Matthew McConaughey
John was waiting in his car outside of the Bunnyburrow police station. He and Joshua were Judy's two older brothers of their parents first litter and as Judy had to bring back the police motorbike back to town before she left this afternoon with Nick to Zootopia again, he agreed on driving her home. As he was living in his own burrow with his wife and kits a bit out-of-town, this weekend was the first time he got time to visit his little sister and her boyfriend at their parents burrow. Even if he wasn't as hostile as Joshua against the Fox, he still was rather conservative and reluctant; but at least wanted to give Nick a fair chance. That is, he was willing to until this morning…
Judy opened the passenger door of his car and sat down in a jovial mood. "Thanks for waiting, Jonny. The Sheriff is a bit talkative, and it was difficult to convince him that Frank Tailor couldn't be the offender. At least we could prove this, even if we couldn't solve that case definitely. Hopefully, Chief Bogo won't be too disappointed" – Judy sounded a bit worried.
"You're sure about this, right? I mean, this wolf is not guilty of killing Mister Leep?" John asked while starting the motor and moving off.
"Yes, of course. We examined all evidence and there are just too many crudities".
"You mean that fanciful theory your… partner came up with? Maybe he just wants to take his kind under his wings".
"I'm speaking of scientific evidence, John. Nick tried to find an explanation and motive, but even if his theory isn't likely it doesn't change the facts. We are both sure, that Frank Tailor is not guilty of the zooicide" – Judy started to sound bugged. "And we are both officers at the ZPD, he never would let a guilty mammal get away just because they are both predators!"
"If you say so…" John answered with a quick shrug fall quiet. When they drove along the country road, coming closer to their parent's burrow, he suddenly pulled over and stopped the car at the roadside, turning around to Judy.
"Can we talk about something, Judy?"
"Sure?" she raised her eyebrows but sighed, guessing he wanted to talk about Nick.
"But please first listen carefully to me and don't rage outright, okay?"
Judy just sighed and her ears dropped, she had hoped to not have another conversation of this kind with her family again. During the last few days, most of her siblings were rather nice to Nick while he stayed at their burrow. But of course she also noted some doubting looks and a few of her siblings took her aside to have a serious talk with her; she always had to assure them that she was trusting him, that Nick was really nice to her and that they really love each other's and nobody was taking advantage of the other.
"I know you think that you are in love, sis" John started slowly. "But it's the first time you are allowing yourself such emotions. It's only natural to be overwhelmed and to see everything through rose-colored glasses. But you also have to keep in mind, that Nick is after all still a fox and we are rabbits. You cannot trust predators blindly, even in the present age. They feel superior to prey because of their greater power and especially foxes will always try to outwit you."
"Oh, shut your mouth, John. I'm really fed up of all those prejudices against predators and foxes in particular! I don't care what species we are, I love him just the way he is. And he loves me, despite my family partly acting like racists."
"I believe you when you say that you are trusting him, Ju. But how long are you together now, a few weeks? How much do you really know about him?" John said, and when Judy wanted to answer something he holds up his hand and continued: "Listen, Judy! I promise that I really didn't mean to eavesdrop on Nick. This morning I forgot something in my car and wanted to fetch it when I heard someone lingering between the trees. I cocked my ears and could overhear that Fox talking on the phone".
"Well, why not? It's hard to find a quiet spot in the burrow, especially in the morning when everyone is on the go. So if he wanted to talk with someone on the phone, it's only natural that he went outside for it!"
"He was apologizing to someone that he was short of time in the last weeks. And he also said that he was working a lot but he still loves her nevertheless. That he was just visiting some friends right now and that she must not bother about him", John sighed sadly.
"That … doesn't mean anything! Maybe he was talking with a friend or even his mother or…"
"Martha" John interrupted her.
"What?"
"He ended the call with 'I love you, Martha'. You aren't calling your mom with her forename, are you? Or do you know a friend of him with that name?"
"Oh please – just quit it, John!"
"I'm just afraid of you getting hurt, Judy" – he slowly put his paw on her shoulder and smiled softly. "Be careful and not too trustful".
"Can we please drive on? I still have some things to do until we drive back to Zootopia" Judy was crossing her arms and turning her head, looking out of the side window.
John sighed but nodded, starting the motor again.
Judy was packing their backpack, being glad for the first time to finally leave the burrow. Up to now, it was always difficult to go back to Zootopia after she had spent a few days for a visit at home. After all, she was missing her family, the country air, the fresh fruits, and vegetables. But the talk with John made it clear once again that it would take quite some time and effort for Nick and her and her family to really get used to each other.
A phone rang – Nick's ringtone. He had forgotten his phone on the table when Evelin collected him for a 'small surprise' ten minutes ago. Judy hesitated, but as she had to bag the phone anyway for him, she could also have a quick glimpse … the picture of a good looking vixen was visible on his phone, 'Martha calling' standing in big letters above it – then the call ended again, and the standby screen showed again with a picture of Judy sleeping on his couch, smiling dreamily. She sighed and with a quick head-shaking, she put his phone into her pocket. Nick wouldn't cheat on her, John was talking nonsense! She shouldered the backpack and left the guestroom, walking to the living room to search for Evelin and Nick. Her sister had promised to drive them to the station and their train would depart in around 45 minutes. Nick's phone vibrated in her pocket and she stopped. Should she take a look at the new message? She hated herself for only thinking about it! But then the image of the vixen came back into her mind and she heard John's voice: "He ended the call with 'I love you, Martha'".
She rolled her eyes and pulled Nick's phone out of her pocket. He wouldn't have let it laying around for her to see if he had any secrets within it. And he occasionally had used her phone, too. She switched the display on There was one unanswered call and a new message. She opened the notification center and saw a preview of it: "Thank you again for calling after that long time passed. Maybe we can meet for a coffee? I miss you and …" – it was again from a contact saved as 'Martha'.
Judy switched the phone off again. She didn't know what to think. 'You have to keep in mind, that Nick is after all still a fox and we are rabbits. You cannot trust predators blindly, even in the present age.' – it was John's voice again in her head. Rubbish! Nick wouldn't …
"Juju!" it was Evelin, putting her paw from behind onto her sister's shoulder.
Judy spun around with a surprised facial expression, putting Nick's phone back into her pocket. "Eve! I was already searching for you."
"Yeah, that's the reason I had to call your name three times until you reacted. Is everything okay?"
"What? Yes… yes, I'm okay. Just a little bit homesick already".
"Come on, they are all waiting outside to say goodbye" Evelin smiled and linked her arm with Judy's.
Judy and Nick were standing at a window of the Zootopia Express and waved goodbye to Evelin and Amie while the train was departing Bunnyburrow. When they sat down again, Nick watched his little rabbit for a while who was looking out of the window, bracing her chin on her paw.
"You're missing them already, aren't you?" Nick smiled softly, putting his paw on her shoulder.
"Yeah" Judy sighed, "As exhausting they may be, I love each and every one of them".
"You have a wonderful family, carrots"
"They have their bright moments", Judy muttered and turned around to face him. "You know that I would have confronted them all for you".
Nick sighed with a smile, "I would have never demanded something like this from you".
"What would have been the alternative?"
"Carrots…?" Nick sounded a bit confused.
"Maybe I am just a dumb and callow bunny, but I love you. I would have confronted an army to be with you. And you are just saying that you would have never demanded this from me? Do you think you are not worthy to fight for?"
"What's the matter, Judy? You are talking nonsense…" Nick furrowed his brows and seemed to be puzzled.
"You always say, that you love me. But what does this even mean for you? Showing the white feather when it gets a little bit inconvenient? Because even when my parents are now somewhat pacified, there are still some rabbits like PopPop that love nothing better than to flay you alive. And I'm willing to bear up against them – for you! But if you don't feel the same, if you aren't willing to stand by me in spite of everything, please say it now. Because I cannot live a charade and…"
"Oh, shut up Judy…" Nick finally interrupted her with a sad look. "I have no idea what suddenly gave you this impression of me. But I assure you, as long as you are willing to bear with me I will never leave your side from now on."
Judy started to sob and smiled a little, rubbing her cheek against his paw. "You really mean it, Nick?"
"Boy Scout honor" Nick returned her smile and gave her a kiss. Judy put her arms around his body and hugged him.
"There, there… you bunnies are so emotional" he said with a light grin and gave her another kiss between her ears, holding her tight.
"Sorry, it seems as if I'm really a dumb bunny", she smiled with a sigh.
"That's my fortune, who knows if you would bother with me otherwise", he snickered.
It was late afternoon when the train finally passed the outer districts of Zootopia. They would arrive at the main station in just a few minutes and Judy already strapped their backpack when Nick coughed slightly.
"Uhm… carrots? Actually, I wanted to tell you something, but after your little emotional outburst earlier it wasn't the right moment to do so".
"What is it, foxtrot?" Judy was smiling happily again, all doubts her brothers had tried to persuade her of were gone. She was even feeling a bit guilty that she insinuated Nick those bad and dishonest intentions.
"Staying in your parent's burrow for the last few days made me think about a few things. And I really appreciate that you never asked me about my own family. The truth is, that I didn't have a lot of contact with my Mom during the last few years. I would have only disappointed her how I lived and…" – he sighed – "…whatever, I called her this morning. Just wanted to say 'hello' and 'how are you', or what else you are talking with your Mom about on the phone. Anyway, I told her that I'm arriving today in Zootopia again after a short trip and she asked to meet for a coffee…"
Judy smiled at him, thinking about the overheard phone call and the received message. She knew that there must be a simple explanation for everything; now she felt even more guilty for only contemplating what John suggested.
"I will already go home and start to unpack our backpack. You can catch up after your reunion, there is a lot for you two to talk about".
"Actually…" Nick started to rub sheepishly his neck, "…I hoped you would accompany me. When I'm going to tell her that I have a girlfriend, I'm sure she wants to get to know you as soon as possible nevertheless. We can just as well get over and done with it right now…?"
The train arrived on the platform and stopped, and Judy linked her arm with Nick's, walking to the door with all the other mammals.
"Well, after you had to meet my whole family this week, I think it's only fair if I at least meet your mother. She isn't going to maul me on sight, is she?" Judy giggled but seemed to be a bit nervous nonetheless.
"To be honest I'm not quite sure how she will react, carrots. But it'll go off all right, I'm sure".
Nick had some troubles to get off the train with his crutches and nearly fell over when a rhino jostled from behind. Judy already wanted to give him a lecture when Nick put his healthy paw on her shoulder and shook his head.
"Forget about it" he smiled softly and made a short gesture with his head. "Come on, carrots. Let's go to the front hall. I didn't arrange a specific place where to meet, just sent her the time of our a…"
"Nicholas?" a female voice said and Nick paused at once, turning his head around. The vixen was standing beside a beverage vending machine on their platform. She was about Nicks size, wearing a white dress with purple and green flowers. However, even when she was not as young as she was on the photo Nick had assigned to her on his phone, she was still a handsome vixen.
"Hey, Mom," Nick said a bit shy and smiled lightly.
Martha Wilde was already at his side and hugged him with a happy smile. "Oh, my sweet little pompom!"
"Mom!" Nick said annoyed, definitely not wanting to let Judy know this – or any other – nickname his mother had in petto.
"I thought you were only slightly injured!" she held her paws on his shoulders and was watching him from the bottom up with a worried look on her face. "You have a broken leg and even a broken arm! How did that happen? And is this a scar above your right eye?" Then she suddenly stopped, scenting the air and then Nick's fur carefully.
"Mom, it's not as worse as it might look" he tried to reassure her, then noticing her different look and her sniffing. After staying a few days in a burrow it would need more than a shower to get rid of the rabbit scent. He quickly became adjusted to it, especially since Judy was his partner on the force and being together with her for half of the day since a few months now. But for his Mom, this heavy scent was somewhat alarming.
"Were you mugged by some prey again?" she asked worried and a bit daunting.
"Mom…"
"Did they do this to you?"
"No, listen, Mom…"
"You're so soaked with this … odd scent, were you held captive by them? Did you escaped?"
"Mom! Stop it already, none of these things happened! Also, I know how to defend myself by now".
A few other mammals had stopped and been looking in their direction. Martha returned their looks bloody cold, then finally noticed the rabbit with a backpack on her shoulders that was standing rather close to them and also watched her.
"Bugger off!" the vixen snarled in her direction, showing her teeth. Judy's muzzle twitched nervously and her ears winced, but she wasn't scared and running away like Martha had expected, just looking with a coy expression up to her son.
"Mom, that is Judy", Nick quickly put a paw on his mother's arm, trying to ease the situation. "I wrote about her in my last mail to you, we go on patrol together".
"Oh…" Martha stumbled and her ears drooped. "I thought… err… you didn't write that she is …", she hesitated when Nick sighed lightly.
"Hello, Misses Wilde. It's nice to meet you", Judy smiled friendly, made two steps towards the vixen and reached out with her paw.
A little bit constrained, Nick's mother turned to Judy again and shook her paw. "Hello, Officer. Nice to meet you, too. Sorry, I'm somewhat out of it because of Nicks injuries. I didn't mean to be…" – Martha suddenly congealed, her nose twitching slightly. She boggled when she recognized not only the same scent her son had all over his fur, but she could definitely perceive Nick's scent mark from the small bunny.
"Toothless croc!" she whispered winced, starring first at Judy, then turned her face to Nick again with wide eyes. "Did you scent marked that bunny, Nicholas?"
Nick rubbed his neck with his healthy paw and had a crooked smile, "Well…"
After reeking again the vixen perceived not only the generic scent of rabbits on her son but now recognized a very specific scent that was dominant. "Did she….", Martha hesitated and looked again at Judy, who was just smiling shyly with back set ears and with the paw searching for Nick's. "Are you two…?!" she asked bewildered, turning to Nick again.
"She's my girlfriend, Mom", Nick nodded slowly, grabbed Judy's trembling paw and continued nervously: "We are in a relationship … for quite a while now".
Martha and Nick were looking at each other's eyes in silence. Nobody said a word for several seconds, but for Judy, it seemed like forever. Finally, the vixen took a deep breath and nodded slowly.
"Maybe we… can have a cup of coffee?" she suggested with a light smile. "It must be tiring to stand with your injuries, Nicholas". She turned to Judy, "Of course you're invited, too".
They decided to go into a small café right outside the railway station; Judy went a few meters ahead while Martha braced her son, having some light small talk. The rabbit holds the door open for the foxes to enter and they took a table with a window facing the large station square.
"What can I get for you, Misses Wilde?" Judy asked while putting down her backpack beside the bench.
"Oh… just a coffee with some sugar for me. But no need to inconvenience yourself, Miss…?" Martha smiled somewhat but Judy waved with her hand.
"It's Judy Hopps, but just call me Judy. And that's no trouble at all, I'll be back in a few minutes" she smiled friendly and walked over to the counter.
Nick had leaned his crutches against a pillar. When noticing the uneasy facial expression of his mother, he sighed: "Let's get this over with already".
"I'm just a worried mother, Nicholas," Martha said with a soft voice, putting her paw on his. "I confess that I was a little bit skeptical when you wrote me about your plans on going to the police academy. You were always sailing close to the wind with your … businesses. I thought that it was just part of a new hustle".
She kept silence for a moment and Nick looked down to the table: "Mom…"
"That's okay, Nicholas. You are my son, I will always love you and I settled for your way of life over time".
"Oh, thanks…" Nick whispered sarcastically.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm more than happy when I was wrong this time! It's just… that rabbit…"
Nick turned his head to Judy who was still waiting at the counter and sighed again, this time with a smile. "She showed me that I can be more than just a hustler and was the first one since a long time to put her trust in me, regardless of me being a fox".
"Did you put your scent mark on her on purpose?"
"I think I'm really in love with her, Mom" Nick smiled at her.
"Does she know…", his mother began halting. "I mean, what an intimate relationship means to us foxes?"
"We had… a short talk about it", Nick said and sighed impatiently. "And she is more than okay with it, rabbits are also quite monogamous, you know?"
"She really seems to be cute", the vixen said with a glance to the rabbit who was currently ordering their drinks.
"Better not call her cute when she is in earshot", Nick winked with a light smile. "She doesn't like to be reduced to her appearance. But yes, she is a real cutie".
His mother smiled sympathetically but then got serious again. "Judging by your overall scent you were visiting her family? I mean, you are really reeking like you literally followed her into a burrow", Martha still sounded worried.
"We were visiting her parents in Bunnyburrow, yes".
"And how did they treat you? As far as I know are rabbits quite proud of their big families. They surely were hoping for her daughter meeting another rabbit instead of … you know, a fox". Martha said quietly, and when her son wanted to object she added quickly: "Don't get me wrong, Nicholas! Maybe it's somewhat odd, especially for you, to have a relationship between predator and prey, but I'm really okay with it as long as you both are happy! But it's difficult to not notice that you brought back a small souvenir from the countryside…", she nodded in the direction of Nick's crutches.
"Well, yes… maybe her parents were somewhat restrained at first, but my injuries aren't their fault, Mom! It was just an accident when I tried to save one of Judy's little sisters from being rolled over by a wagon".
"You … what?!", Martha's eyes grew big.
"He saved the life of my little sister Amie by dodging her aside. One of our wagons rolled down the hill towards her by accident", Judy said proudly with a big smile, glancing to Nick. She put a cup of coffee in front of Nick' mother and a latte macchiato with caramel syrup in front of Nick; then she sat down beside him with a cup of hot chocolate with cream for herself. "You can be really proud of your son, Misses Wilde", Judy said smiling.
"Oh, I am!" Martha said with a big smile. "And, please call me just Martha. Maybe you can tell me more about my pompom's brave deed?"
Judy snickered with a wide grin and Nick rolled his eyes. "Mom…!"
They were sitting together on Judy's bed, watching the latest episode of the 'Big Paw Theory'. After the meeting with Martha, they decided to buy a pizza on-the-go and go to Judy's place. When the show finished, the rabbit lowered the volume of the TV and threw the empty pizza box into the trash bin under her desk. Nick was very quiet since they bid goodbye to his mother, and Judy was wondering why. Their meeting worked out quite well as far as she could judge, much better than Nick's first encounter with her parents. She sat down on the floor right on the bed and looked up to him.
"I think your mother is really nice", she smiled.
"Thanks, carrots. I think she likes you, too", Nick smiled somewhat.
"And still you are looking as if you had dropped a blueberry ice cream cone", she winked at him.
"It's nothing, carrots", he patted with his healthy paw on the mattress beside him.
"Nothing is nothing, pompom", Judy grinned and hopped onto the bed, snuggling up to him.
Nick narrowed his eyes and snarled quietly at her, "Jude the dude, behave yourself!"
Judy narrowed her eyes, too, and replied his looks. "I think we need a list of forbidden nicknames, foxtrot!"
"Agreed, cottontail!"
They both snickered and Nick put his arm around Judy's shoulders.
"What is it that bothers you?" she asked while cuddling against his body.
"It's …", he hesitated, then sighed. "I'm not exactly what you can call a good catch. Your parents probably had a nice rabbit for you as a partner in their mind".
Judy groaned: "Nicholas Piberius Wilde!" – he flinched, but she continued. "I thought we had made it clear that I would stand by you, come what may! I love you, Nick. But I'm asking you this only one more time, and I want a definitive answer. Do you love and stand by me, or do you prefer to puss out?"
The fox was watching her dumbfounded, the little rabbit's facial expression was a wild mix of anger, despair and begging he never saw on her. How should he explain his mother's concerns she voiced a few hours ago?
"Dumb Bunny", he smiled and wanted to hug Judy, but she shoved his arm away for the first time and continued her stare.
"I asked you something, Nick".
Nick sighed and smiled soothing, "Do I love you? Yes, yes I do".
She sighed: "Can you be serious, just this once?"
The Fox slouched his shoulders, for such a small mammal Judy could be really stubborn. "Okay, listen, Judy. My Mom really likes you, and she is okay with our relationship. But she also expressed her concerns regarding your family. She fears, that when in doubt you will finally comply with their wishes, knowing about the strong family ties of rabbits. But there is one thing she doesn't know".
Judy had a dry mouth and looked down, whispering: "That is?"
Nick put his paw under her chin and pulled her head up until he could look into her eyes again: "You".
"Nick…", she said ruefully smiling.
"Judy – you never do something halfway, that's for sure. The moment you said that you love and stand by me, I knew you meant it. And that's everything I need to know. I love you and will stand by you". Judy was already teary-eyed and wiped with her paw over her eyes, smiling. "And that's my last and definitive answer, Miss Judith Laverne Hopps!" he added with a wink and poked her nose with his.
Judy started to laugh and sob at the same time, holding him tight. After a while she gave him a soft kiss on his cheek, "And your mother really likes me?" she snickered.
"She thinks that you're cute", Nick grinned when Judy groaned and rolled her eyes. "And you know what? She's absolutely right!"
"Dumb fox", Judy smiled and snuggled up to him again.