Chapter Seven: Cindy

A/N: It took a lot more chapters than I planned, but FINALLY, we get to Cindy. She's definitely a unique little gal.

3:10pm in front of the Meadows of Mercy Institution

Nick parked the van near the building. He turned back to look at Petey. "You excited to see your sister son?"

"Yeah!" Petey replied. "But...ASS!...But...she feels afraid. I can sense it. I don't know why!"

Nick unbuckled himself as was getting out of the van. The rest of the family was doing the same. "We better get inside then. By the way, how come you've only been feeling this connection lately?"

"I dunno. When she left last time, I could feel her fear and anger for awhile. Then...FFFUUUCK!....Then suddenly, it just stopped. Now it's back. By the way, she can say my name, but she just...says it wrong."

"What does she say?"

"I'd rather not say. It's embarrassing."

They entered the building and the family went to the reception desk. It was low to the ground since Bunnyburrow is a mostly prey-oriented place. Judy talked to the receptionist. "Hello. We're here to see Cindy? I believe the mayor called over here to have the paperwork done."

"You must be the Wildes!" Said the chipmunk receptionist. "They told me there'd be a rabbit and fox married couple coming. I told them 'bullcrap!' Buuuut...it looks like I'm out five bucks. I'll get Miss Lea."

She left for a brief moment only to come back with a very professional looking leopard. Lea was surprised to see a fox and bunny couple. "Ah, Mr. and Mrs...Wilde?"

"That's...us?" Nick replied mockingly.

"Sorry, I wasn't expecting a fox and...oh my gosh! You're officers Hopps and Wilde! Judy and Nick!"

"Yes." Judy replied. "We recently married."

"It's an absolute pleasure to meet you both. So what made you decide on adopting Cindy?"

Nick picked up Petey. "This here's my foster son, Petey. Cindy's twin brother."

The leopard was dumbfounded. "Oh...my...God! I never knew Cindy had ANY brother, much less a twin. She was just left on our doorstep, tied to a leash."

Nick rolled his eyes. "That sounds like her birth mother alright."

"Wait...you KNOW her birth mother?!"

"She's in the county jail for child abuse and neglect." Judy mentioned.

"I'm not surprised." Lea said.

Petey was getting anxious. "Can we got get her? She feels scared!"

Lea bent down to talk to Petey. "You can sense her? I heard some twins can do that."

"Yeah. Only recently though. I used to feel like this a long time back."

"Like...two years?"

Petey was surprised. "Yeah!"

"Wow! That explains it."

"Explains what?" Nick asked.

"I just became the head of the department two weeks ago. I was just a nurse before. When Cindy first came in, she was a handful. She'd kick and bite and scratch. Finally, the head of the department put her on heavy sedatives. It worked well. TOO well for my tastes. She went from being active to being a walking zombie. She didn't talk, she barely walked, she'd just sit in a corner. We had to hand feed her and she had to wear diapers because she'd just...go right there. The other staff was happy with her like that but I wasn't. It was like she was in a walking coma!"

"That's why I couldn't feel her?" Petey asked.

"Right. I protested, but didn't have the power to do anything but complain. Now that I'm in charge, I dropped her medication right away. She's back to her old self whether the staff like it or not."

"Does she bite you if she....SHIT!...she hugs you?"

"What's with the swearing?"

Nick explained. "He has Tourettes."

"I understand. And yes, she bites me sometimes. Just once each time."

"Good!"

"Good?"

"If she bites you only once, it means she likes you!"

"Oh. You seem to understand her well."

Petey was explaining when he felt a sharp pain. "She's my,,OW! OWWW!"

Petey was bent over and rubbing his back. Judy ran over to help him. "What's wrong?!"

"My back hurts like I'm being whipped! OW!"

Lea was shocked, but she quickly put two and two together. "Mr. Wilde! Come with me! Quickly!"

Nick followed the head nurse quickly through the facility. They came to Cindy's room and opened it up. There, they were shocked to find a possum nurse whipping Cindy. "Just put your damn shirt on! Why don't you ever listen you little shit!"

"CINDY!" Cindy yelled.

Lea was outraged. "Margaret! Stop that this instant!"

"I'm trying to put on her damn blouse! She won't listen!"

"Paws off my new daughter!" Nick yelled.

When the possum let go, Cindy immediately made a run for the door. "Cindy no!" Nick yelled as he ducked to grab her, she quickly ran under his legs.

Lea quickly got on the speaker. "We have a patient loose!"

Cindy ran down the isles in desperation. "Cindy! Gasp! Gasp! Cindy!"

The rest of the family ran towards where Lea was leading Nick. They turned around the corner as they saw Cindy jump over and run past them.

Petey yelled out for her "Cindy! CRAP! Stop! It's me! Petey!"

Cindy stopped in her tracks and turned around. "Pee-Pee?!"

Michael couldn't help but laugh. "HA! Your name is Pee-Pee!"

"Shut up." Petey replied.

Tears welled up in Cindy's eyes. "PEE-PEE!"

Petey opened his arms. "Cindy!"

Cindy ran as fast as she could towards the bunny boy. Her tears flowed down unashamedly. "PEE-PEE!"

Petey started crying too. "CINDY!"

They ran towards each other and collided together as they fell to the floor. They laid there, holding each other tightly and crying.

"Pee-Pee! BAAAAW-HAAW-HAAW!"

"Cindy! I missed you so much!"

Cindy kissed him on the cheeks a few times and then bit his ear.

"OW! I love you too Cindy."

The rest of the family started to weep themselves. A puddle of tears surrounded Petey and Cindy's heads as they laid on the floor holding each other close.

Michael looked away sniffling. Cotton caught on. "Aww Michael! Is that too emotional for you?"

"No!" He sniffled. "She's..SNIFF!...She's topless so I'm looking away!"

Cotton kissed him on the cheek. "You're such a gentleman!"

"Shut yer face!"

"He just didn't want you to see him cry." Spots said. "She's six Michael! She won't even have boobs for awhile."

Lea and Nick ran and almost tripped over the scene. "They got her!" Lea said while holding the possum nurse by the scruff of her neck.

"Awww!" Nick replied. "Petey and Cindy reunited! That's so...SNIFF!...s-so...excuse me!" Nick turned his head around the corner to weep.

Judy smiled. "You big softy."

Petey started to pick her up off the floor. "I'll never leave you again Cindy! I love you! SNIFF! I'll...SHIT!....have you with me forever! You're coming home with me!" He then pointed at Judy and the others. "This is our new family!"

"Cindy?" Cindy asked.

"Yes. Fam-ill-ee! Mom, Dad, sisters, a brother. Family!"

"...Momma-Poppa?"

Petey was excited that she said a new word. "Yes!" She pointed to Judy. "That's momma!"

Cindy then pointed at Judy. "Momma."

Now Judy started to weep. "AWW! She called me 'Momma!' "

Nick's head was still around the corner. Confused, Cindy pointed at Spots. "Poppa."

Spots pointed at herself. "Me?!"

Cotton and Michael hit the floor laughing while Spots ears blushed. Michael laughed at Spots. "HA! You're her poppa! Oh my gosh! I like her already!"

Michael decided to approach her. "Hi! I'm your brother Michael."

"Hi! I'm Cindy!" Cindy said just before giving a massive headbutt to Michael, knocking him to the floor.

Judy ran over to pick him up. "Oh my gosh! Michael! Are you okay?!"

"I'm fine!" Michael said after she stood him up. He then headbutted Cindy and knocked her to the floor. "Ha-Ha! This is...OW!...fun!"

Cindy laughed as she got up and went for another headbutt only for Judy to block her. "That's enough!"

"That's just how she plays." Petey explained.

"You two can hurt yourself. "Michael, your eye's still new, you can pop it out doing headbutts!"

"I'm sorry mommy."

Cindy apologized. Sorta. "Cindy."

Nick went over to the child. "Cindy, Spots isn't your poppa. I'M your poppa."

Cindy pointed at Spots. "Poppa."

"No! Cindy, she's your sister. I'm your poppa! Your daddy!"

Cindy looked at him. "Dada?"

Nick smiled. "Yes! 'Dada'! That'll do."

Cindy pointed at the fox. "Dada."

"Right!" Nick said.

Cindy then pointed at Judy. "Momma."

"You got it!"

She then pointed at Spots. "Poppa!"

"I give up. Congratulations Spots, you're a proud new poppa."

"I am not!" Spots protested.

Judy then had a question. "Ummm...Miss Lea, why are you carrying that nurse by the scruff of her neck?"

"Because this FORMER nurse was whipping your new child!"

"She's impossible!" The nurse said. "She's always biting! Always kicking! Always headbutting! You'll see! She was better off doped up! She fought me every step of the way! All I tried to do is put her blouse on and she bit me!"

"Set her down." Judy growled.

Lea set the possum down. The possum shoved her away. "Get the hell off of me! It's not my fault that brat is crazy!"

She then saw Judy snarling at her. "Oh, what are you gonna do? Fight me? I'm a possum bitch! We love to scrap!"

Judy was furious, but kept her cool. "You're lucky I'm an officer or I'd beat the crap out of you right now!"

"HA! You're not a cop! The only rabbit cop is Judy Hopps and you..." She finally realized who was in front of her. "Oh my gosh! You're Judy Hopps! Y-You once took down a rhino!"

"That's right!"

The possum backed off. "I'm...just gonna get my things and get the hell out of here."

Lea leered at her. "How about you get the hell out of here now and we send you your things later."

"I'm okay with that!" The possum then ran out the door quickly.

Nick was happy. "Well, with that out of the way, let's go sign those papers!" Nick then bent down to rub Cindy's cheeks with his paw. "You ready to go home with my family honey?"

Cindy responded by biting his finger. "YEEEOWTCH!"

Petey apologized. "Sorry daddy. It does mean she likes you."

"I'd hate to see what she'd do if she hated me."

Nick and Judy went to the desk and started filling out the paperwork. "Petey, watch you sister for a bit okay?"

"Which one?" Petey asked."

"SIGH! Your twin!"

"Oh. Okay."

While Nick and Judy were signing, Cindy slowly made her way over to Cotton. "Cindy?" She started sniffing the lamb up and down and feeling her wool. "Ooooooh Cindy!"

"Wh-what's she doing?" Cotton asked in fear.

Petey tried to reassure her. "She's just getting to know you."

Cindy felt the wool on her arms and on her face and the springy wool at the top of her head. Cotton was still scared. "Sh-she's gonna bite me!"

"Maybe." Petey said.

"What do you mean 'maybe'?!"

Cindy was marveled at Cotton. "Cindy." Finally she caressed the little lamb. "Mmmm...Cindy."

"I guess she never met a lamb before. She likes you because you're so soft!" Petey said.

"Awww!" Cotton hugged her back.

Judy and Nick were almost finished. When they looked back at Cindy and Cotton in an embrace. Judy gushed. "Awww...she loves her new sister!"

This tender moment was ruined when Cindy nibbled Cotton's cheek and bit into her wool, tearing a chunk off of her face and started to chew it. Cotton screamed "BAA-A-A-A-A-H!"

Judy pulled Cindy off of Cotton. "Cindy no! Cotton is not edible!" She then took a big risk and stuck her fingers into Cindy's mouth. "Spit out the wool! Spit it out!" She finally spit the wool out of her mouth. "Cindy that was bad! Cotton is your sister, not veil!"

Nick couldn't help but make a joke. "I guess she loves her sister with some fava beans and a nice chianti."

"Not funny Nick! She can't be doing these things!"

"She'll learn Fluff. It just takes patience and kindness."

"I'll take her." Spots said. "You finish signing."

Spots picked up Cindy. "Come to Poppa!" She then offered up one of her ears. "Go ahead and give it a chew! I don't care. I've had worse done to me."

"Poppa!" Cindy shouted and snuggled up to Spots. She nibbled her ear for a bit.

Nick and Judy got down to the last bit of paperwork. "Well, this is it. When we sign here, she'll be ours."

Lea interrupted. "Can I say something?"

"I know what you're going to say." Judy replied. "That she's a handful. That we're not prepared. But my family...some of my family already loves her and we'll make it work. I can't let Petey leave without his sister."

"Just the opposite." Lea replied. "I haven't seen this child respond to anyone the way she responds to you folks. I've NEVER heard her say 'Momma-Poppa' or anything outside of her name. Closest was her calling me 'Nurr' which is close to 'nurse'. Being with her twin is just what she needs. I'm very, VERY happy to know she's going with such a loving family that will support her."

Judy smiled. "Thank you so much." She signed the last of the paperwork and Nick followed suit.

Judy turned around to see Petey wearing her sister's blouse. "I know why she didn't want to wear this blouse mommy!" Petey said. "It itches horribly."

"Well that's good to know, but why did you put on her blouse?"

Petey looked around embarrassed and shifty-eyed. "No reason."

"I have a spare blouse for her." Lea said and she went to get it.

Judy made a motion to Spots. "Let me have her."

"Okay." Spots said as she bent down to give the bunny girl to Judy. "She's a good chomper, but she didn't cause any bleeding. Just be careful."

"Okay." She cradled Cindy in her arms. "Hey baby! I'm you mommy now!"

"Hi! I'm Cindy!" Cindy replied.

Moments later, Lea brought out a new top and Cindy let her put it on. They were walking out the door to the van when Judy started to cry.

"What's the matter Fluff?" Nick asked.

"SNIFF! C-Cindy hasn't bitten me yet! She must hate m-CHOMP! OW! Oh good! My new baby wuvs me!"

"You shouldn't be happy she's biting you!" Cotton complained.

Spots chuckled. "Look on the bright side Cotton! If you ever need to be sheared, you have a volunteer."

Judy looked back. "Say 'Bye-Bye' Cindy!"

Cindy realized. What was going on. "Bye? No! NO!" She kicked off of Judy and ran back into the institute.

"Don't tell me she doesn't wanna leave!" Judy said as she ran back in.

Lea saw Cindy run back in and thew family right behind her. "What's going..."

Cindy ran and leaped into Lea's arms. The little bunny was crying. "Bye-bye Nurr! SNIFF! Bye-Bye!"

Lea was weeping. She realized that Cindy did appreciate everything Lea did for her. "SNIFF! Bye-Bye Cindy. You treat your brother well. Okay?"

"Cindy." Cindy replied.

Lea handed her back to Judy. "I guess I didn't know her as well as I thought I did."

"I don't think any of us do." Judy replied. "She's real special."

The family went back to the van and got buckled up. Judy noticed something. "I didn't think in advance. We're out of bunny booster seats."

"She can cuddle with me!" Petey said.

Judy knew Cindy wouldn't bite or hurt her. "Alright then. That's a good idea."

Moments later, they were in the van heading for Stu's charity fair. Petey had his arms around his twin sister. Her head buried in his chest. "Cindy."

"Pee-Pee." she replied.

"I'm so happy to have you back. Mike? Do you know what...SHIT!...what it's like to love someone so much you'd die just to protect them?"

Michael smiled at Petey and patted his head. "Yeah Pete. Yeah, I do."