Here is the 17th installment. Hope you enjoy.
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The previous evening, the Hopps Ancestral Warren, just after Bonnie hangs up with Judy.
Bonnie set the phone down next to her and sighed deeply, closing her eyes as she allowed her thoughts to settled after what she had just learned. Judy. Her wayward, fearless, police officer, daughter. Her most successful, most passionate, most ulcer inducing daughter. The one who took after her in almost every way. Her Judy.
As the moment stretched, Bonnie started to snicker as everything she had learned caught up with her. Judy was pregnant, married, and the kits were actually with her mate, a fox. She had embraced the predators traditions, Nick's traditions, just as readily as he had hers. The complete absurdity of it caught up with her. The snickering quickly became a chuckle, and after only a few moments, Bonnie Hopps was laughing harder than she had in many years.
The other rabbits in the common room looked on at her, not daring to say a word as the seemingly ineffable rabbit, having cursed, twice, and the first time in any of their memories, was now laughing uncontrollably and clutching her stomach from it. Several of the assembled rabbits shared looks of concern, thinking that perhaps Bonnie had finally snapped.
After several minutes, Bonnie was able to get herself under control and took a few moments to catch her breath. Still snickering, she looked up at the concerned looks of the rabbits in the room. "Haha... I've not lost it, I promise you. No. Just had a few quite unexpected revelations about your sibling, Judy, is all."
One of her elder daughters, Adriana, stepped up tentatively, her ears down with worry. "Mom? You sure you are okay? You cursed... Twice. And loudly. You were talking to Judy, right? Is she okay?"
Bonnie grinned, regarding one of her eldest. Already married and having three liters of her own, yet only those three. She was also Cotton's mother, and despite loving all her kits and grandkits, Cotton was perhaps a favorite of most, and she simply adored Nick. Though most of the Kerfluffle did, as nick allowed them to clamber all over him when he visited and would lead them on marry fox hunts across the yard and though the warren. It was one of the reasons she was so concerned that Judy had done something, it would crush so many of the little ones to not see the fox again. "Oh, she is fine. More than fine, Adi. Judy and Nick got married in a fox wedding ceremony, have participated in a fox culture thing called claiming, and... somehow, they are expecting kits."
Adriana blinks a few times, her voice rising in shock. "What‽ Did they go to a clinic? Judy and Nick are married? I... I thought they were only dating. Not that there is anything wrong with it, I'm on their side. But... Why wouldn't they let us know? I mean, I know dad is being an ass. Sorry mom, but he really is. Why wouldn't they invite at least you and dad?"
Bonnie's snickers died in her throat and a deep and angry frown sets in. "No, they didn't go to a clinic. The kits are in fact Nick's." Seeing her daughters disbelief. "I know, but they wouldn't lie about that. Always figured they would end up adopting, and Judy says they might still, but the kits are actually theirs." Shaking her head sadly, Bonnie looks up at her daughter. "You know well how we used to think of foxes, well we weren't that bad it seems. Fox weddings are small, private affairs, and if one of the parents doesn't approve, then they're not supposed to invite either parent from that side. I guess it was too risky that the disapproving party would do something to disrupt the wedding. As we well know, there are plenty of mammals that would happily do so, and probably violently."
Adriana blanched, her cream colored fur getting a shade lighter. "Yeah. Even a few of the brothers might do that."
Bonnie growled and stood up. "Who?"
Adriana took a step back. "Mom..."
Shaking her head, Bonnie put up a hand. "Never mind. I will deal with that tomorrow. It seems that Nick was willing to forego the tradition to at least invite me and a few of you that support them, but your sister required that they keep to the tradition."
"That sounds like Judy. So that means they couldn't invite you, or even let you know it was happening?"
Bonnie nodded. "That's right. I didn't even ask how long they have been married. Then again, we have only exchanged texts and the very rare call over the past two years. Ever since your father did what he did." Sighing, Bonnie gave Adriana a warmer smile. "Adi, I know I can trust you to put right what the rumor mill is churning out right now."
"You know I can mom. What do I need to ensure the story is?"
"The truth. Judy and Nick are married, and we didn't get invited because they had a fox wedding, which is small and private. I'm sure there is more detail online, and Judy demanded it be completely traditional which is why we weren't invited or notified. They want to have a proper rabbit wedding too, but can't until the family accepts them. Judy is pregnant with Nick's kits. Yes, that's for real, and they are healthy."
Adriana shook her head. "Okay mom. I got it. Where are you going to be?"
"I'm going to talk to your father."
"What about the cussing?"
Bonnie shrugged with an uncharacteristic smirk. "I was hit with a few shocking developments. The moment got the best of me. What? You didn't think your mom knew those words? I was young and rebellious once. You want to know what I was like, you need look no further than Judy herself."
Nodding, Adriana took a step back. "Okay mom. I got it covered. Try not to kill dad." Turning, she headed for the cluster of rabbits on the other side of the room whispering away. She could already tell that things were out of paw and she was going to have her work cut out for her to get the story straight by the next morning. She had a long night ahead of her.
Bonnie turned and headed for the kitchen. She was going to make her and Stu a few small sandwiches before she confronted him. It is time that rabbit gets over himself. She thought. He was hurting his kits, and more to the point, hurting Judy and her husband. Shaking her head. Husband. Her Judy had a husband, and was having kits with him. It seemed so impossible to be true, but it seems it was. She was not going to miss out on more events in her daughters life over his orneriness.
Ensuring she was alone in the kitchen, Bonnie quickly made up a set of chicken, cheese, and tomato sandwiches, cutting them into fingers and arranging them on a plate she quickly covered with a towel and some juice for both of them, setting it all in a basket. Any of her kits seeing it, who hadn't heard the rumors yet, would just think she was taking him a snack.
Bonnie knew Stu would worry when he saw the sandwiches. She only made them as a treat or when things were really, really serious. Since he already knew she wasn't happy with him, he'd be worried, which suited Bonnie just fine. He needed to be worried. It would make things go much smoother.
Taking the basket in paw, she headed for the side door and the barn where Stu was working. Her mind wandering to how they had started, as rabbits, adding meat to their diet. It was something that Judy herself didn't know that the rest of the family had started doing in small amounts.
It happened after Judy had taken off back to Zootopia, leaving them all standing by the produce stand in confusion. When Judy hadn't returned right away, but phoned and asked them to ship her things to her, they of course needed to go through her room. While doing that and packing up her things, she had found some fish and chicken Jerky, along with a bunch of predator protein bars.
Bonnie remembered talking to Judy's doctor when she was a teenager and working so hard to become the cop she has become. She had found the protein bars and immediately contacted the doctor. The doctor had assured them that it wasn't going to hurt Judy, and was the reason she had healed from her recent injury, a broken arm and major muscle tear, so quickly. It was also why the young rabbit had become so much stronger than typical. Hopps rabbits were stronger on average than most, but Judy had surpassed that by a lot just after her injury healed. According to the doctor, it was the extra protein she had started in-taking.
Smiling at the memory as she slipped out of the main house and headed towards the barn. Bonnie though about how she and Stu had gone through several stages, initially wanting to stop Judy from doing such an un-rabbit like thing. They were going to confront her, but when they found her a few days after finding the bars in her room, the saw Judy seemingly effortlessly tossing 30 pound bales her older brothers had difficulty working. They saw just how strong she was becoming and after further debate, the decided to see how it would effect them. They never did tell Judy.
They were both surprised by the effects it had on them. Both of them felt stronger a few weeks after starting to eat the bars. Just one a night, before bed so the kits didn't know. Then they noticed that they were in fact stronger. Stu found that he struggled less with doing work on the tractor. He had more stamina to keep up with his sons as they worked the farm and after six months, was able to outlast them. Bonnie noticed that she didn't need help with some of the larger pots when she was preparing meals. And their new stamina in the bedroom showed in a sudden burst of new kits.
After those revelations they kept it in their diet. Adding other things, such as the beans and other specialty grains the doctor had suggested Judy use to increase her protein intake. Then one day, about a year in, they were at the big super store in Moosebrook county to pick up some supplies, CostCrow. They always enjoyed the free samples when they went, but without thinking they both grabbed a sample of sliced chicken. Neither were paying attention to what it was and only realized after they'd already eaten it and the mortified weasel from the kiosk stopped them. He was so terrified, apologizing that he hadn't noticed them or he would have stopped them. It was almost funny. They ended up buying a pack.
Entering the barn, Bonnie was broken out of her memories by a loud bang and curse from under the tractor. "Damn carrot brained piece of dung!" BANG BANG! "Grrrraaahh! There!" Some further grunting and grumbling could be heard, along with the sound of a ratchet being worked.
Bonnie smiled. Stu clearly figured he was alone, or only a few of the older bucks were around, so she waited. Thinking about the fact that most of the family now ate larger amounts of protein, mostly in the form of home made protein bars. They internet had really come into it's own for them there. The bars they made were based mostly on what the doctor had recommended to Judy, but with some ground bug added as well, not that she ever told any of her kits that. She always made the mix late and put it in the fridge for the morning crew to make into bars once breakfast was done. The chicken however was something only shared with themselves and a few select other members of the family. She wondered if Judy would be one of those, and with a smile, expected she was.
After a few minutes, Stu finished and wheeled out from under the tractor on a creeper. Looking up he see's his wife with the basket on her arm. "Hey Bon! You have good timing. I just finished up."
Bonnie's smile fell as her attention turned from her memories to her mate. "Stewart. We need to talk."
Stu's ears fell to the barn floor. If he had been moving, he'd have run them over. Bonnie had used his full name, so he knew this was bad, how bad had yet to be determined. "O... Okay dear. Give me a moment to wash the grease off my paws."
Bonnie nodded. "I'll be in the loft." Turning she started to climb the stairs.
Stu watched her walk away for a moment and as much as he still enjoyed the view, he had a knot form in the pit of his stomach. "Okay dear." He called after her. He knew she was upset with him, and he had yet to figure out what it was about and therefore how to fix it, though he also had his suspicions. If it was what he thought, he didn't know how to fix what he'd done. Shaking his head, he wondered over to the barns sink and scrubbed himself elbow to paw until the soup and water ran clean.
A few minutes later, Stu stepped into the small private area in the loft of the barn, rubbing his harms down with a towl. There was a small table, a few comfortable chairs, and a couch made of straw bails and old sheets. There was also the door into the lockable room where they could get some private time out of the house when they needed it. More than few of their litters were created in that room.
Stu took the indicated seat as Bonnie set the juice and plate of sandwich fingers on the table. He swallowed hard recognizing the smell of the chicken. "Thank you for the snack love." Reaching over and giving her a peck on the cheek. He figured it couldn't hurt to butter her up a bit.
Letting out a long suffering sigh, Bonnie turned her Amethyst gaze and him and he shrank into his seat. "That's not going to work Stewart. We need to have a serious talk."
He just knew what this was going to be about, he had regretted it since, but Stu had found himself unable to find a way to fix what he had done. "What about Bon?" Forcing his ears up and pointing to her.
Sitting down, Bonnie took a sip from her juice after eating one of the sandwich fingers. "Stu... We need to talk about Judy."
Stu's ears fell like they had weights on them. He knew it was coming, he really did, and he had no idea how to solve it. "Oh..."
"Yeah. Oh... I just got off the phone with her. With both Judy and Nick."
Stu flinched. There was the crux of his problem. Nick. The fox Judy was dating. "How are Judy and the fox doing? Have they broken up?" He sounded almost hopeful and cringed at his own tone of voice, though Bonnie didn't seem to notice or chose to ignore it.
Bonnie closed her eyes and took several breaths. "Stu. I love you... so much. But there are times I question that, and this is one of them. You know full well why Judy hasn't come home for a visit, why she missed the last two Carrot Day festivals, why she almost never calls and rarely texts. She communicates to me most of the time through her siblings. Because she doesn't trust the phone to not be in your possession when she sends a message or calls."
"Bonnie, I..."
"No Stu. I'm not done yet. You need to hear this before you start trying to justify yourself, again."
Stu nodded, picking up a finger and taking a drink. "Yes dear."
Bonnie watched him for several moments, assuring herself that he was going to stay quiet. "Okay. As I said. I just got off the phone with Judy and Nick. That fox, as you call him, has a name, and his name is Nick. He is officially your son-in-law." Putting up her paw to silence he move to respond. "Not yet Stu. They got married in a fox wedding ceremony. You and I were not invited because you don't support them, and therefore the tradition requires that we not even be informed until after. Nick, was actually willing to forego the tradition and at least invite me and a few of Judy's siblings that do support her, but JUDY! insisted that they keep to the tradition, because it was a tradition important to Nick.
They are mated, Stu. They are married, Stu. They have even participated in a canine tradition called claiming, and again, it was something that Nick was willing to forego but again, JUDY, forced the issue because it is something extremely important in fox culture, something important to Nick, that he was willing to forego because he loves her more than those traditions. So of course, Judy pushed the issue, because he is important enough to her. I'm not going to go into claiming as I don't fully understand it, but it is something your daughter embraced because she loves that fox so much. The only person that is hurting anyone is you and your refusal to accept them.
They actually called to try and talk to you one more time. She didn't have to say it Stu, but I know my kids well enough. She is ready to walk away from us if she has to. They are going to have kits Stu. Judy is pregnant. JUDY of all our children, is pregnant, and the kits are Nick's. They are seeing a specialist to make sure those kits are healthy, which they are. When I say Judy is pregnant, I mean she is nearly ready to pop, Stu. A few more weeks, maybe a month.
Do you realize that if she hadn't called we wouldn't even know this monumental piece of information about our daughter? If she hadn't tried to call tonight, it probably would have been Nick calling to let us know that she was in labor. The only person to blame for that is you, Stu.
I don't know what you need to do, to figure this out inside your head. I love you Stu, but you are the one hurting Judy. You are the one who has caused her to cut off communication with us because of how you hurt her. You are the one that could cause us to be cut out of the lives of our grandkits, from Judy. Yes, they are going to be half fox, and so what? They're a miracle and we should love them as much as any of our other grandkits, because they are from Judy, our daughter."
Taking a long, deep breath, Bonnie looked at Stu and the shocked look on his face. "Yes, I know it is shocking. I cussed, twice, in the common room. I think I have ruined the innocence of a few dozen of our children." Giving a strained smile and chuckle. "I'm going to go to Zootopia to see her for the day. Just a day to visit and come back that night. I am going to take a few of her supportive siblings, and I want you to come, but only if you are ready to accept them. If you are going to pack a tazer, or plan on some speech that isn't an apology, then please do not plan on coming."
Stu looked at Bonnie, looking for some hint that she was yanking his ears, and sunk further when he saw that she was serious. "I uh..." Looking away from his wife, Stu didn't know what to say. Turning back towards her when he heard a metallic click on the table.
Bonnie looked across the table at her husband. She love the idiot, but he was so slow to change sometimes. She slid the key to the room behind her across the table. "Stu. I love you. I will always love you, even if you can't get past your issues. You need to think. Don't make a snap decision just because you are in trouble, because you really arn't. No more at least than Pop Pop when he goes after Gideon when he's making a delivery. Take some time. Get some rest. Think it through. Make your decision."
Stu sighed and shook his head. "I don't need to think on it Bonnie. I've been thinking about it since that call. I've been thinking about it since the first regular call was missed and we worried that something had happened. Then the next and the next call didn't come in, even though you confirmed through Adi and others that they had spoken with Judy. I don't know what got into me." Pausing, Stu shook his head. "No. I do know. I let my fear. I let all the things my parents taught me, my grandparents, my teachers, and everyone else, speak for me.
All I saw was his red fur, the claws, the teeth, and I never saw him or how he actually looked at Judy. Not until after and I was going back over things in my head. I know that Judy wouldn't be with Nick if she was worried about being hurt by him, and if he did, I actually wonder if he would survive it. If there is any one child of ours that I shouldn't be scared for based on her choice of mate, it is Judy. If there any anyone that could defend herself, it is Judy. She is a cop, and a good one."
Looking up at Bonnie, Stu wiped away a tear. "I just don't know how I make this right, Bon. I don't know how I undo what I said. I deserved what Nick said to me. I have tried to think it through, to come up with an answer, and I just can't come to a way to make it right. I know what he said was in anger, and yet, I deserved every word."
Bonnie smiled at her mate. "Stu. You make it right by making it clear that you've gotten past it, that you accept them, that you want to be a part of their lives and that you are sorry for what you said and did. Assuming you are."
Stu nodded. "I am so very sorry for the assumptions I made, for the things I said."
Pulling the key back to herself. "Then you need to tell them when we see them. You need to make it clear to Jess and her mate that you are going to accept them too. They're going to be moving in with Nick and Judy to help them with the Kits, and we also were not going to know that."
Stu looked down at his paws. "I don't even know where they are to do that."
"They currently room with Gideon above the bakery. There's a small two bedroom apartment up there. It's where Gid lives himself and he welcomed them in. They both work at the bakery and Gid has been teaching them to back his stuff. With them moving to Zootopia, it wouldn't surprise me if they were planning on helping him open a shop there."
Stu grinned, his ears snapping to attention. That would do so well, and if they did that, the need for our crops would go up."
"Yes, it would. However, despite having lunch with Jess at least once a week, she hasn't seen fit to let me know that they are going to move to Zootopia, let along moving in with Judy. I found out because Judy told me that they'll be part of the support network Judy and Nick have built to help them with the kits. A support network that doesn't include us. You know we'd have arranged for one of her sisters to spend a week or two in shifts to help them out, but they never even dared ask."
Stu looked down again, his ears falling as fast as they had risen. "Oh. I see. Because of me."
"Right. I'm going to make a family announcement in the morning during breakfast. About Judy and Jess. It should be a united front from both of us showing support. Can you do that?"
Looking up at his wife, Stu gave her a weak smile. "It isn't going to be easy, but it will be united. It's going to take me time to get past it, but I won't be packing any tazers and I won't be giving any speeches about the evil predators."
"Good." Grabbing another finger. "Then lets finish this and head inside. There are still some kits to get into bed and it is getting late."
Taking a finger for himself. "I can't believe Judy is pregnant."
"You and me both, but I saw it on the Muzzeltime call. It elicited my first cuss."
"Now I'm sorry I missed that. You used to be so easy with the curse words."
"Yeah, and then I became a mom. When Andrea's first word was shit, I realized I needed to change my vocabulary."
"It was so cute, and so mortifying. Credit to you for playing it off."
"Credit more due to your mother for playing off that she believed my playing it off. She told me a few years later that she knew."
"Oh no."
"It's all good. Apparently your first word was far worse." Giving Stu a grin as she took another finger. "Now hurry up before I eat them all."
They finished the sandwiches over some reminiscing of their own first litter and the learning curves they went through, figuring that while they couldn't be sure of all the challenges that Judy and Nick were going to have with their hybrid kits, that there were a few things that were universal. Plans for the trip later the following week were made.
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The Hopps Ancestral Warren, the next morning.
Neither Bonnie or Stu slept well that night, for both the same and different reasons. Both mulling over the revelations about their daughter, and how they has each failed her in their own ways. Still, being a farmer meant getting up before the sun even threatened to warm the eastern skies.
As Bonnie prepared breakfast, signs were posted advising everyone that they were to be back in the warren for some family announcements when the third morning meal shift started. At the appointed time, the horn was blown to make sure anyone out in the fields came back in.
After only a few minutes the dining room was full. No rabbit wanted to catch the ire of the Hopps Matron, be they son, daughter, or just relation. If they lived and worked on the farm, Bonnie was the law. The usual din of conversation in the space was significantly louder than usual and when Bonnie gave the signal, Stu pounded a foot down on the table, the sound reverberating through the hall, driving a wave of quiet in it's wake.
Standing and stepping up onto the table, Bonnie overlooked the assembled family. Every ear capable was alert and turned towards her. Looking down, she saw Stu take a deep breath, but step up to join her on his own without prompting. This made her smile. He was trying, really trying.
With a deep breath, Bonnie spoke with her loudest voice so all could hear. "Family. We have called this meeting to announce a few things and to set the record strait on a few other things. I expect you all to translate what you hear faithfully and accurately to those who are not, such as tending the nursery, or managing their own warrens and families."
The nodding of several hundred heads greated her, but not a single voice broke the quiet. "Good. Now, first. While I have asked Adriana to put some reality into the rumor mill, I know there are some of you that haven't heard the updates or ignored them, so lets get a few things straight. Did I cuss? Yes, twice. This is in no way an excuse or green light for any of you to start, so unless you're ready to be out on your own, or take great pleasure in the taste of Stu's grease soap, just don't. I allowed the revelations from your sister to get the better of me. I am only a rabbit and even I have my limits.
Next, regarding that sister. Judy has gotten married to Nicholas." A collective gasp fills the room. "The reason we did not know is because it was in a fox wedding ceremony. Traditionally, because of how foxes are treated by most other mammals, if one parent doesn't approve, then none of the family and neither parent from that side can be invited or told until well afterwards. It is no secret that Stu has been less than approving."
Stu coughed. "Been. Formerly. I realize that, as Judy herself told me, love is love. It was unfair of me to judge Nicholas just because of his species. It was no different and just as wrong as someone judging us for being rabbits. We can be... I can and will be better than that."
Bonnie gave Stu a peck on the cheek, to the groaning and sighs, and a few retching sounds from parts of the room. No one wants to see their parents kiss. "This should make the point clear. We will not tolerate specisist language directed at Judy, Nick, nor Jess and her mate. However, if you have heard the rumors, you know at least one thing from them. Judy is in fact pregnant." Another round of shocked gasps fill the room. "Now you know why I cursed the first time. Not only is she pregnant, but they have not gone to a clinic. The kits are in fact Nick's." The room erupted in voices to which she just held up a paw. Once it was quiet again, she continued. "I don't know how it happened, but it did. According to Judy, they are seeing a specialist and the kits are healthy. They are wanting it to be a surprise so they only know that they are healthy and that there is more than one.
Stu and I will be making a trip to Zootopia for a visit some time next week and a select group will be going with us. No more than a dozen. One thing I want to remind all of you about. We are a family. We don't always agree, we argue and fight, but we are family, and we will welcome Judy, Nick, and their kits when they decide to visit. We will welcome Jess and her mate, who will be seeing the same specialist Judy and Nick are to see if they too can have kits of their own, or if they will have to adopt." Bonnie paused a moment. "Adoption... That is something we should all consider. There are way too many kits out there without families."
Bonnie looked to Stu, who smiled at her and spoke up. "Yes. Bonnie and I have discussed it, and we will be seeking to adopt a few kits into the family. We have more than enough room and there are lots of good kits out there that we, as Hopps, have the opportunity to help. We are not going to shirk that responsibility, even if that kit turns out to be a fox, or a weasel, or any other species. They deserve just as much love as we all do."
Bonnie picked up from there. "And we will encourage each of you, as you start and expand your own families. Leave some room for a kit or two that has lost their original family. Judy and Nick had planned to do that, and still do, once their own kits are a bit older. I think... I think maybe we can all learn a bit from Judy and Jess. To look beyond the fur, the species, of another mammal and see the mammal they are underneath."
Stu spoke up again. "Alright. Everyone that's already ate. Get yourselves back to it. Those that haven't. Get to eating and then on to your jobs. Let's move it mammals! There is still a farm to run."
With that, the meeting broke up, rabbits filing out of every exit or making their way to get food. Many conversations starting up amongst the groups as they processed what the meeting was about and the sudden change in position taken by Bonnie and Stu. Many wondering how Pop-pop will take such news. None however noticing the old rabbit with a sad, proud grin on his face, as he listened from his hidden spot.
As Bonnie and Stu sit back down to their own meals one of their younger kits walked up, nervously looking down as she clearly tried to get up the courage to interrupt her parents. Bonnie took pity on her. "What's up Xerra?"
Almost jumping out of her fur, Xerra looks up. "Oh, uhm... Ma, Pa... Were you serious about accepting Judy and Jess's mates?"
Stu took a deep breath. "Yes, Xerra. We are. I am. I know I'm slow to change, but I also know that I need to. Why do you ask?"
The younger doe suddenly looked terrified. "Oh... No reason, I was just wondering. Wanting to make sure... Ya know."
Bonnie smirked. "Who is he?"
The terror in her eyes as they got wider made the point clear. "I uh... Uhm..." Looking around wildly. "Uhm... Her name is Glade. She's a Capybura."
Stu nodded. "I see. Well, how long have you been seeing each other?"
Xerra looked beyond terrified. "Two months."
Bonnie smiled warmly at her daughter. "So, when can we expect to meet her?"
Xerra looked between her parents, confusion taking place of terror. "Uh... Well, she has the day off today, as do I. we both work the same shift at the pharmacy. She's studying to be a pharmacist."
"That's excellent dear. Why don't you invite her for dinner."
Xerra squeaked in surprise. "Really!?"
Stu nodded. "Yes, really. If I am going to get better, then the best thing I can think of to do is to welcome the mammal my child is seeing. As long as the give a good first impression as a mammal, their species shouldn't matter. That's the mindset I am trying to take on. You just happen to be the first, so I appologize in advance to both of you if I'm less than perfect."
Blinking several times, Xerra grins to the point it seems her head might slit in half. "Okay... I'll go call her now." In a flash, she was gone.
Bonnie turned to Stu and gives him a warm, lingering kiss. "I'm proud of you Honey Bun."
Stu nodded, smiling like an idiot after the kiss. "I'm actually kinda proud of me too. I... I didn't even feel the need to react. I had no anger. Maybe it is because she isn't a predator though." His smile giving way to a frown. That might be harder, but I'm still going to try."
"Ahem..." Their sun, Robbert stood before them. "Ma. Pa... Would it be okay if I invited my mate as well?"
Stu's ears fell. He had the sudden sinking feeling that things were about to get a lot more complicated. "Lets start with the basics, Robbert. Name, species, how long you've been together, and seriousness of the relationship." Seeing his the buck flinch, Stu quickly amended. "Species so we can make sure we have a proper meal prepared."
Robbert nodded. "Oh... Right. That makes sense. Well, we've been together for a year. I've wanted to propose, but with how things have been..."
Stu nodded sadly. "Got it. I was being an ass. I take it she is a predator than?"
Robbert nodded. "Yes. Her name is Sola, she's a kit fox from the family that moved to town a few years ago. I helped her catch up in school since they put her in as a Senior, but her old school was really not up to the task. We became friend, hung out as her place. She's the one that asked me about. I guess that's kinda a vixen thing, being the one to initiate. After that, we started seeing more of each other, and well..."
Bonnie grinned. "You know when dinner is, so I expect you to both be on time."
Smiling widely. "Yes mom!"
Stu added. "I'll also apologize to you early. Please forgive me is I slip up, but I am trying to be better."
"You're not that bad Pa. Besides, her family moved here to get away from the treatment they were getting. Her step-father is a lynx. Anyway, I need to go tell her."
Bonnie smiled. "When are you going to propose?"
"Tonight, up on the hill. It's where Nick proposed to Judy and Jess proposed to Alex. It seems fitting. I mean... If I can get up the courage."
Bonnie smiled. "That's where your father proposed to me too. It just has that air to it."
Stu nodded. "It does at that."
Robbert jobbed off, fishing his phone out of his pocket. Bonnie turned to Stu. "I think we are going to need to find out just how many of our kits have been hiding relationships from us and hold a special parents meet and dinner."
Stu chuckled as he nodded. "I expect so. Those two don't surprise me though. I'm sure there are plenty more." With a sad sigh. "And I've been hurting them all."
"Stu. There are so many rabbits here, it's almost a foregone conclusion that we will have a few who are gay, are interested in other species, or as Xerra shows, a bit of both."
"I suppose you are right. Well, I need to head into town if I'm going to catch Jess, and I'm going to swing by and get that information about adoption too. Enough we can ad it to the family planning alcove."
"Sounds like a plan. I guess I should probably make sure I have several pred meals ready, just in case we have a few extra guests."
Standing, Stu hooked his thumbs in his overalls. "Wouldn't surprise me in the least if that were the case." Giving Bonnie another Kiss, Stu walked off towards the front of the house.
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Pop-pop smiled sadly from his hiding spot. It was one of the better spots as it gave him a good view of the dining room, let his failing hearing catch what Bonnie and Stu might be saying, and also had a small ledge he could use as a seat to rest his old bones. He was nearing a century after all, and that was far longer than most rabbits pulled off.
Wiping a tear, he let memory take him back nearly a century to when he was so much younger, just one buck amongst hundreds of others. He remembered his secret friend. "Sasha..." His voice sad and wistful as he spoke the name he dared not for more than seventy five years.
"Who's Sasha, Pop-Pop?"
The little voice pulled him from the memory and he looked down to seen little Cotton smiling up at him He wasn't sure how long he had been stuck in memories, but at least they were mostly pleasant. "Oh, hello there Cottonball. What was that?"
"You said a name Pop-Pop. Sasha. Who is she?"
Reaching down and giving the little rabbit a gentle pat. "Oh, just a long lost friend that I never got to tell how I really felt about her." Wiping another tear. "Someone I couldn't be with because of how the world was in that time."
Cotton nodded. "Oh. Well, grandma Bonnie wanted me to find you. She wants to talk to you."
Smiling, he reached out a hand. "Sure thing dear, but can you take me to my room first. There is something I need to get."
"Sure." Cotton beamed up at her great great grandfather and took his hand. "That's on the way. She wants me to take you to the back porch."
"Perfect then. Lead on."
A few slow minutes later, they are in his room and he is digging through the chest at the foot of his bed. Once he'd emptied it, he reached into the bottom and stuck a finger into the knot hole in the bottom, pulling with all his strength. Grunting and straining, he finally admited defeat. "Damn it. I just don't have the strength anymore."
Cotton looks in and sees that the board in the bottom had shifted slightly. "Is there something underneath that board Pop-pop?"
Sitting on his chair. "There is, and I need it before I see your grandma."
Grinning, Cotton spins around. "Okay. Wait right here Pop-pop." She zips out of the room, leaving the old rabbit to chuckle.
A few moments later her voice is heard over the warren intercom. "Teams 3, 7, and 9. Rally point six. Code 12." She then reappeared in front of the old rabbit. "We'll be able to help you in just a second Pop-pop.
"What was all that about Cotton?"
"Just some codes we have worked out. We got ahold of some of Aunt Judy's police code books and decided to make our own teams and codes."
"Oh, is that so. Keeping us adults from knowing what you kits are up to?"
"Yeah, that too. It's mostly for when we play, but we do use it when we need help for something. Like now."
"Well, alright then."
A few moments later, there were a dozen kits in his room looking to Cotton like some kind of commander, and she spoke to them directing them just like it. "Jack, Arnold. You to are the strongest. Pop-pop has something hidden under the boards in the bottom of his chest, but isn't strong enough to pull it up anymore. You two will be in the chest grabbing the board, the rest of us, we'll be helping steady them so we can get those boards up."
With clearly practiced precision belying their youth, the kits quickly clamber into the chest, the two bucks grunting as they yank and pull on the board. Jack speaks up from inside the chest. "Arn, I'm going to lock my paw in the knot hole, you lift my legs up to the lip then get up there and pull. The rest of you, be ready to catch us."
The kits quickly change positions and moments later, the board is free. With a grin, Pop-pop stands up. "Great job kits. Thank you so much. My old bones just weren't up to the task anymore." Leaning down into the chest, a dozen tiny paws on him to steady him brings a smile on his face. "Thank you kits."
Cotton speaking up. "Of course Pop-pop."
Reaching into the exposed hole, he reaches back under the still in place boards and removes a small bundle. Reaching back in, he then pulls out a cigar box. Standing up carefully she looks over the kits, Arnold, Jack, and a doe where talking quickly and pointing at the board and the chest. "What's up kits?"
The turn and look at him, Jack speaking. "We were just thinking we could make it easier for you to get to what you had hidden in the future. If you will let us do it. We can have it fixed up by tonight."
"You think you can?"
Arnold grins. "Yes! We've done something similar with our toy chests. We still have some spare hinges and latch. If you are okay with that?"
"I would really appreciate it if you kits could make it easier on me. Thank you. I look forward to seeing what you do."
Putting the board back into the chest and closing the lid, Jack looks back up at Pop-pop. "We'll have it done as quickly as we can." Turning to the other kits he nods and as a group, they lift up the chest and head for the door, Cotton opening it for them.
After seeing the other kits with the chest on their shoulders out the door, he sees another handful outside the door clearly acting as lookouts. This gives me a wider grin. "Cotton, I am suddenly worried about what you kits have gotten up to."
Holding the door for him, she again grins up at him. "Well... A lot of us want to do things. There are a lot of us that want to farm, but a few of us also want to do our own things, like Aunt Judy."
Nodding and following the young doe towards the back porch, the cigar box and bundle held to his chest. "And you should be able to, though keep in mind that, depending on what that is you want to do, you can do both."
Cotton nodded as she skipped ahead. "That's what Aunt Judy said. She pointed to the nerds like Uncle Alex and how he does all his computer work from his office here in the burrow, and helps out when he's not busy."
Grinning himself. "Exactly right. Though I'll never understand what it is he does."
Shrugging, Cotton held open the door to the porch for him. "I dunno either. He said it was something about tracking the farms expenses and improving the software."
Bonnie looked up and smiled carefully upon seeing Cotton leading Pop-pop. "Thank you Cotton. Where was he hiding?"
"In one of his spots, listening to your announcement. Said he needed to get something from his room before meeting you."
"Oh, well okay. Thank you again Cotton, you can head off then."
"Okay Gramma. You gonna be okay Pop-pop?"
Giving the little doe a smile and pat. "I'll be find Cottonball." Looking up at Bonnie. "This is a conversation that has been a long time coming and is long overdue."
Bonnie narrowed her eyes at the oddly lucid old rabbit. "Is that so?"
Glancing to see Cotton bounding off towards the kits play area, he shuffled over to the chair next to Bonnie. "It is, Bonnie."
Taking her own seat, Bonnie looks over the old rabbit carefully. "Pop-pop. What's going on?" Taking note of the cigar box and bundle. "What are those?"
Carefully opening the cigar box, he looks at the contents with a fresh tear in his eye. "This is a past I had chosen to forget. One that is more relevant today than it has been at any other time. It is why, despite my poor treatment of that fox you are in business with, I am so very proud of you and Stu this morning."
Bonnie looks at the old rabbit with deep concern. "Pop-pop. Are you sure you're okay?"
"I am Bonnie. I really am." Pausing a moment, he looks up with a sad smile. "Her name was Sasha. She had the whitest fur I'd ever seen, with black spots all over the place. Her eyes were this icy blue that I could get lost in for hours."
"You've never talked about a Sasha."
Shaking his head. "No. Like I said, I buried it, the memories, and my feelings for her, to protect her. We met when we were in school, before I dropped out to return to take over the farm when my pa passed, being the oldest. Let me be clear. I do not regret being with my mate, I don't regret any of my children or what this family has become, save one thing. The treatment of predators that I helped foster."
Bonnie could not believe what she was hearing, and worse what she suspected this Sasha mammal was. "Pop-pop. You're not saying..."
"Sasha was a snow leopard. We were fast friends, and I never feared anything about her. If anything, she fascinated me. The differences between us. She was smaller than a usual leopard, so our size difference was a big either." Looking up sadly at Bonnie. "I was in love with her."
Reaching into the box, he pulls out a few faded photos and handed them to Bonnie. She looked them over, seeing a young Pop-pop with a snow leopard only just a bit over a head taller than him. A warm, friendly smile on his face, a fox pair standing next to them.
Shock and confusion clear in her voice. "Pop-pop... I don't understand."
"When I came back, I was going to give the farm over to my younger brother. It is what he always wanted, but he died shortly after I got back. He had always been sickly, so I didn't have anyone to turn it over to. Then Sasha, Victoria and Markus came to visit. I had to hide them in the barn for a week before I could get them out of town safely. The town was so anti-predator, and I didn't even realize it. To protect them, to keep them safe, I had to embrace that mindset. Since I couldn't leave, they couldn't stay or visit." Setting a small stack of letters on the table that he gave an affectionate pat. "We kept in touch for many years. Although that tapered off as our lives and our own families grew around us."
'Who were Victoria and Markus?"
"They are the red foxes in the photo. Victoria and Markus Wilde. They moved to the city to start a tailor shop. Wilde and Son. That son was named John. I'd have been his godfather if things had gone differently. I wish I could have known them longer. They were good mammals."
Bonnie was crying in disbelief. It wasn't possible. The story Nick had told her about the name of his fathers business before he had been killed. She scrambled to pull out her phone and dialed Judy.
A few moments later Judy answered. "Hey mom, what's up? Everything alright?"
Taking a shaking breath. "Judy, dear. Do you know the name of Nick's grandparents?"
"Yeah. Victoria and Markus."
Bonnie looked up at Pop-pop. "Judy's husbands name is Nickolas Wilde. Son of John and Vivian."
The old rabbit laughed. "You're kidding!"
Shaking her head with a watery laugh. "I'm not." Turning back to the phone. Thank you dear. We're going to come for a short visit in early next week. I'll text you when. Just a few of us."
"Okay mom. Was that Pop-pop?"
"It was. And don't worry, let Nick now I'll be bringing Cotton. I'd never deprive the two of them a visit."
Judy laughed. "Okay mom."
"Love you Judy. Talk to you later."
"Whatever mom. Love you too."
Bonnie hung up, knowing she'd left her daughter confused, the turned to Pop-pop again. "You think you're up to joining us on that visit?"
Smiling sadly. "I think I need to." Unwrapping the bundle to display several sets of collars. "Being a buck, I could get these made, whereas a doe wanting to get a set made would raise suspicions. From what I heard at your announcement, at least two of my grandkits could use a set, and I have five." Wrapping them up and handing them back. "You just pick the one that goes to them, and keep the others safe for when they're needed."
Bonnie looked at them in shock. "You were..."
"I was. We were going to run off somewhere that we could be together, but life and the world at the time prevented that. It's why I am so proud of you and Stu, though I know he is struggling a bit with it, he will come fully around. If you are willing to take such a stance, to change the culture of the Hopps family, it's time I come clean too. It's time I finally let go of the prejudice that was never really mine." Smiling, the rabbit put the letters and photos back in the box. "I'm old Bonnie, and kinda set in my ways. So, if I fall back into it, just remind me. An easy way to do that is have the Kerfluffle ask me who Sasha is. That'll snap me right."
Bonnie nodded. "I will Pop-pop. But... What I don't get it right now."
"Oh, being all lucid and not old and crazy?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, I'm still old and crazy. This was just important enough that I could put that aside for a minute. Besides, I'm pretty stable when you think about it, this just means I am going to try and not spout off about the evils of predators. It's a bit of a habit at this point, even if I never actually believed it. You'll notice I spend a lot of time with the youngest, yet I don't talk bad about predators around them. I just keep to the loud proclamations and swinging my cane sometimes. Keeps up the image, after all."
Bonnie chuckled. "I see. Well, you're first opportunity to show that you aren't who we have all though you were, should be here in about half an hour."
The old rabbit chuckled. "Hey, I still hold the scratches he gave Judy against him."
"She doesn't, so you shouldn't either."
He hurumphed. "Prerogative of being old, but I'll try not to attack him and scream about him being a devil."
"That should be a good start."
...
Some 45 minutes later, Gideon is in the kitchen putting down the last of the hopes weekly pie order with a large sigh. "Gosh Bonnie, I could stay in business just with your weekly order." Giving her a meek smile.
Bonnie laughed. "Oh Gideon. You'd never do it though. You enjoy it too much."
"True enough..." He trailed off upon seeing Pop-pop entering the kitchen. "Uh... I think I should go."
Bonnie turned and Pop-pop dodged her deftly. "You! Ain't you the fox that scratched my Trudy!"
Gideon looked to Bonnie confused. "Uhm... I think so, and for that I'm very sorry."
Swinging his cane around, he stops just shy of Gideon's nose. "Hmm... Is you though?" Poking Gideon's nose with said cane. "Are you really sorry? You told her yet?"
Gideon rubbed his nose and nodded, his voice nasally as he rubbed. "I am and I have sir. I know I was a bully as a kit, but I don't want to be that mammal anymore. I got a successful business and people actually like me for me now. I never had that as a kit and I acted up. It's not an excuse, just the reason."
Giving Gideon a fairly gentle bop on the head. "Good. You be behavin yourself and not causin us any trouble and as long as Trudy confirms your tellin the truth and I might not have to take you out by the wood shed."
Gideon looked at Bonnie in complete confusion as the old rabbit wondered out of the kitchen chuckling quietly. "Uhm... Bonnie?"
Bonnie shrugged. "I'm not quite sure Gideon. After the events of the past day, I'm just not sure about much anymore. Though, I do want to order a larger, wolf sized, blueberry pie. We're going to see Judy and her mate, and he a blueberry addict."
"Her mate? You mean Nick Wilde?"
Bonnie nodded. "That's the one. Apparently they got married in a fox ceremony and have even claimed each other, whatever that means. They both have bite scars, so I guess that has something to do with it."
Gideon stumbled back against the counter clutching his chest. "They... They claimed each other‽ Did you see the scars? Here?" Pointing towards his shoulder.
"I did. Apparently Nick was so worried about hurting her that he refused until she bit him first."
Gideon chuckled nervously. "That sounds like Judy. Always taking things into paw when they didn't go the way she wanted. Yeah, If she got him right in the..." His eyes going wide realizing who he was talking to. "Oh... Uhm... I should be going..." Pointing towards the door that he found Bonnie suddenly blocking. "Bonnie?" Sounding actually scared.
"Nope. You're not getting away that easy Gideon. I need to understand what has happened between Nick and my daughter."
"It's... It's not really my place. Uhm..."
"I'm not asking you to give me details like that, I want to understand what this means in fox and canine culture. What is it, why it's important, things like that. I'm going to have a fox as a son-in-law now, or rather I do have, and I want to make sure I don't insult him or something. Also seems like I might be getting a vixen soon as well. So I need a crash course in fox culture."
Gideon sighed. "Okay Bonnie, but... Let me get the rest of my deliveries done and then close up the shop. I... We'll need some of that blackberry wine you make."
"Fair enough. Can we expect you for dinner?"
"Sure. I'll just... I'll just need to tell Jess."
"Bring them with, but don't tell them where. Things are changing around here."
"What about Stu?"
"Don't you worry about him. I've had a talk with him and we're both on the same page now."
"Alright then. We'll see you at Dinner."
A moment after Gideon had left, Pop-pop wandered back into the kitchen. "So, how was that?"
Bonnie spun around in surprise. "What?"
"I asked, how was that?"
"That was good. You're going to confuse a few mammals, like me, for a bit, but it was good."
"Well, I do still kinda hold it against him after all." Looking over Bonnie. "Now... Why would you be wantin to know about claiming? Did Judy and her fox do that?"
"It would seem so."
"Well, that's damn serious then. Markus told me a bit about it. It's real traditional, but a bit thing with the Wildes. So if he is a Wilde, then it means a whole lot to him that Judy be willing to bare his mark."
"I really don't understand it, but they seemed happy about it."
"I will just bet they do. I guess you didn't get invited cause o'Stu?"
Bonnie nodded sadly. "Yeah, that's what they said."
"Well, you got them collars now. Make sure they put'em to use."
With that, he left the kitchen, leaving Bonnie just as confused as she was originally. Once out of sight, she muttered to herself. "He ain't as crazy as he lets on, and I'll bet the Kerfluffle knew that all along."
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A/N Keep the reviews and comments coming, it's making Muse happy, which lets me work on this and other things. And also remember, if you see issues, misspellings, etc... Let me know in PM, I'm under no illusion of being perfect and want to fix those things I miss.
If you are truly enjoying this, you can check out my original work by popping over to my blog, Scribblings. You can link to it here: and then select Scribblings Blog.