"No."
"Please, Nick!"
"No, Carrots."
"I'm going."
"You're not going."
"You can't stop me."
"I beg to differ. You aren't going."
"Why not?"
"You don't need to go."
"Yes, I do! I have to fill out some paperwork."
"I'll fill it out myself."
"You aren't allowed to do that!"
"You aren't going to work, Carrots."
"I promise I won't be there long; a few hours at most, and I'll stay in my office the entire time."
"I don't feel comfortable with this."
"Ugh, why not?"
"You're nine months pregnant!"
Judy, now just a few days over forty weeks into her pregnancy, placed her paws on the small of her back and furrowed her brows as she glared at Nick. It was a warm Sunday evening and the two were in the babies' room, where everything was almost complete. The couple had found an old radio at a nearby garage sale and had set it up in the room to listen to music whenever they worked there. Now, the radio blasted a mix of pop songs and smooth jazz. Nick was nearly done with assembling the crib, while Judy had just finished packing the bag they would take to the hospital once she went into labor. Judy had been begging all weekend to accompany Nick to work on Monday morning so that she could ensure that everything was done and ready for her when she officially returned a few weeks after the babies' arrival. Nick, however, was very much opposed to the idea, mainly because Judy's due date was that upcoming Thursday, and he didn't like her overexerting herself if she didn't have to. They were in the final stretch; the tension was thick, and the anxiety was high. "Carrots, I just don't like this. I get this feeling."
"Feeling?" Judy smirked with raised eyebrows.
Nick rolled his eyes and stammered noises. "That's not what I– ugh, I meant that I've been getting this feeling when something is about to happen. It's like a pressure in my chest."
"Nick, those are just nerves."
"But they aren't! I got this feeling when the babies kicked and on the night I proposed."
"Then it's excitement."
"Judy, would you stop folding clothes and listen to me?"
Besides the low clatter of ads playing in between songs over the radio, silence filled the room. Nick's temper was growing short, a rare occasion. Judy turned and looked at him, waiting patiently for him to continue. Nick took a deep breath and attempted to relax before continuing. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell."
"It's okay, Nick, I get it. I wasn't listening, but I am now. Go ahead."
"I'm not trying to hold you back," Nick sighed. "It's just that– well, I had this feeling when those great things happened, but I also had this feeling right before you started having Braxton Hicks in that alley, before you started bleeding in the hospital, and before you went into that warehouse with the polar bears. I know I sound crazy, but the babies are going to be here soon and I don't want to take any risks-" Nick stopped as Judy stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him as best she could with her large abdomen.
"I get it. You don't have to explain it to me, Nick."
Nick smiled and returned the hug. "So, you won't go to work?"
"No, I'm still going."
Nick dropped his paws and let out an exasperated, yet amused, sigh. "Carrots."
"Hey, I know you have your reasons for not wanting me to go, but I have my reasons for going. I don't want to go into labor at home all alone. I'll panic! I'm sticking with you."
Nick sighed again and kissed the top of Judy's head before taking her left paw into his right, where he briefly brushed over her engagement ring there. "Fine. You can come, but you have to promise me you won't do anything but sit in your office."
"Can I go steal donuts from Clawhauser?"
"Are you kidding me? That is way too dangerous!"
Judy giggled. A slower song entirely done in piano came over the radio and filled the room. Nick slid his paws into Judy's and carefully lifted her onto his feet before sliding his paws around her so that he could safely dance around with her. Judy's abdomen kept a distance between the two, but they managed just the same as they danced to the entire song with smiles present on their faces. When the song was over, Nick looked at the still unfinished crib and sighed. "I'm done messing with that thing."
"Wanna go make s'mores in the microwave?"
"Damn right I do."
Laughing, the two made their way downstairs, where they made a mess in the kitchen before heading up to bed. In the morning, Nick awoke to find Judy already dressed for the day.
"Get up!" she laughed as she tossed a fluffed pillow at him. Nick groaned and tossed the pillow back at her.
"Go away," he mumbled into the mattress. "Come on, Sleepy Head, it's time to get ready for work– uh!"
Nick popped his head up as Judy let out a small gasp. "Carrots?"
"I'm fine."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong."
Nick pushed himself up from the bed and slid over the side to land on the carpeted floor near Judy.
"What is it?" he asked as he swept a glance over her.
"Nothing. I'm fine. I just have some pain in my back."
"You're staying home."
"No! I want to go, Nick."
"Your back hurts, which means you're staying home."
"I'm going whether you like it or not. Do not argue with me, I am pregnant and I will not hesitate to use my extra weight against you."
Nick rolled his eyes before giving her one last worried glance. With nothing apparently wrong, he went and showered for the day. Once ready, he found Judy down in the kitchen with the car keys in her paw. "I'm driving today."
"Isn't enough that you're going to work with me?"
"Nope."
On the ride over, Judy chatted about how excited she was, while Nick remained stiff as he watched the road with an unsettling gaze. All of their coworkers were confused, yet thrilled, to see a very pregnant Judy present at work, all except one.
"Hopps! Go home!" the Chief yelled over the railing from where he stood on the second floor just outside his office when he saw Judy and Nick enter the building.
"Not today, Chief! I'm here with Nick today."
The Chief threw an accusing glance in Nick's direction, which Nick immediately replied to with a shrug.
"She threatened me. What else was I supposed to do?"
The two strolled through the lobby, said a quick but thorough "hello" to Clawhauser, and then continued on their way to the ZPD offices. Nick had to help Judy into her swivel chair, but otherwise, she needed no assistance whatsoever. In fact, Judy was very much enjoying her day back, and she made sure that Nick knew. "I'm just so excited!"
"I know, you've mentioned it a few times now."
Judy let out another stressed gasp. Nick's attention immediately turned from his computer screen to Judy. "You okay?"
"Yes, why?"
"You just groaned when you sat up. Does something hurt?"
"My back, just a little, but I promise I'm fine."
"You should have stayed at home."
"I'm fine, Nick. I'm sure it's just a knot in my back from not getting too much sleep lately."
"Here, I'll give you a back massage." Nick stood and made his way across the aisle to Judy's cubicle.
"Oh, Nick, you don't have to do that."
"If I don't have to do it, then why are you scooting forward in your seat?"
"Because you don't have to, but you really should."
Nick laughed and placed his paws on Judy's upper back. Resting over the back of Judy's chair, Nick worked his paws through her muscles.
"That feels really good, but go a bit lower. It hurts in my lower back."
"Should we get that checked out?"
"No, it's just some sore muscles."
"Okay, if you say so." Nick then moved his paws down to her lower back and continued the massage.
"Oooh, ouch, never mind. You're making it worse," Judy breathed through a gasp of discomfort. Nick quickly withdrew his touch. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"No, it's okay. Don't be sorry, it wasn't your fault. I'm just a bit sore is all."
"I don't know, you really should be at home resting, Carrots."
"I'm fine, really."
A worried look on his face, Nick opened his mouth to apologize once more for making the pains worse, but was interrupted by a booming voice.
"Wilde!"
Nick turned to find a massive ox towering over him. "Yes, Chief?"
"In my office. Now." As the Chief turned and made his way from the ZPD offices, Nick looked down at Judy and sighed. "Wonderful."
"Don't worry, I'm sure it isn't bad."
"Well, I hope not. We can't support four kids on one salary."
Nick heard Judy's chuckle as he followed the Chief out into the lobby. The two stopped directly in front of the glass doors of the ZPD, where the Chief turned to look down at Nick.
"What's up, Chief?"
"I have a mission for you, Wilde."
"Alright, what am I looking at?"
"More like 'what are we looking at;' you're with me today, Wilde."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
Nick stayed silent for a moment as he attempted to comprehend what he had just been told. A mission with the Chief? This was huge for his career, wasn't it? Did this mean that the Chief trusted him? What about Judy, though? Would she be okay by herself for a few hours?
"What's the mission?"
"We're going to get some coffee."
Nick's amazed face turned sour in a matter of seconds. "Really?"
"Is there a problem, Wilde?"
"You just want coffee?"
"Sometimes I need some 'me time,' Wilde. You can either come with me or stay here and fill out my paperwork on top of yours."
"No problem at all, Sir. I'm up for coffee anytime." Nick followed Chief Bogo out through the glass doors and to the ox's police cruiser.
"Oh, wow, this hurts," Judy muttered as she attempted to stretch before she continued to type away on her computer. Just then, a certain overweight cheetah appeared, his face beaming as always.
"Judy! I never got to ask, but what are you doing here? You should be at home!"
"I know, I know. I'm getting ready to leave. I just had to finish up a few things." Judy continued typing away for another few seconds or so. "And there. We. Go," she finished with a tap of the keyboard to punctuate each word. "Mind helping me up?"
Clawhauser happily took hold of both of Judy's outstretched paws and slowly helped her rise from her swivel chair. "Should I find you a ride home?"
"Nah, Nick can drive me."
"Nick just left with the Chief." Judy let out a heavy sigh that consisted of both agitation and discomfort.
"Okay, that's fine. When do you think they'll be back?"
The cheetah gave a half-hearted shrug. "Not sure. Sorry, Judy."
"That's okay. I'll just call him. Can you hand me my phone, Clawhauser?" Judy gestured to her phone that was sitting on her desk, just out of reach from where she stood. "Sorry, I'm a little restricted right now," she laughed as the cheetah handed her the device with a big smile and a couple of "no problem, Judy"s. Placing a paw on her back to balance herself, Judy quickly found Nick's contact and dialed his number. Patiently, she put the phone to her ear and waited. Just then, a small chime began to sound from Nick's cubicle.
"What is that?" Clawhauser asked as he looked around for the source of the music. Judy threw her phone down onto her desk and angrily let out a deep breath.
"That's his freaking cell phone. He left it here, ugh!" Judy tugged on her ears in frustration, trying to keep her cool. She had been excited to be at work today, but now that it was almost noon, she was beginning to grow more and more frustrated with each agonizing pain in her back. Clawhauser shuffled his feet nervously as he waited for her to calm down; he was not trained to deal with a feisty little bunny mom-to-be. After a few moments of Judy's agitated sighs, she finally relaxed. Leaning on her desk to even out her imbalance in weight, she looked back at Clawhauser. "I think I could use that ride now."
"I'm right on it!" Clawhauser stated with joy now that he had something to do in his area of expertise. Clawhauser then bounded off as fast as he could, which unfortunately, wasn't very fast, leaving Judy to pack up her things. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through Judy's spine down to her abdomen.
"Ohhhh wow," she breathed as she closed her eyes against the new pain. Clawhauser came back and asked if she was okay, but Judy wasn't listening; the pain was too distracting. At first, Judy didn't think much of this pain; she simply thought it was just another Braxton Hick, which was nothing to worry about. However, it was four of these unique pains later that Judy began to feel a growing pressure in her lower abdomen, and with that pressure, reality struck.
"I'm going into labor," Judy whispered, absolutely mortified as she looked up at a very fearful Clawhauser. "And Nick isn't here."