Judy sat patiently on a dinner chair, on one of the few hundred tables that lay across the garden. Mammals of different sizes occupied the seats, their faces muddled and unrecognizable, no matter how hard she tried.

Was this a party?

Confused and unsettled at first, the rabbit eventually found familiarity in the people she shared the table with; her parents, siblings and childhood friends. She felt calmed, delighted even by their presence. She recognized their expressions; it was the same, prideful look they wore when she graduated from the academy.

A celebration.

"Carrots…" an unmistakable and dear voice called out to her.

Judy turned to find her partner smiling contently at her. He was dressed in his dinner clothes, a black, two-piece with his signature, striped tie. His distinguished sight made her realize she was also dressed for the formal occasion; she was wearing a nice, white dress; though she didn't recognise it as something she had ever worn.

This is a nice dress…

"Congratulations…" his voice took her attention.

Her gaze was back to his eyes, which were indented naturally into a proud smile. She felt his genuine happiness, a feeling she missed when they celebrated his acceptance into the force. His contagious expression made her elated as well.

"Thank you."

It only felt natural to thank him. She was compelled to reach over to him.

As Nick panned off Judy realized that they were separated by another mammal. While he was only a chair away, her affections towards him felt subtle and distant. It felt uncanny. Ignoring her failed attempts to get his attention, the bunny was compelled by the stage that stood a few tables in front of her, as was every other mammal.

"You ready?"

She heard Nick's voice again, which made her stomach flutter with joy. She was about to be called up, to receive whatever prize that awaited her in the hooves of the announcer that commanded the attendees with his powerful voice.

"Yes," she replied, specks of joy forming from her eyes.

She was determined.

She looked over to her right again, this time her sight was introduced to another rabbit.

"Let's go," he said with a caring tone as he brought his paws close to hers.

His voice was specular; it reminded her of Nick's, though it clearly wasn't. It came from the rabbit in front of her.

Who…

Judy couldn't make out who it was however. He wore a distinguished suit akin to Nick's, and a black tie that ran from the fluff of his chin. Panning upwards to his face…

My husband.

An awkwardness fluttered through her cheeks as they reached for each other's paws, their digits intertwining in a lock. She knew their eyes met; though she finally realized that he didn't even have a face.

He's my husband. Right?

Judy wasn't sure now.

As they arose she shifted her sights to the expressions to her friends and family that shared the table. They were clapping and cheering on for the two of them, their smiles growing wider and louder while her grip tightened on the rabbit's paws. She returned their glee with forced, coy smiles, projecting her faux expressions to everyone around her as they marched through the lane in the middle of the garden.

I'm happy.

Her brightened spirits were mixed and clouded with an unreal feeling of doubt as she kept her pace; pulling her husband up to the stage that maintained his steps behind her. She knew where to stand and to look after standing strong over the stage.

Everyone was applauding for her.

Nick?

A wave of concern flooded her heart while she panned through the crowd. The applauses and cheer from them failed to distract her from her doubts. She needed to see Nick; his feelings and expressions. She needed comfort.

"Nick!" she shouted on the top of her lungs as she finally found him.

The fox was amongst the mammals in the crowd; all of which were now standing up. While her voice was trumped and dwarfed by the chaos of the celebration, she kept her eyes fixated at his distinct look and face, allowing everything to blur from her vision.

Nick was happy. He was joyous, proud and he was cheering along. His teeth shined through the red of his fur, giving her a look of affirmation while he clapped his paws, flashing her a thumbs up every now and then.

Just like everyone else.

I'm happy.

Judy was certain now.

She looked at the award she held in her paw, her other was occupied by the other caring rabbit that held hers. She wasn't sure what it read but she knew in heart what it meant. She pulled her husband close, allowing his paws to grapple and share the trophy.


The awful dream stuck with her the entire day. She couldn't stop her mind from bringing it up every single passing second; tormenting her heart with an itching prick with each recall. She zoned out for little moments every hour, it forced her into a daydream that led her feeling much more depressed with each session. It made her unfocused during work; even more so when she was sitting next to Nick in the cruiser, and practically every moment after their hours.

Judy felt bad for bottling up those emotions, which inevitably made her distance herself from him whenever possible. She insisted he go first during showers, instead of proceeding together like they used to; for herself to get takeouts so she wouldn't have to cook and clean the dishes with her partner. She'd make excuses for a couple minutes alone a few times, just so he wouldn't find her staring blankly at another wall.

Bad dream.

Judy was still thinking about it after they'd settled down for the day. The lively bunny started blankly at the bleak ceiling, still holding onto the memories of what happened in her sleep. She was half covered in the blankets they shared, leaving the clothspace to her resting partner to use.

He was trying to sleep himself; the bunny still heard his wakeful breaths and lip-smacks as he shuffled intermittently beside her.

It made her calm for a while, which gave her the confidence to finally open up to him.

"Nick," she whispered while turning her head to his partner's muzzle.

"Yeah…" he responded lazily with a dragged out tone.

She started to blush as their gazes met. She was speechless for a moment, before deciding it was better to start off with a lingering question.

"Have you ever had bad dreams?" she started.

"Bad dreams?" Nick looked confused as he shifted an eyebrow, "You mean nightmares?"

Judy gave it a thought.

"Not nightmares… more like… you know… bad dreams." she explained.

Nick mimicked her pause.

"Hmm… why?"

She sighed, "I had one last night. A bad dream."

The fox gave her a drawn look; one that resembled confusion and intrigue, though he quickly passed it off with a shift of his lips.

"There was this… ceremony or graduation… wedding maybe? Something like that. " she blurted, "Anyways, you were there next to me."

"Yeah, you were in mine too." Nick gave a miniscule chuckle.

"Wait… not next to me. There was someone else between us." she continued, "Another bunny."

A hint of concern shimmered from his eyes.

"Who?" he stated bleakly.

"I don't know." Judy gave an honest answer, "Some random bunny."

"This is getting interesting," Nick reverted to a semi-playful tone as he rolled over to his back.

Judy did the same after a much needed sigh of relief.

"And then I was called up stage. I didn't hear it, but I just… knew."

His partner gave a patient hum.

"We started going up together. Me and the other guy." she continued, "Then I was up there, holding his paw as we went up the stage."

Nick remained silent.

"And everyone clapped. It's like we won something. I'm not sure what though," her voice began to sour, "But then I saw you."

She turned her face over to see his focused expression staring at the ceiling. It felt wrong to continue her story.

"You were clapping. You were happy, like you were happy for the two of us?" Judy frowned, "I don't know."

They remained silent for a while, giving the bunny her time to cringe at her decision as Nick processed everything.

"Were you happy?" he began.

Judy tried to remember, though no real answer was presented to her mind.

"I don't know…" she replied genuinely.

Nick went silent.

"Probably means I wasn't?" she reasoned, "I don't know."

The fox smirked as he gave his signature chuckle, "Bad dream, huh."

"Yeah. Not exactly a nightmare, but I really don't like it." she trailed.

"That has to be an oxymoron or something." he continued as he looked over to the perplexed bunny.

"Do you think dreams have meanings?" she stated seriously.

Nick gave it a thought.

"Like it has to mean something right? I… I don't want it to…"

"Judy," he interrupted with a small cough, pulling her to tumble over her side to meet him, "If it makes you feel better, I don't know how I should react to that."

Judy shifted a little smile. It was nice to know that the dream confused his partner as well. She felt a small sense of relief, making her reach a paw over to grab his partner's. Nick didn't react as much as she liked, his face was neutral and blank as if he was thinking about something.

"Okay, my turn," he shifted his enthusiasm after nudging his head close to her ears, "I had a bad dream once too."

Nick looked confident; though Judy could see the subtle crack that told her that he was serious.

"Yeah?" she played along, dismissing her doubts.

"We were both there, in our bedroom…" he started.

His crack began to grow; his smile was starting to leave as she saw his eyes change almost instantly. She grabbed on tight to his paws, massaging the joints between his digits caringly.

"But there was this other… fox… guy" his voice got cold after the last few words.

Judy secured her worried eyes within his as he stopped. She could see that it struck a nerve within him. He was conflicted. Traumatized.

"Nick," she brought her paws to cusp his face.

"Yeah..." he responded in a tired tone from her prompt.

Judy swam forward, pushing her body within his chest, allowing his muzzle to rest on her head. She dug her face into his warm chest, wrapping her arms over his sides as she felt the tears forming in between her eyes.

After getting it off her chest she wanted to cry. Nonetheless, she had to remain strong for him. He helped her subside her fears, and now it was her turn to comfort him.

"Let's call it a night…" she blurted, disguising her sniffle as soft muffles through his fur.

"Okay," Nick quivered.

"I love you. You know I do." she pulled him close, rubbing her face up against his cream fur.

"Same here fluff," his voice was strong again.

The fox brought the blanket over them, slowly dragging his paw over her back in a loving motion.

"I mean that." she repeated.

"I know…"

Nick tilted his chin down between her ears, closing his eyes as he gave them both a poke with his snout.

"See you on the other side…" he teased.

"Haha… yeah," she chuckled, "I'll see you too."

"Goodnight, Carrots."

"Sweet dreams, slick."