City." He pointed nowhere in particular, "They don't have anyone like you two. They are stuck in a rut, that only gets deeper and deeper," every word 'deeper' he slammed his pointer finger on his desk "as they keep going. Nothing is going to change until someone" his finger pointed at the fox. "decides to take a stand.

"If they get away with this-mistreating an officer. How do you think it will go with just a regular citizen. A 2nd chance could cost other lives, Wilde. You need to think ahead, way ahead. Do you understand?" Nick was paying too much attention to what his boss was saying that he had to break away from the trance.

"Uhhhh." He shook his head. "Yes. Yes, I do sir."

"Good." Bogo got off his chair and moved his way to Nick. "Get up." The fox was confused at first but did what he was told. He lifted himself off of the chair and stood up to face his boss. Bogo was still hovering over the small fox, but it's what he did that really caught Nick off guard. He bent over and gave him a hug. "You're a great officer Nick." His face bunched as his eyes were closed. Nick was still trying to process what was happening. He never spoke his first name before. Nick finally snapped out of it. And he to returned the hug that they both so desperately needed. "Don't make the same mistake I did…" Nick nodded. "Well." Bogo sniffed as he released the embrace. Nick chuckled heartedly. "Woo… Sorry about that. Been a while since I told that one." He smiled trying to control his emotions.

"Ha, don't be." Nick started to feel like he was back to his normal 'don't let them see that they get to you' attitude. "It's kinda nice to see the softer side of you." He teased.

"Don't push your luck, Wilde." Bogo said threateningly.

"Annnnnnnd we're back to our to our normal broadcast."

"So." Bogo moved back to his chair, changing the subject. "How is the relationship coming along."

"We've been together for a while now sir." Nick tried to cover his tracks, hoping that his boss couldn't tell he was lying. Bogo smiled in a way that worried him.

"But now," Bogo slowly spread his arms out. "All of Zootopia knows about it."

"Yeah." The fox tried to drop the subject.

"Now Judy, I'm a little worried about your friend, to be honest. Don't want her to turn out like me. Tell her to slow her career down a bit. Show her the wonders of being in love. Being top of this job is not one I wish to put off on anyone." Nick nodded. "Well. I think now you can agree with the whole apology thing?" Nick nodded again. "Good. Now, go enjoy the rest of your time off. I will see you Monday." And with that, Nick jumped off the chair and onto the floor and hurried over to the door, unlocking it. "Oh and Wilde. One more thing." Nick turned his way to his boss. "Get out." Nick chuckled.

"I love you too Chief." He opened the door.

"OUT!" Bogo hollered. And with that Nick left. Before he heard the click of the door latch, he could have sworn he heard him whisper 'I'm sorry.' And once the door was completely shut 'I'm so sorry. To everyone.' But he wasn't quite sure. So he left the Buffalo to grieve on his own.

Nick made his way back to the heart of the building. In front of Benjamin's desk. Although, Ben was out for the moment; probably to get more snacks. Judy was holding Lynn his her arms and presenting her to a group of officers that were surrounding her. He couldn't help but smile.

"Nick!" Francine squealed. "Your niece is soooooo adorable! She looks just like you! Well. if you were a kit. And a girl. Oh! I wish I could hold her." Nick started to panic and rushed over to his niece and took her back in her arms from the bunny.

"Uhhhhhhh! Yeah. Sorry, but you can't. I don't want her to get sick. I heard that it's bad for newborns to be handled so much by so many mammals." The whole group of cops looked at him as if he was crazy.

"Well. I know how newborns are Nick." The elephant replied. "But even if that wasn't true, I still wouldn't be able to. Don't want to break the small thing." She winked. She then turned to Judy and started a conversation. Nick looked at Lynn and smiled. She was so small. Her nose would twitch here and there.

"Way to go buddy!" Officer Snarlov said ecstatically. Nick was stuck with surprise as he felt the large wolf paw on his shoulder, jerking him back and forth. This only made him hold his niece even tighter to him. "Finally."

"Yeah." Fangmeyer joined in. He gave gentle taps on Nick's back. But even to a fox, a tiger's taps is more like shoves. He stumbled a few times. If he wasn't holding the newborn, he wouldn't mind the roughhousing. "You know. We've been waiting a long time for you two to finally come out." He winked. "Too long if I might add." Nick nervously chuckled. He then heard Francine getting upset. He and the other officers turned their attention to the large mammal.

"It just makes me mad. That city was twisted before. But putting a newborn kit in a situation like that. It. It." She then made a trumpet noise with her trunk, as if it was her way of growling. Lynn started to fit. Her head tossed back and forth, and her paws rubbed her face.

"Don't worry Wilde." Nick looked up at McHorn, who spoke up. "They don't know who they're messing with. They will pay for what they did."

"Not to mention that muzzle." Snarlov shook his head while Nick froze. "Like really. You of all preds to have that thing on." Nick still didn't move. 'They know. She told them.' He thought. He told her his biggest secret. And she told everyone.

"Oh, dear." Judy said. "The train! Ok! Sorry to interrupt this reunion, but we need to make it on time to the train!" She tugged at Nick's shirt. "Bye, everyone!"

"Bye, you three!"

"See you back Wilde, in a few days."

"Take care."

"Bye." All four said at once.

The new family rushed to the car. Nick put Lynn in while Judy started the car. "You're sure you have everything."

"Yes." Nick grumbled quietly as he made it into the front of the car. Judy noticed his attitude and grew concerned.

"Hey. You ok?" She asked slowly and caringly as she drove off to the train station.

"Yes. I'm just-I'm just tired. That's all." He looked outside of his window, trying his best to stop the conversation altogether. Judy felt a little hurt by this. She knew something else was bothering him. But she didn't want to push her luck. But even as they made it to the train, and on their way to her hometown, Nick did his best not to talk, or even look at her. Judy would do her best to help out with Lynn, but Nick refused. In his defense. taking care of her was to help distract him. He was so stressed. He was worried about meeting Judy's parents. Worried about the public apology. Worried about being a good uncle. Worried about the Social worker. Worried about what other secrets he had that Judy leaked out to others. Worried about-"What?" Nick's thoughts were interrupted, he looked towards the one who was asking him a question. He knew it was Judy, he just wasn't paying attention to what she said. As he looked her way, he didn't look down at her face.

"I asked if you needed any help?" At this point, Nick was feeding Lynn again. "If you're tired. I can take care of her as you rest." He could see the sorrow and worry in her eyes. He knew that she could tell something was up with him. Not that he was fine with it; but he didn't want to make anything worse. She was going to be the only one he knew there, and he needed all the help that he could get. He gave her a weak smile.

"Really Carrots. It's ok. I just…" He sighed. "I just want to be able to know that I can do this." At this point, his arm, which Lynn laid on was starting to become numb. He didn't want to interrupt her feeding, but for being a few days old, she was pretty heavy.

"Well. I should probably give you a heads up with my parents…" Judy said intimately. Nick was all ears now. His eyebrows squinched slightly. "Well… I didn't quite. Tell them." Without moving her head, only her eyes, she looked up at him.

"What-What do you mean you didn't tell them. Tell them what?"

"That. Me and you are Partners."

"Uh. Ok. Uh," he chuckled a little bit, not out of nervousness but out of irony. "That's ok," he cracked a crooked grin, showing parts of the teeth in his mouth. "This is a new thing for us both, so I unders-"

"No." Judy interrupted. "I didn't tell them about. You." Nick's smile turned into an opened frown. His eyes glared wanting to know what was going on.

"Judy. What are you talking about? I heard you this morning. You told them that you were coming over. You said-and I quote. 'I'm bringing over Nick. He has a newborn kit to take care of, and we could use all the help we can get.' I'm just confused." Judy was twiddling her thumbs in her paws fast. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in.

"They. They don't know you're a fox." By this point, Nick felt as if all the air around his was sucked away. "Nick! It's not like that!" Judy turned her body to face him better, she started to panic as she saw how hurt he was from that answer. "That came out wrong!"

"What part? Huh? The part that you didn't tell them that I-"

"Please don't." She closed her eyes. "I don't want us fighting." She reopened her eyes. "Look. I didn't tell them that you were some kind of different Mammal. Ok? They just never asked and I never told." This didn't make him feel any better. Lynn started to fidget more so he took the bottle out of her mouth and began to burp her. "Look. My dad… Can be a bit. Judgmental. Especially towards predators and foxes." Nick went back to the 'I'm not going to look at you' attitude. "Look. I do talk about you to them! A lot in fact! They even ask me about you at times! I just never mentioned the physical you." She placed a paw on his arm. "I wanted them to know you. The real you." Nick was facing the window as could see the sign for Bunny Burrow. "Not stereotypes."

"I thought you said that your dad changed. Didn't he hire a fox or something?" He spoke quietly.

"He partners with one. Though, most of that is the help of my mom. She's more… Flexible. With this stuff." Judy told Nick a few months ago about what happened with her and Gideon Grey when they were kits. It helped explain so much, but Nick still didn't know what the problem was about her telling her folks about him being a fox. "Look. Part of the reason I never told them who you are. Is because they saw the news. The one when I was being questioned with the Nighthowler case. They saw the fight we had. And I just didn't want them to think that you're like that. And they do like you!" She squeezed his arm.

"What are we going to say, when I just show up. If they recognize me. Don't you think that they will be…" He trailed off. Judy didn't know what they were going to do. She felt bad. Right when she was going to speak, her phone went off. She didn't answer right away. She just looked at Nick. Finally, she picked up the phone with a 'hello'. Nick decided to tune her out. It was probably her parents anyway. Lynn was finally done with her bottle, she started to turn her head away as her way to say that she had enough. Nick looked at her and couldn't help but smile. Her nose twitched every so often, she started to make spit bubbles, and make little grunting sounds here and there. The older fox couldn't help but gently cuff her tiny head in his paws, and twirl his thumb on the top of her head. Everything in the world seemed to melt away-

"Ok so Great news! We are now arriving into town." Nick paused. Well he almost was at peace for the day. Without moving his body, he looked outside the window and saw the "YOU ARE NOW ENTERING BUNNY BURROWS"He groaned internally as he saw the population count go up faster than he could read what the current number was. "Annnnnnnnd, I just got off the phone with Gideon, so-" Nick quickly shot a glance at her.

"That wasn't your parents?"

"No." She chuckled, "If it were them, they would rather facetime. No, The Grey's are gonna pick us up, and take us there. I thought it would be less awkward for you." Nick raised a brow.

"Because they are foxes?"

"... No. Because they aren't my parents." Judy started to feel bad, but also angry. Maybe this was a mistake after all. Once the train stopped, and they were able to get off, Judy started to look around. Nick tagged along, with Lynn in her stroller. They're stuff that they took with them, they were able to hid it all in the stroller, so it was easier to deal with.

"Judy! O-o-over here!" The rabbit gasped as she ran over to, two other foxes. One of them was Gideon, and the other looked like a much older female fox. Nick was actually relieved to see other mammals of his species. Sure he's seen foxes in Zootopia lots of times, but red foxes were quite rare.

"Hey, guys!" Judy beamed. "Sooooo. I like you to meet my partner, the one that I've been telling you about. Gideon, this is Nick," Right away the bigger fox took a hold of Nick's paw, and shook it quite hard.

"So, you're the lucky guy I-I-I've been hearing about! Arn't you also the first fox cop or-or som'th?" Nick looked at Judy who was smiling wide in pride.

"Yes… Yes, I am." He looked back at Gideon and smiled. "It's nice to finally meet you."

"Hi! I'm Grace." The other fox jumped in, she took Nick's other paw and shook too. "I'm little Gin's Matha."

"Hello, ma'am." Nick tried to be polite as possible but this whole shaking paws with two other mammals started to feel a little awkward, until.

"Oh! My stars and heavens. Is this the little kit?" Grace asked as she and Gideon let go of his paw to look into the stroller.

"Yep, that's Lynn." Nick felt with pride.

"Oh, she is simply just gorgeous… Oh… Do ya mind?" Nick gave her the 'ok' and she instantly grabbed the little kit. "It has been too long since I held one of these precious little thangs…" Her eyes started to water. Gideon also came by to look at Lynn.

"She really is som'thn." Gideon commented. But soon got hit in the arm. "Ow! Wh-what was that for?!"

"When you gonna have kits of your own! I need to granny some kits." His mother yelled hartley. Only making Gideon get bashful. "Well we better get mov'n, we are on break now, and we need to hurry on back to the shop as soon as possible." Nick went to take back Lynn when Grace said "Oh no, it's ok suga. You go ahead and put the car seat in, I'll take care of things over here. No point in putting her in, only taking her back out after less than a minute." Nick was a little worried of leaving her in the arms of someone he barely knew, but he let it slid. Once they were in the car, they were on their way to the Hopp's. Gideon, drove, while his mom was riding shotgun, Judy, was behind Grace, in the back, Nick, was in the middle while Lynn was right behind Gideon.

"So Gideon," Judy started, "You got a girl?" That question made the fox get tongue tied.

"Awwwwww… Shoot. Ju-Ju-Ju-Judy… There-there might be th-th-th-this one Vixen that I-I-I-I like…" He chuckled.

"Might?! Gid please." She turned to the back as best as she could to face the other mammals. "He's just being humble. He's been with this gal for years. They are high school sweethearts. And engaged I may add."

"Well, way to go buddy." Nick grinned. He thought it was kinda cute that he was acting this way for someone he's been with for so long.

"Oh! I am so relieved. You know. It is hard to find red foxes around. Nick, in the big city, is there many of our kind?"

"Uhhhhhhh…. No. Not really. No."

"Look. I just want to say I'm sorry for all that you are going through. Judy gave us the highlight of it all, and. Look. If there is any questions you have, about anything. Don't feel bad asking ok?" Nick started to think a bit. This was the perfect opportunity, I mean, they were red foxes and not bunnies. He looked at Lynn, and saw her feet curled up. He wondered is she was awake or asleep.

"When do their eyes open?"

"Oh! Within a week or two. How old is the little one?" Grace asked.

"I'm guessing about 5 days?" Nick winced.

"Oh! So about any day now. How lovely… You know, once they're eyes open up, so do their ears, and once that happen-WOO! Do they start learning fast." She laughed. "See I have three daughters, and little Gin here is the only boy."

"Awww Ma…. Stop… You-you-you're gonna make me blush again." She placed a paw on her sons arm and the other on her chest. Then looked back and, Nick.

"Nick, how many siblings do you have? Oh… And I do feel dreadful for your other nieces and nephews… What a tragedy it all is…"

"Siblings?" Nick asked in question.

"Yes dear, well my litter number is leaning on the smaller spectrum, but I am grateful for the four I've been blessed with."

"Uhhhh… I thought it was normal to have one in a litter. Lynn is the only one that I know my brother had."

"Oh…. Sweetheart, no… No…" The vixen was quite broken hearted by this news. "Having four is quite… Small. For a litta. I'm broken hearted thinking of having less than my four…"

"Well… I'm no expert." Nick shrugged. "Pfffft. I didn't even know I had a brother. You're actually the only ones that I can actually ask… Both of my parents are gone so… I just want to say thank you for helping us."

"Oh honey, it's not a problem at all." Everything was quiet until Nick asked another question.

"How many kits is it normal to have in one litter?"

"Oh! Well… Six to eight is the most common number, but do not be surprised if you see some with 15. Now THAT'S a litta." She chuckled and commented to her son. As she was distracted, Nick leaned over to Judy and whispered.

"Don't you find this all… Odd?"

"What is?"

"Well… Why wouldn't my parents ever tell me that I had siblings?"

"Do you think you could have been adopted?" She looked into his eyes worried that she hit a nerve.

"I don't… Think so. I have pictures of my folks and I can see a little part of me in each of them… Though that could be a possibility…" Nick was in deep thought.

"What else are you thinking about?" Judy asked.

"Well… It just seems odd like… Do you think Lynn was the only one in the litter? If not… Don't you think we would have got information about her siblings?" The more Judy thought about it, the weirder it got. It was pretty strange and suspicious. "Do you think they could be hiding something from us?"

"I don't know…" At this time she could see that they were coming close to her dirt road. "We'll talk about This later ok? I promise." He nodded.

"-it went all the way up her nose and woo! I was afraid we wouldn't have lunch that day!" Grace laughed as she finished her story to Her son. Then her phone started to buzz. "Oh, hold on sweetie, I got a call from work. Hello?... Yes… Oh! Ummm… Ok-Gideon, we need to go back to the bakery right now!"

"What's going on?" Judy asked as the cop inside her was coming through.

"Oh Judy, sweetheart, it's noth'n. We just got a lot of customers that's all. I feel awful about this but, can we drop you three here?" Judy and Nick looked at each other and made it clear that they didn't mind. Nick was especially happy that he would still have some breather time without Judy's parents around. Once everyone quickly got unloaded from the car, the Greys said their goodbyes and apologies.

"You ready?" Judy looked up at Nick. 'No.' Was his thought, but he swallowed his pride and nodded his head.

"As I'll ever be, Carrots." He then smiled warmly at her, and they both (and Lynn) made their way on the dirt road to the Hopp's farm.

Upon arriving to the property, Nick really got to see what an over 300 family home looks like. It was a mansion alright. Nick whistled. "Your family makes all this money just from growing carrots and blueberries?"

"Uh. They grow other stuff BESIDES those." She then playfully punched Nick in the arm.

"Ah, ah, ahh." He said as he squinched his eyebrows low. He then made clicking noises with his tongue and wiggled his finger to Judy. And then pointed to Lynn. "Careful. There is a innocent kit I'm pushing over here." Judy rolled her eyes and guided them along through the crowd of bunnies. Nick could feel them looking and judging him. They would be laughing or doing some kind of work or playing with each other, but then stopped everything to look at him. Even if he was smiling at them they wouldn't smile back.

"Hey guys, this is Nick," she hollered. "Look, I just need to find mom and dad." Instantly, they all pointed in one direction, she thanked them and they were on their way. 'Well… They are experts on raising kits, that's for sure…' Nick thought. It wasn't long before they found the two elderly bunnies that they were looking for. They were looking at their long field of alfalfa. "Mom! Dad!"

"Judy?" The married Hopp's couple turned around. Once they locked eyes on their daughter, they instantly rushed over to give her a hug.

"Oh! Well. You should have, texted when you guys got here!" Bonny said.

"Yeah, we didn't expect you guys until later!" Said Stu.

"So where is the lucky fellow?" Bonny was practically squealing with joy. She turned her attention to the fox behind them. "Oh!... Hello…" Both bunnies were a little alarmed to see a fox that they have never seen on their property before.

"Well… Nick, is right here." She presented him. He waved back in a small jester. Bonny and Stu looked at each other, trying to contain their panic. Nick stretched out his paw to form a shake, as well as a smile. Both rabbits just stared awkwardly at him.

"Well then… It's. Nice to finally meet you, Nick." Bonny didn't even attempt to shake his paw, but she was far off from her husband who was just scolding at the fox. Nick coughed in his hand.

"Yes well, Judy said that you may be able to help give me pointers on how to raise a kit." You could tell in his voice that he was getting pretty nervous.

"Ahhh…. Yes. Because you can't raise your own child." Blurted out Stu.

"DAD!" Nick's ears went flat as he also started to tuck his tail between his legs.

"What! That's why he's here for isn't he?" Stu acted as if he didn't see the problem with what he was saying. "I mean no wonder the vixen dumped him. I mean look at hi-" That was it. Judy wasn't going to just stand there and act like any of this was remotely ok. She grabbed both her parents arms, and pulled them far enough that Judy hoped that Nick wouldn't be able to hear the conversation. But, it wasn't far enough…

"What are you doing!" Judy hissed through her teeth.

"That's a fox! He's a fox! What are you doing with a fox! YouDidn'tTellUsHeWasGoingToBeAFOX!" Stu shouted. Nick could hear every word and cringed every time he hears the word 'fox'.

"And why should it matter if he's a fox? Gideon is a fox, and you have no problem with having him around." Judy defended.

"That's different!" Stu pointed to the ground angrily, and stumbled a few steps, just like how his daughter did to Nick when she said 'You liar!'. "Grey is just for work. You!" He pointed at his daughter. "Have a fox for a boyfriend! And want to start a family with him!"

"Uhhhh. You guys had no problem with this idea before you knew what kind of mammal he was." Judy could feel the anger growing and growing inside her. Nick, in the distance, felt as if all his fears were coming true. He's not surprised, but he was hopeful that they wouldn't be this angry about it. He sighed and looked at nothing in particular, zoning out to forget about the world. That is until he felt something tug at his pant leg. Surprised; his ears pointed straight up, as he looked down and saw a little bunny. She was just staring at him.

"Uhhhhh…." He honestly didn't know what to say, but he wanted to break the awkward silence. "Hi?" He smiled weakly.

"Is that your kit?" She pointed to the stroller. Nick chuckled.

"Actually, she is my niece."

"Can I hold her!" The little bunny was jumping up and down. Honestly, Nick wasn't sure, but then again, maybe if Judy's parents saw how well he got along with the family, they wouldn't be so hard on him. He squatted down to her level and said,

"Sure," and smiled even kinder. "But first." He got back up and started to dig around the diaper bag. Once he found what he was looking for, he turned around and saw that three more bunnies showed up. He started to become alarmed.

"I want to hold her!"

"No me! MeMeMeMeMeMeMe-"

"I think I should hold the kit. After all, I am the oldest out of all of you." This one seemed like he was a know it all, he was taller than his siblings (the ones around him right now at least), he also was wearing glasses. All of a sudden the first buddy shoved the know it all one.

"I was here first you guys! He said I could hold her!" She then stomped her foot.

"But I want to hold the kiiiiiit…." Another whinned. "You guys never let me have a turn on annnnnnnything!" And then that one started to cry. As well as the other bunnies, started to argue quite loudly, and started to get rough with each other as they were pushing and shoving, and yanking on one another. Nick was panicking. He didn't know what to do! There was no way in hell he wanted any of them coming anywhere close to his Lynn, but he had to get a hold of this situation before it got too out of paw.

"J-JUDY!" He yelled back, but she was busy with something at the moment.

"I think what your father is trying to say," Bonny was trying her best to make things not so tense. "We were expecting…reghh" she mumbled. "Well, you know. A bunny-"

"YES! Bunnies. Bunnies are good." Bonnie rolled her eyes and tried to ignore her husband interrupting.

"Or a rabbit of sort-"

"Rabbits are good too!"

"Alright Stu. I think she gets it."

"JUDY!" Nick still tried to get her attention. The situation got a lot worst. More and more siblings could hear the commotion, and wanted to see what was going on. And when they heard it was about holding a kit; more and more went into battle. "This is getting ridiculous." He huffed. "Ok you know what-OK THAT'S ENOUGH!" He shouted. All eyes were locked onto him. He then lifted a large bottle. "You know what this is?" They just kept staring. "It's called paw sanitizer." One bunny raised her paw straight into the air. "Yes… Uh. You. With the yellow dress."

"We never used that stuff before." Of course.

"Let me see that." The know it all bunny snatched the bottle from Nick's paw. He sniffed the pump. "Blah! This smells like chemicals! This can NOT. Be good for you."

"Well it helps take away 99.9% of germs from your paws so…" Nick trailed off.

"Mr." The bunny put both fists on his hips. "This family is used to pawing kits. I'm sure we know what we are doing."

"Well… The only way any of you are going to touch my kit, is if you all are covered with this stuff. If there is one of you who doesn't have any on… Well… That's too bad for the rest of you." There were so many bunnies around, Nick figured by the time they were done squirting that stuff on each other's paws, Judy would be back and could handle things a lot better than he could.

"Hummmmmm…." The know it all bunny was thinking to himself as he looked at the bottle. "I KNOW!" And he ran off, with all the others following him. Nick let out a sigh of relief. But it didn't last long. He could see the rabbit had grabbed some kind of equipment, it looked like a bottle but you hook it up to a hose or sprinkler. Before his eyes, he saw the bunny squeeze empty the paw sanitizer into the new container. He then ran off to the farmer sprinkler, the big one that is meant to water the alfalfa. Whenever the kits are super dirty, it would be a nightmare, trying to get them all in the bathrooms taking a shower or bath, so it's much easier to rinse off by the sprinklers. Before they knew it, the bunny hooked up the equipment to the sprinkler and attached the hose to the container as well, as another bunny turned the water on. The plan was to make the paw sanitizer mix in with the water, and so every bunny could get sanitized as fast as possible.

"Oh no… NO! Stop!" Nick yelled, he pushed the stroller and tried to end this mess. As this was going on, Judy tried to explain this as best as she could to her parents about Nick's situation.

"That's why we need your help. Alright." Judy looked at her parents with pleading eyes. "He's just a scared mammal, trying to do the right thing." All of a sudden, screams of agony could be heard from the distance. Alerted, all three looked at the source. Bunnies were crying and rubbing their eyes and screaming in pain, running away from the field. Others were spitting and complaining about the awful taste.

"What in lord's name…" Stu gasped as all three rushed over to the bunnies. All three were grabbing them one by one and asking what was going on, but they were crying so much that they couldn't explain anything.

"Oh my babies…" Bonnie had tears forming, "Wait. What is that smell?"

"It's paw sanitizer, they connected it to the farming equipment somehow-" Nick was trying his best to be helpful even though he knew all this was his fault.

"YOU!" Stu got up from holding one of his kits. "YOU DID THIS."

"Dad. Now's not the time. We need to rinse off this stuff off of everyone's eyes as soon as possible." Judy said.

"Come on. Gather everyone to the next sprinkler FAST." He then shot a deadly glare at Nick. "Because of you. My family is in pain. And not only that!" He presented his field. "I'm going to lose $1000's! This is all ruined-Oh sweet cheese and crackers!" He gasped as he ran off to turn the water off. Everything was a mess… Nick just stood there, not wanting to make more mess of things… Surrounded by streaks of pain, panic, and the smell of paw sanitizer.