Chapter 28

-Judy-

I was walking to my apartment after having lunch with Fru Fru and my goddaughter. Mrs. Otterton had join us since her husband was taking care of some business with Mr. Big at the time. We mostly talked about relationships. They seem pretty interested in mine with Nick.

We had been going out for six months and working as partners for almost as much and basically living together too. Only it became official once we found a place for the both of us three months ago.

Somehow it felt like we knew each other longer than that. We were so at ease with one another that it was ridiculous. We didn't even try to get along that well. It just happened organically.

In the short amount of time we had been together, we figured out we wanted to stay like that for the rest of our lives. It just made sense.

If someone had told me that one day I wouldn't be scared of commitment, I would have ignore them. But now I didn't see commitment as an obligation, something you have to do eventually because it's part of life. No. Now I saw commitment as a promise between two mammals that loved and wanted to be there for each other.

As I entered the apartment I was able to hear Nick talking low and quickly.

"She's here. Gotta go."

I saw him holding his cell phone and turning to see me. He had his 'hustler' face on.

Hmm. What are you up to, Slick?

"Who was that, Sweetheart?" I asked innocently.

"Finnick." He said. "But I can't tell you what we were talking about thou."

I gave him a look. I knew Nick was a changed mammal and I knew he didn't change just for my sake. Deep down he always wanted to be the model citizen he was now. But still I was suspicious.

What's with all this secrecy?

"You know I wouldn't do anything shady, Carrots." He said. "It's just a guy thing."

I decided to let it go.

"I know, Slick." I said. "Hope Finnick is not in trouble."

"I hope so too." His expression was very smug.

"What?" I knew he was hiding something.

"I have a surprise for you."

Ohhh, so that's it.

"Remember how we couldn't celebrate your birthday properly?" He asked.

"We didn't need to celebrate. I had a great time just spending time with you."

I wasn't the kind of mammal who liked to blow a big party every year.

"I know. You said that, but I have arranged something and your parents will be here to join us."

My parents were going to come all the way from BunnyBurrow to celebrate with me? I was really impressed.

I remembered the time I had taken Nick to visit BunnyBurrow. I had told my parents to tell my siblings to be good to him but the truth is that they didn't need much convincing. Everything had gone better than I thought. My family had never been that nice with the other boyfriends I took home. Not that there were many anyways. My mom had told me it was because they had never seen me so happy before. Nick soon won everyone up with his personality.

I knew he talked to my parents every now and then. I had learned about that when they visited us last month to see our new place, but I sure wasn't expecting this surprise.

"My parents?" I asked him to make sure I didn't imagine it.

"Of course." He said excitedly. " I thought you wanted to see them because they weren't here for your birthday."

"Thank you, Nick." I said sincerely. "That's very thoughtful of you."

"Anytime, Carrots. By the way," he continued. "You'll want to wear something comfortable."

I let Nick keep the mysteries and stopped asking questions.

-Nick-

Judy's parents arrived at the time we had planned. They hugged their daughter as soon as they got inside the apartment and wished her a late happy birthday. Then they hugged me as well. Since I started to date Judy, they had treated me like a son.

It was nice how all the pieces of my life had put together. Now, not only was I part of a pack at work but also a part of a family. They even insisted that I call them Mom and Dad.

As always, Stu was wearing his emotions on his sleeve. Judy soon noticed his behavior and asked what was going on.

"Oh, you know your father, Judy." Bonnie said quickly. "He always gets emotional when our babies grow up."

When we were all in the car, which Judy and I had bought but barely used, my curious bunny started asking questions. I knew I had to be careful not to reveal anything.

I parked the car at the place where Judy and I had gone out for the first time, when were just friends. The difference was that instead of seeing a watering hole, now there was a temporal forum that had been built around it.

"Nick?" She asked me confused.

"You know how Gazelle wanted to celebrate how Zootopia is safe from Nighthowlers with a concert?" I asked and her face lighten up a little. "But between the elections of a new Mayor and how long the trials of Bellwether and the others took… Well, I'm sure you knew the concert was today."

"Yes, I know!" She sounded like she was trying to hold her excitement. "The concert is to suppose to be limited to just a few hundred mammals and all the money will go to charity."

"Well," I took the tickets out of my pocket. "We are some of those hundreds."

"Really?!" She squeaked and started to bounce on her seat. Even the car was moving. Stu was on the verge of crying and Bonnie was just smiling at us.

"Anything to make your birthday the best."