"They really need to shape up this year or they're never going to get to the finals."
The pretty, white furred arctic vixen flipped the page of the sports section and took another bite of her breakfast. Perfectly seasoned potatoes with some of her egg yolk mixed in. Skye Frost groaned in delight as the flavors danced across her taste buds. Across from her, Jack Savage - bunny rabbit and best friend of 25 years- laughed as he always did, giving her food a playful look of disgust before taking another spoonful of his oatmeal.
"I don't know what you see in that sport," he commented around his mouthful. Finishing his bite, he watched her set the paper aside to give her food her full attention. "It's basically a glorified version of catch."
She laughed and met his gaze with a smirk. "A glorified version of catch with insanely tight uniforms on insanely tight bodies." The buck laughed again before finishing off his meal. Skye flagged down the waitress with her coffee cup and smiled her thanks when it was refilled. "Besides, all those sweaty bodies in a big heap, the image alone is enough to keep a gal warm at night. Pass that page, will you?"
Jack obliged, sitting back with a full stomach and sipping his coffee. This was a tradition for the pair ever since they were in high school. Breakfast on Saturday mornings at the greasy spoon down the street from their family homes. Over easy eggs with homefries and turkey sausage for Skye (Jack teased her about cholesterol); oatmeal with pecans, bananas, and lots of brown sugar for Jack (Skye teased him about sugar).
It slowly but surely evolved into nearly every morning, both branching out of their menu comfort zones. But Saturdays were for the classics. And the staff had long since gotten over the unusual pair.
Jack was still absent mindedly sipping his coffee and staring off into space when Skye gasped. Surprise had him jerking back into reality, his blue eyes finding hers. Similar in color as his, hers were wider than he could ever remember seeing them.
"What happened? What's going on?" He had just started to climb up onto the table to get a look at the paper when she finally seemed to remember he was still there. Her muzzle nearly smacked him in the chin as she looked up at his raised figure.
"It's Nick Wilde."
His brows furrowed in confusion as he lowered himself back into his seat. "Nick Wilde? Do we know a Nick Wilde?" Her expression dropped at the question.
"Yes, we know Nick Wilde," she explained with impatience. "Nick Wilde, the tod who put ghost peppers into the maple syrup at the senior pancake breakfast in high school? Nick Wilde, who stole Principle Oats' car junior year and took it for a joyride in Sahara Square? Nick Wilde, the guy I was desperately in love with ALL of high school?"
Understanding crossed Jack's face before being replaced with a poorly hidden look of annoyance. Sitting back down into his seat, he took his coffee cup back up.
"Oh," he said blandly, "that Nick Wilde."
Skye gave him a look of confusion. "I thought you two got along?"
"We did, but do you remember how much of an ass he was to you?"
"Jack, that was almost twenty years ago. I got over it and forgave him. Shouldn't you?" Skye gave him her best puppy eyes and Jack couldn't help but roll his own. "Besides, aren't you a little curious about what the article is about?"
"Fine," he grumbled into his mug. "What's he up to now?"
She flipped the paper around to show him. There he was, Nick Wilde, wearing the dignified blue of a police officer. Jack's mouth dropped open.
"I know, right!" Skye laughed at his expression as the bunny took the page from her and read. "Who would have thought Slick Nick the Hustler would turn blue?" Jack finished reading in silence, passing it back to his friend when he was done. Skye looked at the picture again and clicked her tongue. "Still as handsome as ever. And he's working at Precinct One! That's not too far from the office. Maybe I could… I don't know… 'accidentally' run into him and maybe… Invite him out for a drink?"
He gave her a look that was half amused, half exasperated. "Yeah, that doesn't sound stalkerish at all."
"It's not stalking," she explained, before folding up her paper and setting it on the table. Crossing her arms in front of her, Skye wagged her brows at her friend. "It's encouraging a relationship to progress."
Him rolling his eyes in a less than playful manner than what she was used to was disconcerting. This sort of humor was second nature to them. He always took her ribbing of his dates in stride, more often than not going along with whatever jokes that sprang to her mind. And his dating pool was overcrowded with them.
Then again it had been a long time since he had last been on one. His last relationship (if it could be called that) ended at least a month ago. And as far as she knew- which she always knew- he had not been on another. So, she decided to do the mature thing: flip the script to him and his love life. What little there was to be had.
"So," she began with a smile. "Have you been talking to anyone since Cassie?"
With an indifferent shrug, the rabbit gave a small smile.
"No, the lab's been really busy lately. The only rabbit doe I've been in contact with is pushing 60, married, and yells at me when I leave food in my trashcan." They shared a laugh, the vixen happy that the moment had passed. "So not really a love match."
"I don't think you should sell this one short," she warned playfully. "She sounds like your soulmate." They both got up to leave, heading to the register and pulling out their money.
Though Jack was given a surprised look when he waved hers away. "Save it. You may need to beat the stalking charges."
After he signed the check slip, she followed him to the door. "It's not stalking!"
"So, you're only going to walk by once and if you don't see him, that's it? You're just going to walk away?"
Her cheeks blushed and she suddenly became very interested in her tail.
"I may have to… wait a bit… to time it right…." Her voice was so muffled Jack almost missed it. And it made him want to rip his ears out.
Where is this coming from, he thought as his annoyance overflowed. It was part of a growing list of things that had been confusing him about his relationship with her.
He watched as his oldest, closest friend in the world straightened out her running shorts and made sure her work out shirt was crumb free. His eyes involuntarily ran up her long, firm legs and strong arms while she bent to straighten her foot braces. Her white fur seemed to be especially pristine today, from eartip to full, fluffy, soft looking tail. And as always, the blue of her eyes seemed to shine brighter every time he saw her. Something he had been noticing for a while now. There was an appreciative gleam in his eyes as she stretched to warm up.
Fortunately, she was oblivious to the longing sigh and blush from the bunny next to her. But not the scent. And the way her nose was twitching, he knew she caught onto it and froze in shame, ready to apologize. She looked up at him before looking around curiously, giving whatever caught her eye a sly smile.
"She is really, really pretty."
Jack almost laughed in relief when he saw the doe that caught her attention before his. She stood in a bikini holding a car wash sign, and had been giving the buck very interested looks. Long legs, well kept fur, and a flirty smile. And she may as well be covered in sewage for the reaction he had for her. Skye gave him a nudge with her elbow.
"Maybe next time," he insisted, turning away from the doe to start walking. "Come on. I gotta check on a project at work. And you have a police officer to stalk."
The pair began walking as Skye fished her headphones out.
"Alright, alright," she conceded, her voice defeated. But she still smiled at him as she placed them in her ears and shuffled through her music. "No waiting around the precinct. But I am asking him out for a drink if we cross paths. Gotta run. Dinner tonight? My place? Since you took stalking off the table."
Laughing, he bumped her hip with his, encouraging her to pick up her pace to a jog. She paused by the light and turned to jog in pace while he caught up.
"Sounds good," he agreed, smiling up at her beautiful face.
Watch it, Cassanova, he warned himself, that's your friend. Who can snap you in half if she finds out you're undressing her in your mind.
She surprised him by pressing a kiss to his cheek. "Thanks for breakfast, Jack. I'll get dinner!"
Without waiting for a response, she jogged off and soon vanished from sight. It took another deep breath (and a very irritated wolf) to get the bunny to start moving again. There really was no project at work. He just needed to get himself moving. His hope was that the lab would jumpstart whatever slump he was in with his dating life.
A slump would explain why he was suddenly looking at his best (only) friend in the world like they were in a romance novel.
Except it's not a slump. This is an ongoing issue, Jack. And you know it.
His work building was in front of him before he knew it. A quick scan of the badge later and he was heading for the stairs to his workspace.
He thought back to Cassie, his last… fling. Fling worked for what they had. She was fun and intelligent and a decent distraction. Best of all, she got along with Skye. Her nose didn't even twitch when they shook paws. But, Cassie wanted a relationship and was looking for The One. Jack had told her he wasn't sure what he wanted and she said that was fine.
Up until he moaned the wrong name in the middle of sex.
That had been awkward. After she had called him a disgusting freak and stormed out, he had laid in bed, horrified. Less horrified about picturing someone other than her (Gazelle was a frequent flyer in his mind), more about Skye being the only thing he wanted in those moments.
Jack shook his head of the memory, turning into the bathroom. Splashing some water onto his face, he wanted the feeling to pass before facing whomever else decided work was the best escape from life. But looking back up into the mirror, he felt and looked older than his 33 years. And now, with her (Skye) knowing where her longest, most intense crush worked, it answered any questions that may have (did) form.
It's better than asking her and being denied.
Jack dried his face and paws before continuing onward. Regretfully, his inbox was empty and the projects he had were stalled for various reasons. Reality it was. Now in front of the building, he blinked in the sunlight before deciding to head home.
Don't forget the wine!
He sighed again at that thought, heading into the shop next door. The blast of cool air gave him the shivers as he looked around for the alcohol section. Spotting the hanging sign, it was a short trip, though it was halted by the sight of two familiar faces. Jack ducked into the aisle right before it and peeked around the corner.
It WAS them! Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, in casual clothes perusing the wine selection and bantering and laughing together. Judging by their close proximity and low voices, there was a whole lot more than banter happening.
"-can't believe you would say that." Hopps giggled, putting her paw on his arm. Wilde grinned down at her, his eyes and ears honed in on the doe. "Why do I put up with you?"
"Because you've had a taste of fox, Carrots," he took her paw in his and pressed a kiss to it. "And one good turn deserves another. And another."
Hopps blushed with pleasure and looked around, just missing Jack ducking his head out of sight, only to peek again when she looked back at the tod with smitten eyes. A bottle was selected by him before he slung his arm over her shoulders and nuzzled her head. Walking together out of the aisle, the couple gave each other a quick kiss before separating.
Pressed against the shelving in his aisle, the buck's eyes were glued to the pair, hidden from their view and breathing heavily in disbelief.
Jack discretely watched them pay and leave, staring after them far longer than he should have. It was the concerned throat clearing from the clerk that had him snapping out of his stupor and going back to the task at paw. Selecting Skye's favorite label, he ran a thumb over the name and looked back to where the couple had been only moments ago.
"Oh shit," he muttered; a thought occurred to him, Should I tell Skye?
…..
Skye stopped by a park bench to catch her breath. It was exciting, knowing she could potentially see Nick again. He had always been the one that got away. Well, not get away. She had never had him to begin with. It was more like an alluring mirage.
As much of a drama queen as he could be, Jack had a point. Nick wasn't the greatest to her back in the day.
He wasn't mean, or bullied her in any way. For all his flaws, terror with ego issues was never a thing with him. No, Nick had stood her up in high school. Twice. Both times he had completely forgotten they had made plans. And both times she had called Jack, who rushed to meet up with her, going so far as to apologize loudly for keeping her waiting.
But at least Nick apologized for standing me up! And he seemed sincere, too!
Buuutttt….
If it hadn't been for Jack, you would have been sitting at that restaurant and that bowling alley all night. BY YOURSELF. That rabbit saved your hide. Nick forgot all about it.
Buuutttt…..
He's really, REALLY hot...With those big, blue eyes and all those stripes…..
….
Nick doesn't have stripes. And he has green eyes.
…
… I know…. I only thought of that because I just had another, unrelated thought about Jack. My thoughts just got crossed. It means nothing!
…...
SHUT UP!
She shook her head and cleared her throat, looking around to see if anyone had noticed her drifting off. Thankfully there was no one around.
"It was just one, innocent little thought," she mumbled, eyes on the ground when she began to run again. "It means nothing… He means…." Those eyes she knew so much better than her own, seemed to live in the blue bells that dotted the running path. "Nothing to me. He's just a friend… A very good, very much loyal friend. Whom I would walk to the ends of the Earth for. And vice versa."
A lion sitting on another bench folded his paper, showing again the picture of Nick Wilde in his uniform. She smiled at it, but was slightly surprised it did nothing for her. His fur was a lot more orange than she remembered. She looked terrible in orange. Most of what she had said had been a joke, just something to get a bit of a laugh out of Jack. That had been her biggest goal since school.
Stopping the group of larger rabbit bucks from dragging him into the bathroom in the fourth grade, she had used her teeth and claws to scare the bullies away. Later that day, when the same group made her drop her lunch tray, he sat next to her and divided up his lunch between the pair of them. Thus, their friendship was formed.
Wanting anything more would have him running from her screaming. And she would be damned if she lost him because she didn't know her place in his life.
…..
Neither of them had intended on moving into the same building. Being neighbors was even less intentional. They had toured the building on separate days, both meeting up later to compare notes on their prospective apartments and discovering they now lived across from each other. After moving in, they drank and tossed a ball between their front doors, vowing to move after their leases ended.
That was almost ten years ago.
Now their homes were dotted with each other's possessions. It was common for one to be curled up on the other's couch or bed or wake up to find the other raiding a kitchen for coffee or cereal or other odds and ends.
Jack had wandered to and from each apartment, looking for the wine opener in his paw. Couch pillows were displaced in frustration, and drawers emptied. Only after pausing and tapping his leg with it did he realize what he was holding all along.
The whole situation made him groan in annoyance.
"I'm over reacting to this," he muttered, flopping on the couch. "Skye's my best friend and we've been through everything together. She won't shoot the messenger. Maybe I'll just tell her it was another vixen?"
But then, where's the segway into dat- love outside her own species?
"What if she's not into it? Or worse, thinks I'm a freak?"
"Who's not into what?" Skye's voice came from overhead. Her face appeared over his, smiling down and booping his nose. "And you are not a freak by any means. A little weird, yes. But not freaky."
They exchanged grins on reflex. It was something that happened whenever they saw each other. Genuine happiness. That's what it was. Jack's brain now consciously made that association and rather than scare him, he let himself feel happy. When she was around, how could he not?
"Welcome home."
The vixen looked around as he sat up.
"Did we get robbed?"
Jack laughed nervously, the two of them starting to put their homes back to rights. Once everything was straightened up again, they took seats at Skye's table and laid out their feast. They paused their conversation to dig into the wine and food. But once the meal was winding down, Skye asked her question again.
"So," Jack looked up from his drink, "what did happen here?"
He had to clear his throat twice before he could answer. "I… was just looking for the wine opener."
"And that took tearing up the entire floor?" She gave him a skeptical look when his focus went entirely to the food on his plate. "Something going on, Jackie?"
"I hate that name." His voice held no real heat in it but it was a stall. An obvious stall. Taking a deep breath he looked up and into her eyes. If there was ever a moment, it was now.
And he just had to know.
"Nick Wilde is dating someone." Maybe not that way…. "I just thought you would want to hear it from me instead of someone else. And I think they're serious about each other. I know it's disheartening, but I hope you get some closure from knowing. And I know it's not my business, but you could do so much better than him."
Me, for example….
Her face went blank before she stood up, taking her plate with her. Jack gave her a look of befuddlement when the hot water was cranked on and soap splashed in.
"What are you-"
"Why do you do that?" She demanded, whirling around to look at him in his chair.
"Do what?" Her look of angry impatience only confused him more.
"You know what you're doing." He shook his head with disbelief, though she seemed to be at a loss for words, too. In fact she seemed confused and a bit uncertain. She wasn't making any sense.
He stood and walked to where she was standing in the kitchen, Skye refusing to make eye contact.
"I'm just trying to tell you what I saw," he explained. She didn't shrug away from him when he wrapped his arm around her in comfort. "I went to pick up wine and he was there, too. With his someone."
"That's disappointing," she said, but there was a smile when she said it. She gave him a quick squeeze before pulling away so Jack could fetch his plate. "But I'll live. And I wasn't really into starting anything with him. It was more like a 'in another dimension' deal." He gave her a relieved smile which she returned. "So? How hot was the vixen?"
That made him gulp and avert his gaze. "It wasn't a vixen…"
"Huh?" Jack looked up into her bemused expression.
"It's with Judy Hopps." Her eyes widened in shock and her jaw dropped. "I saw them in the shop when I got the wine and they were kissing and being really cute with each other. I don't think they want everyone to know yet, but they're very obviously together. In a serious looking way."
Whatever reaction he was expecting, it wasn't laughter.
Skye doubled over with mirth, gasping for breath, laughing harder than she had in years. Jack watched in confusion. All he could do was wait it out. Which was not as long as he thought.
"He-he's dating a rabbit!?" She gasped out, still gasping in humor. "A bunny! Oh my gods, that's way too funny!"
"What's so funny about dating a bunny?"
The question slowly pulled her out of giggles. She wiped her eyes and hiccuped the last of her humor away.
"Th-that's just so crazy!" She cleared her throat and shook her head before she turned back towards the sink, taking his plate from his paws as she did. "A bunny dating a fox? How would they be compatible? Bunnies are way too over sexual for foxes and not to mention the mental compatibility-"
"So all bunnies are over-sexed idiots to you?"
That had her pausing in horror. She wheeled around to face him, paws held up to halt his train of thought. All she was trying to do was push down the odd excitement she felt a bit. The foreign idea of interspecies dating was taking a strong root in her mind.
But at this rate she WAS going to lose him, no dating required.
"That's not what I meant, Jack. You know what I meant!"
Jack gave her a look that made the vixen feel sick. Hurt mixed with anger. "I obviously don't."
"Jack, I was referring to OTHER rabbits. You're nothing like them-"
"There's a them, now?"
There was a loaded pause between them before she found the words again.
"That's not what I meant…."
"Yes it is," he corrected, "You mean, that love is only plausible between two mammals of the same species and the fact that I'm a bunny means I'm not capable of loving…" He gave her a look she had only seen when they were out of his favorite pie at the diner, "...anyone the way you are. That my little, bunny brain can't comprehend the amount of energy it takes to love the way you and your fellow foxes can. And I'm incapable of looking past the physical aspects of meaningful relationship. "
"Jack, I-"
"I hear you, Skye. Loud and clear." Jack clapped his paws together and turned to leave. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to figure out how that magical box in my apartment shows off those bright, pretty pictures I love so much. I'd ask you to join, but obviously you have more important things to worry about." He paused at her door and smiled in a fakely bright manor. "Like different ways to harass a tod who had no clue you existed for the last sixteen years or so. But don't worry! He won't come around."
"Jack, I-"
"See later, Frost!" Her door slammed shut and her heart dropped. Jack only called her by her last name when he was really, really pissed.
Snapping out of it, she rushed to the door and yanked it open just in time to hear the dead bolt on his to click, effectively shutting her out.
In the ten years they had lived next to each other, they had never locked each other out. Even in the midst of their worst fights, they never made it so they couldn't reach for each other. She felt tears cloud her eyes as she turned to head back into her apartment. Closing the door, she noticed how empty it seemed.
She had never really noticed how barren the place was. How dark it was, and how she didn't quite know what to do with herself.
"See," she muttered to herself as she began to cry, "just friends. He means… nothing to me…"
….
TWO WEEKS. It had been TWO WEEKS since Jack had spoken to her. And he had turned it into an art form. She really had never noticed how quickly he could move. Every time she heard his door open, it was closed, locked, and it's occupant long gone by the time she poked her head out of hers.
Even her apology banana bread (his absolute favorite thing EVER) was ignored. It sat by his door for three days and she knew he had seen it because she was spying on him and watched as he stepped over it to slip into his home before she could stop him.
And it was like a knife to the heart every time.
But she was still in denial about her feelings for him. Even if she chose to believe (she did believe) his story about Hopps and Wilde, the police duo hadn't known each other as long as she and Jack did. They didn't have as much to lose as she did. She didn't know why she couldn't back off.
A little space might do them some good.
Maybe it was because sitting in their booth, trying to read the paper without his commentary or her apartment without his constant presence made her realize how dreary it was. Jack made things the opposite of dreary. And now her denial and ignorance made her lose him. Possibly forever, exactly what she was trying to prevent.
Which is why she stood in the grocery store, starting at the selection of veggies, wondering where to begin. He always bought the veggies. They joked that it was instinct that made him choose the best of the bunch. Now, however, she was lost.
"What is it that you're making?" The sweet, friendly voice had her jumping and looking down at her new companion.
There stood Judy Hopps, in all her short, bunny glory. With a paw cart in her possession, she added some tomatoes and waited patiently with a smile.
"Oh.." Skye forced a smile back. "Um… things to make veggie tacos. My… friend is mad at me and I'm making him his favorite dinner to make up for it. But I don't know what to get."
Hopps smiled and nodded before looking at their choices. "Try these." Skye's own paw basket was filled with some produce before the doe smiled up at the vixen. "And good luck."
Before she could leave, they were joined by another familiar face.
"I knew it was around here somewhere!" He held a bottle of chili paste, gazing at it in reverence. Nick did a double take when he looked up, his eyes narrowing at Skye in slight puzzlement.
"I know you from somewhere," he began thoughtfully. Judy looked with curiosity from him to her. "But I can't remember where."
"We actually went to high school together," Skye explained, a bit amazed she wasn't hurt by his words. A paw was held out to them, Judy then Nick accepting it. "Skye Frost."
"That's right!" Nick grinned at her. He looked around expectantly. "No Jack?"
Of course, he remembers Jack but not me, she thought with a grin.
But her smile immediately dropped when she remembered their fight.
"No," she confirmed, looking down at her feet, "he's a little mad at me. So, I'm trying to get back into his good graces again." The basket was held up and she gave the couple a hopeful smile.
Nick returned it with a kind one of his own. "He'll forgive you for whatever you did." He and Judy looked at each other with naked affection. "It's hard to stay mad at someone you love so much."
"I may deserve his anger forever," she mumbled.
"Oh, don't say that!" Protested Judy. "I'm sure you'll both be fine in the end."
"Yeah," agreed Nick, "considering how long you've been dating, I'd be shocked if you both didn't eventually make up."
Skye gave him a confused look. "Dating?"
"Yeah!" The tod nodded his head. "I remember how you two just lit up when you saw each other. That's partly why I didn't feel so bad about missing out on our hang outs. You two wouldn't let anyone else get word in edgewise." An odd feeling of shock rolled through her. THAT'S why Nick never showed interest? He thought she was already taken.
You kinda were… More so than you would admit to.
"Both of you were thick as thieves and all of us knew you two would be together forever. In fact, you and Jack gave me the courage to ask Judy out."
Judy smiled at her and wrapped a paw around his waist. Nick pressed a kiss to her head.
"Thank you for that," the doe said happily.
Nick smiled at the vixen again. "Well, we gotta get out of here! Take care, Skye. Say hi to Jack for me!"
"And it was nice meeting you!" Judy waved farewell as the pair headed to the checkout line.
And Skye could only stare after them.
Her and Jack, a couple. Their whole school thought they were a couple! Not just a couple of friends, but a COUPLE. Sure, they always hung out together. They changed classes to be together. One always received an invite to something first (or exclusively). Ever since they were small, they've had drawers of belongings at each other's houses. Their parents even had stockings for the pair at each place during Christmas time.
Then when they (not shockingly) had zero dates or invites to the prom, they went together and danced the place down. No one else even got a chance to dance with either of them. They simply hadn't noticed anyone else.
"Oh…" she whispered to herself, not aware she was walking to checkout.
I'm in love with him…..
…..
Jack had been lying motionless on his couch, doing what could only be defined as wallowing. It wasn't just her rejection of the idea that hurt him. It was all of it. Two and a half decades worth of friendship. Now it was fully defined.
She could not, would not, EVER find him attractive or interesting. He was little more than a placeholder until the real thing came along for her. Then she would be out of his life forever.
The world will finally know, he thought miserably, bunnies CAN suffer heartbreak.
Right now, there was only one other mammal whose voice he wanted to hear.
"Hi, mama," he greeted when she answered her cell.
"Hi, sweetheart," her voice was so chipper, he felt better already, like a ray of sunshine in the middle of a snowstorm. "Are you alright? What happened?"
Rolling his eyes, he smiled. "Can't a guy call his wonderful mother to let her know he loves her?"
Emily Savage laughed. "Yes he can. And it's always welcomed. But you be a mother for over thirty years and see how well you know your kits. So, what's wrong, my love?"
Her question almost had him crying.
"It's nothing," he insisted with a slight choke in his voice. He cleared his throat and continued. "Skye and I… had a huge fight and now we're just dealing with it."
"Did you two finally have The Talk?"
"What?"
"Honey," Emily lightly reprimanded, "didn't you think it was odd I never tried to set you up like I did your siblings?"
"Ummm," he felt flummoxed by her question, "I assumed it was because you respected my ability to choose for myself."
Nothing like your mother laughing at you over the phone, he thought. It took a while for her to regain her composure.
"Oh, sweetheart," she said, finally laughed out, "not at all. All of us knew you already found your someone. I had no chance of finding any better than her. And I wouldn't want to try. So whatever happened between you two, you'll be able to work it out. I promise."
"Really?" He could practically see her smile.
"Really, really. Now, I've got to run, my love. I'll see you this Sunday for dinner. Love you!"
"Love you, too." He had just disconnected when there came a pounding from his door.
Knowing who it was, he sat up and looked at it for a second.
"Jack! Open the door, please!" Her voice had just the right amount of contrite in it to tug at his heartstrings. "Please, Jack! I just want to talk!"
Straightening himself out, he strode over to the door and yanked it open.
And was completely stunned by just how gorgeous she was. Even in her worn out hoodie, sad pants (sweatpants she had since college and were ratted beyond repair), and old Gazelle shirt. Her eyes were red lined and swollen and her paws twisted the bag she held. Fresh tears spilled down her face when she saw him.
"I'm so sorry," she choked out. Gathering her breath and courage, Skye continued. "I'm so, so, SO sorry I said that . It was horrible and insane of me."
"It was," Jack agreed, "coo-coo bananas. And cruel."
Skye nodded sadly. "And cruel." She agreed. "It was a horrible thing to say to a guy whom you love more than anyone else in the world."
His mouth went dry, jaw hanging open in response to her words.
"What?" He pushed the door open further and stepped closer to her. She put her paws on his shoulders and gripped him anxiously, as if afraid he would bolt.
"I love you, Jack," his heart skipped a beat, "I love you so much more than in just a friend way. I've been thinking about us ever since…."
"You said what you said?"
She laughed and nodded, "Yes. And I realized why none of my relationships worked out. It's because they're not you. Foxes mate for life and I think I chose my mate on the day I met him."
When he didn't push her off, she moved to put her arms around him. Jack gave in and pulled her close, burying his nose into the fluff of her neck.
"I'm so sorry," she sobbed. "Was afraid of what it might mean to take a chance on us. And I don't know if I could handle losing you forever if it didn't work out."
"Hey," he assured, stroking her back in a soothing manner, "you could never lose me. It's been twenty five years of handling the best and worst of each other and so far I'm still here."
"We're still here," she corrected. Skye pulled back to look at him; her heart skipped a beat when he brought a paw to her face. A tear was thumbed away.
Without thinking, without hesitating, they kissed.
When they ran out of air, they pulled back and gasped, breathing in each other and the new intimacy they felt. And it felt so right.
"Why do you do that?" She whispered.
Jack smiled. "Do what?"
"Make my heart skip a beat?"
They both laughed quietly at that, kissing again, moving further into the apartment.
…..
"Are you sure it's not too tacky?" Jack asked again as he and Skye walked towards their favorite diner.
Skye wrapped her tail around him as they reached the door, her paw moving to open it.
"It's a place we've loved and have been going to since high school. They put up a Please Wait to be Seated sign to keep others out of our booth. Who else would you have as our caterer?"
Jack smiled at his fiance, putting an arm around her waist as they were gestured towards their table by the hostess.
"No one better comes to mind," he conceded.
They took their seats and smiled across the table at each other.
Life was good.