Chapter Five: Worst Kept Secret

A/N: With me not working right now, I don't have a means to escape for a bit and edit the chapters as well in my mind, so some dialog drags on a bit longer than I'd like since it just comes out of my brain and onto the computer. Of course, it also makes me write faster which is why you're seeing this new chapter so soon.

Anyway, this chapter and the next are pretty Petey-centric. Due to a little Freudian slip, Petey's forced to come out of the closet to his father. I think I gave enough hints that he was going that way. I only gave hints because I was undecided at the time, but now I'm going full force with it. Petey's then reunited with his old siblings and it goes real well. Too well for Spots' tastes. Michael tells Spots why he broke up with Cotton.

1:50pm in the Wilde family van

Nick was still driving down the road on the way to Petey's former family. He was a little concerned as he could still hear Cotton crying and sobbing in the back seat. He tried his best to cheer her up. "It's okay honey! Bunnyburrow is full of sheep your age. Maybe you'll find a new boyfriend!"

"I don't want a new boyfriend!" she sobbed. "I want Michael! B-A-A-A-A-A-A-W!"

Judy tried to talk to Michael. "Michael dear, are you sure you won't go back with her?"

"I don't wanna! She's my sister now and it's better if she finds someone else."

"Then why are you crying?" Judy asked.

"I'm not! I-I don't care about her anymore! I'm...SNIFF!...I'm gonna be a rock star and have more girlfriends than I know what to do with!"

Judy gave him a glare. "You're lying. Whatever reason you have for keeping your break up with Cotton, you're hiding it from me."

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

Nick interrupted. "Honey stop! I'm getting confused on which one is the six year-old."

Cotton was still sobbing. "P-Petey, maybe you can be my boyfriend?"

"I can't!" said Petey. "I have to...TITTIES!...have to be Sarah's boyfriend!"

The way he put that did not go unnoticed by anyone in the van. Particularly Nick. " 'HAVE to be?!' What do you mean by that?!"

"N-Nothing!"

Judy held the bunny boy's paw. "Petey. Do you want to be Sarah's boyfriend?"

"Well...not really. But I don't want her to hate me! I don't wanna FART! hurt her feelings!"

Nick was confused. "Is that why you talked to me all nervous and scared when she first flirted with you? You didn't wanna hurt her feelings?!"

"I HAVE to let her like me! I HAVE to be good or bad things happen and I get spanked!"

"Wait...is this about your blood mother?"

"...Yes daddy."

Nick pulled off the road and let out a deep sigh. "Judy, give him here."

Judy unbuckled Petey's bunny booster seat and handed him over to Nick. Nick gently held his son up to his chest. "Spots, can you take 'Super-ears' outside for a moment? I need to talk to Petey in private."

"Alright." Spots got out and went around the van and got Michael out. "Okay jerkwad. Let's go out for a sec."

Meanwhile, Judy unbuckled Cotton's seat only to cuddle with her. She consoled the crying lamb. "I know you're hurting baby, but mommy's here, okay? There's plenty of other bunny's in the burrow as they say."

Meanwhile, Nick cuddled Petey and talked with him. "Am I in trouble?" The bunny boy asked.

"Of course not. Petey. You don't have have to worry about your nasty old mother ever again. You're MY son now! She's in jail and she can't hurt you any more. Peter, I love you so much and I would never, NEVER hurt you."

Nick hugged the boy tightly as tears started rolling down his cheeks. "No one's EVER going to take you away from me. SNIFF! You understand? I want you to be happy. You shouldn't do anything you don't want to just to please others. You should do what makes YOU happy. You should love who you want to love."

Petey finally got up the courage to come out. He was very nervous. "Even...even if it's a boy?"

Nick smiled. "Even if it's a boy."

Petey gripped his father tight and cried over his shoulder. "I'm...SHIIIIIT! I'm...I'm gay!"

"I know." Nick said gently.

"You know? ...SNIFF! How?!"

"You kept asking me about that gay, inter-species married couple. Plus, there's been some other hints."

"Please don't tell Michael I'm gay! He'll...SHIT! He'll hate meeee!"

"No he won't." Nick said. "I think you don't give him enough credit. He's your big brother and your best friend and he'll support you and protect you."

"I...I don't know. Let me tell him when I'm ready. Okay?"

Nick made a "zip my lips" motion with his hands. "Mum's the word. That goes for you two in the back seat, okay?"

Petey looked over Nick's shoulder to see Cotton and Judy smiling at him. "Oh no!" Petey yelled.

"I guess we talked too loud." Nick replied.

Judy pulled him over to the back seat and gave him a big hug. "Oh sweetie! You don't have to hide who you are from me! I love you no matter what! Besides, six of my 127 brothers back home are gay. Probably more. Not to mention I'm bi."

Just as Petey was finding warmth in his new mother's arms, Cotton yanked him over to her. "PETEEEEEY! I'm so happy you're gay! It's like a I have both a little brother AND a little sister now! We can listen to boy bands together and...and play with my Bambi dolls! It's gonna be so much fun! You just brought me out of my sad mood!"

Petey was pleasantly surprised at this news. "I...I did? You...you stopped crying because...VAGINAL WARTS!...because of me?"

"Yeah! I think we're gonna be much closer now!"

Petey hugged her back. "If I made you happy, then that's awesome! Buuut. I don't like boy bands. Love Bambi dolls though. Oh! And Star Boars!"

A few minutes earlier...

Spots brought Michael out of the van and carried him out a ways so his super-sensitive bunny ears wouldn't pick up Nick's conversation with Petey.

"What's going on?" Mike asked.

"Not sure little dude. I think Petey isn't in love with Sarah and was just faking it to make her happy. He loves to make people happy. I think his previous life forced him to be subservient and he constantly had to put others needs above his own. Especially when it came to his mean, old birth mother."

"I understood some of that. You said some big words. Sub-surfing ant?!"

"Sorry. Basically, Petey's scared to have anyone remotely hate him and he puts other people's happiness over his own due to the abuse he got from his former family."

"Ooooh."

"Now I have a question for you. Why aren't you going back with Cotton?"

"Because she's my sister now. It's wrong. And...and I like being single and having my pick of girls. When I grow up and be a rock star, I'll have some many women I won't know who half my kids are!"

"Okay, one, that's actually terrible. If you did that, I'd have no respect for you. Two, you're full of shit!"

"I'll tell mom you cussed!"

"Go ahead! I'm a teen! They won't care! Now...why are you dumping her?!"

"Because she's my sister now and...and...I have to protect her!"

"From what?!"

"Bullies! We're gonna be in school in two months! Kids are really mean. If they found out she was dating her little brother, they'd make fun of her and call her names! She's 6 months older than me and she said she was in the first grade in the orphanage. I can't protect her if she's in a different class!"

Tears welled up in Michael's eyes. "I-I saw on the news that kids bully other kids into killing themselves! I can't let that happen to her! I won't! I can only protect Petey at school because he'll be in the same grade as me."

"Why do you have to protect Petey?"

"Because of his random cussing and he's gay."

Spots was a little surprised. "Figured it out hunh?"

"When Sarah says goodbye and gives him a kiss, he wipes his mouth afterwards. I can tell he only likes her as a friend. I had to nudge him a lot to be more romantic with her. He also likes fashion and Bambi dolls and has been mentioning Wiggly in his sleep. I think he like-likes him."

"Are you gonna let him know you know?"

"No. I want him to tell me. He's still my best friend. I don't care if he likes boys. I love you and you like boys!"

Spots blushed. "No I don't!"

"It's obvious you like James. Why is that such a big deal?"

"I dunno...It just is. And your reason for staying separate from Cotton is dumb! Noble and sweet, but dumb."

"Why?"

"Because who the hell cares what other people think?! Yeah. Kids in school are mean. But that'll never change. If it's not you two being an item, it will be because of her backwards legs. They called her 'Crazy Legs' at the orphanage. I hate to admit it, but even I was doing that. Are you still in love with her."

"No!...Yes."

"Then be with her."

"No! We're brother and sister now! She'll get teased and...she's better off with someone who isn't a jerk."

Spots picked up and hugged her bunny brother close. "Oh Mike. You're a very good, protective brother, but yes, you're also a stupid jerk. Just...less of a jerk than I thought you were and a good enough jerk for Cotton."

"You're not going to tell her the truth are you?

"No way! You have to do that. If you don't want to be her boyfriend anymore that's your decision. I won't force you to back together."

"SIGH! Okay."

Nick honked the horn of the van. "Okay! We're ready!"

"OKAY!" shouted Spots. "Let's go back Dillweed."

Michael snugged up to her bosom. "Spots?"

"Yeah?"

"You make a good second mommy."

"Heh! Thanks. To be honest, I love helping raise you three."

Spots buckled Michael back in the van and then went around back to the passenger front seat. Michael noticed that Cotton was in a much better mood. "You're happy now?!"

"I'm better." she replied.

"Cool! I don't like to see you cry."

Judy looked over at Michael. "I see you had a long talk with your big sister. What was that about?"

"None of your business."

Spots chuckled as Judy got upset. "HEY! That's rude!"

"Well what did Daddy and Petey talk about?"

Judy looked away in defeat. "None of your business."

A smirk came upon Michael's face. "Now who's rude?"

Judy couldn't help but laugh. "Hee-Hee! Okay. We're even then."

Nick drove the van back onto the road and they headed towards Petey's old family.

They arrived in front of the large oak tree at the front lawn. It was a painful memory for him as it's the first time he knew of the hawks and he lost one of the families children. He brought Petey with him while the others stayed in the van.

Nick knocked on the door. It was answered by the rabbit father, Harold. "Oh! Hello officer Wilde. I'll go get your credit card. That you blocked!" He mumbled.

"Actually, I'm not here about the card. Petey here is missing what we think is his twin sister, Cindy. Is she around?"

"...You kept one of the kids?"

"Yes! You got twenty. I kept one. He was teased a lot and his mother was so terrible so I kept him with us."

"Oh. I honestly didn't know. Hold on." He shouted to the eldest son. "Robert! Get out here boy!"

A tall teenage rabbit came out. "What's up dad?"

"Is this your little brother that I didn't know about?"

"Yeah. That's Petey! You giving him back?"

"No." Nick replied. "He's been having odd dreams and visions of his sister, Cindy. Have you seen her?"

The boy started to back off. "Mom...my old,. mean mom said she died two years ago."

"That's a FUCKING! lie!" Petey yelled. "She's my twin! I can feel her! She's scared!"

The boy smiled and bent down to pat Petey's head. "You don't have your lisp! That's cool! You still swear though."

"About Cindy?" Nick asked.

"Oh! Well...I sure as hell wouldn't be shocked if my old mother lied and put the kid in a crazy house or something. God I hate her!"

"Crazy house?" Nick asked.

"Cindy was...special. She couldn't communicate to us like normal people. All she can seem to say is 'Cindy!' or 'Hi! I'm Cindy!' She'd bite people on the ear and that's if she liked them. If she's upset, she'd bash her head against a wall or punch herself. She's not right in the head!"

Nick knelled down to speak to Petey. "Does that sound about right son?"

"Yeah. She's kinda...special. I'm one of the only people she actually liked! I can understand her better than anyone. Wherever she is now, she's scared and upset."

Robert was surprised. "Wow! He went through a few sentences without a swear word."

Nick stood back up to talk to the teen. "It's rare, but he's getting better I think. Who would know where Cindy is now?"

"The only one who'd know for sure is our old mom."

Nick stomped his feet. "Damn!"

Petey started to tremble in fear. "Are...are we gonna see my old mommy in jail?"

"I am Pete. You can stay in the car. Let's go."

Robert grabbed Nick's shoulder. "Wait!"

"What is it?"

"I want me and the siblings to get a picture with Peter."

Petey was surprised. "With me?"

"Yeah. The younger ones kinda miss you. Now that we have some more loving parents, we don't have that fear and need to back stab each other to please that crack whore. I think we're better for it now. I'm sorry for the way I treated you in the past."

Petey smiled. "Thank FUCK! You!"

Robert laughed. "Y'know, there's actually part of me that misses that." He then shouted to the rest of the family. "Hey guys! Petey's here! I want us to take a picture with him!"

From the van, Spots was watching them assemble. She growled as they hugged Petey and shook his paw. "Grrrrrrr. Take your stupid picture already and let's go!"

"What's the big deal?" Judy asked.

"They're getting along with him now! I don't like it! What if he wants to stay?"

"It's just a visit Spots."

"Is it?! Mom, we all have our favorites that we spoil and coddle. Michael's yours, Cotton will always be dad's favorite, but Petey's MY baby! I don't want anyone taking him!"

"Would you relax? The kid's are probably better now that they're away from that witch."

"What if Michael likes being with his blood siblings and decides to stay at the farm?"

"Well...well..." Judy quickly grabbed Michael and held onto him tight. "Well that's not going to happen! Michael would never leave me! Right?"

Michael was getting squeezed a bit too tightly. "Yes!...Now...stop...choking...me!"

"Sorry baby! You'd never leave mommy right?"

"He left me!" Cotton said which made Spots chuckle a bit. She realized something. "Y'know, I know about the whole Bunnyburrow law about rejecting your children allows someone else to take them, but when you think about it, you and dad are kinda kidnappers."

"No we're not!" Judy shouted.

"I'm not complaining or judging, that's for sure, but both Petey and Michael have blood family that wouldn't mind them being back."

"Petey's mother was a monster and...and...dad almost killed Michael!"

"Because he had no choice. Don't forget that eye he's got belongs to your father. That's gotta be weird. When he looks at you, it's like...3% of your father is staring back at you."

Michael pointed at Judy. "You're going to bed without any supper young lady!"

Everyone laughed as Judy spoke to Spots. "Okay, okay. But I know you don't wanna give them up and neither do I. Besides, they're happier with us."

"Yeah." Spots replied. "They're coming back! Thank God!"

Nick walked with Petey as he waved goodbye to his blood siblings. "Bye! I'm glad you're nicer now! I'll...DICK!....I'll visit again soon okay?!"

"Bye Petey!" said his siblings as he left.

Nick put him back in his bunny booster seat. He then got into the driver's seat. "Well I got some good news and some bad news."

"The good news?"

"Petey's siblings seem to be doing good in their new home and they've reconciled with Petey. Petey's happy, but he's still staying with us so no one's leaving this family."

"He...SNIFF!...He better not!" Spots sniffled. "I'll never give Petey up!"

"What's the bad news?" Judy asked.

Nick started to drive. "We don't know where Cindy is, but one woman does."

"You don't mean?!"

"Uh-Hunh. We're going to the Bunnyburrow county jail to see Petey's birth mom."