Judy woke up the next morning and had to wiggle her way out of her vulpine lover's embrace.
"Oh shit! Nick, get up! We're gonna' be late for work!" she half-shouted.
As she panicked and ran around, Nick yawned and sat up. He stared at her smitten for a few minutes.
"Nick, stop staring at me and get ready!" she lectured.
"What's the rush, Carrots?" he asked.
"We have to report back, our suspension is over!" she stated.
At that, Nick realized she was right.
"I don't suppose you brought a uniform over with you yesterday?" Judy asked.
"No, I didn't but I keep a spare in my locker," he replied.
He put the clothes he took off last night back on, his typical yellow button-up and dark blue tie. After getting ready and locking up her apartment, they rushed to pile in the elevator. Then had to floor it to get to work.
"Head on into the bullpin, I'll get changed and come in when I'm done," he told her.
He didn't give her time to argue before running off to the men's locker room. Bogo came into the bullpin in his usual temper.
"Hopps, where's Wilde?" Bogo asked.
"Locker room, sir. He uh, didn't have a clean uniform at home this morning," she explained.
The bullpin was full of teases about them being together. Bogo eyed her carefully.
"Next time Wilde stays the night with you, make sure he brings over his uniform," he lectured.
"Y-yes sir," she stammered out of frustration.
At that Nick came in, somewhat short of breath and took a seat next to his partner.
"Wilde! I already told Hopps but the next time you two spend the night together make sure you have a uniform with you," he lectured.
"Um ok," Nick replied.
Bogo passed out assignments, giving Nick and Judy park patrol. Judy was about to object when Nick just put a hand over her mouth.
"Problem, you two?" he asked.
"No sir, park patrol is just fine!" Nick laughed.
As the bullpin emptied Judy glared at Nick. "Park patrol is fine?" she repeated.
"Com'n Carrots, we're goin' to see your family tomorrow," he explained, "Do you really wanna' take on a major case right before that? Then I won't even be able to pull your attention from it."
"I suppose you're right," she relented.
"Com'n, park patrol awaits. I'll buy you an ice cream," he stated.
"Just don't go dripping it on my head again," she growled.
"Sure," he replied as they headed out.
Bogo stopped by Clawhauser's desk on his way back to his office.
"You're still giving them a week off after that suspension?" Clawhauser asked.
"Yeah," Bogo confirmed.
"Why?" the cheetah asked.
"Three reasons. First, Hopps has been far too stressed lately. Second, they both have more vacation time saved up than most of the precinct. Third, it's called tipping the scales. You remember what I put my money on right?" Bogo explained.
Clawhauser thought for a few minutes. "Y'mean about him proposing at the policeman's ball in a month?" Clawhauser asked.
"Yes that," Bogo confirmed.
"Seems you're doing more than tipping the scales, boss. Every time there's an office pool about those two you seem to win it," the chubby cheetah pointed out.
"I have my ways," Bogo grinned.
Then the buffilo police chief headed back to his office to do his paperwork and maybe smoke a cigar. Nick had just finished paying for the ice cream.
"Thanks for the ice cream, Nick," Judy commented.
"You're welcome," he returned.
The hot sun of Savanna Central felt a great deal hotter than it should've and they both knew why. The past couple of nights had been amazing. Bogo had given them the three days off to sort out their tensions but all it had done was aggrevate those tensions.
"Keep an eye out, will ya' Nick?" she asked.
"What'cha' doin'?" he asked.
"Texting my parents about our vacation with them," she replied.
True to form, Nick watched vigilantly as she piddled on her phone. Park patrol is a typically quiet post and he enjoyed the thinking time. As he scanned his surroundings, looking for suspiscious activity he thought back to the burning question in his mind.
"Am I ready to spend the rest of my life with Judy?" he asked himself.
He admired her in more than just body. She had a loving heart and a passionate spirit. She had saved him and healed him in more than one way. Still, the hyperactive bunny had her limits but as she had put it, "Limits were made to be broken." As her partner, it was his job to make sure that her pushing herself too hard didn't end up with her at death's door, for both their sakes. He was starting to understand the merit in protocol typically not allowing partners to be romantically involved. Being alone with her was so much easier when they weren't lovers.
"All done," she announced.
"How'd the chitchat go?" he asked.
"We're leaving for Bunnyburrows tomorrow at noon," she announced.
"Alright," he sighed.
She noticed his gaze. "Careful, we start getting lovey-dovey at work and the chief'll seperate us," she advised.
In secret, she wanted to throw caution to the wind but they were in uniform and they were in public. No matter the tension between them, they were both still happy just being together. Interrupting their quiet patrol a panicked cougar ran up to them.
"Officers! My baby!" she pleaded.
Nick's eyes darted and he saw the culprit, a black van with three zebras trying struggling with a young bear cub.
"Call for backup!" he told his partner.
Nick broke into a mad dash that Judy had never seen him in. He ran up to one of them and planted a kick to the zebra's face. This let the cub get free. The other two loomed over him, he whipped around and pulled his taser.
"Feelin' lucky fellas?" he quipped.
He hadn't noticed the driver get out and try to get the jump on him but DelGato had just so happened to be nearby and threw him against a nearby tree. This knocked the driver out cold. The two remaining decided to try to run away, only to come face-to-face with McHorn and Beasley.
"Goin' somewhere, fellas?" McHorn snorted.
"Nice call, Hopps. What're we bookin' these idiots under?" Beasley asked.
Judy didn't bother answering him right away, she was taking a statement from the frightened cub and the releaved mother.
"Attempted kidnapping, fuzzy," Nick quipped.
The bear just glared at the kidnappers. "They're gonna' love you boys at the big house," he commented.
"You gotta' learn to watch your corners, Wilde. The driver nearly got the jump on you," DelGato commented.
"I-I dunno' what happened. The victim's mother reported, then I just reacted," Nick explained.
"Parent instincts, Wilde," Beasley explained, "All mammals have 'em. They sometimes activate randomly when any kind of kid is in danger."
"Anyway, Chief wants to see you two," DelGato informed.
"Right, see ya' later," Nick stated waving goodbye.
The two hopped back in their cruiser. A short time later they arrived back at Bogo's office again.
"Nice work on thwarting that kidnapping you two," Bogo stated after taking a huff of his cigar.
"Com'n Chief, what's this about?" Nick asked directly.
"Any chance I could convince you two to start your vacation a few hours early?" he asked.
"Aw chief, are you trying to get rid of us? And here I thought we were getting along so well," Nick half-whined playfully.
"Shut your trap, Wilde," Bogo lectured, "Listen, you two have more vacation time than the entire precinct and you haven't even been here for half as long as some of the other officers. So please, for the love of my sanity, go home!"
"Thank you sir," Judy stated as the two left.
Bogo sat wondering what might've changed. While it was true that they asked for the following week off, any other time he'd have to find a way to force them to take time off. Still, they'd be gone for a whole week, he leaned back in his chair and took a long puff of his cigar. While Bogo sat in his office considering things, Precinct 1's dynamic duo were getting in Nick's car.
"So, what now?" he asked.
"What do you think?" she asked flirtatiously.
"I'm thinking about fish," he replied.
"Food? Really Nick?" she asked.
"You asked what I was thinking," he defended, "Except for that ice cream I haven't eaten all day."
"Fine, I guess we'll get something to eat," she half-sighed, half-laughed.
The two stopped at their usual diner, Savanna Heaven.
"Officer Hopps, Officer Wilde. Can I get your usuals?" the waitress asked.
"Sure Tiff," Nick replied.
The waitress was a red lioness who spoke in a soft tone.
"Y'know, I often wonder why her fur is red," Judy commented.
"Oxydermisyndrome," Nick explained, "It's a rare pelt condition usually found in animals with psionic abilities. Animals with the condition typically have odd fur colors."
"How do you know about it?" she asked.
"My ex was blue vixen," he answered.
"What happened with her?" the bunny asked.
"Things didn't work out, she ended up marrying a former fighter-pilot," Nick answered.
"I'm sorry, Nick," she apologized.
"Don't be, things didn't work out so what? Life goes on. Besides, if I'd stayed with her, I wouldn't have you," he replied.
Tiff brought their food and went back to the counter. After eating their fried tuna and baked veggies sub sandwiches the two paid the owner, a tall black bear with a prosthetic arm, and left.
"Y'know the owner always gives me the creeps," she admitted outside.
"Yeah, I always get the feeling he's gonna' reach across the bar and strangle me or something," he admitted.
"Let's go home, Nick. We have some unfinished business," she told him with an irresistable look.
"Dirty bunny," he commented but relented all the same.
