Judy thought about asking Nick what was wrong right away, but she was so relieved to see him that she decided just to enjoy his company for now…

"Oh Nick! I'm so glad you're alright, I missed you soooo much!"

She squeezed his stomache, which she had wrapped herself around without his permission.

Nick momentarily tried to wriggle away from her in vain, but truth be told he was just as glad to see her.

"Carrots, you're hurting me…"

"Oh! Sorry!"

She let go and sat up infront of him. She quickly noticed what Nick had been clutching before she arrived.

"Wow you still have this plushie of me?"

She snatched it away from him and squeezed it like he had been. She recalled the day they'd gone to build-a-plush and had stuffed animals made of eachother…

"I still have my little "slick Nick" plushie too, it gaurds my bookshelf!"

She giggled joyously and smiled at Nick.

Nick had been protesting her arrival since she got there, but her typical goofy grin relaxed him, and he found himself smiling back.

"…It probably stinks."

"Yea a little, but it mostly just smells like you…"

She squeezed it tighter and sniffed it a little. Nick made a disgusted sneer but laughed it off.

"Should've known I couldn't escape you…" He sighed.

Judy puffed out her chest and gave a hearty chuckle.

"There isn't a mamal in this city I can't find foolish fox!"

Nick laughed and shook his head in defeat. "I missed you too sly bunny."

"… speaking of which." Judy adjusted herself on the bed until she was sitting comfortably.

"You got so mad when you found out about Charly… You even said I was "your bunny"…"

Nick squirmed a little. He knew he would have to face her soon enough but he was doubting whether or not he was ready yet.

"Are you that protective of me?" She looked intently at Nick waiting for his response.

"Uh…" Nick was having trouble choosing what to say in his head, but to Judy it just seemed like he was getting bothered again.

While Nick fumbled with his words, Judy got an idea of her own… She placed a hand on his arm to comfort him.

"Nick, you mean so much more to me than him…"

Nick's eyes went wide, he was about to open his mouth to speak when she got an excited look and reached into her pocket.

"And if you don't believe me I'll prove it!"

She pulled out her cell phone and started dailing. Nick was so confused as he watched her. She gave him a little wink to reassure him.

"Hey, Charly? It's Judy."

Nick's interest was peaked. He leaned in to try and hear her conversation.

"Look, … I'm really sorry but… I don't this is going to work out. I want to break up."

Nick started choking, despite the fact that he wasn't eating or drinking anything.

"What is wrong with you!?" He said it in a sort of yelling whisper, but Judy just shushed him and shood him away.

"Why?… well…" She looked over at Nick who was motioning for her to "cut it out." Judy smirked in response.

"…I guess it's because you're a cry baby."

Nick had to grab his snout to stop from laughing out loud. He hopped off the bed and darted into the bathroom so Charly wouldn't hear him bust up laughing.

Judy had to stop herself from laughing too, when she got it under control she said goodbye to Charly.

"Look I'm sure you'll find the right bunny for you someday, it's just not me. I'm sorry Charly, goodbye…"

She let herself laugh a little after Charly was off the phone, as Nick came out of the bathroom and started getting dressed.

After he'd gotten his usual cloths on he went back to sit next to her on his bed again.

"You didn't have to do that, I'm not a crybaby like him." He laughed and Judy playfully shoved him.

"But you're taking me seriously now right?" She gave him a satisfied grin as he scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"You don't have to worry so much about me slick, I'll find a bunny who can protect me someday so I won't have to be "your bunny" forever."

She was trying to make Nick feel better but she did the exact opposite…

Nick froze when he heard her say that. He knew his feelings, and that this was a pivotal moment in their relationship. If he was going to tell her how he felt, it was now or never…

"No…" He said it solemnly, looking down at the bed.

"Don't get greedy slick." She giggled, completely oblivious to what Nick was going through. "I'm gonna want kits someday and it's not like you can provide them." She nudged him playfully.

"Judy, I said you're my bunny because I'm in love with you…" The words seemed to just fall out of his mouth.

A terrible silence fell over Nick's apartment…

For a brief moment, her face said that she was stunned and embarassed. Then it was gone and she burst into laughter.

"Alright slick, you really got me good this time! Let's go to my place and watch a movie." She giggled.

Suddenly Nick's nerves were gone… She'd just laughed off his confession of love for her.

His humiliated scowl was slowly replaced with a stoic gaze. He pulled his knees up into his chest and crossed his arms over top of them.

They looked at eachother for a moment, until Nick sunk his head down and rested it on his forearms.

Judy's grin also faded. The reality of what Nick had said was slowly sinking in. Nick was always sarcastic, how could she believe he was being serious now? Of course he was trying to get a rise out of her.

"Come on Nick you look like an armadillo, lets go home…"

It was totally quite. Judy approached Nick and tried to pull him to his feet but he wouldn't budge.

"Nick this is ridiculous, stop it…" She started to get nervous. She grabbed one of his forearms and tried to pry it from his face.

Nick batted her away.

"…Just go home."

Judy's worried expression intensified. She was starting to understand that he wasn't joking, but she was still unwilling to accept that Nick was completely serious.

"…Nick come on." She was still trying to pry his arms away. "I'll hold your hand while we walk if that'll make you feel better." She laughed nervously, but for Nick it was a tasteless joke.

Nick looked up at her with a bitter glare. "This isn't funny Judy…"

She started quivering. She couldn't ignore it anymore. All of the signs were there that Nick really felt that way about her.

"Nick you have to be joking!" At this point she was pleading with him. She didn't want it to be true. "You're a fox, … I'm not. What you're suggesting is just strange Nick… it's wierd."

Nick watched her quiver, and her eyes well up with tears. He wanted to get angry again, to tell her off and put her in her place but he coudn't. He knew that when it came to her he wasn't able to stay angry. He had a weakness for her that he finally understood.

He slowly stood up, and ignored her quivering voice as she continued to bargain with him.

"You're my best friend Nick! Isn't that enough for you?" Her nose started to twitch and a few tears started rolling off her cheeks.

Nick watched her for a moment then put his hands in his pockets.

"I guess not…" It was cold and callous the way he said it, and as he turned to leave he could see the look of despair spread across her crying face.

"Nick please!" She cried out and reached for him but she was too shaken to chase after him again…