After dinner during cleanup a bright flash outside followed by a loud boom signaled a coming thunderstorm.
"Bon, we got a thunderstorm," Stu announced.
"I noticed, Stu. What's the weather report say?" she replied.
"Severe thunderstorm watch 'til 1 am," he replied.
"What about flooding?" she asked.
"30% chance," came Stu's reply.
"I suppose right now all we can do is hope-..." she started.
Just then all the lights in the house went out at once unexpectedly.
"And power went out," Stu sighed.
Judy tried to comfort her younger brothers and sisters who were scared.
"Hun where's the flashlight?" Stu asked shuffling around blindly.
"Right where we always leave it," she replied.
"Gonna' have to go into the cellar and check the circuit breaker then maybe start the back-up generator," he stated.
"Maybe I could do it for you," Nick offered.
"Are ya' sure, Nick?" Stu asked.
"Yeah, times like this is when being a fox actually comes in handy. Y'know built-in night vision and all," he replied.
"Alright," the old hare relented.
At present Nick could see perfectly but he knew the Hopps were having trouble.
"Where's the entrance to the cellar?" he asked.
"Groundlevel hallway, third door on the left," Bonnie replied.
In truth, he was scared of going down into the cellar by himself but saw little choice. He wished he'd kept his tazer or tranq gun on him as he ventured into the cellar.
"That's a big back-up generator," he thought staring at the machine that took up most of the space in the cellar.
He heard snoring and it caused him to look to the source out of fear and surprise. Sleeping in a matted old hammock was a dirty grey old hare.
"Must be Grampa Carrots," Nick thought with a silent laugh.
His eyes scanned the room in the dark, if he weren't a preditor he'd be as blind as the rabbits upstairs. On the wall he fround the switchbox without the door covering it. He checked the switches, they all appeared to be on but he flipped them off and back on a couple times. When he was met with failure he turned his attention to the generator.
"How do I turn this thing on?" he asked himself.
As he tried to circle it, he caught sight of a carkey sticking out of it. He grabbed hold and gave it a turn as if trying to start. He heard the generator give a loud cranking sound before it reached the point when Nick knew it would stay on. Surprisingly, the old hare slept through the generator's start-up and was sleeping through the generator's hum. He went back upstairs to see that power was back on.
"Thanks for doin' that Nick, sorry I didn't tell ya' about dad sleepin' down there," Stu replied.
"No problem Mr. Hopps, how're the kids?" Nick replied.
"They'll be alright, Bonnie found the lanterns and took 'em off to bed," the old hare answered.
"Any change in the storm?" Nick asked. "Nope still just as bad," Stu answered.
With nothing else to do, Stu and Bonnie invited Nick and Judy to watch a movie with them. Stu and Bonnie sat in their recliners, while Nick and Judy lay on the couch cuddled. It unnerved Stu but Nick had just done him a huge favor and volunteered to do it so he said nothing about it. He also relented to Judy's judgement on the matter.
"Maybe it's time I stop thinkin' of Nick as just a fox. He's good with the kids, Judy loves him, and he did pretty much save the day tonight," Stu thought.
"Oh that's rediculous!" Judy commented on the movie, "One stick of dynamite could not cause that big an explosion!"
"Carrots, it's just a movie. They're gonna' embellish a bit," Nick replied.
The sound of rubbing caught Stu's attention. Nick was rubbing Judy's belly and she seemed to be enjoying it. Whatever Nick's aim with the bellyrub was it seemed to be working, Judy was completely relaxed.
"This could be it," Stu thought.
But the opening of Nick's mouth that Stu had spotted from across the room was only a yawn.
"Tired my overgrown plushie?" Judy flirted.
"Just a little and a bit bored maybe," he replied.
"Nick, you don't have to watch the movie with us," Bonnie responded.
"Nah, it's ok I wanna' spend time with my Carrots and her family," Nick replied with his typical smile.
"Have I been worrying about Nick for nothing? Even Bonnie seems at ease with him, am I the only one?" Stu thought.
He was starting to doubt his impressions of Nick. Truth be told, Nick hadn't done anything to leave a bad first impression. In fact, if he had been a bunny Stu wouldn't have batted an eye about this whole ordeal.
"I still don't quite trust him yet, but I guess I could give him the benefit of the doubt," he thought a bit more relaxed now.
An elderly rabbit burst into the room with a walker in one hand.
"There's a fox in the house!" the old geezer shouted. He waved his walker at Nick. "Out! Out, you dirty varmit! Out! Sommun' call th' sheriff!" the old bunny shouted.
"Dad! Dad! Calm down!" Stu tried.
"Papa! That's enough!" Bonnie cooed.
"Grampa!" Judy half-scolded.
Eventually, Stu managed to calm the old hare and get him back to bed.
"I'm so sorry about my father-in-law, dear. He's old and set in his ways," Bonnie apologized.
"Yeah, but maybe it's best if I take off," Nick relented.
"Hogwash son!" Stu replied coming back into the room, "My father might not like foxes but that doesn't mean you aren't welcome here. Judy loves you and what kinda' father would I be to her if I didn't give you a chance. This don't mean I accepted ya', just means I've come to realize that foxes are people just like everyone else."
"Are you sure?" the todd asked.
"Don't make me repeat myself, Nick. From what I've seen you're a good man but prove me wrong on that and your welcome is worn out," the father hare lectured.
"I understand," Nick affirmed, his previously cheery smile gone.
"Nick?" Judy questioned.
"Your dad's made it clear what his conditions are, Carrots. He's the man of the house and I'm his daughter's guest, I'll behave myself as best I can. If only for your sake," the fox explained.
"There is something I'm curious about though. A handsome todd like you must know some vixens?" Bonnie asked.
"I know three very charming, very beautiful, and very intelligent arctic fox vixens. Problem is I never thought of dating any of them. They're childhood friends so they're more like family to me," Nick replied.
"What're their names?" she asked.
"Vanilla, Cherry, and Angel Foxglove. They're triplets," he replied.
"Ain't that somethin', Stu? Those three just moved to town and set themselve up in a spa business," Bonnie laughed.
"Really? I haven't seen them in ages. You wouldn't mind if I took Judy to meet them, would you?" he replied.
"Alright but not tonight, dear, it's still pouring out there and it's getting late," Bonnie pointed out.
With that both couples turned in for the night. The next day, the '66 Corvette pulled into the parking lot of what was before a closed down furnature store. Now the building was refurbished with a sign hanging on the outside that said "Foxglove's Spa".
"Well, they are here," Nick stated with a chuckle.
The two headed inside to see a lazily dozing arctic fox vixen half-asleep at the counter.
"Nilla," Nick greeted.
At that her ears perked and she practically jumped.
"Nick! Oh my god, it IS you!" she practically shrieked in joy.
"I'm in town visiting my girlfriend's parents," Nick informed, "Thought I'd pop in and say hi to some old friends."
"I'm confused, the only other foxes in town are the Grey family and I thought they were your relatives," she replied, "And I'm Cherry by the way."
"Nice try," he countered, "And my girlfriend isn't a fox, she's a bunny and she happens to be here with me today. Vanilla Foxglove, this is Judy Hopps."
"Call me Nilla, everyone else does," she introduced.
"Cherry and Angel around?" Nick asked.
"Yeah, I wouldn't recommend introducing your long-eared girlfriend to Angel. Y'know how she can be and Cherry is with a client that she thinks is a VIP but it's just your cousin," Nilla explained.
"Wait, Cherry likes Gideon?" Nick snickered.
"Yeah, but he's deaf to subtext," she replied.
"That doesn't sound like the Gideon I know," Judy pondered.
This just caused Nick to snicker harder.
"Am I missing something?" the rabbit asked.
"Yeah, fill us in Nick. What's so funny?" Nilla asked.
"Cherry's trying to put the moves on a guy who likes a girl who's spoken for," Nick explained.
Both pondered that statement for a few moments and steadily the realization hit them.
"Sweet cheese and crackers!" Judy exclaimed.
"Ohuet'," Nilla stated in shock.
"She said what?" Judy asked.
"These sisters were adopted by a polar bear named Kaslov, he speaks with a very thick Russian accent and they grew up learning both English and Russian. What she just said roughly translates to holy shit," Nick explains.
"Three dirty little orphan girls no one wanted and he took us in, fed us, clothed us, he was our papylia. Our daddy. He didn't like us much at first but after a while, he softened up," she continued.
"Was?" Judy asked.
"Papylia is in a better place," Nilla stated with a sad smile, "Cancer, three years ago."
"I'm so sorry," Judy stated placing a comforting paw on Nilla's arm.
"That's kind of you but he wouldn't want us to grieve forever so here we are, trying to make the most of our lives," Nilla concluded, "You two be careful seeing the other two."
At that they left Nilla at her reception desk. Further back they found another of the Foxglove triplets moving boxes around.
"Hey Angel!" Nick greeted.
The sound of his voice caught the white vixen's attention and she run up to Nick and immediately glomped him.
"Nick!" she squealed. She went to kiss him but he put a paw in the way.
"Sorry Angel, I'm seeing someone already," he informed.
"WHAT!?" she shouted.
"Calm down, will ya'? I told you before I don't think it'll work," he replied rubbing one of his ears.
At that this Foxglove sister let out a snort and took on an angry pouting look.
"Angel, you're still my friend and I brought my girlfriend for my old friends to meet. This is Judy Hopps," he introduced.
She took one look at Judy huffed and walked away muttering.
"Chertova shluha!," she growled.
"Hey! You be nice!" Nick warned.
His warning fell on deaf ears as Angel continued to storm off.
"What did she say?" Judy asked.
"She just called you a whore," he translated.
"Bitch" Judy growled. Following that, Judy's face took her typical look of sadness and anger.
"I'm sorry, Carrots. I shoulda' known better than to introduce you to her," Nick sighed.
"What's with her anyway?" Judy asked.
"She's had a lifelong crush on me," he replied.
This caused Judy's eyes to widen and her ears to stand straight up.
"The feeling is far from mutual. Someday she'll understand that you're the only one for me," he continued.
There was still one more left. They sat in the waiting room, not much else to do. Finally, the doors to the spa room opened and Gideon marched out at a quick pace.
"Uh th-thank ya' kindly f'r th' treatment but I r-really gotta' get back t-t' work!" he stuttered hurridly.
"Oh come now, Mr. Grey, you know your massage isn't over yet," the last sister added with a coy tone.
"I-I-I r-really gotta' get back t' work, uh bye!" he replied and rushed out.
"Blyad'!" she swore as loud as she could without shouting.
"Hi Cherry," Nick laughed.
"Nick!" she half-shouted.
Like her sister, Cherry glomped Nick but this was more of a hug from good friends who hadn't seen each other in a long time.
"Oh my god, it's been so long! How are you Nick!?" she shrieked happily.
"I'm doing great, thanks to my cottontail girlfriend," he replied and indicated Judy.
"Oh! You have a girlfriend? Where are my manners? I'm Cherry Foxglove and you are?" she replied turning her attention to Judy.
"J-Judy Hopps. Sorry about Gideon, I guess he's trying to get over me," she replied.
"Oh, a love scandal! How delicious! Tell me all about it!" the vixen giggled.
"Well, you already know about Angel's feelings for me but I'm wrapped up in this amazing cottontail. Turns out I'm not the only guy out there, Gideon's had it bad for her for a while and he's my cousin. And that brings us to you," Nick explained.
"Sounds frustrating," Cherry replied with a nod, "Unfortunately I'm a complete dunce when it comes to stuff like this but maybe Nilla can help sort it all out? So you two are a thing, huh? How's the sex?"
"Th-that's none of your business!" Judy exclaimed.
Both Nick and Cherry laughed.
"Anyway me and Carrots just came by to visit for a bit. We're actually headed back to her parents' house," Nick explained.
"Oh alright, well take this with you!" she insisted.
She forced a lamenated card into his hand before returning to work. On the way back Judy got to take a look at it as well. It read, "Foxglove's Spa, good for unlimited free visits for two." Judy's face went red at the thought of it.
"Y'know we could request the private spa for that," he suggested.
"Shut up, Nick!" she retorted and stared out the window.
"Still embarrassed about Cherry's forwardness about that?" he asked.
"Maybe," she muttered.
"Be glad Nilla wasn't around when she asked," he replied.
"Why?" Judy asked.
"Things could've gotten a lot worse but I won't go into details," he answered.
