Come to find out there was originally a scene in Zootopia where Judy introduced Nick to her parents. I flipped out when I read that and it was particularly funny to me because I had already written this chapter by the time I stumbled upon it. Mine isn't exclusively a meet the parents deal, but it is similar enough. Enjoy!
It takes weeks upon weeks of pestering and begging and blackmailing before Judy finally relents and agrees to show Nick her hometown. He doesn't understand why she was so against the idea in the first place, it's not like he is going to eat her family or anything. And he knows she is very fond of her family and home. Maybe it was because she was afraid of what he would think of it all. After all, he was less than nice about her roots during their first encounters.
Regardless of the reason, they are now on the train leaving Zootopia. Her fears seem to lift from her shoulders by degrees the closer they get to their destination. She bounces in her seat by the window and taps her fingers against her legs. If she weren't so short he is sure her foot would be drumming to a steady beat on the floor. She is overflowing with emotion, particularly excitement.
In contrast, his nerves rise with every mile they pass by. He fidgets and pulls at his sleeves as he struggles to find a way to preoccupy his mind. He doesn't have a device to poke around at like Carrots over there, not that he would find much interest in it anyway. Still, anything would be good right now.
He isn't sure how much time passes, but at some point Judy speaks. "You don't have to be so nervous." She laughs.
Nick starts, jarred out of his revere. "Huh? Me? Nervous?" He waves her words away. "Never." Even as he says it he is very aware of the fact he continues to pick at his shirt.
Judy snickers. "Of course not." She turns back to the window. It won't be long now. This realization causes a thought to dawn on her and her cheer dips. Right. She bites her lip as she chews over how to go about her next words, eventually facing him once more to say, "Oh, um, but before we get there I've gotta say that you should probably be a bit more…conservative, with some of your jokes."
Nick raises a brow at her sudden shift in demeanor.
Judy ducks her head. "I mean, I don't have a problem with it. It's who you are, it's funny. But my parents…" She grimaces. "They're better than they used to be, but they still aren't going to be as comfortable with some of the things we usually say to each other."
Nick snorts. "Don't worry, I won't act like I'm going to eat them."
"Nick." Judy crosses her arms and shoots him a sharp look.
Nick shakes his head. "So that's it."
Judy frowns and eyes him with uncertainty. "What's it?"
"All this time you kept turning me down, it's because you were afraid of what your parents would think of me." He points at her.
Judy gives a meek smile. "You got me." She shrugs. "I mean, they're better than they used to be, they have a fox business partner and everything, but they are still…" She flips her hand in circles as she searches and fails to find the word she wants. In the end she can only blow out a sigh and let her hand flop to her side.
Nick snickers at her exasperation. "I get it, Carrots. I'll be on my best behavior." He sits particularly tall and holds his head higher as he says this.
Judy hits at him. "Dumb fox."
Nick grins from ear to ear. He opens his mouth to snipe back, but her voice cuts him off.
"Oh!" She pivots and leaps to her feet on the seat. "We're here. There it is! There it is!" She bounces in place a few times before hopping to the floor just in time for the train to pull to a stop.
Nick leans over to peer out the window, but he is unable to get a good look before he is being dragged in the opposite direction.
"Come on!" Judy squeals. She latched onto his arm and pulls him down the aisle with her. She practically sprints off the train, her heart pounding in her chest as her excitement spills over.
Nick stumbles along, barely able to keep up with the crazy rabbit. "Slow down there, Carrots." Still he grins despite himself, undeniably amused by her enthusiasm.
"Judy!" A chorus of squeals bombard them as they cross over the threshold of the train.
Nick's eyes widen at the sight of a horde of bunnies converging on them. His mouth gapes slightly. He has never seen so many bunnies in his life. His instinct tells him to turn heel and run, not from fear of them being a threat, but because the likelihood of some social misstep or another is bound to ensue.
Judy races forward. "Hey everybody." She allows herself to be enveloped in hugs and taken to the ground in her siblings' frenzy. All she can do is laugh the whole time.
Nick side steps and puts a decent amount of distance between him and the frenzy. He lets out a breath once he accomplishes this, only to look up and yelp as well as jump when his eyes land on the tiny crowd of bunnies around him.
The kids stare intently at him. They exchange looks and whispers as they try to decide what to do. It's not like they have never seen a fox before, but this fox is different. He's Judy's. Finally one hops forward, all the way up to Nick. "Hi!"
Nick smiles and waves.
"You're Judy's boyfriend, right?"
Nick's face goes bright red. "W-What? No. I am not. We're friends. Just friends."
All the children burst into a fit of giggles. "Look at him blush." One squeaks.
"He's so cute." Another pipes.
"Can I keep him?"
One bunny rushes forward and grabs at Nick's tail. She buries her face in the fluff. "So fuzzy."
Once the first moves they all follow. One curls around his leg, letting her head hang down by his foot. "Oooooh, lookit his claws."
Nick shifts from side to side as he tries to avoid more grappling hands as well as not step on the ones already hanging from him. "J-Judy!"
Another bunny hops up and grabs at Nick's ear.
Nick jerks to the side each time the little guy tries to snatch his ear. It'll hurt like hell if the kid manages it. At this point a whine ekes out as his normally cool demeanor rushes away like the wind. "Judy!"
Judy pops out of the mass of bodies to look around for him. At the sight of him she bursts out laughing. "Oh my gosh. Come on guys." She pushes through her siblings. "Leave the fox alone." She shoos at the ones swarming him. "Come on. Off, off you go." She pries them from Nick and plops them on the ground one by one.
"Aw, but Juuudy." There is a chorus of whines. "We just wanted to play with him."
Judy shakes her head but smiles despite herself. "Do you want to suffocate the poor guy? He's not used to fifty people on him at once. So shoo. Go back to the house, all of you."
Their shoulders slump and expressions fall.
Judy throws a glance back at Nick, very unsure about this, before adding, "He'll play with you later." If he doesn't run away by then.
They all brighten and cheer before turning tail and running back to the house.
Nick lets out a huge breath and slumps forward. He doesn't even bother feigning being unaffected. He brushes his fur off and smoothes out his tail.
Judy grins from ear to ear as she heads toward him. "Those would be my siblings."
"Those little fluff butts were gonna pull me limb from limb."
Judy laughs. "Yeah, sorry about that." She rubs the back of her neck. "I should have warned you. They can be a bit...well, you saw." She motions in the direction they disappeared.
"Ya don't say." He shakes his head. A smirk flits across his lips. "You sure I can't eat one of them so I can make sure the others never do that again."
"Nick." She swats at him. "What did I say?" She scowls.
Nick rolls his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. No eating. No pretending to eat. Not threatening to eat." He taps a finger for each item added to his list.
Judy ignores his patronizing. "You okay though?" She looks him over.
Nick smiles. "Yeah, just a bit frazzled." He runs a hand over his head.
"Oooh, Too Cool Nick has lost his cool."
Nick pushes at her face. "Come on, Carrots. Show me you're folks." Surely nothing can be as bad as the onslaught of those big eyed buggers.
Judy scurries after him and takes the lead. She guides him to her house and just outside of it her parents are there waiting. She is honestly surprised they weren't there at the station. "Mom, dad." She hurries forward and into their arms. She locks her arms around each of their necks. "It's so good to see you."
"Oh, Judy. How you been?" Her mother hugs her tight.
"Yeah, solve any big murder mysteries since you called?" Her dad chuckles.
Judy pulls out of the hug and steps back. "I'm great. And yeah, some big cases some not so big. All kinds." She bites her lip. "And, uh, I'd like to introduce you to my friend." She steps back, parallel to Nick. "Nick."
Nick waves. "Nice to meet you two."
"Nice to meet you too, dear." Her mother nods and smiles. "We've heard all about you from Judy."
"All bad things I hope." Nick grins. He tries to ignore it, but he can feel her father's eyes on him. It is like countless other prey before him. Always judging.
Her father scrutinizes Nick. After a long minute he says, "You ever eat anyone?"
"Dad!" Judy gawks.
"Stu!" Her mother shoots a sharp look at her husband.
"What? It's a valid question." He shrugs his hands. "I asked Gideon the same thing."
"You did what?" Her mother stares at him in utter disbelief.
Nick rolls his eyes, but curbs his tongue. Only for Judy's sake. If it were up to him he would pretend to go after the old man right here and now. "I promise I have never eaten anyone. The thought never even crossed my mind."
"Hm," Her father nods. "And you're a cop you say?" He raises a brow.
"Yes, sir. I am Judy's partner." Not to mention her best friend. But he'd rather not go there and open himself up to even more scrutiny. As the little buggers had said 'are you her boyfriend' and if kids could come to such a ridiculous conclusion then overprotective parents most certainly would, not matter how untrue it was.
"Yeah, dad." Judy says slow and with extra emphasis. "And he has had my back time and time again. Even saved my life twice." She looks hard at him.
Her father thinks for another long moment, then a smile springs to his face and his scrutinous eyes light up. "Well, nice to meet you." He sticks out his hand to Nick.
Nick blinks at the offering, his eyes darting between the hand and his suddenly inviting face. What a strange guy. Oh well. Might as well count his blessings. "Likewise." He shakes the man's hand.
Judy inwardly sighs. Crisis averted. It is then that her ears perk and she becomes very aware of the many presences peeking out from around every corner. Oh lord. One averted and another about to ensue.
Her mother smiles to herself as she too senses the children encroaching on the scene. "Do you like children Nick?"
Nick stiffens. "Ah, well, yeah, sure. I mean, they can be cute. In limited numbers." His eyes dart about in search of the fluff balls that must be lurking nearby. The demeanor of Judy and her mother is unmistakable.
Her mother laughs. "Alright. Cindy, Rachel, Alexander, Barbra, Michael, and Jake – come out. Everyone else, run along and play. You have plenty of brothers and sisters to play with."
There is a collective groan much loader than the cheer and the sound of many scurrying footsteps follow. Most grow farther away and the six called up appear in the next instant. They pop into view, wide eyed in anticipation.
Her mother ruffles each of their hair. "These are my littlest ones. I hope they aren't too much for you."
Nick eyes them with no small amount of uncertainty. Still, it is a much more comforting sight than the dozens that surrounded him before. "Yeah, sure. Should be fine." He licks his lips. "Sooo….what-"
"Predator and prey!" The kids cry in unison. They throw their arms into the air.
Nick blinks. "Ah, um, what?" His eyes dart to each parent in turn. This sounds like recipe for disaster. The father doesn't seem particularly pleased either. Although the mother seems more amused than anything. That's…good? He supposes.
"You be the evil, savage fox." A girl bounces forward as he bares his teeth and raises his hands in an offensive pose.
"And we'll be the meek, scared prey." A boy cowers away.
Nick looks from one kid to another. "Ahhh…" He isn't sure what to say to this.
"If the savage predator doesn't fight, then the prey will WIN." A pair leap forward and tackle Nick.
Nick grunts as he is knocked off balance and topples to the ground.
Her mother laughs. "Have fun kids." She waves as she turns away from the scene.
The father is more reluctant, looking back and forth between his wife and the fox with his oh so vulnerable children, until he finally follows his wife's lead.
Judy takes a seat a few feet away. She perches her chin in the palms of her hands as she watches with heightening levels of amusement.
Nick feels a weight lifted off of him as he is freed from scrutinous eyes and a smirk curls his lips. He shakes the children off and leaps back, onto all fours. He growls deep in his throat, his eyes gleaming mischievously.
The children gasp and squeal as they turn hard on their heel and run.
Nick races after them, nabbing one by the ankle and lifting them up off the ground. "Uh-oh. Game over for bunny."
The kid squeals and flails uselessly in the air.
From seemingly nowhere, the five bunnies fly at him and knock him over. He loses his grip on the one and then in the next instant they are off of him again.
Nick props himself up on his elbow and lets out a breath. Geez, two minutes and he is already done. Probably due in part to one kicking him right in the stomach.
Judy cackles. "You done already? What a wuss." She walks over to him and kneels in front of him. "The mighty predator taken down by the weak prey."
"It really shouldn't surprise you, Carrots."
"Yeah, you're right. I mean, I did beat you. Not just once, but twice."
Nick grins. "Not before I beat you. Thanks again for paying for that popsicle."
Judy rolls her eyes and hits his shoulder.
Nick pushes himself back on all fours. "Well, see you later Carrots. I've got children to 'eat'. Despite what you told me not to do." He prowls closer to the heads poking out around the house. It's a strange feeling – acting as he did that very first case together – down on all fours like some kind of animal. But it's not so bad, not as long as he doesn't feel like he is being judged.
Judy smiles after him. She watches for a while longer and listens to the squeals of delight as he chases the young ones around. Only a handful of minutes later does she head into the house. Of course as soon as she enters she is met with the sight of her father peering out one of the windows.
"Has he eaten one of them yet?"
Judy sighs and shakes her head. "Dad, you are completely ridiculous sometimes. He isn't going to eat them. He's only playing. I swear those five year olds have more common sense than you."
"I know, I know, I'm sorry hon. I just…" He turns and smiles sheepishly. "Old habits die hard I suppose."
"Very hard." Judy mumbles under her breath. "But if it'll make you feel better I'll go play prey too." She turns away before he has a chance to answer and heads out to find Nick and the little ones. She doesn't have to look far. They are out back, sprawled out in the grass.
Nick lays flat on his stomach, his head flopped over on its side and his tongue stuck out in dramatic fashion. A bunny sits on each leg, each arm, and two perch on his back. They all giggle like crazy, especially as they see Judy come into view. "Judy!" They cry. "We won. The predator is dead." They throw their hands in the air. "Victory for the prey!"
Nick moans. "Blood, blood…and death."
Judy chuckles. "Aw, you killed my best friend. Now who am I gonna fight crime with?"
The children exchange looks and in tandem hop off of Nick. "Here you go." They scurry to his front and tug at his arms. "Up, up." They urge. "You can be alive again."
Nick rises in slow motion. He stretches his limbs out and sighs in relief. "Feels so good to be alive again. Thanks a bunch dudes and dudettes." He extends a clenched fists to them.
They laugh and each bump their fists against his. "You're welcome Mr. Fox." They scurry off in the next instant, leaving Nick and Judy alone at last.
Judy holds her hand out to him. "How was it?"
Nick lets her pull him up. "It was something all right. Six are definitely more manageable than dozens. That's for sure."
Judy snickers. "That's good. So, ready to head inside?"
"I don't know." Nick stretches the sentence out. "I think I'd rather risk being suffocated by all those little buggers than sit for an extended period with your father." He smirks.
Judy scoffs and swats at him. "You know you're lying. You are no caretaker."
Nick blows out a breath. "You got that right. Whenever you have kids I am not babysitting them. Not once the numbers go past six."
"Alright, deal." She grabs his arm and pulls him along toward the house.
"Um, sorry? Deal?" He eyes her with uncertainty. What did he just agree to?
"You'll be my personal babysitter until then. And I won't feel bad at all for it." She flashes him a devious grin.
"Gee, thanks. Your concern is palpable." He really won't mind though. If her kids are anything like her then they will be adorable and balls of fun.
Judy snickers and leans her head against his arm. "You love me."
Nick grins. "Like a favorite shirt."
Judy snorts and rolls her eyes. Unbelievable. But so totally him. Better than a million I love yous or warm hugs, even if no one else understands it. And she wouldn't have it any other way.
I continue to have the most fun in the world with this little project. Since I'm writing just about any scenario that comes to mind if you want to make plot suggestions then go for it. I won't promise I'll do it, but it is piques my interest then I definitely will. Oh and originally this chapter's title was 'Predators and Prey' but then i changed it. lol Review!