Nick stretched in both fatigue and satisfaction as he and Judy walked out of Yosuke's, a notable sushi bar in the Downtown Zootopia area.
"Oof, boy was that a treat," Nick smiled pleasantly. "I wish my birthday came around more than once a year." Judy rolled her eyes with a fond smirk.
"We can get sushi more than once a year if that's what you want, Nick," Judy said. "The cucumber and rice rolls they have there are really tasty."
"I still can't believe you got a reservation," Nick shook his head. "Yosuke's is impossible to get into."
"I've had the reservation for a few months," Judy smiled and looked at one of her paw's claws proudly.
"I also can't believe you actually tried one of the salmon pieces," Nick chuckled. Judy reflectively smacked her lips and made an uncomfortable face.
"Well, you know I can't back down from a dare," Judy said.
"Yes, and that will definitely get you into trouble one day," Nick said at the next crosswalk. Judy spied the subway entrance and grinned at Nick.
"Just don't know how anyone can eat fish, it's so... so..." Judy brought her hands up and wiggled them, searching for the right words.
"Fishy?" Nick chuckled.
"Exactly," Judy pointed at him decisively. Nick nodded diagonally. "Hope you're not expecting a kiss until you brush your teeth, fox-face."
"Well..." he said. "Heh, definitely wouldn't mind making this fancy outing a yearly tradition, though." He adjusted his tie, which was adorning a fancy shirt for a change, and he had a black coat on over that, which he also make sure was on his shoulders correctly. Nick next allowed his eyes to look over his little girlfriend reverently; she looked very fetching in a sequined backless lavender dress, finished with a cute little purse.
"I can also wear this dress more often if you'd like," Judy said impishly, giving a little twirl as she skipped along, garnering a few skeptical looks from some passing mammals.
"Phew," Nick wiped his brow. "Don't spoil me, now."
"Oh, also, also!" Judy said, hopping up. "Speaking of spoiling you, I baked a cake for you for when we get home!"
Nick instantly appeared concerned as Judy proudly stomped into the subway car. "Oh... uh, thank you, Judy." Judy looked back and chuckled as she saw his expression.
"Don't worry, Nick," Judy grinned. "This time, I had my mother on the phone the whole time I was making it. It will be edible this time, I promise."
"That makes me feel a little better," Nick half-smiled, holding up two fingers a short distance from each other. "Though couldn't Bonnie have just shipped us a cake?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Judy's eyes half lid with a smirk and she playfully swatted his chest with the back of her hand. "Anyway, the cake's vanilla with just a bit of chocolate in it, and topped with blueberries."
"Oh, God..." Nick closed his eyes and shook his head. "I've got more blessings to count than candles that should be on that cake."
"I just wrote '35' on it in frosting," Judy winced. "I figured after that case with the 'Matchstick Mouse' I shouldn't be trusted around flame anymore."
"That's big of you, and also perhaps wise," Nick laughed. The train began to lurch forward and move. It was only a few stops to their apartment.
"Just gotta know your limits," Judy laughed nervously.
"Something I never thought I'd hear you say," Nick chuckled, earning him another small smack from Judy. "What? It's true." After a few moments, Nick began to appear crestfallen. "Ugh..."
"What's the matter, Nick?" Judy blinked, eyes wide.
"Dunno what I'm going to do about mom," Nick twisted his lips into a frown. "I usually go visit her every year."
"Well, uh-" Judy looked at the subway map posted on the inside of their car, "if we stay on this line we'll eventually get to the Rainforest District. We can go visit her!"
"It's... it's not as simple as just going to visit her, Judy," Nick sighed. He rubbed his own arms. "Things have kind of gotten strained between us in recent years."
"Because of me," Judy said evenly after a moment's hesitation.
"Mm," Nick barely nodded and Judy looked pensive.
"Nick, maybe-"
"Judy, just... just drop it, okay?" Nick seemed irritated and defensive, holding his hand out at her. "I know that's not something you do very easily, but... I need to mend my bridges on my own time. I don't want to close off either one of the most important females in my life, okay?"
Judy nodded in response. "Okay Nick, let's go home."
The two were in quiet spirits when they entered Aardvark Rise and approached their apartment.
"Wait," Nick withdrew his key as he looked at the doorknob. His voice became muted. "There's scratches near the keyhole." Judy's eyes flew open. Nick peered in closer, checking the lock. "It's unlocked..."
"Someone broke in!?" Judy hissed quietly, opening her purse and withdrawing her stun gun from inside. Nick noticed Judy's movements and did a double take.
"You're packing, Fluff?" Nick blinked, amazed.
"What do you think I have in my purse, makeup?" Judy asked with a wry smirk. "Okay, you ready?"
"Not exactly, but you are, so let's go," Nick said, and threw open the door.
"ZPD! Hands where I can see them!" Judy shouted, leveling her gun at the first thing that looked out of place in the room. It was a middle-aged vixen sitting on their couch. She put her paws halfway up unceremoniously, with an almost bored look on her face.
"Mom!?" Nick barked in disbelief.
"Oh uh, hello Mrs. Wilde," Judy huffed in amusement, lowering her weapon.
"Don't be so quick to put that down, Carrots," Nick sneered in half-joking anger, holding a paw out to Judy. "What are you doing here, mother? You broke into our apartment?"
"I let myself in," Mrs. Wilde clarified. Her eyes scanned the apartment. "Quite a step up from the dregs you were living in before." She looked at the claws on one of her paws. "Locks could use some work, though."
"In case you've forgotten, we're police officers!" Nick fumed. "I could arrest you right now for trespassing! Judy could have shot you!" Nick's mother looked at him blankly.
"You've been skipping out on visiting me, Nicholas," Mrs. Wilde accused. "I thought I should be a bit more proactive in spending time with my only child."
"Just... rgh!" Nick pointed toward the door. "You know why I haven't visited lately. So unless you've changed your mind about Judy, leave."
"Hmph," the vixen did not budge.
"Did you really pick our lock?" Judy seemed impressed and nearly bemused.
"You don't get to be an adult fox without learning a few tricks, as I'm sure you've realized with Nicholas," Mrs. Wilde smirked.
"That's the truth," Judy grinned.
"Okay, what is this?" Nick gestured between the two. "Last I heard you were completely against Judy and I's relationship, mother."
"I don't think it's ideal," Mrs. Wilde nodded. She looked off to the side. "However... well. You must see something in that little bunny. Else I don't think you would have started cutting me out of your life."
Nick appeared furious and pointed at his mother, taking in a breath to yell, but Judy put her hand on his arm.
"Nick, I can hardly blame Mary for her feelings about me," Judy said in a low, serious voice. "You said the first time she saw me was the press conference, right? On television? Not the best first impression..." Mary looked over at Judy, the vixen's eyebrows turning up. "Then... well, you must have told her I hurt you, right? Just after the conference?"
"Things are different now," Nick said curtly. "You changed my life, Judy."
"Judy has the right of it," Mary nodded. "You're my only child, and... you seemed to want to go back to someone that hurt you... what am I supposed to think, especially because you've been calling less, visiting less...? Have I failed you as a mother, Nicholas? Is that it?"
"Mom, what are you talking about?" Nick was shocked and recoiled slightly. Mary stood up slowly. When she did, it was apparent that Nick was a little taller than her and the vixen was noticeably more frail than her son.
"I tried my best for you, Nicky," Mary said, her eyes seeming to mist a little. "How am I supposed to feel that it took this bunny to turn you around when I couldn't? That this flawed, speciesist little doe changed your mind about the world, when your own mother...?" She looked away. "I just want to know where I failed you, Nicholas." Judy frowned, but she didn't appear insulted.
"Yh-you didn't fail me, mom," Nick blinked. "My mistakes were my own to make... I- I just needed another perspective, and Judy gave me that." The two foxes gazed at each other, their eyes mixed with sadness, regret, and a dash of intensity.
"Hey, um..." Judy tried a small smile. "Either of you want cake...?"
"My stomach actually feels a little off right now-" Nick admitted, frowning.
"C'mon, I'll get your cake set up!" Judy hurried to the kitchen area and set down the cake at the table. The bunny quickly got another chair at the table for Mary. Curious, Mary went down to sit at the table, looking over the cake.
"Topped with blueberries, huh?" Mary said airily. "Well, she knows what you like, Nicky." She smirked. "The cake's not poisonous, is it?"
"Only a little bit!" Judy smiled. "There's some chocolate in it."
"Chocolate? My my," Mary looked back at Nick. "This bunny has been a bad influence on you, hasn't she?"
"Rgh..." Nick slapped his face and sloughed his paw off his muzzle.
"I see where Nick got his wit," Judy smiled.
"Yes, that's definitely me," Mary looked at her sharply. "But don't you try to sweet-talk me, you little rabbit." She pointed the fork Judy handed her right back at her. Judy hummed a little laugh.
"Well, one way or another, this should be interesting," Nick groaned, sitting down at the table.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Mary snapped.
"Uh, my last cake wasn't quite what you would call... 'edible'..." Judy laughed nervously. "But I'm sure this one will be better!" Mary raised one eyebrow.
"Are you going to make a wish, Nicky?" Mary tilted her head towards Nick.
"Yes, I wish that my mother and my girlfriend won't come to blows over me. Or this cake," Nick stared down at the cake.
"Karma's sake, Nicky, you're not supposed to say the wish aloud, you know that," Mary scooted in closer to the table, and Nick rolled his eyes towards his mother.
"Go on, go on, try a piece!" Judy clenched her paws into fists, anxiously awaiting Nick to cut a piece of the cake. Her fox did this and slowly brought a piece up to his muzzle, involuntarily sniffing it. He tried a bite, reflecting on the flavors, and made a small hum.
"Mm, not bad," Nick nodded.
"YES!" Judy pumped her fist, her eyes scrunching shut.
"Elated over such mild praise?" Mary huffed. "You're a bit easy to please, my dear."
"Well, if you'd seen her last cake," Nick chuckled dryly. "I think she's just happy this one hasn't activated my gag reflex."
"It's true..." Judy droned affectionately, rolling her eyes. "Can I get you a piece too, Mrs. Wilde?"
"That would be fine," Mary nodded and waited to be served. Judy gave herself a piece too, and the three began eating quietly.
"It's my mother's recipe," Judy smiled. "Plus blueberries."
"A little bit of chocolate in this," Mary said wistfully. "That takes me back. When I was a kit, chocolate was fairly newly legalized; they were still getting the safe amounts right on everything." Mary shook her head. "I wondered what all the fuss was about. Not like it was a drug or anything. Well, then I tasted it and I supposed it might as well be... it tastes very alluring, doesn't it?"
Judy nodded. "I'll say." Nick looked with cautious hope at the two females and how they seemed to be getting along. The three continued eating for awhile, and Judy got up from the table. "Oh, I'm sorry. What's cake without milk? Let me pour us all a nice frosty glass."
"Charming little bunny, really," Mary looked at Nick. "Don't know why I was worried."
"Mhm," Nick smirked. The three sipped their milk, and Mary began to look introspective.
"So... while bunnies are on my mind, Emily is going to Bunnyburrow in a couple of weeks," Mary started. Nick's ears reflexively went back and his face scrunched a little.
"...Is that so?" Nick said glumly. Judy became confused, looking between the two.
Mary sighed, wiping her paws on a napkin. "I'm afraid so."
"Who's Emily?" Judy couldn't stop herself from asking.
"A family friend," Nick explained. "Though I'd prefer if we didn't discuss depressing things over my birthday cake."
"Just because you might want to hide from tragedy doesn't mean it isn't happening," Mary scolded. "You're a police officer now, you should know that."
"Mom..." Nick sighed. "Okay. I'll bite. Why are you bringing Emily up?"
"Well, the hospitals all over Zootopia just don't have the staff or occupancy to deal with squirrels," Mary said distantly. "There are far more affordable and numerous dexterous bunny doctors in Bunnyburrow. I was just wondering if your bunny knew any cancer specialists."
"Ooh," Judy's brow furrowed. "Umh... Dr. Rabolon, maybe? One of my uncles went to him and he's in remission now."
"I think she was looking at him," Mary nodded. "Good to hear he comes recommended."
"How do you know this squirrel?" Judy asked. Immediately Nick's eyes flew open and he shook his head.
"No no no, that's not a story for now," Nick warned.
Mary smiled sadly. "As I said, she's a family friend. We sort of became close after both of us lost our husbands, even though she's quite a bit younger than I am." Nick sighed heavily. "What, Nicholas? I suppose you haven't told your girlfriend about your father?"
"No, mother, it was never relevant," Nick grumbled. "I don't like trying to evoke pity for its own sake." Judy frowned.
"My husband was a tailor," Mary smiled. "And he had the cutest little apprentice. Alexander Curlyque. But, in separate incidents, it seemed the fates conspired to take them away from us."
"That's awful," Judy said distantly.
"Yes, I barely got by, and Nicky did what he could to help," Mary smiled at him and Nick put his paws over his eyes in embarrassment and distress. "I'm sorry, Nick... I just... I can't help but see something of myself in Emily. At least her finances are better than ours were because of her husband's life insurance policy, but... now, I don't know. It was one of my greatest fears that I'd somehow have to leave this world and leave you alone, Nicky. And with Emily like she is now..."
"So this is about the kit, then?" Nick asked carefully, slowly looking at Mary.
"Little Larry," Mary nodded. "I'm to be taking care of him for a little while while Emily visits Bunnyburrow. The poor boy needs something to do besides be concerned about his mother all the time, waiting around at hospitals. No place for a growing squirrel to be..." Judy's brow fell. "You're welcome to come meet him sometime! Oh, he's definitely a little delight." She clasped her hands.
"But..." Nick looked her over. "You're worried about the worst, aren't you mom? What'd happen to Larry if Emily passed away. How you probably couldn't keep up with a young, rambunctious squirrel if he came under your care. What'd happen to him if he had to be adopted by some random family."
"Now, that analytical eye he gets from his father," Mary smiled at Judy; the gray bunny had a mystified expression. Mary shook her head as if to deflect the questions. "Anyway, I guess I should be going." She stood up from the table.
"Maybe uh... maybe we can make this a yearly thing, if you want," Nick got up and shrugged. "A little tradition."
"Perhaps I can make the cake next time?" Mary got a hint of danger to her eyes and voice, staring at Judy. "I've got a recipe that's absolutely the greatest. You'll just die."
"She better not," Nick frowned at his mother. "Next time you want to come over, please text."
"Yes yes, well, you be good, Nicky," Mary patted him on the head. "Goodbye!" Nick and Judy repeated this to her and watched her go.
"Nick..." Judy looked at the fox, somewhat alarmed. "Did your mother just..." Judy looked at the floor, then back at her fox. "Did she just ask us if we'd consider adopting a squirrel?"
Nick sighed, folding his arms. "Yup. I'm pretty sure she did."