Riding in Elle's car, the mouse tucked into Judy's shirt pocket, it quickly became apparent they weren't going in the right direction for either of their apartments. Their confusion deepened when they passed Lina's old apartment building, and became total bewilderment when the car stopped outside another familiar location.
"This is Rosie Scentborough's place," Nick realised. "Why...?"
"Was Rosie Scentborough's place," Elle corrected. "She decided to go live with her grand-niece permanently. When Lina let me know she'd put this place up for sale, I made an offer. Rosie accepted. Now..." She set the deed and the keys on the laps of the stunned fox and bunny. "I give it to you, and I won't take no for an answer."
Judy openly cried, unable to find words.
Nick clenched his paws, moisture beading from closed eyes. "There's got to be something we can do in return."
"You've done more than enough already, but Rosie had a request: fill this home with love and laughter again."
"That would, uh..." Nick swallowed. "Need Cody. I should check if he can leave the..."
He trailed off as Elle opened the car's door, and pointed to that of the house. Taking several breaths, he slid out, Judy following with the keys and deed in paw, and stepped inside the apartment. Immediately they were ambushed by a giddy Juliana, who hugged and kissed them both, then sprinted to one of the bedrooms.
Nick and Judy looked around, bemused to see boxes and bags of their belongings neatly arranged.
"Just the essentials," Elle explained. "With help from Ben, Finnick, the tigers and Julie. We can get the rest whenever you want."
"Ben and I live so close we decided to give each other keys, so we can keep an eye on each other's places," Judy explained, at Nick's look, her finger tousling the mouse head as they sat on her shoulder.
"Sensible," he approved, then his eye was caught by a small blue case resting on one of the boxes. "That's not an essential."
Elle's head cocked. "I don't remember anyone bringing it."
Nick opened it; a silver brooch in the shape of a lily leaf gleamed in a bed of blue velvet. For an instant he almost thought he saw Jules' face smiling at him in its shine. Shaking it off, he looked up at approaching footsteps, and his breath caught in his throat.
Julie had returned, paw-in-paw with Cody, who was wearing a simple pale blue dress that flowed loosely and reached his ankles. His fur was a little rough, singed in spots on arms, paws and muzzle, and a scar ran across his forehead, but there was a light in his eyes regardless.
He smiled and waved at Nick. "Hey, Dad. How do I look?"
Nick stepped closer, took a long look, eased the brooch from its case and gently pinned it to the left side of the jaguar's chest, then cradled them close, pressing their cheeks together, tears flowing down his.
"Beautiful."