Chapter 26 : The Birth Party
It's a festive day in the Hopps' Burrow. They've set up tables, a sound system, and all sort of food in an unused field. The place is decorated with balloons, and garlands and pastries are being set on tables. Judy feels a bit apprehensive. It's the first time Gideon will be formally invited on the farm.
Despite being on vacation, she still has chores to take care of, and the tod is working, so they can't see each other as much as they wish. Of course, teenagers know how to be crafty, and they do find ways, sometimes resorting to hang out in his room. It makes it a bit frustrating that when his mom isn't in the house, she's leaving Hailey for them to keep an eye on, but they can still kiss and cuddle while the small vixen is in the room.
"Stressed out?" Sharla asks, carrying a tray from the house to one of the tables while Bobby goes through his music selection on his laptop.
"No. Why would I be?" Judy asks.
"Oh, I don't know… Gid has barely been near your parents yet, and now that you two are-"
Judy's paw closes her friend's mouth. "Bunny ears." She whispers. "And it'll be fine. He knows how to behave."
She turns her head as she hears the sound of tyres on the gravel, to see the fox pedaling toward them. He's a bit early, but that's actually not a bad thing.
"Hey! Happy, uhm… Birth party? I dunno how that works." He admits taking step forward to kiss her out of habit, and stopping halfway.
"You can say Happy birthday." The doe smiles, giving him a quick hug.
"Happy birthday, then." They both stare at each other, hesitating to give each other another hug, even though there aren't many eyes focused on them, as the party is still in preparation.
Then, the tod takes out a small round packet from his bag and hands it to her.
"You can put it with the others. We're supposed to all open them together."
The fox shakes his head. "I reckon yer parents wouldn't be really thrilled."
Lifting a brow, she tears through the paper. Maybe it's jewellery? Probably not, she's not into that and he knows it, but that would explain why he wouldn't want her parents to see it. The torn paper reveals a BB pellet box, that she opens. Inside, she finds a folded piece of paper. As she unfolds it, she see it's a photograph of a rifle painted in the colors of the ZPD.
"A BB gun?" She reacts. "Is that why you don't have it with you?"
"No and Yeah. It's my dad's old .22. I restored it and painted it. Figured ya weren't gonna shoot BBs in the ZPD and ya could get used to the sound and recoil. I mean, 9mm gotta hit harder, but you know… To transition. And since yer parents ain't fond of ya'll playin' wid guns, ya can leave it at mine. Gives ya a reason to come once in a while."
"You know I have other reasons to come at your place." She grins, pulling on one of his suspenders.
"Ahem!" Sharla clears her throat with a smile. "Bunny ears."
Judy's and Gideon's faces heat up as they worriedly eye the other bunnies that don't seem to really pay attention to them.
"Anyway, erh… What am I s'posta do now?"
"Probably go greet the adults-"
"Judy, I need your help with this!" Comes a male voice from toward the tables.
"I'll take care of him, Jude." Smiles Sharla. "I'm starting to know my way around birth parties."
"Thanks Shar'." With a smile, the doe scampers away.
Gideon fidgets with his fingers as she looks at her leave.
"Nervous?"
"Yeah. That's a… first time." He smiles.
"It's a bit overwhelming the first time around." The ewe nods. "I'll show you where to park your bike."
"I ain't really gotten the whole birth party thingy." Says the fox as they walk away. "Why not just do birthdays?"
"Because they're about 275 bunnies and counting. Sure, it's mostly litters, but that would still make about two to four birthdays a month for about ten different bunnies. It's a whole mess."
"So… That means that everyone doesn't get birthday parties on their birthday."
"Exactly."
"But Judy's birthday is in like… A week. How does that work? I mean, I've read about it, but I don't really get it..."
Sharla stops to look for her words. This one will be a bit hard to explain. "Okay, so… Basically, they can't do a birthday for each bunny, and doing one for each litter would mean to many parties. So each year they do it on a different month, but never on an actual birthday if they can avoid it, so it's fair to everyone."
"Oookay? Wait, does that mean that they get a birthparty on their birth month once every..." The tod counts on his fingers. "Twelve years?"
"Yup. It's everyone's birth party, not just the ones born this month."
"That's a bit complicated." The tod mutters. "And they don't get squat on their actual birthday? Ain't that a bit sad?"
"Well, I'm pretty sure their parents wish them a happy birthday, hers do. I think it depends on the size and type of family if they get a gift or not. Plus friends might try to throw a real party specifically for them. It's also an occasion to get the whole family together."
"As long as Judy's happy with it." The tod shrugs, parking his bike next to a row of bunny sized ones.
They walk out to meet with the rest of the family when they get intercepted by the Hopps matriarch. "Gideon, it's so nice to see you!" She smiles. "Have you seen Judy yet?"
"Yeah, but she was called for sumthin' and had ta run."
"I'm not surprised… Would you like to help me in the kitchen?"
Sharla almost laughs. That is so not a request and completely a demand. She had the occasion to put her hoof on the tod's baking a couple of times, and of course she would try to get him into her kitchen for her own birthday if she could.
"Shure Mrs Hopps."
"I'll see you later Gid'." Sharla smiles. "Good luck."
"Why?"
His question remain without answer as Bonnie leads him into the kitchen. It's not less impressive than Ol'Leapers, if more rustical.
"I go some cookies." He says, taking out a bag from his back pack. The doe takes out a plate and puts them on it, taking one.
"They're good. Really good." She compliments between two bites.
"Thanks. Erh, what can I help wid'?"
"I have a few cakes I need tending to..."
- 1 -
Gideon is working on the layering on probably his third cake, and while Bonnie watched him closely on the first one, it seems she's decided that she can trust him with the rest of the work.
"So..." She begins.
The tod turns his head to see the doe's somewhat nervous expression. And just like that, he's reminded that he is in fact alone with the mother of his secret girlfriend. Perfect recipe for disaster.
"Y-yeah?"
"How did you and Judy become friend?"
"Well… She helped me study. And then I kinda stopped bein' an ass."
The tod finishes the glazing on the side of the cake, and switches piping bag for the decoration.
"She's been less…" Begins Bonnie hesitantly. "I don't know… She's more mellow now. She's still working hard, but she doesn't feel as… I don't know how to say it."
"She's more relaxed." He provides.
"Yes, exactly. Maybe a little less… Uptight. Less of a sticklers for rules."
"Ain't that bad?"
The elder doe chuckles. "My Jude has always had a big sense of right a wrong, and she hasn't lost that. She just stopped jumping at any occasion to show it. I don't know what you did, but I think she's learned to be a little less... controlling."
Gideon doesn't really know what to say to that. "I guess..." He trails off.
"What I'm trying to say is… Her father and I… We have a lot on our plate, with the farm and all the kids. And we're trying our best, but sometimes I feel like all we do is shouting and saying no, and being worried about their future… And Judy's… Unusual. She wants to leave and become a cop… I'm glad she's making more friends. I'm glad that when she realises- I mean, if this ends up being a dead-end, she'll have real friends here for her."
"Wha'd'ya mean a dead-end?"
The tod has stopped glazing. He's shooting a peculiar look to Bonnie.
"Well… There has never been a bunny cop before."
Gideon shrugs. "Tha' just means she gonna be the first."
The doe's eyes widen. He said that so casually she almost dropped the spoon she's holding. "But what if it's just a phase?"
"Then she'll be somethin' else afterwards."
"You realise it's not that easy, right?"
"Gettin' me to study weren't that easy. Bein' friend wid' me ain't that easy. She does lots of shi- stuff that ain't easy. I reckon there ain't nuthin' she can't do if she truly puts her mind to it." He says with a genuine smile.
It's Bonnie's turn to shoot the tod a peculiar look. "Do you have crush on my daughter?"
"Wha- No! We're just- We're friends." He sputters.
The doe doesn't add anything to that topic, but still aims a dubious glance his way. "In any case, she's really happy about you being here today. There has been a few of her brothers and sisters that that voiced their concerns because of your… Less reputable days… But she was very clear that they should leave them in the past. I'm glad she was right."
After having put the cakes in the fridge to keep them for the end of the feast, Gideon and Bonnie walk back out.
"So he's here!" Comes a male voice to their left. Turning his head Gideon recognises Stu Hopps making his way toward them. "Hello young fox, how is it going?" He's being… Loud. A bit too bubbly.
"I'm good Mr Hopps. How are ya?"
"Fine, fine. Just so you know, you'll be sitting with Judy's guests." There's also a slight tremor in his paw, a sign he sometimes see on the mammals he used to bully. There's a part of him that feels insulted, but then again, how would it be unjustified?
"I'm sorry to say that there won't be predator food. It makes too many of us prey uncomfortable."
"It's fine. I can go without." Gideon shrugs. "So is there sum'thin' else ya need me for?"
"I just wanted to say hello." The buck answers. "I still have things to prepare, I'll see you later."
As Stu takes his leave, Gideon notices that his wife isn't with him either. Looking around, he notices the covert looks most bunnies are giving him. Well, he was expecting it, wasn't he? Scanning the crowd, he finds Bobby sticking out near the sound system and decides to go hang out with him. He feels a bit ashamed about it but there's no way he'll be able to find Judy in that sea of bunny ears.
"Hey, Mr Fox?" Comes a kit's voice from next to him. Looking down, he sees a huddle of young kits staring at him.
"Uh, the name's Gid-"
"Is that true foxes eat bunny?"
"Erh… No-"
"Cuz Dave said they'd give one of us for you to eat-"
"Dave is a doodoo head! He just wanted to scare us!" States another.
"Oh yeah? And how do you know?"
"Dave lies all the time."
The discussion seems to devolve into a shouting match that the fox hesitates to try and breakup. He's saved from that conundrum when an apologetic female appear. "Sorry, sorry. They've never seen a fox from that close before-"
"S'alright. It was no bother." The tod smiles.
The females noses twitches and he realises that he showed teeth, something Judy and Sharla are comfortable with now, but most prey aren't.
"Woah, he got sharp tee-"
"Alright, let's go kids." States the doe a tad too firmly, pushing them away, giving him a couple of quick glances.
"Well, that coulda gone worse." He mutters to himself, walking toward the cougar. "Hey Bobby."
"Hey Gid. I didn't know you had arrived. How are you?"
"Fine. Bit overwhelmed by how many bunnies there are. You?"
"At this point I'm used to it." He shrugs. "Keep your tail to yourself, the young ones have no problem pulling on it."
"Ah… Okay."
"-Can perfectly walk, Bon!" Says a raspy voice. "I'm not impotent!"
"And the doctor said that you need to keep the physical exertion to a minimum, dad." Sighs Bonnie.
Gideon's gaze fall upon a grouchy old buck with a cane held in his paws, sitting on a wheelchair being pushed bye a teenage buck.
"Physical exertion? Walking isn't exerting! I'm not as old as you might think young lady!"
"And here we go again." Smiles Bobby.
"Whaddya mean?"
"Oh, that just Otto Hopps being himself. I hope you like rants because he really likes to hear himself talk."
"Bonnie who's that big fella over there?" The old asks, pointing his cane toward the pair of predators.
"It's Bobby. Judy's friend, he was here last year, do you-"
"I know who he is, I'm not senile! I'm talking about the red one, is that a-"
"Oh-oh…" Bobby mutters.
"Wha-"
"Fox! It's a fox! Hide the kits Bonnie! He'll eat'em all! Kids, get away from the fox!" The old buck starts shouting, suddenly getting up from his chair.
"Dad-"
"Bonnie, don't argue! If there's one, there might be others!" He shoots wary glances around, pointing his cane like a gun in every direction.
"Dad, it's Gideon, Judy's friend."
"There's no fox friends! You can't trust them! Do you know why those fool beasts are red? It's because they were made by the devil!"
A really loud snorts erupts from Gideon, who puts his paws in front his mouth apologetically. Of all the speciest things he heard before, this one is actually hilarious.
"Pop-Pop!" Suddenly comes Judy's voice. "What are you saying about Gideon!?"
"He's a fox, he has nothing to-"
"He's my friend and he's my guest. And foxes don't eat bunnies anymore, it's the twenty-first century."
"That's what they want us to believe-"
"Then I guess it worked, because I believe it." Judy shrugs, walking away toward her boyfriend, really tempted to kiss him just to spite the old bunny.
"Judy, don't go near-"
"Dad, that's enough!" States Bonnie. "Gideon is a guest, and you will treat him as such. Otherwise it's back into the house with you."
"But Bon-"
"Not buts, dad. I told you there was going to be a fox and that you would have to behave."
The buck grumbles as his daughter pushes him away.
"Are you okay Gid?" Judy asks as the tod keeps his paws in front of his mouth.
He emit a ragged laughing breath and wipes his eyes before regaining control of his breath. "Y-yeah. I'm fine."
"Sorry about Pop-pop. He's a bit… Nineteen century."
"S'fine, really." The tod says. "It was actually real funny. I thought mammals like 'dat only existed in movies. T'wos… Erh..."
"Caricatural?" Offers Bobby.
"Yeah, that. Was he like 'dat wid' ya?"
"He wasn't comfortable, but I didn't try to approach him either." The cougar shrugs. "Maybe I should tell him I'm gay to see his reaction."
"Please don't do that." Judy intervenes. "Anyway, it's almost time to eat. Have you guys seen Shar'?"
- 2 -
"So, how's erh... farm and stuff?" The tod asks, the silence of the meal around the table making him a bit nervous. The new environment makes him nervous too.
The doe shrugs. "It's the same, really. The rumours about us among my siblings have pretty much died, so that's nice. I hope school will be the same."
"What are ya goin' to do now that you ain't tutorin' me?"
"Well… I'm not sure I want to do something else. Plus I still want to hang out with you."
"I'll try to get in the school band." Provides Bobby. "And Sharla wants to join the robotics club."
"Robotics club? Like ya make robots or…? How does that help fer becoming an astronaut?"
"Well, it's fun." Provides the ewe. "And there are a lot of automated technologies that I'll have to keep working on if I continue down that path. Plus it's really interesting. There's a whole lot of things to know about programming, and..."
The ewe launches herself into a very long and convoluted explanation about the applications of different programming languages and loses him. He launches Judy and Bobby an interrogative look and they both shrug. They actually get the same way respectively about ZPD work and music theory, so they're not really bothered.
"Do I sound like that when I talk about bakin'?" The tod asks Judy in a whisper.
"Yeah. It's adorable." She whispers back.
The tod wants to protest that he isn't adorable. But then, he's adorable to Judy, and he's kind of okay with that.
"… And that's why Python is the most flexible programming language."
"Wow, you're a nerd." Bobby grins.
"Well, so are you." Sharla shoots back. "Anyway, how's work, Gideon?"
"Catherine is still here, so that sucks. I think she just wanted to have a summer job, she seem kinda stuck here." The tod says. "Heard she wanted to get back to college but fumbled her college app. Mr Leapers is a bit pissed 'cuz she told him she wanted a permanent contract and he'll have hire someone else if she leaves.."
"And she's still being, erh..."
The tod pinches his lips. "A bitch. She's still bein' a bitch."
"Gideon!" Judy scolds.
"Wot, she's bein' a b- She ain't nice, okay? Ya know how she's still tryin' not to sell my stuff fer no reason? She's… Saying stuff to Mr Leapers about me. That I tried to take money from the register n'shit."
"What a bitch!" The doe reacts making her friends chuckle.
"Oh… And Mr Leapers is believing her?" Asks Sharla.
"I told him he could change the code if he didn't believe me."
"And did he?"
"Well, I have my own code when I'm workin' the counter, he changes it before my shift and switches it back after."
"What!" Judy reacts. "He really believes you'd steal from him."
"Ya know, a few years back, I might've-"
"Yes, but you wouldn't now! Just because you're a fox- I'm going to have a talk with him!" Judy fumes.
"Please don't. It's fine. He'll trust me eventually." The tod tempers.
"After how hard you worked at the harvest festival, I can't believe he isn't." States Bobby, crossing his arms. "But you're right, you can't force him to trust you. You should leave it be for now, Judy."
"Plus it ain't makin' much of a difference, I wasn't workin' the counter much." The tod shrugs. "And she ain't gonna get me fired. I'm good at the job, and I'm pretty sure Mr Leapers will realise what she tryna pull eventually."
Judy smiles. It's good to see Gideon being that confident in his skills.
- 3 -
"Hey, wanna see my room?" The doe asks as they finish the dessert.
"Are ya shure yer parents are okay wid' me visitin' yer house?"
"You're my friend, they shouldn't have a problem with it. They're okay with Sharla being there."
"Not Bobby?"
"Bobby doesn't fit." The doe shrugs, before hopping down her seat.
The two mammals make their way through the burrow, passing corridors after corridors, going down set of stairs.
"Seems bigger'n the outside."
"That's because we're underground. It's literally a burrow." The doe smiles. "It's more traditional than necessary. Actually, expanding can get really pricy with the digging."
"It's really impressive… It's a bit cold though."
"Yeah. In winter it can get really freezing since it's hard to heat everything. When it gets really cold we sometimes sleep in common bedrooms so preserve body heat. It's great in summer, though."
"I can imagine."
"Aaand… We're here. Welcome to my room."
The doe pushes the door and they find themselves in a small bedroom with light pink walls, most of them being adorned either with bookshelves or ZPD posters. The single bed is covered with bunny plushes.
"Yer room is real tidy."
"Well, we do need to be organised with so many bunnies living together."
"Pretty shure yer room'd always be clean either way." He smiles, before grabbing a plush. "Are they members of yer family?"
"No. They're just random plushes."
"I can see a resemblance, though." He smiles grabbing one of them wearing a cop uniform. "Hellu, I'm Judy Hopps, and I'm gonna be the first bunny officer." he says in a high pitched voice, making the bunny giggle.
"I don't sound like that." She giggles.
"Heh, probably not. I didn't know they sold police-bunny plushes."
"They don't. Mom made the uniform when she still thought it was just a phase."
"Oh woah. Your Ma knows her stuff. Ya only have bunny plushes?"
"Erh… I used to… Have a fox one." She says with some embarrassment.
"Really? Used to?"
"Yep."
"What happened to it?"
"I… Still have it. I just… I don't like it." She trails off, looking away. "And now, I guess you want to know why."
"Yeah. Kinda."
The doe walks to a set of drawers and opens it, trudging through the content. She ends up finding the plush. It's relatively old, orange, wearing a short and a simple t shirt. The fox toy has large teeth and a mean look.
"Heh, it looks funny wid' the big teeth and the angry look. Why dontchu like it?"
"He was… When we played with him, he was always the bad guy. You know, a… Thief. A bully. At some point, I didn't play much with my plushes anymore, so I just kept the cute ones. And now… I kind of feel awful for having used him as he bad guy this whole time."
"The only fox you knew was a pretty bad guy." Gideon shrugs.
"I don't think he really was." The doe says, approaching the tod and grabbing his paw. "And that's not really the point. Having a fox be the default bad guy… It's wrong, you know?"
Gideon extends his paw and she gives him the plush. "Maybe he's just bad 'cause he's angry. And he's angry 'cause he's lonely." Turning around, he puts the fox in the middle of the bunny plushes, next to the one wearing the police uniform. "Maybe he'll be happier here. Now he has a good friend to keep him on the straight and narrow."
The fox feels a tug on his suspender and turns toward Judy. She puts herself on the tip of her toes and gives him a long kiss.
"What was that for?"
"I was thinking that I really love you."
"I love ya too." He answers as she buries her face into his chest. His gaze scans the room, falling on all the different posters on the walls. "Say Judy..."
"Yeah?"
"What's the next step fer ya after highschool?"
"College. I'll get into Criminology, probably aim for a bachelor. That should take me four years."
"And then straight for the academy?" She catches up on the worry in his voice. She understands it as she shares it. If she leaves… Well, what will happen to them?
"Heh… They don't accept small mammals. Yet."
The tod looks down to his girlfriend. "What? They don't?"
"No. I know there are politicians that want to change that, including this Lionheart guy… I hope he'll get elected and do something."
"I do too." He nods, giving her a kiss between the ears. And he does. It would mean she'd leave Bunnyburrows. Leave him. But she'd get her dream. "Lotsa things can happen 'till then."
"Yeah. You could get your own bakery for instance." She smiles.
The tod emits a short chuckle. "I'd really like that."
"I can already see it "Gideon Grey's Real Good Baked Stuff"." She says, waving a paw as she was showcasing it.
"I think we got the name down, then."
"I'd be your first client."
The doe's ears swivel toward the door, and she gives him a last kiss, before taking a step back. "Someone's coming." She whispers, glancing at the open door.
The tod's expression switches to somewhat worried, but quickly settles. It's not as if they had been doing anything untoward.
"Judy?" She recognises her mom's voice approaching.
"Yes? Did you need something?"
"The guests are starting to leave. Checking for little ones stragglin' about. I just saw the light in your… What's he doin' here?" Bonnies's tone is more suspicious than her daughter likes.
"Just giving him a tour." She casually shrugs. "I've seen the inside of his house, I thought it was only fair."
"Heh, yeah, well, it'll probably take more than a day to visit the whole place." Awkwardly laughs her mom. "Anyway, maybe you should be up here, seeing the guests off, as it's your day and everything."
"Technically, it's everyone's day." The doe reminds. "Let's go Gid. Let's not start rumours again."
She knows of the red creeping in her ears, but the one on her dad's face is pretty priceless, and the one on Gideon isn't bad either.