WingedKatt here. Here's the chapter most of you have been waiting for. Yay! There are 2 songs for this chapter. The first one sets the mood and is 'From This Moment On' by Shania Twain feat. with Bryan White. The second song is sung by Judy and Nick at the end of the chapter and is 'I Was Made For Loving You' by Tori Kelly feat. with Ed Sheeran. As a friendly reminder, keep some insulin and metformin handy, and maybe a few Kleenexes.


Reaching the top of the stairs, Nick turned right. As he stepped into his room, he kicked the door shut behind him, then reached back to lock the door. Still kissing Judy, Nick carried her to his bed and sat her down in the middle. Sliding his paws down her sculpted body, Nick broke off the kiss and booped her nose with his own. Taking a deep breath, he asked in a husky whisper, "Ready to sign our marriage papers?"

With her small pink nose twitching against Nick's big black one, Judy licked her lips, then whispered, "Yes. Absolutely. 100 percent."

Grinning, Nick stole a quick kiss then moved off the bed. Going to the dresser, he grabbed her bottle of painkillers and dumped two out, then walked into his bathroom to get a cup of water to swallow them down with. Refilling his cup, he carried it into the room and over to his nightstand. Setting the cup down, Nick pulled out the marriage papers, along with a pen. Sitting back on the bed in front of his honeybun, he handed them over to her.

Taking them from her fiancé and mate, Judy paused to take a deep breath. Then another one. As much as she wanted this to happen, and as badly as her instincts were demanding she breed with this handsome, intelligent, sometimes insufferable fox, now that it came right down to it—this was a huge decision that would affect her for the rest of her life.

Was she really ready? Was Nick? They hardly knew each other, and yet it felt like she had known him for a lifetime. Is this really what she wanted? After a moment's thought, the answer was an emphatic yes! But was this what was best for her? Looking up, Judy met Nick's deep, emerald gaze and just about got lost in them.

Remembering everything Nick had already done for her, and everything he had promised her, Judy knew that—YES—this is what was best for her. Nick was her future and no one else could come close to replacing him. He was the only male for her. He was the only guy she wanted touching her and whom she wanted to touch. No one else would do. He was the sun, the moon, and the stars that lit up her world. Nick hadn't just hung the moon and stars for her, but he had hung the whole galaxy.

This was it—once she signed her name, she, Judith Laverne Hopps, would be Judith Laverne Wilde and she would be all Nick's. Nothing would stand between them, and she could finally—finally—give in to the urges and demands of her instincts. She could finally breed with this wonderful, sly, devilish fox who had so easily stolen her heart. Taking another deep breath, Judy glanced back down at the forms in her lap and with a flourish of the pen, she signed and dated it.

The whole time Judy had been thinking, Nick had been holding his breath. Was Judy having second thoughts? At this crucial moment, was she going to reject him? The uncertainty that suddenly swamped his mind at the thought of losing Judy about killed him. It was a testament to years of conning mammals that the devastation and uncertainty didn't show on his face, though he couldn't keep his tail-tip from flicking with his anxiety.

Once Judy bent down and singed her name, though, allowed Nick to finally breath again. Once more Judy had dropped him to the lowest hell, then brought him back up to the highest heaven in a matter of seconds. The opposite of what she had done to him earlier this afternoon. Was it only this afternoon? It felt like much longer.

As Judy pawed the pen and papers back over to Nick, she flashed him another blinding smile and Nick didn't waste a second in signing and dating the papers for himself. Looking them over to make sure everything was in order and that they didn't miss marking their initials anywhere, Nick then put the papers back in the drawer for safe keeping.

Watching Nick set the papers aside, Judy was suddenly attacked by a stomach-full of butterflies. Trying to get her mind off them, she shifted around so she was sitting with her legs folded under her (and completely ignored the twinge of pain sitting on her leg caused her injury). If she was going to say her vows, then Judy wanted to be sitting in a somewhat proper fashion. Her idea seemed to be the right one because when Nick turned back to her, he shifted into the same position. Giving her a wide, toothy smile, Nick raised his paws, palms out, and asked, "Are you ready to share our vows?"

Judy gave a short nod, but then looked questioningly at Nick's upraised paws. Having not been born or raised in fox culture, and with this being the first Claiming Ceremony she had ever had the privilege of attending, let alone being a part of—she had no idea what Nick wanted from her.

Seeing her confusion, Nick gave her a soft smile and explained, "Clasp my paws." Taking a deep breath while trying to suppress the flock of butterflies in her stomach, Judy slid her small, soft paws up Nick's large, rough palms, then slipped her fingers between his. As Nick gripped Judy's paws in his, he then said, "The vixen usually says her vows first, but I can go first if you're not sure what you're supposed to say."

With a slight shake of her head, Judy said, "No, I can go first." With her nose and tail twitching nervously, she asked, "I just state my promises to you, right?"

Nick nodded. "That's right. Just say what's in your heart. It can be as long or as short as you want it to be. Just…" Nick took a deep breath himself—he was finally taking Judy as his wife and mate! With a warm smile, he finished with, "Whatever is in your heart."

Judy nodded, but then doubts started to cloud her beautiful eyes. What if she said the wrong thing? What if Nick didn't like what she said? What if—?"

Seeing Judy's nervousness, Nick spoke up again. "Hey," he called softly. As Judy's eyes cleared as she met his bright, green gaze, he added just as softly, "Smile… It's your wedding."

Judy blinked but then a bright smile slowly spread across her lips. "You're right. It is my wedding." With a flick of her ear, she added with a bigger smile, "It's our wedding."

With his tail wagging, Nick agreed. "Yes, yes, it is. And I can't wait to claim you as my wife."

Hearing Nick call her 'wife' had Judy's heart racing and the butterflies fluttering around inside her stomach again, but this time they were gathering in anticipation of the moment instead of nervousness. "Yes," she murmured under her breath, then she giggled happily.

"That's my girl," Nick murmured at seeing her eyes sparkling again and her countenance glowing. This is how Judy should be at their wedding—her happy, bubbly, energetic self.

With her ears perked forward, Judy took one last breath, then she began to speak the thoughts of her heart. "Nick, when we first met, I didn't like you much—that was obvious—but when the chips were down and I desperately needed someone, you were the one who stepped up and protected me, you were the one who gave me a helping paw."

Taking a moment to think, Judy then continued. "My whole life, I thought if I just worked hard enough, if I put in enough time, sweat, and energy I could accomplish anything. That nothing was insurmountable, even for a small rabbit like me. But you showed me that I was wrong. My boss showed me I was wrong. Zootopia showed me just how wrong I was. And I was ready to give up."

With her ears drooping slightly at the memory of Bogo demanding she quit, Judy shook her head and met Nick's warm, green gaze again. "But then you opened my eyes when you stood up for me. Alone—there were a lot of things I couldn't do as a rabbit. Not because I was incapable, but because I wasn't given the chance. Just like you weren't given the chance because you were a fox. But then you showed me that together—together—we could accomplish anything."

Squeezing Nick's paws, she added, "And that's how I want to spend the rest of my life—together with you. No matter what the future holds, no matter what obstacles might present themselves, I want to conquer them all with you. I want to smile, and laugh, and grow old together with you." Flashing him another blinding, buck-toothed smile, Judy finished with, "I love you, Nicholas Piberius Wilde, and I promise to be faithful to you and to be your support through the good times and the bad. From this day onward, I am yours and yours alone. Forever and always, I am your wife and mate."

Tears were misting in Nick's eyes as he listened to Judy's vows. Judy really was one in a billion. As she finished speaking, Nick's tail was wagging joyfully and thumping the bed behind him. Taking a deep breath, he began his own vows while looking deep into Judy's beautiful, shimmering eyes. "Judy, after Honey died, my life fell apart and I forgot the meaning to living. I became an apathetic jerk who didn't care about anyone, not even myself. One day blended into the next with little variation or meaning. My life had become a barren field where nothing but weeds grew under the harsh, unforgiving sunlight."

Squeezing her paws, Nick took a deep breath before continuing. "You hopped into my life with a cool, refreshing breeze and gentle rains to nourish my parched soul. You cleared the weeds away and planted seeds that are giving beauty and meaning to my life." With a soft, grateful smile spreading across his muzzle, Nick added, "And when the sun finally broke through the clouds again, it was warm and life-giving instead of harsh and desolate. Everyday there is something new and wonderful to discover and it's all thanks to you. I now have a reason to wake up each morning, and I struggle to sleep at night because I don't want the day to end."

Releasing one of her paws, Nick reached forward to gently caress her cheek. "I love you so very much, Judith Laverne Hopps. My life really isn't worth living when you're not a part of it. After showing me the light, I can no longer live in the dark." Caressing her cheek again, he said, "As your husband and mate, I will be true and faithful. From this day forward, in this life and the next, I am yours: my life, my heart, my soul. Everything I have, I give to you, Judith Laverne Wilde, my Wife, my Mate, my Love."

With tears leaking from Nick's eyes, even as they streamed down Judy's cheeks (she absolutely loved being called Judith Wilde!), Nick leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. After a moment, Nick licked her lips and when she parted her lips to give him access, he kissed her deeply, but slowly, as his paw lightly held her behind the ear.

After a moment, Judy tilted her head and deepened the kiss, even as she released his other paw to slide both of hers around his neck and hold him close. Before she could completely get lost in the kiss and the moment, Nick broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers, saying, "You have to scent mark me first, Carrots."

Judy froze for a moment as her ears and nose turned bright red at her oversight. Scent marking was a huge part of the ceremony and she had forgotten all about it! "Oh, right," she murmured under her breath, "the vixen leads."

With a warm grin, Nick murmured, "Or doe, in this case."

Nodding, Judy slipped her paws from around his neck to grip Nick's cheeks and pull his muzzle down to her level, then lifted her chin to rub her scent into Nick's fur. Starting just past his nose, she ground her scent up his snout, across his forehead, between his ears, and down both cheeks, even as she listened to Nick's tail thumping the bed behind him at rabid speed.

If Nick thought Judy's scent was a drug before, it was nothing to what her scent was doing to him in its sharp, delicious, concentrated form. With his eyes closed as he breathed in her thick, intoxicating scent, Nick lightly gripped her upper arms as he waited for her to finish. As she pulled back, Nick opened his eyes and met her shimmering amethysts that were glowing with so much happiness and anticipation. Licking his lips, he suddenly kissed Judy, tasting deeply of her sweetness.

Judy groaned in pleasure as she suddenly found herself flat on her back with her foxy new husband looming over her, his tail fanning the air behind them. Sucking in a deep breath as Nick finally broke the kiss, he flashed her a wide, toothy grin before dipping head back down to smother her in his scent: her cheeks, her nose, her forehead, between her ears, and down both sides of her neck. Smelling Nick's thick, heady fox musk with its strong scent of violets, Judy found herself getting lightheaded.

This was it. This was really happening. Finally. With her fingers digging through Nick's fur, Judy lay on the bed with her eyes closed as Nick rubbed his scent deep into her fur. She knew he was done when she found his tongue in her mouth again. With another groan, she slid her paws down his neck and across his shirt. Nothing stood between them now, absolutely nothing…nothing but their clothes. It didn't take long before they were tossed aside, and she could finally drown in everything that was Nick.

-/-/-

Sitting in the passenger side of Finnick's van, Amy was impressed with her friend's van. With Finnick being a bachelor, she wasn't sure what to expect when she climbed in. But the van was clean and smelled nice. Furthermore, she really liked the seat covers. An island getaway would be fantastic. And if any sharks showed up (yes, she caught sight of them circling the boat), she would show them the big-end of her trusted wrench.

Cotton, on the other paw, was excitedly looking out the window as Finnick drove through the Meadowlands towards the river where the catfish thrived. Some streets they drove down were lined with houses or had side streets that opened to neighborhoods like Nick's, where the houses and yards were large (for smaller species), and then there were some apartment buildings, and neighborhoods for the larger species. And then sometimes they drove down streets that opened to the grassy meadows and woodlands the Meadowlands were named for.

While driving, Finnick acted as the tour guide and talked about each part they drove through, and talked about the wildlife (birds, reptiles, and amphibians) that lived in the different parts of the Meadowlands. Cotton and Amy were both interested in the bird sanctuary that was here and Finnick offered to take them Wednesday morning when it was still cool. Cotton was practically jumping up and down in her seat at the thought of seeing all the birds at the sanctuary.

Seeing the little bunny's excitement, Finn started describing a bunch of the birds found there: the cranes, the storks, the different kinds of geese and ducks, the flamingoes, the swans—4 different kinds—and so many other birds of all sizes and colors.

He was running out of birds to describe when he saw the turnoff he needed. Pulling onto it, they drove through a wooded area for about two and a half miles, and then Finnick pulled off the road and parked behind a big, bushy tree. Turning to his guests, he said, "We hike from here."

Amy and Cotton both liked the idea of hiking, so this didn't put them out at all. After unbuckling their seatbelt, they followed Finnick between the seats to the back where he had the fishing gear. Slipping the strap around his neck and shoulder that held a pouch with a water bottle in it, he then pawed Amy a second one.

After she put it on, Finn handed Amy a long, red fishing rod and explained that it was Nick's old rod that she could use. Picking up another one that wasn't much shorter than the first, this one a yellowish orange, he turned to Cotton and said she could share his rod.

Cotton was ecstatic to be sharing her fishing rod with her new fox friend, which pulled the rug out from under the small fennec again. Most mammals didn't like the idea of sharing with a fox, so seeing how excited the bunny kit was made Finnick once more feel like she was some fairy dancing among the trees. Shaking the thought aside, he offered the rod to Cotton. Since Amy had been taking her fishing for over a year now, he didn't think she would be careless with it.

Taking the fishing rod, Cotton was careful holding it as she didn't want to accidently knock it into something. Watching how carefully Cotton was holding the rod, Finnick turned his attention to the rest of their gear. Bending down, he picked up his and Nick's tackle boxes. Amy offered to carry Nick's larger box which Finnick happily pawed over, then he grabbed the fishing net and opened the back door of his van.

After they hopped down, Finn locked up the van and then led the way through the woods. It was a bit of a trek, but one they all enjoyed. Though it was a hot summer, the foliage of the forest kept them cool and there was a light breeze that danced among the leaves and bushes they passed by.

While they walked, Cotton told Finnick about her other fishing trips with her Aunt Amy and sister Sasha, with Amy speaking up to expand on a few of the details. Cotton talked about the rock bass, the creek and lake chubsuckers, and speckled and rainbow trout she caught before, and how they wiggled in the air and splashed water droplets everywhere.

Her sister Sasha, who was a much better drawer than Cotton was, liked to draw the fish she and Amy caught. Finnick said he was interested in seeing the pictures sometime which had Cotton beaming happily. She really liked Mr. Finnick. He was fun to be with, and just like Uncle Nick, Mr. Finnick really paid attention and listened to her. Cotton really wished her sister was here to meet him.

As they walked along, Finnick found himself actually interested and invested in the conversation with the two rabbits. Since they were talking about fishing, of course he was interested in the subject, but listening to Cotton and Amy talk about other streams, ponds, and lakes they had fished at and the different types of fish they caught, had Finn eager to see the places for himself and try his luck at fishing them.

Finn was enjoying the company of the rabbits so much that they came upon the river sooner than he expected. Cotton, of course, was all excited to see the river they had been listening to for some time now. As the little bun hopped over to the bank to see if she could catch sight of any of the allusive catfish they had come to fish, Finn continued along the path as it wound in and around the trees while following the bank.

As Amy called to Cotton, Finnick explained that he had a favorite spot just up ahead where some big boulders jutted into the river that they could sit on while they fished. Cotton loved climbing on rocks, so she kept urging Finn and Amy to hurry up. With a laugh, Finn and Amy hurried after the young rabbit.

Looking ahead through the trees, Cotton caught sight of the large boulders and skipped over to them. Careful of the rod in her paws, Cotton carefully climbed up on the nearest boulder, then hopped over to the larger boulder behind it. With a proud smile, she looked out over the water as the river tumbled and foamed over the rocks farther upstream, but then slowed down after the water ran past the boulders, where the river widened and deepened, making the current much calmer here.

Climbing up beside the little bun, Finn and Amy set down their tackle boxes, then set about picking a good lure. Cotton came over to look through the tackle boxes and Amy and Finn told her about the different types of lures and bait used to catch the different types of fish. Cotton soaked it all up and asked several questions, which impressed Finnick.

The fact Cotton listened to everything he said and took it to heart, not only stroked his male ego, but also allowed the little bun to worm her way into his hard, jaded heart. The young rabbit was one of a kind and Finn wished he had met someone like her sooner.

Cotton was having a field day, even before they started fishing. Aunt Amy never made her feel like a nuisance when a lot of other adults thought she was in the way, but Amy's friend Finnick didn't make her feel like she was under foot. He listened to her questions and answered them to the best of his ability. He didn't talk to her like a 3-year-old, either, but talked to her in real terms, to which Cotton was grateful for.

As Amy watched the interaction between Finnick and Cotton, it warmed her heart, even as butterflies started fluttering around inside her stomach. She was already sweet on Finnick, but seeing how well he treated her niece, listening to her questions and answering them as an equal, made Amy love him even more.

Amy loved her nieces, Cotton and Sasha, and had even considered adopting them several times, but trying to raise them alone (she rented a small apartment near the garage she worked at), she feared she would end up neglecting them when one of her projects at work required her to work late in order to meet a deadline. The weeks she did watch them showed her how hard it was being a single, working mom—which made her appreciate all the single, working moms out there.

Amy tipped her hat to them because it was twice as hard as being just a mom. Trying to fill the role of mom and dad while working at the same time was a super tough job. Amy tried it several times with her nieces and didn't feel like she did a great job of it. She did great on her days off, but really struggled on the days she worked, so the moms out there who did it fulltime were her female idols. She looked up to the single, working dads, as well, but as a female working in a male's world, she knew how hard the single moms had to work. Either way, it was a tough job, whether you were a single mom or a single dad.

Watching Finnick interacting with Cotton, though, gave Amy hope that she might actually be able to adopt her nieces sometime in the near future. It was a little too early to give it serious thought, but it was something she would think about later since she wasn't sure if Finnick would even consider dating or marrying a rabbit. And even if he was interested in her as a date and a mate, would Finnick want to adopt a couple of orphaned rabbit kits? Amy wasn't sure, but she did have hope for a positive outcome going by how Finnick was treating her niece. All she needed to do was take her time and not rush their relationship.

Turning her attention back to the tackle box, Amy picked her lure and tied it on her line, even Finnick picked his. Once they had their hooks prepared, Finnick told Cotton that catfish liked to hang out at the bottom of the river, so they had to be extra sneaky in luring them out. The proper bait or lure was the key. Turning around, he flicked his wrist and sent his line out into the water. Then he sat down and asked Cotton if she wanted to hold the rod. Cotton was excited and eagerly took the rod.

Amy sent her own line in and sat down on the other side of Cotton. This was nice. The weather was perfect, there was a light breeze, and she had two of her favorite mammals with her—what could be better?

While waiting for the fish to bite, Finnick turned to Amy and asked more about her '56 Chevy. Amy had absolutely no problems talking about her car, so after telling him the parts she was waiting on, Finnick told her about his car door he needed to repaint and offered to help her restore her classic car if she helped him repaint his van door. Amy didn't need to think twice about her answer, but before she could agree, Cotton jumped up, exclaiming, "Fish! Fish! I caught a fish!"

Jumping up beside her, Finnick grabbed the rod, too, to help her hold the rod as she reeled it in, with her ears perked forward while her nose and tail twitched furiously in her excitement. As the fish broke the water, it was easy to see that it wasn't the illusive catfish, but that didn't dampen Cotton's excitement. She was just happy to catch the first fish. Now if only Sasha was here to draw her accomplishment, the fishing trip would be perfect.

As Cotton reeled the fish up, Finnick grabbed the fishing net and reached over to snag it. As he brought in, the little bun excitedly asked what kind of fish she caught as she didn't recognize the dark-speckled, light green and yellow fish.

Pulling the fish from the net by the fishing line, Finnick presented the squirming fish to her and said, "It's a crappie."

"Huh?" Cotton said with a confused face. She hadn't heard of the fish before, but going by its name, it didn't seem like a very good fish. "Is it a bad fish?" she asked with her ears drooping while feeling a little downhearted.

With a laugh from behind her (Cotton was facing Finnick), Amy said, "Don't let the name fool you, Cotton. Crappies are a very tasty fish, so it's a good catch."

"Oh," Cotton murmured as she turned to her aunt, even as her ears perked up and her tail started twitching happily.

"Your aunt's right," Finnick said from her side, "crappies are a delicious fish." Kissing his fingers and thumb, he flicked his paw back while spreading his fingers like some gourmet chef praising his own food. "We'll definitely keep it since it's a good-sized one." As Amy dug through her tackle box for the chain with the hooks on it to keep the fish from swimming away, Finn added, "And on the off chance we can't catch any catfish, we can still have fish tonight."

Cotton was happy to hear her catch was a good one, then watched as Finn strung the fish on the chain, then dropped the crappie back in the water and showed them the large, bent nail that had been pounded into the rock to set the chain to. After securing the fish, Finn had no sooner tossed his line back in the water than Amy caught a fish to Cotton's extreme delight. She was hopping up and down on the boulder while waiting to see what her aunt had caught.

As the fish broke the water and was reeled up close enough to catch, Cotton knew it wasn't a catfish, either (it didn't look anything like a cat!), but at the same time, she knew it wasn't the same fish as what she had caught. The body wasn't quite as long and it was striped, not speckled. Cotton thought it might have been one they had caught back in Bunnyburrow, but she wasn't sure as they mostly caught chubsuckers and trout. "What's this fish?" Cotton asked curiously, with her nose twitching.

With a smile, Amy pointed out the dark blue spot on its gills, saying, "This is a bluegill. They're bodies come in different colors, but they all have this dark blue spot on their gills."

Cotton nodded in understanding, then asked, "Are they good to eat, too?"

With a nod, Amy said, "They're pretty good to eat, but this fish is pretty small, so we should throw it back so it can grow a bit bigger."

Cotton eagerly agreed and watched her aunt take the hook out of the fish, then toss it back in the water. Looking over the side of the boulder into the deep, murky water, Cotton tried to catch sight of any fish down below but couldn't see anything. She could see the fish coming up to the surface further away, but none directly around the large boulder.

While watching Cotton trying to see into the dark water in search of a catfish, Finnick muttered, "I wish I had some caterpillars. They're the ultimate catfish bait." Glancing at Cotton who was looking up at him with curiosity shining in her light lilac gaze, he explained, "Since caterpillars are only available during the late spring and summer, catfish view them as a delicacy."

Cotton was excited to learn anything and everything about fishing and it once more surprised Finnick to see how intently Amy's niece listened to him. It made his tail wag, even as he was glad he let Amy talk him into bringing the little bunny along. This was turning out to be one of the best fishing trips he'd had in a long while.

Finnick wasn't the only feeling glad to have come on the fishing trip. Cotton was ecstatic to be with another adult who didn't find her a bother to be around. Finnick listened to her questions and answered her honestly, never once making her feel like she was asking a dumb question or that she should already know the answer. Furthermore, the small fox wasn't much bigger than she was, so she didn't have to crane her neck to talk to him. Her first impression had been right—Finnick was a fun adult to be around!

Amy on the other paw, was enjoying herself immensely. Being able to hangout with a couple of her favorite mammals (her mechanic idol and one of her favorite nieces) while fishing was something to cherish. Considering she was a bunny, most mammals would look at her funny (and disgusted) if they found out how much she enjoyed fishing and eating her catch, so she usually ended up fishing alone. So, this was a rare treat for her. Something she hoped to do a lot more of in the future.

-/-/-

In a mansion hidden away in a deep valley on the edge of the Rainforest District, Landon lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling while running his claws up and down Delilah's velvety, dark side as she lay sleeping against him. Using the crook of his shoulder as her pillow, she had one arm resting across his ribs with one of her muscular legs wrapped around his own. Since they had the house all to themselves today, and knowing they wouldn't see much of each other the rest of the week once they both returned to work due to the long hours they were sure to work, he and his mate hadn't strayed far from each other all day.

They did eventually get up for brunch around 10 this morning, and spent the meal talking about their plans for the coming week. Delilah had hinted at the wedding she was hoping to hold for the fox and bunny who brought Bellwether down, but Landon hadn't been ready to agree to her plans. The rabbit cop had rubbed him the wrong way and he wasn't ready to forgive her. But this was his wife's request, something she had been wanting to do for years, so Landon wasn't about to deny her what she wanted.

Considering that it was already late afternoon on Sunday, Landon couldn't hold back his reply much longer. If Delilah was going to have time to reasonably plan this wedding, then he would need to tell her once she woke up. With help from the servants, it shouldn't take Delilah too much effort to plan a simple wedding in the back yard. They had everything they needed already, so it was merely a matter of figuring out the arrangement and setting everything up.

Taking a deep breath while thinking of the rabbit cop being here in his house, Landon wondered how she won Nick Wilde over. The fox's trust wasn't easily won, so how did the bunny cop do it? While thinking over this puzzling question, Landon felt Delilah stir against him. With a grin as his tail twitched in anticipation, he felt his mate's hoof slide across his chest, then down his belly, even as she tightened her leg around his before sliding her knee up between his legs.

If Landon wasn't awake before, he was now. All of him. With a wide, toothy grin, the large Tigard gripped his wife's hips and pulled her over so she was laying across his chest, even as Delilah broke out into a gleeful giggle. "I just can't satisfy you today, can I?" he asked, his gaze a hungry one.

Sliding her hooves up his chest, Delilah pushed herself into a sitting position as she straddled his waist. Lowering her head down on her long neck, she nuzzle his small cat nose with her wider okapi nose, even as she answered, "On the contrary, my dear, you have satisfied me immensely today." Rubbing her nose across his, she added, "But I missed you like crazy while you were gone, and worried myself sick that I might not be able to see you again, so is it wrong of me to feel a bit insatiable right now?"

Landon laughed while shaking his head, even as Delilah lifted her head as she added, "Besides, once we head back to work tomorrow morning, we won't see much of each other the rest of the week so I need to get as much of you as I can today."

Raising a large, black paw, Landon licked his chops while cupping her cheek and running his thumb across her luscious lips. "Well then, it's a good thing that I'm feeling a little insatiable myself, isn't it?"

Delilah grinned back at her mate and husband, even as she wrapped her long, black tongue around his thumb. Landon growled softly at the feel of her wet, muscular tongue around his thumb, but before he let her sidetrack him, he said, "You can have your wedding here."

Delilah froze a moment, then sat up straighter and released his thumb. "Really!?" She had hoped Landon would eventually give in to her wish, but when he refused to give his answer earlier today, she was beginning to think his dislike of Officer Hopps was too big of a hurdle for him to overcome so quickly, but here Landon was—finally giving his approval.

With a wide smile, Landon answered, "I know how much it means to you to hold a wedding here, so even if I don't like the rabbit who's getting married, she did catch and put an end to Bellwether's plans which allowed me to finally return home to you—so I can't be so petty as to refuse her coming here, not if it's something you really want, my beautiful, sexy, incredibly sensual wife."

Delilah laughed merrily. "I'm so happy!" Slipping her hooves around his neck while lowering herself towards him, she laughed again. "You have no idea how happy this makes me, Landon!"

"I think I have an idea," Landon replied while slipping his arms around her back.

With an excited grin, Delilah murmured, "I'll call Judy after dinner and let her know the good news." Dipping her head down, she brushed her lips against Landon's.

"You do that," Landon murmured back, then he captured her lips with own and tasted her deeply. As she groaned into his mouth, Landon gripped her tighter and rolled over so she was pinned beneath him. Pulling back enough to nip her chin, he began a trail of nips and kisses across her jawline while murmuring, "You do that." Biting her neck just above her jugular, which drew a long, lusty groan from his mate, Landon released her and began licking her neck while saying, "In the meantime, you have an insatiable husband who requires your touch and attention."

With a breathy laugh, Delilah's only reply was tilting her neck back while sliding her hooves down his back to grip his tail with one hoof and his butte with the other. Landon growled at her touch even as he started nipping his way down her chest. It was a good thing the staff were all gone for the day because he had no desire to deal with anyone else today. The only thought on his mind right now was satisfying himself and his mate.

-/-/-

Back in Nick and Judy's bedroom, silence slowly returned to the room. After catching his breath, Nick nuzzled Judy's head between her ears and murmured, "I didn't think you would want my knot again so soon."

Reaching behind her to caress Nick's cheek as her tail quivered joyfully against his stomach, Judy replied, "It's a little more tender the second time, but this is the only way for my body to get used to it."

Nick licked her ear as she spoke, but then nipped its end before saying, "Yes, but you also need to sit at dinner tonight, not to mention walking and sitting tomorrow when we meet with Bogo at the Police Station."

Judy's ears drooped slightly as she murmured, "Is it bad that I've already forgotten everything going on outside this room?"

With a light chuckle, Nick replied, "No, it's not." Nuzzling her between the ears, he added, "This is your wedding day and you literally just tied the knot—twice—so of course you're allowed to be a little forgetful of everything else going on around us."

Judy giggled. "Well, when you put it that way, I guess I don't have to feel bad about forgetting, then."

Nick chuckled softly, then held Judy close as he rolled them both over onto their sides. Spooning while still being knotted together, Nick gently licked and nuzzled Judy's ears and head as he softly caressed her stomach with his fingers and claws, even as he curled his fluffy tail around her.

Taking a deep, relaxing breath, Judy wrapped her arms around his tail and snuggled with it while enjoying Nick's gentle attentions as she was suddenly (and understandably) feeling exhausted over their intense activities. Nick really was the best male for her. Not only could he—and did!—fully and completely satisfy her repeatedly, but now that she needed a break, he didn't ask more from her, but simply touched her in a calming, relaxing way—and she loved it!

Enjoying Nick's soft and gentle caresses, Judy once more considered how they might have been lovers and mates in a previous life. How would that have worked? Was she a fox in another life? Or maybe Nick had been a rabbit buck? Judy shook the idea from her head. Neither idea sat well with her. She couldn't see herself as a fox, but she could imagine Nick as a rabbit buck even less. She really couldn't imagine falling in love with Nick if he wasn't a fox. Him being a red fox just fit him. And, well, she really couldn't picture herself as anything but a rabbit doe.

So how would that have worked out? Pred-prey couples weren't widely accepted in today's world, and it was even less so in the past. So how could their love be allowed to grow and thrive hundreds of years ago? Was theirs a tragic love story? Was that why they were given a second chance at love in this life? Judy truly hoped that if they did find each other in a previous life, that their love had been accepted, but understanding the centuries old hate and distrust between predators and prey, Judy feared their love story had been doomed from the start.

Trying not to think about the tragedy that might have been, Judy focused on the bliss of the present and the hope for a much better future. She knew not everyone would be happy for them, and some might even try to break them up, but as long as she had Nick, she knew they could get through anything. Together, they could make it work.

Thinking about how right and natural it felt being with Nick, her handsome fox husband and mate, Judy started humming a moment before she started singing softly, "A dangerous plan, just this time. A stranger's hand clutched in mine…" Thinking of the words as she sang, Judy knew that when considering the short amount of days she and Nick had actually known each other, people could technically say they were still strangers.

But no matter what anyone else might say, Judy knew that her connection to Nick was real and that being with him—right here right now—was right. Just as the song said, she had been waiting her whole life for this moment. Putting the feelings of her heart to words, Judy sang, "I was made for loving you…"

Nick's ears perked up as Judy began singing, 'I Was Made for Loving You' by Tori Kelly feat. with Ed Sheeran. It's not a song he had paid much attention to before (it was a soft love song, totally not his type), but now that he had Judy, the song took on a whole new meaning.

Waiting until Ed Sheeran's lines came up, Nick then sang, "Hold me close, through the night. Don't let me go, we'll be alright…" He too, had been waiting his whole life for Judy. Running his claws lightly through her belly fur as he sang, Judy joined him in singing, "…I was made for loving you…"

They continued singing, sometimes switching off when it was just the female or male vocals. As the song continued, Nick slipped his arms around Judy and hugged her tight. He really had been waiting a long time for her: his lover, his mate, his wife.

Snuggling into Nick's embrace, Judy continued singing with him, finishing with, "All I know, darlin', is that I was made for loving you." This song fit them so well, and as the last strains of their soft voices hung in the air, Judy turned her head to nuzzle the underside of Nick's muzzle. He purred into the touch, and Judy said, "I love you, Nick."

Returning her nuzzle, Nick replied, "I love you, too, Judy, my wife, my mate."

Judy beamed at him. She loved hearing him call her 'wife'. She never expected to be someone's wife before, and for the longest time she didn't think marriage was in her future, but now, with Nick, she was so grateful they were able to rearrange their stars—that Nick was now her future—her whole future.

Feeling truly content for the first time in her life, Judy settled back into Nick's embrace as he went back to gently running his claws back and forth across her belly. It was so relaxing, that the peace and quiet lulled her into a light snooze. As her consciousness slipped into a blissful slumber, Judy caught Nick's soft purr that further lulled her to sleep.

As Judy slipped off to dreamland, Nick propped his head up on his raised paw and refused to sleep. He was feeling a little tired, but more than that, he couldn't get enough of watching Judy's peaceful face. There was a small, joyful smile tugging the corners of her lips and she looked so beautiful. Still questioning how he ended up with Judy, Nick half expected to wake up alone if he were to fall asleep. It just didn't seem like his luck was good enough to catch such an amazing bunny as his wife and mate, so he was still afraid he was experiencing some fantastical, incredible dream.

If he were to wake up tomorrow to realize this last week had been a dream, Nick figured he would break down and cry his eyes out before slipping into a heartbroken coma. Leaning down and breathing in deeply of their combined scents, Nick figured that would be too cruel, even for something that happened to him. Using this line of thinking, he tried convincing himself that this was real. That Judy was really here with him and they were now mated: husband and wife.

Closing his eyes, Nick focused on Judy's scent and presence to calm his overactive mind, and it wasn't long before the soft, steady beat of her heart, coupled with her calming presence, lulled him into a light slumber.


WingedKatt again. I hope you enjoyed Nick and Judy's private fox wedding. And yes, they are still holding the official wedding later in the week. I'm not sure what all I'll have in the next chapter, so it will be a surprise for all of us.

Ch. 90 will post in 2 weeks. (Can you believe I finally made it to ch90!?)

Ch. 89.5: Claiming Ceremony, will post in the Spice Files on Wednesday.

I hope you have a great weekend. If you have any thoughts or questions, let me know.