Daryl watched the pelt walk off, and although he was surprised by the fox's words of praise of his dumb sister, Daryl wouldn't take the pelt's words to heart. He knew the lying fox would say anything to get in good with Mom and Dad and win the family over. The fox had already conned his sister, and Daryl wasn't going to sit still for him to con the rest of the family, too. The pelt had to go.
But Daryl needed to catch the fox unaware—and alone. Ever since he arrived at the rodeo grounds, Daryl and his brothers had yet to catch the city fox alone. He had always been surrounded by the family—Shaylee, Ben, and their entourage being the main rabbits to stick to him like glue. Which made it very difficult to cause the fox to have an accident.
With the pelt climbing up and down across the bleachers as he set them up made for the perfect opportunity for the pelt to 'trip and fall' or for something heavy to come crashing down on him, but whenever he, Jerry, Billy, or Roger tried to get even remotely close to the fox or something he was working on or with, Ben, Aaron, or Marty would show up and shadow them while Shaylee, Brandi, and Melanie stuck to the fox like he was a long lost cousin or something.
It was extremely irritating, especially since the Sheriff himself showed up to meet the fox! He was even impressed with the orange and white pelt. The Sheriff hadn't stayed long as he only came to meet the new fox in town and to see how the Rodeo setup was coming along.
Seeing how the fox was gaining more and more acceptance to his presence here in Bunnyburrow, Daryl wanted to pull his fur out. Couldn't they see that another red fox in town wasn't good for anyone. Not only was he a predator from Zootopia (which meant he could go savage at any moment), the fox had already hurt his sister once—so why did everyone want to give him the chance to hurt her again?
Since so many mammals now knew who the fox was, that he was friends with Judy (and now friends with Shaylee and her bunch), it was making it much harder to drive the fox from town. Seeing how the situation was turning out had him scowling (Daryl had been sure this morning that it would be too easy to drive the pelt from town), but hearing how the fox was coming to the burrow for dinner tonight, Daryl figured if they couldn't cause an accident here at the rodeo grounds, then they might have a better chance at home.
With a huff of irritation, Daryl went back to his lettuce, tomato, and olive sandwich while trying to think of some good pranks to play on the pelt once they got home. Of course, they still had several hours here to try and cause the fox problems.
-/-/-
Daryl wasn't the only one to be in a pickle over the fox. Mandy was feeling torn about wanting to drive the fox away. It was obvious the fox felt strongly for her sister and was very protective of her, and if they were just friends then Mandy would have no problems with the fox meeting up with Judy. But Judy didn't want to be just friends with the fox. She wanted a relationship with him—a physical relationship. And that just wouldn't do. A rabbit and a fox.
Mandy still couldn't understand why Judy would be physically attracted to the fox, even if he was handsome by fox standards. Shaylee was right, Nick did have a good physique, being tall and lean with a confident air about him. Mandy could certainly understand if a vixen took a liking to the tall fox—but not her sister. Judy was a rabbit, so she shouldn't have any attraction whatsoever to a fox. They looked so different from a rabbit and their habits and history were so different from their own.
Not that Mandy knew much about fox history or anything, just the rumors and stereotypes she grew up hearing about. But they did once eat rabbits—that was history and there was no denying it. So why did Judy fall for him!? Everything about a fox was designed to hunt down and kill rabbits. Even if they didn't eat mammals anymore, Judy wouldn't stand a chance if he turned on her in a fit of rage. And that's if he took a liking to her.
But Nick was a fox, so how or why would he find a bunny attractive? It would just hurt Judy worse if she got close to him but then found out he could never see her as anything more than a friend. This was the only sensible outcome that Mandy could see. With how Judy had vilified every predator in Zootopia, how could Nick ever see her as a love interest? It didn't make any sense. The fact he was here to mend their friendship was shocking enough.
But for him to find Judy attractive? To want to date her? No. It would just break Judy's heart worse to be friend-zoned by the fox. So Mandy stood by her original decision that it would be in Judy's best interest to not see the fox. But how could she keep them apart if he was coming to the burrow tonight? The whole family will be talking about the fox before the sun drops, especially if he's a decent singer.
With drooping ears, Mandy stirred the last of her fruit salad around in her bowl while wondering if there was any point to trying to drive him out of town anymore. Her parents had both met Nick and had welcomed him into their home. There's no way Judy wouldn't find out about him now.
Dropping her spoon into the bowl, Mandy dropped her head into her paws and rubbed her temples. Why did the fox have to show up at the rodeo ground!? He was messing up everything! Why couldn't he just get the hint and leave town!? Just forget about Judy!
-/-/-
As Nick walked back to the bleachers, Shaylee kept an eye on him. It was obvious he was upset about what just happened, but she wasn't sure if he was upset because he actually thought Judy might be thinking of dating Ryan or upset that Bonnie had tried to hook Judy up with a live-in boyfriend. Well, it was obvious from Nick's words to Bonnie that he wasn't happy with her and her dealings with Judy, but surely he knew Judy wasn't actually wanting to date Ryan . . . right?
As much as she wanted to ask, Shaylee had to wait for the other bunnies who left the table with them to return to their original tasks. This meant she couldn't ask Nick her questions until they were a short distance from the bleachers and it was just her, Nick, Brandi, Melanie, Aaron, Ben, and Marty. Once she was sure no one would overhear them, she leaned forward and looked sideways to get a better look at Nick's face.
At first glance, he looked relaxed with his paws in his pockets, but at closer inspection she noticed the rigid way in which he held his ears, and his tail hardly moved as he walked—not the easy sway it had before. Nick also wasn't glancing around with curiosity at the various projects they passed but was staring straight ahead while ignoring everything going on around him.
Taking a deep breath, Shaylee asked, "How are you feeling, Nick?"
Seeing as they were now alone, Nick didn't bother keeping his ears upright. As they tilted back, he answered with a low growl, "Angry at your mother." Pulling his paws from his pockets and waving them around, Nick growled out, "How could she do that to Judy!? How can she sleep at night after trying to sell your sister off like cheap livestock!? She's not some crippled dodo bird or a sick emu to be gotten rid of to the first mammal stupid enough to take her! She's your sister—her own daughter!"
Shaylee nodded, then said, "My mom has always viewed happiness as having a bunch of kits running around her feet. The more kits she had, the fuller and more meaningful her life was. She just can't understand the rest of us who don't feel the same way—especially Judy as she never showed any interest in settling down and having family." With a shrug, Shaylee added, "I think mom wouldn't be so hard on Judy if she at least showed some interest in bucks or the idea of getting married or having kits of her own—but Judy always brushed the ideas off saying she didn't have time for any of it. She was going to be a big city cop and there wasn't any room in her life for a mate or kits." Reaching over as a teasing smile crossed her lips, Shaylee poked Nick in the arm, saying, "At least, she had no interest until she met you."
Nick glanced over with a slight nod, but didn't say anything, so Marty spoke up next, "So how did you feel hearing Judy was hanging out with Ryan?" As he had several fox friends, Marty knew foxes were territorial when it came to their mates. Not that they were controlling of their mates on who they could talk to or spend time with, but they would defend their mates if it looked like someone was trying to make a move on them.
Nick stopped walking. Folding his arms as his tail lashed out irritably behind him, he stated coldly, "I hated it. The thought of Judy in the arms of some buck has my stomach in knots and my blood boiling." With a scowl and a hint of a growl, he added, "She's mine."
Shaylee's ears drooped, even as Marty grinned, but before Marty could say anything, Shaylee pointed out, "You know Judy isn't actually going to date Ryan, don't you?"
Nick gave her this 'dumb bunny' look, then rolled his eyes. "Yes, I know Judy is only using Ryan as a scapegoat—I did get that. But that doesn't help with how I'm feeling." Pointing to Shaylee, he explained, "Ever since I arrived in Bunnyburrow and you showed me how I really felt about Judy, I haven't been able to see her, talk to her, or smell her." Waving his paws through the air, he added, "And now I'm hearing how she's supposedly dating and marrying this buck I've never met! How am I supposed to feel!?"
"Does that mean you've already imprinted on Judy?" Marty piped up from the side with his ears perked forward and his tail twitching in excitement.
Nick flicked his ear as he glanced over at the hopeful buck. It still struck Nick and threw him for a loop to see Judy's family so open and supportive of a relationship between him and Judy—especially since he had yet to even talk to her! Taking a deep breath while thinking of Marty's question, Nick then rubbed his paw down face and muzzle, then dropped it to say, "It appears so. I wouldn't be feeling so possessive or so jealous if I hadn't." Nick really wished his dad was still around to ask about the imprinting process and how it felt when he had imprinted on his mom. But if wishes were fishes then no one would go hungry, right?
Flicking his tail as he realized what Marty had just asked him, Nick tilted his head, raised his brow and asked, "How do you know about imprinting?"
With a wide grin, Marty answered, "I have several fox friends and they've told me a little about their dating habits, including how unique you red foxes are."
Nick gave a small nod as Marty's full acceptance of him now made a bit more sense. But it was still strange that a rabbit was okay with a fox taking a fellow rabbit as his mate—especially when that rabbit was a family member.
Hearing Nick had already imprinted on Judy, a bright smile spread across Shaylee's face and she positively glowed. Poking the fox in the side, she asked brightly, "So does that mean I can start calling you 'brother-in-law'?"
Nick rolled his eyes again. He hadn't seen Judy yet, they certainly weren't married, and yet Shaylee was insisting on calling him brother-in-law as if it was an already forgone event—not a conclusion—but that it had already happened. Reaching over, he wrapped his arm around Shaylee's shoulders and pulled her to his side as he started walking again. Booping her nose with his sharp, black claw, Nick said, "How do you know Judy even wants to date me?"
Shaylee opened her mouth, but Nick didn't give her a chance to talk. Wagging his finger back and forth in front of her face, he explained, "Yes, I know Judy likes me, I'm not questioning that—but liking me and wanting to date me are two different things in my book."
"How so?" Brandi asked. If Judy really liked Nick as Shaylee claimed she did, then why wouldn't Judy want to date him?
Nick looked over the top of Shaylee's black-tipped, gray ears at her older and slightly taller sister Brandi. With a flick of his ear, he answered, "Because Judy won't just be getting herself involved in a pred-prey inter-species relationship—which in itself will bring a lot of bigotry and slander—but she'll also be dating a fox." With a flourish of his free paw (he still had one arm around Shaylee), Nick continued with a hard edge to his voice, "We foxes are the bane of society, thieves of the night, tainted and untrustworthy from the day we were born. We're hated and shunned wherever we go and anyone dating us, especially such a cute little bunny, will be tainted by association."
Bringing his paw around to point at Brandi, he added, "As bad as rabbits get picked on for being cute little fuzzballs who belong in a toy store window," the rabbits around him frowned, but Nick was merely pointing out how the world viewed them, "if you add onto that the hate and violence we foxes receive, sometimes on a daily basis—" Nick shook his head, "not many mammals will want to go through all that venom, hate, and scorn. And if these specist pricks find out we're dating—that our relationship is a romantic one—you can be sure that all that hate and venom is going to go through the roof." Nick pointed towards the sky.
Hearing Nick's words put a damper on the mood as the bunnies around him realized just how bad he had it and what dating him would entail. Shaylee did have an idea already as Nick had spoken about it before. The only one not bothered by Nick's words was Marty, as he'd tasted firstpaw the hate leveled at foxes since he hung out with several.
Stepping closer to Nick, Marty said, "Don't worry, Nick, Judy won't get scared off. If anyone tries to start something, she'll put her fist in their face and either break their noses or knock them out cold."
Nick raised a brow, then pointed out, "You know she can get arrested on assault charges if she throws the first punch, right?" Nick was a bit surprised to hear of this violent side to Judy. Back in Zootopia, she didn't seem much like the violent type. She certainly got angry and liked to posture, but she never took a swing at him or even threatened to—not even when he was being a complete jerk. Of course, that might be because he was never violent towards her—annoying, yes, but not violent. If Judy did have this protectively violent side, though, Nick was highly interested in seeing it.
Marty shook his head. "Don't worry. Judy usually warns them first and only gets violent if the others are violent first." Nick nodded and Marty added, "But that's beside the point. The point being that Judy won't care what anyone else says or does." Pointing to the large todd beside him, Marty added, "As long as you are willing and wanting the relationship, then Judy won't let anyone stop her from being with you."
Nick's bushy tail began wagging. Having someone willing to fight for him was a new experience for Nick. He was all too used to mammals dropping him like a newborn giraffe at the first hint of an inconvenience, so learning Judy would be willing to break someone's nose or knock them out cold on his behalf left him feeling warm and fuzzy inside. It was a new feeling for him, but one in which he didn't want to lose.
Seeing the happiness radiating off of Nick with his perked ears and wagging tail, Marty then asked, "Since this is the case, does that mean I can start calling you cousin?"
Nick looked down at Marty. The buck looked to be about 18 or 19 with some of his youthful, boyish looks still hanging on. He was also wide-eyed and bushy-tailed with excitement at the idea of having a fox for a cousin, which they would be if Nick took Judy as his mate. With a bright grin, Nick wrapped his arm around Marty's shoulders and pulled him to his side. "You know what, Marty?" Nick asked with a slight wave of his paw. At Marty's headshake, Nick pointed a clawed finger at him and answered, "You remind me of my younger brother, Landon. He had your same excitement for trying new things and enthusiasm for life."
Marty immediately perked up with his ears pointed forward, and both his nose and tail twitching in happiness. "Really!? I remind you of your brother!?"
Nick nodded as they continued walking over to the poles and boards that still needed to be set up for the bleachers. "Yep, you do, so yeah, you can go ahead and call me cousin if you want."
"So where is he? What's he like now? Does he have any hobbies?" Marty asked excitedly, wanting to know all about Nick's younger brother.
Nick slowed to a stop and his tail slumped, even as his shoulders did. With his ears drooping, he took a deep breath, but didn't say anything. The words got choked up in his throat. He wasn't crying, it had been a long time since he'd cried over his missing family, but the pain was still there. A hole in his heart that had never been filled.
Seeing Nick's sudden change in mood, the rabbits around him froze and held their breaths as they realized something bad must have happened to Nick's brother.
With a small breath, Marty whispered, "Sorry, Nick, I didn't mean . . ."
Nick moved his paw to silence him. It took him a moment, but then he said, "There's no need to apologize." Taking a deep breath, Nick wasn't sure what to say to break the silence. He wasn't used to talking about his past, especially his missing family. He'd opened up to Gideon the other day, but that was a fellow fox who could empathize with him in many ways. But now he was with a bunch of rabbits—a species he never expected to open up to and be all chummy with. But these weren't just any rabbits. These were Judy's siblings who had completely taken him in as if he was one of them and passed no judgements on him. They accepted him without reserve and were looking forward to the day he would join their family in deed and not just word.
Feeling their love and acceptance left Nick sucker punched—but in the best of ways. It had been so long since Nick felt any kind of familial love and acceptance (or any kind of love or acceptance, for that matter), that these few bunnies left him emotionally reeling—and he hadn't even met with Judy yet! For the first time in almost two decades, he felt like he might have finally found a place to call home.
Taking a deep breath, Nick tried to keep the moisture in his eyes as he softly explained, "I was separated from my family when we were both teens and I haven't seen Landon since. I have no idea where he is or how he's doing." Taking another deep breath while trying to control the emotions threatening to break free, Nick started walking again, but it was at a much slower pace.
Biting her lip a moment, Melanie then asked softly, "You haven't seen your family since you were a teen?" Melanie couldn't even imagine not seeing her family for so long. How did Nick survive!?
Nick gave a slight nod but didn't say anything. His emotions were too close to the surface and he feared if he said another word, they'd overflow.
Looking up at the handsome todd who'd stolen her sister's heart, Shaylee felt her heart swell with love for the todd who would soon be her brother. His life hadn't been easy, as he hinted at on several occasions, and yet he still had enough heart to save her sister and help Judy prove she was a real cop. And now he had returned to make amends with her. Judy really had found herself one swell guy to fall for and Shaylee couldn't be happier for her headstrong sister.
Lost in thought, Shaylee figured that if she kept her eyes open, maybe she could find her own handsome todd who would be just as loyal and devoted. With a bright smile, Shaylee poked Nick in the ribs and said, "Well, you have family now, brother."
A slow, toothy smile spread across Nick's muzzle as he met Shaylee's accepting gaze. Squeezing her a little closer into his side, he said, "You know, I always wanted a little sister."
With a laugh, Shaylee replied, "Well, you have one now."
"That's right," Melanie said from Shaylee's other side, even as Brandi gave a warm nod. Hearing Nick vehemently defend Judy and give such glowing praise of her had erased any lingering doubts the older doe had about the tall todd.
"Yeah," Aaron said from Marty's other side as he lightly whacked Nick's arm, "and you got two more brothers, too."
"That's right," Ben exclaimed with a wide, buck-toothed grin. "And once we get my Mustang Boss up and running, we'll take a cruise in it."
With a wide buck-toothed grin of his own, Aaron added, "Maybe we can race the Boss against Nick's Triumph. That would be fun. I can picture it now, two stunning classics tearing up the highway!" With his paw shooting out in front of him, he imagined what the two classic cars would look like barreling down the open highway.
Laughing as his tail swayed happily behind him, Nick replied, "Two sisters, two brothers, and a cousin! It's been so long since I've had family that it's hard to believe I have one now."
Shaylee hugged his side and laughed happily, saying, "Well you do, and don't you forget it."
"And soon, you'll have a wife and mate, too!" Marty chimed in at his side. There was no hiding the excitement on his face at that pronouncement as his eyes were bright and his nose was twitching relentlessly.
Nick laughed again. Family! Nick couldn't believe he finally had a family again—and they were a bunch of bunnies! What a strange turn his life had taken! And all because Judy had hopped into his life and turned it upside down all those months ago. "I still can't believe you guys are fine with your sister shacking up with a fox."
The rabbits laughed and then they arrived at the supplies for the bleachers. Falling into a happy companionship as they talked, laughed, and joked while they worked, they all hoped to have the bleachers finished by the end of the day.
-/-/-
As Ryan and Daisy gathered up their supplies, Daisy asked more questions about the upcoming trip and Ryan explained the little he knew so far. After letting her know that he and Judy would be meeting up with Patty-Mae and Joey once they returned to his house to hammer out the details of the trip, Ryan suggested she call him on her next break so she could participate in the discussion via the phone.
Daisy readily agreed. Normally when she went on group activities (during school or college), she just went along for the ride (most activities she attended were required) and she always felt like an unnecessary tag-along. But now she would finally be able to help plan the trip making her feel like she was actually part of the group and not just a nuisance. Knowing Ryan would be there with her the whole time helped quail any lingering uncertainties—at least for the moment.
While picking up an assortment of nails and screws and placing them in the shopping cart he was pushing, Ryan suggested Daisy stay over at his place to avoid them having to drive all the way out to her place first thing in the morning. At Daisy's surprised and questioning look (her bright blue eyes were so expressive that Ryan frequently got lost in them), he then explained, "You know, like a sleepover. You can sleep in Patty-Mae's room and do girly things—paint your claws, talk about boys, watch chick-flicks—you know, all those things girls do at sleepovers."
Daisy stared at Ryan with a slack jaw for several heartbeats, then she started giggling. Covering her mouth with her paw as another giggle escaped her, she then exclaimed, "You're joking right?"
With a wave of his paw, Ryan replied, "Well, that's what most of my sisters do when they have sleepovers."
Daisy giggled again. "Yes, I remember all the times you called me up complaining about how loud they were and begging me to meet you out on the trail for a rhea ride so you could escape the madness."
Ryan chuckled. "Yes, I could always count on you to save my sanity."
Daisy nodded, then asked, "But can you seriously see me sitting around painting my claws while gossiping about boys? Or sitting through endless chick-flicks?"
With a wide grin, Ryan shook his head. "Okay, gossiping about boys is definitely out which won't be a problem since Patty-Mae isn't much for gossiping either. As for chick-flicks, Patty-Mae has a few I think you'd like." At Daisy's skepticism, he added, "Come on, if Patty-Mae approves of them then you know they have to be good."
After Daisy nodded to his logic, Ryan looked down and took Daisy's paw, saying, "Now about painting your claws, even though it's not something you normally do," he slid his fingers under her long claws to get a better look at them, "I bet if Patty-Mae asked around, one of my sisters is sure to have a bottle of sapphire blue." Looking up to meet Daisy's bright blue eyes, he murmured, "Blue the color of your eyes would be pretty."
Daisy's heart sputtered, then skipped a beat as Ryan met her stunned gaze. Feeling herself drowning in his warm, brown gaze, she briefly considered running before she did something disastrous—like reaching up and kissing him. But Ryan saved her from having to act on that thought as he looked back down at her claws he still held in his paw. Taking a deep breath, she blinked several times while trying to get her wayward heart to calm down.
"Not that you need to paint your nails to look pretty," Ryan continued. He had recognized the look in Daisy's eyes and knew he better start moving again before she ran from him. Adjusting his own paw to properly clasp hers, he started walking while pushing the shopping cart one-pawed. Glancing over briefly, he said, "You're beautiful just the way you are, but if you wanted to try something new, blue always looks good on you." Looking forward again, he waited for her response.
As Ryan dragged Daisy behind him, she found her mind in a muddle. A happy muddle, for sure, but a muddle all the same. Her mind kept replaying over what he'd just said and did which made it difficult to form a coherent thought. Although Ryan constantly told her she was beautiful, somehow, this time was different. He had said she always looked good in blue, she would be pretty with painted nails, and—most importantly—they were currently holding paws!
Daisy had wanted to hold Ryan's paw for so long that at first, she thought she was dreaming. But his paw felt too soft, too warm, and too firm for this to be a dream. With a wide smile spreading across her lips, she hurried to catch up so they were once again walking side-by-side, even as she murmured, "Uh, yeah."
With an answering grin, Ryan glanced over again to ask, "Is that a yes to the sleepover?"
"Yeah," Daisy replied before her brain could think through the ramifications of her answer. After realizing what she had just agreed to (she truly wanted to go but didn't feel confident that anyone but Ryan would welcome her intrusion), she hastily added, "I mean, if . . . if Patty-Mae is okay with me staying with her."
Ryan rolled his eyes as he squeezed her paw. "Patty-Mae is going to love you, so don't worry about it." Daisy nodded but didn't seem very convinced. With a wide, teasing grin, Ryan tugged her closer so her arm brushed up against his own as he added, "But on the slim chance Patty-Mae has a problem with you staying in her room, you can always stay in mine."
"In yours!?" Daisy squeaked in surprise, even as a bright blush spread across her face under her black and white fur.
Nodding as humor twinkled in his light brown eyes, he replied, "Sure. You can have my bed and I'll take the floor."
Pressing closer to his side as she pointed a clawed finger up at him with her free paw (she couldn't believe Ryan was still holding her paw!), Daisy exclaimed, "Ryan, I can't make you sleep on the floor in your own room! What kind of a guest would I be!?"
Shaking his own finger back at Daisy, Ryan asked, "And what kind of host would I be if I made you sleep on the floor when I got to be warm and toasty in a soft comfortable bed?"
With a cute scowl (Ryan couldn't believe how cute she looked whenever she scowled! He just wanted to kiss her!), Daisy insisted, "Ryan, I am not making you sleep on the floor in your own room."
"Are you sure you won't take the bed?" he asked again while thinking of a better way to tease her.
Daisy shook her head while insisting, "Not if you're sleeping on the floor." Folding her arm across her chest, she looked straight ahead. She couldn't fold both arms across her chest like she wanted to because Ryan still had a hold of one of them, and she wasn't about to let go of his paw any sooner than she absolutely had to.
Grinning wider, Ryan glanced down as he raised a finger in the air. "Well then, I guess there's only one way to resolve this dilemma." As Daisy glanced up sharply, Ryan said, "We'll just have to both sleep in the bed . . ." Daisy's jaw dropped. "Or we can both sleep on the floor," he added. "I'll leave it up to you on what we do." He then reached over and flicked her on the nose.
Daisy froze and Ryan stopped beside her. The fact she didn't immediately cry out with an emphatic 'no' to sharing the bed or an insistent 'yes' to sleeping on the floor gave Ryan more courage and hope that there really was something more between them and he wasn't just reading things into their friendship.
Recognizing Daisy's stunned gaze and afraid she might turn and run from him once she came to her senses (or at least try to run from him—he wasn't letting her go today), Ryan squeezed her paw and spoke again. "Well, this is a moot point, anyway, 'cause I know Patty-Mae will be excited to have you over. And since Patty-Mae no longer has to share her room with Penelope, you can sleep in her bed."
Daisy blinked, then took a deep breath, and then another. Squeezing Ryan's paw, a slow, shy smile crossed her lips as she nodded. "I'm fine with anything," she murmured under breath. And she was, even if it came down to sharing a bed with Ryan. She would be completely fine with that. More than fine. And when her mom's voice in the back of her head started yammering about Ryan only being interested in a one-night-stand, Daisy studiously squashed the thought down. Ryan wasn't like that, of that she was sure.
With his nose and tail twitching in happiness, Ryan started walking forward again and was doubly happy when Daisy was still walking close enough to rub arms with him. "Okay," he continued their conversation, "now that tonight's sleeping arrangements are made, the next question is whether you want to call you mom and give her a heads up on the fact you'll be sleeping with a bunch of bunnies for the next several nights or if you just want to spring it on her once you get home this evening."
Daisy's ears pinned back and her nose scrunched in distaste at the thought of having to tell her mom about her plans for the rest of the week. Her mom was heavily biased against rabbits, hares, prairie dogs, and other small prey mammals as they'd been forced to move around a lot when Daisy and her siblings were growing up due to prejudice and severe bullying. Since moving to Bunnyburrow, the prejudice and bullying had eased quite a bit, though it hadn't completely gone away.
Even so, due to all the bullying and mistreatment her family had suffered from, Daisy's mom was extremely prejudiced against most other mammals besides other skunks. Her mom got along okay with minks and ferrets as she related to them the best outside her species, but that was about it. There were a few other mammals whom her mom got along with, but not many. But small prey mammals, especially bunnies, Daisy's mom considered the worst and couldn't understand why her daughter would willingly choose to set herself up for heartbreak by falling for one.
Imagining the earful her mom would give her once she heard her daughter was going to be spending the night at Ryan's, Daisy quickly shook her head, saying, "I really don't feel like having a major argument with my mom while I'm still at work, so I'll wait and spring it on her when I get home."
Ryan nodded as he had expected as much. "Then how about I pick you up from work and we'll head over to your house together. If you mom wants to rant and rave about your choice, then I'll be there to head off her arguments." With a chuckle, he added, "I've gotten quite used to your mom's death glares by now. Most of the time I'm there she at least pretends to be civil." Grinning at Daisy, he added, "So you won't have to listen to her yelling. And once you're packed, we can head over to my place and get you settled in."
Daisy really wanted to agree as she didn't want to face her mom's wrath alone, but the thought of Ryan being subjected to her mom's snide comments about his species and what she assumed his attentions were (she never yelled at Ryan, but couldn't keep her opinions to herself), made Daisy's heart ache. Ryan deserved better than that.
"Thanks, Ryan, for the offer, but you don't have to. I'll be okay facing my mom alone."
Ryan stopped walking, forcing Daisy to stop, too, as he was still holding her paw. With a heavy sigh, he ran his free paw down his face, then pushed the cart forward a bit so he could pull Daisy around to stand in front of him. Reaching forward, he cupped her cheek as he explained, "I know I don't have to. I'm offering because I want to." Caressing her cheek softly, he continued, "I want to spend time with you, Daisy. I'm happy when we're together. And it gives me the greatest pleasure knowing I'm able to be of help to you, even if that means subjecting myself to your mom's death glares and snide comments. I would rather she glare at me than yell at you for being with me."
Daisy couldn't say anything as she suddenly found herself light-headed (she was hardly breathing as Ryan caressed her face). Ryan's soft words and tender actions were squeezing her heart with so much love and joy that she felt about ready to pop from it all. Furthermore, Ryan didn't say her mom would yell at her because they were 'friends' but because she was 'with him.' The way he worded his comment made Daisy feel like he was talking about them dating, not about two friends who merely liked to hang out.
Seeing as Daisy was struggling to find any words to answer with, Ryan ran his thumb across her cheekbone and leaned a little closer to her while saying, "So no brushing off my offers of help and no apologizing for the bad behavior of other mammals. You have nothing to apologize for." He squeezed her paw, then added, "I'll be here at 5 o'clock on the dot to pick you up. Got it?"
Daisy merely nodded. Ryan kept squeezing her heart with love and if he didn't stop staring at her with such an affectionate gaze while caressing her cheek, she was going to throw caution to the wind, wrap her arms around his neck, and pull down for a deep, passionate kiss. She wanted to drown in his kisses as surely as she was drowning in his warm, brown gaze.
"Good." Standing a little straighter, Ryan looked over Daisy's head as he considered what to do after picking her up. "It'll be dinner time by then, and I know your mom won't welcome me over for dinner, nor do I want to subject us both to my annoying siblings by eating at my house." Glancing back down to meet Daisy's stunning sapphires, he grinned widely. "How about we eat out tonight? I'm thinking of the Blue Moon Diner. How does that sound?"
Daisy's jaw dropped, then she exclaimed, "We can't go there! That's where couples go on dates!"
Ryan raised an eyebrow, even as he asked, "Where does it say only mammals on dates can have dinner at the Blue Moon?"
Daisy's mouth worked, but no words came out. With a flick of her long, fluffy tail, she finally said, "Well, there's no written rule, I guess."
"So what's wrong with two really good friends going there for a nice, sit-down dinner?"
Shaking her head slowly while her long, fluffy, black and white tail swayed behind her, Daisy finally murmured, "Nothing, I guess." She desperately wanted to ask if Ryan was taking her there for an actual date, but at the same time, she was afraid. He had just said they were two really good friends having a nice dinner. Would it be wrong for her to read more into it?
Grinning wildly at his victory, Ryan said, "If there's nothing wrong, then I'll see you at 5 o'clock sharp, we'll go have a nice dinner at the Blue Moon Diner, then we'll go brave your mom's disapproval at you spending the next several days with a bunch of bunnies, and then we'll go to my house and subject ourselves to the teasing of my obnoxious brothers. Sound like a plan?"
Daisy met Ryan's happy, excited grin and had to laugh. He always knew how to brighten her day. "Sounds really fun. I can't wait."
"Good. Now that that's taken care of, we just need to pick up harvest gold cement, fine masonry sand, and oakum for the chinking on the cabin and I think our shopping is done."
Nodding as she stepped back around to walk beside him, Daisy looked up at Ryan with a soft, contented smile. She was thoroughly looking forward to her . . . not-date . . . with Ryan, along with the sleepover at his house tonight. And having him there with her when she informed her mother of her plans warmed Daisy's heart even further. Ryan truly was her knight in shining armor.
After gathering the last few items on their list (they didn't need much as they would only need to touch up on the chinking rather than re-chink the whole cabin), Ryan and Daisy met back up with Judy and Bobby. After checking out, Ryan reminded Daisy to call on her next break so they could plan the trip, and that he would be back to pick her up at 5.
She agreed warmly and told him she was looking forward to dinner afterwards. Ryan then reminded her to call her brother and let him know he wouldn't need to pick her up after work. "Yes, Father, I'll call him," Daisy responded with a laugh, though she was grateful for the reminder because she had forgotten all about her brother picking her up this evening after he got off work. After being asked out on a date by Ryan, how could she think about anyone or anything else?
After Ryan put the supplies in the back of his truck and he and Judy climbed in, they headed back to the ranch. Judy waited until they passed the last building leaving town before informing Ryan of the information she acquired from Bobby, which had Ryan slapping a paw over his face and groaning in frustration.
Dropping his paw to glance at Judy, Ryan exclaimed, "You mean to tell me that all those times she ran from me was because she wanted to kiss me and feared I'd be disgusted if she did!?"
"Yep." With a bright smile as Ryan turned his attention back to the road, Judy added, "So the next time Daisy runs from you, just chase after her and kiss her senseless and then she'll never think of running from you again."
Looking out the windshield as they passed a field of alfalfa with the tiny purple flowers swaying in the breeze, Ryan chuckled then shook his head. "Yeah, I'll do that." Shaking his head again, he immediately thought of their date tonight—and he was definitely seeing his dinner with Daisy tonight as a date—and started planning how best to bring up the question of Daisy being his girlfriend. And seeing as they were going to the nicest restaurant in town, Ryan figured he better ask Patty-Mae if Daisy could borrow one of her dresses tonight. With the exception of Daisy's shorter legs, she and Patty-Mae were about the same size (Daisy had a long torso, but shorter legs than a hare), so the dress should fit Daisy as long as it wasn't a floor-length one.
While watching a yellow mini-van pass him heading towards town, Ryan tried to picture Daisy in one of Patty-Mae's cuter dresses. Patty-Mae, like Daisy, didn't dress up very often as they both preferred wearing jeans, but she had recently bought several really cute dresses to wear on her dates with Joey and was wondering which one Daisy would look cutest in. He knew his sister had bought a dandelion yellow one and a dress the color of new pine needles in spring, but he hadn't yet seen the other dresses Patty-Mae had bought. He was looking forward to seeing which dress Patty-Mae picked for Daisy.
Turning back to Judy, he filled her in on the plans he and Daisy had made about her calling in to help plan the trip, and then how she was sleeping over at his place tonight to make it easier to leave in the morning. He then suggested Judy stay over, as well, and the three girls could have a real slumber party (he wanted Daisy's first slumber party to be truly memorable).
Judy agreed and suggested Patty-Mae invite Joey over, too. Sleeping under the same roof tonight would give them all a chance to get to know each other better before leaving on their trip tomorrow and would make getting loaded up first thing in the morning a lot easier. Ryan agreed and then suggested Patty-Mae drive Judy over to grab her stuff and pick up Toot-toot after hammering out the details of the trip this afternoon.
"That's a good idea, Ryan," Judy agreed, but then said, "I'll be going over to Bobby's this evening for dinner, but I'll ride back to the ranch afterwards."
Ryan nodded. "That's fine. Patty-Mae will probably eat at Joey's tonight and I'm taking Daisy to the Blue Moon Diner after picking her up from work, so having you eat at Bobby's will work out for the best."
Hearing where Ryan was taking Daisy for dinner had stars sparkling in Judy's eyes. "You're taking Daisy on a date tonight!?"
Ryan nodded, but then explained, "I didn't call it a date when I asked her out, but now that I know how she feels about me, I'll be referring to it as a date when I pick her up this evening."
Judy laughed as her nose started twitching. "I'm so happy for you, Ryan! Once you start dating, it won't be long before you can ask her to marry you and start a life and family together!" With a happy squee, Judy added, "I can't wait to spend more time with Daisy tonight and get to know her better." Clapping her paws together, Judy murmured, "This is so exciting! This is going to be the best trip ever!"
Ryan agreed, but thought silently to himself that the only way for it to be the 'best trip ever' for Judy was if Nick was coming, too. But Ryan wasn't going to voice his opinion and possibly put a damper on his friend's good mood. Instead, he turned the conversation to some of the things Judy, Daisy, and Patty-Mae could do for their slumber party, as well as things they could do as a group—making smores over an open fire being one of them. They could even tell ghost stories or something once the sun went down.
The rest of the drive to Ryan's family ranch was filled with chatter and laughter as they discussed possible activities they could enjoy, both tonight and up at the cabin once they got there. Judy was truly looking forward to the trip and spending time with her new friends, but there was still a small part of her that was sad Nick wasn't coming with them—and wishing like crazy that he was.
WingedKatt here. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. There's a lot going on next time and will carry our characters into late afternoon in story. We'll learn more about Daisy's home life when she calls her brother, Judy and group will better plan out their trip, we'll meet Ryan's and Patty-Mae's parents, and more...so stay tuned.
Ch. 22: Just Be Happy, will post in 2 weeks. Take care. If you have any thoughts or questions, let me know.