"Judy! Thank heavens you're okay," Stu breathed in relief. "That fox didn't do anything to you did he?"
Judy's ears immediately flushed while thinking of what Nick was doing to her not 10 minutes ago. Dropping her ears, she scowled at her dad to hide her thoughts. "Dad, stop badmouthing Nick. He'll never do anything to hurt me and has, on numerous occasions, put his life on the line to make sure I was safe. Nick is the best mammal I've ever known, and I won't have you talking bad about him."
"But he was touching your ears! I bet he didn't tell you that, did he?"
Judy sighed. "Yes, Dad, he told me. You were complaining about me not smiling—while I was sleeping—so he just wanted you to see me smile." With a dreamy grin, Judy murmured, "I always smile when he pets my ears."
"Young lady, that is unacceptable behavior for a young rabbit!" Stu said while shaking a finger at the phone. "To be letting some shifty fox put his paws all over you." While shaking his head, he continued, "It's not right, Judy. It's just not right."
"Nick is not shifty and I'm 24, hardly young. I'm an adult and this is my decision to make. And if Nick wants to touch my ears, he can. I've already given him exclusive rights to my ears, which means no one else is allowed to touch them."
"Now you listen to me—"
"No, Dad, you listen—Nick and I are best friends and what we decide to do together is between us and no one else. Nick is not some big, bad fox who's out to get me"—at least not in the negative way my dad is thinking about—"and I know for a fact that he'll never hurt me and he'll never disrespect me."
Taking a deep breath, she continued before her dad could get a word in, "Which is more than I can say of any of the bucks back at Bunnyburrow. Do you know what all of them wanted from me? Do you? After tearing apart my dreams, saying I'll never cut it in the real world, they all told me how great they were and how they'd take care of me—all so they could get one thing from me. One thing. A quick roll in the hay so they could brag to their friends about how they conquered the ice queen. Yeah, that's what they wanted. And you can be sure I am never going to date them or be some conquest notch on their bedpost."
Judy sat staring at the phone, breathing hard after her little tirade while remembering the jerks who hit on her during high school and college. That's not to say all bucks were like that, but most wanted a stay-at-home mom (or at least someone with a safer job), which left the players to chase after her. And she hated them. Their snide comments, their laughs and taunts about her dreams, and then their filthy paws trying to touch her. She sent several to the hospital with broken or dislocated fingers after grabbing them and twisting ruthlessly when they wouldn't keep their paws to themselves. Nick was nothing like them. He actually cared about her and went out of his way to see she succeeded.
Stu was silent for several heartbeats, unable to formulate a reply in the face of Judy's tirade. He knew she never showed any interest in the bucks she met, but he just thought it was due to her focus on being a cop and didn't want to be distracted by a boy. But if this is how they were treating his little girl, he no longer had an argument. With a heavy sigh, he whispered, "But he's a fox, Jude. He's so much bigger than you. Even if he doesn't want to, he could still hurt you without meaning to. And who's to say he'll even stick around? Foxes aren't known for their loyalty."
"I don't know what the future holds for us, Dad, and right now we both want to take things slow, but there are 3 things I am absolutely sure about: 1, Nick will never hurt me. 2, Nick will never leave me. And 3, Nick will never betray me. Contrary to popular belief, foxes, especially red foxes, are extremely loyal—but you have to earn their loyalty." Deep breath. "Dad, I've earned Nick's trust and loyalty—and I know this because he's shown it."
Stu sighed heavily again. Why did everything Judy want have to be so gosh-darn scary and worrisome. Why couldn't she want something safe and easy like a normal bunny? Of course, he knew the answer. She was a trier, his little trier. But knowing didn't stop his heart from squeezing in fear of her choices.
Taking his hat off and rubbing his arm across his forehead, he put the hat back on and said, "Jude, I know you're strong and can handle yourself, but you're still my baby-girl and I worry about you. It's what fathers do." Taking a deep breath, Stu continued, "You're not like your sisters, Judy, you're more driven and you feel more deeply. So if this . . . relationship . . . goes south, you're going to hurt a lot worse than your sisters, and I know you won't be able to get over it or him like they do. I mean, look what happened the last time he left you."
Judy's ears drooped. Of course, he'd bring that up. "We both messed up, Dad, and we already discussed it and it's in the past. And I wasn't the only one hurting and depressed, Nick was just as bad off as I was. It's not something either of us want to go through again."
"I know, Jude, but I still worry."
"I know, Dad, and I appreciate your concern, and I love you for it, but you need to trust me with this. Nick . . . Nick is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I know he'll be here whenever I need him."
Stu took another deep breath and slowly exhaled. "Okay, Judy, I'll try, but . . ." Stu looked around while trying to figure out what he wanted to say. "Do you have to live him? I get that you like him, but do you really have to live with him? I know how. . . tempting it is to live with someone you like. I mean, I live with your mother and look how many kits we have." Stu chuckled proudly.
Judy pulled her ear over her face as it flamed red. "Dad! I don't need to hear about that! Nick and I, we're not, we're. . . we're taking things slow. I've seen how rushing into a relationship never lasts, and I don't want that with Nick."
"So you'll move out?" Stu asked hopefully.
"No, I am not moving out. This is a perfect location, the perfect house, and the perfect roommate. There is no way I can find anything half this good if I were to leave—which I'm not, so stop asking."
Stu opened his mouth to continue the argument, but saw her set and determined face and so let it drop. "Okay. I guess I should go find your mother. I believe there's a box we need to get ready for you."
"That'd be great. Thanks, Dad."
….
As Nick came around the house, he saw the back end of the van from where Finn had driven it through the open garage doors and parked it. Hearing some clanging from the front of the van, Nick walked along the van's side to see Finnick standing at the top of a 4-foot stepstool while trying to open the van's hood.
"Hey, Big Guy. Did you miss me?"
"Can-it, Nick. I've been needing to fix my van for 3 months, but then some sap decided to go AWOL after some bunny hurt his feewengs."
Nick scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah, about that, sorry."
"Yeah, you will be if I have to do extra work to get it running properly, 'cause any extra repairs are coming out of your wallet."
"Ooh, ouch," Nick muttered. At Finnick's glare, he added, "Yeah, I probably deserved that."
Finn didn't answer, and Nick watched him crawl around the inside of the van, careful to avoid the hot engine. "Aren't you supposed to let that cool off before making repairs?"
"Yeah, I just want to see what all I might need to do with it."
Nick nodded (not that Finn was watching) then asked, "So where are the crutches."
"In the front seat." Finnick glanced over to see Nick disappear into the van then reappear a moment later with the aluminum crutches in hand. "So what's bunny cop up to? I know she's not sleeping."
Glancing up for a moment, Nick said, "She's talking to her parents. She slept through their call earlier, so she's making up for it now." Carrying the crutches over to the large sink, he set them down and turned on the water, then poured dish soap on one and started scrubbing.
Finnick cocked his head as he watched Nick scrub the hardly-used crutches. "Come on, Nick, I used them 3 days—they're not that dirty."
"I know, but these are for Carrots, and I don't want any dust on them. Besides, they smell like you, so if she uses them then she'll smell like you, and I'm the only fox she's allowed to smell like."
"Are you listening to yourself, Nick?" At Nick's glance up in question, Finnick continued, "You're getting all territorial on me over a bunny! Are you serious!"
Nick tilted his head slightly in thought, then shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I am."
Stepping off the rim of his van, Finnick sat heavily on the top seat of the tall stepstool and stared at his friend. This was not the same Nick the bunny had hustled 3 months ago. "Dang, Nick, that bunny cop really did get to you, didn't she?"
Nick looked up again, but this time with a happy grin—not smug, not sly—happy. His tail was even wagging. "I thought we established that fact while on the phone earlier."
Finnick ran his paws over his face, then rubbed his eyes. Dropping his paws to look at his friend again, he muttered, "What did that bunny cop do to you?"
Nick just laughed and went back to scrubbing. He finished cleaning the first one and set it aside to drip dry, then started scrubbing the other one. Once it, too, was done, he pulled out a clean rag and dried then off. Adjusting them up to the right height, Nick studied his handiwork. After a moment's thought, he glanced over to give Finnick a smirk, then lifted each crutch up and rubbed his cheek up one side and down the other. He didn't stimulate his scent mark, but definitely left his scent. "There, that's better," Nick said happily.
Finnick just sat gaping. "Nick, what's gotten into you? You act like you're planning on marrying the bunny."
"Well, marriage did come up in our conversation earlier. Judy mentioned a little bit about big bunny weddings and asked what ours are like."
"And you told her?"
Nick cocked his head, his ears slayed out slightly. "Of course." With another happy smile and wagging tail, he added, "She wasn't opposed to the idea."
"Dang, Nick, do you have dirt for brains!? You've known this girl for all of 3 months and already you're thinking of marrying her. You haven't even dated her—just moped around whining!"
"Well, technically, we've only known each other for all of 5 days."
"That's even worse! Foxes just don't do that—especially you red foxes! There's no redo button if things fall apart with her."
"I know that, Finn, and I did tell her. We've agreed to take things slow." With a grin, he explained, "She's in it for the long haul, just like I am." At Finnick's scowl, his smile faded, and he turned around to face his friend and leaned against the sink. "I know what you're saying, Finn, believe me. My instincts are screaming at me for moving too fast. They're telling me to slow down, take a step back—breathe. So I do. I step back and breathe, but then my nose is filled with her intoxicating scent and my biology is telling me it knows what it wants. It wants her. It wants to fill my senses with her—her scent, her taste, her feel. And she makes it so hard not to—she's pawsy, and huggy, and just wants to snuggle."
"And you're fine with that?" Finnick asked. Nick had never been the touchy-feely type and, for the most part, didn't like being touched. So hearing how close he was to the bunny cop left him flabbergasted.
"More than fine." With a happy grin, he added, "More like addicted." He grinned a moment longer, then with a heavy sigh, he added, "My instincts are winning right now with the whole yelling match, but I'm not sure how long that'll last. My biology is pretty persistent with what it wants."
Finnick could only shake his head. His best pal, who he'd known for years and assumed would be an eternal bachelor had finally had his heart stolen—or maybe found. He hadn't let anyone touch him emotionally since Honey died. But now!? He'd gone and fallen in love with a bunny, of all mammals. "And this addiction for her . . . it all came about by helping her chase down that missing otter?" Finnick still wasn't sure how that was possible, but there was no denying Nick's heartache and sense of betrayal after that disastrous press conference the bunny cop spoke at.
Nick grinned. "That and being chased and attacked by a bunch of psychotic rams and their power-hungry ewe leader who wanted to enslave the population through fear and hatred." While thinking of the events that brought them together, Nick decided it was time to check up on his honeybun. "Look, Finn, I need to take these up to Carrots and see how much trouble we're in with her dad."
"What? Why?"
"Yeah," Nick muttered while scratching behind his ear. "I might have caressed her ears while I was on MuzzleTime with her parents earlier."
"You what!? Do you have a death wish or something!?"
"I couldn't help it!" he exclaimed while throwing his arms up in the air. "It just feels so natural, so right, to reach out and touch her," Nick stated while gesturing with his hands. "I didn't even think twice. And I only did it because her dad was complaining she wasn't smiling."
Finnick shook his head. Nick was always the calculating type. He thought his words and actions over carefully (though it didn't always look that way with as fast as his mind worked) before saying or doing anything, but that didn't seem to be the case where the bunny cop was concerned. "She ruined you, didn't she?"
"Right!" Nick spread his hands out. "That's what I told her."
A grin spread across Finnick's face and he shook his head again, then doubled over laughing. The idea of Nick falling for a bunny was just ludicrous. Unfortunately, the movement unsettled his balance and Finn had to make a grab at the edges of the stepstool to keep from falling off. Righting himself, he caught Nick's humorous grin, then said, "Go see your rabbit, Loverboy, before I bite that sappy grin off your face."
Nick's tail started wagging as he grabbed and left the garage. He stopped just past the van, though, as Finnick spoke up again.
"I really hope it lasts, Nick." As Nick glanced back at him, Finn continued, "You know the world's not going to be happy when they find out what you two have going. And some of them are going to get violent over it."
Nick's ears disappeared behind his head and his tail dropped to the ground. "I know, Finn, I know. But . . . it's just . . . I can't . . . not see her. I can't go back to being without her, not now that I've experienced how good being with her is." Looking off to the side for a moment as he considered what the future could hold for them, he looked back to his friend and said, "I know it won't be easy, but . . ."—a smile found its way back onto his muzzle and his ears pricked forward again—"she's worth it."
Finnick merely nodded and Nick crossed the yard and disappeared around the side of the house. "You better be worth it, bunny cop," he muttered under his breath, "because if you ever leave him, there won't be enough pieces left to patch him back together." He knew Nick wouldn't be able to recover if bunny cop ever left. He was a red fox todd and had already chosen her for his mate, even if they were 'taking it slow.' So for Nick, there was no going back. She had wormed her way so far into his psych that he was powerless to resist her.
A red fox vixen might be able to find another mate if something happened to her chosen (it was rare but did occasionally happen) but for a red todd . . . It was already impossible for Nick to even look at another female with any sort of interest. She'd look wrong, smell wrong, taste wrong, and feel wrong.
With another heavy sigh, Finnick climbed down the stool and started rooting through the toolboxes for the tools he needed to fix his van. With a shake of his head, he muttered, "Sorry sod, falling in love with a bunny."
Finn wasn't opposed to inter-species relationships, but for Nick and bunny cop to be a pred-prey relationship, with Nick being a fox, he knew the kind of hate and violence that would be heaped on them. It wasn't right, and the world should just butt out and mind their own business, but he knew from sad experience that they wouldn't. "You better be worth it," he muttered again.
….
WingedKatt here. We were able to see a bit more into the minds of both Judy and Nick. Stu will at least give Nick a chance, while Finnick will support them as long as Judy sticks around. In the next chapter, Nick takes his teasing a bit too far and Judy tries to shut him up which leads to an interesting development.
Chapter 17: You're Mine-Don't Forget It, will post on Wednesday.
For my non-American readers: AWOL is a military term that means Absent With Out Leave-or they disappeared without permission.
If you have any thoughts or comments, I'd love to hear from you.
