Chapter
IV
Family Affray
"There will always be excuses, arguments, and questions of timing when moving on difficult and controversial issues."
Lara Giddings
"The simple, inevitable row, is more often than not, due to a lack of action, where communication is concerned." Reverend Archangel
Eight days had come and gone since that teen had nearly done Nick in; six of which he had been awake, after spending two of them in which his mind and thoughts had been absent, all thanks to drug imposed anesthesia. That, along with the stress and the entire ordeal itself had left him more worn out then a hand rag. Not that his failed attempt at dashing heroics had earned him exemption from the outside world. In fact these last six days had been jam-packed full of activity, helping his imprisonment to pass by seemingly in hours. All the same he had hoped that work at the station would be put on a momentary pause for him, at least till he was dismissed. However that idea had been swiftly swept beneath the cabinet, as he had been asked to give his account of what had transpired, both to his partner and the chief who had graced him with his presence, in no lesser words a very semi-awkward early morning visit.
The boar that had given a crack at trying to murder him, had thankfully been arrested last Thursday; as of now he was going through the due process of the law. From what he had heard from the news and from what his wife informed him, the kid had been booked, informed of his charges in his first appearance, and the preliminary hearing had already gone underway. The last he had heard, was that teen was waiting for the grand jury's indictment, which would be followed by him going through the arraignment. After that, if all went smoothly with the trial, the tod could simply lay back and forget that this had ever happened; he'd be back at the station while his attacked would be serving out his sentencing.
Even with these regular, reassuring updates, he honestly felt a little but miffed. This was mainly being due to how the chief along with the ZID (Zootopia's Investigation Department) had informed him that he would be attending this said trial. To say that the bedridden officer was squirming with uncontrollable bouts of joy and excitement would be an understatement. If nothing crawled up the wet-works, this case would undergo a federal court and trial, considering as it was an officer who had been attacked. The reynard wasn't all that thrilled about attending it, but he didn't really have a say in the matter. This would be because he had to re-account his side of events, all in the hopes of swaying the jury. Oh sure, this was going to go by splendidly, who in their right mind in Zootopia would agree to prosecuting another animal when the likes of him were involved. Yet, this was the job he had signed up for when he filled out Judy's partner form request. Like it or not this was one of his duties as an officer of the law, plus he was sort of the victim, so it could be considered to be his own personal case.
Not that there hadn't been any near consequential incidents, or anything that could have possibly caused a setback. No, everything to this date always worked out just right for this male. In all seriousness, in the inconsequential amount of time between the arrest and the booking, their had been a moment where everything appeared to be going down hill. Two days after the arrest they, meaning the chief and the ZID, had found out that this boar was a part of a sorta...maybe...little...kinda big crime organization. One they had figured out had a sincere rivalry with a particular arctic shrew's crime organization, one and only Mr. Big. Fortunately the thought to be set back had actually been just the opposite, though his partner had informed him that Bogo nearly had a conniption. Apparently The teen's boss had contacted them with an untraceable call on the weekend of the shooting. The mammal stated that they would have no grudge if they lost the pig, as he was just a lose end that needed to be cut off. Also, seeing as they could potentially get tangled up with the police with this, misunderstanding. Though as the ZPD had shown in the past with circumstances such as these, they'd strike a deal, for the time being. Once this event had been dealt with, the rest of the organization would be dealt with when the opportunity occurred. Primarily, once more evidence had been gathered to bring them to justice, no matter how long they'd have to wait.
The reasons pertaining to why he had been shot in the first place still were unclear. Even after it had been revealed to him, and quite clearly explained to his face. According to what he had learned from his mate, who relayed what the chief told her, the boar's boss had wanted to hurt Mr. Big. Apparently by taking out one of his family members, blood or those who he deemed to be a part of his family. With some old information along with an odd and old rumor, Nick had been made a potential target, seeing as he was once very close to the shrew, or was to those who knew the shrew's relations and closer associates. Not that anyone besides Judy knew this, but his old boss had accepted him back into the family, after giving him a real wool carpet; the officer honestly had no desire of looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life. However, unknown to the crime lord though, he was also technically Fru Fru's child's godfather since he was Judy's husband. Him getting shot was no more than some ways, just an awry mistake, to an extent of course.
The punchline to all of this, was that they had found out this other crime lord, was a desert shrew, who was also Mr. Big's second removed cousin. It was obvious, but they had found that Nick had been the chosen target of the young boar, it wasn't just a random spur of the moment. The kid had been given the task to take care of this business, to redeem himself or something, since his last screw up in the organization had cost them dearly. Unfortunately for Mr. Wide he was a face of the ZPD, that and the only one from his species on the force, he couldn't exactly be mistaken for another fox when in uniform. In addition to that, he generally wore the same style of clothes when off duty, making him stand out like a deer in a pack of jackals. Nevertheless the kid had seen him drive through the Sahara District as he went to make his rounds on the border between the Rainforest and the latter. The conniving little dirt bag had then used this to his advantage, planning the time, and how to go about it…..but hadn't accounted for panicking after he shot him, that and also being an atrocious shot.
The entire incident was confusing, that in addition to it didn't make a whole lot of sense when one thought about the details, it seemingly didn't add up in the end. The only other piece of information they got out of the boar was that he only chose Nick since he held an animosity towards foxes. In his words, getting rid of one, he thought, would be doing Zootopia a favor. To say that this was all nonsense would have been easier, then to believe it, in the fox's opinion anyone asked him.
It would appear that the truth was more confusing and held more inconsistencies then the fabricated nonsense they often got. The fox reckoned so anyways, having witnessed this with a few other cases prior to…..he guessed he could call it his case. Personally, he was just relieved he wasn't the one preparing and gathering the evidence needed for this trial, also the officers who had to put all the pieces together. All he had to do was give his side of the facts and that was it, hopefully this trial was like many others and would pass by without any unnecessary delays or hiccups. The last thing he wanted if this pig got off the hook, was to be killed or hospitalized again from some petty act of revenge.
This entire business with the trial that was more than likely down the road, he put at the recesses of his mind to worry about at another time. There were more pressing, delicate matters that he had to focus on before he got there. The trial could be in a couple weeks or months, more than enough time to prepare for that. At the moment he just had to worry about being given his freedom back by the doctors to be dismissed. Unless they actually enjoyed his company and his constant sassing, if so he might have to stay around. It wasn't as bad as he made it to be, the staff were quite friendly, and he hadn't heard any of them throw out some specieist remark behind his back when he asked for help. One doctor in particular made his days easier and that was Mrs. Docston. The same weasel who he had been giving suave flattering remarks to since they had met. She often times told him to shut up or thanked him with a small evident blush staining her slender muzzle. His mate had caught him doing this one evening and after the weasel had left, she had given him a calm warning not to let it get out of hand. Nuzzling her little nose with his he promised he wouldn't and that had reassured her.
At this moment Nick drew his attention away from his phone, which he had been glued to for the last hour or two. He wasn't addicted to it like how so many animals accused him of being, that wasn't entirely true, but it wasn't like he couldn't live without it. The only reason he was on it so long some days was due to him having so many contacts, most of them being his actual friends. Never had he just accepted a random animal's friend request, or followed some-animal he didn't know. The only one's he didn't know for certain were his friend's friends, that was about as far as he would go in accepting requests.
Still, he tore his eye's away from the phone, the screen darkening as he turned it off. If his vision started becoming impaired he knew that his partner would never let him live it down. Already he could imagine her scolding him on being so careless, to be quite frank, how could he argue with her then, considering that she would be right. With this plan of preserving his eyesight, he spent a total of two maybe three hours at most on his phone a day. A big cut in what used to be his usual six to seven hours. What could he say, being a con-artist required a lot of contacts, along with having to keep a sharp schedule and to keep records on the money he made, who he owed it to, planning new schemes. It wasn't always just him and Finnick, he had other partners that he hustled with. Though with all the threats and banter and the swearing that was thrown around when they were together, they were rather close friends.
The fennec would deny this if an animal asked him, while he'd usually tease him of loving his daddy, or big brother, or whatever it was on that day, seeing as they changed the act around frequently. The two of them had pulled through so much together, the good...and the not so good times when they were at each others throats, often times a baseball bat was caught in the middle. Still, he was as good of a friend then any he had met before his mate, so much so that the little guy had shown up at the hospital three nights ago to see how he was doing. Judy and Finnick didn't get along a hundred percent of the time, but no one ever does. They'd talk and chat when the three of them were together, which was becoming rare these days, but it was a mutual agreement of tolerance. Things were getting better, now that his old friend had gone into another field of work, unfortunately it was the lowest, most awful thing any animal could become. A landlord. Yep that little angel of kindness and patience had become a landlord, which was good on him, it was a way to get by. From what he heard he had never had one of his tenants pay late, one had to wonder why though.
The tod shook these thoughts from his head with an amused grin. Sitting up, he decided to head over to the window, not for any particular reason. As he slowly padded over to the window he put his left arm forearm against the pane of glass, resting his weight onto his arm. He let out a soft sigh, fogging up the window a little with his warm, moist breath. For all the decent animals working here and the not so awful food, it was boring in the hospital, life seemingly stopped here, both for the unfortunate ones, and the ones who were left to recover. It was a dark thought, but one could only be in such a dull place for so long without the mind whispering them. The other patients were alright he guessed, most didn't spare him a second glance, seemingly in their own thoughts about something or the other, which he could understand. The only other thing he enjoyed was seeing some of the kids who had come in because they had hurt themselves in one way or another like kids do. Then there were few who came in for more breathtakingly depressing reasons, having found out with their family they had some disease or cancer. The fox had always had a soft spot for children, so he made it a routine to go down to the children's part of the hospital twice a day, to read to them, play or just to cheer them up if they were feeling down. The doctors thought it was a kind thing he was doing, even if he was ignoring their advice of taking it easy. Some of the parents would often watch him with scrutinizing glares; animals were protective of their young so he couldn't blame them being suspicious of a stranger, or it could have been simply because he was a fox.
The officer ran his free paw up his hip till he covered the spot where he had been shot, if one thing he was both looking forward to and nervous about it would be a shower, along with getting the stitches removed. They'd hold, he had been reassured of that. It was just when would he be able to live his life normally again without these restraints. Six to seven weeks according to both the doctors and the nurse he had asked. It wasn't like he was over-energetic like a certain bunny of his, but he hated sitting around all day doing nothing. Unless it was messing with Judy by watching her, doing work or anything really.
"Tomorrow's the last day…" he murmured as he let out a wearisome breath, once misting a little patch of the window.
His lens-hidden emerald eyes roamed the view-able streets of Savannah, having become well acquainted with them. For example the skyscraper directly across the road, whose windows appeared to be a dark purple during the late hours of the afternoon, and black at night, then to be a dim silver in the early morning. On the sidewalk in front of the tower there was a badger who came out during fourteen-hundred to play his violin, passing animals would either stop to listen to his music or walk by, most though would put in some kind of currency, most likely ones, or quarters, with the seldom generous twenty.
Then there was the police cruiser, whose he didn't know because he couldn't make out the plate or the number on the side from here. It was parked off to the side of the street, parked along with other cars, the officer's keeping an eye out for anything suspicious and to just assert a presence in the area. Not everything was catching lawbreakers and serving justice, sometimes their job was just as easy as showing up, their presence unnoticeabley enacting everyone to behave.
Watching this too soon bored him, seeing as he couldn't leave the hospital. Not being able to feel the sun's rays warming his red and creamy fur, the cool gentle breezes that would make his nose and whiskers twitch from the soothing touch. All because of this barrier which he had come to resent, seeing it as bars to the world he wanted so desperately to be in again. The only assurance was that it wouldn't last forever, just one more day less since he had started counting down last Thursday. Tomorrow evening or morning if the doctors changed their mind, he hoped they had.
His wound hadn't exactly healed yet, not even another week or so of taking it easy would see to that, another five or six and he would be better again. Even with it being his hoped-to-be-last day at the hospital he was not looking forward to that evening, seeing as his mother was coming to pay him a visit. Her supervisor had given her Wednesday evening off so she could see him. Not that there was anything wrong with his other coming to see him. What was troubling him was that he had told her that his mate was going to be here as well, along with Judy. To his mother's knowledge she was expecting to see another vixen, not a certain rabbit officer. Who had sent him a message not too long ago, asking him how he was doing, along with informing him that she'd be over soon.
The fox had found that his recovery time had been fairly active with work over the last four days. His mate was the only animal who had come to see him for the first two days after he had come around. The only others were just the ZID who came in twice to see what he knew and secondly to confirm what he had told them. All to insure he was telling the truth and because he had been on medication during the time. Then there was Bogo who had come to check on him one morning, a half hour of just the tod sassing his boss and the buffalo telling him to can it. The usual banter they shared, but the chief had expressed that he was glad that he was alright, and sincerely told him that he was relieved that they hadn't lost him. He had also stressed that he wanted him to take it easy till he recovered so he was placing him on paper-cut detail and other such non-strenuous duties. Then Clawhauser had come in, sneaking in some blueberry oatmeal bars and other assorted packaged goodies, which the fox had hid in one of the bedside table's draws. Then there was Finnick who had come to hang out.
This had all occurred days ago, and didn't matter as much as what was approaching. He took his phone out again, glancing at the clock seeing that it was coming up for...seventeen-hundred. It seemed that this little game would never end, seeing as he had changed it back last night. It seemed that Judy wasn't going to be beaten so easily, as he didn't know when she was exactly doing this. This was something he'd handle later on, not having been bothered to do it today. This was partially because he had only been allowed to get up onto his paws two nights ago, so he had been walking up and down the hospital corridors whenever, and as much as he could. Even if it was slowly, in addition to as long as he didn't put too much stress on his stomach muscles, as each step would stretch and pull on them.
As it was a quarter till seventeen-hundred, he decided that it would be safer if he stayed in the room and at least try and get comfortable back in the bed. Before his mother and his partner arrived anyways. Judy would be here earlier then she had been, all due to her persuading the chief to let her off early, promising it was just a onetime thing. He had agreed to her request begrudgingly, because it always started as just a onetime thing when other animals under his command asked. The buffalo had fired these officers, not wanting to ruin the 1st Precincts reputation in Zootopia. That in addition to it had been his life for the last decade or so, and he refused to have it come crashing down on him just because he kept slacking officers. Yet their rabbit officer was a strange case, she didn't ask for time off, she refused to stay home and recuperate when she was sick unless the chief ordered her to, she was one of the most focused officer in the field, she never fulled around while on duty, that and she knew the law inside and out; which she utilized to trick animals that she knew were doing wrong to slip up when they weren't complying. No one had to worry about her becoming a slacker, she loved her job and what she did, she was the damn best and honest cop they had, no one could deny that.
The vulpine checked his phone again, noticing that it was five minutes had passed the new hour by. His wife would be here sometime within this time, while his mother would also be here within that same time frame. It didn't leave him much time to come up with anything to say. He had a week to figure out how to bring this up to his mother without her blowing a fuse or losing her temper at him. In that time he hadn't come up with a single explanation or something he could say that would get her to understand, or to make it easier for her to accept what his mate and him were. Yet, even though there was plenty of obvious things he could express, there was nothing that he felt would work to convince her to come to terms with this news. All he could rely on was a lot of quick thinking on his hind-paws, a good deal of tact and no small amounts of charm.
His mind whipped him away from these thoughts as the door to the room unexpectedly opened, making his eyes widen behind his aviators, a feeling of dread pulling at the pit of his stomach. It was his partner. Nick let out a sigh of relief, shaking his head a little as she pulled the chair she had been using for the last week up to the side of his bed. After she had removed her vest and her utility belt setting them onto the bedside table, she sat down. The doe was sitting with her legs crossed, and was slightly bent over, looking him over with searching eyes, a small smile tugging at the corners of her muzzle. Her little nose ceaselessly twitching, something that he found was hypnotic to watch.
"Hey officer," the fox greeted with his usual lazy, grin, eyes partially shut, ears angling back slightly.
"Hey Nick," the rabbit returned his smile with her own..
"How was your day?" he wanted to know, missing being at work, and being with her.
"It was okay, Lance was assigned as my partner again," she said as she reflected on today and the past week. "He's a good kid, a good officer to work with, but I miss having you around."
"Well of course you do, I mean how can you not miss my charm and my handsome smiles. That and who normally helps you unwind after work….your paws must be killing you," he observed, seeing as she was rubbing them as she talked to him. They appeared stiff by how she slowly stretched her toes, with a grimace.
"They are," she grumbled, not having been able to truly relax since the incident.
"Well, I'll be able to help you with that, tomorrow at least," the tod said confidently, knowing that she liked him massaging the stress and pain out of her rear-paws. He had magical paws for that kind of thing.
"You could, always do it now," she tried to suggest.
"I would love to, but," he shot her down and smirked from the glare she gave, "my mother's going to be here soon. And I'm pretty sure playing paswise, and kneading another mammals paws is an intimate act, which is best left between mates," he knew she understood what he was getting at. It would be a lot harder for his mother to understand or listen to them if she caught him rubbing Judy's paws, she didn't know that the rabbit was his mate, yet.
"Yeah…..I didn't think about that," she admitted, the inside of ears copying what her cheeks had done earlier.
"It's fine, it's why I'm here," a soft chuckle escaped him. "You can't possibly figure out everything," he offered his paw, the silver band catching some of the light, making it gleam in the warm, filtered light of the sun which shined through the window. She took it, intertwining their fingers together before she gave it a squeeze.
"How you doing today?"
"I'm feeling much better than yesterday," he confessed. Seeing that yesterday he was feeling nauseous, however that was since his stomach had finally decided to revolt against the hospital food, having caused him to be sick.
"The stitches are starting to itch like something fierce though. No, I haven't been scratching them," he reassured, seeing that she was about to say something, she just grinned and nodded, her ears being more perky than they were last week.
"You Dumb Fox," she took her paw away from his, seeing that her mate's mother could show up anytime now. "I was just going to ask if you're sure you want to tell your mother about us."
"I'm sure. Your parents are going to get in on this mess soon, so why keep it from her?" the clawed digits of his right paw drummed against the bed, a nervous habit he had since childhood. It had been especially annoying for his classmates when they were often sat down in wooden or plastic covered desks.
"I-it won't….uummm, it won't be bad will it?"
"It'll be what it'll be, but I'm trying to be optimistic like you usually are, so please let's switch. You being pessimistic definitely doesn't feel right," he smirked as she pinched his left arm playfully.
"Shut up Wilde."
"Ahh, ahh, ahh. It's Officer Wilde to you," using what she had said to him a month ago.
"That memory of yours is going to get you in trouble one of these days," the doe shout back with a weak laugh.
"It would," he said thoughtfully before added, "But, you'd absolutely hate me when we start doing some undercover work, am I right," he gave her a suggestive grin. She slapped his muzzle, blushing furiously making him bark out in laughter, doing his best to ignore the pain from his gut.
"You're such a damn perv," the younger officer accused, hiding herself behind her ears which she had pulled over her face
"You know you love it," he teased, starting to feel like his old self again, the events of last week starting to become just a distant memory, for the time being.
"You're too much for a little rabbit like me," she mumbled, her eyes peeped through her fingers, seeing her mate giving her a look and a slight blush of his own. "THAT," she lowered her voice seeing that they were in a hospital, "that's not what I meant and you know it," she growled.
"You know I love you," he smirked, trying not to laugh at the tomato faced bunny.
"Yes, I do know that, but it doesn't mean I can't hate you," she mumbled, using a paw as a fan, trying to cool her face.
"You only hate me when I'm being lazy, being a slob, stealing your blueberries and when I distract you in our office," he shot back. "That…"
"Nick shut up, I hear someone," she hissed, becoming serious, the color from her cheeks disappearing entirely. The fox had seen her ears shoot up, tracing the sound as it got closer, his doing the same as they caught onto the sound.
The two officers waited, keeping their lips shut as a vixen with a black business dress walked into the room. She was a few centimeters taller then the other fox and possessed feminine curves. Her red fur was graying, a fox like most animal's who had fur, would start to fade into a lighter shade of their natural colors, with some areas becoming white or a glossy silver. The older woman looked at the two, and she clearly blinked from the way her eyebrows scrunched up behind her shades, hiding her soft blue eyes. She blinked once, then second time, then a third time before she focused on the other fox.
"Nicholas?" she asked, wanting to make sure she hadn't walked into the wrong room. She knew what her son looked like, especially with his emerald eyes, but she had mistaken another fox for him a few times in the past.
The tod placed a paw on his heart, giving a theatrical sigh before saying in a mellow-dramatic voice.
"I should feel insulted that my own mother can't even recognize her own son, what a cruel world we live in," he laid his head back, pressing the back of the same paw to hide his eyes.
"It's definitely you," the vixen sighed, her ears lowering as she shook her head. Sometimes time didn't change things, this being one of the moments she was glad it hadn't.
The younger fox watched his mother's head move ever so slightly, sings that she was scanning the room, having a good idea what she was searching for. When she didn't find what she was looking for she gave an unnoticeable shrug, one that only he could see because he was so accustomed to her behaviors. She didn't bring it up as he had thought she would, instead she took the chair that Judy had offered, who had taken another one, which was now pulled up to the other side of the bed. For one she felt like it would be for the best if she was over here, secondly she wanted to give them space, yet didn't want to leave her partner's side. Lastly, though she knew Mrs. Wilde to be a caring, loving, nurturing and all around friendly vixen, she didn't know how she'd react to this news, so this was mainly for safety.
"How was the drive over?" Nick asked, his tone soft, heartfelt. He was a mama's boy, he hadn't known his father who had shortly left after his mother told him she was pregnant, and had no siblings because his mother had never found anyone else. As such he had grown up with her being the only source of affection, support and everything else a mother provided to their young, that was till he ran away.
"It was fine," the vixen brushed out the wrinkles in the black business dress. She was a secretary of one of the judges in the city, there being two for each court, and there being three courts in every district. She had been one ever since he had turned thirteen, though he hadn't known till they met again when he was in his twenties.
"That's good, traffic wasn't too bad?" the tod made light conversation, not wanting to start her visit with the very late news; it was always best to inform ones parents when getting married, or had found a mate.
"It's becoming difficult to drive anywhere these days, I'm thinking about selling my car, train is starting to appear to be more practical. There's a lot more animals in Zootopia now then there were when I was growing up, and when you were born," she took his left paw, which he had offered, giving it an affectionate squeeze.
"So you keep reminding me."
"You enjoy teasing and fooling animals, I take comfort in reminding other animals of things," the vixen's tone was warm but wavered, signs that she had missed him. Nick nodded to that with a small smile, his eyes going to the window for a few moments.
"How's work as a secretary?" his mother was nearing her mid fifties now, having had him when she was in her twenties.
"It's okay….it pays the bills and I get to put away most of it," she let out a tired sigh, honestly not knowing what to do with the money she made. Vacations, traveling to see her siblings, that and giving it to charities. The tod knew that his mother wanted more than this though, wanted a mate but she was terribly shy about the entire dating aspect. From what she had told him, his father had found her hiding behind a newspaper when he approached her.
"Still no luck?" even as a cub he knew that she was lonely.
"I'm getting old Nicky, it's time I just start living again. It's too late for a man in my life," the tod had a small smirk which the vixen caught.
"What's so funny young man," she scolded.
"I'm not young, I'm in my thirties, for a male that's old. You're practically young," he tried to cheer her up.
"An old lady like me? You're definitely not feeling well are you."
Mrs. Wilde brushed her son's muzzle with her free paw, something that brought back memories for both of them. Of easier, more innocent times when he was just a cub, nights spent on the couch cuddled next to his mother as she read him a story, or quietly read one of her own books, stroking the fur between his ears and neck with only the love a mother had. Then the nights they would fall asleep there, both being too lazy to head off to their bedrooms.
"Mom, you're in your fifties, you're not that old. There's still time to find someone, there always is," he reassured.
"You're definitely old if you're giving me advice," she smiled remorsefully, seeing how old her son had become, having missed so much of his life. It had all worked out, he was a police officer now, which reminded her of when he was five, when he told her he thought it would be great to be a cop, helping and protecting animals, keeping society safe. She never imagined him being one, as there had never been one in Zootopia, but he had done it.
"I'm not old, I've just had a lot of life experience in my short time. Street, city, business and a lot of other smarts comes with it," he reassured.
His mother wasn't looking into his eyes anymore. Her face was angled to the side, looking away from him. They had removed their shades as the sun was setting on the horizon, a safer time for them to have them off. He sapphire eyes were avoiding his emeralds, ones that he had gotten from his father, or so she had told him when he was little. Something he had figured out at an early age that made his mother upset, reminding her that she had lost her mate, his father.
"How…..how you feeling," she said, her voice having grown tight for a second before she pushed on ahead. "Look at me, talking about myself when you're the one in the hospital bed," she admonished.
"I'm fine, it could have been a lot worse than it was," he reassured her, squeezing her paw with his own. "It hurts and stings here and there, but nothing major," he left out how when the medication wore off he was in agony, not being able to get back to sleep when the pain passed. He added, "It's my fault though, I decided to become an officer of the law, and this is one of the many risks."
The older woman was quiet for a few moments, leaving the tod to his thoughts. He knew that he was going to have to somehow steer them into how his partner and him were mates. Married ones at that. There was probably a good way how to bring it up that he hadn't thought of. That was easy though, the real cause for concern was trying to diffuse the situation after he had told her. Before he could dwell on it his mother begun to talk again.
"Nick, I know we've had our ups and downs here and there, ever since you ran away," the younger fox listened warily, not knowing what she was getting at. "I want you to know, that I...I am very proud of how far you've...co-come. Being the first fox officer in Zootopia, maybe eve...even the world, who knows. But I-I...I'm so proud of you, I'm proud of how you were able to pick yourself up and do something great wit-with your life, I just want you to know that, and that I love you so much," she had tears in her eyes which she wiped away as she sat back in the chair.
The other vulpine's eyes remained clear of any visible tears, the only change in his demeanor was that his eyes had widened a degree. His ears having laid back as they processed what they had just heard. It wasn't that he thought his mother thought he was a disgrace or a failure, but he had never expected to ever here her say that to him. He wouldn't have if he was her, he didn't deserve it. How could he? A con-artist, a racist, prejudice, prejudging fox like him, a fox who had become the stereotype because that's all society had seen. How could anyone be proud of an animal like him? They shouldn't be, he was just a classic example of a stereotypical fox, or had been before everything had changed.
His mother should really be thanking Judy, not offering him these sentiments. His partner was the one who had picked him up, brushed the dirt out of his fur and put him back on a good track. Without her encouragement and support he wouldn't have made it to where he was now. More than likely he would still be working with Finnick and his other con-artist associates, selling false products for higher prices, using any scheme or wild idea to get some cash. That or he would have run into Mr. Big one day and gotten himself killed. His partner once again saving his life with her good deeds and having saved the crime lords daughter, giving him time to square things up with the shrew.
The vixen's sentiment's didn't upset him, but just showed him how much he had really changed, how much this rabbit had influenced what he had done with his life. Something he could never repay her for because in his opinion he would never be able to, there just wasn't enough to be able to repay her with. She had been a literal catalyst in his life. One that he was immensely grateful for. He had a good stable job at the ZPD, a nice apartment, lastly and more importantly he was married to such an amazing animal, such a phenomenal doe, one he wouldn't trade even the world for.
Thinking of her, he took his eyes away from his mother, and looked over at his partner, who was listening to the two of them intently. Considering that her ears were somewhat directed towards them. Her attention though was on her phone. She was more than likely looking through the information she had put on there to put on her reports. Something she had started doing when she had seen him doing it, after she finally had enough of trying to recall certain details on their field work from anywhere to a week to a month ago. The rabbit's eyes looked up and locked onto his, she gave him a small smile before returning her attention back to her phone. The fox looked back at his mother who was watching him tenderly.
"Thanks mom….that means a lot," he said, feeling lightheaded, from the onrushing emotions and thoughts that were dashing about in his head. The vixen didn't reply, instead giving him a cheerful expression, one that he was going to have unfortunately break when he told her, in what she might consider to be awful news. He didn't have to bring it up, since his mother beat him to it.
"It's been almost an hour since I got here. Where's your mate, is she running late, is she not feeling well?" she asked curiously.
Judy had turned her phone off and put it back in her pocket, readying herself mentally for what was more than likely to happen. The tod turned his gaze back to his mate, looking her up and down, before his emerald hues locked onto her amethyst ones. She could see that they asked a question that didn't need to be asked aloud, but she gave a small nod of the head. They offered one another a nervous small smile, both desperately trying to provide the other with comfort, as they were both filled unease of telling another soul about their relationship, even if they were family.
Nick covered his mouth with a paw as he cleared his throat a couple of times. He then swallowed the irritating lump that had unknowingly formed, till finally he broke the overwrought silence in the room.
With a cool head he got out calmly, "I have something I…..that we need to chat to you about," he gestured to the rabbit with his left paw. The vixen dipped her head, but her eyes studied them suspiciously.
"Well, to but it simply, Judy and I are mate's. She's the one who I told you about last year," having brought her up when he last saw his mother. Shad had noticed his wedding band and had brought it up, asking who the lucky girl was. He had given details, but not species or name.
"What?" the older woman gasped, her head swimming with questions and an influx of emotions.
"We're mates," he clarified once again. "We've been married for a year and a half now," he added.
"Please tell me you're joking," she stuttered, her eyes darting between them before they lowered to the ground, with a small scowl forming.
"No...we-we're not," Nick said clearly, having sat up straight so he was no longer laying in the bed.
The silence had quickly swallowed up the room, time passing them all by at a snail's pace as none of them wanted to do or say anything, the tension having become unbearable enough as it was. Judy had become uncharacteristically quiet since the news had hit the air, her ears having laid back against her head fully, droopy and her nose twitching rapidly, signs that she was terrified. That and the rabbit officer honestly didn't know what she could say or do, what could they say to calm the vixen to get her to accept this. If she didn't approve of their union, then that was her choice, wasn't it? That's why there was such thing as having an opinion. If that was how she wanted to live her life, there wasn't anything they could say or do to sway her decision.
"Th...this must b-b-b-b...be difficult for you to hear…." the tod stuttered, which was very uncharacteristic of him. Judy's eyes shot over to him, seeing how defenseless and vulnerable he was at that moment, never before has she seen him act so...un-Nick like.
"Difficult? Raising a child as a single mother is difficult!" she spat out through clenched fangs, her eyes having become a blue fire of fury as she snapped at her only child. "Watching you coming home when you were a cub, in tears from being bullied was difficult! Seeing that other kids had broken your arm, and muzzled you was difficult! Letting you run away, seeing what you had become when you came back home one night was... FUCKING DIFFICULT! This…..this….." she struggled for a word to best fit what she thought after she had yelled, making the other red fox's fur flatten to his body, making him appear small and submissive,"…. this is perverted…abnormal, this is against what I raised you with, you two are...this is horrible" she sighed, holding her head in her paws, shaking it furiously, her hackles raised, displaying the impressive pearly-white fangs.
Seeing the predators sharp fangs made Judy shrink away, her fur clinging to her own body in fright. Even after being around her partner for three years, and numerous other predators both inside and outside of work, fangs still frightened her. They had evolved for one simple thing, to tear, to hurt, to maim, to help kill prey like her. Nick though was unfazed by this display more affected by her shouting and hers words. He did take his wife's paw in a reassuring squeeze, having seen her terrified expression out of the corner of his eyes.
"Why? Because you don't think Judy's good enough for me? That I'm no good for her? Is it because we shouldn't be allowed to be with the animal we love? Why is this wrong, how can what I feel for Judy be wrong!" the demanded, his chest rising and falling as he was conflicted with a number of emotions.
"It's nothing like that!" the vixen almost growled, wanting to get her point across, "Nick. Look at you two, a fox and a rabbit! You're fucking natural enemies…that and you're a predator, she's prey! I've always told you that animals are post to find mates within their own species, not from others. It's not natural, it's not post to be this way, it's worse knowing that you're..." her voice was wavering, she wanted to scream.
"Then what is it? Yeah so it's a little unnatural, I've seen a zebra and a lion together, it's weird. Yeah we don't always hold hands and get a long. I've tried pairing with vixens, I've told you! I don't care if we're different, I'm actually glad we're opposites!" the vulpine's voice had intensified. It was extremely rare for him to lose his calm demeanor but this talk couldn't be brushed off anymore. He had never agreed with his mother's views about this matter, but out of the respect and love he had for her he had never argued.
"It's god damn fucking wrong!" her voice having followed example of his, most likely everyone on this level had heard them by this point. "I thought that I raised you better than this, I thought that out of everything that I taught you, you would know that you shouldn't be with some-animal who isn't in your species!"
"I don't care about that! I never fucking cared about that mom!" his ears were laid back, his expression having fallen from resolve and frustration to sorrow. "You always ranted about how wron...wrong it was for animals...t-to...be wi...with the one's they loved if they were from another species, o-o-or were predator or prey. It's doesn't mat-ter, wh...why should it?"
"I know I can't change it, but you two both know that society doesn't like it. Once someone find's out you'll be outcasts for the rest of your lives. No one likes seeing it, no one wants' to see it. Is that what you two honestly want, do either of you honestly want to be seen like this?" his mother asked her voice calming a degree, but still filled with so much opposition, though it was steadily breaking as she saw how much she was hurting her son.
"We don't care, it's better than not being together. Even if it was illegal I wouldn't care, I would still be with Judy. I would be with her even if it meant that everyone looks down at us, because I know that at least we have each other. I...I...I can't kee...keep lettin-letting animals decide w...who...who I am, or what I ca...can or cannot do, " he mumbled, rubbing his free paw over his eyes, tears having escaped on their own accord, seeing the look in his mother's eyes. It felt like she hated him and that was something he couldn't honestly bear with. His mate tightened the hold she had on his paw, doing her hardest to reassure him that she was there, because it certainly wasn't going well anymore.
The vixen stood up with a frustrated growl, throwing her paws up in exasperation, but mainly it was guilt. Never had see seen her son look so beaten down, and she had been the one to do it. Not wanting to do any more damage, she walked over to the window, crossing her arms as she just glared out of it, thinking of what to say, or trying to process what she had just heard. The tod sat where he had been on the bed for the entire ordeal. Only now he was trying to get a grip on his emotions, trying to stop himself from crying. When he got himself under control, he ran his paw through the fur of his face letting out a miserable sigh, trying his best to not let the frustration or sorrow eat away at him again. This entire argument had surfaced old emotions from his past. All of them similar to how animals had made him become someone he wasn't particularly proud of, though none of it compared to what just transpired.
To hear his mother yelling = that Judy and his union was such a vile affront to society, had snapped and ultimately broken the strong mask he always put on so no one could get to him. Though the animals in his past had spat horrible things at him, he was eventually able to brush them off at the end of the day. His mother though, seeing her like this just...it just hurt. She sounded no better than everyone who had shot down his dreams, forced him into the stereotypical fox he had become. He felt disappointment, which was similar to how his mother had felt when she learned of where he had taken his life before he changed. It was more than just simple displeasure he was ashamed of this side of his mother. Heartbroken as well, as his mother was not supporting him, but once again shooting down his lifestyle. His hustling he could understand, but this was a part of him that he thought she'd understand.
"Nicholas," his mate whispered, pulling him out of his thoughts.
"Yes, Judith?" he asked softly, letting out a deep breath through his nose. He didn't want to accidently snap at her, or break down in front of her again.
"There's nothing yo...we can do," he raised an eyebrow at her questioningly. "We can't change her mind, it's her life and we can't always change another animal's opinion or views. Just because you wear ties with your Hawaiian shirt, doesn't mean that everyone else will accept it," she tried to get him to see what she meant, which he did. Some-animal at Gazelle's concert three years ago had taken his tie and thrown it into a trashcan, telling him he looked, in politer words, stupid in it. This reference made sense to him as he compared that scenario and the one they were in now.
"We win some," he looked at his mother who refused to even acknowledge them, even as he tried to catch her eyes with his own, her eyes avoiding his. This hurt more than he thought, causing a tear to follow where the others had. Swallowing through his tight throat, he said in a strained voice"...…that and I guess we have to lose some too," he conceded, the best he could do was try and smooth things out if he could. He slowly got out of the bed.
"Do you want me to come?" his mate leaned forward to come with him but he shook his head.
"Not this time, Fluff," he reassured, flashing her a weak smile, before walking the short distance between his mother and him.
"Mom?" he asked with a shy voice, as though he had been caught stealing from the cookie car, again. The vixen glanced over at him for a brief second before snapping her attention away from him, acting skittish as the gap between them lessened.
"Mom, please?" he pleaded softly, not wanting to shout anymore, no more hurtful words, he wanted to talk to his mother, not who had just snapped at him.
The only reply he got was her shaking her head, her eyes shutting tightly, her breast rising and falling heavily. She had always been a fiercely stubborn, independent vixen, not one to exactly apologize to other animals, or consent to their views of her, but she always acted shy and scared after she hurt someone she loved.
"Care to join me outside," he offered a paw which she gave a glance over before heading out of the room.
"We'll be back," he called over to his mate, before he slowly trailed after his mother.
The officer found her waiting a few meters down the corridor from his room, a little too far from the room for him at the moment, but could manage. Still, he grimaced as he made his way over to her, his stomach hurting from everything he had put it through today. The yelling and how he had pulled on the muscles a little too much with all his walking today, along with all the gesturing he had just done. Her gaze lifted from the floor, seeing that he was struggling and she walked over to him, stopping a few centimeters from him. Her soft, sky blue eyes looked into his rich, sea green ones, his having fallen back to their usual self, calm, teasing, collective, intelligent. Hers though were filled with concern, remorse, sorrow, disappointment and shards of anger. Seeing as she hadn't said a single word, he let out a weary sigh, rubbing his face once again.
"From the scene we just put on there...it's clear that you don't approve," he said softly,"but you're still my mother," he wanted to hug her, or for her to hug him, he wanted to know where they were at now. "I want you to know th-that I love you mom, nothing's going to change that." There was always the option of cutting ties with her, but he didn't want that. He was all she had, the only good thing his father had given her, something she confessed to him when one night when he had come home.
"Nicholas, I….I'm not sorry for what I said," she sniffled, her voice quiet, weak. "But I…..I hope you two are happy together," she said a little bitterly, but her eyes spoke that she was sincere.. "That…..and I love you too," before he could say something she had wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
"I know that this is hard for you, but she's the one for me," he sighed, wrapping his own arms around the vixen that had carried him for those difficult months, and given birth to him, he couldn't hate her. He could be cross, but it took a monster to hate their mother. "Please, I don't want to push away again," he sniffed.
"I don't want that either, I lost you for too long," she kissed his forehead, hugging him ever closer, but being careful because he was still healing. "It's going to take me some time, Nicky." she sighed, both of them pulling away.
"Th...this is goodbye, for now," he said what they both wanted to say, but he had the courage to do it.
"Yes, take care of yourself," she agreed, stroking the side of his muzzle with a paw, before taking steps back, leaving to go home.
"You too mom," after that she turned around and headed off, Nick did the same, heading back into the room, but he stole glances over his shoulder, wishing that things were back to normal. That would take time, much like his recovery.
The tod pulled himself back into the bed, a small grimace etched onto his muzzle. It was too tall and too big for a fox, making getting back in a painful chore. Judy watched him, knowing that he didn't want help with something as simple as this right now. He remained sitting up, knowing that if he lay back he'd starting falling asleep almost immediately, he was drained, both emotionally and mentally.
"That was just as bad as I thought it was going to be," he admitted, looking over to the doe who was watching him with searching eyes. "How you holding up, Honey-Bunny?"
"I'm alright," his mate hummed, a thoughtful expression written on her muzzle as she thought about what to say. She sighed as she came out with.
"I'm sorry,"
"There's nothing to be sorry for," he started hiding his vulnerable side again, not in the mood to even let his wife in right now. "I already knew how this was going to go down, but I let my optimism got the better of me. Every single time, am I right?" he sighed, rubbing his temples, feeling a headache coming.
"Doesn't it always?" she smirked, seeing that he wanted to change the topic which would be for the best right now.
"I got you…so no," a small charming grin tugged at the corners of his lips. Something that he was thankful for, was that his partner knew when it wasn't a good time to pry. Maybe tomorrow or the day after, right now he just wanted to put it behind him.
"Mind if I join you?" she asked but had already hopped up so she was sitting in front of him, slouched over a little.
"Well since you put it so kindly," one of his paws had caught a perky ear, stroking it fondly, "I guess you can stay," he leaned ever so slightly forward, nuzzling up and down her ear for a little while, before switching to the other one, getting her to purr. The fox had discovered with the years that they had been mates, that rabbits' ears weren't just sensitive in hearing, but they themselves were as well. It was an erogenous spot on them and his mate was no exception. Often times he paid attention to them when they were alone, knowing full well by this point in time that it was pleasurable for her.
"So what do you want to do tomorrow, do you want me to pick you up in the morning or after work?" she asked with a content sigh, her eyelids struggling to stay open as they gradually started to close.
"In the morning please, I could use the distraction," he honestly wanted to get out of the hospital as soon as possible, a day back at work sounded more welcoming than even another minute here.
"That eager to get back out there?" she raised an eyebrow with a smirk.
"It has its advantages," his paw had settled at the back of her head, persuading her to lean into him. The fox's lips met the doe's in a drawn out, affectionate kiss, which she returned, kissing him back as one of her paws brushed through the fur of his muzzle. His tongue was welcomed by hers as she allowed him to slip past her teeth, both caressing the other sensuously.
This didn't last all that long, as they soon broke apart, both letting out a content sigh, their eyes lost in the others for a short time before they pulled away though they didn't know why. More than likely a few animals having heard them earlier. He was surprised that a doctor or nurse hadn't come to intervene or at the very least ask them to stop shouting. It could have just been that they didn't' interrupt after hearing where the argument had gone, doctors were still animals and as such they still shared curiosity and the need to gossip. Or maybe the walls were a lot thicker then he though they were, it didn't really matter. They were being left alone, letting them have their peace.
"You were rather quiet," he mused, with his sly smile.
"I…..I froze," she confessed, her eyes avoiding him for a couple seconds before, "I've never seen you like that," her mate took one of her paws in one of his, his thumb running over her open palm before he brought it to his lips, giving it a loving kiss.
"I'm sorry you had to see that, I can be rather horrible when I get like that," his eyes were focused on hers, as though they were the only two living in their own little peace of haven.
"It's alright," she shuffled over so their legs were touching, getting the fox to look at her with amusement.
"Lonely?"
"A little, wish you could come home tonight."
"You know doctors, they're just trying to look out for us, that and they love money," she rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she looked at his tail, which was wagging behind him.
The rabbit left it at that, not knowing how she could add to that, or even if she wanted to. What she did know was that they still had things to discuss that she hadn't brought up between them last week. It had been busy for the last week, for both of them, also she had forgotten to bring up the adoption papers she had found in their cruiser. They were now in her underwear draw at their apartment, where they were hidden and safe.
Now wouldn't be an appropriate time considering what had previously occurred. That and she was pretty sure that her mate was leaving it as a surprise, for her. It would have made a great one at that, but now though she was starting to reconsider adoption. Not that she didn't want to, it was because of everything that her mother in law had said. Society still hadn't accepted animals of different species just being in a couple. Would the children they adopted be treated less because of who their parents were, because their parents were looked down upon by everyone. This fact alone made her want to go without having children with Nick, because she didn't want them to raise them in that kind of atmosphere.
Then again, they would be growing up in the same society anyways, even with mates of the same species. It was complicated, there were so many variables, what ifs, and so many unknowns for her to be able to decide. Though she knew that answer already. She wanted children with her mate, though they might grow up in a world which didn't accept their parent's life choices. However they would be brought up in a household where their parents encouraged them to be anything and be with who they wanted to be with no matter the species.
Judy looked up at her partner who was watching her contently, having pulled his attention away from his phone a few seconds ago. Judy opened her mouth to say something, anything but nothing came. The fox who could always pull a quip during even the most stressful of situations, just grinned at her.
"Not as easy as it looks, is it? Dumb Bunny," he tapped her twitching pink nose with a finger, seeing that she was trying to think of something to say.
"I just don't know what to talk about," she retaliated by flicking his nose, making him grunt and shake his head from the sensation it sent through the sensitive sensory organ.
"I can see that there is something," he stated as he flicked one of her ears, getting even, "What's on your mind?"
"Why did I find adoption requirement forms in the cruiser?"
"Well finally you brought it up," the officer chuckled. "You found them because I was a bit preoccupied screaming into the rain with a hole in my side," somehow he grinned about it, as though his near-death experience was a joke. "That and it was a decoy to hide my will, " he teased, bopping his stinging, purple nose against her pink one.
"Come on, Slick!" she groaned, wanting a straight answer. " When were you going to tell me?" she sat up onto her knees and persuaded him to lay on his back, with her cuddling into his left side. He let out a soft huff as he encircled her waist.
"Once I got confirmation that they'd let a predator such as myself adopt," he ran a paw up the entirety of her back. "I was going to give you the actual forms for your anniversary gift," he spoke softly. Her eyes shot up to his, with a small blush. "I know, I'm the worst," he purred.
"I…." her voice grew tight, her mate always knowing how to play with her emotions, always pulling at the right heartstrings. "Nick, you're too good to me," she burred, burying her face into his side.
"Nah, I'm doing this all for my own amusement, Darling," he chortled before he gave a kiss to the top of her head tenderly. "Anything for you, Carrots," he breathed, as he stroked the back of her head, his claws delicately scratching at the hidden flesh.
She muffled something into him, a ticklish sensation and an odd one at that. "What was that? You're mouths full of….well me."
Pulling away she repeated herself looking incredibly cheerful, "I love you so much, Nicholas. I don't think I've ever met a guy as nice as you," she hugged him as best she could, seeing as he was still healing.
"That's good," he mused, feeling his ego being satisfied by his partner's praise. "I'm just a very nice fox, especially to his, Honey-Bunny," he tightened his hold on her, getting no complaint from her as she tightened her hold around him.
The tod looked up at the ceiling as he held tightly onto his mate, enjoying how close she was. It wasn't as good as what they could do in the safety and comfort of their apartment but he would take whatever he could get. A thought sprang to mind, and he couldn't help but let out a snicker.
"Also you hate it when I make a mess," he hadn't been able to finish his list. Judy was laughing into his side, finding it just as amusing as him. However her cheeks had turned a deep shade of crimson again. She knew what he meant, he looked back up at the ceiling, with a sinful grin. How he loved teasing and flirting with her, it never got old.
"Keep talking like that, and I'll definitely get you home tonight," the rabbit propped herself up before giving him a kiss on the lips.
"Sly Bunny," he mumbled as he kissed her back.
"Nick there's someone coming," her ears standing up like they had earlier, as she pulled away from him.
"There's always someone interrupting," he muttered, nevertheless letting her go. She hurriedly scooted away from him and sat back at the end of the bed like earlier.
A few minutes passed by yet no one walked into the room like they had expected. The fox looked at his partner with an eyebrow raised. She tried to say something but he shushed her, wanting to wait this out, though they both knew that no one was going to show up. He just wanted to get on her nerves a little. They waited another couple of minutes, the predator drumming his fingers on the bed, with a mock expectant expression. When it was obvious that no one was coming he finally broke the silence.
"You need to get your ears checked," he mused, knowing that insulting his mate's hearing often wound her up, he did it to tease but she would sometimes take it seriously. Tonight she simply brushed it off, not feeling like bantering with him at the moment.
"I did hear someone," she grumbled, crawling back up the bed so she could cuddle with him. The reynard welcomed her with his left arm, his eyes following her every movement as she settled back where she had been minutes earlier.
"Sure, you did Carrots," he teased, nuzzling her muzzle with his own. "Probably went to see another patient," she just huffed, rustling his red fur and creamy fur. He stroked from the top of his mate's head to the tips of her ears, which were laid back. "You staying tonight?"
"No, I'll be heading out in an hour or so," she yawned tiredly her mate easily hearing it, he grinned seeing that he had gained a bed mate for the night.
"Mmmmhmmm, whatever you say officer," the predator pulled her closer as she begun to fall asleep, he wasn't tired yet, having slept in late today, unlike her. But one had to consider that she woke up at five every morning, the weekends being the exception. He glanced down at her, seeing that she had fallen sound asleep for the night, having had enough for one day.
"Ohhhh...you bunnies," he murmured, "full of so much energy, only to fall asleep so early," he gave the top of her muzzle a kiss. She shifted a little in her sleep, he couldn't say he had seen anything more adorable than seeing her asleep.
Nick laid his head back against the pillows, keeping his arm snuggly around his bunny's waist. His eyes closed, resting them for a bit, given that it had been a long day for him. Not as exciting or full of work as his mate's had been, just an emotional day since the quarrel with his mother. Hopefully he could put it behind him for a couple days till he was ready to talk about it with his partner. Something he loved about her was that she knew when to give him space, knowing that when he was overly vulnerable it was best to give him a few hours or days before approaching him. He just didn't feel comfortable with exposing his heart around animals, the rabbit in his arms was the only exception.
At best he would talk to her about it tomorrow or the day after, amongst other things in depth. Them adopting would certainly be brought up again, seeing as they were both excited about becoming parents. A family mixed with rabbits and foxes would be exciting, first off they would need to get a big enough house, which would hopefully be in the next year or so.
Their current apartment wouldn't be big enough for the number they wanted. Four being the minimal while eight was the most. They had to settle seeing as Judy had come from a family over two hundred siblings, while he had come from a family of just him and his mother. His wife had originally wanted a dozen, which wasn't too outlandish, but was a bit big for the tod. They had agreed on that number finally, after long hours of them talking about it to great length. First they needed a house, not a four room apartment, it could work but it would feel crowded for everyone. They just needed some more time so they could afford a house, and be able to provide for their future family.
"You're going to be a great mother," he pulled her closer, all the while keeping his eyes closed. "Everything will work out, I promise."
HI: Updated chapter IV...hope you enjoyed it as much as I did combing through it for the mistakes and other such things of that sort, lol. Anyways, I couldn't find a quote that fit this chapter by more highly regarded human beings, I apologize if you don't like it, I cam up with it on the spot. If there's one out there that you feel will fit more appropriately, please send me a PM or have it attached to a Review. This was a fun chapter to rewrite, started at three, it's now one in the morning here, yeah that long folks, lol. My eyes hurt...urrrrhhhh, it's burns XD. Well, hope you enjoy the update, hopefully it flows better. Night to all of you fine folk.
HI: Yes, it's a lame disclaimer, yes I understand that I can say something more creative. Why am I still using it then…..well it fits, and it's friendly. Now back into what these are used for, my thanks to all of you and me talking to you. Well that was an interesting chapter to write, difficult trying to capture Nick's mother the way I did, tell me what you guys all think. That and to tell you stuff that isn't in the chapter, mentioned but not elaborated. Well for those of you who have been reading carefully, It's September currently, and Judy and Nick have been married for a year and a half, putting their marriage in February, ahh, the romantic month, I hadn't meant to do that. It's purely coincidence. Secondly, sorry for another soft ending for the chapter, I promise they won't all be like this. Next stop, well, you'll see, it's a drama so I don't want to spoil it. In addition, heart breaking to have a parent or guardian tell you that they're proud of you only for the two of you to get into a nasty row, Nick can't seem to win in these last two weeks.
Also I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I wrote it. I know that everyone might be used to me getting these out every two or three days, but classes are coming back up tomorrow, spring break is over for me, so I won't have a whole lot of free time. I promise I will try to see if I can get these out as I have lately, what lunch is for, XD. Anyways, other chapter including this one will be updated when I get to them, most likely on weekends now, seeing as I'll have more time. So expect a new chapter Tuesday or Wednesday night, Thursday at the latest.
Before I sign off of fan fiction, and for bed, I just want to thank every single one of you. As I've said twice now, I never expected this story to do so well. I know this must becoming repetitive, but thanks everyone, thank you all so much for viewing, reviewing, following and for those of you who have favored it. This story has reached 5000+ views, over 40 reviews, 93 favorites, has 149 followers, from the bottom of my heart, I sincerely thank all of you for enjoying my work. Till next time this is R.A., signing off, good night to all of you.
