Geez, it's been a while since I've written for this! It feels like I'm scrambling to get things done, but I decided I wanted to work on this story some more. It's been a demanding semester, so I'm sorry about the scarcity of my updates. Please enjoy! Also, just because they don't eat real meat in Zootopia doesn't mean they don't have cheese. Had we been told otherwise, I wouldn't have made Judy's brother have a dream of opening a frozen yogurt shop in my last story.

Chapter 14: A Load Off My Chest

The Wilde family left the prison and Lucas craned his head, the harmonious cracking sounds emanating from his neck loud and clear for his adoptive parents, Judy especially. Judy smiled in spite of how stunned she was by the amount of tension her son's neck alone had previously contained.

"Whoa, sounds like you needed to get that load off," Nick gave Lucas a pat on the back and remarked, referring to both the monologue the teen fox had given Bellwether and the release of tension from said teen's body.

"I just couldn't stop talking… I was so livid, but so…I don't know. I don't know how to describe it, but I wasn't about to give her what she wanted. And I meant every word," Lucas claimed, staring down at the sidewalk.

"You've had a hard life and I think it would be lunacy for anyone to claim otherwise. Lucas, whether you're a Redd or a Wilde, you're still you and I believe… No. I know what a strong young mammal you are," Judy stated, gently grabbing his left paw. Her thumb rubbed the scars on his wrist. Lucas was surprised at how calming Judy's small, subtle motions along the fur and scar tissue were. It was reassuring to him, as if, in spite of knowing better, he could feel like he lived in a safe world.

"Yeah. I know, too. You just showed us, after all," Nick recalled the scene from a short while ago while wrapping an arm around Lucas. "You could have lashed out at her if you wanted, but you didn't. Not everyone has that kind of restraint, especially under your circumstances. People who never met her hate on her for what she did to the city, but it was personal for you. And you thanked her. You were the bigger mammal here. Big enough for a slice or two at Quilligi's, I hope."

"You bet!" Lucas exclaimed, excitement filling his eyes. "Their crust is amazing!"

"Isn't it? I remember when my mom would take me there as a special treat when I was a kid," Nick announced reminiscently.

"And I'm sure you hatched a great number of schemes with Uncle Finnick," Judy smugly hypothesized as the trio started walking. Nick gave a sheepish chuckle and avoided her triumphant gaze.

"M-maybe one or two, but those were the old days, Carrots," Nick admitted.

"Mm-hmm…" Judy grunted coolly. "I'm glad you both are putting your skills toward better causes. And you, Lucas, are going to be a great forensic scientist."

"I told you guys about that?" Lucas asked.

"You might have let it slip once or twice. Whether or not you were awake is for you to figure out," Nick teased.

"I talk in my sleep?!" Lucas questioned in panic and embarrassment.

"Oh, you don't. Your father is just kidding; you only mumble," Judy clarified with a stifled giggle.

"Mom!" Lucas exclaimed in frustration as Nick and Judy shared a goodhearted laugh. Lucas soon joined in on the laughter. Was this what it was like for a teenager to converse with their parents like a real family? Playful jests with no stress-inducement? It made him feel airy and at peace.

Everything he had been through had done some extent of permanent damage to him, but he felt like he had finally discovered inner harmony in spite of it all. Scars would remain, but they would never define him or shackle him. Was this enlightenment? Not realizing that tears of joy were streaking his face, he felt Nick hold him closer and Judy hug his arm. Lucas would never take their kindness, generosity and love for granted.

"You doing alright?" Nick asked, trying not to sound as concerned as he was.

With a smile, the younger fox replied, "Yeah, Dad. Best I've felt in a long time. Thank you… Thank you both…!"

"For what?" Judy asked. "Investigating the fire? We did that because we wanted to…because we thought that you deserve to know why things are the way they are. You didn't ask for any of this…"

"I meant for everything. I've received more affection, love, care and encouragement from the two of you in such a short time than I have in the last six years. I finally got the opportunity that let go of my anger. I may always harbor some resentment for what she did, but it's out of sorrow and disgust and not contempt. If I hold onto that anger for what she did to turn my life upside down…No, I couldn't hold on or life wouldn't change," Lucas elaborated.

Nick smiled warmly and took a guess at what Lucas wanted to say next, "The mask that hides your emotions…you got to take it off and feel free. I'm sure it was in your eyes, but you showed a lot of control in there. We can't stop time or turn it back, but have all the power in the world to move forward with it. I think you're doing just that."

"You really think so?" Lucas asked and gave his tail a swish of uncertainty.

"Absolutely! When we first met you, you barely spoke three words to us at a time! Now I look at you and how happy you are and the friends you've made…no one ever would have guessed that you had a troubled past if they met you now. Life is hard, but I believe that it's never more than we're truly capable of handling," Judy answered, confidence tempering her voice. "Do I think you can handle a lot? Well, yes. Yes, I do."

"Ditto," Nick agreed as they crossed the street. Lucas's tail started wagging in appreciation at their words of encouragement and sincerity.

"Thank you," Lucas mumbled gratefully. "Is it alright if I make plans to meet up with Ewelina this weekend?"

"Of course! I was hoping you two would take the time to catch up!" Judy giddily exclaimed. She gave a few eager hops, a shake of her cotton ball tail and a beaming grin of excitement. Lucas flashed her a faint, grateful smile accented by teary blue eyes.

"She means a lot to you, huh?" Nick asked empathetically.

"Yeah…She's a sister to me. And it was because she didn't want me to suffer anymore that she had her back permanently damaged… She'll never walk again because of me…" Lucas muttered, panic rising in his voice and his eyes gradually growing wide as dinner plates.

"It's not because of you that things are this way," Judy spoke up, the firmness in her voice bringing the teenage fox to his senses. "It's because of the selfishness of the ones who've hurt you. You are not responsible for what happened to Ewelina."

Lucas did what he could to keep his feelings inside, but he looked like he wanted—no, needed to cry. He just swallowed and let out a shaky breath. He knew his bunny mother was stubborn, especially when she strongly felt she was right. He wondered if he would have been as unwavering if he had spent his entire life on the potato farm as opposed to the first eight short years of his life. Wondering wouldn't do him any good, of course, but curiosity wouldn't cease so easily.

The family eventually reached the pizzeria known as Quilligi's. The door opened and the unique scent of pizza filled the nostrils of the two foxes and the rabbit. There were patrons present, but the pizzeria would not be considered "packed". One small table for accommodating rodent patrons had a female chinchilla wearing a periwinkle sweater and light blue glasses and a female chipmunk with choppy head fur and a denim jacket and black skirt. Another table had a dark gray male bunny and a red male fox wearing a gray hoodie and glasses. The fox and the bunny were holding paws and, judging from the bits and pieces of their conversation, Lucas could infer that they were college students at Zootopia University, or ZooU for short.

A tall mare stood behind the register, smiling pleasantly. Nick looked at Judy and Lucas and asked, "So three plain cheese slices?"

"Sounds good!" Judy agreed, coupled with a nod from the teenage fox.

"Alright! Why don't you two grab us a table?" Nick suggested, almost gliding across the sleek tile floor to the counter. Judy and Lucas seated themselves in a booth, on opposite sides, smiling at each other.

"So Saturday?" Judy asked.

"You mean for when I plan to visit Ewelina? Yeah, Saturday. That's when. Could you, maybe, come with me?" Lucas sheepishly asked, nervous about being a fox and going to a house of sheep. "Her mother seemed to accept me, but I don't know about the rest of the household…"

"Oh, honey…" Judy mumbled, flashing her kit a look of sympathy. Her kit… Yes, he was hers and she would help him through his darkest days. "Of course, I will. Besides, the mother seems like a great mammal to sit down and chat with."

"Thank you so much!" Lucas exclaimed in relief. He was excited to be able to catch up with his foster sister, a dear mammal in his heart and someone who could relate to his suffering.