Emily felt herself get conscious; like the black blanket that had been wrapped around her, was slowly being untangled. Then she heard worried voices:

"What if she will never wake up?" Asked a soft voice rather anxiously.

"Don't worry Nick, she was just thrown against a wall. She will wake up soon." Said a female.

"Excuse me, officer Wilde, but I recall that you didn't want her. So why do you care so much?" Asked a deep heavy voice.

Then there was silence. "Well, I-" Started the soft voice, but was interrupted by the female.

"Look! She's waking up!"

Then Emily's crystal eyes fluttered open. She was in a white dull room, laying on a bed. Before her stood; Nick, Judy, and Chief Bogo.

Nick felt relief wash over him, and he ran over to the small pup's side. "Emily! Are you okay?" He asked.

"Wha- what happened?" Emily asked drowsily, blinking her eyes.

"Well," Judy started. "One of the criminals threw you harshly against a wall and knocked you out. Nick tried to help you, while we others ran after the criminals." She paused. "But they were too fast, and they got away." She whispered wistfully and looked at the ground.

Emily looked at her paws and fought back tears. "Oh, okay." She whispered.

o - o - o - o - o

Emily was sitting on a bench outside of chief Bogo's office, waiting for Nick to return.

"Wilde," Bogo started. "If you do not want to take care of her, it will be no problem to assign her to officer Fangmeyer, or someone else."

Nick instantly shook his head. "No chief, please, I promise I will take good care of her."

The buffalo raised a brow. "Why the change of heart?"

Nick was quiet, then sighed heavily. "She is just a kid, all alone, no mother, no parents, no one. She reminds me a bit of myself."

"And why is that Wilde?" Asked Bogo.

The fox smiled sadly. "With all due respect sir, some things are better left unsaid."

Bogo nodded slowly. "Okay. Well, I will not change the assignment. You still have care over Emily."

Nick nodded and then left the office. When he came out, he saw Emily sitting at the bench looking at her paws in sadness.

"Come on, Snow," Nick smiled lightly. "Let's go home."

The small fox nodded, and hopped down from the bench.

As they were walking outside, Nick stopped and looked at Emily.

"Kid, wait." He said.

Emily stopped in her tracks and looked up at him.

"I... I'm sorry." Nick said sadly.

Emily's eyes widened. He was... apologizing?

"I shouldn't have been so hard on you, and I shouldn't have said what I said. It's just... I have never taken care of a kid before, and I guess it kinda frightened me a little when some called me: Father, and said that it was sweet to adopt you." He paused and rubbed his neck. "I just don't know how to do it right... Because... I never really had a father myself."

Emily was quiet for a few seconds. Nick was opening up to her, which she guessed was something he only did once in a lifetime.

Then she smiled up at him. "I forgive you."

o - o - o - o - o

Nick and Emily trotted inside their house, and just as they had done so Emily began shedding tears. She had looked into the eyes of those who had killed her mother. They had pressed a knife against her throat. They had almost killed her. Emily was almost killed. She would have been dead if neither Nick nor the police had arrived. The thought was terrifying her.

Nick noticed and bent down to her level, and looked her in the eyes with only pure sympathy. Then something happened, that Emily never would have predicted. Nick wrapped his arms around the small fox, hugging her close. Emily was shocked but instantly hugged him back, clenching his pelt close, never wanting to let go.

"It's okay." He whispered softly. "I will never let them hurt you again."

Emily sobbed into his fur, burring her face into his shoulder. "P- promise?" She sniffed.

There was a small silence then a nod. "Promise."

o - o - o - o - o

AN: Alright third chapter is DONE. Sorry if it's a bit short, but oh well.

Cya next time with a new one!