A/N: This is what I consider safe for T. This version has been edited down compared to the one on AO3. Purification might not have gone far enough.

Chapter 38: Life Under Contract

Jill savored Nick's touch as they cuddled together. She had signed that contract. She wasn't sure if she could live up to her promise of not hating Nick. The contract listed what she couldn't do in an elaborate fashion. It was best summarized as: she had to live just by consuming fox and it wouldn't be like the time she had him for breakfast either. She remembered licking food off his body and nibbling on his ears. The contract would ensure they got to know each other intimately.

She never went that far with Nick, unlike her more adventurous siblings. She had used her paws to force a confession out of him. She thoroughly washed her paws after that event.

The contract didn't specify how much she had to eat or when, but rather that was what she was allowed. Nick never left her side the entire night. Morning came, she dreaded the meal so much she skipped it. Maybe, it was for the best that way. She wasn't hungry anyway.

She couldn't even defy the contract with the blasted collar camera. They would certainly know and her siblings would surely punish her if they saw her sneaking bites off actual food. She cried because she hated what Nick turned into reality.

He had a choice, but he signed the contract regardless despite what it would mean for her or them. He was off eating, she wasn't important enough for him. It had been thirty minutes with a tear-soaked pillow and he still wasn't there.

She wouldn't survive, she wasn't important enough for him and the contract would make sure of that. Thirty minutes stretched into an hour. He still didn't show. He didn't care for her at all. One hour turned into two her tears had long run dry.

Lunch came without any way for her to eat. Nick literally wasn't there. He hadn't entered their bedroom yet. No one, not even a sibling came to console her. She was absolutely alone. She felt the pangs of hunger. She decided that sleeping would be best.

No fox to be found and it was almost time for dinner. They didn't care. Nick never cared for her and yesterday was just a show to prevent an immediate crisis. She was better off forgotten. She attempted to leave the mansion. That blasted bear stopped her from leaving. Those guards were supposed to be just for show.

The bear brought her to their benefactor Mr. Big. "My child, why don't you join them?"

"He doesn't care about me! I was alone in the bedroom ever since morning," she said. "They made me sign a contract."

"Do you want him to be with you? I can arrange that."

"I don't want to force him to do anything. He simply doesn't care. He has three rabbits to care for. I don't matter at all." She cried as she talked to the shrew.

"If you don't survive, neither will he."

"You wouldn't harm him!"

"Do you want to test me? You can see by our rabbit here what I'm capable of."

She saw the rabbit broken and pleading for mercy. They even shaved his fur. She couldn't let that happen to Nick even though she didn't matter to him at all. "Please don't harm him." She still cared for him.

"Go to him then or he can have a nice cold bath. You can even watch."

She had little choice. To protect that cruel fox, she went to find Nick. She found him having fun with her siblings as if she didn't even matter.

Nick looked at her as soon as she was in his sights. He didn't even say anything at all. No apology was offered.

"See? I told you she'll come when she's ready," Janna said.

"You should have been with her, she was crying," Judy said.

"She would be crying anyway. You should be there to offer her lunch," Jewel said. She licked her lips when she said lunch.

The very thought of lunch made Jill gag. It just wasn't appetizing. She wished Jewel had taken her place.

Nick just watched her movements, but didn't say anything despite the clamor her siblings created.

"They're going to kill you if I don't survive. Even though you don't care about me, I can't let that happen to you," Jill said.

"What gave you that idea? Of course, I care about you," Nick said.

She gladly listed his offenses one by one. The way she felt ever since he left her side.

"You should have been with her," Judy said. "I was right."

"I'm sorry, for these two weeks. I can do whatever you want. All you need to do is ask. You can eat whenever you're ready," Nick said.

"Can we cuddle on the bed again?" She added in a whisper hoping he wouldn't hear. "Without them."

"Of course."

He walked with her to the bedroom. He laid by her side for hours it seemed. He sniffed her to soothe her. She broke the silence, "Who did you lick for dinner?"

"No one," he said.

He skipped a meal just for her. It had been hours and he didn't even mention food. "Are you hungry?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied.

It would be strange for Nick to prepare food himself. She didn't want him to leave his side thus even though she knew he was hungry, she did nothing and he never left.

Her siblings gave her privacy even when night came they were still alone. She noticed that Nick had fallen asleep first. She kissed him on the lips still uncertain of how to even eat her first meal.

She wanted to try for a midnight snack with him snoring peacefully at her side, but felt it would be wrong to do so. She ignored the craving and went back to sleep.

Nick was licking her the first thing in the morning. "Are you hungry yet?" he asked.

"I'm scared to even try," she admitted.

"Whenever you're ready," he said. She could tell he was afraid. Afraid for her.

She remembered he was hungry ever since dinner. "Nick, you can go eat if you want." She knew he had needs too that must be met.

"But you need to eat first," he said.

"But I'm not ready."

"I'll wait until you are however long it takes."

Nick wouldn't leave her side, not even for a moment.

"I'm worried about you, you skipped dinner and now breakfast," she said.

"You skipped even more."

"But you're not even under the contract."

"It doesn't matter."

Lunch was another meal they both skipped. Nick was really going to wait for her to eat first even though he was hungry. She just couldn't.

Judy came into their room. "Have either of you eaten?"

"No," Nick said.

"Use the favor, she won't survive if she keeps this up."

A stark reminder that she had no food, no water ever since the contract was signed. She wasn't allowed. Fox was the only thing she was allowed to consume.

"Can't I have a drink or some food?" Jill asked.

"No," Judy said. "You will not break the contract."

She tried to eat Nick's fur in full view of Judy. Nick winced as she took her bite.

Judy marched towards her. "Spit it out right now and don't try this again."

"That's not even against the contract!" Nick said.

"No, but it's just really against the spirit."

"They won't do anything."

"I don't want to give them a plausible excuse." She forced Jill to spit out Nick's fur. "Make sure she doesn't do that, okay? I will stay here if needed." Judy also shouted into the camera. "We are sorry about this. Please forgive us."

"You have done enough," Nick said with venom dripping from every word.

"Fine, we're just concerned." Judy stampeded out of the room even then she had the last word. "Do not let her do that again."

"I'm sorry," Nick said.

She was thankful that Nick didn't use Judy's suggestion. If Nick did, she would do as Nick asked regardless of how much she hated it so. It would be a complete disgrace not to perform the favor. He gave her more time to come to it on her own terms.

Hours passed with Nick by her side never pressuring her at all. He broke the silence, "I'm sorry." She was still trying to mentally accept her predicament. "I'm going to use my favor. I don't want you to skip another meal."

It was horrible. She tried to avoid eating her meal. It landed on her face mostly. She thought she escaped yet another meal, but his claws fed it to her bit by bit. She didn't like the taste just like she imagined.

She couldn't keep the meal down afterward. She wretched on the floor. "I can't do this. I hate you," she said.

"I understand," he said. She looked into his eyes full of compassion. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

She had the thought last night but never dared to actually try. She felt like she needed his permission. "Can I have a midnight snack while you're asleep?"

"If you think that'll help. I'm worried about you, Jill. I don't want to lose you. I don't care if you hate me, I just want you to be alive."

No regular food or water was allowed for her. His stomach growled from lack of food.

"You need to eat too," she said.

"I can call them so I can stay by your side," Nick said.

Nick gave specific instructions of not to include Judy when they brought food. Judy shouldn't get away with treating Jill like that. Jill didn't ask but smiled at his compassion.

Her siblings brought a bowl filled with jam and insects. They were supposed to dip their paws inside and wait patiently as he licked them clean. "Can it be just me?" Jill said.

"Of course," Nick said.

Her siblings left without a quarrel. She did enjoy the sensations his tongue brought. Bit by bit the bowl was empty as he ate it all. All she was allowed to do was watch. She wasn't even allowed to groom herself clean.

"Will you eat when I'm asleep, today?" Nick asked.

"No," she lied. She couldn't if he knew she wanted to see the surprise on his face.

"I'm worried about you."

"I know. Thank you for supporting me." Nick had indeed put everyone aside just for her. "Sniff me again. I enjoy hearing those sounds." She wasn't sure if it would be enough.

Nick never left her side save for the occasional bathroom trip. Her own trips were monitored by Nick to make sure she didn't violate the contract. They didn't trust her to come into contact with tantalizing water.

She was roused from sleep by hunger. Nick was still asleep by her side peacefully. She looked at the sleeping fox and prepared to enact her initial plan. Her confidence waned, but she did reason that Nick approved her midnight snack. This wouldn't be an issue. She could hide it from the collar camera. It was the dead of night and they probably wouldn't see it. She stealthily walked out of the bedroom.

The fridge was a bit far, but she took her time. It took an hour before she arrived safe and sound walking at a glacial pace. No one must know. She opened the fridge reaching for a blueberry. She walked back towards the bedroom blueberry in paw trying to gain confidence to break the contract.

Nick was in front of her. Her fox was afraid. "Did you?" She could see him shaking. She had been found. She shook her head as tears fell down her face hoping that she would be believed. "Give it to me," he said. His voice was compassionate but forceful. She gave him her prize.

It was pure agony watching the blueberry disappear into his mouth. It was supposed to be hers. He sucked on her paws making sure no trace of the blueberry would remain. Her vision was clouded by tears and she put on the best fake smile she could muster. "I wanted a midnight snack."

"Why didn't you say so?" he asked. Despite his pleasant tone, she knew she was in trouble.

Nick gave her the snack she loathed and she had to eat because of her near violation of the contract. It seemed as if she was going to throw up but she resisted the urge. She finally had her first meal and she hated it. "Please, no more."

He stared into her eyes. His voice was full of pity. "You know I can't do that." He licked her tears as she cried. "The second time went better." He gave hollow laugh before crying instead.

"But you know I can't survive two weeks." He didn't contradict her at all.

A/N: These two weeks won't all be about Jill hating food. She nearly broke the contract on the third day!