The next day the Carrot Festival had begun. Nick did whatever he could to help Stu and Bonnie prepare their produce and other treats. Spotting a bowl of blueberries he attempted to sneak one or two only to have his paw swatted by Bonnie.
"Go on, Nick," she lectured, "Go help Judy make the carrot cakes."
With how helpful the fox was being at present she was tempted to look the other way but then several of her kids were watching and if she hadn't swatted him they'd think it's ok to sneak some too. Nick manned the cheesegrater while Judy was stirring the batter. Stu watched as the two moved about each other in the kitchen. He'd learned long ago that if a couple trips over each other in the kitchen their relationship won't last. Lo and behold, though, they seemed to work in near perfect harmony. The cake went into the oven and they began working on making the frosting from scratch and preparing another cake to go in. Again, Nick thought to sneak a couple blueberries only to get another swat, this time from his bunny girlfriend.
"Keep your mind on your work and your paws off the blueberries, Nickolas Wilde!" she lectured with a smile.
"Ok I can't paw at the blueberries. How about I paw at the Carrots?" he asked seductively pulling her into his arms.
"Tempting, but later. We have work to do and the Carrot Festival is serious business in Bunnyburrows," she stated wiggling out of his grip.
"Love you, Carrots," he replied.
"Love you too," she returned.
After this brief exchange, they got back to work. Stu noticed that Nick's tail wagged feverishly and he had a bounce in his step. By the time they finished, the rest of Judy's family had already gone off to the festival. Nick helped Judy gget the cakes covered and loaded into his car and they drove off. Thankfully they didn't have very many and the ones they were left with weren't very big. Once they arrived Nick grabbed all the cakes himself.
"Go enjoy the festival, honey-bunny, I'll catch up," he told her.
"You sure?" she asked.
"Yeah, don't mind me. I'll take these to your parents then come find you," he told her.
Carefully he leaned over and pecked her on the cheek, all the while balancing the carrot cakes. Nick's ears picked up the sound of someone else approaching, their scent betrayed their identity.
"Hey Gid, wanna' gimme' a hand?" he asked.
He turned around and looked his cousin in the eyes with a smile. Slowly that smile died down. "This is about Judy, isn't it?" Nick asked in a more serious tone.
"I dunno' what t' say, Nick," he commented solemnly.
"Just speak plainly. Are you alright with letting us be together or do you want to try to make me back off?" Nick replied.
"Both," Gideon sighed. Nick was confused by that statement. "First time I ever felt like this in m'life. I want 'er t' be happy even if it ain' with me but at th' same time I don' like seein' 'er with some other fella'," Gideon explained, "Even if th' other fella is m' cousin. Don' get me wrong, Nick, I'm happy for 'er but I jus' feel all messed up."
"You need to talk to Vanilla Foxglove," he informed.
"Beg pardon, but what kinda' help is a mess-uh, messu-uh," Gideon stumbled, "One of them massage therapist folks gonna' have?"
"Nilla studied psychotherapy before she studied to be a messeuse," Nick explained.
"She never said nothin' 'bout it and she been chasin' m' tail f'r a while," Gideon replied.
"Wrong Foxglove. The one chasing you is Cherry," Nick corrected.
"Well uh, truth be told Nick, I can' hardly tell them Foxglove sisters apart. I know their names but they look s'damn similar I can' tell one from th' other two," Gideon replied.
"So uh, be a pal Gid, help your cousin carry these carrot cakes," Nick asked.
"Oh sorry," Gideon replied taking a few.
When they got to the Hopps Stand, they saw one of Judy's brothers a plump bunny named Chuck working the stand.
"Howdy Chuck!" Gideon greeted.
"Hi Gideon, hi Nick. Dad's participating in this year's chess tournament and mom went to find the outhouse. So I'm manning the stall," Chuck explained.
"Thanks for giving me a hand, Gid," Nick stated, "I'm gonna' find Carrots."
"We have carrots at the stand here, Nick," Chuck laughed.
"Carrots is my nickname for your sister, y'know the one I make out with," Nick responded.
"Oh. Sorry, she's around here somewhere, think I saw her talking to Vanilla Foxglove," Chuck answered.
At that both Nick and Gideon wandered off in their own directions. It wasn't long until Nick passed by a taller-than-usual male bunny with what appeared to be tiger stripes on his head and ears. Normally, his presence wouldn't evoke any reaction from Nick but then the rabbit said something.
"Back off of Judy, she's mine," the rabbit quipped.
"Excuse me?" Nick retorted in equal.
"You heard me!" the rabbit commented.
"Tell ya' what skippy, I'll back off if she tells me to back off," the fox growled, "Now I recommend you back off. I don't wanna' ruin Carrot Festival for anyone but if I have to plant someone's face in the mud, I will." The rabbit huffed and stormed off.
"Nick, are you ok?" Angel asked from behind.
"I'm fine. Listen Angel," he started.
"I know, I'm sorry. You're your own man and you have the right to choose for yourself. I should be happy for you, instead I'm just being a jealous suka," Angel sighed, "I want what's best for you and what makes you happy but I've always wanted to be the one who makes you happy."
"Having you as a friend does make me happy, Angel. But I don't think I could ever think of you as anything more than maybe a sister so having that kind of relationship with you is out of the question," he explained.
"I know," she replied.
"So what're your sisters up to right now?" he asked.
"Nilla's participating in the chess tourny and Cherry's probably gouging herself on baked treats," Angel replied, "Where's Judy? I'd like to apologize to her too."
"I'm actually fixin' to start lookin' for her," Nick answered.
With that they started looking for Judy Hopps. They found her having an argument with the striped rabbit from before.
"I told you before Jack, we're done! Finished! I want nothing more to do with you! You cheated on me, you lied to me, you costed me four of my best friendships, and you tried to make me give up my dreams so you could make me into a trophy wife! Read my lips, fuck off!" she grated him, "And I swear if you being a possessive ass costed me my Nick, I will break every bone in your body!"
She turned ands saw Nick with Angel. "Hey Carrots," he greeted.
"Nick what are you doing with her?" Judy asked.
"I know you're not in any mood to see me right now, but I wanted to find you because I'm ready to apologize for how I acted," Angel replied.
Judy calmed slightly, if Angel was ready to apologize Judy would hear her out.
"So who's the pinstriped jackass?" Nick asked.
"My ex-boyfriend, Jack Savage," Judy replied flatly, "I hope you didn't listen to anything he said to you, Nick."
"He told me to back off but I basically told him that I will only if you tell me to," he told her.
"Good because I'm not ready to lose you and I don't think I ever will be," she replied.
She latched onto his arm and a contented smile crossed her face. Jack on the other hand twitched his nose furiously, a growl escaped from his throat as he approached Nick and reared back to hit the fox in the back. Before he could, a white blur intercepted the blow and threw him against a tree.
"Ty cho, slov ne ponimayesh? Poteryaysia, tebe zdes ne rady!" Angel growled.
"Did Angel just," Judy started asking wide-eyed.
"She said no one hurts her friends, uh roughly translated," Nick informed.
"Thank you, Angel," Judy replied.
Angel turned and offered Judy a smile and paw. Which Judy accepted as she understood that it meant Angel now thought of her as a friend. Angel decided to part ways with the couple. She gave them both kisses on their cheeks.
"Bye Nick, bye Judy, see ya' later!" she stated as she walked off.
"She seems to have done a complete 180, she seemed set on hating me yesterday," Judy stated.
"It'll take her a long time to move on but I know Angel pretty well, she'd rather be friends with you than hold a grudge," he replied.
As Judy thought about that statement her eyes downcasted and her ears drooped.
"What're you so sad about all of a sudden?" he asked.
"Do you think we're meant to be? I'm a bunny you're a fox," she started. "What does your heart tell you about that?" he replied.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"If you love me, if you really truly love me, then you'll know whether we were meant to be and you'll realize that it doesn't matter what we are," he explained.
Judy paused, very rarely was she uncertain, but this time her uncertainty wasn't over her feelings for Nick. Those feelings were only getting stronger, this uncertainty was about the world around them.
"I do love you, Nick, and I don't care what we are. But I am scared about how the rest of the world sees us together," she explained.
"Your parents might not like me but they support you and what you want, my family adores you, and we have our friends. As long as we have those people around us, who cares what the rest of the world says?" he reassured.
He cupped a paw on her cheek and kissed her, she returned the gesture. When they parted they both seemed to be in better spirits.
"Let's go, we still have a festival to enjoy!" she exclaimed, her bright smile back and her ears at full upright.
He let her lead him away from the spot they were standing in when they had their kiss. It was decided that the first thing they would do was go to see the aforementioned chess tournament that both Stu Hopps and Nilla Foxglove were apparently taking part in. The tournament was currently at a standstill as the two in question sat across from each other. It was unclear who's turn it was as they both sat at the table eyeing the board carefully. Finally Stu moved a rook, which prompted Nilla to use a bishop to take that rook. Things went back and forth in this manner until.
"Checkmate," Nilla declared.
Stu eyed the board with the most scrutenous of gazes before concluding for himself that no move would get him out of check.
"Good game, missy," he sighed.
"Same to you, Mr. Hopps, I appreciated the challenge," she said smiling back at him.
They shook paws briefly before Stu started out. Judy caught up with him before he got too far away.
"Daddy," she called to him.
"Hey Jude the dude, how're you two enjoying the festival?" he asked.
"It's very rustic, but I like it. Reminds me of the time my family went to Nottingham for an ancestrial renaissance festival," Nick replied nostalgically.
"That sounds, extravagant and excessive," Judy commented.
"Well apparently one of my ancestors came from Nottingham, some notorious outlaw that stole from the rich to give to the poor," he explained, "But enough about that. Saw that defeat from here, it looked about as painful as a chess match can be. Nilla's always been brutal at board games."
"It's not that bad son, y'win some y'lose some. It's the way life is, I best get back to the stand, don't want Chuck eatin' everything we brought," Stu replied.
Nick went to check on Nilla who was getting ready for her next match, against Gideon Grey while Judy followed her dad back to the Hopps Family stall.
"Gideon, I'm surprised to see you take interest in the chess tournament," Nilla commented.
"Wanted t' have a chat with ya', figured this'd be m' best chance," he replied.
"This isn't a friendly game, Gideon, this is a tournament. Don't expect me to go easy," she explained.
"Shucks, I don' care none 'bout th' tournament. I jus' need t' talk to ya'," he replied.
At that the board was set in front of them. Nick watched quietly from the sidelines.
"Alright, what's so important that you can't wait until later to talk about it at the spa?" Nilla asked.
"I dunno' how t' say this but I'm still tryin' t' wrap m' head around why Cherry would take such a strong fancy t' me. I'm jus' a dumb country fox, dunno' nothin' 'bout folks from th' city. M' own cousin may 's well be a stranger," he explained.
"Oh Cherry doesn't care, she sees you for who you are underneath that dumb country fox exterior and she likes you for who you are. You're a kind, clever, caring person Gideon. That's what she values," Nilla explained, "And you have more in common with Nick than you think."
"'Bout the only thing I know I have in common with Nick is that we both took th' same kinda' shine to Judy but she chose 'im. S'who am I t' get in their way?" he replied, "But I feel like I'm bein' pulled two different ways. Part o' me wants both of 'em t' be happy an' th' other part wants to force 'em apart s' I can have Judy. I already know the latter jus' won' work out th' way I intend. Best case scenario, she forgives me eventually but still don' want me nowhere near 'er. Worst case, I ruin a valuable friendship. Either way, I lose m' cousin t' m' jealous heart 'cause I know Nick'd never forgive me."
She smiled at him gently, Vanilla Foxglove understood exactly what he was saying.
"The Chinese concept of Yin-and-Yang rings more truly than most people realize. Most people in your position who take the latter option never realize that they're ruining themselves and their loved ones by doing so. Not until it's too late to turn back. I applaud you for realizing how harmful that path will be down the line. I know it's painful now, but you'll be glad you decided to take the former path in the future," she explained.
"What about th' movin' on part?" he asked.
"Cherry's more than willing to help with that part but you have to let her know when you're ready to heal and how quickly you want to advance that relationship," she answered.
Nick smiled and slipped through the crowd. In the meantime, Stu was glad to be able to talk to his daughter without her boyfriend around. It didn't make what he had to say any easier though. Saying something to Judy she didn't want to hear was never an easy task by any means.
"Judy, I-I don't want you to see that boy," Stu sighed.
"It's because he's a fox isn't it?" she hissed.
Stu stayed quiet at that.
"I know you don't like foxes but I thought at the very least you respected my wish to be with him! I don't know why I thought that eventually you might come to actually like and accept him! I met his entire family and not one of them have raised issue with the fact that I'm a bunny!" she argued.
"Judy," he started.
"No, I don't wanna' hear it! He's been on his best behavior and he's been nothing but polite and honest! You wouldn't have issue with him if he were another rabbit!" she continued.
"It's not like that, I'm worried about him y'know, hurting you," Stu told her.
She cocked an eyebrow.
"Y'know when you two get intimate. I know you don't want me to talk about it but we both know it's bound to happen. It's bound to come up and well all canine creatures, foxes included have a um," Stu continued awkwardly.
"Oh that, well it's already happened. It did hurt at first but it helped that he went slowly and was gentle with me," she replied, much calmer.
"You mean you've been with him outside of-..." he started, then immediately bit his tongue.
"Dad please, I don't expect you to just accept him right away but just let us be," she pleaded.
"Alright Judy, you win," he relented.
"Stu, I already told you not to raise a stink about this to begin with!" Bonnie lectured, "You be glad Nick didn't hear ya'! Where is Nick by the way?"
"I was watching my cousin getting spanked at chess by Nilla," Nick laughed, "And I DID hear the conversation but I can't say that I blame you. But I stand by what I said from the moment we met. I love her, and I won't stop loving her, no matter what."
"Nick, I'm terribly sorry. Old habits die hard, I'm afraid. Stu grew up with bigotry towards foxes and now our oldest daughter is deeply in love with a fox. It's just taking some time to get over that bigotry," Bonnie explained.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Hopps, I understand. I know all too well what it's like to grow up in a bigoted household but my old man burying that hatred he's carried around for too long," Nick explained.
"I'm sorry too, Nick. I should just keep my mouth shut. You're actually the most decent young man any o' my daughters have brought home and that is sayin' quite a bit," Stu replied, "Now you kids didn't come here for me to air my issues, go have fun. If this still needs to be brought up later we'll talk at about it when we all get home tonight."
With that the two left to enjoy themselves.
