I do not own Zootopia, that belongs to Disney. This a fan work made solely for the sake of amusement.

Interspecies Relationship Support Network- Tri-Burrow Chapter

Chapter One: Growing Pains

By: Gabriel LaVedier

"Well folks, that's the meetin'. Thanks for comin' and we'll see y'all next week," Gideon Ovine said, quite a bit louder than was his usual. But his voice needed to carry from his back storage room, into the kitchen and his front room. The whole place was thick with mammals of many sizes and species, all of them composed of couples, and those couples composed of different species.

A lot of rabbits were in evidence, though no Hopps family rabbits were seen. Those rabbits consorted with a motley mix of other prey, like beavers and sheep, as well as predators and technical predators like raccoons, possums and even a skunk. Bobby Catmull, local event DJ and music store owner, was there with his fiancee, a mule deer. Jaguar Manchas was snuggled up to Doctor Arctos, the grizzly bear that was Bunnyburrow's primary physician.

It took a while for everyone to file out of the bakery, which only just barely seemed capable of holding all of them, standing, with some being carried.

"Well, we do enjoy being cozy together," Jaguar quipped, slowly nuzzling into Dr. Arctos' neck.

"Yes, well, I prefer it when you're the only warm body pressing into my side," she replied, effortlessly carrying Jaguar out of the shop.

"Oh, Ursula, you need to get close to your neighbors, especially if they love differently, like we do," Jaguar said in return.

"We're very boring, liebchen. We're not Outsiders, we're only ordinary lovers outside our species. It takes courage to be like Mr. Catmull or Mr. Demilop. His wife is a Division Child, that's something very bold," Ursula noted.

"Yes, cariñito, but we aren't cowards. We're here."

"That doesn't mean they're cowards," Bobby cut in. "They might just be busy. Thomas and Nancy are working hard down on the farm. Rose and Simon have been busy with wedding planning. Plus... it's been such a tight fit here or at your office that some folk prefer not to come."

"My partner is a nice mammal but why don't we go to his family farm? He's a Dreyson now, and they have much land."

"Active farmland, with a lot of groves that just don't have much space. And the main house is just sized for me. Gideon and Sharla hang out outside when they visit. It would be a tight squeeze if they went inside," Travis Dreyson said, overhearing his partner's conversation. "Plus Big Daddy has his paws full getting my brothers-in-law married off. He doesn't need attached folks around messing up his plans to have nice ladies over to see if they can bear their rambunctious attitudes."

"There must be something that can be done," Ursula said. "A group like this is needed and should be able to help all of its members."

"They got it easier in Zootopia," Gideon said, walking out beside Sharla. "Every District's got their own chapter, maybe more'n one, and they got nice, big buildings. We could rent out the Granger Hall but that gets inta bucks."

"Took a lot of razzle-dazzle to get them to open a chapter out here and only by taking the whole Tri-Burrows as the chapter location. They think out in the sticks we don't have a lot of folks like us."

"Now Travis, it was because we ain't got that many mammals out here," Gideon corrected "You saw how many mammals they got packed inta all them districts."

"I know, I know! I went to school in Zootopia," Travis grumbled.

"You could fit the Tri-Burrows into a corner of the city and have room for the rest of the countryside," Sharla said. "I had almost forgotten when we went back for Judy's wedding. I came back here willingly because I just can't keep up with a place that big. But... I still think we need big city things like the internet and a network like this."

"But we need big city space ta go along with it," Gideon said.

"We should have our own space. Someplace nice, a little private," Ermintrude offered. "We can use it for a personal space and for the network, and not have to keep paying over and over and put up permanent decorations."

"Being able to have a setup that's ours alone, that we can decorate it like we want, have it be ours completely, that's convenient, and we won't have to keep paying the fees over and over," Travis mused.

"But even if we got the bucks together, and I ain't sayin' we can't... we ain't poor thicket-trash, we jes ain't..." Gideon said, voice trialing off.

Sharla softly hugged Gideon to her side and stroked his tail slowly. "Even if we could get the money together, how do we find a good piece of property?"

"Where's Pepper O'Pogo?" Travis asked. "She's a real estate agent. She sold me and Jaguar our office space, and homes."

"Our home," Ermintrude said in an insistent voice. "Part time. We still live at the homestead. Big Daddy likes having his family close."

"She and Zeke didn't make it this week. Probably because of what we were just saying," Sharla said, looking though a clipboard with a roll sheet.

"If we want a strong network with folk coming around to have meetings and enjoy each others company we need space, and if there's space Pepper should know," Jaguar said.

"I have free time at lunch, I could pop over to the office, see if Zeke is in. Is Pepper still going Vesper and Night shifts?" Travis asked.

"Not since the Lago family moved to Podunk. There was little enough reason to do it even then. We're just not nocturnally inclined here," Jaguar noted.

"With all the rabbits ya'd think there'd be call fer Matin and Vesper service but all my best business comes straight at noon, Matin/Day crossover time. Works fer me, leastways I know when to stock the most pastry," Gideon explained.

"Pepper'll be in the office, then. Good. Jaguar, do you mind covering at noon?" Travis asked.

"No problem, amigo. If you get more space for us it will be worth double work for one day," Jaguar said with a thumbs up.

"Assuming someone comes in. Otherwise it's double nothing," Travis chuckled.

Jaguar grumbled lightly as everyone around him laughed.

o o o

The next day, near to about twelve-thirty, Travis made his way into the Bunnyburrow Real Estate Company office, which was just down the street on the place's 'main drag' after he had stopped off at Attie and Martin Marten's Fish and Chips for a walking lunch.

He tossed the paper from the meal into the trash can near the office before entering it. "Hey all, who's free?"

Though the office was relatively small, mostly a few low cubicles at the front with a big walled-off area in the back where more proper offices and storage was, it was hard to tell if anyone was in. The whole thing tried hard to be just like a suburban office, with bland carpet, fuzzy beige walls on the cubicles, and all the furniture being metal and plastic standard office furniture in the standard sizes.

Several heads popped up from the cubicles, mostly looking like folks seeking property. At one of the smaller, lower cubicles the figure was the unmistakable and unique Pepper O'Pogo, with her dark gray coat freely flecked with spots of black. The opossum agent smiled happily and waved Travis over.

"Well isn't this just your lucky day? I'm here to help you out again. Don't tell me you and the missus are finally going to stay at the old Dreyson manor for good, that's some good property over your shop. I'd hate to get into the hassle of renting it to someone else. It just works out better for everyone," Pepper said with her usual ever-cheerful rapidity.

It took Travis' head a moment to stop spinning from the dizzying rush of cheer and chatter. "Uh, no, no Pep, we're keeping the top floor and doing Sundas, Frededas and Moondas at the manor so everyone can go to church. And we have Frededas to ourselves."

Pepper laughed heartily and bade Travis sit down on the medium chair in her cubicle. The walls had been mostly covered in tacked-up comic strips, cute calendar pages and photos of the possum with many other mammals, all having a good time. She sat back down behind her desk and started typing away at her somewhat outdated but colorful pink Carrot computer. "So if you're not selling, what are you looking to buy? Oh! Is this it? Is Big Daddy Dreyson giving you the bucks to start he newest Dreyson orchard? I hope you two are ready for that. You put in the work and you can be the next Big Daddy Dreyson for your family line."

Before he could answer a somewhat sullen-looking rabbit buck in a blue jumpsuit shuffled into the cubicle and took out the small trash can, dumping the contents out into the larger can on a janitorial cart. "Need anything cleaned or repaired today, Mrs. O'Pogo?"

"Not today, Rob, but thank you kindly for asking," Pepper chirped, pleasantly.

Rob nodded his head in response and moved down the line.

Travis chuckled once the exchange was over. "I see you got your own Hopps rabbit."

"Plenty of 'em to go around and they all need jobs when the farm isn't in need.," Pepper noted.

"We've got one down at the office. Kenneth. He is a chipper little charmer. He reminds me of someone..."

Pepper snorted with the force of her sudden, short laugh. "Well, guilty as charged. But I should ask the proper question. What is it that I, a humble representative of this establishment, can do for you, good property-buyer?"

"Well, as you and Zeke probably noticed, the Support Network meetings are getting... tight. The central Network folks can't really do much, we're new and very out there. It's starting to affect us. We're trying to accommodate three Burrows worth of interspecies couples. Sure, it's mostly the Bunnyburrow crowd, but some folks do come from Squirrelburrow and Predburrow. And they need this. They need to know they're not alone, that there are others just like them. It's important."

Pepper nodded, looking somewhat sad about the whole matter. "I know. And... I'm sorry Zeke and I weren't there. But it's hard for him, with all the tight space and all. Maybe we also don't really think of what the Network really does. Sure, we may be super comfortable with ourselves, but the Network is there for other folks. And we're there to show 'em just how happy you can be when you let go of fear and just get cozy."

"Big Daddy likes to say, you don't get the juiciest peach without going out on a limb. Momma Dreyson usually adds that she went after him. Then it sort of devolves into a lot of mush I wish the silver glow could wash out of my eyes. It's true, though. I risked things for Ermintrude, too. It's why Big Daddy respects me. We help folks go out on that limb. I think I was only so bold because of Gideon and Sharla, not to mention Judy and Nick breaking the final barrier. It's why I'm an actual Dreyson, though I don't doubt Ermintrude would have hauled me down before the head Fiffarah had I been reluctant to call up the lead Convoker for a wedding."

"It would be nice to have a proper place to get together, to help those poor creatures in need. I'd sure love being active and involved and so would... Zeke!" Pepper raised a paw and waved happily at someone behind Travis.

Travis turned to look upon a true titan of lapine kind. He lacked the stout girth of his cousin Bongo in general, though his notorious love of berries and carrots in all manner of foods kept him bottom-heavy. He was still easily a head taller than most other rabbits, all covered in soft gray fur and a light cream front, his hanging, enormous ears tipped in dark chocolate brown. He was dressed in gray slacks that fit well enough for his purposes and a white short-sleeve shirt cinched at the neck with a carrot-print tie. He had a huge paper bag in one paw, that radiated a slight aroma of fish, along with a cardboard drink coaster.

The bottom-heaviness made his gait a little sashay-ish, something he couldn't help, but which he also didn't try to stop. He made his way past Rob, looking apologetic as he squeezed past and noted the nose wrinkle from the fish smell, entering Pepper's cubicle and leaning in to give her a warm kiss on the lips, that moved into something slightly below snogging, but only just slightly.

Travis politely cleared his throat to get the kiss to break up. "Ahh, got yourself and Pep some lunch, Mr. O'Pogo?"

"That Mrs. Marten is so sweet, and Mr. Marten made sure I got extra blueberries in my smoothie," Zeke said with a bright smile. He pulled a paper-wrapped bundle that radiated heat and the smell of fish. "Mrs. Marten says it's trout today."

"Awww barleycorn, I like anything. And you're so sweet to go get it. Not a lot of bunnies like the smell of fish," Pepper cooed.

Zeke looked at Rob as he sullenly made his way along. "I know it. But it's a great place. I keep trying to talk Martin and Attie into joining the Network but they really don't want to make a big fuss. They were fine with getting married but they had that tiny ceremony."

"Maybe this will help. Travis and the rest of the Network want to buy some property they can use as a proper meeting place. Then we won't be so packed in all the time," Pepper said, opening up her paper packet of fried fish and potatoes, squirting lemon juice all over it before she took a healthy bite. She fanned her mouth and breathed quickly, chomping her mouthful rapidly and swallowing as quickly as she could. "Bounteous blessings! Attie must have just yanked that out of the fryer!"

"I wanted them nice and hot for you, honey. Sorry..." Zeke had his own meal of fried vegetables cooling on Pepper's desk. He set a smoothie that was largely blue and orange in front of himself and a more conventional cup of soda in front of Pepper. "Just what you like, Diet Hep, lots of ice with a little hit of licorice syrup."

Pepper took a big sip and sighed. "Generous plenty... I think I'm the only mammal in the burrow that drinks Hep. But as long as they keep making it, I'll keep drinking it. Now Travis... what are you looking for in a location?"

"Uh well... space?"

"Space? Well... suppose I've heard less exact requirements. But, are we going to need specialized rooms, particular facilities... bathrooms? We can get away with an outhouse system, but that would add the need to hire a service. And will we need it wired for electricity?" Pepper asked.

Travis thought about it for a while, drumming his manicured claws on the seat of his chair. "Well... bathrooms... that would be handy. Electricity... yeah, that helps. I'd ask for WiFi for Sharla but Bunnyburrow is barely advanced enough to have that in homes. Hmm... do you have list of places?"

Pepper pulled out a folder and smiled her high-mouthed smile. "Always have my prospects here."

"Can you show them off tomorrow? I'm gonna need Gideon with me to look over the properties. As the ones tapped to be the heads of this chapter it's our responsibility to make sure we pick the right space."

"Of course! That sounds like a plan," Pepper said, standing and reaching out to shake Travis' paw.

Travis shook the offered paw and smiled. "Fantastic! With more space and more to offer we can give a safe place for interspecies couples and encourage them to be bold."

Zeke chuckled deeply. "Maybe we could even get the Martens out there. Make sure it's nice and open, honey pie. Sweet harmony love her, but Attie never stops smelling like fish."

The three mammals in the cubicle all gave a hearty laugh.

Author's Notes

Gideon Ovine? Travis Dreyson?- Quite a change from the original stories, but all very logical. Gideon was openly disdainful of his family name, and only ever loved two of his relations who were merely slightly crazy rather than malevolent. Of course he took Sharla's name once they got married. For Travis, it was more practical. He married into a family of wealth and status. Becoming a Dreyson meant big things. He was one of the family, a big wheel in the Tri-Burrows, a somebody. Plus, he just really loves Ermintrude and was glad to do it.

Dr. Ursula Arctos- A hilarious exercise in redundancy and a sly reference. Yes, Ursula Andress is meant to be evoked, meaning Jaguar's girlfriend is sexy as a Bond Girl. But also, her name means Little She-Bear Bear.

Thomas and Nancy- Some more callbacks. The absent Nancy Demilop nee Wulfberg is the granddaughter of former Mayor Wulfberg, daughter of the late Buck and Olympia Wulfberg-Mouflon, and sister of Officer Louis Wulfberg of the ZPD. They're from "Unbounded Love" chapter two, "The Incredible Life" but also the alternate universe version of Louis has a modest role in "The Translation of Dawn Bellwether."

Pepper O'Pogo- The fun part of inventing certain elements on the fly, even if other elements had very direct planning. I wanted a real estate agent but had no idea for an identity. She started out as a gender-bender reference to Pogo the possum, and her husband was originally going to be a skunk named Mon'seer Hezekiah, until I thought it would be more adorable for her to be a full Outsider, so Zeke became a bunny. It's also a Sofia the First reference, Sassofrass and Barley being almost overtly a couple by the end of the episode "Bunny Swap." That's where I got Pepper's personality.

The Lago family- This normally would mean "lake" and sort of hint at something like an otter or beaver. However, with the mention of nocturnal stuff, it takes on a new reference. It's meant to indicate a shortened form of Murciélago, the Spanish word for "Bat."

Attie and Martin Marten's Fish and Chips- This seems random, but it's an example of some slightly reduced content. I used to read a lot of Redwall novels. And I always wished that some romance could have gone down between the prey and predators. So, another Outsider pair mentioned in reference. Martin the Warrior becomes Martin the entrepreneur, making his marten wife's dream of a food shop for predators come true. Why a marten? It's funny, and is one of the smaller weasels. To make the sizes make some kind of sense, she's likely a smaller example of the European Beech Marten.

Kenneth Hopps- A chipper little fellow named Kenneth working as a lowly fellow in an office setting? It's good ol' rural Kenneth the Page. He probably sounds just like Jack McBrayer.

Other Burrows- Time to be creative again! Bunnies in Bunnyburrow, all kinds of other burrowers, especially marmots, in Squirrelburrow and all kind of burrowing carnivores and insectivores and such in Predburrow, which is the smallest and lest respected burrow. Or was. Still, the citizens don't mind moving to the other burrows.

Diet Hep- More inventing products. This time something between root beer and sarsaparilla, generally a soda flavored with roots and herbs. The name is meant to evoke the classic small-selling-area and slightly rural Moxie soda. She's so rural, countryside, down-home sugar honeypie darling dear it hurts. Also, Diet because she likes to think she's vain.