Tis here! Enjoy, and I'll be doing my best to make sure chapters don't take so Goddamn long, cause it drives me insane.
And holy shit we're like 2 away from 400! That's awesome! Thanks guys đź’š
Chapter 34
Nick POV
"H-Honey, relax. It'll b-be fine." Judy said through clacking teeth while we walked up a long snow-covered road, paws clasped, and headed to her parents house for her family's Christmas party.
"I can't help it…" I muttered, my ears flat in apprehension, hoping that I wouldn't ruin Judy's relationship with her family just by being with her.
"It'll b-be f-fiiiine," Judy craned her neck up to kiss my muzzle, and I tightened my tail around her to ease her shivering, "I th-think my family will l-love y-you. H-how could they n-not?"
"Well, I am a fox…" I frowned, squeezing Judy's paw to help my anxiety, "And… I don't know…"
Judy stopped in her tracks, and pulled me to her in an embrace, "But you're my sweet f-fox, and if they w-won't accept you as th-the one animal I've chosen, then they can't accept m-me. W-we'll leave if they cause a p-problem, okay?"
"No, I'll leave so you can see your family-"
"Nu uh." She patted my nose, and pulled my muzzle close to hers, "We'll b-both leave, I'm n-not spending m-my first Christmas with you apart from y-you."
I kissed her softly, "Alright, little bunny. I love you."
"I love you t-too, Nicky." She smiled, and then opened her eyes wide before removing my tail from around her, "Crap! I f-forgot the p-presents in the c-car! I'll b-be right back, just w-wait at th-the door f-for me!"
I chuckled after she sprinted off in her red coat, holding herself as she ran to try and keep herself warm. I watched her for a moment, admiring that even when she was wrapped up in several layers of clothing, her beauty stunned me.
When Judy ran out of my sight, I turned to walk to the farm house with a happy smile, feeling much less nervous now that I knew Judy was going to be here at my side, even if her family hated me.
The sound of hundreds of conversing voices reached my ears after I reached the stairs of the farm house.
I shook my paws for a moment before I walked up the wooden steps, and realized that they were dyed black.
"Oh, right…" I muttered, knowing now why Judy insisted that I stay with her all day while we were here. I'd gotten so used to being in disguise that I didn't even realize it anymore.
I made a slight grimace while I looked at my lengthy claws, and jet-black paws. I looked like a murderer with all these tattoos. Her family would be terrified of me if I was seen alone.
"EEEEEEEE!"
I snapped my head up to see a very young bunny, screaming in terror at me through a window by the front door.
"No no no! It's okay!" I raised both paws in surrender, trying to calm the scared bunny before she alerted everyone in the house.
BAM!
Too late.
"What're you doin' here, fox!?" Screamed a bunny I didn't know that had just burst through the door with several other of his family, the only one of which I recognized was Stu.
"Easy easy! I'm here with-"
"Get out of here!" Another bunny demanded, and I shook my surrendering paws, feeling like even coming here today was a mistake.
"I'm not here to hurt anyone! I'm here w-"
"I don't care what you think you're here for!" Stu yelled, apparently not recognizing me at all after I realized he held a taser aimed at my chest, "Get!"
"STU! IT'S ME!" I yelled above the chaos, slowly backing away in alarm after I watched Stu's trigger finger tighten, "I'm here with-
"I WARNED YOU!"
"NO WAIT-"
"JUST SHOOT 'IM ALREADY!"
I glanced at the stranger that had yelled, a opened my mouth to speak, fearing I wouldn't be able to calm anyone down before I was hurt.
Click!
HHHNNNNN-"
Lightning struck my chest, and coursed through my body, paralyzing me in agony. I hit the cold ground, unable to breathe, see, or hear anything but my own pained growls, and the terrifying buzz of the taser.
After what felt like an eternity in hell, my agony faded to leave me gasping, and staring at the cloudy sky above me.
"Call the cops," I heard a voice say, "let's get this vermin outta here."
"Ghah… I… I'm a…" I tried to speak up and let Judy's family know I was an officer, but my head exploded at the effort, throbbing with each rapid beat of my heart. I closed my eyes to dull the pain, but found no relief.
"Dad!? What's going on!?" Judy's concerned voice cut through my pain, and I opened my eyes to see I was surrounded by her family.
"I just tased some tatted up fox that-"
"Judy…" I groaned over Stu's voice, turning my head to catch any sight of her.
"NICK!?" I heard a frantic shuffle of paws, and the stranger that stood in front of me was shoved aside to reveal Judy, who was upon me in an instant, "Oh my God! Are you okay!?"
"Wait, you know him!?" A stranger asked Judy while she speckled my cheeks with her tears, panic in her eyes as she checked my head for injuries.
"That's Nick!?" Stu cut in before Judy could answer, and bent over my head, "Oh geez! I'm so sorry, bud! I didn't mean to shock ya!"
"Mmmhm…" I grunted as sarcastically as I could, reaching up to hold Judy while she tightly embraced my neck, "Just… get these sharp things… out of my chest…"
I groaned when I felt tiny hooks catch on my flesh as Judy pulled the taser's needle-like rods out of my chest, and tightened my grip on the paw she held mine in.
"I'm s-sorry, Honey…" Judy said, her voice trembling while tears soaked her cheeks. She then looked up at her family, "Go back inside! We'll be there in a minute!"
"I'm so sorry, Puddin', and I'm sorry to you too, Nick. I'll see y'all in a sec…" Stu apologized, and motioned for the rest of the rabbits to follow him.
"Ugh! Those paranoid…" Judy's voice trailed off as she muttered to herself while checking over the bleeding holes left in my chest from the taser, before scooting herself over to hold my cheeks, "Did you hit your head at all? How are you feeling? Do I need to take you to the hospital?"
"I'm fine…" I grunted, and sat myself up off of the snowy ground, "Just my head hurts now…"
"Oh Nick…" Judy kissed me briefly, and began to fumble around in her purse, "I brought your pills, but if these don't help I'm taking you to the hospital and that's final."
"… Alright…" I agreed somberly, and took my pills from her, now completely hopeless that the rest of her family would accept me, "I'm fine with that…"
"Good…" She kissed me again, "Can you stand?"
"Probably," I groaned while I pushed myself onto my feet, and immediately stumbled onto the wooden rail on the steps, my head spinning wildly, "not… probably not…"
Judy was immediately beneath me to keep me steady, and aided me down to sit on the steps.
"Oh Honey…" She frowned, and held my paws close to her, "I'm so sorry about this…"
"It's alright," I reached up and brushed away her worried tears, "I did kinda scare one of the babies… a lot…"
"Why did you do that?"
"I didn't mean to," I pulled her close, and lifted my chin so she could bury her face in my neck, "I was just standing on the porch, and I look like a murderer…"
She sighed heavily, "I don't think you look like one at all…" I kissed around her ears, and she kissed my neck, "But they'll like you once they get to know you..."
"Don't be so sure, vermin."
"Uh… yeah, maybe…" I nodded, squeezing Judy tight to block out the wolf in my thoughts, "Did you want to go inside now?"
"If you're not hurt, yes." With a kiss, she lifted her muzzle from my neck, and held my cheeks, "Are you feeling different at all? Is your head hurting still? Do you think you can stand?"
My head was on fire, but I wanted Judy to see her family, "My pills are starting to work, and I can try…"
I used the railing to help myself stand, still dizzy, but able to keep myself upright, "I'm good… let's go inside, I'm feeling fine now."
The massive amount of relief in Judy's face caused me to smile, and she smiled herself, "Great! I'm so glad you're okay… just please let me know if anything changes."
She lifted her chin to beckon me to kiss her, and I leaned over to plant my lips on hers, "I will, my beautiful bunny."
With a smile, she took my paw, and after grabbing the few bags of presents she'd dropped, we walked to the door.
I walked in behind Judy, and found several of the bunnies that had so kindly greeted me earlier standing in front of us, looking as if they didn't know what to do.
Silence fell over the house, causing me to flatten my ears, and look around nervously while I squeezed Judy's paw. I scooted closer to her, avoiding the many stares, wishing I were anywhere else but here.
Suddenly, Stu walked between two rabbits, holding a blueberry pie. He looked at me with a broad smile, and I returned his look in confusion.
Until I looked down at the pie, and broke out in relieved laughter.
"Sorry for zappin you!" Was written in white icing on the crust, complete with a large, "Merry Christmas!" at the bottom.
"Thanks, Stu…" I sighed in relief, hunching over next to Judy, who giggled at me while she held firmly onto my arm, probably making sure I wouldn't fall, "That smells delicious, by the way."
"Then come on an eat," Stu chuckled after handing me the pie, "you're lookin' way too skinny!"
Stu lead Judy and I through the crowd of conversing bunnies. Some of the younger ones stared at me in curiosity, while others were too busy laughing with family.
While looking around, I realized I couldn't tell how many animals were here. Bunnies ran up and down the stairs, and moved about the room in a way that was totally disorienting. I had to follow Judy closely so I didn't get separated from her, but thankfully I had no problem recognizing her at all amongst her family. Every single detail of her body was permanently engraved into my mind. I doubt I'd have a problem recognizing her among thousands of other bunnies.
"Ah! Honey!" I ran straight into Judy while I had been looking around, who had stopped to let a stream of young bunnies pass in front of her.
"Sorry!" I frowned at her while steadying the pie I held in my paws, and she rolled her eyes.
"It's okay, just pay attention, you big dummy." She patted my cheek, "You could really hurt one of the little ones."
"I will," I nodded, making way for a tiny young bunny to run between us as I spoke, "they're just so hard to keep track of! How many of you are here, anyway?"
"I think we're up to three forty-six."
"Geez!" I opened my eyes wide, "How can you all even fit in here!?"
"We don't all live here, obviously," Judy scoffed at me, and took my paw again to lead me to the kitchen since I'd lost track of Stu, "But there's five floors in this house so we can all fit for holidays."
"What!? Where are the other floors!?" I asked in surprise, only thinking there was an upstairs from the looks of the outside of the house.
"Below us." Judy smiled, and lifted her chin to touch her nose to mine for a second, "I'll show you after we eat."
I refrained from kissing her in front of family, and gladly took her substitute for a kiss by returning my nose to hers briefly, "Sounds good, little bunny."
After giving me a bright smile, Judy set her presents beneath a tall Christmas tree on our way to the kitchen, and briskly continued to lead me to the kitchen.
"There you are!" Stu grinned at me after I entered the kitchen doorway, "I thought you got lost!"
"I kinda did," I chuckled, "there's so much going on Carrots had to lead me here."
"Carrots?" Stu looked at me in confusion, and Judy laughed beside me.
"That's me, Dad. I'm Carrots." She grinned, rolling her eyes at me, probably for using my nickname for her in front of her parents.
"Oh!" Stu grinned, slightly shaking his head.
"Judy! Who's uh… your friend?"
I turned my head to see Bonnie walking up from beside us, wearing a cooking apron like many of the other bunnies in the kitchen. I could tell she was somewhat alarmed by my presence, and Judy quickly walked over to her mother.
"That's Nick, Mom, don't worry." She hugged her mother, who looked deeply relieved, and very curious.
"Then why's he all dressed up like that?" She motioned towards me, and Judy whispered something in her ear that made Bonnie's ears perk straight up.
"I wanted to know that too." Stu looked at me curiously, and I sighed.
"I've been undercover for… uh…" I muttered quietly, scratching my head to try and remember how long I'd been doing this.
"Three months…" Judy spoke up quietly, and I grasped her paw when I noticed her ears had fallen, "Three… horrible months…"
Stu exhaled a long puff of air, and looked at me with raised eyebrows, "That's a shame you gotta go around lookin' like that all the time."
"Stu!" Bonnie scolded, and I gave a small laugh to ease Judy while she held tightly onto my arm. I knew she was having a problem talking about my assignment, so I decided to quickly change the subject.
"It's fine, I'm tired of looking like this, too." I winked at Stu, and sniffed the air when a whiff of the pie I held caught my nose, "And I'm also starving. Is there a table around, or?"
"Right! I think there's a few spots on the back porch, but it might be pretty chilly out there." Stu motioned for me to follow, and walked away through the crowd of cooking bunnies.
I looked down at Judy for a second before following, and lifted her chin to touch my nose to hers, "You okay?"
"You two are too cute." Bonnie interrupted, causing me to pull my muzzle away from Judy's as fast as I could. I'd completely forgotten she was standing there, "When y'all plannin' on gettin' that weddin' done? Y'all should be married by now-"
"Mom!" Judy blushed heavily, as did I. My tail had started to wag at the mention of our wedding, and I struggled to keep it still in front of her family, "We'll talk about that later! I'm gonna go eat, and then I'll come back and see you."
"Well alright." Bonnie hugged her daughter for a second, before releasing her to embrace me, "I'm glad to see you're still together. I was wonderin' when Judy would find herself a husb-"
"Mom!"
"Sorry!" Bonnie released me, and gave me a sly look, before hurrying off to join the others in the kitchen.
"Sooo…" I smirked at Judy after we started walking to follow Stu, who had stopped a short ways ahead to wait for us, "What was that your mom was talking about?"
"Nothing!" I could almost feel the heat coming from her ears while she stared up at me, "It's uh... Nothing…"
I snickered, and wrapped my tail around her with a knowing smile. I knew she was thinking about our wedding as well. She had the same bright glow in her eyes that she did every time she mentioned how much she loved me, and how much she wanted to spend her life with me.
I held the same glow in my eyes for her.
Stu lead us outside to the back porch, which was enclosed from the winter cold with large windows. It was still chilly outside, but to me it felt great.
"Pick a seat anywhere, I gotta go back inside to make sure the young'ns don't get too rowdy." Stu hugged Judy tight, and then held a paw out to me, "Merry Christmas! And sorry again for zappin' ya…"
"It's alright," I sighed, and shook his paw, "I know why you did it…"
Stu chuckled nervously, and coughed into his hand, "I'm still sorry 'bout it. I'll come find y'all in a while to catch up."
"Okay Dad." Judy smiled, and hugged her father once more, before he left us to tend to his other family.
"Where do we wanna sit?" I looked down at Judy, who quickly touched her nose to mine.
"This way." She smiled, and pulled me along by my paw to the other side of the room.
"Hey Mary!" Judy called to a bunny that sat next to a pair of empty chairs, "Are these taken?"
"Judy, hey!" Mary turned in her seat to smile at Judy, and immediately opened her eyes wide at the sight of me, "Uh-uhm…"
"Hey, I'm Nick…" I gave the bunny the least threatening smile I could with my tattooed face, and extended my paw to her.
She didn't take my greeting, and instead turned back to Judy. I could smell the fear coming from her, "Wh-who is…"
"Relax, Mary, he's fine. That's Nick, you know, from my Furbook." Judy smiled encouragingly at whoever this bunny was to her, but Mary still looked confused, "Really? I've been with him for over nine months? You like a ton of our pictures-"
"Oh! That Nick!" Mary suddenly burst out, and looked at me in confusion, "But why's he all-"
"It's complicated." I smiled, really not wanting to have to explain my situation all day long.
"Ohhhh," Mary winked at me, "Special police business, right?"
I winked back, and Judy playfully rolled her eyes at me, "Sit down, show off. I'm starving."
With a snicker, I quickly brought my nose to Judy's, and took the seat at the end of the table. Judy sat herself between me and whoever Mary was to her, and I wrapped my tail around her. It was chilly out here, and I knew she'd be cold again within a matter of minutes.
I, on the other hand, was getting hotter by the second. All these bunnies packed together in this room made it a stuffy atmosphere, and I was forced to pull my black jacket off before I started panting.
I caught Judy gazing at me after I set my jacket on my chair, and she leaned close to my ear, "I'm so glad I picked that vest out for you, my love. You look amazing in black."
"You think so?" I smiled, my tail wagging around her from her compliment.
"Mhm." She touched her nose to mine, and I couldn't help but give her a peck on the lips.
"Sorry, couldn't resist." I grinned at her red ears, and a bright smile forced itself through her playful glare.
"Just try and do it when no one's looking. I don't wanna make my family uncomfortable with us…"
"I can do that." I smiled to reassure her, and subtly checked around us.
I was relieved to see that Judy and I weren't being stared at with judging eyes, or that I was being pointed at. Everyone seemed to be in merry conversation at their own tables. I hadn't even noticed that Mary left from beside Judy to go off and talk with another rabbit who was probably her husband by the way they kissed, and the fact that he was holding a baby bunny that looked just like Mary.
"Who are all these bunnies anyway?" I asked Judy, who scooted closer to me in her seat while I started biting into the delicious blueberry pie.
"You've already met Mary, she's my sister, and that's her husband Daryl, that's one of their daughters, Laura, and over there is Clyde, he's my brother, and that's his wife Clara, and their kids are downstairs, and…"
By the tenth name, I was totally lost. Judy kept pointing out her family members, and I nodded along as if I were paying attention, trying to remember something extremely important that I was supposed to do today.
For some reason, looking at Mary's husband had sparked a reminder for something in my head, but I couldn't quite remember just yet. My throbbing headache wasn't helping, either.
What was it? I made a slight frown in frustration. I was pretty sure it was something important about Judy…
I glanced at Mary's husband again, Carl or something, and suddenly, it hit me.
I nearly choked on the last piece of pie when I remembered, and Judy whipped her head around to face me while I coughed into my paw.
"Are you okay?" Judy grabbed my arm, and I coughed into my paw again, nodding to ease the worry in her eyes.
"I'm fine… uggghh… went down the wrong pipe…" I cleared my throat, and wiped a tear from my eye, "Oh, and uh, where's the bathroom?"
"Huh?" Judy looked confused at my random question, "It's through the living room and down the right hallway on the other side. Do you need to throw up?"
"No, Honey," I said while grabbing for a pitcher of juice on the table, needing to get this done as soon as possible before I forgot again, "I uh, need to go."
"Oh, okay I'll show you where-"
"That's okay," I interrupted her by touching my nose to hers, "I think I got it. Go ahead an eat, I'll be right back."
"Okay?" Judy gave me an odd look, and I blew her a kiss, before leaving her at the table.
I walked into the sea of bunnies that filled the living room, looking for Stu.
"This is impossible…" I muttered while I slowly walked through the crowd, not recognizing anyone at all.
I continued forward with my search, hoping Judy wouldn't suspect anything. She'd be on my case in a second if she knew what I was doing.
"Oh! Hey! Stu!" I called out above the commotion when I found Judy's father pulling apart two smaller bunnies that had gotten into a wrestling match. He looked up to glance around him, and I beckoned him to come talk with me, unable to move towards him while a train of bunnies walked in front of me.
"Hey! What ya need?" Stu greeted me after he made his way to me, and I suddenly realized how nervous I was.
"Hey uh… I was uh… talk to you… outside…?" I sputtered out, my ears pinning back in embarrassment at my failed attempt to speak an actual sentence.
Stu raised an eyebrow at me, "You wanna talk outside?"
I nodded, my mouth too dry to speak, and Stu chuckled at me, "Alrighty then. Follow me."
I followed Stu at a short distance, and quickly ducked behind the stairway when I saw Judy come through the kitchen doorway into the living room. Luckily, she hadn't seen me, but I knew she was looking. I didn't have much time.
I followed Stu more quickly down a long, crowded hallway, trying my best to keep my head low in case Judy were to come this way. I had to shake my paws a few times to try and release some of my growing anxiety, but nothing seemed to help.
What do I even say!?
I sighed heavily, shaking my paws again while I stood in front of the door Stu had just left the house from. I tried to move forward, but the knots in my stomach prevented it. I had to rest my head on the door to keep myself from throwing up all over the place.
"Come on… you fought a wolf, why are you scared to do this…" I muttered to myself, terrified of what could go wrong.
The door creaked open after I pushed it, and I walked out into the snow to face Stu, who was looking at me in curiosity.
"Heh, you aren't uh, here to get me back for shockin' ya, are you?" He chuckled nervously, and I shook my head.
"I… I uh… a-actually…" I stuttered, struggling to keep from shaking my paws again, "Can… we uh… walk for a bit?"
"Sure? Let me get my coat real quick." Stu motioned to the door, and walked back inside.
I stood alone in the snow, shaking my paws, and blowing long puffs of air into the winter cold.
The quiet scenery was a relief to me, but only slightly helped my nerves. That house was more chaotic than the city was during rush hour, and it was starting to wear down on me. I didn't know how Judy did it for all these years, constantly being around so many people at once.
I started pacing as time went by, dreading Stu's return, but also excited for what would happen if everything went well.
If everything went well…
"Shoooooo…" I sighed heavily, and rested my paws on my knees to keep myself from having a nervous break down, "Just get it over with…"
"Get what over with?" Stu asked, nearly giving me a heart attack.
"Stu! I uh… u-uhm…" I bolted upright, not even able to give an explanation to him while my heart beat through my chest.
"What's goin' on with you?" Stu raised an eyebrow at me, and started to walk through the snow after beckoning me to walk next to him, "You're actin' all jumpy. What's this about?"
"Sorry…" I mumbled, scratching the back of my neck while we walked away from the house, "And it's uh… it's… uhm…"
"Go on," Stu grinned, seeming amused by my nervousness, "spit it out."
I remained silent for a moment, trying to get the words right, and trying to calm my trembling nerves. I needed this to go well, or I didn't know what I was going to do. All I knew is that right now, I needed to do this for Judy.
I sighed heavily, and stopped in my tracks. Stu halted beside me, and shoved his paws in his coat, silent.
I looked at him for a moment, fearing to see judgement in his eyes. Instead, I found curiosity, and something I didn't know.
"Well…" I began, my anxiety slowly fading from Stu's friendly smile, "I uh… wanted to talk to you about me and Judy…"
Judy POV
"Where is he…?" I mumbled to myself, searching the living room for Nick. It shouldn't have taken him this long to go to the restroom, and that odd glow in his eyes before he left the table let me know he was up to something.
I sniffed the air, and was pleasantly surprised to be able to catch his scent among the hundreds of others present, but I could only catch a small trace of him. I sniffed again, and started to make my way to the other side of the living room.
"Judy!" I turned around at the sound of my mother's voice, "Over here!"
"Hey mom." I smiled, and made my way back to where she was standing in the kitchen doorway.
"Hello, Dear." My mother gave me a squeezing hug, "Out lookin' for your red half, eh?"
"Mooom…" I rolled my eyes, embarrassed that it was so obvious what I was doing.
"Oh it's nothin' to be ashamed of," My mother chuckled, squeezing me tighter, "you two have somethin' special. Everyone's been talkin' about how sweet y'all are together."
"Really...?" I smiled through my heavy blushing, both embarrassed and overjoyed that my family was happy to see me with Nick. I'd been nervous all day not knowing if he would be shunned by my family or not.
"Mhm." My mother smiled, "Well, except your brothers. But you know how they are."
"I do." I chuckled, rolling my eyes. They'd always been overprotective of my sisters and I, "Anyway, have you seen him?"
"Not since earlier." She frowned slightly, "But I'm sure he's fine. Stay an' talk a bit, I feel like I don't ever get to see you."
"Okay mom," I could wait a bit to find Nick. I missed my mother, too.
"Great," She smiled, "How's the party goin' for y'all?"
"It's great, mom. Other than having to explain why Nick looks like he does, it's been good to see everyone again."
My mom stepped closer, and lowered her voice, "Speaking of that, how is work? It's not like you to be so worried."
"I can't really say… we're just… way in over our heads and I don't know what to do, mom… he's in danger and he's having to train all the time and it's hard on me…"
"I'm sorry, Dear," My mom embraced me after my ears fell, "but I think he'll be okay. Y'all know what y'all are doin', and it looks like his trainin' is payin' off. He's gotten some muscle on him since I last saw him."
"He has. He trains almost every day." I smiled faintly, realizing that Nick had actually gained a lot more from his training than the ability to take down anything in his path. He looked more attractive to me every day, and the muscle he kept putting on made him look incredible.
"Then I'm sure he'll be fine." My mother's smile made me feel better, and I gained a little bit more hope for Nick's situation, "An I'll be waitin' for that weddin' invite when all this is over!"
"Mom, he hasn't even asked me yet…" My smile faded, wishing I was showing my mom a ring right now, instead of talking about something I'd been increasingly wanting to happen.
No, needing to happen. I couldn't imagine a future without him anymore.
"Well why not? All your brothers and sisters were married years ago, why are you waitin' so long?"
"You know me… I had to make sure I found someone that was right for me, and then I had to be sure Nick was the one, and…" I raised an eyebrow at my mother's widening smile, wondering what she was thinking, "What? What's that look for?"
"You just said you had to make sure Nick was the one."
My ears immediately burst into flames when I realized what I said, and when my mother's smile grew even wider, "You've already told him, haven't you?"
"I u-uh… may have let it slip out… a few times…" More like a lot of times. I hoped Nick had been picking up all the hints I'd been giving him to let him know I was ready to be his in every way, and deep down I knew he was ready too. I just had to patiently wait for him, and if that meant I had to wait years to have the rest of my life with him as his bride and mate, I'd gladly do so.
At least, that's what I kept telling myself. I'd wait for him forever, but every day that passes without me being his wife made me need it to happen more and more.
"I wouldn't worry about it too much." My mom grasped my paws with a bright smile, "I see the way you look at each other, and I really don't think you'll have to wait much longer-"
"Bonnie! Can you come help real quick!?"
My mother and I looked to see who had called, and I saw my aunt Jennifer standing in front of a pot on the stove that had a concerning amount of smoke pouring from it.
"Oo!" Without another word, my mother rushed away to help my aunt, leaving me to smile to myself about her words.
I hope I didn't have to wait much longer for him…
Which reminded me what I was doing. Where was Nick, anyway?
I sniffed the air again, but couldn't pick out any more of his scent than I could earlier.
With a sigh, I started to make my way across the living room again. Nick had to be up to something. He promised he would stay with me all day, why did he leave?
What if he ran into my brothers again?
Worry started to prick at my heart. The way they looked at him wasn't exactly as accepting as the rest of my family, and they were known to cause trouble to anyone they didn't like. Especially if the guy was with one of their sisters.
"Ugh…" I groaned, feeling that my hunch may be right. I hoped Nick hadn't hurt them too much if they had confronted him. My brothers were tough, but Nick was dangerous. Mr. Black wouldn't even train with him anymore; Nick trained with a wolf now, which was terrifying to watch. All the snarling and teeth…
I shuddered, and threw the thought out of my head. I hated to watch Nick fight. Seeing him get hurt again was one of my biggest fears, and it seemed more likely he would each time he trained.
However, part of me was glad he was training so hard. I didn't know what he would have to go through when he got another call, but his training helped his chances that he'd make it home to me, and losing him by far outweighed any other fear I'd ever had…
I walked faster, figuring that my brothers would've taken Nick outside.
Until I saw them by the fireplace, drinking merrily together with their wives.
I breathed a sigh of relief, and shook my head at myself for being so paranoid. Nick was probably fine, and most likely scheming something.
I caught a stronger whiff of his scent at the start of a hallway that lead to the back of the house, next to the hallway I told him that the restroom was in.
"Nick, you big dummy." I chuckled to myself, now following his trail down the hallway. He must've gone the wrong way, and was probably lost in the back of the house.
"I could've sworn I told him to take the right hallway…" I muttered, stopping at a door at the end of the hall that lead outside. His scent didn't go any further down the hall. Nick had to have gone through here.
I pushed open the door, and was overjoyed it lead me straight to him. He stood alone atop a hill in the steadily falling snow, his back turned to me while he nipped at snowflakes that fell close to his muzzle, and his tail wagging wildly.
I silently admired him for a moment, before a mischievous grin rose on my lips.
I lowered my body, and slowly moved towards him, careful to be as quiet as possible. The freshly laid snow barely made a noise as my paws stepped forward, and not at all when I stopped after Nick's pointed ears twitched.
I crept forward again, struggling to keep from giggling as I imagined his reaction to being scared.
"EEEHEHEHE! NICK!"
My surprised scream turned into wild laughter after he pounced on me without warning, and laid on top of me in the snow. I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck while he growled playfully in my ear, planting a flurry of kisses on his neck between fits of giggles.
"Sly bunny." He licked the base of my ear, before lifting his muzzle away to touch his nose to mine, "Trying to sneak up on a fox? That's awful risky of you."
"Unless it's my sweet fox." I giggled, pulling his smiling lips against mine to kiss him softly like I'd been needing to do all day, "Then it's not risky at all. What's risky is jumping on me with your head the way it is, you big dummy."
"You're right..." He grimaced while he spoke, and I kissed him again before pushing him off of me, "My head's on fire…"
"Nicky, you need to be more careful…" I sighed, worry now coursing through my veins, "I don't want to wait any longer for you to be better… it's worrying me to death…"
"I know," He helped me out of the snow, and wrapped me in his arms and tail, "it's killing me, too… I can't even… you know… enjoy you without it hurting my head…"
He buried his freezing nose in my neck after my ears fell, and I tightened my embrace around his neck, "I'm still so sorry about that… I was drunk and stupid and I couldn't stop myself and-"
"And I'd do it again in a heartbeat." Nick shushed me with a gentle kiss, "It was worth every second."
"Not if it hurt you in the end…" I frowned at him, my guilt eating a hole in my stomach from the knowledge that I'd only delayed his healing by pleasing him. His headaches had gotten even worse after that night, and it was entirely my fault.
"Honey, it's okay, really." Nick lifted my chin to hold my cheeks, and gently pressed his nose to mine, "Don't worry about it. Believe me, I wanted it as much as you. I still want you… right now…"
I had to hold the end of his muzzle to stop his grooming, already starting to lose myself to his loving affection after only a few strokes of his tongue around my ears, "Not now, Honey, wait till we're home. Don't worry," I caressed his cheek after he licked my paw a few times, and smiled up at him, "you can groom me all night, my sweet fox."
"Good, I'm starting to get antsy…" He grasped my paw, and kissed me briefly before we started to walk back to the house together.
"What were you doing out here, anyway?" I asked him after remembering my search for him earlier.
"Oh… it was really hot inside and I had to step out."
I squinted my eyes at him, "You should know by now that you can't lie to me."
"Well, I got caught up talking to your uh… brother out here."
"Which one?" I grinned after I stopped in front of him, and held his cheeks to make him look into my eyes. He was definitely hiding something.
He gazed at me, a new light in his eyes that was both new to me, and caused the butterflies in my stomach to race through my entire body, "Uh… wow… Judy…"
It took me a minute to find my words; he gaze had taken away my ability to remove my eyes from his, and caused my mind to overflow with how much I loved him, even when I knew he was doing his best to distract me, "Yes, Nicky…?"
He touched his nose to mine, causing warmth to rush through me. I breathed in his scent, allowing his loving gaze to pull me from my surroundings while I enjoyed the sensation of running my fingers through the fur of his neck, "I love you more than anything, Judy... You're so perfect to me…"
"Nicky… you're perfect for me... Even my family sees it…" My lips brushed his while I murmured to him, causing me to kiss him between my words, "I need you to be with me for the rest of my life… I don't want anyone else, and I never will… I need you, Nick. I can't describe how much I love you…"
He had to take a step back from how forcefully I kissed him, but he quickly returned my pressure while I tried to push myself as close to him as I could, needing him to feel my love for him as much as I felt it.
Our lips danced together while fresh snow fell around us, gracefully landing on our heads and muzzles as they locked together to allow our tongues to meet. His paw traveled up my back to hold the back of my head, and I tightened my arms around his neck, trying to pull myself even closer to him.
I hummed softly while I tasted him, oblivious to the bitter cold around us while he showed me his love. The feeling of him pressed so tightly against me created a heat inside me like nothing else could, and caused me to remember what my mother had mentioned earlier about our wedding. Her words made me wish that when I opened my eyes he would be offering me a ring, and finally fulfil my need to be with him for as long as we lived.
However, I knew if he didn't ask me now, he would when he wanted to. I knew he felt the same as I did, and I knew he loved me as much as I loved him. I just had to be patient, no matter how badly I didn't want to wait any longer.
Even if it drove me crazy.
With a final, powerful press against his lips, I stopped our kiss to pant on his lips, and breathe in his heated breaths while I held my nose to his. No one was outside to see us, but that could change any moment. I wanted nothing more than to enjoy his touch, but I didn't want to make any of my family feel awkward by catching us out here.
"My sweet fox," I giggled as his wagging tail rapidly brushed against my legs, and gave him a playful glare "if you were trying to distract me, it didn't work."
He snickered at me, and planted a firm kiss on my head, "Too bad. My lips are sealed."
"Mmmmhm." I was stunned to see how strong the light in his eyes had gotten after our moment together. The love flowing from him completely overwhelmed me.
"I'll let it slide this time…" I murmured to him, grinning while I buried my nose into his neck, and breathed in as much of his scent as I could before we had to go back to my family, "Let's go back inside, my love. I'll show you around the house."
"Sounds great." He smiled, and started to draw his tongue around my ears. I happily let him groom me for a moment to help him with his ever-growing impulses, before tilting my head up to kiss him one last time, and grasping his paw to lead him back inside.
"Okay, so," I lead him through the crowded hallway by his paw, occasionally stopping to hug one of my brothers or sisters, "upstairs is usually where my grandparents hang out, and all the lower floors are where most of the kids and pregnant moms hang out."
"What's this floor?" Nick asked from behind me.
"Food." I smiled at him from over my shoulder.
I turned back around to lead him to the stairs, when I saw my mom and dad in the kitchen doorway, speaking excitedly to each other. I was surprised to see my mom jump after my father told her something, and I raised an eyebrow when she noticed me with a huge smile on her face, becofe quickly rushing away with my father.
"What was that about?" I wondered aloud, curious as to why my mother was so excited.
"What was what about?" Nick asked behind me, looking down at me with a confused expression.
"Oh, nothing, just my mom and dad being weird." I touched my nose to his for a second, and started to lead him down the stairs.
Nick stuck close beside me while I showed him the first two lower floors, where the majority of my pregnant sisters were.
After a brief period of awkward staring, and after I'd reminded my family who Nick was and, as subtly as I could, why he was covered in tattoos, they lightened up to my fox, and allowed me to show him around.
"I've never seen so many pillows…" Nick mumbled behind me, his snout ruffled slightly while his nose twitched, "And it smells so weird down here…"
"Really?" I raised an eyebrow at him, chuckling at his odd expression, "I didn't think you had a problem with how bunnies smelled."
"Well, not all. I happen to think you smell amazing." I smiled up at him after he took a brief sniff between my ears while kissing my head, and continued to walk with him down the stairs to the lowest floor, "But everyone else here smells weird."
I rolled my eyes at him, and stopped just before I opened the door to the kids room on the lowest floor, "Alright, this is the kids room, but I think we're gonna have to wait for me to show you after we get all that dye out of your fur. You don't exactly look very friendly right now…"
"You're right…" He frowned, "I already scared one of them…"
"You didn't mean to, Honey." I placed a paw on his stomach, and brushed his cheek, "I'm sure the kids will love you when you get to meet them."
"You think so?"
"Mhm." I nodded, knowing that not only would the kids love him, but that he'd become their new playground, "I know so."
"Who's you?"
I looked behind Nick after the sound of a tiny voice reached my ears. One of my nieces, Chloe, stood at the foot of the stairs, looking up at Nick with wide eyes.
"Uh… Hey, I'm Nick." He smiled without showing his teeth, and my niece stepped a little closer to look up at him curiously.
"Is you a fox?" Chloe asked, inching just a little closer.
"Uh huh." Nick nodded, flashing me a nervous look.
"My momma says foxes are mean."
"This one's not mean." I chimed in quickly after Nick's ears fell, and grasped his paw in mine, "Nick is a really nice fox. See?"
I held up Nick's paw in mine, and smiled encouragingly to my niece, who held out her arms for me to pick her up.
"Nu uh!" She shook her head vigorously after I reached to lift her, and waved her tiny paws up at my fox, "Nick!"
"Up you go!" Nick lifted my niece up with a wide smile, that immediately turned into a grimace after Chloe pulled on his ears.
"Your ears look funny!" She giggled, and I giggled with her, covering my mouth with a paw to keep myself from laughing at Nick's face while my niece squished his cheeks.
"You look a little funny yourself." Nick teased, bopping Chloe's nose lightly with a padded finger, which my niece immediately grabbed to look at.
"Woooooooah…" She opened her eyes wide, and held Nick's paw up close to her face. I winced after Chloe prodded one of Nick's long claws with her tiny finger, hoping she hadn't hurt herself. Thankfully, she hadn't, and continued to examine Nick's face by pulling on his muzzle.
"Bubba! Come look! I finded a fox!"
The door behind me swung open to reveal a crowd of young bunnies, lead by Chloe's brother, Bobby.
"Ah!"
I rushed to Nick's side, laughing after he was bombarded by my nieces and nephews, and fell to his bottom under the pile of curious little bunnies.
"Whas your name?"
"I'm Nick-"
"Are foxes mean?"
"Not-"
"Why you smell like aunt Judy?"
"Uh-"
"Lookit his tail!"
"Ah! Geez, careful!" Nick grimaced after my nephew Brandon jumped on his tail, and I lifted him off of my fox.
"Be nice, you guys!" I scolded them gently, and lowered my nephew back to the ground to let him keep investigating Nick. If they each saw my fox being gentle with them, maybe they'd forget the prejudice they'd been taught by my idiot sisters.
After thoroughly examining Nick, the young bunnies settled down, and sat around and on my fox's lap to ask him more questions.
I sat on the steps with a bright smile, watching Nick talk excitedly with my youngest family members. His tail wagged slightly, and despite his sinister looking tattoos, the kids loved him.
I knew they would. Nick may look mean right now, but his eyes betrayed how kind he was, and I was glad to see the kids were able to see it too.
I was also delighted to see how good Nick was with the young bunnies. He patiently allowed them to crawl over him without complaint, and even allowed them to ride on his back a few at a time after we moved the kids back into their play room.
While I watched Nick, I couldn't help but think of how wonderful he'd be with our children.
If there ever was a way to have any of my own with him. As far as I knew, I'd have to have a donor to have my own, but I didn't really want to have children that weren't biologically his. If I would be the birth mother of my children, I wanted him to be the father, not some random bunny...
I shook my head. It didn't matter, all I needed was Nick to be the one with me. We'd figure out the details when it was time.
A slight grimace on Nick's face pulled my attention to him while he carried a few of my nieces on his back. His head must be bothering him.
"Alright you rascals," I lifted my protesting nieces off of Nick's back, "I gotta take this big guy back upstairs."
"Awww!" The kids groaned in unison, and I stifled a chuckle at their fallen ears.
"Don't worry," Nick smiled, kneeling back down to give all the little ones a goodbye hug after they started to reach up for him, "I'm sure I'll see you all again soon. Nowwwww shoo!"
The kids scattered with squeals of laughter at Nick's sudden outburst, and I helped him back up on his feet.
"How's your head doing, Honey?" I asked Nick after we left the play room, concerned that he'd overworked himself by playing with the kids.
"Hold on." He paused on the staircase, and gently brought his lips to mine, "It's much better now."
"My sweet fox." I smiled up at him, and grasped his paw to continue up the stairs, "I told you the kids would love you. You're gonna be a great father one day."
"You think so?" He smiled, and wrapped his tail around me.
"I know so. You're gonna make some lucky girl out there so proud of you." I teased, throwing him a sly look.
"Some lucky girl?" He grinned, and touched his nose to mine, "No thanks, I already have one lucky bunny in mind."
My heart burst with joy, and I celebrated as calmly as I could that he felt the same about having children with me as I did.
At least, I tried to be calm. It took everything I had to not jump into his arms, so I clutched his tail close to me with a small jump of joy instead, and giggled when I caught him smiling at me with that new light in his green eyes.
"That was cute, little bunny."
I quickly touched my nose to his, hoping none of my family heard him, "You know you can't say that around my family, you big dummy."
"Oops, sorry." He chuckled, and tightened his tail around my waist, "It was, though."
I squinted my eyes at him in a playful glare, and patted his cheek, "Then tell me that at home next time, agreed?"
"Agreed."
I pecked his lips, and walked into the living room to find that most of my family had left to their own homes.
I pulled out my phone, curious as to why everyone had started to leave already: 8:08 pm.
I hadn't realized how late it had gotten. Nick and I would have to leave soon to start the long drive home, and do our own presents together. We'd been in such a rush to get to my parents this morning, we had no choice but to wait till tonight.
However, I still hadn't gotten to see all of my family, so I decided to wait a little longer to go.
I walked around with Nick and visited with family I hadn't spoken to yet, and lost count of how many times I had to vaguely explain why Nick didn't look like himself.
Most of my family had no problem with him, or with the fact we were together, but there were a few of my brothers that wouldn't speak to him at all. I kept my conversation with them short, and quickly moved on to my other family, slightly irritated that my brothers refused to at least try to be pleasant around him.
I sighed heavily, and ignored my frustrations. This had been a wonderful day, and I knew it would only get better once I got home with my fox.
Nick's wide yawn let me know it was time for us to head out, and I squeezed his paw, "Are you ready to go?"
"Only if you are." He replied sleepily, probably feeling the effects of the medicine I'd given him a half hour ago. Even though he didn't tell me, I knew his head had been bothering him since he was tased, so I'd been making sure to give him his pills as soon as enough hours passed to do so.
"I'm ready, I want to go before I get too tired to drive."
"I'll drive, Honey-"
"No Nicky, you'd be asleep by the end of the driveway." I chuckled, looking around for my parents to let them know we were headed back home.
I spotted my mother walking across the kitchen entrance, and started to make my way to her.
"Hey mom!" I called out to my mother before she could leave the room, and she turned to face Nick and I, "We're gonna have to head out now, we have a long drive back to the city."
"Alright, Dear." My mom hugged me tightly, and released me with a bright smile, "I'm glad you two made it out here, I know y'all must be busy with work right now."
"Me too, I felt like I haven't seen you or dad in forever. Where is he, by the way? I haven't seen him in a while."
"He's in the front with some of his brothers." She motioned to the front door, and embraced me again, "Merry Christmas, Dear. Try and come see us again soon!"
"Merry Christmas, mom, and I'll try my best." I smiled, and she released me to face Nick.
"It's a shame your mom couldn't come, Nick. How's she doin'?"
"She's alright, it's just a cold." Nick frowned, "I'm not too worried about her, she's tough, but she wouldn't even let us stay long in case she got us sick."
"Well, I hope she gets better soon anyway." My mom gave Nick a faint smile, and hugged him.
Then, she said something to Nick I didn't hear that caused his tail to wag slightly before she released him.
I looked up at him curiously after we left my mom to return to her cleaning, "What was that? What did she say?"
"That she was happy we were together."
"Oh." I returned his loving smile, holding his tail close to me after he wrapped it around my waist. I lifted my chin to kiss him, and he brought his lips to mine, before we walked out the front door together.
"Hey Puddin'," My dad greeted from across the porch, and left his brothers to walk over to us, "headed out?"
"Yeah, we have a long drive home or I'd stay a bit longer."
"I get ya," My father embraced me, and held his paw out to Nick, who engulfed my fathers paw in his, "Glad y'all could come!"
"We were lucky that we could," Nick chuckled, "Our uh… case manager had to go back to the Bureau for this week."
"You're workin' with the ZBI!?" My father's mouth dropped open, and I quickly motioned for him to lower his voice.
"Dad! Not so loud!" I whispered urgently, hoping Nick hadn't just blown everything on accident. We never knew who could be listening…
"Sorry!" My father whispered back, and I shook my head slowly.
"It's fine, it's fine," I sighed, and gave Nick a slight glare for even mentioning the Bureau, causing him to flatten his ears and squeeze my paw, "but we gotta go now. Love you dad."
"Love you too, Puddin'." My dad hugged me again, and to my surprise, hugged Nick, "Y'all be careful drivin' back."
"We will." I waved to my uncles, who waved back drunkenly while Nick and I started to walk away, "Bye dad!"
"See y'all!" With a last wave, my father returned to his brothers, and Nick and I started our trek to the car at the end of the dark pathway.
"Sorry…" Nick mumbled after a moment, giving me a sheepish look.
"It's okay, my love." I kissed his paw, and gave him a reassuring smile, "Just be more careful what you say in the future. We took all this time to sneak you out of the city, I don't want to take any chances by anyone hearing about what exactly we're doing. Even my family."
"Good idea," He nodded, "I'll keep my mouth shut next time."
"Nicholas Wilde keeping his mouth shut. Now that's a first." I teased, and stopped in front of him to wrap my arms around his neck, "Speaking of keeping your mouth shut-"
"Not gonna tell you." He snickered, and swept my legs from under me to lift me in his strong arms, "No matter how much you ask."
"Hmmmm…" I squinted my eyes at him, feeling much warmer now that he was carrying me to the car, "Which brother were you talking to again?"
"Nu uh. My lips are sealed." He stopped in the snow in front of our car, and slowly brought his warm lips to mine.
I ran my paws through the fur of his neck, smiling through our gentle kiss. I'd missed having plenty of time to be so close with him all day, and now that I had him to myself again, I couldn't be happier. Even if I knew he was scheming something.
He pulled his lips from mine, and nuzzled his cold nose into my neck, "I love you, Judy."
"I love you too, Nick," I smiled, breathing in his hot breath while I touched my nose to his, and gazed into the ever-growing love he held for me within his green eyes, "and I know you're up to somethin-"
"Get in the car, sly bunny." He snickered, and set me down with a firm kiss, before walking over to the passengers side.
"More like sly fox!" I giggled when he rolled his eyes at me from inside the car, and I climbed into the driver's seat, " You know I'll find out one day."
"I know. But that's not today." He winked at me, and made himself comfortable by resting his head on the armrest.
"Hmm. As long as you know." I leaned over to kiss along his muzzle, and started to gently massage his ears with my free paw, "Get some rest, my sweet fox. I'll wake you up when we're home."
I enjoyed the soft hums he released while I massaged his ears, taking care to make sure he felt just how much I loved him with a soft kiss to his lips. I knew he'd felt what I wanted him to when his tail beat against the passenger door, and with a final kiss at the base of his ear, I started the car, and began the long drive home.
Bzzzzt.
.
Bzzzzt.
.
Bzzzzt.
.
Bzzzzt.