Deathtouched - Chapter 23

Once more Zoe found herself exiting her car. Despair filled her as she knew she was going to relive this nightmare over and over.

"Kill"

Fear filled Zoe and she tried running down the deserted street, but as fast as she ran, she just stayed in the same place.

"Eat"

Zoe screamed, she would have been willing to just lay down and give up, but she had kits, responsibilities.

"Master says Kill"

Then she heard it, the words that had wrenched her life from the path she'd envisioned for herself and her family.

Accept your destiny

"Master says..."

Zoe was now angrier than she'd ever been before in either of her lives and she stopped trying to run.

"ENOUGH!" She yelled, interrupting the wolf's last sentence.

Then she slowly turned to see the wolf, shreds of skin and fur still clinging to yellowed bones, eyes still eerily alight, and with her and her children's blood still staining the wolf's fangs.

"I am no longer afraid of you. Do you hear me Lord Phobos? I am no longer afraid!"

Then Zoe locked her hate filled gaze on the wolf who just stood there, waiting to see what Zoe was going to do. It didn't have long to wait as Zoe started, step by slow step, walking toward the wolf. And as she did, she spoke to the thing that had taken the form of the wolf that had attacked her.

"I am Zoe Bree Hopps, Priestess of Melinoe." A shield appeared on her left arm, the boss of the shield a badger with snakes for hair. It was Aegis, the shield of Athena.

"I am favored of the gods." Armor appeared, covering her body, fading into existence piece by piece with every step she took. The symbol on the breastplate that of a hammer over an anvil. The armor of Hephaestus.

The wolf's form began to dissolve, turning into a large, smoky figure with horns who's eyes glowed red like the coals of a fire. The things skin looked like jagged obsidian and it's claws were long and serrated. Even in this new form, it began to back peddle from Zoe.

"I am the Chosen!" A red spear wreathed in flames appeared in her right paw. The spear of Ares.

"And you, Epiales, demon of nightmares, made me live through the death of my children not once, but many times! And for that demon, you will pay!"

At that, Zoe thrust the spear through the demon's chest and it began to shriek in agony, unable to tear itself off of the spear. Zoe thrust the spear in even further, twisting the spear to increase the deamon's agony. Epiales caught fire and, like paper, began to break apart into small flaming pieces to be carried by the wind as he turned into sparks before they too winked out of existence.

Zoe stood on the street, her emotions still seething inside. She'd defeated her demon and held no ill will toward Lord Phobos. He'd only been wielding the power of his domain after all.

Well done daughter

Zoe knelt, accepting the praise of her goddess. She sent her love to her goddess, who sent her own back, mixed with pride. Then she thanked the other gods for their aid and could feel their affection as well.

Zoe woke feeling much lighter in spirit. She quickly dressed and headed to see her wife. Abby was asleep, the labor had been tiring for all that it was an easy delivery for her, probably the easiest between all of them. Zoe went to the bassinets in the room and saw Abby's children, her children. They had agreed that all the children belonged to all of them. The tricky part was whether to call them son/daughter or niece/nephew. Zoe was partial to son/daughter.

Zoe stood over a sleeping Bree, gazing at her fondly. "May your life be simpler than your namesake young one." She told the infant.

Then she went to Amari, who was awake. Zoe picked her daughter up and could tell she needed to be changed. It surprised her that Amari hadn't started fussing yet, maybe she'd be well behaved. Zoe quickly changed her, but she still seemed unsatisfied. Zoe undid the buttons on her blouse and set Amari to her nipple, where she latched on and began suckling like a champ. Zoe relaxed as the good feeling she usually had when feeding her babies spread throughout her body and she sat in one of the chairs in the room. A gentle smile formed on Zoe's lips as she watched Amari feed. Zoe began humming a tuneless song waiting for Amari to finish. At least she's not the biter that Aaron is. She thought.

"Mmmm. That's a pretty song Beautiful! What's it called?" Abby spoke sleepily.

Zoe looked up and smiled at her wife, she felt so blessed to have the love of such wonderful doe's and an amazing husband.

"I'm sorry, she needed changing and then she was hungry so I began feeding her to let you sleep."

"Hmmm, yeah. They had me up over five times last night. They're just like Nick, they like boobs."

Zoe snickered, remembering how Nick's eyes seemed to be glued to their chests as their boobs got bigger and bigger during their pregnancies.

"At least Amari isn't a biter like Aaron, I'm afraid that my nipples are going to look like chew toys by the time he's weaned. I'm thinking about just pumping and bottle feeding him."

"Yeah, that would probably be for the best. Zoe? What happened last night?"

"You gave birth." Zoe answered. She knew what Abby was talking about, but a little humor never hurt.

"You know what I mean." Abby's eyebrows drew together in a rare display of dissatisfaction.

"I'm sorry Love. Lady Eileithyia offered you a place in her order and I think you should accept."

"Really? I don't know, ME a priestess? I don't know anything about being a priestess. Lady Melinoe didn't appear and ask you did she?"

"No, but remember when Vivian pulled me aside after our wedding and had me walk with her? I asked her the same question. She said that, while it happens like with you sometimes, usually it's a deep seated need to serve a particular god or goddess. And I had to learn also, that's why you'd be an Acolyte, so that you could learn what you need. But, honestly Abby, you're already a nurse, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch for you to become a Priestess of Eileithyia and work in the OB/Gyn ward would it?"

"Well, no. Not really." Abby admitted, already leaning toward doing it.

"And, if you want to continue your education, you'd be perfect for being an OB/Gyn doctor."

Abby could see it, Doctor Hopps! The more she ran it through her mind, the more she liked it. A large grin grew on her face as she realized that, yeah, Doctor Hopps, Priestess of Eileithyia, had a very nice ring to it. Abby was looking at Zoe when she saw it happen. The look she'd get when she'd get a nudge or just suddenly knew something.

"What is it Baby?"

"It's Gabriel, he's on his way here. Abby? Do I have permission to date him?"

Abby laughed. "It's a pretty forgone conclusion isn't it. If your dream is to come true and he marries us, we'll all have to date him."

Zoe barked out a laugh and asked "Even Nick?"

Abby echoed Zoe's laugh. "Especially Nick!"

"Thank you My Love!" Zoe said as she took Amari from her teat and burped her before giving her to her mother.

"Thanks Zoe. Hand me Bree and let me feed her? Then call our husband and wife to get the permission you need."

Zoe kissed her wife again, then again simply because she wanted to and then dialed Nick. As Zoe called Nick, Abby watched her wife. There was something different about her this morning. She seemed relaxed, yet she stood taller, as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. There was an air about her that Abby couldn't quite figure out, confidence maybe. Then she put Bree to her breast and lost herself in the comforting and timeless duty of motherhood.

"Z! Hey Baby! How are you?" Nick answered, sounding a little tired.

"Good morning Husband! How is our wife and babies?"

"Ugh. Feeding and changing about every two hours. If it wasn't for the Cannibal Killers case, we'd be there with you for the help. Both Judy and I could use the break."

"Well, I'll see if I can get some of the family to head out and give you a paw."

"That would be marvelous oh great and exceptional wife."

"Okay, you're starting to lay it on a little thick."

"Thick, thin, it doesn't matter, just being able to get a little help would be fantastic."

"Okay, I'll send over whoever's willing but I'm not sure how long it will take."

"Just knowing it's on it's way is a big help!"

"Now that I've solved one crisis, I need to ask your permission to date Gabriel. He's on his way here now to see me."

"Dream or nudge?" Nick asked curiously.

"Know."

"Well, you've got my vote, let me check with Carrots." Zoe heard muffled noises like Nick had pressed the phone to his chest, maybe to keep it quiet in case Zoe said something. The kits were probably asleep. After about 30 seconds, the noise on the phone went away and Nick said "Judy said 'yes', just don't get pregnant again anytime soon."

"Don't worry, that's not going to happen."

"It will, you dreamed it."

"You had to tell me that so soon after giving birth to not one, not two, but three of your kits?" Zoe asked, playing with him.

"Now you're sounding like Judy."

"Good."

"Yeah, you should have heard what she was saying to me during the delivery. I tried to support her by telling her how strong she was and that I knew she could do this."

"That was sweet."

"At least you think so. She told me that, if I knew she could do it that I should try pushing a watermelon out of my ass."

Zoe raised her eyebrows and nodded her head even though Nick couldn't see it. "Yeah, that sounds about right."

"You're kidding."

"Nope."

"Oh gods! I think I'm going to go and love up on Judy a bit more. And I promise I won't forget you and Abby, so expect a lot of affection when you come home."

"I'm looking forward to it you sexy fox you!"

"Sexy hmm?"

"Love you Foxy!"

"Wait! What?"

Zoe grinned as she hung the phone up. A few seconds later is dinged and she checked her text. Love you too Priestess of my heart!

Zoe went and fed her children that were in the nursery. She hated to be apart from them, but while she'd been taking her medicine she couldn't take care of them like she needed to. But now that her nightmares weren't a problem anymore, she'd be able to have them back in her room. Afterwards, she tracked down her mom and dad, explaining how Nick and Judy needed help as well as telling them about Gabriel and that he was on his way here to see her. They put a notice up on the bulletin board asking for volunteers. There were 12 names listed before lunch. Zoe picked two, Frannie and Willa, to go and help out her husband and wife. Both left talking excitedly about being able to go to Zootopia, but Zoe cautioned them, warning them about the Cannibal Killers that were still on the loose.

Zoe lay drowsing in her bed when there was a knock on her door. Still dressed in her shorts and tee shirt, she answered to see Sam standing in the doorway. Zoe threw herself into him, hugging him tightly, and he happily hugged her back.

"There's a coyote at the front door asking for you." He said, looking at her a little wistfully.

"That would be Gabriel, I've been expecting him." Zoe quickly stripped and put on a purple knee length skirt that was actually a few inches above her knees, and a white, button up, sleeveless blouse. She had no problem changing in front of Sam, they'd already slept together several times before so he'd seen it all. Plus, how it was common for the Hopps family to go naked this deep in the warren. While she put on her skirt, Sam asked her "Zoe? Why didn't we ever get together?"

"We did." She answered. "Several times! I thought I'd be more memorable than that!"

"I mean, as more than just friends with benefits."

Zoe turned and saw his forlorn expression. Her face fell as she walked over to him and took his cheek in her paw. "Oh Sam. When I first got here, you were the first buck I saw and I had such a crush on you! I got to know you and liked you even more. But then the Fates led me to Judy and her to me, and then they led me to Abby and Nick. If my life had gone different, then I could see myself marrying you, but my life isn't normal. Could you honestly say that you could handle being with me? Cop, High Priestess, and all?"

Sam sighed. The sweet little doe that he loved to hang with wasn't there no more. In her place was a strong, confident doe who wouldn't fit into the life he'd imagined them sharing. Sam shook his head. "No, you wouldn't have been able to fit in the life I saw for us. I'm just a simple farmer and you're this important person that is going places."

Zoe stood on her toes slightly. She'd always been small and probably always would be, but she'd grown a bit since she'd left for Zootopia, and not just physically. She looked into his eyes and could see the want in them, but she knew that, while she love him, she couldn't be with him in the way he wanted her to be. She leaned forward and kissed him chastely on his lips, smiling a little when his arms wrapped around her.

After they broke apart, Zoe told him. "Hey, if you'd like, we could spend the night together before I go."

Sam gave a half smile as he answered. "Maybe. It might hurt too much though."

And then he turned and left her room. Zoe was a bit sad about Sam, but she couldn't help how either he or she felt. Her life wasn't entirely her own and Sam didn't fit into it.

Gabriel was talking to her parents when she walked into the entry hall. Whether it was smell or some other sense, he stopped in mid sentence as his head snapped in her direction, his jaw dropping and his tongue lolling out for a few seconds before he pulled it back in. Bonnie gave him an amused look while Stu simply kept sizing him up.

"Oh, uh, hey Zoe! I, um, just, uh, came to, you know, see if you were okay." Gabriel stammered nervously. He was trying his best not to stare at Zoe, but did it by looking everywhere else but her. Zoe giggled at the obviously lame excuse, he didn't drive the four and a half hours from Zootopia to Bunnyburrow just to check on her. The poor coyote was so nervous and she felt bad for him. He had to have ducked to get into the entry hall because, even as large as the hall was for bunnies, his ears were scraping the ceiling. He was almost twice as tall as she was, including ears.

"I'm fine Gabriel. Mom, Dad, this is Gabriel. He's my friend Linda's brother and he's going to be our nanny." Zoe didn't go into how he was probably going to be their husband as well, they could be informed of that later if it ended up coming true.

"Gabriel, this is my mom and dad, Bonnie and Stu Hopps."

"Nice to meet y'all." Gabriel said, raising his paw to shake theirs. After the greetings were done, Zoe grabbed Gabriel's paw.

"C'mon Gabriel, let's go outside where you'll be able to stand up straight and we can talk."

Gabriel happily allowed Zoe to pull him outside into the warm, early afternoon air, waving bye to Zoe's parents as he did so. After they got outside, Zoe started walking with him through the small parking lot packed with the family trucks. She hadn't let go of his paw yet and he wasn't about to mention it. She led him to a small trail between fields with small green plants. Feeling the need to say something he pointed to them and asked. "What are those green things?"

Zoe snickered when she answered. "Carrots."

"Oh." He blushed, feeling foolish.

"As you can see, I'm doing good. But I hope that you didn't drive four and a half hours just to find out how I'm doing. A simple phone call or even a text could have accomplished that." She said as she turned to look at him, waiting to see what he'd say. He seemed to get very uncertain and shy as he tried to find the words to explain.

"Uh, yeah. That's true. I just, uh, felt like I needed to, um, see you in person."

"I'm glad you did." Zoe said with a smile. They walked for a few more minutes before Gabriel was able to gather the courage to say more.

"I came to see you in the hospital after your attack. I was terrified that the wolf had hurt you or your kits."

"You came to visit me? I knew someone had but I couldn't remember who. Thanks to Officer's Wolford and Swinton, all that happened was that my back got clawed. You can't even tell now thanks to the plastic surgeon at the hospital."

"Yeah, I was happy to see you were okay. But you said some things that kind of rocked me."

Zoe felt her stomach sink a little. Abby had told her that she told Gabriel that she had a dream about him, just not the details. "And what did I say to you?"

Gabriel looked down at Zoe. Gods she was so tiny! "You said that I was going to marry you and that you'd had a dream from Lord Apollo where we were married. Then you said you loved me and fell asleep."

Zoe squeezed his paw, refusing to let it go unless he wanted to and he seemed in no hurry to do that. They'd arrived at the intersection of four different fields where there was a long, low boulder along the southwest field. It was tall enough for Gabriel to sit on comfortably, and her as well even though her feet would dangle quite a bit above the ground. There was a pump well with a cup hanging from the spout for water if needed. She guided him over to it and he sat, helping her up.

They sat there for a minute, both organizing their thoughts and what the wanted to tell the other. Zoe went first. "And how did what I told you make you feel?" She asked.

"Kinda happy about it, but kinda scared at the same time. Zoe, I've been thinking about you since I first met you. I was sad when I found out you were married, thinking that I didn't have a chance y'know? Then I looked it up and found out that bunnies can marry more than one mammal. It was just kind of scary that it was foreordained. I wasn't sure if you'd want to try dating or anything, me being a predator and all, but I figured 'Hey! Why not? She married a fox after all'. Then you got attacked. I don't know if you'd be interested in a coyote like me, I'm just a nanny and you're a priestess. Abby told me that I have a choice, that your dream is not set in stone. I could marry you, your husband, and your wives, I could just stay your nanny, or I could leave and never see any of you again."

Zoe looked down at the ground as she answered. "She told you the truth. If you put your will to it, you needn't do anything you don't want to. Fate weaves her skein, but most people have free choice and can pull on their thread, skewing the weave, or Chance can change your destiny. Fate will smooth the skein and continue on."

"Okay."

Almost afraid to ask, but hoping the outcome of their conversation would match what she'd dreamed, Zoe continued. "So, do you have any idea what path you'd like to go down?"

"Zoe, I told you, I can't stop thinking about you. I ache to be near you. When you told me that you loved me, it made my heart leap with joy. I've sacrificed to Aphrodite, thanking her for letting me cross your path and meet you. I want to be with you and, even if you don't want to be with me, then I'll still be your nanny for as long as you want or need."

Zoe pulled Gabriel's paw against her chest and squeezed it tightly, making Gabriel's feel hopeful. "Gabriel, before you make a huge life decision, you need to know some things about me."

"I know you're an entry and that you're a Priestess of Melinoe who's supposed to become the next High Priestess."

"Mmm. Wow, okay. You'd be correct as far as it goes, let me give details. I'm to be the next High Priestess of Melinoe because I can see and talk to ghosts. Aaron, the current High Priest, can only feel them and their intent. But that's not all, I also have the ability to just 'know' things, like knowledge suddenly implanted into my brain. I can touch things and tell you stuff about them, and I get what I call nudges, promptings to go somewhere or do something. That's how I found my husband and wives."

"Is that how you found me?"

"No. That was the dream sent by Lord Apollo. I didn't even consider it anything other than a very realistic dream until I met you. And then I saw the house from my dream during my honeymoon with Nick and that clenched it. When I got back from my honeymoon, I confirmed that Lord Apollo had made me an Oracle. When I asked him to take it back, he refused, forcibly."

"Okay." Gabriel said, trying to wrap his head around it all.

Warning! Description of dark content

"I'm not done, sorry. After my attack, I began having nightmares where the wolf was now undead and he ripped my stomach out, eating my children."

"OH GODS!" He exclaimed in horror, letting go of her paw to pick her up and hold her, trying to comfort her. She didn't seem to mind, leaning in against him. His stomach roiled at the image she painted, especially her kids.

"It got worse. In my next nightmare my oldest daughter, Faith, was hanging half out of his mouth, calling out to me when he bit her in half."

End of dark content

That was it, his stomach rebelled. He quickly sat Zoe on the ground, leaned over the boulder, and threw up the contents of his stomach. After he'd emptied his stomach he saw a metal cup in front of his face. Gratefully, he took it and rinsed his mouth out. The water was cool and very refreshing, getting rid of the sour aftertaste of his vomitus. Zoe took the cup when he was done and refilled it. He drank the water, washing the remaining acid back into his stomach.

"I'm sorry Gabriel. But you have to understand what was happening to me, I had PTSD."

"You said 'had'."

"Yeah." She said as she hung the cup back up and then came to stand in front of him expectantly. It took a few seconds before he realized he was waiting for him to pull her back onto his lap. Doing so, she snuggled back against him.

"While I was drugged," she continued, "I had a vision. I was told to accept my destiny, that I was 'The Chosen'. And then I met and talked to my goddess. It wasn't a hallucination caused by the drugs, I could feel that it was real. Anyway, I felt the need to come home so Abby and I came here so I could try and recover. Abby gave birth last night to twin girls and, when I went to bed, alone mind you, I forgot to take my medicine that was supposed to stop me from having nightmares."

"Oh gods." He said again, already seeing where this was going.

"Yeah, I had another nightmare last night. Only this time I heard the words spoken to me in my vision 'accept your destiny'. This time, instead of events happening as in my previous nightmares, I'd had enough. I accepted that I was The Chosen and then I turned and confronted the wolf who I knew then was the demon Epiales. I ended up with the shield of Athena, the armor of Hephaestus, and the spear of Ares. I slew the daemon or, at least, his avatar. I can tell I no longer have PTSD and I know I'll no longer have that nightmare. I'm telling you this so that you know when I get back to Zootopia, I have to find out what I'm supposed to do as The Chosen. I have a destiny and I don't know where it's going to lead me."

"But Abby said that, in your dream, we were living in that house in the Meadowlands."

"And it will, unless something extreme happens. Chance is a major force in the universe. If you pick the path of marriage, you'll be marrying us all, so I'd recommend that you date us all first to make sure that it's really something that you want to do."

"Okay, no problem at all."

"Then I can only think of one more thing to tell you before you make your choice."

"And what's that?" Gabriel asked her, laying his muzzle atop her head affectionately.

"In my dream, Judy and I were carrying your cubs."

Gabriel froze. Cubs? He could be a father? "Is that something that you'd want to do?" He asked her, hoping she'd say 'yes'.

"Not right away. I just finished giving birth to triplets about two weeks ago and I still have to help the ZPD with the Cannibal Killers case."

"So that's a 'yes'? At some point?"

"If you choose the path of marriage, and unless something major happens to change our destinies, then it would most definitely be a 'yes'."

"Then it's settled. Zoe Hopps, would you marry me?"

Zoe gasped in shock, her jaw dropping, then she smacked him in his chest and he laughed.

"Was that a 'yes'?" He joked.

"Gabriel Latrans! We haven't even been out on a date yet!"

"Isn't this a date?" He asked, playing with her some more.

"No, this is a briefing."

"Damn, I tried. In that case, Zoe Hopps, Priestess of Melinoe and The Chosen, will you go out with me?"

"Yes."

"About time!"

"Gabriel!"

He chuckled. Zoe snuggled deeper into his chest, grinning widely, loving his sense of humor. She loved him already, but she was enjoying finding out the nuances of his personality. He was good looking, had a great sense of humor, and loved kids. This was turning out to be very promising.

oooOOOooo

Zoe was rather pleased that Gabriel didn't need as much convincing as Nick to join their marriage, eventually. He was confident in his heart and mind so he didn't have any of Nick's self doubts. At least they were able to help Nick overcome that little issue. Gabriel dropped Zoe off at the Burrow before heading off to his room in downtown Tri-Burrows. Zoe wished that he could stay with her, but the warren hadn't been designed with coyote's in mind. Even Nick found them a little cramped.

Gabriel's good night kiss made Zoe's ears perk up, her tail vibrate, and her toes curl. This mammal was an expert kisser. After they separated from the kiss, both were breathing hard and Zoe was trying to figure out a way to get him into the warren. She sighed regretfully, but recognized that it would be better to get a few dates under their belt before she satisfied her libido. She knew that intercourse between Gabriel and her wives was possible, the vision did show her and Judy pregnant with his cubs after all. But she could wait, not very happily, but she could.

"Would it be too soon to tell you that I love you?" Gabriel asked her after they'd caught their breath.

"Not if you're sure about it."

"I've thought about it since I saw you. For me it was love at first sight, so yes, I love you."

Zoe pulled on his shirt, forcing his muzzle down to her level, bending him in a very acute angle, and kissed him again. When they finished their kiss, Zoe said quietly, "I love you too Gabriel."

"You've already told me that. That's what gave me the confidence to tell you how I felt."

"Ah, but I'm not on drugs now am I?" Zoe told him with a smile.

"I need to tell you something."

"And what is that my coyote?"

"I'm pretty sure that most mammals, when they see your eyes, tend to get shocked and maybe flinch."

"Well, yeah. I've gotten used to it and even used it a few times to make mammals back off. One memory would be of a speciest Zebra being offensive when Nick and I were on a date."

"I just want to let you know that, when I first saw you and flinched, it wasn't your eyes that made me do it, it was the feeling I had for you in my heart."

Zoe's heart did a flip at that admission and she leaped up, wrapping her arms around his thick neck, and kissed him again. If she hadn't been in love with him before, she certainly was now.

"So, there's this little place by the hotel I'm staying at called Hudshuckers, and I was wondering if you would like to go to dinner with me tomorrow night? It's supposed to cater to omnivores. Watching predators eat doesn't bother you does it?"

"Not in the least bit. Nick can tell you that, when my wives and I were craving things like chicken, and especially jalapeno beetle poppers while we were pregnant, along with stranger things. And yes, I'd love to go to dinner with you."

Gabriel's grin was a sight to see, his glistening white teeth completely visible and his eyes filled with the love he felt for Zoe already. After a final kiss goodnight, they reluctantly parted. Zoe watched Gabriel climb into his car and drive off, hearing him humming a happy tune as he left.

Zoe was a little shaky and heart sore as she entered her home. She was missing Gabriel already, as well as Nick, Judy, and her sons. She'd was looking at the floor as she had her thoughts on those mammals and failed to see Abby, Candace, and Gloria standing in the entryway.

"Zoe." Abby said quietly, startling Zoe who jerked her gaze up to see the three other doe's standing there.

"Oh, gods! Sorry, I was just thinking."

"About a certain gorgeous coyote maybe?" Gloria commented in a teasing manner.

"You've been hanging around Candace too long Gloria." Zoe said, smiling.

"Not long enough." Candace corrected her, smiling as well.

"How did it go love?" Abby asked.

"Well, while he already knew quite a bit about me before, he knows everything now, and he still wants a relationship. We're going to dinner tomorrow night."

"That's good. Are you going to share this one like you did with Nick?" Candace asked, already curious about trying the coyote out.

"That would be up to him Baby, but I don't have any reservations about sharing." Zoe told her, making Candace's eyes light up and Gloria's breath explode out of her at the thought of riding such a large mammal.

"Now, tell us everything!" Abby said, grabbing Zoe's arm and pulling her toward their bedroom.

After satisfying their curiosity and Candace and Gloria had left, Zoe crawled into bed next to Abby, happy to be able to cuddle with her wife once more.

"Uh, Zoe? Remember you need to take your medicine Love."

"I don't need it anymore Baby. I forgot to take them last night and had the nightmare again, this time I confronted the demon of nightmares, Epiales, and slew him."

Shocked, Abby looked at her wife and asked, "How?"

Zoe looked back at Abby, the other doe once again sensing something different in her wife as she answered, "With the Spear of Ares."

Abby was both confounded and awed my her wife's answer, but the one thing she was sure of, her wife had grown mentally and spiritually.

After spending the day with her family, Zoe could feel the love and affection filling her and removing the last remaining bits of stress that clung to her soul. The nursery had always been her favorite place and she remembered spending more hours than she was scheduled for here with the kits. She'd always wanted to have kits of her own and now she could come here as one of the mother's like she'd dreamed of being, now she felt whole.

Gabriel arrived early, eager for his date with Zoe. While he sat outside, Abby kept him company and they got to know each other better. By the time Zoe exited the front doors, Abby knew that she could easily fall for this handsome coyote with the deep voice and dynamic personality. It also helped that she knew she would be in love with him given they'd be getting married at some future date. She was just sad that Zoe's prophetic dream didn't show her pregnant, but there was hope.

Even though Zoe could have hopped into Gabriel's large vehicle, he opened the door and assisted her into it, Zoe smiling happily at his manners. It didn't take long for them to get to the little diner called Tracks. It was actually an old railroad car still on the set of tracks that used to run though the Tri-Burrow's area. Now the Zootopia Express handled cargo as well as passengers, leaving the old railroad lines defunct.

Tracks didn't cater to many coyotes, so poor Gabriel had to sit on a fox sized chair much too small for him and Zoe felt bad about it. She'd suggested that they get it to go and have a sort of impromptu picnic, but Gabriel wouldn't hear of it. This kind of made Zoe happy, knowing that he wouldn't arbitrarily change his mind in the face of adversity. Zoe went with her favorite, eggplant parmesan with a side salad. She also ordered the jalapeno poppers, having found a love of spicy foods while pregnant.

Gabriel enjoyed them as well and they had a contest by adding more and more hot sauce to their food to see who would be the first to give up. Zoe laughed at some of the antics that Gabriel had gotten up to while still in college. And Gabriel was surprised that Zoe wouldn't be 17 for a few more months, she'd always seemed older to him in the way she carried herself. He was a bit worried when he told her that he was 24, but Zoe assured him that it didn't matter.

Zoe told him of her previous life and what she experienced when she arrived in Zootopia. How Bonnie Hopps refused to let her go to an orphanage and had, instead, adopted her. Gabriel confessed to being curious about ghosts, and that he was an adherent of Hebe, Goddess of Children. He told her he'd always had a soft spot for children of all types. As he told her, "Children are the great innocents, hatred is taught."

Zoe looked at her future husband in wonder. So big, so strong, yet so very gentle and open. For his part, Gabriel was in awe of Zoe. He'd never really been this close to a priestess before. He'd talked to Priests and Priestesses of Hebe before, but thought that their down to Zootopia personalities had to do with being associated with children, but Zoe was now changing his notion of that concept. After dinner, and having lost with good graces the 'fire in the belly' contest, Zoe directed Gabriel to a scenic overlook by the river.

They walked along the banks holding paws, enjoying he moonlight and the stars and accompanied by the soft sounds of the river. Neither mammal feeling the need to speak, but both did think how dwarfed Zoe's paw was in Gabriel's and wondering how compatible they were going to be when the time came.

Warning: Lemon start

Zoe was surprised when Gabriel helped her into the seat and then, instead of closing the door, followed her in, forcing her to scoot to the center of the seat. As soon as he shut the door, he turned to her and slowly, giving her time to protest, pushed her back onto the seat before leaning over her. Grabbing Zoe's right paw, he brought it up until it was above her head before doing the same to her other paw. Putting her left paw in her right, he moved her ears out of the way and then placed his paw on hers, pinning them there.

Zoe was watching Gabriel's face while he did that, noticing that he didn't put a lot of weight on her paws, just enough that she couldn't escape easily. She truly wasn't ready for sex yet even though, as a rabbit, she had physically recovered from childbirth, but she could feel herself responding to him. She didn't want to get pregnant so soon after her first litter, but she was curious as to how far he was going to carry this so she didn't say a word. Gabriel wanted Zoe, but he didn't think that she would physically be ready yet, even if he was ready for sex on the first date, he just wanted to experience intimacy with her.

So far she seemed okay with being held down and he could smell her excitement. He slowly leaned forward and began kissing her deeply. Zoe was an enthusiastic participant with the kissing, loving how he was holding her paws above her head. Her tongue could feel how large and thick his was and her imagination began to go wild. Gabriel broke the kiss and began kissing Zoe down her cheek.

"Oohhh!" Zoe moaned, sending a bolt of pleasure straight to Gabriel's groin.

"Lick my ear!" Zoe breathed. Happy to comply, Gabriel licked the rim of her ear but wasn't expecting her reaction. Zoe's head pressed back against the seat and her hips bucked as she let out a loud gasp. Major erogenous zone check.

Her scent began to fill the interior of the car, heightening his own arousal. Zoe could feel herself getting wet and her determination to stop this before it went too far waning.

"Neck. neck. neck. neck." Zoe panted.

Gabriel did as directed and started kissing her neck, he was rewarded with Zoe's breathy "Aaaahhhh!" of pleasure. Second erogenous zone found.

"Teeth!" She grunted and, when he nibbled she screamed out "GODS!" as she came.

Gabriel could smell her scent get heavy and, while not very similar to how other coyote's he'd been with had smelled, knew that he'd just made his love come apart. Zoe lay twitching as waves of pleasure swept through her. She hadn't meant for things to go this far, but was helpless once Gabriel had started kissing her. She was lost in him and she knew it.

Lemon End

Gabriel had taken his paw off of hers, but she hadn't moved them, simply laying there panting with her eyes closed. So he pulled her paws down into a more natural position, kissing both of them as he did so. Lemon end He kissed her forehead and cheeks until he felt her paw brushing the fur under his muzzle. Looking at her he could see her heavy lidded eyes with a small grin, the look of a satisfied female. He kissed her nose and then grinned back.

"Thank you Love." Zoe said. "I didn't realize how much I needed that. I didn't intend to let things go so far, especially on our first date, I'm sorry." T

aking her paw and kissing it again, he said. "No sorry's. If anyone should be sorry it's me. I shouldn't have pushed you so soon. I enjoyed it and now I know at least two of your happy places, but we shouldn't have gone so far on a first date."

"You said 'no sorry's' so don't be. I guess making out when you know that you could be getting married eventually makes you susceptible."

Spying the rather large tent in Gabriel's pants, Zoe asked. "You treated me so I have to ask if you'd like help with that." And she pointed to his crotch.

"No. We've gone far enough for tonight, I'll take care of it when I get back to my room." Gabriel moved over to the drivers seat and Zoe sat up, feeling weak. She felt so much better, it having been a while for her, and she still felt bad about Gabriel being left hanging. She vowed to make it up to him as soon as possible. Gabriel rolled the windows down to air the car out from the scents wafting around, allowing him to start calming down.

"When can we go out again?" He asked her.

"I'm not doing anything tomorrow night." Zoe told him suggestively.

"Same time and place?"

"Same time, but a different place. No reason for you to be uncomfortable sitting in a kid sized chair. How about something simple like Bugaburger? Then we can go down by the river and have a picnic."

"Okay, that sounds good."

"And you may want to ask my wife Abby on a date as well and start getting to know her."

"Is that how bunnies do it?"

"It is in Bunnyburrow. And I want to get married as soon as possible. I don't want some female coyote getting ideas about you." She said, grinning at him. Gabriel grinned back. This was going to be one whirlwind romance!

Gabriel was giving Zoe another soul shattering kiss by the front door, not wanting to be parted from her. Zoe's toes were curling and her tail was quivering so badly when he literally stuck his tongue down her throat, giving a new meaning to the term 'a deep kiss'. After a quick, chaste kiss, Gabriel left with Zoe watching him go. As expected this time, Abby, Candace, and Gloria were waiting for her. All three doe's noses twitching as they smelled what had happened.

"How was it?" Abby asked. "As if I didn't know."

"We didn't have sex! All he did was nibble on my neck. But gods! That mammal can kiss!"

"Better than me?" Candace said half jokingly.

"Baby, he gives the term 'a deep kiss' new meaning! He was past my tonsils!"

All of the doe's looked at each other and small, anticipatory grins growing on their faces. Leaning back against the door to help support her, Zoe said. "I think we'll all need to invest in a coyote sized dildo."

"Got one." Gloria stated, looking smug.

Abby and Zoe walked back to their room after showering, talking about Gideon and how soon they could schedule a wedding. Zoe was so into the discussion that she didn't notice anything unusual until she heard, Daughter.

Snapping her head up, Zoe saw Aaron standing in her room, his eyes no longer white, but a golden brown color. Tears instantly began to flow and Abby had to catch her or else she would have fallen bonelessly to the floor. "Gods no! Please! I'm not ready for this!"

A/N: Well, it finally happened, Aaron has passed. Now Zoe has this to face on top of everything else. She's gotten stronger, but is she strong enough for this?

My muse has been running with this story for a while now. I plan on adding another chapter of Project Gateway as soon as I can wrestle my muse into listening to me.

Speaks With Spirits