Rey read the words on the computer screen again. She looked down at Rosey, her ebony coloured American rabbit.

'Rosey baby, it says here you are probably pining for your lost mate, is that true is that why you won't eat?'

Rosey hopped over Rey's various items of clothing's which were strewn all over the small apartment floor.

Rey picked up her furry companion and held her close to her chest. She kissed her soft head.

'Don't be sad. I'll always be here for you; it was just time for Rex.'

Her heart squeezed. She missed Rex just as much as Rosey did.

She continued reading the article while Rosey sat on her lap. Rey strokes her long ears and her rounded body gently.

Then she came across a part of the article that had her heart thumping in her chest.

There have been several cases where a rabbit passed away a few days after the death of its bonded partner. Losing a friend or a bonded partner will cause the rabbit to grieve and experience depression. As a result, the grieving rabbit will be stressed and can die of loneliness.

Rey's eyes filled with tears.

'You can't die Rosey, you're my best friend,' Rey whispered through sobs.

Rey didn't have many friends since moving to the US, losing Rosey would be a massive blow for her. She frantically tried to think of some way she could fix the situation. Scanning the article to see if there was any more information.

Grieving rabbits can be bonded with a new companion, but this will take time. Male/Female bonding pairs are the easiest to achieve and, in all cases, being fixed is a must. A quick bonding can take two weeks while the more difficult ones can take 3-4 months. On rare occasions, bonding takes 6 months to a year. Not only will you need to make a time commitment, but you will also need a second cage, space to work in, and plenty of patience.

'That's it Rosey Posey, I just have to get you a new mate.'

She chewed her lip.

'But I'm flat broke.'

Then she remembered. Ben. Her surly neighbour had a rabbit too! She could ask him. Sure, he wasn't exactly the nicest person in the world and they had only said a grant title of five words to one another since she moved in but this was an emergency! A life or death situation! Surely, she could appeal to his good nature. If he had one.

Rey looked down at Rosey, who looked up at her with sad eyes.

'Okay darling, I'll do it. I'll do it for you.'

Ben huffed out a breath as someone knocked on his door.

'Who the hell can that be at 9pm?' He asked Huxy, his rare Belgian hare rabbit. Huxy predictably did not answer but chose instead to reach up and begin to groom his ears.

Ben rose off the floor and was surprised to see Rey, his very cute, very British next-door neighbour with a rabbit in her arms. She has a sad expression on her face and even though he has barely spoken to Rey, mainly because he was afraid of saying some stupid, he couldn't help but usher her into his space and ask her what was wrong.

'It's my rabbit, Rosey.'

'Is she sick?'

'Sort of, yes. Her mate died.'

'Oh, I'm sorry,' Ben leaned forward and stroked Rosey head, accidentally catching part of Rey's chest in the process. He turned bright red and pulled away. Rey didn't seem to notice.

'This must be your rabbit, I've seen you in the communal garden with him,' Rey said gesturing towards the ginger coloured male who was leaping in circles on the floor.

'Yeah, this is Huxy, he's not usually this excitable,' Ben said frowning down at the little maniac sprinting holes in his carpet.

'Maybe that's a good sign,' Rey said excitedly.

'What?' Ben asked.

'Ben, I've come here to ask you something. Something very important.'

She took a step towards him. Ben swallowed hard. This was more than a cup of sugar. She was going to ask for something bigger. Was she going to ask him out? If she did, what would he say? There was so much to consider...

'I want to bond Rosey with Huxy.'

Ben blinked. Of all the things he had expected Rey to say, that hasn't even made the wildest dreams category.

'What?' Ben asked again.

'I know, this is a strange request, but Rosey isn't eating and she's just so… sad. I googled it and the article I found said she is grieving her lost mate and she may die from loneliness!'

Ben ran a hand through his hair.

'Okay, well that isn't good.'

'I need to get her a new mate, but I don't have any money…' she trailed off and looked at him expectantly.

Ben let out a puff of air.

'This is a big ask Rey, I hardly know you! And bonding bunnies isn't an easy thing. It takes time.'

'I know. I've read all the articles. I'm willing to do everything needed. I just need a… mate,' she blushed and Ben tried to ignore the feeling that formed in the pit of his stomach at her words.

'If I agree to this and it works, it would mean that Huxy and Rosey would have to live together permanently,' Ben said.

'Well I don't think that would be too much of an issue, we could share the cost of a bigger hutch and divide their care arrangements. If anything, it would be a good thing for Rosey and Huxy. They would have two caregivers instead of the single parent families we are now.'

Ben mulled it over. Rey got impatient.

'Look, why don't I just put her down and see how they get on?'

After a few moments of looking protectively at Huxy, Ben nodded.

Rey kissed Rosey on the head and placed her gently on the floor. The two buns gravitate towards one another, sniffed, then timidly backed up.

'It isn't working,' Ben said.

'Shhhh!' Rey replied.

'You have to give it more than thirty seconds.'

Rosey began to explore her new surroundings, after a few minutes Huxy started following her around the room. Rosey glanced at him, but allowed the contact.

Rey looked excitedly at Ben.

'This is going to work! And it's beneficial for Huxy too, you know. All bunnies need mates.'

Ben folded his arms.

'General Hux, I mean Huxy was doing fine on his own. He's strong like me aren't you boy?'

Huxy ignored him. There was a much more appealing object of interest in the room right now. One that smelt like parsley. Huxy loved parsley.

Rey suppressed a smile.

'General Hux?' she asked with a lift of her eyebrow.

Ben looked embarrassed.

'Yeah well everyone gives their bunnies dumb names,' he mumbled.

'I like it,' Rey said smiling at him.

'Now Rosey, she's never cared much for rankings but I suspect she might have a thing for your boy in uniform.'

Ben glanced at the rabbits, Rosey had settled down into herself, and Huxy had folded himself into her side.

'Let's see if she will eat something,' Rey whispered. She approached the rabbits cautiously, pulling some parsley out of her pocket.

'Look Rosey! Look what I have. It's your favourite.'

Rey placed some parsley carefully in front of Rosey and then placed some in front of Huxy, not being able to resist giving him a little stroke on the head as she pulled back.

'Parsley is Huxy's favourite too,' Ben said.

Rosey sniffed the food, then glanced at Huxy who was happily tucking in. She started to eat slowly.

Rey grabbed Ben's forearm and squeezed it. Ben jumped in surprise but didn't pull away. His heart started to thump in his chest.

'It's working! It's working! Oh, please say you will let me try this, please, please, please!'

'Okay,' Ben said looking into her eyes and feeling as if a truck had hit him. Had she always been this beautiful? Had he just never noticed before?

When Rosey was finished eating, Rey picked her up and held her close.

'Can we come back tomorrow? After dinner?' she asked.

'W-why don't you come round here for dinner? I can cook?' he offered.

What the hell are you doing? He asked himself.

Rey beamed back at him.

Okay, I take it back if it gets smiles like that, offer to cook her as many meals as possible.

'That would be amazing, I can't tell you how long it's been since I ate a proper meal. I live on frozen cuisine and let me tell you there ain't nothing cuisine about those meals!'

Ben laughed and Rey looked at him with a soft expression.

'So tomorrow then?' she said.

'Tomorrow.' He agreed.

'Bye,' she said softly as she left.

Ben glanced at Huxy who was staring at the door longingly.

'Yeah me and you both, Buddy.'