Chapter 27:
Rocky Martin had been sleeping soundly dreaming about a vacation he was going to take some day; he had been having this off and on for a few years now. And in the dream, he was walking a sandy beach with another's paw in his paw. this was the first time he saw the person walking with him. She was a beautiful rabbit. Rabbit? He didn't even like rabbits, but he just went with the flow. As they walked, they talked, but he could not remember what they talked about, but her paw in his just felt right. She let go of his paw, and started to run down the beach. He chased her down the beach and caught her just before the high-water mark, as they fell to the ground, he kissed her. He was awakened from this dream with a loud banging on his door.
Who the hell could that be this early on a Sunday morning? "Yes, Yes, I'm coming. Who are you and what do you want"? "Mr. Martin are you Mr. Martin"? "Yes, I'm Mr. Martin, what do you want"? "Mr. Martin, we need you to come with us, Sir we are the Z CIA". "Badges, I need to see some ID". Both persons standing at the door flashed their badges at the peep hole. Rocky kept his hand on the bat he kept behind the door, and opened the door. Both men just stood there, not advancing to come in. "What's so damn important you have to roust me out of sound sleep at, looking at his watch, he exclaims, 7:30, you woke me up at 7:30 on a Sunday"? "Sir we need to see you on a very important mater". "Fine, call my office tomorrow". "Sir, may we come in for a moment"? Rocky looks them up and down, opens the door and steps back. "All right what is this about"? "Sir, you had some client's that died about 9 months ago. A Mr. and Miss O'Hare"? "Yes, what about them"? "Is the will still in contention"? "Yes, it is, Larry O'Hare has been fighting me all the way, but I won't give in to him". "And does their will still state that the estate was to go to their children"? "Yes, it does". "Mr. Martin, we have their children".
"Oh, my God, they did have children"? "Yes Sir, four of them". "Where did you find them"? "Sir we can't discuss this here we need you to come with us". "All right, wait here". Rocky dressed very hurriedly but expertly, always look your best, his mom would say. As he came down stairs he went into his home office, and grabbing his brief case, stuffed the O'Hare file into it. "Sir if you could also grab a guardianship application, we will get a judge to sign off on it this afternoon". "I want to see these guardians first before I sign the kids away". "Very good Sir, we are taking you to them now. The head field agent is waiting to talk to you".
Rocky Martin who had never flown in a helicopter before, was scared spitless. He clutched his bag to his chest in fear. Muttering under his breath, he just kept repeat, "let this be over soon", and soon it was over. Rocky was never so happy to see the ground. As he got out of the chopper, a stripped hare walked up to him. "Thank you for coming Mr. Martin, my name is Jack Savage". They shake hands. "May I See the Children"? "You will Rocky, oh, sorry may I call you Rocky"? "Yes, Yes, just get to the point". "Ok, this is classified for now, but the children were found at a secret experimental lab. They were picked up with four other kits who were also at this lab. Rocky don't think of them as kits, I don't think they ever were kits. They are smarter than your average twenty something". Rocky scoffs at this, "really? you expect me to believe that"? "No, I don't, until you see it for yourself. Come on, there in the burrow".
As Rocky comes into the room, he is hit with Fear? Trepidation? Apprehension? All of the above? Before he can say anything, Vivian stands up. "Rocky? Rocky Martin? Is that you"? "I'm sorry ma'am you have me at a disadvantage". "I swear Rocky your memory is just as bad as when you were swiping apples off old mammal Ferguson's tree". Nick looks up at him, "Hello, Rocky butt", he says. "There's only one person who ever called me that, and I swore if he ever called me that again, I would whip his butt". "Careful Rocky, you are talking to an officer of the law". Nick stands up, and hugs Rocky. "God, it's good to see you lad, but what's this you're a cop"? "As of four years ago". "And yes, I remember you Vivian, you did paddle my butt more than once, I had trouble sitting down more than once too". He then embraces Vivian. "Rocky I would like to introduce my husband Peter Howler, they shake paws, and nicks wife Judy Wilde". "Wait a minute, you married this old scruff bum"? "Rocky you know I was never scruffy". "So where are the O'Hare children"? "Playing at the moment. Can you fill us in Rocky? We just know them as our son's littermates. And they do have names, other than the O'Hare children". "Sorry, I was not told much myself".
"But what I can tell is, the O'Hare's Approached me about five years ago, when I was fresh out of law school, and asked me to be their family lawyer, the nice retainer went a long way to sealing the deal, they then asked me if I could write any children born or unborn into their will. I did this, and about a year later they went to the Zootopia fertility clinic to get some help in having children. Because of a childhood accident Justin had a very low sperm count. So, the only way they could have children was by invitro. They were ecstatic that they had four viable embryos to work with, but because of their busy life styles, they put the implantation off for a month. Just as they were going to do it, the place was fire bombed. They always claimed that their kits were stolen from the clinic, so they put up a reward to try and get them back. It's a shame they died not knowing they had kits". "Rocky we went to the same clinic for similar reasons, and the same thing happened to us". "You guys were going to have kits together"? "Yes, Rocky, we had six viable embryos. But we got the news two days before the fire bombing". "Oh, god, I'm sorry guys that must have been rough". "It was very rough; we took some time off work because of it. But it has worked out in the end".
"So, can I see the children"? Judy got up, went to the door, and called, "hey guys we need you". It sounded like a herd of elephant coming to the door, and the ground rumbled a bit. All eight of us came bounding into the room. these weren't little bounds we were seeing how far we could get with each bound. Rocky was shocked at how far we could bound. We all went and stood around mom and dad. "So which ones are the O'Hare children"? "The grey bunnies, Rocky, the burnt umber one's are mine and Judy's". We separated into two groups. "Yours"? "Yes Rocky, their DNA says that they are mine and Judy's kits". "O.M.G your telling me you do have kits". "Yes Rocky, they were the other kits found with the O'Hare's". "Who is these O'Hare's you are speaking of"? asks Susan.
"You are my dear, says Rocky. Wait a minute, I do have a picture of your parents here". Rocky pulls out a photo and hands it to Susan, her eyes get big and she turns to me. "Daniel, is this the secret you were keeping from us"? "Yes, it was, if I had told you earlier, they were your parents you would have all cried, and the link would have been found out. I have a sketch pad full of pictures, of their time with you in the meadow". Rick comes over and looks at the photo. "I'm sorry guys, Thumper and Juniper were your parents, there real names were Justin and Jenifer O'Hare".
Rocky was absolutely floored. "How did you know their pet names for each other, and how did you meet them"? "Rocky it's hard to explain, but if you ask me later, I will take you to the meadow. As for how we met them, Gab brought them to us the night of their car accident, while we were in the meadow. They spent three nights in the meadow playing and laughing with their children before they had to pass beyond. As for how we know their pet names, when they came to the meadow, they used their pet names to identify themselves. I went on line and figured out who they really were, and asked grandpa if he could find out their condition. He told me that the plug was pulled on life support at one minute to midnight, I thought it strange at the time. I can even tell you why they called each other by those names".
"Daniel, I am probable the only guy to know why thy called themselves by those pet names, so why did they call themselves by those names"? "Jenifer was being picked on by bullies, and Justin came to her defence and thumped the bullies. She thought of him after as her Thumper. And Justin called her Juniper, because she was as strong as the tree, they planted in the court yard, he also used it because she was his shelter in life". "God, I don't know how you know these things but you are spot on. And no, they didn't die when Larry pulled the plug, but they died at five minutes after midnight, which is a good thing because there was a clause in their will, that if they died, before midnight, Larry would get Everything. But because they died the next day the clause was defunct, and I have been fighting him ever since. So, your telling me they did get to meet their children"? "And play with them as well", I added.
"God this quite the story guys, But, on to the reading of the will, but before I do, who is going to be the guardians of the O'Hare's"? "That would be Judy and I, Rocky". "But you all ready have four Kits, four more could be too much". At this Susan stand up. "Mr. Martin we will not be split up". "Oh, no, you four would stay together". "You misunderstand Mr. Marten, by us I mean all eight of us. We will not be split up". "But think of all the pressure you will put on Nick and Judy". "Mr. Martin we are only kits by size, not mental capacity. All of us have at least a grade twelve education, some of us have first year university courses under our belts". "I find that hard to believe". "Cindy can you talk sense into Mr. Martin"? "I can only try". For the second time that day an adult was taken away to be convinced.
"Susan, you know Rocky is a hard ass, right"? "Yes, dad but our lawyer is handling it". "Your Lawyer"? "Yes, dad if Cindy were to take the bar tomorrow, she would pass with top honors. I believe she will have him convinced in a very shot time". "I hope you are right. Susan, why do you call me Dad"? "We all decided shortly after Daniel came to you, that you and Judy would be our parents as well, do you not like it, would you prefer Nick"? "No, I like it, just not used to it".
After about ten minutes they walk back to the table. Martin is looking a little defeated. "Young lady remind me never to go up against you in a court of law, I would really hate losing to a three-year-old. All right, everyone let's get this paper filled out, Susan do you want to go first"? Susan signs first then Cindy, then Suzie, then Rick. All right Nick Judy if you could Sign here, Stu And Bonnie could you sign here as witnesses to their signatures. Now I'll sign it, Jack could you witness my signature"? "Sure", says jack as he Signs it. Martin then seals it into an envelope and hands it to jack. "Can you see this to a judge today jack"? "Consider it done, the helicopter has to go back anyway". Jack leaves the room and shortly after the helicopter leaves as well.
"All right to the will, Cindy would you like to read it, and give a synopsis of it". "Sure Mr. Martin. Cindy takes the will and does a speed read of the document. Well in a nutshell it says that we get the house and the personal bank accounts, and half the company when we turn Eighteen. But for now, Mom and Dad have control over us and the house, And Mr. Martin has control over the bank accounts for now". "Right, so from the bank account you will get an allowance for the up keep of the house, and any staff you see fit to hire". "Staff, House"? "
Well Yes, the O'Hare complex is down at 100 Harris Street". "But that's an apartment complex". "Yes, the O'Hare's had the top two floors. You also control the building; all building maintenance should be handled through the superintendent. You also have a say in who lives in the building, but please don't abuse that privilege". "But we are supposed to live there"? "Yes, you are, the house you are in now is just to small". "How many rooms does it have"? "Let's see, the last time I went through there was 12 bedrooms, four of them had private baths and the other eight shared the bathrooms One bathroom to two bed rooms. It also had a modest living room, and a very modern kitchen. There is a gym, and a swimming pool on the next floor down. The house keeper comes in three times a week to clean. And I can recommend a good cook if you need one". "But we're just simple cops".
"Yes you may be simple cops, but the O'Hare kits are privileged. And after what they have gone through, I think they deserve some pampering". "Are you ok with this Judy"? "Nick this is a lot to take in, when do we have to decide"? "I'm afraid you already did, when you signed the guardianship papers. The house is yours to use with your kits". "Mom do you want to move in with us or stay in your house"? "What do you think Peter"? "Well if it's ok with you I would like to move into the apartment, as it is a short walk from there to work for me". "Apartment it is then". "Mom you would just give up your house"? "Nick that house has some good memories some bad one but all in all it's just a house, it's only a home if family lives in it, and my home is were my family is".