As the phone's screen turned black, Nick stared at it for a moment, then dropped his head back against the hammock. Slapping a paw over his eyes, he groaned loudly. "I'm the biggest idiot and the dumbest fox in all Zootopia." Waving his paw through the air while looking up through the leaves and branches of the tree he was under, he muttered, "The worst son and the biggest idiot." With another groan, he rubbed his eyes then tugged on his ear. "Why did I have to open my big mouth?"
If it had been Stu, Nick knew he could have worded things to keep Judy's dad in the dark, but Bonnie . . . Bonnie was too similar to Judy, in both looks and personality. He really lucked out with her being as understanding as she was, but how long could it last? With as much luck as he used in the last 48 hours, he figured his luck was just about used up.
Shaking his head, he opened his phone and dialed Willie's number and proceeded to give him the menu for tonight, complete with a side of breadsticks and carrot cake for dessert. Although he preferred blueberry cake, this was for Judy, and Sonjay's always shredded their carrots up really fine so the carrot flavor mixed well with the spices, making the cake really tasty.
Once he'd gotten off the phone with his much larger friend, Nick then looked at the time and quickly scrambled out of the hammock. "I'm running out of time," he muttered as he sprinted across the yard. Stepping through the dining-room door, he made his way to the hall closet and started rummaging through the tubs and boxes. He had a date to set up.
….….
After telling her sisters about Nick and how he had not only stood up for her and then saved her life, but how he opened his home and then his heart to her, Janette and Janelle were left with open mouths as their thoughts ran circles around themselves. Her sisters found it hard to get a word in edgewise as Judy went off about the hundreds of little things Nick did to let her know how much he cared about her—that he loved her. Janette was highly impressed and much of her worries disappeared with the telling, while Janelle was looking enviously at her sister through the phone. With Janette happily engaged and looking forward to finally starting the family she'd dreamed about for years, Janelle was feeling a bit envious of Judy for hitting a homerun so easily.
With all the boyfriends she'd had throughout the years, you'd think she would have found Mister Right but now, wouldn't you? The bucks she hooked up with either weren't who they said they were (and so she dumped them) or they didn't appreciate the fact that she wasn't an easy tail (and they dumped her). So, hearing about Nick and how committed and dedicated he was to Judy (who had never had a boyfriend in her life, nor was she ever interested in finding one), Janelle found herself feeling not just envious, but a little jealous, as well. Not that she wasn't happy for her sister or anything—she was happy for her—but it still felt a little unfair that her sister struck gold on the first try—and with a fox of all mammals.
Janelle had been told her whole life how shifty and untrustworthy foxes were, and yet her sister was alive because one proved he was brave, loyal, and trustworthy—which made her wonder if most foxes weren't just as brave, loyal, and trustworthy if they were to be given half a chance.
As Janelle was beginning to think more highly of foxes (Gideon turning his life around also helped), Judy spoke up, saying, "Janette, I know you're engaged and I'm happy for you, but Janelle, since you still haven't found Mister Right, perhaps you've been digging in all the wrong places. I highly recommend a fox boyfriend. If you can gain their respect and trust, they are extremely loyal. And all their foxy features that we've been told our whole life are so dangerous—well, they had it half right. Their teeth and claws are dangerous in how good they feel when they run them through your fur while grazing your skin." With a wide, knowing smile, Judy added, "It's to die for and it sends you straight to heaven."
Janelle's jaw dropped and her ears perked up, even as her nose started twitching as this was a new concept for her. Not in a bad way, but definitely different. "Are you serious!? You think I should get a foxy boyfriend like you?"
Judy shrugged. "I'm just saying to open your eyes and look around. If all other avenues have failed you, maybe try walking down a different street. I know Gideon isn't the only fox in Bunnyburrow." After thinking a moment, Judy sat up a little straighter and said, "But I'm not saying to rush into a relationship. Be friends first and see where it goes."
Janette raised an eyebrow, "Like you and Nick 'aren't' rushing into a relationship?" She then let her eyes wander down Judy's body in its state of undress, then chuckled softly at her sister's response.
Judy's ears flamed red, but she met her sister's steady gaze with a determined one of her own. "Nick and I were thrown together on two crazy adventures that cemented our trust, respect, and friendship and planted the seed for something more. And now, due to the nature of my injury and with Nick taking care of me, it's knocked down several barriers it normally would have taken us months to overcome. And you both know I hate sitting on the fence once I decide a course of action. I want Nick, he does for me what no one else has, and, lucky for me, he wants me too. So, why should we stick our heads in the sand and pretend our feelings are anything but what they are?"
Janette didn't have a response. Her sister's logic was sound enough in a 'Judy' sort of way, so she couldn't fault her. It was crazy—but sound.
Janelle, on the other hand, now had a burning question to ask. "Are fox boyfriends really that great? I mean, I can see Nick is a great friend, but a boyfriend is a huge step up from friend, or even best friends. Are you sure he's not unique among foxes?"
Judy's grin widened. "Foxes make really good friends—period. Besides Fru-Fru—she's this tiny shrew I saved my second day on the job—the only friends I have here in Zootopia are Nick and Finnick, both foxes, and I really wish I'd known them when I was younger. Like Nick, Finn hasn't once judged me. He's called me nuts a few times, but he's right when it comes to Nick. And like Nick, I know I can trust Finnick with my life and he'll be there whenever I need him. Having Nick as my boyfriend is just icing on the cake, but looking at it from just a 'friends' point of view, I couldn't ask for better friends than my two foxes here in Zootopia." With a cheeky grin, Judy added, "But if you can get one to look at you as more than a friend, then you've lucked out because they do make the best boyfriends."
This left Janelle with lots to think about, as she had a lifetime of being told how untrustworthy and dangerous foxes were (although she knew her parents' thinking was old fashioned and all foxes couldn't be as bad as they made them out to be), it was still a drastic mind shift to start thinking of them as potential friends, let alone something more. But she couldn't deny how happy Judy was, or what Nick was willing to do to make sure she was safe and taken care of. If all foxes were as loyal and thoughtful as Nick, then maybe she was looking for Mister Right in all the wrong places. Not that she wanted to rush out and get a fox boyfriend, but it couldn't hurt to be open-minded, right?
Judy's eyes lit up as she suddenly remembered something important should Janelle actually find a todd she was interested in. "Todds can be pretty dominant once they know what you want, but it's the vixen who calls all the shots and sets the pace of the relationship. The todd lets the vixen know he's interested, but it's up to the vixen to decide where the relationship goes." With a bright smile, she added, "So if you find a todd you do like and you're waiting for him to ask you out or steal that first kiss—you'll be waiting a very long time because he'll be waiting for you to make the first move."
"Really?" Janelle asked. This was way different from rabbits as the buck always called the shots. In hindsight, though, that's probably why she was still single. Perhaps Judy really was onto something here.
A knock on the door interrupted their thoughts and then their littermate Justin popped his head in. "Hey, Janette, Amy and Wendy were wondering . . ." Seeing his two sisters hunched over the phone piqued his interest. "Watching something good there?" he asked curiously.
Both does looked up at their brother with brown fur, black-tipped ears, black paws, and a light tan muzzle and belly fur. With a bright smile, Janelle said with a suggestive look, "I'd say."
With a similar look as her sister, Janette added, "Judy is telling us all about her exciting time in Zootopia."
"Janette!" Judy exclaimed with flaming red ears, knowing right away the direction her sisters intended to take this conversation.
Seeing their looks and hearing Judy's embarrassed reply had Justin's full attention. Stepping further into the room, he shut the door and locked it. The last thing they needed was rumors spread around the burrow about Judy—well, more than there were already with her moving in with a fox and all.
"What?" Janette asked. "From what you've said, since moving to Zootopia and meeting Nick, your life has been nothing but excitement."
As Janette talked, Justin walk over and climbed up on the bed with his two sisters, who scooted over to make room for him (and ended up pushing several rabbit plushies on the floor).
"You went on a wild otter chase, faced off against a savage jaguar, snuck into an abandoned asylum guarded by a pack of wolves, jailed a mayor who happened to be a lion, broke up protestors, then highjacked a train car, fought off the thugs who owned the train car, then blew it up before being chased by a psychotic sheep and her deranged posse. After jailing a second mayor bent on killing you, you then moved into a fox's den and started acting like some hormone-crazed teenager. Did I get anything wrong?"
"No," Judy moaned as she pulled her ears back over her face.
Justin was intrigued by this information, especially the last part, but something caught his attention as he looked at Judy through the phone and had to ask, "Judy, where is your shirt? And what's this about acting like a hormone-crazed teenager?" His sister wasn't in the habit of wondering her room in just her bra, nor were her hormone levels ever high enough for her to be, let alone act-like, a hormone-crazed teenager.
Hearing Justin's question, Judy released her ears and glanced down at the expanse of her bright-white fur and blue bra (which, she knew, covered far more than Nicole and Irene's bikinis ever did), then sat up a little straighter. Glancing over the foot of the bed, Judy shifted slightly then winced as her leg was not happy with her. Settling back down, she waved her paw and said, "My shirt is on the floor over there . . . somewhere . . . and," glancing over the edge of her bed, she spied her black workout shorts, "my shorts are there on the floor." With a frown, she muttered, "They were both in the way and," she glanced back at the phone and her waiting siblings (Janelle and Janette were grinning like idiots and Justin was staring at her in utter shock), then glanced at her feet as she murmured, "the shorts were . . . wet." Of course, her underwear was wet, too, but she wasn't about to change them with her brother in the room. She needed a shower.
If it were any of her other siblings, Judy would have kept her mouth shut, but these were her littermates and they didn't hide anything from each other. Of her littermates, the only two that were missing was her older brother, Julian, and youngest brother, Jeff. They were both married and had burrows of their own with several litters each. She missed her brothers and their families, but each summer Julian and Jeff helped run one of the many summer camps that ran throughout June and July. She was very proud of her brothers for their dedication to helping teach all the young bunnies that came through each week important life lessons and helpful survival skills.
Janette and Janelle began snickering at Judy's bashful admission while Justin's eyes were wide and his jaw hanging in his lap. Snapping his mouth shut, he waved his paws back and forth while exclaiming, "Hold on!" Crossing his arms to form an 'X' he said, "Timeout! What are you talking about? What do you mean your clothes were in the way and your shorts were wet?"
Judy merely propped the phone against her legs while pulling her ears (which were now beet red) back over her face with a loud moan.
Seeing her sister's embarrassment, Janelle figured she'd help her out. "Well, Justin, you'll be interested to know that Janette interrupted Judy and Nick's alone time." She was wearing the biggest smirk while saying 'alone time'.
Justin couldn't believe what he was hearing, so Janette decided to elaborate, "Nick was in the middle of devouring Judy when I kept calling. He said she'd have to call me back once he was finished with his meal."
"Janette!" Judy whined, "He didn't say that." At least, not to you, she admitted to herself.
"He might as well have." With a raised eyebrow, she added, "He had every intention of eating you and you had every intention of letting him. If I hadn't told him the time, he'd be belly deep inside you right now—and don't deny it." She pointed a finger at her sister.
Judy groaned and slouched down against the pillows. "Jan-ette," Judy groaned again. "I just got my hormones under control and now you're riling them back up. How am I supposed to calm down when you keep putting these ideas back in my head?" Slouching down, Judy slipped sideways onto the bed and curled up with her ears over her face again.
Justin looked over at his two sisters sitting beside him, both of whom were grinning like idiots, and then back to Judy—slouched over on the bed. "You're telling me that you and Nick are . . ." Justin tilted his head trying to wrap his head around what his sisters were telling him. "That you want Nick to . . ." He rubbed face. "You've been around thousands of rabbits throughout your life, half of them bucks, and not once has your interest been even slightly aroused, and yet after just three days with this fox, your hormones are finally waking up?"
Janette chuckled remembering how Judy was egging Nick on. "Waking up? More like jumpstarted." With another chuckle, she added, "You should have seen them earlier. Judy was all over Nick . . . well, when he wasn't pinning her to the bed, anyways." A wide grin spread across her face as Janette no longer feared for Judy's safety when it came to Nick, not after hearing everything he'd done for her sister and the risks he took to keep her safe.
Justin's jaw dropped again. "Judy, he's a predator! Sharp claws, pointed teeth—hello!?"
At her brother's exaggerated worries and comical expression, Judy giggled. "Gee, Justin, I hadn't noticed."
"You aren't even a teeny bit afraid of what he might do to you?" Justin held his paw up with his thumb and finger almost touching.
With a bright smile crossing her face, Judy replied, "Nope. Nick is Nick and, predator or not, I have absolutely nothing to fear from him."
With a giggle, Janelle reached around Janette to poke Justin in the ribs. "Not only is Judy not afraid of Nick, but she says that all his predatory weapons are his best features. Sharp claws and teeth really turn her on."
Judy groaned again. "Janelle . . . that, I mean . . . okay, yes, his sharp teeth and claws turn me on. Everything about him that had our ancestors running in terror and shaking and shivering in fear turns me on and makes me want to get closer to him. But it's only because it's Nick. I'm not interested or turned on by any other predator, just Nick, who just happens to be a predator and a fox, and just happens to know the right amount of pressure to use to make his sharp claws and teeth send me straight to heaven when he uses them on me."
Justin stared at his sister for a minute, then started laughing—hard. After several minutes of hearty laughter, he calmed down a bit and rubbed his face. Dropping his paws, he faced Judy again and said, "Mom and Dad were so afraid that you'd end up an old maid—alone—and yet here you are with a predator. And not just any predator, but Dad's worst nightmare—you end up choosing a fox as your mate." He knew Judy well enough to know that Nick wasn't a fling for her. If she was willing to crawl into bed with him, she intended to stay. For Judy, the only conclusion to this relationship with the fox was marriage—and she wouldn't take no for an answer. With another laugh, Justin added, "Oh, I hope I'm there to see Dad's face when he finds out. We might have to call the paramedics, though, because I'm sure he's going to have a heart attack."
Judy scowled at her brown-furred brother, but it was Janelle who spoke. "Wait a minute, Judy, even if you've chosen Nick as your mate, are you sure he's going to stick around? How can you be sure this isn't just a fling for him? I'm not saying Nick is untrustworthy, but can you be sure he's going to be faithful? I saw how depressed you were after he left you 3 months ago. How can you be sure he won't leave you again?"
Judy's ears straightened up and she pushed herself into a sitting position. "I know foxes are seen as sly and untrustworthy, but how does that equate to them being players? It's bad enough mammals think rabbits are players because of a few idiots like Henry and Irene, but what have foxes done to make you think that? Especially red foxes?" At her sisters' stunned and confused stares, Judy elaborated, "Although some fox species might play around while dating, red foxes won't. They mate for life."
This was a new concept for Janette and Janelle. Although they didn't see foxes as sleeping around like the typical rabbit stereotype, they still wouldn't have put it past an 'untrustworthy', 'disloyal', and 'filthy' fox to date a female for his own convenience, then move on when one or the other got bored or found someone else to their liking. Not that they thought Nick fit that bill (not with how Judy spoke about him) but he was still a fox.
Looking at each other, they then glanced back at Judy (Justin was lost in thought as several things that confused him when he was younger finally fell into place). "Red foxes mate . . . for life?" Janette asked cautiously. She still couldn't forget how angry Judy had gotten at her earlier for thinking Nick was taking advantage of her.
"Well, yeah. I told you earlier that if you gain a fox's trust and respect, then they're fiercely loyal. Red foxes are especially so. I mean, Nick's never even been on a date before, so I have more experience than him in that regard. He never met a female he could consider as a possible mate, so he never bothered. And that first kiss I stole from him yesterday afternoon—that wasn't just our first kiss, that was his first kiss . . . and mine." With a wide, happy smile spreading across her face, she continued, "After being chased by so many perverts growing up, with all the decent bucks ignoring me for wanting to be a cop, having Nick look at me the way he does and knowing I'm the first and only female he's ever touched, I . . ." With a shake of her head as she brushed an errant wet spot from her eye, she then said, "You have no idea what that means to me. That he saved himself for me, just as I've done for him." With a light chuckle, she added, "It's giving me warm fuzzies just thinking about it."
Janette fidgeted with the stuffed bunny still in her lap, then asked softly, "How do you know Nick isn't lying? He's a good looking todd, Judy. How can you be sure he doesn't have a vixen or two under his belt?" Seeing Judy's anger return, she hastily added, "Not that I'm saying it'd be wrong if he'd had a girlfriend before, it's just . . . if Nick's as great as you say he is, then I have a hard time believing he's still single or hasn't at least had a girlfriend or two before you. And if he could lie about something like this, then what else might he lie about?"
Looking up from the stuffed bunny she was fidgeting with, Janette caught Judy's infuriated gaze and hastily brought her paws up to wave in front of the phone. "I'm not saying Nick lied, per say, I'm just trying to understand, Judy. You're right, I don't know Nick like you do . . . but I want to know . . . to understand." Taking a deep breath, she whispered, "Please, Judy, I'm just trying to understand."
Judy glared at her sister a moment longer, than deflated with a huff. Crossing her arms over her chest with the phone propped on her good leg, she said, "Besides Nick telling me himself that he's never been with anyone before?" At Janette's hesitant nod, she continued, "I also have it on good authority of two other mammals who have known Nick a long time."
Janette and Janelle glanced at each other, then Janelle asked, "Who are they?"
"Well, for starters, Nick's friend Finnick. They've known each other since they were both teens, and Nick has worked closely with Finn for the last 5 years as business partners. He was quite shocked to find out Nick was interested in me for the simple fact that Nick never showed interest in any female." Taking a deep breath while thinking of everything Finn had told her today about his and Nick's life, Judy continued, "Nick has been hurt a lot in the past and so he built thick emotional walls to protect himself from being hurt again. That's why he left me 3 months ago—he felt I'd betrayed him. He'd finally lowered his walls and let someone in, only to be sucker-punched in the gut."
Janette and Janelle glanced at each other, and even Justin returned his attention to the conversation. Taking a deep, slow breath, Judy continued her explanation. "We have since discussed both of our actions and have come to an understanding, along with some forgiveness on both our parts, so I know he'll never leave me again."
Janelle was finding herself liking Nick more and more, for she trusted Judy's judgement explicitly. Although she knew her sister could be blind at times with her gung-ho, see-the-best-in everyone attitude, after all the time Judy had spent with Nick and hearing how attentive he was to her sister, Janelle found herself believing in him just as Judy did.
Janette wanted to believe in Nick, she really did, but being the oldest in the litter, she found herself as the voice of reason more often than not. Which put her at odds with her littermates at times when they didn't want to see reason or were being bullheaded with their present course of action. "Judy, I know you mean well, and I can't fault your trust in the foxes, but are you sure Finnick isn't twisting the truth a bit to make his friend look good?"
Judy glared at her sister as she remembered Finn's tale from earlier this afternoon. "Yes, I'm sure Finn wasn't just buttering up his friend. But if you don't want to take either his or Nick's word, then you should believe Fru-Fru's words." Glancing to Justin, who was listening with avid interest, Judy explained who Fru-Fru was, then moved her attention back to her sister and continued, saying, "Nick worked for her dad for six years and Fru-Fru got to work closely with Nick. Her dad also employed several vixens, many of whom considered Nick a hot-ticket item. But Nick never gave them a second glance and never treated them as anything more than colleagues. Fru-Fru said quite a few complained to her about Nick's refusal to get close to them. They'd even placed a bet on his first kiss, a bet that was never cashed in on before Nick left her father's employment five years ago."
Both Janette and Janelle were rendered speechless by this news while Justin blurted out, "Wait! They bet on Nick's first kiss just like Rick bet on yours!"
Judy nodded, "Yep, and yesterday afternoon I stole his first kiss and then he gladly gave me his second."
Janette just sat stunned. For someone who'd never kissed anyone before yesterday, Nick sure knew how to give mind-blowing kisses. Of course, Janette could say the same about her sister. The way she'd responded to Nick's advances didn't look like a novice in the ways of love and affection—and yet that's what Judy was . . . and, apparently, so was Nick. It still shocked her that such an accomplished, good looking todd hadn't had a girlfriend before, though, she will give him the benefit of the doubt—for now.
As a huge grin spread across Justin's face, he exclaimed, "Good for you, sis! I knew you had it in you."
Judy grinned widely as Janelle said, "Wow, Judy. Just . . . wow." Shaking her head and laughing, she added, "You know I'm jealous, right?" At Judy's raised eyebrow, Janelle explained, "I've been looking my whole life for someone to date and marry, and have been through so many boyfriends, and yet I'm still single." She motioned towards the phone, indicating Judy, "But you—you've never been interested in bucks and had written off love, and then you somehow stumble on this relationship with Nick and struck gold on the first try. It's so unfair."
Judy's ears drooped a minute, then perked back up. "Like I said earlier, having met Nick and seeing how much care and attention he gives me, it's no wonder that I was never interested in any bucks. So, if you've exhausted all your present options, maybe it's time to look at some alternative ones." With a wide smile, she added, "I'm biased towards foxes since I know from personal experience what a wonderful boyfriend they make, but even if foxes aren't your thing, just keep your options open because you never know where that special someone might be hiding."
This left everyone with some deep thoughts to think over and after a few more pleasantries, Judy decided to end the call. When her siblings protested, Judy merely informed them (with her cheeks and ears bright red) that her shorts weren't the only thing that was wet and that she needed to jump in the shower. Her siblings immediately agreed and hurriedly said their goodbyes and left their sister to herself.
….….
WingedKatt here. I hoped you enjoyed this next chapter and the glimpse it gave us into Judy's home-life. In the next chapter, Justin will share some interesting information with Janette and Janelle, Judy will have a chance to review her actions for the day, while Nick will continue getting their date ready.
Ch. 53: To Strike Gold, will post on Saturday, March 14th. For those of you interested in my other story (Z:ADB), ch2 will post next week, so you can look forward to it.
A big thanks to my proofreader, BearlyThereUpstairs, for his suggestions and insights.
I hope you have a great weekend, and if you have any thoughts or comments, I'd love to hear them.
