JOURNEY OF THE WOPPS
Disclaimer: Don't own Zootopia or anything Disney related.
{Wopps}
Bunnyburrow
In the bakery run by one Gideon Grey, it was just business as usual for them. Gideon is helping with the day's orders, along with some of his staff. For him, every day is a treasure, ever since the Burrow decided to leave past beliefs buried in the past. When his business expanded enough to where he can hire more animals, he made sure to hire not only those who have skills needed to keep it running smoothly, but also that it's a decent mix of predator and prey.
When he heard the bell at the entrance, indicating that he had visitors, Gideon stepped out to greet them. Once he exited the kitchen, he was greeted by one Judy Hopps, talking to his best friend Travis, while introducing him to a scrawny-looking red fox. "Hey Judy. Long time, no see." He said, as he walked towards the pair.
Seeing who greeted her, Judy gave him a big smile. "Hey Gideon, it's great to see you." She said, giving him a hearty handshake.
When Gideon turned towards Nick, "So you're the boyfriend that everyone in the burrow is talking about?" He asked point blank. When he noticed a certain bunny, looking like she is about to have a panic attack, due to horrifying embarrassment, "Oh come on, Judy, you know as well I do on how quickly gossip spreads in the burrow. Especially with your family."
Judy's head dropped towards the floor, her ears dangling down in the process. As much as she wanted to deny it, Judy knew that what Gideon said was the truth, when it came to her family. When they encounter news too big to share, thanks to social media, it gets shared before somebody's next breath.
After deciding not to cry over spilt carrot juice, Judy raised her head fully, her ears standing tall. "Yes, this is my boyfriend, Nick Wilde, who is also my partner in the police force." She said, as if her world didn't just crumble about a few seconds ago.
Once the two foxes shock each other's paws, "So you're the one that has been keeping Judy safe." Gideon said, trying to see some of that inflated city animal pride, that the country folks deal with, whenever tourists drop by.
Knowing full well what Gideon was attempting to do, and what Judy would do if he were to try to sound macho, Nick decided to try a different route. "Actually, we watch each other's back, since city life can be pretty hectic." He said, his grin getting bigger, "After all, the last thing I would want, is for anything bad to happen to Cutie Pie here."
Judy was smiling with pride, when Nick told Gideon that they are equals, until the smile dropped after being called a cutie pie. Then her face became boiling red from embarrassment, trying to hide behind her ears, "Uh Nick," she said, getting his attention, with his grin not making things any better. "You know how I feel about being called cute, or any other versions of the word."
Nick's grin only got bigger, before continuing, "Oh yeah, sorry." He spoke. "Anyway, Jude the Dude here decided to show me around the burrow, while we are still in the area."
When a look of realization dawn onto her face, Judy gave a slight huff, "Fine, you win." She said, with a slight grumble. While everyone in the bakery started to laugh at the interaction, Judy decided to change the subject. "So, Gideon, I heard from Mom and Dad that you have been doing so well, that you are planning to expand your business.'
Gideon placed a hand behind his head, feeling slightly embarrassed. "Yeah, well, everybody in the burrow has been telling me that I should expand my business, but I'm not really comfortable with the whole idea." He spoke. "Especially since a lot of the recipes I started off with, were originally made by my grandmother."
Understanding the reason behind his hesitation, Judy kept silent. Nick, on the other hand, "Are there any recipes that were created by you?" decided to ask him a few questions.
Gideon placed his hand under his chin, "I might have one or two that are actually mine, and a few others that my staff came up with." He said, "And none of us really want to share 'em with complete strangers."
Giving a small nod, Nick thought for a bit, "Well, it's understandable. You just want to do what you love, while also keeping things in check." He spoke. Knowing when to leave things be, "So, anyway, what do you have to offer here?" He asked, before walking towards an area that has tarts on displayed.
Smiling that at least somebody, even an outsider, has a better understanding of what he wants, Gideon returned to the kitchen. Judy, who gave a small smile, went to join Nick in the search for a sweet treat.
{Wopps}
Hopps Food Stand
Bonnie is helping her children prepare the produce bought by the customers, who decided to drop by from the highway to buy some. Mainly, business as usual for the family, especially for the parents, since they still have a few mouths remaining to be fed. Stu is bringing in a fresh load of vegetables to replenish the ones that were mostly sold, while the older kids are running things out in the fields.
This was when one of their friends, Lelia Longjumps, a jackrabbit, showed up to grab her usual produce. Walking up to Bonnie, with a big smile, "Hello Bonnie, hello Stu, it is nice to see two, on this fine day." She said.
Returning the smile, "Hello, Lelia." Bonnie said, "I'll have the kids gather up your usual."
After seeing Bonnie send a couple of her teenagers to get her order together, Lelia decided to acquire about some local gossip she had heard recently. "So, Bonnie, I've heard through the grapevine that your daughter, Judy, is in a relationship with a fox," She started to say, "They have even been spotted around the Tri-Burrow, holding paws with each other."
Bonnie, with an honest smile, "Oh yes, took some of the family by surprise, when they first showed up." She said, yet, as if she was talking about the weather, "But after spending a few days with Nick, getting to know him better, we just started to see him as another individual."
Lelia's eyes widened a bit, "So you're okay with having a fox dating one of your children?" She asked, shocking the bunnies there. "Especially after one of them has hurt Judy in the past?"
While nobody noticed the kids breaking out the smartphones, Bonnie was the first of the two parents to recover from the shock. "That was in the past, and we can't used what happened then, as an excuse to stereotype a whole species." She said, trying to stay as cheerful as possible. "And Judy has already forgiven him for the deed, so what right do we have to keep a grudge alive, for something between young'uns?
When Stu walked up to back up his wife, Lelia decided to try a different tactic. "Stu, how are you okay with allowing one of your daughters to date outside of the species? Especially a fox?" She asked, "Aren't you the slightest bit worried about her well-being?"
"Well yeah, what father wouldn't be concerned about who their dates. I would be the same way, if Judy was dating a buck from the Burrows." Stu said, while flinging his arms around for a bit. Once he placed his hands back onto the straps holding his overalls up, "But after taking the time to get to know Nick better, I got to see somebody that would not only have Judy's back whenever she is in danger, but also keep her grounded whenever she gets too hyped up over something."
This was when April, one of Bonnie and Stu's elder daughters who have her own family, stepped up. "Plus, Nick was the first one to actually help encourage Judy, when she was struggling during her month in the ZPD." She said, making her parents feel guilty, since they never considered Judy's feelings when she was starting off as a meter maid.
This was when the said couple arrived in one of the family vehicles that was available. Deciding not to be within the same area as Nick, Lelia just grabbed her order and left. When Judy greeted her, all she gave in return was a slight huff.
Once Lelia left in her car, Judy and Nick turned towards Judy's parents. "What's with Mrs. Longjumps?" Judy asked.
Emma, one of Judy's teenage sisters, just threw out a couple of word. "Past prejudices." She said, while helping to keep the stand organized.
Judy gave Nick a sad look, who only returned a grim shrug of the shoulders. Both knew that no matter how much things change over time, the more they stay the same.
This was when Bonnie spoke up, "Judy, me and your father would like to apologize to you, when you were a meter maid for the ZPD." She started to say, only for Judy to raise her hand, to stop her mother from saying anything more.
"Don't mother, as much as I hated the job, I realize that it was also a lesson in humility." Judy said. "After taking the time to think about it . . "
"And encountering that fresh from the academy possum, that sounded like you back then." Nick said, causing his girlfriend to give off a slight moan at the memory."
"Don't remind me." Judy said, before getting back to the topic at hand. "Anyway, after talking to Nick, during one our days off, I started to see some things from Chief Bogo's perspective." She then started to move her hands while explaining the rest of it. "First, he was forced by former Mayor Lionheart to take me in, mainly as a publicity stunt. So he wasn't pleased with the change with the status quo, along with being played by two former mayors, I was just another burden in his eyes."
Taking a brief breath, "The other is that I made the naïve mistake of thinking that, being the top of my class of the academy, would lead me to the best assignments." Judy said. "While yes, I know, Chief Bogo was trying to get rid of me, but it was also a lesson in humility that I needed. Since why should he hand anything critical over, to somebody he doesn't trust, especially a snot nose rooky who has no real clue on what it truly takes to be a police officer?"
After she finished, everybody started to feel like they just had a tender moment. Sensing the grim atmosphere, "So, what do you need help with?" Nick asked, trying to lighten things up with the Hopps family.
Feeling relieved at the change in subject, everybody went back to work. The couple were lead by Stu, to help with some of the harvesting.
{Wopps}
Hopps home-nighttime
After enjoying a pleasant meal that followed a hard day's work, the adults were taking a load off, while the young-uns were doing their own thing. Despite some discomfort that came from their customers, some of whom are still trying to move on from past feelings, it was still an enjoyable day for the family.
Turning to the happy couple, "Judy, Nick, thank you both for helping us out at the stand." Bonnie said, "Even though you two are on vacation, you have been a big help during your stay here."
"Speaking of which, when do you two love birds have to return to Zootopia?" Stu asked.
Pulling out her phone, to check the calendar app, "The day after tomorrow." Judy answered, before putting it back into her pocket. "Tomorrow is when me and Nick need to start getting ready for the trip back."
"Oh yeah, before I forget." Nick said, before reaching into his shirt pocket, pulling out a piece of paper. "Last night, my mother called me, and ask me to give Mrs. Hopps her contact information." He said, before standing up to hand it to said person. "She would like to take the time to not only get to know you, but also help come up with some recipe ideas, when it comes to dealing with the different food preferences between species."
After accepting the paper, Bonnie couldn't help but smile, "Oh don't worry, Nick." She said, before gently folding it, "I'll make sure to contact her sometime soon."
Giving her a nod of appreciation, Nick turned to Judy, "Anyway, I think I'll turn in early tonight. Tomorrow might be another busy day." He said, while giving off a slight yawn.
Even though she is more used to farm life, Judy is also feeling the same way. "Yeah, I'll turn in as well. I'm hoping to get through tomorrow without too much interference." She said, while yawning as well. Standing up, while stretching her limbs, "Oh, and Dad," She said, getting her father's attention, "Please make sure the alcohol you plan to bring to our farewell party, won't give us too bad of a hangover, the day we have to leave."
After Judy left, Stu just sat there in shock, after being called out to by his own daughter. While sitting next to him, his own wife was laughing her head off, because she knows how easily her husband can get carried away on certain occasions.
{Wopps}
The Next Day
After spending most of the day doing laundry, and having everything packed up, Nick and Jury are enjoying the farewell party that the Hopps family is throwing for them. Despite Nick sticking out like a sore thumb, while being surrounded on all fronts by bunnies, he was still being treated as part of the family.
On the one side, Judy is having an arm-wrestling contest with a few of her older brothers. They wanted to 'test' to see how much stronger their sister has become while living in the big city, but just wanted to have some quality fun time with her. Especially since with her line of work, they better enjoy every moment of it, while they can.
On another side, Nick is playing a game of cribbage with Stu, who is amazed at how quickly Nick has become good at it. "Wow Nick, I didn't think you would pick up the game so fast." Stu said, after losing his fourth game.
"Well, to be honest Stu, I've just lost the first couple of games on purpose, to study your technique." Nick said, catching said bunny off guard. "While I'm still a beginner of the game, I've learned a long time ago to make sure to also study my opponent in any game."
"Smart, very smart." Stu said.
Deciding to throw out the sucker punch, "Also Judy has been teaching me," Nick said, "Saying how you might try to get me to play a round with you."
"Of course she did." Stu said, already suspecting that his daughter knew him too well.
Right now, not everybody is enjoying the fun, since Bonnie and a few of the kids that are chefs, or at least good at cooking, are working on the feast. While they are glad that Nick doesn't mind going vegetarian for dinner, they are hoping to at least make it up to him by making some homemade desserts. They also made sure to have somebody with a strong will to guard them, since there are those who would love to 'sample' them, as well as from the children.
May, one of the older sisters who was baking the desserts, decided to bring up a question to her mother. "Say, Mom, if Nick does end up becoming part of the family, does that mean you would have to cook with meat, to accommodate him?" She asked, causing activity to slow down a bit.
Giving a small sigh, "To be honest, I am not sure." Bonnie said. "Around here, any recipe exchange between prey and predator, has always been done with caution. Especially from the predators, due to their recipes involving some kind of meat."
Carter, one of the male middle child, spoke up, "Well, you can always talk to Gideon Grey, and see what foxes eat, to get some ideas." He said, while keeping an eye on the ovens.
"Actually, I did, and he says that it was because of his of mother's cooking, that he decided to learn how to cook." Bonnie said, in a way of hinting that Gideon's decision was more out of survival, than anything else. "But now that I have a way of contacting Mrs. Wilde, maybe I can learn a few new things about Nick in the process."
This was when everybody, but Stu gave a slight shiver, as if they are sensing doomsday coming. Stu, after noticing this, "What's going on?" He asked.
Nick spoke up, "Chances are, two mothers are going to be sharing stories about their families, real soon." He said, before all activity resumed. Stu gave a small nod, recalling the time he had similar feelings, knowing that his wife is exchanging husband stories with the other females in the Burrow.
About half an hour later, dinner was served, in a buffet style setting. Everyone got to enjoy one last meal with the couple, before they had to turn in early, in order to catch the early train.
{Wopps}
Okay, here is finally a new chapter to this story. Life's been happening lately, one of them is me taking on more responsibilities as I get older, so updating my stories had to take a backseat a few times. Read and Review.