Girl's night out gave Judy a short reprieve from full time motherhood. Not that it was all that arduous, she delighted in the twins, but it was nice to take a break and have some adult conversation. True, she always talked adult to the kittens, no baby talk to warp their little brains, but they didn't yet have any useful exchanges beyond the random syllable.

There was Flora, already at the table, the matronly Spotted Skunk who filled her in on the particulars for the Twins early on. They had hit it off immediately with tales told of huge families/large day care populations, and now, a good while in, she was still a useful source of advice as well as a welcome shoulder to lean on when things got crazy.

"I just got a call from Dea, she won't be able to make it, so it's just you and me tonight." The older Female chuckled, "So, how's it going?"

"They've got Teeth!" Judy had been nursing the twins and just gotten that special surprise.

"Yeah, that's a thing that happens. First time I got bit I was all but ready to swear off feeding altogether."

"Yeah. I still find it a little weird. Just over-thinking it, but body parts making baby food?"

"All part of being a mammal. But I hear of all kinds of reactions. From getting rather turned on by it all to the poor girl who had nightmares that her cub was some kind of vampire parasite."

"Oh, that's pretty awful."

"Yeah. Things that happen. So, how is your Fox coping?"

Judy chuckled a bit at that. "He's getting into being The Dad more and more." She smiled. "He was a little apprehensive at first, not that he didn't like the idea, but that he might not be able to go the distance. But now, even after a hard shift, he always has time for them." She paused, with look of joy, "They've clearly bonded with him too. He gets anywhere near their crib and their noses get going and they crawl around looking for him. And they love to play and nap in his tail."

"I know, big bushy tails and little kits. But only the real thing. Tried some faux fur things and they weren't having it."

"Same thing happened to Nick when we visited family, the kits couldn't resist his brush."

"That reminds me. How has your family reacted to the new guys?"

"I told them, but haven't actually brought them over yet." And with that, Judy had to pause. "Mom and Dad are happy that I'm finally a Mother, at least by adoption."

"But?"

"Yeah. They really wanted kin-by-blood, but are happy for me." Judy's mood darkened a bit. "But I can't understand how some, a very few, of my family have been so hostile to me.'

She sighed, "You heard all too much about all the hissy-fits some had about my career. Most of it was just the practical fear of the unknown; rabbits have never done that kind of thing, kind of thing. But there were a few that were the 'how dare you' kind. Some of that was just conformity, 'we all have to fit into our natural niches' and it was wrong, even sinful or criminal not to. But a few took it more personal, like I was actively rejecting them, I was too good for farming or small town life."

Judy took an angry slurp of her tea and let her foot stammer on the floor.

"Did you know there were a few who were actually happy to see me in my condition the first time after the accident? They didn't exactly come out and say it, but there was a lot of 'I got what I deserved' looks."

Flora was visibly shocked, "I've seen some nasty family stuff. This isn't the worst, but it is right up there. They must have a real hate-on for your Nick?"

"Perversely not. At least not after the initial shock. 'That would be specie-ist.' Maybe because he's been so good for me. They might dislike him, but they can't get any schadenfreude out of it." Her foot began to really drum. "Its the other ones, a few of my sisters, My Sisters! Who I'm dreading the most if I go back with the twins."

Judy adjusted herself to get her foot off the floor and away from things to pound on. "It isn't all of them, only a couple or three actually, but they - " She flailed her arms, searching for the right expression. "Okay, it all started a few years back. I was back home on break and we had a girl's night, a slumber party for us now grown-ups, adult beverages and naughty stories of our husbands and boyfriends."

"One of my Cousins was there, like me she wasn't married, or mated, or had any kits. But that was in part due to she had fertility issues, couldn't conceive. Had a marriage cancelled over it. And one of my sisters flat out said she had no reason to live because she couldn't produce. Needless to say my poor Cousin was devastated. Further, that sister said I was evil-wicked-nasty for 'wasting my womb' by pairing up with Nick instead of pumping out kits. And she was dead serious."

Flora nodded her head to that, "Not like I haven't heard that before. As though that's all we're good for. That and the classic 'keep them home and pregnant'. But I wouldn't be in business if most folks could afford to do that. Sure, some comfortably middle-class families can swing a full-time stay-at-home, but overall, there's never been a time that at least nearly half the mothers in this city have not worked at least part time out of the house. And how many don't, or defer kids for all kinds of reasons."

"But that kind of pellets is what I'm looking forward to if I go, doubly so if I take the twins."

"But to the family who really counts?" Flora gave the sad Bunny an encouraging look.

"You're right. This time of year there ought to be a couple hundred kin around, and all the little ones. It would be interesting to see how they'd react to a foofy tail more their own size."

Judy made a particularly sad sigh. "And that particular sister isn't around any more. When Mom and Dad heard about it..." She was not going to say what happened next. No one is ever stricken from the Clan, but That Name hasn't been uttered since. That incident had it's own repercussions, but those who really mattered to her were worth the petty poison from the rest.

----

"And we're getting a rental why?" While they could easily afford it, Nick was too practical and too urban to worry about cars most of the time. Zootopia had a very comprehensive metro network and he had never really needed to even learn to drive until rather late in life. Then the express rail to Bunny Burrow made the trip quicker and easier than any car.

"Because we might need a fast getaway. Or, more accurately, a dignified retreat. Just in case." Judy's earlier enthusiasm for introducing the Twins to the family was beginning to wane and she was considering various disaster scenarios. "It wouldn't do to have some kind of really bad blow-up then beg for a ride to the train station, then have to wait there until the next run, like half a day later."

Nick picked up Martin and pointed to Judy, "See, this is your Mother going crazy. Mad dog killers hardly get a blink, but... " He trailed off looking at his Wife. The way she was holding Mabel and looking at him. Finally, "Yeah. It isn't about you, or us. Its about the Twins."

"I don't really expect things would get really bad, but I'm not going to expose them to even a bit of the kind of hate I know a few are capable of. And, if things simply get boring, I can finally give you the grand tour of the Greater Tri-Burrow region."

At that, Nick feigned abject terror. "Hang on Martin, I know you're stronger than me. So.... " His voice trailed off and real wrenching pain twisted his face. He held his Son closer, all but frantic in his little grooming licks and kisses, more to comfort himself than the giggling Kitten whom though Daddy had gone goofy again.

He was going to make a little joke about, in the face of the unendurable tour, that the two would have a suicide pact to evade it. But it was suicide, the Twin's birth Mother, that had brought them to Him, and only belatedly remembering that was a gut-punch.

Judy realized that too, and to attempt to break the mood, "Okay, my delicate little Fox, we don't Have to visit the Planting Implement Museum or the biggest yard ball in the county."

Nick caught on and had to play, "But, the Biggest Yarn Ball! You promised!"

They hugged. Martin, in the middle of the sandwich, squealed in joy, while Mabel, now obviously being oh so cruelly left out, squealed in dismay. She got scooped up to share.

"We are such a wretched, traumatized pile."

"Yeah."

"Ice cream?"

"Ice Cream!!"

Squeals!

----

The drive to Bunny Burrow could have gone better. Judy insisted on driving, she liked to drive, and felt she was the better driver than Nick, and probably was too. But she now had the problem of having to left foot everything. Her braced right leg didn't have any kind of reliable motor function.

While there were hand control only cars available, they were few in number and expensive for just a quick visit. Then to really do the controls safely would require some practice before the trip. So, instead, they got a regular car, though did test fitted it for Judy's likely driving needs.

At first she was able to wrangle things more or less, and the drive wasn't going to be all that far or that long. But after only the first half-hour she had to pull over.

"Gah! This isn't working!" The Very Frustrated Rabbit stomped as much as her limbs allowed around the rest stop parking area.

Nick stood beside the car, watching the Twins who were uncertainly watching their Mother. "You Okay?"

"I was so worried about my driving posture related to my legs that I forgot about my eye." She tried not to scratch at the scars on the right side of her face around the eye patch. "The compromised field of vision is driving me nuts and my head and neck is killing me."

Nick made 'come here and get a rub' motions. Judy complied and he was dismayed to find her neck and shoulders rigid with tension. "Dang, Girl, you are tight today." Judy grimaced and squeaked as Nick worked her out. He sighed, "So, I get to drive." And at that Judy's expression was almost as forlorn as her Fox's.

Nick drew back in mock indignation, "I hope you are not going to bring up the Unfortunate Incident?"

"No." But she might at sometime if Nick does some other dumb maneuver, "Get in and drive, Hot Shot."

Judy got in the back seat with the Twins to keep them occupied in their 'crash survival modules' as Nick liked to call the infant car seats. Nick made an ostentatious show of preparing himself to drive, taking a good several minutes to get the seat, the mirrors- with some grooming asides- , and all the controls just so. Then, as he started the car, began the classic airliner preflight warning instructions, to which Judy responded with the threat of a beating with the used diaper bag.

The rest of the trip was largely without incident, though Nick needed driving music to help him concentrate, and subjected Judy to his rather 'eclectic' tastes on his player. Judy considered revenge fantasies, but the Twins, rather perversely, seemed to enjoy much of it.

As their arrival time was left vague, there was no massed welcoming crowd when they got to the Hopps compound. Parking around back, they entered through one of the side doors, and as they didn't immediately find anyone, made their way to the kitchen, where there was always something going on.

It was one of the little ones who spotted them first, with a delighted screech, "Unka Nick's here!" which, of course, set off a mob of bunnies to echo the call and surge towards the hapless Fox. But before he could be inundated with the avalanche of fluff, someone yelled "Manners!" and the stampede stopped just short.

"Thank you, who ever just saved me!" Nick called out over the crowd, then knelt down to introduce them to the new member of the family. "This little Gal here is Mabel, your new Skunk Cousin." The mass of little ones, especially the really young ones, were in awe of the black and white marvel. She was fluffy and had a Big Tail, and was little too. "Now, you all can meet her, but be nice, she is just a little kit." For her part, Mabel sniffed and peered warily at the collection before her.

"But, wait, there's more!" Nick wound up his best pitchmammal flair as he turned to Judy who held their Son. "We also have Martin, her Brother, so there is plenty of them to go around." He stood up, noticing all eyes on the two novel bundles, including the adults who were watching from a little distance, not wanting to be caught in the crush. Among them was Bonny, the Matriarch, who pointed and mouthed 'the main room' to the pair.

It was in the great main room where the crowd had a much better chance to both better appreciate the Twins and generally circulate among various kin. Nick feigned dismay that he was not the sole source of fluff for the little ones and only had a half-dozen or so wrigglers tangling his fur. Despite Judy's ongoing worries about how the family was reacting to both Nick and the Twins, for the moment everything was just fine.

Nick had cultivated some real friends in the Hopps clan, both for his genuine and steadfast commitment to Judy though thick and thin, and to him personally as a very likable fellow, even as a Fox. That he now had given Judy kits of her own, even as unorthodox as they were, only added to their enthusiasm for him.

As for the Twins, skunks in the Tri-burrows were simple regular folks; the local families were honest, hard-working, square deal types, a bit overlooked, as they were not ones to bring attention to themselves. And in that, the notion of having them there could be settled with the simple realization that it was something that Judy would do.

Martin was a little puzzled by all the fuss, but was interested in the little bunnies of about his age immediately around him and the cluster of slightly older kits just beyond. The bunnies pawed and hugged at his bushy tail, already nearly as big as the rest of him, while he was fascinated with all the long ears that could be politely grabbed.

Poor Mabel was not as enthusiastic, hugging her tail to keep it away from the bulk of the grabby strangers. She did notice and did not begrudge one who was stroking a bit in a very polite fashion. After a time the others noticed the acceptance of the more restrained action and too began to pet and stroke both her tail and then her in general, which settled her down more generally.

Everyone old enough to appreciate the scene did something of a collective 'aww' at the mass of cute. This, of course, didn't last, as someone pulled at someone else a bit too hard and cried out for some parental attention.

Nick and Judy exchanged some 'so good so far' expressions. With the high percentage of very young kits on hand, the 'weens and 'teens were not at all interested in the baby stuff, though with the doting parents in attendance, it was very much the best possible crowd for a first impression.

As the day wore on, the novelty faded and most everyone settled into their daily routine. As before, Judy fell into the roll of caregiver, being too slow to escape the little ones as well as caring for her own. And this time, she had the assistance of her Fox, tragically dragged down by innumerable little paws in his thick brush. So anchored, they were available for various family members to socialize with more one-to-one over the course of the day.

Old Stu had been out in the fields when they arrived and only got to catch up with them later.

"So glad to see you finally make a Mother out of her." He gushed, pumping Nick's paw when he saw them all together.

"Well, sir, it was actually her idea." Nick nodded to his Wife. "And, I suspect, your Bonny had a hand in it as well."

"Yeah, she told me about that. But hardly a secret. My little Jude was so perked up after that day that it was hardly a surprise to hear about these little things." He leaned in to take a closer look at his somewhat unorthodox grandkits. "Oh, my little Bun, they're such scrumptious little things!"

"Glad you like them Dad." Judy was hardly concerned, her Father was such a sentimental soul, but she was heartened to see the real enthusiasm in him. He had not always been all that keen on non-lapin additions to the family, but after Nicolas, there had been others, and the proportional impact to his xenophobic tendencies had been reduced to a non-issue.

However, as a very practical and concerned parent, his face was a range of emotions as he picked up and examined the tiny Boy. "You are such a lovable little bit." He stoked the silky coat and drew out the plume of a tail. "Such a shame that some folk will think less of you just because you're not one of them." Then, looking towards Nick and Judy, "Or that you're adopted." He held His Grandson to his cheek, "And to someone of another species."

He drew in the slightly foreign scent of little Martin, but with the mingled taste of his Daughter and That Fox. But that term was now his internal term of affection, a private joke of the changing nature of things.

For his part, Martin found this new Mothersperson extra special. Like the rest he had the wonderful velvety fur, and if he were a bit more ambitious, a pair of particularly tasty looking ears to work on. But it had been a busy day and he was ready to take a nap. This Mothersperson was oh so soft for that, and had the best smells about him, of sky and plants and dirt, even if Martin wasn't entirely sure of what those were. There was also the deep sense of carelove, and in that Martin could fade in comfortable security.

By the end of the day and after the evening meal, the whole Wilde-Hopps family was more than ready to call it a night. Even with the several naps, the Twins were ready to be really out, and their parents were right behind them. They had gotten one of the family bedrooms to accommodate all four of them. After getting the Twins bedded down, the pair flopped down on their own bed, half ready to crash out as is.

"So, will we need the fast getaway?"

"I guess not after all. The power of the fluff compels them."

"Can we still see the biggest ball of yarn?"

"You know that isn't actually a thing?"

A particularly petulant whine, "What? I was so hoping to experience its glory. So, the ball of yarn is a lie?"

An exasperated groan and some smart pad dances later. "According to the interwebs, there is a big ball of yarn over in Podunk. Doesn't say if it's the biggest though."

"I guess we'll have to go and find out. Oh boy, road trips."

----

The main house had evolved more than was designed, as generations of Hopps flourished and new needs arose. One such detail was a literal nursery; a place for young mothers to tend to their infant's needs with a handy array of resources available to make that most basic of mammalian acts more convenient. Though Bonny was though with her own broods, she was up early to make sure all was well with any of the next generation.

"Judy?" The elder Doe could hardly believe it. There was Judy on one of the couches, little Martin to her breast.

"Hi, Mom. I finally made it." Judy glanced around to indicate she meant the nursery, with her as a mother in it.

"Yes, you did." The elder Doe could barely hold back the tears of joy in seeing that. The simple serenity of a Mother and Son, especially knowing the time and tragedy that preceded it.

And she was half-surprised to see Nick in the background. The male folk tended to stay away to let the mothers have their privacy, but there he was, playing goofy face with his Daughter.

"Hey, Ma'am. Aren't they a thing?" The Fox gestured to his Mate and Son.

"Yes, they are." Bonny did her best to enjoy the best of the image, but Judy was in shorts and her braced leg was all too visible, and though the scars were nearly hidden by now well-established coat, there was no hiding the eye patch.

After long moments, another set of young parents arrived, Josh and Serina and their pair of newborns. Unlike the ancestral form, modern baby bunnies were a bit more like their Hare kin, fully furred and less helpless, though nowhere near as active as their ready to run cousins.

The pair gave Judy a little double take, Josh, as a younger brother, knew a lot of Judy's history and beamed at his Sister's new status. He then whispered a bit to his quizzical Mate to fill her in on some of the highlights.

"OMG, THE Judy Hopps." Serina gushed. "You are, like, the best, I mean..." and she went off on a verbal avalanche in her excitement.

Josh leaned over to Nick, "Do you guys get this a lot?"

"Not so much anymore. We're finally old news to a lot of people, especially in the city." The two watched as the females settled in. Serina was still gushing, but now going on about being a Mother and all. Nick passed off Mabel to Judy while Serina took up her little Joyce. The two Fathers stood off to the side, holding their Sons as they watched their Mates and Daughters.

"So, you've got that particular allergy too?" Nick observed the bit of wet in the young Buck's eyes that went with a dumbstruck smile.

"Uh?" Josh started in surprise, "W-What?"

"You know, the wetness, the sniffles, the deep breathing..."

It took a moment to get through, then he smiled more broadly. "I guess I do."

"And you know you don't get over it, as long as you're a father."

"Worth it."

Bonny came over and considered the two, "And just wait until you're a grandpop!" giving them both a very knowing look as she left them to their generation.

---

A little later, Judy found herself back out in the fields, leaning on the same old hulk of a tractor, her Mother besides her.

"So, how's it going?"

"Much better."

"I could tell. Seeing you with your Kittens, and Nicholas. Probably the first time I've ever seen you really content."

Judy gave her Mother a quizzical look. "I've been..." She trailed off. No, she couldn't think of a time in which she'd describe herself as 'contented'. It was simply not a word that she would have applied to herself. Well, being with Nick, in those languorous special moments, those might count though. But there was something so elemental, so instinctual, in having that little life attached to her, with her Mate close by.

"Maybe it's a thing I can do after all."

After some moments of quiet reflection, Judy's brow furrowed a bit. "After some of the reactions I got the last time here, I was a bit concerned about bringing the Twins this time."

Bonny pulled at her muzzle. "Yes. I know." She reached over and gripped Judy's paw. "But last time was a special case."

"I've never apologized to you enough for how I didn't support you early on. But you know it was never a matter of anything I though you shouldn't do."

"Of course, Mother. And it isn't like we haven't had this conversation before. "

"But I didn't tell you that I've these kind of heart-to-hearts with nearly all my bunnies." she gestured to the well-worn path to the tractor, "And the hate shown you was not always what you might think it was. You were not the first or last by any stretch to want to go off and do something different. Everyone got the 'just settle' speech in some form or another. The tragedy was that too many did follow our advice."

The elder Doe hugged herself and looked out at thoughts and memories.

"So the resentment that you've gotten over the years has been, more often than not, and totally unfair to you, not so much for what you've done, but what they haven't done. However, in time, more have come to better own their choices and not hold you responsible."

"But to the matter of your last visit. Bad timing that. You know that, on paper, the Hopps holdings add up to some fairly substantial numbers. Some dumb bunnies got into their heads that it meant that we were, collectively, rich, swimming in cash. Of course that's nonsense, it's all in the value of our lands and investments. But all they saw was big numbers and were making a real scene over it. Doubly so in that many of you had gone to collage and such, paid for out of the family fund, so why couldn't they get some equivalent, just to have.

So, in the end, the family decided to make an offer to cash them out, a one-time lump sum, their fractional share of the collective. Of course, even big numbers get pretty small when divided by several hundred. The details of that were still being hashed out when you came to visit, and you got an extra level of unfair hate-on due to the tension of the time.

"Why didn't anyone tell me any of this? And what happened with the settlement?"

"We didn't want to give you something more to worry about at the time, though you may well have done better knowing. As for the greed heads. Most realized that they'd be better off sticking with things as they were, especially for the long term. But three did opt for the cash out. One simply took the money and left, haven't heard a word, don't know where he went. The other two, rather predictably burned through all of it in short order."

"That was only, what, a couple or three months?"

"Oh, yes. Bought a bunch of toys and generally dithered it all away in no time."

One's now a hired hand over in Greyson and the other has a job in town. They come by on occasion. They're still family, of course, but just not with the financial benefits.

"But back to the family in general. It s all too easy to be self-righteous and rule-bound in youth." Bonny gave her Daughter a knowing look, and Judy cringed in the memory of her own insufferable phases. "But, as they grew up, they have had to live in the real world. And in that, better recognize what really matters." She reached out to entwine Judy's arm. "You won't reach Everyone. And, sad to say, some of that is driving a few away from the rest of us too. Every generation has those who won't or can't fit in with the family."

The elder Rabbit got up and drew her Daughter along with her back to the house. "We're all wising up with age, just some faster and slower. Even if it only means knowing when to keep their opinions to themselves." After a moment's quiet thought, she gave the Younger a little nudge of admonishment, "And it wouldn't hurt if you were around more often."

"Well, I suspect, with the Twins, that I'll have to, whether I want to or not."