Epilogues 10 and 11

A/N: This is it! The final two epilogues and then it's done. I want to thank everyone who stayed around for this 2&1/2 years. I don't know WHY you'd stick around and read this garbage (kidding), but I appreciate it. As I said, that doesn't mean I'm going away forever. I have a few more story ideas I want to finish up, but for now, this is goodbye. If you're following me, keep following me because you never know when I'll be back. For now, enjoy the final two epilogues. The first one, I just came up with two days ago, because I was trying to figure out how to wrap up Duke's tale and so we get a goofy, funny, soap opera take. Then, we travel 40 years into the future as an elderly Nick and Judy look back upon their past lives, only for Nick to get a call from Bobby with very bad news.

OF course, I take the very last epilogue to introduce two new characters. Nick's foster siblings, Rick and Mary.

Jetstar77 writes: "I feel that the Micheal/Cotton arc was very fundamentally flawed. It makes no sense why they would have a dysfunctional relationship because they would have all of their child and teen years to work out all of their relationship. This makes no sense why she would be left at home to make it problem when Cindy and Bean was with him. You took all the time to flesh out these characters and now disgrace them with them consistent marriage and divorce. I thought you would ave something special for these two but you made a fundamental flawed arc and very very bad compared to what you have been doing with the other characters. I hope you can change it because this is about only hole in a completely good story."

Sorry you didn't enjoy this one Jetstar. As I've said before, I'm not that great a writer and I see a lot of my own flaws in my storytelling and will sometimes poke fun of them. My thing was that 1.) Childhood Sweethearts don't normally hook up together as adults. 2.) Not all relationships are going to be "Happily Ever After" and I wanted to show a struggle in making Cotton and Michael's relationship work. Sure, it could have been written a bit better, but they still end up staying married in the end after getting some much-needed counseling. My main regrets are that A.) Michael should have been the one to be disowned since he still had real blood parents. Cotton just has her aunt Dawn Bellwether. I just thought Mike was too much of a Momma's boy to ever break off from Judy. B.) There was really nothing stopping Cotton from still calling Nick and Judy "Mom and Dad" even after the divorce. I just wanted to show that she was making a huge sacrifice. C.) I should have shown Cotton's future career as a comic book artist and I completely forgot to add it. In short, I still suck at writing Cotton.

I feel bad that I didn't do an epilogue for Suzie, but basically, she married Junior-Junior, went to college, got a degree in engineering and with her super-inventive mind, started up a company called "ClawTech". Her inventions were world famous.

*= The opinions on geese in this chapter are the expressions of this author and most of the human race and not really those of Nick and Judy.

Epilogue 10: The Dukes of our Lives

Two years after the purge.

Duke and Juanita were walking up to the Gonzales mansion. Juanita was invited to a family reunion. She was nervous as members of her family would be seeing her husband Duke Weaselton for the first time. Paco was babysitting the kids back home.

"How is my Spanish holding up?" asked Duke in Spanish. He studied hard over the past two years to understand his wife well. Duke could be a bit of a slimeball when it came to business, but he did love his wife and family very much.

"Very well." said Juanita. "But you won't need it all the time. My parents only speak Spanish, but these are my cousins and they speak English."

"Okay...So how's your English?"

"It's good! Thanks for sucking, ass-munch!"

"...Maybe I should just speak in Spanish."

Juanita came to the door. "I'm nervous! This is the house of my cousin, Novella Gonzales. She's a real drama queen in fact, her whole life is like a soap opera."

"Oh don't be so melodramatic! I'm sure we'll be fine!"

Juanita knocked on the door and the butler answered. "Yes?"

Juanita answered in English. "Juanita and Duke Weaselton to gaze Novella Gonzales."

Duke corrected her. "That's 'see' Novella Gonzales dear."

"I don't understand, but okay. To yes Novella Gonzales!"

"No, that's not...I'm sure he gets it."

The butler let them in. The room inside was big and fancy. Many of Juanita's distant family were in attendance. Most of them were usually fairly poor so a trip to the Gonzales family mansion, was a rare treat.

Juanita spoke to her husband. "Now Duke, this is a very fancy ummm...thing? I don't know the English word. Anyhose, be on your best behavior."

"You forget Juanita dear, 'dat I'm 'da Assistant Mayor...technically. I have been to many fancy gatherings. I'm as cultured as any other jerk. Oooh! 'Dey got 'dem fancy, little crackers and snacks! Gimmie your purse. I'm gonna dump a bunch of 'em in 'dere for later."

"Duke!"

Just then, a mysterious voice came from behind. "Well, well. If it isn't my cousin, Juanita."

"Novella!" Juanita went over to huge her only to get slapped by Novella.

The family gasped. "GASP!"

Juanita was shocked. "Novella! What was that for?!"

"You cheated on my cousin's step-brother while he was still dating my sister's niece in-law!"

"GASP!"

"That was six years ago! It's not like you can talk Novella! Everyone knows you had an affair with my brother's ex cousin in-law!"

"GASP!"

Duke looked around. "What 'da hell is with everyone?! Is 'dere enough oxygen in 'dis joint?!"

Novella looked at Duke. "And now, I see you with this ugly slob!"

Duke took offense. "Hey now! I may be ugly and a slob but...what was that third thing?!"

Juanita slapped Novella back.

"GASP!"

Juanita was outraged. "Don't you be...befuddle?...bediddle?...Don't make fun! My husband is a big, big man in Zootopia! He owns his own construction business! He's the assistant mayor! He has his own statue in the middle of Little Rodentia's park!"

"Yeah!" said Duke. "I'm 'da best! You tell her baby!"

"Why...Duke is the most honorable man I've ever met!"

Suddenly, the doors to the mansion busted open. "NOT...SO...FAST!"

"GASP!"

Duke looked over. "Victor! What are you doing here?!"

The puma entered the mansion. "Duke is not the great Weasel he makes himself out to be."

"Now see here Vic!"

"No! You see! You are a good person Duke. Deep down...You saved my life even though I attacked you. But then, you used me! I'm the REAL assistant mayor!"

There was silence for a moment, so Duke decided to fill in. "Oh. Uhhh...Gasp?!"

"They're not gasping because it's no surprise! I've been doing all that hard work for mayor Wilde while you've been off doing your construction gig. That is, unless a fancy party comes along! Then, you suddenly decide to show up to represent yourself! In fact, you get all of my pay! Well you'll have to do the job yourself! Because I quit!"

Then, another voice came from the front door. "Not so fast Victor!"

"GASP!"

Victor looked over. "Mayor Wilde?!"

Duke face-pawed himself. "Oh fuck my life."

Nick walked in. "Victor, you've been too good an assistant for me to let go. I'm hiring you on full time." Nick then pointed at Duke. "Duke Weaselton, you've done ZERO work for me, but stole all of the credit. I'm sorry but...you're fired!"

"GASP!"

Duke was angry. "Fine! I didn't want to be 'da assistant mayor anyways! 'Dem stupid rodents are 'da ones 'dat forced me into it! I just wanted to work my construction company! And let me tell ya, I run 'dat honestly! I've even been making buildings all over, even in Little Rodentia! I'm proud of what I done! So yeah, go ahead and hire Vic. He's a good man. I'm sorry I used ya."

Victor accepted that. "Thank you Duke. All I ask is to be treated fairly."

Nick patted Victor on the back. "You deserve it Victor. After all, you're a fair and honest mammal."

"Not so fast!" came another voice from the door.

"GASP!"

Duke looked around. "Seriously, can we open some windows or somethin'? There's too much gasping!"

This time it was Terry Clawhauser. She walked over and slapped Victor across the face. "You had sex with my husband behind my back!"

"GASP!"

Nick was shocked. "Victor! Is this true?!"

Victor bowed his head. "It's true. I'm bisexual."

"DOUBLE GASP!"

Victor got down on his knees in front of Terry. "Please don't be mad at Ben! We were going to tell you soon, but he didn't know how to break it to you. He loves you! Very much! It's just..."

"He's sick of being the pitcher and wants to be the catcher sometimes." Terry replied. "I know."

"I didn't mean to hurt your family. I love you guys! It was...We both have needs."

"I know." Terry said. "SIGH! I also know my husband is much more gay than bi. He'll always see me more as a man than a woman."

"That's not true! The way he talks about you, he always sees you as a woman! I swear. And why wouldn't he? You're lovely!"

Terry started to smile. "...Do you see me as a woman victor?"

Victor smirked. "A very beautiful one."

Terry wrapped her arms around Victor and gave him a huge kiss.

"TRIPLE GASP!"

She parted her muzzle from his. "Me and Ben have always been open in our relationship. Why don't you stop having sex with Ben behind my back...and do it right in front of me?"

"You...You mean?!"

"You're welcome in our bed anytime. Play your cards right and you might be my second husband. Welcome to the Clawhausers Victor."

"AWWW!"

Duke had enough. "Well it's been fun, but I've had enough drama for tonight. Juanita, let's go."

Then, another voice came. "Not so..."

Duke rolled his eyes. "...Fast! I know! Cue the gasp!"

"GASP!"

"Thank you!"

This time, it was Finnick and Dawn Bellwether. Dawn spoke up. "Duke, we recently got out of prison only to find out you've been selling merchandise with our likeness on it!"

Finnick held up some of the merchandise. "Look at this! 'Don't Hate' T-Shirts and other ones with our image. Finnick and Dawn mugs. Even a body pillow showing us lying naked together!"

" 'Dat one was a big seller." Duke replied.

Nick looked at it. "Wow! The artist must have really studied the video closely. They even got the 'M' shaped purple vein on your shaft!"

"How do you know so much about Finnick's junk?!" Duke asked.

"When you live with a guy in his van for twenty years, you're bound to see each others' business every once in awhile."

"But to study it to that degree?"

"...Shut up."

Finnick continued. "I contacted Victor here and it turns out, you made a cool million on this stuff! We want half!"

Duke was angry. "No way! You signed a contract giving away your likenesses!"

"When did that happen?!"

2 Years earlier...

Duke came by during visiting hours at the Zootopia maximum security prison and talked to Finnick and Dawn. "Finnick old buddy! Dawn! Great to see ya! My ummmm...cousin is a big fan of yours and wonders if she could have your autograph?"

"Sure!" Finnick said.

Duke handed Finnick a few slips of paper. "Just sign on that line I made. Ignore the carbon paper and legal documents. They're for...something else."

Present Day

Finnick was furious. "That has no legal value as it was signed under false pretenses! Now give me my money!"

"Yeah! said Victor. "And I demand some back pay for all I've done for you!"

Duke was getting nervous. "Juanita baby, I think it's time for us to depart."

Finnick started running towards Duke. Duke threw down a smoke bomb. "Ninja vanish!"

Smoke billowed everywhere. Duke grabbed Juanita and ran out the door.

With Juanita in his arms, Duke was running for his life with Finnick, Dawn, Nick, Victor and an angry mob chasing him. Juanita was surprised at the expression on his face. "Duke. Why are you smiling?"

" 'Dis reminds me of my good old days." He looked back and yelled "Catch me if ya can losers!"

Eventually, Duke payed up and mended his friendships with Nick, Finnick and Victor. His construction company became one of the most successful in Zootopia and the family business eventually went to Paco.

Since Duke was no longer paying for Victor's place, he moved out. He instead became the butler/nanny/third lover for Ben and Terry. He didn't have his own room, but he slept on their bed with them and he was very happy. While Duke loved Sarah and Suzie like family, he didn't see himself as their father. So he waited until they were adults and moved out, then Terry and Ben used the pride law to marry Victor. He became Terry's second husband and took the Clawhauser name. When Nick's tenure as mayor was up, Victor went for the position. He lost at first, but went back four years later and won.

Epilogue 11: Heaven Before Heaven

40 years after the purge.

In front of the Hopps homestead was a small hill with a large oak tree. There was a bench under the tree because the hill gave a great view of not only the Hopps home and farm, but the outline of Bunnyburrow itself. It was a beautiful view.

There, under the tree stood 66 year-old Judy Hopps who was waiting for her 75 year-old husband Nick Wilde to climb the hill.

"Hurry up slowpoke!" shouted Judy.

Nick was struggling up the hill with his cane. "Easy for you to say! I'm still ahead of you by nine years!"

"Excuses, excuses. I made it and I only got one leg."

"No, you got one normal leg, and one state-of-the-art, cybernetically enhanced leg." Nick was almost up. "Hey Carrots! I need some help. Can you give me a pull?"

"Sure." Said Judy.

She reached out for him and managed to grab one of his fingers and gave it a pull. FFRRRBBPPTT!

Nick laughed. "Oldest trick in the book!"

"Nick Wilde! How dare you fart before me!"

"Sorry Fluff. Didn't know it was your turn."

Judy chuckled. "Just shut up and sit down!"

They sat on the bench together, looking over the farm and large house. They could see their grandchildren and great grandchildren playing out front, the hills in the distance, one of Judy's family members giving the kids a tractor ride. Nick put his arm around his wife as they soaked it all in.

"Look at all of them." Judy said with a warm smile.

"Yeah." Nick replied. "Three generations of Hopps, Greys and Wildes all playing together. Enjoying the family reunion."

"There's Spots. She's already a grandma and in her 50's. That seems insane to me."

"She's not acting like it. She's got her grandson David in a headlock."

"He's such a little troublemaker! SIGH! I can't believe it's been a little over 40 years since we got married. Where does the time go?"

"Seems like yesterday that I was the mayor of Zootopia."

"Seems like yesterday I was the president of the United Plains."

"Well it's hard to forget when you have lifetime secret service protection." Nick looked over at the body guard hiding behind the tree.

The bodyguard was talking into his wristband. "Secret Squirrel to Danger Mouse. The fox is in the hen house and the bunny's in the basket. Over."

Judy looked at Nick. "What's creepy is he's my only bodyguard. He doesn't have a wrist communicator."

Nick rubbed her back. "Larry's gone senile. You were always too tough to need a bodyguard anyway."

"Yeah...I lived my life wanting to make the world a better place. We really did that, didn't we?"

"We did indeed." When I was mayor, I managed to convince the people to allow birds and reptiles back in."

"Except geese."

"Yeah, fuck geese.* Anyway, I was able to do so by having them agree to bring back the less threatening animals like ducks and frogs and work my way up."

"Frogs really helped the economy in the rainforest district."

"Very true. They even got their own little district within the district. Not only that, I convinced the chief to have cops represent certain districts so smaller mammals wouldn't fell threatened by the police. Now there's fox officers, beaver officers, mice officers...it's great! And what about all you did? From private investigator to becoming the president!"

"Well, being a private eye for two years was exciting, but I still felt like I wasn't making a big enough difference in the world y'know? That's why I ran for state senate. Then, after fifteen years as a senator I became the president."

"And I the first gentleman. The first, first gentleman since you were the first female president. Having to do those photo ops with all the living first ladies was awkward."

"Well it didn't help when you wore that dress."

"I didn't want to be upstaged! You changed a lot of laws and changed a lot of minds. We now have universal healthcare, stronger unions, a balanced minimum wage, a great economy and a stronger relationship with our allies in other countries."

Judy raised her chest with a swelling of pride. "I did, didn't I?"

"Yeah. I love when you're prideful. It's the only time your chest looks big."

"Oh shut up!"

"At least now we get to retire and enjoy the fruits of out labor."

Judy looked out at her very large family. "That's a lot of fruit."

"Not if you just include the Wildes. We aren't near in abundance compared to the Hopps."

"Well, between the grandkids and great grandkids, it's getting pretty close."

"Great, great grandkids. Spots grandchildren, Gary and Jeanette just had a litter."

"Oh my gosh! C'mon! I'm only 66! I still got two or three decades left in me!"

"Then prepare to be a great, great, great, grea-"

"Knock it off!"

"...How's your mom holding up?"

"She's wheelchair bound, but in good spirits. She misses dad something awful."

"Poor Stu. I want to say 79 is a long enough life, but he was still in good health at the time of his passing."

"He died as he lived."

"Screaming for his life as he was run over by his own tractor?!"

"No! Farming! He died doing what he loved."

"Ah." Nick started to sob. "I miss Candy too."

Judy rubbed Nick's back. "Sometimes, no matter how hard someone fights their demons, they lose the fight. She was a great mother and a great grandmother, but when her addiction came back, she just couldn't fight it anymore. Poor Junior. It's been eight years and I don't think he's fully recovered from it."

Nick then got a call a text from Bobby. "It's my step-dad."

"I used to call him 'daddy' in my young days."

"Please stop reminding me of that!" Nick then read the text and was shocked. "NO! Oh God, no!"

Judy looked concerned. "What's wrong dear?!"

"Speaking of dead relations...my...my mom just passed away!"

Judy held onto Nick tightly and cried. "I'm so sorry! She was so wonderful!"

"I-I don't understand! I just saw her a few days ago! She was in perfect health!"

"Nick, she was 92 years old! It was just her time."

"SOB! Y-You're right...SNIFF! Bobby's coming around to pick me up right now. He's bringing my foster siblings so we can confirm the body at the morgue."

"Rick and Mary are coming too? I'm so glad your mother and step-father decided to adopt when they did."

"I gotta admit, it's been nice having siblings of my own. It's something I never got to experience." He looked over and saw Bobby's min van. "He's here! I'm going with them, but I'll be back soon."

"I'm gonna help Cotton and Petey help cook tonight's dinner."

Nick gave a loving embrace and kiss. "I love you."

"I love you too. And I'm so sorry. I loved her so much!"

"I know dear. Let me break the news to Spots okay? She loved her very much."

"SNIFF! I will."

Nick got into the van. He hugged Bobby, his fox brother Rick and his leopard sister, Mary. The two were in their late forties and trying not to cry as well. The van took off.

"Are you holding up okay Nick?" Mary said. "I-I loved her like she was my blood, but she was your biological mother."

Nick wiped some tears. "I-I'll be okay. Thanks little sis. How did it happen?"

The three looked away from Nick with awkward stares. "Well...ummmmm..."

Nick was suspicious. "What's going on?!"

"You better tell him dad." Rick said.

"Promise not to kill me." Bobby said.

Nick was starting to get mad. "What did you do?!"

"This is hard to say in front of you guys. We were being...intimate and..."

"Intimate?! At her age?!"

"Would you please listen?! She...she reached her climax and her heart just stopped! Like instantly! No warning!"

Nick was furious. "Oh...my...God! Why were you two still doing it at her age?!"

"Because we've always been doing it! It made her feel young! Like a teenager!"

"She was 92!"

"And could still put out!"

Nick was furious. "You...You killed her!"

Bobby immediately stopped the van. He was enraged at Nick. "Take...that...back!"

"I won't! How can you be so irresponsible as to..."

Bobby slapped Nick in the face and grabbed his shirt collar. Tears ran down his angry eyes. "Now you listen the hell up! I gave your mother the best years of her life! There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't tell her how beautiful she was! Not a day that I didn't make her feel like she was the most special woman in the world, BECAUSE SHE WAS!" He sobbed. "She was! She meant everything to me! And you...you sit here and judge me when I gave her everything I could to make her happy! Nick, I wasn't expecting her to die mid-orgasm, but I made her life happy to the last damn second! Most elderly people end up just bedridden and watching TV all day, but I kept her active and happy. We went jogging and dancing and...yes, we kept having sex. How dare you. How DARE you say that I killed her! I made her days joyful and fulfilling and if you can't appreciate that, then you can get the hell out of this van!"

There was a moment of tense silence. Nick couldn't look Bobby in the eye. "I-I'm sorry."

"I don't wanna hear another word." Bobby said as he drove to the morgue in awkward silence.

He parked the van out front and everyone got out. Nick finally spoke out. "I really am sorry Bobby. I know how much she loved you."

Bobby just stormed ahead and said nothing. Rick came up to Nick. "You know, for once, just once you could stop calling him 'Bobby' or 'old man' and call him 'dad'. I consider you my brother Nick and that man and your mother raised me and Mary since we were 8 years old. He'll always be our father and your mother will always be our mother."

Nick and Mary walked ahead. Nick lagged behind, feeling guilty for his words.

They got to the morgue where the mortician was waiting for them. "Are you here to identify the body?"

Bobby had his arms draped over his children. "Yes."

"I should warn you, rigor mortis set in pretty fast so we couldn't change her look from the moment she passed."

She opened the large drawer and pulled back the sheet covering Vivian's face. Almost immediately, the family's lips curled up. Not from sorrow, but from trying not to laugh.

Vivian's final expression was one of absolute ecstasy. Her eyes were rolled to the back of her head, her tongue was hanging out and she had an open-mouthed wide smile from ear to ear.

"What a way to go!" said Rick.

Nick could barely hold it in. "Oh my God! It's my dead mother, but it's too funny! I'm gonna burst!"

Finally, Mary broke the damn. "My husband knows that face all too well!"

Everyone roared with laughter. They couldn't hold back. Nick was howling. "HAHAHAHA! I tell ya old man! You really took her to heaven before she went to heaven!"

"I'm sorry I'm laughing!" Rick said. "I wasn't expecting that face! Wow! HAHAHAHAAA!"

The laughter died and the tears started coming down. Bobby embraced Rick and Mary and they cried into his chest.

Nick looked over at Bobby and his foster siblings. For the first time in his life, he finally stopped seeing the young cougar who was banging his mother and saw the old man consoling his middle-aged children. He saw his father.

Tears ran down his cheeks as Nick ran over and joined the group hug. "I'm sorry dad! I'm sorry! You were right! I couldn't ask for a better man to have taken care of my motherrr!"

Bobby looked up in shock. "Nick! You called me dad!"

"SNIFF! Well...yeah. It's not like I haven't called you that before."

"Nononono! Every time you did it before, there was always a hint of sarcasm behind it. This time, you said it like you meant it!"

"Well I do mean it! You gave my mother a wonderful life and helped raise my siblings. When I finally found out the truth about my blood father, I was ashamed of him. Frankly, you're a better father than he ever was! So...why don't we honor mom and go out to Joey's diner for lunch...dad? "

Mary purred. "That was our favorite restaurant growing up!"

"Sounds good to me." Bobby said.

Nick gave Bobby a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I'm calling you dad from now on. And for one day, you can call me Nick Catmull."

Bobby cried in his arms. "Awww son!" The cougar wiped the tears from his eyes. "Well I don't know about you guys, but I'm getting hungry. Let's say our goodbyes."

Nick let the others go first and he said his goodbyes in private. He didn't want them to see the tears rolling down his eyes. "Goodbye Momma. I'm happy that in the end...SNIFF!...you had such a wonderful husband. I-I just wish I could have been a better son."

Upon leaving, Nick went outside and put his arm around Bobby. "I'll help set up the funeral arrangements. If you want to, you can live in one of my apartments so you don't have to be alone."

"That's okay." said Bobby. "Me and your mother talked about my life after she was gone. She knew I'd outlive her."

"So what are you gonna do with your life?"

Bobby gave a perverted grin. "I'm gonna volunteer at the senior center. Vivian's totally okay with it."

Nick chuckled. "Lookout all you old ladies! Nurse Bobby's coming to town!"

"Heh!-Heh!...We're not having an open-casket funeral are we?"

"With her permanent 'O' face?! Oh hell no!"

The Catmulls went to the diner. They laughed, cried, shared stories and ate great food. Nick never made fun of Bobby again. From that day on, he was 'dad'."

THE END

Time for me to write my own, original book. I'll see you guys in three months or so!...Maybe. Just keep me on your "follow" list okay? Thank you!