Disclaimer: I do not own Zootopia or any of its characters, they all belong to Disney.
My Christmas Bunny
Chapter 2
"Arriving Zootopia Express."
They heard the squeal of the brakes as the train slowed and then came to a stop. The doors opened and they stepped into the dark snowy night.
"Wasn't someone supposed to pick us up?" Nick said, looking around and then hearing his bunny growl.
"Where's that sister of mine?"
"Well it is 5:24 in the morning and snowing," he said, now hearing her foot rapidly tapping. "Maybe she's just taking her time. Even I would take my time driving in this snow." Judy looked up and stared at her Fox, making a face. He smiled and pulled her close. "Let's go in the station and get some hot chocolate and maybe something to eat."
"OK," she said and huffed.
Fortunately the coffee shop opened at 5:30 and they were soon seated and having hot chocolate and pastries.
"So how is it?"
"Good," she said and smiled.
He sighed inwardly and sat back in his seat. Then she put her head on his shoulder and he put his arm around her. She made a sound of contentment and green eyes met purple ones. They both smiled.
Jill pulled into the parking lot just the sun rose or she assumed it had. At least one spot in the eastern sky was getting slowly brighter, but neither the overcast nor snow had diminished in the slightest. She knew that she was late, but she wasn't going to drive any faster than necessary in the dark with snow making the visibility only about fifty feet. She was soon standing outside the coffee shop watching Nick and her sister looking into each other's eyes oblivious to everyone and everything else. She quietly slipped up behind them.
"So what have you two been up to lately?" she said, watching them both startle and then Judy blush. She smiled. "Oh whatever it was it must have been... interesting."
Just for fun she tapped her nose and watched her sister's blush deepen. Then she couldn't help herself and laughed.
"You're late!" Judy said, confronting her sister.
"It wasn't snowing quite so hard when I left home."
"Well you should've..."
"Judy, she's here now," Nick said and rested a hand on his bunny's shoulder, trying his best to calm the oncoming storm. "So let's go."
She looked back at her Fox and he raised an eyebrow.
"OK," she said and retrieved her bag and hot chocolate.
Nick turned and retrieved his things too and when he turned back Judy was already at the door. He looked at Jill for a moment and the taller Rabbit shrugged and then followed her sister. He sighed and then followed behind.
The trip to the Hopps Burrow took twice as long as normal and Nick had to admit that Jill was an excellent driver. She didn't slide or fishtail even once during the thirty mile drive, only slowly rolling through stop signs and lights when possible and/or necessary. Only when they pulled into the burrow's large parking did she purposely make the car do a 360, making Judy squeak.
"Do it again!" Nick said and received a glare from his bunny.
Of course Jill did do it again, sliding the car right into a parking space.
"Nick!"
"Oh come on Judy!" Jill said and giggled. "Stop being an old stick in the mud! It was fun!"
"It was dangerous!"
"Judy, this part of the parking lot is completely empty," Nick said, putting an arm around his bunny. "She wasn't going that fast nor was there anything to hit."
Judy growled and Nick rolled his eyes.
"Come on," Jill said, popping the trunk and then opening her door, "let's get inside before we freeze."
They followed her to the burrow and were soon warming themselves before the large fireplace. Nick looked at large Christmas tree on the other side of the room, remembering the ones his mother had when he was a kit.
"Father cuts one every year," Jill said and smiled, "and we all put up the decorations."
"It's beautiful," Judy said and took her Fox's hand.
"It is," he said and squeezed her hand.
Soon the scent of warm bunny filled the room and Nick inhaled deeply and smiled. Jill caught his eye and winked, having a fairly good idea what was he was doing.
"Mom must have breakfast almost ready by now," Jill said and started toward the elevator, "and I'm gettin' kinda hungry. So come on! Let's get down there before it's all gone!"
They followed and a minute later the elevator dinged. They got on and five minutes and four stops later the bunny filled elevator arrived on the lowest level. The ordinary looking house they'd entered was the only part of the Hopps Borrow which was visible above ground. The largest part was below ground and spread over a dozen acres on thirty levels. Of course all the thousands of burrows in BunnyBurrow were interconnected with thousands of miles of tunnels.
"Judy!" Bonnie cried when she saw her daughter. Then she rushed over and hugged her younger doe. "It's so good to see you! Are you doing OK?"
"Sure Mom," she said and smiled.
"Bonnie," Nick said, extending a hand. "Good to see you too."
She looked at the Fox for a moment and then took the proffered hand.
"Good to see you too, Nick," she said and smiled at her son-in-law. "Come on and have some breakfast."
"I smell pancakes," Jill said and headed for the serving line, "and Nick they blueberry ones too."
After hearing that he wasn't far behind the doe with his bunny in tow.
After Nick had finished his eighth blueberry pancake he sat back and relaxed and only then noticed everyone staring at him. He look back and then put on his best foxy smile.
"But they were good!"
"Nick," Judy said, drawing out his name, and then sighing dramatically.
Everyone laughed including him. Judy facepalmed.
"Maybe I ought to go back for seconds!"
His bunny groaned and of course everyone laughed again.
"Just kidding, just kidding!" he said and smiled.
"Nick," Jill began and smiled, "how's married life so far."
Judy looked at him and he grinned.
"Well... interesting."
"How so?"
"Oh we get along pretty well," he said and his bunny's ears came up, "but we did before we got married too. Of course we have disagreements, but then again what married couple doesn't." He smiled and looked at Stu and Bonnie. They looked at each other and shrugged. "But of course we always make up."
He saw Judy's ears grow just a bit pinker and then she yawned.
"And has being married changed anything at work?"
"No, not at all," he said and looked at his bunny. "We're still partners and work together every day."
"Chief Bogo didn't say anything?"
"We were kinda surprised," he said and shrugged, "that he didn't say much about it at all."
"He actually struck me as having an opinion about everything," Jill said and he chuckled.
"You'd think," he said and saw Judy yawn again.
"And the other officers?"
"No problems," he said, remembering. "Some of them even came and helped is move in. Ben even cooked for us."
"He's the Cheetah, right?"
"Nicest guy you ever meet."
"Maybe you could introduce me," she said and smiled.
"Sure," he said and heard Judy yawn a third time. "Why not. But now I think we need to get a little sleep."
"We can wait till after lunch to open presents," Bonnie said and heard a few complaints from the younger kits. "Or maybe even a bit later."
She looked around the room and it quickly got quiet.
"Please just wake us for lunch."
He woke, feeling his bunny's warm lithe body pressed against his, and smiled. Her head rested on his arm and his tail was draped over her. Then he snuffled her fur and licked her behind the ear. She giggled in her sleep and then he nibbled on said ear. She took a deep breath and awoke. Then she turned and looked at him.
"Just what are you up to?"
"Oh, nothing much."
"A lightly story."
"I thought maybe..."
"Think of something else," she said and he licked her throat. "Try again." And licked her throat again. "I "didn't mean that!" He did it again and this time she moaned unconsciously. "Nick! Please!"
He did it a fourth time and someone knocked on the door.
"May I come in or are you..."
"Sure," he said and Judy scrambled away from him like he was on fire.
Jill opened the door.
"Sorry to interrupt whatever," she said and smirked, "but mom sent me to wake you."
"It's OK we were already awake," he said and smiled.
"Oh... well see you at lunch then," she said and left.
"Nick!" she said and a moment later they heard laughter receding down the hall.
"Now tell old Nick what's wrong," he said when she came out of the shower. "You haven't said a word since Jill left."
"I'm mad at you!"
"Why?"
"You and Jill."
"Jill and I what?"
He saw tears come to her eyes and then she buried her face in his shoulder.
"Tell me what's wrong."
"Nick," she said and wrapped arms around him.
He held her tight and stoked her back. Later she pulled back and wiped her eyes. Then she kissed him and he returned her kiss.
"I love you."
"And I love you too."
She smiled and then kissed him again even more passionately.
"We'd better get going or we'll be late for lunch," she said after abruptly breaking the kiss, surprising him. "You better take a shower and get dressed."
"OK," he said, stringing out the word, and raised an eyebrow.
After lunch everyone gathered around the Christmas tree. The pile of presents didn't all fit under the tree and spilled out along the wall and a few feet around it. Nick looked around at all the anxious faces and smiled. Soon enough Bonnie and Stu started picking up presents and calling names. The sounds of tearing paper and squeals of delight quickly filled the room.
"Jill," Bonnie called and handed a present to her tall daughter.
She read the tag and looked at her sister and brother-in-law.
"Thanks," she said and carefully started to remove the paper.
"Just tear it off!" Nick said as they anxiously waited for her reaction.
She sighed and then did as Nick suggested. Then opened the box and lifted out the long pink coat with white fur collar and trim. She quickly stood and held it up against her body.
"We know it's hard to get Rabbit clothes in your size," Nick said and smiled. "So we had it especially made for you in Zootopia. What do think?"
"Hope you like it," Judy said and leaned back against her Fox.
"Especially since there are no other Rabbits my size," she said and laughed. "It's beautiful!"
She dropped it back in the box and lifted her sister into her arms and hugged her.
"Put me down!" she said, swatting her sister. "Everyone's looking!"
She laughed and set Judy on her feet. Then looked at Nick and held her arms wide. He grinned and stepped into her embrace. Being just over five and a half feet tall Nick only came up to her chest. Then just for fun she kissed the top of his head and he chuckled.
"Stop hugging Nick!" Judy bellowed.
Moments later it became very quiet and everyone looked at the couple.
"Judy?" Jill said.
"Judy, what's wrong?" Nick said, going to her and taking her into his arms.
"I don't know," she said, tears coming to her eyes. "Maybe cause I'm pregnant."
She hugged her Fox and then the tears came.
The news spread through the room like wildfire and then everyone began to talk at once.
"Judy, I thought the doctor said..." Nick began.
"He was wrong," she said and smiled.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, yes I am."
A smiled spread across his face and he hugged her again.
"You're my beautiful Christmas bunny!"