Prompt
It's Easter morning, and looks like the bunny has left you quite a surprise! You find two adorable little neko girls wandering in your back yard. What leads you to your decision to keep them? And do you find out what happened to their first parents, or do they even remember? How goes their first Easter in your household? How do you manage to make it special for them on such short notice?
“Jude, baby, has the Easter bunny been yet?” Connie asked, smiling over at her son as she puttered about the kitchen, fixing herself a cup of coffee.
Crouched by the back door, his nose practically pressed against the glass, the child stared fixedly out the window, his iridescent eyes wide as he watched the backyard.
“Jude?” Connie questioned again, her brow furrowing with concern. Her son was never this quiet, ever. Even if Jude himself was quiet, the second mouth over his stomach was usually grumbling away – but, today, both were eerily silent.
“Honey? What’s wrong?”
Abandoning the still brewing coffee, Connie moved toward the door.
“Still here ... bun-bun, look” Jude drawled, jabbing his finger against the glass as he pointed to something outside.
“No, baby, that’s impos – “ the young woman began, the words dying as her mouth fell open in shock.
Wandering around the backyard, hunkered down against the morning chill, were two little girls, their ears and tails far from those of a rabbit, and much more like those of a cat.
“Oh boy, Reed’s going to be pissed” Connie murmured, heading out the door without another word.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
“No, uh-uh, no way in hell are we keeping them” Reed hissed, a pale hand motioning in the direction of the two girls, the pair huddle beneath a blanket on the lounge.
Neither had spoken since Connie had ushered them inside, their expression blank and unreadable.
“We are not just going to turn them out Reed, they’re just kids” Connie growled in reply, her eyes narrowed and jaw squared as she stared her partner down.
“That’s what you said about the last one and the little monster has been nothing but a giant pain in the arse since you brought him home – and you still won’t let me get rid of him” the red-head countered, crossing his arms over his chest defiantly.
“I think your confusing Jude with yourself, Reed; and, frankly, I know which one of you I’d rather bid good riddance” Constance replied, mimicking Reed’s stance.
Instantly, Reed’s face fell.
“Connie, babe, you can’t mean that – you’d be lost without me, right?” he uttered, sounding rather hesitant and unsure.
Tilting her head, Constance cocked an eyebrow, her face silently saying ‘do you really want me to answer that, because you sure as hell aren’t going to like the answer’.
Sighing, Reed slumped, defeated. “Fine, they can stay – but I’m still going to find where they came from, and beg those people to take them back, okay?”
Nodding sharply in reply, Connie moved away, heading toward the girls, and a rather curious Jude parked on the floor in front of them.
“Damn that woman and her power” Reed muttered to himself, heading for the kitchen. He needed a drink, a strong one, to face the rest of this day.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Several hours later, despite much patience, prompting and pandering, the girls had yet to utter a word.
“Maybe they’re broken?” Reed offered from the chair on the far side of the room, his expression revealing his weariness of the situation.
Rolling her eyes, Connie ignored him, turning back to the girls.
“You’re safe now little ones, nobody is going to hurt you, we just want to help you” the young woman repeated for what must have been the thousandth time.
Once again, silence was offered as a reply.
Sighing, Connie slumped back onto the floor, running a hand through her hair. This was going nowhere, and she was out of ideas.
“Time look for bun-bun eggies now?” Jude asked, the boy having been surprisingly patient during the whole ordeal.
“What, oh, yeah, sure baby, let’s go and see what the Easter bunny left for you” Connie murmured, her mind regaining some focus.
Squealing excitedly, Jude jumped to his feet. “Chocwet time, chocwet time” he chanted, grinning broadly at his mother.
It was then that it happened; a spark of life ran through one of the girls, the dark-haired child.
“Choc...wet?” the girl ventured softly, dual tone eyes flicking to Connie with a mix of confusion and curiosity.
Smiling, Connie nodded. “Uh-huh, lots of chocolate eggs, delivered by a very special bunny” she replied, earning a small smile from the cat girl.
Sparking on idea, Constance stood, beaming.
“Would you like to meet him? The Easter bunny?” she asked, earning a small nod from the girl, although her sibling continued to offer a blank stare. “Then wait right here” Connie continued, moving across the room and pulling Reed to his feet.
“You’re coming with me” she announced, dragging the red-headed man from the room before he could utter a protest.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
“I look ridiculous” Reed stated flatly, eyes dark as he regarded Connie.
“Nonsense, you look cute as a button” the woman replied, stifling a giggle.
Dressed in a white rabbit suit, complete with cotton-tail and egg-filled basket, not to mention whiskers, stood Reed.
“I knew Hayden had this lying around somewhere” Connie grinned, earning her another glare from Reed. “Oh, just get in there, and play nice!” the woman instructed, pushing Reed forcefully into the living room.
“Look who I found, kids” she announced with a laugh, barely able to contain herself as Jude practically launched himself at the Reed-bunny.
Stumbling, Reed moved awkwardly toward the lounge on which the girls sat, the extra weight of Jude around his waist making progress difficult.
“Hello kids, I’m the Easter Bunny” the man offered, his voice dead-pan, earning him a sharp look from Connie.
He tried again, sounding slightly perkier this time around.
“I’m here to give eggs to all the good little boys and girls. Have you been good little girls this year?” he asked, waving a chocolate egg in front of Jude before throwing it across the room, the child instantly taking off after it.
The dark-haired twin nodded quickly, her sister offering a small, slower nod.
“Well then ....” Reed paused, appearing confused. “Oh dear, I’m such a silly bunny, I’ve gone and forgotten your names, I can’t possibly give you Easter eggs without knowing who I’m giving them too” he continued, frowning.
“Bridget!” the brunette feline chirped, bouncing slightly in her seat.
Yet, the other child remained silent, staring blankly at Reed. Reaching for her Bridget’s arm, the younger girl pulled her close, whispering in her ear.
“Amelia says to say she’s Amelia” Bridget replied, smiling.
From the doorway, Connie smiled.
So, they do have names after all, she thought to herself, watching as Reed dished out the remainder of the chocolate eggs, throwing several more across the room as Jude threatened to jump him again.
“Let’s hope Easter next year is as eventful” Connie chucked, pushing forward to join her family.
