The air was much cooler as the sun began to set that afternoon. The dazzling orange light reflected off of the skyscrapers of downtown every which way, and the last parts of rush hour traffic filled the various streets with noise and tired mammals headed home from a long day of work. The precinct parking lot was lit by the setting sun bouncing off of the Palms Hotel building, and Judy took a minute to take in the sight before Nick joined her. She didn't wait long.

"Whew, we made it," Nick said with an exasperated sigh. "Time for drinks, food, sex and sleep."

"Emphasis on the sleep," Judy agreed. "Jack and Skye should be here any minute."

"Yeah . . . hey Carrots."

"Hmm?"

"Did they seem . . . I don't know, a little off to you earlier?"

"Not sure what you mean," Judy said, shooting him a raised eyebrow.

"It's just, Skye's always been the more confident of the two, right?" he began.

"Well yeah, sure," she nodded along.

"When they were asking us to dinner, I just felt like Jack was the more sure-footed of the two of them. Not sure what's got Skye so trepid," he said, rubbing the back of his head.

"Maybe Jack's just got some new-found gusto. Two weeks of non-stop rutting will do that to a male," Judy said with a knowing smirk, remembering just how spry Nick was after their honeymoon. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't beaming as well for weeks afterwards.

"If you say so, Fluff," Nick said with a shrug. Judy was about to press further when she heard a 'beep-beep' from the lot entrance as Skye pulled the car into the lot. They quickly piled in and set off for dinner at O'Clawnalds, one of Skye and Jack's favorite spots in the city. The whole way there, Nick and Jack were joking around like always with a few cringey puns that made Judy roll her eyes from time to time. Skye, however, was noticeably quiet for much of the ride. While she was never a chatterbox, after what Nick mentioned earlier, it did seem a little strange.

O'Clawnalds was more of a pub than it was a restaurant. It served mid to small sized mammals with a variety of options for both predators and prey, so naturally it attracted interspecies couples. The modest atmosphere and simple menu appealed to all 4 of them. Nick was chummy with the manager, unsurprisingly, so the marmot hostess found them a more secluded spot towards the back near in the corner. The crowds were sparse on this idle Monday night, so they did not have to raise their voices to hear each other.

"How funny is it that you guys came here on your first date?" Judy mentioned as they sat down.

"Why? Did you two go on your first date here as well?" Jack asked.

"Well, no, but our old apartment was right up the road! So we would come down here for after-work drinks all the time," Judy explained. "Jack, get the beet stew if you haven't tried it yet."

"Way ahead of you, my friend," Jack said, eying the menu.

Once again, Skye was surprisingly quiet as they began looking at food and chatting about work and life. By the very least, she expected Skye to tell her more about the honeymoon, or perhaps take some interest in their new house, but she simply nodded along and read the menu quietly to herself. Judy knew that something was up, especially considering she probably had the menu memorized by now. While Jack and Nick were discussing masculinity of chopping wood, Judy scooted to the edge of her seat and whispered to her friend softly.

"Everything alright, Skye?" Judy asked.

"Hmm? Oh! Yes, I'm sorry for being so out of it," she said and waved her off. "I um . . . I just uh."

"Need a drink?" Nick offered.

"Nick, I hardly think she-"

"Yes!" Skye said and tapped the table with her paw. "Nick's got the right idea. How about a pitcher of something for the table?"

"Hm? Oh, well I'm a little tired so I'm good with just water," Judy admitted.

"Oh come on, just a bit! To celebrate the end of my honeymoon?" Skye pleaded.

"Alright, alright, you twist my arm," Judy said, happy to have her friend in high spirits again. "The sangria here is pretty darn good."

They ordered a pitcher of the fruity concoction that went down smooth and lingered on the tongue even through food. Skye had the biggest chunk of the pitcher, but Judy decided it was worth it to let herself relax a little as well. She could never hold her liquor quite like Nick could, and by the time their food came she had enough. That did not stop Skye from ordering another pitcher and pouring her another glass. It was official that whatever was going on with Skye was weirding her out, though it seemed rude to call her out in front of their husbands.

". . . and the fireplace has got to be my favorite part of the new place," Nick said cheerfully. "Is there anything more cozy than throwing a few logs of ceder under the chimney, pouring a tall cup of coffee, and putting your feet up while Tundra Town winds blow outside? Absolutely not."

"How romantic," Jack mocked. "I'm sure the real reasons you enjoy the fireplace have nothing to do with your fantasies of rutting on the carpet by the fire."

"I won't pretend for a second like that's not true," Nick said proudly. "As soon as my ax comes in the mail, I'm chopping down the entire TT forest, throwing it all on the flames, and we won't stop until the flames go out."

"Honey, can you please calm down with the sex-fantasies in while we're in public?" Judy scolded him.

"What? No one is in earshot except for these two," he said gesturing to Skye and Jack, "and let's face it, we're done keeping secrets from them."

Skye smiled at that last comment, not because she thought he was funny, but rather because what he said seemed to strike a cord with her. She looked over to Jack, who caught her gaze and quietly nodded at her. Both Nick and Judy noticed the gesture, and the whole table grew quiet as Skye seemingly prepared herself for something.

"You're right, Nicolas," she began. "We love how open and honest you both are with us. And in that spirit, we have something we'd like to talk with you about."

She was nervous, and Judy caught her apprehension. The rabbit reached out and placed a paw and placed it tenderly on Skye's, offering her a warm smile. "You know you can talk with us about anything, Skye. We're your friends here."

"Well," she said, taking a deep breath and gripping Jack's paw with her own. "We know it's a little soon, since we just got married, but we both agreed that we're ready to start a family."

Judy practically bounced out of her seat and clasped her paws over her mouth to keep her excited squeals from drawing attention to the table. "That's so exciting! I'm so happy for you two."

"Thank you, Judith," Jack said. "But unfortunately, it's exceedingly difficult for us to have children given our species. I'm sure you're at least somewhat familiar."

Nick and Judy shot each other a knowing look, both seeming to agree that if Skye and Jack were going to be open with them, they should go quid pro quo. "We're more familiar than you think, Jack," Nick said. "We've decided the same thing you have."

"Really?!" Skye said, a loving smile creeping on her face. "Guys, that's great! You are both going to make such wonderful parents."

"Judy more than Nick," Jack muttered, shooting the fox a sly smile.

"Just for that, Stripes, when my child graduates ZU cum-laude, you're paying for their first years rent post-grad," he said with his arms folded over his chest.

"Make it magna cum-laude, and it's a wager my friend," Jack challenged.

"Hey, both of you, quit gambling with our kid's future," Judy scolded, before turning back to Skye. "But believe me Skye, we understand what you're going through. We've been considering options for a while now, but it's looking like it could be some time before it happens. Years even."

"You're not considering a sperm bank either?" Skye said softly, keeping her voice respectfully low.

"No, mostly because there is just no knowing what kind of family history your child will get, and medically that could be dangerous. Moreso, eventually the child will-"

"-get curious," Skye finished for her. "We feel the same way. That leaves us with adoption, and I'm sure you know how hard that could be."

"I've read a story of one couple, a tiger and a lamb I believe, who have been trying for nearly a decade with no success," Jack added in. The thought made Judy's heart drop, having to wait that long to see her kids. At that point, it would feel more like it just wasn't going to happen, and that kind of heartbreak was hard to imagine.

"I'm sure it'll happen for us eventually," Judy said optimistically. "If we find a way that works, we'll be sure to help you any way we can."

That last comment got Skye and Jack to shoot another furtive glance at each other. Jack wrapped both paws around Skye's and squeezed it, giving her all the confidence he could lend her. Judy's brow furrowed as she contemplated what more they had to share. Nick's paw reflexively found hers underneath the table, and she laced her fingers with his.

"See . . ." Skye began again, "That's what we wanted to talk with you about."

"You think there is a way we can help?" Nick prodded.

"It's just an idea," Skye said with a wave of her paw. "We know that this is so much to ask. In fact, I can't imagine asking more of anyone for as long as I live."

"What do you mean?" Judy asked.

"Well, we got the idea from reading about some older interspecies couples who started families back when pred-prey marriages were still outlawed. Obviously the sperm-bank or orphanages were out of the picture for them, so they resorted to allowing the wife to simply . . . sleep around until it happened," Skye said quietly. Jack chimed soon after.

"You mean like with a stranger?" Judy said, holding back a gasp at the idea.

"Yes, as in one-night stands. And the stranger would have no idea of what happened, or that they helped bring a litter of kids into the world," Skye said coldly.

"Of course," Jack said with his paw up defensively, "That was an act of desperation when there were no other options, so things are different now. We're lucky that we would not need to resort to such risky measures."

"However . . . " Skye muttured softly. "The idea we had . . . just a thought . . . but what if we knew that mammal?"

"Knew him?" Nick asked flatly.

"Yes," Skye nodded. "I mean, what if that stranger was not a stranger, but rather a friend? Someone we trust and know well enough that any medical history is easy to find and if the children ever get curious, they'd be open to meeting with them."

Judy's eyes widened as she began to understand at what Skye was getting at. She looked over to Nick, whose eyes were also wide and gulped nervously, looking down at Judy with a wavering look on his face. She looked back at Skye, who looked terrified as well.

"You mean. . . are you asking for our help . . . physically?" she ventured.

"I'm pretty sure they're asking for my help, more specifically," Nick said, still on the edge of disbelief himself.

"No Nick, we're asking both of you," Jack said confidently. "You guys are partners, just like we are, and this is not something we ask lightly."

"But," Skye continued, "on the off-chance that you'd be willing to help us this way . . . consider this our way of saying we'd love to have your help."

Judy's head was swimming with all the ways this was strange. What they were asking for was certainly not normal, nor was it something they could walk back on later if they had a change of heart. Not to mention the implication between herself and her own husband. It was all so much to think about, and she was a little overwhelmed.

"Can you say it?" Judy heard herself ask. "I need to know I'm understanding you clearly, beyond any doubt. Can you spell it out, what you're asking from us?"

Skye took another deep breath in through her nose and calmed herself as much as she could. She gripped Jack's paw again and looked Judy straight in the eye. Her expression was both afraid and caring. Judy had never seen her so serious about anything before.

"We're asking you and Nick to help us conceive children, Judy."

And there it was. Skye and Jack were asking to let them raise kids that were half Nick's, biologically speaking. To call it a favor would be a gross understatement, and Judy's gut reaction was to ask them if they were joking. But one look at their solemn expressions let them both know that they were being dead serious.

"Obviously, we understand just how much we're asking," Jack said. "This would be a decision that affects all four of us forever, in no small way."

"That's right," Skye acknowledged, "But if there is one couple anywhere that we'd want to do this with, it would only be you two."

"You'd really want our help?" Judy asked. It was the first question to pop into her mind, but more started flooding her brain almost immediately.

"Of course, Judy. You're two of the best mammals we know and we trust you both with our lives," Skye said sweetly. "And if I'm going to bear fox kits, I want them to be from a someone important to both of us, not some stranger."

"I have a question," Nick said, swirling his drink around in his glass. "Are you asking for a sperm donation, or are you asking for this using the . . . *ahem*. . natural method?"

"Well," Skye said, "We'd understand if a donation is the only way you'd be okay with it. We won't force you to do anything you're uncomfortable with. But that would require getting doctors involved, and that way also comes with its share of risks. So, if you'd both be willing, we'd actually want to do it as simply and naturally as possible."

"And you, Jack?" Nick said, gesturing to the rabbit. "You're okay with this?"

"More than okay," he replied confidently. "I think it's a wonderful idea."

"You do?" Judy asked, astonished.

"Of course!" Jack said and smiled. "It would be the most straightforward way to have kids, given our circumstances, and I wouldn't be afraid for one second that Nick would ever be a threat to me. More so, I know that no matter what, I know you two could trust each other enough to make this work. There is not another couple alive that believes in each other the way you two believe in each other. This way, no one is threatened by anyone else, and our kids would have an answer when they inevitably start asking questions."

"But what about other mammals?" Judy asked. "They'll be sure to ask questions too."

"We could just tell them it's a donation," Skye said. "They don't have to know who it's from. But to be honest, even if others did know, I wouldn't feel ashamed of it at all."

"At the end of the day, they'd be our kids," Jack said and smiled at Skye. "Does it really matter if other's approve?"

Judy's heart began to break a little for her friends as they gazed at each other. Jack's loving gaze contained all his desire to see his own children, and the fact that he was so eager to raise fox kits was endearing. Their trust in each other and longing for a family was beautiful to see. They deserved a family, and any world that made it harder for them to bring it to life was cruel.

"I-" Judy stuttered. "I-um."

Sensing her trepidation, Skye threw two paws up and stopped her in her tracks. "Don't make this decision now. We would never ask you to do something you were even remotely uncomfortable with, and if you decide that this isn't for you, we won't harbor any hard feelings at all. It's not an easy thing we're asking of you, and so we completely understand if you aren't interested. We just . . . he hope that this won't change the way you think of us."

"Oh, Skye, we would never," Judy consoled her. Suddenly, Skye's timid silence throughout the night made perfect sense. She was terrified that she or Nick would think poorly of them for even asking. "I can't say we're going to make a decision tonight, but no matter what, you're still our friends and we could never think less of you for wanting kids."

"Here here," Nick agreed. "I have to say, I'm actually a little flattered by the suggestion. Could you really imagine raising an entire litter of miniature versions of me?"

"If they get your wit and way with mammals, that's fine," Jack said earnestly. "As long as they get their mother's looks. And talent, and kindness, and brains, and patience, and pleasant demeanor, and general good qualities."

Skye laughed and gave her husband a playful shove. "Don't listen to him, he's gonna love his children no matter what. They're going to be half of someone else anyway, might as well be someone we respect."

"You mentioned earlier," Judy started again, ". . . that when the kits start asking, that you would have an answer for who their biological father is. Does that mean you'd like us to have a hand in raising them?"

"I think that's not quite the right picture," Jack said and ran a thoughtful paw over his chin. "They'll be our kids, not yours. We'll raise them in every way, including legally, so how involved you are in their lives is entirely up to you. However, if they ask, we'd want to tell them about what kind of mammal you are, Nick. That way, they'll have some closure about knowing where they came from. But I'll be their father."

"Although," Skye cut in. "We were also pretty eager to ask you two to be our litter's godparents, even if you decide not to help with the conception."

Judy smiled, placing a paw to her chest. She was already a godmother to a little shrew who was named after her, she was more than willing to be there for Skye's children as well. Though she had to admit, learning about Skye's desire to have her be a godmother might have made her more excited if she did not have so much going on in her mind at the moment.

"Phew," Nick said with a slight whistle. "Gotta say, being asked to be godparents seems pretty tame now."

That earned a slight chuckle from everyone at the table. Thank god for Nick's ability to brighten the mood in a room. Judy could feel everyone start to ease up a little bit from the tension that had been building for the past several minutes. Judy decided to call it quits for the night, while they were still ahead.

"Alright," Judy said. "I can speak for both of us when I say we'll need some time. Can you give us till Friday to decide? We can meet you for dinner again and talk about it again then."

"Of course," Skye said easily. "Take as much time as you need. If you have any questions or concerns, just ask."

"And thank you," Jack cut in. "Thanks for being so understanding about everything. We don't know anyone else we would be willing to trust with this."

"Not a problem, Stripes," Nick said and shook his paw goodbye. "There isn't anything weird about wanting some kits."

The two couples bid each other good night and headed home. Nick and Judy took a Zuber home, so they were forced to be maddeningly silent the entire trip home. Judy wanted to talk, to ask more questions, to get all of everything laid out just so she could make heads or tails of it. There was only one thought that seemed to be a constant through the whole whirlwind of conflicting thoughts swirling in her head. Like a lighthouse in a dark storm, Judy held onto this one thought to guide her forward: Skye and Jack deserved a family. They were good mammals, and she loved them both. No matter what happened next, that was not going to change.