Chapter 4: Flashback

A/N: Something I noticed after writing the first chapter was brought up in a review. Hats off to USA Patriot (Guest). I wasn't sure how to address it so I guess one way is as good as another…at the beginning of the first chapter, I addressed Bonnie as the one who was most resistant to Nick and Judy being together. In the last chapter Stu became the most resistant. My bad, Stu ends up being the 'bad guy' in the story. Something I need to address in future chapters is keeping things straight.

FLASHBACK

It was storming out, probably the worst storm that Bunnyburrow had in years. Nick was very apprehensive about meeting Judy's parents, but Judy had assured me that everything would be OK. "I told my folks that I would be bringing my boyfriend to meet them" she had told Nick, "don't worry, everything will be fine".

Nick asked "Did you happen to mention that I was a fox? Especially after the incident with Gideon Grey?" which she nervously replied that she hadn't. "How could you leave something like that out of the conversation?' Nick asked her.

"I'm sorry Nick, I guess I was a bit frightened that they wouldn't even want to meet you. At least this way we can have the opportunity to explain everything face to face." she said.

Nick sighed and told her "I guess we'll just have to deal with whatever happens like we have done with everything else in the past, we do it together".

When they stepped off of the train, Bonnie and Stu were waiting at the station. They ran up and gave Judy the biggest hugs, and Bonnie, asked Judy "I thought you were bringing your new boyfriend, where is he?"' to which Judy took Nick by the arm and replied "Mom, dad, this is my partner and boyfriend Nick Wilde".

As the shock wore off, Stu said angrily "Oh, hell no, no fox will ever cross my doorstep. This will NOT happen if I have ANY say so. Judy, you come with us NOW, and fox, if you take one step closer there will be hell to pay".

"Dad", said Judy, "Stop it, Nick is my boyfriend and there is NOTHING you can do or say to change my mind. I am grown and can make my own decisions. I have the right to be with whomever I think will make me happy, and if you don't like it that's justtoo damned bad!" by this time Judy was shouting.

"There is no way that damned fox is setting foot in my home. Especially after what happened between you and Gideon Grey, and that is final" said Stu.

"Dad, we were kits, and that was over 15 years ago." Judy then turned and looked at Nick and said "Come on Nick, lets' go home, back to Zootopia where I know I am loved."

"Judy" said Nick, "the train doesn't run again until in the morning and the weather is terrible."

"I don't care" she said, "We'll walk all of the way back if we have to. There is nowhere else to stay and since you...we...are not welcome in my parent's home and there is nowhere else to stay, we have no choice, let's go."

"Judy" said Stu "you can't walk in this weather, you'll catch your death of cold".

Judy angrily turned to face her father "At least it will be with someone that I love and loves me back, someone who doesn't judge me for what I look like, but rather what I truly am inside, GOODBYE! Come on Nick."

With that, they headed out into the driving rain, back to Zootopia.

Bonnie and Stu stared at each other in shock, neither sure of what to do, until Bonnie decided that enough was enough "Stu, go back to the burrow and get the car, I'll try get those two back to the station at the very least".

A very unhappy Stu complied and went back to the truck as Bonnie headed out into the rain to catch up to the slowly disappearing couple.

"Judy, Nick, please, at least come back to the station. Stu has gone back for the car, we can go to the burrow and try to sort things out OK? ...Please?"

Judy looked at Nick with a slightly apprehensive look, but Nick reassured her, "It's ok Fluff, everyone deserves a second chance. We've both learned that the hard way remember? Let's do this...if not for them, then for us…please?"

Judy sighed, "Ok mom, but just so you know up front, I am NOT going to stop being with Nick. In fact, if he asked me to marry him tomorrow I wouldn't say no."

Nick suppressed a grin and thought 'Well, this puts a different slant on things!'

No one spoke as they sat waiting for Stu to show up with the car. When Stu finally arrived, Nick put their luggage in the trunk while Bonnie and Judy got into the car. Bonnie got in the back with Judy and Nick was forced to ride in the front with Stu, obviously an attempt to keep the couple as far apart as possible.

After a short, but very uncomfortable 30 minute ride they arrived at the burrow.

"Just so you know" Stu said, addressing both Judy and Nick "I am not comfortable with any of this, at all."

"Dad" said Judy as she confronted her father again "Nick and I can leave right now if you aren't even going to be reasonable enough to at least listen to what we have to say..."

"Stu" said Bonnie "let's get these two out of their wet clothes and dried out a bit so they don't catch cold. Then we can discuss the matter like civilized mammals"

20 minutes later in the large kitchen, the two couples sat across from each other. Since there were no fox sized clothes in the burrow and Nick and Judy's clothes were soaked from the rain, Nick was wrapped in a light blanket, toga style. Judy could barely suppress a giggle, regardless of the circumstances, reminding herself to tell Clawhauser when they got back to the precinct.

"Ok" as Stu started the conversation, "let's hear it."

Judy started "Ever since I was a kit, I have never gotten ANY kind of support from you or mom or anyone for that matter, concerning what I wanted to do with my life. 'You can't be a cop, there has never been a bunny cop' from you and mom. Everyone at the academy telling me to just quit give it up and go home. Bogo telling me he didn't care how well I did at the academy, to 'just let it go'. The only positive things that anyone ever said to me were from Nick. The only help I got from ANYONE was from Nick. When we were on the missing mammal case, even though he wasn't even a cop, I saved his life and he saved mine, several times. We have no way of knowing how things will work out between us, but we have to try. I love him, I know he loves me and at least for now that's enough. I'm happy when I'm with him and miserable when I'm not. I honestly don't know what else I can do or say to you, but that's how I feel. You can either accept Nick or lose me as a daughter, it's your choice."

Bonnie and Stu looked at Nick, so he told them "Look, I know Judy has had some rough times in the past, especially with a certain other fox, but in case you missed the obvious, I am NOT that fox." Even though he got a bit of an evil eye from Judy he carried on."To be quite honest, when I first met Judy, I thought 'gee what cute bunny, she won't last a week in the city'. Then, when she came asking me to help with the missing mammal case I was...skeptical to say the least, she blackmailed me actually. When she actually conned me, of all mammals, to Tundratown in search of a clue, she ended up saving me from getting 'iced'. She saved me again in the Rainforest district when being chased by a panther. But when Bogo demanded her badge because he really didn't want to give her a chance to prove herself, that's when it started to dawn on me that she was actually someone special. Yes, we had a bit of a 'misunderstanding' but we worked it out. With some help from a very unwilling weasel, we tracked down the source of the Nighthowler problem, and ended up getting almost killed again, first by a subway car then by Bellwether. This beautiful bunny didn't know it at the time, but with those actions, she saved me again by turning my life around and setting me on the straight and narrow, so I became a cop. There is no way I can or will live without her and that is all I have to say."

As Bonnie and Stu sat in stunned silence, Judy said, "I love you guys to death, you are my parents, I will always love you. But wherever Nick goes I go, so we can either put his craziness behind us and move on, or I can walk out of your lives forever and never look back."

Bonnie and Stu looked helplessly at each other, then Stu looked at his daughter and asked "Would it be possible to start the last few hours over? I can tell there is no changing either of your minds on this, so I for one would like to move on. What about you Bon?"

With eyes full of tears, Bonnie added "Yes, let's put this behind us. Nick, please understand that it's so sudden and such a shock, that as parents we are very protective of all of our kits."

Nick smiled "It's ok Mrs. Hopps, I understand completely. I promise to never let anything happen to my Carrots."

"Bonnie, please call me Bonnie, Nick."

As Stu and Bonnie looked questionably at each other, Judy punched Nick softly and smiled "That's just a nickname Nick has given me. In fact he called me that the first time we met and it has kind of stuck."

Stu looked at Bonnie, then stood and walked over to Nick, who wasn't really sure what to expect. Stu extended his paw and said "Mr. Wilde, I'm Stu Hopps. I'm glad to make your acquaintance please call me Stu. But let me warn you, right here and right now. In front of Judy especially, if you EVER hurt my daughter, there isn't a police force in the world that will save you from me."

Nick stood and replied "I understand completely Stu, and please call me Nick, Mr. Wilde was my father."

Judy and Bonnie hugged, tears were shed, and the afternoon sun shone through the lingering clouds.

END OF FLASHBACK

As Darlene and Gideon sat in stunned silence, Stu and Bonnie looked apprehensively at Nick and Judy.

"Nick, is there a special reason you brought that up, today of all days?" asked Stu.

Before Nick could answer, a determined Gideon stood up, looked at all gathered and addressed Nick "Nick, i-it dawned on me 'zactly why you brang this up, and thank you for it." As he took a deep breath, Gideon turned and addressed Stu "Stu, "I-I want to ask you for Darlene's paw in marriage. I-I know's this is kinda sudden, but I know's now that i-it's the right thing to do. I-I love her and, and would never do anything to hurt her, so hep me God."

Stu looked at Gideon, walked up to him, looked him in the eyes and shook his paw "Welcome to the family Gideon."

Aaaaaand, that's a wrap for now. I know that the chapters are getting longer, but there just isn't a good place to interrupt, so…..