Welcome to the family, Aaron Wilde

This rang in Aaron's head ever since he had heard it from Mrs. Wilde herself. Since then, he couldn't wipe off that genuine, and a tad bit goofy smile from his muzzle. After hearing that, he could actually feel how all the sorrow and depression left his body, making him curse the fact that he was a wolf. Sometimes even he couldn't understand why were traditions this important to them, because even if he didn't follow them much, his body seemed to have other ideas.

Since then, him and Nick have been invited inside to have a cup of tea, and to have a chat with Christine. They were sitting on the couch that was situated in the living room. Nick was telling his mother some story about him and Judy arresting one of his own uncles, which seemed to amuse the vixen, not sadden her.

Aaron looked around the room. It was a nice, comfortable, and he could imagine a kit getting raised here properly. He saw pictures of a family of foxes around, but not as many as he had at his home. He looked at the wallpaper, and was quite amused to see that it had the same coloring and pattern as Nick's favourite shirts. Aaron, not like others, actually didn't have a problem with those, he thought they were giving a fox a kind of easy-going, cool aura (and the fact that he could see his cream coloured stomach whenever Nick put his hands up helped too).

There was a big fireplace in the room, that was currently not ignited, but for Aaron, it looked really cool and inviting even without fire. He could already imagine himself on a cold day in winter, near Christmas, drinking hot-chocolate, while sitting in front of the working fireplace with Nick snuggled up close to him (Not the normal chocolate though, that would kill both him and Nick). He saved this picture and the feelings it came with to him for later, because he felt a black paw tapping his shoulders from his side.

''Hey Wolfie, you there?" asked Nick looking a bit worried. Aaron could only smile reassuringly.

''Yeah I am, just got lost in my thoughts." Admitted Aaron making the fox tilt his head in confusion, but he just shrugged it off and turned back to Christine.

''Oh yeah, by the way Ma, I forgot to mention it to you, that recently I got promoted to detective." Informed Nick looking proud. Aaron saw the vixens face light up in delight and excitement upon hearing that.

''Oh Nickie, I'm so proud of you! I was thinking that after all the bad guys you have caught, and how well you worked with that rabbit… what was her name again?" asked Christine while tilting her head a bit in a kind of pause-excitement.

''Judy is her name." Replied Nick, making his mother resume her excitement.

''Judy! Yeah, that's her. So, now what would change? I mean, all my knowledge about detectives comes from novels and books, and I'm pretty sure those are not reality, are they?" asked Christine making the wolf and her son chuckle.

''No, it's actually just a bit of an 'upgrade' if you like. We got 2 bosses now, the new one is soooo much cooler than Bogo, and I think he has a date with Judy tonight…." Started explaining Nick just as excitedly as his mother was.

Aaron took the time to look at some of the pictures on the table between them and where the vixen sat. One especially caught his eye. It was a photo of 2 foxes, both male. One looked almost exactly like his mate, but had darker fur, and wasn't as handsome as his fox. The other fox was a pup, around 8-9 old and wore something Aaron never wished to see again; A Junior Ranger Scout uniform. But that wasn't really what caught his eye, he got over that accident years ago. He looked at the other, similar fox, which he guessed was his mate's father. He looked so proud, and they both wore a happy smile. Then he remembered Bushy tail and his mother's conversation earlier.

'' I had a son, who was treated so badly day by day, his father died, and he lost all hope in the world. Do you think I would risk prying in his private life after all that?"

'' …his father died…"

Christine in the mean time was listening to her son with great interest. She was really happy how the last days turned out. Her son got a promotion, which meant that he must have been well-respected no matter of his species, he finally found his true self, and a nice partner too, with whom they didn't seem to hesitate and mated already. He must love this wolf, if her always stubborn son decided to rush things. ''Rushing" might be an understatement now that she thinks about it. It was a bit strange, almost unnatural, but one thing mattered: her son was happy.

While she listened, she noticed the distressed looking wolf in the corner of her eye, looking at a picture on her table that she didn't need to see to know which one it was. It seemed like the wolf became a mix of confusion and sadness upon seeing the picture, signaling that he doesn't know what happened to her husband. She inwardly sighed, and knew that if her son won't tell that part of his story, then she will. She hoped Nicky won't be mad at her for doing that.

''Ma, you listening?" asked Nick looking a bit annoyed and confused.

''Hmm? Oh Yeah, but sweetie, could make us another round of tea?" asked Christine innocently. Nick knew that she just needed him out of the picture for some reason, and it was definitely connected to Wolfie somehow.

I really hope she won't be having one of those 'responsibility and other stuff' kind of conversation. Wolfie is so not ready for that. Nor am I.

He would have protested, but he knew that it wasn't a request, it was an order, so he stood up, looked back at his mate with a bit of worry, and walked into the kitchen.

Aaron was dumbfounded. Here he was, sitting in his mate's mother's house, and across the table was sitting the aforementioned house's owner. Or just was siting, because when Aaron looked back at the place the vixen was, he found an empty place.

''Soooo, I believe my son hasn't told you about his father, right?" asked Christine suddenly appearing in the place where Bushy tail was sitting, making the wolf yelp in surprise.

Gosh, she is so good at being stealthy.

After overtaking his initial shock, he processed what he has been asked about, and managed to answer.

''No, not really, I only know that he is dead, but nothing more." Answered Aaron looking a bit wary but nonetheless sad. The Vixen just smiled at his reaction.

''It was a long time ago, Nick got over it, I got over it, I still miss him sometimes, but I accepted his absence a long time ago." Explained Christine taking the photo in her paws and looking at it.

''What happened to him, if you don't mind me asking?" asked Aaron hesitantly. He did not want to make the vixen uncomfortable or pry in private stuff, but he was generally curious and wanted to know more about his mate's life.

Christine took a deep sigh and smiled at the wolf.

''Well, now you see, John was a great fox. He wasn't great compared to a fox, he was great compared to everyone. He was like Judy… wanted to make everyone see that it's the mammal inside that matters. He was pretty loud when all those protests against discrimination opposed to multiple species started to appear, and was generally well known for his accomplishments. It looked like mammals finally looked at not only foxes, but predators all together in a better light." Smiled Christine while not taking her gaze from the picture.

''But?" asked Aaron quietly, knowing that these kinds of stories does not have a happy end, and the way the vixen's face morphed into a face filled with sorrow, he knew his suspicions are true.

''But as always, there were mammals that did not like the concept of everyone being equal. One night, some armed mammals broke into our house, found me and John, and shot him while he was asleep, then left. It was a real horror waking up to your own husband having a visible hole in his skull while lying next to you. After his death was reported, the protests quieted down, and everything went back to the same old, until Lionheart of course. Later, a shrew named Mr. Big came knocking on my door, and told me that my husband's killers had been taken care of, and that the Big family will always look up to us, Wildes in a respectful light for John's accomplishments. At first I was terrified that the mafia came knocking on my door, but turned out that they just came to reassure me that we will be safe, and that he owned us his eternal servitude." Told Christine looking very bitter. Then she felt a paw on her shoulders and looked up seeing misty eyed wolf looking at her just as heartbroken.

''I'm really sorry Christine…" whimpered Aaron. He wanted to say more but he was interrupted by a loud *ahem* from the direction of the kitchen. The wolf and the vixen snapped their attention towards the noise and saw Nick looking at them in an unamused face while he had his paws on his hips.

''He was a great man, killed because of bigots like that hedgehog. I guess now you understand why I lost all hope in everything in a very short span of time." Said Nick a bit more harshly than he intended to be. His face and posture softened upon seeing the wolf look down in shame and walked over to his mate.

''Don't worry, I'm not mad at you, I would have told you sooner or later anyways, mom just beat me to it. I'm really over the whole situation, and now I have another favourite male in my life, besides myself of course." Said Nick, while trying to lighten the mood, unsuccessfully.

Aaron tried to restrain himself, but part of being a canine, especially a wolf, is that once you have a strong urge to do something, you just do it. Restraining yourself would physically hurt you, so it is not worth it. And after hearing how your own mate lost his own father, and imagining his crying face as a pup… strong urge might be the understatement of the year. He felt the need to make him feel safe, like everything Christine told him has just happened now.

So, without caring that the vixen was still in the room, he took up Nick from the ground and held him on eye level. Nick was confused first but when he saw what the wolf wanted to do, he gave in, knowing that he would have done the same thing.

They collided in a kiss, that wasn't passionate, wasn't lustful, wasn't even deep. It was just that, a kiss. But damn if it didn't make both canines really happy. Aaron, because his primal urges has been calmed down after feeling his mate in his arms and Nick, because the caring his wolf gave him was everything he could ever ask for. If Wolfie was that protecting when he was being told a sad story about Nick, what would happen in a real life situation, where Nick gets in danger?

Stop thinking about that stupid fox, and enjoy it. Wow, and I'm purring again.

Then they heard a loud snap and then came a flash of light. They broke the kiss and looked at the source just to see Christine holding up an old looking camera that just emitted a paper, presumably a photograph.

Christine looked at the picture smugly.

''Oh my, that is definitely going to the album." Commented Christine while walking over to the bookshelf and taking out a pretty thick book, that now Aaron knew wasn't really a book.

''What album are we talking about?" asked Aaron curiously while taking Nick down to the ground, whose eyes widened in horror and realization.

''Oh it's just the album I started when Nicky was born. It has several pictures of him from the moment he was born. Want to see it?" asked Christine while looking sweet but sly at the same time. Nick could only groan and mumble incoherently, while Aaron walked over and took the album. He looked at the page it was opened and had to restrain a laugh.

''Oh yes, Mrs. Wilde, I would really like to." Said Aaron while thumbing through pictures and sitting down on the couch.

''Maaaa….Is that necessary?" asked Nick looking very annoyed. Christine just giggled.

''As a mother, It's my responsibility to make my pup as embarrassed as could be. You will understand once you become a father." Said Christine while looking smug like her son would normally. She got even more amused when she saw both her son and Aaron tense up upon hearing the word father.

Pups…

''Mom, you know if we continue being together, we can't have kits, right?" asked Nick hesitantly, making his mother raise an eyebrow in an 'Are you serious?' manner.

''Yes I do, and have you heard of that wonderful method that clever mammals invented in order for same-sex couples to be able to have kits?" asked Christine in a matter-of-fact tone. Nick got confused.

''No…..?" asked Nick, making his mother facepalm. Aaron chuckled a bit of his mate's cluelessness.

''Bushy tail, she is talking about adopting." Informed Aaron, moving his gaze to his mate, who got realization and embarrassment written all over his face.

''OH! Yeeeeeeah, I forgot that was a thing for second, hehe." Admitted Nick nervously making his mate chuckle.

Aaron was amused by his mate's antics, but deep down, he was nervous about this whole topic of kits. He never gave real thought to it, and he was 33 already. Now that he realized that the only way to have kits if he wanted, is to adopt, he didn't know whether to like it or not.

On one paw, he doesn't know whether his wolf body would enjoy the feeling of calling a kit as his own, that was not from his own bloodline, and it kind of scared him what would happen if his body started protesting against it. On the other paw, the image of having a kit with Nick and living a happy family life was just too good to not consider, even if that kit wasn't biologically his.

Yeah, no way I'm missing out on that one.

He decided that he would love this kit, and would raise it the best he could…

His eyes widened when he realized what he was thinking about.

Chocolate Pudding was right, we can never do anything like normal mammals.

''You think I should bring some water? It worked before on others.'' suddenly he heard Nick's voice say. Aaron shook his head and refocused on reality and saw Nick and his mom standing before him while both stroking their chins. Upon seeing that the wolf was once again back in reality, Nick smiled smugly.

''Oh, welcome back Wolfie, didn't know that the picture of my elementary school graduation would be that intriguing." Said Nick while shaking his head and pointing at the picture in the album. Aaron looked a bit embarrassed and nervously chuckled.

''He-he…Sorry, I got lost in my thoughts again…" admitted Aaron while scratched the back of his neck.

''You do that a lot." Commented and shrugged Nick, then sat next to his mate and snuggled up close to him. He realized that he liked the feeling it gave him some time ago, and as cliché as it was, he couldn't deny it: feeling the warmth of his mate's body and the way he wrapped his arm and tail around the fox was almost as good as a cold Blueberry shake on a scorching day, emphasis is on 'almost'.

Nothing could challenge that, but this is close second.

His was shaken out from his euphoric state when they heard a loud *ting* from his mother's pocket. The vixen took his phone out and looked at the message. Her facial expression didn't change, but Nick could see that there was something in that message that irritated the vixen a bit.

''Pups, I'm gonna go out and have a meeting with one of my good friends. I will be back in an hour or so, I will leave the house for you until that, don't destroy anything while I'm away, okay?" asked Christine while getting her necessities into her purse with the newly taken picture, that she secretly did not put it into the album yet.

Nick and Aaron looked at the clock, and saw that it was still only 14:36, so their date for tonight wouldn't be in trouble.

''Sure Ma, thanks for the chat, we will take care of the house." Said Nick while he got up from the couch and hugged his mother.

''You are always welcome here, and you know it." Said Christine sincerely. Then she turned to the wolf who stood up aswell to bid adieu to the vixen. The vixen hugged him aswell, although Aaron needed to kneel down, so the vixen won't be hugging his waist.

''And you, Aaron, You take care of Nick, he can be a real trouble maker if he wants to, and I allow you to use any kind of method in order to stop him. But please, don't get too frisky, I don't want to come back while my home smells like Nick's room when he was 16." said Christine, chuckling when both her pups got very red, especially Nick.

''MA!" shouted Nick in embarrassment.

''Good bye, kids!" and with that, she was out of the door, leaving two very flustered canines looking at the door with wide-eyes.


The Cliffside Asylum has seen worse and better days.

It all started in the beginning of the 50's, when the construction of the building was finally finished. It was originally built to help the citizens of the Meadowlands, since it was pretty hard to get from there to Downtown, if there was a serious injury.

The hospital did its job for 30 years, providing healthcare for all patients from the district. It was really succesful, and saved lots of life, until Zootopia started it's great road constructions of the 80's. Part of this project was to help citizens from the bordering districts get to Downtown/Savannah Central easier and quicker. Meadowlands was one of these, and they managed to build a road, where you could drive directly into the heart of the city, without much effort or time.

The problem was, that it made Cliffside Asylum worthless. The problem, which they built the hospital for, has been solved, so the facility had little to no value. It managed to work until the beginning of the 90's, when it was closed down.

It stood there, unused, rotting and letting time has its way with the building, until the Lionheart era. The mayor decided to use the old hospital as a secret hideout for the savage predators that started appearing throughout the city. He mainly did that to save his own image as a mayor and as a predator. It worked for sometime, but then came Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, found this secret hideout, and busted it with Lionheart and all his minions.

Since then, the building has been used for one use or the other. After Lionheart was busted, Bellwether became the mayor. She decided to transport the savage predators to the asylum, so they could be taken care of far away from prying eyes or the majority of the population.

It was the situation for three months, because then Bellwether was busted for being the head of the conspiracy against predators involving a flower named Nighthowler. After they found the cure for the savageness, the building was thought to be unused once again, but instead, the following mayor decided that it would be a wise decision to use Cliffside as an asylum for the insane, because of its position, being far from the majority of the population and what not.

One of the patients of the building was a white she-wolf, who was walking back and forth, paws behind her back and deep in thought.

Her name was Jessica Clawson, the childhood bully of Aaron Wolford.

Officially, she was said to be able see ghosts and other entities outside this world. It would have been okay, since there were mammals like this, who were able make money from 'ghost communicating'.

The problem started when she claimed to be listening to said ghosts commands, which were quite brutal. She injured/killed 14 mammals and claimed, that some entities told her that her victims had bad intentions towards her, and needed to be stopped. She was titled as mentally ill, and was sentenced to be taken care of at Cliffside Asylum, far away from other mammals, who ,,would want to hurt her".

But it was all faked by Jessica. She has never seen ghosts and was in a totally okay mental state. Although, she was convinced that she was more than insane.

Why? Well, it all started when he felt in love with an Omega, Aaron Wolford. After discovering this, she started bullying the other wolf out of her own self-doubts and uncertainty. She persuaded herself, that she was mentally ill for having the least bit of positive intension towards a useless Omega, and the fact that she felt her heart flutter every time she saw the gnome wolf was too much for her to handle. So, she decided that instead of continue seeing the Omega, she would distance herself from the others, so maybe they won't get this disease from her.

She was a patient for the asylum since it was named as one. At first she was relieved, thinking that spending some time here would definitely make these outrageous feelings disappear, but it just made them worse. She spent countless sleepless nights thinking of that damned Omega, and everyday without seeing him was a torture for her.

In the end, she really went insane. She stopped lying to the doctors about seeing ghosts, but she started showing signs of insanity. Random maniac laughs, that would make any evil figure from the TV jealous, furious scratching on the walls, unusual savage behaviour, and the worst part is that she randomly transformed from maniac Jessica to sane-at-some-level Jessica.

Back to the present, she was thinking of a way of escaping this prison and finding Aaron. Her feelings hasn't dissapeared, they only managed to strengthen to a point, where they managed to convince her that she wasn't outrageous for thinking like this of the Omega, and she wanted to find him, be with him and have him all for herself.

She sometimes still laughed at the irony of this, but after the countless nights of daydreaming of Aaron, she decided that she couldn't take it anymore and she would escape, even if it is the last thing she would do.

She already had a plan in her head, so she was now waiting for the right opportunity to strike.

And when she heard the door to her room open, she knew that it was showtime.

Another timber wolf in a lab coat walked in with a smile on his face. Jessica knew this doctor too well. He was the only one who wouldn't be afraid of her when she was in crazy Jessica mode, and even offer his help whenever she needed. She liked this wolf, but he was not Aaron. Jessica knew that this doctor was attracted to her, mainly because that she could smell his interest spike any time she was found tearing her clothes off, thinking of an other, smaller timber wolf.

But now, she needed him for her plan. She would seduce him to come closer and then get his lab coat and other doctor stuff from him, no matter the method. Then she would simply walk out of the facility, and find her love, and make him hers till her last breath.

''Good Afternoon, Ms. Clawson, How are we today?" Said the male wolf with a smile on his face. Jessica could already see, that without doing anything, his eyes were already wondering on her form up and down. She inwardly smiled.

I'm coming Aaron, don't you worry a second.


For the next 2 chapters, there will be a bit of tension, but don't worry, it will be amazing, and I will keep having the slice of life path I choose for this fanfiction.