Chapter Thirteen: Going Home
A/N: Okay, this is going to take longer than I thought. Looks like we got at least two more chapters to go before we wrap everything up. I even cut the chapter a little short because it was getting too long. We get a lot of interactions with the families at both the hospital and on the train home.
7:35 pm At the FoxDen Hospital
The family had arrived at the hospital. They had dropped off the lab rat, Hinkel on the way there. As they were walking in, Nick had a question for Finnick. "Should we tell Mom that we forgave the guy that stabbed her leg since he helped us so much?"
"YOU forgave him! Not me."
"You wished him good luck."
"That's not forgiveness! That's just…. manners. That's all."
"If you say so."
Finnick led them to the room Joseph and Vivian were in. Nick peeked his head in. "Did somebody call for Dr. Wilde?"
Vivian and the kids' eyes lit up. "Daddy!" Penny shouted as she jumped off her chair and ran over for her father to pick her up. "I missed you! You much tawwer! And… and got muscle!"
"Yeah! Well, I'm sure you saw me on the news. I drank some diet Pupsi to bring it down so I can fit in the building. It's what brings the superpowers down."
Greg came in, bouncing up and down. "Grandma! Joe! Look at me! I can bounce! I'm indestructible! Joe looks like a mummy."
"That's his bandages," Vivian replied. "Did you forget his face got burned?"
"No!... Kinda."
Judy then came in with Bandit and Duke behind them. Judy was carrying Baby Judy and Sugar while Bandit was carrying Baby Nick. Vivian was not pleased. "Oh, look! It's the problem child who got my house blown up!"
"That's not fair, Vivian!" Judy said. "None of us knew there were agents after her."
"You're right. It's not her fault, it's yours! You brought your work home with you and it cost us our home, everything we own, a gash in my leg and poor Joe's face! And what?! You got two new kids?!"
"No!... Three. Dad?"
Finn came in looking like Dracula. He had Fixer's wings wrapped around him as Fixer was hugging him from behind. "I am the night. I… am Batfox!" He opened up his arms to show the batwings behind him.
Finally, Fixer peeked his head out. "Hi! I'm Fixer! I can make fruit and fix things!"
Duke came from behind carrying Smoker, "Oh, sure. Don't introduce me."
"Sorry," Judy replied. "Everyone, this is Bandit's foster father, Duke Weaselton. Duke, this is the rest of my family. Mom, I'm sorry things haven't been going so well, but you can't just put the blame on me!"
"This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't brought her home! Your job puts our family in danger!"
Nick got in front of Judy. "Hold on mom! Up until recently, I had the exact same job! This is the first time anything of this magnitude has happened! You're just upset that the old, Wilde home is gone and you're looking for a scapegoat!"
"Yes?" said a voice from behind them.
"Wha?"
A goat doctor came into the room. "I'm Doctor Scapegoat. Nurse Billygoat will be in momentarily with your release papers provided he doesn't eat them first."
"How bad is my mom's injury, Doc?"
"It's just a gash and is healing on its own. I thought you'd be more worried about your jackal son's injury."
Nick smiled. "We got something for that."
"Oh, yes!" Vivian said. "You were telling me about Sugar's miraculous healing abilities."
"Yeah well, that's the thing. A Pupsi-dart hit her and she lost her powers."
" 'Pupsi-dart'?"
"Plain, ol' Diet Pupsi counteracts with the superpower potions. You can take some and still have your power, it's just lessened. That's what Judy, Finnick, and I did. Two liters and it's completely gone. The ZPD was able to make a concentrated form of that into a tranq dart. Still…"
"Still what?" Judy asked.
"The more modern potions were made partially from Sugar's blood. Sugar's power gave her regenerative abilities even in herself. I'm not 100% sure they're gone for good."
Joseph looked worried. "Thot adout nee? Who can heal nee?"
Nick picked up the bat. "That's where the latest edition to the family comes in! Meet fixer!"
"What's his power?" Vivian asked.
"He's got two. One is just a side-effect of the potion. One, he can make any fruit come out of his body."
"Please don't ask for pineapple," Fixer added.
"Two, he can fix the surface of anything and make it look new and appealing including faces! Why don't we try him on your leg?"
"I-! Can't!" Vivian said nervously. "It's wrapped in gauze."
Fixer crawled over. "I just have to touch the leg." He touched her calve and a transformation occurred. Vivian's entire body glowed and she appeared to look twenty years younger.
Nick was surprised. "Wow, Mom! You look ho -great! You look great!"
Vivian was surprised. "Really?!"
Finnick chimed in. "You don't look any different to me. You were always beautiful."
Nick nudged Finnick's elbow. "Smooth, Pops. Very smooth."
Vivian looked at herself in the mirror. "I… I've never looked better! Thank you, little bat!"
Fixer smiled. "You're welcome, Grandma! You can take the gauze off now."
Dr. Scapegoat was stunned. "I… I can't believe it! Let me take off the gauze for you."
Duke was a little concerned. "I should warn ya, the healin' is only surface level. Despite my handsome sausage…"
Judy corrected him. "Visage!"
" 'Dat's what I said! Despite 'dat, my face is still hurtin' underneath. Look, I ain't family here and this room is gettin' kinda crowded. I think me and the kids should wait in the waitin' room."
Bandit didn't want to go. "Awww! I wanna see Joe get better!"
"You can talk with yer boyfriend later!"
This made Joe's ears perk up, "Yi yan doythend?!"
Bandit kept whining. "But Daaad!"
"Wendy Weaselton!"
"Can't I just leave a dupe with you?"
"...Fine! I just want some family time alone."
She snapped her fingers and another duplicate came out, but she was hesitant. "Wait a minute! I don't wanna go!"
Bandit argues with herself. "You'll gain all the memory back when we absorb!"
"This stinks!"
Duke took her by the paw and they left.
The dupe yelled back. "You suck, Bandit!"
"You're me!"
"You still suck!"
The doctor took the gauze off. Low and behold, the wound was gone. "Amazing!"
Vivian gently pressed on the leg. "OW!" It's still there. It's just healed at the surface. That's amazing!"
"Not something I'd recommend for everyone," The doctor said."Seeing your body healing is important to see how far you're progressing. However, for burn victims like Joseph here, Having the tissue regrow over could do him wonders in the healing process. If he can heal from the surface to the bone, That's most of the work done."
Meanwhile…
With Smokey in one arm, Duke pulled the duplicate Bandit over with him and sat down. The possum girl was still arguing. "Why can't I watch Joe get healed?!"
"You are," Duke replied.
"I know, but… then it will be a memory, I just.."
Before she could say anything else, Duke stretched his arms around her and Bandit several times and took a deep breath. Bandit giggled. "What are you doing?"
"Appreciatin' 'da moment. Take a deep breath. We did it. Despite all 'da insanity, 'dis right here is 'da best moment of my life. We survived. We're together again. We got Smokey back. We're a family. No more stealin' 'ta make ends meet. I got a REAL job! An honest job. We're gonna have a home. A REAL home, not some disgustin' basement with plumbin' drippin' everywhere. But you know what 'da best part was?"
"No?"
"For 'da foist time, you called me 'dad'." He kissed her on the cheek. "And 'dat means 'da world 'ta me."
She kissed him back. "I love you, Dad." She rested her head on his shoulder. "... My full name is Wendy Weaselton?!"
"What;'s wring with 'dat?"
Meanwhile…
Greg and the original Bandit were crying as Jospeh's bandages came off. Half of his face was a mangled, burned mess with only a half of a tongue. "Ith it 'dat dad?!" Joseph asked.
"I'm sorry!" Greg cried. "I didn't know it was that bad! I shouldn't have left!"
"It's my fault!" Bandit cried. "I got all of you hurt! My poor Joseph!"
Nick pulled them aside. "Okay, you two! It's not your fault. Let's let Fixer do his magic."
As Fixer went over to fix Joseph's face, Vivian had questions. "So what's up with the other two children? A fox and a bunny who look just like you and Judy. Did you get them from the orphanage?"
"No. The lab." Nick gave Nick Jr. over to Vivian. "Smell him."
"What?!"
"Go ahead!"
She took a whiff and her eyes almost bulged out of her skull. "It's you! He… He smells almost exactly like you!"
"Almost?"
"Yeah! Not exact, but very, very close. There's the same wart in your ear. There's no mistaking it! This child… it's you! " She took a good look at the infant. "It's like I've gone back in time to when you were just an infant!"
"They're clones, mom. This one is me and the other is Judy. They took our blood during a charity drive and made clones of us."
"Hi!" said baby Nick.
"Well, hi! My word! This does bring back memories. Do you want me to care for him?"
"I know, technically, he's your biological son, since, well, you're my biological mother. But… I was hoping I could raise him."
"That makes sense. I can spoil him like a grandmother and watch you grow up all over again. Is his name Nick?"
"They only labeled them with our last names."
"What will you name him? Nick Jr?"
Nick smiled. "John. His name is John."
Vivian loved it. "After your father. That's perfect."
Vivian got distracted as everyone said "Woah!" When they reacted to Joseph's change.
The Jackal pup looked at him. "I yan all healed exthet ny dounge."
Greg laughed. "You said 'dung'!"
Nick looked in his mouth. "Joe's right. It is only surface level and your tongue isn't on the surface. Although…"
"Although what?" Judy asked.
Nick scooped up Fixer. "Come with me, son! I need to get those claws on your wingtips sterilized. I have a plan."
While he was doing that, Bandit asked Joseph to do something. "Does it still hurt when you talk?"
"A Leeddle," Joseph replied.
"What if I do this?" She gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
"OW! Yeth, dut who careth?! do eet again!"
They both giggled as Nick returned with Fixer. "Okay! Dr. Fixer is on the case! He can only fix what's on the surface. That said, everything has a surface! Including your tongue. So, open wide so Fixer can touch your tongue with his claws."
Joseph fought back. "No! Eeth growth!"
"Do you want your tongue back or not?"
"Get heen away!"
Suddenly, Bandit gave him a squeeze. "Do it for me, sweetie?"
"Yokay." He opened his mouth. "Aaaah!"
Fixer went into his mouth with his claws.
"Growth!" said Joseph. "Yi yan gonna gag!"
Fixer concentrated on the task at hand. "Almost done… Okay! I'm finished! His tongue's back! Look!"
Nick looked at his open mouth. "Ha-HA! I knew it! Thank you, Dr. Fixer!"
Dr. Scapegoat took a look. "My word! His power is amazing!"
"Y'see? Anything can be a surface if it's in the open. Fixer, when you grow up, you're gonna be the richest doctor ever! Or an even richer cosmetologist!"
Bandit was thinking. "Maybe I should have Fixer make me look pretty too."
"No!" Joseph shouted.
"Why not? I'm just a homely possum."
"No way! You are perfect and yootiful just as you are."
Tears welled up in Bandit's eyes. "Oh! My sweet Joe!" She multiplied into three and kissed him all over his face.
Finnick chuckled. "Now, I gotta admit, THAT was smooth."
Nick stood up. "It's about time for us to go soon, but I have an idea. Doc? Do you mind if Fixer and I check out the burn ward? You can have some more outpatients today."
The doctor laughed. "This little bat's gonna run me out of business! Of course. They'll be happy to see a couple of superheroes."
Fixer ears went up. "I'm a superhero?!"
"Of course you are, kid! You just saved the day in this room didn't you?!"
"Yeah?… Yeah! Neat! Let's gooo!"
As Nick left, Finnick and Penny took care of the puppies while Vivian had a chat with Judy. She stared at the baby Nick. "It's amazing. He looks and smells just like he did at that age."
"Yeah. I don't know what to name mine yet."
"Listen Judy, I… I'm sorry for blaming you for what happened. I was just so frustrated and mad and… I had Nick back. He was finally back in my life, in my home and… then you two started having a family, and… it got bigger and bigger to the point that… no matter how big the house gets, you two were going to have to move away. But now, look at me! I'm 53 and I'm a new mom with four pups of my own. And I know this wasn't like before where Nick ran away for a long time. I know he'd visit all he wanted and now we'll be under the same roof for awhile. But it's not just that. That explosion took almost everything from me. I have my family, but...but… I lost John! SOB!"
"What do you mean?" Judy asked.
"My photos, old videos of him. My wedding video! Gone! My mementos! All of it's gone and I'll never forgive those bastards for what they did!"
Judy tried to cheer her up. "Well… We don't know if the basement survived."
"I talked to the insurance agent. It's a smoldering crater."
"Damn! I'm sorry."
While they were talking, Finnick sneaked out momentarily to get on the phone to Nick. "Hey Nick!"
"What's up, Pops?"
"Vivian is furious about what happened. Do not mention Sniffer. Don't ever mention that you forgave him. Just bury it, okay?"
"Why?"
"All of your dad's mementos are gone. Everything of John's is gone. And once again, for the record, I never technically forgave him!"
"DAMN! I didn't know it was that bad. Alright, Pops. What's done is done and I won't mention a thing."
"Good."
Moments Later…
Everyone met up again in the waiting room. "I got my release papers. Minus a few bite marks."
"It's gonna be a tight fit in the van," Finnick said. "We got a lot of kids with us."
Judy had an idea. "Why don't Duke's family and my family take the train down to Bunnyburrow and your family take the van?"
Duke didn't like the idea. "I ain't got no cash, Cottontail! Are you gonna pay fer our ticket?!"
"Well, sure! I just wanted to chat with you about your new job on the way there."
"Alright 'den."
"For now, we're gonna have to bunch up in the van."
Nick had a question. "Do you mind if we stop by the house? Or, what's left of it?"
"Sure," Finnick replied. "I'm curious myself."
With everyone packed tightly in the van, they drove off. It wasn't long before they arrived in front of the crater. "My God!" Nick said. "It even burned into the neighbor's house!"
"News said there were no casualties, "Finnick replied. "But I don't think the neighbors will be too happy with us."
"Nothing. There's nothing. Just some bit of plumbing and… wait." Nick peered into the darkness. There's something black and shiny down in the dirt. Do you see it Finnick?"
"Where?... Yeah! There it is! Hold on."
"Finnick could no longer shrink to the size of a flea, but he did keep some of his powers. He could shrink to an inch and he still had a good amount of strength and leaping ability. He jumped down into the pit and looked around. "There!" He pulled it out. "It's our safe! Still intact."
He leaped back to level ground with the safe in his arms and opened it. Vivian looked through the safe. "Where's our savings?!"
Bandit confessed. "I… kinda stole it for bribe money to get my brother back. Finnick still has it."
"Great. There was ONE THING in there and… wait!" She pulled out an old packet. "YES! I forgot about these!"
She looked through them. It was a bunch of old pictures of her with little Nick and John. "Oh, John! I still have some memories left. This is worth more to me than all the money on earth."
Finnick looked bummed. "Great. I'm still competing with him."
Vivian kissed him. "No, you're not. I love you just as much."
Moments later, the families parted ways. Finnick, along with his wife and kids took the van out to Bunnyburrow while Judy and Duke's families took the train on the way there. They had the high windows and Judy was looking back at the city.
"What's wrong?" Nick asked.
"Zootopia won't be my home anymore. It's just… It feels like I'm saying goodbye."
"We'll be back often. Heck, we have to come back Monday just to gather your belongings and for you to officially retire. They'll probably throw us a party."
"Yeah. I'm really gonna miss everyone."
"Me too. Especially Wolford and Clawhauser. Relax Fluff! You'll be recreating this scene in a few days."
"You're right." She looked over and saw Fixer hanging over the paw railing. She hopped on the sets and walked over to him. "Hey, sweetie!"
Grabbing with one foot on the railing, then another, Fixer managed to turn around. "Mommy?!"
She gave the bat a kiss on the cheek. "You were a big hero today! I'm sorry I was so scared around you. I always saw bats as these disease-ridden, flying biters, but you're just a sweet, puppy with wings, aren't you?"
She started stroking his cheeks and making him giggle. "I don't have any diseases! They gave us lots and lots of shots. Glad you're not scared of me anymore."
"Me too."
Meanwhile, Nick was watching the babies as they were crawling around on the floor. Sugar was very confused as she sniffed both John and Baby Judy. "Mama?... Dada?"
Nick tried to explain. "No, sweetie. I'm your dada." He then pointed to Judy. "She's your mama."
Sugar pointed at the two infants. "Mama. Dada."
"You can smell them, hunh? Ummm…. Baby mama. Baby Dada,"
"Ooooh!"
"THAT makes sense to you? Okay, Baby Mama sister, baby Dada brother. Baby dada name John. Got it?"
"She pointed at the baby fox. 'John! Johnnononon!"
"Right! And baby Mama is… Say Judy, what are you calling your baby self?"
"I dunno. I thought we'd think of one together."
"I think you should name her. She's you, after all. That's why I just went ahead and named mine. You're not mad, are you?"
"No. I was thinking… Junior is always reserved for boys. Never girls. How about, Judy Junior?"
"Really?"
"Why not?! All the guys get a junior."
"Fine. How about Jude for short?"
"Jude can be her nickname."
Nick chuckled. "I can see it now. She goes to school and her friends say 'Hey Jude!' just before breaking out in song. Every time."
Judy junior then crawled over and tugged on her mother's pants. "Hungee!"
"Hungee!" said little John.
Judy talked to her new bat son. "Fixer sweetie, can you get us a… lemme see… orange?"
Fixer smiled. "Sure!" An orange slowly came into being right from his belly.
"Amazing!" said Judy. "I'll go wash it, then me and the babies can share."
Meanwhile, in the next car over, Duke wanted to have a talk with Bandit. "So… A new home. You doin' okay?"
"Sure dad" Bandit replied. She was sitting next to Joseph and holding his paw.
Duke noticed it. "My first official day as a dad and I already gotta worry about boys. The reason I was askin', Sweets is 'dat...you heard what Frost said. In setting fire to 'dat building, he killed yer parents."
"I know. I hate his guts!"
"I thought you'd be more upset is all. That you'd be wanton' payback."
"I got payback! I pulled your massive fist twenty yards back, let go and it shot like a rocket at his face! It was awesome! He's in prison now. We got our revenge. Justice was served."
"I'm glad 'ya feel that way, Kiddo. Sometimes anger and revenge can never be satisfied. Wait. where'd he get that gum?"
"Uhhh… What gum?"
" 'Da gum I gave you that you were chewin' on! I see him chewin' now! Did you?!"
Bandit blushed.
"I'll kill 'im!"
"Dad, no!"
Joseph ran as Duke chased after him. "Yipe! Yipe! Yipe!"
"C'mere, ya little brat! Yer gonna wind up in 'da hospital again!"
Joseph ran into the next car over where his father was and ran into Nick's lap. Nick grabbed Duke by the scruff of the neck before he could reach Joseph. "Relax Duke! What'd he do now?"
Joseph protested. "I yam innocent, Poppa! Bandeet and I vere just keesink!"
" 'Dey swapped gum!" Duke yelled.
Greg made a gag motion. "Eww! Gross! With their mouths?!"
"If 'dey wanna get a little smoochy, I don't care, but NO TONGUES! He's stayin' in 'dis car fer 'da rest 'o 'da trip!"
"That's not fair!" shouted Joseph.
Nick disagreed. "I think it's perfectly fair. Or would you prefer I hand you over to Duke, Mr. Catsanova?!"
"Yi vill stay here."
"Good. No seeing your sweetie until you get home."
"Can she make a dupe to visit?"
"NO!" Duke and Nick said together.
Duke left just as Judy came back from washing the orange. She was chewing on a slice in her mouth. "OH muh Gosh! Nick! 'Dish ish duh tashtiest owange evah!"
Fixer explained. "All my fruits are sweet!"
"Well, that's because you're so sweet!" She gave a chunk each to the infants who chewed on it.
"Mmmm!" said John. Judy Junior just chomped into it with zest. "OM! NOM! NOM! NOM!" Her mouth covered in orange juices.
Nick laughed. "And I thought I was a carnivore! Did you always munch like that, Carrots?"
Judy couldn't believe it. "I don't think so. I've never eaten with that much…energy. They must have been hungry."
"Yeah. Let me try a piece." He munched on a slice. "Dang! This is goood! Fixer, can you do blueberries?"
"Hold out your paws," Fixer said. Still hanging off the paw rail, he crawled over to Nick's paws. He then pinched one nostril and blew blueberries out of the other.
Nick was a bit grossed out. "Well, at least it isn't covered with insecticides. Still, I'm gonna go wash them."
"It's okay, Daddy! Fixer explained. "I don't sweat, or have boogers or poop. Everything I… I don't know the word. Everything that comes out of my body..."
"Excrete?" Judy asked.
"I guess. Yeah. It's fruit! Everything from me is fruit! I can pee orange juice."
"Well, I am NOT going to sample that," Nick replied. "But I will wash and try these."
After Nick came back, Judy excused herself to go talk to Duke. Half the little ones were asleep so Nick just watched them while eating Fixer's blueberries.
"How're you enjoying the train ride?" Judy asked Bandit.
"It's great! You get to see so much of the city. Down on street level, you don't realize how beautiful it all is."
Duke agreed. "Yeah. I ain't been on a train ride in years. Real comfy-like."
Judy sat down next to the weasel. "Duke, I need to talk to you."
"In private?"
"No. Bandit and Smokey can be here."
"Ah good. Me and her had a talk. Bandit's gonna start goin' by Wendy again. Same with Charlie. We'll keep 'da others as their nicknames for their friends and such, but 'dose were 'dere street names I gave 'em. Best fer them 'ta go by their real names in Bunnyburrow, y'know?."
"I agree. Speaking of your past, you're going to be a deputy now. That means you follow the law no matter what."
"I understand."
"I mean it! We did a big favor for you! No stealing no pickpocketing, no con jobs!"
"I know. I also know where my next meal is comin' from so 'dat helps a lot. I figured out 'da best strategy 'ta being an upstandin' officer!"
"Which is?"
"Just do whatevah 'da hell you say without question."
Judy smiled. "That's a good strategy! Nick should adopt that strategy."
One hour later…
They had arrived at Bunnyburrow station. Everyone got off the train as they were greeted by Stu Hopps. "Hey there, Jude! I see you got the whole family. It's gonna be a packed ride in the bed of the truck."
"I can fly there," said Fixer, who was resting on top of Nick's head. "I'll just follow the truck."
Stu looked up at Nick. "Did you get taller?!"
"It's the strength potion I took. Increases my muscle mass and my height."
"Well, It's a 5.5 ceiling in the fox den. You may have to duck for a bit."
Judy nudged Nick. "I told you to drink more of that diet Pupsi!"
"I am! I am! But…"
"But what?"
"I still wanna be stronger than you! It's not fair! I'm the man!"
"Don't be so sexist!"
Nick then tried to flirt with her. "Y'know, everything's bigger right now."
"You do realize your 'everything' was already too big for me to begin with and it took some time to get used to. If anything, I'd like you to be smaller."
"Oh, you would like that, wouldn't you?! Little, weak Nick."
Stu interrupted. "Can you two have your little argument in the truck?!"
"Alright, alright. Joe, Bandit, and Greg, go in the front seat with Grandpa. Duke, Judy and I will hold onto the little ones. In the back seat."
Greg was happy. "Alright! Shotgun!"
"Fixer, you fly alongside the truck. If you get too tired, just fall in my lap. Okay."
"Okay, Daddy!"
Duke interrupted. "Stick Greg between Joe and Wendy! I don't want 'dat jackal jerk gettin' any ideas!"
Stu drove off with everyone in the truck sans Fixer. The bat kept up his pace flying alongside the vehicle. "Be careful of telephone poles or any wires along the way!" Nick shouted to his bat son.
"I will, Daddy!"
As they all got in the truck, Nick had a question for Judy. "Aren't you gonna tell Dad about 'Judy Junior' here?"
"I'll surprise them at home."
Within 30 minutes, they had arrived at the farm. Stu had parked his truck on the other side of the house. "What's going on, Dad?" Nick asked Stu.
"I haven't had time to modify the kitchen, but we made the living room entrance much bigger. Follow me. Watch your head there, stretch!"
"Who, me?" Duke asked.
"I think he's talking about me," Nick replied.
They entered through the door and into the living room. Naturally, Nick hit his head on the door. "Ow!"
"Told ya!" said Stu. "Boy, there's sure a lot of you folks. And more's comin', hunh?"
"My mom and pops will be here in about another two hours."
As they came in, a crowd of bunnies started surrounding all of them. They all had questions.
"Are you really back for good, Judy?"
"What's with the possum and bat? Do they have rabies?!"
"What's with the baby who looks just like you?!"
"Everyone, calm down!" Judy shouted "I'll answer your questions in just a little bit. But first, where's mom?"
"She's cooking you guys a late dinner," one of Judy's brothers said.
"Aww! That's so sweet!" She headed off to the kitchen with Judy junior and Sugar in her arms. Nick followed her with John in his.
Duke and Bandit looked around in awe at the living room. "Woah! Look at 'da size 'a 'dat screen!"
"They're living room is a home theater!" Bandit replied. "Look at all the couches! What are they watching?"
"Looks like a video game tournament. I can see 'dem playing 'da game by 'da stage."
An excited Greg pushed past them. "It's Meowio Kart! Penny! Joe! Fixer! Let's grab a seat and watch!"
Bandit grabbed Joseph's paw. "Yeah, Joe! Let's watch it together."
Duke wasn't having any of it. "Oh, no ya don't! Me and Charlie are sittin' in-between youse two!"
Duke sat in between Bandit and Joseph with little Smokey on his lap. "Now, I can keep an eye on ya!"
"Yeah!" Smokey said. "You… You bettah not do... do 'da kissy-kiss! Poopy-face!"
Duke was surprised. "Wow! Smokey got a line! It's almost like the author finally remembered he's over two years old and has a small vocabulary!"
Duke was enjoying watching the game. He looked over at Bandit who was watching as well. He then looked over at Joseph who was sitting next to another Bandit and they were rubbing noses together. "Okay, 'dis is gonna be tougher 'dan I thought."
Meanwhile...
Judy entered the kitchen with a now, completely bent-over Nick in tow. Bonnie was over by the stove. "Mom! You didn't have to do all this! I could have gotten something out of the microwave."
"Nonsense! You poor dears have been so busy, you haven't eaten all day. My but you've gotten tall Nick!"
Nick was finally getting sick of being so tall. The fox was now resting on his knees. "Yeah. Do you have any diet Pupsi in the house?"
"That swill? Unfortunately, yes. It came free when we ordered Little Sneezers pizza online. Nobody likes the stuff."
"I'm not crazy about it either, but it slowly negates my powers and well… I'm not gonna fight it anymore. I can't live in this house like this!"
Judy mocked him. "Aww, Nick! I thought you wanted to be big and strong!"
"Stong, yes. Big is overrated. If you don't like the diet Pupsi, why don't you get rid of it?"
"You don't throw good food out," Bonnie replied. "I'll pour it over ice for you."
"You're a sweetheart."
Bonnie looked over at Judy's baby clone. "Is that my little Judy number two?!"
Judy smiled. "Yup! With baby Nick and Fixer that makes it seven! Just like I promised."
"Seven? I thought the baby clone was mine?"
"What do you mean?! It came from my blood."
"And from my genes! I'm her mother."
"No. I'M her mother! I'm going to be raising her!"
"She's your sister, dear!"
"She's both! She was born from MY blood! She's me! I'm going to be raising myself, and let me tell you something. I'm going to encourage her to follow her dreams no matter what they are, unlike how you and dad supported me!"
"What do you want from us?! We were scared to death! We're supportive now!"
"Oh, sure. Now that I'm back home with a safer job. Now you'll support me. Back me up, Nick."
Bonnie handed Nick the bottle of diet Pupsi and a glass of ice before he spoke. "Well, neither side is wrong."
"Shut up and drink your diet Pupsi."
"Judy. Stu and Bonnie are your parents. They have every right to be worried about you. I worry about you. I worry about me I mean, my GOD! Both of us had near-death experiences today only you actually died temporarily!"
"Why would you tell her that?!"
Bonnie panicked. "What's this about you dying?!"
Nick explained. "She was iced by the mafia. Dropped into the icy river below Mr. Big's mansion. Mr. Weaselton dove right in and pulled her out of the river and resuscitated her."
"Well, you tell Mr. Weaselton, that he can live here as long as he wants. This is exactly what I'm talking about! Of course, we'd be scared of you becoming a cop! It's only natural!"
"But Judy's right too. She has to live her life as she sees fit."
"Shut up and drink your damn Pupsi."
Nick drank a little more and shrank a little bit. "She's also right in that Judy Junior is not your child."
"Wh-Judy Junior?! Oh, come on!"
"Why not?!" Judy said. "She is literally me! We're calling her 'Jude' for short."
Nick interrupted. "Smell Judy and smell the baby."
"I know what my daughter smells like! Bonnie picked up the baby from Judy's arms and sniffed her fur. SNIFF! See it's the same! SNIFF! SNIFF! Mostly the same. Something's off."
"That's what my mother said! I figured it out."
Judy was curious. "You did?!"
"Carrots, you were born from an egg and sperm. From Bonnie and Stu. This child was born in a lab from your blood and that Plotconvenium stuff. That's how…" Suddenly, Nick's eyes bulged out. "WOAH! I just blew my own mind!"
"What?! What?!"
"You're the mother, but I know who the father is."
"You're losing me."
"Sugar! The Plotconvenium compound used in so many things in the lab came from her blood! The lab rat told me these babies are just a month or two older than Sugar! They must have used both our blood and plotconvenium! Sugar is blood-related to our babies and all of the ZPD babies! That's why they smell very much like us, but not perfectly. We drank those power potions, so we got some of her DNA in us too!"
Judy couldn't believe it. "I think you're right! That also makes you the mother of Little John instead of the father."
Nick chuckled. "Don't tell him that. In fact, I think it's best that we never mention this again. Them being clones is complicated enough." He petted the little todd's head. "Thank Goodness you're too young to comprehend all this."
Bonnie shook her head. "Well, I'm in my 40's and I still can't comprehend it. You win, Judy. That baby may have some of my DNA, but it's not mine. SIGH! What a world. Babies making babies."
Nick joked. "You're bunnies. Isn't that the family motto?"
"Shut up and go get that weasel and your kids. You're having carrot pot pie with mashed potatoes."
