Chapter Fourteen:

Bogo…

"Let me get this straight," Bogo said as his gaze shifted between his two smallest officers, "The wedding you two were supposed to attend was actually a vow renewal ceremony that turned into you two actually getting married. Is that correct?"

"Yes sir," Judy said nervously.

"I see," the Cape buffalo said with a nod, "And it was Officer Wilde's mother that made you two sign the marriage certificate and be married by one of Officer Hopps's brother's, who just so happens to be a firefighter as well as an ordained minister."

"Technically sir, she didn't have us sign it," Judy started to say.

"I do not care," Bogo said cutting her off, "Do you realize what you've done? Let alone the position you've put yourselves in?"

"In all fairness, sir, this was not planned at all," Nick said as Grace walked over.

"Shut your mouth, Wilde," Bogo said turning his attention towards the fox.

"Are you always this mean?" Grace asked looking up at the police chief. All eyes looked down at the young kit surprised.

"Excuse me?" Bogo asked.

"I was just wondering if you always this mean," Grace said looking at him, "You didn't act like that when we first met, this isn't Zootopia, and none of you are on the clock; right?"

Nick leaned towards his partner slightly and whispered, "She does have a point."

"Shut up," she whispered elbowing her partner in the gut.

Bogo knelt in front of the young kit saying, "You are correct about all of that, Ms. Locksley. But while we are off the clock, they are still my officers. What they did is against protocol."

"But as long as what they do off the clock stays off the clock, then what is the problem?" she asked.

"The problem is that if their relationship starts to interfere with their work, I would have to separate the best team the ZPD has had in a long time," he replied.

"Ok, but why are you treating them like they're on the clock?" she asked tilting her head to the side, "You told Nick that he was on vacation following my mom's funeral."

"Old habits unfortunately," he replied with a slight smile, "These have a tendency to take massive risk when it comes to their job."

"Maybe this will cause them to stop taking those risk," she said with a slight shrug.

"I hope you're right," he said before looking at the newlywed couple, "It also doesn't help that I lost a fifty dollar bet to Clawhauser."

"What was the bet for?" Judy asked.

"Whether or not you two would get engaged before getting married," he replied standing up, "He said you would skip the engagement and do this."

"But Nick asked Judy to marry him the two days ago," Grace said.

"Yeah, he did," Judy said at her boss's bewildered look.

"I was originally planned on asking after her after her parent's reception today," Nick said as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Sure you did," Bogo said as he stood up, "If your personal life starts to interfere with your job, you will be getting new partners. Is that clear?"

The two officers saluted him saying, "Yes sir."

"Good," he said before looking towards where the reception was going on, "Now if you excuse me, I need to have a talk with Clawhauser."

"Hate to be Clawhauser right now," Nick said as he watched Bogo walking away.

"Yeah, and I don't believe you stepped in like that, Grace," Judy said looking at the kit.

"That makes two of us," Grace whispered as her body started to shake slightly. Nick didn't say a word as he gently picked the young kit up and held her close.

"It's ok, Grace," he said quietly, "Just relax."

"Grace, are you ok?" Judy asked worriedly.

Grace started to relax before her entire body tensed up as they heard a familiar voice ask, "Why didn't you tell me he purposed?"

"Stall him," Nick whispered before walking towards the reception area. Once he was far enough away, he carefully sat Grace in a chair and said, "Kind of need to breathe, Grace." The young kit slowly loosened her grip from around his neck.

"Sorry," she said leaning back in the chair.

"It's ok," he said before pulling a chair over and taking a seat, "And Judy is dealing with Clawhauser. Feel any better?" She slowly nodded as she rested her forehead on his shoulder. He was quiet for a few seconds before softly asking, "Judy was right about a cheetah bullying you, wasn't she?"

"Unfortunately," she whispered before lifting her head off his shoulder, "My cousins hired some of them to dye my fur while they watched."

"So, you're more afraid of certain felines then cheetahs?" he asked.

She nodded slowly and said, "I'm sorry. Your friend does seem like a nice mammal though."

"And maybe one day you'll be able to find out how nice for yourself," he said as he noticed Judy walking towards them, "So how upset was Clawhauser?"

"Depends on what the topic is," the bunny said pulling a chair up, "He's more upset about Grace being bullied the way she was than the money."

"He's worried about me?" Grace asked surprised.

"Well you are the sweetheart of Precinct One," Nick said looking at the young kit, "But seriously, Ben has always had a soft spot for kits. He's kind of an overgrown kit himself."

"Yet, he did ask two questions I'm not sure how to answer," Judy said a little nervously, "The first being where are we going to live."

"You'll live with me and Nick," Grace answered with a slight smile.

"Its five minutes from our job and the place is huge," Nick assured his partner, "What was the other question?"

"What are we going to do for a honeymoon?" Judy said as a slight blush crept across her face.

Nick's eyes went flat against his head as he asked, "A honeymoon?"

"I suggest that you don't tell him that answer," Bogo said sitting next to Judy, "Let alone certain details of what you two do during it."

"Good idea," the two officers said together.

"Um, so what happens now?" Grace asked quietly.

"As of now and for the next two weeks, that is up to you three," he said looking at her, "Both Wilde and Hopps are on vacation. If they want to stay here or go somewhere else, that is up to them."

"Just so long as no one else at the precinct knows," Judy said with a slightly evil grin.

"What are you up to, Carrots?" Nick asked noticing the look in her eyes.

"I think we all would like to know that, Hopps," Bogo said as his gaze shifted to the bunny.

"Actually sir, it's Wilde," Judy said smiling as she looked at her husband out of the corner of her eye, "As far as what I'm thinking; I was just wondering if the others will notice the change."

Nick laughed a little before looking at his wife saying, "Oh this is going to be so much fun."

"I'm not sure if I should be scared or not," Grace said as her gaze shifted between the newlywed couple.

"Don't be, this is normal for them," Bogo said with a slight smile, "You'll get used to it. Anyway, before I forget; Delgato asked me to delivery message to you, Grace. He thought you might want to know that changes have been filled against every animal that dyed your fur a month ago."

"Who filled the charges?" Nick asked looking at his commanding officer.

"The same person that asked what this was delivered to Grace," Bogo said handing the young kit a small wrapped box, "They also asked that you open that in private, but it's up to you if you do."

Grace was quiet for a few seconds before she asked, "Who is it from?"

"Your aunt Victoria," he answered, "Chief Clawson had it checked to make sure it was safe. She also gave him a few leads they are currently working on."

"That's… a little unexpected," Nick said a little surprised. Grace looked down at the box and started to carefully unwrap it. The others watched as the paper fell away revealing what looked like a wooden jewelry box with a designed carved into the lid.

"That looks like an arrowhead," Judy said leaning over slightly to see the box.

"Mom told me about this once," the young kit whispered as she slowly slid her paw over the lid. She pressed down on the design lightly before opening the lid. Inside was what appeared to have an envelope addressed to her.

"You ok, Grace?" Nick asked watching her. Grace shook her head as she closed the box.

"Why did she have this?" Grace asked looking at the Cape buffalo.

Bogo pulled out an envelope saying, "Because according to her, everything in that box belongs to you. She was asked to hold on to it till now."

"Who asked her to hold on to it?" Judy asked.

"Grace's father," Bogo replied glancing at the bunny before looking back at the young kit, "He asked that it be given to you on your ninth birthday. Your aunt has been guarding that ever since he passed. She also said that there is an envelope in there that should explain some things."

A tear slowly slid down the young kit's cheek before she placed the box on the table then said, "I didn't think she knew when my birthday was."

"From what Grizzoli told me, she never forgot," he said calmly, "She would either mail a card or some sort of gift to you."

"She did?" she asked sniffing back tears.

He nodded slightly saying, "Didn't you ever wonder who Aunt Vickie was?"

Judy gently reached over and pulled the young kit into her arms as she started to cry.

"I have a feeling that I'm going to need to talk to Grizzoli about a few things when I get back," Nick said before looking at his boss, "But are you sure Grace's birthday is today?"

"It's tomorrow, actually," Bogo said looking at the fox, "But I thought it would be best to bring Victoria's gift with me today."

"Thanks chief," Nick said standing up, "Now if you will excuse me, I'll be right back." He walked over to where his mother was talking to Judy parents. "Sorry to interrupt," he said placing a paw on his mother's shoulder, "But I kind of need a big favor."

"How big and is it legal?" Bonnie asked a little leery

"It's completely legal," he said holding his paws up, "I just found out from Bogo that Grace's birthday is tomorrow."

"You're kidding?" his mother asked surprised.

"No, but that's not all," he said looking at her, "Unfortunately, it will be her first birthday without her actual mother. I know this is short notice but…"

"You want to throw Grace a small birthday party tomorrow?" Stu asked finishing the fox's thought, "As long as you don't mind it being a normal Hopps style birthday party, we'll make sure it's one she remembers."

"And I promise we won't go overboard," Bonnie said.