The breakfast table today was actually quite enjoyable. Daniel seemed happy and was laughing and smiling along with his siblings. Nobody noticed anything wrong until Nick pointed it out.

"Carrots? You ok?" he asked worriedly.

"I-I'm fine, Nick," she answered unsteadily.

"That sounded convincing," he remarked sarcastically, but still remained concerned.

When Lucielle came around to check on Judy, she found the rabbit running a fever.

"Zut alors!" the mink exclaimed, "You are most certainly not fine, you are running a fever!"

"I-I don't feel sick though," Judy replied as unsteady as before.

"That's a load! You haven't touched your breakfast and I know how much you like blueberry muffins," Nick replied.

At the mentioning of blueberries Judy seemed to gag.

"Ok, now I know you're not fine," he stated in a serious tone.

"Nick, really. I'm-" she started.

"Don't lie to us! Damnit Judy we're your family!" Debbie shouted.

"I was just about to say the same thing," Jane remarked.

"I-I need to go lay down," she replied sheepishly.

As she got up from the table Nick sweeped her up to carry her.

"I can walk," she told him.

"Don't argue this with me right now," he replied sternly.

"Je vais avec eux. Je veux m'assurer qu'elle va bien," Lucielle told Alex, heading to the elevator with Nick and Judy.

"D'accord," Alex sighed.

As soon as Judy was back in bed, Lucielle began to treat her the best she could without any medical supplies at hand. She began as anyone even lightly trained in medical procedure would, trying to find the cause of the symptoms.

"Zis cannot be," she muttered.

She quickly pulled out her phone and began texting her professor to get a second opinion. She hoped her professor, Dr. Langstrum, wouldn't be too upset. Being a bat meant that he slept all day and was active at night, but he was one of the greatest academic and medical experts in the entire city. She texted him all of Judy's symptoms and he quickly texted back his assessment.

"As far as I can tell, you are pregnant," she announced.

"P-pregnant?!" Judy and Nick both exclaimed.

"Oui, I asked my college professor for a second opinion and he came to ze same conclusion," she replied, "Zere is a margin for error. Zere may be somezing I am overlooking zat he vould see and I am not yet a licensed doctor."

Nick didn't know what to think, the thought of becoming a father scared him but he knew this was one thing he couldn't run from. If he tried, he knew Judy would never forgive him for it. On top of that, he wanted kids of his own but didn't think it would be this soon.

"I, ve do not know for certain," Lucielle consoled nervously, "I vould strongly recommend zat ve take her to ze hospital to have her checked zere."

"Y-yeah, it's just that I didn't think I'd become a dad this soon," Nick sighed.

Nick picked up Judy again, and again she seemed to complain about it. In the meantime, Lucielle rushed back downstairs to let everyone else know they were taking Judy to the hospital.

"Ah hell, what's wrong with her?" Daniel asked.

"I have a guess, but ve need to be sure," Lucielle answered.

The others at the table looked shocked at Daniel's response.

"What? Y'know how Nick is. Something happens to that little rabbit of his and he'll never get over it," he stated gruffly.

"Where are they?" Alex asked, turning his attention back to his wife.

"Zey are heading to ze parking lot," she replied.

"I should probably get you to the hospital too hon. Have you informed Dr. Langstrum yet?" he asked.

"Oui, he said he vould meet us zere," she answered.

"I'll let the mom and dad and Mr. and Mrs. Hopps know what's going on," Debbie volunteered.

"I'd take it easy on that, Deb," Jane replied, "At least until we know for sure what's going on. Or have a rough idea."

"I believe Mademouiselle Judy is pregnant. She displays all of ze known symptoms and zat is vhat Professor Langstrum informed me," Lucielle announced.

For Nick and Judy the ride to the hospital was quiet and tense. Nick's thoughts were on becoming a father, he wasn't ready and didn't know if this was something he could ever be ready for. He stayed focused on the road but at a red light he reached over and place a paw comfortingly on Judy's shoulder.

"It's ok, Carrots. Whatever happens we'll stick together and make the most of whatever comes of this," he told her, offering her a weak smile.

"Y-yeah," she replied, returning that smile.

"I love you. I always will and I promise that no matter what we have or when we have it, I'll love it too," he told her.

"Sweet, sappy fox. You don't have to," she told him, her eyes tearing up.

"No, I DO have to. I'm in this relationship with you. I proposed to you. And I got you pregnant. So let me take responsibility and take care of you," he replied nervously.

"I-I'm scared, Nick. This is way sooner than I expected. I thought we'd be married before kids came along and now this," she sobbed.

"It's ok. I'm scared too. It IS sooner than either of us expected but life happens and we have to deal with it," he told her.

"What if I say I want to abort?" she asked.

"I'd be fine with it but we'd have to tell our families. My parents I know for sure wouldn't like it, especially dad," Nick replied.

At that, Nick pulled out the tape recorder from earlier and hit the play button. Once again the gruff voice of a much older and already passed on todd came out. Then he tucked it back away in his pocket.

"I was posing it as a hypothetical," she stated, "I was wondering if you'd love me any less if I decided now wasn't the right time."

"No, I wouldn't love you any less. But, I can honestly say I would be heartbroken over it," he told her.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because that's my kiddo in your belly too," he reminded her, "If you want my input, I say we go through with it and deal with the mess. We'll move you into the clock tower loft with me until we find a place or maybe Grampa Phil's studio is still in the family name."

"What about your mother's house?" she asked.

"Debbie and Jack are getting it," he replied.

When they got to the hospital and checked in they were surprised to see a fruit bat had volunteered to run their tests.

"Good day to you, Mr. and Mrs. Wilde, I'm Dr. Thomas Langstrum," he introduced.

"We're not married yet," Judy tried to correct.

"Don't correct me on that, young lady. It doesn't matter that you're not married yet," he replied grumpily.

"I-I'm sorry!" she apologized.

"Don't be, I'm just a moody old bat who's up at what nocturnal creatures consider to be an ungodly hour. I'm running off four cups of coffee and five mango juices. At any rate, Daniel Wilde, I presume?" he replied.

"No sir, Nicholas," Nick corrected, "Daniel is my oldest brother."

At that Dr. Langstrum drew a deep breath and announced the results of the test.

"Pregnant," he stated.

"So Lucielle was right," Judy sighed.

"Lucielle Vison Wilde is one of my best and brightest students and she's a good friend. Her husband helped me out of a false malpractice lawsuit a few years back," the doctor explained, "Speak of the devil, I think I hear your guests outside the room. I'll excuse myself so you can tell them yourselves."

With that, the doctor left and the Wilde family came in with Mr. and Mrs. Hopps.

"Congratulations you two, sorry it's a bit early," Debbie stated.

"Things happen, Debbie. It's not like this is a bad thing. It's just a bit early," Judy defended.

"I never said it was a bad thing, in fact I'm happy for you both," the older girl replied

"Judy, I want you to call me as soon as you start feeling any different," Bonnie started.

"Mom, mom, I'm a big girl and I'm sure Lillian will help me if I need it," Judy coaxed.

"I know dear, but I can't help but worry, I'm your mother," Bonnie replied.

"You need to talk to the police chief about a maternity leave, you don't want him to find out the hard way or for some criminal to figure it out," John lectured.

"Where's Jackie, Jane, and the Foxgloves?" Nick asked.

"With your many, many in-laws," Stu answered.

At the back of the group, Nick spotted his brother-in-law on his wife's phone.

"What's going on with Jack?" Nick asked.

"I told him to call Jane and tell her what's going on," Debbie explained

Nick picked Judy up and started out of the room.

"The doctor said she's clear to leave at any time, so I'm gonna' get her home," he announced.

"Nicholas, before you go. There's something important your father and I need to discuss with you and Judith," Lillian stated.

"We'll discuss it back at the park son," John concluded.

Nick took Judy back to his apartment and let her rest on his bed. Thankfully none of her siblings noticed the hidden entrance to the clock tower. Before his parents arrived, Judy grabbed his tie again. He turned to face her with a smile but the smile faded when he saw the look on her face.

"You don't have to stay with me, Nick," she sighed.

"What're you talkin' about?" he asked.

"It's been fun but now that I'm carrying, you probably don't want anything to do with me," she sobbed.

She started trying to get her engagement ring off. Nick seemed to realize what she was doing. He grabbed her paw with one of his, tilted her chin up to look her in the eyes and kissed her.

"I'll never leave you. I love you. And I promise to love whatever's in here," he told her after the kiss.

It wasn't long after that John and Lillian joined them.

"Nick, we talked about it. I want to be with your father, that means I'll be living with him at the park," she announced.

"What about the house?" Nick asked.

"The house and the property it sits on have been paid off, I made sure of it. Come to me when there's a problem with maintaining it. You shouldn't need to make any payments on the house itself unless you mortgage it. Please, whatever you do, don''t mortgage it to the Pendletons. They'll do anything they can to hurt our family. I already warned Stu and Bonnie about those gerbils," John explained.

"We've already met a couple of your neighbors," Judy sighed.

"Predominantly canine neighborhood, I know. But that shouldn't be a problem, most of my neighbors mind their own business," Lillian added.

"In truth, your sister wants the house but we talked about it with her. She doesn't have a baby on the way. She understands and supports the idea, even though she's not fond of it," John added.

"I really hope she is on board with it. I don't want this to be something that drives her away," Nick replied.

John signaled to Nick that he wanted to talk.

"I'll be back hon," he told Judy and kissed her forehead.

Then he left with his dad, on their way into the elevator they passed by Stu and Bonnie who were coming up.

"Stu, Bonnie? How'd you find this place?" John asked.

"Danny showed us the entrance. That's right isn't it, Bon?" Stu replied.

"Danny, that young man we saw with Jane. Poor boy's missing an eye," Bonnie answered.

"That's him," John and Nick replied.

"How's everyone else?" Nick asked.

"Oh just fine, worried about Judy but that's 'cause you two left the hospital so fast," Bonnie replied.

"Judy's inside talking to mom, go on in. I'm sure she'll wanna' see you," Nick replied.

When Nick and John got on the elevator and the doors closed the mood turned somber.

"Son, I'm proud of you. I couldn't be more ashamed of myself but I am so proud of you," John stated.

He reached into his pocket and pulled something out.

"Dad, com'n. I thought you were quitting," Nick groaned when he saw what John pulled out.

"Gimme' your paw son," John stated.

Nick hesitantly held his paw up to his father. John handed the pack of cigarettes to Nick.

"Ya' gotta' help me quit, son. I can't be a good husband to your mother, a good father to you, your siblings, your fiance, or your in-laws, or a good grandfather to your kids," John lamented.

Nick looked back at his father with worried eyes.

"I can't quit on my own, son. I need your help," he continued.

"Dad, y'know I kicked a smoking habit four years ago. What if Carrots sees these? She'll think I'm starting up again," Nick stammered.

"There's a trash can right outside the elevator, just throw the pack in the trash. No matter what I say, you have to do it," John instructed.

"Alright, dad, alright," he relented.

"I'm so proud of you. I overheard you and Judy talking. It takes a big man to own up to his mistakes," John sighed.

"Don't call it a mistake," Nick hissed, "A baby isn't a mistake. It's a responsibility."

"I meant the mistake part is how soon it is," his father replied.

"Oh uh sorry," Nick muttered.

"It's alright son, I'm glad you feel that way. It's how a father should feel about their child," John sighed.

As they got off the elevator, Nick took a quick look at the cigarettes in his paw. There was a strong urge to pull one out and light up but in the back of his mind, he heard Judy coughing. That sound that only he could hear filled him with disgust, mostly at himself and without a second thought the pack met the inside of the trash can. With that he walked away for the second time in his life from a habit that he'd picked up during a time he chose not to remember. While all this was going on, Judy sat on the couch inside the apartment with Lillian talking.

"I overheard you and Nicholas talking before John and I came in. Please Judy, don't ever talk like that again. You brought Nick back from a dark place and you brought him back to his family. I'm so grateful to you but you should know how he feels about you," Lillian explained.

"I'm sorry," Judy replied.

"Don't be, you're a first time mother. It's natural that you're going to be afraid," she consoled.

"What about the house?" Judy asked, "Is Debbie gonna' be ok with giving it up?"

"It was Deborah's idea. The house was originally to go to her if something happened to me or if I moved in with her father. Alexander doesn't want it and I don't honestly know if Daniel would. On our way back from the hospital, Deborah talked with us about where you two, or more, would live. At first, the idea came up about his grandfather's studio but there're so many things there that a baby shouldn't be around. That's when she suggested the house, I reminded her that it would go to her," Lillian explained.

"What did she say?" Judy asked.

"She said that she just can't be selfish at this point. She told me that she tried and the thought of hanging onto the house even though you and Nicholas need it disgusts her," Lillian replied, her voice overwhelmed with pride.

"I dunno' I never liked the idea of accepting something I didn't earn," Judy sighed.

"For heaven's sake, Judith! Think of your children!" Bonnie interjected.

"Mom, I didn't say no. I just don't know how I feel about this," Judy sighed.

"Consider it an early wedding present then," Lillian suggested.

The last time, to her memory, that she thought about having children was when she was dating Jack Savage. The thought of having his kids disgusted her to the point that she thought she would throw up again. When she started dating Nick, they weren't sure if they could have kids but she found the thought of having a family with him comforting, in a way. She wasn't sure when she started waiting for him to propose but she knew she loved him enough that when he was ready she'd jump to say yes. Lillian was right though, she was terrified.

-I have learned so much from reworking this fanfic and I'm still trying to write it, my pace has slowed significantly but I still really want to finish it. If anyone hasn't read the previous iteration of the story, I'd like to know your thoughts on this "surprise".-