The first thing they saw as soon as they walked into the park was two paths of grass that led to a pair of pines and, between them, a simple stone fountain with the number MCMLXX carved on it.
After looking around for a little while, the bunny, the fox, and his family walked through some more trees until arriving at a spot next to a small lake that had a little and colorful cabin in its middle.
Linda spread the tablecloth on the grass and everybody sat around it before taking out everything thing they needed, like plates, cutlery, glasses, drinks, and, of course, food.
Some minutes later, when the table was set, they began to eat.
"So...Nick, how's life in the big city?" asked Connie while opening a cold one.
"Mmm...I guess it's fine..." the fox grabbed a sandwich "...I've got my apartment near downtown, a job I like and the best partner in the world..." he smiled and looked at Judy, who was a bit blush "...and how about you, how's your...shop?"
"Oh, well...the boutique goes great..." said his cousin excited "...and next week I'm going to release my new spring collection for the festival"
"Wow...and what about the bakery, Aunt Lynn?" asked the fox while taking a napkin.
"Pretty good! this morning Tommy helped me with a very important order...it was a wedding cake for Susan's daughter, cause she's marrying Becky's son...what was his name...oh!...Jake"
30 MINUTES LATER...
They already finished eating, Beth was making some tea, Connie and Tom were lying on the grass, and Nick and Judy were sitting in front of the lake.
"I like this place..." Judy let out a little smile before resting her head on the fox's arm "...it reminds me of home...it's calm and co-"
"Achoo!..." he interrupted her with a loud sneeze that startled the bunny "...sorry, Carrots...allergies" apologized Nick before lying down.
"Hmmm..." she chuckled "...you know...being on vacation feels better than I expected"
"Really?...cause I thought you only focused on work" he tickled her muzzle with the tip of one of his claws.
"Look at them..." said Connie to Tom while they observed the scene from the distance "...aren't they cute?"
"They're just friends"
"Oh c'mon...you can't tell me they're not meant for each other"
"What are you saying?"
"Look at them...they're holding paws!" she patted his cousin's thigh.
"No, they are not" both of Nick's cousins indiscreetly tried to have a better look at the bunny and him.
*Beep* *Beep* *Beep*
The sound of the vixen's phone almost got them caught.
"Hey, look!... Maggie got us a table for tonight"
"What?"
"Oh right, you were at the bakery...we're going for some drinks later"
"So that's why she switched with me without hesitation" the fox realized he had to work late.
"Nick, Judy, Connie, Tom...we're leaving" the three mothers packed the basket.
The fox and the bunny got up and wiped off the remains of grass they had on their clothes before walking back to the entrance of the park with the rest of the family, they got in the car and Beth turned on the engine of the van before driving back to their house.
30 MINUTES LATER...
"I'll park inside," said Connie's mother before waiting for the rest of Nick's relatives to get out of the van.
Vivienne opened the main door and the foxes and the bunny walked in. Linda sat on the sofa and Tom went upstairs to get ready for work.
"So...you are gonna go out later, huh?" asked Nick's mother.
"Mmm...yeah...I have to pick my outfit" said Connie before standing up.
"I'll go with you...Carrots, you coming?" the fox raised one of his eyebrows.
"Yeah" the bunny followed both foxes upstairs.
The vixen entered her bedroom, leaving Nick and Judy alone in their room. The bunny lay on the bed and the fox checked the drawers of the dresser.
"Which one do you prefer?" Nick turned around while holding two shirts.
"The blue one"
After Judy chose, the fox walked into the bathroom and, a few minutes later, walked out. The bunny couldn't help stare at Nick, wearing the blue shirt, rolled up, and a pair of jeans.
"Are you just gonna stay there or...?"
"Hmm?..." reacted Judy "...oh..I-I don't know what to wear"
"You look cute like that" smiled the fox as he walked towards the bunny.
"Ni-"
"I know, I know...you're not supposed to call a bunny cute" he mocked her.
"Then don't do it" she crossed her arms and looked away.
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
"Are you dressed?" asked Connie from the other side of the door.
"Yeah" answered Nick before his cousin peeked through.
A few minutes later, they walked down the stairs to the living room, where Tom was waiting for them, dressed in his white uniform.
"Pfft..." chuckled Nick "...you look like a detergent commercial"
"Shut up," said the other fox before he opened the door.
15 MINUTES LATER...
They arrived at the tavern, where Maggie was waiting for them, joined by a young squirrel.
"Look who's here!..." the arctic vixen stood up and let the foxes and the bunny sit down "...this is Olivia, she's my roommate...I hope you don't mind I invited her"
"Oh don't worry it's fine," said Nick while sitting down.
"You're Vivienne's son, right?" asked the squirrel excitedly.
"Yep, I'm Nick"
"I work with your mother at the flower shop, she has told me a lot about you...*gasp*...oh my god...you must be Judy"
"That's me" the bunny smiled back.
Before they kept talking, Maggie ordered a round of beers to Tom, who walked up to the bar and, a few minutes later, came back with a round tray full of drinks and a little appetizer.
"Oh!...nachos," said Connie when she saw a plate full of those tortilla chips covered in melted cheese and 4 kinds of sauces to dip in.
"Well Nick...tell us about your job, there has to be something interesting in being a cop, right?" asked Maggie.
"It's good, sometimes you get to do fun stuff and other times to have to do...boring paperwork or...a stakeout..." explained the fox before looking at Judy "...but it's much better when you have a partner"
"Weren't they only partners?" Olivia whispered to the white vixen.
"They are" answered, Maggie.
"Oh dear"
1 ROUND LATER...
"By the way, Judy...one thing that I didn't ask you..." Connie caught the bunny's attention "...do you have...that...someone in your life?"
"What do you mean?"
"A boyfriend," said Maggie.
"A mate" added Olivia.
"Oh...no, no, no..." Judy shook her head "...with the academy and all the stuff work I didn't have time for finding anyone"
"Maybe he already found you" murmured Connie.
ANOTHER ROUND LATER...
Everybody at the table was perfectly fine but, for some unknown reason, Nick was a little bit drunker than them.
"Wilde are you okay?...you look a little tipsy," asked the arctic vixen when the fox rested his head on the bunny's shoulder.
"I'm perfectly fine" he sat still.
"Nick, you're drunk," said Judy while checking the fox out.
"Did you find out by yourself, bunny cop?..." he laughed before regretting it "...oh I'm just messing with ya'" Nick hugged the bunny, who had no time to get angry.
"Oh..." an idea popped in Maggie's head "...you know, Judy...I think you should take him home" she patted Olivia's leg so the squirrel helped her.
"Yeah, there's a lot of street fights around this area...he could get hurt," said Olivia with a serious tone of voice that worried the bunny.
"Y-you don't mind if I...?" asked Judy while resting one of her paws on the fox's arm.
"Don't worry...we'll meet up another day" Connie convinced her.
"C'mon, Nick...we're going home" the bunny stood up and pulled the fox from his shirt.
"Wait...the last one" he tried to grab his beer, but the other two vixens didn't let him.
Nick and Judy walked out of the square with some difficulties as it seemed that the fox couldn't walk properly, so the bunny had to help him.
"I don't get it...you didn't drink that much, right?"
"Carrots, I told you I'm fine..." said Nick before losing balance and almost falling "...but I wouldn't mind a little help" he let the bunny put his arm over her shoulders and her arm around his waist.
A FEW STEPS LATER...
"Oh, Carrots..." the fox rested his head between Judy's ears "...I'm sorry for mocking you before" he apologized and rubbed his fur against hers.
"It's okay, Nick" the bunny tried not to blush and keep walking.
"But like reaaaally sorry, okay?"
"Okay," she softly caressed his paw.
Finally, after a little walk that became almost eternal for Judy, they both arrived at the Wilde's house. The bunny rummaged in the fox's pockets to get the keys, she carefully opened the door and walked in with Nick.
"Be quiet, okay?...they're probably sleeping" whispered Judy as they were walking up the stairs.
"Okay" whispered back the fox.
They kept walking slowly until entering their room. Once they were inside, Nick lay on the bed and the bunny grabbed some of his clothes from the dresser. The fox was starting to feel sleepy so Judy had to help him undo the buttons of his shirt and take off his pants to replace them for something more comfortable.
"There you go, nice and comfy," said the bunny before taking a few seconds to have a look at Nick.
Before going to bed, Judy changed her clothes and brushed her teeth, then she got into bed.
"Goodnight, Slick" the bunny let out a warm smile as she caressed the fox's face.
After a few seconds, Judy turned around and closed her eyes. The bunny was about to fall asleep when she felt Nick's arms surrounding her before the sleeping fox pulled her towards his chest.
Judy could feel Nick's breathing on her back and neck so she, unsuccessfully, tried to wiggle out of the fox's arms. A few attempts were enough to finish with her energy and start to make the bunny feel sleepy. Finally, the bunny gave up and decided to get comfortable. She calmed her breathing, let Nick's muzzle rest between her ears, felt his partner's fur with the back of her head, and yawned for the last time before falling asleep in the fox's arms.