Chapter 36: Determining The Relationship

Nick was barely able to keep up as Judy sprinted away from the swimming hole. Especially as she seemed to know the exact path to take, dodging under tree limbs and swerving quickly around bushes that barely registered to the fox until it was too late.

After being smacked in the face several times by branches and tripping over roots in his mad dash after the doe, he hoped that, wherever she was heading, she was going to be there soon.

He had tried calling out to her, but when he did, her ears would only swivel towards him as she picked up her pace. Why is she running?

He finally lost her after nearly a half mile, partly due to his swim trunks wanting to fall as he had lost a bobby pin somewhere during the chase. He was reduced to sniffing out her scent through the brush and forest, following it until he could hopefully find her.

Nearly a half-hour after taking off after Judy, Nick finally found her as the path he was on led to a clearing that approached a large hill. On top of the hill, a lone oak tree stood with what appeared to be a tire swing attached to it. He wasn't sure how someone had dragged the tire all the way out here in the middle of nowhere, but he suspected he knew who had done it.

And his prime suspect was the one currently sitting in the tire swing. He trudged up the hill, panting slightly until he stood behind the nearly-silent figure sitting in the swing.

Nearly, being the key word, as Nick could hear the rabbit sniffling as she held her paws to her head.

"Hey there, Carrots. I know you like to run, but what you just did was a bit much, don't ya think?"

He could tell that Judy knew he was there as her head turned just a little, but that was the only reaction he got out of her. Nick grabbed one side of the tire swing and turned it about so that Judy was facing him. He leaned down onto his knees and sighed as he looked at her.

"Judy, what's wrong?"

The rabbit sniffled, dropping her paws over the top of the small rabbit vehicle-sized tire. "Everything..."

"That's a pretty vague statement, Carrots. The weather isn't that bad right now," Her eyes raised to his, but showed only sadness. Nick knew exactly why she was acting the way she was, as he had a lot of time to think as he had followed her.

"Judy, I know this is about Jessica and what she is doing. Trust me, I don't hold a single romantic feeling for her in my entire body."

At that, she at least seemed to flinch, though still remained silent.

"I take it you've never lost it like that before with a family member?" Nick continued, still watching Judy.

She nodded, rubbing her eyes with her paw, then finally spoke. "I'm sorry you saw me like this, Nick," she sniffed. "I...I don't know what came over me. I've always been in control, even around Jessica. But today..."

Truthfully, she knew exactly what had come over her, and it had to deal with Nick's previous comment.

She was jealous. Jealous of her 'perfect bunny' sister that was trying to steal her Nick away from her. The thought brought new tears to her eyes.

"You know she's jealous of you, right?"

Judy looked up, confused. "What?"

Nick smiled, while looking up at the clouds lazily rolling along. "Jessica is completely jealous of you."

"What reasons does she have to be jealous?" Judy huffed. "She has the looks, the achievements, the status of Homecoming Bunny Queen three years in a row...why would she be jealous of her younger littermate who didn't even get a date to any of her four proms?"

"That's just because you didn't have the right mammals going to your school."

Judy rolled her eyes, "More like the whole Tri-Burrows."

"Then you didn't have the right mammals in all the Tri-Burrows then."

She groaned, but inside, she knew that there was only one animal she would have wanted to do anything with now. She had a lot of time to herself on this swing and had came to one conclusion.

She had fallen for Nick Wilde and there was nothing she could do about it.

The stupid bet that she had made with him was the only reason she couldn't tell him, though. She never liked to lose, and if she admitted to what she felt, losing is exactly what would happen and she'd be forced to wear whatever stupid thing Nick had waiting for her.

Plus, she doubted he even reciprocated her feelings at all. She was too stubborn to admit her feelings and too scared to tell him about it.

Instead, she cried, fresh tears coming again.

Nick watched as Judy broke down again, her paws racing to her face to cover the tears flowing down her cheeks.

This is all because of the stupid bet, he realized. If it weren't for the bet, he would have never agreed to come out to Bunnyburrow or even suggest the idea. If that hadn't happened, they wouldn't have had problems with Judy's sister.

He sighed. Judy being reduced to this was not worth the end goal he had in mind.

"That's it, the bet's off, Judy."

Judy froze; even her sniffling stopped as she raised her violet eyes to his emerald ones. "Wh...what?"

Nick stared remorsefully at her. "It's exactly what I said. The bets off. I can't bear to see you like this and I can't be what's causing you trouble with your family." He threw up his paws and lowered his head. Both were silent for a moment before Nick continued.

"Let's just head back home and forget any of this ever happened."

He turned to walk away, not even caring that he had no idea which way it was to Judy's home. If he got lost, then it would just mean more time to think of how terribly he had treated his best friend over his cockamamie idea.

"Nick, wait!"

He paused, angling his head so he could see Judy out of the corner of his eye; she was still sitting in the tire swing behind him.

"Don't go..."

It was a hushed plea.

"Why?" he muttered. Again there was silence and Nick started forward again.

"Because...because I don't want this to end."

He froze, then slowly turned. "What do you mean, Judy?"

The rabbit was staring at him, seemingly trying to hold back tears. She looked at her partner and somehow managed the courage to say what came next.

"Because I'd rather have you, your silly kisses, this stupid bet and not get along with my sister … than be without you."

It took all the fox's energy and control not to run to the tire swing, grab Judy, and spin her around in the air. He couldn't control the smile that began creeping up his face, though. Judy giggled sadly.

"I just lost the bet, didn't I?" she half cried, half laughed, and odd, but somehow cute combination. Nick had to chuckle at the thought as he slowly walked back to the swing.

"I don't know about that, Carrots," he replied, finally reaching her. "I distinctly remember that I said that only AFTER 100 kisses you'd have to say whether you enjoyed them or not. I never said anything about what was said before 100 kisses."

Judy smiled, "Sly Fox."

"You know you love me," he chuckled as he knelt down to be eye-level with the rabbit.

"I guess it's safe for me to answer that now?" Judy asked with a mischievous grin. Nick nodded with a smirk as Judy laughed. "Then yes, yes I do."

Judy reached her paw out to Nick's face and gently led him forward until their muzzles connected in a tender kiss. They separated, but Judy wasn't finished. She pulled him in again and kissed him with a little more passion than before, causing Nick's ears to stand straight up and his tail to shoot out.

Judy was smiling as she pulled away. "That's to make up for those kisses I had my sisters give you today."

"I thought you were trying to share me with your sisters earlier, Carrots. All's fair in love and war, right Fluff?"

Judy shook her head. "Not anymore. You're all mine now."

Nick smirked as his eyebrows lowered. "And here I thought I was making the rules in this little game of ours."

"Nope," Judy stated.

"Such a pushy rabbit," Nick chuckled as Judy tried to punch his arm, but due to her position on the swing, she couldn't reach him.

Nick's grin widened as an idea came to him. He grabbed a hold of the swing and ran forward, pulling it and Judy back in a long arc. He was pleased when he heard a nervous squeak and laughter come from her as he lifted the tire swing as high up as he could, before running back the other direction with it. As he felt the swing lifting him off the ground, he found a foothold in it next to Judy and jumped on, having one paw pointed forward as if guiding the swing while the other held onto the rope. He looked like the captain of a ship, Judy thought, causing her to grin at the sight.

"You look like a ship captain, you know that right?" Judy laughed. Nick nodded.

"Didn't you know?" he smirked. "Nicholas Wilde, captain of the SS Wildehopps, at your service."

The two laughed as they swung back and forth through the air. When the tire had stopped, Nick and Judy enjoyed just sitting on the swing together. They had switched positions and now Nick was sitting on one side of the swing, while Judy sat atop his knees, facing him from the other side. Nick slowly leaned forward, Judy doing the same until their lips met across the swing.

"I guess this means you're my boyfriend now?" Judy asked simply. Nick laughed.

"Only if you'd have me."

"I think I can manage that," came Judy's reply. "At least for another 67 kisses, then you never know. I still have a bet to win." She smirked, then laughed.

"Sly bunny," Nick grinned then leaned in again as Judy did the same. "Though if you did that, then I always know there's someone else here that would want me."

Judy punched his arm. "Sorry, just kidding!" Nick replied hastily, a fearful expression coming onto his face as Judy readied another punch.

"I'm not sharing you, remember?" She grinned, then released her fist and instead leaned over to kiss the spot she had hit on his arm.

"Good," Nick replied. "As I don't think I could ever date your sister. She scares me."

Both laughed.

They remained sitting in the swing for a while, holding paws, talking and enjoying each other's company as the sun slowly crept across the horizon.

Unbeknownst to them, a certain pair of violet eyes had watched the entire scene play out from behind a nearby bush. Grey paws clenched in anger and pain as a certain littermate of Judy's glared at the fox and her sister in the swing.

If Judy wants the fox all that much, fine.. Jessica grumbled in her head. She wiped at her eyes, feeling like something was tugging at her heart.

The green eyed monster struck again as Judy's older sibling – by two minutes – stormed off from behind the bush.

If I can't have that fox, she thought, wiping at her eyes again. Then she can't either.

Kiss Count (both have reached 5 for the day, unchanged)

Nick: 33

Judy: 37

AN: The feels! The feels! I really hope you enjoyed this chapter. I've also gotten a lot of feedback from reviewers and PM's alike about folks' feeling about Jessica. Did I create her as a foil to Judy? Yes, yes I did. Is there a reason why I wrote her like this? Yes, yes there is. Will I tell you? No, no I will not. ;)

Anyways, thank you so much for all your support for this story! It just hit 700 followers last night and 600 reviews! You guys are the best! I never thought a story I wrote would ever have this level of support and love. So thank you all!

And for those of you wondering, yes I am still updating "Always My Sly Bunny, Always My Dumb Fox". In fact, I just put out a new chapter on Wednesday, and have been hard at work on the next chapter as well! If you haven't checked it out, I'd suggest to take a gander at it is about to get very interesting in the next chapter. ;)