Chapter 7

A panicked shuffle ensued with Judy climbing off of Nick as if he was actively on fire, her ears nearly the same color as his fur.

"Oh geez.. I… uh… I… Judy… I'm Judy… uh ma'am… hi," Judy sputtered out, shaking from embarrassment as she sat up close to Nick.

"Eehehehehehe!" a giggle was heard from behind Nick's mother in the doorway, Jocelyn bouncing up and down with her paws clapping rapidly in front of her giant smile. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Mr. Wilde, your mother was very worried! Holler if you need me!" She said, sprinting off and muttering "So cute!" as she did.

"Mom! How!? Why are you here!?" Nick burst out, desperately trying to control the heat flowing to his face.

"The hospital called me, seeing as how your first emergency contact is sitting right next to you." She chuckled slyly, pulling her large glasses down to her graying snout to peer over them at Judy with her old, blue eyes.

Mrs. Wilde limped over to the couch to the right of Nick's bed, and sat down. She was an old fox; her fur graying where it once was white, a slightly darker shade of red than Nicks. She was much smaller than her son in size.

"So. Is this that young lady friend you babble about to me over the phone, Nicholas?" The mother asked, teasing her son.

"She's uh… well she's my partner at the academy… and-"

"Oh hush, I saw you getting all kissy-kissy in here when that crazy nurse lady took me up here." Nick's mother looked at him, sternly, but with a playful glint in her eyes.

Nick was silent, his mind blank and eyes wide at the knowledge of his mother watching their moment.

Judy's mouth ran dry. Why did this have to happen now! It's 4am, why did Nick's mom have to be here now! Oh god, what must she think of her!? She saw their kiss!

Mrs. Wilde, observing Judy panic at her presence, lost her composure, letting out a hearty laugh.

"Ha-ha! Miss bunny lady, it's alright. I'm not one to judge you by your looks or even, now that it's come up, your species. BUT! I do care if you're good to my little Nick over here," she said, more firmly than before as she pointed her cane at Judy, "are you good to my son?"

"She is, mom." Nick said, grasping ahold of Judy's paw. "She saved my life."

"Is that so?" Mrs. Wilde's eyes darted back to Judy, a subtle gleam of gratefulness present. "speaking of this, what in the high heavens were you doing!?" She glared questioningly at Nick.

"We were on a midnight date at the park, and someone tried to rob us," Nick explained, "I attacked him, but was shot a few times. I don't remember anything after that..."

"And what about her?" the Mother inquired, pointing a cane suspiciously at Judy's swollen legs.

"I carried him out of the park, he was unconscious after…" Judy trailed off, remembering Nick smile at her as he slumped over, unconscious and bleeding.

"Hm." The Mother stood up, and made her way to the left side of the bed.

Judy watched, growing nervous as Nick's mother neared her.

Mrs. Wilde stood there for a second, and then embraced her.

"Thank you," She whispered do Judy, "I'm so glad my son finally found a girl like you."

Judy beamed, thankful for such acceptance from Nick's mother, and a fox at that!

Releasing her, she glanced over Nick's wounds, and picked up his left paw to examine her son for anything the doctors might have missed.

"I'm fine, Mom," Nick said, rolling his eyes.

"I know, I know, I'm just worried about you. I don't see you for weeks and then I get a call from the hospital saying my son just got out of surgery!" The mother said, tapping the hook of her cane on top of Nick's head.

"Ow! Mom!" Nick said, rubbing the top of his head as his mother chuckled, and sat back down on the couch.

A young pig nurse knocked on the door, raising an eyebrow at the two sharing a bed, and then motioned towards Nick's mother. "Ma'am, we're going to have to ask that you come back in the morning. Normally, visiting hours are between 10am and 10pm. However, due to the circumstances we can provide you with a bed on the third floor so that you can be up with him in the morning, if you'd like?"

Mrs. Wilde looked over at her son, and found him looking at Judy. "Oh, that's okay, Mr. Nurse, I'll go home and visit tomorrow. I'm old, and it's much more appealing to sleep in my bed than a hospital cot."

Using her cane as leverage, Mrs. Wilde stood up, and gave Nick a kiss on the cheek. She then looked Judy in the eyes. "You be good to my boy, you hear?" She asked sternly, but lightly, patting Judy's cheek with a frail paw.

"Of course! I won't let him get into any trouble!" Judy confirmed, smiling at Nick.

Satisfied with her answer, Mrs. Wilde hobbled out of the room.

"Bye mom! I'll see you tomorrow!" Nick called after her as his mother left.

He turned to face Judy, who had been staring at him with a mischievous smile on her face.

"So you babble about me, huh?" She said, watching Nick's face grow hot.

"Pffff," Nick huffed, "in your dreams, Carrots." He snickered, a fake sneer on his increasingly hot face.

"Well then, I guess this is a dream." Judy retorted, seeing through Nick's playful lie.

"It was only ever in dreams that I thought I could get this close to you," soothed Nick, as he kissed her soft ears, "so it must be."

"You clever fox." Judy sighed, buzzing on the inside as she felt his lips touch her ears.

"Oh crap!" Judy realized, "they must have called MY PARENTS!" She wasn't even in her own room! She was in a room with a boyfriend she hadn't told then about, a fox!

"Nick! I have to go back to my room!" She spoke urgently, "My parents would have a fit! I'm sorry Nick, we'll tell them when we've recovered, but I can't deal with it now!"

"Okay, okay, relax, Sweetheart," Nick said somberly, pushing the little red button on his bed that signaled for a nurse, disappointed he wouldn't have her by his side while he slept.

"I'm sorry Nick…" Judy said, pulling his muzzle to her and giving him a gentle kiss.

"You guys needed me!? Oh!" Jocelyn the nurse stood in the door, pausing for a split second to gather herself at the sight of their affection.

"Ah! Mrs. Jocelyn! I need to go back to my room please!" Judy exclaimed looking frantic.

"Of course!" The cheetah lifted Judy from Nick's bed, and placed her back in the wheelchair.

"Goodnight, Nick," Judy said, dismayed as she watched Nick become father away.

"Goodnight, Judes..." Nick replied, downcast, watching Judy disappear from sight. "I love you…"