Chapter 4
…A few days later…
Dressed in form-fitting black leggings that showed off her pretty white tail and furry gray feet below her shins, and a loose fitting spaghetti strap top, Judy came back from the book store with a travel book detailing everything on the country – Atlantea - they were going on vacation to. Judy inhaled a delicious aroma, her nose twitched with delight, she peered into the skillet at the sizzling dish, and asked Nick cheerily as their eyes met, "What's that amazing smell you've created?"
He replied offhand, working the saucepan with both hands, "Oh, just something special to celebrate a three months of being roommates, being friends for more than a year, and not killing each other."
They both laughed and she rubbed his shoulder and smiled, "Well that is certainly something to celebrate, Nick. This smells divine. I know you could cook, but didn't have any idea you were such a Master Chef."
Judy's nostrils flared wide and closed her eyes, savoring the food odor. They were used to a lot of microwaved or quickly simmered TV dinners with their hectic schedule, or fast food out. But when they had time to cook, Nick did most of it. She cleaned up. It was a good division of labor.
The sight of Judy in her very form-fitting, revealing tights that followed the exact shape of her hips, her perky white tail, and scant top that completely highlighted her bosom, her exposed soft gray fur from her head and shoulders, and her slender but toned arms and fore paws, nearly knocked Nick off his feet.
He managed to recover, shrugged, and replied, "We finally got a break, so I decided to do things right. It seems that everyone needs our detective skills all the time anymore."
She agreed, "Yeah. It's like the City Council went nuts investigating shoddy workmanship, payoffs, and kickbacks on public works and infrastructure contracts after that dam break."
He served the dish steaming hot, and he offered with a grin, "And we have to do most of those investigations. But not tonight. So dig in, Carrots. Ladies first."
She sat, grabbed a fork, and sampled the attractively-plated entree, chewed, savored the bite, and inquired,"Yum! What is it? I love it."
Nick answered, "It's called 'Welsh Rarebit'."
She spewed everything, and shouted, "Rabbit? You big jerk! I am not and never will be a carnivore. Much less a cannibal. Blehhh! Blehhh!"
She spent nearly a minute spitting and cleansing her mouth. He just took it all in patiently with a smug, satisfied look, which she failed to notice.
Sat and crossed her arms with a judgmental frown at her friend, with her ears pinned back behind her head in disgust, "Not funny, Nick. Not funny at all."
He gave her a sly grin, and explained, "It's called 'Rarebit', Carrots. It's not your cousin Vinnie. It's not even rabbit. It's just cheese and toast and some special spices. And the cow donated the milk for the cheese."
She blinked and her mouth dropped open, completely embarrassed at her terse remarks and response, "Oh… Well… That's different. I knew that."
"No you didn't," he grinned.
Judy hung her head a little in shame, "Sorry. No, Nick, I didn't. I'm just an ignorant country girl. To us, that's just a grilled cheese sandwich."
He lifted her quivering, nearly whimpering chin and smiled, "No, you're not ignorant, Judy, and besides, I admit I had a 'wild hare' to yank your chain a bit with this culinary play on words."
She caught the second deliberate bad pun, and let a smile come back to her face. She knew he loved word games at her expense, which normally endeared him to her with his clever wit. Nick thought she was ever so much prettier smiling. Those cute little buck teeth accentuated that smile.
"It is delicious. And you succeeded, Nick Wilde," she agreed, so she finished her portion and he sat down to eat his Rarebit also, and she commented, "You are one clever fox."
Nick leaned back in his chair, rubbed his full belly, and continued, "I can't get enough of you telling me that. Well, country girl, we're not done celebrating here yet. Unlike Bunnyburrow, they don't roll up the sidewalks at dusk here in Zootopia."
Judy got very excited with this news, "I've noticed. So then, partner, what did you have in mind to show this country girl a proper celebration?"
He could hardly contain the surprise and asked, "Do country girls like carrot margaritas?"
She was in happy disbelief at this news, and literally bounced with excitement in her chair, "Of course they do! Really? We're going out?"
Nick enjoyed Judy's reaction to his special gift and added to it, "Absolutely. We're going to that new southwestern cuisine restaurant you wanted to try, and go dancing afterwards. They have a band and a dance floor there. I know how much you like to dance."
The last time he used the term 'bunny hop' on her, his arm was sore for three days, so he refrained.
She put her paw on his arm gently, and exclaimed, "Oh yes, yes, Nick! I'd really like to do that. After all, we do have the day off tomorrow."
Her foot involuntarily thumped the floor a little in anticipation of dancing. He knew he had completely succeeded in surprising her. He knew her mannerisms as well as she knew his.
"So let's get ready, girl," he urged. He didn't have to ask twice. They quickly rinsed the dishes and went to prepare for the night out.
They emerged from their rooms dressed in some very nice party clothes. She modeled for him, twirling, and fluffed her ears. They hung low and inviting. One ear draped over her uncovered furry shoulder. It took his breath away.
Judy was an absolute vision to Nick. She wore a bright yellow bare-midriff tube top that hugged her upper body shape perfectly. Nick already knew she was bustier than most rabbits in Zootopia, and her top emphasized that. He tried not to stare. He could see the very light gray of her belly fur contrast with her darker gray sides and back and her very cute 'innie' belly button. She had an amazingly thin, taut waist, which flared smoothly into her wide hips. His eyes quickly went from there to her very short skirt with a colorful floral pattern trimmed with a scalloped fabric edge. The skirt was gossamer light and flowed freely as she moved. The skirt highlighted her incredible legs and the hem stopped just a little below her bottom, just covering her panties. Her slender, lithe feet were wrapped in ankle warmer stockings that went from her instep to slightly above her shins. They matched her skirt colors, and most assuredly accented her shapely furry ankles, calves, and thighs.
Judy looked magnificent. He was one lucky fox. He had never dated a vixen that was prettier than his rabbit friend. Female foxes just didn't have the curvaceous shape rabbit females did. It was no surprise they had hundreds of kits as mothers. Any species would find her irresistible.
"Whoa, Judy! Look at you!" he genuinely gushed. He was bug-eyed. She noticed. She had shopped for hours at the downtown JC Pony department store in the lagomorph juniors' section to find just the right look, very pleased at the effect she had on him. She wondered if it was wrong to attract him so strongly.
"So… you like this, Nick?" she blushed.
"Do I ever!" he stated and felt like he was going to trip over his own tongue with his expressions of attraction for Judy.
"I bought it special for you," she cooed.
"You look like you own the whole town, Carrots, but now I feel under-dressed," he fretted.
He wore his standard open collar and tie. But the clothes were new, and they looked really good on him. They were more tailored, and highlighted his new, more toned police physique he gained from the academy training.
"I don't know why, Nicholas P. Wilde. You cleaned up very well, dear friend. You're quite the handsome fox," she complimented him.
Judy knew that male rabbits could never possibly look this good, even though her littermate brother turned a lot of female rabbits' heads back in Bunnyburrow. He'd been 'all state' tuskball champion at their high school and was still working on his agricultural degree in college on a full athletic scholarship. As the oldest of all Bonnie Hopps' litters by a few minutes earlier than her, someday he'd take over the family farm.
"Eh… It was a special occasion," he shrugged with his hands in his pockets. But he really appreciated her compliment.
"Indeed it is. I have just the thing for you, Nick, my friend, to mark this occasion. I remembered we had an anniversary too. I'm no dumb bunny."
He wanted to jump all over that line but held back. She knew she'd thrown Nick a verbal 'softball', and just grinned, amused at his restraint. But she knew that when she least expected it, Nick would throw it all right back in her face. It was a wonderful mental game they played.
"He's so intelligent," she mused to herself.
She gave him a long, thin gift box and made him open it. Inside was a stylish designer tie with a paisley pattern that matched every color in her outfit, and serendipitously coordinated with his outfit colors too. She knew what he liked to wear.
She stood back in admiration of her friend with her arms crossed in satisfaction, "You look awesome, Nick. Now everyone will know I'm your friend. I need as much help as I can get, because every vixen on the dance floor is going to be all over you."
"That's good, Carrots. I want to look like I'm yours. I was thinking the same thing - I'm going to have to beat all the other rabbit males off you with a stick."
She really blushed at that compliment, and appreciated the mutual admiration they shared. She really felt beautiful in front of him. Neither was brave enough to say that they only had eyes for each other, even though that was true.
She noted softly, "You're just saying that because we're friends."
"I mean it, Carrots," he confessed, but was afraid to admit how he really felt.
It was another anxious moment that was begging for a kiss, but Judy interrupted, "So, partner, are you hungry?"
He couldn't work up the kiss either so he answered, "Famished!"
"Well, take me there," she ordered and placed her arm in his like a proper gentlemammal would escort his lady.
"It's not too far away, and it's a gorgeous spring evening."
"Let's walk then!" Judy suggested.
Judy and Nick took off quickly for a night on the town, spending a lot of time holding hands when out of the line of sight of anyone else. They made it to the popular southwestern cuisine restaurant where they shared delicious margaritas, and ravenously consumed a gigantic plate of vegetarian fajitas and frijoles with chips and salsa. They fought over the last dab of guacamole dip with dueling taco chips and taunted each other.
Mocking their own police banter, Judy teased, pointing her chip full of guac dip at him like a weapon, "Watch out there buster, my chip is loaded!"
With his hands up in the air, he retorted, "I'm just mindin' my own business, officer! Please don't hurt me."
And with that she stole the last of the dip to his shocked look.
"Hey!" he exclaimed.
"You snooze, you lose, Nick!" she quipped with no compassion.
The mountain lion restaurant owner saw the two having fun together, and came by to ask how their dining experience was going. Upon learning of their anniversary, she called over her all-Chihuahua mariachi band to serenade the pair, and served them a complementary fried ice cream dessert for two. Judy put her head on Nick's shoulder and held his hand while they played. He was blown away by her incredible beauty. Nick tipped them well as they departed to serenade the next couple, with enthusiastic applause from everyone in the restaurant. The mammals in the restaurant noticed Judy and Nick dining alone, obviously together. Some were displeased seeing this.
After letting all their food settle awhile, Nick and Judy moved to the cantina side of the restaurant and danced the night away together. Her delicate skirt flowed with her body movements, giving Nick enticing, unintentional glimpses of her panties from time to time. Her bosom bounced with the beat of the band, and her fluffy, pure white cottontail bobbed as she twirled with the music with her fore paws extended over her head, her gaze locked with his as they danced. Nick gasped. His heart raced, and it wasn't just from their dancing. Other animals noted them dancing together. A buffalo couple almost said something but the cow forced her bullfriend to be quiet and go about their business.
Nick had fallen for Judy long ago, but this night with her firmly told him what his heart already knew. She was the one. And in Judy's heart and soul, she knew Nick was the only one for her too. This was the uninterrupted long night alone they needed to realize – and accept - what they felt.
The two police partners didn't have a care in the world. With each passing moment on the dance floor, they were becoming a different kind of partner to each other.
They should have cared. Two ground hogs and a badger with cameras followed Nick and Judy's every move hidden from their view. These species were perfect to stalk Nick and Judy, as they were all used to skulking in the shadows and holes in the ground. The two were celebrity darlings from their heroism more than twice. Several days before, the paparazzi team had discovered that Nick and Judy were coming and going from the same apartment daily, and had staked them out for a week to discover something interesting to investigate. Tonight, with Judy and Nick partying out in public with clear signs of affection, it was very interesting.
…
Before they entered their apartment building at the end of their unforgettable fun night, Nick and Judy gazed at each other, and they embraced.
Nick leaned in, and knowing what was coming, Judy held him back a little, "Nick… wait… "
Nick was a little frustrated at another interruption, "Aw, c'mon, Carrots. We're friends. What's wrong with a little kiss?"
Judy broke her gaze - but not her embrace - and looked around nervously, "Yes. We're very good friends, Nick. Nothing is wrong with a kiss. But here? Right out on the front steps of the complex? What if somebody sees us?"
Nick was insistent and didn't break his gaze at his stunning rabbit friend, "We're alone, Carrots. Besides, let them. We're ZPD. We're trained killers, so we can threaten anyone not to talk. Not to mention that we know someone good at 'icing' witnesses."
"You're horrible," she scolded and tried to give him an angry look, but it was half hearted. Her eyes went back to his, and they were full of desire for him.
Nick raised an eyebrow, "That's the nicest thing anyone has said about me all day."
Judy ignored his snarky comment, and instead they embraced closer and her heart melted with desire for Nick. She gave him a big, beautiful, tender smile, and her nose quivered in anticipation, "Nickie, enough talk. Just hold me."
"Nickie? I love that… almost as much as I love you," Nick finally was able to admit freely to Judy in a perfect opening, without reservation or interruption, and with total conviction.
Judy's knees buckled with his heartfelt confession, but he caught and steadied her. She was stunned. He'd actually said the words that he demonstrated and showed to her every day they spent together.
"I love you too," she expressed with adoration. The words had so much truer meaning than the first time said in the SUV.
She and Nick closed their eyes and leaned in and muzzle touched snout in their first real kiss. They were not tentative with each other. This kiss was long delayed and long desired.
As soon as they touched, there was that 'zing' again that they experienced months ago with Judy's impromptu kiss, only much more intense. Her nose twitched nearly uncontrollably, and she rubbed it, "That tickled!"
"It did," Nick agreed, feeling exactly the same sense, rubbing his own nose.
She blushed, "What did you do to me, Nickie? I liked that."
"I was going to ask you the same thing. I don't know what caused it exactly, but it sure was nice."
"Yes. Yes, it was," she said gently, savoring the echo of the feeling over and over inside her.
With arms around each other under the porch light, their faces were only separated an inch from the other, so he teased affectionately, "You know what they say about a tickle while kissing, Carrots?"
She gave him a look of adoration, "No, Nickie. What do 'they' say about that?"
Without hesitation he stated, "That you need to give another kiss to whoever is kissing you."
She giggled, "Oh. They do, do they?"
"Would I lie to you?" he grinned, knowing that was a set up line.
"You really don't want me to answer that, do you, Nickie, dear?"
"I can bribe you into not talking about me lying," he teased, and took note of her first time use of a term of endearment for him.
"How? I took an oath, you know," she asserted with a tweaked grin.
"Like this…" the handsome fox whispered.
Nick and Judy shared a second, very deep, even more intensely affectionate kiss than their first one. They were completely lost in each other and the moment. One of her leg paws lifted up and twitched involuntarily with excitement, as did his long bushy tail.
It took a long time to break their kiss, but when they did, they didn't break the gaze shared between them.
Judy stated quietly as her head spun in delight with the second kiss, "Oh my goodness… I had the greatest time with you tonight, Nick. Partner."
With their admissions of love shared between them, it was getting harder to keep telling that lie to each other. The term 'partner' would be only window dressing for the others.
He helped rationalize her thought, "Yep. Just 'best buds' together - out for a night on the town."
Paw-in-paw they went into the apartment and to their rooms, and got ready for bed. It was routine for them to be in their pajamas together flopped on the couch all cuddled up together. Instead, Judy beckoned him over to her door.
She reached up high and encircled her arms around his neck, very closely together, making herself stand on her tip toes, even though he leaned over a bit. She teased, "Umm, Nick. Tell me again what 'they' say about nose tickles? I had another one."
Nick answered, "Of course Carrots. I'd be glad to. I did the research. Me too, by the way."
She was quite pleased to know he felt the same, and felt a thrill race through her body.
She kidded, "Do we have to do exactly what they say?"
Nick quipped back, "Of course we have to. That's the rule."
She further encouraged him by musing, "Who are we as cops to not follow the rules?"
Nick invited her, "I heartily agree, Judy."
Hugging closer, they shared one more lingering kiss at Judy's bedroom door, only dressed in their thin sleepwear. They knew they had to say goodnight, or something else might happen. Their hearts were already racing for each other. They needed to leave things at 'just kissing' for now.
"Goodnight, Nickie," she emphasized.
"'Night, Carrots."
She wanted in the worst way to invite him into her room, even though she knew she shouldn't. They lingered in their loose embrace, unable to let go. Kissing and knowing they were in love with each other was new and exciting and they didn't want to miss a moment of what bloomed between them tonight, so they looked for an excuse – any excuse – to prolong their time together. She saw something in his eyes. Something that seemed to be left unsaid. She couldn't get enough of his touches.
"Wait, Nickie. Don't go yet. Tell me what you're thinking," she asked.
"I meant what I said," he said gently.
"You mean the goodnight? Or that you love me," she asked.
"Yes, all of that, especially loving you and the kisses too," he noted.
"Me too. Especially the first ones at the doorstep. You were very romantic," she confessed.
Nick had to admit those kisses were pretty dazzling.
"Judy… I… uh…" Nick stammered.
She knew what he wanted, and she felt it. That was the risk of being together in a hug for so long. No boy had ever wanted her like that and it thrilled her and scared her at the same time. But it was her Nick who wanted her.
But they weren't ready for that next step so soon, and they both knew it. She put a furred finger gently on his snout, but remained in his embrace, and smiled shyly, "That's enough right now, Nick. Let's take this slowly."
Nick was encouraged. 'Slowly' didn't mean 'no'. It mean 'yes' eventually. That was exactly the answer he'd hoped to hear, and so to honor her as he always did, he stepped back, becoming more deferential, "Of course, Carrots, you're always right. Slowly, partner…"
She admired him so much for always thinking of her needs over his. Guys just didn't do that, and she praised him, "This is why I love you so much, Nickie. You always respect me."
"You are so worth it, Judy."
They separated to their own bedrooms. In their individual beds, each stayed awake another hour, and stared dreamily at the ceilings of their respective rooms, replaying their pleasant memories together. Each had a lingering smile about their wonderful experiences tonight. They relived every minute, especially the declarations of true love for one another. Judy touched her paws to her lips, and felt once again that incredible, recurring tingle of Nick's amazing kisses. Her nose twitched in happiness, remembering that incredible scent of him, and how handsome and tall he was.
"This is the happiest day of my life," she whispered to herself.
She knew she found her true love in, of all species, a red fox. She grinned at the true irony of it. A fox had been a bully to her as a child, and the entire vulpine species was a seminal source of great trepidation to her family, especially to her father, who sought to protect her from them. Even more ironic was that this particular fox – Nicholas P. Wilde - was not that long ago a scoundrel and a source of great irritation and annoyance to her. He had been a criminal, a con artist, a tax dodger, but now was a hero cop and friend – her best friend - who was now the love of her life. But that love was next door snoring. She giggled, turned out the light, and soon after, fell asleep also.
…
Since it was a day off for them, they mostly puttered around the apartment, keeping to themselves, mostly concentrating on chores and relaxing together. A new wrinkle to their daily routine was for one or both to randomly lean over and kiss the other 'just because', and to say 'I love you', which was immense fun to them. After a quiet dinner together, it was going to be a lazy night, so Nick grabbed the remote and punched the TV on, "Oh good! I love the ZooTMZ entertainment show. You get to see how all the rich mammals live. And all the scuttlebutt on on the celebs in town."
"It makes us nobodies dream about how the other half lives," she kidded, "My mom loves this show. She watches it every night."
They enjoyed watching the new video by 'Armadillos In Your Face', a rising hard rock group, and especially the latest segment on Gazelle, having seen her only a few months ago in concert.
Sighing after seeing Gazelle's entourage of male Bengal dancers, she kidded, with her head buried in Nick's chest cuddled against him with her feet tucked under her, "I wish you were that buff."
He bragged, "You couldn't handle that buff. The SUV couldn't fit my foxli-ness."
"Oh just gag me now, Nick," Judy quipped, which prompted him to try to do so in jest, causing her to giggle, and he wrestled with her on the coach. Their wrestling quickly degenerated into a tickle fight, which caused them hysterical laughter, until they were worn out enough to kiss lightly with him on top of her, then deeper and deeper.
They broke their kiss for a moment, and she asked expectantly, "Nickie…"
"Yes, Judy?" he asked nearly breathless in a very serious moment between them.
But before she could answer him, they were interrupted. Not by the phone or the door or the alert radio, but by the TV.
She glanced at the screen, "Wait, Nick. Look. The TV. What's that?"
The teaser scroll at the bottom screamed:
'Fox and Rabbit Police Heroes a Couple? ZooTMZ exclusive! After this commercial break.'
They stopped everything, sat close together side by side, and just held each other desperately through the next five interminable minutes.
It was surreal seeing what seemed to be and endless montage of photos from the paparazzi. There - before millions of Zootopians - and the animal towns, villages, and smaller kingdoms beyond - were images and videos documenting the entire extent of their sweet date together last night. Whoever had taken the photos had not missed a thing. There were photos of them leaving the apartment arm-in-arm. They were captured strolling the streets romantically with her head against Nick on their way to the restaurant. Another photo showed them sipping each other's margaritas. The photo essay then showed their excitement consuming the steaming veggie fajitas and guac dip, teasing each other with the salsa and chips. After showing another shared margarita or three, the narrator with a very high pitched, grating voice made some really snarky, embarrassing innuendo, and the segment showed them sharing a fried ice cream dessert. Images of them in the dance hall dancing up a storm followed, including the very close dance snuggled together during a slow song that ended in a very tender kiss. The segment closed with them illuminated at their apartment complex main entrance doorstep and their deep kisses before going up the stairs and inside the apartment.
Then the most embarrassing comment came from the show host, with a really insinuating smile, "Well, well, well, what was next for our mixed-species couple? What 'wild thang' happened in the 'Wilde apartment' after a passionate night on the town. Hmmm?"
"Nothing happened!" they both screamed at the TV, eyes narrowed and each with similar angry expressions.
The show broke for a commercial.
Their jaws were slack, hanging open in total shock at the photo essay of their wonderful, private date. Judy buried her head in her paws and sobbed. It was all Nick could do to comfort her with his arm around her shoulder.
She recovered enough to talk, clutched him by the shoulders with a horrible, worried look, "Nick, what are we going to do now?"
"I… I don't know, Judy," a genuinely distressed Nick stated as they just held each other.
It didn't take long to find out.
Her cell phone ringer blew up like it was going to blast right off the kitchen table and all the way up to the Zootopia Space Station orbiting overhead.
"Oh please, no!" Judy exclaimed.
It was the Chief's angry visage on the cell. She picked up her cell very nervously, hit the 'speaker phone' function so both of them could hear whatever Chief Bogo had to say, and she answered with a shaking voice, "Y-y-yes sir?"
Chief Bogo screamed at them so loud that she had to hold her phone at arm's length, "In my office. Both of you. First thing in the morning."
The Chief cut off the conversation before anything else could be said.
Judy was trembling, looking into the fox' eyes, "We're going to lose our jobs, Nickie."
"I would not change one minute of my time with you and our time. I love you Judy Hopps, no matter what happens next, you are the one for me."
His confession calmed her a little, and she admitted, "Me too, Nickie. I love you so much. I don't know how I could possibly cope with this without you."
Nick rolled his eyes, "Well, if you and I weren't in love, there'd be nothing to cope with."
For the first time they laughed, and Judy agreed, "I guess you're right."
Nick asked, "Can you sleep, Carrots? We will need every minute of rest for tomorrow."
With an uncertain head nod, she said, "I'll try."
With one last tender goodnight kiss, they parted for their respective bedrooms. About a half hour later, an almost asleep Nick heard a wail, and then the sounds of padded feet made their way to his bedroom door. She didn't knock. The door opened suddenly. She was standing there in the doorway, sobbing. She was in a long pink floor length night gown with frills. She was back-lighted from the hall light, and he contained a gasp, seeing the beautiful outline of her entire body through the gown.
She choked out over her tears, "Nickie! I can't sleep alone tonight. Hold me."
He sat up and reached out his red forearms invitingly and asked, "Then come here."
He was bare-chested.
She looked away a moment in embarrassment, and asked, "Uh-oh. Nick... Are you… ?"
Nick tried to calm her concern, "No, Carrots. I just wear shorts to bed."
That was actually not true. He almost always slept naturally, but anticipated something like this happening and left his shorts on. Judy breathed a sigh of relief and climbed into bed with Nick, and settled next to him against his chest. He pulled the covers up around both of them. It felt very warm and cozy.
"Now I feel much better," she said with a weak smile. She was still weepy.
"No 'funny stuff'," Nick said.
"Thank you for easing my mind on that, Nickie. My parents wouldn't approve of this at all. But I have to tonight."
"That was meant for you," he smirked broadly.
She realized what he said, causing her to giggle heartily, and retorted, "Very funny, boyfriend. Goodnight."
She kissed him firmly, but not passionately. He really enjoyed being called 'boyfriend'.
"Goodnight, girlfriend," he mused, which made her blush, and turned out the light.
She ran her paws through his chest fur, toying with it, then touched his nose with her index finger affectionately and smiled, completely curled up in his embrace, "After this is all over, Nickie, I'm going to change our reservations."
He was firm with her, "No! I don't care a thing about public opinion, we earned this vacation. We both want to do this. We're going, no matter what."
She smiled up into his green eyes, "No silly, I'm not going to cancel it. I'm going to change to the single bed room suite."
"Oh!" he responded in complete surprise.
Holding each other closer, she kissed him, then cuddled up against his chest, and draped an arm over him.
Nick couldn't sleep, worried greatly for the day ahead, and with his arms gently encircled around Judy, he whispered, "Goodness… how I love you."
He heard a soft, three-quarters asleep mumbling reply that warmed his heart, "Me too, Nickie…"
He rubbed her back to massage her to sleep, and he could soon feel and hear her slumber, "You, my dear, are stronger than any mammal I have ever met."
And he knew that both of them would have to be from now on.
