WingedKatt here. Nick will be playing several songs for Judy if you want to listen to them while you read. They are: the Fairy Dance from the 2003 movie, Peter Pan; I Knew I Loved You, by Savage Garden; The Keeper of the Stars, by Tracy Byrd; Beautiful in My Eyes by Joshua Kadison; and Perfect by Ed Sheeran.
Judy's eyes widened. "The last part!? There's more?" Nick had already done so much already to make this a special date, and she couldn't possibly think of anything more he could do for her.
Nick sat up straighter and twisted slightly in the chair so he could rake his gaze over his beautiful girlfriend in her exquisite dress. "Carrots, there is no way you can wear such a dazzling dress as that"—he motioned to her shimmering, amethyst dress—"and not expect to go dancing."
Judy's eyes widened for just a moment, but then she raised her eyebrow while pointing out, "Nick, my leg is injured. I can't dance."
Nick shrugged. "I don't see the problem." At Judy's glare, he waved his paws and hastily explained, "Okay, okay. I'll be dancing while you'll be swaying in my arms."
Judy raised an eyebrow. "Are you implying I'm a little kit, Slick, dancing with my dad?"
Nick grinned. "Of course, not. Although it was fun dancing with my mom as a small kit, I promise, tonight will be much better than dancing with one of your parents."
Folding her arms, Judy asked, "How so?"
"Well," Nick said in a teasing voice, "For starters, we're not little kits and I'm not your father, which means we can do this—" Dipping his muzzle down, he stole a kiss from her.
Judy immediately melted into the heated kiss while wrapping her paws around his neck and pulling him closer. She wasn't sure how long the kiss was, but as Nick finally pulled back, Judy took a deep breath and said, "Yeah, I see what you mean."
"Right," Nick murmured against her lips. "And if I'm holding you while we're dancing, you won't need to pull my tie to steal a kiss, either."
Nuzzling his nose with her own, Judy answered, "Well, what are you waiting for?" Pulling back, she waved her paw out and said, "Lead the way, my demon prince."
"As you wish, my fairy princess." Standing up, Nick bowed to her while extending his paw. Judy happily took it, and after pulling her up on her good foot, he then wrapped his paws around her cute little tush and picked her up. Judy immediately wrapped her legs around Nick and laughed while he carried her downstairs. And she didn't mind a bit when he moved one of his paws to grip her excitedly twitching tail.
As they neared the porch, Nick said, "You have to close your eyes."
Judy raised an eyebrow while playing with his soft, silky tie that matched her own shimmering dress (she had started playing with it halfway down the stairs). His black, silk shirt highlighted his amethyst tie and marbled, amethyst vest nicely, with the black and purple colors setting off his bright, emerald eyes handsomely as they practically glowed in the dark. The light and dark marble in his vest also matched the light and dark tones of her own dress as it shimmered in the moon and starlight.
"Come on, humor me," Nick said as he reached the porch steps.
Judy met his gaze a moment longer, then sighed and closed her eyes.
Nick's grin widened and he walked to each corner of the porch and turned on the tiny security cameras he set up (they were the spy ones Honey had made for him all those years ago, but with several upgrades), then walked to the outlet. Running his nose down her ear, he whispered, "You ready?"
Judy shivered at Nick's light touch, then nodded.
Pulling back slightly, he then stole another kiss as he dipped her low towards the porch deck, then grabbed the connected light plugs and plugged them into the outlet.
Judy gripped his vest as he suddenly dipped her, even as her eyes flew open. As the lights twinkled to life above and behind him, her eyes widened, and she gasped as Nick drew back from the impromptu kiss. "Ni-ick!" As Nick straightened up and turned sideways so Judy could see better, she exclaimed, "This is so beautiful!" Her eyes jumped from the white lights on the ceiling winking on and off and then to the blue lights wrapped around the porch railing that were randomly blinking on and off.
Finally turning her gaze back to Nick, she covered her mouth and whispered, "You did all this . . . for me?" She thought the movie and dinner were great, and watching the stars come out afterwards was sweet, but him putting up these lights to make their dance more romantic and special—this was beyond her wildest dreams. No buck back home would have gone that extra mile for her. Dinner and a movie, yes, they might even have watched the stars with her afterwards—maybe. Dancing would be a possibility, but not like this—quiet, calm, and just the two of them. No, any buck back home would have taken her out to the crowds and loud music. She much preferred this . . . with Nick . . . just the two of them.
Meeting Nick's bright emeralds, she saw the love and affection shining in them while his smug grin was nowhere to be found. Feeling her eyes starting to tear up again, she sucked them up and refused to let them fall. Nick was just being Nick, and she just needed to accept it. With love shining in her own eyes, she smiled up at him and said, "Thank you, Nick, for everything."
Caressing her cheek, Nick smiled softly and said, "I told you, Fluff—anything for you."
Judy smiled back, then reached up and caressed his cheeks, too, before pulling his muzzle down to hers for a soft, tender kiss. Pulling back, she whispered, "I love you, Nick."
Nick booped her nose, saying, "I love you, too, Judy." Pulling up, he asked, "Now, shall we get this dance started?"
"Hmm, yes." The first dance she attended with a boy, although fun at first, left a bitter taste in her mouth. Having to send her date to the hospital with a broken nose for betting on her first kiss had soured any idea she had harbored in the future for going dancing in the company of a male. She would go out with some of her sisters or female friends when she needed a break from studying or work, but never with a male. But now, with Nick—she couldn't wait to see how much fun they were going to have. And if, at this dance, her partner was to steal a kiss, she wouldn't mind in the least.
With a nod, he said, "I'm going to set you down for just a second so I can start the music, okay." Judy nodded, and Nick set her down upon her good foot and let her lean up against the wall while he fished his phone from his pocket and walked over to his music player. Pulling up his playlist, he paused while remembering their earlier conversation about demons and fairies, then looked up a different song. Sliding his phone into the docking station, he hit play and walked back to Judy.
As the music began playing, Judy tilted her head. She recognized it from somewhere but couldn't quite place it. Then, when Nick stepped forward and bowed while extending his paw, it came to her. "Ah!" she exclaimed. "This is the Fairy Dance from Peter Panther!"
"So, you do know it. I wasn't sure as you're from Bunnyburrow and I don't imagine they play a lot of predator movies there."
Taking Nick's paw and letting him pull her to him, she answered, "Yes, I know it, and yes, they do show predator movies in Bunnyburrow." Judy paused a moment, then added, "Of course, the predators have their own, separate movie theater." With a shrug, Judy said, "No one wants to scare the kits when they wander into the wrong movie."
Shaking her paws back and forth at Nick's surprise, Judy said, "That's beside the point." Pointing both her pointer fingers towards the ceiling, she continued, "The point is, since it's a predator movie, Mom didn't really approve of it, so I watched it with some of my predator friends—and yes, I have some. Of course, I told my mom that I was going over to study and mom thought a few of my prey friends were going to be joining us, but I did enough studying at home, so it was a nice break. And it was way more fun watching a predator movie with predators since they didn't freak out just because a few teeth or claws were flashed across the screen."
Nick raised an eyebrow as he picked Judy up and held her to his chest as the music played. "There are predators in Bunnyburrow . . . and you"—he booped her nose—"enjoyed watching predator flicks with them?" Nick smirked, then shook his head to clarify, "I know there are some foxes there, but I have a hard time picturing a lot of predators in a town filled with cute, little bunnies." With a flick of his ear, he asked, "And you actually hung out with them? You even snuck out to watch movies with them?"
Judy rolled her eyes and refused to take the bait with his cute comment—she'll make him pay for it later. "Yes, we have a healthy predator population. Although they are far outnumbered by prey, we do have them. And yes, some of my best friends growing up were predators. I mean, I had prey friends, too, but some of my closest friends when I was younger were predators." Glancing down at her paws, she tapped a finger while saying, "There was Tony Tiggersen—he's a tiger, and Bobby Catmul—he's a mountain lion, and Jaylinda Yowler—she's jaguarundi, and then Melissa White is a mink, and then there was Bradly Bobtail—he's a bobcat." Looking up, she flashed Nick a bright smile.
Nick nodded in surprise, then glanced off to the left in thought. This now explained why Judy had no problems joining the ZPD and its very large contingent of very large predators. And why she didn't freak out when Manchas went savage . . . and why she didn't bat an eye while sneaking past a pack of armed wolves back at Cliffside Asylum. Thinking about her predator friends, Nick made a startling realization and would have slapped a paw over his face if his paws weren't already busy holding Judy to his chest.
Meeting Judy's amethyst gaze, he began swaying slightly to the music while saying, "Most of your best friends growing up were all felines and yet you are now dating a canine. Do you know how crazy that sounds?"
Judy rolled her eyes again. "Nick, I'm a rabbit. To me, there's not much difference between cats and dogs."
Nick's ears flicked back. "You might want to keep that thought to yourself whenever you're around any felines. Or other canines for that matter." Judy merely chuckled, and then Nick asked, "Your mom actually believed you when you claimed to be doing a study group whenever you wanted to watch a predator movie?"
"Well, I did a lot of studying when I was in middle school and high school." At Nick's eyebrow raise along with his smirk, Judy's ears dropped and she smacked him lightly on the arm. "So I was a bookworm whenever I wasn't exercising—sue me!"
Nick laughed as he ran a paw up to caress the back of her head while thinking of Judy's younger years. Hearing she snuck out to watch predator movies surprised him, but at the same time, he was able to relate more to her which further warmed his heart and made him love her all that much more.
Smiling at Nick's gentle caress, Judy continued, "My mom was always trying to get me to go and do something with friends. So whenever I said I was doing a study group—and yes, I actually did help my friends with any homework questions they might have before we watched the movies—my mom never questioned it because at least I was with friends and not cooped up in my room." With a shrug as the music sounded in the background, she added, "And Mom figured my friends would make sure I ate something while I was with them."
Nick flicked his ear and tail tip at the same time. "You needed to be reminded to eat?" Cocking his head as Judy's ears drooped, he asked, "Didn't we already have this conversation?"
With a heavy sigh as she slipped her paws around Nick's neck, Judy explained, "Okay, okay. Yes, I have a bad habit of getting super focused on something to the point of forgetting about anything else. I would sometimes get so focused on my studies or work that I would forget to eat or drink. And then I'd have to gorge myself to make up for it once I realized how hungry I was."
Nick chuckled as he began swaying more to the music while walking backward toward the center of the porch. "I can definitely see that happening." Judy raised an eyebrow and Nick added, "Don't worry, I'll make sure you stop to eat whenever you get caught up on a case or some project."
Smiling, Judy rested her cheek on Nick's chest as he stopped in the center of the porch and began dancing with her. "I'm counting on you, Slick."
With a smile touching his own mouth, Nick replied, "Anytime, Fluff."
As Nick spun them across the porch, Judy realized the music only had two instruments: a piano and an acoustic guitar as accompaniment. Tilting her head slightly, she then asked, "Nick, are you the one playing?"
Nick glanced down and met her curious gaze with a smug one of his own. "I recorded this song several years ago as a present for my mom, but the following songs we'll be dancing to I recorded this afternoon."
"Really!" The dance was already special, but knowing Nick actually took the time to play and record the songs so they could dance to them—this definitely trumped anything the bucks back home would do. This also gave her major bragging rights and she couldn't wait to rub it in her crazy sisters' faces. As the music continued playing, her mind caught the sound of the guitar again, and it struck her—Nick had recorded this music himself. "You play the guitar!?"
Nick grinned. "Is the piano the only instrument I play? No, no, it is not. Do I play the guitar? Yes, yes, I do." At Judy's incredulous look, Nick explained, "I told you piano wasn't really my thing. Mom made sure we could all play with our eyes closed, but I preferred the guitar, while Anya took up the violin, and Demetri . . ." Nick paused as the memories of his brother washed over him. He was still swaying to the music with Judy, but was now dancing on autopilot as his thoughts were focused on the past.
"Demetri actually preferred the saxophone." Meeting Judy's concerned and attentive gaze, he gave her a small smile as he explained, "And he was good. I never cared much for jazz until Demetri started playing the sax." With another small smile, Nick stared off towards the garage as he recalled his brother's playing. "When Demetri had first picked up the sax, it had literally been a headache as the high-pitched notes hurt our ears when he hit the wrong note, but it didn't take him long to figure out the right amount of air needed to hit the right notes." With a light chuckle, Nick turned back to Judy and said, "Demetri didn't like giving himself a headache with the high notes, so he was a quick learner."
Judy studied him for a moment, then raised a paw to caress his cheek as she whispered, "I wish I could have known him. That I could hear him play."
Nick met her warm, concerned gaze and added, "Yeah, me too. He would have liked you." With a laugh, Nick said, "We might even have competed for your affection if we'd met you when we were younger." With a shrug, Nick explained, "I mean, you're courageous and fearless, funny and witty, you love trying new things, and—," Nick paused a moment as a huge grin spread across his muzzle and a teasing gleam entered his deep emerald eyes, "you're a cute, little bunny who likes to watch predator movies! What's there not to like!?"
Judy laughed softly (there were now 2 cutes she needed to pay him back for), then closed her eyes and rested her cheek against Nick's chest. As he spun her around the impromptu dancefloor, she could feel her heart beating with warmth and happiness for her sly todd. After a moment, she lifted her chin and nuzzled Nick under his muzzle. Nick hummed in pleasure, then lifted his own muzzle and licked her ear, before nibbling briefly on her ear-tip. With a happy sigh, Judy melted further into Nick's embrace and the wonderful dance they were sharing.
For the rest of the song, they twirled around the dance floor, with Nick occasionally setting Judy down on her good foot so he could spin her around before picking her back up in his arms. They smiled and laughed and completely lost themselves in the moment. Then as the song came to an end, Nick's playlist started. Opening his mouth, Nick began to sing the first song (I Knew I Loved You by Savage Garden):
Maybe it's intuition, somethings you just don't question, Like in your eyes, I see my future in an instant; And there it goes, I think I found my best friend.
Judy was unfamiliar with the song (though she was sure some of her siblings probably had it memorized), but with Nick singing, she listened carefully as warm fuzzies fluttered around inside her. She was already liking the song.
I know that it might sound more than a little crazy, but I believe I knew I loved you before I met you. I think I dreamed you into life. I knew I loved you before I met you. I have been waiting all my life.
Judy smiled as Nick set her down long enough to spin her, with her shimmering amethyst dress twirling up around her hips, before falling back down as the spin finished. As she spun back around to face him, Nick scooped her back up in his arms. Laughing with happiness, Judy met Nick's bright emeralds and slipped her arms around his neck again while listening to him finish the song.
There's just no rhyme or reason, only the sense of completion. And in your eyes, I see the missing pieces I'm searching for. I think I've found my way home.
Slow dancing from one side of the porch to the other, Judy decided this was quickly becoming one of her favorite songs—especially when Nick was the one singing it. As the song ended and the next one began, Nick's voice faded for a moment as the intro music played, and then he started singing again (The Keeper of the Stars by Tracy Byrd).
It was no accident me finding you, Someone had a hand in it long before we ever knew. Now I just can't believe you're in my life. Heaven's smilin' down on me as I look at you tonight.
Judy recognized this song immediately, for a lot of her siblings were into country music. When she was younger, she also enjoyed listening to country and liked quite a few songs, but once she discovered Gazelle and other artists like her, she pretty much quit listening to anything else. But now, Nick was reminding her that there were a lot of good of songs out there. Songs that sounded much better when Nick was singing.
I tip my hat to the Keeper of the Stars. He sure knew what he was doin' when he joined these two hearts. I hold everything when I hold you in my arms, I've got all I'll ever need, thanks to the Keeper of the Stars.
Judy had never really listened to this song much, even back when she was listening to country. She hadn't listened much to Tracy Byrd. Not that he wasn't a good singer, but she preferred some of the other country artists. But then again, listening to Nick singing his song, she discovered she really liked it.
Soft moonlight on your face, oh, how you shine. It takes my breath away, just to look into your eyes. I know I don't deserve a treasure like you, There really are no words to show my gratitude.
As the words rolled off Nick's tongue, Judy had to admit that this particular song fit their situation more than she would have guessed. Her and Nick finding each other really was no accident, nor could it have been a coincident. Their meeting was long in the making—the Keeper of the Stars, indeed, was watching over them.
For starters, she was a bunny and a cop, and he was a fox and a conmammal. There's no way they should have connected or become such great friends, let alone lovers or mates—and yet here they were. Society also said the two of them should never be—that a predator and a prey would never make it as a couple. And yet here they were.
And then when she thought about how many times Nick should have died throughout his life, and yet—miracle of miracles—he survived. There could be no doubt that someone with a higher power had protected him.
Thinking of her own life, she considered all the times mammals had tried to convince her to quit her dream and give up. And though she'd never admit it aloud, there were times when she'd questioned whether or not she should give up. It wasn't often, but when she'd reached her lowest points, the thought of quitting had crossed her mind. But someone would always come along and encourage her, or something would happen to reignite the fire in her heart, and she'd pick herself up and press on. And of course, there was the struggle to enter the ZPA, and Bogo himself, who didn't even want her in his Precinct, let alone anywhere else on the Police Force.
So, between Nick's near-fatal encounters and her nearly giving up (or being forced to quit) they should never have met unless someone was watching over and guiding them. Heaven truly was smiling down on them tonight.
As Nick finished the lyrics, and before the next song started, Judy lifted her muzzle and pressed a soft kiss to Nick's chin. As he glanced down at her, she pressed her lips to his in a gentle, heartfelt kiss. Pulling back from the kiss, she rubbed her cheek against his and whispered, "I'm grateful Heaven brought us together, Nick. You were well worth the wait, and all the struggles I went through to get to this point right here, right now. Standing here with you tonight is a miracle—a miracle I will forever be grateful for." Pulling back to meet his surprised (but happy) gaze, she smiled at him.
Nick felt moisture in his eyes at Judy's heartfelt words. He had picked this song because he, too, felt their first meeting and their consequent friendship was a miracle. Holding in the few tears he felt forming, he leaned down and booped her nose. "Ditto," he whispered back as the next song started playing (Beautiful in My Eyes by Joshua Kadison). At Judy's brilliant smile, he pulled back and smiled, too. After spinning across the floor with her, he waited for the intro music to finish, then he began singing.
You're my peace of mind, in this crazy world. You're everything I've tried to find. Your love is a pearl. You're my Mona Lisa. You're my rainbow skies. And my only prayer is that you realize, you'll always be beautiful in my eyes.
The world will turn. And the seasons will change, And all the lessons we will learn will be beautiful and strange. We'll have our fill of tears. Our share of sighs.
My only prayer is that you realize, you'll always be beautiful in my eyes. You will always be beautiful in my eyes. And the passing years will show, That you will always grow, ever more beautiful in my eyes.
Judy listened to the first half of the song and then buried her face in Nick's chest. Of course, he'd have to pick this song. Just like Amazed by Lonestar, she also liked this song when she was younger. And just as Nick sang Amazed last night, she could feel the emotion in his voice and knew he meant every word.
When there are lines upon my face, from a lifetime of smiles. When the time comes to embrace, for one long last while, We can laugh about how time really flies. We won't say goodbye, because true love never dies.
You'll always be beautiful in my eyes. You will always be beautiful in my eyes . . .
Nick spun Judy on her good foot as he finished the song, then pulled her close again as the next song started. Dipping his muzzle, he rubbed his nose against hers and then started singing (Perfect by Ed Sheeran):
I found a love for me. Darlin' just dive right in. Follow my lead. I found a girl beautiful and sweet. I never knew you were the someone waiting for me.
Cause we were just *kits when we fell in love, not knowing what it was. I will not give you up this time. Darlin' just kiss me slow. Your heart is all I own and in your eyes your hope in mine.
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms. Barefoot on the grass listening to our favorite song. When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath, You heard it, Darlin', you look perfect tonight.
As Nick continued to sing, Judy closed her eyes and rested her cheek against his chest as the lights twinkled above them. Last night, he had told her she was beautiful and perfect, and tonight, he'd found two songs to expand on what he meant last night. With a smile on her face, she listened to his heartbeat as they swayed around the dance floor.
Well, I found a *doe stronger than anyone I know. She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share her home. I found a love to carry more than just my secrets—to carry love, to carry children of our own.
We are still *kits, but we're so in love, fighting against all odds. I know we'll be alright this time. Darlin' just hold my hand, Be my *doe and I'll be your *todd. I see my future in your eyes.
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms. Barefoot on the grass listening to our favorite song. When I saw you in that dress, looking so beautiful—I don't deserve this.
Darlin' you look perfect tonight.
As Nick finished the song, he put Judy down to spin her one last time. Then, as the last strains of the song hung in the air, he dipped her back and kissed her deeply. Even after all the kisses they'd shared in the last two days (especially the kisses from this afternoon), Nick still couldn't believe how good she tasted, and how much he loved her small mouth, flat teeth, and tiny tongue as it slid and danced against his own. She was everything he didn't know he wanted—and so much more.
Judy wasn't expecting the dip or the kiss, but she melted into them all the same. Gripping Nick's arms, she kissed him back just as deeply. As the kiss continued, she was only vaguely aware of him pulling her back up from the dip and into his arms. She pressed her injured leg up against his own while wrapping the other leg around his waist, even as she sunk deeper into his embrace.
As Nick finally broke the kiss, he whispered against her lips, "You really are beautiful, Judy, and for me—you're perfect."
Judy flashed him a warm smile and murmured, "Ditto."
Nick laughed, then walked over to the porch swing they'd been dancing around and sat down. Leaning his head back, he took several deep breaths, then met her gaze once again and asked, "So, did this first date trump anything the dumb bucks back home could do?"
Laughing, Judy replied, "Most definitely."
"And you now have bragging rights with your sisters?"
Judy threw her head back and laughed harder this time. After several moments of laughing, she met Nick's warm gaze and dopey grin, then rubbed her nose against his. "Let's just put it this way: if we were in a video game, not only would we have defeated them with a Flawless Victory—it would have been Overkill." Nick laughed at her analogy, and Judy slipped her paws around his neck and began playing with his fur. "You know, Slick, I won't be happy now until I get a copy of you singing all these songs."
"Anything to make you happy, Fluff," Nick murmured as he leaned in to boop her nose again.
Judy laughed, then tilted her head and kissed him again while digging her short fingers and blunt claws into his thick fur. As the strands of lights winked on and off above them, and with one of Nick's paws playing with her cottony tail while the other one caressed the base of both of her ears, Judy felt this was the perfect ending to the perfect date.
WingedKatt again. I hope you enjoyed Nick and Judy's first date. Next chapter, we'll be wrapping up Thursday in the story (finally).
For the words in the songs I replaced, "kit" takes the place of "kids", "doe" takes the place of "girl", and "todd" takes the place of "man".
Thanks to BearlyThereUpstairs for proofing this chapter.
Chapter 58: Late Thursday Night, will post in 2 weeks. (No, you will not need your insulin shots for this chapter. The title is accurate, but misleading seeing how ch57 ended.)
If you have any thoughts or comments, I'd love to hear them. Have a great weekend. Stay safe.
