Nick groaned as he woke up, rubbing the back of his neck to try and ease the tension. He didn't know how long he'd cried before passing out, but he was sure it would never be enough.

What time is it?

He reached over to take Judy's paw again, his heart stopping when he realized the bed was empty, then racing as her voice drifted from the small bathroom.

"Yes, Mom, everything's fine here," she sounded exasperated, her words muffled by the cracked door. "I took a couple tranqs to the gut and Terry and I both lost some blood, but nothing last night wasn't enough to fix."

He couldn't hear the other end of the conversation, and from how she responded, he didn't want to.

"How dare you say that, Ruby!" she snapped. "Nick's been with either me or our son all night!"

She paused again, then scoffed.

"No, you listen," she growled. "This is exactly why I've put so much space between me and the family. It's been two years and almost half of you are still telling me to divorce him! Nick didn't have anything to do with Alice's actions, so don't you dare try blaming him for anything that happened!"

Nick got up and rounded the bed, her next words stopping him dead in his tracks.

"I love him more than my own life, Ruby," she snapped. "And he loves me, and our son, just as much, a-and until more of you can accept that, I…"

She swallowed hard, choking on her tears.

"I-I'm cutting my ties with this family, for as long as it takes you to get your heads out of your asses," her breath hitched, and she sniffled. "N-Now good-bye, and good riddance!"

She hung up, still softly crying. He couldn't hold back the relief that flooded him, his legs giving out beneath him. She still loved him, was willing to walk away from her family for him, even after everything Alice had put her and Terrance through!

I really don't deserve you, Judy…

"Yes, you do, Nick."

He gasped, looking up to see her nudging the door open, clutching an oversized phone to her chest.

"Yamal let me borrow it, since mine's still in evidence," she set it on the floor, taking his muzzle in both paws when he turned away, his heart just about shattering when he saw the small, understanding smile gracing her perfect face. "After everything we've been through, did you really think I could ever leave you?"

She brushed a thumb across his lips, blushing when he lightly kissed it.

"And even after how badly I treated you while I was with Darwin, you still forgave me," she shook her head. "I'd be a complete idiot to even consider leaving you."

He didn't answer, his ears and tail limp as he gazed forlornly back at her. After a long, painful silence, he shoved out a breath, reaching up to take her waist in his paws.

"I know you probably don't want to hear this from me, Carrots," he started softly. "But I still have to say it."

He gulped.

"I'm sorry, Judy, for everything," his grip tightened, his claws digging slightly into her skin. "I'm so sorry, and I don't know how I'll ever—mmph!"

His next words died on his tongue when she kissed him, her arms draping around his neck as far as they could go. His paws shifted, and he wrapped her in a tender embrace as he gave himself over to it. The guilt still bit at him, as he knew it would for a long time, but the fact she still wanted to be with him helped to ease the sting, even if just a bit. They were both panting when she pulled back, only to grab his wrinkled shirt and yank him in again.

"I love you, Nick," she murmured against his lips. "I love you so much…"

He managed to smile, nuzzling her nose.

"I love you, too, Judy," he stole another kiss, then cupped her cheek. "And I plan on spending the rest of my life proving it to you."

She sniffled happily before cuddling under his chin, her nose twitching as she rooted through his fur.

"That makes two of us."


Tony glanced through the folder before slapping it shut, staring blankly at the charcoal buck across from him. Nate had spent a week in the hospital before being released, and had been brought right to Precinct One. He was standing in his oversized chair, his clasped paws shackled to the table. He looked tired, resigned, ready to accept what was coming to him.

"We both know why I'm here," he started before Tony could speak. "You want to make sure nothing about my story's changed since I spilled it in my hospital room."

Taken a bit aback, the tiger just nodded. Nate sighed, pushing himself to his toes to lean over the table.

"Well, it hasn't," he went on calmly. "I had no idea who Alice really was until I overheard some of the other cops talking about her, or what she was really planning until I was already in too deep for a get out of jail free card."

"You also said she threatened your family when you brought up quitting," Tony passed the folder to one side. "And she wasn't exactly subtle about it, either."

Nate huffed.

"No, she wasn't, and it wasn't just my family," he clarified. "She said she'd go after every mammal I'd ever cared about, and that I'd have to spend however long she let me live afterward watching my back to make sure she wasn't about to stab it."

Tony winced. Had he not seen the videos from Jared's body and dash cams, he'd never have believed her capable of such violence, such coldness.

"I thought it was just a coincidence that she called me a few days after I saw Judy at that store," Nate went on, then shuddered. "Until she admitted she'd already been watching her for months, might've even been longer."

He dragged his blunt claws lightly along the tabletop; Tony sat back and rubbed his chin, glancing at the recorder sitting between them.

"Can you remember when she told you that?"

Nate shrugged, the short chain jangling softly.

"It was after I'd started thinking about getting my ass out, but before I actually said anything about it," he explained. "She must've been picking up on the fact that I was starting to doubt what she'd told me."

That perked the big cat's interest. He leaned forward, resting his crossed arms on the table.

"What did she tell you originally?"

The buck swallowed, taking a few gulps from the large glass of water next to him. That and another update on Judy's, and Terry's, condition had been all he'd asked for before talking.

"That she'd grown up in a country where foxes were basically worshipped, and that she wanted to at least improve how mammals treated them here," his ears drooped. "Looking back now, I should've known then she was nuts, but she seemed so sincere about it."

He cringed.

"She was also pretty much the only girl who'd ever talked to me without trying to make me sleep with her, so my excitement about that overrode my judgement," he tried to rub his neck, his paws stopping just short. "That, and I've always thought foxes and other species got a raw deal, but no one took me seriously because, you know, dumb bunny."

Tony winced again. He'd thought the same thing until he'd seen for himself what Judy could do, and he'd been just as bad when he'd heard Nick had joined the academy.

"She showed me this list of mammals she said were criminals, said we were going to catch them and leave a clue about who we were with each one when we dropped them in front of the local precinct," he shuddered again. "Then I overheard a call she had with a mammal from some news station, saying the media was going to keep quiet about everything until she decided it was time for the city to know what was really going on."

Tony leaned back again, smoothing his cheek fur with a claw.

"I figured you would've helped her with the crime scenes," he said. Nate nodded.

"I did, at least to a point," he took another sip, then cleared his throat. "I helped her grab and subdue the victims, but once they were where she wanted them, she sent me off to take care of something else. I actually thought she was trying to protect me somehow, make it so I couldn't be charged with more than assault and kidnapping when we were caught."

"'When' you were caught?" that got his attention. "Not 'if'?"

Nate shook his head.

"She said she'd always planned to get caught, that becoming martyrs like that would be the only way to really make mammals listen," he tilted his head down to awkwardly scratch at the base of one ear. Tony cocked a brow.

"You said you always thought foxes got a bad rap, but according to Judy, you acted pretty speciesist when Nick showed up outside their door. Mind telling me what changed?"

He couldn't miss the fear that flashed across the rabbit's face.

"Okay, I actually didn't care too much about it before," he admitted. "But the fact she's happily married to one tells me all I need to know. They're just like any other species, and we shouldn't judge all of them just because a few have caused trouble."

Tony hummed thoughtfully, it made sense.

"Well, now that we got that cleared up, let's get back to why you decided to help Alice. What else can you tell me about this crazy scheme of hers?"

Nate was quiet a few minutes, shuffling uncomfortably.

"I can't remember if I said she was paying me to try and get Judy away from Nick, but she was," he stated, then his eye widened, fear flashing through it again. "A-And I just remembered something else I overheard…"

He swallowed, Tony leaning forward when he started shaking.

"Is it really that bad?"

Nate shivered one last time, then nodded.

"She must've thought I'd already left, because she didn't think twice before blurting it out, something about her sister being responsible for another big case a few years back."

Tony's jaw dropped.

"Wait…what?!"


Jeremy couldn't believe he was doing this. He'd hauled Alice into questioning hours ago, and while he'd known she wouldn't crack right away, he'd had no idea just how reluctant she would be.

"I'm only talking to Nick," she'd answered every question that way, staring past him like he wasn't even there. Her eyes had been empty, her voice flat, and it hadn't mattered what he'd tried, her response had been the same. "Get him here, and I'll spill everything."

He'd finally given up, excusing himself to the hall and taking out his phone, glad no one else was around to catch him.

Guess buying that old landline was a smart move…

"Hey, Jeremy," Judy answered on the third ring, sounding cheerful as always. How the heck did she do it? "How's it going?"

"Oh, it's going good," he chuckled nervously, then cleared his throat. "Uh, listen, is Nick there right now?"

"He went to pick up his mom from the train station, she and Fin are having dinner with us tonight," her tone shifted. "Why, is something wrong?"

He worried his lower lip with his teeth, then shoved out a sigh.

"It's Alice, she's refusing to talk to anybody but him," he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I've been trying to make her crack all day, but that's the only thing she'll say."

There was a long pause, and he could imagine the anger starting to cover her face. Finally, she sighed, her voice slightly distant and tinny.

"He was worried she'd act like that," there was some shuffling. "Okay, I'll tell him about it after Fin and Genevieve leave, and I'll ask Isabel if she can watch Terry tomorrow."

He swallowed, running a paw through his mane.

"Oh, you don't have to-"

"You really think I'm about to leave Nick alone with that bitch?" she scoffed. "He'd kill her, and I am not about to let her go so easily!"

He shuddered. He'd almost forgotten what Judy was like when she got pissed.

"O-Okay, I know better than to try and stop you," he swallowed again. "And it's better that you're coming in tomorrow, anyway. Bogo's got some kind of thing with the Mayor, he'll be gone all day."

"Perfect," her voice was eerily gleeful. "See you then, Jeremy!"

She hung up, and he let out the breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. Tomorrow was definitely going to be interesting, and he just hoped they all still had their jobs when the Chief found out what he'd pulled.

Worry about that later, he shook his head, putting his phone away and stepping back into the room. Alice hadn't moved an inch, and were it not for the fact she was still breathing, he would've thought she was dead.

"Looks like you got your damn wish," he managed smoothly. "Nick should be coming in tomorrow morning."

"Good," she smiled coldly, the first her expression had changed in days. "How about you lead me back to my cell, then? I believe we're done here for now."

He barely bit back a growl, she really didn't give a shit what she'd done, did she? He unlocked her cuffs from the table, keeping a tight grip on her shoulder as he led her back to the holding cells.

"I honestly thought you were a good mammal," he said after he'd locked her back in. "We all did."

She just sat on her cot, swinging her feet as she brought her tail into her lap and started grooming it.

"It's your fault, really," she said plainly. "It's actually pretty sad that I managed to fool you all so easily."

She shrugged, licking two of her fingers before smoothing them over the tip of her tail.

"So much for the ZPD being the best in the state."

He did growl this time, pounding a fist against the bars hard enough to make her jump.

"A lot of pests are hard to get rid of," he flashed an icy grin right back at her. "At least until you find the nest, then exterminate the queen."

She actually gulped, drawing back from him, but then her infuriating bravado came back to the front.

"That sounds like a threat, officer," she sneered at him. "I should report you for that!"

He just laughed, crossing his arms.

"It'd be my word against yours, sweetie, and you know how foxes are treated over here," he smirked. "So even if you were to report me, who do you think they'd believe?"

He turned away, throwing a casual salute over his shoulder.

"I'll just go let your guard know you're stuck down here again," his playful tone vanished, the smirk still in place. "And if you know what's good for you, you'll stay where you belong."


Judy wasn't sure what to expect when she and Nick walked into the station, the sun high and bright in the late morning sky. She'd had to wait longer than she'd planned to tell Nick what was happening with Alice, Genevieve's train having been delayed because of bad weather in Podunk, where her best friends from high school were visiting their grandcubs. That meant dinner had run late, and by the time she'd given Terry his medicine and gotten him down for the night, Nick had already fallen asleep on the sofa, having cleaned up the kitchen and put the food away after seeing his mother and Fin to the fennec's van.

Her grip tightened on his paw as she recalled spilling the news at breakfast, Terry cradled against her chest with one arm as she'd fed herself cut apple pancakes with the other. Nick had understandably been pissed, hardly able to reign it in when their son had started crying in fear. It had taken an extra-long shower filled with nuzzling and kissing for him to calm down enough to think clearly, and he'd called Jeremy while she'd gotten dressed, saying they'd be on their way after finding a sitter. Judy was glad she'd been able to take care of that last night, at least, as Isabel had only been too happy to take the kit for the day, since Xavier and his father were off on a Ranger Scouts trip.

"I can't believe she pulled this," Nick muttered, his eyes blazing behind his aviators. "Who the hell does she think she is?"

She put a comforting paw on his arm, gasping when she realized just how tense he was, a stretched wire ready to snap.

Oh, Nick, she wrapped her arms around his, almost tripping on his tail when he suddenly stopped. They'd reached the staircase that led to the holding cells, Yamal drawing back when he felt the fury radiating off the smaller predator.

"She's still down there," he nodded toward the steps, "You want me to bring her to an interrogation room?"

Nick shook his head, pulling off his sunglasses and hooking them on his shirt pocket. He'd insisted on coming in uniform today, Judy clad in her favorite yellow sundress.

"I think it'd be better if she stayed in there," his voice oozed forced calm, his pupils narrowed to slits. "She wouldn't last long otherwise."

Yamal just moved stiffly aside, no doubt pretending he hadn't just heard his friend make that threat. Nick glanced at the steps before turning to Judy, kneeling down and brushing a gentle touch across her cheek.

"You don't have to come with me if you don't want to," he said softly. "I'd…actually prefer it if you didn't."

She shook her head, holding his chin when he tried to look away.

"You've already dealt with too much on your own, Slick," she met his gaze. "I'm not letting you go down there alone."

He smiled fondly, squeezing her paw before pulling her into a hard, quick kiss that left her dazed, to the point he was already halfway down the steps before she realized he'd left.

"That's cheating," she complained when she caught up to him. He smirked at her.

"It's called a hustle, sweetheart," he whispered, pecking the top of her head when they reached the floor. His tail flicked against her ankles at a low sigh, and she turned to see Alice watching them through the bars, a sight Nick apparently ignored as he tilted her face back toward him, pressing another warm kiss to her lips. "I love you."

"I've always dreamed of someone saying that to me," Alice broke in, tracing her claws along one of the bars. He scowled at her, putting himself between them as he straightened.

"You should've thought about that before deciding to terrorize my city," he started angrily. "Do you have any idea what you've done to these mammals, how many lives you've shattered?"

She bit her lip, her eyes already starting to fill with tears, tears Judy knew Nick wouldn't believe for a second.

"I-I did what I had to, Nick," Alice said. "I-I thought you of all mammals would understand!"

He scoffed.

"Well, lucky for me, I don't understand," he put his paws on his hips. "So, please, try to enlighten me, Alice, on why you just had to become a serial killer!"

She didn't answer at first, wringing her tail while looking at anything but him.

"I'll admit, it was a little extreme," she said at last, her voice still shaking. "But I figured it was the best way to get my point across."

"And what 'point' would that be?" his tail was lashing, showing he was already losing his patience. She groaned, finally losing the fight against her emotions.

"H-How can you not get it yet, Nick?" she demanded tearfully, her face the epitome of misery. "I did this because none of those mammals were good enough for you!"

She choked on her next breath, her voice cracking through the sob.

"I love you more than they ever could, I have since we were kids! You're my soulmate," she went on desperately. "You have to see that! W-We're meant to be, Nick, I know we are!"

Nick just stared at her, his eyes wide and jaw slack, but then his expression closed off. A long silence passed before he managed to speak again.

"You…kidnapped my wife, my son, almost killed them," his voice rose, a growl coming with it, and he sliced the air with his arm. "Even worse, you slaughtered eleven other innocent mammals. What makes you think I would ever want anything to do with you?!"

His words were punctuated with slow steps toward her, until he was almost pressed against the bars of her cell. She drew back, sobbing in fear, and as if in response to those tears, every ounce of rage seemed to drain from him. He stepped away and turned his back to her, one arm crossed over his chest, his other paw dragging slowly down his face.

"You're responsible for assaults on four officers, thirteen abductions, eleven murders and four attempted murders," he started. "And I am going to make sure you get the death penalty for it."

His fist tightened, his eyes once again green fire.

"And as far as I'm concerned, the mammal known as Alice Wilde no longer exists."

He stalked out, and Judy didn't hesitate to follow him. As much as she hated it, she couldn't stop the pain in her chest at the vixen's heartbroken cries.